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Celtic Diary Friday March 22: Don’t Tell Our Players..

Football Leaks, a website with documents pertaining to footballers wages, agents commissions and highlighting the creative financial management of the kind that Christian Ronaldo left to his financial advisors is in interesting and disturbing read.

The money available to even decent players is shocking, and sooner or later fans will decide its time to finish paying for it.

A book, written by Der Spiegel journalists Rafael Buschmann and Michael Wulzinger, describes the story behind the website and documents how they delivered the scoop that shook the game.

In it are details of the contracts of several top players.

Only one has any connection with Celtic, and when you look at what he earns now, its little wonder that he left.

Virgil van Dijk is arguably as good a defender as anyone else anywhere. Though one has to consider the Sky EPL hype around him as a factor, there’s little denying he is an excellent defender.

He plays for Liverpool, in a city not noted for its wealth. They have a lare, loyal support, and it can be argued that they are closer as a club to Celtic in tradition and political outlook than any other club in England, It could also be argued that their ground has an atmosphere that has so far resisted the changes in the match day experience in the south.

The club paid Southampton £70m for van dijk, rising to £74m after he plays 150 games. It’s their money, I suppose, mostly from TV-and don’t forget if you subscribe to Sky you are funding this madness, and they have to spend it on something.

Although clearly not in helping the community that supports the club, not to this extent at least.

And I cannot help feeling nauseated at the claims in the book pertaining to his wages.. (from Football Leaks, authors noted above )

His contract, which runs to June 2023, guarantees him a weekly wage of £124,568. (p.293)

Then there’s the add-ons.. (p.294)

£6m signing on bonus.

£5m loyalty bonus.

£20,000 a goal (League and Europe )

£20,000 an assist (League and Europe )

Clean sheets ? He’s a defender after all.. (p.294 )

“The agreement was complicated. If van Dijk started and played at least an hour in fifteen competitive matches in which the Reds didn’t concede a goal, the Dutchman would get an additional £250,000 at the seasons end. for eighteen such matches, the reward was £375,000, for twenty, £500,000, and for twenty two, £750,000. ” 

Of course, we’re all aware that the English clubs pay silly money, and of course van Dijk is not the only recipient of it. but I’m using this example purely because he’s the only ex-Celt mentioned in the book.

Perhaps it becomes a little easier to realise why it’s impossible for players heads not to be turned south when the offers come in.

Maybe now we can see why marquee signings are a thing of the past, and that we simply cannot even hope to compete for players that would lift us up to the next level.

What we can offer them, though, and its why the likes of Scott Brown have stayed, is a support that supports, and a club that has largely stayed true to its roots.

Okay, that bit needs a bit of work, but that can be done.

The name of Celtic, the ethos of Celtic and the history of Celtic is our bargaining tool. It won;t work with many, but those it does work, such as van Dijk, Dembele and so on,  will give us a couple of years of top level players as they learn their trade.

Lawwell attended the European Club Association meetings that discussed the effects of this kind of money on the game, and it would be naive to think he isn’t aware of it when snactioning transfers, fees and wages.

 

 

Anyhoo, Scotland played yesterday.

And Scotland lost yesterday.

Khazakstan beat the pride of Scotland 3-0, the first two goals coming in the opening ten minutes.

Manager Alex McLeish obviously hadn’t noticed this, as after the game he told reporters he thought his side had started well.

Presumably he meant that everyone had remembered where they were supposed to stand during kick off, because they certainly didn’t remember anything he’d said after that.

After the game, an incident took place between Calum MacGregor and James MacFadden , who has somehow ended up as a national coach.

Scott somebody or other of Manchester United sprinted up the tunnel at the final whistle, neglecting to thank the support who had travelled across six time zones to follow their heroes.

Macregor,as captain,  was incensed by this, and went after him, to be blocked by MacFadden, who was instantly chosen to play in defence on Sunday against San Marino.

There was a bit of handbags which was later explained by MacLeish . He said Scott Thingy had a poorly tummy and wanted to go plop plop.

In fact, it was MacLeish himself who was full of shit, and the supporters who felt the urge to evacuate their bowels.

In the same way the SFA evacuated theirs over all football fans when they picked MacLeish as manager.

 

For yet another supreme performance on and off  the field , MacLeish takes this weeks Etims

Knob of the Week. 

MacLeish actually had a cameo in the recently released Laurel and Hardy movie.

Image result for alex mcleish stan and ollie

You can fill in your own punchline.

Yesterday, we gave you this to ponder..

AntonDeclan March 21, 2019 at 8:49 am · Edit · Reply →

CAPTION: Chris Jack gets ready for his next pile of crap.

Today..

Image result for kazakhstan v scotland

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Mike A
5 years ago

Caption: just the one word will do…..arseholes.

John McDermott
5 years ago

Interesting read about wages.explains a lot. We obviously can’t compete with those figures.
Caption (after a successful cameo in stan and ollie.mcliesh auditions for Scotland the musical

Mike
5 years ago

Is Oli Burke worth £13 mill. He is big and strong and fast, but I see a young player who has desperately lost his football pathway. When he goes back down south, will he even make the EPL bench. He needs to learn his trade under a good coach. Same with McGinn, IMO he is not EPL material, every time I watch him, he continually waits for the ball, he too needs better coaching. Compare and contrast with Stuart Armstrong, quick, with a good football intelligence, with good game knowledge. He waited at Celtic until he learned his trade and knew when the time was right to leave. At £7 mill. he was a snip for Southampton, I have watched him often and he definitely can perform in the EPL. Scottish football has lost its heart and soul, in its quest to breath life into the dead club, trying to keep it relevant it has sold the jersey’s… It will never recover until it learns that honesty is the most important thing in football. Fuck the SFA for all your cheating and lies.

Admin
5 years ago

A campaign done before it even opened its eyes.
Talk of “we have the play offs” is desperate and no amount of scuddings from Belgium will see McLeish, McFadden and Grant resign…Blowtorch Neck FC

Shameful but as others have noted…it all comes from the top..a full clear out needed and sadly for Scots, it wont come via Peter Lawwell as hes concentrating on his own club which is fair enough but some of us hoped he would get in there and gut the place…oh well…let the mount florida lodge continue… anyone noticed all the good things Malkky Mackay is up to?…nope, me neither.

Least the lassies have a decent manager.

Gash67
5 years ago

Big FEck losing it these days

Starts a chorus of Brendan Rodgers here for 10 in a row.

D'Fhinnein Mick
5 years ago

CAPTION

Difficult one,this. I was gonna do one suggesting McLeish pleading to be served by the barmaid who’s ignoring him,but what about McFud-(aye,what about him?-ed)

So…

CAPTION

Pair of useless cunts doing shouty things.

corrib04
5 years ago

Good assessment on Oli Mike. He certainly has potential but I think he has been shifted around clubs too early in his career. He probably should have stayed at Forest for another couple of years before jetting off. I cant remember who was in charge down there at the time but at Celtic he would have great coaching and we might be able to develop the best out of him.
As for Scotland. McLeish OUT!

Mike
5 years ago
Reply to  corrib04

I agree, he should have learned his trade before leaving Forest, but his head was turned and a big bag of swag was dangled in front of him and of he went, cannot criticise him for that. When he came to us, he looked a lost soul, I felt sorry for him silly as that seems. But he does have potential, it just needs channelled in the right direction, sometimes money is not the only answer. As Ralph pointed out the money on offer seems ridiculous, I read of Alex Sanchez on £300.000 P.W. and it makes me sad. Last night’s game the Scottish players could never recover after losing two goals so quickly and the third a defender outjumped by miles by the Kazak striker was embarrassing. The saddest part is that the future of Scottish football looks so bleak.

Monti
5 years ago
Reply to  Mike

Alexis Sanchez wouldn’t get out his bed for 300,000 pwk.
He is on significantly more than that!

Mike
5 years ago
Reply to  Monti

Still shite though!

Mick
5 years ago

Caption : It’s fun to be at the YMCA!

Cartvale88
5 years ago

Caption
I was a contender, wank

I really could not care less about Scotland, everything that is wrong with the SFA is clear to see.
The media will now circle the wagons, blame the players, especially the Celtic ones, and try to justify the unjustifiable, EBT man.
Why players were allowed to travel to the Far East by the club management is beyond sense., as other smaller clubs pulled their men.
As Mike says they are the problem, as the mob in the soothside with their entitlement.

Monti
5 years ago

Caption: : This is Una, she is my sister, she is number four prostitute in all of Kazakhstan….nice “

Mike
5 years ago

I agree with your assessment about right back and centre-back, but we also need to replace Dembelle, IF we are serious at all about Europe. The money is there sitting in the biscuit tin, will Scrooge do the Engelbert Humperbunck and “please release me”?

bgbhoy
5 years ago
Reply to  Mike

dembele is now proving himself to be the player MOST of us knew he was

first player at lyon to score 16 goals in a season for 20 years or so?

facts are there is not a player like him at celtic

huge huge miss

best player we have had up top since larsson

Mike
5 years ago
Reply to  bgbhoy

Tick as in correct 100%.

Monti
5 years ago
Reply to  bgbhoy

FOR FUCK SAKE IT’S PAINFUL NOW…..CLOWN

Mike
5 years ago

Caption, The Beverly Sisters sing out “Jesus Christ Superstar” Ive got an EBT and I will meet you at the bar.

Mike
5 years ago

😉 <0

Mike
5 years ago

Where is the report about the Crush in Janefield street, they said that it would be out very soon and yet…

Brian53
5 years ago

Caption: Two of the four tops belt out “It’s the same old song” with gusto on their comeback tour in Kazakhstan.

Una
5 years ago

Caption

Hello Hello I’m heading for the dole
I’m up to my neck in ebts
I’ll be bankrupt till i die
Thats why me kris & mcfaddy will be eating pies

Monti
5 years ago
Reply to  Una

Una,
Chores done or have you just stopped for a cuppa & check your mobile for gossip?

Una
5 years ago
Reply to  Monti

Ironing done, bush trimmed & washing in the machine, u?

Mike
5 years ago
Reply to  Una

Still in his pit, not down, still init. 😉

Monti
5 years ago
Reply to  Una

Una,
I prefer the autumn/Winter months when the bushes are bare…….

Monti
5 years ago
Reply to  Monti

I saw what you did there….

The Cha
5 years ago

Caption: Slippy G (4th official) “Fuxake, if that’s the best Scotland has to offer, WTF can’t my Muppets beat the Dons?”

Mike
5 years ago
Reply to  The Cha

Yazz, The only way is up, baby. 😉

5 years ago

That Kazakhstan boy who put that brilliant ball through for their 2nd goal should be looked at only rogic is capable of such vision another cheap option wouldn’t do any harm. Best ball of the night in Europe

portpower
5 years ago

Caption:
Hey Eck,how big of a dick are you?

rebus67
5 years ago

What a sad state of affairs has befallen the national team. Trounced by a team ranked 117th in the world. Even worse was the lack of shape or purpose about the team. How humiliating is it to have to win against San Marino?

In any other footballing country that result would automatically result in heads rolling…starting with the management team and then others within in football association. It seems that there is no level of ineptitude nor humiliation that suggests to those in power that it is time for change.
Contrast this with previous times when the problems were:
a) Will other countries release our top players to play for Scotland(e.g. Law at Torino)?
b) How can we mold a team out of a bunch of prima donnas who are used to being the centre of attraction?
c) How can we get a ticket to see the national team play?

What a position to put young players in when they are asked to play for their country. Who could blame them if they refuse. Ask John Kennedy if it is worth risking limb to play for a team chosen by a third rate manager, who, in turn, was chosen by a third rate administration.

Rebus

Arsene Parcelie
5 years ago

Caption:

comment image

Benjamin Lynch
5 years ago

I see that there was a total of More Or Less 3 minutes of pleasure on the pitch in Japan. Which is suppose is 1 more minute than his admirers are used to…

The Cha
5 years ago
Reply to  Benjamin Lynch

That can’t be right as according to the Edinburgh Evening News “Morelos impresses for Colombia”.

Why the Edinburgh Evening News is interested in a Colombian who plays for a Glasgow club, who knows.

Monti
5 years ago

Burke needs games, just like Calmac did when he went to Notts County.
He also needs to find his best position, i ‘d like to see him wide left actually, cutting in on his right foot to get a pass or a shot away.
Sinclair can sometimes be weak out there, dispossessed too easily.

George Lazenbhoy
5 years ago

Caption: FFS barman you’ve still got ten minutes before last orders.

Puggy67
5 years ago

Caption:W-A-N-K nae fun to play for a W-A-N-K

5 years ago

Scotland the cheat!The jocks are too busy conning the world about the deid cheats to worry about the national team.Scotland had brilliant footballers at all levels still do but the money grabbing cheating bigots couldn’t watch Celtic being number one.jimmy Mcgrory told the Plc and Arsenal he was Celtic man and was staying one keep yer dosh I’m fae the Gargad

5 years ago

Garngad

jimmybee
5 years ago

The English lads tried to do the wind up today.
For me I just laughed with them. I soon found out long ago that Scotland doesnt care for me my faith my team or my Irish roots. So fuck the sfa haha.
I also told them that I do however support every team who plays against them. Fuck them all

Celtic first Celtic last Celtic overall.

SteveNaive
5 years ago

I think Burke doesn’t have the requisite erm…skill and footballing intelligence to be much better than he is at present. To mention him in the same sentence as Bale, a left back prodigy at 16 and Renaldo is laughable. Good coaching needs something to work with hence thousands of players throughout Europe failing to make that top grade. On Celtic using that “We are Celtic” Schlick I remember Keane saying that Strachan said come if you want, we don’t really need you but this is Celtic. { 15,000 plus some small add ons) and again when he was asked if he would be interested in the managers job where they thought he should consider it an honour to be the manager. Who have we heard say that recently ?

The real Anton Rogan
5 years ago

A great coach cannot make a footballer out of someone who has limited technical ability.

He can run fast but his touch is dreadful.

He will disappear when he leaves us at the season end

The real Anton Rogan
5 years ago

Caption:

My EBT was this big

the contents of Scott somebody or other of Manchester United's emptied stomach
5 years ago

caption

Big Eck shouts out:

“this is how many titles the SFA should have stripped from LIQUIDATED Rangers, but that would require honesty and integrity”

and then

“Who am I, HELP !!! “

BJF
5 years ago

I think Mike’s comments on Burke and McGinn were spot on, both needed more coaching and maturity before their big moves.Iancelt’s comment made me wonder about the two centre halves who basically kicked anything that moved, could either / both do a job in our league?
I do not even want to think about Monti’s bush, enough to make you throw up!
Its probably a perioheral point but contracts such as Virgil’s specifically require him to tick various boxes and he is generously rewarded. Someone like Scott Brown has a reasonably good contract albeit considerably less and as his reward gets a testimonial with almost an expectation of a significant donation from it to a worthwhike cause. Now Virgil may well support a number if charities I don’t know and Broonie’s psyche might be to help good causes anyway but he cannot hide gains in the small print of a contract like Premiership players, liked Bayo paying his own way for his cash strapped country, our type of player.

Monti
5 years ago
Reply to  BJF

Yep,
Waxed on & waxed off

Monti
5 years ago
Reply to  BJF

BJF,
Mike is talking a lot of pish about McGinn, John was ready to play, i still firmly believe he is a big loss.
….and i dinnae give two fucks what anyone else thinks!

Mike
5 years ago
Reply to  Monti

BJF 😉 Monti’s bush is as big as your pinkie.

portpower
5 years ago
Reply to  Monti

G`day Monti Horeb, 🙂
He would`ve and would be too comfortable at Celtic.

Still,i`d love to see me play there yet!

Monti
5 years ago
Reply to  BJF

Weered,
Monti doesn’t have a bush……shaved clean 🙂

portpower
5 years ago
Reply to  Monti

When it rains in Australia everyone goes bush bashin`.
Muddy!

portpower
5 years ago
Reply to  BJF

So,there` to be procumbens shrubbies with a whiff of juniper installed in the mens hand wash at Celtic Park.

It`ld beat the smell of dried yoghurt bein` snorted by some for their poor nether regions circulation.

Cortes
5 years ago

Caption: “And did it myyyyyy way.”

SteveNaive
5 years ago

Celtic 0- Morton 1 today. Fifth choice keeper,not Hazard or Doohan, Ralston, Jozo, Benkovic, Hendry, Gamboa, Allan, Ono Flex, Ntcham, Dembele, Eddy.
Ntcham got first half, Eddy an hour, Comperr second half.
Rogic didn’t play but did some running on another pitch.

PR
5 years ago

Sorry Ralph – take extreme exception to your comparison between Celtic and Liverpool.

They’re nothing like us – they are the scum of the earth.

Go back to the 66 cup winners cup semi and theirs sectarian anti Irish singing for a start.

Puggy67
5 years ago
Reply to  PR

Cilla Black said she was Everton because she was a Catholic, which made me assume Liverpool were the opposite. However that was 50 years ago. Maybe things change.

portpower
5 years ago
Reply to  PR

Liverpool FC:
Tory, Masonic and Orange-Ulster vote.

‘Cause it’s politics, man, politics.

Monti
5 years ago

The thing that some folk don’t get is that it is a squad game, you need quality replacements, this argument that Ryan Christie wouldn’t have broke through had we signed McGinn is utter shite.
If you are good enough, it won’t be missed on the manager.
Peter Lawwell is getting of lightly again by the prawn brigade, he is interfering with the football side & that my friends is wrong.
They talk about the SFA needing stripped from top to bottom, so do Celtic & that is our priority.

I think Dermot & his pal Lawwell have taken us as far as they can, thanks now fuck off!
Take your fucking Disco lights with ye…
Fucking useless!
Once again i could never have envisaged this disruption at this time, go back to double treble day, open topped bus & an unprecedented double treble in the bag.

Since then? In the words of Ian Brown ” Ameteurs, Ameteurs “.

Monti
5 years ago

I see Boyata made the Belgium game tho??

Should have been fucking out years ago!

BJF
5 years ago

Boyata what a star but have to accept he is on his way Weered you have Monti taped. I think McGinn is still developing, he is going to be really good and I hope joins us sometime but despite the attitude of the Hibs chair he could have waited and be coming to us in a few weeks, it was his choice. I understand why he went fior the money and I guess Rodgers couldn’t guarantee him a place, or indeed who is next manager would be.Antyway its all about opinions, long live free speech.

Monti
5 years ago
Reply to  BJF

Fuck Rodgers he is a fucking rat

portpower
5 years ago
Reply to  Monti

That travelling wizard.I saliva at his feet.

Monti
5 years ago

Never turn your back on Celtic, never betray our club, be proud of your people & those who wish our club well….

Brendan Brendan Brendan…..the wound has not healed.
Poor show man, poor show

Signed,
Still gutted, still hurt……

portpower
5 years ago

Give the ball to Butters(18yo).

We are the Power from Port
It’s more than a sport
It’s true Port Adelaide tradition
We’ll never stop, stop, stop
Til we’re top, top, top
There’s history here in the making
Port Power to win
We’ll never give in
Til the flag is ours for the taking
PORT POWER!!! HH

portpower
5 years ago

Give the ball to Butters(18yo).

We are the Power from Port
It’s more than a sport
It’s true Port Adelaide tradition
We’ll never stop, stop, stop
Til we’re top, top, top
There’s history here in the making
Port Power to win
We’ll never give in
Til the flag is ours for the taking
PORT POWER!!! HH

portpower
5 years ago

I take it then that sensibly presumed made preparations`ll have Hooped men once again in vogue?

Jezzo,canny beat the Greenock Ton outfit…

Scalp of 2013.
Back 4:Lustig,Ambrose,van Dijk & Mulgrew.
If we get the back 4 right,we`re goin` places.

Relax,i’ve said more than a few prayers Khids.

portpower
5 years ago
Reply to  portpower

PS:FFS coaches, stop taking the defending game out of defenders.

Mike
5 years ago

Show them the road to San Marino, I’le be watching from under my pillow, with sweet Marie who’s hanging around waiting for me.

Hope her mahn disny catch us! 😉 <3

Mike
5 years ago

The road to Govan is paved with gold, a fool and his money is soon parted. Must be a sickening making loads ah money and watching it disappear under a Parks bus as it props up the Dead. How can you spend money when you are Dead, does big Pete frisk you as you enter Paradise, fuckin right he does, even if he finds nothing, you will still be charged. Paying for a season ticket and looking across, knowing that’s where most of it is going. Spend it on the team FFS.

Celtic spend big on three players, shocker, say’s the headlines, as CPR machines are raced all over the Country, as thousands of Celtic supporters suffer Cardiac arrest. “Thur no arresting me” shouts Paddy, am gawn doon fighting. “Sorry Hen” say goodbye, my own true lovely, say goodbye, the end is near, say goodbye my makers calling, say goodbye, I’m away fur a beer…

Mike
5 years ago

The road to Govan is paved with other peepul’s money, but the road intae Paradise, is paved with ours…

BJF
5 years ago

Yeah still hurting too, but Lenny has stepped up
to the mark.

Paddybhoy67
5 years ago

Caption “I did it myyyyyyyyyyyyyyy way!”

Paddybhoy67
5 years ago

Sorry, Cortez … I should have read other comments first. Great minds, though …

portpower
5 years ago

Done a lot of foolish things have us the SFA from co-ordinated corruption.Though.

But…

Here I am San Marino.Signed,sealed,delivered.

Would you Cove an Alan McRae today?
For it`ll be…

Keith Moorhouse,
Graeme Reid.
Duncan Little.
Lynne Smith.
Robbie Gordon.
Darren Anderson.
Gary Leiper.

Tomorrow.

Caption:
Soup:The Musical.

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