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Celtic Diary Friday January 31

Norwch, Southampton, Crystal Palace.

If you have ambitions of being a big club on the park, these are not the sort of clubs you want to see your top players going to.

Obviously, Celtic either cannot or will not match the wages on offer in England, but surely it wouldn’t hurt to meet them halfway. do we have a problem selling the club to these players, or do we not bother trying ?

Just because the transfer window is open doesn’t mean we have to sell.

Celtic have accepted a bid for Joe Ledley from Crystal Palace, believedd to be around £800,000. apparently the ball is in Ledleys court. Perhaps it is just Celtic calling his bluff, and forcing his hand over a new contract, in a sense it is a wise move to get some money in for him, however derisory, but it should surely be easier to persuade someone who is already here to stay a bit longer, and given he is one of our first team players, then a wage rise to thank him for his loyalty wouldn’t have been too much to find, especially as we’ve spent on Stefan Johansen to replace him.

Until a bid for him comes in, that is.

Leigh Griffiths is at Celtic Park after Wolves finally acepted a bid, believed to be the same £800,000 with ad ons, and should be a Celtic player sometime today.  We could do worse-and we often have-I suppose.

Robert Snodgrass-mebbes aye, mebbes naw.

Anything else would be a major surprise, but it least it means we’ll not be sitting up waiting for late night business and we can watch Graham Norton instead.

All very depressing, so lets look for some good news.

Nope. Can’t find any.

London Calling ?

Two more snippets, one not unexpected, one a bit of a body blow.

Arsenal are sniffing around Fraser Forster, and according to SSN-though I’ve not seen it yet, Efe Ambrose to Fulham is nearing completion.

What is going on ?

We don’t need to sell, and the impression from the players is that they are fairly happy.

Today promises to be a bit of a nightmare. If anyones anywhere near the ground, nip in, pretend to be a policeman, and seize everyones phones.

Selling Ambrose would be a move of monumental stupidity, and whilst bids are expected for Forster, we don’t have to sell.

We might as well join the EPL. Thats where all our players are going. Except Samaras, the Trabzonspor offer is still on the table, but they’ll have to be quick before we sell the fucking table.

So, wheres that good news….

Er, we’re in for Falkirks left back, thats if we don’t do what is expected and buy Lee Wallace, but we are rummaging around at the bottom of the market, despite having money in the bank, despite being able to offer champions league football, decent wages, job satisfaction, and medals..

Thankfully, though, it looks like Lee Tomlin won’t be coming.

Short diary today, because even typing this is making me miserable.

Like that book I just finished, called 1984. Things were apparently even more depressing back then.

Elsewhere on the site is the rumour mill, which is a much more entertaining and cheerful read than this, not surprisingly, as it doesn’t have to deal with reality.

Right, I’m away to see if plaster can be dislodged by repeatedly banging my head against a wall.

At eleven tonight i’ll do a diary supplement, trying to make some sense of the day.

If i’m not stood on the Thelwall viaduct with the police trying to talk me down.

NB; Just seen Leigh Griffiths arrive at Celtic Park. Maybe Lawwell should have a look outside the window at the crowds….

 

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10 years ago

Lee griffiths will do great for us.it will be a sad loss if joe goes but can understand the clubs point of view, the offer has been on the table for a long time. By all accounts he was supposed to be happy with his lot at park head.
Johansen maybe turn out to be a perfect replacement.
Lets hope there are. No more shocks for us tonight.
HH keep the faith

holy sea
10 years ago
Reply to  Daviebhoy

Agree,Daviebhoy re comments.
Ralph, Why all.the negativity ?
IMO good business getting the money for Ledley,that then buys Griffiths.
Joe is a good player,but not a leader on the park, like
Commons and Brown.

For the Griffiths doubters on here,Samaras 4, Pukki 4, Stokes 7.
This is the goals scored by our strikers.Griffiths will soon be banging in the goals.
It’s a pity Samaras won’t budge.But, I believe we will get our
6M target man in the summer.

So, God Bless the Bhoys !!

liatroimbhoy
10 years ago

Depressing day……..

Big Dunno
10 years ago

Am I the only one not that bothered if we get £4.5 mil for Ambrose and actually think its a good bit of business? I think he’s a bomb-scare, but that’s just my opinion.

jas
10 years ago

Depressing? have a look across the city, now THAT would be depressing.

holy sea
10 years ago
Reply to  jas

Jas,

Well said.

You, couldn’t have posted finer words !!

J McTighe
10 years ago
Reply to  jas

We’ve really got to get away from gauging our success/failure against their position. They are dead in the water , not on our radar .We’ve got to be looking at a much higher level with which to compare our position and ambition.
Re- Griffiths, I’m happier seeing him in rather than Fletcher even aside from the price difference.
All our thoughts have to be on the CL qualifiers. With that in mind I’d love to know our game plan , taking into account the dreaded impending sales of Forster and Van Dycke in the summer.( I fear its a stick-on to happen).

10 years ago

Unbelievable stupidity from Lennon and the fucking clueless board, thats the second season now we hav let our top players go, by all means do business wen it needs fucking doing but letting Ledley walk a player in his prime at 27, who is so consistent, trains well and carries few injuries for the sake of another couple of grand a wk, and if the rumor is right about Ambrose then thats the last straw, a central defender thats been part of a club equaling record of clean sheets and has struck up an understanding with VVD the likes we haven’t seen for years, why didn’t Lawell pump Samaras for £500,000 to ANYBODY and use that money to keep Ledley and any other top players, what happens if a good offer fur Foster or VVD comes in, Lawell will happily take, Next seasons CL looks like going to be a fkg disaster at this rate, Lawell better be prepared for a BIG financial hit wen the season books need renewing, because alot wont pay to look at an entertaining and enjoyable bank account. Hail hail, KTF+

Admin
10 years ago

Very poor Diary Ralph, not one mention of Michael Schumachers recovery!

martin
10 years ago

totally disagree about Ledley…..he’s been a decent player for us no doubt…but surely the £25K he’s been given every week for the last 3.5 years is enough reward for his amazing loyalty? It’s not loyalty to honour a contract that you’re getting paid loads of money for! We paid nothing for him, we’re getting 3/4 million for him now, we’ve got a replacement and while he was a player I liked, he was not really outstanding. Good luck to the guy, I wish him all the best, but I’m not going to have a go at the Board for a lack of loyalty by not giving him even more thousands every week.

Would be disappointed if Ambrose went, his partenrship with Big Virgil looks great and I would prefer to keep them together. But if the money is too big to knock back then take it and get someone better for less money….that’s the way the business works.

Admin
10 years ago
Reply to  martin

I agree with the Ledley thoughts, would take 5m for Ambrose though, we can go pick up another gem from Holland for £2m!

🙂

10 years ago
Reply to  Desi Mond

Like boerrigter?

holy sea
10 years ago
Reply to  ralph malph

True,Ralph.

IMO, boerrigter,pukki and balde was a waste of 6M.Is this
why peter houston has been trusted to find us the quality
target man we need for CL qualifiers ?

Frank McGaaaaarvey
10 years ago

I can understand the ‘Tic wanting a wee bit money for Joe and Sammi rather than getting heehaw when they leave for nothing in the summer but they can’t force these guys out to places they might not want to go to. If they want to sit on their arses until the summer and get a bumper signing-on fee from whoever they sign for then the best of luck to them. It’s a situation that should never have arisen in the first place and is very poor contract management from Celtic.

Yep, Leigh Griffiths will definitely get thumbs, I mean bums on seats no? Still waiting for a surprise signing (more fool me) but I won’t be watching the Jim Shite / Arry Redknapp love-in on Sly Spurts News. Typical Sky. Turn someone signing a wee bit of paper into a media frenzy. And us suckers keep buying into it as well……

John Kane
10 years ago

Why the negativity? We’re undefeated domestically, signed a proven goalscorer and making a good deal selling a top earner at profit. I like Ledley but we’ve replaced hm with a younger player and have several talented youngsters comng back from the end of the season. Don’t believe the Ambrose rumours. What’s not to like. Keep the faith. HH

elcormaco
10 years ago

dearie me. Lenny did say he expected incomings and outgoings, but when fit Ledders and Efe are in our first 11.
With Ledley, he cost nothing, misses at least 10 games a year injured, and if he isnt going to sign on no problem with trying to get some money in now, but will he agree to go to Palace and Tony teeth-Pulis?
Efe though, unless its crazy good money I don’t get why we d sell – never injured, relatively consistent so long as he has been in the country for more than an hour before kick off, no bother off the pitch, says all the right things in the papers, plays really well with VVD, what gives?
Griffiths to arrive? Maybes aye, maybes naw, could be great signing, and if he isnt not a massive outlay.
I d love to bid for Wallace – if he is as good as they believe (doubtful) it would be a good deal, and a great GIRFUY, and why shouldnt Celtic take players from smaller scottish teams, this one has only been around for a couple of years?
Snodgrass, dont think so, wages, fees etc will mean Peter will look at it and ask, “aye, naw …. how about that wee Finnish laddie whose contract is running out?” If we could throw any combo of Sammi (sadly but he has the right hump) Stokes and kayal down there then maybe, here’s hoping

10 years ago

witabuncha moanin’ face baskets you celtic fans are,last season wiz a flook in the champs league for celtic fc,this year wiz a learnin’ curve for youse,next season same thing, learn, learn, learn, someday we will get it right with a decent team for europe,until then let;s keep qualifying for the uefa champs league and just enjoy the ride,and of course watch the SCABBY BASSAS ACROSS THE CITY DIE ,DIE AND DIE AGAIN,HAIL HAIL AND GOD BLESS WEE NEILLY LENNON THE ONLY DECENT MANAGER IN SCOTTISH FITBA

Frank McGaaaaarvey
10 years ago

?

The Man with the Silver Head
10 years ago

He must be drunk

The Man with the Silver Head
10 years ago

Genuinely believe that Ledley’s £25k a week can be better spent. He wasn’t first team for some of the champions league games and that was with Brown suspended. If he wasn’t playing then, when is he needed? Doesn’t take a £25k a week player to beat Kilmarnock. He’s been solid for us, but we got him for nowt so no tears over losing him for (practically) nowt.

As for Griffiths, I just can’t get excited by him signing. Maybe down to his off the field antics (and hairdo) and if he does a job then well and good but would like to think we could be a bit more adventurous than that.

Can’t believe anyone would object to £4.5m for Ambrose. He has at least one major lapse of concentration every game and wouldn’t be hard to replace.

10 years ago

Nonsense post , usual stupidvresponces by the hard of thinking!!!1 we cant force the sale of sami or ledley its c up to players .
Griffiths will do well .
If ambrose goes for 4.5 million ( doubt it) no problem.
VVD going nonwhere.
Southampton, Norwich CP better options tha us atvthe mo

deadhead67
10 years ago

some tools on here believe this shit written in the diary

CarlJungleBhoy
10 years ago

Another diary goes by without a single, slightly whiffy, joke about Schumacher… FFS Ralph Not enough negativity!

Anyway. On the subjectof Schumacher, here’s a wee balst form the last taken directly from that uber-reliable source of info -Wikipedia:-

Schumacher was involved in a collision with a French defender, substitute Patrick Battiston, in the semi-final of the 1982 World Cup. Battiston had just beaten Schumacher to a through ball from Michel Platini, but shot wide of the goal. Instead of trying to defend the shot, Schumacher appeared to jump directly at Battiston, and collided with him in mid-air.Battiston was knocked unconscious, and later slipped into a coma.He also lost his two front teeth and had a damaged vertebra. He received oxygen on the pitch.Michel Platini later said that he thought that Battiston had died, because “he had no pulse and looked pale”.The Dutch referee Charles Corver did not award a free kick for the incident. Schumacher then proceeded to take the goal kick and play resumed.Germany would eventually go on to win the game on penalty kicks after the match was tied at 3–3.

Schumacher caused more controversy after the game with his response to news that Battiston had lost three teeth: “If that’s all that’s wrong with him, I’ll pay him the crowns.” Schumacher later apologised in person to Battiston, who accepted the apology.

A French newspaper poll asked which was the least popular man in France, and Schumacher beat Adolf Hitler into second.

___________________________________________________________

Nice one eh?

Admin
10 years ago
Reply to  CarlJungleBhoy

Ones called Harold
Ones called Mike
One whacked into a rock
The other ones hard to rhyme

CarllJungleBhoy
10 years ago
Reply to  Desi Mond

Harold , but commonly known as Toni. Rhymes with moany old bastard (aka Pensionerbhoy’- only jokin PB). BTW. There’s an absence of comas , I mean commas, in yer poem

10 years ago

Commas?, no-one likes a peddant!

CarllJungleBhoy
10 years ago
Reply to  Desimond

.. Huffy hissy fit reaction – Away and swing your pendant somewhere else you!

pensionerbhoy
10 years ago
Reply to  Desimond

CJB

Hang on!

H H

pensionerbhoy
10 years ago

CJB

Whit’s that? I just woke up. Come oan!

H H

CarllJungleBhoy
10 years ago
Reply to  pensionerbhoy

Tee hee. Just a wee jest. I like your rants oldbhoy!

Admin
10 years ago

BBC reporting a big buy out fee met for a Turkish star but then player and his club couldnt agree dpearture terms!

Big Turkish player…shame, the DJ could have played Deee-Lites ‘Groove is in the Heart’ whenever he scored!

Gareth savage
10 years ago

Guys,
Man U couldn’t keep hold of Ronaldo so you cannot say it is just us. Bottom line if Ledley and Sammy don’t want to sign we may as well punt them now. Get a settled side in for the qualifiers. Sad to see them go by Joe is not a nailed on regular. His ability to fill is good but we have Charlie for that and he’s happy to do it. Hooper and Vic wanted to go. Hooper wanted to be back in Essex so can’t blame the guy. Efe I would imagine would like to be in London if given the chance. So if we can get £4.5m for him I’ll take it. I don’t like it but why have an unhappy player. I think we’ve seen at a few clubs the African players agents want to move them as often as possible. Maybe Efe should ask Vic about life on the bench seeing as he’s not playing at the moment.

Carntyne
10 years ago

I hardly think you can say Celtic haven’t tried to keep Ledley.

New contract talks have been going on since the start of this season, but Celtic have to operate within their wage structure which may no be to Joe Ledley’s liking, or, perhaps he just feels that the time he has spent at Parkhead is long enough.

Whatever the reason it’s easy to criticise the club, but doing so without knowing the details of why Ledley has shown a reluctance to re-sign is more than unfair

Doc
10 years ago

Griffiths – fair enough.
Ledley + Sammi – good players/top earners, wouldn’t break the bank to keep.
Wallace – would he play ahead of Izzy or even Mulgrew? Doubt it.
Ambrose – moments of madness and room for improvement but I would not want him sold at all. Far superior to the guys who would replace him.

saj
10 years ago

I have always felt Joe should be able to do more than he does, also feel he spends a lot of time out injured. We have the new midfileder in so straight swop. We have been in a lot worse places in the past that is for sure.

saj
10 years ago

I would like to keep Forster as we will need him to qualify for the CL and in case we get the sevco in the cup. I like Ambrose he has had a good season imo.
bit more nervous after reading the diary today was confident before.

Charlie Saiz
10 years ago

Here’s how I see it….
Ledley is for the off all we have done in my opinion is made some money from him before he goes and saved at least £500k on wages.
Good business he cost us fuck all and although a good player not what I would class as an exceptional one.
ie Moravcik Petrov Lambert etc.
Johansen I think is a good signing as he is more inclined to attack and pass the ball in a forward motion as apposed to the usual sideways shuffle we have been watching on and off this season…Time will tell of course.
2 Strikers in one of whom has a better record than anyone else at the Club ..ie Leigh 111 Goals in 224 Games Griffiths .
Fridjonsson may well make his mark at Celtic we just dont know yet but what we do know is we need a tall Striker who can head a ball because lets face it our strike rate from crosses and corners is beyond a fucking joke?
Bangura is gone …..thank fuck another Positive and to celibrate I gather Audi are bringing out a new Model called the Audi Postitnote .
We are top of the League
Unbeaten
Have not lost a Goal on the domestic front since November
Whit’s there to be pissed off about?

pensionerbhoy
10 years ago

Ralph

I am late. After the first paragraph this morning I took some pills. I actually meant to have a piss as you were taking so much of it. Unfortunately I have woken up again only to find the antidepressants are well and truly in the minority. I am resigned to the future even though I do feel we let some of the past go too cheaply. I guess that is the downside of being a tiny fish in a financial whirlpool. However, spare a thought for the fish flapping in the muddy waters. OK, you’ve thought now let them sink or swim. After all, they jumped in in spite of the warnings.

I have to disagree with those who saw little or no humour in the diary today. I thought this was up there with your best – I just hope that is to your credit and not eternal condemnation.
“Except Samaras, the Trabzonspor offer is still on the table, but they’ll have to be quick before we sell the fucking table.”

What a glorious bean feast of comments today, especially for a “poor diary”. I would say best to keep them coming then.

The picture quiz: Our new keeper in the Morderwell goals. Bloody sick of walls! Everybody keeps giving him big licks.

H H

saj
10 years ago

has Bangura gone? where to? saw him in his debut against Murderwell when he came off the bench. The pitch was perfect and he everytime he run with the ball it looked like he was on the surface of the moon as the ball bobelled everywhere. My son turned to me and said who the fk is that. He thought it was some guy who had bought a place in the team for a game he was that bad.

jojopicasso
10 years ago

CELTIC SUPPORTERS. MORE LIKE MOANING MINNIES
WHAT WRONG WITH YOUS,MOAN!MOAN!MOAN!
WE’RE TOP HEAVEY IN MIDFIELD
JOE WAS LEAVING FOR NOTHING IN 6 MOTHS WE GET A PROVEN
STRICKER FOR BASICALLY NOTHING
SUPPORT YOUR TEAM OR ARE YOU MISSING SEVCO THAT MUCH
YOU HAVE TO MOAN ABT SOMETHING.
ANYTHING!
SAD PEOPLE,

pensionerbhoy
10 years ago
Reply to  jojopicasso

jojopicasso

Are you being serious? I did not know football supporters had changed that much. Moaning was partly what you bought at the turnstiles in my day. Celtic must have a classier crowd these days. “Dear, dear referee. Another honest mistake. Oh well!”. Now in the old days it was guaranteed he was a dirty orange bastard from some masonic lodge or other. But I guess we must all move on – except referees, of course.

A good moan is what football is all about. Even the great Jock and his Lisbon Lions got moaned at regularly so it is not a new phenomenon. And might I ask whether we should all have remained calm and reserved about say John Barnes or Tony Mobery? Can you truthfully say you never had a moan about either?

But, after all, you should know fans are the REAL experts, each of the thousands individually too. It bears no relevance, however, to how they actually feel about the club – in fact it may be the red light we should be looking out for as against the blue light that never flickers – and I do not believe for one minute any club that is strangling itself is missed anywhere. Personally, I would provide more rope to get it done quicker.

So, come on, cheer up yourself and stop moaning about the moaners – come (M)oan!

H H

Brisbanecelt
10 years ago

Wear a bungee diving off that viaduct mate. You’ll realise that this is not the lowest point in your Celtic supporting experience so don’t take the easy way out. Picture the headlines of Griffiths scoring an injury time winner to take us through to the group stages of the champs league….fuck, it’s hot here, I think I’m coming down with something…

pensionerbhoy
10 years ago
Reply to  Brisbanecelt

Brisbanecelt

“You’ll realise that this is not the lowest point in your Celtic supporting experience…”
He sure will if the fucking elastic breaks!

H H

binkabhoy
10 years ago

Suicide is a permanent solution to temporary problems.

Charlie Saiz
10 years ago

“If the Pier is short then ensure the walk is even shorter..”
An Ancient Pier Builders Proverb.

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