After reading yesterdays diary, Neil Lennon was forced to confirm or deny an interest in Norwich striker Gary Hooper;
“Centre-forward,” Lennon told the Daily Recordwhen asked where his squad requires strengthening. “Everyone is looking for one of them.
“I’d imagine the Hooper thing would rumble on, but whether we could tempt him back or not, I don’t know.
“I don’t like talking about a player who is under contract at another club. But we think highly of Gary, put it that way. Whether we could do a deal he or the club would entertain, I don’t know.
“People talk about that elusive Champions League striker and it would give you a comfort at times. But they cost money and are hard to find.
“We’re going to lose Georgios Samaras, who is proven at that level, so I’ll have to find a good player to replace him, whether it’s a centre-forward or someone similar to Samaras.
“I think the money is there. If we think he’s a good player and there’s a resale value, then I think the club would be prepared to commit. But the majority of players worth that amount of money go elsewhere. That’s the reality.”
Astounded that anything which had appeared on Etims could become reality, Diary author Ralph Malph then claimed that Lionel Messi, Cristian Ronaldo and Billy Moshni were also on the hoops wanted list…if only to upset fans of former rivals Rangers.
I don’t think Messi wants to come, though.
Celtic are in Perth today where they will face St. Johnstone, who have volunteered to help the champions in their quest for one hundred goals and one hundred points. Manager Neil Lennon has said that he might give Derk Boerrigter, Amido Balde and Lukasz Zaluska ninety minutes.
” I might give them a start ” he said
A start ? He’ll frighten the bloody life out of them talking like that.
Zaluska is certainly in Lennons thoughts, not least because the campaign to sell Fraser forster has yet to peak, and you get the feeling that it’ll be one of those deals that if it happens, will happen very quickly. so, Lennon needs to have a plan b, which would be a first.
” We have a list of goalkeepers that we have our eye on, but Lukasz can certainly deputise ” Lennon said
” If Fraser were to go, would we look to bring another goalkeeper in ? Certainly we would, whether its a number one or a number two. “
We did get a wee insight to the mind of the manager as well, because although he is thinking of bringing players in, theres the issue of players going out.
If you read the STV sports page, you could be forgiven for thinking everyone is away, and we might as well shut the club down;
Neil Lennon admits that Celtic could be set for a significant level of player turnover in the summer.
The Northern Irishman had to cope with the departure of Gary Hooper, Victor Wanyama and Kelvin Wilson last summer.
Northern Irishman ? Seriously, Irish would have been an accurate enough description. Perhaps the writer is paid by the word.
And with speculation linking Celtic’s best players with moves away from Parkhead it’s something Lennon might have to contend with again.
“Yeah, that’s always a worry,” the Hoops boss said ahead of Wednesday’s game against St Johnstone.
“I think there might be a bit of a turnover in terms of players this season.”
Lennon said his own transfer plans will depend on what offers are received for his current players, but revealed he has already started scouting potential summer targets.
He said: “We’re working very hard in the background to try and identify players that are suited to fit.
“We’re nowhere near down the line in terms of making signings. But we’re keeping an eye on one or two.”
“It depend on what offers we get in. Sometimes things surprise you. For instance, the Kelvin Wilson one came out of left field last season, so you have to be prepared for that.”
Wilson said before he moved that he might move. I distinctly remember the interview he gave when there was no speculation at all, that sounded like a huge hint to any club in the East Midlands that had a vacancy for a centre half. If Lennon didn’t see that coming , we really have a problem. However, this extract simply shows that Lennon will add to the squad if he has to, if key players do leave he will replace them-or at least try to.
Could it be that he’s fairly happy with what he’s got ?
Well, I’ve got news for him. Theres a crisis just around the corner, and its a biggie;
” In the latest statistics released by IFFHS Celtic have retained their position as the 5th best ranked club in Britain but have seen themselves drop out of the top thirty world club rankings for the first time this year.
The statistics released by IFFHS are made up via a points system in which clubs pick up points for wins or draws in their domestic and continental competitions. The number of points available is judged on how competitive the competitions are that each club has to play in. Celtic won the SPL recently which has contributed to their total points tally. The SPL isn’t ranked as high as the Premier League and that will always hold Celtic back somewhat in these rankings.
Celtic played just three games during April in which they recorded two wins and one draw. They notched up victories against Dundee United and Inverness Caledonian Thistle but sandwiched in between those games was the 3-3 draw with Motherwell and this cost them valuable ranking points. Earlier on in the year Celtic were actually in the top twenty ranked club sides in the world but there none involvement in Europe since exiting the Champions League at the group stage and their elimination in the cup has cost them in recent months.
Celtic’s 33rd ranking still means they are the 5th best ranked team in Britain behind Chelsea (9th), Arsenal (13th), Tottenham (17th) and Manchester City (26th). They still remain ahead of Premier League champions Manchester United but they are slowly catching up to the SPL club and are now only two places behind in 35th position. “
We’re already on a slippery slope, and perhaps the SFA were right, we do need a strong Rangers. I’m off to pledge money to Dave King as soon as I can.
Which will take me over the million pound mark ……
And I still won’t be the principal pledger….
Tonights game is live on BT Sport, which means I might not see it, having cancelled the channel as a form of protest when BT asked me to pay for my email address, so it might be the radio for me. I have no idea if they’ve taken it away yet, as I had to give a months notice.
Lets hope theres no controversy during the game, because it seems Aberdeen were cheated out of the points last Saturday, as one of their fans websites explains..
” Dons boss Derek McInnes feels Aberdeen were denied a penalty in the 5-2 defeat by the Scottish Premiershipchampions.
Yes, it was 5-2. Apparently penalties count as four goals in the land of the sheep.
The Dons appealed in vain when Jonny Hayes was fouled by Efe Ambrose’s challenge when they trailed 3-2.
“It’s a penalty kick. It’s not only a penalty kick, it’s last-man for Ambrose and down to 10 men,” said McInnes.
no it wasn’t, no it isn’t and no we weren’t.
“Ultimately, Celtic scored some good goals and had some good performances and have the quality to pick you off.”
Five times, in fact.
Celtic took the lead when captain Brown rifled a fine shot past Jamie Langfield, but they were pegged back when Niall McGinn levelled.
Brown netted again before the break and Antony Stokes fired Celtic’s third.
And, despite Shaleum Logan netting a ferocious drive, Commons put the result beyond doubt with two late strikes.
And McInnes believes their unsuccessful penalty appeal came at a “pivotal” moment of an entertainingencounter.
“I thought at 3-2 the momentum was with us,” he added.
“Effectively, it could be 3-3 playing against 10 men and it’s game on. But we never, Celtic got the fourth goal and we were a wee bit open at that stage because you are as well going forward and having a go.”
Believe it or not, this man has won two Manager of the Year awards.
The thing is, the establishment media need a hero, MacInnes is that man. Fair enough, he’s done okay with Aberdeen, but if we accept that Neil Lennon would have to win at least the Champions League, the Open and Wimbledon to gain any recognition, then surely Stuart McCall at Motherwell, Jackie MacNamara at Dundee Utd and even Gordon Strachan with the national team have arguably a better shout at these awards..
Oh wait, MacNamaras side beat the Rangers, Stuart McCall won’t manage the Rangers and Gordon Strachan won’t pick any of the Rangers, so its all their own fault really.
Ah, the Rangers.
Stop laughing at the back. And the front, come to think of it.
Imran Ahmed, who says he is due money from the finacial fuck up that is residing at Ibrox, failed to convince a court that the club is on its way out yesterday, which means he will have to wait for his money like everyone else.
Despite having had to take out a payday loan already this season, the court decided that the club was fine.
“There is some scope for concern about the financial position of the defender (Rangers). It cannot be said there is a real possibility of the defender being insolvent (in early 2015 when any potential liability would fall due).”
Yes it can, its just that no-one wants to say it out loud in case it affects season book sales. So far, its been claimed the club has sold just 2000….
2015 ?
Incredibly, Lord Armstrong, the judge, meant 2015 the year, and not the time…..fair enough, if he meant quarter past eight he might have had a point, but next year ? No chance.
It was said in court that institutional investors would step in to avoid an insolvency event, but Armstrong didn’t ask who they were, or why they didn’t step in to invest before, and prevent the need for a payday loan.
And they have already started to release players, with Andy Little, Chris Hegarty and Ross Perry being shown the door, the car park and finally the street yesterday.
Still, they are after Kenny Miller and Kris Boyd, as manager Ally McCoist builds for the future….
Well, whatever future they have. The board released a statement yesterday, telling fans they will not get security over Ibrox, as Dave King and Richard Gough seem to think they will….
“Attempting to create a fund that wishes to deprive revenue to the football club these men purport to love so much and create financial difficulty for Rangers, displays a twisted logic.
“For the avoidance of doubt and so that all Rangers fans are again reassured, the Board has stated that it has no intention of granting security over Ibrox to anybody. We have already shown in our actions – and not words – that our stadium is sacrosanct.
“Any supporters considering engaging with Ibrox 1972 Ltd should be clear that as the Club will not grant security over Ibrox to any such organisation, there is no prospect that any commitment to this new scheme will ever come to fruition and is therefore entirely meaningless.”
So there.
Celtics under 20 side beat off the challenge from their Ibrox counterparts yesterday with a 2-0 win at Lennoxtown, meaning that a win against Dundee Utd will keep the title at Celtic Park.
Chris Jack, in the Evening Times, could hardly type for crying;
Gordon Durie’s side went into the Lennoxtown clash only needing a point to deny their rivals a fifth successive league crown.
But second-half goals from Denny Johnstone and John Herron were enough to give the Hoops victory.
It is the second time this season Celtic have beaten their Glasgow counterparts on Under-20 duty and they now have their sights set on the championship.
Boss Durie handed starts to first-team stars Kyle Hutton, Robbie Crawford and Calum Gallagher for the derby clash, but it was the youthful Hoops side, who fielded midfielder Liam Henderson, that would take the spoils.
First team stars ???
After a goalless first half, Johnstone broke the deadlock just before the hour mark when he met Filip Twardzik’s cross and headed beyond keeper Liam Kelly.
The Rangers keeper is called Liam Kelly. I think we can safely say he’ll never be a first team star…How did he get past the interview ? What with his brother being the cardinal etc….?
And when midfielder Herron doubled the hosts’ advantage seven minutes later, converting after being set up by winger Paul McMullan, the points were secured for Celtic as they moved to within one win of the title.
The Light Blues, who face Hearts in the SFA Youth Cup Final next week, hold a two-point advantage at the top of the table.
But, having played all of their fixtures this term, they must now hope Celtic fail to win their final game of the campaign when they face Dundee United tomorrow.
As indeed will the writer…..
John Colquhoun made an appearance in the diary quiz yesterday, wearing a Sunderland strip, which is where he played for a while after failing to replace Davie Provan, who was actually a bit of a player in his day. Which is how we’d rather remember him.
This fellow certainly won’t thank us for remembering him like this. Who is he ?
Mark Hughes?
Alfie conn, Charlie Nicholas, just happy to get in first, bobo balde
Hail hail
Mark Hughes impersonating Brian Whittaker sans moustache
dave McPherson of the deid club trying to sell FA cup tickets to
make a profit.
We don’t need Hooper,Stokesy and Sparky will score goals we need.A target man to hold ball up,and bring S and S into to play is what the club are looking for,for the CL Peter Houston
is doing the scouting for this type of player.John Park can’t be relied for strikers,after Rasmussen,Bangura,Pukki and Balde.
That’s all folks.
Good old tosh McKinlay, a fine Tim.
Tosh McKinlay… Who infamously stuck the head in the king of king’s.
It’s the Bhoy Tosh, surely?
Tosh McKinley who also referred to Celtic as ‘we’ one too many times during analysis on Radio Clyde and was punted.
I think I had a jacket like that, got it out of Studio on Argyle Street…oh the shame
The manager of the year award. We keep hearing with the resources the sheep, murderwell etc have, the managers do a good job against the might of big bhoys Celtic.
Neil Lennon is expected to win the league but had a poor run in Europe and that’s why he’s been overlooked. (Again)
Surely, getting into the group stages of the Champions League with the resources Celtic have, compared to, say, Barcelona, Madrid etc whilst winning league games is a better achievement than winning a diddly cup and finishing 30 points behind ?
McKinley actually played against Brasil in France 98. Came on as a sub in a team already including Boyd, Lmabert, Burley, Jackson and Collins (tho then with Monaco?)
Tosh McKinlay….once saw his burd smack him a dull yin outside Panama jax…ah Bisto
it looks more like Billy McKinlay ( mind we were meant to be signing him!) than good old Tosh.
What is the point of Balde and Boerrigter ? At 3M Boerrigter
is the biggest con ever.Hooked at half time,hopefully that is the last time we will see him in a Celtic.jersey.
If John Park seen a football player in Balde,is.it.any wonder
Peter Houston is now scouting strikers.
hs
All we do is pay a fortune for Boerrigter medical bills while much, much better potential goes to rot at Lennoxtown. I had a flicker somewhere that Balde might surprise us. It would appear the only surprise might be how long we kept him.
Peter Houston does not make me want to leap either, mind.
H H
Agree re Houston.pensionerbhoy.
But,John Park’s recent track record in recruiting strikers has
been awful.Maybe Houston can come up with a player befitting to wear our no 9 jersey.
Ultimately Lenny makes the final decision.But you put a lot
of faith and trust in your scouts.We are wasting scarce resources on the likes of Boerrigter,Balde and Pukki.As you
know,our club has always had decent strikers.