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Celtic Diary Tuesday November 19: Let’s Talk About Celtic

One of the things about international breaks one will notice is that because supporters in general have more or less given up on the Scottish national team after it became an on the park reflection of the competence off the park at the SFA is that the media will still talk about club football.

The west of Scotland media in particular seem to throw any number of players names into a hat, any number of clubs names into a hat and then draw one from each and call it a transfer story.

Things are very quiet at the ranch these days and there is an air of contentment among the players, the staff and the management.

As, indeed, there should be.

Things are going well, with prime position being held in two competitions and a final to look forward to in a third.

But then, for some reason, we are asked to consider the views of one Darren Bent, who offered his thoughts on a potential £20m bid for Oddsone Edouard from Crystal Palace, the delightfully named non-entity from London…

“Yeah if they can get him then brilliant”.

“When people are scoring goals in Scotland it does grab people’s attention but it’s a different kettle of fish in the Premier League and obviously when you’re playing Celtic, you’re gonna have the lion’s share of the ball but in the Premier League, it’s going to be a lot tougher”.

“If they believe he can succeed in the Premier League then I’m all for it as they certainly have enough players in the team who can create chances, it’s just about him finishing them off”.

“Celtic potentially will be interested (if £20m bid tabled) as they’d think oooo, as with Celtic and Rangers, they know if they sell a player for £20million they can then look around Scottish football, cherry-pick the centre-forward who is better than the rest, whatever team that may be, and know full well they could go in with £10million and get that centre-forward”.

“So it’s like a conveyor belt as there’s no problem replacing them”. 

He then went on to cite several examples of Scottish strikers stepping into the shoes of recently departed Celtic strikers…oh wait, he didn’t.

The last one I can think of is Brian McClair, who replaced Charlie Nicholas.

It’s unlikely Edouard will move to Crystal Palace, as he’s said to want to move to a club he’s heard of.

When he eventually does go, that is.

 

Apart from anything else, Oddsone Edouard is the only striker on the books at Celtic with a realistic chance of playing for the first team. Despite a wave of wishful thinking, whatever demons are haunting Leigh Griffiths appear to be hanging around longer than most people thought, and there is little chance of him featuring anytime soon.

Maryan Shved is capable of filling in, as is Scott Sinclair, but one is on his way out and the other hasn’t fully settled yet.

Lewis Morgan may end up with his mentor Jack Ross at Easter road for a while, as the word is that Celtic want to extend the loan of Daniel Arzani, as the manager reckons he’s got something.

And it’s not brittle bone syndrome,

 

Eboue Kouassi, another shining example of Brendan Rodgers knack of finding players who can do a job for Celtic, is said to have asked his agent to find him another club, prompting his agent to furiously tap his name into google to find out who he is.

 

Over the next six months or so, there will be a gradual introduction to the first team squad of younger players who the manager feels have the hunger to add to the experience of the regulars to push Celtic to the ninth succesive title and even further honours this season.

Jeremie Frimpong has already surprised and delighted supporters and will almost certainly have made the right back slot his own by May.

He’s ahead of schedule, whilst Luca Connell and Lee O’Connor are coming along just nicely, and the latter especially is another who will be introduced gradually before establishing himself in the back line.

 

O’Connor recently shone for Ireland in his debut against New Zealand, prompting praise from Mick McCarthy who had enough faith in the lad to play him despite him not yet starting for Celtic.

 

With the January window soon to open, it’s perhaps not so much about spending money, David Turnbull apart,   as it is about letting one or two continue their careers elsewhere, with the notable exception of buying a striker.

This is harder than it may seem.

Celtic still favour playing one up front, which means whoever comes in will be understudy to Edouard, and anyone looking in may take into account the demise of Griffiths, and although there are reasons for that, it will be taken into consideration by those who are offered a deal.

The lack of opportunities afforded to Greg Taylor will discourage anyone from within Scotland, and perhaps we should bear that in mind when we end up with Lawrence Shankland, who in all fairness is probably the best option, especially as it will annoy the hordes south of the river who will be hoping at least some of the Morelas millions will be spent on the Dundee United man.

There will, however, be a couple of strikers we haven’t yet heard of on the mamagers shopping list, who will be young and ambitious enough to bide their time as part of a development programme.

If they are of similar quality to Frimpong and O’Connor, then we will be fine.

Mohammed Daramy, for instance, is a name that springs to mind…

Daramy joined F.C. Copenhagen from Hvidovre IF as a U14 player.[1] He had the opportunity to join both Copenhagen and Brøndby IF, but ended up choosing Copenhagen.[1] At the age of 15, Daramy was already the topscorer of the U17 squad at F.C. Copenhagen, which earned him a contract extension in October 2017 until 2020.[3] He ended up scoring 18 goals in 26 games in the 2017/18 season, making him the fifth most scoring player in that season in the U17 league.[4]

At the age of 16 years and 263 days, Daramy became the youngest ever player to score for F.C. Copenhagen. The goal came in his official debut for the club in a Danish Cup game against Viby.[5] Afterwards, there where rumors about several clubs that was scouting on Daramy, but especially RB Leipzig was rumored to be interested in the player.[6] But Copenhagen didn’t seem to want to let him go and put his price tag on 5 million euros. Daramy went out to the medias and said, that he yet didn’t knew whether he would stay or not.[7]

However, he decided to stay at the club and in March 2019 it was rumored, that he was about to sign a contract extension with a much higher salary, although there was a bid ready from a unknown club on about 5 million euros.[8] He got his Danish Superliga debut on 12 February 2019 against AC Horsens. Daramy replaced Dame N’Doye in the 77th minute.[9] On 31 March 2019, Daramy scored his first goal in the Danish Superliga. Daramy got the chance from start in the absence of Robert Skov who was out with an injury, and scored the 1-0 goal for Copenhagen, which ended up being the winning goal.[10]

On 3 April 2019, Daramy officially signed his first professional contract with Copenhagen until the end of 2021.[11] Beside that, he was also permanently promoted to the first team squad.

 

He has caught the eye of several big clubs, but the progress enjoyed by Moussa Dembele and Oddsone Edoaurd at Celtic recently may well turn his head towards Glasgow…

 

Look, it’s either that or Sam Cosgrove.

 

It’ll soon be AGM time, and whilst I would never try to encourage people how to use their vote, I would like to propose reading the Fans Without Scarves articles on the shennanigans of Scottish football, as well as this one, from Two hundred per cent on the Saracens scandal in England, and how and why it relates to our own game with a rounder ball up here..

Shaming of Scottish football

 

This should refresh your memory as to the seriousness of the events surrounding the attempts by the powers that be, and I’m yet to be convinced that Celtic weren’t as guilty as anyone else back then, and hopefully you’ll vite accordingly.

For now, it’s about doing things the right way in the right place at the right time.

 

Though having said that, I’ve bought my pitchfork already.

 

And I believe I’m not the only one…

 

Due to all sorts of circumstances the Diary has been a little irregular of late, but things should now settle down a bit.

Image

That’s Alan Muir, by the way, who won’t smile until he’s been told he can play for “rangers ” in the league cup final, as word is he wants to make a name for himself…

There is, however strong competition from several other ambitious referees, who want the glamour tie now that they have been deemed too incompetent to referee abroad.

 

You’ll notice that since the passing of John Fleming , the head of refereeing in Scotland, no one has been appointed to succeed him.

 

That’s because they don’t know quite how to tell us…

Image result for hugh dallas

 

With the distinct possibility that David Murray may yet return for the second remake of Rangers, he’ll no doubt be relieved to see an old friend around….

 

Make sure you vote the right way at the AGM.

Otherwise it’ll be like 2012 never happened, and we’ll be just as much to blame by our inaction as those at our club who let them get away with it.

 

Finally, a caption is required for this picture…

 

Image

 

 

 

 

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Brian (not the messiah)
4 years ago

Caption: The Big House must stay open and thats the bottom line

Paddybhoy67
4 years ago

“He just went mental after Hayes scored,” says wife of Rangers* fan

Monti
4 years ago

Caption: ( Larkhall )

( Radio Scotland in background )….” That’s it all over, Celtic are the champions for the tenth consecutive season “

Cartvale88
4 years ago

Caption
The Bomber still looking for the title deeds to
Ibrokes

Scotland a football team that the SFA have buggered up, do not care, last game I went to was under Vogts, watched the Republic last night, more commitment and entertainment from players that care, as the FIA do.

Our moronic media have added to the sham that is the SFA and the SPFL, excusing every disaster and listening to Jabba

Bognorbhoy
4 years ago

We danced and sang,
And the music played inna de boomtown

Iancelt67
4 years ago

Shankland may be a gem. Scores goals cheap and hungry. No frills. Just focussed on his trade. Sounds like a hun but so was mcgrain and dalgleish. But once these guys threw on the hoops they were converted as broonie was. That hoops shirt is cherished by the right people. Maybe shankland is the answer. Goals are his business and we all love boys who can find the onion bag. He’s instinct personified. Look at Leicester’s vardy a low league journeyman who has adapted brilliantly. Football is football at any level. In astute strikers a re like hens teeth

4 years ago
Reply to  Iancelt67

IANCELT67

Put like that,it’s hard to argue. Still a young lad too. But having only played at a much lower level-albeit it very successfully-what are his fitness levels like? His pace,speed of thought,decision-making?

He looks,for me,like another Kris Boyd. Great scorer,but not near the level required.

If we sign him and I am wrong,I’ll be delighted to eat huge portions of humble pie!!!

Puggy67
4 years ago
Reply to  Iancelt67

He is of the dark side but responded to the question when put to him with the balance and professionalism of a kid who has been schooled properly. Who cares? I’d give Arlene a game if she could put away 30 goals a season. Only joking.

Monti
4 years ago
Reply to  Iancelt67

NURSE ^

Brian (not the messiah)
4 years ago
Reply to  Iancelt67

And we could have had him for nothing in June

Magdalena’s Chestnut Gelding
4 years ago
Reply to  Iancelt67

But Shankland, it’s gonna be hard for him to shake off his core instincts.

4 years ago

CAPTION

I telt ye tae lay aff that wreck the hoose juice,but wid ye listen?!!!

4 years ago

New updated site,Ralph. Very nice-but my comments are still “awaiting moderation”!!!

Monti
4 years ago

TIT ^

Monti
4 years ago
Reply to  Monti

Did ye aye?

Puggy67
4 years ago

Caption: Meanwhile at the home of one of Prince Andrew’s accusers…

Brian Reilly
4 years ago

surely not the Big House collapsing !!!!!

Morto
4 years ago

Caption: Kenny Miller finally comes back down to earth after ‘that’ tackle.
OR
“Morelos is clean through with just the keeper to beat, well, who knows where that one will land Tam”

charlie
4 years ago

pitchforks ar so last year ralph we should get mike the fermer tae bring his muckspreader or bulldozer

charlie
4 years ago
Reply to  charlie

caption too late hees already hired oot his bulldozer

charlie
4 years ago
Reply to  charlie

wer is the auld muckspreader anyway he he

charlie
4 years ago

thoughts and prayers wae you and yours weered

jimmybee
4 years ago

Our Billy came in and told his Da he wanted to ho to school with Sean and Grace. That was all it took.

portpower
4 years ago

Caption:
Bloo room book balance hoverboard Christmas come early.

4 years ago

Caption: My house is the envy of the nation, it is a debt free, state of the art, world class building with world class contents. – D King.

Konrad
4 years ago

Caption: Having searched high and low Bomber Brown could still find no trace of ‘ra deedz’.

portpower
4 years ago

Caption:
sevco`s 2022 segregated feasibility project is ring-fenced.

Monti
4 years ago

Caption: Charlie Saiz attic is blown to bits by a suicide bomber action man!

Ronny Deila Allah Akbar

4 years ago
Reply to  Monti

Oh dear…

Monti
4 years ago

Caption: ” Cancel the window cleaner, Agnes “

SteveNaive
4 years ago
Reply to  Monti

I’ve read the Fans Without Scarves piece and it would make your head spin from the sheer industrial cheating and actual law breaking. Moreover, to think Celtic, yes the club money men are maybe complicit in it all is sickening. We need a concerted, unified effort to take this on but ‘fix football, empty Hampden’ is a non starter.
Celtic all over, sell Eddy, buy Shankland… ffs.

Devoy45
4 years ago

Caption: My son introduces his da to a new chili-laden tandoori with predictable results.
Caption: Where the hell is that shredder for the side letters?!!!
Eddy will not be sold this year and Shankland will do for the noo.

jimmybee
4 years ago

Another great night of fundraising for the Billy McNeill statue in his hometown of Bellshill on Saturday night.
It was great to see his wife Liz and the McNeill clan out in force to help with the committee’s efforts. Over 4,000 was raised on the night and the same was raised a few weeks ago in Holytown. 75, 000 they need I’m sure with the help of all the Celtic family this will be achieved. Great work by the committee there to get a fitting tribute to the great man in his hometown.HH

sfa unfit for purpose
4 years ago

Spurs have just sacked Pochettino ,

Monti
4 years ago

Go on…….

The Cha
4 years ago

Shankland has played about 20 games in the Premiership and hasn’t scored a goal.

Naw, just naw.

Both Christie and Armstrong (amongst others) were pre-eminent players when we signed them and they still took a significant amount of time to be worthy of a first team place.

The Celtic shirt shouldn’t shrink for inferior players.

Monti
4 years ago
Reply to  The Cha

John McGinn outstanding again eh….

Outrageous to have missed out on this guy, outrageous & a big mistake!

The Cha
4 years ago
Reply to  Monti

Bizarrely, playing well together with Christie.

I thought they couldn’t play together hence no hassle that we missed out on the now £50m rated McGinn.

Let that register (see what I did there?). 😉

Monti
4 years ago
Reply to  The Cha

🙂

Magdalena’s Chestnut Gelding
4 years ago

Caption

Billy entered their room unexpectedly whilst The Pope was on the news. In his rage he couldn’t find the remote…………

Cortes
4 years ago

Caption: The John Lawrence House.

TicToc
4 years ago

Caption: Hun’s maw thinks “Geezo,I jist knew a shouldnae huv pit that mirror in Billy’s bedroom!”

Hands Cant Hit
4 years ago

We need a striker and yet we are being linked with a 17 year old from Copenhagen? We need a senior player who can challenge OE for his place or, at the very least, come in and be a solid replacement and allow him some rest. Neither Bayo or Griff can do that at present. Bayo would be fine for a 3rd choice. Griff is behind Bayo which tells us all we need to know.

If we don’t get a decent striker in January there is a very real prospect that we could blow the league, as our whole campaign currently hinges on the fitness of OE.

It’s crazy to be in this position as we knew that Bayo was an unknown entity, having not kicked a ball since his arrival in January and that Griff could not be relied on to be a consistent performer given what he has gone through; added to that, he was already quite injury prone before his leave of absence.

jimmybee
4 years ago
Reply to  Hands Cant Hit

Well said Charlie if Griff gets going again no one better equipped to keep us on track to 10 in a row. We also miss his set plays.

The Cha
4 years ago
Reply to  Hands Cant Hit

“107 and counting” is that how many games he’s missed?

He’s been, practically, lost to the cause for the past 3 1/2 years.

How long does this indulgence go on before we’re seriously put at risk due to an injury to Eddy?

The Cha
4 years ago
Reply to  The Cha

4 years ago under Deila.

Since then, when Celtic raised their game to a whole new level that he can’t keep up with, he’s scored 40 goals ie in almost 4 years.

4 goals in 7 years, aye, International class.

bgbolingoli
4 years ago
Reply to  The Cha

joe hart is rubbish

I could have saved that second free kick

The Cha
4 years ago
Reply to  bgbolingoli

I’m not sure he’s that good. 🙂

The Cha
4 years ago
Reply to  The Cha

He was “dropped” for the vastly superior Dembele and I doubt there’s a single Celtic fan disagreed with that.

That and the fact that he was incapable of keeping up with the vastly improved professional standards that were introduced.

The Cha
4 years ago
Reply to  The Cha

“Joe Hart” 🙂

Monti
4 years ago
Reply to  The Cha

🙂

Hands Cant Hit
4 years ago
Reply to  Hands Cant Hit

Sorry, but have to disagree.

Leigh’s 40 goal a season was 5 years ago this summer. That season was followed up with a 19 and 14 goal season respectively; the 40 goal season was an outlier, not the norm.

Scott Sinclair was player of the year in his first season; his form significantly dipped in the following seasons. Do you have faith he will recover his first season form and, if not, why should we have faith that Griff will (particularly as SS has not been out with any long term issues)?

We all sympathise with Leigh’s mental health issue and I am happy with the approach taken by the club to help get him through. However, there has to be a recognition that 10 in a row is up for grabs and Leigh is fundamentally unreliable at this time. If OE gets injured we are in real trouble.

A loan to Hibs for the final 6 months of the season to see if he can be a reliable option is the only sensible way forward imo. He can then come back next year for 10 in a row.

bgbolingoli
4 years ago
Reply to  Hands Cant Hit

totally agree with hands

he is unreliable as a professional football player.. he was part of the reason we went to ibrox last season with no strikers

too busy shouting “im numma wan” when he should be concentrating on becoming fitter and reliable

the truth is hes not been ‘numma wan’ since 2015-16, if eddy gets injured we are in serious trouble

there’s a reason why moussa left for 20 and eddy will for the same, and theres also a reason why we couldn’t pay anyone to take Griffiths off us

we owe him nothing

The Cha
4 years ago
Reply to  bgbolingoli

Ooft, “I’m fuckin’ number 1!”.

I remember that, what a total embarrassment.

bgbolingoli
4 years ago
Reply to  bgbolingoli

I agree, but its time to move him on…

bgbolingoli
4 years ago
Reply to  bgbolingoli

it would appear there is only one plum on this website..

free ticket to the game on Saturday sir?

The Cha
4 years ago
Reply to  bgbolingoli

Typical.

As soon as someone argues against him, he can’t handle it and resorts to insults.

Not big, not clever.

Monti
4 years ago
Reply to  bgbolingoli

Yes indeed, Hands makes good points here!

Una
4 years ago

Caption

Morelos brought to court to pay damages to this property outside hampden after a volley from 2 yards hits it

Monti
4 years ago
Reply to  Una

Caption: Una shows off the remnants of her great british bake off entry.

Owen Mullions
4 years ago

Caption: Dave King denies reports of structural problems at Edmiston House.

Monti
4 years ago
Reply to  Owen Mullions

Caption: David Murray installs a new floating ramp!

jimmybee
4 years ago

Young O Connell had another fine game for Ireland u21 and scored a lovely goal. Maybe the United fans are right about him and we have a quality young player on our books. Taylor looked solid enough at Left Back for Scotland
Griff gets 2 young Burt who came back to us from sevco got a hat trick from midfield things are looking a lot brighter than they did at the summer. The 2 full back positions have excellent cover if we could get Benkovic back from Leicester and Wanyana from Spurs then what a difference that would make.
COYBIG.

jimmybee
4 years ago
Reply to  jimmybee

^O Connor of course doh

bgbolingoli
4 years ago

you aint a celtic fan

fans go to games, regardless

they don’t hide behind false pretences

The Cha
4 years ago
Reply to  bgbolingoli

What makes you think that?

Just because he bigs up Morelos and dissess Eddy and previously Mousa…

Oh wait.

Monti
4 years ago
Reply to  The Cha

Not to mention being insanely critical of Brendan Rodgers, who won 7 out of 7 domestic trophies, two successive CL campaigns etc……yet praised Mr Deila for emptying our stadium.

Odd fellow that.

The Cha
4 years ago

If you can’t handle having your arse handed to you for your hypocritical and insane views then perhaps you should take a day off.

henkesdreadlocks
4 years ago
Reply to  The Cha

Your hole must be gaping.

Monti
4 years ago

Like Cyril Smith’s mouth on a visit to Elm house.

4 years ago

wOw

Monti
4 years ago
Reply to  Weered

🙂

henkesdreadlocks
4 years ago
Reply to  The Cha

You should adjust your moniker to Charlie Saiz Minus.

The Cha
4 years ago

How many’s that, 107 and counting? 🙂

Monti
4 years ago
Reply to  The Cha

I’ve ridden you for years….

Monti
4 years ago

Caption: ” ok lads, that went well, next stop Brighton “

4 years ago

Reds beat Glentoran 1 0in semi final of County Antrim Shield..
YOU REDS….

The Cha
4 years ago
Reply to  Weered

Great stuff.

When and where’s the Final?

4 years ago
Reply to  The Cha

Cha… 21st January. Venue unknown,

bgbolingoli
4 years ago
Reply to  Weered

cassidys for the rennes game weered?

jimmybee
4 years ago

The backing Charlie saiz is giving to Griff is very admirable and fully justified in my opinion. He is a fine player when he is at 100% no one better in the premier league.
I can see the points others make about his fitness and lack of games but give me a 100% Griff and he would be in my team.
I watched the great George Connolly and what a talent taken from us too early because of his own demons George would have benefited now from the modern care given by the professionalism at the club.
Let’s see if Griff can get back to his best and give him the benefit of doubt for a little while yet.
HH

Monti
4 years ago
Reply to  jimmybee

PISH ^

Monti
4 years ago
Reply to  jimmybee

” a little while yet “?
Fuck sake how long does he need?

I’d sell to the first bidder in January!

Monti
4 years ago

Cs
Those breasts are looking a bit droopy….you’ve met Una, then?

Monti
4 years ago

Prince Andrew?
Morning, you have a good day now.

Oh dear.

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