Todays picture shows Neil Lennon reacting to the news of the Norwich bid for Gary Hooper. Try as we can, none of us sure what words he is about to say. Study the picture and see if you can.
“Teams in England will have to acknowledge that Celtic players are not a cheap alternative to players from their own league. Offers such as the £5m tabled by Norwich City for Gary Hooper are nothing short of insulting. no offers below £10m will be considered for any of our players so don’t even pick up the phone.”
Neil Lennon or Peter Lawwell haven’t made this statement, but they are free to use it. However, the gaffer did describe the offer as “unacceptable” and added it would take a “substantially ” better one to force Celtic to sell.
On Hooper, he said that “He’s not unsettled at all. He wants to stay. His take on it is that he wants to stay.”
Deep down though, I think we are all less than convinced…
With it seeming likely that Hooper doesn’t want to sign a new contract, then he should be sold. But not for £5m, and not to Norwich. Like any good manager , Lennon will take Hooper aside and point out a few home truths to him. Norwich , which by all accounts is a great wee club in a lovely city, but unless he does something spectacular, it would be career suicide for Hooper to move there. Still, in fairness to the player, he hasn’t actually said anything on the matter, so its all just speculation. Even if the striker wants to leave, for the moment he is still one of us, and Lennon should still look out for him in the big bad world of football agents, who concern themselves with the folding green, and not the well being of their clients.
Never mind. The footballs back. Those of you brave enough to venture out in the extreme weather conditions today, be careful. Especially the Lennon CSC who are hurtling north for the game in the old minibus. There is a red snow warning today, and if thats anything like yellow snow, then you will understand why I’m staying at home.
Rami Gershon has been added to todays squad, along with Anthony Stokes, but Tom Rogic doesn’t have a work permit, so unless we register him as a ball boy or something, he’ll have to sit this one out. Hearts may include new loan signing Danny Wilson, another who came to prominence via the legendary Murray Park conveyer belt of talent. Thats unfair. Wilson could make a name for himself despite coming through on the Murray Park conveyer belt of talent. Other than that, Hearts will be missing captain Zaliukas, which lowers the insurance premium for Celtic players, but Andy Webster could be back, which probably puts it back up again.
Just a thought here. Anyone else remember the fact that all the youth players from Rangers were owned by a separate company from the parent club? Is that why they aren’t being touted around other clubs this window? Or is it because no-one wants them? Surely they would leap at the chance to play at a higher level, perhaps with a First Division side ?
Anyway, four trophies are there to be won, and it all starts today.
Full back Darnell Fisher and forward Bahrudin Atajic have both been awarded new contracts after their continued progresss with the development squads, and Stevie Frail, the head coach says;
“We have been impressed with them, but the work gets even harder now”
Which should not only keep their feet on the ground, but simultaneously fill their boots with lead. However, it shows that all players are closely monitored, and the policy of bringing through players will continue.
Meanwhile, Neil Lennon has spoken about one or two conversations he had with more experienced managers at the recent forum he attended. He says he was talking to Fabio Capello, who told him Celtic have a chance against Juventus in next months Champions League game. Along with Roy Hodgson, Capello has given Lennon a few tips on how to beat them.
We’re doomed.
Tittle tattle now, and the word on the street is that Kris Boyd, the legend in his own lunchtime, could be off to Kilmarnock, before joining up with league new boys Sevco Rangers as a free agent in September. With Kenny Miller also bombed out in Vancouver , could the league new boys be about to re-unite the former Scotland duo as they attempt to climb up the league ladder?
We hope so. Just when you thought the panto was over, we get a rare sequel that could be just as funny as the original. Still no word on John Greig coming back though, but Derek Johnstone is reportedly interested.
Tom Rogic was the player described in the quote yesterday, which appeared in the Australian 4-4-2 magazine. Although a few of you were right, it could have been used to describe others, which was sort of the point of the question…
Its hard , even a day later , not to mention Sean Fallon again. Younger readers will perhaps not associate the man with Celtic as much as us older ones. Fallon was a link with the old black and white newsreels, a part of the history of which we are so proud, and more than that, a really, really decent guy. He will be sadly missed. Pensionerbhoy added a wee story in the comments on Desis’ tribute on the site, about how Sean saved a boys life during the Ibrox disaster. And I’m sure I remember a wee tale about him swimming out to save someone floundering in the sea.
You get the feeling there is much much more to this man than we ever knew publicly, and today, as a mark of respect and gratitude for the life of a true gentleman, if there are any personal memories you have, add them below.
I was a gusst at the Glasgow Uni CSC twentieth anniversary dinner in either 1989 or 1990.
Mr Fallon was the guest speaker. His speech was incredible, the passion and belief he had in our club and the fans was phenomenal. It had many of the guests close to tears with the sincerity of his words. The only downside side was that ignoramus, David Low, who talked all through Mr Fallon’s speech. his excuse was he couldn’t hear Mr Fallon.
I had the great pleasure of being in Mr Fallon’s company on five occasions and a finer man you could never meet. His honour, humility, humour and selfessness were so obvious. Only his love of his family excceeded his love for our club.
My family and I were at the stadium just after Tommy Burns was taken from us. We were fortunate to bump into Mr Fallon along with yong Sean and his son. I told my son he had met an all time great and to remember that for the rest of his life. Mr Fallon explained that Tommy as a youth player always wanted to do everything on the pitch such was his desire for a Celtic win. Mr Fallon advised Tommy he couldn’t do it all himself and his attitude, as much as it was appreciated, was not going help his breakthrough to the first team. Tommy took his words on board and we were the beneficiaries having the privilege of having Tommy play for us for so long.
God bless you Mr Fallon and all the values you held, the world would be a far better place if there were more like you.
Ralph
I must comment first on the weather. Anyone going to Peterhead tomorrow should be aware there is a RED warning on White snow covered in BLUE slush. I have no doubt Mr. Green will claim he has the solution to part the snow with his large staff. It is good to know he spent wisely when buying all the Scottish players who are looking to scrape a living. I would suggest some of his own hot air might be much more effective.
As for Lenny’s comment: “And keep that f***ng canary out of our cage.” or “No, he doesn’t have three feet. So there, he doesn’t qualify to play for Norwich.”
In all seriousness, English offers are a joke. I know it’s January but there is no need to try to trample us in the bargain rush. We do not do reductions.
The weather today will give Hearts a good excuse to sharpen the blades on their boots. Expect more blood than usual. No doubt Andy Pandy will be screaming and kicking as usual. What do you think, 90 minutes, substituted or red mist? Winner takes all.
You are right, Ralph. I do recall a major issue being made of the ownership of the products that fell off the Murray Park belter. Wonder when Charlie will finally change that name to add to the revaluation of another questionable asset. It has the ring of abused battery chickens about it. Anyway, he is on a trip to Lourdes, I believe, to see if he can do a deal on all the old crutches. His adding sure comes up with some cracking calculations. I see he now has the perfect league reconstruction figures of 12, 12, 18. It is hard to believe, no it isn’t, that the donkeys are Hampden are actually agreeing to hee haw with him on it. We are fast becoming the “Land of NO HOPE, NO GLORY, but BIG LAUGHS”.
I wonder what Capello and Hodgson were offered by Juve to pull Lenny’s leg. Let’s hope it gets his dander up and he actually puts out a team that can beat them.
Even though I lost the quiz, I still maintain Frankie McG was nearest to the description by a country mile.
Now to the important news of the week. Yes, Ralph, that was a fantastic story in Desi’s blog and I feel exceptionally privileged to be one of the few to have heard it first hand. I think you may have gotten the swimming story a bit mixed up. Sean’s sister was actually saved from drowning by Joe Mc Menemy, the son of Celtic’s famous Jimmy. Sean had invited Joe back to the house and when Jimmy heard the story he sent a gift of a Hoops strip to Sean as a thank you. According to the man himself, that started his ambition to one day play for the club he adored and although it was a number of years later he achieved his objective and, as we know, O so much more. God rest one of our best. R.I.P.
H H
Ralph
It has happened again. No post. Is it time to seek out the bloggers’ ombudsman or are you in? I await your reply with GLEE! 🙂
I am going to paste and copy from now on. Sh*t I just realised I still have to post. For moment there, ignorance was bliss. I sure ain’t going through all the stuff I wrote again. I will stick to a couple of points I made.
Lenny’s comment: “And keep that f****ing canary out of our cage in future!” or “No, Hooper bl***y well doesn’t come from East Anglia so he hasn’t got three feet and twenty five toes. And even if he had, you still couldn’t get him for £5m. So, bugger off!”
Now to the important news of the week. I feel very priviledged and lucky to have heard that story on Desi’s blog first hand, Ralph. As for your swimming tale, I think you may have it a bit mixed up. What actually happened was Joe McNemeny, the son of the famous Jimmy, saved Sean’s sister from drowning when swimming in a loch in Sligo. Sean invited him back to the house after the event. When Joe told his father, Jimmy sent a present of a Hoops strip to Sean. Sean maintains it was that strip and honour (as he always saw things Celtic did for him) that instigated his ambition to play for his beloved club. It took several years going from team to team at various levels before he actually achieved his objective. But, oh boy, how much more he achieved what finally did come he could never have dreamed of on that day of potential tragedy. May one of our best have eternal rest. R.I.P.
H H
Ralph,
Failed to post for the second time already. One more try the it’s curtains I’m afraid.
H h
Now three attempts. I have emailed you.
H H (here’s hoping :))
Edited version of original post attempts:
1. Lenny’s photo: “And keep that f****ing canary out of our cage in future!” or “Hooper with three feet and twenty toes? He’s not from East Anglia you plonker! And even if he had you can still bugger off with your £5m. Do you think I’m ginger Irishman or somit?”
To the real news of the week, the great Sean Fallon. I do feel lucky and privileged to have heard first hand the story I told on Desi’s blog, Ralph. You’re swimming recollection is actually a bit different in reality. What happened was Joe McNemeny, the son of Celtic’s famous Jimmy, was on holiday in Ireland and saved Sean’s sister from drowning in a loch in Sligo. Sean asked him back to the house. When Joe told the story to his father, he sent Sean a Hoops strip as a thank you. Honoured (as he always was with anything from Celtic), Sean maintains he was determined from that time to play for his beloved Celtic. He had to spend a number of years playing in several leagues at different levels before he reached Parkhead. Little did he know that day in Sligo just how much he was destined to achieve with the club he loved so dearly. May one of our best have eternal rest. R.I.P.
H H
He ll move in the summer and we should get around 5 mill+, smashing wee player oor hoops but he should be careful where he ends up,a dozen goals at QPR or Norwich aint gonnie get you England caps-ironically CL exposure wi Celtic does.
He’s good, but thanks to John Park et all,not irreplaceable.
HH RIP Sean
In England Hooper would be worth double that. If we sell him for 5 mil, we are selling him and the club short.
JR: Lovely story. Thanx, mate.