{"id":12972,"date":"2018-05-18T10:18:03","date_gmt":"2018-05-18T09:18:03","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/etims.net\/?p=12972"},"modified":"2018-05-18T10:18:03","modified_gmt":"2018-05-18T09:18:03","slug":"celtic-diary-friday-may-18-rogic-signs-and-the-next-one-is","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/etims.net\/?p=12972","title":{"rendered":"Celtic Diary Friday May 18: Rogic Signs, And The Next One Is…"},"content":{"rendered":"

…not really a surprise.<\/p>\n

Oddsone Edouard on a permanent deal will be announced today.<\/p>\n

Or tomorrow, but certainly before the Cup final.<\/p>\n

Or after it.<\/p>\n

How’s that for covering the waterfront ?<\/p>\n

Just kidding. Expect it today.<\/p>\n

Our drunken and urine soaked contact actually told us about Rogic on Wednesday night, and he was quite peturbed that we never mentioned it. Thats because there was no diary yesterday due to my son making a surprise visit from Dublin, and me having to be at Liverpool airport early morning to collect him, as for him the trip is much quicker by plane, although not for me.<\/p>\n

So when he got that one right we can;t help but think he’s got this one right as well.<\/p>\n

As usual, the management are getting the transfer window business done early, and in the case of Rogic its a superb piece of negotiating , given the wizard of Oz will be on the world stage next month, and could well have earned himself a move to a cash rich club.<\/p>\n

Instead, he’s staying where he’s loved…<\/p>\n

\u201cI feel great to have signed a new contract. I\u2019m very proud and honoured to be able to commit my future to the club.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cI enjoy playing regular football here. I\u2019m working under a top class manager and to play my club football here is something that\u2019s very special to me so I couldn\u2019t be happier to have signed a new contract.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cThe support here is very special and sometimes it\u2019s hard to describe. To feel so loved and wanted by the fans is all a player can really ask for.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s my job and the players\u2019 job to repay that. Now that my future\u2019s sorted I can focus completely on playing football and giving everything I have for the club, as I have done for the past five years.\u201d\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cWhen you win a single trophy it’s something very special so to have won as many as I have here is another reason why I love it here and why I feel very privileged to represent the club.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cThe Scottish Cup final goal last season was a pretty special moment that I think will be hard to top. I\u2019ve played in a lot of big games here at this club and to have contributed a small part to that makes me very proud.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll keep working as hard as I can to hopefully create more in the future.\u201d\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

Rogic may not always dominate games, but he does win them for you. Incredibly, he’s still only 25, and his best years, now committed to Celtic, are still ahead of him.<\/p>\n

Thats Bain, Ajer and now Rogic sorted. The pattern is simple, if you are good enough and you want to stay, you’ll be looked after.<\/p>\n

Those three contracts alone show a substantial investment by the club, and although it would be foolish to think the wages are at EPL level, they won’t be leaving the players scrimping and saving , and when the signing on fees and bonuses are considered, it would appear the club have not only opened the biscuit tin, but flung the lid away.<\/p>\n

Edouard will not cost the \u00a38m rumoured, but again with wages factored in, the deal will cost the club around that. Perhaps we should allow Lawwell to do business uncriticised this summer, for its not about splashing money on newcomers, but on rewarding those who decide to stay at the club, which in turn allows the manager to build a more successful side.<\/p>\n

We’ll let you know if we hear anything else.<\/p>\n

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On the way back down south is Charley Musonda. Quite simply, Brendan could not guarantee the young man the games he wants, and put simply, the kids attitude stinks.<\/p>\n

Rodgers, perhaps being a little too cosy with Chelsea here, explained;<\/p>\n

“On Monday I flew to London and had a meeting with Chelsea about the football and business sides. My relations there are very strong. Charly signed an 18-month loan deal with a break at the end of the season to discuss where it\u2019s at and we both felt that, probably for what he needs at this stage of his career \u2013 and what I\u2019d hope to give him \u2013 I can\u2019t guarantee.<\/em><\/p>\n

The players\u00a0 Belgian under 21 coach, Johan Walem, read between the lines..<\/p>\n

“He went to\u00a0Celtic<\/a>\u00a0and look what happened.<\/em><\/p>\n

“It’s Celtic – I saw them in the\u00a0Champions League<\/a>\u00a0. A player like Charly should always be in this team.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

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“But he has not played. So that leads me to believe there is a problem with him.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

He has got everything for the top level. He’s talented, bright, fast, he has great vision.<\/em><\/p>\n

“But perhaps his problem is that he’s been told he’s too good far too often.<\/em><\/p>\n

“For the Under 21s, the door is closed for him and it was him who shut it.<\/em><\/p>\n

“I selected him for the squad and he didn’t want to come – supposedly to concentrate on Chelsea.<\/em><\/p>\n

“Yet I spent a full day with him in London and everything went well. I met with Antonio Conte and he told me he expected Charly to be in the first team squad in the near future.<\/em><\/p>\n

“Then he refused the call-up.”\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

He’s not the first, and he won’t be the last. Shocking waste of talent, and the blame lies firmly with the EPL clubs and Sky TV.<\/p>\n

He’ll be on the same train as Patrick Roberts, who is also heading back down south , but he at least is realisitic enough to know he won’t be first choice at Celtic, and common sense dictates thats not good for a loannee.<\/p>\n

As for a permanent deal, again, he wouldn’t be guaranteed first team football, and as the player admits, thats not where he wants to be at this stage of his career.<\/p>\n

We wish him well, wherever he goes.<\/p>\n

As for moussa Dembele, he needs a hug. Like several other highly rated players, he hasn’t made the French World cup squad, and if they can afford to leave him out-and the others, they could be a good bet for the big trophy.<\/p>\n

As indeed are Colombia, who could aford to leave out \u00a311m man Alfredo Moreles.<\/p>\n

Dembele may yet be around for another year, he may yet be the next man to sign an improved contract. If he does leave though, it won’t be until the UCL qualifiers are completed.<\/p>\n

Stuart Armstrong\u00a0 and Nir Biton are the other two tipped to leave, and there is no gossip on either.<\/p>\n

After all, there’s a treble to be won.<\/p>\n

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 <\/p>\n

All eyes will turn to Hampden tomorrow for another little piece of history.<\/p>\n

To get in the mood, have a read of this..from shamrock.net..<\/p>\n

1931 cup final<\/a><\/p>\n

Sky TV are promising a full hour of build up, although once you deduct the adverts and the presenters talking about Steven Gerrard, that will be down to just naming the teams and showing highlights of previous matches between the two sides and “rangers “.<\/p>\n

When the SFA sit down to discuss sponsors and new tv deals for the Cup, paramount must be to allow it on free to air tv.<\/p>\n

Its a national occasion, something that everyone should be able to see.<\/p>\n

In fact, maybe they should swap it around tomorrow and make the royal wedding pay per view. Try to recoup some of the money wasted on it.<\/p>\n

Though I doubt they’d even cover costs.<\/p>\n

Olivier Ntcham looked ahead to the game.. not the wedding, obviously.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think every time you play Motherwell, it is difficult to play against them. They’re strong, they run a lot and have good team spirit. They fight for every ball so it’s going to be a tough game.\u201d\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

He’s right.<\/p>\n

We sent someone to their training ground, and he filmed this session, where they practice defending a corner kick<\/p>\n

\"Image<\/p>\n

Ntcham is ready for them, though..<\/p>\n

I’m running more than before, more aggressive\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

And he explained how he will deal with the more rumbustious Motherwell players..<\/p>\n

\"Image<\/p>\n

The excitement and enthusiasm of some of Celtics opponents this season has been, well, enthusiastic, and the referee tomorrow, and his little sidekicks, must ensure that there is no place for thuggery.<\/p>\n

Kevin Clancy is the referee, and it goes without saying he’s a diddy, but take note of this guy, David Roome, who spoke earlier in the week to the Record..<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s the biggest game in the Scottish season and it\u2019s absolutely fantastic to be part of it. For players involved in one, they\u2019ll have all these dreams of scoring the winning goal and running to the fans in celebration.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cBut when you are appointed as an official, you just want to turn up and hopefully nobody even knows you are there. You just want to do a good job and go up the road.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

Mark my words. This guy will be in the headlines. Another product of the\u00a0 conveyer belt for “appropriate ” referees in Scotland…<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

There’s a lot of other stuff to be discussed, and those of you who have pointed out things that you’d like covered, I’d ask you to be patient, as there is a Cup final and possible treble to enjoy first.<\/p>\n

Though its important I condemn this and ask everyone else to do the same thing. Hopefully no one will suggest it..<\/p>\n

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–<\/strong>\u200f\u00a0<\/span><\/span>@Tam_Selleck<\/b><\/span><\/a><\/p>\n
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