McCarthy loan rebuff highlights our recruitment failings…
We can’t really complain on the pitch as we’ve had success after success these past few years, but that shouldn’t mask our failings on the recruitment side of things. While we’ve recruited gems such as Kyogo, Reo Hatate, Matt O’Riley, CCV and Jota in recent years, we’ve also had some disappointing signings.
Gustaf Lagerbielke is the most recent testimony to that, while doubts hang over other summer signings such as Kwon and Yang. Going back further we have the likes of Alexandro Bernabei and Yuki Kobayashi to name just a couple more.
However the one name that sticks out is James McCarthy. The midfielder was seen as a good signing at the time, but to give him a four year deal on a massive salary with his injury history was quite frankly bewildering to say the least.
James was signed to make up the numbers and give us some much needed experience in the middle of the park, but to hand him a four year deal was sheer madness. No one would have had a problem with a one or even two year deal, but four? That was a massive blunder by the recruitment team and he’s still got another year left on his lucrative contract after this season.
I have no gripes with James as he’s only looking after himself, and who in their right mind is going to turn down the last big deal of their career at their boyhood club? It’s not his fault the club were very generous in their contract offer.
James is now closing in on three years at the club and he’s played a measly 27 games in that time. He’s also on a mammoth wage so it’s been a very costly error by our normally tight fisted hierarchy. Of course he still has one year of that deal remaining and he clearly has no future at the club, so it makes it all the more astonishing that the club today rebuffed a loan offer from Greek side Volos FC.
The club weren’t happy that the Greeks were only willing to pay 30% of his wages, but wouldn’t it be better to have them pay a small chunk than us pay the entire amount? Someone over on Kerrydale Street reckons that McCarthy won’t go to Greece anyway as he’d melt!
At least someone can still see the funny side but it’s no laughing matter, it’s common sense. Get the deal done, Celtic. But then again those running our club don’t seem to be showing much common sense at the moment, do they?
Just an Ordinary Bhoy
Celtic have rejected an offer from Volos FC for midfielder James McCarthy.
The Greek side wanted to take the midfielder on loan until the end of the season.
(@ScotlandSky) pic.twitter.com/Icvlja4oxo
— Anthony Joseph (@AnthonyRJoseph) January 30, 2024
All go on the exits. Turnbull in discussions with Cardiff City. Norwich wants MJ and believe it or not we actually knocked back an offer from Greek side Volos FC for midfielder James McCarthy. This could be resolved if more wages paid by the Greeks. HH pic.twitter.com/IW5M7n4zeV
— Celtic Gossip (@CelticGossip) January 30, 2024
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How idiotic does one need to be to get a seat on our board?
Some may run a company satisfactorily but are unable to read the room at a football club.
I suppose if they’re blindfold, gagged and headphoned, the little sense they’re born with is buried in the sand along with their heads.
I don’t know where to start with McCarthy but it is too early to label Lagerbielk a dud IMO. I would like to see him go out on loan like Scales or Christie before making up my mind 😐
Nonsense ,there are no mugs involved just fraudulent thieves ,lining their pockets at our expense , and IMO it makes it worse that the player claims to support Celtic , Hail hail .