Ivan – The Terrible Toney Decision that Derailed the Ten and will cost Celtic Millions

Celtic’s former striker Scott McDonald has been considering at the shambles of a season at his old club and reckons that lessons have to be learned this summer after the mistakes last year after 9IAR was won effectively killed the Ten stone dead.

And the Australian goalscorer reckons that in was in two key positions in the side that Celtic failed miserably and as a result blew a dream that was a decade in the making.

There is currently no manager or Director of Football at Celtic yet player trading is already underway, starting with the sale of Patryk Klimala for a reported £3.5m to New York Red Bulls last week. Yesterday we told you how Celtic could be set to recoup just over £7m from the flawed and failed Projects signing policy, often conducted by the outgoing CEO, as accountant to trade, but who fancied himself as having an eye for a player. Imagine a PLC operating in this manner.

Bayo in action forToulouse vs Chateauroux – Ligue 2

READ THIS…Celtic in £7.3M Cash-Back Treble on Flawed Project Signing Policy

Jack Hendry defender of KVOostende. PhotoNews/Panoramic

“Lessons need to be learned from last summer,” the former Celtic striker told Sunday Post. “Celtic had two excellent goalkeepers in Fraser Forster and Craig Gordon. For various reasons, both didn’t sign on again.

“The club also searched for a striker, and Toney appeared to be their No. 1 target. I remember watching him two or three years ago for Peterborough against Middlesbrough, and he really caught my eye. He had presence and pace. He looked to have the raw materials to go a long way.

Ivan Toney during match between Bournemouth and Brentford. Photo Mark D Fuller

“When Celtic were linked with him, I was excited. There was no doubt in my mind he’d do well. But a fee couldn’t be agreed and he went to Brentford. That was a blow. Look at how well he is doing in the English Championship, so it’s a sore one to miss out on,” McDonald believes.

And when you think that Toney was much more eager to sign for Celtic rather than Brentford  – who got him for £6m plus add-ons (Premier League promotion etc) and that the then Peterborough striker was actually up at Lennoxtown ready to sign you have to put this down as the biggest own goal of the season for Celtic.

Who made the call to opt for the reluctant Ajeti at £5m rather than the eager Toney at £6m at a time when one player was at Lennoxtown and the other headed off to Sardinia for a week’s holiday to think the transfer over.  That single decision  could have made all the difference to Celtic this season – imagine Toney and Edouard combining in the Scottish Premiership, maybe with David Marshall in goals!

“The club ended up getting Ajeti, but it’s not been a great season for the Swiss striker. He has been in and out. So we know how hard it is to find a proper No. 9. It will not be easy to find one.

“Indeed, Celtic might be looking for two strikers in the summer window if Leigh Griffiths and Odsonne Edouard follow Patryk Klimala, another disappointment this season, out the door. It makes it all the harder.

Photo: Jane Barlow

“Leigh scored a good goal against Aberdeen in midweek, and that will have done his case no harm. But he has just eight goals in 26 appearances this season, and Celtic must find someone who will get them at least 20 goals a season.

“A Celtic striker is judged on numbers, the amount of times he puts the ball in the net. He’s not judged on performances. When I signed for the club 14 years ago from Motherwell, I gave the club a good return. Back then, we had strikers in the Scottish game ready to step up and play for Celtic and Rangers. Kris Boyd was the same when he went to Rangers from Kilmarnock.

“Are there more of the same out there just now in the SPFL? Kevin Nisbet of Hibs and Lawrence Shankland at Dundee United? Would they be prolific enough? Lyndon Dykes was at Livingston last season before moving to QPR, and was mentioned for Celtic. Would he be prolific enough?

Scotland goalkeeper David Marshall was available on a free last summer and probably this summer. Photo: Radek Petrasek

“It’s something my former club needs to address. Sorting out the goalkeeping situation and the centre-forward situation will be the priorities for the new manager,” Scott McDonald concluded.

READ THIS…Celtic eye 25-goal striker as potential replacement for Odsonne Edouard

About Author

The Celtic Star founder and editor, who has edited numerous Celtic books over the past decade or so including several from Lisbon Lions, Willie Wallace, Tommy Gemmell and Jim Craig. Earliest Celtic memories include a win over East Fife at Celtic Park and the 4-1 League Cup loss to Partick Thistle as a 6 year old. Best game? Easy 4-2, 1979 when Ten Men Won the League. Email editor@thecelticstar.co.uk

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