The Celtic faithful is wakening to another Saturday morning and it’s time to reflect on this week’s twists and turns. You may agree, it’s all part and parcel of being a modern-day fan of Celtic Football Club?
When the opening bid for Kieran Tierney arrived in Peter Lawwell’s inbox, I don’t believe any Celtic fan was truly shocked or worried. The day when an offer arrives for your star player is always heartbreaking for the fans. You hope and pray that the player(s) belief in the jersey and the cause is ironclad. That player is KT.
However, I do believe any offer(s) is a testament to all the hard work that’s gone into developing Kieran. In a timeline, from Ronny Delia right through to Neil Lennon, KT has developed into a tremendous talent, consistently brilliant in every game whether at home in Scotland or in Europe.
Kieran is a 24/7 athlete who can powerfully run and chase for miles. I believe the saving grace for Celtic is one of two things:
1. So far at least, there is no bidding war, there’s only one chaser club and that’s Arsenal (transfer budget = £45 million).
2. No English club is willing to admit a player from humble Scotland is worth upwards of twenty-five million plus.
Until these two objectives come hand in hand, there’s nothing to fear. Kieran will answer the call for 10 with blood, sweat, and tears.
Regardless of what many people think of Chris Sutton, the man lives and breathes “football”. Chris gives every and any club he forensically analyses a fair crack of the whip and he has every right to stand up for Scottish football. If he doesn’t then who will?
Many pundits and ex-footballers want to have their say on why Kieran should go. But, no one as yet has put a case forward on why KT should stay with the Glasgow champions or what amount is “fair value” for Celtic. But Chris has and fair to him for that.
Comedy act the “Daily Record” wrote an opinion piece that I saw during the week. I didn’t read the article in its entirety just the header “Celtic kid Kieran Tierney is a decent player but Barrie McKay is Scottish football’s most gifted player” My reflection was “who writes this dross”?
I believe it’s nothing more than a broke, bitter writer trying to extract every last clickbait he can muster. The headline to this piece must have taken the writer a while to join together than constructing the article as there is no factual information to back up this statement. It’s loud, obnoxious and harmful writing. No wonder the “modern day” fans stay away from newspaper’s like this one.
Media outlets across Scotland should be promoting Scottish football in its entirety and the participating footballers or they should step away from the keyboard after one too many. It’s a damming example of poor subjective writing.
I feel for David Turnbull. Regardless of the many “hoops” that himself and his agency have made the Celtic hierarchy jump through over the course of several weeks, the end result was truly astonishing. The MRI scan from the medical showed that David requires “immediate and preventative” treatment on his knee.
Going back to the start, the signing of David Turnbull for myself was always underwhelming. David operates in an area of the park where we have an abundance of talent. Both from the current Treble Treble and now development squad. I know that Lennon has made assertions and comparisons of David to Stuart Armstrong and providing more goals from midfield.
However, the Celtic faithful watching the game against Pinkafeld will feel there is “homegrown” talent that can justify no more expenditure for midfielders. The young Celts put in a star-studded display of technique, guile, speed, and skill. Oko-Flex, Millar, Dembele, Johnston, Henderson, and Aitchison all showed there is fresh blood that’s ready to come in at any time this season.
????️ @mikeyjohnston10: “It’s pre-season, so it’s good to get some minutes into the legs and build a base for the season.”
Ewan Henderson & Mikey Johnston on the match! ???????? #TurnUpTheHeat pic.twitter.com/uae34N7G0W
— Celtic Football Club (@CelticFC) June 27, 2019
It’s great to have Leigh Griffiths back playing and scoring. His goal against Pinkafeld is a prime example of what we’ve missed since he’s been out. It’s a poachers goal, he’s intelligent enough to know where he has to be as soon as the wingers get the ball.
Odsonne Edouard is a different kettle of fish. Eddy enjoys the fancy, flash football of running at defenders and striking outside the box. I am still not too sure about putting both of them together in a 4-4-2. I think they can be complemented by the likes of Bayo, a stocky player who can hold the ball up and let either Eddy or Leigh run in behind or get their bodies into an advanced position further up the park.
I am concerned about the news regarding Tom Rogic’s injury. This is definitely an area where Celtic have to look at and resource accordingly. Tom is struggling to get out of the injury rhythm at the minute. Tom’s not a player who recycles through injuries very quickly, he’s a slow burner and it takes him time to get back on the horse.
I believe Ntcham is a good fit for this position. Although, only Ntcham knows when he wants to play in a game and for how long. Ntcham is a player who needs to get his act together and fast this season. Last season, when he played Ntcham looked like he had the whole world on his shoulders. But, when he’s on, he’s on and he can be devastating.
Today’s signing of Christopher Jullien spells a change in times. It’s an area that’s been severely under-invested for such a long time. However, it has now been given a serious boost.
The big man is going to give the backline some “welly” this season. I am not of the variety who likes defenders to dribble. I like my defenders to be over six feet, wide-shouldered and carry themselves with intensity. Jullien is of that mold and I hope we can get Benkovic back too.
I am excited to see a partnership of Ajer and Jullien forming. Simunovic has had his chance and the jury is still out on him. However, Lennon sees something in him.
Congratulations to Ghanian and Scottish prodigy, sixteen-year-old Ewan Otoo on signing a two year with Celtic Football Club. I am looking forward to seeing you develop and wear the historic hooped jersey.
I’m all for players that are “much enthused”, especially those whose “style of play was magnificent”.
— celticbynum8ers (@Alan_Morrison67) June 26, 2019
James Pearson
‘The Bhoys and Girls Jumped for Joy,’ David Potter on 1954 – Celtic’s First Modern Double…
It was a sign of how far Celtic had slipped that they failed to win a League and Cup double in any of the years between the two wars. In the League, they had not even come close. They won it in 1938, but since then had not even come second!
Since 1945, the League had been dominated by Rangers and Hibs, and Celtic had been nowhere, even in 1948 coming quite close to relegation. The mighty men of 1914 – Sunny Jim, Jimmy McMenemy, Patsy Gallacher et al were the last team to land a Double, and that was now forty years and two world wars ago. Only the mighty Jimmy McMenemy and Joe Dodds of that great side were still alive and well….continue reading HERE.
