Because we're not as big a club as you seem to think. We sold our two best players to Southampton & Norwich. Not Barcelona & Bayern Munich. Away out and play with your pals, leave the proper fitba discussion to the rational adults
For him to further his international career, which is clearly a priority, he needs to play in England or another top league. 6 good games in the CLa season won't cut it plus, being a footballer's career is 20 years at best, he'll probably treble his wages at the very least with a move. I can't begrudge him that after he's spent 3-4 seasons with us, and like you say, Gordon will prove to be an able replacement. Aye, because once a player arrives at Celtic and feels the love, they never want to leave. It always results in them being forced out the door, doesn't it? It's not 1967 anymore. A player gets offered double his wages, the club get offered to triple their money, and it's a good deal all round. The alternative is we can have fantasy thoughts about them staying and us winning the CL, when in reality we'd have maybe finished 3rd in the group if we were lucky. It's CL for money, and if we're lucky the Europa League past xmas.
This Time for a section of our support to wake-up and realise that while we're a big fish in Scotland but a pishy wee tiddler in European terms.
Not talking about winning the champions league but it would be nice to get there. You cant keep selling your better players and expect the same results.
You have to accept that is the model the club is working under now. Fiscal responsibility goes hand-in-hand with success in the modern game for 99% of clubs. The club has openly told fans, more than once, that the aim is to make the group stages of the CL. But there is no guarantee in that, there is a guarantee that if someone offers the right money for Van Dijk or Forster that it will put sorely needed money in to the coffers. Pragmatism before idealism.
You think Gordon will be seen as number 1?? See we are linked with Ghana keeper today (amongst other players Delia used to manage!) who I think I would prefer, will always be concerned over Gordons fitness and Zaluska as backup to him would not be ideal.
What would you do if you were in charge of Celtic? Turn down offers of £12m for the likes of Wanyama and let them run down their contracts and leave for nowt? The reality of the situation is we bring in young players with potential, turn them into decent players and sell them on for good money to daft English clubs. We don't have the sort of money that allows us to pay the sort of wages that even mid-table EPL clubs can pay.
There has to be a balance though. If we want to sell players on they need to be playing in the champions league.
What like Ki you mean? A guy we tripled our outlay on but never played in the Champions League. Back to the drawing board Eric.
If Celtic can get a gem, keep them fir two seasons then sell on at a profit then that's good business... If not, they waste cash ... lose players for nowt.
You said I provided Ki as an example. Now you change tact and talk about £12m for Wanyama. You're a total fud.
It's a balancing act Eric. Without automatic qualification for the CL we need to continue with our "buy 'em young/sell 'em high" policy. If we don't qualify we may be able to hold on to the player for another season. If we do qualify and the player does well he's going to get noticed and another club will come in for him offering bigger wages. That's what happened with Wanyama and probably will happen with Forster as well.
As champions, Celtic got what...£2m Celtic need to sell players after a successful season - preferably after 2 seasons - to maximize profits/team investment. No matter what anybody thinks, Celtic are a stepping stone to a bigger league...
