I wish we would put the Greek donkey out on loan for at least six months. Preferably to some English 2nd division team where he might score a few goals and remember how that feels. But yeah, it would seem strange that we let our only real target man out on loan if there wasn't a replacement lined up.
tomcat Thanks for the apology. As a matter of interest to some, yes I am an ardent Celtic fan from before the time Jock Stein took over as Manager. I appreciate that some of the fans may feel the board doesn't do or spend enough on the first team. However the board now, are virtually spendthrifts compared to some of the boards that I remember over the years. I happen to think the board, the management and the players all do their best for Celtic. Sometimes I admit it may not look like it but I am convinced they do. I remember big Yogi, John Hughes in the 60's and 70's and I later got to know him well. Big John was like Sammy, brilliant one game useless the next. Then he could go on a run of poor games and when we all give up on him he would go out and play well again. The crowd give him some stick, but nothing like what Sammy gets now. The more restless the crowd, always the worse the team performs. At the last 2 home games even in the first half Celtic Park became like a morgue. I thought I was watching a snooker match the crowd was so quiet. You could hear a cough from the back row. Celts we all want the same thing, we are not going to change the board over night, but we can turn on the volume in Celtic Park.
I don't agree they all take massive amounts of money out of Celtic, they have not produced anything recently to justify it. Any bonues without a title should be stopped and while we are good finacialy we should take advantage of that and invest in attempting to stop 4 in a row, its not a case of should always be doing this but right now I think its inperitive that we spend sizable on a forward. I'm all for getting the volume up at Celtic Park but having a pop at us on this board isn't going to achive that, most of us can't make it to most games as they live in Englandshire and we feel having a rant on here is OK as we are talking amunst ourselves.
Thomas I don't think Celtic have the revenue to buy a striker. An experienced striker will cos at least £4----£6 m and he won't be used to playing in the UK or he will be a lot more. Probably the best chance of getting a decent striker will be on a loan at the final days of window. A risky business I know but that is the way it is. Neil Lennon has also to be careful a newcomer on much more money than those who feel they have done a good job, doesn't upset our existing better players. You say I shouldn't be having a pop on this board because of the crowd, well I could also say it makes less sense to have a pop at the "Celtic Board" on here. Some people on this board DO attend regularly. We can improve the crowd better than anything else, that should be why we are fans.
We do the the revenue or the ability to raise it no reason is not can't, it's wont. You disagree about the need I think its blatently odvious and given we are well served elsewhere in the squad it would be a worthwile investment would secure the title (which comes with a CL place) and would make the balance sheet better. A (small) risk yes but you need to take risks sometimes playing it safe all the time gets you nowhere.
SH - Your reminiscing about big 'Yogi' reminded me of a game (so long ago, I can't remember the opposition) where he set off on a run, dribbled beautifully past at least two players, got clear on goal and when trying to set the ball up, by tapping it sideways with one foot towards his other in order to strike it with that other foot, hit it too hard, swung and missed the ball altogether! It was tragic but absolutely hilarious! By the way, it seems that you might just be the 'grandfather' of this forum.....except, maybe for Dev! LOL!
Reading between the lines we have a transfer budget of anything from £1.5m to £3m. We have bid £1.5m for Forster, Husselklepp & the Polish keeper & never went back with increased offers suggesting Lennon has a strict budget to keep to. We've had players on trial containing unattached players (free transfers) & players who would command a fee so perhaps Lennon haas been hoping to get a good deal in one position (ie free transfer in Pleitska, loan for Forster) & spend the whole budget on the remaining position, hence the delay in getting players in with all the juggling of figures. Did we bid for Forster & Husselklepp at the same time? If so we could have £3m there or thereabouts to strenghten. Importantly we also have a strict wage structure to stick to based on projected income on matchdays, how far we go in competitions, attendance etc. I imagine this also needs to be taken into account went discussing targets. Getting Given & Bellamy in & paying them both £60k a week is not going to happen. It would be impossible for the club as a business to afford this. Attendance can never be above the capacity, we can only make so much from competitions etc. I'd like to think if Lennon & the scouts got sniff of a good player who they think is a steal but is say £4m that he could take this to the board & they would weigh up the pro's & cons based on the players potential rather than a simple no - there is your budget.
Do you really think we made a bid of £1.5m for Forster? Why would Newcastle have turned down such a bid then let him go on loan with the potential of selling him to us next summer? I think it's more likely we made a much smaller bid and Newcastle knocked it back. The Polish keeper we apparently bid less than £1m for and Pletioska left because we couldn't match his wage demands. I very much doubt we will buy any players between now and next week and at most we'll bring in two loans: a LB and a forward.
Just repeating what was reported. How much is the fee for Forster? Surely we are opting for the loan & agree to buy him next summer as we don't want the money coming out now leaving the cash for a striker. The bid for the Polish club was announced by his club, they said they were looking for more & that they had accepted a bid which was £250k more & Celtic had not been in touch to match the offer - he went for £1.75m! We turned down Pletioska even he said that! Its common sense that we agree a ballpark figure with a free agent before getting him over on trial. We have been linked with Ridgewell who can play leftback or centreback on loan thats all I've really seen.
Desmond is worth 1.4 Billion apparently and we cant spend 2 Million on a Goalkeeper. The **** ought to get himself to **** and stop kidding on hes a Celtic Fan. Tight Bastard
Desmond owns the club, if he was any type of fan at all he wouldnt mind throwing away 10 million on a decent striker and a goalkeeper. Lets be honest, 10 million to him is leterally like 10er to us.
