http://sport.stv.tv/football/scottish-premier/celtic/268110-celtic-make-move-for-baba/ Neil Lennon looks set to add another striker to his squad ahead of the transfer deadline with Senegalese striker Baba Diawara reportedly ready to make the move to Glasgow. Baba made what could be his final appearance for Maritimo in their surprise 3-2 win away against Sporting Lisbon, with a spokesman from the home club confirming the presence of a Celtic representative to watch the player to STV on Monday. Celtic manager Lennon left Glasgow "on club business" immediately after his side's 2-0 win against St Mirren on Sunday. Talks are believed to be almost completed with reports in Portugal saying that Maritimo have already agreed the terms of a deal but will not disclose the name of the side who has won the battle for his signature as yet. Russian side Kuban Krasnodar, FC Copenhagen, and clubs from Ukraine, Germany, Spain and France have shown interest in the striker but Celtic are in pole position. The 23-year-old Senegal international moved to Maderia from Senegal in 2007 and after an initial stint at the club's 'B' team, he was given his chance at first team level. Celtic were linked with a move for Diawara in 2009 during Gordon Strachan's tenure at the club, with scouts having travelled to watch the player on several occasions. Hearts also expressed an interest earlier that year but were put off by Maritimo's £2.5 million valuation. Makes you wonder if the story about Bangura was just a distraction.
I admit I have not got a notion about Baba's ability. I like what stereo says in that he is over 6ft tall and has a bit of pace. I hope he comes and does the job. Its a long time since we had a tall striker that was prolific.
Apparently he's undertaking a medical. According to Wiki he's scored 27 goals in 88 games for Maritimo and he's 23 which seems to be around the age we buy players. He also scored the winner against Sporting Lisbon at the weekend.
If we were in for a striker from the start & have since let Murphy go, could we be in for both these guys? A tall, powerful striker and a small striker with pace is just what we need. I know everybody wants a big, strong striker but we also lack pace upfront & infact the whole team! Hooper, Stokes, Samaras don't have the pace to get behind defences, something we've lacked in years imo. If you know as a defender you have the beating pace wise of Hooper you know he cannot look to play off you by making runs behind which means you can narrow down where the ball will get to him. If we are struggling and need a goal or someone to take the pressure off the defence to hold on to a lead we need someone who can run with the ball & get beyond the defence if a long ball is played.
He fell out with his Maritimo team mates. Apparently Baba was a bit of a black sheep in the dressing room. Aaaah thank you.
That's when the current Hearts manager was in charge of them. Clearly he had some sort of vision and was merely practicing laying down to his future masters
would Edu scored the winner had the game been refereed correctly ??? Boogie let off 4/5 times for red card , brown off for Laugherty cheating
Bhoy from Aka The big problem Celtic have in the SPL is that opposing players don't come out to play, even at home until they are at least 2 nil down. By this I mean they follow the Rangers Tactics of 4 defenders sitting deep with five mid-fielders just in front with one striker. That makes it very difficult for pacy strikers to get in behind. Having said that we don't want a big slow couch with a poor first touch and we do need a big striker as our full backs can get into position but we currently have no one to attack a high centre and thus most of their crosses aimed for Hooper etc are cut out.
