A hat tip to James Forrest on the Celtic Blog for the name check today.
It was indeed last season when we were chatting about Odsonne Édouard.
After a bright start on loan from PSG, it appeared that the striker had fallen out of favour with Brendan Rodgers.
James said to me that he thought that the young Frenchman had no long-term future at the Hoops.
Au contraire I said, Brendan Rodgers is crazy about the kid!
Indeed, my guy at Lennoxtown disclosed to me that the Irishman considered “French Eddy” to be one of the best young players that he had ever worked with.
When the lad arrived on loan from PSG I asked an ex-Celtic player, now at another SPFL club, what he thought of “Eddy” when he had played against him.
The defender said to me that he was “he’s a real handful, Phil. Strong, with very quick feet”.
It is worth noting this is before any of his late-season heroics in crunch matches.
With those two sources, I was clear that Odsonne Édouard would be a signing priority for Brendan Rodgers.
Consequently, I stated to the Celtic Hoops blogger at the time that Celtic WOULD sign the young Frenchman next summer.
Therefore, neither James nor I were surprised when he was announced today as a permanent signing.
Of course, it was just another “exclusive” for the Daily Radar.
If, as I am hearing, Moussa Dembélé decides to extend his stay at Celtic then the Irishman in the dugout will have two quality players to rotate through the No 9 position.
That would put Leigh Griffiths down the pecking order and one final infraction away from clearing out his locker at Lennox town.
Indeed, I would fear for any of the Celtic first team squad who have not kept to the close season maintenance programme.
On the subject of young players with potentially a very bright future at Parkhead, Brendan rates young Jack Aitchison very highly indeed.
Orange Karma. A commendable social outreach program operated by Hummel. Isn’t it a shame they now supply kit to an entity culturally and historically opposed to the social integration of Irish refugees and their descendants.
http://www.thornico.com/company-karma/company-karma-projects/hummel–orange-karma
According to an article in the Radar this morning, the Sevco director of fantasy, Mark Allen, brought Stevie Gerrard to the basket case of assets, not the chairman of the PLC.
It may be the case that English is not his first language. He said he would respond to the suggestion that appointing SG to the managers role was a gamble as follows,
“define gamble “.
According to the Oxford English dictionary to gamble is to,
A) Take risky action in the hope of a desired outcome.
B) Risky action taken with the hope of success.
Seems pretty clear to me.
Thanks for the heads up JohnnyMac….feel sorry for the kid from Nazareth, but I got the popular vote.
Anyway, cleared the decks this evening with a view to enjoying Croatia v Nigeria on Beeb. Horrible sound interference from the fat gardener….thank fuck for the mute button.
What has Griffiths done to be in the last chance saloon? Got to disagree with you there Phil.I hope they give him a five year deal as he’s the best finisher at the club.If he goes we would have to replace him as two strikers is not enough.The same applies if Dembele goes.How much do you think it would cost to get another finisher like Griffiths?
The DR today has an article headed,
“Odsene Edouarde’s Celtic transfer fee broken down”.
They then go on to say that it is £6 Mil up front and could rise to 8 figures with various add ons.
They’ve obviously got the best contacts in the business with detailed reportage like that.
Brave SG is delighted with the “tough” starting fixtures in this season’s Premiership.
No wonder, it couldn’t have been easier for them.
Aberdeen at Pittodrie still under McInnes, newly promoted St Mirren and Motherwell a.k.a. “Mattress FC”.
Just give them the 9 points and be done with it.
I’d like to point out a few facts to you. If sevco HADN’T taken 12 points off the shaggers last season, if the results had been reversed, th SS might very well have finished in front of us. AND Mattress F.C. as you call them, whupped Sevco’s sorry asses in the LC semi last season and three years ago guaranteed that the “journey” would last at least another year with a 6-1 aggregate humping.
Not sure what your point is. Sevco did take 12 points off Aberdeen which is my point. Re Motherwell, a one-off Cup tie and a result, albeit important, from three years ago. Check the league results.
I think you will find they only took 10 points off Dons. I’ve been pointing out the fact that Rangers (and others) should have realised that the best way to stop N in a row for the past years has been to ensure Aberdeen get as many points against the other teams. BTW I’m not an Aberdeen supporter.
When either Dembele or Edouard get round to scoring 40 goals in a Season then you can consider them no1 striker at Celtic Park.
Leigh Griffiths Record at Celtic stands up against Dembeles over a longer period of time.
Given that he has had issues with his legs since he signed it might suggest now that it’s sorted there is more to come?
You have to ask who would you rather keep?
A player who has declared he would finish his career at Celtic or a player you know fine well will be out the door in a flash should a decent offer land in Lawwells in tray?
My preference is the former.
All of this aside Griffiths delivers the best dead ball at the Club be that from corners,free kicks or otherwise so his contribution isn’t just about how many he bags or in how many games.
It’s a great problem to have a I suppose but I don’t see Moussa at Celtic in 12 months regardless of Contract.
If anything that will be signed to increase his value when he goes.
Which is inevitable.
The signing of French Eddy is the natural back up as and when this happens.
Forward planning by pistol Pete as always.
Phil, what’s your take on the Famine Memorial in Glasgow?
Enough or short of the mark?
The Irish community is building their own memorial in the Calton.
I support that effort.
A link to their campaign here and on your twitter feed would greatly assist their fund raising efforts.
Why would it be either or regarding Dembele. The data shows Edouard works effectively with a central striker.
James Forrest very often gives you credit Phil,he is also a fine source and produces some great work too.
HH??☮️
RANGERS FANS JUBILANT
Strong rumours are prevalent in Ibrox as to Gerard’s next signing. It’s reported that the former England captain watched Christiano Ronaldo in action against Iberian neighbours Spain
in tonight’s World Cup match.
Rangers chairman Jocular Dave Boy King has given the green light for Ronaldo to become Sevco’s latest loan.
“We’ll take him on loan (we’re entitled),” said King. “Money is not a problem…..we have’nt got any. But Ronaldo should be honoured to join the world’s best team”.
Plans are ongoing to hatch a plot to have Ronaldo excommunicated from the Church of Rome so that he can register with Govan’s comb and silver paper marching band.
Kenny Millar (popular sage), says Ronaldo is the missing link for Sevco’s aim for world domination.
When pressed on the question, Gerard, protested that he didn’t recognise the Portuguese wizard as he’d only previously seen the back of him.
Gerard has also confessed that he was overwhelmed by his first sight of The Hummel Scrapyard…and shat himself.
Guardian angel Mc Allister has been delegated to watch all World Cup matches and use assorted coloured crayons to indicate potential loanees. He has advised Gerard that a new song should replace the inappropriate gulldering of Tim Turner.
A variation on a Roy Orbison number is favoured..
“Only the loanees…”
Mercy
Well, CR7 would certainly fit in at Ibrokes, being a convicted tax cheat paying a 21 million fine to avoid a two year jail sentence.
Nice one Barabas. Nice to see you’re doing well now you’ve been released..
Hee Hee !
Very clever…well done.
Your “veiled suggestion” that wee Leigh is not giving 100% at Lennoxtown is a total pisser to me.
I really rate him…and would hate to think he’s selling himself ,and us, short.
So when ( not if) you read this wee man….prove us wrong.
Get back to what you’re great at…running defences ragged…scoring goals….
and tying a Celtic scarf to their goalposts.
With you on that…. could have got 2 serious central defenders for that money…..today’s business is nothing but a corporate sell on in a years time piece of business, hope it works out for him this season, for us, for him , and for the plc.
What 2 serious defenders could we have got for that money?
Brendan wanted him signed, and we signed him. On this one, our manager has been backed,, not for the last time in this window I feel.. If Brendan wants to sign 2 serious defenders,,, we will..
Agreed, Griffiths is better than the other two. His goals ratio per minutes on the park tells you that. He also score’s more regular important goals. Any time he gets a run in the team injury free he guarantees goals. If he was a foreigner, with a fancy name he would be much higher rated. Best striker in Scotland by a country mile. My first choice all day long. Certain games require a physical presence. The other two can be that option in those scenarios. If Rodgers lets Griffiths go, it will only serve hinder 10 in a row.
Spot on.
Also his delivery from a set piece is second to none at the Club.
So I take the sevco have a European license to play ? What about FFP ,what about Takeover Panel ,Shares ,glub 1690,SFA.has this been set aside?you follow the money cos your the man but it is up to all fans to keep preaching their cheating.Do what I did as you don’t get an answer from the SFA ,get on killies back and demand 4th Place as sevco don’t meet criteria,kid on your a fan and ask questions as they have blocked me and know my number.fight fight fight or your games a bogey.ruralbhoy
Jeezo, Phil. Going need physical therapy on your fingers after today’s putput!
But. But. But….STEVIE G! WE ARE THE PEOPLE. LOYAL ULSTER. FENJAN BATIQUE. GOING FOR 55!!!!!!!