I have become accustomed over the years to stories here being eventually vindicated by events.
However, it usually takes longer than a few hours.
I uploaded this piece at just after midnight.
Such is the strange working hours of a night shift novelist.
Then this afternoon news broke that Jeremie Frimpong is abroad holding talks with another club.
It is worth noting that the youngster is the only probably the first choice right back.
Moreover, it is an area of the team where there is a lack of genuine options.
That such a statement is true when the Parkhead club has the biggest football budget in the country is yet another indictment of the unofficial director of football and his malleable manager.
This might be an offer that was just too good to turn down.
However, it could be a harbinger of what my source suggested apropos “equity in the squad”.
If it is the latter, then it is confirmation that, other than brutal austerity, there is no plan to address the structural and personnel problems at Celtic.
Discover more from Phil Mac Giolla Bháin
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
We are faithful fans, but we are easily kidded on for now going on 50 years we have been told before season book time we are building a team for Europe, yet players are sold. Our best Yet when questioned, after season books are sold we are then told we need to sell, bad management is the cause here, keep your best win in Europe and the club gets about £60 million from it keep selling we end up as we are every year. Lol. .building at team for Europe, this is like old managers they all jump on the big. Roundabout and when it stops we get. The. Next. Failed cunt on it building for. Europe once again
Phil,
On another subjext.
What do you think the chances are of Celtic growing a pair and challenging Sevco’s right to enter the Champions League next season? We all know that they are running on fumes, they owe the taxman and they have broken the FP rules time and time again. Surely they should not be allowed to continue this sham, especially now that it affects us, for they will be reaping the rewards of our own efforts in the CL in past years by playing less qualifiers this season. Is it not time Celtic challenged their right to do so with the SPFL and UEFA? Is it not time we woke up and put the boot in?
Let Sevco pay for their transgressions.Is it even possible, can Cetic be encouraged to do so?
We missed the boat in 2011, let’s not miss a similar opportunity this time.
Imagine wanting to leave the mighty Celtic to go and play in an inferior league where he will be paid more and won’t be cheated or hacked down every time he has the ball. What is the boy thinking about?
In line with a shake up from Boardroom to coaching staff and to the PR department (!),
all the players should be available for sale – even CalMac.
The only player I’d not want sold is Turnbull.
Ten million I heard.
Bit early to be cashing in or does the young man want out? Whatever you think of him as a player there’s no chance he’ll get better at Parkhead. This to me is the most worrying aspect of our situation.
Again, no ambition.
Cheers
He may become a player further up the park in due course. I think he is vastly overrated. He is too small for the ball to the back post, his defensive positioning is appalling, and the final product when he is attacking is close to zero. I do not get the adulation he receives
Maybe that’s because you know nothing about football.
Hugely disappointing…. this whole season is just one body blow after another. Bright young talent, who under a good coaching system would most likely flourish, simply being let go.
I wish JF all the best, but a defender he was not, he couldn’t tackle a fish supper, He has always flattered to deceive and the fee mentioned is an outstanfing piece of business by Celtic, Elhamed, Ralston and even Kris Ajer lately are better right backs than JF. So on this one occasion I am happy to give the Club the benefit of the doubt.
Totally agree with the above, – he’s good going forward but defensively a liability. I think its a good bit of business. Also given Edouard’s poor form it’s probably worth selling him in this window. There’s really no point in persisting with guys who don’t want to be there.
I agree that young Frimpong isn’t the finished article…and if the Club stands to make in excess of £10 million pounds profit on his transfer…then economics dictate that its a no brainer…and I wish him well in his new career.
Now can someone remind if we have replacements for him out on loan.??
What’s the story about the American ( Guttman ?)…isn’t he a right back ?
We have turned over and loaned out so many players over the last couple of years that I have lost the plot.
Help….!!!
The ” news ” about young Dembele is, however, baffling as far as I’m concerned.
I am not criticising the decision to let him go…because I have no knowledge of why that should be…I just find it…well….baffling. Does anyone have any inside track on this…??
Finally…based on comments made today by Lenny…It seems there will be no change at any level worth talking about…there might be more players sold…and perhaps a few incoming loan deals can be negotiated.
So why are we worried?
Surely the foregoing is a solid base to enable us to go on and rescue 10 IAR ?
Or…WTF…??..as my best mate loves to say.
Dembele, done himself no favours opting to play for England. This was a result of his agents advice to nurture long term prestige and valuation as a player. This happened with that other character a few years ago(went to Chelsea), and hes never been heard of again. These boys need to focus on development, and not the £ signs. I dont have a problem opting for England, however they should really prove themselves first.
With Ralston and (for now) El Hamed in place it makes sense to sell from a position with depth. Scotland international Stephen O’Donnell should be available without a fee in the coming days if another body is required.
To be fair, JF is not good enough to be our right back. He’s not good at defending, which is a drawback for a defender. He can run with the ball but his end product is usually disappointing.
The important thing, if he goes, is that we buy a good, solid, right back to replace him. Doesn’t need to cost £5m, we just need to recruit well; the concern is that we don’t have a high success rate in that department.
Think this is actually a good bit of business. Don’t rate the young man as a defender and we can now go and recruit a tall, physical and athletic full back to replace him. There’s got to be one out there somewhere?
PS, can we not throw Lennon, Kennedy and Lawell into the deal as well?