Celtic Banter Archive July 28 2020

28 Jul 2020 18:22:56
Peterborough confirm a Scottish team has bid for Ivan Toney.

I was told 3 days ago that Rangers made a move for him by a mate who claims to have contacts with a few agents. Same guy told me Greg Taylor wanted to snub us for Rangers so his info is always a hit and a miss, more the latter.

Just wondering Ed if you have any info on us bidding for Toney now that Ajeti apparently has cold feet. There's is obviously a connection with Strachan coaching with us now.

Also Ed do you hold any concerns about us selling Edouard this window? New contract talks seemed to have cooled and we are being linked with variety of strikers.

{Ed007's Note - I don't know of any further talks regarding Toney and if it is us that have put in a bid (did their chairman say when this bid went in?) the Peterborough's chairman will have royally pi$$ed off Peter Lawwell. I think Darragh McAnthony is being economical with the truth. And I'm not believing some West Ham bloggers take on Ajeti's situation.
Right now I have no concerns that Edouard will leave.}

28 Jul 2020 21:05:22
I think Peterborough are talking gash in an attempt to force a transfer.

{Ed007's Note - 👍

28 Jul 2020 21:09:44
Good to hear Ed. I always had the feeling french Eddy fancied 10 in a row but with the amount of forwards linked wondered if something was in the pipeline.

The team is shaping up nicely. 1 or 2 more on top of Ajeti and Barkas and I think we could have a team for the league and European run and then field a team for the league Cup and Scottish Cup, and still be favourites for the treble.

{Ed007's Note - I'm still optimistic that Edouard will sign the contract extension and as I've said on other threads about the number of strikers we'll need 4 if we're going 3-5-2.
Overall I think we've done OK so far in the window, replacing Forster with Barkas could be a masterstroke even financially, Elyounoussi resigning for the year could be massive for us as he has the potential to run amok up here and is already a potential POTY. When you look at the performances of Klimala, Soros and some of the youngsters there is a level of quality waiting in the wings.
The only negative is Simunovic and that's more to do with the number of CBs although for me Welsh could easily take his place in the squad.
The most important thing was sorting out the GK situation and now we've done that - and with spending decent money - let's hope Pedro keeps the good(ish?) work he's done so far, will he show the ambition for CL qualifiers though 😋
I just needed to get that dig in there lol.}

28 Jul 2020 22:17:42
Am I the only one that's glad jozo has left the building?

{Ed007's Note - We'll always have this....... 💚😢

28 Jul 2020 22:58:50
Couldn't agree more regarding MOI. injury free and good run of games he will run the show up here I predict 20+goals no problem.

28 Jul 2020 23:52:55
When miller finally lands I'm sure he'll agree it was a great tackle.

29 Jul 2020 09:31:20
one of the best tackles in football. it set the tone for the whole game. thanks for the memory big jozo and good luck hh.

29 Jul 2020 00:28:52
He was worth signing purely for that tackle Ed. Thing of absolute beauty.

28 Jul 2020 19:29:23
Folks, Ed 007, On the verge of a history making season, I had a good look at our squad, If we secure our new GK, keep the rest of the squad intact we have a very strong 1st eleven, good 2nd eleven and backup, the only positions to strengthen are IMO LB and CH cover, what's your thoughts?

4/ 3/ 3 1st ELEVEN:
GK - BARKAS TBC
LB - TAYLOR
CH- JULLIAN
CH- AJER
RB- ELMAHMED
MF- McGREGOR
CDMF - BROWN
MF - CHRISTIE
LW- ELYOUNOUSSIE
RW- FORREST
CF - EDOUARD

4/ 3/ 3 2nd ELEVEN and BACK UP:
GK - BAIN and HAZARD
LB - BOLLI and GUTMAN
CH- BITTON and NA
CH- WELSH and NA
RB- FRIMPONG/ RALSTON
MF- NTCHAM/ HENDERSON
CDMF - SORO/ LUCA CONNELL
MF - ROGIC/ DEMBELLE
LW- JOHNSTON and ARZANI
RW- FORREST/ SHVED
CF - GRIFF / KLIMALA.

28 Jul 2020 20:17:36
There's Daniel Church as LB cover - good technical LB in the Development Squad.
Gutman I doubt we'll ever see - work permit issue.
Arzani has gone back to MC - looks like going on loan in Holland.

28 Jul 2020 20:20:48
Probably win the league that second 11.

28 Jul 2020 20:42:13
I follow the Development Squad, and used to go to PH to watch the Reserves and the BP youths back in the 80s.

Looking at the current Dev Squad - it's the most potent I've seen in a long time after the few that moved on two or three weeks ago.

There's something special happening with the squad that's assembled and I think there's going to a lot more coming through in the next season or two.

28 Jul 2020 22:18:19
raleston is leaving.

28 Jul 2020 15:52:33
My old man used to say any striker worth there salt could get 20 goals a season with celtic due to the chances we make. Maybe Bayo just can't handle being at a big club.

28 Jul 2020 16:59:29
Well, I would say any striker worth his salt, won't get any goals if he is not being played.

28 Jul 2020 15:42:15
Would have thought a Winger who could play either side would have been a greater priority than another forward now Kilmala appears to have found his feet and a Centre half a definate before we go into the later stages of Europe. If Bolingoli leaves try our hardest to get Gutman a Visa.

28 Jul 2020 16:01:32
Definitely need a winger as Hayes is gone, Johnston is injured, plus I think maybe Shved and Arzani are away? I think NL has seen enough of Boli preseason to have made up his mind, so a LB would also be very wise, or even a guy that can play left or right back?
I think as long as we have Ajer, Jullien, El Hamed, Welsh and Bitton, we can cover both central defense positions.

28 Jul 2020 16:37:12
If we are regularly going to play 2 up front you need 4 first team ready strikers.

28 Jul 2020 17:28:24
I liked our Ed. idea of getting a left footed CB who can also fill in at left back if need be. Similar to what Elhamad can do on the right side.
It would be ideal because we also have Bitton who is good enough to cover at CB.
A winger who can also play on either wing would be another bonus with Mikey Johnston still out with a long term injury.
Add that to our imminent goalkeeper and forward signings and we are good to go.

28 Jul 2020 22:05:34
I think boli could possibly do a job as cover at lw, we need cover at lb or even a first pick and let taylor fight it out with him. If we get ateji and barkas too that would leave only a cb for me to be very happy. 😀.

28 Jul 2020 08:35:42
With Ajeti due to arrive tomorrow, Klimala pushing for a place, Griff back in the good-books, Elyounnoussi in good form, the perennial JF who invariably starts a season on fire and big Eddy the automatic main striker choice, we seem to be very well covered up front.
Apart from Bayo possibly loaned-out, does anyone think there will be bids for a star player, like previous seasons where we sold for big bucks?

28 Jul 2020 10:21:44
Get the goalie and Ajeti signed then we need a quality left back and a quality centre back, I’d sign Stephen O’Donnell to cover Frimpong at right back which would let El Hamed play centre back if needed and maybe Hladky so Doohan and Hazzard can go out on loan to gain experience.

28 Jul 2020 10:42:29
Not selling or top players this season will do for me. Can still see a few top players being sold to cover C.V. finical hit.

28 Jul 2020 11:03:27
If there was one to go, I'd prob say it would be ntcham, clear to see that brown, Cristie and McGregor are the first picks, could get decent money for ntcham for a guy who won't be starting most games, give soro and Robertson a chance to cover the midfield, just my opinion.

28 Jul 2020 11:15:59
A lb is a must unless young mcinroy is decent i haven't seen him really but if not we need one in case Taylor gets injured and he seems to pick up a few.

28 Jul 2020 11:47:14
McInroy isn't a LB, he's a midfielder and most of the best games he has had in the Development Squad has been as a midfielder. Same as Calmac slotting into LB - that was Rodgers and NL experimenting. The signings made after the two who are apparently coming in will define whether we are well placed for the 10 and in Europe. Any sales such as Eddy, Ntcham or Ajer would need to be replaced to keep the momentum going.

28 Jul 2020 12:56:03
Ntcham has probably been our best player in pre season. Why sell him and keep Rogic who can't stay injury free for a string of games? When he isn't injured he's blowing out his arse after 10mins and contributes very little towards goals either.

28 Jul 2020 13:22:53
Ntcham would make us more money, you say ntcham has been are best player in pre season but he won't start on Sunday, the original thread was about maybe having to sell top players and my opinion would be to sell ntcham as you would get good money and not disrupting the team.

28 Jul 2020 13:58:09
Ed, do we know what is happening with Gutman? He has been getting rave reviews for a couple of performances and could potehtially fill in as backup or even push for LB.

{Ed007's Note - Gutman is struggling to get a work-permit again so will probably stay on at FC Cincinnati mate.}

28 Jul 2020 14:25:44
Who cares if ntcham would make us more money. He makes our team better and that's all I care about.

28 Jul 2020 15:21:18
Thanks Ed! Would be great if he can get onboard soon!

Gotta say also Ed, I always enjoy your responses to folk and the information you give us! I have been on and off the site for quite a few years now and have always enjoyed the banter you bring to the site! It is very clear the difference between our site and sevco's, you foster intelligent conversation and enable us all to have a great laugh in the process!

Thanks Ed.

{Ed007's Note - Thanks very much mate, you'll have me blushing here lol}

28 Jul 2020 15:49:18
Do you think gutman or perez will ever get a work permit for us or do you think they will just be sold.

{Ed007's Note - I don't think they will and be be sold or probably freed.}