Celtic Banter Archive January 08 2017

08 Jan 2017 14:55:58
So now media saying our value on MD is 30m. I think he will be a superstar one day but if that kind of money gets offered, and BR has full control, then 30m plus whatever else we are going to have to spend would allow us to transform the the team into something really special.

08 Jan 2017 15:34:59
Would be massively dissappinted to see MD sold at the moment even though £30m is a lot of cash in anybody's language that could indeed be reinvested in the team. Still don't see the rush though as his value will only increase if he's as good as we think he is. As I've said before finding raw talent and giving it a stage at the highest level accepting we're a window to EPL has got to be our business model but we need to get the balance right in terms of getting the best out of them for a few seasons beforehand. For me timing needs to be based on making sure we keep the best of the best to qualify for CL or it's both false economy and demoralising for the fans. 🍀

08 Jan 2017 17:30:38
though we made 30 m off champs league, so we have 30 m to spend already

08 Jan 2017 18:32:16
We didn't make £30mil, maybe close too!
And if we do get £20/ 30mil for Dembele? That's not how it works and won't work lol
It's not all spends, only a fraction.

08 Jan 2017 18:50:34
The money might be tempting, but qualification for CL is priority for next season again, and that would be much more realistic with MD on our book than reinvesting his sale on new players that might not settle in as well as moussa has.

I hope we keep him until he at least earns his first cap (which can't be too far away) . Ideal time to sell would be after World Cup imo, where his stock will be at its highest. will we be able to resist until then?

08 Jan 2017 20:22:01
Dembele might be the difference between qualifying again, and getting another 30m of champions league money. Look at it like that. We have the power over the fee any club wants to pay

08 Jan 2017 20:27:48
We should also try for a higher sell on percentage if/ when he gets sold say 20/ 25% cos he will get an even bigger move later no doubt

08 Jan 2017 21:40:53
Devil's advocate but worth remembering that it was Griffiths that got us to the UCL group stages, not Dembele. Yes he had his (very important) penalty against Astana but LG scored against LRI, Astana home and away, and a double against HBS.

08 Jan 2017 22:54:04
Agree griffiths was the man who got us there, and is probably still the best finisher in Scotland. I just think over the last few months, especially in the bigger games, Dembele has stepped up and it's clear Rodgers sees him as the main forward.

For what it's worth, I think Griff is suited to most games we play and is very unfortunate to find MD in the form he was/ is when Leigh got injured

09 Jan 2017 12:56:47
We are a much better team with both Dembele and Griffiths available - as opposed to recent seasons where Ciftci, Scepovic and Stokes were possible options?
The whole point of appointing BR was to lift the club to where it should have been since 2012 if managed properly and decisions were in tandem with our huge advantage and regain our CL status and improve quality.
Obviously huge offers will be very tempting, but the manager must be given every chance to finish what he started and keep players that seem very happy to be here.

08 Jan 2017 11:34:37
BR wants a squad of 16/ 17 pros. Over the next season and 1/ 2 we will see new faces. Who in everyone's opinion are in the present squad the Def stays the maybes and the Def goes.
Some if the present regs have to be included in the goes bases on BRs philosophy and figures he deals with

08 Jan 2017 15:24:17
Def stay: Tierney Erik Jozo Sinclair Rogic Brown Armstrong Forrest Roberts if (lucky) MD LG
Maybe stay: Gordon Lustig Izzy GMS Gamboa Kolo De Vries Christie Henderson Ajer
Def Ship: Bailly Bitton Efe Commons Cifcti Fasan (if he's still here) Janko Allen Boyata.

08 Jan 2017 16:09:59
Not bad shout Davie-I'd have the much maligned Gordon, Lustig and Izzy on my definitely stay list and Kolo and De Vries on my definitely ship list though 🍀

08 Jan 2017 16:22:40
JFP, Izzy has been quality this year and got to admit Gordon is a new man (most of the time! ) I'd probably keep CG in fact. Just difficult if he is planning a heavy cull and looking to bring more in.

08 Jan 2017 17:00:58
I would also keep izzy he's been a great stand in for tierney.

I would also keep lustig I'm not sure where the negativey is coming from he's always consistent.

Get shot of CG tho and bring in a decent keeper. He's fine domestic wise as we can win games regardless of his performance but if we want to have an impact in Europe it won't happen with him in goal.

Would really like Roberts to stay but it's looking highly unlikely.

08 Jan 2017 20:10:32
Tick, I am not being negative about Lustig. Great player who brings excellent experience and a bit of versatility to team and loves the jersey. If it is a question of cutting the squad to 16 or 17 players though, I would have him on the maybe keep list especially if BR had a younger, fitter player lined up. Great as Lustig has been, he is not young and while his injuries are hopefully behind him, he no longer has the pace to play high press RB/ wingback role, particularly at CL level. If I was negative about him he would be on my definitely go list. Like you, I'd be surprised if we keep Paddy R, if we do though, it would be an astonishing coup and a real sign of the club's standing going from strength to strength.

08 Jan 2017 19:42:36
I had forgotten about Janko! The Man Utd fans rated him. how has he done on loan at Barnsley does anyone know?

08 Jan 2017 21:46:22
Tbh davie I was just a little suprised you had CG and lustig in the "maybe keep" section when one of the players is Mr dependable and the other is the opposite.

It's each to there own tho mate imo we need to strengthen a couple other areas first.

08 Jan 2017 22:23:37
Hey guys new to this. The players I would keep would be. Lustig, Sviatchenko, Jozo, KT, O'Connell, Toure (for another year) Brown, Armstrong, Forrest, Sinclair, Rogic, LG, MD and Roberts ( hopefully) . The young players to work with. Henderson, Ajer, Allen, Christie, Eboue.
Defo get rid of. Ambrose, Boyata, GMS, McGregor, Biton, Ciftci, Commons.
Anyone else think O'Connell looks a player?

09 Jan 2017 07:30:40
I would like to see toure stay another season too malky think his experience is good for tierney and the rest of the defence.

Mcgregor is probs worth keeping I'm not so sure about Allen and Henderson tho not seen anything from either.

Would agree with rest tho mate.

07 Jan 2017 23:53:12
Just sitting watching Jinky on BBC Alba, the hairs on my neck are standing.
Tears in my eyes and a lump in my thoat.

God bless you wee man for the years of happiness you brought to the Celtic family.

1st name on god` team sheet
Once a Celt always a Celt

#RipJinkyNo7

08 Jan 2017 13:00:35
Cheers for that CPRS1-just watched it-and that's the tears and snotters running fae me now too and lump in my throat now as well! Different times-different world-it takes more than one or two good seasons from a VVD or Wanyama to become a Celtic FC legend and earn the title 'Grestest Ever Celt'. Larson looked genuinely delighted when Jinky won it. The days when Man Utd came calling and a wee laddie says 'naw-I only want to play for Celtic' and after leaving his heart was never in it anywhere else. Rest in Peace James Connelly Johnstone 🍀

08 Jan 2017 13:34:24
A watched it ages ago n a was bubbling away like a wee schoolgirl. Funny how it gets u intit? The wife fell asleep during it, so she never witnessed the greetin thank God.