09 Jan 2021 12:18:15
Afternoon Ed007 hope all is well with u and your family. This reporting on Benkovic is this a realistic target ir pie in tge sky stuff?
{Ed007's Note - Celtic were never interested in Benkovic although they were offered him. His injury problems, questionable fitness & attitude meant it was never going to happen no matter how much his agent leaked to the media.}
09 Jan 2021 19:39:34
So ED do you think celtic will bring in a CB when they have stated Duffy going nowhere and we still have Bitton Ajer and Welsh on the books?
Oh and Elhamed too.
{Ed007's Note - Yes I think Celtic will bring in a CB and at least a winger this window with the thinking that everyone stays apart from Elhamed and Ntcham who I expect to leave. There was no move for Mar McKenzie either after Celtic opted for Shane Duffy over McKenzie, Gibson and Colley in the summer. January is the best time to move for Americans and after Genk put a decent offer on the table and there was some advice that it would be a good stepping stone to the higher-profile leagues - Germany is always a favourite for American players - and Chris Durkin played his part in convincing McKenzie to move to Belgium.
I've no names, Richy but it seems that we're looking for a permanent CB signing who will go straight into the first team so that we have at least 1 CB with first team experience at the Club for the start of next season with it looking likely that Ajer, Jullien & Duffy will be leaving and with Jullien injured any new signing will get plenty of game time.}
09 Jan 2021 20:12:03
Agreed ed, but am sure celtic will get some more bad press with this one.
If they wanted him am sure he would be here already. fake news but the press and some fans will use it as a stick to beat us with for a player we never wanted.
09 Jan 2021 21:02:19
I would love it to be someone with the right qualities we are looking for without the press knowing and have the right man to sneak in without the press shouting out rubbish for example this Benkovic stuff giving out a false hope for the Celtic fans.
{Ed007's Note - False hope over Benkovic, really? I'm delighted we weren't in for him.}
09 Jan 2021 21:07:46
Who is Gibson and Colley ED007?
{Ed007's Note - Lewis Gibson from Everton (now on loan at Reading) and Omar Colley at Sampdoria.}
09 Jan 2021 21:14:42
That sounds like it will be Gallagher.
09 Jan 2021 21:31:37
Did we no miss out on Colley before? What would make u feel confident we could get him in the summer ED007 or is that false hope too?
{Ed007's Note - We opted for Duffy over Colley last summer, Ricardo.}
09 Jan 2021 22:15:01
Ed, do you think its possible that Duffy will cut his stay short this month and head back down south? I thought Kennedy spoke quite well today but hesitated a bit when asked about Duffy.
{Ed007's Note - As far as I know Duffy will see out the season up here, Del.}
09 Jan 2021 22:31:23
What makes you say Julien will be leaving at the end of the season ed? I fully expected Ajer and Duffy to be away but thought Julien would possibly stay, who else do you think will be leaving at the end of this year? Christie, Eddy, Ajer, Julien, Laxalt, el noussi, duffy leaves us with a huge rebuild and that's just the ones that spring to mind.
{Ed007's Note - Jullien wanted away last summer and was very forceful about it but the Club stood firm. Ajer's been accused of downing tools and not trying because he wanted away but Ajer never tried to force a move like Jullien. The Norwegian made it clear that he was interested in leaving but only if the Club and A.N. Other could agree a deal but he wouldn't force anything and he would respect the Club's decision.
Jullien's agent verbally asked for a transfer and when that was rejected he threatened to put in a written request which would have cost both him and the player money so he quickly backtracked when Lawwell called his bluff on it.
I think you've got most of the possible and probable exits there, Ryan and you could add Brown (retiring) Frimpong, Bolingoli, McGregor, Rogic, Hendry, Shved, maybe even LG (would a new manager wipe the slate clean or see him as not worth the hassle) and Barkas if he's still struggling to settle and we can recoup our cash.}
10 Jan 2021 10:01:26
Huge Summer ahead then for sure, do you think Lennon will be the man for the board to rebuild or do you think regardless of the outcome this year next season will be a fresh start with a new manager? I for one would like to see us go for someone a bit different to the likes of a MON, Strachan, Moyes etc. A young manager with fresh ideas and big aspirations as the pressure of 10 will be gone next season and we should have a decent budget with the expected departures.
{Ed007's Note - I don't think Lennon will be manager next season.}
10 Jan 2021 10:28:23
Do you think there will be a big rebuild in the summer then Ed? Why do you think Frimpong and McGregor are looking for a move? Or is it just that we may sell them whilst their stock is relatively high?
{Ed007's Note - McGregor & Christie have had their head turned by KT's stories of life in the Pub League and McGregor might see this summer - he's 28 this year - as the best (last?) chance for him to move to a decent level team like Leicester.
Frimpong was brought in as a project and if there is a good profit to make on him I can see him moving on, he's certainly not the answer to our RB problem imo.}
10 Jan 2021 12:38:27
I can certainly see Christie leaving, standards have slipped big time, although a lot of his performances seem to have been as a makeshift right winger.
I like Frimpong but he’s not a particularly good defender and his final ball isn’t good enough to be a winger. So I don’t really know what his best position is.
Are there any players you realistically think Celtic can bring in? Or maybe a better question, any you think can make the step up? I. e. Connell, Oko-Flex, Coffey. Looks like Karamoko isn’t part of the long term strategy which seems a shame.