29 Jun 2025 21:45:16
It's a pity we can't unearth a CB in the shape of Dianbobo Balde whom we signed from Toulouse for buttons almost 24 years ago.
His physicality and no nonsense approach to defending was something else - 'Bobo's going to get you' ?.
☘️ ? ☘️.
29 Jun 2025 22:47:13
I am not sure Celtic are looking for a Balde type defender .
The manager and the team of recruits have to find players who fit into the Celtic team and suit their style of play . Balde wouldn’t have the mobility and pace to cover the large area BR asks his centre halves to play.
29 Jun 2025 22:47:36
I don’t think Celtic actually ended up paying any transfer fee for Bobo Balde.
It was something to do with the French clubs finances.
30 Jun 2025 05:07:28
IMO we should have had the guts to go man to man at the back more often in the SPFL last season. A player like Bobo would be perfect for that. Was there really another player in the league last year that would have scared you if we went man for man with Bobo?
30 Jun 2025 08:20:03
The guy took us for every penny in the end. Wasn't playing and refused to move. His perogative.
30 Jun 2025 09:23:47
Bobo was very quick for a big man and a better cb than he got credit for.
30 Jun 2025 09:57:51
Bobo was miles ahead of all our present defenders I'd take another couple in same mould with no hesitation.
30 Jun 2025 10:23:38
If I remember Bobo was paid £40k a week to sit on the bench for most of his last season, think today he would be a disaster against fast mobile, nippy forwards, who wouldn't be intimidated by his size or fearsome look, because they would know that they could outrun and out manoeuvre him,
30 Jun 2025 11:35:04
Bobo had physicality but when he thought he could play with his feet, then that was the end of him.
He would not fit into what BR needs, he could not play out of the back, although his headed clearances could clear the half way line ?.
30 Jun 2025 11:50:54
Bobo was an accident waiting to happen.
30 Jun 2025 14:34:25
The reason Bobo sat on the bench picking up a wage was because Lawell took the huff and tried to make an example of him when Strachan was ordered to reduce the wage bill! He said he would go if Celtic paid up his contract or made him a good offer, Lawell refused. Would anyone else give up their job for less than half their salary just to suit a tight fisted employer . He was fit and available to play, Lawell’s directive was not to play him to try and force him out.
{Ed007's Note - Really? That's not how I remember it and HERE'S how it was reported at the time. It all stemmed from MON sanctioning Balde's new deal then leaving within months. Strachan came in and didn't rate Balde as a player so it was a footballing decision before it became about money and neither Balde or Lawwell cover themselves in glory in the whole episode but there is no mention of anyone asking or even suggesting that he should rip up his contract and walk away with nothing, Celtic even offered to top up his wages to what we were paying him if he wanted to go out on loan and the other club couldn't or wouldn't pay him it.}
30 Jun 2025 15:24:32
Bobo had several offers to pay him money to leave but wanted every penny, which was his right but celtic were also right to refuse to pay him full whack for him to go elsewhere and make even more. That is not the reason he didn't play though, strachen didn't rate him, he wanted CBs that were better with the ball at their feet than bobo.
30 Jun 2025 16:02:28
I don’t think Balde had an agent because he wanted to keep 100% of the good deal he negotiated for himself.
After reading that article it looks like an agent would’ve helped with a few of the issues Bobo was having with Celtic.
Maybe given him more clarity.
30 Jun 2025 17:24:02
I seem to remember Strachans remit was to get the squad wage bill reduced after MON gave the board coronaries.
{Ed007's Note - If MON had stayed there wouldn't have been any problem. Of course the board wanted the Club's top earner of the wage bill if he wasn't going to be playing under the new manager who had replaced Balde with Caldwell - it would be sheer stupidity for any club not to do that surely? - but to suggest that Celtic or Lawwell tried to make him just rip up his contract without no financial recompense is just nonsense. Why didn't Balde just get a transfer, he negotiated with enough teams, why didn't he go out on loan and let Celtic top up his wages?
Clubs negotiate with players and come to a settlement figure, if Balde wanted the full 4 years left on his deal paid up then he was off his head and as Buzz said probably needed an agent to advise him.
If that is what Balde wanted - so he was then free to sign for another club with a higher signing on fee because of no transfer fee then Celtic (Lawwell) was 100% in the right.
Are you seriously suggesting Celtic should have just gave Balde £7.3m (£10.7m today) to get him off our wage bill - even though it'll cost us the same of keeping him - and thus allowing him to join another Club on a free?
It's ludicrous. Should we just do away asking for transfer fees for our players, so when a player wants to leave or they aren't in the managers plans we just pay up their contract and let them leave for nothing? That's one way of getting rid of Nawrocki, Lagerbielke etc AND our bank balance.}
30 Jun 2025 18:48:16
Wasn’t suggesting we rip up his contract, but he clearly didn’t fancy what was on offer at the time. Do remember him being made to train and play with the kids. That would suggest the club were trying to piss him off.
{Ed007's Note - He was sent to train with the kids because he was disruptive and causing problems, it happens a lot at football clubs. What about him refusing to play in reserve games?
You started off saying that Lawwell wouldn't pay him up his contract of £7.3m allowing him leave on a free which is literally ripping up his contract... Wouldn't it have suited both parties if he had been sold or went out on loan, or was Balde just happy that he was getting £28k a week for doing nothing for 3 years, Bobo Balde, what a guy eh? Ripped the Club off for millions but it's all Peter Lawwell's fault.
So what exactly did you expect/want Celtic to do? What did Celtic do wrong apart from try and move on the highest earner who wasn't part of the manager's plans?}
30 Jun 2025 19:41:12
Ed007 . Good accurate reporting of the situation, some people try to believe the worse SMSM version of what they report about Celtic . It’s ludicrous to believe Celtic and Lawwell would go out of there to deprive a Celtic player an agreed contract. This implies Celtic are a real cow - boy outfit, that neither players nor opponents should trust in doing a deal with .
Of course Rangers SMSM want to force that belief on to supporters of Scottish SPL clubs, but it is a real pity that some of own supporters are prepared to believe this too . Thankfully Celtic fans can hold their heads high, knowing that our Board is scrupulously fair in dealing with other clubs and players . Unfortunately two clubs (playing out of Ibrox ) one old and dead, and other new and broke have tried their best frequently to fiddle both clubs and players.
30 Jun 2025 19:54:36
Clearly I’ve got it wrong, but at the time I can’t remember any supporters being pissed at Balde, just miffed that was at the club and not being used as he was one of the best defenders we had .
{Ed007's Note - At first a lot of fans questioned it but as it went on and more & more came out a lot of could see/understand what was going on. Balde actually played 33 games under Strachan in his first season as manager who then brought in Gary Caldwell to replace him in the summer - I think a lot of Celtic fans seen Caldwell as a downgrade on Balde and that's where a lot of the conspiracy theories about it all stem from, that it wasn't a footballing decision, that it was all down to money etc.}
30 Jun 2025 20:31:36
Strachan walked into Celtic Park and mentioned he had 2 main goals for his first season.
Obviously to reclaim the title and to significantly reduce the average age of the Celtic first team squad.
Strachan achieved both with flying colours.