The Diary isn’t looking for a Superman
Harper has already stroked this puppy, here. He decided to wake it up again, here. I’m going to bag it and tag it.
Joe Ledley has commented. “While it’s great to be linked with big players, at the end of the day we actually want to sign some.” Headlines mention it. “It easy to simply talk about marquee signings” pointed out one while our CEO said about Craig Bellamy “We couldn’t have done anymore.”
There is more the CEO can do. He can forget pandering to the section of the support who want some kind of instant hero, the kind you just add water too or that go into a telephone box and come out with their underpants over their shorts and get back on the page.
Last Sunday, after a decent away result, the talk was not about impressive performances but all about what delight Tattoo was bringing them in their very own Fantasy Islands in their minds.
The fact that Bellamy was only obtainable because Man Citeh are playing God riddled with insecurities over his own abilities seemed lost on them as they discussed formations, goals he would score and other possible signings that Tattoo would herald by screaming “ze plane, ze plane“.
We have been told many times that that we can’t afford these players.
The club pandered to this instant hero notion when we loaned Robbie Keane. That worked out well didn’t it? We now have a big hole left by a player that has no intention of returning. Bellamy’s last 6 month tour of duty was equally as successful as Keanes. They got a nice entry on their CV we got nothing in return. For their effort Noel Edmonds may come to see them on Christmas Day.
We seem to want our heroes ready made and not ones that deserve the status. My take on the mythical Celtic Class is this. You are not born with it. You earn it with your performances for Glasgow Celtic Football Club.
It was great seeing Keane and Bellamy. It’s great seeing good players. But in football terms they spent the equivalent to a weekend in a caravan with us. Nowhere near reaching Celtic Class.
In between Bellamy and Keane we have seen Nakamura a player who was Celtic Class. Aiden McGeady was Celtic Class and should have wore the famous number 7. He deserved it. Problem was when the time came to bestow the honour he had a manager who didn’t like him and we had just watched Scott McDonald stake a claim that he could grow into a great number 7.
Ok, McDonald let himself down but after that first season when he was like a bull in a china shop I wasn’t complaining he got that jersey, I thought we would see a striker that would reach the Ton Up club.
Short term loans are a quick junkie hit. A sign of bad planning.
We should be discussing if Daniel Majstorovic (his stats laid out here) is the leader that will earn hero status in the coming season. We should be hoping that Fortune or Hooper can stake a claim to be the number 7, though Hooper 88 is somehow too cool not to want it to stay. Paddy McCourt, aye, Paddy Fecking McCourt. We should be Hail Marying that he will be a legend.
Guys that want to be at the club and not just because they don’t make a 25 man squad. When we are tonking Utrecht tonight I’m hoping a see embers of a new bred not crying over semi skimmed.
We need a goalkeeper and a striker. In a way I’m glad Bellamy didn’t sign. We would be flapping about this time next season trying to find a new Craig Bellamy. Shay Given short term wont solve the problem that is Lukas Zaluska.
We don’t need big players we need the right players. My fear is that the board will pander to those sniffing glue by throwing money on a microwaveable hero.
well made points LOTW…..I agree that being “seen to do the right thing ” seems to be more important than actually doing the right thing at times…..you’re right…we don’t need Bellamy or Keane…great players that they are…we need to build our own base within prices we can afford….these guys would have been a quick fix….then it’s back to the drawing board.
I disagree, however, with your comments on Zaluska….you’ve jumped on the ..”No one will ever replace Artur ” bandwagon…..and it p***** me off….
No keeper, Artur included , can shine if the defence in front of him is crap….and ours is.
It maybe won’t be next week…but it is just now.
Give the guy a chance…I happen to think he’s a very good goalkeeper….who’s confidence is getting shot to hell ….by HIS OWN SUPPORTERS.
Rant over…have a good day…..
Very well put, all this chasing the “big name” is just giving fule to the rags to slag us when we dont get them. Ialso agree we shouldnt be looking for the ready “quick” fix as these dont work. Both Keans and Bellamy while we cant argue with their class and ability at the end of the season what did we have other than a few good memories of individual games.
I remember being up at the ground one day just before the 1997/98 season picking up my season book when some sweedish guy with dreadlocks was unvailed to us. No one knew who he was, no one expected him to be a legend but he wrote, then rewrote the history that is Henke.
A goalkeeper and a striker, yes we need them, tho im not totally convinced Rasmussan shouldnt be given more of a chance.
Sorry but I disagree, this season its so important to win the league back for everyone involved then a ‘quick fix’ in attack isn’t a problem and also affordable. Bellamy on £45,000 a week would have been affordable. Once the title is bagged and Lennon has secured his position then we can plan for the future.
This season is somewhat unique.
I don’t see either how Keane wasn’t a success, he came up and scored goals while being named player if the year!?
I should add that there is absolutely nothing wrong in signing a name that will excite the fans, at the start of the season it could easily add 10,000 onto the gate and shift the personalised merchandise. So the money can be recouped.
Most of these loan signings will be available at reduced wages due to circumstance next week.
The reason Keane left such a gaping hole is that the entire team were hopeless. That is why an entire team has been changed this pre-season. Who will actually survive from last seadon to this in the first 11 or 15? If the players Lennon has put his faith in are of the standard expected and required then one player coming and going after 1 year will not leave such a void to be filled.
@Mike I agree re Zaluska, he is one of the top 2 goalkeepers in Scotland in my opinion. Sort the defence and hopefully it has been with the 2 signings and he will be good enough for SPL. I would say that we might need another keeper of at least similar standard to fight for number 1 spot or as back-up. Cervi is still a relatively unknown quantity although should maybe get his chance as regular back-up.
Agree with Mike Bhoyle,I could have written it myself.
@ Mike Bhoyle
What I meant regarding Cool Hand Luka was that replacing him would do no good at this time. He is a victim of circumstance that is bombscares in front of him.
@ Eddie Hart
Can we blame Keane for Rassmussen not getting a fair crack or his lack of understanding that you need to sweat a bit in training.
Mainz on loan with a view to a permanent move says Celtic career over to me.
@ Harper
The fact that Robbie Keane got player of the year while playing under 20 games is far from success. It just shows how poor we were.
Bellamy and Keane both failed the reasons they were brought to the club. Keane failed this in his first game.
@ Desso
We are cool on recycling on this blog. Just make sure you separate your cardboards from the plastics.
LOTW, great article and I agree completely. The discussion about Zaluska is an interesting one. I am of the opinion that he is a fine GK for the SPL, but that he lacks the quality needed to do anything in Europe. Even today he seemed to make easy things look frightful with some of his clearances and odd positioning. What was he doing during his first half adventure? He also got caught out on a simple header that he had to acrobatically put over the bar for a corner in the second half. To be honest, he kind of drives me nuts in goal and I would love to bring in a better keeper, ideally the young Irish kid Westwood as one for the present and future.
Finally, I want to take a second and talk about some young guys currently here who I am really high on. Juarez and Forrest both seem like the real deal. I have seen absolutely nothing but great things from both of them and I hope that all of the people complaining that Lennon wasn’t buying enough “british” players take a serious look at Juarez. The guy is a beast in the midfield. Forrest has been a spark in every game he has been in as well. Really hope that we don’t do something stupid and loan him away because he deserves playing time here.
@ BoulderBhoy
I was watching Mexico v France during the WC and I commented that I reckoned those Mexicans were hardy enough to play in Britain.
They know how to put the boot in and can play a bit.
Forrest. Aye, without carried away he looks a find.
@LOTW your Keane line baffles me entirely! Without his goals we would have struggled to finish 2nd. He was a class apart from anyone else in the SPL. Don’t think he could have done any more in that team in the time he was there.
@ harper
Robbie on a personal level for him was a success. I’m Spurs will reap the benefits. I also think he will return and will want to be here in a few years.
As Divilino said, he was brought in to create a feelgood boost that would see us win the leg ad sell out the stadium.
Fail on both counts.
Mmm IPod typing fail this morning.
@Harper I think the author answered that question. The league was lost when we lost our first game with Keane playing.Any other player signed at 11pm the night before would’ve started that game on the bench, but Keane had to start. And I think that is kinda the point the author makes. Yes he scored a barrow load, but who knows what would’ve happened if one of the other strikers started that night (think it was Motherwell away)
Granted the team itself definitely didn’t deserve to win the league , but with specific regard to the article I tend to agree that the Keane signing was all about that initial euphoria. Nothing else really came of it.
@ divilino
That 24 hours was great when we signed Keane. Highlight of the season. Still at least Robbie took part in successes against st midden and Ross county.
Interesting and entertaining read as always. While I agree with the jist of the article regarding star players on loan, I think Shay would be a huge signing and would mean so much to us this season. Sorry but Zaluska is decent keeper (kicking is woeful btw) and no more than that. Shay is a great one who would spread so much confidence throughout that team and be worth at least 10 pts.