Yes its back, that dodgy chap in the cap, hiding in the shadows has been contacted once again.
The only guy who could find him in person would be a guy with a particular set of skills, that he had acquired over a period of time.
Since my last contact with him he has been to 3 continents and watched many football matches. He has been chased by a bull, bitten by a massive spider and travelled on one of the narrowest mountain roads in the world and he survived.
He has more tales than Stephen King and has turned 50Â more shades of colour than Mr Grey on his travels with the added action of Rambo to boot.
He recently returned home from an exile in the highlands where he was studying for his second Masters
degree. In this narrow period of time he has been overlooking Scottish football and trying the learn the ins and outs.
He had become accustomed to Scottish life, now using phrases such as “Pumped” instead of “making love”, drinking Buckfast like its going out of fashion and eating haggis at least once a week (Yes he loves it).
I had a discussion over the phone about his findings, any names being thrown around being linked to us Celts and anything else he had managed to pick up from his travels (Herpes? hopefully).
SPL – Sevco, league talk
Me – “Any news that sticks out regarding the climate of the Scottish game?”
Insider – “I have heard that a SPL 2 will be a definite, I have also heard that you could put money on the ex-gers, blue by gones or whatever they are called to not be instated into any division for the forthcoming season as well..”
Me – “Elaborate…”
Insider – “Well from my friends in the press and in high places the second SPL has been thrown about as an idea continuously behind the scenes for many years, the view below in England of ‘Scottish football being a laughing stock’ has hurt those in charge of Scottish football for many a year and now in its time of need when something needs to be done to strengthen Scottish football it is in the higher percentiles that it will happen, right now? I do not know but with the rangers fiasco tainting Scottish football…it looks more likely”
Me – “…and Sevco as all us Celts call the ex-gers, what about them? I heard a similar story from Phil MacG via my Twitter (@theTrhoof)…”
Insider – “Well who would want them? the fans of the club are trouble and now the team is a whole trouble of mess, gate receipts yes…but in the laws of fairness…the right thing needs to be done…and I am not sure those in charge of Scottish football know how to deal with it..UEFA and FIFA need to step in and deal with it…but going on past experiences and my recent trips to Italy in the past few years…depending on the status of a club…leniency is given…so the question is who polices the police?…”
Me – “What would you do then to sort it out?..”
Insider – *Puffs his cheeks” “Banish them from football..? Would make the world a better place, the Manchester scenario still sticks clearly in my mind, do we really want that back..? For rivalry…its exciting isn’t it…the Milan derby, the el classico…the old firm…but football moves on…the next rivalry will come through for Celtic…rangers might be dead but football is like a locomotive ever moving and stops for nobody…”
Who is going
Me – “Let get down to the bottom line…never-mind the sevco…Celtic…what do you know…?”
Insider – “Not a vast amount but more than enough…Wanyama has been misquoted, typical journalist fishing for a story taking something out of context…”
Me – “I thought it seemed a little lost in translation, and we all know what the press make of something…I have been in press conferences myself with my local club and wording of questions can lead to sensationalist headlines…my betting is they asked him about his ambition or would he ever like to play in the english premiership and he has said yes…and the leaches are then snapping at the bit to tell us all Vic wants a move south…”
Insider – “Nail on the head to some extent…but Wanyama has not helped his case speaking on more than one occasion but I do know Lennon has had words and I do not expect any departures other than Ki Sueng Yeung…I have been alerted that he wants to move…”
Me – “Again….personally…how much of that is speculation though? It must be a bit micky mouse…I know QPR came looking but they recently signed Park from Man U…and from what I am aware German clubs have been touting after his services..”
Insider – “One italian club has shown ultra interest…but its not major enough to tease him away…maybe he will move who knows…but they are in Germany on pre-season”
Me – “Why break up the nucleus of a team…I don’t think Lennon will let anybody go myself, he will build on what we have got…and it would take serious…and I mean serious money to prise any of our assets away, like he said if Carroll is worth 35 million, Hooper must be worth more…”
Insider – “Well yeah Hooper is brilliant he is so much more than your typical striker for me there is something and dare I say it Legend-like with him, if he commits to Celtic, which I think he will, he could be a player we talk about for years to come and one to be feared with on the continent…”
Transfer targets for us
Me – “So who is linked to us then? surely there are a few names in the mixer already?..”
Insider – “Craig Burley…haha…joking aside Celtic have been watching a few strikers, an array of midfielders and central defenders…with some typical names being mentioned from a few scouts around the country as well…”
Me – “Dont leave me hanging hey, like who then..?”
Insider – “Russell at Dundee, Celtic have been watching him obviously for a while now and have bid for him in the past but Russell knows what side his bread is buttered and Celtic is now a real option for him…”
Me – “Russell can do damage, very attacking and reminds me of a little and mind the pun a Jack Russell chomping at the bit, eager as hell and would be a good addition to Celtic…adding depth…”
Insider – “Russell is one..but not the only Dundee player that Celtic have been keeping eyes on…”
Me – “Little Willo making a comeback then…”
Insider – *wry smile* “No hes signing for Real Madrid…Jon Daly.”
Me – “Daly is a decent player, but with him being club captain, Dundee are pretty much stating that it will take a decent fee to obtain his services…”
Insider – “Jon is a Celtic fan, plus he wants to expand the little career he has left, he is 29 believe it or not and in the form of his life, he could be another war horse like Sutton…”
Me – “Sutton was Sutton, Daly is Daly. Sutton dare I say it was a world class talent…Daly needs to make the next step to prove himself outside the SPL in deep European competition, not diddy games proper meaningful ones that he would need to perform in to get even a one step close to Sutton…Daly I would accept as he does bring something different, but Rasmussen looked in that mould also..”
Insider – “Well thats what I know…there are a few other links…Mikael Forsell, James Harper, Gretar Steinsson, Ricardo Fuller and Hugo Rodallega. All decent players oh and I forgot to mention Ivan Klasnic as well, all players who could do damage…”
Me – “Forsell couldn’t do damage to himself right now, but all the other players seem quite decent, add experience thats for sure. Klasnic and Rodallega could be great additions to our strike force but I could only see room for one of them…”
Insider – “Fuller is the most likely, he wants another shot at european competition and he is hungry to prove himself, he is full of flair and can score the odd sensational goal…”
Me – “No room for him then…we have Paddy to do that…”
He then continued to go into a wild rant about how Fuller could dominate the SPL, but I stopped listening as it seemed like a wild fairytale and then said I would call him again in a few weeks when I have time off work.
Comments welcome as always…
A 5.5 million buy for assets only, minus debts is a steal. D&P were corrupt and made a tidy sum brokering the dodgy deal. Sevco Scotland Ltd. might have to give back the assets they bought on the cheap to the liquidator so that the creditors can get their money back. Then again, they might no!
I bet this all seems long winded for the bystanding football fan looking onward at the ongoings in Scottish football. Roll on the new season when we can focus on just the football on the pitch.
Is that Gretar Steinsson he was talking about? Is he not a right-back?
Not too keen on Jon Daly. Having seen him a number of times I don’t think he would fit into our side. I knew he was a big targetman type and paid closed attention to him last season and wasn’t that impressed.
Rodallega would obviously be a good one. Klasnic also but is he not a bit similar to Stokes and Hooper?
As for Forsell and and Harper – seriously?!
Steinssen – yes right back, decent player but hes not needed.
Daly – would add something a little different.
Rodallega – Flair, power, aerial prowess, finishing. Get him signed.
Klasnic – can finish well and would keep Hoops and Stokes on their toes.
Forsell and Harper would be a no no for me.
Who would you target?
Not keen on Daly.
He is another Daryl Murphy.
Daryl Murphy was another Chris Killen
Are we going to continue going down the road of average ‘target men’?
I can see the purpose for the Euro games, but domestically the only thing SPL centre backs can do is tango and heid the ball.
The one thing they can not do is cope with nippy wee players and crisp passing without their over grown legs and feet tripping someone.
Im not a fan of the target man – we were spoiled by getting the 2 best target men in our history at the same time.
Unless we can get another Sutton, Hartson or even a Van Hooijdonk lets just play football on the carpet
I agree but I do think Daly would be worth a punt but only if the price is right.
Sutton, Hartson and Larsson a trio that set the standard.
If Hooper is the Larsson, big comparison but who is his big man foil?
We have all moaned on Sammy, but is another target man what we need?
Theres Niko Zigic who could suit that foil possibly but we are always priced out of these players, I’m sure Lennon will know what to do if we need a bigman striker he will find a decent one.