Read my post above and/or watch his highlights - he seems more likely to play as a winger or just behind the striker. He's more of a creative dribbler. Maybe he can fill in as a CF, or will become one in a few years, but it doesn't seem his favoured natural position at the moment. We'll surely still be looking for another first choice CF.
They’ve rejected interest in a player that’s free to speak to them? Celtic Post seem to have some weird ideas on what power Celtic have in the situation!
Hence why I never wanted to get into journalism when I was offered the chance. It's hard to read between the lines most of the time, but even more so when they spout dribble like that.
Maybe it's the other way round? He's refused to speak to them or turned down any contracts from them? Would make more sense imo.
Will be a great loan for Udinese after we've signed him, with Davis returning to us. #Ginosdoneitagain
All I would say is just because it’s not announced or on social media doesn’t mean it hasn’t happened or isn’t in the process of happening. A lot goes on behind the scenes. They haven’t even announced Tikvic who has been training with the team since the start of pre season…
True, it takes a few weeks to get the glitzy twitter videos produced and edited. Hopefully an announcement later this summer.
But have you heard anything on a possible deal. Supposedly Bond, Sissoko and Tikvic were in the bag and still nothing official.
Was supposedly over last week signing so woudn't worry too much. By no means a guaranteed success but quite an impressive signing for us.
As far as I am aware, Bond is done, cleverley is having a look at Tikvic but the agreement is in place if cleverley says yes. As for sissoko again an offer in place and he has trained with the squad, haven’t heard if he has signed or not yet but it sounded pretty much done.
So Bond, Tikvic, Vatta and Sissoko. Any idea on what’s in store after that? I think we’ll need a left back and another midfielder at the very very least, and a striker or winger depending on how Vatta is viewed.
I think in terms of the easier business free transfers etc then this is a start. Cleverley has said he wants to look at what players he has internally first before making decisions on other signings but I’d expect a left back, a striker and midfielder at the minimum. TC very keen to make use of loans for at least a couple of talented young pl players and then I’d imagine if any players move on and there’s any budget it will go towards the striker wanted. In regards to post below about Doumbia, he’s here for pre season, no decision will be made within a week or two. TC will have a proper look then decision made to keep him around or loan him. Same as most young players, Forde, Baah etc
Surely Cleverley knows what he's got already? I'm not shooting the messenger at all @Goldenorn but it's pretty frustrating (and probably revealing about the limited means at our disposal) if that's the way they're going to present it.
Not necessarily, players like Forde and Baah were out on loan last season and/or injured so cleverley will want to see more of them and how they may have developed. There’s others who are making the step up to train regularly at senior level and he’ll want to see how they get on. think we all know there’s not much budget and the club are trying to be smart with free transfers to bolster the squad a bit and then some loans to bring in some quality players.
Again, Vatta is not a striker. If we wanted a young CF to develop around the squad then I'd have thought we'd use Doumbia for that. But an upgrade on Bayovic surely has to be a priority. I'm not sure why some are saying another midfiels is essential either? While I would like an upgrade there given Kayembe is our only current player I'm fine with as first choice, bodies wise we probably have enough unless they consider Grieves isn't worthy of being 4th or 5th choice (I doubt he is, but I wouldn't be surprised if Clevs likes the idea of trying to develop him anyway). We have Kayembe, Sissoko, TDB, Chak possible, and Grieves.
I think a striker with pace and movement is high on the agenda, but think that might be one of the last ones once we can see what’s available and what budget might be available if any players leave. I could see one of the loans being a midfielder maybe, if we sign a left back on a permanent that is. with the 2 inside forward positions I think with Chakvatedze, asprilla, Vata and the likes of Sema, potentially Forde or Baah too they feel pretty satisfied there. Centre halves are all good unless hoedt leaves. So really main positions to bolster are going to be an upgrade up top and in midfield if the right option is available
@Goldenorn Thank you as ever for your updates. It’s so good for the forum to have a member with his ear so close to the ground and providing such reliable updates. Appreciated.
Personally I think we lack a bit of steel in midfield and probably still need a solid defensive minded midfielder, none of those are really ball-winners, unless we're planning on playing Sierralta in DM again but I'd hope we don't go in that direction again! Kayembe did put up some decent defensive numbers in 22/23, but think he's better off playing a bit further forward.
I think because Chakvetadze will be one of the attacking midfielders (/‘inside wingers’ or whatever) behind the striker. Same goes for Grieves if he’s in the squad. Only leaves 3 players competing for 2 positions in midfield. Unless that 18yo you keep banging on about becomes the 4th.
Cleverley never used Sierralta in CM, nor I imagine will he. He typically went with Kone and Kayembe, or TDB and Kayembe. As I've suggested elsewhere, Sissoko is surely filling in for Kone. With the 3 CBs used by Cleverley we were more than fine defensively, even without a deep-lying DM. 3 CBs plus a dedicated DM is massively overkill. We're not playing Ismael's 433 any more.
Based on what? I thought throughout the youth teams he's played mostly as an 8? In the first team he was even used as a RWB before he was used as an attacking midfielder. If we sign Vata I'd have thought he'd be the main back-up to Chakvetadze as one of the AMs. And while I'm sure the intention is to use Chak mainly as one of the AMs, it doesn't mean that worst case if 2 of Kayembe, Sissoko and TDB get injured that he can't fill in there - he's more than adequate. We'd then just only play with Asprilla in the whole behind 2 CFs, or maybe start Vata. Personally I am not convinced Grieves is good enough to get minutes in any position, and our attacking verve in Clevs' 4321 is poor enough already without putting someone like him in there.
He played mostly as a striker in youth football, didn't he? I don't know exactly where he'll play, if anywhere, but usually when there's a player you're not completely convinced by, the rule of thumb is to keep them further away from your own goal and defensive responsibility. Even if he did make his first start at RWB!
Isn't Louza back in training? If he has got his sh!t together, he's a great midfielder with an eye for that killer pass.... as long as we have a striker capable of doing something with it.
