Celtic have finally added a new face to their squad in the shape of Colombian hitman Camilo Duran, but their pursuit of other reported targets has fans up in a heap over what they see as the same old negotiating tactics that have failed to pay off before.
Fans Question Board's Strategy
Egypt winger Haissem Hassan has emerged as a potential addition. His release clause at Oviedo has tumbled from £16million to £10m thanks to their relegation from La Liga, but sporting director David Fernandez insists he won't be sold for less despite a reported £3.4m offer from Celts.
Denis Bruce, Bishopbriggs, asked: "What game is the Celtic board playing? It has made a £3.4million bid for Hassan, the Egyptian winger, whose release clause stipulates £10million. A leopard never changes its spots and so the club is playing the same game as it did when it wanted John McGinn and lost him. If the club really values this winger, let it pay the asking price, which will be recouped several times over if the team qualifies for the Champions' League. Perhaps they cannot help themselves with their innate penny pinching mentality embedded in their DNA. No one is asking them to splash the cash recklessly. Let them operate astutely to bring their quality targets to grace the team."
O'Neill Defended
Claims that Martin O'Neill has become a Celtic yes man have been rubbished by Scott McAdam, Glasgow: "Here's a cracker from the village idiot from the hotline Frett. Saying MON is a cheap option and a yes man. And a care home. Well this 74 year-old did the double. I know what I would prefer. Keep the laughter up you are a total dough ball Mr Frett. And where is Ibrox by the way? Oh you don't know so put a sock in it."
Financial Muscle
Peter Lyon, Blantyre, also has a message for Alan: "This is for Alan Flett. Celtic are sitting on £70 million in the bank just now. If we sell Engles £25million + Maeda £25million + Johnston £25million + Nygren £10million + Hatate £8million-plus - that's more than £93million and if we qualify for Champions league another £40million. That's £133million coming in to the bank +£70million. So, we have a possible £203million. So, spare me about Mr No Medals Raskin. Please please make him our captain and he can become another Captain Bottler."
Rangers' Ferguson Pursuit
Robert Livingstone, Palm Beach, reckons Rangers will need to spend a pretty penny if they are to land Lewis Ferguson: He said: "The ball's in Bologna's court they've no problem selling Lewis Ferguson as other Serie A clubs would want him. Rangers need to spend around 20 million, would Cavenagh pay it? Lewis hasn't stated what he wants to do, he may prefer to stay in Serie A another sticking point is the wages."
World Cup and FIFA
Away from domestic issues and Alan Clark, Barrhead is pining for the FIFA glory days of Sepp Blatter: "At least Blatter and Platini had the decency to try and cover up their corruption. Infantino does it openly. Is there no one in FIFA capable of calling out this horrific specimen of a human being? Only the lowest of the low jumps into Trump’s back pocket. I’m glad Scotland exited this corrupt shambles of a World Cup, I hope England win it, against all odds, because everything possible will be done to stop them. and i’m not talking about other teams."
Scottish Open and Swearing
To golf and the Scottish Open is in full swing at the Renaissance Club near North Berwick. Bob Mac is hoping for more home turf success but Den Philip, Musselburgh, has suggested the Oban boy swaps out the f-bombs: "Bob MacIntyre says he can't stop swearing when he gets frustrated on the golf course. He says he's Scottish and it's part of the vocabulary. If that's the case he should get into the habit of using the popular unofficial Scottish swear word that really isn't a swear word....FALKIRK!"
