Michael’s surprise overSFA efforts
MONEY talks in football and a suspicious mind may conclude it has already spoken over Moussa Dembele’s future at Celtic.
Subtle hints are starting to reveal themselves, let’s just say he’s the one to watch when the January transfer window opens.
There’s no doubt he will be courted by big clubs and it may be happening already.
Question marks have been raised over him this season. He was injured in the early part of the campaign but it’s more than possible he could be on the move next month.
I just hope Celtic stand their ground but let’s look at some recent clues.
I may be wrong but I can’t see Leigh Griffiths leaving. However, with Odsonne Edouard being pushed into the team ahead of him could it be in the back of Brendan Rodgers’ mind that something has already been sorted out with Dembele?
There is a pecking order in football and you know yourself if you deserve to be in the team or not. Would I have expected to have played while Henrik Larsson sat on the bench?
The answer is “absolutely not” and that’s not to make a comparison to the calibre of strikers Celtic currently have.
But could it be the reality has dawned that Dembele may actually be going?
It’s interesting that Edouard has been promoted in front of Griffiths. It could be quite simply that he been doing exceptionally well in training.
Brendan could have decided he’s the next player who’s ready to accelerate his development but that’s one of the reasons I want to see Dembele stay – he’s still developing, has time on his side and doesn’t need to rush off anywhere elsewhere.
Talk of Dembele leaving should be a non-starter. I have no doubt Celtic will be tested on that front in January.
It will, as always, come down to the size of fee offered. They need to pick the right time to sell him but Celtic also need to show some genuine ambition in the Europa League.
The Champions League campaign was disappointing so it would be great to see them having a real go in the secondtier competition.
That would mean hanging on to their best players and Dembele is certainly in that category.
We all know Celtic are a selling club, players are allowed to leave at the right price.
One of the main reasons Brendan was brought in as manager was to develop the talent they have and I understand that. But there also comes a time when they must stand their ground and do what’s best for the team right now.
I have said previously it’s not enough for a club of their standing just to be in the Champions League, it should also be about moving forward.
That’s what made this season’s campaign all the more disappointing and it’s why the focus must be on the entry rather than the exit door.
The recruitment of a quality defender, or two, is a necessity. It has reached the critical stage.
Jozo Simunovic is a player I quite like, he’s the better of the centre-halves, but Brendan can’t call on him regularly enough and Dedryck Boyata can’t be trusted.
Time will tell if Celtic are capable of progressing against Zenit with the squad they have.
Let’s be honest, the evidence we’ve been presented with in Europe is of a Celtic side which hasn’t been good enough.
Even if you assess them domestically, they have at times looked fragile in the centre-half positions. Some fans have been grumbling over how the Champions League campaign went and so far Europe has been flat. Celtic must strengthen, it’s clearly a fact.
The Europa League offers a chance to lift that flatness if they can get themselves on a bit of a run. Zenit will be a tough opponent in the last 32 but Celtic owe it to their fans to have a real go and it may just be that result which changes the perception of how well Rodgers can do with Celtic in Europe in the future.
It’s going to be interesting to see how his future pans out as there are four Champions League qualifiers next season.
They need to be building and planning now for that. They should have signed a centre-half last summer and they certainly have to get at least one in next month. Rodgers realises he made a mistake by not doing that, he has admitted it himself.
Everyone knows my position on the keeper but Craig Gordon’s future isn’t a priority. It’s the central defensive positions which need sorted first.
Craig has made some fantastic saves this season, he’s had good games and been indifferent in some. My feelings have always been that in the longer term it’s a position Celtic need to look at.
These are intriguing times. There is the Griffiths situation with regard to Edouard getting the nod over him recently.
Griffiths has come out and said he’s happy but it can’t be ideal for him not playing. There’s a bottom line here and it comes down to Dembele and how much Celtic are offered for him.
Will they hold firm? We’ll just have to wait and see but I have my suspicions.
The best option for both is for Dembele to stay and develop and Celtic to show ambition by keeping him for now. MICHAEL O’NEILL admits he’s surprised at how the SFA have gone about trying to make him the new Scotland boss.
Hampden chiefs have made the Northern Ireland gaffer their top target.
Under the conditions of his contract, which ends in 2020, to speak to O’Neill the SFA must agree to pay £500,000 in compensation if successful in persuading him to take charge.
But according to O’Neill, discussions with the SFA have yet to take place and the IFA are talking to him about a new six-year deal worth over £4million.
O’Neill said: “I’m a little bit surprised the SFA have gone about it the way they have. Until I’m given permission to speak to anyone I’m focused on the job I’m in.”
O’Neill also revealed Rangers legends Paul Gascoigne and Brian Laudrup are the best players he shared a pitch with.
He said: “Paul was amazing and Brian was just unplayable to be honest.” souls. Wilson Mason, Bridgeton, said: “I haven’t felt this good in ages. I’ve got a feeling that Rangers are going to catch up with Celtic this year. If they keep winning and do something special at Parkhead we’ll have a title race on our hands. Give Murty the job.”
was more cautious, saying: “The game on Wednesday was the worst Rangers have played all season. It’s good we’re winning while not at our best but if we’re as passive and sloppy in possession at Celtic Park as we were at Easter Road, another 5-1 drubbing could be on.”
said: “I laugh at Rangers fans celebrating four wins in a row, I much prefer Celtic’s 69 games unbeaten. Anyway, their glory run will come to an end on December 30 when the Hoops gub them.”
Rangers fan isn’t happy with the leadership within Ibrox, asking: “Who and where is Rangers’ director of football, Mark Allen?
“I’d never heard of him before he arrived and now he’s in the job he never says anything. I still think Graeme Souness, Alex McLeish and Barry Ferguson should form a managerial committee to run the club.”
said: “I’m a Celtic fan but after reading Barry Ferguson in Record Sport this morning I don’t know why he doesn’t get the Rangers job. He would be brilliant. You can feel the passion he has for the club and his understanding of the stature and demands of the role. He’d be an inspiring character who would lead by example.” It’s almost transfer window time and
has advice for Brendan Rodgers. He said: “I want Celtic to sign defenders who can play in Europe and aren’t cup-tied. It’s Europe they need to strengthen for so it would make no sense to target guys who can only play domestically.”
said: “Brendan Rodgers is too laid back to let criticism from other teams bother him.”
Unless it comes from a Rangers legend, obviously. That’s the golden rule of Old Firm rivalry, as John Hartson has discovered. CALL THE HOTLINE TOMORROW FROM 11 TILL 12 NOON on: 0141 309 3306 or email: hotline@dailyrecord.co.uk