This may be impatience on my part but when exactly are Celtic going to sort out Stuart Armstrong’s future?
I’m fully aware there has been talks between Celtic and the midfielders representatives but the more they drag on the more my trepidatious nature kicks in.
While I get nervous, there are other Celtic fans who will tell me to ‘calm doon’ and that the club are ‘sorting’ it. Let me quell those comments by saying that I’m still on the optimistic part of the scale that he will sign on the dotted line but I’m not so far in that direction that it doesn’t become a slight concern.
Joe Ledley’s transfer out of Celtic Park not so long ago is the catalyst behind my paranoia. It came to the January before Joe’s contract was up in the summer when Celtic decided to cash in on the player rather than try and work out a new deal. Talks between Celtic and Joe’s reps dragged on and in the end he was punted out the door even though since Joe has told us he never wanted to leave the club and was shocked when Celtic accepted a bid for him on deadline day. As it stands, Stuart Armstrong’s contract will run out next summer leaving him free to talk to other clubs in January.
Celtic aren’t stupid and they will be feeling out the midfielders intentions right now. Sources at the club and Stuart himself have said they’re confident of a deal going through. I personally expected the midfielder’s contract would have been sorted out just before or after the Scottish Cup final where Stuart’s goal sparked Celtic into life and ultimately the treble.
Celtic should always get the best deal for Celtic but they should not forget the season Stuart has just had and the potential he holds going forward as part of Brendan Rodgers’ midfield. A Joe Ledley scenario would be a real blow to the fans and the manager.
In a window where Celtic fans are crying out for some top signings I believe Celtic holding onto their best players is equally as vital, if not more.
Hoping this article gets made redundant very quickly and Stuart signs up to at least another three year.
Celtic are doing what Celtic usually do. It is a cliche but nevertheless it has some truth, you strengthen from a position of strength. This is exactly what Rodgers said he would do. He said he would get his business done early, he had already identified targets and these would be captured early, yet here we are. The situation with Armstrong does not look good. He is clearly weighing his options. The situation with Roberts and Armstrong strike me as a return to the Celtic of old and an indication that Rodgers is not in control. There is still hope for Armstrong but Roberts is gone. The fact that he has said little in weeks indicates that he is disappointed and Celtic did not value him the way he thought. If it had been different he would have signed at the start of June. To think he could have been captured for 8-9 million. The loss of both Roberts and Armstrong will be very damaging for Celtic. Two important members of the treble winning squad, amongst our top performers, is a wobble. If the team is not kept together it could quickly fall apart. If similar quality are not bought. Can anyone see Celtic spending big on three players? The board are not concerned about investing for Europe. They are entrusting that to Brendan, with a huge amount of hope and luck required. That is why our board are such great supporters of new Rangers because the supporters have that to entertainment, if Europe is ended early. When have Celtic ever invested large sums of money to ensure European qualification? They might promise to sign someone after qualification is ensured. Over the past four or five years Celtic have made a lot of money, about 40 mill from Southampton and 30 mill for the CL. Think of investment in the football side. The biggest outlay I can think of is Rodgers himself and Sinclair. Total cost including wages is about 6/7 million. Not a lot. Not for a club with CL ambitions. If you don’t buy better players you don’t qualify. Buying Hayes and McGinn is SPL thinking. The supporters need to wise-up. All of this ‘In Brendan we trust’ nonsense allows the club to get away with doing little to improve. Too many supporters are stuck in the ‘beat the Huns’ world. I thought we had moved on, they are dead after all! Celtic need to be building for the CL and Europe in some form after Christmas. Plus, another moan, why is the manager allowing his kid to play for Celtic, even on a pre-season tour. The club does not belong to him. That is unprofessional. We are not a youth club team.
Superb article John?
Panic merchants 1 and all
Losing Armstrong would be a much bigger loss than Paddy, in my opinion. Given Brown’s advancing years (can he really be as good over the next two seasons as he was this year?) and Rogic’s fitness issues, Stuart should be at the centre of our team for years to come. I remain confident that a deal will be done, so let’s not panic.
Some things don’t change the wright man steering the boat the wrong owners fulling it.when are they going to learn don’t hang around do the business now or we will lose Rogers .
I saw Mr Armstrong and a female, may have been partner, not sure, leaving a furniture showroom on Maryhill Road the other day looking very pleased. I would like to think that if he was buying furniture in Glasgow then it would be sent to his home in or near Glasgow, if he was moving on then surely it would make more sense to buy said furniture from a shop closer to where he was moving?
It’s not about the Celtic of old, you have to weigh up the lads potential earnings away from Celtic. SA could easily command 60k a week down south or maybe a little more and I for one would not begrudge the player to chase the money. SA has probably been at an Academy from a very young age and no doubt missed out on a lot of his childhood. It’s a massive commitment for the player and the parents and as far as I’m concerned he should do what’s best for him.
BR’s son is 24 and is keeping his fitness up by training with the squad as many other players do whilst not connected to Celtic. They have offered training facilities nothing more.
I think it’s unfair to make accusations about the club’s signing policy as you have no idea what the player’s demands are. It seems obvious that the player values himself higher than Celtic do and as in all negotiations a compromise will have to be made by both parties. If agreement can’t be reached then the player will have to see if anyone else will meet his own evaluation.
If Joe Ledley had really wanted to stay at Celtic he would have reached an agreement, I don’t think he was “punted out the door” as he had a contract and didn’t have to leave.
Utter speculation, no more than that. On the back of a Treble, still supporters find reason to doubt manager and board. And, nobody forced Joe Ledley to sign for any other team that window.
I am very worried as a mate who works as a scout for an epl club has given lots of good gossip that has turned out, e’g’ Congleton coming a long time before it was announced, Gilmour going to Chelsea again a good while before it was official, never entertained that Southampton guy going to sevco, told me Armstrong is not re-signing for Celtic, he wants to go south. Interestingly Jim Spence said only 3/4 weeks ago that he thought the ‘Lad was inclined to go south’ and i trust him and i thought that fits in. Like everyone else i hope my mate has it wrong.
Chill out bhoys! Armstrong will sign. He said he wants to stay and is playing the best football of his career.. his words! Our media always talk up the teddy bears new signings while spouting that our best players are going. See through it and keep the faith!
Hail! Hail!
Rubbish article, A and R going nowhere. John, I wonder who is paying you to write this close season ,sh?t stirring, pre CL garbage in your comments! You’re either not a supporter or seriously paranoid. R signed a4yr deal and A will negotiate a mutually satisfactory contract before the CL. R will sign who he thinks the team NEEDS and not for. the sake of signing somebody: the emphasis on quality. Focus is on CL prep so in the meantime start taking the pills!