(That long since we've had any, couldn't find the thread)

Alan Nixon: "Top Liverpool starlet Cameron Branagan will Ben allowed out on loan in Jan.

Bolton lead the race for the 20 year old midfielder"

Edited December 11, 20169 yr by Ratwhite

28 minutes ago, tomski said:

Do we know Celtic think any of this? I think it’s just as likely Rodgers being a knobhead than them thinking it’s the next Andy Walker.

 

3 minutes ago, Ani said:

Think that is point I was making they either think he is the next Andy Walker in the making in which case we will play him at every opportunity if he was to come, or they think he ain’t all that and won’t be arsed if he plays or not because he ain’t making their team. That’s even if they send him on loan. 

Unless someone is ITK, we all know very little and are just speculating I think.

Last I read, Celtic/Rogers think he’s a prospect (hence this being the reason for the new deal - my opinion) They need to consider what is best for him this season, whether that’s competing for a place there or game time on loan. 

If it’s on loan then championship/top end L1 offers will be considered (my opinion). I think we fit the criteria and can offer what Celtic want - regular game time, focal striker, opportunities to score goals, winning/promotion! 

If we end up buying him then the contract extension was a way of doubling his fee.

Either way I’d be glad to get him, based on the little I’ve seen of him, more on the basis of him being top of our priority list and the striker SS wants.

 

Would we up the offer though, purely on the basis he's signed a contract (if he definitely has)?

Guess we'll see.

There seems to be some confusion on Kenny contract, it is my understanding he signed a 5 year deal in 2022

Hence he will be on very little money.......He has been loaned out since to Queens Park and Shamrock Rovers.

His salary would of been ok for those teams. Quite rightly his management team want a new contract now if either he is around the first team at Celtic or Loaned out once more.

Edited July 24, 2025Jul 24 by masi 51

7 hours ago, Zog1 said:

Having both this year is going to be a boon. Flexability across the squad. You go from Randall playing in our wingers so they can cut in and get shots off. To McAtee coming on and now those wingers are pinging high balls into the middle for Dalby with McAtee running in for the knockdowns. 

Most League 1 teams just arent set up to deal with that sort of change part way through a match, especially when you're replacing quality with a different type of quality. 

People forget that in about 1/2 the teams in League 1 Lolos would walk right into them, maybe not into the first 11, but the bench easily. Quality outside our first 11 is going to be massive this year. 

Good post that.

Your shift in opinion on our squad from Evatt to SS is pretty stark! 😂👍

I agree that if SS can get the best out of this squad the subs/replacements could have a massive part to play. The likes of Randal, Sheehan, Tutu, Toal, Forrester, Dalby, Taylor, CMG, Dempsey & Schon on the bench/ready to come in, is an exciting prospect.

All caveated by keeping injuries to a minimum! 

Oh and getting this super striker in of course 😊

Edited July 24, 2025Jul 24 by desperado
Forgot Tutu!

https://thecelticstar.com/johnny-kenny-has-everything-bar-that-elite-level-technical-polish-but-that-will-come/

Recent article, and says he wants to become a first team regular at Celtic.

Does briefly mention about him potentially signing a new contract, rather than having done so.

Celtic have signed 2 new strikers though, a Japanese and a lad from Fulham.

Well SS says he wants two more strikers and I don’t see him playing just one and leaving the other two on the bench. For me it will be two strikers and one winger just as Bruce did with Lee feeding Super John and Andy Walker. The good thing is we will have the choice, two good winger and one forward or one winger and two forwards. Let’s not forget we have two effective wing backs in cogs and Conway now too who can get forward as well as good No10 options in McAtee and Randall plus whoever is brought in to replace GT in midfield. SS has a plan to be flexible and is more likely to make effective in game changes than his predecessor.

3 minutes ago, Whitesince63 said:

Well SS says he wants two more strikers and I don’t see him playing just one and leaving the other two on the bench. For me it will be two strikers and one winger

It won't.

43 minutes ago, Tonge moor green jacket said:

https://thecelticstar.com/johnny-kenny-has-everything-bar-that-elite-level-technical-polish-but-that-will-come/

Recent article, and says he wants to become a first team regular at Celtic.

Does briefly mention about him potentially signing a new contract, rather than having done so.

Celtic have signed 2 new strikers though, a Japanese and a lad from Fulham.

He's not signed a new contract yet

11 hours ago, Tonge moor green jacket said:

Seems to be some confusion over this.

I thought he had too, or was it just an offer?

If we did buy him, the question still remains- who starts up top?

 

That last question doesn't need to be answered in July. Other than it won't be Dalby to start the season.

14 minutes ago, Lt. Aldo Raine said:

He's not signed a new contract yet

He is contracted up until 2027, but rightly he is looking to get this improved

Lead to believe the reason Ennis didn't fancy talking discussions any further is because we'd just signed Dalby and wasn't guaranteed a starting spot.

Kind of cements what folk are saying.

Gonna be tricky getting Kenny if he's not gonna be the main man.

1 hour ago, gonzo said:

It won't.

Well Mr font of all knowledge, let’s see shall we?

21 minutes ago, gonzo said:

Lead to believe the reason Ennis didn't fancy talking discussions any further is because we'd just signed Dalby and wasn't guaranteed a starting spot.

Kind of cements what folk are saying.

Gonna be tricky getting Kenny if he's not gonna be the main man.

Doesn’t matter what you’re led to believe you know as little as the rest of us what’s been discussed with who or what offers have or haven’t been made so why don’t you just wait for confirmations like the rest of us. We know discussions have been had with Celtic over Kenny and it’s his situation with them that’s the stumbling block so let’s just wait and see what happens, if anything, shall we?

8 minutes ago, Whitesince63 said:

Well Mr font of all knowledge, let’s see shall we?

 

3 minutes ago, Whitesince63 said:

Doesn’t matter what you’re led to believe you know as little as the rest of us what’s been discussed with who or what offers have or haven’t been made so why don’t you just wait for confirmations like the rest of us. We know discussions have been had with Celtic over Kenny and it’s his situation with them that’s the stumbling block so let’s just wait and see what happens, if anything, shall we?

I spoke to someone who works at BFC and he said Ennis went to Blackpool as he was told he's the main man. 

He'd 100% been at The Reebok the week before. 

 

1 hour ago, desperado said:

Good post that.

Your shift in opinion on our squad from Evatt to SS is pretty stark! 😂👍

Not really, the individual players have never really been the problem, it was them as a group that was, Evatt recruited against physical attributes so we had no strength or pace, in favour of technical ones as he wanted to built a team to pass other teams to death. The problem was once teams identified our growing weakness (got weaker each season), in those physical area's, we imploded. 

We still need a few players with good technical skills like Sheehan and Morley, they were never the problem to begin with what we lacked someone to play along side them that was going to protect, enable and enhance their offering. 

10 minutes ago, Whitesince63 said:

Well Mr font of all knowledge, let’s see shall we?

I'm only basing my thoughts on things I see with my own eyes.

The way we've played and set up in pre-season, our recruitment etc. 

It all lends itself to playing a 9 leading the line with a 10 in behind and two wide men.

I just don't see a world where we start with two proper out and out strikers up front. We might end up like that during games or when needs be like. 

If he's after playing 2 strikers then McAtee and Randall may as well book a 3 month cruise across the Atlantic.

It's pretty well touted what his preference is.

 

2 hours ago, tomski said:

Do we know Celtic think any of this? I think it’s just as likely Rodgers being a knobhead than them thinking it’s the next Andy Walker.

Not sure we do. Rodgers is pretty astute and can be a very stubborn sod if he puts his mind to it. Not sure the sectarian chants v Hibs will have enamoured us with the Celtic faithful/board either. Or Kenny himself.

Not a fan of “guaranteed starts” in a loan deal - if Rodger’s backs his man he shouldn’t have a problem with him competing for a place. That said, I’m not convinced that a guaranteed starting spot exists as SS showed himself to be a horses for courses guy last season and will likely plan to use specific players in certain games.

SS has openly talked about having quick, direct wingers and a striker who operates in the box and has gone out and recruited them.

His challenge, albeit one he's used to, is getting in and managing the expectations of an additional striker who will generally get 25 minute shifts off the bench and starts in the cups or if Dalby's injured

6 minutes ago, gonzo said:

I'm only basing my thoughts on things I see with my own eyes.

The way we've played and set up in pre-season, our recruitment etc. 

It all lends itself to playing a 9 leading the line with a 10 in behind and two wide men.

I just don't see a world where we start with two proper out and out strikers up front. We might end up like that during games or when needs be like. 

If he's after playing 2 strikers then McAtee and Randall may as well book a 3 month cruise across the Atlantic.

It's pretty well touted what his preference is.

 

I agree it looks like that, but SS is flexible in approach and works with what he has for specific games so it’s not impossible that he would change everything if we had new strikers and different opposition. I guess the whole point of the signings he’s after is to give him more options.

9 hours ago, L/H White said:

think Randall gets the nod for this, still unsure what mcatee's best position is 

and tbf to him, randall was brilliant at posh in a competing side

at the time he was brought in to us, we were a complete mess

one of a few that actually deserves a pass

I'd give a pass to anyone who signed last summer onwards after IE tried to change the shape of a squad of bottlers who didn't really give a fuck 

Some must have been left wondering what they'd signed up for 

What does this iles article actually say ?

Font ,  do you know ?

Has anybody even bothered at looking at all the content available on youtube of John Kenny

He is NOT a central forward. He likes to pick the ball out wide from around the half way line and run at defenders

Over 6 foot and very quick, plays either side two footed.....Looks like a upgrade on a Collins but i am not sure  we will know bring him in as we have the two wingers.........He is not a old fashioned 9

Edited July 24, 2025Jul 24 by masi 51

31 minutes ago, Whitesince63 said:

Doesn’t matter what you’re led to believe you know as little as the rest of us what’s been discussed with who or what offers have or haven’t been made so why don’t you just wait for confirmations like the rest of us. We know discussions have been had with Celtic over Kenny and it’s his situation with them that’s the stumbling block so let’s just wait and see what happens, if anything, shall we?

 

22 minutes ago, gonzo said:

I'm only basing my thoughts on things I see with my own eyes.

The way we've played and set up in pre-season, our recruitment etc. 

It all lends itself to playing a 9 leading the line with a 10 in behind and two wide men.

I just don't see a world where we start with two proper out and out strikers up front. We might end up like that during games or when needs be like. 

If he's after playing 2 strikers then McAtee and Randall may as well book a 3 month cruise across the Atlantic.

It's pretty well touted what his preference is.

 

@gonzo You need to just lighten up, be patient, stop predicting crazy formations, stop demanding answers from the board and management and just wait and see like the rest of us 🤣

This thread is making me wish more and more we had kept Evatt. No wild  speculation about formations and ways of playing, just what plan 2.A.1 might actually mean (5-3-2). 

The players we were signing would also be easier to identify, light weight, socks down, technically OK, midfielder. 

Simpler times and much less guff.

 

 

16 minutes ago, W.cramp said:

What does this iles article actually say ?

Font ,  do you know ?

Which Iles article?