Daryl Murphy

give the lad a break

 

From today's Evening Times


Neil Lennon pursues new faces before Europa deadline


Neil Lennon looking at other options
Ronnie Cully in Swansea

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3 Aug 2011
Celtic want to secure a new keeper and possibly another striker before Monday’s signing deadline for participation in the play-off round of the Europa League.

The first leg of these two ties, which must be negotiated to ensure progress to the group stages, takes place on August 18.

With Craig Bellamy ruling himself out of a move back to Parkhead – even on loan – Knowledge Musona off to Hoffenheim, and trialists Stipe Pletikosa, Stijn Stijnen, Katlego Mphela and Milos Lacny all failing to do enough to be offered contracts, Neil Lennon is now focusing on the other options.

Among them are Newcastle keeper Fraser Forster and Polish shot stopper Grzegorz Sandomierski.

Parkhead keeper coach Stevie Woods is reported to have travelled to watch the 22-year-old play for his club, Jagiellonia Bialy- stok, this week.

Originally, Lennon wanted to see the man who has already broken through to the Polish national team spend a few days at Lennoxtown.

But Sandiomerski’s club are not keen on allowing the keeper they rate at around £2million to do this and requested that Celtic agree a transfer fee before they would allow him to come across to Scotland.

Lennon at least knows all about the qualities and character of Forster, who spent last season on loan at Celtic where he helped set a new shut-out record for the club.

The manager believes he only needs one or two more players, but would prefer to get them aboard before the signing deadline for participation in the play-off round for the Europa League.

If they can get through this knockout round – the draw for which is made on Friday – there is another signing deadline at the end of this month for the Group Stage.

Lennon will use tonight’s final warm-up game here in Swansea to take a look at some of the men on the fringes of his squad, and a few could be pulling on a Hoops shirt for the final time.

Having used most of his players over the past week in the games against Wolves, Inter Milan and an Airtricity XI, Lennon will use a mixture of first-choice and back-up men against the newly-promoted Welsh club at the Liberty Stadium.

He said: “We will try and put a good team out. Again, we might look at a different formation and see how that suits some of the players.

“We will go with a strongish team, and we’ll leave some of the more senior boys who put a lot of effort in over the weekend behind just so they have a couple of training days ahead of our SPL game against Aberdeen at Pittodrie on Sunday.”

Daryl Murphy – who scored from the spot at the Aviva Stadium on Sunday against Airtricity – could be back in the shop window tonight.

He is already attracting interest from England, with Wolves the latest club linked with the Republic of Ireland striker.

But Lennon would like to get another attacking player on board before he sanctions any departures.

 

wolves, swansea and nottingham forest are interested with birmingham having a loan bid rejected for him according to todays sun

 

I'd keep him for the winter games. When we can't play along the ground because the pitches are *! He gives 100% every game. He plays for the shirt and you dont get a lot of players doing that now. I know he's not the best footballer but I'd ship a good few others out first before we got rid of Murphy. I don't like turning my back on a player after seeing him for a handful of games. We have stuck with samaras this long so why can't we do the same with him? I'd have maloney, Rasmussen, odea, hooieveld and McCourt sold before we get rid of him.

 

Punt him,we have already sammy,hooper and stokes and even is some of them is injured we should bring in a younger player from our own academy as 3rd choice striker

 

Get Murphy out. He is clearly not good enough.

He done not bad in the Irish League and then failed abysmaly at Sunderland, Ipswich and now us.

Lenny wants a new Striker in so that would tell you he wants him out the door if Hoops, Stokes and Sammy are ahead of him as it is.

Get him out and off the wage bill so we can get better.

 

I like Murphy and feel he needs to be given more of a chance although it is hard when stokes and hoops are playing so well but the big man is a good target man to have good feet aswell also has looked promising pre season and the end of last season

 

I feel sorry for the guy. He's not the best but so many fans have turned on him.

 

Im sure this guy has only played a handfull of games but you are turning your back on him.

murphy has to go

 

I am not turning my back on him at all!

 

I think we should play him a lot this year, see how he does. He done fantastic the other day.

 

Anyone reckon he'll get another chance at Celtic?

 

Nope :icon_mrgreen:

 

Wouldn't think so mate. Nothing against the big man though, did a shift whenever he was given the chance. Ultimately though he just wasn't good enough. Not nearly as bad as made out on here. He was a total waste of money though, it isn't his fault we overpaid for him, and gave him too high a wage though

 

Lennon's made some bad signings and he's one of them.

Juarez
Murphy
Bangura
Majstorovic

To name but a few

 

I think he is a Decent fooballer and will have a "good" career.Just not Celtic quality, Nice guy and works hard so i hope he does well wherever he ends up!

 

Yep i agree,the board should see these bad signings and sack Lennon right away,especially since you listed only a few of them.

 

Yeah, makes perfect sense

 

Lol