[Link] Aleksandar Tonev

I think you're being far too rational and respectful

 

Was there something inaccurate about what I said?

 

If I wasn't a celtic fan and had to choose between villa or Celtic then it would be Villa, SPL is utter * yes we may play in the champions league but thats not guaranteed. If he goes to Villa and does well he may get a move to a top 4 club and he'll play bigger games all season

 

Might be the way i put it. My english is horrible

 

'Mid table club at very best'
'makeweights'
'flirting with relegation'
Implying we won't offer anything but money. The list goes on.

I can assure you, right here, right now. We won't flirt with relegation again. That maybe we'll finish mid table, but please don't put us in the same bracket of the clubs that are actively happy to finish mid table. We're trying to build something again.

It's not that beyond the realms of sanity that if PL talks to him, maybe he's selling his vision to the future to him? In the last months of the season, us fans saw what he is doing and it looked great.

But again, don't let reason and sense get in the way of your completely informed opinion about how our club is run and how successful we are.

 

I was being facetious that somebody was actually being friendly and not just taking the easy and cliched route of:

'small club'
'only going for money'
'relegation battler'
'perennial mid table club'

 

Its simple. If you really want to improve as a player you play in the best league with the best players every week. EPL is the best. Champions League is a bonus which for us dosnt last long enough for a player to commit his future for years in the hope of playing a few games in the champions league every year. St.Mirren Killie Ross County Partick there's no competition to improve yourself... We can't compete with Aston Villa. Plus look at players like Benteke or Weimann who will no doubt go on to big clubs down there despite Villa being a mid table club

 

Yea, some people are best to just ignore (Including me when im on the Champ League/La Liga threads, or on the booze). I dont know to much about Villa other then watching them play a few times a season. But one thing i know is that they are not "Uber rich" which some people like to point out. Celtic are in a good position (Quite rare one) just now. We have a very young squad who are playing good football in Champions League, so if the board did'nt spend to much on new players, and hold on to the current ones, i think we could offer higher wages from now on if you know what i mean!

 

The bolded bit, we are exactly the same (minus the Champions League).

We're a big club who are going through a rough patch. Whether or not we get back to the glory days, I know we'll try.

There are plenty of clubs worse than us in the PL if you're going to get angry about a player not joining you. Teams that throw money around, teams that are happy to survive, teams that are happy to survive AND throw money around. We are none of those things. We pay * wages and try and develop talent that wouldn't normally have a chance in the PL. A la Benteke, Westwood, Lowton, Bennett etc etc etc.

 

You're deluding yourself. I'm not having a go at Villa as a club, I'm just stating facts. Villa operating at their very best would be a mid table team these days. If Lambert keeps improving as a manager, he'll get offers from bigger clubs, same goes for players at Villa. That's just the reality of it.

For Celtic, being stuck in the SPL, we have to face the reality that players will sometimes choose the money and glamour of the EPL - even if it's to sign for a struggling outfit or an also ran side - over signing for Celtic. Even though Celtic can offer a strong prospect of Champions League football and loads of trophies etc.

 

Right okay. You obviously know best because you follow us every game and see all of our players. I apologise for questioning your knowledge of the English game and Aston Villa in particular.

Out of interest though, which are we? Struggling or also ran?

I do love your assertion of 'I'm just stating facts' though. A chance to have a pop while hiding behind a veil. You might notice that I said 'we might finish mid table but at least we'll have a go.' I never once said we'll be anything more than that so I don't see how I'm deluding myself. I'd hazard a guess that you get your pleasure of out having a pop. You're doing a good job

 

* lambert and villa hope they go down:bbpd:

 

At best you are also rans, in a bad season you are struggling. You are never going to win anything - maybe a Cup or something - or finish in the top 4 for the CL, so that makes you also-rans at best. I don't know if there is another or a nicer way of putting it.

I suppose you could say that Villa are generally the top club in the Birmingham/midlands area, but if a player like Tonev ends up signing for Villa I'm not sure that that's a selling point. It's the glamour and the money of the EPL.

 

At the end of the day, you can't really blame him for going to Villa. The majorty of players would go for money over trophies these days, which is a shame but that's the way football goes these days. Not really bothered if I'm honest they'll be other players who'd jump at the chance to play for Celtic and play in the CL

 

I dont agree mate, just look at Falcao! He went to Monaco because they are world beaters at football

 

If you can't see how patronising and condescending you're being, I'm not even sure you're worth the time to debate with. 'You are never going to win anything', makes us sound like we never have. Pro-tip, we've won as many European cups as you.

Money, money, money. If he was going to a team that pays big wages. Shame he isn't eh

 

Nice input cove.Lambert was one of the best and hard working players Ive ever been privileged to watch wearing the Hoops,guess you're just one of them glory hunting youngster's.Plus Villa are one of the few likable clubs in EPL.

 

I would have to echo the sentiment that you are being slightly delusional.

You finished 5 points above the relegation zone - can that side really be compared to the current Celtic team?

You were a good side under MON and you could probably reach similar heights again, maybe not to quite the same extent. No disrespect to Villa but without billionaire investment you are an 'upper-mid' table club at best.

The lines about 'building something' and having a 'vision' is just the usual pish wheeled out by BPL chairman. It's no exaggeration to say that half of the teams in that league are happy to just stay in it so they can recieve the TV money and * it all on over-inflated transfer fees and wages.

As I said before it's a simple choice for Tonev.

Celtic CL football and trophies.

Villa BPL football and money.

The idea of him buying into some sort of grand vision is just for either club.

I don't get why some people are getting all offended by this Villa fan though. We're effectively arguing over an unknown quantity in Tonev. He could be absolutely * at either club.

 

Anyone saying '* Paul Lambert' should give themselves a slap. The man was a great player for Celtic, and a great captain and deserves the appropriate level of respect.

As for this lad Tonev, I honestly don't know what he's like, or how good he could potentially be.

If he signs for Celtic, he'll be playing for a massive club in a small League. He'll get a few medals in his pocket, and will (hopefully) play Champions League football. If he's that good, he'll move on.

If he signs for Villa, he'll be playing for a good club in a massive League. He won't get European football or trophies (in the short-term), but he will be playing against some of the best players in the world on a regular basis.

Both clubs have pro's and con's. Let's just wait and see where he goes before we start condemning his choice.

 

Thanks.

Who compared us to Celtic? I never even once mentioned you. I'm here to express to you his potential motivations for joining us over you. Note: potential.

We were an average side under MON that overachieved. We do have a billionaire owner.

I would agree but we won't pay oversized fees or wages anymore. We give young, inexperienced, lower league players their chances in the big leagues. They repay us by giving us their all. Those kind of players don't demand big wages. Our highest earners are players from the MON era.

Looking at the positives and negatives from both leagues.

Celtic: CL football, greater potential for trophies, terrible standard of opposition, wouldn't be testing himself

Villa: PL football, chance to work with Stan, chance to be part of decent young side, potential for relegation

I don't buy the money thing. For reasons stated above.

Not particularly considering who we have on our coaching staff.

Agreed. But your fans started slagging us off first.