‘McCarthy won’t go to Greece anyway as he’d melt’ | OneFootball

McCarthy loan rebuff highlights our recruitment failings…

Livingston v Celtic – James McCarthy is fouled during the cinch Premiership match at the Tony Macaroni Arena, Livingston. Sunday September 19, 2021. Photo Andrew Milligan

We can’t really complain on the pitch as we’ve had success after success these past few years, but that shouldn’t mask our failings on the recruitment side of things. While we’ve recruited gems such as Kyogo, Reo Hatate, Matt O’Riley, CCV and Jota in recent years, we’ve also had some disappointing signings.

Gustaf Lagerbielke is the most recent testimony to that, while doubts hang over other summer signings such as Kwon and Yang. Going back further we have the likes of Alexandro Bernabei and Yuki Kobayashi to name just a couple more.

Celtic v Blackburn Rovers – Pre Season Friendly – Celtic Park James McCarthy, Scott Bain and Mikey Johnston arriving at Celtic Park, : Saturday July 16, 2022. Photo Andrew Milligan

However the one name that sticks out is James McCarthy. The midfielder was seen as a good signing at the time, but to give him a four year deal on a massive salary with his injury history was quite frankly bewildering to say the least.

James was signed to make up the numbers and give us some much needed experience in the middle of the park, but to hand him a four year deal was sheer madness. No one would have had a problem with a one or even two year deal, but four? That was a massive blunder by the recruitment team and he’s still got another year left on his lucrative contract after this season.

I have no gripes with James as he’s only looking after himself, and who in their right mind is going to turn down the last big deal of their career at their boyhood club? It’s not his fault the club were very generous in their contract offer.

James McCarthy during the Europa League group G match between Real Betis and Celtic FC at Estadio Benito Villamarin on 16 September, 2021 in Seville, Spain. (Photo by Fran Santiago/Getty Images)

James is now closing in on three years at the club and he’s played a measly 27 games in that time. He’s also on a mammoth wage so it’s been a very costly error by our normally tight fisted hierarchy. Of course he still has one year of that deal remaining and he clearly has no future at the club, so it makes it all the more astonishing that the club today rebuffed a loan offer from Greek side Volos FC.

The club weren’t happy that the Greeks were only willing to pay 30% of his wages, but wouldn’t it be better to have them pay a small chunk than us pay the entire amount? Someone over on Kerrydale Street reckons that McCarthy won’t go to Greece anyway as he’d melt!

At least someone can still see the funny side but it’s no laughing matter, it’s common sense. Get the deal done, Celtic. But then again those running our club don’t seem to be showing much common sense at the moment, do they?

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