Balde

he was ok when the ball was in the air only 1 winner but his distrubution and footwork was awful see alot of him in josh thompson

 

I was unaware that he had insulted Lawwell and McGrain. That is new information to me. Insulting Danny McGrain is quite out of order and I wouldn't defend Bobo on that score. As for insulting Peter Lawwell......I don't blame Bobo for having a go if he did(What did he say anyway?). Celtic gave Bobo his contract in good faith and then it was pretty obvious that somebody(either Strachan or Lawwell) was trying to force him out of the club because Celtic didn't want to pay his wages any more. That's Celtic's fault for giving Bobo the contract in the first place.

I don't really see how you can say Bobo didn't fit into Strachan's system when he played really well for a full season under Strachan.

 

Nothing official from the club or player but you would have to do something pretty bad to get dumped from the reserves and that has been the rumour of what happened from day 1.

As for bankruptcy

Ex-Celtic player Bobo Balde declared bankrupt - The Daily Record

 

What happened to Balde is part and parcel of football. Its a two way street and he did pimp himself around Europe to the highest bidder before signing that contract. If he cared about his career or Celtic more than money he would have moved.

I disagree that he played really well, everyone held their breath when Balde was in possession he was capable of doing something stupid as much as doing something good. Strachan played possession football and him giving it away cheaply was a crime. For the cost, he wasnt worth it and Celtic wanted rid, happens everyday. Balde acted like a child that didnt get his own way.

 

disagree m8,he should never have been offered such a lucrative deal in the first place imo,the blame lies squarely at the feet of the board and to a lesser extent,the blessed martin,after being frozen out he chose to sit tight and coin it in-but who can blame him?he would never have got that kind of money anywhere else -it was sheer idiocy in a season too far for the blessed martin

 

Birmingham offered him almost parity in wages

Train with Celtic youths or play for Birmingham First Team.

Im sure there would have been a clause for a wage hike whilst in the EPL

For any career orientated footballer, its was no brainer but Balde wasnt career orientated.

The blessed Martin? Whats that * all about? This saga is why no manager since O'Neill got involved in contract negotiations or transfer policy. Stupid contracts handed to Thompson, Hartson, Sutton, Agathe, Lennon, Balde etc almost brought the club to its knees.

Strachans success on the field despite the limitations placed on him by the board was nothing short of brilliant. Mowbray wouldnt be comparing the board to Fergus McCann or able to get the players he wanted so quickly without it.

 

This is the reason Lawell doesn't cave in to players or agents demands anymore.

Bobo made an * out of him & Caldwell, Ramis or whoever have found that Lawell doesn't like being made an * out of.

He really never should've given such a huge contract & he knows it.

 

Especially those last 2 paragraphs - why do so many people choose to ignore this? Heads in the sand or what?

I personally thought Balde was solid, mostly, but you could never relax 100%.

That apart, I can't hold him in any sort of esteem for his holding the club practically to ransom. He did what was in his own interests, who wouldn't? But it says a lot about the type of mercenary uniniterested in serious carrer moves that he is really.

Shame. As some have said, he might be held in higher regard otherwise now.

He's off my Xmas card list that's for sure.

 

I bet that hurts him the most.

 

Dianbobo Balde-Celtic Legend.

 

Well, he did take me off his list first.

Not that I'm petty like.

 

Course not, if you were you would have unfriended him on facebook too.

 

It is a two way street yeah but I thought the way Bobo was so obviously dropped from the first team and in such a sudden and blatant way when he hadn't done anything wrong on the park was poor.

To be honest if I'd have been treated like that by Strachan/Lawwell(whichever or both) then I probably would have thought '* you then' and been awkward about things as well. I just think it was really sad how it all went downhill and ended up the way it did.

I do agree with you as regards the offer he got from Birmingham though. Bobo had been out of the picture for a long time at Celtic when he got that offer of the same wages and first team football yet he turned it down. That was bad. I was angry at him for that too because he must have known his time at Celtic was over.

I'll always think back fondly of Bobo as a player. The way he scared the bejeezus out of opposing forwards, his crazy marauding runs up the right wing with the ball and his super telescopic black leg that came from nowhere to block a netbound shot will all be things I'll remember with a smile.

 

I dont, Balde manipulated the situation when he negotiated his contract. If he had it his way, he would have dropped Celtic like a hot potato if Marseille or Bayern Munich offered him the terms he wanted. They didnt and MON's desperation to keep him played into his hands.

You cant have it all you own way and clubs can transfer list you for whatever reason they see fit. An ambitious player, a player that had the drive and ambition that Celtic wanted, would have salvaged their career. Once he decided to sit on the contract for money, he wasnt good enough, mentally, for Celtic, IMO.

Both parties are at fault but Balde should have went when the jig was up. Every other high earner left without complaint, players that earned more, gave bigger and better contributions to Celtic e.g. Hartson.

You'll think fondly of Balde, everything he did is tainted for me. When I watch old videos, i'll just think "Mercenary".

 

It just seems to me that Bobo wasn't found wanting for motivation or commitment to his career until he was unceremoniously dumped from the team. Even when he'd been in the reserves for ages I still feel that he would have gave 100% if he had been recalled to the first team. I think he showed that against Dundee Utd and Gretna in the 2 games he was recalled for around Xmas 2007.

There's no doubt that towards the end he appeared to be more interested in the pay cheque than playing football but if he hadn't been dumped out the team the way he was can you say for sure things would have ended up the same way? I don't think they would have.

I think it's a shame that your memories of Bobo have been tarnished but that's your opinion and you're more than entitled to it.

 

Balde is another player whose cult annoys me. People are too impressed by players they think are hard IMO. He was a very limited player who had the great luck that he still fitted into MON team because it had the sort of players up front who could actually retreave his aimless punts. Its not like Caldwell who is actually a very good passer and long ball guy for a CH but who tries too hard. Balde was simply a big lump who launched the ball. He was a liability in WGS's safety first possession/passing style and he would have been a liability in Moggas touch football style.

 

Amen. I had actually forgotten about the madness of giving all those players around the 30 mark new contracts, That was another aspect of how MON's reign needs looked at in two blocks: the pre-Seville period of total success and post-Seville of very poor management. Why? I think MON didnt adapt well to the big drop in funding. That is where WGS came in and I think as well as his incredible success, his ability to do it with a playing staff who cost an average of about 1 million pounds has helped give the club a rosy future. MON gave us success with debt but WGS surpassed him while slashing costs. We owe WGS on both of those two levels. History will record him as one of the most important people in Celtic's history. Some fans attitude to him suggests real issues inside their heads.

 

I remember when he turned down the loan to come down here. I thought it would have been a great move for all involved. He would at that time, probably played all of our games, and in the process reducing celtic's wage bill, and strengthening safc's team. Would have been a tidy deal for all. While you can understand him for taking the money it's so clear that it is viewed as a job not a sport for them- as someone said.

 

That is true but would you stay training with the youth squad of a club when there are clubs offering you a wage drop that you wouldnt really notice.

He's a millionaire several times over, penny pinching considering the options he had on the table to him was mind bogglingly stupid.

If he was viewing it as a job, going to a club that wants you is a good career move, it gives you a platform to show your wares and get a better deal in the future. He could have been earning more at Brum at the moment if he took his head out of his *.

 

Absoloutley agree.

Not just that, he should have realised the level he was at in terms of playing for celtic again and that his time was done. he could have got a settlement- better for celtic than paying him- and would tide him over- and he could leave with good memories. But no, he overstayed because he knew he was on the decline as a player i feel. He should have went to the championship- would have suited him to a tee. Should have cut his own losses and went to a team he could have been the main man in- such as Burnley or Wolves. But he didn't - because of the money ? - yet he could have been good to celtic and stopped them from paying him so much- but he wouldnt do that. Thus why a lot of us have tainted views on him now despite his service.