Tommy Gravesen - Celtic "BIOGRAPHY"

Dubs · #1 (**permalink**) 18-08-2008, 05:17 PM

Tommy Gravesen was today released from the Celtic books for a mutual fee of around 1.3m pounds. Gordon Strachan is no stranger to criticism for transfer dealings that have gone belly up. With Tommy G on an estimated 40k a week he is probably Gordon Strachan’s most expensive flop.

Even the most hardened of Strachan die hards can’t defend some of the signings that Gordon Strachan has brought to Celtic Park but anyone that takes a pop at him for the Tommy G transfer needs to think back to when the Dane signed. I seem to remember quite clearly the huge buzz that was generated around the time that Tommy G signed on the dotted line. Everyone knew he didn’t have the best of time at Real but everyone seemed certain that he could do a job in Scotland. People were also excited that Celtic were now buying players from Madrid.

When Tommy gave his press conference he stated that he wasn’t in the game for money and had no problem taking a huge pay cut to play for such a fantastic team like Celtic and their die hard fans. This added fuel to the excitement and EVERYONE assumed that Strachan had brought in some quality.

There are loads of theories as to why Tommy never lived up to the hype but lets face it nobody seeing him going out on loan to Everton after only one season. While Gordon Strachan has a lot to answer for for some signings I can’t agree that he can take any stick for the Tommy G one. Unless of course you were shouting from day one that he ran around like a headless chicken and couldn’t defend to save his life.

Quote:

On August 28, Gravesen attended Celtic Park in Glasgow for a medical examination and, on August 30, signed a three year deal (with the option of a fourth year) with the club, for a speculated fee of around £2m. There was a period of uncertainty as to whether Gravesen would sign for Celtic, after false rumours arose of a failed medical and of an eleventh-hour bid by Newcastle. On September 15, 2006, Gravesen announced his decision to end his international career for the Danish national team. He had consistently been a part of the Danish team since the appointment of Morten Olsen in 2000, but decided now to focus his efforts solely on his new club Celtic.

He scored his first goal for Celtic against arch rivals Rangers on September 23, 2006. He then went on to score the first hat-trick of his professional career, when Celtic won 3-1 against Paisley side St Mirren on November 12, 2006. After a promising start to his Celtic career, Gravesen was replaced in the Celtic starting line-up by Dutch international midfielder Evander Sno. In April 2007, Celtic manager Gordon Strachan denied rumours that Gravesen would leave the club to play English club Sunderland, but in May 2007 he declared his disappointment that Gravesen did not work harder to recapture his place in the starting line-up.
Gravesen did not feature in any of the starting line ups for competitive matches played by Celtic at the start of the 2007/08 season, and faced a tough task gaining a position in central midfield, with Paul Hartley, Scott Brown, Massimo Donati and Evander Sno all vying for the two central roles. Many put Gravesen's inability to hold down a starting berth at Parkhead because he was asked to hold the midfield in a more disciplined defensive role, something he was never suited to in his Everton or Real Madrid days.

Source: Thomas Gravesen - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

weeman · #2 (**permalink**) 18-08-2008, 10:07 PM

So his entire celtic "biography" is basically the day he turned up, the day he left and sod all in between.

Of course WGS should shoulder some blame, thats what scouts and research are supposed to be all about.

He's paid the big bucks to make the big decisions, and putting aside his other pluses and minuses he deserves a carpeting for signing him.

Gravesen is up there with Scheidt for worst celtic signing of all time honours.

frontman · #3 (**permalink**) 18-08-2008, 10:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by weeman

So his entire celtic "biography" is basically the day he turned up, the day he left and sod all in between.

Of course WGS should shoulder some blame, thats what scouts and research are supposed to be all about.

He's paid the big bucks to make the big decisions, and putting aside his other pluses and minuses he deserves a carpeting for signing him.

Gravesen is up there with Scheidt for worst celtic signing of all time honours.

What he said...Adam feckin Virgo..btw

frontman · #4 (**permalink**) 18-08-2008, 11:09 PM

Zamasbhoy · #5 (**permalink**) 20-08-2008, 02:44 PM

Have to admit, I thought signing Gravesen would have been amazing for us. I don't think I've ever been so dissapointed in a signing as I have been with this one. Gravesen and Jarosik should have been a big, big part of our recent success. Shocking to think we got so little from two players with such talent.

BB · #6 (**permalink**) 22-08-2008, 12:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zamasbhoy

Have to admit, I thought signing Gravesen would have been amazing for us. I don't think I've ever been so dissapointed in a signing as I have been with this one. Gravesen and Jarosik should have been a big, big part of our recent success. Shocking to think we got so little from two players with such talent.

think that should read GS got so little.