Celtic fans waded in after a Southampton Twitter account referred to the Scottish champions as their feeder club.
The comment came on the back of Stuart Armstrong scoring the crucial second goal in their 3-0 win away to Norwich. It was his fourth goal in seven matches, stretching back to January and the turnaround in Southampton’s season. Yesterday’s win sends Saints well clear of relegation with a top half finish looking realistic.
After a season finding his feet Southampton are discovering the Armstrong that was a key factor in Celtic’s 2016/17 Invincible season.
As the midfielder admitted, playing in the EPL was always his end game. The following season his form was patchy but Celtic have never been short of dominating midfielders. Olivier Ntcham excelled during 2017/18 with Ryan Christie the star turn over the last two seasons.
Armstrong is a class act but Celtic aren’t short of options in the centre of the park, Tom Rogic spent most of last season on the sidelines despite his achievements in recent times.
Celtic’s ‘relationship’ with Southampton is a recent development, starting in 2013 with the transfer of Victor Wanyama for £12m. Fraser Forster took the same route a year later before the Jewel in the Crown- Virgil van Dijk joined the Celtic colony.
The best part of £50m has been deposited in the Celtic bank account, including the van Dijk add on.
While that has been very welcome, and maintained Southampton’s top flight status, Celtic got some pay back on the pitch last season with Fraser Forster and Moi Elyounoussi making big contributions towards winning two trophies and reaching the knock-out phase of the Europa League. Celtic are in talks about keeping the loan duo for next season.
Stuart Armstrong now have four goals in last seven games. The most underrated player in our squad. What a bargain from out Scottish feeder club. #saintsfc pic.twitter.com/imxPWVDtfW
— The Saint Centre (@TheSaintCentre) June 19, 2020
Will do bud, in the best league in the world
— ? (@cxrrillo) June 20, 2020
Moved to Southampton for guaranteed first team football which he couldn’t get at Celtic. Glad to see he’s getting it.
— Steven McCutcheon (@Steven_in_Oz) June 20, 2020
We made 80m from vvd bud
— ? (@cxrrillo) June 20, 2020
And then you sell to your feeder club Liverpool
— JungleLion (@JungleLion_) June 19, 2020
Wasn’t getting a game for us, still wouldn’t. That’s why you’re trying to replace him with Ntcham. Unlucky
— Chris Devlin (@cdevlin7) June 19, 2020
Exactly, he got injured and Christie kept him out the team, contract was running out and got a decent price for him. Good deal for both sides
— Steven Malarkey (@Malarkey_10) June 20, 2020
Exactly, he got injured and Christie kept him out the team, contract was running out and got a decent price for him. Good deal for both sides
— Steven Malarkey (@Malarkey_10) June 20, 2020
this is bad bait but I do hope you know he was a bench player for the best part of the season when you signed him, cheers.
— xd (@CuteAnimeBoyXD) June 20, 2020
Wait till sky money dries up.
You’ll be back to being a nice wee seaside trip in the championship.— Tony Hayes ????????? (@DiMarco_Pattaya) June 20, 2020
