Source: Team_Talk
Hoops heroes tell Caldwell to get real
The Scotland defender spoke out last week over the impasse surrounding his Celtic future.[LNB]Caldwell is reportedly seeking about £20,000 a week to sign a new contract next summer in order to bring him in line with the club's top earners.[LNB]McAvennie believes the issue has affected Caldwell's game and urged him to accept what is on offer, while McGarvey criticised the centre-back's timing amid a recession.[LNB]"It's Celtic we're talking about and you have got to be an exceptional player to get 20 grand a week," McAvennie said.[LNB]"Big John Hartson and Henrik (Larsson) were tremendous players, them and Chris Sutton were all getting decent money but they produced week in, week out. I think those days at Celtic are finished - unless you're a director!"[LNB]McAvennie, whose career failed to hit previous heights after he left Celtic for a second spell at West Ham, warned Caldwell that moving to England might not pay off.[LNB]"I think he's on 10 or 11 grand at the moment, which ain't bad money," the former Scotland striker said.[LNB]"I thought he was outstanding last year when he got his head down and just got on with his game.[LNB]"The grass is not greener. They have made him an offer from what I can gather.[LNB]"Get the head down, Gary, and take the money. It's life-changing money they get now.[LNB]"It's changed days, we used to argue over a couple of hundred quid. His head must be battered at the moment and it does distract you."[LNB]McGarvey also told Caldwell to concentrate on his game or risk losing the backing of the Celtic support.[LNB]"Is he on £9,000 a week now and he has been offered £12,000?" McGarvey said.[LNB]"I think to be offered a wage rise of £3,000 a week, for any Celtic supporter, they would all grab it.[LNB]"I've not got a problem for any player asking for a rise. I remember going into Celtic and asking for a rise of £20 a week in 1983 and I was told I was being very greedy.[LNB]"But for him to ask for half a million pounds of a rise now, when there is a credit crunch and a lot of Celtic fans can't afford to get to games, I think the timing is wrong.[LNB]"I can understand where Gary is coming from, he has been made captain and he is looking at a few players in the team that are getting much more and he just wants up to their level.[LNB]"But I don't think it should be done in public, it should be kept internal, and the timing is wrong."[LNB]McGarvey warned the Scotland defender he may not find success at the top level of the English game should he leave Celtic.[LNB]"I think he lacks pace and I think most of his bookings and sendings-off are created by his lack of pace," said the former Liverpool player.[LNB]"He is using his hands to pull players back. So I think in the Premiership he would struggle.[LNB]"I don't think he would let himself down but the top players have all got pace. I can't imagine Torres and Caldwell going for a 50-50."[LNB][LNB]
