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Gosh, it's all very exciting Paul - get a grip.
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Hi Paul, just posted this on the previous thread, so I apoligise for repeating myself, but when exactly are you going to post the "BIG" story. You keep referring to it and say now is not an appropriate time, but when is the right time? Please let us know, as I am salivating at the thought of this exciting post.
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He's certainly making all the right noises. Looking good!
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Sounds good from the wee man and as you say Paul i liked the way he handled the Bobo Balde thing.
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Paul67 thanks for putting up this comment“We know what budget we’ve got and it’s quite exciting.” as I have read many web sites coverage of the press meeting and that quote was never put up. So it is great hat we can get an insight to what is said that is somehow not covered in the mainstream media. It will be interesting to see if anyother source picks up on it.
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“The guy was fined £100, he had a whip round in the pub and made £200 profit."
Get this guy on the board! This is the kind of revenue streams we should be looking at.
Kevin Murray's gramaphone.
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I have to admit that I was one of the Strachan knockers,but would support him by default.
However after this press conference I must bow to Paul and others who were so upbeat from the start.
I like what I have heard and read and our future is in safe hands, glad he has had input from MON.
Roll on the signings.
onward and upwards, roll on July and the new season.
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I was very, very impressed with what I saw and heard.
GS sounded very positive in everything he had to say and it seems that he really has hit the ground running in terms of bringing in players.
What a refreshing change that will be at CP!
Less than a week ago I was less than enthralled with the prospect of GS taking over at Paradise.
But I have to say that I'm rather rapidly being won over.
I know its the product on the pitch that GS will ultimately be judged on but I'm sure his enthusiasm and energy this morning won over more than a few doubters.
After all my criticism of the board and this appointment last week I now think that come the end of the season I'll be shovelling down spoon fulls of humble pie.
I hope its a double helping!!
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anon 11:40, did you come on here just to post that? i think its you that needs to get a grip mate.
Paul you know i'm a fan of Balde, i see that we need to replace one or the other from him and Varga and i would rather have a GREAT ball winner than a decent ball player at the back. however, im resigned to losing him and strachans statements have certainly softened the blow, i read on the bbc website he has been approaching players over the past 2 weeks, if so we may see something very shortly dont you think? still think Varga's complete lack of pace is not the cornerstone of a top class defence, he may be good back up though. im kinda old fashioned in that i believe proportionately more money has to be spent on midfielders and strikers than defenders. i may be wrong but i think the benefit of a quality attacking mid outweighs the benfit of a quality centre half.no more scheidt signings at 5 million. diamond and one other, supplemented by mcmanus and kennedy when he returns should do for now.
Brummiebhoy
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Paul,
Long time reader, first time publisher, the most informative and intelligent 'tic site, the real dogs b*****ks, keep it up. Am a lot happier with wee Gordon's appointment than last week. He is definately making the right noises, just pray he can deliver. Any word on who his potential signings are??
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Excellent news conference and ggod to see positive vibes coming from the new set-up.
It'll be very intersting to see hop the newspapers can turn around this and put a negative spin on it. Henry/Viera for Ibrox in world record deal possibly !
Come on GS and thanks for everything Martin.
First post Paul keep up the great work ! Any info on your breaking news ?
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Brummiebhoy,
I think the real assets we need in any centre-half these days is pace and mobility.
Over the past season or so our centre-halves have at times looked as sharp and nimble as that big bronze bull outside the bullring.
We have always looked at our most vulnerable against teams with quick and mobile forwards and in Europe these days that is what virtually every team has got.
Still, very excited now for the summer and the season ahead!
Hail! Hail!
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Exciting times ahead Paul! I was very surprised at his comments about Bellamy. I was certain he was away. I'm not certain we should be spending so much on him though. I think Keane might be a cheaper option and a more prolific goalscorer. PS How can I retrieve my password for the site which I've forgotten?
Seanbhoy
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well done GS on your press con, I think we have a clone of MON here (I could listen to him all day)
The bit I liked was "we have players in mind and we have contacted some already" (my god celtic's forward thinking :-))
That's Me, I for one are 100% behind the wee man and lets hope Jackie and Neil stay.
Paul67 do you know when a share issue will be announced?
Hail Hail
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I couldn't get to see the press conference as live overseas and have local sky - can anyone point me to a site with a video rerun of GS's first words?
Called a big celtic pal in Livvy though who held the phone to the TV (ta Stevie) and what I could make out sounded very impressive indeed.
I also read the words GS used to describe talks with Bellamy as 'positive', followed by a break then 'very positive'. GS doesn't mince his words and choses them carefully. Got to be a great omen.
Delighted he's focussing too on Lenny and Jackie Mac; both deserving of another year and agree that they represent the pride and commitment that should be mandatory to play in the hoops.
11.40 am anon (surprise there)...please make that your last post, pathetic.
Thanks for the swiftness of the post Paul67, great work.
celticwully
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Looks like GS has made up his mind about Big Bobo, and I'm glad he doesn't seem bothered about loosing him. As much as I like the big guy, he has made some pretty costly mistakes over the last few years and I'm sure with a bit of money we'll get a better replacement. Just a shame we have to loose him for nothing, pity we couldn't have sold him when we had the chance and got some return from him.
Anyways, from the rock bottom of loosing the league then finding out MON was leaving, things are once again looking positive and exciting! Looking forward to seeing which players GS has lined up!
Dave.
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According to the rags Celtic fans are still up in arms at GS appointment. ( Yes I read 'em - know thyne enemy. Keep your friends close and enemies closer blah blah)
Not according to this site - there is, rightly IMHO, a consensus to back GS.
If as seems more likely a few decent signings are made this summer then yes Paul67 GS has a great platform to build on.
Its still a wait & see scenario until they're presented to the hoops troops tho'.
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Very positive start from wee gordon, he seems very genuine - most unlike his friend big 'fake' at Rangers who always makes me sick with his 'this great club' proclamations. In this sense, he seems very similar to O'Neill - I think in footballing terms he may be very different.
It's exciting again!!!
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I have just read an article about Malcolm Glazer in which he states that once the current Sky deal is up with the Premiership that he hopes to earn £10 million PER GAME, by selling Man Utd's tv rights.
Now this sort of money is what he is obviously interested in and why the money men are backing him.
He sees the game moving on from television and the internet, to 3G mobile phones, especially in the Far Eastern market.
Going by even the British mobile phone market, there is obviously money to be made. Just ask Jamster and their irritating Crazy Frog.
Bluto Connelly
Bellshill
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Thanks again for getting the details up so fast Paul. Just checked the official Celtic qwebsite and not a dickie bird yet about wee Gordon's comments (so much for you'll hear it here first). Just welcoming comments from Lawwell.
Very encouraged by the wee man's comments. He certainly pressed all the right buttons.
Best of luck Gordon. We're right behind you.
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GS commented that one reason he wished for Jackie and Lennon to stay was to show new signings what it meant to play for Celtic.
Peter Grant was given a similar unofficial task when Di Cnnio came to Parkhead.
Maybe I'm reading too much into this but I see this as an implication that we will be bringing in players from further afield the the SPL and England.
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Alrite Bhoys,
Sounds music to my ears, especially the part that Gordon says he was in contact with MON for "TWO" weeks identifying targets.
I relly wanted Jackie to stay as i think he is what Celtic need. Lennie too though I'd be inclined to rest him more and bring him in when we need? though Europe??
I hope we can retrain Sutty as well though i do have a doubt he can stay fit over the course of the season.
The Bellamy situation will be interesting.
Were Celtic not linked to Aruna who had played against us? he's fast skillfull, would score goals in the SPL but wouldn't cost us £6mill.
Gordon knows the modern game is all about skill,pace,and tactics-- fingers crossed.
Incidentally if Gordon was talikng to MON for TWO weeks maybe thats why the team wasn't focused??
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while on the subject of players, anyone got any info on who we might have lined up, and any evidence to back it up(rather than just any rumours heard through the tabloids)? Any inside info Paul?
I know Keane's the one everyone's talking about at the moment, and he'd be a great acquisition, but do we really need him if we're trying to convince Bellamy to stay?
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Henrik has been offered a one year extension for Barca for next year and has agreed terms.
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One of the buzz words Strachan appears to use frequently is fitness are they fit etc etc.
Time to get round that runninig track BBJ.
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Evening Paul, fellow tims.
Good to see the wee man get his point across and make it plain who will be running things and what is important.Namely the club.
I wasn't one of the knockers when the appointment became public knowledge,and to be honest, the more I think about it,the more I like the idea of Gordon Strachan being our manager.
I hated the wee shit when he was a player.
But that was purely because he was damned good,and playing against us.
If everybody else apart from us hates him in his current position.I for one,will be an extremely happy man.
Good luck to you wee man,and may you bring us even more success than we have had in the last five years.
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I must admit I've been a BBJ fan for most of his time there but this season he has been a joke. If GS can get him to shed the 3 stone that is required then perhaps he can do us a turn next season - if not then he could perhaps bring in £2 million to spend on someone more mobile.
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I have just watched a pre - recording of the Jackie Mac testimonial.
I thought Beattie did well and caused thier players problems. Mcgeady also looked good at times but he is still learning. Maloney I thought caused them all sorts of problems which the took to fouling him consistently in order to deal with him. Macmanus also caught my eye steady lad who is also still young and learning.
Nonetheless the kings and even wee barrel moravacik s pure class stood out.
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I think that it is safe to say that Celtic will be one of the fittest teams around next season, and if I was a betting man then I would bet that the players will be a lot faster than they were last season.
Even the players that we have been linked with are a lot faster than previously.
Lothario J Cronin
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I wasn't convinced by the appointment of GS initially but then again I wasnt convinced by the appointment of MON at first. I would have liked the board to go for Hiddink then (and now). I think the board would have failed in their duties if they hadn't sounded out the likes of Le Guen, Hiddink and Hitzfeld.
Anyway, what's done is done and as the days pass I am becoming more optimistic about GS. For one, the team can't get much worse than they have been this season.
I like his attitude to fitness, he seems to favour giving some freedom to creative players and he is an intelligent guy.
One concern though, if he wants to hold on to Jackie and Lennon - to help show new players what is expected of them - can Thommo, Sutton or Hartosn not do this? We need to reduce our wage bill and bring in young blood. If that is to be done then 2, maybe 3, of the 5 players above need to go. I hope he's not planning to hold on to them all
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As someone who was less than enamoured when it became clear that MON was leaving and likely to be replaced by Strachan, I must admit I've been impressed so far with:
a) His dignified silence until MON
had officially left the club.
b) The news that MON was involved
in the selection process and
that the pair have worked
closeley on signing targets and
current strenghs/weaknesses.
c) His words today at his first
press conference.
Strange that no other media outlet has mentioned Gordon's excitement with his transfer budget - thanks for that Paul.
Gordon Strachan does not come from a Celtic background, in common with numerous Celtic legends before him.
On reflection, I think his fierce determination to win, his fiery temper and siege mentality honed at clubs like Aberdeen & Man Utd under Ferguson will be conducive to him embracing the whole Celtic cause in much the same way that Big Jock did.
Hail Hail Wee Man, and welcome to Celtic.
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If anyone in the game has the qualities to succeed MON it is WGS
he has a great base to build on and has the energy to carry it off. For me Bobo can be a squad player, not an automatic choice, and Liam Miller should stew at Man U
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Henkieisgod, I replied to you on the earlier post. It would have been inappropriate to post with the serious events of the last week or so, will do so this week.
Excellent idea Kevin Murray.
Lets aim high Brummiebhoy.
Thanks Morocco Mole.
I am pleading the fifth on all signing info for the time being.
Thanks Hail Hail, big post this week.
Seanbhoy, I cannot retrieve the password I’m afraid.
Anon 12.08, I expect the share issue will be soon.
Cheers CelticWully
Bluto Connelly, there’s that Malcolm Glazer starting to leak ‘my’ story. I need to have a word with him.
Tully57, Strachan apologies to the press for not taking any calls in the last two weeks. He said that he didn’t want to get in the way of “Martins time”.
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Refreshing to hear a manager at his first press conference naming names and avoiding platitudes. Get to work, Gordon!
Had big Billy's goal against Vodjvodina as my pc wallpaper for many years; changed it to MON at the weekend; now it's oor Gordon. I know, I should get out more.
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Well, it looks like that's our second transfer target identified:
(From the BBC)
"Hibs to consider Riordan offers
Hibs manager Tony Mowbray says he will reluctantly listen to offers for Derek Riordan after contract discussions failed to bring about an agreement.
Riordan has been a revelation since his emergence into the first team, scoring 23 goals this season.
But with his contract due to expire next summer, Mowbray does not want to risk losing him for nothing.
"It seems we have come to the end of the negotiations," Mowbray told the Edinburgh Evening News.
Hibs seem certain to lose captain Ian Murray this summer when his contract runs out.
Mowbray added: "We don't want to get into the same situation as we have with Ian.
"Rod Petrie (Hibernian chairman) tells me he has been talking to Derek and his agent for the last 18 months and we have certainly been talking since I arrived at the club.
"We try to be fair. I am a believer in having a wage structure and, if your talent warrants it, then you get top dollar.
"But, if you start stretching that structure, then every agent is telling you his player is the best and, before you know it, you are spending far too much money.
"We have reached our financial ceiling with Derek, he was made an offer which would have made him one of the top two or three earners at the club.
"As a football club, we have to make a decision and that decision is that we are not going to let the situation arise where he sees his current contract out and then walks away for nothing.
"This football club has devoted a lot of time and hard work to Derek, who joined us when he was 11 and so we have decided, very reluctantly, to listen to offers for him."
No concrete offers have been received for the player thus far, and Mowbray remains hopeful for both Riordan and Hibs that an agreement can still be reached.
"We are not sticking any figures or prices on Derek," he added.
"I've told him we'd love the situation to be resolved with him staying here, where we believe he can continue his football education.
"He still has a lot of developing to do, especially if he wants to play on the bigger stage down south.
"It is important that we get across to our supporters that, while every effort has been made to get a deal done, there needs to be a willingness from both sides."
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I was out for my dinner in Bothwell on Sunday night with the mrs....aye i know what you're all thinking - you having a meal in Bothwell kidding on you've got money, when you canny even afford a good jaikit for yer work.
Anyways Agathe & a large group of friends were sitting at the table across from me - at the end of their meal there was hugs & kisses. Now don't shoot me down & i know that every pre season you get the 'Aye i saw Zidane in the Alhambra Chippy', but this did look like a farewell. I don't want to speculate but i thought at least i would let you all know how i seen it. Whether it's true or total tosh - i dunno
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I was very impressed with WGS this morning. He knows what he is doing and as long as the board back him and we support him then everything will turn out just right.
New signings - plenty of movement on that score according to WGS at his press conference.
Pace and movement is required to get Celtic on top again at home and to improve on the European front.
Keep up the good work on this site.
Pussy Willow
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I have been reserving judgement on Wee Gordo so far.
Some initial things I was watching for were:
a) Would day 1 for him be today or 2 weeks ago when he got the job. Heard the right answer today, tick.
b) Does he display hunger for success and set the bar at the highest level...tick.
c)Will he display maturity/experience by building around some key players in the short term (McNamara, etc) while bringing in new players...tick.
d) Will he stablish himself right away as the Leader. Bobo has the answer to that, tick.
e) Does he have a human side to him or is he just a driven, robotic, ambitious individual. Appropriate comments about Mon's situation...tick.
Keep up the great start Gordo. We are expecting great things from you.
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I see Tom Shields gave the site a mention again on Sunday Paul. He mentioned lazy journalism and went on to get your name wrong. You got it right two weeks earlier Tom, were you having a laugh?
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Strachan should make us a fitter team if nothing else some may think but, I think he will bring us more. I have read his comments in the Guardian for several months and I think I have saw how an articulate coach can express tactics in a way that hopefully is transmuted to the players and can make the difference on the pitch. (worth reading if you can drag yourself away from here)
http://football.guardian.co.uk/Columnists/Column/0,4284,1493551,00.html
As I've said, I expect (along with everyone else no doubt)a fitter team. I imagine John Hartson will be having cold sweats already about the 3 stones weightloss that is but a bawhair away. Nae mair drinking in Jinty McGinty's followed by a curry fae up the stairs for our lazy Welsh maestro- membership of LA Fitness awaits.
The exciting thing is the focus on pace and fitness. It seems that the culture change that we are about to undergo will only be a positive thing as pace seems to define the best from the rest. I just hope that his motivational skills are up there with MON. MON could pull the rabbit out of the hat when we were in the Barry White just in the way he could talk to players, it remains to be seen if GS can do the same.
Tight Mallaghan's medicine cabinet.
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So what happens if come the summer and Balde can't get another club? We are stuck with him on a increased wage?
Not the case!
On the other hand,after September we will be able to get shot of him with a transfer fee coming our way or at worst his game may pick up with a much better defense round about him in the coming season judging by all the noise coming from CP.
No loose situation for us.
I think this has been a very good deal done by the board with Balde thinking it was to his advantage,
Finally Celtic having the upper hand on a contract deal,It's been a while.
Bluto Connelly
You are ahead of the rest on this point,I was in Japan at the New year and the Japs were always quick to show me them watching "MOVIES" on their PHONES.
They can also be connected to TVs to screen.
It is expensive at the moment and not a lot of them use it,but still it shows you what will be available to us in the near future.
The technology is coming for sure,it's going to be huge,the information age in the future.
From what I could see in Japan,Singapore the last few times being there that it won't be long before the poor wee Celtic souls in places like the far flung locations in India,Thailand will be able to watch the game no problem on the net once the "ticket" has been paid for.
Even McGraininSpain won't have to put up with drunken Eastenders and unionjacks just to see a game.
Paul67,
Do you know if the Nike sponsorship is a fixed deal or can it be rewritten if we enter the EPL or the like? As I do believe the current deal would be very under valued in a future set up,I'm sure the board have this covered.
Not so many snipes at the board now!
Just shows how opinion can change when there is good information being passed out.I hope it continues.
Time they added, French,Spanish or German for our extended family on the continent.
Even noticed how much info is being posted on CELTIC.NET nowadays,still a bit slow at times but up until a few months ago you were lucky to get a post out them every few days.
Time they added, French,Spanish or German for our extended family on the continent,many not english speaking.Yeovil towns' website would put us to shame.
Time for the big Bhoys to have big Toys.
Cabbage
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Thanks Paul for the details about the press conference.
I for one was glad when I heard GS was going to be the manager. The guy has a will to win and has shown that he can get decent players to play to the best of their ability and work together as a team.
I think he will be a bit more in your face than MON, which will get very amusing when he has to talk to the joke media in Scotland.
If he does have an 'exciting' budget to spend then fair play to the board.
I am sure MON has influenced the board when deciding on GS and I am sure he has pointed him the the right direction for players to take the team on.
Cheers
Jama
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Thanks Paul for the details about the press conference.
I for one was glad when I heard GS was going to be the manager. The guy has a will to win and has shown that he can get decent players to play to the best of their ability and work together as a team.
I think he will be a bit more in your face than MON, which will get very amusing when he has to talk to the joke media in Scotland.
If he does have an 'exciting' budget to spend then fair play to the board.
I am sure MON has influenced the board when deciding on GS and I am sure he has pointed him the the right direction for players to take the team on.
Cheers
Jama
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Wee GS does his homework and has all the qualities to take us onwards.
Paul, do you expect the board to give GS the money from any player sales (if any) or will this be taken out of the overall budget for this close season?
Balbriggan Bhoy
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If Strachs has got us this excited after one press conference just think how the dressing room will feel after a team talk. Jackie & Lenny must feel 10ft tall now, when only yesterday their Celtic future was in doubt.
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From what Bluto Connelly and Cabbage have said, and Paul will no doubt subsequently advise, a major technological revolution is set to take place in football as we know it.
It will probably be the biggest revolution since the onset of Pathe News in the 1920s and 30s.
If you compare the mobile phones of 10 years ago then you had the large Del Boy types. However between now and even 2007, then the phones will be more than capable of watching films, live entertainment, and Football.
Vodafone when they signed their initial contract with Manchester United had this in mind as part of their deal, and I firmly believe that the club will go down that road when the technology is readily and inexpensively available.
Similarly O2 have had the deal with Arsenal and T Mobile have had their deal with Bayern. Maybe the technology has not arrived as quickly as perhaps O2 would have liked for Arsenal, who have moved onto Emirates.
As a club, we should be looking to be at the forefront of this technology, because after all, if we don't go with it, then we would fall behind.
Brendan McGahan
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Paul,
Thanks for the quick post-all sounds very positive(ok-exciting!!).
Echo the thoughts of above in relation to how the handover has taken place etc. Lets hope we get news of signings soon. That coupled with your BIG story should have us drooling at the mouth.
Gordon, if you are reading you will see that whatever spin the trash tabloids want to put in on it, you are welcome. Your passion and determination will hopefully rub off on the club.(Whoops-nearly said indefatigability there!!)
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Like most of you I am very positive about WGS. I think whoever was going to take over was not going to get a favourable reaction at the start. We would always find the negatives with the new man but maybe thats because of what we had previously.
I was thinking that some of the more concerned posters were perhaps based in Scotland and hadnt seen much of WGS on MOTD. (When I lived in Scotland sportscene replaced MOTD maybe thats different now)
Anyway he was BY A COUNTRY MILE the most intelligent analyst on the BBC, So much so that being witness to his tactical understanding of a just watched game that you realised 99% of match day analysts talk is predictable drival.
At this point, If anything I am overly confident about this appointment Welcome aboard Gordon.
Btw, Jackiemac and the lads are on the golf course at Galway Bay Golf and Counrty Club down past Oranmore and will be at a corporate dinner in the Galway Radisson tonight. Its black tie lads so dont even think about it!
I reckon you could sneak in for a late pint though :)
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Nice to see Strachan here and I am more heartened now than I was 2 weeks ago. But Paul the funny thing is Strachan admitted he'd told McLeish he had the job over 2 weeks ago, which takes me back nicely to my post about who leaked the story to the N.O.T.W. in the first place. You yourself have stated he would not have told anyone he was taking the job, evidently he did and the story broke on the morning of our last league game. The rest as they say is history.....Obviously you will say this is all complete tosh but others on this site may not all share that view.
NAAS
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Mick: re. resting Lennie: He's still got life in those wee ginger legs of his - how many games did he miss this season?
As to Hartson struggling with the new fitness regime, he's quoted in The Scotsman: "He's different to Martin in that he is out on the training ground all the time, he gets involved with all the five-a-sides and still wants to play. He's very much hands-on, he's in charge of everything. Gordon wants to be involved in all of the day-to-day stuff, he doesn't miss out on anything.
"The training side of things is very physical. Pre-season with Coventry was the hardest I've ever had in my life. We went to St Andrews University for two weeks and were running along the beaches. It was probably the fittest I've ever been in my career. He based his playing career on fitness, he never stopped running. He feels that the fitter the players are, the better they will be. "
Full story: http://sport.scotsman.com/index.cfm?id=590032005
Must admit I was not 100% in favour of Strachan when the news broke, but think that was more the shock of it all - the league loss, MON stepping down etc. He's making all the right noises and I'm getting very excited ;o) - like the idea of great formations stopping you from losing goals, whilst great players get you goals - lookingfor a banner name here Gordy...
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Sounds like the wee man has set his stall out early doors to boss the press. Good on ya, Gordon.
If Bobo's commitment to Celtic is reflected by his insistence in a get-out clause in a new contract with enhanced wages, then Bayern or whoever are welcome to him.
He's been a liability in crucial European games anway.
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Cabbage - I'm still here to have a snipe at the board.
I'm just waiting to see the colour of the money.
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TOO EMBARRASSED TO PUT A NAME TO THIS POST.
it was forwarded on to me,sounds bo**icks to me,injured and had an operation?take from it what you will,sorry Paul for the "rumour"
Taken from another forum but worthy of discussion i think.(i don't)
I am happy to confirm that Harry Kewell is Celtic's first new signing of Strachan's reign. The deal was signed just after the Champions League Final.
I expect to be bombarded with negative comments for posting this information in the tone it is written but it is 100% accurate and will be proved right in 2 weeks time when the press conference is announced.
He is also hoping to be announcing the signing of a top-class centre-half who is available on a Bosman and was identified by Martin O'Neill as their choice to replace Balde who was always leaving in the summer.
I will stick my neck on the line here no matter what is said. And I will not be revealing my source as he is very well known.
Once again I re-iterate that this information is 100% guaranteed and will be announced in 2 weeks.
Not necessarily the type of player I like to see but I have full faith in Strachan and O'Neill's judgement.
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exciting?
EXCITED?
Darn Tooting!!!
New manager, talking the talk.
Dead wood, about to walk the walk.
Only a corpse would not be excited.
BTW - my daughter (first time at ra footie on Sunday) loved the occasion but was disappointed that Hoopy the Huddle Hound was not around. What the hell was that about!! Gordon - GET ON THE CASE and get Hoopy out and about.
She keeps singing the songs and wears her scarve to bed. 1-2-3 Aaawwwwww.
Like what I'm hearing from GS, but words mean nothing, it's action that count. Still..all the signs are good. Bring on the new season!
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Cabbage McF you state:
"On the other hand,after September we will be able to get shot of him with a transfer fee coming our way or at worst his game may pick up with a much better defense round about him in the coming season judging by all the noise coming from CP.
No loose situation for us."
If Bobo can't get a club in the summer when he can leave on a free transfer immediately what makes you think someones going to wait till January to get him and give us a transfer fee?
At the worst his game will pick up and he'll become a better player? Not exactly worst case scenario. Worst case scenario he'll get dropped and still have 4 years left of his contract or maybe even pick up an injury and have to sit out his contract. I think your being every so slightly optimistic...
Mark
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Cabbage, the Nike deal has a clause which would pay more if we got into the EPL.
Balbruggan Bhoy, any money GS creates from player sales will go back to him.
NAAS, this is how bad rumours start.
Gordon Strachan DID NOT say he told McLeish he had the Celtic job 2 weeks ago. In fact he went out of this way to say that he had not spoken to McLeish since getting the job two weeks ago.
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BTW 1.46 Anonymous was me, Jocky Bhoy. Still etting the hang of this...
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NAAS,
I understand your concern but even if he did tell McLiesh and it was leaked from Ibrox surely our players new about it anyway.
I dont see what difference it would have made. We were dead on our feet in January and only kept in the race thanks to Bellamy. If it wasnt for that rangers would have walked it. We did well to go as far as the last day but in the end there was nothing in the tank.
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several points.
very upbeat about GS. positive vibes all around.
the keane we should be after is roy.
craig beattie looks to me the best bet of all the younger players to get into the first team and stay there.
bilko bhoy
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Brendan McGahan - i hope your right about us being involved in the Technological advances & Revenue opportunities ahead, but i'm a little sceptical.
You always hear people say that we're such a massive club, but the truth is - we run the club like Bairds Bar. If you disagree with me on this one then fair enough, but i ask you to do 3 things:
1 - phone up Celtic Park & don't put the receiver down if you think you've dialled a local hairdressers by mistake - you've actually phoned the right number
2 - go into a Celtic Shop & ask a member of staff a very basic question - the likelihood is that they'll reply whilst consuming a Double Whopper meal
3 - have a look on Celtic's official website - it looks as if it's been done by a 15 year old
Now i'm not putting the boot in here, but it just makes me so angry that we're well behind the times compared to other big clubs across europe - i hope to god this changes
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Vargasshampoo -
How right you are.
Anybody that has been inolved at the web end of a business can see how badly Celtic is let down in that department. Quite frankly it's a joke (in rather bad taste).
When most profit making ventures are pouring in resources to capitalise on the customer interface, we have Celtic cuting back on staff. It really does beggar belief.
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Have to agree with the comments on Celtics website quality. For a huge number of fans the website is their main source of getting information directly from, and about, the club yet its just filled with adverts and flashing banners whilst providing almost no information. The ticket ordering system on the website is also totally laughable and makes trying to get to a game the most frustrating of experiences for those who don't have a season ticket. I'm sure most Celtic fans who post here on a regular basis almost never visit the official site.
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Paul,
I now increasingly find that I am leaning more & more to using your blog for info about the Club.
Since you were given access to the press conferences it just highlights the spin some of these so called reporters put on things. Not so much a free press more a sort of "wee free" press.
Is the access a trial thing and do you get to ask any questions ?
Back to the WGS/MON handover , I am greatly impressed by the way that they seem to have seamlessly handed over the reins of power.
For a club that hasn't exactly been progressive in the past at getting it's house in order in terms of transfer targets/signings.
To hear WGS say that he has been cross referencing MONs transfer targets fills me with hope.
That Sunday in Motherwell seems a little bit further away now.
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Several points.
A/ who the hell wants to watch a football match on a mobile phone {curse oft the modern world}.
B/ Strachans assistant is not liked by players apparently a bit of a sergeant major type.
C/ he has according to coventry websites a penchant for getting teams relegated.
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Very Impressed with GS's first day at work, as I said last week he should enjoy this honeymoon period with the press it wont last.
Anon 1:48
Allarmed if what you say is true. A friend of mine spent a week at Liverpool training ground this year and his abiding memory is of Harry Kewall being last out of the dressing room and first back in.
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RE:1:50 PM, Anonymous
Maybe I've picked him up incorrectly but didn't Bobo say that he colud leave for a free ONLY this closed season?
If he didn't go then he would be here for three years.
I know this isn't ideal but if he was here and under contract then we could get funds for him if we sold him.
1:46 PM, Anonymous
Yes granted played most of the games this season, but isn't he getting on a wee bit now 34 isn't he :-@ (ancient!)
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NegativeAnon, I know you are always there.
There is a difference between general snipes with nothing to back it up with and constructive comments which you tend to have,constuctive not negative(well not all the time) that is!
Yes,A lot of beating of the chest just now going on.
Actions speak louder than words.
Not even any offical words coming from the board about a single thing except for the Strachan appointment.
By the time comes at the end of August we will all know if the board are going to do what is being sounded out from various quarters.
Strachan should have a few quid to spend,after all the wage bill is going to drop dramatically,whether this is going to be added to the "next big spend" that's not including money from the new investors and the fan investors. time will tell.
I'm feeling positive right now,if it turns out to be all talk from the board then I'll be getting a piggy back off you up the London Rd to the front doors of CP.
You bought your shares yet Negative?,I'm paying mine off with my new credit card I just got sent to me.Just wondering when the bigbhoys are going to buy theirs?
Any news on the share issue Paul67.
I got some inside information for all you bhoys on here.
SELL YOUR SHARES
Invest in property,I have just bought two flats overlooking Barrowfield,they are going to go well up in price once Celtic are finished with the area.
(never thought I'd see the day I'd buy a hoose in Barrowfield)
Donald Trump look out!
Cabbage McF
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Mick,
The point I was making is that you can't just say that if no-one takes him in the summer then we can sell him later. If clubs aren't prepared to take him for free then what makes you think they'll be lining up to pay us a transfer fee later. If they wanted him they'd get him now while they can, and if no-one does take him then the chances of shifting him later aren't very good.
Mark
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Paul67 - is the next story anything to do with the long awaited training facilities? And is there a sponsorship tie-in with it? I've heard whispers along those lines from a few sources with construction links.
Also - what's the scoop on the golf day? I'm signed up and looking forward to meeting Mr McGrain. How are numbers etc.
Franny Trevino
Colville Park
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Cabbage McF - can you expand on your last post - seems interesting.
By the Way the properties at Barrowfield you've purchased - hope you don't mean the ones across the road - when you walk pass they houses & look in the window - the decor is like 'Man about the House' or George & Mildred'
Rigsby's Kitchen
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I watched the whole press conference. No doubt our guy is a top man at handling the press, the best on these islands. This attribute is what you might well describe as necessary but not sufficient.
No-one has picked up on WGS's repeated references to this season's priority - win the league. He initiated no dialogue about Europe, and was on 'strictly routine' mode when responding to the single question there was about it.
The last column he did for The Guardian was typically honest and self-diminishing in recalling how Southampton got made mugs of by a poor Rumanian side in the UEFA.
I think he's correct, by the way. I know the CL money's great and so on, and the European nights at CP are tremendous, but it's the league that matters, as we know.
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Mark,yes your right ,I'm optimistic,always have been(ok I'm lying)
MON would have let him sit in the reserves and waste our money like the high paid others.
I don't think for one minute after WGS comments on Balde today,his first public day at CP,that he's going to be letting anyone sit about in the reserves.
If he is still here in the summer,you never know,he may well hang off for the big deal with Bayern,during that time,say no to other teams interested in him,they in turn go and buy someone else,only for Balde to find out that Bayern have lost interest or realise how bad he really is(in my eyes)
Come January if some team is desperate for someone like Balde,in the way we were desperate for Henchoz,Camara,Janinio(never stayed long enough to be able to spell his name)they will buy him.
As you can see there are teams out there,just like us,EPL one at that more cashed up than us don't forget.
What's Wigan FCs' phone number?
If we get even 1 million,it's a million we didn't have.
The exact same can be said of Bellamy,he MAYBE left wanting,stuck playing in some average team in the EPL,no CL,no medals.(big paypacket though)after he has no big offers and Celtic won't pay him the big bucks.
You are right though,the worst case is Balde staying not getting any better on better wages,as he can't get any worse.
What I say Mark and what I write are two totally different things most of the time,as you may well read in my ramblings.
Cabbage
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I can remember over 3 years ago being told by a "good source" (or contact?) Around the time of the Huns NTL deal (- what a whopper that turned out incidentally!) That DD had a vision of the future that we would all be able to see Celtic in the comfort of our own home.
The vision was that Celtic TV (and I guess now Celtic Internet, Mobile etc etc) would be available to all.
The "Value Proposition" was also to be pitched in such a way that everyone would have it, as his view was that it would be better to sell it to say, 100,000 people for £6/month than 50,000 for £12.
Celtic did indeed keep the family jewels when they never took NTL up on the £15Million offer (Not sure if that was the figure).
Zap forward to today and we have broadband, on demand TV on the way, Nokia have mobile broadband tablets on their website and Celtic own their own internet rights and whoever made this decision is indeed pretty shrewd.
Celtic do have a pretty poor IT infrastructure however, I wouldn't be surprised to see this problem be rectified and part funded by the new share issue.
Good IT is expensive. My own place of work has undertaken a massive project of this nature recently and it will be our biggest opeartional expense of the next 3 years.
Just ask Paul about CQN and it's only a blog (well it's the crack cocaine of blogs but you get the drift) - it's not cheap.
It was quoted that Man Utd have millions of viewers to MUTV but only a million or so global subscribers (can't remember the exact numbers)
If he expects to make £10M per game (assuming from all sources of revenue) I'd guess he is hoping for a million globally per game at a fiver a pop, £3Million at the gates and what say £2Million from SKY??
These figures are just plucked out the air but they do illustrate the fact that the clubs will own their own destiny but the choice of media partner, quality of content and distribution channels will be key to future wealth.
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All sounds very exciting at the moment. I have to say GS sounded very positive today which I am sure made most of us relax quite and bit and will help us regain confidence for next year.
I really would love to know more about the "Big Story" that is supposed to be in the horizon. I hear that the 3rd or 4th of June is when we will hear about it!!!
Personally I do not think it envolves players but is more to do the Cel
