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Totally agree Paul.
Hail, hail
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Podium !
Agree 100%. Get behind the wee man. Leave the sniping to the red-tops.....
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Time to take stock is during the close season.2 out of 3 of his big signings just havn't worked.Get shot of them,and if we're no further forward in 12 months then look at it
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Pah! A Pro Celtic article again Paul? Anyone will think that you actually want Mr Strachan and the club he works for to be successful?!? :-)
Excellent article, roll on title number 2, let's hope Mr Telfer is there at the medal presentation and is given the level of support and applause his service to our club deserves.
cta
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Paul, I was waiting for this article.
I think you just summed up whast a lot of the support is feeling.
Sure we have hit a bit of a brick wall as far as results go, but it has been along season and throw int'l games in there with 12 players away ether playing or not it adds to weariness.
Hail Hail WGS and let's not forget the sharp dressed man.
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I'm 100% behind Gordon Strachan and all that he is trying to do.
Rome wasn't built in a day, but if he keeps winning the title while rebuilding the side..then even better.
I don't have a problem with the turnover of players. If we can sell on such as Kenny Miller for a profit and a few others all well and good.
KOJO,
Whats this on CM about Celtic putting in a £ 2m bid for young Sharp ?
Looks ok but only 5'9....alongside Scott McDonald...I read your comments about a big striker, but have also watched Spurs struggle with Defoe & Keane.
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Paul, at the moment I feel we should have more than enough time and experience to pull out of the rut, though obviously the sooner and the more convincingly the better. My main concern at the mo is kinda split 3 ways the pre-signing medical/ the training / the goals - like the situation at newcastle their are only so many times you can use injuries as an excuse in a given timeframe without questions over facilities/practices etc coming under serious examination. 1or 2 key players out at a bad time is bad luck, several out consistently is definitely bad assest management... now why i dont think we need to go down the "henke-replacement" eggs in one basket approach I also think that not having a single person in the top goal scoring chats is a sign of a problem that needs serious rectification.
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As we are in elections time, hear, hear Paul!
I was actually for sacking GS in July 2005!
In the run up to Bratislava, I didn't think he understood the importance of the game or what managing Celtic was about.
Since then, he has taken us from Black Sunday to the last 16 of the ECL. And we were pretty darn unlucky to get put out too.
While I do think Celtic fans are the best in the world (over the piece, we have our bad daysits not just GS, but many fine Celtic players who have been underappreciated by the fans.
The blog could be filled all day with examples of rogues whose names have been sung to the rafters, while dedicated pros have been ignored.
Give the Telfmeister over the lot of them!
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Excellent article, for those who wish to get rid of Strachan I suggest supporting Hearts as they, surely, are the only team that would consider sacking a manager on the verge of delivering two out of two!!
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you got to listen to this its a must
http://www.randalstowncsc.co.uk/modules/news/article.php?storyid=216
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Bhoys a mate of mine who lurks on this site is looking for a pub to watch the game in Miami. Any ideas as he is on a cruise and is berthed in Miami for a day.
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Well said Paul !
Gordon Strachan has had my unstinting support since day 1. Although he does not always come across well in the media, I feel he is doing a great job at Celtic.
At the end of the day, statistics are what counts. He has 2 out of 2 championships. Next season he will beat Martin O'Neill, by winning 3 in a row.
Our football is not always great, but in March, this can be down to a number of things. We have to learn to accept this.
Tommy Burns gave us great football and won nothing. We sacked him.
Do your stuff Gordon. Keep your job, and bring home the titles, one after the other.
PS. I also agree with all of his signings. Some turned out bad..but they will be moved on.
Ternar
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gordon strachan for president
100% behind him.
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I kept back from the debate over the last few days as we are all polarised on both sides however with one common goal the success of celtic. In addition, you need to watch on here, as it gets quite pathetic with the personal abuse.
However, that aside Paul has stimulated excellent debate and over lunch, here are my humble musings.
Strachan will win the league and we should be grateful for this but it should not stop the constructive criticism of tactics, players and long-term strategy.
To be honest regardless of the above Strachan deserves next year and he should be judged then.
He has a number of challenges to face
1. Team 2 is poor and needs overhauled he faces the gravesen enigma and will have to find willing suitors for jarosik, Lennon, zurawski, beatie and miller.
2. What’s up with deek if he does not want to play him punt him that is what he gets the big bucks for?
3. We need a midfield lenny has lost the legs and sno is to slow but has potential. Naka and mcgeady entertain while no one grabs the game by the throat. Is it time for brown?
4. What happens with bobo do we downsize or retain our best CH.
5. What happens with boruc and how do we replace him
6. Where do we get a striker?
Strachan in my view is an average coach but he deserves our support because he is doing what is asked of him winning the league and making progress in Europe.
He also deserves to be judged at the end of next year on how he handles the challenges above and the Huns.
It is 100% valid to constructively criticise, as it is 100% pathetic to target and hound anyone who does so "not a Celtic fan" as many on here do.
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Paul,
you started a new article so that Aw Naw wouldn't see my comment last night. Furthermore you chose to publish an article about Strachan that deflects from other important topics. Clearly you are controlling the blog again as opinions about our manager are all on the same page. That's it for me.I'm tossing the towel in,just kidding.
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paul, some of those with harsh words do not want WGS sacked, myself included, we are just, as you say in your article, asking some hard questions.
I was fairly happy with his appointment, started to wobble in August 05, and consistently since see him as the man for the job and expect/want him here next season. However I hope he is asking the same hard questions to himself that a lot of people are asking, out of concern for the team i may add, not to have a swipe at WGS, players or anything to do with celtic minded.
A lot of the talk over recent weeks is due to the fact that a lot of people have saw this run of results coming for months and are slightly concerned that little seems done to rectify it. The same problems we had when we were scraping through games are still there 8,9,10 games on and it is not unreasonable to expect to see these starting to be addressed.
Any criticism of WGS and the team at the moment as long as it is constructive and fair can only be healthy and productive.
Yes there are those who love to jump on anything negative and seem to get a pervese joy at defeats and poor performances, however there are many more who like to use this forum to vent some frustration and get it out of their system and discuss there concerns on team matters whilst not being put into one of the 2 distinct camps that seem to be set up here on CQN.
I have faith that WGS can take the club forward next season, but i can also see some blatant errors this year which have not been addressed and hopefully will be in the summer.
I have faith, just not blind faith and would hope to be able to express this on this forum without being subject to scorn and derision.
As one who had a season ticket thru the bad times of the 90s i appreciate all the success we have here just now, however success is only worthwhile if you build on it, not sit back, think the job is done and watch the malaise set in.
HAIL HAIL
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Paul - i've been a big Strachan fan all along & when you take stock of the success he has brought to the club & within such a tight budget, then i also agree that the Celtic support should fight his corner particularly at such a delicate part of our season.
However what i would say & this is the general feeling i get from speaking to most other Celtic fans is that his Team 1 was a definite success & showed us a glimpse of fitter, quicker football on the deck. My feeling at that time was that we could only get better & the product on the park would definitely be playing more dynamic, stylish football.
What has followed has been another successful year in terms of honours & we have also made a significant step in Champions League Football. This should never be dismissed. However apart from the home Benfica match, we've never looked like a team who can go on a run of winning games or a team who can kill opponents off. The formation still looks imbalanced. We still have a fragility about us, we don't create enough scoring chances & we don't have sufficient firepower. I think all of these comments are completely fair & accurate. The overwhelming frustration of the support seems to be that the weaknesses of Team 1 still exist in Team 2. The fans have a right to flag up these obvios flaws, but maybe the timing isn't great.
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greenlion2,
All Celtic games are shown live in North America. Your mate should check www.nafcsc.com to check if there is a CSC in or close by Miami. All CSC's over here welcome visitors.
Good luck.
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Jeez,the Empire strikes back`¬)
El Gordo is well paid to manage Celtic.He was happy enough to accept the deserved praise he received when the League was won last year;and when we win it this year he'll take a well-deserved bow.
But with the sunshine comes the midges-the team are not playing well;and as P67 points out in his article the main feature of this season-the late result swinging goals-have dried up;along with goals in general.Some of his signings have been disappointing-this is either because thay're just not up to scratch[KM],never off the treatment table[JVH]or they are consistently played out of position[JJ]or not at all[DR,JJPD].
The team has no discernible playing style-PSV may be defensive but perhaps their coach sees that as the best way to utilise the players he has.We are neither attacking,nor defensive.We give the impression that the first XI meets up at Macchuill's at 2 o'clock before the game.For a hands on manager who spends so much time at the training ground it's odd that our main tactic seems to be to win a freekick on the edge of the box.
Next season is going to be interesting..
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canujunbhoy cheers I had a quick look at that site and I will pass it on.
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I've asked a long time why Riordan doesn't get a shot up front. GS seems to think he isnt a forward line player.
Excuse my sarcasim, but GS also sees Hartley as a holding midfielder and Jarosik as a forward :p
I rate GS highly, it's just as a fan, seeing some things that are pretty obvious to us, we will question whats going on - the reason for his thinking.
I'd like to see
Boruc
Caldwell Pressley McManus/O'Dea Naylor
Nakamura Hartley (holding) Gravesen McGeady
JVOH Riordan
With the option of Doumbe coming on to see what he can do.
Could even push Caldwell into the defensive midfiled role.
We definitely need a defensive midfield replacement.
Someone who can create their own and take chances.
Someone to drive and Take the game by the scruff of the neck
As much as I think B Ferguson is over-rated, he does tend to take most games by the balls.
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Belfast Bhoy, totally agree we need changes, especially up front. In fact, I could name several other areas of the team I would like to change – but we will get change, why else do we have a summer?
Mgm78, I know Gordon Strachan suffers the pain of defeat and I am sure he is in tune with your/our frustrations. He has made mistakes, and will no doubt make more, they all do.
Constructive debate is the key, and while you (and others) have offered this, some have not.
VargasShampoo, I think the central midfield area has been a washout for most of this season, as have the forward line.
Thomas and Jiri have been unable to hold down a place, Evander has shown promise, but is still young and Neil is another year older. None of this worked out as I (or GS I am sure) hoped.
Changes are needed.
Ironically defence was my big concern in August, but it has performed better than expected.
The bhoy darth, Hartley (holding) Gravesen. Yuk.
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Paul
Excellent article.
Some, and I repeat, some of the abuse/criticism aimed at WGS is/was way over the top, IMO.
By all means, challenge and debate on tactics, team selection, etc, but keep it in perspective, please.
For me, I would give WGS an 8 out of 10. My gripes are; Why is Deek not getting a game, especially since we are struggling to score goals in recent games?, Why is Jarosik not being played in his best position?, and why persist with Lenny when he is clearly beginning to feel the pace?
However, these gripes, (which I ken are shared by many who post on these hallowed pages) and the recent poor run, are not sackable offences! Debatable certainly, but not sackable.
As far as next season is concerned, I will wait until September 1st, before passing any comment on the team.
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Strachan has done well! If it was a close race to the title we would have been talking about winning rather than about style. That is a compliment to him.
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Paul I was also talking about examining the player acquisition (i.e. medical / examining history / research) and maintainance (fitness / under or over working) were you agreeing to that too?
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Paul67,
Would you be of the same opinion if we lost the league this year to a total collapse. Confidence destroyed I wouldnt be surprised if we also lost the cup too.
At this moment in time St Johnstone will fancy there chances against us.
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PlatWAT,me ole interweb stalker-are these the gripes of wrath,or mere irritation?
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PS,
There is no room in business for sentiment. Therefore.
Pressley
Lennon
Beattie
Miller
and Jarosik
must be offloaded in the next transfer window.
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Paul,
you are absolutely right and everyone here needs to read their wee green books from the early 90s to remind themselves of what a really bad season is like.
It's no disgrace to suffer a slip of form - apart from the festive season slip ups, we have been solid all season and every team is allowed a bad run of form. To have it when we are so far ahead in the league is a luxury, and a bonus in terms of timing.
We need to back WGS - he's doing his best with a squad who had the stuffing knocked out of them by the Milan heartbreak and the sith defeat at Paradise.
He has his faults but is doing a stellar job at the helm so far.
We all had our gripes during the MON era - I couldn't believe how long it took him to change from 3-5-2 onto flat back four for certain games and his team line ups were sometimes frustrating - but we all allowed him grace and time.
We need to do the same with the current boss.
A well timed message and reality check Paul, keep up the good work.
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at the start of season i felt very comfortable (even excited) about the midfield whilst terrified about going into the champs league with our defence.
Whilst the defence has its moments and limitations, on the whole been solid with pressley potentially a great addition domestically.
The midfield is a puzzle. Even looking now at the players that can play in midfiled there are lots of options/variations but WGS doesnt know his best midfield or how to deploy them. It is also a mystery that hartley has not been allowed to be the player he was at tynecastle.
there are options there to put out a sold dynamic midfield to blow away the opposition particularly at home and would be nice to see us have a go at that, maybe take the opportunity once/if league is won.
Up front JVOH a guaranteed starter, for whatever reason riordan wont be played so magic the only viable option to partner him, as understudy would rather have sheridan or another youth at the moment as beattie and miller failing to deliver, only one of them should remain next year, hopefully beattie.
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Fair enough saying back the manager Paul, but I think we all know that the team at the moment is producing dire football, and that Strachan himself doesn't seem to trust many of his own signings.
What's more, the football for 85% of this season has been appalling to watch. As a club that prides itself on playing football in a certain way, this is not an idle concern.
As it stands, Strachan has to sort out both his midfield and attack this summer. A slightly disconcerting position to be in as he approaches his third full season. And whilst we can all laugh at Rangers' desperate financial situation, I think it would be naive of us not to expact a more robust challenge from TFoD next year.
Having said that, with his second title almost in the bag, WGS certainly deserves time and credit. But questioning the standard of football on display, or the mixed record of the manager's signings, is not necessarily disloyalty or naivity.
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brattback
The "Gripes of Wrath"?! My gripes are more of the "Roth" variety!
That's David Lee Roth, the flambouyant ex Van Halen frontman, as in "Why did they have to cancel the much anticipated reunion tour?", type of gripe!
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Belfast Bhoy, you make an interesting point, one I am still considering.
ticketyboo, no, I would change my mind if we collapsed and lost the league. Will you change your's if we do not collapse and win the league?
Cheers Private Fraser, 'Doomed, we're not doomed'.
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Paul - Well said, I agree 100% with the sentiment. However, WGS has had two seasons now to show us where he is taking the team. Early last season he spoke about his vision and more than once talked about fast, flowing football. I am not seeing any progress towards this goal. What I am seeing is what one would expect from a good CEO - excellent use of the company resources and above average returns.
Don't get me wrong, I do welcome this progress but I watch football to be entertained (tbh I watch football because I am a Celtic supporter) and I feel I am being short changed. I want more. If the strategy is to dig our heels in, win the SPL 2 times out of 3, buy and sell sensibly, make a few bob in the process then the club need to manage my expectations.
If the strategy is to return our famous club to the top table, make us one of the top ten teams in Europe, then we have a long ways to go.
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Paul the team needs changing right now.
We as you say are running on empty,no one more so than Neil Lennon,other than sentiment what reason is he in the side on current form?
In the Milan game(san siro) i thought Gordon Strachan came up with an imaginative formation with Aiden just off the front.I think that is the only way Riordan will get a place in the team,playing l/side midfield with Aiden lying off Big Jan.
Riordan is best utilised in his Hibs role thats were he scored his goals from never as an out an out struker.In saying that this Sat i would go with -
Boruc
Caldwell Pressley O'Dea Naylor
Naka Hartley Gravesen McGeady
Jan Magic
The present Neil Lennon is not needed in a home game at Celtic park.
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Paul,
Great article. Although I am deeply disappointed with the last few results, I am happy with the season as a whole. Top of the league, SC Semi, last 16 of the CL. Sounds like a good season does it not? I would have taken it back in August.
Ticketyboo- yawn-yawn-yawn!
Hail Hail WGS
Hail Hail Celtic
GingerAvenger
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Gordan Strachan will be wanting to wrap up this SPL as much as anyone else.
This season has seen him buying players without spending any of his allocated budget.
This summer he has players to sell and money to spend. Two quality signings
will make a huge difference to the formation and strength of his next team.
Nice heading Paul,
Hail Hail
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Gordon Strachan has earned the right to continue as Celtic manager. Of this there should be no doubbt. Having said that how many of us would lose much sleep if he (as has been rumoured) decides to leave.
Not many I suspect which is sad.
In his favour:
- he has delivered 2 titles and a league cup
- last 16 of champions league
- managed to bring the wage billl down
- given us our best goalkeeper in my 50 years on this planet
Against:
- he presided over the shameful episodes in bratislava and clyde
- the quality of football this season has been awful both home and away. You can debate what is the celtic way but for sure we have been brought up on a regular diet of goals and these have been missing this season
- he promised faster, fitter and stronger when what he has given us is ponderous and lightweight. We used to be the bully and now we are regularly bullied on the park and struggle to dominate even poor SPL teams.
- last season he benefited from the presence of a strong hearts which helped us and damaged rangers
- this season he has had no meaningful opposition as hearts and rangers were in turmoil for the whole of 2006
- his record in the transfer market is uninspiring. Camara, Virgo, Miller, Jarosik and Graveson to name but 5 have been disappointing. To be fair we were all excited by the latter.
- we repeated the liam miller situation with sean maloney (you will notice that in the aftermath the contracts of O'Dea and McGeady were renewed with almost indecent haste [i'm glad to say])
- Gordon Strachan's tenure has co-incided with a slump in attendances. whilst there will be a number of factors that have caused this, there is no doubt in my mind that going to Celtic Park has been less enjoyable this year in particular.
Yes, Gordon Strachan has earned the right to continue but he has to address some of the matters referred to above.
I want a winning Celtic team that scores goals and entertains. Given our financial superiority and this so called generation of domination, it's the least I should expect.
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As far vas any "challenge" from a rejuvenated Wattie's Wonders next season, it has to be taken into consideration, that the hoardes of hatred will accept nothing less than the SPL title next season
Wattie's honeymoon period will end sharpish if they struggle again next seson, and the start he has made has only raised expectation to fever pitch, at the Citadel of Sin.
The assuption is that Wattie will deliver, but the pressure will be well and truly on him, and he does not have the resources he had during NIAR this time.
BRING IT ON!!
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brattback
P*SH??!!!
Are you telling me that Van Halen ur p8sh??!!!
Yon Reverend Al and Ryster listening sessions, have turned your musical taste gene to mush!!!
increduloulylostforwords CSC
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As we all know there is such a fine line between success and failure, if ICT had not of equalized at Ibrox who on here would be calling for a vote of confidence in the manager? Not many possibly when you consider 3 straight duff performances - 8 points dropped from a possible 9.
IMO we would have taken 3 points on Saturday if GS had reacted when Dundee United over ran our midfield halfway thru the 2cnd half, he didn't. We played out the last 15 minutes with a totally spent midfield, Tommy G and Deek had to suffer in silence. Either one of them could have come on and helped us get the 3 points, but they weren't allowed to, Gordon never made the call.
When / if we get over the finishing line in the league race GS will once again be a great guy, but to do that we need to score a few goals, win a few games, and right now that’s not a tap in. Bottom line is the only thing that will restore my confidence in our manager is 6 points and the SPL title.
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My main disappointment this year has been that the promise shown by the team in 2005-06 has not been built on this year. In my opinion the team that finishes this season is not much of an improvement (if any) on the team that finished last season.
However I think a large mitigating factor that hasn't been mentioned was the lack of European football last season that gave the coaching staff longer to work with the players during the week.
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i want i want i want. i demand, what about the ambition, blah blah blah
i've tried not to let the wgs debtate get to me but its happened again.
at the start of the season the last 16 of the cl was seen by many as being something that would be better even than winning the spl again. it felt like the holy grail for us.
how quickly we forget.
back to back spl championships and last 16 of the cl, proper, tangeable progress from last season, but still there are people who would be happy to see him go in the summer.
we can be a spoilt lot sometimes.
the time to criticise him is surely when he stops winning trophies. i cant see how anyone can argue with what he's achieved this season. its trophies in the cabinet that count. entertainment comes a distant second for me.
i'm off to spend more time with my family and hone my short-game for the aberdour masters.
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i think in light of recent debate this is a fair point
one issue i would take is that it portrays strachan as some tactical maestro, PAUL67 u must also concede he has made a series of tactical blunders as well. gravesen on the right wing against man u and copenhagen. while i agree with what you say you also say your balanced so you must surely agree?
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Touch pushed for time so putting in my tuppence worth :
Judge a season when it's over, win the league, last 16 CL, maybe Scottish Cup - very successful, can't be denied.
As for next season it's largely irrelevant what the team looks like at the moment. In fact in some ways it's better to realise changes are needed than to enter a new season resting on last season's laurels.
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The "George Galloway" clip is superb!
George Galloway CSC
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martinobhoy
the team that apparently is not if any improvement on last season is 13 points clear in the spl and got through to the last 16 of the cl.
to still do so well in the spl when they have had the cl to contend wiht tells me somehting about them
that to me is a sure sign of improvement from last season.
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and if the atom hadn't been split there would be no nuclearfalloutBhoy. helpmaboab.
Hail Hail
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I am away for a lie down in a darkened Platcave, where I will try too recover from brattbacks' heresy!
Goodbye from a tranquil Platcave
latah, y'all!
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What would be classed as a successful season for next season ?
Winning the SPL, last 16 of the CL, Scottish cup?
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Shammy
I'd say yes. Would it be classed as a failure?
HH
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100% behind Gordon Strachan - he has been good for Celtic and could be great.
We will win the league at a canter despite competing in Europe and despite longterm injuries to several key players. We also saw off the challenge of one of the best European managers with a war chest full of moonbeams ;-)
I think most of us are agreed that there will be a significant turnover of players this summer.
I have a small plea.
Could Celtic try and have all major squad changes completed by the start of pre-season training. If it costs a few thousand £££ more then so be it. We must be fully and properly prepared for the challenges of what will be a tougher and more competitive season. JVOH and Gravesen and consequently the team suffered because these "box-office" signings missed a proper pre-season with their new team mates.
We have a new Australian Rules fitness coach in place and I suspect this pre-season will be a completely new experience for our players as new and rigorous training methods are implemented. We need the squad to go through this together to fully benefit their physical and mental fitness. This is key in team building.
We must be consistently and significantly better next season. R@ngers will be stronger and the refs...
Chris
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I dont think (as a stop gap til end of the season) Hartley and Gravesen is a bad choice. Of course, I'd rather see PH getting forward, but he has the drive, 'dig' and passing ability to do the holding role. Gravesen does get forward and can play a forward pass.
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Shammy
Yes. Winning the league means it's pretty successful, even more so if the SPL winners get an automatic CL spot the following season.
Even 3rd place in a CL group is OK in my book.
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Point I'm trying to make is that we have achieved that this season (cup still to be decided of course) and we still have people criticising WGS.
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Dontbrattback, comment deleted, language violation.
Mncelt, cannot argue that the product needs an overhaul, but as Frankiebhoy said, it is irrelevant what the team looks like now are far as next season is concerned.
Ants, I think I did say that Gordon got it wrong against Man Utd with his initial line up, he would have had to if he changed things for the better.
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When the team runs out of the tunnel at ten to three on a Saturday & you see Jarosik, Kenny Miller or Craig Beattie in the line up, they would be as well announcing over the tannoy that we're not going to score a goal this afternoon unless Nakamura gets a free kick. That sounds a bit harsh, but the sight of those 3 players this year has completely worn me out. It's obvious what the team needs & with Riordan & Gravesen on the bench & not getting a succession of first team starts, you start to wonder what's going on.
Similarly In O'Neill's last season when week after week you were watching Alan Thompson getting done for pace or Henri Camara fooling about with the ball & needlessly losing possession, the groans from the punters was 'we need someone with a bit of craft in the midfield'. O'Neill had Juninho sitting on the bench, but for whatever reason he chose not to give him a run of games.
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watchow
I think we are arguing the same point in that our European performances this year have affected the team in the league and in terms of our "stand alone" league performance we have not shown any great improvement.
Compared to last season we are almost certain to finish with less points, less goals and be closer to the team in 2nd than we were last season.
However the run in Europe and the injuries to JVoH and Maloney in particular should be looked at before anyone starts blaming the manager.
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Paul67,
Dont get the wrong opinion of me - I am 100% behind Gordon Strachan.
I like his manner. I like the way he treats the media - they are terrified of him. They will never challenge him face to face - they do all their sniping behind his back and on their tabloid columns.
What i would like Gordon to change is his blinkered thinking on some players.
O'Dea has overperformed for one so young - why drop him if he is overperforming, that may be young Darrens level. Great player. Play him.
Riordan - the boy can play and score, the best finisher at the club apparently - thats fine then play him.
But for god sake dont jeopardise all you have achieved for your stubborn streak.
I swear if someone told Gordon this Friday that he MUST play Beattie and Miller this week - neither would start.
His loyalty to Lennon is quite unbelievable - after that performance last week (and for 2 months beforehand) - on merit he should be benched.
I am 100% Celtic, 100% Gordon Strachan (95% actually barring his stubborness).
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Ticketyboo
Gordon...
You MUST play Beattie and Miller this week...
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Evening all,
Paul,I've been banging on about it since the guy was appointed,yes even after Artmedia,and after Motherwell.
You are wasting your time and effort.
You will not convince the doubters and neither will Gordon Strachan.
Regardless of what he manages to win or acheive,the jury will still be out until next season.
After all,that gives some another whole year to vent their invective and abuse.
Would just like to say thanks and goodbye to Paul Telfer.
Never moaned,never shouted his mouth off,and played his heart out,despite the abuse he received.
Wasn't the best player we have had by a long shot,but a good pro who did a job.
Maybe he never wanted one more game to say goodbye,and get a wee thanks.
As the hypocrisy of half of the people who went to watch him play and then suddenly applaud the guy would probably have made him physically sick.
Wonder if he thinks the the Celtic fans deserve the misnomer of the GFITW.
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Subterranean
It is a good point on signings especially with the Champions League qualifying round to be played.
On a similar note does anyone know why Scott McDonald wasn't signed in January? I'm guessing the transfer fee would have been the same and I cant believe 5 months of his wages would have dented us that much.
There's also a good chance the title would have been in the bag by now as well.
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I would go with this for the next two games (certainly at home anyway):
Boruc
McManus O'Dea Naylor
Caldwell
Hartley Gravesen Nakamura
McGeady
Vennegoor Zurawski
the only worry would be Naylor as a CB in a back 3. Or switch Nakamura to the centre and swap Gravesen for Riordan to play on the left.
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Paul67, from yesterdays thread, no apologises required whatsoever.
Frank from Belington agree with your post 100%
I would also like to ask the TG knockers on here, do you think he has been given a fair crack of the whip??...I certainly don't.. I think he has far more to offer than Fartley or Lennon(legend) or Jarosik or Sno or anyone else for that matter, but cannot understand why he has not been given a chance.
Wachow, 'i want i want i want'...why can't people want more or better things, is it a crime?
You cannot accept that people have a different opinion than your own, you may think your right, and maybe even 75% of the posters agree with you, but why do have to show your childish peltulance when someone else differs from your view. You are not the almighty, let people have their say without running them down.
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Varga,
maybe it was because Juninho was rubbish and he was signed on the name instead of his ability!!
Couldn't even get near the Middlesbrough team at the time.
Thought it might work at the time,but we had watched MON not play Moravcik for most of the previous two seasons so Lambert and Lennon could play,to the sounds of much wailing and yelling.
Seeing Juninho spend most of his time on the bench didn't surprise me one bit.
Gravesen,on the other hand,now that does surprise me.
Riordan,I am still not so sure about.
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Which is another point...
Scott McDonald - where does he fit in?
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I find it ironic the criticism Strachan receives yet the number of chances that Gravesen, Jarosik and to a lesser extent Riordan are due.
At very very best this season Gravesen has looked ordinary, for 90 minutes at Love Street he looked good. At Old Trafford and particularly in Copenhagen (don't start me!) he was rank rotten. Jarosik looks like he's just woken up in the middle of the game and has delivered a few horrendous shows that nightmares are made of.
Yet Paul's headline 'Why Gordon Strachan deserves your support' tells me alot about the current mood of the Celtic support. His face doesn't fit, never has and never will. For a multitude of reasons, most of them crap and devoid of perspective.
Not sure the story with Riordan, problem is he doesn't fit into the system as he's not (and never has been) a centre forward. Giving the manager the benefit of the doubt (which as a happy clapper I intend to do) I'm working on the assumption that the off-field stories have an element of truth. Certainly a current Celtic player on a night out in Edinburgh on the day of an Orange Order celebration of the Union strikes me as questionable decision making. In contrast, the very same day I saw his contemporary Mark Wilson in Jenners at Lomond Shores.
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Wee Gordon's the man for me, wouldn't swap him for anyone.
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Juninho - not to go over the same old ground...
He is a footballer - not a tennis umpire. Same reason Henri Camara was never going to fit in.
The style of football didn't suit. Plain and simple.
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The refusal to play Gravesen is the one issue I have with WGS. Our Midfield needed a headless chicken running around because that would have been better than the empty void created by the other two players Hartley and Lennon.
Hopefully changes are put in place for Saturday. We need a confidence boosting win and a few early goals will do nicely.
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Shammy
It looks like we'll win the SPL next year too. I simply wouldn't be confident in winning anything next season if I had any other manager at the helm. Gordan Strachan isn't where the problem lies. He simply needs to improve his performance, just like some of our players need to do. He has got to terms with what it means to be our manager. These two seasons have flown in, due to the fact that he’s wrapped up 2 in a row in double quick time.
Next season I want to see a quicker, stronger Gordan Strachan along with team 3, if he achieves the same results from this season, he’ll still have his detractors, though I guess they won’t be so vociferous in their ravings.
Hail Hail
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What an apologist story, I thought only Hundom had that many apologists!
Move along, nothing to see here eh?, wait till were oot on our proverbial arses in the CL pre-qualifier.
Maybe that's what it will take to wake some of you blind Tims up, stop making excuses for Strachan, even he doesn't rate his own signings, surely that should give you lot a clue..
HIS players, HIS team selection, HIS formations and HIS non-existent tactics...but according to most of you lot, it wisnae Gordon's fault, a Big Bhoy done it and ran away..
Are you lot trying to tell me you'd trust him with even more of OUR money?, after his wonderful record!
Oh, and in case you've forgot, we still have to face the mighty St.Johnstone, that should be yet another classic performance, I bet they cant wait to play us..
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cel - two questions.
what do you think is the problem?
how would you resolve it?
genuine answers desired - please :)
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I pretty much agree with what Paul has said re the team and WGS in particular.
It is undoubtedly true that every manager buys some disappointing players, just as even the poorest managers can stumble across a Prso or a Paul Elliot. As Paul said, the vital difference is not spending too much money on the duds. With the exception of TG (who I would hesitate to call a dud) I think WGS has managed that pretty handsomely.
For WGS and the current set up, the pros and cons as I see it are.
The pros
2 titles in a row – can’t ask for more.
‘Success’ in Europe – bonus!
Wages down, turnover up, profit up = more money to spend in future.
We are planning ahead for next season already.
First proper use of bosman system in our history.
Lennoxtown on-line
A better approach to contracts of current players adopted.
More use of youth players and loaning players out.
Better scouting
Cons
Hasn’t been the most exciting season (although a lot of that has been the SPL rather than us).
The strikers have been rotten (injuries are a mitigation)
We have stumbled recently.
What I would like to see for next season:
Taxi’s for
Balde (any money we got would be a bonus),
Pressley (A worse defender than I had previously thought but was a decent move to bring him in at the time we did),
Jarosik, probably
TG (although I wouldn’t be upset if he stayed),
Miller
Beattie
Magic – although I wouldn’t be upset f he got another season.
And suitable, younger, fitter, better players with resale values brought in.
Easy peasy! Where is that Champ Manager.
I know that we all like clutching at straws when things ain’t going well, but Riordan is one straw too far this bhoy. Talented young player but never a centre forward. Was born 60 years too late for his preferred ‘inside left’ position.
By the way, the constant suggestion that Jiri, Tommy, Deeks et al haven't performed as they have been played out of position / haven't been given enough chances is absolute rubbish!
They have been given oppertunities in their prefered position and have failed to impress. Even if they hadn't, they are professionals football players not, 'professional central midfielders who like to play five yards in front of another midfielder but only when its not cloudy'.
Its dead simple, you perform and we will love you and pay you huge wages. If you don't; taxi. No excuses!
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For Info as posted earlier this morning:
CQN Golf Day
I'm taking a minibus to the golf day so, there are 6 x places available (left) for anyone in the Glasgow area. I'm picking 3 x people up at Celtic Park so, the first 6 who want a lift get in quick. It will be golf clubs only, no trolleys.
Will be leaving work shortly so, I'll log back in during the Liverpool game tonight to check for any names.
CaltonTongues
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So cel, in the same month that we take AC milan to extra time in the last 16 of the chmpions league we are getting ready to be put out of next years competition in pre qualifiers???
Words fail me!
A cracked crest and it's not even the pre-season friendlies eh?
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whats riordans goals per appearances figure?
even better minutes on the park per goal?
anybody have that info, be interesting to compare with the other "strikers" at the club.
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Cel... the problem you are talking about, yeah the same one we were all talking about after Bratislava. It didn't happen mate... we didn't fall on our faces, we won the league, we went to the last 16 of the CL. The only problem I can see is were not winning as nicly as we'd like. Aint gonna sack him for that.
In a nutshell for me....
At 03/04/07 13:36, ianinjesi said…
"Strachan has done well! If it was a close race to the title we would have been talking about winning rather than about style. That is a compliment to him."
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Italiabhoy,
did you enjoy the centenary year?
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At the end of the season WGS will have a record of trophies which speaks for itself and that is why he will - and should - be Celtic manager at the start of next season.
My concern is quality of football and entertainment level this season and the effect on what has been referred to on here previously as the 'elephant in the corner' - i.e. the increasing number of un-used green seats at home games. This is partly down to Celtic's tactics and players, and partly down to the reduced quality of the SPL generally.
I know of a number of supporters who were part of the hardcore of 23,000 attending home games in the 1980s, but who have started missing games on a regular basis due to lack of entertainment/excitement and who will not be renewing their season tickets.
This has to be the real concern for the club this summer. A couple of box-office signings may minimise the drop-off in season ticket sales to a few thousand but I sense we are at tipping point.
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Calton,
If u pick me up in Dubai count me in...
...might have to leave a bit earlier tho'
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Dylan,
maybe people are just getting fed up with the rip off known as the "season ticket".
Will guarentee you no more than 4-5000 of the 23000 hardcore you refer to had never owned one in their life,and probably still don't.
Most people either can't or simply don't want to go to every single home game.
Don't think it has much to do with tactics myself,either work or family commitments,or a financial issue.
Would prefer to see them banned myself.
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For many reasons I've been lurking and not posting of late but had to say well done Paul for a timely article.
You know where I sit on the WGS debate. All that said I take no issue with anyone who imo rightly is questioning some strange situations eg no place for Derek Riordan,the persistence with Neil Lennon who constantly slows play down, Jarosik played in any other position but his own etc.
The current drought of otherwise decent strikers is however something I don't believe any of us can lay exclusively at the door of WGS nor do I believe that can we underestimate the extreme loss that the Shaun Maloney of last year's form has been to the team and WGS's plans. There was good reason that he was player of the year on two fronts and for me he was the pulse of the side. Without him we are severely one-paced.In that the presence of Neil Lennon offensively is a drawback. That is the issue that for me is central to whether or not we will be pleased with Celtic's play.
WGS has however earned the right for patience and that I will continue to have until I see the impact of the summer changes.
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GarBhoy..
The ONLY reason it didn't happen as you say, was that we didn't HAVE to pre-qualify last season..
Away CL performances under Strachan seem to have escaped everyone's attention. and with the exception of one half v Benfica..our home performances have also been kak.
Strachan + new players + no time to prepare them = an early exit.
He hasn't even managed to get this seasons squad to play as a team.
We just took a crappy Milan all the way?..do me a favour, how many pops at goal did we manage?..O
He's turned us into a team of plodders! good team mates though(wink)
Wonderful, wonderful, Copenhagen away?...Benfica away?, aye, were a match for the best right enough eh?
We deserve a better manager than him.
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sorry that should have read:
we didn't HAVE to pre-qualify this season.
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Paul,Frankiebhoy, I fail to see how it is irrelevant what the team looks like now are far as next season is concerned. Are we to expect a completely different side from one season to the next? Surely WGS is working on building a team that plays to the style he thinks will:
a) Be successful (home and abroad )
b) Please and grow the fan base
If next seasons team is to be completely different to this, this season needs to be marked down as a failure. If as I suspect, 7 or 8 of this seasons squad will be regulars next season, is the addition of 3 or 4 new players going to revolutionise the way we play? This is my concern - unless we spend BIG on these additions, we are in for more of the same next season.
What is wrong with that many of you will ask. Nothing if you are happy with being #1 in Scottish football. For me, I want progress in Europe.
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Lurking since January.
To be desperate for a change in managers is absolutely bonkers.
WGS has had some ups and downs but remember he followed a legend and has done a grand job.
Does anyone remember the moans about MON and how at least under Burns they were playing great football!!
It's a fact if WGS won the treble fans would complain, do you know how I know this, because when MON won it I remember my own dad saying
"It's really in europe where celtic should be judged"
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Jeez Paul if I'd known I was in for a deletion I'd have used a proper swearie`¬)
Next season's minimum is the league title[it's a 2 horse race!]
And let's win it with some style-40 years after the Lions bewitched the world with their attacking flare their successors show all the chutzpah and elan of drying varnish.
Europe is the great unknown;we could pick out a real handgrenade in the qualifying draw;and pot 2 seems beyond us this time round.
So it has to be European football after Xmas,in either the CL or the UEFA cup.
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See what I mean.
mncelt, DAD?
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Who would be a better manager?
Taking into consideration budgets etc.
I think if the same thing happens next season, then we can deliberate some more and raise concern.
Take MON for example. With the budget constraints we have, do you think he'd have taken Celtic to the last 16?
GS has taken us there. Seville was great and I'll never forget it (perhaps more so for the wrong reasons) but the Champions League last 16 is what we've been aiming for.
People keep saying Riordan isn't a striker. Well, the other's don't look like strikers just now, so what's the harm? He reminds of of Defoe (who I'd love to see in the Hoops) - can take the ball, beat a man and has a wicked shot. I aint looking for him to hogg the penalty spot.
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I'm usually not one for being too forceful in expressing my thoughts particularly not to folk that I don't know and I've been reading the blog for a while now without commenting very much.
Here however are some recent observations for what they're worth.
Celtic are a poor side right now and have not been good for a large part of the campaign.
We played some great football against Benfica in Glasgow but there have been precious few other similar examples this season.
There have however been 2 major mitigating reasons for me which are:
1 the fact that some of our headline signings simply have not performed and
2 the succession of injuries to key personnel.
I firmly believe that neither of these problems can justly be laid at Gordon Strachan's door. There is no doubt that the team has played poorly but in Strachan's defence I will say a number of things:
1 I think most of us can see that the kind of football he is trying to play is consistent with what we expect to see from Celtic.
2 Despite our results, particularly those in the last month, we are still enjoying our most successful period for some years.
3 There is a foundation there from which we can maintain and surpass this year's success without major surgery.
In short Strachan has delivered success with a relatively poor side which has been ravaged by injury.
In my book that's not too bad.
Since Saturday the criticism on this blog of Strachan has been neither fair nor warranted.
Sure we're all disappointed with current performances but let's let him get on with it and win the league for us.
I am absolutely certain that he is acutely aware (much more than we are) that some of his high profile charges are underperforming but how close, despite that, has he brought us to a domestic double?
If that's poor management we need more of it.
One last comment is that while we all have the right to whinge and moan I feel that we in the Celtic family should try to exercise that right with a little more moderation.
This blog is one of the best I read and Paul does a great job.
So may I suggest that we spare him some of the grief.
Thank you.
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"HIS players, HIS team selection, HIS formations and HIS non-existent tactics"
HIS league trophy then...
Glad you won't be joining in the celebrations Cel ;)
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at this moment, I'd settle for European football after the qualifying round..
oh, and scottybhoy..
your dad was right mate, we are Celtic after all!
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WillieBhoy @12.51 P.M.
Ah am Here and K is No,
but fortunately, Ah am Equally, in Da Know!
The Rifle in ma book is a great wee Player,
He has awe o' da Skills... added layer on layer,
He has a Trait dat's hard tae miss,
In takin' chances he'll persist!
Persist ye say? Noo dat's a change,
Fur M and B's Shots, are aye oot o' Range!
Believe it or no, he knows hoo tae trap da ba'!
He kin use his heid,an' dat's soitenly no awe,
Although, his height's far frum Six Foot Two,
He's quick and tricky...an' fur me he'll do!
A Big Yin's good tae Jump and Leap,
but da rest o' his skills is usually at a PeeP!
So ah Ask ye straight...
Diz this mak sense???
Tae accept Brawn fur Skill, is nae Recompense!
It's Goals dat coont.... dat maks oor day!
An' da Rifle's no slouch at Pittin' dem away!
He is Tap of the Scoring Charts, in his Division,
So tae seek his Talents....is an Easy Decision!
To get his man, Pierre faces competition that's Tough!
A Bid o' Two Million?.... wull no be enough!
Noo, whether Celts wull come up wi' da Loot,
We'll hivtae wait, 'til June... an' then we'll find oot!
collie.
Tail's Awaggin',Awaggin'
Ah Could Smile....an' a think ah will,
Fur As a Manager, Gordon's nae run o' da Mill!
An' when May is done,an' da Results ur in,
It's Gordo's Revilers,who'll tak it right..... oan da Chin!
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celebrate reidy?, bit of an anti-climax I would have thought..
the bookies paid out on the trophy before christmas..
but you never know, we might actually win the bloody thing before the summer holidays..lol
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Can anyone here honestly say they are happy with the quality of football on display this season as a whole?
seeing us play TWO holding players at home etc?
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ants
We played two holding midfielders and three central defenders in the treble season and I loved every minute of it.
The next season was an anti-climax despite Henrik Larsson, Chris Sutton, Lubomir Moravcik and John Hartson. Unless losing a semi final and a final to Rangers is acceptable that is.
How quickly we all forget!
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Collie. Billy Sharp from Scunthorpe could it be. It has been flying about the web all day.
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took the words right out of my mouth there Ants m8
Strachans the only guy who thinks PH is a holding midfielder...then again Strachan thinks EVERY midfielder is a holding one..lmao
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Cel,
So we're a poor team because we lost to Benfica and Copenhagen away? I bet the Benfica team and support thought the same when we gubbed them 3-0 in Glasgow?
In case you hadn't noticed, we qualified from the group. Benfica went into the UEFA cup and are in the 1/4finals now.
Maybe you'd prefer to be there right now ? Me, I wouldn't have swapped that 120mins in Milan for any UEFA cup ties. We and GS learned more about the team that night and how far we have to go to make the next level....something you cannot gauge after playing against the likes of Ossasuna.
Let the manager get on with his job and support the team. You never know, our next barren spell of 10yrs might just be round the corner......
GS deserves to continue his voyage with Celtic, like all previous successful managers of our club. He has earned it.
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Collie,
Hope you're ready - you just lit the touch paper
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thanks for them stats there craig..
let me see, lost to the huns, lost to Falkirk, lucky to get a draw V the Arabs...two holding midfielders in each game...
Aye craig, you really made your point there eh..lol
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Cel....
Don't think the performance of the team has been VG this season, however points make prizes. Any fool, even one as big as me can see this team are crap.... but guess what, they keep doin the stuff maybe Stach does know better than me afterall????. (you forgot Man U away by the way). Its hard to press the panic button when he keeps delivering what we ask for.
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thismancraig
these two holding midfielders i assume your referring to lambert and lennon?
the difference is lambert could get forward, chip in a few goals etc. also they were much better players than lennon is now and sno.
when he has played sno and lennon at home neither of them get forward or influence the game much.
however back to the question you never answered it
HAVE YOU ENJOYED THE FOOTBALL THIS SEASON AS A WHOLE?
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ants
Lambert scored once in the treble season, he was an average attacking midfielder with Motherwell and a sensational holding midfielder with Celtic. Different style from Lennon but a holding player all the same.
I have not enjoyed the football on offer this season, don't remember ever saying that I had either. What I have enjoyed is the relentless rate of wins between August and March which have put us 2 wins from the league title.
I view winning as the essential bit and style of play as the additional extra. I also don't doubt that the manager is sincerely trying and aiming to play better stuff.
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Cel
It's impossible to be lucky to get a draw when the OTHER team equalise with the final kick of the ball. I assume you missed the two clear cut chances that JVofH squandered and in fact watched Boruc make save after save after save to keep the arabs at bay?
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Mncelt, I expect a considerably different side next season.
Warszawabhoy, thanks.
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sorry GarBhoy, I didn't want to add insult to injury by mentioning Man ure away leg...3-2 going on 6-2, although sir furious was takin the P saying it could have been ten..
for all the WGS fans out there, I'm not trying to convert your way of thinking, your opinions are just as valid as mine.
But our play is just not good enough, end of story!, WGS has to take most of the blame for that, his team, and his football philosophy. That's all I'm pointing out.
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craig, what game were you watching exactly mate?...
obviously a different one to the vast majority of Tims, we were rank rotten, and DU were all over us, did you see the stats from that game?
shocking reading btw..
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Greenlion2 @17.06
Yes, His name is dat Name, and yer right,all da way,
But awe o' thae people, that's Noo hivin' der say,
Are ever so Tardy.... thur News is so late in da Day....
Fur ah hiv informed , aboot Da Rifle, since November!
An'Ah especially know dat... WGS...... will remember!
Fur when he foist cracked da clue, he wiz ever so happy,
That Pierre, he wiz in... fur such a wee Skillful Chappie!
Mak no mistake,pal...... Mr. Sharp he is dat,
An'if Celts are no in fur him noo.....
Den, Ah wull hivta mak a Meal o' Ma Hat!
As Dom, as is his Wont..... has dis wisdom tae LEND......
"Sava Da Aplausa...... an' Waita 'tila da end!"
collie.
Tail's Awaggin', Tail's Awaggin'
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Does your wife look stunning every day of every year, or does she sometimes have an off day? Is she sometimes out of sorts, difficult to understand for a wee while, before reverting to the sunnier disposition that attracted you in the first place?
And when she is out of sorts, do you stomp around demanding that things change, or do you grin and bear it and love her anyway, taking a bit of rough with all the years of smooth, the odd difficult day along with all the golden ones?
Is it possible that this is when she needs you to love her most of all?
If you love Celtic, you have also to love Celtic when the team has a rough patch, which will come to an end.
Joy and song are just around the corner.
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thismancraig
you have made my point, no you have not enjoyed the football.
this was the only point i was looking to make.
we also played a completely different formation in treble year so direct comparison is not appropriate
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strachans latest comments, not sure i agree even if we scored converted one more chance a game we are still not playing well
"At the moment, it's quite simple what's wrong - we're not scoring enough goals. That's it," he said.
"You look at everything else. Work rate? No, that's fine. Are they up for it? Yes, they are fine.
"Are they passing the ball well? Well, you're not going to get much good passing on surfaces like the one at Tannadice at this time of the year."
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oor celtic are lookin like a right bint the noo btw..lol
speaking of which, who's this latest WGS signing then?, is he a bit sharpish like?..
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Ticketyboo @17.11
If ye are da person who ah think it could be,
Then here's as big Kiss,on yer Haun, as ah get doon oan ma knee!
Hooever, should ye no be her!..... then, Ah'll swiftly .. jist tak it awe back,
Fur It's only an attraction fur da ladies,
that dis pup hiz...
an' dat is a Fac'!
collie.
Tail's Awaggin', Awaggin'
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Billy Sharp
Date of Birth: 1986-02-05
Place of Birth: Sheffield
Height: 5'9 ft
Weight: 10st 10lbs
Career Details
Club: Scunthorpe (No 24)
Starts: 44
Position: Forward
Sub On: 0
Sub Off: 7
Goals: 27
Yellow Cards: 7
Red Cards: 0
Minutes On Pitch: 3941
looks like he may have a wee discipline problem but good goal scoring ratio
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27 goals in 44 starts is good tho take into account its not a quality league scunthorpe are in.
tho we have to try and get guys early as if they progress the bcom unaffordable e.g. darren bent
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take most have heard galloway comments on the radio to some of the followers of fascism
great stuff
george you just got even more gorgeous :)
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Ah wanna tell you a story
Last October. School mid term break. I took my son (9yo) down to Barrowfield to watch the U19s play Inverness.
Bloody cold, but it was good to see the next generation, and the boy enjoyed himself.
Half time came, and we were freezing, so we decided to walk back to the car for a heat. Bear in mind it was a 2 o'clock ish kick off.
As we walked back to the car park, a chap came running towards us. Running. I thought we were going to be ticked off for being on the training park.
Turned out to be Strachan, haring it across to catch the U19s game.
Now, he's got into work and set about his business at say 8.30? Taken first team training. Sorted the necessary. Taken the press conference. Maybe even had a bite of lunch along the way. It's now quarter to three in the afternoon, and here he is, running across Barrowfield, on a cold afternoon, to watch the U19s play a game that could have no bearing whatsoever on his short term plans. None of those playing were in the first team squad. None of them would be influencing the first team for a couple of years at least. And he was running to see them.
Maybe he was just freezing mind you, or perhaps he has spotted Awe Naw in the car park....
The man's a grafter as well as damned good manager.
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13:17, VargasShampoo
VS
Totally agree with your comments but I also praise Paul for putting up a leader which is very well written and will allow a full and frank discussion on THE topic of the moment.
Imagine you were the CEO of a Company known and admired throughout the world. It is time to carry out the annual appraisal on the M.D. i.e. G.S.
You would be negligent in your responsibilities to the shareholders if you did not praise him for the following qualities/successes:
1. The winning of two Championships and a couple of Cups and the achievement of reaching the last 16 of the C.L.
2. The successful dismantling of an ageing squad.
3. Working within a tight financial budget.
4. Developing and promoting several young youth players.
5. Seeing off two M.D's from your biggest rivals.
However, it would be incumbent on you to examine the areas where improvement must be made:
1. To achieve the fast flowing,possession dominated,attacking football that was promised when the original contract was signed.
2. Query if his proclaimed levels of fitness have been avhieved.
3. Try to persuade the M.D. that the Company's most loyal, dedicated and influential senior employee is past his 'sell by date'. Find out if he is proposing tom offer him a new contract and disuade him from doing so.
4. Reward him with a substantial salary increase and assure him that he has the full backing of the Board in spending the 15m that he will be given to strengthen the team.
Then ask him if he wouldn't mind giving your son a trial and a good contract.
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Our reserves won the league today without kicking a ball. Well doen bhoys.
The u19s are also top of the league as well.
All we need is to get a few to make the step up.
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GL2
Great minds!!!!!!1
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Cel
You make some valid points regarding our away performances this season, but has it not ever been so in the CL?
Rosenborg Porto Basle, and for me worst of all, Anderlecht
Performances and players can be picked out and used as evidence to baqck up any claim you want to make.
For example, a poster on here made the claim that only Naka and two others would get into Mon's team.
But MON also signed and played; Guppy, Sylla, Laursen, Camara etc.
Although, on the whole MON was a success, he also signed some duff players!
The fitba' in his last season in charge, sans Bellamy, was also dire.
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15:02, VargasShampoo
I'm becoming worried, that's your second post to-day I agree with!
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EDB I think a good few on here would think it was fools seldom differ!!!
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16:09, Dylan Binoche said
I know of a number of supporters who were part of the hardcore of 23,000 attending home games in the 1980s, but who have started missing games on a regular basis due to lack of entertainment/excitement and who will not be renewing their season tickets.
This is the most worrying trend that Celtic are facing. Most customers don't tell you that they are unhappy......they just just stop spending!
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B.Kev
Whilst George Galloway made for interesting listening (so did watching the hanging of Saddam), I can't think how, in any way, it will help the 'tribal'situation that exists in Scotland
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Celticlover-was great to hear him say "Listen you moron"
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How do you reckon george galloway would fare as a fitba manager?
His patter's no too bad.., bit like strachan on that point at least.
I'm not so sure that punters will start voting with their feet,or just stop buying stuff lads..I mean, who's gonna wake them all up?...lol
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gorgeous george
- i admire his indefatigability
hail hail
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Cel @18.42.
Yer name is Succinct,it's Brief an' it's Pithy...
Ah like it! Ah tell ya... it's sae Neato, 'n' Spiffy!
Noo, concernin' da laddie....an' he's sure no a... Haddie!
He's a Striker who Strikes..... it's as simple as dat,
Wi' a wee touch o' da Devil?..
Weel? there's nae much wrang wit' dat!
The K he has noticed, an' Ah hiv tae agree.....
That a big Hulkin' Striker.....
IS NO OOR CUP O' TEA!
It's Auld fashioned, it's Stodgy it's no even Wise.....
It's an Idea that's Past It...
It's time tae Revise!
Ah know ah am Whistlin' past da Lair o' the Deid!
But listen tae me Folks... fur am no aff ma heid!
I'll say dis again an' again, ah wull say....
Hiv ye ever watched Henrik.... da way, HE WID PLAY?
An' dis is da Kicker...de End o' ma Lay....
Although, Henrik wis no Hulkin'... He... AYE WON DA DAY!!!
collie.
Tail's Awaggin',Awaggin'
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Here Here Collie, I'll drink tae that!
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celticlover@18.46
true
but it sure was fun :)
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I've missed a couple of days of fractious in-fighting by the sounds of it having just caught up on posts.
My last post asked re acceptance of WGS- If not now, when?
I got one(maybe I should blame Paul for the lack of interest I generate?) bite from mgm 78 who said:-
"how about when we dont get knocked out at home to falkirk, when we dont lose at falkirk for 1st time in 10 years, when we dont go 3 games without a goal never mind a win, when we do better than only score 1 goal in 4 games, when we start playing football that isnt tepid, boring and unertaining."
Thanks for the reply but only your last point meets the terms of the question. I too want entertaining football but not at the expense of winning the league. I'm glad I'm a Celtic fan and not a fan of Hibs who are more entertaining.
Your other points are negative ones - they do not define when WGS will have done enough to earn a break from criticism. Celtic will always be one or two games away from a potential defeat by Falkirk or their equivalent. You cannot get a manager to make Celtic immune from that. You have to weigh that against achievments.
When will the complaints over one or two defeats stop? Of course it is legitimate to ask for improvement but it is not legitimate to set unrealistic targets about our European standing (Top 10? Who outside CP has rated us in the European top 10 since the early 70's?) or about our right to avoid defeat by weaker teams.
If you win a league, you should be immune from the sack (unless the red tops have incriminating photies of you and a donkey); winning a double and getting into last 16 CL this year means you should be bombproof.
We tend to characterise this debate as mineshafters v happy clappers, or informed constructive criticism vs sheep like loyalty to the board, but those are just attributions we make to others to make us feel better about ourselves. There's a whole range of opinion about WGS's Celtic. Nobody can convincingly claim that he has proved to be either the best or the worst Celtic manager ever- but, there is evidence that most of the hyperbole and lack of realism comes from the negative side- worst team since Biggins etc;
Some of the critics have painted themselves as questioning people with high standards to justify their criticism. Usually when I hear people as describing themselves as not suffering fools gladly, I judge that I am listening to rude and ignorant people who give themselves permission to call other people fools because they disagree with them. So, instead of calling the WGS critics numpties, I will ask again, what has he to do to be judged a success next year?
For me, I expect another league win to make 3 in a row- a very rare historical occurence and qualification for CL group stages. Anything above that, including more attractive play, is a bonus which I hope for but don't expect of right just for being Celtic.
What's your realistic job spec for WGS next year?
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just on the itv commentary of the psv liverpool game there clive tyldesley said that psv have recently had their 12 point lead in the dutch league cut to 3, lost their last 4 games and lost their last home game 5-1
interesting parallels
wonder if koemans getting it from the fans
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Ants at 18:05
I doesn't matter what league he is playing in 27 goals in 44 games, we haven't seen that since Henrik.
If he is scoring goals at that rate the lhad clearly knows wher the goal is.
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It is true that only points win prizes, but this surely is not the only reason we watch football.Otherwise we would all indulge in the young boy trick of only supporting the winning team , who ever it me be that particular year .
I support Celtic for many reasons and not all of them are for them to win . I like football to be played in the fashion that used to known as the "Glasgow Celtic " way.
I`m uncertain what fashion we`re playing in at the moment but it is certainly not in our traditional fashion.
We have been woeful for most of this season and IMO very fortunate at times. A great number of undeserved last minute victories coupled with a truely awful Darnel team have greatly contributed to what will be on paer, a successful season.
My main concern is for next season.I fear we will not be so lucky if unless our performances greatly improve. Very bad signings, poor team selections and a chronic lack of goals concern me greatly.WGS deserves to be given another season but i hope to God this season has been of the "bad day at the office" variety rather than a view of things to come. IMO the portents are not good .
Come on Celtic , we as supporters/customers deserve much better
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Like it or not, our success is measured against the fates of our biggest rivals.
The Souness/Smith 9-an-a-row era as looked upon as one of the finest in Rangers history. However the truth of the matter is they literally had no competition as their biggest rivals lurched from one disaster to spiraling into an almost critical freefall.
Despite these facts, even now the Rangers teams of the 90’s are compared with the best Scottish football has to offer. The fact that they were regularly soundly beaten when they came up against any European team of note is now largely ignored, bar one or 2 “freak” results
This gives a distorted view of what Rangers actually achieved during that era .Even the chairmen believed the hype, chasing the impossible dream of a place at the top table in Europe while almost bankrupting the club in the process.
Gordon Strachan’s record speaks for itself. However…his result must be measured against what he has actually beaten. That is, officially, one of the worst rangers teams in history.
Strachan’s success in Europe must also be tempered by the fact that he has reside over some of the worst results and performances in recent times.
If his record speaks for itself, then lets get it into context.
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I skipped to the bottom before reading the comments as I just wanted to:
Heartily Endorse
the thrust of Paul's article.
'GG Happy Clapper founder member
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whitedoghunch
I noticed Paul deliberately changing the thread today to thwart your post on Old Trafford from reaching the masses :o)
Would you mind posting it on this thread? Paul's maybe not looking!
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I have no doubt in Gordon Strachan's abilities a manager of "today".
He is winning trophies and doing so while operating at a profit in the transfer/signing market.
He has signed Bosman's and players who were under contract, and if these players are not performing "The Glasgow Celtic Way", he will no doubt move them on for a profit.
Today's manager has to be a man who can work within what is dealt to him as far as money goes and try and be succesful on the park at the same time.
We have had some ugly wins, some bad performances and some great highs from this season, but you cannot fault him for being "today's mangager".
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Here STFB m8, thats an awfy high moralistic horse yir talkin doon tae people from..
Are they peky Tims no answerin yir Q's tae yir likin like?
So I take it you don't associate winning with entertaining then, why hark back to the past?
You know, here's a novel idea for you my friend, I don't think you'll find a clause in WGS contract, which forbids him to combine such alien notion to such as yourself as; winning whilst playing entertaining, attractive football, and to top it all off, putting the the round thing in the back of the net on a regular basis.
I know this has come as a shock to you, but tis merely a question of having a manager who can first identify the right players, and here's the classy bit, playing said good players in the right positions...wins AND goals will quickly follow.
It'll catch on...honest m8.
and fellow Tims, in future please give this High Tim the due respect he deserves...shame on you!
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sorry that's manager.
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stg2
I can accept the assertion that we won the league (twice, as I'm counting my chickens) because rangers and hearts were historically poor, as a basis for a debate.
Now, for that argument to hold water, we should expect to have been found out by Copenhagen, Benfica, and Man U, not just in the away legs but in both legs. Well, we weren't.
We were then described as"lucky" to qualify, by our own fans. How can you do that? It seems we win because we're lucky and lose because we're mince. Every result is filtered through that prejudice, that we can't have deserved our achievments because that would mean we'd have to give the team and the manager some credit.
When we were poor in the 90's we lost to minnows; we lost to any half decent team at CP too. In the 80's we got nowhere in Europe even though we still had a good conceit of ourselves in those pre-9iar mark 2 days.
We achieved something very worthwhile this year. I will not allow that to be taken away from me by our own fans. I will celebrate with this team because they deserve our support, congratulations and joy. If you are one of those who expect your celebrations to be muted because we don't deserve it, please give your ticket to someone with a capacity to enjoy life and give Glasgow City Centre a bye on the 29th April, 5th May and 26th May this year.
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My dear friend, Watchow......
What is the cause of the recent stuttering of the previous Celtic Juggernaut....on tha way to tha Forum?
Ah done tole ye!.... jes suh! Ah! Done, done!
It's da Noives! It's Noives!
To put it in tha woids o' tha COGNOSCENTI....
"It is known in tha Profession as ....
"THE FEAR OF, FEAR OF FAILURE!"
Which, is a Wholelotta Woise......
The the Simple... Fear o' Failing!
Your submission re the duplication in Celtic's plight, that has that has also visited the Dutch, Formerly unbeatable, League Front-Runner!
Celtic experienced the same symptoms at the tail end of last year's triumph.
Not so severe....but nevertheless.... very discernible!
Happily, according to the Experts..... this slight blip on the Road to Nirvana shall pass!
When? Did you say?
It will end...... On Saturday!
Da Noives will calm and all will return to normalcy.
Why, Ye may ask?( Aye! Ah wid like tae know, as well!.......ed)
Simple,really......
According to Legend....
Three is the charm!( Hey wait a minute..... It is now.. Four Games without a win!......ed)( Hmmmmm! ye're right,pal.... okay...so I wiz wrang......so)
Okay, just looked it up in Alyss' GRIMOIRE!
There is says.....
"Normally Three disappointments is the longest period that one can experience without an upturn in luck........
However, there is always an Exception that Proves the Rule...
In point of fact...Four Disappointments in succession,Veritably GUARANTEES A RETURN TO GOOD FORTUNE!"
So there ye have it,folks!
Saturday'll be the Day!
Kojo.
Yer pal....until Nelson gets his Right/Left(?) Eye...back!
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And while we're at it.
We only won everything we competed for in 1967 for one reason only -
you've got it -
the rest were rubbish!
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I kinda gave up on PSV v Liverpool and checked that it`s M`well 0 Killie 0 at half time. Curious stats Possession M 64% K 36%. Fouls M 6 K 12. Nae goals though!
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Cel
What exactly was "moralistic" about my post? Where was the narrow morality in my stance?
When I made the point about only one poster responding, I was mocking myself and the high mindedness of others who think their posts deserve a reply. The self deprecation was obviously lost on you. I'll try to make my mood clearer this time, within the confines of printed text.
I don't associate winning with entertaining. The Liverpool team of the 70's, England in 66, Chelsea for the last two years, Rangers 9iar teams- all winners but not entertainers.
I prefer to win with flair but, if offered a choice, I'll take winning without entertainment against losing with flair.
As for your language in your final paragraphs- "novel idea", "come as a shock to you'"give this High Tim" due respect- your cheap mocking lose any validity your argument might have had.
Now, if you could just make your jibes a bit funnier they might just qualify as patter.
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Milan 1-0 up on Bayern Munich at half time and looking very good.
I reckon it would take a good side to hold them out for 120 minutes of football.
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EDB - I was watching the Chelsea game on tele at the weekend and the commentator mentioned the fact that although Chelsea were still in the hunt to win every trophy they entered this season, the last team to achieve this was Celtic in the '60's. Not often you hear the bhoys mentioned on US TV so it made me feel quite smug for a wee while :)
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The Battered Bunnet - Maybe he was running away from the big mineshaft he'd just noticed in the car park (or spotted the inhabitants)
Celticlover - It signifies change, could he have said it a few years ago and kept his job? I think not, however Rangers are no longer being perceived as true representatives of what Scotland, or the majority of Scots stand for, rather the contrary - rightfully so (albeit generations late).
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mncelt
Good to hear that. Having a happy clappy attitude is dangerous on here at the minute.
Be ready for an attack.
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My dear friend, mncelt.....
Non Sequitur,time! (collie...are ye there!)
Anyway, to settle an argument.
How many Lakes are there, in Minnesota?
Well, I know there is a Moat.... at least.....Some Toast..... mebbe Most mines....gees.....this is harder than I thought...
Gotcha...
I know that there is at least
One Lake there.
Care to go one bettah?
Kojo.
Your Pal..... in da Silver State...
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setting free the bears, celtic do not have a divine right to win every game and i accept the odd rogue result will turn up, however it is the performances behind these results more than the results themselves that rile me.
45 mins at tannadice and one shot in goal while the team that has spent the season avoiding relegation hit the bar and run us a merry dance?
I dont expect to win every game but i expect a certain level of performace that has heart, spirit, commitment and an ability to retain possession. Dont think that is too much to ask, for example the draw at easter road, a game i believe we should have won if miller had more practice hitting that cow with his banjo, however no real complaints at the end due to the desire commitment and spirit we showed, philisophical at the end of that game, wasn't the result that disapponted me at tannadice but the performance, one in a long line of under par performances.
I remember the tommy burns days too vivdly to always realise that result first then performance second as a bonus.
Unless you havent noticed the results stopped about a month ago, and we cant even keep possession at the moment never mind put in some sort of performance.
And look over my previous posts, I'm not negative, just pointing out what has been patently obvious to many for weeks.
There seems to be options available to remedy this, but for some reason these are not being utilised
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SFTB
I feel we were found out to a certain extent in Europe.IMO we were outclassed in all but 2 of the 8 games, (with the home tie against copenhagen a 50-50).
I did not say we "dont deserve it".We are the best team in Scotland by some way and therefore worthy champions.
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SFTB, your come back just wasn't worth the wait..
And you wonder why your erm "posts" get so few responses?..LMAO
As for patter, let me know when you hire yourself a good script writer eh?
I don't think you associate anything good in a footballing sense with winning, come to think of it George Graham would be your ideal manager..
Liverpool of the seventies not being entertaining???, you just summed up your entire football ignorance with that stupid and erroneous little statement!
again, you wonder why you get ignored High Tim???
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SFTB, totally agree re being a hibs supporter, have been questioning all season signing players from them, i watch them lose to the falkirks and st mirrens, had a few tankings from hearts and tend to flatter to deceive a lot, a bit like a supermodel, nice to look at but never really do anything.
Their players seem to rather play pretty passes rather than win, not how i want my football.
Yes good football, but with a purpose and end product, think we both agree on that
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K...
Ahm here, oh master, whit dae ye bid?
For ye surely ur nuts.... And of that...... Ah no Kid!
Okay, ah'll gie along wi' yer wee silly wee joke....
Ah saw through it, easy, as soon as ye spoke...
I see there is Wan Lake... it is the Holiest Wan,
Accordin' to many ..... dat's under da sun!
The Lake is called Mone....and Sir Ryder he say...... it is a Holy one, and sacred as Rothesay.. oan a guid summer's day!
That's mair than, enough!
.....ahm gettin' as daft are yersel!
But, Ah'll hiv tae leave noo.... I jist heard da Door Bell!
Collie.
Tail's Awaggin',Awaggin'
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Collie & Kojo,
Billy Sharp doing the rounds today as a potential sigining. Surely after Scott McDonald would should be angling towards a blue chip striker to complement Jan.
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Comparing the way Celtic can and should be playing with Hibs???
do me a favour lads
what kind of point OR comparison is that to try and make?
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mgm 78
I know what you mean. The non selection of Deeks is a puzzle. We can either believe it's an example of Wgs's stubborness, his tactical naivety, or, possibly, represents another factor beyond our current knowledge.
People have speculated that Riordan should be played whether he puts the effort in in training or whether or not he improves his off field activities. I don't know if any of these points have merit or whether they are a whitewash. I am far from being in the know.
But, if they were true, what would we lose as a club, if we lowered our standards to buy a few goals from Deeks. How would we manage the next youth player with a Billy Big Time attitude who argues that, so long as I'm producing on the pitch, nothing else matters. That's a poisonous attitude which can seep. Again, I'll state that I have no reason to know if that's why Deeks is benched through a goals drought, just stating that there can be reasons.
Now, if it's not the Deeks situation and it's other changes you want then I'm with you. the team could do with freshening but, even there, the guys waiting for their chance back in are the same guys the support were slaughtering when they played (Graveson, Wilson, Balde, Zurawski) or guys we don't know yet (Doumbe, Sheridan etc:).
We relaxed and tired last year after the league was won and our fare was poor in the remaining games. We relaxed this year before we got over the line.
I have no doubt we'll get there. I hope this takes a weight of all of us and he can nurse the squad through to end of May 26th.
BTW Milan just went 2:1 up after a very soft penalty award.
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Milan go 2-1 up with a Kaka "penalty" - an absolutely shocking decision by the referee.
Unlike the Italians to get a favourable refereeing decision on their patch...
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since you seem to have missed the point cel i'l try and exlpain it to you using simple words!
A lot of talk has been on here recently about the poor football on show and that results matter first but they havent been happening either.
On the talk of not playing entertaining football, the point was look at hibs (granted they now have won cis cup) but up to then very pretty stuff, have all the media going on about the most entertaining team in scotland but at every big test they bottled it. What was it last year for us, 4 wins against them?
So the point was no good playing nice stuff if you arent doing the business, its a result business so can get away with stuttering form when the results keep coming, its when the results stop that the trend becomes more worrying.
you seem to suggest no comparison between celtic and hibs, totally agree as believe we are in a different class to them, would set us back 10 years to base ourselves on them which i think was a bit of what was getting said so not too sure what brought about such a rude reply.
Maybe you could help us out and list the topics/teams/themes we are allowed to bring up here, save us being at the receivng end of such cutting wit and charm.
Bet those keys take a battering when you post your replies!!
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Kojo,
One very large lake and approximateley 10,000 more.
Hence the "Land o' 10,000 Lakes"
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agree SFTB if his behaviour (and a big if as i know absolutely anything and this might not be the case) is the factor then surely he wouldnt even make the bench, nt sure, for footballing reasons he should be given a shout.
I agree the league is all but won and there has been a slacking, all the more reaosn for a shake up to freshen things.
Personally most of who you mentioned who get berated are some of my personal favourites, gettig slated by the support is nothing new, ask didier agathe!!
My dad watched sheridan in july.august and told us all he would be in the first team by the end of the season, no point putting pressure on the boy but if we could get a few goals up on someone in next couple of weeks be great to give him a no pressure situation to show what he can do.
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dearie dearie what a turmoil.
I really don't know why you are all getting so heated.
Come down the mineshaft it's nice and cool down here. Sit back and relax - I have an excellent view of the fever which is spreading above ground.
Wee Gordon's Celtic future is in his own hands - for the moment - and his record allows him that privilege.
But will the board give him the £15m warchest in the summer????
That's the question we should be asking and I for one don't think so.
Gordon will be put on rations again. The purchase of MacDonald is proof enough of that.
As was the signing of hartley and Pressley - two totally unnecessary and wasteful additions - unless of course you know you ain't get any cash.
In that instance you grab what you can when you can. I mean we couldn't even keep Maloney.
So, Gordon will get another year if he wants - but will he be able to make it work for him?
It's a shoogly peg I tell you. One bad result in CL qualifiers with your SPL best 11 and things ain't going to look too hot - well actually things might get very hot indeed.
Under the circumstances I think he's heading for rough seas
Another Art Media would be disastrous for the wee man. The board have been bitten by it before too (financially). They'll want to hang on to the cash from this year to supplement any shortfall from failing to qualify next season.
No, Gordon will be kept on a tight rein. He was supposed to build the team bit by bit, two to three good players a season.
We weren't supposed to have to lose most of our forward and midfield selection to rebuild team three - too bad. Say hello to the SPL 11
So there you have it. Don't panic or worry or fear. The board will do as the board does.
Anyway they'll need to keep a few pounds back to entice Gordon's successor - Mr keane I presume.
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Cel
Good on you. Keep telling it as it is. You'll find yourself shot down at every opportunity by the psychophants on here.
I've lurked for a while but felt I had to respond in your defence.
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Cel @21.12 & 21.25
We're having a wee dialogue of the deaf here.
I let my standards slip when I made that jibe about your patter. I assumed you were a young man and a new poster, so I should have kept the insult to myself and left you to perpetrate them.
Now, the point about Hibs is an easy one to explain. They are an entertaining team but not very succesful. When we make a comparison between Celtic and Hibs we are comparing not equating the teams.
I don't wonder why my posts get few responses as i've got a life and I've stopped measuring things: I do wonder why they get responses such as "I don't think you associate anything good in a footballing sense with winning, come to think of it George Graham would be your ideal manager.." as that's so far removed from my viewpoint and statements as to be meaningless.
If there is to be a debate between us, please do me the favour of arguing with what I said not what you imagine I said so that you have a cheap "Aunt Sally" argument to knock down.
Liverpool in the 70's did not entertain me with their possession football but they were the most controversial of the 4 examples I gave- lots of people can and will disagree with that one without the need to detract from their argument by calling it stupid.
If there are to be any more High Tim jibes, I will leave this as my last reply to you. If you're prepared to modify the tone, we can still exchange views.
I leave the floor to you.
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Gloves are off
Are psychophants elephants on acid?
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the gloves are off - psychophants?
nice one, seems you can't have an opinion without getting a label on here, whether it be happy clapper, mineshafter or now psychophants.
I'll stick with my label of celtic fan and leave it at that.
night to all those without a label!
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SFTB-
If you thought the Liverpool teams of the seventies won ugly and didnt entertain ,it must be tough for you watching celtic these days..
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Cel, comment deleted for language violation. This is a Celtic site; that makes a difference, in case you are not aware.
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My dear friend, WGS...
From what I hear, which is a different tale, from what I have bin told........
Celtic are switching to a more mobile and skillful form of Attacking Leadership!
The big Ambling Alp Type of individual, shall be sacrificed on the Altar of Parsimony,which can't hoit!....for a cheaper, younger, smaller...yes ...ye goat that richt.... Raider of not necessarily ,gigantic proportions.
If you think back....why did the Big Rummeller Upper work so successfully in the Past...but has now ceased to shine?
I'll tell ye, I hope ye wull believe me!
Because the modern game requires a THROUGH DA MIDDLE APPROACH....which is the only way to fly!...Defenses are now too well geared to thwart, the High and Handsome Ba' Up in the Air...and charge type of old fashioned play.
Kaka, is the new Handy Dandy Prototype that is all da rage,now.
Look at Manchester United.....
No a giant forward among da lot?
Ah didnae notice any...did ye?
Milan...ditto.....
etc.etc.etc.
Celtic,if they land The Buffalo Rifle..... will be well pleased.....he is certainly in the KAKA mold.... at least we shall have a mold.... which is the most important step in creating anything..
Think is over.... and get back wit' me ,in a few days....
This is all so new..I guess?.... No, I know!
Kojo.
Yer Pal... til da Swallows eschew Capistrano ,fer Downtown Burbank.
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I wish Estadio would come on and re-post what he said in the summer about the people who seem to enjoy wallowing in the negative.
If I remember rightly, he argued that if you wallow, you are miserable all the time. If you take an optimistic outlook, you enjoy your week and the build-up to the game and if the bad moments come, you cope with them as best you can before picking yourself up again as quickly as possible.
Perhaps I do the great man an injustice, but that's how I remember it.
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timlord
You're beginning to sound like a voice of reason:-)
You're absolutely right that two CL qualifying disasters in 3 years would be hard to handle. Again, we've found it easy to define what would constitute a failure or a crisis.
But what would success look like to you? If your prediction doesn't come to pass as it didn't this year, when would the test be passed? If we do 3 in a row- still not enough? 3 in a row plus 3rd place in CL group- naw?? Would WGS still be on probation if it's a treble next year? Because, of course it would only have been won by the fact the others were rubbish:-)
When people come on and tell you that they remember predicting this and that way back at the start of the season but there's no verifiable proof they did so, I tend to be sceptical.
I feel the same about people who tell me what failure looks like without being prepared to tell me what I need to do to convince them. I can't escape the feeling that they're waiting for something they can call an unacceptable slip up.
What's your bench mark?
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timlord
i dont know where you get a figure of 15m quid. its only people who are buliding a club up to knock them down who use word like war chest.
your specualtion is pretty far from the mark in just about every way.
lets wait until 1 september, i am very confident we'll see good money spent in the summer, if we can get the players in
no matter what we spend there will always be some who twistit to seem liek the baord isnt spending but there you go.
no wonder the russian referee had a smile on his face at the end of the game in milan - he knows whats waiting for him back in his hotel room by way of a little thanks for that penalty
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lynott67
I guess one of the differences is that I'm a Celtic fan. If Celtic win, I am delighted; if we played great, doubly so. If Liverpool win, it does not move me. If they play a great game, I can admire it but I'd still rather watch Celtic reserves.
I should obviously drop the Liverpool reeference because they were a great team; I admired them but, I never loved them the way I did with Brazil 1970 for example.
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Watchow
What is it? Is it a chocolate on the pillow? That's so last century man.
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c_f
chocolate on the pillow, candy on the bed and another high class call girl in the bath i would hope.
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Has anyone ever seen Cel & gloves are off in the same room together?
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I think the time has come to dispel some of the myths surrounding the perceived negative element of the support, within whose ranks I would count myself.
I am only speaking for myself here, but I think I represent the feelings of many of my Celtic supporting friends, family and colleagues:
1. There is no hidden agenda against our manager. I just think that he's not doing a good enough job.
2. This is not based on this so-called 'recent' slump but is a long held view. For me, team 2 is worse than team 1. We have played poorly for the best part of this season. Anyone who says otherwise is deluding themselves.
3. I am not now nor ever have been a bigot - as I said above there is no hidden agenda against our manager. I resent the allegation.
4. Contrary to the allegation, I do not enjoy watching my team playing so poorly, so regularly. I do not revel in this decline. It pains me to see such poor performances week in week out.
5. In fact, there is a bit of an optomist in me. Week in, week out I expect to see an improvement. Week in week out for the most part I am left disappointed and frustrated
6. I celebrate each goal scored, each point won, each trophy lifted as much as the next man. The pleasure of knocking out Sir Awex EPL champions-elect is up there with anything I've experienced as a supporter of 35 years. If only there was more.......
7. I do not expect to see football a la Brazil WC 1970 every week. I do expect to see better than we have achieved this season.
8. I DO expect to beat the likes of Falkirk and Dundee Utd and in fact the rest of the SPL. Our vastly superior resources mean that this is the least we should expect. I can take the odd disappointment. I do not expect to be scraping wins or draws week after week after week.
9. I do not expect to get knocked out of the cup competitions by minnows.
10. I do not see why I should have to put up with humiliating defeats away from home in Europe especially against some very, VERY average sides
11. I don't expect us to be serious CL contenders. I would like to see us really compete at that level though. To be more than a containing side. May well be wishful thinking but there's nothing wrong with having an aspiration
12. I would like to see an evolving team, a team being developed, a team that plays to a particular style/formation/approach
13. I would like to see consistency of selection, players being played in their preferred positions, players being played when 100% fit. Our star buys should not be left to rot on the bench
14. I don't want to hear excuses about poor pitches, bad refereeing decisions and the like - it has ever been so
15. I don't think it's acceptable that we're talking about re-buiding a side for the third time in three seasons. How many chances should you reasonably expect to get? We are in a period of significant advantage over our nearest and dearest rivals (aka the Generation of Domination). We must not let this slip through our fingers
16. I do want to see mediocre SPL players forming the spine of my team
Apologies for the ramblings, but I think it's important to try to express how a proportion of the support is feeling. I could go on but I've probably bored most of you into submission by this stage.
Us 'mineshafters' have as much right to call ourselves supporters as the happiest of the 'happy-clappers'.
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What do people have against Strachan's choice of formation. If a 4-4-2 is good enough for Man U, Ac Milan, the Lisbon Lions then surely it's good enough for us. eh?
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A very well reasoned and thought provoking article, Paul.
I agree 100% that relative to Rangers, Hearts, Hibs etc. we are a better football team and likely to remain so imo.
However, I still think we should thank GS for his efforts and move on.
Why?
Because with our superior resources we should be miles in front of the Falkirk's and Dundee Utd's of this world. The gulf in class should be there for all to see.
The fact that it isn't suggests to me that our resources are not being utilised effectively.
In two years we have won two titles; but are we a better football team??
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Setting free
For me Gordon needed to win the treble the year we lost to Art Media - to make up for it.
Obviously he didn't and we had to suffer the CLYDE debacle.
So, even though he won a double I've been slightly suspect since, but I did get over it, and if he only wins the league this year on top of taking us into the CL then he deserves another year.
I'm being cautious about the Scottish Cup - don't want to put too much pressure on the wee man.
You can't sack a man for winning trophies and Celtic won't sack Strachan if he continues to - unless of course the crowds flock underground driven blind by the sorry football on show.
So in the future - keep winning the league, beat Rangers home and away, wallop an SPL side at least once a month and get us into the final 16 of the CL by winning all our away games playing like we did against Benfica at home.
Simple really.
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Cel:- you are the CQN equivalent of the ICF.
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SFTB, no problem mate, you find ALL my points of view over on the Vital-Celtic site..
I'm known as:
TicV"Establishment" over there, and also by my alter ego Sir Moonbeam...
LMAO, sorry lads, your a good bunch over here, good natured debate and banter, that's what it's all about, but respect to the people who run this very good Tic site.
I'll drop in from time to time for a wee laugh, its been fun tonight, and its a bit dead over there at the mo..
cheers, TicV
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gm
over the season we have been miles ahead of those teams
the gulf in class is clear to anyone who looks at the table. thats how you judge a team, not after 3 poor results.
two domestic leagues in 2 seasons and further progress than ever in the cl and you think we should sack him? we'd be the laughing stock of the footballing world.
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Well done to the Reserves in winning another title.
However I have an alternative view on our dominance over the past few years at this level.
Is it possible that we succeed at Reserve and U19 levels because most our opponents best young talent is fast-tracked to play in their first teams due to economic necessity?
This leaves even younger and inexperienced kids to represent them at these levels.
Meanwhile our best young talent continue to overwhelm the reserve and U19 leagues whilst their peers at Hibs, Aberdeen, Motherwell etc. get 3 years experience in their first team and are then valued at £x million and sold on.
We are currently subsidising our opponents youth systems by continuing to buy their best young players.
Unless we allow our best young players to come through to the first team we are wasting money by building our own academy to produce players who will end up at Ross County and Stirling Albion.
Hard hat and flak jacket on.
Sandbags on order.
The Onlooker
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SFTB-
I thought you may recosider that one when you thought about it.
I was a bit young to remember much of the great Brazil side of 1970 ,always loved watching the Dutch sides of the 70's and was lucky enough to see Cruyff play against us a few times.
He was a bit special.
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Brazil 1970?
Cruyff?
In the here and now, Owen Hargreaves says this week in a column he's contributing to the BBC football website that Cristiano Ronaldo and Kaká are the best players in the world at the moment.
Our bhoys did well against both of them this season.
Chic Young also contributes a column to the BBC site. He makes Owen Hargreaves sound like Ian Hargreaves.
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The first time I ever went to Celtic Park (although not the first time I went to a Celtic game) was in the autumn of 1977 to see the European game against Innsbruck.
Dalglish had just gone to Liverpool and we were at the start of a dire, dire season. Men in their forties drinking whisky from tumblers hurled endless abuse at Jock Stein, and when he decided to substitute Tommy Burns, our most dynamic player on the night, their venom flowed as freely as the drink.
I was shocked and stunned. My pal, a seasoned attendee, told me to get used to it, but I can't.
I know a rubbish performance when I see one, and it hurts me deeply. I don't come away from them believing that we put up a jolly good show and were dashed unlucky.
But I have not been able to get over the idea I formed that night, that there is something wrong with hurling abuse at your own so loudly and so publicly, from the safety of the terracing or, perhaps even more so, from the anonymity of your IP address.
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did I get a post deleted?
haven't a clue which post it was, or what the language violation was..
that aside, I did enjoy the banter with the real Tims over here
Hail Hail
TicV
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OK so this is easy.
1) lets sack the manager
2) Get rid of the deadwood - half the team?
So can the malcontents suggest -
1) The new manager (obviously need to be high profile, cost a fortune, and need millions for the new team).
2) Supply a list of equally high profile signings who will be prepared to play in the SPhelL, put up with the winter weather in Inverness, tolerate Hun Bigots and Scots Referees, be prepared to accept the Celtic pay structure, etc etc.
Oregonbhoy
genuinelyinterestedCSC.
PS KoJo - would that be a "big fifty"
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Oregonbhoy
What justification can you offer for writing "Hun Bigots and Scots Referees" as though these were different beasts?
Wait till WG sees that. Bhoy, are you in trouble.
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So we have a manager who will in a few weeks deliver our first back to back leagues in years.But still gets slagged.
Gordon will hopefully win every trophy in Scotland in his first 2 years.But still gets slagged.
Gordon takes us to the last 16 of the big cup for a number of years. But still gets slagged.
Gordon led a team which never conceeded a goal against 1 of the best teams in Europe. But still got slagged.
Gordon took us last year to the quickest win ever for the league. But still gets slagged.
Gordon has saw off 2 of his biggest rivals managers including the best tactical manager in europe according to the press and will next year in my opinion see off the best tactical manager in Scotland according to the press next year. But he still gets slagged.
Gordon treats the press with the disdain I want. But still gets slagged.
Im just glad Lou Macari/Tommy Burns/John Barnes/lou Macari/Wim Jansen are not the manager now with some people on this blog.
We all want us to win with the best football style but lets get real and celebrate what we have.
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Celtic_First - I apologise, my original post did not go out and I had to rewrite it, should have been - tolerate Hun Bigots and Scots Referees(same thing)!
Oregonbhoy
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Paul
I've been seething for the past few days about the criticism WGS and the team have been receiving. Do these guys remember the 90's? Miles clear in the league, further than we've ever been in the CL and making a profit for the first time in years. Get behind the team and get a grip ffs!!
Faithful through and through
Stevie Bhoy
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For the record (again)- I called for GS's head after the Motherwell game.
But I was wrong - and he has most certainly earned the right.
However - it needs to get better - it just has to.
Paul - tried to reply to you last night but computer said no.
Lets have the debate about the support - there has been a build up of nonsense spoken about the support - customers indeed.
Lets have it out...
Players, managers and boards are transient - supporters are forever.
I will not stand for criticism of the support.
As for the spending this summer - my spreadsheet is ready and I am waiting for the expected spend.
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I'm tired of some of the sanctimonious nonsense being spouted on here.
Since when did questioning the performances of the team and manager become such a problem? Is it unjustified to come on to a forum like this and share your opinion with fellow supporters on the issues facing the manager at the minute? Is it wrong to have an opinion on whether you think the manager is doing a good job or not?
I don't think it is,provided you can detail the reasons for your assertion in the first place.If you just wan't to sack the manager coz you plain don't like him then that's nonsense,but please can we hold back on this "look what we've done this season,how dare you" guff.
We have won NOTHING as of today.
Does anyone think if we send the same team out as we did on Saturday that we will comfortably take care of Saint Johnstone? I don't,yet I'm an optimist.Current form suggests we'll be ponderous in midfield,toothless up front and liable to concede a goal.In other words a narrow,uncomfortable win is the most likely scenario.
We should win another double this year,but this should not deflect attention away from a few very obvious facts.Performances have been poor almost all season long,our big signings have almost all failed to deliver,we see players played out of their favoured positions yet continue to see some players play every week despite a chronic lack of form.
If this continued into next season with late wins turning to draws,would the people on here currently pouring scorn on those concerned with the current situation give WGS plenty of time to turn it around? Would a defeat in the CL qualifier change your opinion?
I'm not advocating sacking WGS,far from it,but some of you seem to be sticking your heads in the sand and missing what's staring you in the face.And berating your fellow supporters for having the audacity to question the managers performance is simply ridiculous.
BankieBhoy
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BankieBhoy,
Look what we've done this season, how dare you.
That's my opinion, even if you think it's "guff".
And for someone who disapproves of berating fellow supporters your tone seems pretty agressive - or am I just spouting sanctimonious nonsense again?
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Mr Strachan seems ok to me. I just don't get some of the decisions he comes to. It's like he's doing a jigsaw blindfolded. It would just be easier to peek. But I think he's got quite a few pieces left over that he's determined to jam in.
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If is a very big word, but if Maloney had re-signed and JVOH had remained fit this season I am sure we would have been a much more potent force offensively.
WGS cannot be held responsible for these occurrences, particularly as he tried his damnedest to get Sean to stay and in JVOH he signed a player who had never suffered from niggling injuries.
Give him a break.
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However, If he plays Hartley at right back again he is in deep Shampoo.
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dick byrne
My post was not meant to be aggressive,far from it.My own personal opinion on WGS is probably closer to your own than to the those suggesting he leave.
But what have we achieved this season?
Maybe it comes down to how we all perceive a successful season.I think given the talent in the current squad,last 16 of the CL should always have been achievable.We made it,job done.
Knocked out of the League Cup by Falkirk,I couldn't care less the competition should be used to help bring on the youngsters.
Championship on the way,six points required.We're stumbling over the line but we'll get there.Job done.
Scottish Cup,tie against Saint Johnstone should be straightforward but on current form and player selection anything but.Should still win it,it'll be a major surprise and disappointment if we don't.
So far,we've achieved the minimum requirement in the CL for me,but I'm quite happy with the way the season may go in terms of trophies won too.However,there have been failings by the manager and his performance and the teams overall performances should be able to be discussed or questioned as long as the arguments are reasoned.
I would imagine that WGS will sit down with Pendrey,Burns,etc and discuss what went right/wrong over the course of the season and what they could have done and will do differently next season.
There's no reason why people on here shouldn't be able to do the same without being criticised for it.
BankieBhoy
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Hi Paul,
Much as I'm loathe to contribute to this debate as I don't have any of the emotional attachment that you all have I would like to ask a question. If your manager wins the league every year should his job be safe? I ask this because Mr Smith at your rivals across the city once said that as long as he lifted the title he was safe in his job, this proved to be true. (this season doesn't count for him as he came in with a huge deficit, but has managed to close it somewhat)
On a tangetial and hypothetical point, if a manager gave you the chance of ten in a row with the majority of those titles being lifted in an "ugly" fashion would you take it? or would you want a change of leadership half way through to a Tommy Burns type team that played exciting and good football but stopped the ten in a row? (this is not a dig a Mr Burns who is a man whose football philosophy I admired and who I thought would make a great Scotland manager)
BTW It may be just me with false memories but I seem to remember when folk could dosagree on here without recourse to abuse, can I ask that folk treat their opponent in view with respect, then rip the throat out of his/her argument rather than an attack on him/her
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Paul
Excellent post IMHO.
The manager deserves our support. We are on the brink of winning back to back titles, have progressed in Europe, still in the SC with all to play for. Mr Strachan has amde progress whilst rebuilding from a constrained budget.
There is no doubt that March has not been a good month, with the exception of a good if ultimately losing performance in Milan. We have seemed flat and ponderous, lacking vitality since the first half of the Ran666ers game.
I trust in Ghord to rectify this. Some on hear criticise him for stubbornness and not being able to see past certain players. IMHO he has changed the team far mor often than his predecessor and how often did MON substitute Neil Lennon.
In many ways this Team 2 has been like the difficult second album that bands often cite. Not exactly as good as the first, but work in progress.
The energy levels have been a concern, but my understanding is that he has just installed the new Aussie rules trainer, so the fruits of that labour may not yet have kicked in. They may pay off later in this season and into next.
He is criticised for not playing Deek. A question I also have but given that I am not privvy to all that is happening behind the scenes the manager may have good reasons for this. Very few of us will know so we should leave it to him.
When he does go on to secure the league and hopefully lift the SC I hope his detractors will find it within themselves to give him the credit he deserves.
His detractors say the football is poor. I agree at this moment at time it is not as good as we would like it to be. However in the final season if not before (and I personally think before) MON's Celtic were far more one dimensional. This is not to say that MON wasn't a great Celtic manager. He was and so will Mr Strachan be.
Time to be a Celtic supporter faithful through and through!
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At 04/04/07 00:14, BankieBhoy said:
"our big signings have almost all failed to deliver"
BankieBhoy (and others who share this sentiment), why don't you step back for just one minute and consider what these words mean? What exactly are these big signings supposed to deliver? Did someone move the goal posts half-way through the season? Were we not originally going to be happy with victory in the SPL, one or two cups, and progress to the last 16 of the Champion's League? If so, won't these players have delivered everything that was asked of them?
I posted on Sunday morning with a list of reasons why we might be playing so poorly right now and since then others have highlighted the quality of pitches at this time of year (a reason I missed). The fact is that we are the best football team in Scotland by a country mile and we have also proved that we are capable of competing with some of the biggest clubs in the world (Benfica, Milan, Man U.). Why you and others are not content with this, (particularly given the strong possibility that we will be looking at an even stronger Celtic team next year) defeats me. Frankly, this behaviour reminds me of spoiled children in a supermarket who can't make up their mind about what they want, they just know they want something and invariably it's the next thing they see. On second thoughts, this comparison is unfair on spoiled children.
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At 03/04/07 22:15, notamalcontent said…
"1. There is no hidden agenda against our manager. I just think that he's not doing a good enough job."
What is WGS supposed to be doing if it is not managing a team that wins games of football? What exactly is good enough for you? From the rest of your post I gather it is playing football like the Brazilian national team and never being beaten. Sadly, even the Brazilian national team would draw or lose the occasional match against Falkirk or Dundee United, baring in mind the 'conditions' that prevail in Scotland.
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If things are so good,why are so many supporters unhappy?
Why is the title of this thread when we're 2 games away from defending our title,and 4 games away from doing the double'Why Gordon Strachan deserves your support'?
You could get CSI to analyse the demographics of both ends of the debate[age,years spent supporting the club,number of games watched per season,financial commitment,time commitment etc]and not be able to get a piece of paper between them.We are all ostensibly watching the same events unfold and coming to completely different conclusions.Why?
Anyways,looking forward to Saturday's game against the Buckfast and Amber.Caldavaro has come back from his long injury to find he's first choice right back.
We'll win 1-0,from a Naka freekick and I'm taking a wee tin of Ronseal Clear Gloss to look at just in case we're not having one of our Total Football days`¬
Irish Sea:
Variable 2 or 3 becoming north or northwest 4, occasionally 5. Slight.
Fair.
Good.
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I can see both sides on WGS.
I have backed him from the start of his tenure even though he wouldnt have been in my top 3. He overcame his early obstacles and has performed well.
Recently the football has been dire but some 'inspired' substitutions have seen us come away with wins in games I thought we would have lost.
But, whats beginning to gnaw at me is the pedestrian midfield. We rarely play through the middle, our wingers mostly stop 20 yards from the byeline and cut inside and every team in Scotland knows it.
A few games ago we had Sno and Gravesen playing in midfield, we played a different game in our 2nd half v St Mirren with options of wing play and through the middle and came away with 5 goals, - why not give a more dynamic midfield a chance?
Do we need a holding midfielder (NL) and a midfielder who scored about 12 goals via dynamic play for his club last season also play a deep role against Dundee United? Are they really such a formidable midfield and attack that we have to set up that way?
Why is JJ who was a fair player in Russia and the premiership a bit part player with no fixed position?
Why no D Riorded is 5 goals in 6 games not good enough?
and before the abuse starts
I am not a mineshafter - I am not a happy clapper who has defected.
I never was a happy clapper - I called it as I saw it and backed the manager and the team - thats how I saw it.
and Im not a mineshafer now.
I am just a guy asking questions cos Im a bit puzzled by a few decisions.
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Good morning scorpions!
One day, a scorpion looked around at the mountain where he lived and decided that he wanted a change. So he set out on a journey through the forests and hills. He climbed over rocks and under vines and kept going until he reached a river.
The river was wide and swift, and the scorpion stopped to reconsider the situation. He couldn't see any way across. So he ran upriver and then checked downriver, all the while thinking that he might have to turn back.
Suddenly, he saw a frog sitting in the rushes by the bank of the stream on the other side of the river. He decided to ask the frog for help getting across the stream.
"Hellooo Mr. Frog!" called the scorpion across the water, "Would you be so kind as to give me a ride on your back across the river?"
"Well now, Mr. Scorpion! How do I know that if I try to help you, you wont try to kill me?" asked the frog hesitantly.
"Because," the scorpion replied, "If I try to kill you, then I would die too, for you see I cannot swim!"
Now this seemed to make sense to the frog. But he asked. "What about when I get close to the bank? You could still try to kill me and get back to the shore!"
"This is true," agreed the scorpion, "But then I wouldn't be able to get to the other side of the river!"
"Alright then...how do I know you wont just wait till we get to the other side and THEN kill me?" said the frog.
"Ahh...," crooned the scorpion, "Because you see, once you've taken me to the other side of this river, I will be so grateful for your help, that it would hardly be fair to reward you with death, now would it?!"
So the frog agreed to take the scorpion across the river. He swam over to the bank and settled himself near the mud to pick up his passenger. The scorpion crawled onto the frog's back, his sharp claws prickling into the frog's soft hide, and the frog slid into the river. The muddy water swirled around them, but the frog stayed near the surface so the scorpion would not drown. He kicked strongly through the first half of the stream, his flippers paddling wildly against the current.
Halfway across the river, the frog suddenly felt a sharp sting in his back and, out of the corner of his eye, saw the scorpion remove his stinger from the frog's back. A deadening numbness began to creep into his limbs.
"You fool!" croaked the frog, "Now we shall both die! Why on earth did you do that?"
The scorpion shrugged, and did a little jig on the drownings frog's back.
"I could not help myself. It is my nature."
Then they both sank into the muddy waters of the swiftly flowing river.
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On the recruitment front...I see Celtic had a young American central midfielder (21) Greg Dalby over for a run out in a closed door game. Good to see the bhoys being pro-active in seeking out young talent.
Our 16s even had a couple of foreign trialists + 2 x Irish lads in the recent game v Norwich
Regards the recent links with Billy Sharp, while I have little doubts on his ability to score at only 5'9 I can only see problems if paired with similar sized Scott McDonald. Spurs have tried & failed to pair up Keane & Defoe and I would expect Celtic to meet similar problems. While I agree a big target man who is immobile to be of little use at top level. It is still a good alternative and should not be ignored (JVOH is a much better outlet than Peter CrOUCH who cost £7m+)
I like to identikit idea of looking for young potential but to fill the team with bhoys of 20-21-22 would indicate a move to being more of a producer / seller. Maybe this is the way ahead in the long term for a club such as ourselves in order to compete, but clubs such as Ajax have found themselves in limbo after being unabel to sustain such a selling policy over a number of years.
If these young guys are accompanied by 2-3 "BLUE CHIP" players of real quality, then we may have a chance to repeat / improve upon this years run in Europe.
While I admire our current youth system. I don't think it is currently capable of churning out the required number of players per year required.
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CajaunBhoy
yesterday you wrote
Aw Naw as far as believing that Paul changes the blog when you post your stuff....you flatter yourself. If he took that approach with the negative minded contributors he would be changing his articles half a dozen times a day.
Instead of attacking him we should be grateful for the time and effort Paul puts into this blog and how he stays the course with the slings and arrows that fly is beyond me. And before someone labels me some of the nasty labels that certain conributors on CQN are given....I am allowed an opinion too.
Of course you are entitled to your opinion. It has to be an informed opinion however. That would mean accuracy is required here. As there is no accuracy and as you have your facts wrong it ends up being frankly insulting. To me personally and anyone who actually read through all of my posts. This blog as far as I was concerned was to avoid "lazy journalism" and allow Celtic fans to get a non skewered perspective on Celtic that the normal media perpetuate. Unfortunately with such poor analysis and a personalties over politics standpoint brought about I feel for a need to protect a buddy. A buddy who does not need any protection and was never insulted It is fast becoming tabloidesque in fact it´s slowly making The Celtic View look like revolution inducing subversive literature never mind tedious.
I stand by what I say with regards to the occasional machinations of CQN and it would seem that I am not the only one. I do not expect Paul67 to get all huffy about it and I do not expect his appreciation club to hurl insults rather than debate the issue. As Sean South said he welcomes more reasoned debate.
Having read many other articles from other regular posters it seems that I am far from alone in my suspicions.
It would seem to me that you need to get togther and decide what the blog is really about. Either stick to it´s original principles or become exactly what you set out to circumvent. Personalities over politics is not recognised and appreciated Tim behaviour as far as I am concerned.
Hail hail
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correction ,
last post should be addressed to CanajunBhoy.
Fluffybunny ... you and me are so obviously different "It´s just a football team"
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Tom The Tim,
my blog name was taken from a guy who attended Celtic park one day and heard some Celtic fan groan out my blog name after Darren Jackosn had coem on. It´s all about the illiteration on the N and nothing to do with what I think about Celtic or it´s current affairs.
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I think we all agree that Paul67 does an excellent job, but surely the blog is about debate? Without that it'd be the cyberspace equivalent of a bus queue.
Paul67 has an angle- largely "pro-current board". He argues his case eloquently, graciously and with good humour, and he takes an admirable long-term view on the fortunes of our great club- something few football fans manage.
Challenging him on aspects of this view however should not be seen as a crime. It annoys me that whenever someone publishes a comment critical of Paul67's views all we get is "I can't believe Paul puts up with this" from lots of posters. Isn't disagreement, analysis, opinion, the whole point?
As long as it remains civil (and this is easily the most civil football blog I have ever seen!), then it shouldn't be a problem.
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The Battered Bunnet
"None of them would be influencing the first team for a couple of years at least. And he was running to see them.
Maybe he was just freezing mind you, or perhaps he has spotted Awe Naw in the car park....
The man's a grafter as well as damned good manager.
Care to elaborate on this ? or is this just part of the CQN malaise at the momen ?
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CanajunBhoy,
additionally I take umbrage that my contributions are deemed "negative"
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Seem to remember a lot of you CQN Ghuys out there using PC World for repairs. Have a look at this.
http://www.channelregister.co.uk/2006/11/09/pcworld_fails_fixing_test/
Hail Hail
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Italiabhoy,
great post
you write
but normally it´s
"I can't believe Paul puts up with this" because of .... something rude and unnecessary to another poster
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ItaliaBhoy
i think P67s take criticism well, but sometimes it gets out of hand.
Board Stooge ?
If you go back to the earliest days of this blog you will find many , many people had no understanding of a PLCs regulatulary requirements, of the difference between turnover and available cash, no understanding of AMORTISATION ;-) etc
We had a large majority of board haters,
'Why cant we just keep spending money, we have a large turnover that will pay for the increasing debt' was a common cry.
'Dermott hasnt invested a penny / Dermott should just give us lots of money'
blah , blah , blah
Since those days many have become more educated on business and off field actions and consequences, probably this blog played no small part in this. For some people though this has confirmed for them P67 is a board member/stooge/whatever and its trawled out after a bad result.
Now because he supports GS he's a board stooge/plant/happy clapper again, what about in the few weeks after Bratislava/Motherwell where he posted his concerns about the choice of manager?
I think folk basically stick up for him because he gets tore to bits for posting articles that certain sections dont agree with.
Why the need for certain posters to tear stripes, why not just say, I dont agree with this and here are my points.
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Morning All,
Keep up the debating lads....
Awe Naw, I enjoy your postings and find them entertaining, your opinions are read by one & all on CQN.
The problem with blogging is that there is no emotion in text and often can be mis-understood hence the reason there is alot of squabling with all of us defending our posts...
Keep telling it how it is!!
Hail Hail
SPC
N.B. Just for the record our so called demise happened in the 2nd half against Rangers at Parkhead due to Ugo's wonder strike.... They cannae get over it....
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NBNC,
I think the bloggers are entitled to ask and debate not only the content of any new postings but also why they were posted in the first place ?
Look at the accusation sthat have been thrown at me from the "Happy Clapper brigade". Strong in their belief that I think WGS a diddy, that the board are useless, and that I have something against Paul67 because I "seemingly" dont tow the party line.
I defy anyone to point that out to me. I defy anone to point out an insult I have hurled at someone having not been unnecesarrily goaded in the first place.
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NoBread..
I certainly don't think Paul67 is a "board stooge". Few of us would bother with the blog if that were the case.
But "pro-board", certainly. Although there is absolutley nothing wrong with that as an honestly held and concisely argued point of view.
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There's a hint of quantity over quality this season.The punters cannot be fooled all of the time.The play over the WHOLE season has been poor with the one or two notable exceptions.Of course WGS should be given more time.If we put in the same performances next season,then the situation must be reviewed.The attitude of some is that as long as we're successful then criticsm isn't valid.That's palpably wrong
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paul's blog frequently reports on the board activity in what i consider to be a measured and reasoned way.
just because he doesnt always take a critical view of the board doesnt make him pro-board.
its also a feature of many celtic forums and blogs, and this one to a lesser degree that anyone who takes a contrary satnd-point to some of the factually incorrect stuff you see about the board is seen as being pro-board.
it's my opinion that our board has done an excpetional job over the last 7 years. paul reflects that opinion, doesnt mean he wont criticise when criticism is due, it just so happens that we have one of the best hierarchys in the football world.
there will always be people who have a problem with authority. human nature dictates that the men in suits will always attract criticism - the peopl who make the unpopular decisions that are necessary for the successful operation of a club like celtic will always have their knockers.
but to parise them for their efforts when they do a good job, which they seem to be doing, doent turn this blog into a pro-board blog.
i would expect paul to come out and be critical should mistakes be make
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According to Wikipedia[SIMBT]scorpions are shy timid creatures who only sting when they are hungry or in self defence.
Generally they run away when frightened.
They also glow if you look at them under u/v light.
There are colonies of scorpions in the south of England,but none in New Zealand.
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BlantyreK.
Personally I am sure that the frog would have been even less happy if he had seen Ian Brines standing on the opposite bank.
The rumour was that all the Scorpion’s pals were waiting for him on the other side and while they cheered as the frog made it half way across, a couple of them who had been at the Jungle Buckie complained that he was doing a slow breast stroke rather than a flamboyant synchronised dolphin leap.
The final insult was when they all agreed that the frog wasn't scorpion minded!!
They started lobbing and blogging the empty bottles at him as they spat their venom from the safe distance of the bank.
A few of the more enlightened ones tried to toss in a rope to help haul the frog and save their mate, but the stranded scorpion was so overtaken by the myopic disgust from his followers that he forgot about the real objective and sunk without a trace!
One small point....I presume that this was one of those genetically modified frogs since it had flippers.
Now there's an idea, if we got a geneticist on to the back room staff we could alter the DNA of the team and reconstitute the Lions or even Brazil 70.
Regarding Tannadice:
At Dundee on Saturday, in the west stand behind the goal, the support was belting out our fidelity to the team, our identification with players from the past and our affinity with those of the present.
The sun was shining and while no one was in any doubt that the football on display was below what we hoped for (but also above much of what we have witnessed in the past), we were generally a happy crew who could see the value of three points.
Yes, we did query the selection, in particular Lenny's, Gary C's, and Craig B's at the expense of more mobile alternatives on the bench and as the match went on it was clear that all three were not making the impact that we wanted or thought was possible.
But when the ball dropped over Steven P's head and Daly whipped a great shot into the net, the reaction of a significant minority of the crowd was stunning!
The faces became contorted in caracatures that would not have been misplaced on the Copland Rd slopes of hades and the language vile as everyone of the Celtic players were subjected to finger pointing, eye-popping, vein-bulging, banshee-screaming character assassination.
The accusations thrown at the parentage, nationality, and motivation of Artur Boruc went beyond the pale.
He would have been entitled to have Cantona'd the stunted individuals who had targeted him.
Me (and my pals)? Well we stood with our heads in our hands, initially stunned, but aware enough to raise a clap or two for the team as they left the field. My God. after all, we were able to stand in the midst of shattered dreams at Fir Park on black Sunday and applaud.
Anyway, football like life brings triumph, disappointment, laughter, tears, and love.
It is how we deal with each of them that defines each of us.
I believe that many people let themselves and the support down at Tannadice on Saturday.
I also believe that everyone has the right to feel dissatisfied with the football on show.
But most of all I believe that until success is relegated behind style in determining winners and losers, then I'll not hanker after the halcyon days of Tommy Burns (and I love that guy).
I firmly believe, because that is the way God made me, that next year we will see sizzling, superb, sumptious sexy football.
I don’t think we are more than two or three players away from it. I believe that since we are endeavouring to get cover in for just about every position, we will recruit three players with the cover or first picks already at the club.
Oh and for Awe-Naw, I happen to think that the Celtic View is an excellent publication. It has good in depth articles on players and games, youth and reserve analysis, historic viewpoints, opinion columns, critical letters, quizzes, CSA info, competitions, kids stuff, great posters, Squad stats, daft youth team pin-ups, tv schedules, in fact just about everything that goes to make an excellent read.
I don't expect it to be overly critical of Celtic, after all it is called the 'Celtic View'. But is nothing like the stage managed Pravdaesque publication that was once characteristic of Celtic’s PR.
For an alternative take on this phenomenal institution, I read 'Not the view', 'The alternative view' and the Rangers News. (One of those is a lie).
I love the to-and -fro of constructive criticism, analysis and thought provoking proposals that is characteristic of all but one of the above (and in general, this site). What I find nigh on impossible to accept is the closed mind, eyes and ears attitude of (and I paraphrase here for the sake of decency) "He's rubbish, the midfield is kak, we're useless, sod you Strachan!" without any rational options! In particular as with any afflicted person, I have only sympathy with those who demonstrated nothing short of hatred for our club on Saturday!
Anyway off up to Paradise to get my Celtic View (and get my points on my Season Card)
Hail Hail
Estadio
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dunblanebhoy
i dont see anyone saying that - he's the manager of celtic so he has to take the knocks as well as the plaudits.
but i personally feel that the criticism is over the top and not proportinate to the problems we have.
i want celtic to win trophies first second and third. its wgs job first and foremost to win the spl and to do well in europe. after that its to entertain. he's doen the main part of his job, yet people seem strangely unwilling to give him any sort of praise.
i'll stick my neck out and say i think its because many people took their position about wgs early on and now dont want to admit they were wrong. the only things you cant argue about are the league table and results. he's delivered. he delivered last season when we were in a total mess after black sunday. he delivered this season in the spl & cl. for me after that anything else is opinion and conjecture.
there are lots of if and buts about next season. best to stick to what we actually know - thats that we will shortly be celebrating the spl championship, again. you cant argue with that.
yes i would like to see us playing better football, but a 1-0 victory is worthe the same as a 4-3 or a 5-1 even. i dont demand entertainment, it would be nice to see an attractive celtic team but thats not why i go.
winning first, entertainment second. as lomng as we keep winning wgs gets my vote. when things change, and not just over 3 or 4 games, thats when i will start looking at things wiht a mroe critical eye.
why do some find it so difficult to praise his achievements?
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Ebonee & Ivoree,
sit together in perfect harmonee,
Side by side on my piano keyboard,
Oh Lord,
why cant weeeeee ???
-
FOR KIWI MICK.
Mick, I have lost your e-mail address due to pc problems some time back. Please send me it again.
Hail hail
Estadio
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They smile in your face
But all the while they want to take your place
The backstabbers..
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Think Wattie is eyeing this story with some interest...
Eoin Jess' career at Northampton looks to be over after the midfielder stated he had been released from his contract.
The club have not confirmed a deal has been done but Jess, 36, has made it clear that his future lies elsewhere.
He said told the Northampton Chronicle: "The manager has looked towards next season and he sat me down on Friday and told me what he was going to do.
"My deal was up in the summer anyway, so it was a matter of being released. There's no bitterness, not at all."
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Here is a section from my first post from yesterday
"I do believe that WGS is either being influenced by non footballing reasons into acquiring some of the players that we have all to easily and next to home and on the cheap acquired. Which is causing him problems. I also reckon that our new performance related pay scheme introduces a loyalty verus experimentation conundrum. Loyalty is the most important aspect of the modern game after fitness and ability.
I dont reckon that all the problems with Celtic´s inability this year to even occasionally hit the heights of the Benfica at home performance as being all WGS fault. He is doing a great job taking all the flak on his shoulders and protecting his players and his board while getting ridiculous amount of flak from a frustrated support that expected the title to be wrapped up a month ago but have yet to see a goal scored from open play in that month. Quite simply unacceptable and WGS admirable protection of the club does him no favours with the support. He might not be that bothered about that aspect but when push comes to shove then the people that he is protecting will be doing the shoving due to a support that is undertsandably growing frustrated about a lack of quality that can´t even muster a goal against poor opposition.
Team 3 (which is a joke in itself imho) needs to include Naka, Boruc, Naylor, JVOH and players of the supposed quality of Jarosik, Graveson and Zurawski from the offset or we will already be going backwards.
I fully expect Summer No 4 to echo team number 3 and you all know what I mean. If that is the case then we should be increasing WGS pay packet by 100% especially if he can manage 2nd phase football again. He would if he was working in any other buisness.
As far as I was concerned this was a reasonable constructive statement on where we are today. More inappropriate slagging followed rather than reasoned debate. Why ?
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Telling it as its is
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fRzVaBZscBA
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this is completely off the point but just popping in over lunch
As the season comes to an end I have to say the rumours (yes I know they are only rumours!) about potential signings do not whet the appetite at all, especially the strikers we are being linked with
o'donavan, frei nad bendnar don't exactly amount to the top class striker we should be going for, granted it all speculation but lets hope we're aiming a wee bit better than that
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NAFOS,
Say Say Say
What you want
But don't play games
With my affection
Take take take
What you need
But don't leave me
With no direction
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Good to see the Paul Telfer "exclusive" by Roger Hannah (or should that have been Sportsmail)in yesterday's Daily Mail being retracted. Even got the apolgy on the back page FFS! No apology to the readers however.
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WATCHOW
"a 1-0 victory is worthe the same as a 4-3 or a 5-1 even"
THIS IS THE MOST BLATANTLY SILLY COMMENT I HAVE READ ON THIS BLOG
two words - Goal Difference
any celtic fan should remember it well within the last few years
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You say eether and I say eyether,
You say neether and I say nyther;
Eether, eyether, neether, nyther,
Let's call the whole thing off!
You like potato and I like potahto,
You like tomato and I like tomahto;
Potato, potahto, tomato, tomahto!
Let's call the whole thing off!
But oh! If we call the whole thing off,
Then we must part.
And oh! If we ever part,
Then that might break my heart!
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brinalackbhoy ,
Celtic get linked to every availible player on the planet.
Alexander Frei is a great player. Others like O'Donovan and Bendtnar are players with potential. Don't confuse the two !
If your an agent , you link the player to Celtic , it gets the player more recognition and enables a bigger bargining chip.
Leave it to July !!
But.... to give you more gossip ,
One word , Bellamy.
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anyone have a transcript or 'near enough' account of george galloways comments on talksport the other day???
need to know in full what was said!
congratulations to donegal on qualifying for the senior football league semi finals along with mayo! donegal for sam!
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new post on www.thelordofthewing.blogspot.com
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riordans not a striker?
someone better tell him cos he's doing a pretty good impersonation here!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XN-g7yogujU
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big liam
i know but love getting linked to better players than we have been so far
two words for you regarding bellamy
too expensive!
i wish but we'd never be able to afford him now
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brinalackbhoy
Go back to 10.21 yesterday morning on the previous post.
Greenlion2 posted a link to George Galloway.
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Well said Ants
Watchow its a pity not all Celtic supporters were like you, we wouldn't have so many empty seats appearing then.
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Estadio
…."we were able to stand in the midst of shattered dreams at Fir Park on black Sunday and applaud"
Can you elaborate on that please, I mean who were you applauding and was it before or after the final whistle.
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I remember this website from a couple of years ago.
If you guys are interested Liverpool have told Craig Bellamy that he can leave in the summer and Celtic have been informed of this. At the moment Celtic have not given any indication on wether they would be interested.
Liverpool will look for £6 million but will accept £5 million.
I wont give any other updates as I remember the abuse I took before 2 years ago. I thought this would be of interest to some of you.
In my capacity I am involved in many transfers not just Craig's.
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My old man has been going since he was a mucky wee east end boy growing up in Bridgeton, playing among the trams. He was in Lisbon. He has been taking me since I was 4, season tickets for the old Celtic Park, long before season tickets were necessary. This week he said he is considering doing something else with his £500. A poignant moment, I can tell you.
However, and this is important, it is not his dislike for Strachan. In actual fact we both agree that the football in O'Neill's last year was worse that it is now. The last 10 weeks under Jansen were utterly pathetic, but it turned out OK. These are moot points however. The truth is the SPL is a dead duck. The gulf between Celtic and the rest is embarrassing, and the opposition game no longer engenders any real competition. With no competition any sport in the world dies a very real death.
Gordon Strachan’s tenure has come at a time where this reality has never been so stark. Tommy Burns had the privilege of a ’new Celtic’ to back him up with the self driven atmosphere that brought. Jansen had the 10 in a row tidal wave of emotion and Larsson up his sleeve. Venglos picked up the pieces and had Moravcik up his sleeve but faced unfair media driven ridicule. Barnes had a fully completed stadium, oodles of cash, a Celtic legend as mentor (and still made an arse of it) and O'Neill had huge money to spend initially but moreover was accepted immediately and carried shoulder high from the start to battle with a free spending Rangers.
Strachan took over a wreck of a team and had no 'big team' experience. Indeed he had no European experience at all. We knew this from day one and that was not his fault. He was going to have to make and learn from his mistakes at Celtic. He also took over when there was no novelty factor of a new stadium, no real money to spend and more importantly with no real challenge from Rangers. Celtic, and the rest of SPL, was already stagnant. In truth he was having to perform the equivalent of football CPR on a Celtic FC that had suffered a massive coronary.
Crucially too, he was not a ‘Celtic’ man. Not in the same sense as Jansen or Venglos or Barnes. He was a Scot with no prior obvious allegiance to Celtic. The reality was in fact that Gordon had been seen as a bit of a Celtic antagonist in the past. Cue suspicion. No fans to greet him at the front steps. Revolting players who had absolutely no right to revolt given the debacle they had left us in. A football budget ever narrowing.
I am as disappointed with the fare being served up at the moment as anyone, but he has to be given the support to fulfil a 5 year plan and reap what he's sowing off the park, scouting and youth development. If Strachan was a foreigner he’d be given more room to breathe. But more importantly than all of that we need to get out of the SPL and change the environment. It's dead. We need more competition and this I honestly feel is the source of our core problems. Not playing two attacking midfielders, or 3 at the back, or Naka central. Not that these aren’t valid points for discussion and may have improved the football we’ve seen this season.
My argument is that 3 games is a joke crisis (as I'm sure you agree). 6 months of poor football has to be addressed, but that takes an entire close season to change personnel. A whole season not outstripping the rest as they currently stand would be a concern and losing the league given our off field superiority would not be acceptable. But we’re not, we’re winning. We’re bloody well winning the league at a canter…...again! A strategic decision on your most important employee has to be made on a longer term view. To my mind there is therefore no discussion to be had. I'm going to keep backing him until the problems are wholly of his own making, inexcusable and could have been reasonably avoided. Petrov leaving late, Maloney being an eejit and the failure of Gravesen and Jarosik, for me, are all bona fide reasons to sympathise and withdraw from attack. For a football philosophy that depends on midfield these kind of set backs are real blows. Let him fix it. Let us dream. 2007/08 holds great promise. Let’s go into it together, united, we’ll never be defeated.
Hail Hail
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Craig Bellamy had the chance to sign for us when he knew just how well he was thought of by the Celtic support and he walked away.
He has also blown his chance of sustained glory at Liverpool with his well publicised antics. Why should we bail him out now? I would rather spend 5million on someone new.
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Stephen
Do you think Celtic made a competitive offer for and to Craig Bellamy? Or did they make a token bid as they had to be seen to?
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I SPY ,
Cheers for the Info. I have heard he is to be made availible to Certain parties but this particular Rebel (Bellamy) would most certainly be up for a return to right a particular wrong in 2005.
Middle-england dosent just have that same appeal as it once did.
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BlantyreKev,
You've given that nail one almighty skelp square on the head. Very well put.
Hail hail
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I SPY,
Long time no hear,
I see you've been trying to get your handicap down :-)
Would be nice to see Craig back in the hoops - he's been missed - hope he's missed us.
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BKev-if you can persuade your dad to come back next season I think he'll find the SPL more competitive,if not much improved in terms of quality.
Next season is going to be the one that will answer a lot of questions that have been raised on these pages recently.Our European credentials in particular will be put to the test.
It will be interesting,to say the least.
And if nothing else,should sort the scorpions from the frogs`¬)
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Stephen ,
Well publicised antics turned over Barcelona on their own patch.
Therefore he could give our squad golf lessons any time!!!
Seriously , CB and Celtic at that particular time were not meant to be on either side. Now the time could be right.
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I SPY,
I remember you well - this site is legendary for abusing those in the know - dont let it worry you.
I for one would like to see you back mate - you have been missed.
Dont let them drive you out this time - stick around and some of us will back you up.
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-
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BlantyreKev
Good on you my man.
Try to persuade the aul'fella to continue if you can.
I wish mine was still around to have the option and the debate.
Incidentally don't be fooled by the Warszawabhoy.
I'm really a Burnbank Tim.
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Afternoon CQN
I SPY, cheers for the update.
At the time Craig had already decided not to sign for Celtic before the cup final. He was upset to leave as only a cup winner but the Premiership was the only place he wanted to be.
Unless of course Barcelona had followed up there tentative enquiry!!
#8
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whooosh!
yo peeps what gives???
busy busy busy...hopefully post later tonight,
seems the more things change...the more they stay the same....
Yo! paul...keep the faith sir!
Plato! yo!
DBBIA! yo!
this is for the kerrang csc
scorpions
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BlantyreKev
keep it comin.
a call to arms indeed.
thats what weve been needing.
lets get this show back on the road.
next year, well. lets see what the second "summer o celtic" brings.
it should be a good one. everything seems aligned.
as for bellamy,
we did not bid last time around.
strachan said it himself. it was one of the first questions he was asked as celtic manager.
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talk of team 1, team 2 and now team 3 puzzles me.
I dont want to dismantle and put together a new team every year. This isnt forward planning or strategy.
We should still be on the team 1 with a nucleus knitting together over the 2 years and adding quality to compliment what was already there.
For all the talk of meticulous planning, any talk of team 1,2 and 3 seem to contradict this.
lets hope is the A Team next year!!
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Aldo-that's given me an idea for Saturday.I'll fill up a cassette of'German Rock Classics'to listen to while I watch events unfold on the pitch.
Just to remind me of what real tedium is,you understand`¬)
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Gordon (that's his name you know) can't be faulted for effort if stories are to be believed.
I can't imagine what it must be like to try to control a group of adults with varying egos and attributes while trying to satisfy TGFITW and win/entertain.
Even the so-called creme de la creme of management (Wenger, Old red chops, Jose the Cheat) have bad periods.
Granted there seem to be some strange decisions made almost weekly now regarding team selection etc. but we don't know the full stories, and mostly never will.
One thing's for sure...Quite a few people on CQN know better than Gordon !!
We don't have a God given right to the best manager in the world as well as the best fans !?
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I can't help but feel a little disappointed with the debate over Deeks. Mainly because of the amount of criticism aimed at Strachan for not playing him rather than our criticism being aimed at the player.
First of all I think we can all agree that he is a cracking player and I think he has the potential to be a Celtic great. Sadly he wont be, but to blame the manager for this I think is extremely harsh as all the blame should lie with the player.
Riordan has been given the opportunity to live every Celtic fan's dream but because of his abysmal attitude he might as well be laughing in the face of us all. His off field behaviour is well documented. Going out getting wasted with the lads, abusing the police or whoever else gets in the way and being his generally not very nice self is completely unproffessional. We are Celtic not some pub team; he needs to show the club and the fans some respect.
Football players are human and it can't be expected for them to live their lives like robots, but there has to be limits, you can't go around acting like a ned. Some defend his behaviour by attributing it to his youth; but at 23/24 surely you should be over this sort of behaviour (frankly you should be over it at least by your 16 in my opinion)
Strachan is not the first to question his attitude. Even at Hibs Tony Mowbray was content with leaving a player of Deeks talent to sit on the bench because he had hungrier players on the park. Deeks got called up for the national team and he was soon dropped again because of question marks over his attitude.
Can Strachan really be blamed for not wanting to encourage such poisonous venom into the first team? Should we really be painting Riordan as this innocent young boy being grounded by an overly strict father figure? Of course not.
We should be be angry that someone can have so little regard for the club that we love so much. I don't know if Riordan's 9 lives are up already, I hope not because I think he is an extremely good footballer who can score some amazing goals. But if he still has a couple of lives left I hope he is thanking God that he has been giving such an opportunity and talent and no longer treats the club in such an appaling manner.
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mgm78
Thanks for posting the DR goals.
Hope you don't mind if I put the link thing in.
Could someone who knows about the finer points of the game please explain why DR is not a striker?
DR's goals
Awe naw....
Sorry for claiming that football was just a game. in my defence I can only claim a fleeting moment of temporary sanity.
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the right rev,
Sometimes managers say NO to questions when in fact the correct and truthful answer was YES.
The reason a wee white lie is told is to deflect the mountain of questions away that a YES answer would have brought.
A NO answer brings the debate to an instant halt.
About CB - we did not try and sign him when he went from Blackburn to Liverpool. GS did however speak to him before he joined Blackburn - CB was keen to stay at Celtic, very keen in fact, but his remuneration package was way above what the budget would have allowed.
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Fluffy Bunny,
since it´s near Easter. I´ll forgive you your relapse :-)
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st-gris
i take ure points yes/no/yes/no
i dont believe everything either.
we did not offer CB a contract.
bottom line.
i heard this from the horses mouth.
and yes he was keen.
i do agree he would at that time have been outwith our available budget too.
but i was only stating no offer was made to him.
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Rev,
No contract was offered because we knew he wouldnt have taken it - no point in wasting everyones time.
So are we agreeing to agree here?
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sounds like it...lol
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as much as i'd like it to happen if we couldn't afford bellamy then we can't now so we might as well look elsewhere
although one big striker signing could push us so far ahead of them and help us progress in europe
big vennegoor cacn't do it on his own and we can't rely on macdonald cutting it a champions league level
bellamy would sprint back to us if we could afford him
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I think the money might be there now. We had less money back then and we had a whole team to rebult so it would have been wasteful just to use it all on one player. Now we have a pretty good squad and are financially stronger with us making a hefty profit. We have a good squad but we lack one or two top quality players so we shouldn't need to make too much signings in the summer. He would greatly improve our options up front. Also he has had less injuries this season which might suggest he is less prone to them now which makes it less of a risk to spend big money on him.
While we have a budget we have been told that money will always be available to make the one or two big name signings like JVOH
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Are we going to see the return of any of our loan players this summer,eg Hoopslegend Adam Virgo?
-
i forgot about the mighty Virgo :-P
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Altogether now'Parttime supporter,you're just a parttime supporter'`¬)
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That George Galloway clip is amazing. I'm not a huge fan of him but that is hilarious, very true, and also very sad.
-
Talking of strikers.
Zaltan
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I think that it is perfectly feasable that we could afford Bellamy.
A couple of losses from the wage bill:
Lennon £30k
Balde £15k
Gravesen £45k
Miller £15k
Virgo £8k
Telfer £8k
Bellamy enjoyed being 'the main man' at Celtic Park. It is something a player like him thrives on. Bellamy is not the type of player who will accept a rotation system. So I do think he is a target worth discussing but as always big cash from down south will provide a major stumbling block.
If Bellamy does decide he wants to wear the hoops again then he will also need to take a pay cut. Lets face it the guy was a sensation when he played with us and anyone who says in different is just bitter about him leaving.
I know one thing, it will be a long and painful summer in the transfer market and we can expect to be bullied by the English clubs.
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Truetim,
The one thing in our favour with Bellamy - as opposed to most high profile premiership players - is that his international career will not suffer by moving north of the border.
This, coupled with the increased chance of more medals and continued participation in the UCL (which he has a decent chance of picking up a winners medal this season) in addition to the 'top man' status could ensure we don't fall down the pecking order of potential suitors.
Also, he has sampled the media attention wherever he has gone, so he won't be put off by that aspect, although he should be warned that his off field antics must cease immediately or his career will go nowhere fast.
I still believe we are a team lacking in pace and directness (Miller and Beattie are directionless) and Bellamy could provide the perfect foil for the classic big guy/little guy combo with JVOH.
I look forward to this season concluding with a happy ending so we can write off the footballing aspect since Christmas (San Siro apart) and look forward to phase 3.
Clap Clap
Happy Happy
;-D
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Blantyre Kev,
Agree entirely with your summation of the game in Scotland and the real cause of Celtic's poor form of late. Oh, that we could get into a better league. Maybe that article in the Guardian the other day offers a wee bit of hope.
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Truetim,
Balde is on far more than 15K. He´s on eof th etop 5 earners at CP I reckon.
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BALDE IS ON 28K A WEEK THIS SEEMS TO BE THE COMMON AGREEMENT
LENNON IS NEVER ON 30 K HE HAS HAD TO TAKE PAY CUTS TO STAY AS HE HAS GOT OLDER
I WOULD BE VERY SURPRISED IF VIRGO IS ON THAT MUCH AND GRAVESEN I BELIEVE IS ON £35K MAX. IF HE WAS ON 45K HE WOULD BE GETTIN BULLETED IN THE SUMMER.
HOWEVER YOUR POINT AS A WHOLE IS SOMETHING I HAVE LONG SAID GET RID OF THE DROSS TO FREE UP MONEY FOR QUALITY
-
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On the subject of Derek Johnstone sized pay packets-Hoopslegend Alan Thompson is on loan at bLeeds Utd-if Karma kicks in and they go down to div3 what chance of a return of our favourite Geordie?
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DBBIA,
Thommo's contract expires at the end of the season, but by only taking him on loan, Leeds are paying a minroty proportion of his salary, while we are still footing the bill for the remainder.
Either way, Thommo will not be back as a player at Celtic Park.
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TLW-thanks for that!
I look forward to seeing him finishing his career at Carlisle.If we are serious about Bellamy we would need to find a Thommo like player who can pass the ball over distances into the right space.!
I don't know about Zlatan-seems he just wants to wait for the chance to show off,rather than working hard to make things happen-like that other Swedish bloke we had.
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At 04/04/07 14:35, Warszawabhoy said…
BlantyreKev
Good on you my man.
Try to persuade the aul'fella to continue if you can.
I wish mine was still around to have the option and the debate.
*me tae, the mhan that ued tae sit me on the wee wall at the Jungle when Charles Patrick, the Wee Barra and the Juggler were playing, the same mhan that told me during the Real Madrid reign that no British team would win the European Cup until Celtic did as we had a history of being the first and also during the years in the wilderness that big Jock would be the next manager of Celtic even after he went tae Hibs.
The same wee mhan that used tae stand me outside of establishments with darkened windaes before the gemme as he had tae see a man inside, funny how he knew men in lots of different towns in Scotland, and then come out with a big grin on his face telling me that Charlie Tuly was my uncle.
Aye and the same mhan that wakened me early on the morning of Thursday, May 25, 1967 the Feast of Corpus Christi to accompany him tae Holy Mass down at St Martins in the Renton as we had a big day coming up.
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TTim-is it true that if you go into the Vatican archive and search for'Fastest Mass in living Memory'there is a whole cluster of claims from priests in Scotland for the 25th May 1967?
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Parkheadcumsalford
What article in the Herald was that?
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Some good points Paul, but I would like to make one that may already have been made (apologies, work has recently seriously curtailed the time I have to read/post on CQN). We have scored fewer goals at this stage than any season since 1962 apparently. When you think of some of the seasons we've had, that's a scary statistic. All may not be doom and gloom, but there are serious problems needing sorted.
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Having difficulty posting the last couple of days.
I am behind GS but I hope the public defence of his players is not what is happening behind the scenes, we are struggling big time to create score and defend, he needs to move on several players who for their own reasons are not doing it regularly.
Get this league won ASAP and rebuild for next term.
You can be sure RFC have noticed how to beat us, by being over physical they will continue with their policy of signing big physical players, we must have competitors with ability to overcome this.
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I luv George Galloway.
I alway's have.
P.S. Don't tell Mrs TT
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Bhoysfour,
The article was in the Guardian. It was about the possiblity of a super league being formed.
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Parkheadcumsalford
Thanks, i'll try and dig it up
Hail,Hail
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ants
whats so ridiculous about 1-0 being worth the same as 4-3?
in terms of points 1-0 is worht the same as 5-1.
didnt realise goal difference was now so important to us.
3 points is what every team thinks of when they play in the league, goal difference deosnt come into it.
by teh way you're wrong about gravesen, but you're proabably right about him getting sold as a result
and i would think that lennon could earn as much as that this year. as with all the older players and roy keane was included in this, he is one a low basic & high pay as you play rate, and he's played a lot this season.
ps stop shouting
phcs & bf
i read the article and thought the threat of a breakaway league was just that - no more than a threat. i could be wrong but i think the g14 are slightly worried about what uefa and platini have in store and are flexing their muscles to show who's really the boss.
re bellamy - we had the money for him originally - transfer fees and wages, it just looks like wgs wanted to spend it on more than one player.
in his time a celtic he played 12 games, had a hamstring injury, ended up on the front pages of the newspapers and behaved like a total neddy scumbag at a celtic supporters club dinner. for me theres too many things that can go wrong with im phsically and mentally to justify that sort of money. for that amount you need someone who can be relied upon to give good value by playing almost every week and keeping his nose clean.
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I was showing a potential buyer around a property today.
At the end of the viewing,he tell's me his dad know's me .He say's that he see's me at all the matches,but he hadn't until today known my name.
We get on to talking about The Sellic.
He say's that his dad has missed more matches this season than he has in the last 20 years,because of the style and standard of football that we are playing.
I admitted to him that, that was infact the same case with myself.
He told me that there are many long term members of his supporters bus,that are also in the same boat.He say's because of this the bus has made several losses this season.
Whilst the team is winning ,then we will put up with the standard and style of play that we are currently having to watch.
However the last month has brought many people forward who have expressed their view that the football is dire to watch.
If the last minute winners ,become last minute equalisers or losing goals.There will be an almighty clamour for the removal of Mr Strachan.
Just ask Estadio.
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TinyTim-
"There will be an almighty clamour for the removal of Mr Strachan.
"
There already is one.
Led by you.
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fluffy bunny @15.22,
I had a wee emotional moment watching young Dereks goals with "Sunshine on Leith" playing there. My emotion of Fir Park came flooding back when listening to the words and my love for Celtic came pouring through. I am not a Hibs fan but if i was at Hampden (even as a neutral) i dont think i could have watched John Collins (who is still very much a Celtic man incidentally) in the middle of the park, thinking of his dad, whilst leading Hibernian to the League Cup without shedding a tear.
Well done to the Proclaimers - a very strong song.
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PS - if you want to see next years player of the year go back to 15.22.
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Paul67
In always try and spread the word about CQN.
I tell every Celticman or Ghirl that i meet, to check the site .
I am a walking advert.
Anyway, i asked the same young lad if he had heard of CQN.
He asked me if "that was the quick news wan."
I offcourse said ,yes.
He said that he visited the site but wasn't a fan.
This is the best bit.
He then say's that it's like The Celtic View.That guy Paul is too biased.
He says i was on it the other day and he was even posting about how lucky we are to have Gordon Strachan.
He finished with.
"Amean, c'mon."
I did junp to your defense,and told him how much of a stand up guy you were.
I even said you were almost as nice a man as Martin 42,and BlantyreKev.
The names were however lost on him.
I want recompensed for the loss of credibility with my buyer,for trying to spread the CQN gospel.
He is still mulling over an offer for the flat.
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yo! noel! how ya diddling?
ive just put my thoughts on hold for a few weeks... been here before... just think that the attitudes of certain individuals merits reflection,
can peeps ever be happy?
seems to be some peeps happier when we are losing or not playing well....you know , the ones who just love to say ' i told you so'
why the references to black sunday when we have endured worse results... or is it a case of primacy/recency that peeps seem to lose sight of the big picture...
im chilled out and happyish, we are having a wee blip ...it happens to all teams...we shall overcome...im just going to take every name we are linked to with a pinch of salt...seasons not even finished and we are being linked to all and sundry....gonna be a long hot summer indeed...
DBBIA- remember and put some MSG on yer MP3 tape thingy for saturday...
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Noel90
Nice to hear from you.
We will share a beer at Aberdour,and no doubt chew the cud.
I would only be happy if he is replaced, by a better manager.
Unlike Paul, i can think of a few.
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Tinytim, the day Gordon was appointed I also could think of someone better, Paul Le Guen. Hmmm.
Regarding the young lad you were speaking to; he is, of course, wrong. The Celtic View would never publish an article of support for Gordon Strachan.
We cannot all be right.
Been in Fife all day funnily enough, lovely day, but there are a lot of confused souls there.
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aw naw, so only informed opinions count on this blog? your rants are overflowing with illinformedness, does this mean your opinions also dont count?
my illinformed opinion is that WGS is doing a superb job in the current football economic climate, I wonder how many targets slip through celtics net? many I would imagine (is imagination allowed when stating ones opinion?) Im sure we will never know the reality of Celtics hard work in this, shame really as it might shut up the tripe uttererring pessimists on this blog
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yo! paul, indeed fife is a lovely place, recommend the 'secret bunker' ....might be a good place for the mineshafters to hold their annual 'daylight shunning' convention :-)
must be the weather leading to acute confusion among the peeps in fife....or the fact that gretna are looking good for promotion while st johnstone arent....
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chelsea 1-0 down
man united 0-0 but down to ten men
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The discipauls are out in force again it seems.
Last season I compared Maloney unfavourably with Shaun Wright-Phillips and warned that if Wright-Phillips couldn't make it happen at the biggest clubs, Maloney had less of a chance and was condemned for that viewpoint, now he's left Celtic its perfectly natural to air this view given that Paul has stated it.
Re: Strachan.
Insight leads me to believe he is getting it wrong, even if results are going okay. So many indicators point negatively in Strachan's direction but results have generally gone his way.
There doesn't seem to be any genuine structure to Strachan's teams (that might be his biggest weapon) but it certainly means there is not such thing as a form book.
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Yo ! Aldo
TinyTim-
It's your round........
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I mean instinct, obviously. :-)
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yo!noel...
ahhh the memories... :-)
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Sadly none of the mineshafters or malcontents choose to answer the questions in my post of 23:02, was it just me or are the questions to hard?
Maybe both?
Oregonbhoy
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Rooney has equalised. 1-1
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oregonbhoy
1) Depends on the team you wish to create?
2) Most of Strachan's buys, Riordan who he doesn't play, and only bought because Rangers were going for him should play, where others take his place.
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2-1 Roma!
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oregonbhoy>
maybe because there are no correct answers....
1)gordon strachans position is good, he has silverware in the past and about to be delivered this year...most clubs stick by a manager that is a proven winner(disregarding the paucity of opposition in the spl).. this has a 2 way effect in the resultant endless speculation that other clubs may desire his skills...
2) as someone earlier alluded to the fact that we dont know for certain just how many players have slipped through our net... perhaps our improved scouting system will mean less possibilities of this happening in future....
we all have our 'dream team' of who we would love to see in the hoops but then there is the reality...
i am not a mineshafter but i recognise their defensive pessimism as a coping strategy....
slan
aldo
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Do any of the mineshafters work in advertising?
I picked up my semi-final tickets at CP today and, on the drive back,I spotted a huge billboard for Betfair.com at the junction of London Road and Springfield Road. The tagline said:-
It's only a long shot till the favourite falls.
Come on, who put that up outside CP? Does Davie Murray own a billboard company?
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Celtic u19s won 2-1 at Pittodrie in the cup semi.
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Pggtips,
discipauls???
Is that the happy clappers that are under this strange illusion that Celtic FC are NOT in a massive crisis because Paul67 is controlling the guilable masses!
Thanks I have seen the light!
ChairbhoypggtipsApaulstle!
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This article is as right for the agin as yours is for the for.
http://www.celtic.vitalfootball.co.uk/article.asp?a=59752
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St Mirren 1 Hibs 1
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Pggtips, Aldo67 - thanks for the reply Lhads, I think the reality issue is the real source of frustration we're seeing on CQN, Reality is we're stuck with Gordon Strachan because a) He's been a success. b)None of the "big" names will come to Scotland. ditto the players.
We have to work with what we've got and accept that "top class" is not something we'll see (like Henrik) unless we're lucky.
Hence my questions to the mineshafters/malcontents - "HOW WOULD YOU FIX IT"? (names of managers/players please)
Not an unreasonable request?
The reason I'm so interested is that since the likes of Kevin Kuranyi, Alex Frei etc. would have no ambitions to come here, who're the alternatives?
Huntelaar? doubt that as well.
Oregonbhoy
StillinterestedandwaitingCSC
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IaninJesi
Great news. Thanks for posting it.
BlantyreKev and Tontine Tim
Great posts about your auld fellas.
Estadio. Great stuff.
Well done lhads.
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Ian
I meant the U-19s, not the St Mirren-Hibs result.
Although, come to think of it, St Mirren will need a result on Sunday. We could be champions before the last Mass of Easter Sunday.
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bhoy molloy> ticV, the 'author' of that piece on tribal football was on here last night posting as Cel....
scroll back...im sure you will find it interesting...
respecting everyones right to freedom of speech and having the rigth to opinions, i find the whole slant of the article pompous,negative and delusionary...where are his positives? where are his suggestions about changing the situation?
i would incur a language violation if i wrote exactly what i thought ... :-)
for example about 2206hrs
"I'll drop in from time to time for a wee laugh, its been fun tonight"
not very credible...
theres enough peeps here on the wind up!!!!
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Bhoy Molloy @ 21:36
I can't remember a time when I've seen an article so full of "if"s.
TicV"Establishment" or "Cel" as he's known on here has obviously got an issue with our manager.
Here's one... "If Celtic never scored 2 goals on 25 May 1967, we'd still be waiting to win the big one!" But we did!
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Bhoy Molloy
What was right about that article?
It works on the principle of "If your auntie had extra bits, she'd be your uncle."
It speculates that this is a closer contest than we think because PLG won us the league and, anyway, it would only be a 4 point gap if rangers had done better against ICT. There's no logic there, just a twisting of established facts to strengthen a weak argument.
All you need to play that game is to say:- We beat a rangers team managed by the most sought after manager in Europe and, anyway, if we won all our games, we'd have a 34 point lead over rangers, therefore WGS is the best manager in the history of the world ever ever ever.
One thing I'd say in favour of the main poster there (seems they only have a few)is that he's taken up the challenge set by oregonbhoy and suggested that Celtic's next manager be either Tommy Burns or Craig Levein. I'm no kiddin.
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I was wondering why ianinjesi telling us Hibs and St Mirren drawing 1-1 was great news. Then I scrolled up ;-)
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Thats what its all about. The ifs and buts, but there is some truths agin as there is truths for ;-)
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oregonbhoy> you are getting closer to an answer...
from my own perspective (work in progress)im thinking its a collective grieving reaction...
currently we are in a state of anticipatory loss and usually the first emotion is anger...
normality will resume after this transitory loss period when the league is won and dare i say it a cup final win will soothe those raw nerves that have been triggered over the last few weeks...
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john_h
The moral of the story is: don't start a post on CQN and then go into another tab to buy a train ticket before coming back to finish and post your bons mots in case the CQNer you mention has posted something totally different in the interim.
Put that on a tea towel.
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SFTB - Main poster? taken up challenge? TB or Levein (your'e joking right!)
WHERE?
Oregonbhoy
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Horrified to read that Craig Bellamy is once more being linked with us in order to get a big money move elsewhere.
Gordon Strachan is too good a manager to sign an egotist like him.
He is not worth the money! He's far too disruptive in the dressing room! He is not a team player!
Stay in Liverpool Craig. You had your chance with us and didn't exactly set the heather on fire.
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bhoymolloy> its nothing to do with ifs and buts...its facts that count man!!!!
lazy journalism...
just wondering if i could change my blogname to ' maauntiesbaws'
slan
aldo
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I hope the winner of the CL comes from:
AC Milan, PSV (I know), Bayern Munich, Man Utd, Liverpool, but none of the other three.
Who can work out why, from a Celtic point of view?
All right, not St Anthony's or Martin42, but the answer is there to be worked out.
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I have shamelessly lifted this from another site.
I am glad to see that i am not alone in my views.
Vital Celtic member TicV"Establishment" shares his thoughts on what Gordon Strachan has achieved at Parkhead - and suggests that a change of management in the summer wouldn't necessarily be a bad thing...
By TicV"Establishment"
Surely, as Strachan is a mere employee of OURS, albeit an extremely highly remunerated one, it is worth bearing in mind that WE FANS, as collective employers, have the ultimate P45 issuing rights, to all and any of OUR employees, even managers who treat us employers with utter sarcastic contempt.
And, before any blind faith fans pipe up with the "We're 13 points ahead so what's the problem," here are some facts for your digestion:
* Had Rangers even taken full points from just Caley this season, they would be only four points behind us now! And that's just taking their Caley results into the equation!
* Paul Le Guen is the ONLY reason we are about to pick up the SPL title - stop deluding yourselves, please.
* We were totally humiliated in Copenhagen by a team full of hammer-throwers!
* We needed a fortunate penalty at home to sneak a win against said hammer-throwers at Paradise!
* We were again totally humiliated and were lucky to only lose by three in Portugal!
* We had our only really memorable performance in TWO entire seasons against Benfica at home - and that only extended to ONE solitary half of a game!
* Manchester United - let's be brutally honest here - over both legs we were the most fortunate team in living memory NOT to have conceded at least seven or eight, and but for Artur's magnificent save from Louis Saha's poor effort, we'd have been out on our arses yet again! And deservedly so...
* Over Two Legs PLUS extra time against one of the poorest AC Milan sides in recent times, we failed to produce even one single goal attempt worthy of the name! So Celtic traditions for attractive attacking football under Strachan are a thing of the past, it seems.
* Strachan has turned even the easiest of domestic league and cup games into a dour, turgid battle from start to finish, usually requiring a desperate late goal to rescue either a point or the game! And how can we forget all those humiliating defeats to lower league opponents, which saw us meekly bundled out of various cup competitions, eh?
* His signing policy has been a disgrace, with at least 70 per cent of them "not being fit for purpose," a political comment which is very apt here! Even when he has managed to bring any quality to the squad, he either conveniently forgets he signed them or he plays them out of position! Not to mention his nonsensical tactical decisions to play with TWO holding midfielders in SPL matches??? But then again, the Dunfermlines, St Mirrens and Dundee Uniteds, etc, of this world are such dangerous opponents, eh...?!?
* He has spent vast sums of OUR hard earned cash to assemble a squad of players, who in the overwhelming majority are just not of the standard required!
* He has produced the lowest scoring "title winning" Celtic side in living memory!
* The ONLY reason things have been so rosy in our "garden" for the past two growing seasons is purely down to the fact that the other growers at Rangers and Hearts have been watering their crops with vinegar, while our grower has been happily heaping far too much manure all over our allotment...
* Hearts, but for Vlad's intervention, would have won last season's title, let's not kid ourselves on that one, while Rangers during the same period were self imploding under big Eck's management, or was it Bazza's management? Either way, Strachan was the main beneficiary of their kind generosity.
Facts are such a hard thing to swallow at times but two years of both footballing and goalscoring mediocrity is more than enough Gordon, thanks very much.
We may rightly be shocked and alarmed at our lack of goals over those two years, however, the most shocking stat of all is that of the paltry tally we've actually "managed" to score, only a small percentage have actually been scored from open play!
Strachan had no track record before he came to OUR club, and he will leave it the same way. The fact that he has had to resort to basically rebuilding OUR team twice every season (thank God there are only two transfer windows, eh) should tell us that he constantly keeps messing even his own plans up!
How much more of OUR cash will he be allowed to fritter away?
The board of course love him because he tows the "financial" party line, but the board should remember that its OUR club that WE collectively allow them to look after on OUR behalf.
We are the most faithful and knowledgeable group of fans on the planet, and they should also bear in mind, that WE are also the most powerful group of fans on the planet, when roused from our slumber.
Boards, managers and players come and go, that is the nature of both business and football. OUR club IS and always HAS been the FANS, and WE are the ones who will ALWAYS remain.
Hail, Hail - and remember, keeping the faith doesn't mean blind faith.
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Evening Bhoys,
How are you all, still arguing over a CHAMPION TEAM?
Tinytim,
Ialways meant to ask you about your breakfast with Tony, were you impressed but more importantly, WAS TONY IMPRESSED?
DOES HE READ C Q N?
WHAT YA MEAN YOU DON'T KNOW,
Seriously though was the morning all you had hoped for?
I will be mailing a few of you tomorrow.
MON THE HOOPS,
Martin.
P S, TT,
You are right I am twice as nice.
Martin.
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Celtic_first none of the other 3 have ever won the trophy.
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GL2
Well done.
The fewer teams that can lay claim to it, the greater the prestige for those that have already.
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TinyTim just read your mail and burst out laughing. Brilliant.
Celti_First I agree and the sooner the English huns gte put out of some competition the sooner I will sleep easier.
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oregonbhoy
If you must waste 30 seconds of your life, then here you are.
The main poster TicV "Establishment", who was on here as Cel last night and whose thoughts were reproduced by tiny tim above, shares his thoughts on our new manager in the What You Think section at the bottom of this page.
alternatives to WGS
tiny tim
Were you honestly proud to be associated with that piece of contrivement? I thought you were better than that. Tic V really needs to look up the definition of the word fact.
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Aldo - Yes, until next season.
Some of the things that bother me on CQN is the "Celtic Class" (or not) and entitlement brigades, for me as a Celtic supporter of 50yrs+ I've seen lots of players a few managers and still haven't figured out exactly what's "Celtic Class"
to most on here.
Would "Celtic Class" be the L. Lions? well that kind of unfair because they were extra special a one off team.
Jinky - again unfair, a talent and person we'll, sadly, never see again.
Henrik - Again SPECIAL.
To me "Celtic Class" is people like Billy McNeill, Paul McStay, Jock Stein - all with their flaws, all with dignity but identifiable with US.
"Celtic Class" is the Fhans at the end of the Man U games, the same Fhans applauded by the Milanese recently, by the people of Seville and the Villareal supporters.
Entitled? yes we're the paying customer, we entitled to the best the Celtic organisation can give us, if they cannot deliver another Lisbon Lions, Jinky, Henrick, BMcN or PMcS as long as they TRY their best then what more can we ask for.
THEY can't force the cream of the football world to arrive at Celtic park because the Fhans are ENTITLED!
My question to the Mineshafters and Malcontents remains - HOW WOULD YOU FIX IT.
Oregobhoy
expectingtowaitalooooongtimeCSC
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Martin42
I have no strong political leanings.
I thought that he was awesome.
He had a brilliant sense of humour.
He even mocked my post Milan "poolball" haircut.
The head of the Scottish chamber of commerce was also a great orator.
I can't remember his name ,but do recall that he was an Edinburgh solicitor.
I suppose you would exoect no less from a PM ,however he was very personable and humerous.
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watchow
have we lost a title on goal difference in the last 5 years?
that is the answer to the question "does it matter"
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where to start with that rubbish?
anyone one out there buying into that nonsense let me know so i can scroll past anything you post in the future.
absolute sweary words.
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22.29 oregonbhoy.
The board have to concentrate on getting Celtic into the EPl or a new European league.
A league that provides us with TV revenue ,so that we do not have to force the top players to come to us.
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SFTB
What can i say?
The article echoed much of my disatisfaction with how we are performing.
For many i will be in the wrong ,whilst we keep winning.
I hope that i am in the wrong forever.
I wish i was more satisfied with our performances.The rseults are fine,it's just dire to watch.
I would not swap it for, great to watch but still get beat,however.
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Garbage like that is one of the reasons I read CQN and not other sites like vital football and the huddleboard.
'Let's be brutally honest' I could spin the entire thing to make Strachan sound like Stein just as easily as that joker has spun it the other way. Hearts would have won the league last year, I ask you?
Tinytim, you sell yourself short, your views are far more worthwhile than TicV''Establishment''. No spin from you, despite your brush with the king of spin!
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tinytim>that 'article' is so full of holes ye could drain yer spuds in it....
its all ifs buts and maybes...
'if rangers won their games against caley they would be 4 points behind' etc etc...
sheer conjective manipulation and distortion of reality....
for 'vitalfootball'
read 'spitefullfootball'
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tinytim
A gracious reply. Hard to disagree with what you say there.
What was posted from Vital Football was , however, shock jock thinking such as you'd find on Real Radio, Daily Record and other subscribers to the blame culture.
Blantyre Kev's post of 14.09 says it all about what we have in common in our dissatisfaction with our current lot but doesn't arrive at a "shoot the messenger" conclusion.
Night all.
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tinytim - Agreed, and I believe that is ongoing.
Are you a mineshafter/malcontent?
Perhaps you'd like to answer the questions on.
1)Who should the new manager be?
2)Which players should we expect to arrive a Celtic Park with said manager?
SFTB - That guys either got his head stuck up his own butt or he's a hun plant! Burns,Levein? do me a favour, last year it was T Mowbray, next season?????
Oregonbhoy
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I don’t know what age Cel, or whatever else he calls himself is but he sounds like a daft wee laddie.
Hearts would have won the league?? They didn’t. end of.
Man U should have scored 7 or 8. The only other person that thinks that was a guy kicked out of rangers many moons ago.
Losing to Raith Rovers in a cup final is rubbish
Losing to Falkirk in a cup semi – after a replay – is rubbish
Battering rangers teams and losing is rubbish
Losing 5-1 to some Swiss mob is rubbish
Losing 3-1 to Inverness Caley in the cup - at home - is rubbish
As is losing 1-0 away.
The Croy bus having to share with the Kirky bus due to lack of support is rubbish
Winning the league, and we will, is brilliant. Competing in the CL is brilliant.
We are in a successful period.
This season I have enjoyed Naka doing something fantastic in almost every game, I’ve seen Aiden turn guys inside out, I’ve seenKenny Miller score!! I’ve seen Mick clatter someone, I’ve seen Artur making great saves, I’ve seen Graveson’s sheer maddieness, I’ve seen Evander showboating etc, etc.
This season I’ve seen CQN at its worst
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I'm beginning to wonder whether some of the people on here actually read the posts.I think they just skim them and post based on their perception of what they think they read.
Ian in Budapest
From my posts last night,I said that this would be a successful season if we picked up the remaining trophies on offer.I also stated that I wasn't advocating WGS's removal by any stretch,just that there were some questions around team performance and selection that should be open to debate with reasoned arguments.
How does that make me a malcontent?
As for the perspective on our big signings,Jan has dome well when fit.Riordan has skelfs in his bum and Jarosik and Gravesen have fallen behind Lennon,Sno and Hartley in the midfield pecking order.They have not brought the class and ability that they undoubtedly possess and have been unable to establish themselves as our prefered midfield pairing.Is that what you'd expect from these guys,or is a bit-part role enough?
I don't think bringing these guys to the club to be squad players is acceptable and I personally expected more,therefore I believe they have failed to deliver as I expected they might.It's just my opinion,feel free to disagree.But don't tell me I'm acting like a spoiled child for demanding more from them.
If this blog is to maintain it's standards,then it has to allow all views to be shared irrespective of how far removed from your own opinion it might be.How ironic that it took our resident Edward Ursus last night to point out to everyone what this blog used to be about.
Maybe it will be again.
BankieBhoy
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ants
of course its better for goal difference to win by 4 goals than 1, but points win a league championship not goal difference. a win is a win is a win. and 1-0 is worth 3 points like 5-1
i cant get excited about things like goal difference over the coarse of a season.
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I'm closing the mineshaft
I couldn't bear to put up with the half of ye.
Understand this.....from the bottom of the mine.....this is a poor celtic team and a very ordinary celtic manager.....let's hope he finds his role making MAN City a mid table team.
GET KEANE NOW
if we don't it's down the hill and into the mineshaft.
KEANE
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Timmy 7,
What a very refreshing post.
Can I use it in the future?
If anything could be added it might just beb that this season we have seen the much maligned Paul Telfer accepted and actually missed.
Keep up the good work.
Tinytim,
Like you I am not very impressed with our form this season.
The reason it has been poor is all down to the lack of goals.
Other teams know we are having difficulty scoring, so they play to contain us and attack us at the same time.
The reasons for this are varied.
One will tell you it is because of Neil Lennon, dictating the speed of play, others say it is because Aiden and Naka are not supplying enough quality balls, other say it is because the forwards are incapable of putting the ball in the net,and finally other say it is because the players are rubbish.
Maybe there is a bit of truth in each reason, but like you I still want to win each game in whichever way it happens.
Winning is the most important element of a game of football and you well know my thoughts on who gains when WE do not win.
I am glad you enjoyed your breakfast with Tony, irrespective of your political leanings.
I said to you at the time, that I hoped it would be all that you wanted it to be, and I am glad that it was.
Cheers,
Martin.
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Martin
Your friend Nominatim here.....just having a final CQN review before heading tomorow to watch son Tony's team play in in a tournament in Prague.
As ever, like your insight and wisdom! I accept that lack of goals is the main problem, but I do agree with the guys that pin the fundamental problem down to the midfield. I always think in the big games that count the team that controls the midfield wins. Too often we're not in that position. Hopefully that will change for next season.
Cheers
Nominatim
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Celtic_First 22:08
I completely agree and it is something I've always stuck with. e
Even though I hate the way the EPL is overhyped I would still support Liverpool or Man Utd in a final against a team like Valencia.
The fewer teams that have won the Big One then the more prestigious is our victory. I just wish we'd won it a second time so we could rightfully rank ourselves above the likes of Aston Villa and Hamburg.
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We were fined for our fans possibly throwing 2 plastic bottles in the direction of the pitch in Milan.
Man U and Roma fans have rioted inside and outside the stadium tonight. It will be interesting to see the punishments handed out.
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lyon get £135m warchest
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martinobhoy Celtic first
Valencia have been a top team for almost a decade if they win their first EC in Athens it would be deserved.
My proudest moment in Europe with Celtic (outside of Seville) is taking Valencia to penalties in 2001.
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Paul,
I agree (mostly) with the article. I haven't read the blog for a few days, but can well imagine that there may be some unhappiness.
I have been a big supporter of Mr Strachan, and I still am. I have criticised other supporters who have shown no appreciation for what he has done.
That being said, there are decent ingredients for a good discussion. The team seems to have run out of gas. The manager needs to get them going again. He is not limited by a very small pool.
There are several players (many of whom he signed) who are sitting on the sidelines. These are all facts.
Some supporters wonder why the team isn't being 'freshened up'. It is getting painful to watch Lennon and Beattie. A lot of supporters think they could do with a wee seat, and point to the likes of Riorden, Graveson, Majic and some of the younger players who might give us a fresh look....and may even cause the opposition coaches to have to think about how we might play.
For the record, I had great hopes for Beattie, and I still hold the view that Lennon has been a genuine hero.
But Gordon needs to find a way to have us end the season on a true high. To have us going into the summer with a spring in our step and real hope for the future.
He's got a good platform from which to do this. A platform that he created. 13 points and in the cup semi.
I don't think that it is too much to expect, given the squad that he has available.
Doesn't mean I want him run out of town and replaced with, who is it now, Roy Keane???? Not at all. I want him to stay and go on to be one of the top 2 managers that we ever had.
I just wish he'd give himself a helping hand over the next few days and weeks.
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Kevtic
Would love to stay up and debate this but I really have to go to bed. I agree that Valencia are probably deserving of a European Cup victory as are Lyon but as there are only about 20 or so sides that have won it I like the fact that we are in that company while teams like PSG, Lyon, Valencia, Roma, Chelsea & Arsenal are not.
And for what it is worth I thought the UEFA Cup game against Valencia was one of the best European nights at Celtic Park in recent years. Right up there with Barcelona, Benfica, Juventus and Man Utd.
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what do you call a rangers fan with a bottle of champagne?
:0)
waiter!!! :-)))
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Tinytim I'm really glad you stepped up and posted that you've given me a good giggle before bed.
Actually I think your a really clever chap, I haven't seen as cunningly put together a way of clamping down on the negativity by showing just how much nonsense the majority of it is. Well done that man.
My favourite is:
"Had Rangers even taken full points from just Caley this season, they would be only four points behind us now! And that's just taking their Caley results into the equation!"
Thats pure brilliance. Statistics in action. So hang on, are you trying to suggest...if Rangers...had WON...ALL of their games...they would have won the leauge. Man. Now that is telling stuff.
Next you'll be telling me if Celtic under Strachan had lost ALL of our games we'd never have got through in Europe, would be out of the Scottish cup and relegated. What? That's true? Well clearly we should sack Strachan NOW!
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This season I’ve seen CQN at its worst
Sack the Manager!
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Aw Naw @10:22 yesterday. Thanks for your reply.
You said you were isulted by my post and took umbrage at me categorizing you as negative minded.I have no problem at all with you having your opinions. After all thats what blogging is about.
I rarely post much these days. I'm too busy reading the many contributors who are far better than I am at putting forward their views. I spend the rest of my available limited time researching news suitable for Quick News.
When I occasionally post a view its usually because something triggers me to do so. Your statement about the lead article being frequently changed to avoid you (my paraphrase),I just found it ludicrous and in my mind offensive to the person who writes those lead articles so that we can all debate them.(I have no idea what Paul thinks and he for sure wont enter this debate).
I do think CQN is a great blogsite, but occasionally it goes tilt, usually over religion, perceived agendas,certain players, manager etc.
We've had the Half Glass Full/Empty debate, the happy clapper, pro-board, Celtic Pravda outlet stuff, the malcontents, mineshafters etc. None of this is constructive and only serves to increase the occasional infight and tilt.
CQN will survive, it has faced mored difficult times. It will survive because the good outweighs the not so good.
I do feel that from time to time (usually when Celtic are in a not so good patch) there is an increased level of acrimony and a certain amount of "piling" on, mainly aimed at the Blog owner. That's my opinion and once in a blue moon (why the heck cant it be green) I pitch in because I happen to think thats unfair.
So democracy prevails. Life goes on.
I will climb back onto my perch and shut up for a while.
Look forward to seeing your future contributions on Celtic issues.
Hail, Hail.
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Ah no one around.
Safe to comment without fear of a verbal volley.
It has been a dark few days on CQN with only a few moonbeams penetrating the darkness of the mineshaft / moanshaft.
I am not sure how some people can see us on the brink of a disaster while we stand on the doorstep of a league and cup double. But I know it's the Celtic way and has always been thus.
I have just emailed the burger van owner in the car park advising him to stock up on burgers, square sliced sausage, well fired rolls and Irn Bru as car park protesters will soon emerge in force. Who was it said an army marches on its stomach?
There will be no need to ensure he has plenty of propane for cooking as most of the protesters will prefer their meat raw.
It was heartwarming to read some posters speak of the influence their dads had on them. Mine had an expression which may be appropriate for these self induced low confidence days:
"Sometimes you have to take the rough with the soor."
Hopefully we can all forget this family wrangling and in a few weeks be united in congratulating the management and team, rejoicing in our second successive and successful SPL campaign.
'GG waiting for normal service to resume.
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Good morning.
The Good News.
John Yorkstones Dunfermline-aka "the team that lay down"-aka "Hunfermline"- stand on the brink of relegation.
Send them down M'lud.......
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04/04/07 23:57 watchow said...
lyon get £135m warchest
Just to give a wee bit of insight into this ITV story.
They may well have a budget of 200M euros next year, but this won't all be spent on players as the story suggests. Lyon have just become the first French club to float on the French Bourse and have a wad of cash.
They will soon start to build a brand new stadium on the edge of town that will have the usual add-ons (shops, hotel, housing, restaurants etc). I'd wager that a large part of the budget will be spent financing the initial build.
(Lyon currently rent their stadium from the local city council).
Aulas is a hard-nosed businessman and is probably the last person in the French league you'd expect to fritter away that amount on players and their salaries.
What is sure is that the current team is coming to the end of it's 5 year cycle and will be overhauled. The cash for this will come from sale of players (asset management !), sponsoring and French tv cash from CanalPlus which is up there with the previous EPL deal.
One final point. Few people in the French media expect Houllier to be in the hot-seat by end July. Claude Puel, manager of Lille, is hotly tipped to replace him. No mention of Paul Le Guen :)
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Timlord;
Move over i'm joining you in the
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Lets get Roy K in now!
PS have brought fresh bread and vino.
JonG
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I'm confused about the claim that "had rankers won their games against ICT, they'd only be 4 points behind".
As far as I can figure, rankers are, currently, 13 pts behind us. They have dropped 8 points (2 losses, 1 draw) to ICT. Surely, then, the gap would be 5 points???
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JonG any more of this mineshaft malarky I will blow the joint up..........
I do NOT want Roy Keane as manager!! I wud prefer Paul Daniel's coz he's magic..... :>)))
HailHail
SPCwhohasfaithinWGS
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Timlord / JonG
Managing Sunderland for 6 months makes you Celtic manager material does it?
Obviously our ambitions for Celtic must be different, I don't think either Martin O'Neill Gordon Strachan had the credentials but crucially they had been a manager for more than 5 minutes.
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martinobhoy....i know what you mean it was a scunner against feyenoord
but we where the first british and north european team to win it, so that will still be there in all major conversations on the cup itself
mon the hoops
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Morning Singapore and TMC;
Nothing like a wake up call to liven things up.
Roy Keane is a born winner and would i'm sure take the club up to another level.
WGS(note the use of proper name) has been fortunate that the premier league this season is the worst i can ever remember and as to team selection i don't care whether or not Derek Riordan is an alleged serial killer.Your innocent until proven guilty, and if he's good enough for the bench he should have been good enough to bring on when we have needed him on numerous occassions this season.
DD will bring RK in.
He is a big big fan of the man,and i have no doubt whatsoever he is the man to take the club forward.
Thank you very much Gordon for your contribution but that's football.
JonG
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JonG
Football is filled with born winners, I just set my sights higher than a managerial rookie - irrespective of the playing career.
Someone thought the same of John Barnes one day you know.
Similarly, Florentino Perez said the same thing to Vincente Del Bosque one day - 'thanks very much but goodbye'. The odds of appointing 3 succesful managers in a row are extremely slim.
Marcello Lippi - now there's a proven winner.
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TMC;
I understand your point but in Roy Keane we have an individual who is a born leader and winner and someone who would succeed at any sport he tried.
I just think he is the right choice and would add the drive and passion i feel is missing to take us back up to the next level.
My opinion,and i stand by it.
Keep an ear to the ground and you might be surprised where a similar opinion eminates from later in the week.
JonG
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BankieBhoy, you wonder why I liken you to a spoiled child when you glibly write:
"So far,we've achieved the minimum requirement in the CL for me."
What does your statement mean? Did you harbour ambitions of us winning the CL this year?
I would love for Celtic to win the CL and if we're ever to do it I'll be a very proud and ecstatic supporter. However, I recognise that this would be a remarkable achievement given our current situation in the SPL. The success of the Lisbon Lions, great as it was, would be in no way comparable. So what does that leave in terms of CL requirements? Well for me, given that our team had never reached the last 16 of that competition, stating that as a minimum requirement is simply unfair. I don't believe that you would have said that at the start of the season. Am I right or wrong? What was your "minimum" expectation then?
"From my posts last night,I said that this would be a successful season if we picked up the remaining trophies on offer."
What you actually said the night before was as follows:
"So far,we've achieved the minimum requirement in the CL for me,but I'm quite happy with the way the season may go in terms of trophies won too.However,there have been failings by the manager and his performance and the teams overall performances should be able to be discussed or questioned as long as the arguments are reasoned."
Frankly, in the context of your post, this doesn't come across as a glowing endorsement of our successful season so please excuse me for interpreting it as the words of a malcontent who reluctantly admits we are doing well.
BankieBhoy, as for your reasoned arguments, these amount to no more than you think such and such a player is doing well/badly or the manager is doing well/badly. What you present is your description of the way we are playing. Like many of the mineshafters, at no point do you offer any in-depth analysis of the problems our team is facing or their causes. The closest we seem to get to that from the "malcontents" is that old Neil Lennon - and therefore our midfield - is too negative/slow/ponderous etc.
Oddly, as a so-called happy-clapper, I think that Lennon is negative/slow/ponderous too. However, I'm forced to think more deeply about it when every Celtic player, the management team and virtually all our opponents consistently rave about Neil's value to our team. Are we perhaps missing something? Is our understanding of football all that it could be?
Finally, coming back to your original point, I don't really give two hoots which of our players are making it into the team as long as the team is successful. I'm actually a big fan of Graveson, because when he plays we tend to display more forward movement and therefore the football is more pleasing to watch. But if he were to sit on the bench all season it would mean for me that our other players were performing better in training and in competitive matches. What we all seem to forget in our discussions is that few if any of us see the former, only the latter - and I wonder if some of us actually open our eyes during those :). Does anyone really believe that WGS picks his side on any other basis than merit? I for one don't and this means that the players out on the park are the ones that he thinks will win us the match. And surprise, surprise, we are winning so many matches that we are streets ahead in the SPL.
Anyhow, please accept my apologies for the spoiled child jibe, it was intended in jest to illustrate my point and not something to be taken seriously.
PS Since you expected me to read all of your posts from the Tuesday evening, did you take the time to go back and read my own from Sunday morning?
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JonG
In fairness, Keane has impressed me in his conduct as a manager but my earlier points stand.
Anyway, my official stance is we'd be mental to consider removing the manager.
TMC
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CanajunBhoy,
With regards and thanks to you polite reply from At 05/04/07 02:35
I would like to state a few things.
I said that I believe that Paul67 changes the thread strategically due to a desire to protect Celtic. I also stated that this was a good thing for Celtic but bad for the blog. I did not expect Paul67 to take such personal umbrage and attempt to do some coffee table e-psychological profiling on why I though was this was the case. A bad and very revealing move on his part I reckon. I actually expected him to come out and state when and why he changes the agenda after all I was far from being the only person who thought this to be the case. I also thought by doing so it would be more credible.You made the mistake of believing that I thought that this was some personal thing to do with changing the thread after one of MY post(s) in particular. Not true.
I still stand by this and so do many others seemingly. Paul67 can choose when and when not to enter the fray with regards such discussions only detracts from the blog. He should stay aloof or discuss pertinent points. With regards the machinations of the blog or any queries pertaining to it and not its content I think it would be proper to answer in an unemotional way. What he considers to be pertinent and not is of course entrirely up to him. Regular contributers will then make their own judgements based on that reaction or no reaction.
Unlike Paul67 I never questioned WGS´s tenure. I was with him even after Artmedia. You wont find a post from me advocating that stance. I have posted that I am more worried that WGS will walk away. I have regularly posted that financially the board are doing a fine job. I have recently pointed out that yes we have achieved much this season but in an unexciting and boring way. Just the truth. Yet if you disagree with something on here or question a legitimate aspect of the blog and lets be honest here , we should be questioning everything in the written form that is put under our noses. That´s what how I was brought up. Then you are slaughtered by what can only be considered to be a clique.
If you go back over the last couple of days you will find a few posters indiciating that I have some kind of anti WGS agenda - not true - That I am completey anti board - not true. That I am anti this blog or anti Paul67 - again not true. This perspective is brought about by the "happy clappers" who do not seem to engage the brain or check the facts and the posts and go into animal instinctive overdrive. Castigating and insulting anyone and anything that does not fit in with their view. To the point that the piety of some blogger yesterday saying he knew everything about me because I have a-ve blog name !!! You couldn´t make it up. I wouldn´t mind being slaughtered but I agree with them. It´s all in print for them to read they need to get their facts right and it definitely has the effect that the board is "Luddite" towards being pro-Celtic. It wouldn´t surprise me if these are the one´s that sit on their hands looking up at the clouds when Celtic are 3.0 up against Rangers. I suppose that is where our support is going today which is very disappointing. All style and no content as Ben Elton would say.
Which is making contributing to the blog tiresome. Quiet simply if your not taking the happy pills then you are made to feel most unweclome.
Anyway I will give this particular board a break for a while. It may be pro board (which is fine by me)but it losing it´s Celtic minded tag. I am going to lurk as to keep my eye on it and hope for improvements and see if the highly strung histrionic poodle brigade will either lighten up and engage the brain in a civilized way or take over the asylum.
Hail Hail
p.s wasn´t Edmondo the big Brazilian forward who was known as Animal ? ... and we dont care what the animals say .... what the hell do we care...
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JonG,
Management is not a sport the last time I heard.... :>)))
I still say Paul Daniels coz he's MAGIC.......
Anyway, I'm away to get lashed.....
Hail Hail
SPCwhoisofftomorrow
forEasterandwill
watchBHOYSget3points
onSaturday.
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TMC;
I respect your opinion,however wrong in my eyes it might appear.
I would like to stay and continue our reasoned debate however have to dash to a brief.
C
H
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JonG whohasdroppedintothemineshaftoncemore.holdontimlordi'mcoming.
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Are we there yet?
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Awe naw! No Awe_Naw_No_Annoni_Oan_Anaw_Noo away anaw noo!
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Awe No,
Chill out man........
Kepp it coming this is the reason this website exsists "Debate"....
The personal attacks have increased recently in general and is becoming tiresome so Rap IT everyone or I will get BigJoe to sort yae all oot... by the way he is a BIG BOY!!
Joe Where are ya buddy!?!?
Hail Hail
SPC
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bickering, in fighting, bleating, moaning......
.............is my wife on here?
i believe our title winning party will be held this saturday.
rangers will be beaten on easter sunday by the saints.
so on saturday lets all party singing championees throughout the nintey minutes. lets all sing one gordon strachan.
hail hail the celts are here
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antibesbhoy
interesting about lyon. houllier away? i wouldnt trust him with any of my money
another american on the radar?
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Ebb and Flow...
Peaks and Troughs...
Ups and Downs...
The chaos that is this board sometimes can also seem to be following a pattern.
It would seem that a lot of good posters on here have talked themselves into corners - and by that I don't mean they are wrong - just that they've narrowed their purview. It inevitably offers fewer options and leads to - 'I'm away then'
Which is a shame.
Because if, and I do mean if, (Just like that 'if' used when discussing ICT results...) this forum is full of Yea-sayers, then leaving them to themselves is the worst thing which could be done and lacks proper responsibility.
Remember it's
Salt & Vinegar
Cheese & Onion
Fire & Water
Dean Martin & Jerry Lewis
Little & Large... hang on... no scrub that back to crisps analogies
Lime & Chilli... HMMMMMMM Lime & Chilli......GLAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRGGGHHHHHHHH...........
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BlantyreKev 10.13:
LOL :-).
Go on admit it, you deliberately started (or at least propagated) this fight just so you could use that line didn't you?
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I rarely post but feel compelled to say that if Roy Keane was appointed manager we would be bankrupt within a year. He has been brought up with the Man U mentality of throwing money at a problem and it is sorted.
Strachan has a budget to work with and has achieved what we want ie trophies in the cabinet.
One thing i have learned from watching Celtic over the years is to put things into perspective.
When you are winning the league at a canter enjoy it.
Strachan will be supported by the board .He is smart enough to know that we have not performed this season so will make the changes that are needed.
If he fails next season then he is smart enough and brave enough to admit it .
One thing with Strachan he soon realises if he has made a mistake. He doesnt persist with playing a player who is not good enough unlike some managers who repeatedly played players who were sub standard for seasons on end.
Keane might be a good manager in the long term but at the moment wee Gordon is steets ahead.
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new article posted.
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Maybe Roy Keane will turn up at Celtic for 6 months at the very end of his managerial career. Only 30 more years of the Keane to Celtic rumours to endure.
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What utter nonsense this fellow TicV"Establishment" or Cel or whoever writes. How can you expect to be taken seriously if you construct an argument based on what if’s – such arrant nonsense re ICT v Rangers as the most obvious example.
Does he not realise that if the referee had not been blind or biased we would have had a penalty against Milan in 7 minutes.We would have scored and gone on to win in normal time. We would have bee in the last eight of the CL.
With the penalty Aiden Mc Geady was denied at Celtic Park we would at worst have drawn the game and of course given the Neil Lennon penalty at Ibrox we’d have won there and of course we’d already be champions.
Given of course all the stonewall penalties denied us against the likes of Falkirk St Mirren etc we’d not be the lowest scoring champions as he alleges and of course given an ability to find the net from the spot we could not have lost to Falkirk in the CIS cup. Then again had Craig Beattie not hit the post in the second leg against Artmedia another plank of this person’s diatribe would have been removed.
How Tiny Tim whom I have normally found bases his views on fact or at least sustainable argument would want to be associated with such claptrap defies logic.
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What utter nonsense this fellow TicV"Establishment" or Cel or whoever writes. How can you expect to be taken seriously if you construct an argument based on what if’s – such arrant nonsense re ICT v Rangers as the most obvious example.
Does he not realise that if the referee had not been blind or biased we would have had a penalty against Milan in 7 minutes.We would have scored and gone on to win in normal time. We would have bee in the last eight of the CL.
With the penalty Aiden Mc Geady was denied at Celtic Park we would at worst have drawn the game and of course given the Neil Lennon penalty at Ibrox we’d have won there and of course we’d already be champions.
Given of course all the stonewall penalties denied us against the likes of Falkirk St Mirren etc we’d not be the lowest scoring champions as he alleges and of course given an ability to find the net from the spot we could not have lost to Falkirk in the CIS cup. Then again had Craig Beattie not hit the post in the second leg against Artmedia another plank of this person’s diatribe would have been removed.
How Tiny Tim whom I have normally found bases his views on fact or at least sustainable argument would want to be associated with such claptrap defies logic.
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What utter nonsense this fellow TicV"Establishment" or Cel or whoever writes. How can you expect to be taken seriously if you construct an argument based on what if’s – such arrant nonsense re ICT v Rangers as the most obvious example.
Does he not realise that if the referee had not been blind or biased we would have had a penalty against Milan in 7 minutes.We would have scored and gone on to win in normal time. We would have bee in the last eight of the CL.
With the penalty Aiden Mc Geady was denied at Celtic Park we would at worst have drawn the game and of course given the Neil Lennon penalty at Ibrox we’d have won there and of course we’d already be champions.
Given of course all the stonewall penalties denied us against the likes of Falkirk St Mirren etc we’d not be the lowest scoring champions as he alleges and of course given an ability to find the net from the spot we could not have lost to Falkirk in the CIS cup. Then again had Craig Beattie not hit the post in the second leg against Artmedia another plank of this person’s diatribe would have been removed.
How Tiny Tim whom I have normally found bases his views on fact or at least sustainable argument would want to be associated with such claptrap defies logic.
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What utter nonsense this fellow TicV"Establishment" or Cel or whoever writes. How can you expect to be taken seriously if you construct an argument based on what if’s – such arrant nonsense re ICT v Rangers as the most obvious example.
Does he not realise that if the referee had not been blind or biased we would have had a penalty against Milan in 7 minutes.We would have scored and gone on to win in normal time. We would have bee in the last eight of the CL.
With the penalty Aiden Mc Geady was denied at Celtic Park we would at worst have drawn the game and of course given the Neil Lennon penalty at Ibrox we’d have won there and of course we’d already be champions.
Given of course all the stonewall penalties denied us against the likes of Falkirk St Mirren etc we’d not be the lowest scoring champions as he alleges and of course given an ability to find the net from the spot we could not have lost to Falkirk in the CIS cup. Then again had Craig Beattie not hit the post in the second leg against Artmedia another plank of this person’s diatribe would have been removed.
How Tiny Tim whom I have normally found bases his views on fact or at least sustainable argument would want to be associated with such claptrap defies logic.
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Read all your Gordon Strachan comments, did not agree with any of them. All your points read like statements of fact which they are not of course. Football is about opinions and I suppose these are yours. I would take any other European class manager now or in the future rather than Gordon Strachan for all the opposite points you stated.
