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Harsh words Paul.
Impressive interview with Brian McBride on Today yesterday morning. A future Celtic chairman?
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Paul67.
Thanks for that .
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Expectations Expectations Expectations. "The fans expectations are a burden around the teams neck". Not sure I agree with that. Is tonight's match all about getting match fit for the start of the season proper - don’t care about the result - or is it back to the "we don’t play friendlies approach" and really we expect our team to win. How upset would we be if a Sam Allardyce inspired Newcastle out to impress the new boss give us a thumping whilst we dither about and make continual changes to the line up. Remember the last time we were in Newcastle? Shearer coming back on to score the winning penalty? I expect us to go flat out for revenge and will be disappointed if we get beat.
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sometimes the greater good of the team has to be looked at
say for example stan went for up to 8.5M, that pays for brown,donati and scott mcdonalds fees.
Whioch sounds better stan or the 3 players mentioned
The bale sale could give them the finances to build a squad capable of promotion
Incidetally i think mowbray will take wba up
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During pre season friendlies it's good to get all the squad involved in the matches,helping build up their fitness,but tonight the English eys will be on us.
After the last game at St. James Park,i fully expect us to go for it& show the people of Newcastle that we are a very good fotballing team.
On the subject of the boardroom,does anyone know how long Peter Lawwell has left on his current contract? I think i read or heard somewhere that he does not wish to stay in his present position for ever,more`s the pity.
Hail Hail
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Pre-season was better before you saw every damn game!!!!
It's 90% about fitness of the squad (and ours is bigger than most) but there comes a time when you have to have a dress rehearsal. Obviously the last few years have introduce the chasing of the dollar and the yen but for the manager it's all about fitness and performance.
The best example of this I can remember is the Man Utd friendly immediately prior to the night we owned the Amsterdam Arena. We went out that night as if it was the Arena and just took the form into the next game. The problem this year is that we don't have a European game in that timescale, hence it is difficult to use tonight and Sunday as dress rehearsals for anything. Maybe Parma on Sunday will see the first XI (do we have one?) in real action.
We seem to have played at least twice as many games as Rangers, which is strange as they are in real action sooner than us. Maybe they can't afford to play as many games as us :-)
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Gweedorebhoy,
Thoughts and prayers to you and Mrs Gweedorebhoy.
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paul67
Is that naka or boruc, for the joe the toff then?
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Australian folk singer Donna Burke`s first release in more than three years features "Goodbye Nakamura"(with apologies to Antsman and Chennaiseabird )a touching ballad by Ted Nugent "based on real events".
I guess the Polish equivelent would be Du Widzenia( Mr) Boruc
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Yowzers Paul,
Were you playing Scrabble last night?!? I'm still looking up half the words you have used in that post, excellent!!
Safe journey to all those travlling down (or up!) to Newcastle. Let's give 'em a show!
Hail! Hail!
JC.
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Are we to celebrate the demise of a passionate chairman ?
Maybe I'm an old sentimentalist but I'm not sure I see your point Paul ? Should we have sold Henke for £10m and celebrate our pragmatism ]
Anyway Nakamura. A Hero. Officially ( wee gag for sci-fi geeks and geekettes there )
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Look! I can't even spell travelling!
backtoprimaryenglishformecsc
JC
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Paul67
It's either :
- an obscure topic
- a very slow news week and you have to write something
- toonbarmy is onto something and this is designed to soften the blow
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Paul, if we're looking for analogies on your thread would you take less than £25m for McGeady?
Vexed question, and rhetorical of course.
From previous thread...
That's an interesting response, Albert, and deserves scratchy beardy thoughful pause.
1. What do you mean 'relative safety' of my own house. My house is only safe relative to Newcastle town centre?
Actually, you're probably right.
2. Burchill and Smith were not good enough but that's not the point. Jinky would have been punted if it wasn't for Stein and would have failed if he didn't have the character to overcome the boo boys. McGeady (who is the underlying reason for the post) would be plying his trade in the Championship if he didn't have the self belief to rise above the boo boys. McGeady has got it and will be a superstar despite the boo boys in the stands. David Fernandez however never made it because he didn't have the character. He had all the skill but when the going got tough he shrank away to the level that his character allows.
Hail Hail
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Gweedoebhoy
Thought and prayers for you and your wife. Take care and God Bless
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antsman @ 9:07 (previous thread)
Nice post. I agree with you and can give you an example. A friend of mine played for the same school team as Scott Thomson (Dunfermline). Most people on here would think of Thomson as good SPL player, but while playing for his school side he played either as a winger or a central midfielder, because he was seen as both skilful and fast.
The question I would ask, and in this is why I agree with you, is why the coaching in this country couldn't develop those aspects of his game that made him excel in certain positions at school level, such that in the pro game he is seen as being more of a workmanlike player and without much pace?
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A brief trawl on the history of Leon Crouch[Peter's dad?;~)]reveals that when he was appointed to the Board the support were very much in favour,seeing him as a 'fan's representative'.
Still,what do supporters know...
TMC-Exactly!El Gordo must have some idea what his starting XI is going to be for the Summer Cup Final,so this group of players need some time together against'Euro quality opposition',ie the Mags and the Hams.
DDUDE-Ted Nugent ballad!!!??
Next you'll be telling me Amboy Duke#1 has gone vegan!
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pgtips
My uncle was sfa U19 coach and he said to me a while back that the 2 biggest things that can hold players back are
1 - Parent trying to take over/think they know better
2 - managers of youth teams being so under pressure for results its all the care about to the detriment of the teams development
No 2 possibly ties in with your point of your scott thomson
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After reading this Paul I can fathom why G. Strachan got away from Southampton when he did.
With all this grabbing of players, it reminds me of when we used to swap football cards in the playground. As we flicked through the faces at breakneck speed, with more than a hint of chewing gum in the air, the interested party, usually the guy with more money and more sweets than everyone, would repeat....
"Gorrit,
Gorrit,
Gorrit,
Gorrit...."
Until he saw one he didn´t have and said
"No gorrit."
He would then do a deal to add to his 132 stars.
Some clubs are amassing quite a few players.
And talking of which, just when we are having serious migraines working out who is in contention for a place with the huge squad we have, Paul McGowan goes and puts himself into the reckoning as well with a great goal last night!!!
As well as America and England we have enough players to send a team to the Highland league.
My thoughts are with you
Gweedhore Bhoy and Heraldo.
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Paul67,
Any updates on Lennoxtown opening date, also have we got a name yet?
For those with Virgin Media (XL) package - we have a Free addition this morning with the addition of the 6 Setanta sports channels including Celtic TV and Setanta Sports 1, which is showing the Newcastle game tonight. Hoopy days.....
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This is the man Real Madrid's former stadium was named after:
Don Leopoldo O’Donnell y Jorris, Count of Lucena, 1st Duke of Tetuan, (es: Leopoldo O’Donnell y Jorris, primer duque de Tetuán) (1809-1867), Spanish general and stateman. He was of Irish ancestry, a descendant of Calvagh O’Donnell, chieftain of Tyrconnel.
O’Donnell was a strong supporter of the Cristinos, and backed the regency of Maria Cristina in the 1830s. When General Baldomero Espartero seized power in 1840, O’Donnell went into exile with Maria Cristina, and was involved in an attempted coup against Espartero in 1841. In 1854, he made a pronunciamento against the government and was named Prime Minister for a time. He served as War Minister in the Espartero government.
The Crimean War caused a sharp rise in grain prices due to the blockade of Russia, triggering a famine in Galicia in 1854. Riots over the power loom spread through Spain, and General O’Donnell intervened, marching on Madrid. Espartero resigned power in O’Donnell’s favor on July 15, 1856, and Queen Isabella II asked him to form a government. For his new administration, O’Donnell formed the Union Liberal, a party designed to cross the traditional Progresista, Moderado, and Carlist lines. O’Donnell attempted to find a via media for Spain with this new party, advocating laissez-faire policies and confiscating church land. He was shortly dismissed after only a few months in power, and two years of reaction followed. His first government did lay the groundwork for future progress.
In future governments, he was more careful. O’Donnell’s two later administrations worked laboriously to attract foreign investment to improve Spain’s railroad infrastructure. He failed to achieve much economic growth, however, and spurred industry only in Navarre and Catalonia, both of which already had substantial industrial centers. He was a proponent of a new and aggressive imperial policy, aimed principally at expanding Spanish territory in Africa, particularly after French successes in Algeria.
He took a brief respite from his government in 1860 to command the Spanish army at the battle of Tetuan during its invasion of Morocco, overseeing the capture of Tétouan. He was rewarded for his abilities in the campaign with the title duque de Tetuán. In 1866 he repressed a revolt led by General Juan Prim, and was subsequently dismissed by the Queen for the brutality of his regime.
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On tonights game - I think we should be playing the players that will be our first choice team and play someone in Nakamuras role until he is ready to play for us. WGS should surely know by now who his Centre halfs are going to be and who he is playing with JVoH and who plays wide left. These questions should have been answered in the last 3 weeks. Fitness is now there – Gelling the team is now of paramount importance – So we should be playing the same team from now until the CL qualifier.
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DBBIA
LOL...thanks for the correction ...should be Ted Egan...neither do I.
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Oldtim,
Where have you been?
I have been working long hours this last few weeks so I have not been posting or indeed reading as much as usual, but I missed you.
I have read your book,it was a right good read, I will pass it on to Paul.
Thanks for the book.
Cheers,
Martin.
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Thanks antsman, I would think point 2 applies in this case.
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I just wanted to drop you guys a note and thank you for some of the kindest and thoughful words I have ever read. My deepest thanks to one and all.
Sorry it took so long but last night i could only read not post due to the emotions i was feeling.
Paul67 has created something wonderful on here.
I am so thankful for the thoughts and hopes and prayers and also the wishes of those who have gone through what we are going through.
I would also like to express my sorry to heraldo and his partner on thier loss.
So to one and all from mrs gweedorebhoy and myself thank you.
And for anyone in Newcastle watch out for 3 other gweedore bhoys currently in o'neils bar opposite the station.
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C1st-Seems to have had a very active working career,so definitely not Phil;~)
Apparently after events in Ireland in 1690 quite a few Irishmen made their way to Spain,so the Madrid phone book could be full of O'donnells.
There is an interesting corollary in the blood disease thalassaemia.
As its name suggests it is usually found in Europeans of Mediterranean origin but it can be found in Scots and Irish people and is believed to be the result of sailors from the Spanish Armada being shipwrecked on the West coast of the British Isles and showing their gratitude to the locals in the usual way.
I realise that this has nothing to do with football but it is a quiet day and I look forward to many more quiet days until the season gets under way at the end of next week.
It may even be a quiet day at work.I expect I should go and find out;~)
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Latest example of lazy journalism? In today's ET Thomas Jordan reports:
"It also appears as though Italian midfielder Andrea Capone is preparing to knock back any offer from Celtic to return to Italy. The Parkhead club have failed to offer him a deal as yet despite having him on trial during pre-season."
So he is going to knock back an offer he has not been made??? Why do I read these rags?
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BBhoy-yes I thought it was the player who was on trial with the club,not the other way round!
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Martin.
I've not been able to post a for a couple of weeks but managed to get to read the posts fo the last couple of days,so I'll be posting more often.
I'm going to the Newcastle game and I thought we were going to leave around 12.ok but I've just received a phone call saying he'd be around at half one, so I've got time to post about Aiden.
I wont post what I'm going to say while I'm posting to you,so thanks for your post Martin.
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BBoy, the other one that got me was the report last night that Bernard Mendy was set to shun Celtic after saying he'd be happyto stay in France and fight for his place.
Funny that, as I don't recall Celtic ever having expressed any interest in the guy, and as Bolton don't seem to be following up after having him on loan, I can only assume he's nothing great anyway.
Of course, having tried to talk himself into the shop window by making out that he'd be really interested in playing for Celtic (wouldn't we all?!), he's now eating humble pie (or "tarte de humilier" as I presume the French call it) and trying to talk his way out of being consigned to the role of overpaid ball-boy by his present employers.
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Talking of the malaise at Southampton, there is another club somewhat closer to home whose dignity is shortly due to undergo detailed scrutiny, which led me to notice the following aside from the Champions League 1st qualifying round...
Could this be a sign of things to come in Rangers' upcoming stand-off with the law:
Champions League Results
Tuesday, 24 July 2007
Ranger's Venecia 0-3 FC Sheriff (agg 0-5)
("Rangers hammered by Sheriff; Act 1")
A few words of advice to Big Dave as he prepares for his Clash with the Sheriff's office & Inland Revenue: "I fought the law and the law won".
(c.f. The Clash, and others prior & since).
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Irishman Patrick O'Connell was manager of Barcelona from 1935-37.......not the best of times to be in that job.
As it became more difficult to play games, O'Connell took the club on tour to Mexico. The tour was a chance to play games and also generate money which would be used to rebuild the team at the end of the Civil War.
By the end of the tour, the situation in Barcelona had deteriorated and 12 of the players remained in exile in Mexico. O'Connell returned to Barcelona with some of his backroom staff and 4 of the players.
He survived the Civil War but died alone and destitute in London in 1959.
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Boltonbhoy 12:16
I laughed out loud when I read that too. From the same paper by my favourite hack Darnel Kling:
EXCLUSIVE
"I played against them when I was at Red Star Belgrade in 2003/2004. They were steady enough, and normally finished mid-table, although they did have one great season and finished third behind Red Star and Partizan a couple of years ago."
Ipox legend Bojan Djordic, who played against Zeta at least 3 years ago and turned out for Rangers a grand total of four times.
boggles the mind.
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While the O'Connell's and O'Donnell's are noted for doing their bit in Spain, Bernardo O'Higgins wanted nothing to do with the Iberians and fought for independence for Chile from the Spaniards.
Which brings me round to my main point, I was once told that Real Madrid's Raul's granny is a Celtic supporter from Castlemilk. Anyone confirm?
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Blantyrekev 11:18
1. Every year in the UK almost 4,000 people die in accidents in the home and 2.7 million turn up at accident and emergency departments seeking treatment. But, because the accidents happen behind closed doors in isolated incidents they rarely attract public and media attention.
2. Overcoming the boo boys:-
Stevie Chalmers
There could never be a nicer fellow than Steve Chalmers. Naturally a quiet, unassuming man, seeming occasionally to lack the “devil” that professional footballers need to possess, Steve was often looked upon as a Kelly Kid who would never quite make it. He had his good days, and he had his shockers, but as with almost everyone else, things changed dramatically and permanently when Jock Stein came to Celtic. It was Steve Chalmers who scored the goal, which won the day in Lisbon.
Yet a little over four years earlier in 1963, one recalls a dreadful game at Tannadice Park which Celtic lost 0-3 to an incredulous home side. But Dundee United fans' amazement at the result against a team who were in the Scottish Cup Final (it was the Saturday after the honourable 1-1 draw with Rangers and four days before the humiliating Replay) was nothing in comparison to their utter shock at the vitriol, hatred and foul mouthed abuse hurled at Steve Chalmers by some who claimed to be Celtic supporters.
Above written by David Potter at KTF. Full article HERE.
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B-Kev, confirmation on its way :))
jonnybhoy
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I can't believe that so much animosity is created by the mention of Aidens name when done so in a derogatory manner,surely posters are entitled to post their thoughts about any player,whether it's in a good light or a bad.
Aiden has'nt been in the best of form these last few months,and supporters are entitled to their opinions.
When I think of Aidens form I think of the comments made of a certain Phil O'Donnell "the most expensive player to play for Celtic"were the most regular comments of the time,
In case the younger on here done know what is meant by that,I'll explain,Phil was injured for most of his sojourn at Celtic,and the comments were rife that he was the highest earner for the amount of games he played,which was probably true.
I think aiden is in the same league as phil but not through injury,Aiden plays about five minutes of good football in a game, and he is a luxury that the team can not afford at the moment,there are more in the same boat as Aiden but they get plenty of grief from the supporters,but when anyone slags of Aiden all hell breaks out,And like me, most would love it for Aiden to get back to the form he showed last season,same as I would like Magic to get back to the form he showed last year,but no he gets punted as a dud.
Is this halo that hangs around aidens head, because he decided to opt to play for his beloved Ireland.
I'd like to know why it's a no go area,To criticize one player,and all hell breaks out,and when you criticize many others then it's ok.
At the moment Aiden deserves to be criticized along with the others.
Thats my lift just arrived so I'm of to the game,no doubt my ears will be burning all the way to Newcastle,but I've got broad shoulders and I can take the Criticism.
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Paul67
I am not sure I totally concur with your implied position on this. I can understand why a team like Southampton have to be a selling club. That it produces talent that they can then sell on at a good profit and with godd clauses that give them sale on percentages.
Celtic however do not need to be a selling club. It does not need to sell on good young talent if it is the right quality. What it must do is reduce its weaknesses and increase its strengths. In this case the waeknesses are players on high wages who are not contributing to the onward progression of the club. They should be replaced if possible by players (possibly on similar wages) but who will contribute to the onwrd progression of the club.
At this point TG is the main weakness...I am not having a go here...He is obviously not in Mr Strachan's immmediate or short term plans. However he is receiving a significant wage which could be better utilised. Unless we think that dominating the reserve league as well is a must for the club.
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Oldtim...
You won't find me criticising. I agree with every word!
Well said and enjoy the game.
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I think the Southampton chairman is simply appealing to the populist vote and try to lay the blame at all quarters rather than himself. Richelieu or Disraeli did say patriotism is the last bastion of the scouderel. And similarly Crouch does appear to be appealing to the lowest common denominator. Wasn't Michael Kelly seen as a fan representative at some point?
I am sure that the exit door is still being held wide open for some players at the moment, although I would prefer it sooner rather than later.
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Toonbarmy, neither.
Aye see sell, why use two words when eight will provide a sufficient grasp of the message?
Danny, it is a slow news week and I would rather write about subjects that I find interesting than banal transfer speculation.
BlantyreKev, Aiden for £25m? Is that per leg?
McManus69, Lennoxtown will open soon, but work is still underway. The name will be announced at the time.
Gweedore, this internet is a remarkable thing. I would like to add a ‘well done’ to those who posted their own experiences.
BigChips, “Rangers hammered by Sheriff” :-)
Steelica, I would define a selling club as one where sales values are greater than expenditure over a sample period.
Celtic are, of course, not a selling club and have not been for 20 years, but just live AC Milan, Juventus and Barcelona, we need to manage our playing assets, even if that means selling a player before he goes out of contract.
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Albert
Thanks for the link and the story. It's actually a pretty interesting point and since antsman started it has given a fair bit of food for thought on what impacts a player's career.
Jinky and Stevie Chalmers' experiences would suggest the manager has an enormous impact and I'd agree. You could also ask Shaun Maloney about zero to hero under Strachan, or Sutton from Chelsea dud to Celtic superstar under O'Neill among a million other examples I'm sure.
It's often been said and generally agreed in footballing circles that confidence is a massive part of a player's likelihood to perform. A coach/manager can only tease this out so much. On matchday the crowd has just as big a role to play and a career path at Celtic specifically can, in my opinion, be genuinely massively influenced by the crowd. Strength of character is another variable of course, as is workrate, discipline, lifestyle, willingness to learn.
I don't think there's anything controversial in any of this. Would anybody actually disagree that all these factors impact upon a career at Celtic? If not then it surely must follow that for as long as a player wears the hoops we must vocally support. There will be times when frustration gets too much and you feel it is a lost cause but this cannot apply to Aiden for goodness sake. Aiden McGeady is even to his detractors at least potentially on the precipice of greatness and should be supported, spurred on and given a collective puntie to the heights he can reach. Extend the theory to Wilson, Bjarnasson, McDonald, Sno and others and then we can all claim to truly have played a real and meaningful part of Celtic's, our, achievements.
I have just re-read this and will be taking my own medicine when watching Paul Hartley!
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Paul67
Glad to hear it. It seems like a news vacuum at the moment and I'm getting edgy. The CL draw a week tomorrow isn't calming me down much either.
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Blantyre Kev you continue to make an excellent point on the treatment of players and specifically Aiden. Aiden has undoubtedly frustrated at times but the abuse he gets is unbelievable. Compare this to the treatment of Riordan and (at least to very recently) Gravesen, where they are rarely criticised and often eulogised while not playing. I am not having a go at these players but Aiden has contributed a lot more to the recent successes than either of them.
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If you continually sell players for good prices and get in players as good or better for cheaper then does that really make u a selling club or a good asset management club
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At this moment in time -
Aiden McGeady = trying too hard
Paul Hartley = very trying
Hopefully things will get better for both asap.
:)
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about tonights game
who do we think might play in the naka role? scott brown maybe?
Should this game be about fitness and match practice or should we be fielding the first choice 11 where available to start the gelling process?
I suspect we will see
boruc
wilson mcmanus pressley naylor
brown/brown donati hartley/brown aiden
JVOH Skippy
If pressley starts again tonight it really makes me wonder if he will be a first choice
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Oldtim67
A blog psychologist (if such a thing exists) could get a thesis out of the Aiden debate that swings back and forward on here.
As a fan of Aiden I tend to stay away from it because I do feel it is now going round in circles. Some will see the potential of the lad and back him to the hilt while I fear others will never be convinced.
However I reckon the reason that his supporters go on the attack is due to the nature of the negative comments which can be very vitriolic both on here and at Celtic Park. For some reason Aiden seems to be the first one to get it after a poor team performance. Check back on the comments on here following the Chicago Fire game.
On a personal level I see a young Celtic supporter playing for the club he loves who wants to try something different during a game. It wont always come off but as supporters I think we should be encouraging him.
Most people will remember Kenny Miller's first ever goal for Celtic but how many remember the build up? Aiden picking up the ball just oustide his own penalty area, beating a couple of players, driving purposefully into the opposition half before playing the perfect through ball to Kenny.
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Just noticed that the home town Toronto FC lost to english giants Aston Villa last night, there was no TV coverage, while the minnows up the road had live feeds for both their games last week. It's been all down hill for MON since Black Sunday.
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Antsman,
Good point, Ajax, PSV, Porto etc all seem to sell players every summer and replace them with players at a fraction of the cost yet no one would describe them as selling clubs.
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Bambi,
All of the clubs you mention have excellent youth systems, which is why they seem to be able to replace tose they sell so easily.
I've wondered for years why we can't replicate a European style youth system in this country. Do we not have as talented kids? Do we concentrate too much on games and not enough on skills at schoolboy level? Do we not have sufficiently talented coaches?
I wish I knew the answer!
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As we've discussed before Ajax, PSV & Porto get in promising youngsters from around the globe, fine tune them, then sell them for a fortune.
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Ajax and PSV both take advantage of the less stringent work permit regulations whilst Porto have a pretty obvious advantage over every other European country when it comes to signing young Brazilians!
My main question on the difference between Europe and Britain (in general) is why they breed full backs at 6ft+ whilst we breed midgets at full back. Even the English seem to be a victim of this with Cashley Cole and the Neville Neville's.
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Afternoon all
Has anyone seen any news on the squad for tonights game?
Will be interesting to see if any of the first teamers from last nights game have made the trip down to Tyneside today.
I'm off to see Barca tonight and then to watch their training in St Andrews tomorrow - Deco might get a bit of verbals from the side lines......
#8
p.s. Martinobhoy - get back to work!
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Hi Paul,
I am so gutted in the crap Aiden is getting.......
I am sad that "we" have resulted to such a level.....
Sigh
Hail Hail
SPC
N.B. I will be back in Glasgow September 1st... Anyine fancy apint??
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TMC,
Dead right about the height of fullbacks. Craig and Gemmell weren't the greatest defenders you ever saw, but they had stature and pace and few wingers got the better of them.
I like my fullbacks to be six footers with looong legs. Look at Hutton. Not everyone's cup of Lyons, but he has the strength and athleticism to cover the territory. Thank God he has nae brains, or else he'd be dangerous.
Those days when " We didn't play friendlies" were the days when we were considered underdoge and felt we had something to prove.
In most cases the opposition were considered a class above us and usually treated those matches as training exercises or exhibition games, depending on the stage of the season.
It was obvious watching the Chicago match that the Fire were out to prove something and I bet if you spoke to their coach pre-match, he would have said, " Chicago Fire don't play friendlies".
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I've never been a fan of McGeady, however i will always back him in the hoops. The frustration for me is that we see sublime skill & pirouttes from him, but very rarely do we see his play lead to a goal.
Maloney was another player who i didn't take to at the start, however he definitely worked hard on his game & became a more effective player for the team. Him & Liam Miller were real players & their talents are missed.
With any player who wears the hoops & is maybe struggling a bit with their form, by in large the support will back them as they did with Kenny Miller & many others, however if further down the line a player is showing the same old habits then it's reasonable to say 'ta ta'. That's why it made sense to move on people like Stephen Pearson, Mo Camara, David Marshall, Craig Beattie etc
Bobo Balde for me comes under that category too. We signed a big raw physical player & some years later his game still consists of erratic tackling, poor passing & random positioning. His attitude & will to win has never been in question, but as we've seen on Champions League nights - it's the teams with 11 players on the park who can use the ball that acheive more.
Gweedore & heraldo - my thoughts are with you at this time
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i don't think liam miller has done remotely enough to be labelled a real player....he had half a season with us and has barely made a contribution since that time....
...maloney has proved a little more , but has hardly had a henrik,sutton or lambert or lennon type career......
...alan thomson did more for celtic than miller and maloney combined, and we have yet to replace him...
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VSham-Aiden is a young player who is learning his trade,and unfortunately he is at a club where wingplay is revered,but it is the curse of the winger to be either a matchwinner,or the focus of frustration.The ball gets played out wide,it's the winger out on his own against the defender[s].On his day he shreds the opposition;the next time he's up it's his own confidence that gets shredded.
And as for BB-his play also consists of physical presence,strength,pace,great heading ability[including goals] and no little courage.If he was ineffective he wouldn't be so loathed by the opposition support.
He is vulnerable[as we all are]when unsupported.Find him a complementary partner to cover his blind spots,and we can approach this season with some confidence.
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To consider Aiden a winger is grossly unfair. He is not a winger, never was, never will be.
He is a midfielder and will be a great one, if he is allowed to mature into the position.
What makes a player a winger, is the ability to take the ball down the line without the defender getting near it.
As Aiden is obviously right footed, he is denied the opportunity to shield the ball from the back. Therefore the ball is always in playing distance of his opponent. Hence the cutting in to protect the ball. Naka has the same problem on the other side.
At the risk of even boring myself in repeating a previous point; for the system to work to the team's advantage, we MUSt have backs who can get to the line on the overlap. We do not have them.
So, all you sons of the Tommy Callaghan tormentors, lay off the boy and appreciate the gifts he has and his efforts to play football, the "Glasgow Celtic Way".
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On the subject of banal transfer speculation, is it more than coincidence that the anticipation of a new bidder for Naismith coincides with rumours of Riordan being punted to WBA?
To be honest, this might be the best result for us out of all of this.
I reckon that DR has burnt his bridges with Gordon Strachan given his off-field activities.
To be fair to WGS, once players have established a lifestyle with bad influences from friends and family, it can be very difficult for them to turn things around and stop drifting into the same old.
For DR a move to WBA would be a chance to hook up with his old mentor, Tony Mowbray, and get himself out of Scotland and into a different social environment where he might be able to make the most of his talents.
I would assume that we could get somewhere in the region of £1m for DR as he is under contract - money that could be used to sign Naismith (or even bring back Shaun Maloney?) as Aiden McGeady's competitor for a starting place.
So...we could sell Riordan...get Naismith...and leave Rangers with SFA having deprived them of both.
What's not to like?
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TomtheTim-if he is not a winger then he's the closest thing we've got in the current side!
I[usually]try to be fair in what I post'stupidity without prejudice'is my byword.
If AMG and SN are both being played on the'wrong'side that is a tactical decision by the manager-something even the diddyteams in the SPL will have worked out by now,making it even more imperative that we come up with a fresh tactical look to the team,as well as in terms of personnel.
The last back[wingback?]we had to do the job you describe was the Mk 1 Didier;the mark 2[post-injury]copped an awful lot of unfair flak as well,so I guess he was a Celtic winger too;~)
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Liam Miller played 26 games for Celtic but it's the promise of what might have been. I thought he was overrated anyway, tended to drift in and out of games.
Agree totally that Aiden is not a winger, what frustrates me about people's vision of him is the 'he does a trick or two or plays for 5 minutes'. I think Lee Naylor might be the best person to ask how long McGeady performs for because Lee's a better player when Aiden is in the team. Last season he developed his all round game dramatically I think, certainly his strength, workrate and stamina are much better. To even think about fulfilling his potential he has to add a bit of pace, a more consistent final ball and start skelping a few home.
As a comparison in age terms, just exactly what did Wayne Rooney either contribute or add to his game in the last year?
Anyway, someone mentioned overlapping full backs...wingless wonders I tell you - just like Italy and AC Milan...
It's the future!
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Tom the Tim
How come nobody does the Tommy Callaghan double shuffle anymore? Even Tommy stopped doing it as much after is first year. I seem to recall some good performances against rangers in the League cup when he first came. I think Teddy Bjarnasson has the skill to reintroduce it.
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Be interesting to see if Naka & Aiden can work effectively in the same Celtic team. Last season with a more defensive static midfield they were too easily isolated. Perhaps with Brown & Donati this system will work.
There seems to be a dearth of full backs. England have Neville, Cole & Bridge, not many given they are a big footballing nation.
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While I totally agree with BlantyreKev's point about giving support to the young lads breaking through (and it is not something I have always done in the past, e.g. with the likes of Stevie Chalmers and Big Yogi: mea culpa), I also think that it can fairly quickly become obvious that the lad has or hasn't the abilty, e.g. Mark Burchill was always dire. Still, I would rather have a lad with potential playing, like O'Dea, rather than Pressley and Bobo.
To all those in Geordieland, enjoy the experience and cheer the Lhads to the echo. I think (after watching most of the preseason games) that we need confidence more than anything. Hopefully, our manager can help there. (Getting in a class CH, of course, would be an answer to many a prayer.)
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dbbia
Playing the wingers on the "wrong" side was not designed to fool opposition players and managers. If a pro can't work out what foot you prefer within 30 seconds of seeing you play, then he's the equivalent of George Weah's cousin that Souness signed. (It might have taken slightly longer if you were marking Lubo.)
No, the tactic is deliberate to create shooting chances as you cut inside. Conversely, it makes getting to the by line harder. If you play wingers on the "right" side, these advantages and disadvantages are reversed.
It's really a swings and roundabouts choice. Some coaches like it, some don't, some mix and match. I think our manager did something similar with Fabrice Fernandes at Southampton with some initial success.
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Tom the Tim,
I think that the problem with Aiden McGeady is that if you don't play him out on the wing, then he can't play anywhere else.
The modern model for a central midfielder is someone who has the phyiscal presence and pace to maintain posession or win it back when it's lost.
The problem for Aiden is that any loss of posession in central midfield can be cataclysmic (see Tommy Gravesen at Old Trafford)- and by the nature of his play, he will concede posession fairly regularly.
It's sad and interesting that not many teams have players with Aidens skills these days - but where they exist (Shaun Wright Philips, Arjen Robben, Aaron Lennon, Cristiano Ronaldo) they are always stuck out wide and don't always get a game.
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Just received a text from Estadio;
Geordieland is not only "singing in the rain" it is hoppin, jivin, stomping, pasa dobie-ing and pirouetting in the puddles of porter. Message ends.
Well a quiet day down there by the sounds of it!
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setting free the bears
oh yes - the cally shuffle so good, i'd forgotten it
thanks for the memories
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Just discovered I have Setanta and Celtic TV. What channel are we on tonight?
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429
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SFTB-even if SN and AMG had been playing on the'right'side thus far there would be an argument for changing them around,for the reasons you outline.
After a couple of seasons of 3-5-2 under the Martinists it became less effective as the opposition could work out how we were going to play.
OK,lets agree that last year's fare was mainly turgid,uninspired Coyote Ugly for the vast majority of the time.This can't go on.
We will be going into the new season with at most 3 new faces in the line-up[SB,Donati and possibly the Skipmeister.New tactics will be most welcome,and I don't just mean finding somewhere original to stick Caldavaro.
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dbbia
One of the problems last year was the phenomonon of Naka getting 90 minutes playing time. In the previous season, we got Aiden/Shaun switched when Naka went off after 70 minutes.
If Deeks is a genuine contender this year, we might get to see this type of switch again. Even if Jim O' Brien can step up or Ryan Conroy improve by 100%, we might get positional variety. Or, we could sign Ryan Giggs.
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dbbia
BTW, I'm sure you'll receive some suggestions as to where you can stick caldavaro. :-)
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Gweedorebhoy.
Have not followed the whole thread.
Commiserations to you and yours,and I hope things change for the better.
Cannot say how well I hope your stuff works out.
Good luck me man
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who will partner mcmanus
hail hail
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Absolutely torrential rain in Newcastle. But the Celtic hordes are totally oblivious to the drenching they are getting.Drink is, of course, heavily involved.
Huge chorus of "singing in the rain" at Greys Monument along with "always look on the bright side of life."
Let's hope we can give the Geordies a football lesson tonight in the Glasgow Celtic way.
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SFTB-I don't know if you're a gambling man but here is a shortlist for the currently vacant position of Team Scapegoat:
Pressley
Hartley
Caldwell
Miller
Mcgeady
Balde
Strachan
O'neill
This is the vibe I'm picking up from disembowelling the CQN snake and examinining the entrails.
I'm sure I've missed some,as I've reached the age where the great race to see whether it's my prostate or my memory that packs in first is ticking
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Ps Gravesen!
Jarosik!
Ticktockticktock...
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oldtim67 @1312.
Dinna ever Hush yer Weesh.... fur ye are wise in gien da Yoof McGeady, a touch o' Grief!
Der is a term dat Fargo Taughta, it's very trite, but SENSE...
It's Gotta!
By... *Reductio Ad Absurdum*,...
It is da way, tae mak yer Point... den go away!!!
In Aiden's case his Future wull be BRIGHTER, in fact it could be even be...
DYNO_MITER....
IF....
He did ,whit we Continually URGE him tae dae...
SIMPLY....
*"STOAP GIEN DA BA' Sae CHEAPLY(Underlined!) AWAY!"*
collie.
Tail's Awaggin',Awaggin'
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barcabhoy;
dont often disagree with your posts...BUT
you seem to belittle maloney's contbn in the hoops???
winning player and young player of the season is a quite phenomenal achievement.
he scored a breathtaking goal against rgers, almost single handedly finishing the career of their keeper in the process.
he cost us nought and we sold him for more than we got for kenny and charlie combined.
dont think the team has been the same without him
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dbbia
A SHORTLIST??? :-)
Any Celtic scapegoat list wouldn't be complete without:
Telfer
Pearson
Marshall
Beattie
Oh I forget, that's last season.
Still there are other candidates
Zurawski
Killen
McManus
Wilson
Sno
and...
Gravesen
I think the support is still at the filtering out the CV's with spelling errors stage.
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Paul67
Interesting article that was off my radar.
However, I would be interested in your viewpoints about our manager. You and I have both supported him, and probably will continue to do so.
However, there is something quite interesting regarding him that no-one appears to have picked up upon. ( Apologies if I have missed a post or two).
He is more than happy to sign players based on other peoples recommendations...and very often without having ever seen them play in the flesh.
The list of such players at Celtic park...is over 10 that I counted today.
We used to slate Kenny Dalglish/John Barnes over the RS signing.....and we are quick to continue this trend.
However, is this a strength of Gordon's in that he can delegate such responsibilities, showing great team work....or is it a terrible weakness, as ultimately he *may* fall on his own sword?
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ternar - which players are you saying that WGS did not see play and how do you know? I am not saying you are wrong, I have no idea, but it is not something I have seen anywhere.
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Johnny Mac
He recently mentioned Donati being recommended to him by our new chief scout. Gordon never travelled to Italy to watch him play. There are many others....Adam Virgo...Nakamura...Zurawski and I think Boruc....There are others.
Gordon also mentions...very honestly...that his chief scouts have made suggestions of players that he should sign.
