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A lung-bursting first ?
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He collects a second on his chest and moves into space.....looking for a third ??
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He now finds himself totally isolated without a blogger in support ?
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Surely he can't keep possession on his own for this long ???
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I agree with the tactical change, however i would prefer a fit Zurawski up front instead of JVOH.
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Stands over the blog in the corner flag area refusing to give up possession.......:)
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test
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Paul67,
To take us down recent memory lane with talk of Larsson, Sutton and Hartson and even Viduka, and end up with a current solution of Skippy and Riordan left me a tad depressed. Whilst not confident (money, availability, etc) this is an area of the team in need of an overhaul in January, with patience surely gone in terms of Magic, exasperation with JVOH's recent non-performances, a view that Killen will be nothing more than an average SPL level player and too much reliance on Skippy, who seems knackered. Riordan is also not the great white hope on the sidelines or would have broken into the team on a permanent basis by now...
Here's hoping for January movement and a creative use of the loan system at least....
Big Wavy
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I tell you Bhoys it’s a long time since I have felt so gutted, angry and hacked off at a game than at Parkhead on Saturday.
The week before, leaving Swinecastle feeling like a defeat. Then onto Milan for a great trip and a great end result I was so up for the game against St Mirren. A real chance to hump pressure on the dark side.
The performance was dire on Saturday lets not kid ourselves. 5 games in 15 days. Maybe that was the reason ? Why not freshen it up before hand then ? Why the hell take O’Dea off ? I remember MoN not taking certain players off, but never to the extreme of the O’Dea/Hartley/Sno switch.
I normally look forward to getting the wee one down on a Saturday night, couple of bottles of beer and Match of the Day. I couldn’t even bring myself to watch MotD I was so gutted on Saturday night.
Losing the goal at Swinecastle, a game we had won, and the draw on Saturday, 4 points lost is a major blow.
In Milan I kept trying to tell WG that before the dark side play Lyon we will be 7 points clear and through to the last 16 = Pressure on them.
WG – your holiness looks like you could have been right !
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WGS needs to rotae the squad more.Most of our squad have been playing high stakes football since August and it is beginning to tell.Both JVOH and Skippy could have been rested on Saturday allowing Killen and Riordan to play and maybe guys like Teddy and Caddis should also have featured. If we cant beat St Miren at home even with sqaud players there is something badly wrong.
However we are in the last 16 and still top of the league so we shouldnt be getting the pit props out yet.
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For EDB,Chennai,TTTT and his lurker pal the manager of NUFC when they won their last 3 games in the group to progress to the next stage of the CL was Sir Bobby Robson, in Nov 2002. The decisive goal against Feyenoord was scored by Hoopslegend Craig Bellamy.
We could do with someone in the Celtic team with the out and out pace of Craig Bellamy.
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“The long ball to a tall target man is no longer effective for Celtic.”
I have more of a leaning towards the target man is no longer effective for Celtic! In modern football possession is key to scoring goals, as it is key to defending. We need players who are comfortable with the ball once they have shown the ability to retain it. Creativity is again only possible when you are comfortable in possession; currently we are clumsy in possession in the SPL and Europe where this deficiency is more exposed. The ability to keep possession is also about a pass that will find a teammate or at least a pass that will allow him to have a chance of controlling the ball. We don’t need a target man we need players who can keep hold of the ball, defenders, mid-fielders and small mobile forwards.
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“The long ball to a tall target man is no longer effective for Celtic.”
I have more of a leaning towards the target man is no longer effective for Celtic! In modern football possession is key to scoring goals, as it is key to defending. We need players who are comfortable with the ball once they have shown the ability to retain it. Creativity is again only possible when you are comfortable in possession; currently we are clumsy in possession in the SPL and Europe where this deficiency is more exposed. The ability to keep possession is also about a pass that will find a teammate or at least a pass that will allow him to have a chance of controlling the ball. We don’t need a target man we need players who can keep hold of the ball, defenders, mid-fielders and small mobile forwards.
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Would anyone dispute that this is the poorest we've been in the forward department in over a decade ?
IMO improving this area of the team should be our No1 priority in January.
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Paul Shun
I would agree 100%
Riordan and McDonald should be our first choice strike pairing tomorrow night.
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dbbia
Thanks for the info. on Bobby Robson.
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Danny
I would also agree
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Paul,
Do you think Gordon Strachan will put JVOH on the bench and play D. Riordan instead.
I think both you and I know the answer to that one.
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Part of the problem in Scotland is that we see a guy who is 6ft 2 and think we can fire high balls at him.
From the limited games I saw JVOH play in Holland he wasn't a big heid the ba.
He only got involved when the ball was put accross the area from wide.
He was a poacher who when involved in the build up gave the ball wide and moved to the area.
To get the best out of JVOH, or any striker we need service, especially from wide areas.
We could do with pace in the wide areas. McGeady has stepped up recently and his delivery is much better.
That's one side covered.
JJ is not a wide player (are any of our midfielders?).
What happens when Naka is fit?
Do we put Naka back in? Although he has ability he has no pace.The game then slows down with everyone behind the ball.
At present with 2 stand in full backs we can't expect much telling width, surely this is a lesson learned.
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rotbainestache,
Totally aagree with you on the big man = header theory. After all JJ is pretty tall but think how many headers he has missed lately.
I think the squad needs a bit of heading practice at goal. Kennedy and Mick have also missed a few headers that they should have scored from. When did we last score from a corner or free kick with the first header a la Billy McNeill?
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TEST
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I had a dream
BORUC
CLASSY RIGHT BACK
BALDE
McMANUS
CLASS LEFT BACK
McGEADY
BROWN
CLASS ACT
NAKA/MALONEY
McDONALD
TOUCH OF CLASS
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Coming back from the game on Saturday, one of my pals thought that we should sign Maloney.
He felt the pace of Maloney in both wide and central midfield is an asset.
He reckoned Maloney would be a safe signing as we know what we will be getting without a one season settling in period.
If Maloney did come back would it signal the end for Naka, as I can't see Naka in central midfield. I do remember Maloney in centre midfield a few times running at teams causing mayhem.
Every time he ran at a defence the worst thing to happen was that we won a free kick.
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VinnietheDog...
Did the dream turn into a nightmare when the centre-halves were picked ???
:)
Big Wavy
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Paul67,
That's a good shout i would like to see McDonald and Riordan together.
Tuesday perfect time. The manager will then see for real if Deek has it. Why state you don't want to lose him and don't play him? Either he is just saying that or he does mean it. If he does mean it ,then show it on Tuesday and give him the striking berth along McDonald.
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The Celtic without a big striker always had to play well to win and rarely won when playing poorly. Better to watch though.:-)
I think that JVoH is a poacher and cannot seem to handle type the build up play.
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Celtic have always played better with small, fast forwards - that's just a fact.
I blame Chris Sutton for confusing the issue. A lot of people saw Sutton as a target man - but there was so much more to his game than that. Since the demise of Chris as a Celtic player - we just get paler an paler imitations with only a fraction of his ability.
Celtic always had fantastic nippy wee forwards but we seem to have become obsessed with having a big man.
Time to find a new partner for McDonald - but maybe hold onto Killen to offer a bit of aerial variety in desperate times.
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BIG WAVY,
No just that we`ve "no goat the money " kept interrupting my lovely dream - so those we`re the priorities - right back left back well you know the rest - in an ideal world the two centre backs would also be changed - well defo McManus - but needs must.
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test
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Paul 67
"Riordan and McDonald" wishful thinking there Paul, just can't see WGS going for that. You were spot on with the mobility and the trip down target man lane brought a tear to the eye...oh for a decent strike partnership, trouble is we were spoilt for so many years.
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Paul
Couldn't agree more. Think of Nicholas/McGarvey and/or Nicholas/McCluskey.
There was another small striker who did a good job for us in the mid 80s but Paul's family friendly usage guidlines prevents me from mentioning him.
Riordan has obviously been a bad boy. Only the manager andthe squad know why he's not being given a game. Given what he's produced on the few occasions he's been played, he's well due a start on Tuesday.
Otherwise, like baz67 I'll no doubt watch MOTD in the future watching Riordan bang'em in for the likes of Birmingham City wishing we had him.
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vman 1st post
Give me the long ball as long as we have a young hartson/ sutton type player ......we need to buy some quality players, but please ghord 2 full backs first, the rest will fall into place, 3 in a row here we go.
vman B'pool
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Paul I have to say i disagree entirely in what you have said, not in theory but in practice.
I would prefer if we didnt play with a target man and had two bubbly and skillful strikers bouncing things off each other and played football the 'glasgow celtic way'
However, we do not have the personell to be able to play this style of football due to the defence.
We seen in the San Siro when the defence comes under the slightest bit of pressure, ie someone goes to close them down, they pump balls up the park. They were doing this even though they knew McDonald was up there by himself. If you fee this is a tad harsh, then midfield never came closer to the defence and there was never more than 1 player moving to show for the ball to take the pass from the defence.
Pressely has always done it, Hearts included, McManus does it, Caldwell does it (not because he is a kick and hope merchant like the previous 2, but because he thinks he can pick a pass!)
While we have such limited defenders, then im afraid we will have to stick with the 1 target man and 1 smaller pacy striker.
Someone mentioned it already I cant remember who, but saying it was the target man himself who isnt working for Celtic.
The reason for this is that our present no.1 target man has never been a target man previously.
If we had the personell, then why cant we change to the style of play you suggest, but with JVoH still in the team?
HE has been a successful goal poacher his entire career. On Saturday, during the dire performance vs St Mirren, well marshalled by the 54 year old Andy Mullan, JVoH was anonymous, BUT the defence continued to play that same pass, they were and are incapable of using this "variation" WGS has spoken of for well over 2 years.
The problem is the defence.
Pure and simple.
I would spend the bulk of our transfer budget in January on the defence, build from the back and move on from there, what we could find if we had pacy, ball playing centre halves and decent full backs is we already have the personell further up the park. (ok maybe being a bit optimistic there but we will find them being more effective than they are now)
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Vinnie - You really need to stop being so damn sensible during those dreams....plenty of time for that when you wake up :)
I had angelina jolie partnering Billy Mcneill last night.....something for everyone there....
Anyhow, the best way to improve JVOH's stock is to remove him from the team for a long period and watch him improve massively in the eyes of the support by his non-appearances....call it Bobo's law.....
But we are still top and the huns do not also convince me they are capable of mounting a sustainable unbeaten record. But my stress levels would love to see us knock them out of sight fairly soon......
Big Wavy
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Taggsybyoy - 12.28.
"Riordan has obviously been a bad boy...."
I listened to the aftermatch interviews while sitting in the car defrosting on Saturday. GS was pressed by the Kherdine Idessane on whether Deek will now play a more prominent part.
GS was quite clear.
DR is a very good player who he wants to stay. He has not had a chance because others have not only been playing well (principally Aiden and Shunsuke) but also because "The coaching staff know what Derek can do, we also know what he is not doing, and so does he!"
No conspiracies, no bad behaviour, just not doing what is required.
BTW Got all my automatic links set up for the draw Friday after next.
Whether we get/wherever we go (please please please let it be MADRID)Inter Milan, Sevilla, Porto, Barcelona or Athens, or wherever, with one deft hit of the key – three nights in the centre of any of the towns and all for under 300 quid for 8 of us! (that's £300 each)
Of course we’ll probably end up with London, Liverpool or Manchester!
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Not the finest Saturday afternoon altogether.
The old possession = goals rule simply did not apply. Our guys had more of the ball, in the first half especially, than I can remember for a long time.
Problem was, there didn't seem anyone capable of using it.
For all the JVoH chat today, and it's undeniable that the big chap failed to show much, the recurring problem is that our full backs don't know how to play the position, which is only to be exected of centre halves right enough.
I was delighted when WGS brought on Sno for Odea, thinking that we were going to a back 3, with 3 centre mids plus 2 wide players. Seemed reasonable given the playing resources and the opposition.
Quite why we then put Hartley into left back beats the hell out of me.
10 out of 10 for Evander. Great effort, good football.
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The 'Original' Danny
We've conceded 3 goals in the last 3 games - hardly a deluge.
We've scored 2.
This leads me to think the problem is in the forward department.
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Paul67
I don't believe for a minute that JVOH is a target man, he has the height but the role seems foreign to him and if he's going to adapt he needs to gain serious amounts of upper-body strength. I also agree that players like McDonald can do a good job as target-men however there is one key benefit of playing with a tall player up front, particularly in the SPL. So often team sit back and defend against Celtic, playing a tall man up front naturally moves the defensive line higher up the park allowing the other striker to utilise their pace. I suppose on the other hand having the defence sit deeper would allow more room for our midfield and more chance for our wingers to cut inside.
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Hi Paul67,
I read your article with interest as I feel that it in Scotland at least it applies to more than Celtic. I think part of the problem is that in Scotland if you had someone over 6ft then they became centre half/forward by default, they had hight so they must be good in the air. I see two problems with this, the first is that as has been pointed out with Mr Sutton,you get many big players who want the ball at their feet, to just fling in high balls to them means you can lose out on a lot of their game. The second problem I see is that when playing abroad especially against northern teams you can meet teams who are all over 6ft but are in many cases athletic and skilled in football as well and as the old boxing adage goes, a good wee yin will beat a big yoin, but a good big yin will beat a good wee yin. There will always be exceptions to the rule however I feel that we have to start thinking on our big players as football men rather than headers of the ball and make sure that younger players have this taught to them before they make the breakthrough.
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The manager, the fans, the goalie, the defence, the midfield and the strikers all had a collective off day on Saturday. I can't give St Mirren any credit, not when their 54 year old centre half is made to look like an Italian international by JVOH.
Is there any chance that JVOH has a clause in his contract that guarantees him a game on the condition that he's fit? Other than Lee Naylor, he's the only player I can think of who gets played regardless of his form when he's fit. With LN its presumably because he's the only left back we have, but with JVOH, that’s clearly not the case. If he starts against Falkirk you would have to ask why our manager is persevering with his selection.
I wouldn't write the guy off completely, but he would definitely be starting on the bench for the foreseeable future, supposing the decision was mine.
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Paul
A very interesting article. I must say, I subscribe very much to most of it. Certainly with a 442 system in the style Celtic have (with quite a tight 4, with typically only one of whom supporting for each attack) a target man in terms of a big man just up there to win headers and flick ones is very outdated. This was even seen latterly in Hartson's time.
John Hartson was a magnificent target man, perhaps the last of the true great British target man of that mould. The game has changed in many ways, teams are more conservative and play more defensive minded players even in advanced positions. Unless a team play with wingbacks, fullbacks can now almost always be replaced by good centre halves. Look round at European leagues, particularly those in the better league, Celtic are not alone in playing 4 players more adept to playing Centre back. Barcelona played Puyol at right back last night, I’m sure Sergio Ramos played fullback for Real, Wes Brown played for Man Utd, we have all seen Gallas, Carvalho, Toure play fullback in the Premiership. At Celtic Park in recent years I have seen both Paolo Maldini, and Collochini play fullback for Milan.
European action and success is a must for top teams, losing is a disaster. Teams are so frightened of losing Defenders defending has becoming increasingly more important (harking back to a bygone era before Carlos and Cafu were king). Raiding fullbacks may become a thing of the past, and in terms of style, it wont be a pretty game we move to. With the likes of O'Dea and Caldwell as full backs, their objective is not to bring the play forward, link with the midfield and take part in an open attacking and attractive game. Whether due to ability or direction from the sidelines, in tighter defensive systems invariably advocate those in the fullback positions playing long (and sometimes hopeful balls to the strikers).
Yes players like Hartson have played this role in the past, particularly as he was exceptional at holding the ball up and good close control, but it was crosses from wide and support from midfield that Big John and others (like Shearer for example) thrived on.
With the exception of corner kicks, how many headed goals have Celtic scored recently from cross balls. Not many.
The 'new' target men are still physically strong but now their game is based as much on energy and mobility as it is on sheer power.
Rooney, Drogba, Ashton, Torres, Etoo, Ibrahimovic, in the past these players would be coached and encouraged to use their physicality to get on the end of crosses, however these guys gave exceptional movement and mobility, dropping off to receive these long clearances up field. As likely to chest the ball down and bring others in to play than to flick it on to their smaller partner to run onto. The balls up field from defence are often not as accurate as crosses from wide midfielders use to be, so for the striker, its all about getting away from their marker to get it first, judge where it going, and move to where they can be most effective.
This is where Hesselink struggles. With the ball in front of him, he attacks it well from what I have seen, but he doesn’t seem as comfortable dropping off and moving to where the ball from defence is going.
It’s my opinion that to get the most out of a Hesselink type, wide midfielders OR forwards are the key. If we are insistent that wingbacks are a thing of the past for Celtic, and 4 defenders are our future, complete with midfield tighter than Murray's purse strings the 433/451 formation has to be used.
When we don’t have the ball the wingers become midfielders, and when we do have it, they become the number one outlet to supply the main striker with as many crosses as possible. It also gives the runner from midfield and opportunity to get forward to support and be brought in by the striker, whilst still providing enough cover behind.
The main problem in this is the relative performance of Hesselnik and McDonald. Whether its our systems fault or not, Hesselink hasn’t been playing the standard of McDonald. Can we justify adjusting or team/system to suit he rather than McDonalds competencies? The headed goals I do recall from cross balls this season have been from McDonalds supply. Perhaps with McDonald on the right, McGeady on the left, we could give Hesselink the supply that would justify his place in the team.
Whatever we do, Hesselinks involvement in our current big man little man partnership, has to change.
Currently I see our dysfunctional attacking philosophy and play, making our use of Hesselink look sadly like a 90's Scotland team with Duncan Ferguson.
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Corrib04 :- I can fully understand your wanting Lyon to beat Rangers and knock us out of the C.L that is what rivalry is about, what puzzles me about your post is how you can see this as a good thing for Scottish football.
BigWavy :- I agree Rangers may not have a sustainable unbeaten run in them, I don't think any team in Scotland has this season. What I would say though is that I believe we do have the beating of you over the season this time round (I know I'm the only one on here who thinks that) both teams will drop more points than normal this season though this is just my take on it. I feel we will drop fewer than you and that although neither of us has one of our "classic" teams it will be a close exciting race with Rangers being narrow winners.
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Big wavy,
When Balde was playing reguarly - was there a huge cry from the celtic support to have him dropped?
No, in fact probably one of the first names on the team sheet for most...............but i`m not really wanting to get into the old Bobo debate........after the huns batter our so soft defence again and again maybe the penny will drop but by then it will be far too late.
Because right back is a top priority and it has been for a long time.........Doumbe - wilson - not seen anything that makes me think that`ll do me - Caldwell tries hard not good enough......same old same old...
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fake pretender danny, im not summing up all of celtics problems from the last 3 games, likewise peoples concerns over JVoH have not been borne out of the last 3 games and Pauls post about not playing with a target man have come from the last 3 games.
But ok, I take your point about goals scored and conceded in the last 3 games.
Where do attacks begin from?
The defence.
Against AC Milan, the defence kept punting balls up front when wee McDonald was up there on his own.
I dont think you can blame the attack for us not scoring in Milan, the problem there, in my opinion was the negative tactics (i agreed with starting out that way but once we seen Milans lack of hunger for retrieving the ball or for doing anything really we should have moved in to plan B, during the 1st half)
I also think that between 10-20 possible attacks were foiled because it was humped up the park and possession was lost.
I understand we have been playing with 4 centre halves across the defence and yes this has obviously affected the pattern of play, but even with 2 fit full backs that ball gets humped.
(I was actually in the middle of a live commentary of the game vs Shaktar at home commenting on yet another long ball forward, but as my commentary went off the wire with and Shaktar get the ball back, they have possession again when I seen Jarosik bulge the net!!)
So the long balls do work sometimes I admit!!
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Best footballing post in ages Paul - our lack of a goal threat or effective formula in the final third is putting the rest of the team under pressure. There are obvious areas of the team where we are lacking but i feel that this is our biggest problem.
The main just of Martin O'Neill's success was that we could very quickly get the ball to the strikers who could retain posession & we could then build our attacks with supporting midfielders 25/30 yards from goal.
The situation at the moment is that we are playing long balls to our tallest & most expensive Striker in the hope that he can somehow compete for the ball, retain it & build attacks. Unfortunately this is not happening & Scott McDonald not only finds himself having to do Jan Venegoor's work, but also manoevre into goalscorong positions as well. Our midfield who are anticipating a pass in the final third then spend the following minutes trying to get the ball back & so the cycle continues.
The best striking partnership at this moment has to be as you said with Riordan & McDonald playing the channels & McGeady/Nakamura playing in the hole.
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I think Gordon going to a 3-5-2 would have made matters worse. It is undeniable that the players who got into the most dangerous positions and had the most space were the full backs. There was a lot of room in the wide areas which was there to be exploited and going to five men in the middle would have limited our capacities on the wings. The theory behind Hartley going to left back is that we have a footballer who is more comfortable on the ball when attacking in those positions than O'Dea was and the goal we lost aside Hartley was useful for speeding the ball from defence to midfield. It helps if you think of the full backs more as second wingers as all they did on Saturday was attack, they had no defending to do. There was no reason why Hartley would have been exposed there as he St Mirren didn't carry an attacking threat and if Hartley can cope with Shaktar then surely he can cope with the Saints, right? Sadly he did get caught out, but it wasn't a particularly big error as Brown should have coped with the shot without any problems. I think that going to five in the middle would have bogged the play down. We would have been more dangerous if we used Caldwell better as he was in acres of space on the right on many occasions but never got the ball from Aiden. Aiden didn't use the width of the park well enough either in the first half when he continually stepped inside, he spent most of the second half on the touchline which helped stretch their defence more.
I think on another day our creative players like Brown and Mcgeady would have made the right passes and we would be capable of scoring plenty. There wasn't many clear cut chances but there were certainly lots opportunities which broke down at the end of the moves which just needed a bit more composure.
I hope Donatti is back for Tuesday as he surely would have came on for Brown if he was fit.
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Donati's been very poor lately but I always think we play better and have a better shape with him in the side... would be interesting to see if the stats agree.
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Edwardursus
If I may pick up on your query to Corrib04 i.e how would Rangers being eliminated from the CL be a a good thing for Scottish football.
Can I ask you would it be a good thing for Scottish football if all Scottish football fans when visiting a Europoean city in support of their team behaved like the Rangers fans did when they visited Barcelona? Was that a good example to set for all other Scottish clubs as in this is how to behave when you visit a foreign country?
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Settingfree -
unfortunately I was not taken hostage by the middle-aged amazons. Instead I'd to suffer a carriageful of darnelists on the ML2 Express:-
D (knowingly of course): Whit wiz the score the day mate ?
WG: One One
D: Whit wiz that ?
WG: One one, we drew one one, we've extended our lead at the top again.
D: Naw yis huvny
WG: Aye we's hiv
D: Ur ye sure ?
WG: Abso certain, amigo
D: We'll beat Gretna
WG: You'll never play Gretna
D : Whit
WG: Never, ever, ever
D: Whit, why no ?
WG: Cis they're allowed tae
D: They're allowed tae whut ?
WG: No play yous
D: Why ?
WG: Cis yous wur allowed no tae play them
D: Dis that mean we canny go tap ay the league?
WG: Aye, only Gretna can go tap.
D: Whit ?
WG: It's aw true.
D: Who said this ?
WG: Gordon Duffield Smith
D: Who ?
WG: Duffield
D: Duffield ?
WG: Aye, he used to play for Rangers and Gretna before they split intae two different clubs and Rangers formed Motherwell.
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The system WGS is playing means - that if you do not have good full backs - by that i mean attacking full backs (that is why wgs thought Wilson and Naylor would be ideal)the whole thing falls down. Wide midfield players become isolated this leaves huge holes in midfield for teams to pour through.
If for a minute you can think of Rise or McCartney(west ham) playing left back and dare i say it Hutton right back then the whole team would take better shape - JVOH would be attacking balls coming from byline more often - teams clearing would be vulnerable to attacking midfield players.
If your full backs are garbage you not only fail in an attacking sense you are liable to lose goals like the one we lost on Saturday when the hard Hartley(i dont think)was brushed aside.
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Itz :- I'm sure you know in advance what my answer will be :-) No it isn't a good thing to act like a drunken hooligan when following the team away nor does it enchance the reputation of either my club or Scotland in general. I have no problem condemning such behaviour from fans. If I was to do otherwise then why should anyone listen at the times when I do defend something or give what I think may be mitigating circumstances. On a personal note I just can't understand why anyone would visit another country and not want to see some of the culture or historic sites that mean so much to local folk. Although it may not be a great one I'll use Dublin as an example, I have been pulled up on here for saying I think it would be iconic to sing Follow Follow at a game in Dublin but while there I would like to visit the post office and see and read the accounts of those who were there at the time to me that's part of travel, it can broaden your outlook and let you see anothers views. So in my book those who act like drunken morons are not only letting the club and country down but are depriving themselves of one of the best things about traveling.
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Hi Ted,
We'll disagree about the outcome of the OF matches but the first one did follow a depressing script of rangers brutality and refereeing buffonery. The only game I would have broken the mould and had Bobo back to tackle the thugs…….we must be cuter and hungrier next time round……….
Anyway, taking your theory of dropped points elsewhere, the next month could be very interesting as you have the following tricky fixtures ahead :
Hearts (H)
Aberdeen (A)
Motherwell (H)
Hibs (A)
Celtic (A)
Whereas we have :
Falkirk (H)
ICT (A)
Hibs (H)
DUFC (A)
Gretna (H)
Rangers (H)
The points in the bag picture always has a huge impression going into the OF and I can see us collecting more points than you at during that period………naturally…...
Big Wavy
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BigWavy :- Thanks for the reply, one of the good things about discussing this rather than say respective merits of players is that time will prove one of us right and like football fans everywhere we will both believe we are right until proved wrong :-)
On the games you mention before our meeting in Jan I reckon we will take 10 out of twelve points drawing at Hearts and you will take either 12 or 13 out of 15 dropping points to Falkirk.
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Thanks for that Edward, there you have the answer to your earlier question.
I do appreciate the honesty of your reply, full marks for not ducking the question.
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Has anyone else noticed how slow Paul Hartley is?
Im not sure if he is carrying an injury or not, I first noticed it when he went to left back against Hearts in the cup, then i seen it again against Milan and again against St Mirren.
Reason I say this is had anyone asked me who was slow in our team before this, I wouldnt have even thought about mentioning Hartley.
Now though, there have been times he has been robbed for pace by players who are not notoriously quick by any stretch of the imagination.
We have a poor mans substitute for Hartson up front in JVoH, looks like we now have a poor mans substitute for Lennon in the middle of the park (now we seem to be deploying him in the holding midfield role, despite being told we wouldnt be doing that after Lennon leaving and many fans blaming all and everything wrong on us having a slow, holding midfield player in the team last season)
I hope it is down to injury, he is far far far too young to be losing his pace already (he definitely wasnt slow when he used to make those lung bursting attacking runs into the opposition area with Hearts..)
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Noel 90,
last post - against Ayr United. I was at that game, (April 24th 1976 Celtic 1-2 Ayr United)in fact I might have been the kid buying the badge!
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JVOH is not the answer.Infact he is a non event and i would offload him in January.
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winningemmell remeber what i said to you outside haddows the other day.
I agree with your reply.
Duffield must go this dictatorship is ruining our game.
IRAQ Duffield send him to somewhere a dictatorship is unacceptable
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vinniethedog
i totally agree re the full back situation
our team is set up for the fullbacks to provide the width, this has to be the case with us playing wingers on the wrong wing encouraging them to cut inside ( for the fullback to overlap)
why do we persist with this set up when our fullbacks for the game are Caldwell and O`Dea , who don`t have the speedor crossing skill to play that way
surely we have to play a style which suits the players we have available not persist with a style that clearly doesn`t suit the playing personel
square pegs in round holes asked to play in a style that they cannot
worrying
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james
my apologies for not responding to your query earlier
whilst it was stated by some that JJ was not the worsed and that was the cause for the booing as they thought he should not have been subbed
i considered that to be a convienient arguement in that JJ was as crap/inept and as rubbish as the rest on saturday ( with exception of the subs who saved us ) and it was just an excuse to mask the disgraceful reaction to Sno`s entrance
being crap but not as crap as your team mate still makes you crap .i like jj( particularly of late)but his only noteable contribution was to hit the post with a header that he should have scored with
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Big wavy 15.41
i agree with your summation of what we need and in securing it we would be a good side
unfortunately it would cost us much more money than the board appear to be prepared to spend
about £12m -£20m
Winger £3-£4 m
LB £2-3m
CB £2-4m
CF £5m+
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The consolation I am clinging to at the moment is that the manager does know what our problems are and the limitations that have been placed upon us by injuries. I have heard him speak of the need to have full backs who can attack as well as defend and of the need to provide crosses from wide areas. I hope I am reading between the lines that these will be dealt with during the coming window.
Not a fan of JVOH but maybe he's not getting the right service?
Who do we have missing?
Shunsuke
Mark Wilson
Doumbe
Lee Naylor
Who have we missed?
Shaun Maloney
Kenny Miller
All that said I like Derek Riordan and believe he is a much better option up front with our current dearth of wing wizards.
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Interesting debate this
With some people like tod blaming the defence and most rounding on
big jvoh
The answer is neither ,the problem lies fair and square in engine room.
The midfield has no link player in any shape or form
When the midfield do not do their job the defence comes under pressure and the strike force starve of service (ringing any bells here)
When was ther last time we seen a
dominant midfield resulting in goals
Our stratagey at present seems to be the long punt from defence or feed the ball to the full backs who are not full backs and neither of them could pick themselves out in the school photo.
I can understand why a player like
BR from the arabs is being mentioned
I am fed up listening to the excuse AMcG was being double and
even triple tagged which begs the question, then what were the players that were not marked doing
We cannot rely on AMcG alone , he is still too young
Hopefully a linking midfielder is on the jan shopping list
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pfayr,
I think you are right and of course it ain't gonna happen. I have my expectations well and truly managed and I suppose it's down to the scouts to begin working their magic, beyond Easter Road would be nice.
I suspect the reality will be closer to :
* An SPL left back at £1.5m
* Probably the return of Maloney at £1m
* The loan signing of a centre forward, similar to the Bellamy deal, for 6 months - Maybe a Nugent or a Stokes or a Frei ??
If we were pushing the boat out I'd love to see us buy Bystrov (sp ?) of Spartak Moscow too but he'd be 5 million scheckles worth.
Can't see us buying a centre-half as we have a small army already and midfield is crammed full. Right back needs addressed but what happens when Wilson, JJPD and potentially A N Other are fit ? Surely we wouldn't have three ? Gary Caldwell as right back for the foreseeable future...???
Big Wavy
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Hi Ed,
I will try and answer to your query of my claim that Rangers being eliminated by Lyon would be a good thing for Scottish Football.
In my last post (2nd last post of the last blog) I was drawing attention to what Clarence seedorf had said about the Celric team and the Celtic fans in general. (He has complimented Celtics fans previously also.)
You can see where this is going cant you.
It was generally a comparitive study on what professional footballers were saying about the footballing styles of Celtic and Rangers.
On the one hand you have Lionel Messi calling Rangers play 'anti football' and that they added nothing to the tournanment (paraphrasing the last bit)
...and on the other hand you have Clarence Seedorf give a glowing reference on Celtic generally as a club and that we added so much to the competition.
Then there are the observations of the people of Barcelona that seem to be not very favourable in general towards your fellow supporters due to their rather disrespectful and ignorant behaviour.(urinating on statues of profound significance in main squares!)
All in all the report card does not look promising for your club or a sizable majority of its fans according to many.
Team...anti football!
Supporters....must do better!
As Rangers represent Scotland well by default they represent me as I am Scottish.
They have not covered themselves in glory over the last few years and while some of you are aware of this and are trying to do something positive about it, im afraid you are the small minority.
So for the good of Scottish football and the wonderful reputation eeked out since the mid seventies mainly by the Tartan Army, Celtic, Dundee Utd and Aberdeen it would be better...for now..if your team would just k..well kindly withdraw from European competion altogether...
PS, I know I am being a bit harsh and that we are not all saints either but..there is a grain of truth in there somewhere dont you think?
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Paul
Shurely the big target men for the Bhoys started with Big Pierre. I remember those giddy days when Rudi Vata ran 90 yards from his left back position to fire those pin-point passes for Big Pierre's napper, oh glory days. Now theres a left back and people complain about our fullbacks today. Another personal favourite Left Back, Anton Rogan, every shot or pass a mystery, you never know where the ball might end up, 4 goals in 6 years, Lee has another 4 1/2 years to catch up.
Has anyone notice that our own Paul 'Zico' Hartley looks a lot like Peter Petrelli from Heroes. One absorbs powers from other heroes to perform their role the other is a character in an american TV Show.
Sylar CFC
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Test . . . .
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Narrowboat Tim - Left Back, Anton Rogan, every shot or pass a mystery, you never know where the ball might end up, 4 goals in 6 years, Lee has another 4 1/2 years to catch up.
Ah, but would Lee have held his nerve at such a seminal moment in a centenary cup final in the dying minutes to swing in a magnificent cross to Macca ??
Anton Rogan csc
Big Wavy
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anton rogan
was a good singer and in my youth had many a song that followed
i`d give you a cyber rendition but paul67 would bar me for life :¬)
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Big Wavy
Anton was a joy to watch, %100 player whose face was as red as a beetroot when making those long dashes down the wing. I remember his redface and the look of panic when he was defending, when he went to clear his lines it went anywhere, sometimes Big Packy had to pick the ball out of the net.
Those were the days when Left Backs did not need to worry about being booed by their own fans.
Poor Anton suffered the same fate as Lenny when playing for his country, I believed it quieten down when he was transferred to Sunderland. i like the fact we bought him from a team called Distillery!
Jaikey Buckie CFC
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asdabreakfast -
if you had to pick seven items for 1.5 million who would they be ? Select from the following :
Mark/Scott 'Hash' Brown
John Ham & Egg Greig
His Holiness (Toast)
Fresh Orange (ML9)
Kevin Bacon
Lorne Bacall
Sgeg (Scrambled)
Scott McDonald Eggs (Poached)
Scotch Eggs (See Above)
Eric Black pudding
Mush Dressing Rooms
Gabriel Heinz Beans
Special K (Dalglish)
Fruit Hoops
Yoghurt Hughes
Tattie Scorn - White/Nicholas
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its good to hear that there is some talk that we need some more squad rotation; particularly around this time of year (just after CL, going into tough winter matches etc.
Martin O'Neil rarely rotated and GS seems to do the same.
Skippy badly needs a rest, as does Brown.
On another note - Celtic play some of the most dangerous football in Europe when they keep the ball on the ground. The long ball strategy is frustrating to watch and when playing against quality (chanpions league) opposition easy to defend against.
I hope that over the next few weeks we get to see Riordan, Sno, Donati, O'brien and Caddis, maybe even a cameo from Bobo and some of the key players get a rest and come back fighting for a tough early 2008 campaign.
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Paul
I wholeheartedly disagree with your assertion. There is much to plunder using the target man system. Our problem at present is that A. we have players such as Caldwell floating long balls and his accuracy, well, he'd need deep pockets to win anything at the funfair put it that way. B. Vennegoor is in fact pretty rubbish as a target man. In short we don't have the players to play the target man system.
More importantly, I had understood that the target man system was one which WGS hoped/vowed to shy away from. Is it laziness that we find ourselves adopting a system that other teams can nullify so easily ? I suspect the answer is "yes". Otherwise it is incompetence. Someone earlier indicated that without quality fullbacks who can work the length of the pitch, there are few options other than target man. I agree. The only alternative we have at present is to pass the ball to McGeady and "hope for the best."
I anticipate that tomorrow night will make for more uncomfortable spectating. The Falkirk defence have men big enough to deal with any long ball. If they have their wits about them and mark McGeady tightly or double up on him, we may have to revert to plan C - which is bring on Riordan with 10 to go !!
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Narrowboat Tim,
Did you know that Martin O'Neill's first team was also Distillery, now renamed Lisburn Distillery in the Irish league.
I remember travelling on the larne-cairnryan boat after the games in the eighties and Anton would have been on the boat with us sometimes, in club blazer and tie. To say the travelling fhans from the North held Anton, a west belfast man, in high esteem would have been an understatement then. A boo would probably have been answered with a tar and feathering :)
Big wavy
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Big Wavy
Anton on the left Chris Morris on the right if only they were there for the Milan game. Chris Morris 8 goals in 160 games for the bhoys and he made Phil Collins & Neil(Dr) Fox look like reas t**ts in that spoof documentary.
Brass Eye CFC
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Corrib04 :- Thanks for replying, I've given my views on crowd behaviour in an earlier post so I hope you don't mind if I don't go over it again. On the anti-football thing, if Celtic went out with a defensive formation in Europe and got the result they were looking for then on here Mr Strachan would be hailed as a tactical genius yet if Rangers do it it seems to be some sort of crime against football.
In the present campaign Celtic have played six scored five and conceded six,
Rangers have played five scored seven and conceded six and although I can't count on it just now I expect that positive difference to be improved against Lyon.
So with one game less played we have scored two goals more and conceded the same amount, maybe we aren't so negative after all.
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Scott 'Hash' Brown,His Holiness,Gabriel Heinz Beans,Lorne Bacall,Yoghurt Hughes,Scott McDonald Eggs and Special K.
Theres no way i could go near the ML9.
End The Unholy Alliance.
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JohnnyTheFox, agree.
St Gris, Brian, probably not, but I do know the manager’s patience is wearing thin.
Welcome vman.
The Original Danny, agree that we need to be able to hold possession better at the back.
Malone19, agree, he is not.
Edward, Taggsy, agree.
Cheers Michael 67.
VargasShampers, thanks.
The Narrowbhoat Tim, aye, but I never could spell Pierre’s name. :-)
Malceye, even BBJ was suffering from being too easily read in his latter days at Celtic Park. Mobility is king.
Big Wavy, deleted. Please delete when your comment has stretched the width of the page.
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pfayr
totally agree with you on the full back situation
but it happens with all our full backs not just the emergency ones. lee naylor was a half decent full back when he arrived at celtic, but due to the outdated style of asking a fiull back to continually deliver match winning crosses his career has gone into reverse.
when mcgeady switches to the right the only thing that happened on the left is a left back charging forward and invariably getting it wrong. the exact same happened to o'dea on saturday and he had to be subbed.
what was jarosik supposed to be doing if he was wide left midfield?
as for asking caldwell to be an overlapping full back
you would be as well asking john reid (:-)
well maybe
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Narrowboat Tim,
Can you imagine if the boo-ing section of the celtic support got themselves sucked into a timewarp and found themselves watching the 88 team early in the season ?
Morris and Rogan at full back..
Big Mick in the middle....
The height of our ambition was the signing of Billy Stark :)
Joe Miller on the wing with no end product and up front the man with no mobility Mark McGhee ??
They'd of had a field day :)
Great team and great memories....
Big wavy
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Sorry Paul,
No idea what I've done there but will keep an eye out for any transgressions....
Big Wavy
-
-
1955
Scottish League Division A
Celtic 0 Kilmarnock 2 (Curlett 2 (4,38))
Bet he was a free-kick specialist !
att -15,000
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Big Wavy
Right team! right time!
Big Mick always looked like he was never going to reach the ball when he was the last defender back against a striker. He always stretched out his telescopic leg and got the ball. If you look up the phrase "He stroll the pitch" there would be a picture of Big Mick. What a pair of CH him and the Sun-bed King himself Derek White.
If that team was around today, the boo-boo fans would have missed all the last minute goals they scored to win trophies. Saying that they probably think we drawn against Milan and Shak. Donetsk.
Centenary CFC
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1966
Scottish First Division
Celtic 4 Mothers 2
1-0 Chalmers (30)
2-0 Chalmers (41)
2-0 HT
2-1 Murray (78)
3-1 Chalmers (83)
3-2 Lindsay (84)
4-2 Murdoch (87)
Deans sent off for Mothers in Wispy's Celtic debut.
att - 40,000
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I think JVoH`s best position is on the bench. You didn`t come out and state it in the article, Paul, but I think you were trying to tell us that big Jan is Raphael the 5 million Brazilian.
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Paul
re: Hartson, I agree. Please don't mistake my criticism of Vennegoor as an endorsement of Hartson. I was a big critic of his immobility. The fact that Vennegoor couldn't tie BBJ's laces says it all and more about the former
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Just because he's big and plays centre forward does not make JVOH a target man. Get the ball out wide and find him in the box. He'll find the net then. Big hopeful punts up the park has never been Celtic's style. Dire to watch.
-
2003
Champions League
Lyon 3 Celtic 2 (Hartson, Sutton & Bobogate)
Att - 40,125
Here's to more Euro glory for Lyon in the very near future.
WG
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Narrowboat,
Target men started way before Pierre. Unfortunately they started with Tony Cascarino, which put that little experiment to bed for a few seasons.
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The huns are looking pale at work.They are expecting a doing.Uncle Walter will play two back fours 1 in the middle and 1 "up front" loitering about the centre circle
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I hope that three of these young men will still think it's worth it this time tomorrow.
It's been a long time..
Anyways, whichever system or style you choose to play will only succeed if you have players of sufficient ability to make it work.
We don't have any elephants upfront anymore. Time to play some cheetahs.And in doing that you can compensate for some of the immobility in midfield by using the better passers in the team to stretch the opposition.
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Latest player link to the Bhoys Zenit St Petersburg winger Andrei Arshavin, least he is not a hairy a*** winger. Maybe we will sign Rod Fanni from Nice and keep Balde, Yea you can see where I am going with this, I'll stop now.
Bring on the silly season in January can anyone else find players with strange names linked to the Bhoys.
Rafael Scheidt CFC
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No probs, Big Wavy, it's the linked-up-words-without spaces that causes the problem.
WG, 1955, and they have never won at CP since.
Shoot the dug, :-)
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Ed,
I have just noticed the comments bewtween you and Itz.
Yes Rangers have been good in some of their performances. I envy your 0-3 score against Lyon. That was a stunning result.
I guess I was giving you a gentlemanly 'out' by bringing in team performance to the arguement when my main thoughts were on the embarrassment caused by 'many' Rangers fans abroad. ;>
But as you said you have covered that so no need to go over old ground.
However if youd indulge me a bit further..One other point on 'Fan Performance'.
The cause and effect of Rangers fans in Europe is if Celtic were to be drawn against Barca in the last sixteen there will be uncomfortable consequences for Celtic fans.
Local outrage at the lack of law enforcement last time a team from Glasgow visited will mean Celtic fans may be seen as guilty until proven innocent.
BOT your fault of course Ed, its just a general concern.
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Dubaibhoy
Target men implies that you actually sometimes hit the target unlike big Tony. Now Wayne Biggins there was a target man, a target for abuse.
Magoo CFC
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Poetry in motion
Photographs of Wayne wearing the Hoops are hard to come by.
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Big Breakfast XI
Latchford
Munro
McCluskey P.
Murdoch
Hartson
McGhee
Biggins
four to go......
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Large shorts -
Lennon ?
Petrov ?
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And here's another legendary number 9
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BOT should be NOT
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We always called Wayne Ivor
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The hitmen just keep on coming
..although that's a pretty good strip he's wearing..
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AsdaBreakfast :- You say "The huns are looking pale at work.They are expecting a doing" Not the ones I talk to, we fully expect to qualify and are fairly confident of taking three points.
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WG 14.02-
:)))))))
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Oooh Ahh Falconer
Not much ay a fitba player bit he could fair pull the burdz
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Noel -
I thought no-one had noticed that post tbph
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RE: the striker \ lack of goal threat debate, I'm of the belief that if you don't get in behind a defense and ping crosses for strikers to attack causing defenders to turn........then your almost making it that bit easier for defenders to defend with the game in front of them.
From experience over years of watching football purely as a fan if you don't have the type of players who can regularly hit the byline to cut the ball back then you're either looking for quality angled balls into the box with strikers who are very adept in the air (I'm thinking of Hartson\Sutton and Larrson playing off them), or you've got strikers who are so quick footed that they play through a defense........even having lightning pace up front can surely impact how a team sets their stalll up when playing you....as they can't play a high line to squeeze the game.
I believe that if we had quality winger types who could deliver real quality ammunition for our strikers that Majiec, JVoH, McDonald would score plenty more goals in the Hoops...so many options if you have pace in a team.
I have criticised young Aiden in the past on here and hand on heart think the lad has really upped his game this last few months, but as was mentioned earlier it won't take a one eyed bland man long to spot that if you close him down you really do limit our attacking options with NAKA missing and none of our current central midfield 'attacking' options recognised as real goal scoring threats....
Hartley was scoring freely for Jambos but alas in the Hoops he's not got teh same role or scope.
I really hope January transfer window does bring us a pacey winger amongst a few other quality players as we do I believe have goal scorers on our books if they get quality ammunition....and fast athletic wing backs wouldn't do us any harm either.
Alan Thompson of 5 years ago would lift this current teams goal threat and that quality delivery is something we really miss.
Just my own personal ramblings.....
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DBBIA,
It's got to be Darren Jacko next...
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Donty
Classic picture of Biggins in the QPR Style Strip. Can anybody name 2 players from Macari's team of giants (circa 1994) who are still plying their craft today.
Skip to the Lou CFC
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Corib04:- I can understand that concern, it's something that annoys me at times as well as I don't like being lumped in with those who see a trip abroad as an opportunity to urinate against a different wall. From my point of view all we can do is work away quietly and slowly to change attitudes. You may think this is the wrong way to go about things but things are changing even if slower than many (myself included) would like.
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The Narrowbhoat Tim
carl muggleton still in goal
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Hail Hail
He's a mainstay at Mansfield
Mudblood CFC
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Muddleton : A Nightmare On Helenvale Street
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ahh the good old days of not spending
any money on players(:-)
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Sanschien : A Lanimerian Werewolf In London Road
-
ahh - Mr Luigi Macari allegedly never
saw Barrowfield since the last time he was player.
all this wayne biggins stuff has put me back in the mood for the game tomorrow night
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SPL have refused Aberdeen's request to have Motherwell game postponed according to Snyde!
Murderwell wanted to play the game apparently....
Sack Duffield
TTTT
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Hail Hail
What do you mean not spending money on players then, Brady spent £1.5million (thats £12 million in todays money) on jigsaw 51 appearances for the bhoys 0 goals, now theres a target man/winger
Andy Payton 1/2 million? (£4 million in todays money) (15 goals)
Monopoly Money CFC
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Fair point Ed.
Also I actually agree with you that it is better to influence change cautiously and carefully.
Got to go. Family calls..
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While we are at it Paul Byrne 26 appearances 4 goals (2 against the huns)started his career at Bluebell United.
Budgie CFC
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Paul67, its a Strachan failing. For someone who talks a great game he practises a poor one. Strachan has steadfastly refused to try for example Riordan and McDonald up front and supply them with balls to feet.
His football tactics are so predictable. Route one high ball to JVOH or Killen.
There are games like Saturdays were a bit of imagination would have turned things around. We could have went 3-4-3 and run St Mirren ragged. Instead we take of O'Dea but put Hartley at LB, whats that all about? and he sticks with route one aerial assault.
I really hope Majic gets another "last" chance and that he plays with Scott and the ball is kept on the deck.
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Sir Paul
Hmfffffff!
Celtic on Sat.?
As I was saying.
collie in his wisdom, voiced the following opinion....ooh?... a good few times.... I paraphrase.....
"Celtic's problem, is NOT THE DEFENSE!"
I shall repeat that, for emphasis!
"Celtic's problem, is NOT THE DEFENSE!"
I shall repeat it once more...in the hope that someone, somewhere.... notices that fact!
"Celtic's problem is NOT THE DEFENSE!"
And, you know something?
collie is/was/ absolutely spot on, with that statement.
Everybody, has been steadily complaining....all....Season!.....
that Celtic's Problem Au Annee.... was the lack of defensive replacements... in the last Transfer Window....
When all the time.....???????
Meanwhile, back at the ranch....
collie his been been (?) busily ignored, accumulating a staggering plethora, of Non-Listeners( Kin ye say that?...ed)( Ah jist did!)who studiously avoided his exhortation......
"Celtic's problem, is NOT THE DEFENSE!"
And for good measure... collie also is on record as preaching....
paraphrasing.....
"The era of the Muscle-Bound, Treacley Slow... TARGET MAN... in the Celtic attack.... is OVAH!!!!
We need a lithe, blithe.... Fast... attacking team....of two NUBILE( Going a wee bit too far?...ed)( Yer right!But I'll leave it alone...this time!) Warriors!"
Did Henrik not demonstrate that a Small fast, skillful DESTROYER... will always be preferable, to a GIGANTIC, SLOW, CHUGGING... BATTLESHIP OF THE LINE?
You can bet yer Bippy on that!!!!!
So......
Paul,kiddo... ye are on to something!
Relying on the dubious advantages of using a Big clumsy oaf ,as a TARGET MAN..... is not the way to success...anywhere...or any time!
Gordo... Listen to the VOX POPULI!...( That's YOU, pal...in the unlikely event that ye are unaware of that fact!...you have just been so dubbed!)
I await to see what the January sales will reveal,as to the shape , form and physique, of the new Celtic Redeemer.
Interesting....?
Very!
Kojo.
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shocking news aberdeen fail in bid to have saturdays spl game cancelled ahead of euro-crunch game
thats all reporting scotland mentioned.has anyone got any more on this.absolutely f***in disgraceful.
this wont be the last of it
we're in for a bumpy ride
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Paul, I posted much the same thing about two months ago and no-one picked up on it then at all. McDonald is a good, clever striker and holds the ball up well. With a speedy striker alongside him, someone who has good movement and plays on the shoulder of the last defender we would have a great partnership.
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Can anybody be truly shocked that the Aberdeen game is not postpone. We knew that was going to happen. Maybe if Willie Miller was in power instead of Duffield Aberdeen would of have the postponement of the game.
The good thing it is Aberdeen they hate the huns as much as we do.
Duffield blames the Sheep Schools for the hatred between the clubs, I quote him " its all the fault of the school ewe went to"
Now its ovine to WG to Sack Duffield
Merino CFC
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I suspect WGS's comments about wanting to keep Riordan are more about driving up any potential transfer fee than actually wanting to keep him. Actions speak louder than words and if he was wanted he'd have had a run in the team by now. The management team obviously feel he's doing something wrong so a parting of ways is inevitable, the player has sais as much himself.
To be honest at the moment we're reaping what we sowed in the summer and after a disastrous transfer window I'm actually reasonably happy with where we are at the moment considerirng the failure, for whatever reason, to address the squads shortcomings at the last window.
We are still top of the league and have qualified for the CL last 16 and, with a tranfer window just about to open, we have a chance to rectify the mistakes of ther summer.
There can be no excuses this time around.
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TheNarrowbhoatTim :- I hate to be pedantic but the claim to hate us more than you :-)I put it down to the fact that their mates of choice end up on our dinner tables.
Seriously though as I've said before the original decision was wrong and this adds to the wrongness
-
People
The Mothers vetoed the postponement. In regards to midweek crowd attendances etc. Strangely enough they made no mention of 'The good of Scottish football'
Is Aberdeen in Scotland?
As someone on here already stated - what the establishment team wants, the establishment team gets.
U.
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109steps - 13.04:
We're going back to Milan, to play the other half of the "vecchia ditta", and we're also playing in the quarters afterwards. Put your mortgage on it...
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I can't agree with Edward and Corrib04. The most significant changes effected at Rangers over the past 50 years have come about because UEFA turned over the rock and got at least some of the wrongdoers scurrying for cover. It was not a dawning understanding that they were perpetrating something shameful that led to calls for change, it was fear of losing points and money. Some were also embarrassed, but mainly because this little private thing of ours was now Europe-wide knowledge.
I see that Daniel Cousine has been helping morale with a withering expose of the dietary habits of his fellow Rangers players. Chips and pizza are all the rage after a game. His teammates are out of shape, unfit and too fond of beer in large glasses. There was some good news though. He hadn't seen any of them turn up drunk for training.
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The fools, the fools.
I've just seen below the iceberg's tip.
SACK THE LOT OF THEM
WG (Teserbound)
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This is The Orange Card, the Right To Veto.
Aberdeen's need is greater than the huns'.
Two Jimmys - how does that medicine taste ?
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Evenin all.
Just thawed oot from Saturday's debacle. Easily the coldest, wettest and most miserable I have been in a long time.
Also the first time in a long time that I have stood at a match, basically because most round about me headed for the warmer parts of the Jock Stein stand, leaving me and a couple of mates able to stand without interrupting anyone's view, all the while trying to stay warm.
We have to play better tomorrow night...we surely can't be any worse...and totally agree with Paul's assertion that target man fitba' is not working for us.
Time to try Riordan. He comes on, scores and saves a point. What more is expected of him, in order to get a start?
Is the managers quote of "the coaching staff know what he is not doing" a wee dig at his lack of gym time? Why does he need to pump iron to play football? He certainly doesn't need to use the treadmill just to sit on the bench.
I am a fan of Gordon Strachan but he is beginning to send out mixed messages about some players and it's not doing him any favours. His detractors are out there, waiting, with both barrells cocked. Failure tomorrow night would only give them more ammo.
C'mon the Hoops, a glorious, victorious performance tomorrow night please.
Maybe that way I won't notice the cold.
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EU
I have no problem with your team having the Gretna game postpone, its says more about your teams philosphy of win at any cost.
As Celtic fans we thrive on adversity, Adversity is a fact of life for the bhoys, it can't be controlled, what we can control is how we react, 3-0 next time for the bhoys we you visit in 2 Jan 08 will do.
As I say to my fellow celts "When everything seems to be going against you, remember that the airplane takes off against the wind, not with it"
Victory will taste sweeter at the end of the season.
Up Pomposity CFC
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My dear friend,Ed....
"Is it not true that....??"(the Pookah's dreaded opening question...ed)( Eggsactlee!)
The reason why you are being so reasonable in agreeing to the accusation, that the the G.A.'s exemption in fullfilling their alloted allotment... was a lachrymose shame... was.......
That the G.A.s ....and by extension...your own...
Defence, in the matter was....
INDEFENSIBLE????
The appearance of your estimable gesture, of Magnaminous Magnaminity, is therefore mightily reduced.
More to the category, of an ineluctable,Minimal Gesture of agreement!
Consider yourself.... Rumbled, my friend.....
Nice try... but no Coconut will be awarded ...in this case.
Kojo.
Yer pal...who likes ye...in spite of certain Irresolvable Differences, in personal preferences.
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Disgraceful, if predictable, result in Aberdeen's attempt to have the same rule applied to Rangers apply to them.
What do they think this is? A level playing field?
How long before we have this written down as "Old Firm favouritism"...?
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dennis
cousin also atated that the league was easy
Ed how many goals has Cousin scored in the league for you ??
i think it`s 3/4, that makes JVOH almost prolific
Ed do you think he`ll get in bother over this ...i assumed that he would be playing on wed given that JCD is still injured
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Kojo :- You are correct in that I wouldn't try to defend it, it should either be a rule that applies to all teams or none. Though I'll admit to being enough of a hypocrite that I hope it helps the team in this instance.
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Paul,
Good article. Personally I think the "big target man (BTM)" is a thing of the dim and distant past even in the British game.
Nowadays, managers demand much more than decent aerial ability- good BTMs are people like Sutton, Viduka, Shearer, Drogba- exceptionally able and aware footballers who can act as a physical link with midfield, but who can also play the game on the deck when necessary.
Even Peter Crouch (who should be the archetypal BTM) has a decent ability on the deck.
JVoH does not strike me as a BTM in the classic mould. He strikes me more as a Christian Vieri-type player- big and athletic, but fundamentally a penalty box player.
That we hump high balls up to him is a source of frustration to him, as much as it is to us, I believe.
Though having said that, his lack of apparent effort is starting to be a worry...
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Has anyone got a link or direct quote saying Murderwell knocked this request back? Snide said the SPL had looked at all aspects and decided to refuse the request, with no mention of motherwell. If indeed it was motherwell would the SPL not say so ? Just wondering.
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My dear friend,Ed...
"There he goes again,Nancy...
Being so Bloody---- HONEST!
How can ye no luv, the guy?"
Your qualities falleth like da gentle rain from heaven....pal...
Nevah Change!
I think ye are swell!
Kojo.
Yer pal...who likes ye more an' more!
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Anyone know why the huns are not playing their game postponed for the scotland game next week?
maybe they would be required to play 6 games in 3 weeks ..........hold on a minute ..is that not what are being required to do
also why wait until the 16th of jan .............of course it`s the next available date after a
p1sh easy Scottish cup game
ya couldn`t make it up
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pf re cousin article..the words lost in translation or taken out of context/misconstrued will no doubt appear in some chip wrapper either tomorrow or wed
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Koj
May I have one of those coconuts if there's any spare?
UMcG - a demographic of 1 as a collection molecules - mainly water.
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Italiabhoy
JVOH ...athletic ...are you having a laugh ...he is as slow as a week in the jail
Vieri...in our dreams
he`s turned into a complete haddy
-
Nothing fancy
here's the link to
the 'well/dons saga
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/a/aberdeen/7137400.stm
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Paul,
the target man game will always be difficult when the opposition can outnumber the striker. For me, i agree that JVOH lacks an ability to play back to goal, but the difficulty is that the defence insist upon playing long flighted balls with very limited accuracy.
They also continue to play a rigid back 4 even in possession. They will release the ball to the midfield who will be outnumbered by a 5 man opposition midfield, and will never push up to support.
It is unreasonable to expect the midfield to continually be outnumbered whilst the defence fool themselves into believing they are gifted as they pass the ball across the back line but only commit one striker to the chase.
Often they are still sufficiently slack that the full back gets isolated one on one with the striker and lumps a ball back up the line.
Simply put, until the defenders take both responsibilty and initiative, we will continue to be outplayed in midfield and forward areas.
This lack of tactical development from Celtic is the main reason why i will continue to believe that Celtic missed a trick by not looking at Tony Mowbray before he left for WBA. His teams always play "the Celtic Way"
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wg
One for the large shorts 11, Jim Slavin.
Haven't read through all the posts, hope he hasn't featured.
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bringontheweeman
JK is the only CB we have who has the ability to bring the ball out of defence the others just boot the ball up the pitch or hit a square ball to the fullback ...totally no football
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Ulysses McGhee, Cheers for Well/Dons link.
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pfayr,
He was a good player with PSV, scored a lot of goals against a lot of good teams.
I suppose he could have become a "haddie" (is that a technical term?), but perhaps we simply don't play to his strengths..?
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Re: target men.
A quick look round the top teams in europe show that they mostly all play with quick mobile forward players and/or out and out poachers.
Just off the top of my head:
Man U - Tevez, Rooney, Ronaldo.
Arsenal- Rosicky, Eboue, Van Persie
Barca - Messi, E'too, Ronaldinho
Real M - Van Nistelrooy, Robinho, Raul.
Inter - Cruz, Ibrahimovic
Roma - Totti, Guily, Mancini.
Ac Milan - Inzaghi, Kaka, Gillardino, Ronaldo
I'm sure someone will point out some teams that play with target men that are performing at the highest levels in Europe ( apart from Celtic!!)but it's just a quick observation.
Also Larsson, McClair, Cadete, Kenny D, Lennox, Judas, Nicholas, Scott McD. Not many to trouble the 6ft mark there.
Of course the route to Europen domination could just be to play 11 men in your own box and kick and bludgeon your way to the next round. Hope that doesn't work!!!Sod the Co-efficient. C'mon Lyon.
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And don't win anything.
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PFAyr :- I had to check that lol, the SPL site gives it as 5. I haven't read the interview so I don't know what will be said though I have an idea that it may be the old "mistranslation" sort of excuse if it were in a foreign paper. I'd hope he will be playing against Lyon, with Meesrs Darcheville and De Beasley out then I think he will either be teamed up with K. Boyd or up front on his own.
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Paul,
On "Gretna-gate"... Do you agree that our man in the sharp suit might have been outplayed by the wee baldy suntan-man in Govan?
The Huns have played a bit of a blinder- they timed their request perfectly (too late for us to reciprocate for our game vs Hertz); they probably squared Gretna before asking; and their friends in high places were quick off the mark with the "we don't want to set a precedent line", effectively guaranteeing rejection of the next non-Rangers request that would come their way. The issue was shut down as soon as it had arisen.
As a result, we look shattered, whilst they have plenty of time to rest.
Of course, certainly the knowledge that the authorities would look favourably on their request helped- and here again we see the danger of such openly partisan Rangers men in high positions. Duffield is so tainted he doesn't even need to pretend impartiality- who will believe him after the p!sh he has spouted recently?
With this being the environment in which we operate, political antennae at our club need to be sharp- we should anticipate further collusion between Rangers and the SFA soon- we must confront it and kick up as much of a fuss as possible.
The last time we did this, the SFA CEO resigned.
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It doesn't matter who's up front just now, the lack of width in the team, made worse by centre halfs @ fullback lumping diagonal balls from 40-50 yards means that our strikers struggle to gain good quality possession.
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My dear friend,Odysseus...
I could do Seven Minutes on the Coconut ...angle....
Suffice, to be sufficiently sufficient.... Nuts to that!
Speaking about Perspicacious Quotes...
I have just read the most penetratingly penetrating observation. It was authored, by Marko Guidi.... who else?.... who I happen to know ..and love...
He being..way up there next to Mr. Gibbons.....
In alluding to Celtic's recent foundering debacle against St. Mirren... Marko provokingly poses....
I quote:
"Celtic now seem to be relying too much on MCGEADY...others have to step up and start delivering for the side."
Not a bad observation, at all, at all....
And not to be outdone....Mr.Glenn...pointedly, avers...
"It was a display from the home side, that hinted at a refreshment through CHANGE,the possiblility that some Players are becoming JADED as the result of CONSTANT SELECTION....."
Here, Here, Glenn, my Perpicacious Penman.
Enuff said!
Kojo.
Yer pal...who enjoys yer craic.
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Will somebody please kill of the rumour about Larsson returning and Magic leaving in January to vacate the shirt!!
We all know he is out of contract in December but he isn't coming to us. Leave they guy alone he won't be returning. I am on the verge of banjoing somebody if they mention this to me again. Enough!! Long live the king.
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PjDali, I like the way you think. I am planning an article along those lines this week.
Bhoy Molloy, my time hoping that Maciej gets one last chance have passed, it we are handing out chances, give one to Derek.
Kojo, true enough. No point blaming defence, or keeper for that matter, the Poisoned Paisleyites held out for 85 minutes, your VP (pox populi) :-)
Francisquinn147, you are ahead of me, well done.
Malcolm, :-)
I like your confidence.
Italiabhoy, malceye, perhaps the big target man needs conventional wingers who can hit the ‘bye line’.
Bringontheweeman, Tony Mowbry, aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaargh!!!
Took Hibs from eighth place to, well, to eighth place. And that was with Caldwell, Brown, Thomson, Riordan, O’Connor and Murray.
Given a chance, he could do the same for Celtic.
Italiabhoy, I cannot get animated about Rangers game with Gretna being postponed. It sets an awkward precedent, especially for a game so early in the season, but I can imagine Gretna not being too troubled by it, or the SPL for that matter.
No reason why we should assume Celtic were outsmarted, we progressed to the CL knock out stage, would not have postponed Saturday’s game and re-arranged tomorrow’s ourselves.
Time to get points in the bag.
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Gary67,
agree, but WGS must be dictating tactics, as it has been our modus operandi for some time now.
Incidentally, on review of Deek's goal, I was even more impressed both at the way he peeled away from the defender before looking for the ball, and at how he controlled with his right and scored with his left foot. I would rather we got rid of WGS than DR right now, so frustrated am I. Also, can we not give him a chance as a twin partnership up front rather than a wide player.
Finally, with such a rigid flat back 4 we force Aiden Mcgeady to recieve the ball much closer to our half way line, with 2 banks of defenders to beat, instead of deeper in he opposition half with the option of the overlapping defender.
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WGS
Can you refer to a recent post on CQN discussing the likelihood or otherwise of Henrik returning?
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PJDali,
I agree with you. There is no decent service coming from the wings be it from a full back or winger. McGeady apart just now. Could be responsible for non existence of JVOH.
Reason why i'm looking forward to Maloney returning. A wee cheeky bid for the Spartak player would be a good idea as well. The one that tore Naylor apart.
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ElDiego,
Wasn't really on about this site. Just people in general saying. "You heard the latest Larsson returning". Been constant for the past couple of weeks. Doing my heid in as they would say
I'm taking my frustration out on the keyboard i'm afraid.
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I see a lot of similarities between JVOH and Kuyt. The latter I remember watching in the CL final and thinking if you don't score, what do you add?
And that's how I feel about JVOH. And I know that might be a tad simplistic, but over the past few games he's getting of headed chances and failing to test the goalie. His inability to stay on his feet leaves me speechless at times.
Sutton had more in his locker than just being big, as did/does Mark/o Viduka. Really smart heads that translated to really smart feet. I truly believe that an on song Alan Thompson would only be increasing Skippy's goal tally if he was in our squad.
Last season it was world cup and tiredness and injury - This season?
JVOH is letting the moment define him and makes me worry about the jersey fitting.
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WGS
For what it's worth I've not heard a single supporter in my neck of the woods believing that Henrik was coming back. Nor indeed advocating that he should return.
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hi paul.fellow celts.
cant think off hand a worse celtic performance than that on saturday ,(no doubt we have had them ,just cant think of one at the moment) it really is the case now, where we are attending matches wondering what celtic team are going to turn up. lack of full backs is a big problem , and one that should have been addressed close season. i also feel that a TOP CLASS centre back would also be a bonus to us.so thats 3 players we require .am i the only one who thinks that a TOP CLASS midfielder is also a requirement. scott brown ,no problem there. naka.he,s got the gift alright, grand player would be better with more help. if we could depend on jj and massimo then that area could be scrubbed from the wish list .but we cant depend on them to deliver so for me thats 4 players we require. up front, what can i say, the k.o.k. sutton .hartson. we were spoiled there ,all hard acts to follow. mc geady he will do just grand. skippy so far so good. deek i feel deserves a chance and i hope he gets it. jvoh sorry mate as far as im concerned you dont fit the bill for me. like tomas graveson before him, i was excited at his signature. but we just dont function with him in the team .and i feel the old celtic trait of persevering with players hoping they come good is wasted on big jan. unlike a lot of my fellow posters .i like the idea of a big rumble of a centre forward, god how we loved sutty and bbj. but jvoh for me is a poor replacement for those ghuys.he must be replaced .and that makes 5 players we require, we are heading in the right direction , but we cannot carry as many passengers as we are currently carrying. the rangers postponement has worked out well for them, without them kicking a ball. it will be harder for us this year to win the league.but if we do the rewards once again are great. automatic qualification to the cl group stages,extra revenue for the club. but equally as important. less revenue for them .if i may add. these are only my opinions.
hail hail .
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Kojo
Using my Sunday name an' all...
U.
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Sir Paul..
"Poisoned Paisleyites", indeed!
Luv it, Luv it!
You know whatta ah like!
The Noble Crusade,Towards more Picturesque Speech.... is a rewarding pursuit!
Why use a mundane phrase, when ye kin exercise yer vocabulary?
Which can stiffen in arthritic unsplendour... and atrophy.. if ye dinna use it.....
What is that gem, again...?
Use it or .......!
Kojo.
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simple come our last 16 match (hopefully real madrid)put them on the spot and ask for a postponment
think jvoh is getting unfair stick came from dutch football with very good strike rate and showed in early days that he can do it for celtic
could it then not be as some have already said that he is being asked to do something that dosent play to his strengths and as has been a problem for a while now
we aint creating a hell of a lot of chances even at home and i dont think it can even be said that its just in comparison to the glory days of the king of kings (sniff :( if only he had been immortal)
edward any particular team you would prefer for the next round
of the uefa cup that is :)vive la france
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El Diego,
Been constant my neck of the woods mate. People just reading websites i think. Getting annoying now.
As much as i love the guy the possibility of it happening is well in my opinion non existent.
Would i take him back just 6 months?? Dam right i would. Think Naka would love it to.
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Haven't been on for a few days but I want to say well done Evander Sno for Saturday.
For a kid who was booed on to the park - shouted at every time you touched the ball , and generally abused for your few miutes on the park, your ball for the goal and your general play was excellent.
For all the so called fans who continue to destroy the confidence of our young players I hope you are all ashamed of yourselves. You are not true Celtic supporters.
Seville67
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I reckon Defoe would be a great shout. Spurs are willing to sell at a resonable price.
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Hi all,
Aberdeen fail to get game postponed to help them in Europe, Gordon Smith yir a f*nny! Pretty disgusting really and makes our League look like Mickey Mouse Land with all the help going to Walt 'Disnae Smile' Smith. Poor Dons.
I Googled SPL looking for some helpful insight as to why the Huns get help while the rest suffer and after striking 'I'm feeling Lucky' I noticed a chat feature which allows you to chat 24/7 so I decided to ask them about the Huns. The chat transcript is below.
11:37 2007/12/10 (GMT-8) Patron:
Chat Transcript: Why do the Huns get all the help? Any insight would be greatly appreciated.
11:41 2007/12/10 (GMT-8) Librarian:
'Debra M (24/7 Librarian)' has joined the session.
11:41 2007/12/10 (GMT-8) Librarian:
I'm reading your question right now to see how I can help you and I'll get back with you very soon.
11:41 2007/12/10 (GMT-8) Librarian:
Could you restate your question please?
11:42 2007/12/10 (GMT-8) Patron:
Do the Rangers get preferential treatment? Are you not allowed to discuss this? Is Gordon Smith logged in and reading this?
11:54 2007/12/10 (GMT-8) Librarian:
sorry very busy.....
11:55 2007/12/10 (GMT-8) Patron:
That's OK. Do you have a gagging order from above?
11:55 2007/12/10 (GMT-8) Librarian:
http://www.cdcr.ca.gov/Visitors/Facilities/HDSP.html See if this helps
11:56 2007/12/10 (GMT-8) Librarian:
http://eddiegriffinbasg.blogspot.com/2007/04/eddie-g-griffin-apologizes-to-atty-gen.html
11:56 2007/12/10 (GMT-8) Patron:
I see. So yes or no?
11:56 2007/12/10 (GMT-8) Librarian:
Maybe these help, if not you can always try Google or your search engine of preference, try Hun Bias or similar, I found many articles with this term
11:57 2007/12/10 (GMT-8) Patron:
So do you believe there is a media bias towards Huns?
11:58 2007/12/10 (GMT-8) Librarian:
take a look at what i've sent....should be enough to get you started. if you need more info just log back in to chat. hopefully we won't be so busy next time : )
I had to wait around 5 mins for my reply so I am sure they thought about it and did not just spit out some canned Daily Retard response. As I dissected the reply further I realised I had been chatting with the Seattle Public Library (SPL) and not the SPL of Scottish Football. I still think Debra knows more than she is letting on though.
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We've got lots of options for freshening up tomorrow's team without changing the 4:4:2 or 4:5:1 lineups we're limited to playing.
First of all, we don't have to drop JVOH to accommodate Derek; we could give DR a left wing role and see if he's prepared to do the defensive duties and run for 70 to 90 minutes to earn a spot. We could still drop JVOH and give Killen or Jim O'Brien or Paul McGowan a run. A central 2 of Hartley & Jarosik or Brown & Donati could be considered. In fact, anything but 2 out of Sno, Jarosik & Donati would do.
To boil it down, I'd go:
Brown
Caldwell
Pressley
McManus
O'Dea
McGeady
Hartley
Jarosik
Riordan
McDonald
Killen
If we struggle, subs of the quality of Donati, JVOH & Brown are available.
If we hit form, we can blood Caddis, Bjarnasson and either Jim O'Brien or Gowser.
Aye, and I'd substitute the crowd too, though I'd want to keep my own place.
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Paul,
I am amazed that you talk about forwards when we had only one of our starting back 5 played on Saturday due to injuries.
At the start of the season I posted that a strong back line equates to not losing games.
Right now we are missing 4 of a poor back line, our playmaker, our Italian star who started great until the boo boys managed to knock his confidence, and our "Big" striker is misfiring.
We are fortunate to still be close to a Rankers who have yet to suffer an injury to their back 5 and midfield.
Sort out the back and the title is ours.
Seville67
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BelfastKev :- I'm not even thinking about that lol, right now I'm looking forward to drawing your own team at some point in the C.L
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edward
according to the bookies more chance of meeting elvis
maybe due to the fact of a lyon win on wed thank you very much
rangers have left the champions league building :)
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Rangers getting even more assistance here, eh?
Duffield is the new Farry
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My dear friend, Ulysses....
In explanation re. the use of the Odysseus Cognomen:
That is my wont....
I have the innate affliction of suffering a soulful abhorrence ,to ever aspiring to deliver the expected... well... Expected!
I suppose you have toyed with that conclusion, as you are not lacking in mental agility.
My motto..
Why eschew the election to insert an abstruse adumbration, whenever the opportunity arises?
Or... so says I, says I.
Kojo.
Yer pal... who is just joshingly joking..jist chillin'....until, we see whit ra morra wull bring!
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Kojo,
What's the latest on the transfer front? Everything going well with the plans? You looking forward to the new year?
-
Looks like our Scouts can get a few speedy African forwards in quickly.
Send Ray Clarke to Africa now
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Kojo - Il Miglior Fabbro
Keep saying what your saying.
Ulysses
Who's enjoying your laid back style.
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sftb
any reason why Sno seems to have dropped completely out of your reckoning to play any part tomorrow night
he did more in his 30 min cameo than the others did during their 90 mins of turgid mince
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pfayr,
tomorrow's forecast is not cold enough for Sno....
Coat on....
Seville67
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Great post Paul, nice to see someone advocating something a little different in the attacking department. I wrote a post after I had thawed out on Saturday but unfortunately lost it...
Basically my anger with Strachan on Saturday was his reluctance to resort to any form of Plan B. Similar to many of those who posted in the past couple of days I was angered by the substitutions and formation but won't repeat what everyone has already said.
I am an admirer of what Wee Gordon has done and the success he has brought to the club. However, I think he is letting himself and the club down by not sorting the Riordan issue out.
I think after Riordan's performance on Saturday he has to start tomorrow, although I doubt it will be up front, more likely in place of JJ on the wing with AMcG on the other side.
Ironically I also think Deek's performance on Saturday will bring his career at CP to an end. Wee Gordon can now put him in the team for a few games before January, let him score a few goals, increase his value, and the interest in the player. At which point he can cry that we don't want him to go, but sell him anyway, bringing it to the perfect conclusion for the manager. I can't help but feel we will have missed a huge opportunity and will be watching Riordan banging in goals for both Scotland and a Premiership club in the next season or two.
Away from all the doom and gloom at the moment after the past couple of performances I hope everyone gets behind the team tomorrow no matter who starts or comes on and we get a good win and a clean sheet. Hail hail
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My dear friend Seville...
You are indeedly correct..
Evander, did not place one foot wrong, during his last appearance...
In fact, he performed admirably and very very effectively.....
And consequently, because of his acuteness of Vision... placed the telling pass to Mr. Riorden where it could be...well ... the most telling!
Great all round performance,from Evander...
My happiness for him exceeds all bounds....( whit?....ed)( Well, maybe no ALL bounds.... how about ... MAIST bounds?)( Agreed!..ed)
So ..what have we learned from that unexpectedly sterling performance by Evander?
Huh?
That da Booing--- woiks!........
He now realises that there was indeed, something lacking in his previous previouses.
As exhibited by his more that upbeat performance against the Poisoned Paisleyites( Tip of sombrero...to the copywrite holder...now known as, V.P.)Evander has shown that he has now rectified his short and long comings...and will now be a more welcomed addition to the Celtic Cause.
Don't believe me?
Watch his next appearance.... and you will be pleasantly pleased.
Kojo.
Yer pal.... who likes yer style.
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pfayr
I'm a Sno fan but he's pedaling uphill with this crowd on his back. If it was Sno for Jarosik, we'd better scoree 2 quick goals or the green huns in our crowd would be on his case. I think it's safer to introduce him later. He's young and he does not need to start every game.
Jiri, in some ways, has more cause to complain. I reckon he feels his rightful position is Central Midfield. Well, if we give it a shot we'll see if he has the dig and tackling needed to do this in the SPL.
As I said, the only combination that won't work is 2 out of Sno, Donati and Jarosik. Too tippy tappy and too Continental for a cold December in the SPL. We need Hartley or Brown plus one Continental.
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sftb
fair enough mate
just i didn`t see him listed amongst your options at all , including who you would have on the bench
Killen ....hmmmmmmmmm
just does not look like any kind of footballer and certainly not one in a green and white shirt
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Kojo
I sat down rather heavily today on a wooden chair and, shortly afterwards, it stopped raining.
Proof indeed, if proof were needed, that my erse controls the weather.
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ElDiegoBhoy.
You've mail.
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pfayr
Killen has contributed to our cause on only two occasions this year. Most of our fans feel that he was 4th choice or lower until Maciej decided to go.
The only defence I have for persevering is that he's come a long way from NZ, Oldham and Hibs to hit these heights and he needs more than one third of a season before he is written off. there's also the problem of few alternatives. Many of the reserve forwards are injured too.
I don't believe that Derek is built to carry off a front 2 pairing but I hope he proves me wrong. For me, it's not about his off field activity, primarily, it's about his willingness to work on the field. Otherwise, he becomes our Kris Boyd; a player the fans love because he brings the glory of goals but a player his team mates dislike because he does not pull his weight.
Some people have criticised WGS for using the phrase a good teammate feeling he is utilising a middle class authoritarian valuation of players. I think he's using the same thought processes team players all over the world use. Nobody likes the goal hanging glory hunter who leaves the other 10 to do the work. Derek needs to up his game to do this at Celtic. Fortunately, he has the talent to do so.
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OK - I'm going with a high risk strategy with this one.
Kojo - thanks for your kind words.
My current feeling is that the Celtic spend too much time listening to Radio phone ins.
Who started the Anti - Tommy G , Jiri J, JVOH , it was Paul Hartley , it was Massimo after about 3 games , thay have had a go at Naka , Kenny Miller, it was Aiden, etc etc etc, campaigns.
Our so called supporters listen to these muppets and then start booing - like the Evander Sno treatment.
Slyde on Saturday within 1 minute we had Keevins selling all of our team and BFDJ talking about 5,6,7,8,9 million for Hutton.
The dafties among the support listen to this and get on the player backs.
I have never know such success with a fan base not behind the team. In fact on the backs of the team. We have 6 starters out right now.
Just imagine the Shakhtar game without Massimo's goal.
It's time for the fans to stand up and be counted.
Here is a parting example of how much they are all against us and how we let them get to us.... Think about the Deeks debate that has been raging for a year now AND ask yourself how many times have you heard an Alan Gow debate on Slyde.
Paranoidinseville67
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sftb
i think that JVOH is utter mince at the moment but even in his current form he is a better shout than Killen
i just don`t think the guy has a very high skill level and shown absolutely nothing in his performances to date
he was a cheap option and an insult to the fans ,we should not be relying on players of this quality given our status in the game and our financial position
simply not good enough
having said that ...full support tomorrow if he is given the nod
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GL2 - if yer lurking, The Chosen One has had his bluff called by the English FA.
Capello the main danger to the JK bet.
Paddy Power offering 14's.
You know it makes sense....
TTTTjurgenuberallesCSC
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pfayr,
you read my mind.
JVOH v Killen is not even worthy of a conversation.
enough said.
Saville67
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seville67
i turned on snyde by mistake on saturday and couldn`t believe what i was hearing
on the one hand you have BFDJ the most unashamed hun, bluenose barsteward in the world
Wishart a willing acolyte of teh above
Maguire/walker and keevins who were once Celtic men playing to the grandmasters tune
imagine BFDJ being the leader of your gang ..embarrassing
an apology for a radio show
i lasted 5 mins and will never listen to that garbage again
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seville67
i turned on snyde by mistake on saturday and couldn`t believe what i was hearing
on the one hand you have BFDJ the most unashamed hun, bluenose barsteward in the world
Wishart a willing acolyte of teh above
Maguire/walker and keevins who were once Celtic men playing to the grandmasters tune
imagine BFDJ being the leader of your gang ..embarrassing
an apology for a radio show
i lasted 5 mins and will never listen to that garbage again
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pfayr,
sorry didn't want to get your blood pressure that high - your spelling and double posting is a worry.
Hope you are OK.
By the way - my point is not listening - my point is listening and then acting on their propoganda.
Seville67
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Havent been able to read anything today let alone post , so sorry if all this has been said already...
Paul I agree with your assessment but what makes it worse is that in the natural order of things the big guy knocks it down / on for the smaller guy to score but we must have the only big guy / wee guy twosome upfront where the wee guy does everything the big guy is supposed to -- win it in the air, hold it up.
JVOH is contributing so little at the minute Skippy will shortly have to start heading in his own crosses and scoring from his own flick ons.
JVOH's position in the first team currently has to be the most vulnerable of all the first team regulars (including the usual suspects of Caldwell and Naylor , when fit).
For me, his less than brilliant contributions confirms our first priority is a striker; maybe that is Deeks but I frankly havent seen enought of him to say for sure but on current form I fail to see how he can give us LESS than JVOH who seems to be morphing into Tony Cascarino.
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seville
just a techno phobe
spelling .. i blame cafflick skools
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pfayr & seville67
Fear I am being misunderstood.
I am not suggesting that Killen is a better player than JVOH. It's just that JVOH has been in poor form and, if we decide to drop him, someone has to replace him.
Zurawski says he's going so will he work or avoid injury if picked?
Derek, I want to play,but I'm not sure he can pull off a front 2 slot.
Er, who else is there who's fit?
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Test
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Yippeeeee!!! After months of not being able to beat the blog/stuck offshore I've finally managed to get back online.
I'll be in London this weekend, can somebody confirm that the Cock Tavern the best place to see thte ICT game?
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sftb
BALDE....:¬)
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My dear friend, Setting Free the Bears...
Yes, Mortimer... there IS such a thing as Cause and Effect...
PERFORM.... consistently badly....
And you will be Rewarded by Rancour and Denigration by the PAYING PUBLIC!
And Booing, by the public, is one of their most effective ways of letting you know... what their precise feelings are on your current displays.
This question arise.... Was Evander doing what the Public Relished?...no ...indeed no... par example...
Being Caught in Possession... too many times...
Laziness, in back tracking an opponent...
Misplaying of his passes ...over frequently...
And that is just a minimised APERCU...of his delinquencies( Apercu?... ed)( Sorry....old boy.. but I dinna hiv the Cedilla handy ... but, live with it , huh?)
Yes,my friend.... life is tough... ye jist hiv tae get doon and dirty sometimes.....
and sometimes ...believe it or no.....
Ye are reaping what ye hiv sowed...
And Evander had been diligently, scattering his seeds on Stoney grun'...on several occasions,during his past several appearances.....
However.....
Just as I have remarked....
During Evander's last appearance against the dreaded Poisoned Paisleyites.....( etc.etc.) he returned to the goodly graces of MANY of his previous desparagers....not all....but that will change,in TIME!
Evander did done good!....
He Performed with elan and structure....
He confounded his critics...
He now has GOTTEN( hate dat woid!...ed )( I agree...but ah couldna come up with anything bettah!)the message...implicitly.
Evander has now returned from the wilderness...
Once more he will be welcomed back to the bosom of the family~
Bloodied...chastened... but Triumphant!
Kojo
Yer pal....who enjoys yer repartee.
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sftb,
I won't disagree.
I just think that we have 4 strikers and Killen is my personal 5th choice.
That said - if the wee man picks him he gets the full support of me.
Seville67
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Kojo, what a splendid thought.
WGS, let me put you out of your misery; the answer is, no.
Seville67, aye, we lost a goal on Saturday, but we failed to score a lot more.
Antrim Bhoy, thanks. If you lose a post, press refresh (F5), it will usually appear.
The long wait, remember when Tony Cascarino eventually got his first goal? The occasion got too much for him and two minutes later he lamped a Hearts player.
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Paul,
you forgot the word "every" before Saturday......
Seville67
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Paul67
I do -- if i remember the goal he sclaffed it with his studs from about 3 yards... and promptly went radio! :¬)
TLWIO
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BelfastKev :- Much as I agree that the bookie normally gets it right I think they are wrong this time. Also I don't see what's so hard about meeting Elvis, I'm sure he works down the local chip shop :-)
SFTB :- Much as I would love it I doubt very much that Rangers have that level of influence :-)
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My dear,dear,friend, WGS.
Fear not..do ye not unperish, that Hope!
Gordo will get his men!
It is all done and dusted.
Kojo.
Yer pal.... who likes ye.
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Kojo :- Having just read your post on Mr Sno I have to ask, do you ever get medical help for your "C" addiction? All the best and keep them coming.
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Paul
I have been conversing tonight with our good friend oldtim67. He let it be known that last evening he put together a lengthy tome, many thousand words indeed, only to find it disappearing into one of these cyberholes that a simple refresh can't cure.
Any suggestions?
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Tonight on Clyde 1 Hugh Keevins said that they had only received one telephone call from Celtic fans and that was about the Scotland managers job. He then went on to say something like "are all the extremists on holiday".
As a Celtic fan, i personally find this insulting, an insinuation that all Celtic fans are extremists of some sort. I now intend to write a letter to our CEO in the hope that he can speak to Keevins bosses at Clyde. I would complain to them myself but i believe that they wouldn't listen to the average guy in the street, as is there for all to hear when someone like Terry O'Neill starts getting the better of those idiots who believe that they have a far superior knowledge of the game than you or i because they appear in print or on radio.
Hail Hail
ps
I know i should maybe switch over when they are on but they don't have the right to slag us off.
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For the most part,players win games, not lineups.
Until we sort out being too lightweight, we will continue to have problems.
The last two goals that we have lost in the SPl, were down to players being out muscled.
Two small nimble strikers may work in some games .
We must however be able to have the option of a big strong striker.
My petite 9 year old daughter, has more gutz than Jan Venegoor of Hospital.
The theory isn't wrong, the player isn't good enough.
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tinytim
Welcome home.
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Seville67, indeed.
EDB, Oldtim67...
Blogger is proving to be a prolonged source of trouble, our friend Martin at Copy Desk and I are contemplating our options.
If you are posting anything even remotely lengthy, type it on your word processor (Word or an equivalent), copy and paste ('Control' + 'C' and then 'Control' + 'V') into Blogger.
This way, if your comment is lost, you still have the original.
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Paul
You've totally lost me.
Hopefully oldtim can guide me through the process.
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My dear friend, Ed.
The Big "C" is NOT....I repeat NOT an "affliction"...
It is the The ESSENTIAL CONDIMENT, that ENHANCES...
It Provocatively Evokes, the Stirrings of Ire in the Reader... which it is calculatedly calculated, to do, do.
There can be no Passions Inflamed, without it's presence, in ANY TALE!
I thought you knew that?
Obviously, you need further exposure.
In my case...
The trick that MY readers must learn...is to differentiate between a true pukka Big "C"... and an Ersatz one... in my not so humble... contributions.
In the case of Evander.....
It is strictly... Ersatz!
Kojo.
Yer pal....who is pleased that ye can feel the occasional stirring...
which tells me... my efforts have not been in vain.
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Scrolling through, I think I read someone, Italiabhoy maybe, say Vennegoor was a good player and prolific goalscorer at PSV. I wonder. PSV as a club and their fans were not exactly weeping when he left the club. As I recall, the impression I formed was that he was an honest trier with some degree of skill. That probably still best describes him although the tag of "trier" is perhaps borderline. At the moment (and indeed for some time now) he is offering little if any goal threat - when was the last time you heard the recorded PSV Vennegoor chant ?! He must be consigned to the bench/reserves for time to sort himself out.
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EDB :- If you use whatever word processor prog you have then after writing your post on it run the cursor over it to highlight the post. Then sit the curor on the Highlited area and right click your mouse. This will bring up an options menu. Click on the "copy" option. Then bring up the blogger posting window and again right click your mouse on it this time choose the "paste" option. This should then put your post into the blogger window and if it then vanishes you still have the original post to retry.
The above will also work if you first write your post as an e-mail.
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Sorry, to finish...
otherwise Vennegoor may well find himself on the receiving end of audible discontent just like his fellow countryman. Or is that just a colour thing ?!!!
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EDB
This is a short lived visit.
I leave on Friday for a three week holiday which will encompass Australia and Dubai.
I fear for us at the moment.
Only Aiden has played the way i hoped he would this season.
At 21 we are asking far too much of the Bhoy.
These players have punched well above their weight getting us to the last 16.
We need more quality.
Quality i fear that we cannot afford.Having wasted money on the likes of Virgo,JVOH,Graveson,Magic.
WE MUST WIN THE SPL.
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Kojo :- I didn't say it was an affliction I said an addiction :-) and I have to confess that at times I do fail to see the difference between the java and the ersatz and take the bait.
I agree with you that it's needed it can be the salt in an otherwise bland dish at times.
Your culinary compadre E.U
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We currently have no natural full backs.
WGS' 442 system has been based upon full backs getting beyond the midfield to deliver crosses (however successful or otherwise you may think this has been).
As we have none, the basics of the system are not in place. Would that not suggest we should be adapting the system to suit the players available and their strengths?
With central defenders in abundance and midfield players in abundance why are we not adapting to a 352 formation, especially at Celtic Park?????
Any three from Caldwell, Pressley, McManus, O'Dea and Balde at the back is more than sufficient.
Hartley, Brown and Jarosik or Donati centrally with McGeady and Riordan either side. McDonald and Zurawski up front and play the ball where it's meant to be played - on the ground.
Very, very frustrated with team selection recently. If we don't have full backs why expose weaknesses to the opposition and limit our attacking ability at the same time.
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My dear friend, Possilbhoy..@23.16
You have just been the recipient of a small injection...of the Big "C"...
Doled skillfully to all and not so sundry, by the MASTER!
How does that grab ye?
Do ye feel upset?... Annoyed?.... Raging, even?( Noo, that is over doing it,doncha think, pal?.....ed)( Dat, ain't necessarily.. so!)
Mrs Keevin's wee laudie....WILL BE PLEASED... his Sponsors... will be Ecstatic!... his Producers will be Proud as Punch~
"It Woiks.... Bridget......It get's dem right...Here!... every time!"
"I told ye, Bartholomew...it never FAILS!.. just like down town, every time!"
Kojo.
Yer pal... who likes ye.
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Paul67...
I am a little vexed. Your last two posts have resonated with my own mindset... Tis an unnatural state of affairs...!
The words of Big Jock were the perfect backdrop for providing Context after the deadly cauld game at the weekend....
That game even made the Parlor Cauld...Till Sno hit the Deek.
Your latest offering expressed my own frustration at the hackneyed route to big Jan's nut....That, frustratingly, rarely arrives at its intended destination ... It was all becoming a tad too predictable...Rerun after rerun ......Until Sno and Deek connected.....
I was thinking this but I had not yet clarified my thoughts into any coherent expression...
Thank you for expressing my own thoughts coherently...
I should add....
I Continue To Have The Utmost Faith In The Gaffer
PJ
Who is playing with his new Iphone....
And who is having a Guiness after staringing at the Magna Carta in an auction hoose round the corner....
Roll On A New Day....Tuesday!
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23:16, possilbhoy,
That has really cheered me up. Once more the Celtic support uses the advantage of A1 schooling and leaves the morons to their own devices.
Sounds to me as if he and Clyde are getting worried about the absence of Celtic callers and trying to generate more 'angry' responses.
The advertisers will review their listening figures and will commission campaigns and invest accordingly!
I'd not even bother writing to them.
I'd just let them wallow in their pathetic audienceless programme.
The more they throw insults, the deeper the grave is getting for their careers.
I see that they (and other Scottish Radio Stations) have just been taken over by new owners.
They may employ the new broom concept; let's hope so!
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Edward....
Most Addictions are Afflictions....
Its all a matter of Time...
:0)
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A new day dawns.
Scottish fitba remains old.
Hail Hail
Nite all
WG
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PJBhoynyc :-)
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My dear friend, Ed...
My mis-reading of Scripted Contents is legend.
In re-reading that remark...
It still disnae mak any sense...
but, the Director... wull buy it EVERY TIME.... go figger!
Do ye remember this Title?
"Being Bland is so... Bland! or Whatever happened to Controversy,anyway?"
Mebbe, ye have not come across that book.....
However...
It's adjuration as recommended in its text, was Precisely Correct... when it was written.( Circa. 1920) and I see no evidence to substantiate a reversal in my retained opinion.
Repetition is the thief of INTEREST!
Who said that?
Who ever it was.... deserves a Nobel Peace Prize....
Peace? where is the connection...
There is none...
But, remember that Al Gore Managed to convince the Nobel Board. that ..His Propoundings on Global Warming, was in emphatic lock step, with Global Peace!
Again....
Go Figger?
Kojo.
Yer pal... who is jist, free wheelin'.
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Kojo
....But, remember that Al Gore Managed to convince the Nobel Board. that .. His Propoundings on Global Warming, was in emphatic lock step, with Global Peace!....
Things are warming up Paul67...
I am even agreeing with master of circumlocution.... Whatever next?
Kojo...
You are the ONLY ONE who has touched on something I find the Great Enigma of the Day...
Gore? Nobel Peace Prize? I found that documentary
(which I am being forced to spoon feed a new generation) a declaration of INTENT.... Not of Peace.
Roll Back the Future... But Enough of Politics
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My dear friend, PJ....
Your Endorsement is appreciated... that makes.... let's see... hmmmmm....
Well, it IS a start... Anyway!
G'devenin'!
Kojo.
Yer Pal.. who still thinks you've goat it!
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Alright just a wee bit more....
CQN Question Of The Day?
Is It "The 'Holy' Goalie"...?
Or...
Is It "The 'Holey' Goalie"...?
Hmmmmm......
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Paul67 and Long Wait...
Vividly remember Tony Cascarino's first goal at home to Hearts. he couldnt buy a goal up till then. Tommy Coyne was through one on one with the keeper and instead of slotting home he set up Tony with an open goal. Cascarino duly sclaffed his shot and the ball trundled goalward towards the post. About three days later the goal crossed the goal line...just.
As you rightly say he then went haywire and about 5 mins later banjoed Craig Levein at a Hearts corner. Cue red card.
Funny how some things stick in your mind....
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EU @ 23.37
You're agreeing with kojo about the culinary benefits of the big C.
Does this mean you're not really one of them and you're only playing it for a laugh?
Could explain a lot, Ed; you're far too sensible to be one of them.
How's that for a contribution with a lazy dose of the big C.
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PJB
Right now he's the goalie on his holy days.
And we've got to get Mark Brown up to speed quickly. he's a good keeper but can he cope with inactivity?
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SFTB :- Of course I'm not one of them I'm one of us, it's you that's one of them.
On the other hand I could be solipsist and be one of me :-)
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Ed
When you're 3:0 down to Lyon on wednesday, solipsism will be no solace. Please forgive any solecisms.
solidly souled SFTB
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SFTB :- You may have the score right but you have it for the wrong team, though I reckon a single goal win for Rangers will be the result.
I'm afraid that as I'm not a somnabulistic solipsist I seek the solace and succor of sleep so some sensual succubi sooths and settles my surprisingly sweet subconcious.
Night all.
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If this article from tomorrow's Herald is to be believed we might be looking for a new goalie sooner than we would like.
Unless something has been lost in translation (always a possibility, I suppose) Artur's quote doesn't seem to leave much room for doubt. If we want to get anything approaching his full value I guess we might need to think about selling in January rather than run the risk of getting buttons for him next summer.
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SFTB @ 00.50
&
Dick Byrne @ 01.52
My point is that I do not know the legalities of a move in January...
Would we get something?
....Anything? ...If this 'negotiation' continues..?
My earlier 'Holie' or 'Holy' was a reference to the Contractual Fog surrounding Arturs apparent 'route' of negotiation. It leaves a bitter taste in my mouth... The 'Use' of this Route...
I would SELL to the highest bidder in January.
Even if it is Hard Ball Negotiations....
Do your dirty laundry in Private...
Especially if you play for Celtic in Scotland...(Where You Should Never Publicly Wrap Yourself in a Halo...)
My Sixth Sense Tells ME Artur is Listening to the Same Demons That Made Wee Shaun Drunk with Success & Avarice....
I Will Not Offer A Prayer for Either of Them....
Just A Song
From A Lovestruck Admirer.....
Of Talent (& Unfortunately Perhaps...
Immature Ego)
Rant Over......
The Bar?
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And Finally....
One For The 'Average' Supporter....
...Of A Certain Vintage.....
G'Night Y'All
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Mourinho knocks back England.
Roon ye.
Your not getting Strachan.
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noel90,
would you take Mourinho, if WGS left?????
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The hearald articles has quotes whoch were flying around last week. Why bring it up today ...could it be that they dont get into the debate of why the huns game got postponed and the sheeps did not?
TTTT saw you note ponder today as I cant see by Capello.
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gerry,
do you think that Mourinho could or would go to a club like ours with a limited budget? I know he done it at Porto but after being at Chelsea i think he might find it hard going to a club without many millions to spend.
If he would,i'd take him in a minute.We can't hold grudges forever,can we?
Hail Hail
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possilbhoy,
It was only a wee joke with noel..:-)
Saying that, yes I would take him IF WGS moved on, I would think we would need to dig deep just for his wages never mind the transfer budget.
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So the meeja has managed to achieve it's objective for the week... to divert attention from Rangers' defeat against Lyon towards anything they can dream up with a negative angle relating to Celtic. And you are all taking the bait.
All this talk of "Sell Boruc NOW!" is a load of twaddle. Has our Polish friend actually seen the alleged quotes attributed to Artur? And has he made an independent translation?
If the rumours do turn out to be true, then the assertion (attributed to Artur) that he is not worth £10M is clearly true. Looking at other goalkeeper transfer speculation Artur is worth at least £10M...
and the rest!
If this guy is worth £10M, then the bottom end starting price for negotiations for Artur has to be £15M.
However, if Barcelona want him, would we take £5M plus Ronaldinho?
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Celtic v Falkirk:
My bus has 2 spare season books (seats together) for the game tonight. If you are interested, please e-mail me at whoosh19@hotmail.com
These tickets are free to a good home but if you are able to make a small donation to the bus funds, that would great. We only run a mini bus and this time of year tends to eat away at the funds.
Whoosh
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Celtic v Falkirk:
My bus has 2 spare season books (seats together) for the game tonight. If you are interested, please e-mail me at whoosh19@hotmail.com
These tickets are free to a good home but if you are able to make a small donation to the bus funds, that would great. We only run a mini bus and this time of year tends to eat away at the funds.
Whoosh
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Nice one whooshman, that's the Celtic spirit!
Unfortunately I am stuck down in Engurland and unable to get the time off to come up for the game.
I am hoping to get to the Gretna game over the festive period though, and happy to buy my own ticket (and one for the common-law missus), who will probably get the wrong end of the stick when I tell her she may be seeing Gretna while we are in Scotland!
Mind you, re: the Gretna tickets, I'd never turn down the offer of a freebie, if one were to materialise! After all, squeeze the generosity out of a Scotsman and you get... a Yorkshireman. And I live in Yorkshire now!
:o)
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bigchipsuk
Well, at least that would be Ronaldinho's wages covered for 6 months then.
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pggtips, he'd walk over burning coals in bare feet all the way from Barcelona to Glasgow to play for Celtic free of charge, after all the wonderful things Henke told him about us!
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Sorry about the wait ghuys!
It's all a wee bit intimidating posting for the first time so you older heads mind going easy on me? You too Edward U!
Ive been reading this site for a while now, It was my Dad who introduced me to it in 2005 when MON left. Thanks Dad! And also a big thank you to Paul 67 for creating this blog, I have spent many an hour reading all about the tactics, finances and performances of our great club :-)
Just out of interest is there any truth in the following rumours : Murphy from Hibs, Maloney and the Colchester full back? Just the English media would rather comment on how Benfica bailed us out, much like their Scottish counterparts!
Hail,Hail.
TOLHWER
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bigchipsuk
If anyone gives me notice that they can't make the Gretna game, I'll let you know as soon as I can. Probably be after the Hibs game though.
You note I did say “free to a good home” – adopted Yorkshireman must make a small donation…..it’s the law ;-)
whoosh
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boroc and pierre are playing a game of poker....no doubt.
Boruc getting great advice and played the webster card, Pierre came back with strong words about employment contracts.
It all comes down to the question ; how much should a £10M player earn?
probably £35k/ week.
how much is boruc on??? about £25-30 per week! less than he is worth.
that plus an imminent domestic situation means that...
''houston we have a problem''
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Ha ha! Seriously, I'm quite happy to make a donation of anything up to a bit less than the match ticket price. That way you (or your supporters club) gain, I gain, and Celtic er... lose. Mmmm, can we really do this?
Ah, what the hell. After the total lack of customer service I've had from the club on several occasions over the last year or so, I don't think I owe them any favours...
I'm happy to support the team on the pitch, but the PLC drives me mad!
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Majiek? Henke? Another Great #7
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Although ideally the Holy Goalie would sign a long-term contract. If he is able to do a Webster at the end of the season. What are the chances of us selling in January (£10m minimum) and taking Szamultuski on a free?
It would certainly provide us with a bit more cash to cover our full-back problems and buy a top striker...
And by top striker I do not mean Kyle Lafferty, I think I will cry if we go down that route.
On a seperate note. Jennifer, I know your in here somewhere... please respond... such a big hoops fan could never stay away from the quick news!
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I spoke to Paul about what I was doing and he was all for it. By way of a donation I only mean 5/10 pounds to cover the fare we lose in bus money.
I've had a few incidents with the ticket office myself over the years. They have always tried their best to sort any situation I have had but ever since I can remember, I have always had the feeling they are short staffed. Must be a thankless job most days.
Whoosh
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Celtic goalkeeper Artur Boruc has been quoted as saying he wants to leave the club in the summer.
The Polish international, 27, told journalists in his homeland he wants to play in a bigger league, according to a report in the Herald newspaper.
"I have decided I am going to leave Celtic in the summer," Boruc is quoted as saying.
"Celtic want more than £10m for me but I think it's too much. I have to see what's best for me."
Boruc, who is contracted until 2009, added: "There is much to look forward to with the Champions League in spring and then the European Championship in the summer, but many things can change."
The goalkeeper is currently recovering from a minor knee operation and has targeted a return for the Old Firm game at Celtic Park on 2 January.
Speaking in October, Celtic manager Gordon Strachan said the club offered to open talks with the goalkeeper over a contract extension.
"We were the ones that instigated them and, at the moment, it's going great with Peter Lawwell and Artur, so that's fine," said Strachan.
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Aye whoosh, it's like all those call centres...
You ring them up to make a payment to your credit card at 10.45pm on a Sunday night and get:
"We are very sorry but all our operators are busy at the moment. Your call is important to us. You are umpteenth in the quueue." (inane music).
What they mean is:
"We are very sorry but our operator is busy at the moment talking to his/her girlfriend/boyfriend on the other line, etc."
Note the singular!
If they actually employed enough staff in the first place we wouldn't be kept hanging around and getting inadequate service. And this goes for Celtic too.
It's all very well them having had to trim their staffing levels to cut costs, but instead of getting rid of 100 catering/ticket office/admin staff to save £30k a week on the wage bill they could have got rid of one fringe player (Bobo?!) and saved just as much... and probably recouped an additional £1M by way of a transfer fee to boot!
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TOLHWER :- I think I should be the one folk go easy on as I'm the endangered species on here :-)
I think that before you start getting a hard time you have to let folk know what subsect of Celtic supporter you are, happy clapper, mineshafter, wishy brigade, son of the rock, eastender, god squad, athiest etc
To be fair to most of the posters on here this is the friendliest football forum I've found.
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How many U's in quueuueuue?
:o)
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Paul67 or anyone else can confirm this...
Its my understanding that even if Boruc does want to leavel he cant leave in the summer under that legistlation.
His contract was signed in the October,so he only has served 3 years in October, so the next window is January 2009. Big teams arent going to be looking to solve their goalkeeper problems in January, esp with a CL cup tied keeper.
Therefore a big name move could only really happen at the end of his contract Summer 2009.
If he wants to leave before then we would have to sell him.
Have i missed something?
Also can anyone confirm what the Polish papers are saying?
And does anyone else think this has come up today to mask the Aberdeen cant have their game cancelled fiasco?
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test
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Change of subject here lads.Just suffer my rant please.I am angry Bear this morning.
20th October I wrote to Setanta Sports asking who was responsible for and why they thought it important to show Artur Boruc blessing himself before the kick off to the second half of the OF game that day. Not only that, but it was shown as a recording during a live transmission as the teams ran onto the park for the second half. Pretty important, I thought, if they are breaking into a live broadcast of an OF game.
I have wrote asking for an explanation to who made this decision and why they made it. Guess what, I have never had a reply.
Today I eventually got through to their Customer Service Centre. No-one, not a Team Leader, not an Office Manager nor a Team Organiser could give me an answer or tell me who could. One Team leader did tell me the reason early on though. She said they showed it " cause its his religion sir, thats how we showed it".
Look, the long and the short of it is I think its unacceptable they get away with this; not so much the SHOWING of Boruc but the downright ignoring of any customers grievance about it, and their inability to provide a reasonible answer. I would love to know who the person was who deemed it important that this was broadcast as a recording during a live OF transmission. Was he Scottish? Was he a Rangers fan? Does he have religious issues.
Okay, okay, okay. Im being silly.
Anyway, anyone else got any thoughts on this or am I just losing it?
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Have we not learned one thing from the Maloney debacle??
McGrory,
Boruc is not on the money you stated - Paul might confirm this.
Make no mistake - Boruc is our only world class player and should be paid accordingly - the highest paid player at the club pure and simple.
Boruc is on his second contract - his first was a pittance.
I`m sure the propaganda machine will start shortly - Boruc this Boruc that..................and the usual fools will fall for it hook line and sinker!
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Neverbeten :- It's nice to see another bear on the site even if it's an angry one ;-)
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Forgot to add -
Motherwell refused to change Aberdeen game - Gretna agreed to change the hun game.........nothing sinister
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Now, now Edward! I have been warned about you anyway, and the big boys on here say that you are a bad, bad man !!
God I wish I had not said " angry Bear".............
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Neverbeten :-)
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Paul67,
Anything to report. Is it mischeivious reporting or is there some truth behind these Boruc reports?
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wgs, one suspects it's a load of Borucs... based on misquotes, mis-translations, and a desperate need to cover up other controversial goings-on.
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Sign him 'BOROC' On a 3year 'ROLLING CONTRACT' Remember that one,
And resign him every 12months and tell him he can leave 'anytime'and celtic will get full market value........
Tell every body they can leave anytime they dont want 2 PLAY IN THE HOOPS
these rumours, misquotes,propaganda ect.ect. always seem to come up at contract time it seems,
I love big Art he's the only arthur i've ever loved but i'm sorry i love THE HOOPS more.......
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have i missed a chunk of the so-called "quotes" coming from Artur? (remember those "quotes" Hugh Keevins....)
I have read the article from the supposed english source or british source of whatever you want to call it, and i seen him supposedly say he has decided he wants to leave in the summer, i also seen him say he thinks celtic want £10m for him but thats too much..
I have NOT seen anything where he mentions buying out his contract
Can anyone help me out there...
Are they getting "celtic want £10m for me but thats too much" as meaning "i am going to invoke regulation 17 (or whatever it is) to buy out my contract because celtic want too much for me"
Am i mistaken in stating that every single transfer window and before they came in, players have always quoted they are being priced out of a move, or the price tag is too high and different variations of the same thing...
The story appearing for a 2nd time leaves me extremely worried, if he said what he did around 2 months ago and the sharp suited man has NOT offered an improved contract, then we are following the same route as we have time and time again and lose our quality players over penny pinching.
However, i am going to hold off making any judgements on this one until it has been substantiated, as this could just be a smoke screen so the media dont have to talk about rangers being put out of europe, and the despised celtic being the only club left keeping up this "feel good factor for scottish football"
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The timing of this Buruc news makes it very unreliable, so I'll leave it's authentisity for now. What I don't understand (thicko), and I hear this everytime his contract comes up, is this 'option' of a years extention after 2009, now this is the bit that puggles me, "if BOTH parties agree"?? If either party can say no to this "agreement" then surely there is no agreement at all!!!! It'the same as any player negotiating a contract extention.
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The consolation I am clinging to at the moment is that the manager does know what our problems are and the limitations that have been placed upon us by injuries. I have heard him speak of the need to have full backs who can attack as well as defend and of the need to provide crosses from wide areas. I hope I am reading between the lines that these will be dealt with during the coming window.
Not a fan of JVOH but maybe he's not getting the right service?
Who do we have missing?
Shunsuke
Mark Wilson
Doumbe
Lee Naylor
Who have we missed?
Shaun Maloney
Kenny Miller
All that said I like Derek Riordan and believe he is a much better option up front with our current dearth of wing wizards.
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Holy Ghoalie full of grace
Shall you soon depart this place
And spread your wings across the sea
To sunny Spain or Ascoli.
Or to winningemmel`s great chagrin
Is White Hart Lane within your plan?
Or does the club to which you aspire
Rest in the pecking order higher?
We all cry How could you go?
Is it for glory or the dought?
Or is the club being asset stripped?
And did you divine or read the script?
When you depart will Graham Speirs
Water down the Herald with tears?
And will we ask forlornly
did He who made Mark Brown make thee?
Or have the scribblers in the press
Conspired to cause us such distress?
And to depart you have no intention
And all such talk mere cruel invention?
Holy Ghoalie Holy Smoke
Please say it is all a joke
And a Celtic player you shall be
For now and all eternity.
Sonsofinnocence csc
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Welcome The other L Hamilton…. There is some truth in some of them.
Vinniethedog, who are the “usual fools” you refer to? Surely not those who disagree with you?
Remember many on here have correctly predicted success for Celtic in recent years against many of your own predictions.
John, close enough.
WGS, no truth at all. The story is factually inaccurate. It is wrong on when Artur’s contract ends, wrong on what is going on between player and club at the moment, and wrong on the club’s valuation of the player.
Who reads this stuff anymore?
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druiddude
I just have just awoken the cat so the we both can stand and applaud your post.
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Whitedoghunch, I didn't know Peter Bonetti slept with you... though not in the biblical sense I trust!
;o)
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BigChipSuk
funinnly enough the cat is a Dundee fan and enjoyed only the humour and not the hoops reference.
She is now frantically scriballing away trying to come up with an amusing Bonnetti rhyme.
I'll post it if it's any good.
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Paul,
Where or when have i said "no success" on the contrary - I think success should be a given considering our resources compared to others - although this year I have grave doubts.
However if you cast your mind back I did think Maloney would leave because he was not offered (at the time ) the same deal as K.Miller(something the powers got badly wrong).
I could bleat on and on -but in fact I`ve been very quiet lately -surely a good sign!
Do you agree Boruc should be the highest paid player at the club?
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Paul67, im wondering if you could help by giving me details of someone to contact.
Celtic managed to cancel my wee brothers and my mates season tickets by mistake in October.
They then made them pay £35 each for new ones, this again was paid in October.
They have still not received there new tickets and each time they go to Celtic Park they have to bring photo id and a utility bill to get a paper ticket.
This is not on, so wondering of you know anyone i/they can taker this further too.
They will need to walk past the rangers "fans" on the 2nd of Jan if its not sorted before.
thanks for you help.
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The Other L Hamilton Who Enjoys Racing
Welcome. What a name but i wouldn't fancy getting that on my Celtic top.
Hail Hail
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new article posted.
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bazzabhoy, email me via the About page.
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Vinnie, no, I do not believe Artur should be the best player at the club, as we have him under an existing contract.
When he renews (which I know he is discussing), he is likely to become the best paid at the club.
KM's deal had nothing to do with Shaun. He was all set to re-sign for Celtic when he received a phone call.....
The rest is history.
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Notwithstanding the CL las16 draw and the TFOD game at new year players contracts and the transfer window is about all that will be talked about, it seems to be like a poker game with alot of bluffing and a lot of spin...
I think Celtic are better than most clubs at playing it and getting it right i think Lawell plays hard, as he should.
Wee hold aces in getting players in with CL games all but garenteed, this is why wee got Boruc and Naka and this is why their value has increased 10 fold so i believe wee should cash if their not 110% HOOPS men
Wee sold Petrov at the right time his heart was no longer in glasgow, And since he has left we've twice qualified for the last 16 CL.....
P.S. I blamed the Bratislava away defeat on the midfield going AWOL did anyone else see it that way, cause i really thought if we TURNED up on the return leg wee could have took them for 5 or 6 c'est la veie
