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1st at last
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1st
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From last article.
Paul67 suggest you delete your last comment for language violation, before Paul sees it and deletes it for you.
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Simple fact no.1: If Celtic win every remaining league game they will be Champions for the 3rd consecutive season.
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Hertz - Bust - Could not happen to a better bunch.
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Once more with feeling... ;-)
I don't think I can quite articulate what I mean but not for the first time in recent weeks I'm reminded of calls for Celtic to lose to Hearts to ensure r@ngers finished 3rd in the league. It didn't feel like the Celtic way to me.
Celtic should concentrate on playing their own game and winning football matches. Every match should be played to win. The rest can look after themselves.
I'm also reminded of our indifferent form of last season. There is no benefit in losing games. Winning is a good habit.
Empty trophy cabinets or packed fixture lists?
Chris
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paul67
from earlier article, if rangers lose on sunday we will play them at home on the 19th of March?
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Would be terrible for the standard of the SPL if Hearts went bust but Gretna would not be missed.
There should be more mergers in Scotland like Iverness and Caley Thistle, for example their should be a pooling of resources in Dundee and the two Edinburgh clubs should merge and play at Murrayfield. Motherwell could merge with maybe one or two or more other Glasgow clubs. The result could be a much more competitive league with bigger attendances. The league may be smaller but then all cup games could be played at weekends.
Other than that can we not just join the EPL?
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Edwardursus,
I think you are over estimating German opposition. German football is in dissarray at the moment. They are caught between playing their own regular german way and the continental short passing way. Bayern only humiliated Anderlecht due to an atrocious sending off decision. Schalke needed penalties to get passed Porto and are not exactly inspiring. Bremen rely to heavily on Diego. If he gets marked out the game or he´s no interested Bremen are ordinary. I´ll also be interested to see how many teams that are in CL qualifying positions within their domestic league and still in contention in the UC lose their focus on the UC competition.A guaranteed 10-12m is not to be sneezed at.
I have a couple of good blue nose friends who have been telling me all season how poor they think Rangers are. They agree with Walters pragmatic approach but are very frustrated by it. They also agree with me that Rangers have been lucky (last night was only one example). I have received many sms berating Novo or Adam this season and normally during European games.
They were of the opinion until last night I reckon that Rangers might manage to scrape the league this year.
What I thought was poignant was that I wrote them an sms last night stating that the current SPL leaders have this season beaten Celtic at home and the best French champions ever 3.0 away. They have beaten the German champions and those currently 2nd in the Bundesliga. They have drawn with Barcelona and seen off currently the best Greece has to offer.I also offered them a draw or a Rangers win in Bremen and asked if the Quadruple is on ?
That was last night and I still have not received an answer. The fact that they haven´t answered tells me that they are dreaming of it.
I think Watty has done a marvelous job under the circumstances and has managed his resources well. I think if he sticks to his perfected 4.5.1 until the end of the season against quality opposition his luck-pragmatism-conseravtive approach might pay some dividends. For kudos and finance it already has. At the beginning of the season a cup double would have been unthinkable.
Last year after Milan Celtic never played. They didn´t have too. This time they will have to fight and scratch all the way to may. I reckon they will be up for it and I think your schedule will be telling in the end.
So what about you? are you dreaming of a quadruple ?
Hail Hail .. we shall not be moved
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og and bambi , I know what you mean.....because Paul posts round about my 6th beer each evening I have been known to spill amber nectar in futile attempts to get a first on the new morning blog. Paul try to get started a bit earlier when my reflexes are lightning .jUvenile yes i know Slante
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Hi
I have no love for Hearts-- but if they go down the pan then we will lose millions per year. We need some competition or our sponsorship deals will evaporate and our coming TV contract will be pocket-money.
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Malarky, our present (and every preceding) TV deal is for pocket money, so what's new?
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Bhoy_Molloy
I can see the dundee clubs amalgamate reluctantly at some point, but i cant see a future where hibs fans would ever be happy to share a club with the Edinburgh orcs i think they'd rather play non league than join with them in fact. Motherwell i'm not sure about either, never thought about it before. Who do you see as potential partners for them?
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Uhu-coming doesnt mean present or even preceding. Our last deal was mince and I would expect that we were hoping for more next time.
Having one of the larger teams in the SPL go down the toilet might give us a quick laugh but would be a disater in the long term.
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Personally I would't miss Hearts or Gretna.
I am not a fan of the new club going up the divisions due to a benefactor.
As with Livingston it can all happen too quickly with no fanbase to fall back on.
Hope to see afew changes for Sunday.
We need to adopt a horses for courses strategy from now on.
We need a more solid midfield who will be capable of looking after themselves.
When we go to Ibrox we can't play Naka. He doesn't contribute anything in these blood and thunder games.
Talented though he is we can't start with someone who is only there for set pieces.
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Malarky
You talk as though you believe the SPL as an ongoing, financially rewarding competition was a viable option.
Interesting view.
Scotland has too many professional football clubs for the market to support. Frankly, the whole of Europe does.
The status quo is not an option.
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I'm struggling to think if Hears have any assets worth £13,500, given recent performances.
For reasons other than geography I refuse to gloat at Gretna's downfall. A lot of their success was down to sound footballing principles, ie winning more games and scoring more goals than anybody else. Their main 'fault' has been to point out the inherent weakness of Scottish league football, and some people will never forgive them for it.
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Antsman, I believe so.
Taurangabhoy, will do.
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DBBIA
I think I know what you mean. Gretna went all the way to the top division in the land and nearly won the cup within a few years of forming properly as a professional club.
They have been found out a wee bit in the SPL, but they're not alone in that regard.
We have too many small clubs.
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Paul67 - Whilst I detest hearts, nearly as much as der hun, I would not want to see them go out of business. relegated yes, but caput, no thanks. Our league needs a string hearts team, unfortunately.
One wee question if I may, I havent read the lastblog about the huns fixture pile up but I was under the impression that the Hibs game will be played to a finish on Sat, so no replay.
Also, you mention the 19th of March as the Celtic, rangers game. Is this correct?
Thanks
Baz.
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Exactly -and a lot of these small clubs have been happy to bob around in the lower reaches of Scottish Football, going nowhere fast, and lacking the motivation and/or gumption to change it.
The arriviste Gretna gave a lot of these clubs a showing up for their lack of ambition.
BMileson's spending anyway is a myth- he's not Abramovich, or even Jack Walker.
A lot of their current difficulties are due to the well-established football malaise which occurs when the chairman falls out with the manager.
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Presumably he's comparibily Abramovich or Walker in relation to the equivalent cash that the sons of the rock (for example) were playing with?
The circumstances in which they were promoted were disgraceful (aside from the winning the league bit which was fair) and I'll shed no tears if they pyramid their way all the way back down to the 3rd division (arguably where they belong).
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TMC- You know what they say- be nice to people on the way up because you might meet them on the way back down:~)
So what's wrong with Dumbarton? I've seen them play in the top division, albeit not recently. They've had a new stadium built for them, plus some income from th euse of the pitch for reserve fixtures by other teams. Why have they not been able to punch their weight in Scottish football?
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Bazzabhoy, you may be correct about the S reply. I believe the 19 March has been pencilled in for our game.
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DBBIA
They are getting what they deserve for allowing Rangers to play on their pitch. Don't really pay too much attention to them but they do claim to be in the best position financially of any of the SFL clubs. Think they are on borrowed time at the Strathclyde Homes anyway and it's onwards to a new venue elsewhere soon.
Tontine Tim delivered a classic withering dig at Dumbarton (the club) a while back.
I should really be following the Junior Football anyway :)
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Paul Shun
as well as having a 3 in a row BBQ
I'd happiply arrange another if Hearts go bust
Tesco for Tyncastle CSC
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ANNAOAN :- While I don't think there is any realistic chance of it coming off I have to admit that dream is in the back of my mind :-)
Like you I don't think German football is at it's strongest just now and although I thiought we played well last night I expected it to be a lot harder. The tactics we are using just now aren't pretty to watch but are proving to be effective and I suppose this is reflected in the fact that a lot of us are now complaining that we want to win with some football style and not just win however this season I'll be happy if ugly football gives us the title.
I think the three games against you will decide it and from those games I can see us taking 4 points, three at Ibrox and managing to draw one of the games at Celtic Park. I think both teams are fairly even and share many of the same weaknesses in defence, it will an iteresting run in at the least.
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can anyone tell me were i could find a list of who refereed each of celtic + rangers games this season.
am doing a statistics project and was considering if possible looking into finding statistical bias within a 95% confidence range, thought the spl would be interesting as a test subject:) so i need this info.
cheers
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Paul67,
I don't post a lot on CQN but do read every day (probably should introduce myself next time I'm in Babbitys!)
I've mentioned before on this blog that I had extensive dealings with Hearts FC (I work in the advertising business) around the time of Burley's hiring and firing and indeed, Phil Anderton's demise. Hearts, even at that time, didn't pay their bills, which were around the £18,000 mark. It took the best part of 6 months to get payment out of them and foolishly, my Hearts-supporting MD agreed eventually to take less than we were owed. Their business is run in a shocking manner and it amazed me recently when their Commercial Director, Ali Russell, was poached by the billionaires at QPR to be Chief Exec there. None of the guys brought in to run the business, Anderton, Ogilvie, Russell etc. seem to have any impact on the meglomaniac Romanov family. However, the Jam Farts going out of business would be extremely bad for Scottish football, no matter how much we Celtic fans may despise them and big proportion of bigots amongst their fans. I can hardly see media owners clambering to up Setanta's current deal, for example, if the third biggest club in the league goes belly-up.
Also, can anyone tell me which channel is covering our Quarter Final tie on Sunday> Is is Sky, BBC or Setanta? Thanks in advance
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Meant to say, I only caught the last portions of Spurs v PSV and Fiorentina v Everton last night and thought the Dutch and Italian teams both played some really lovely football.
It was all to do with very direct wide players engineering super-fast counter-attacks.
I would love Celtic to play like that away from home in Europe but think we lack the speed at the moment.
It reminded me of the two goals away to Stuttgart in February 2003, which were both Didier Agathe creations.
And I know Fiorentina were at home but Everton seemed to go a bit cavalier and left gaps. They were lucky to come away from it still in the tie.
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Interesting footnote to this discussion.
Gretna Vs Dundee United
Offical Att. 501 (got to finish on a double?)
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Panenka's Chip,
SKY Sports one 12:30 Kick off.
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Too many football clubs in Scotland - definitely!
England has 92. We have a tenth of the population and 40 clubs.
Gretna showed that there is little quality about and with some spend it is possible to advance through the leagues quickly.
The Inverness merger showed that anyone prepared to take unpopular action would also be in a position to advance. Surely there are others who can overcome the tradition/ loyalty argument to do the same?
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I would love it if Hearts were to fall by the wayside. The only improvement would be if EU's team were to do likewise.
There were, however, reports down here this mrong that Bendner would go to West Brom for £1million in the summer and that Wolves are going to sign Berra for over £2million. So, I would imagine that nothing drastic is likely to happen any time soon.
Certainly, I don't expect any amalgamations, even in Dundee. When it was mooted about Hibs and Hearts about 15 years ago, it was made patently obvious by both sets of fans that they wouldn't countenance it. You can't blame them. Imagine it was proposed that we should amalgamate with EU's mob to make us some European Super Team (or to get entry into the EPL, our nirvana). Would any of us give it a moment's thought? Didn't think so.
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Gretna's problems were not foreseen when they joined the League. They took Airdrie's place when the unlovely Williamists went belly-up. Gretna must have been seen as a well run wee club, unlikely to make any ripples as they took their place on the grey bus which is the bottom division of Scottish league football.
Above all their books balanced- there is a Sunday market at Raydale- I used to buy jeans there[501s,naturally] and the rental from the market kept the bank manager happy.
Enter BMileson, he starts to splash his cash around [ which of course he is perfectly entitled to do] and the apple cart is well and truly couped over, from Stair Park to Station Park.
If they go under I I shall miss them. Their Cup run was part of one of the best football seasons I've had, because in the same year Carlisle won League division 4 and the Hoops won the SPL.
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Bazzabhoy,
Re. the upcoming game v M'well at Fir Park, a couple of my mates have got tickets and have asked me to join them at the game (then out for beers afterwards, possibly the more attractive part of the offer!).
You kindly offered me a spare that you had previously for the midweek game that was called off late that night.
I didn't know if that offer was still going for the game on the
15th, so I tentatively agreed to my mates offer
Is this OK with you?
I don't want to cause you any hassle, so if you are left with the ticket and cannot get rid of it, I will still pay for it.
I can meet you outside the ground before the game to do so.
Let me know what you think.
Cheers
TTT
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Parkheadcumsalford,
I believe the fee for Bednar will be 2.5 million if WBA go up which looks likely. The problem is though, he is owned by Kaunas so Hearts again will see nothing from his sale.
I Believe Kingston will be next in line to go and that he is in no rush to get back playing after his "injury".
Hearts seem to be a shop window for Romanov's footballers from other clubs. Velicka was sold to show that Lithuanian players could be sold for profit not just other foreign/Scottish players like Gordon, Bednar, and the lad who went to Southampton who's name will not come to me at the moment.
The club is rotten at the moment. Shame eh!!
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I wouldn't lose any sleep over Hertz going to the wall. Too many of their fans are sleekit bigots for me to mourn them.
However, it would be a disaster for the Scottish game if they went bust, and our domestic competition would look even more threadbare, so I hope they survive the Romanovs.
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Parkheadcumsalford - " Imagine it was proposed that we should amalgamate with EU's mob to make us some European Super Team"
I don't think it's such a bad idea. Consider this:
A combined Celtic-Rangers club would have to play in the biggest and best stadium out of the two, ergo Parkhead.
The best players from the two teams would be picked, with the possibility of a mouthwatering lineup of:
Boruc
Hinkel - McManus - Caldwell - Naylor
Nakamura - Brown - Donati - McGeady
MacDonald - Samaras
Subs:
Mark Brown
Barry Ferguson
JVOH
Barry Robson
Darren O'Dea
The amalgamated club would have to have a name reflecting the shared Scottish and Irish heritages of its founders, so how about calling it "The Celtic Football Club"?
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Interesting article here from the Guardian
- surely CQN's sister sports section of choice?
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EdwardU
Theres little doubt that if Rangers get 3 points in any of the OF games then the league is yours. It is interesting to hear the different views os Rangers' fans concerning their type of play this year. If I were a Ranger's fan(AND I'M NOT - SEEMS ONE HAS TO NAILS ONE'S COLOUR'S FIRMLY TO THE MAST NOWADAYS)I would't care what type of football I was seeing at the moment. Success would be important above all else. Once the silverware was coming in I'd become more discerning about what was served up on the pitch.
I think you're almost correct when you say the two teams are very close in terms of ability. I say almost because I beieve we have some more talented players
Where you have the advantage I believe is that WS has a plan and his players stick to it. As a matter of fact I believe the Ranger's players limitations works to their advantage. The know the best way to play to make them successful. It is reminiscent of the type of play as typified by Liverpool several years ago when each player was responsible for an area of the pitch.
We on the other hand do not seem to have a "plan" / tactics. Against Barcelona the other night -and several times this season - the players did not seem to know where they should be playing - or else were played out of position eg Nka Brown Donatti.
One other advantage is that Rangers have leaders on the pitch - Ferguson, Weir. Cuellar. I think we struggle in that department also.
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"Teutonic betting scandal in Glasgow!!"
Not a headline you are likely to see in any newspaper. However, I wonder how many friends of the Bremen goalie had money on at Wilhelm Hill's for a Rankers win ?!!
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TMC- Well, if Mr EMurray posted that article on CQN he would have to defend the confidence he shows in some of his assertions.
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TheTokenTim - Doesnt put me out mate, take your friends ticket pal.
My good mate had a wee bhoy at the weekend past so next weekend we're wetting the bairns head, its going to be messy, and I'd be suprised if we make it out the pub to the game, specially as its on setanta.
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Lennondinho, “Tesco for Tynecastle”, like it.
Panenka’s Chip, please do introduce yourself next time.
Phil 13:09, ha! Like it.
I suppose we could always take the white shorts from their strip and the green and white top from our strip.
We could take their shirt sponsor too.
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Token, if your in that big boozer, the one with the big bar at the back, look for a squad of 29 ugly folk. That'll be us, youll see my bald spot, and I'll buy you a pint.
The Winchburgh CSC.
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Tiny Tim 6/3/08 21.51
"I dislike the attitude of so many Darnelist followers because they lack the ability to give credit where it is due.
It dissapoints me that we have so many fans who show the same traits."
In the period since I began to read and indeed post on Celtic Quick News I have not read such an extraordinarily hypocritical comment as that, which you have expressed above. I am amazed that you did not cringe with embarrassement when compiling your post. There have been few people if any, more prone to what you have accused others of engaging in!!!
NOT GIVING CREDIT WHERE IT IS DUE!!
Every single comment that I have read,posted by you on the subject of the manager, has contained everything which seems to irk you about other posts.
I have yet to read a post by you on Gordon Strachan that praised him, that gives him credit where it is due. Not only that in all your nonsensical posts, criticising The manager, I have yet to read anything that could be considered as constructive criticism, no clear analysis anywhere in sight. I would not mind if you could articulate your dislike of the manager, but you have yet to do so!!
Chance would be a fine thing.
You say it dissapoints you that many Celtic fans show the same traits. Well T.T. I place you at the head of that particular group of people!!!!!
I have posted on here on several ocassions, criticisms of players, and indeed, I have not been at one with Gordon Strachan in every single decision he has ever made, but in all instances I have always endeavoured to be constructive in any criticism I offer.
Perhaps intead of criticising others for engaging in something you have got down to a fine art. Instead of indulging in hypocrisy, you should endeavour to engage in constructive intelligent debate on the subject of the manager!!!
I will look forward to the day that you decide to do so, but please bear in mind I'm getting older by the day!!!!!
Ragnar Hairy Breeks
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DBBIA
Yep, after we decided what bracket to place him in from the many available. I think he's gone too far with some of his comments but it's an interesting piece. I've never really enjoyed reading him before.
TMC
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TMC- I bet he comes from G84, with a name like Ewan.
Probably went to Lomond, never been down a mineshaft in his life.
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stating the obvious……...
If we had not caved in at Caley when 2 goals up the gap would be 1 point
that loss in particular is the one that sickens me the most
If we had played the fod at Parkhead by now as we should have and beat them, the gap would be 1 point,
(or 2 in front if the Caley aberration hadn't happened)
If we go to Ibrox next time we play them and lose, the gap will be 7 points
If we them win the remaining 2 games against them the gap again becomes 1 point
1 blasted point, we need somebody apart from us to beat them or draw with them ,
Who can do us a turn I wonder - Dundee United at Tannadice - no one else comes to mind
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Bazza,
Thanks mate, just didn't want to see you out of pocket on my account. Wouldn't do that to you, or indeed anyone for that matter.
Re. the boozer, if its any of the one's near Fir Park then I can only think of The New Century, The Puddler (or whatever its called these days - its next door to the Rex chippy), Jack Daniels or the Fir Park Club itself.
If you mean the Fir Park Club then I'm afraid we won't meet there mate, I was involved in a wee incident there many years ago when I vowed that I would never step foot into that bitter viper's den again.
Almost 20 years later and I'm still holding true to it.
As to the other boozers, it's possible I will be in 2 of them at some point, and if so, I'll come and say hi if you lot are in residence. Might even buy you and the new Dad a pint if you're lucky, or even better get one of the two M'well boys who might be in my company to buy them!
Thanks again mate.
HAIL! HAIL!
Token
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Itzallova,
Alternatively, why don't we beat them 3 times and win our other games, then we don't need to worry about what anyone else does or doesn't do???
Ever The Optimist
Token
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DBBIA
Don't even think they sell the Guardian in Happyclapperville (or G83 as it's more commonly known).
tmc
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DBBIA, “never been down a mineshaft in his life” :-)
Whatever happened to the shipping forecast?
TheTokenTim, was at OLSF last night, and thought, 'TTT might be here'. Looked around but saw no one who looked like you read.
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Paul
Do you reckon the club will have to pay off Thomas Gravesen at the end of this season?
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EDB, our man is concerned about this situation. True to form, he will try to play hard ball, it may yet be a seller’s market.
Paying him off would set a precedent, though, so I am not sure if it is worth doing. He due to be back on the payroll from 1 June to 31 July 2009.
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Good question. The blog is always evolving, things go in and out of fashion. There may be a time to bring back Saints Days, Pros and Cons, all 57 Heinz varieties of mince.
Given that there may be some salt and spray to negociate before the end of the season the Shipping Forecast could well return.
In the meantime, here' a picture of a bracing force 12
Don't forget to pack the limes.
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On the Hearts situation…
Heart of West Lothian.
Think, Airdrieonians/Airdrie United.
You heard it here first.
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dbbia
With all these extra hours you're gonnae be working will that put paid to your visits to CP?
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Paul,
To what extent do transfer plans depend on getting the likes of Tomy G, Bobo, Deek, Adam Virgo, Chris Killen etc off the payroll?
I presume it will have an effect, but of course if these guys were off the payroll it would free up a lot of money for the 3/4 top players we need.
Glad to see the SSM talking about the flexibility being there to sign a top player "should the right deal come along". Exciting times ahead.
Any news on the contractual situation with Aiden and Naka?
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TTT @13.58
Not to sure if we have the players to do that, but if they were to get a point, a boring nil nil would be good enough, providing we can do the business at Parkhead.
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EDB- What is this 'working' I'm meant to be doing?
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Hearts of West Lothian - does that include Livingstone as well?
Airdrie - so close, so very close to dissapearing for ever...
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Dobbo, very little. TG is a high earner and will have an impact, but Bobo is staying and the rest are not significant to the overall picture.
On your contract question: our man is not known for letting the grass grow under his feet. Naka “Will be here as long as he wants to. Certainly until the end of his contract and for another is he is keen”.
Ignore the Newcastle interest in Aiden, it is a bit like Hibs being interested in him. Of course, they are interested, why wouldn’t they be? But they will not get him.
What it is likely to do is alert our man that he should move to end any speculation sooner rather than later – we have a league to concentrate on, who wants transfer speculation?
If I am any good at anticipating how our man operates, I would expect him to make a move to in the international week; time an announcement for the day before we go to Ibrox.
TMC, hmmm.
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THanks to Armchair Celts for this snippet
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Livingston rescue Hearts and Gretna bail out Rangers.
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Paul67 @ 1409,
LOL!
In truth I had intended to be present last night, but I was down in Teesside on business yesterday and unfortunately my meeting didn't finish until approx 1630hrs, so I was unable to get home before 1930hrs (already got 6 pts on licence, don't want any more!)too late for OLSF.
Mrs Token had a word or so, until I retorted with the fact that as she is a primary school teacher (albeit one who works sporadically at best - flamin supply teacher's, what is that all about??)
you would think she would know exactly what the current teaching methods are!!!
Itzallova @ 1457,
True although I'd like to think that the players are good enough to win every game in the run-in, but I suppose I would take a point at Ipox and then plan on winning both at Celtic Park.
My only concern and one I have raised before, is that we need to bury this so called hoodoo that the Cardigan has over us, the sooner the better and the only way to do that is to get all 3 points in their backyard on the 29th!
For me, that is a must!
However, to begin with I will be happy to be sitting 2 points clear at the top come St. Patrick's day, with Dundeed Utd the new CIS Cup holders as a bonus :-)
HAIL! HAIL!
Token
PS - Paul if I read as a tall, slim adonis type, I do a good job......if only :-)
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I never got a reply back from my email from the Evening News regarding the Boruc article. I never expected one. I have been told however from an excellent source that The Evening Times will no longer attribute a journalists name to any articles on their electronic copy associated with Celtic unless its a ghost piece. It would seem that we accomplished something last week after all. Celtic´s continual bad press is in fact editorially driven and is not individually driven by journalists hence the new policy.
Hail Hail
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Paul 67,
So Gravesen is coming back, if he is in the shape his agent says he's in, can we bring him back early?
Don't laugh, can this be done outside the transfer window?
I would have Tommy G line up against the Darkside with his instructions being, follow Bazza all over the park for the first half and spend the second half kicking Cousin up the jacksie!
BF
GreatDaneCSC
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hi paul. fellow celts .
what a disappointing performance from bremen last night. bad display by the goalkeeper ,but apart from that they never troubled rangers. i,ll tell you what ,we go on about them being a poor rangers side, but believe me we have it all to do. walter smith has built a team of battlers, and that is where my real concern starts. i agree with wizardofoz a few threads back, when he said that cousin needed dealt with . my question back to you my friend is, who is going to do it? . many of the posters on here have,highlighted the fact that our team are too lightweight and TIMid. a case in point is naka , what a wonderful talent to have in your side .but dont ask him to battle for the team .the guy doesnt possess that atribute . when the going is rough he is found wanting and he is not alone in our side. i remember a few seasons back v motherwell . the night henrik scored 4, a wet and windy night it was too. i remember lee mcculloch sticking it about a bit. johan mjallby took just enough of him and made a race at him. had mcculloch been any further down the touchline after mjallby,s word he would have been in blantyre. my point being we dont have players like mjallby, aitken , auld , hay. mcneill. anymore. real tough guys who could mix it with the best. i have no fears that we have the best players .but they have the men to deal with the tanner baw players, cousin. darcheville. cueller. broadfoot.dailly and more, these guys could play without a ball. when we eventually get to play them , i hope wgs remembers the thuggery that befell us the last time .and prepare his troops accordingly.
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jimtim,
Caldwell? seemed to do a decent job against Henry the other night. I also believe young O'Dea to be a man to count on when the going gets rough.
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jimtim
I am seeing more and more comments on here and on other Celtic sites about our need to meet steel with steel when we finally take to the park with the dark ones.
Up until recently I was more or less of that opnion as well but thinking back the teams who have beaten Rangers this season have all been good passing teams.
Lyon, Stuttgart, Barca and even Hibs (although they blotted their book last weekend).
These teams just ignored the hammer throwing and played Rangers off the park.
The passing has to be good though and that might be the worry for us in that we come up short on the day.
If the passing and movement is good then no amount of hammer throwing will win the game because they won't be able to get near us to knock us off our stride.
I'm coming more to the view that we should be aiming for that approach and run them ragged rather than adopting a position where we give up what we are good at to play the game out they way they want us to.
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Blogger Declan said...
Bhoy_Molloy
I can see the dundee clubs amalgamate reluctantly at some point, but i cant see a future where hibs fans would ever be happy to share a club with the Edinburgh orcs i think they'd rather play non league than join with them in fact. Motherwell i'm not sure about either, never thought about it before. Who do you see as potential partners for them?
Merge Motherwell with Hamilton and Airdrie. Partick Thistle could merge with Queen of the South and Clydebank and Clyde and play at Hampden.
I dont know the whereabouts of all these others clubs, maybe somebody else can suggest possible mergers?
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The only way for Scottish football to flourish, at it's own level, is for Celtic & Rangers to leave.
Talk of mergers are fanciful.
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Shamrock,
Therein lies the problem. Our passing hasn't been anywhere good enough to play teams off the park and we have had to rely on resilience.
Arguably, our best passers are Donati and Naka and the former is a bit too erratic in vital areas.
Perhaps the poor weather has contributed to the lack of coaching time in this area as,all I've seen from TV clips of Lennoxtown is the players wrapped up to the ears, running around playing "tig".
Pass and Move is the game, but it must be done at speed.
I have a notion that in the not too distant future, we will see Mikuno on the right with Naka in the middle and Aiden on the left.
Whether we do this with one up front or one holding midfielder, remains to be seen. Perhaps horses for courses.
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A technical question. It strikes me that everytime I see the Ipox pitch, it looks remarkably narrow in comparison with other grounds including our own hallowed turf. Indeed, the dimensions as viewed on the telly lastnight suggested that it had been narrowed even further ! Am I confused about this ? Can anyone help ? It certainly appears to assist Rankers game in preventing the opposition from playing an expansive game against them - they flood the midfield and the pitch also ensures that Cuellar and Weir are not stretched.
For me, when we come to play them, we have to adopt the Barca tactic - the straightforward one of always close down the man with the ball, restrict his opportunities.
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Still scunnered after Wednesday's capitulation !
Mr Stein said that the Celtic jersey doesn't shrink to fit inferior players !
He would have been disgusted at the attitude and performance.
Too many European games are over in the first 10 minutes!
Does WGS ever learn ?
Does the team ?
Worse by far was the sight of Celtic players chasing the opposition for jerseys FFS !
The only plus was Mark Wilson gettting 90minutes
If he gets fitter I would seriouly think of getting him in to the midfield for Ibrox
And of course getting Bobo back in to the defence
last night showed again just how comfortable the huns are playing WITHOUT the ball !
They will happily settle for 3 draws and play for clean sheets in the hope of nicking something on the break !
We need to find both physical and mental strength to take them on
Time for the champions to stand up !
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I cant seem to find any articles on the electronic Scotsman regarding their unpaid furniture bill. I suppose they had to buy extra chairs for all those players.Is it just me unable to find it or is the Scotsman blanking this story. The BBC states that Hearts paid the bill on the 22nd of January.
I am very interested to see who starts at Pittodrie between JVOH and Samaras. I have been impressed by both these lads and wonder if Samaras will get his first start away from home. He needs to improve upon his Love Street nadir.
I´m also looking forward to seeing if Hibs as a team are us much up for it against Rangers as they are up for it against us.
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malceye 1716
cant say ive noticed anything recently but I definitely recall that souness either did or at least tried to narrow the pitch before a european game before.
On the size of pitches -- again maybe the tv pictures distorted things but the Barca pitch seemed ENORMOUS
TLWIO
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Shamrock diary
I agree re the passing thing BUT its perhaps only coincidental that 3 of your 4 examples came in Europe.
For another Scottish team , us or anyone else, to pass Rangers to defeat requires a strong referee to penalise RFC by giving free kicks and yellow and reds when, as most teams would when presented with the same situation, they resort to basic fouling.
Call me paranoid but Im not convinced that will happen. Are you ? Is anyone?
TLWIO
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The Long Wait-
I agree with you there,as much as the huns are not pretty to watch, they are battlers and dont lose many goals with their mega defensive formation.
Hands up who thinks we will receive half of the decisions that Bremen received last night from an SPL ref.
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Paul,
Re. the co-eff topic, I don't know if are aware that a few years ago the countries were given 50% of each clubs co-eff, then it was reduced to 33% 3/4 years ago and now it is likely to be reduced again to 20%. This will benefit Scotland.
Our friend Bert has this to say:
"With regard to the subject I do feel that it will be hard for the Executive Committee to ignore a signal from this newly formed
