-
Morning all,
Dougal can't stop us.
ThreeinarowCSC
-
Podium.. ;-)
So, who had Wednesday down in the "when will the Artur's leaving Celtic story appear during old firm week" sweepsteak?
-
2nd
-
Well almost. I will be gald when this season is over. 3 in a row?
-
Negative press stories about Celtic, Celtic players and Celtic fans will be the order of the day in the run up to Saturday. If that says anything it says that they are running scared of us...We would do well to believe that!
Paul67 - sorry if I missed the answer to this but I've not been able to read all threads recently - any news on when you will be moving from blogger?
-
Good on Yi Paul !
I'm starting to get that "get in ti them" feeling already and its only Wednesday morning.......
STAND UP FOR THE CHAMPIONS
-
That diddy who lent over to wave money at the gretna full back hasn't helped public perception of Sunday's travelling support, but i heard mentioned that there were 500-700 Celtic fans trying to pay at the gate to gain entry at Almondvale too.
I hope the rumours of the Japan trip commencing in May are also true. The SSM seems to have pulled that nicely out the bag.
-
tlw
judging by the ages of the fans who waved money its doubtful that they will remember the early 90s.
If it had been Aberdeen or St Mirren fans doing this, would it have received any press coverage?
-
does anyone know where the Boruc leaving story orginated this time ?
Also, on KTF yesterday they listed the amusing banned list for facist facist .... was wondering what lewis Hamilton has done do upset them ?!!
-
Paul67,
With all the spin this week, it could be a good time for this weeks press conference to be shown on the official web site. Maybe an announcement should be made at the start of the media conference to say it is been recorded to show it in full to the fans. Lets expose the lapdogs.
-
Paul67 -
well done for the rapid articles, you are Blogger-Skelper
I was fortunate to get a ticket shortly before kick-off, there were few 'spares'.
Dougall - cheat, just like the rest including Celtic fan......
BHOYDELL -
you are older than me
WG
-
I think not giving sunday's game pay at the gate option severely hampered the crown, certainly i would have gone if it was. However i can understand the police's rational, they need to know how many people to sort out their resourcing.
-
Boruc for the off. It's old firm week alright!!
Then again maybe he's thought to himself what it would be like to play in behind half decent defenders. Who could blame him??
-
Marktim,
maybe because Lewis Hamilton is a good Catholic boy, those lovely fellas at Hollow Hollow are a wee bit miffed at that.
Cynical! Me?
Hail Hail
-
BHOYDELL (from last thread)
There are two seperate discussions here, 1) Is there bias against Celtic? and 2) are the team playing poorly? Only someone with something to hide would want to mix them up and confuse the issue - ie Celtic didn't trun up at the last derby and so it didn't matter that the ref booked the vast majority of the Celtic team before a single oppostition player. Does your friend think that Celtic deserved all these bookings? Don't bring into the argument about how Celtic played that day just the treatment of our and the opposition players. It may well be that he is not one of the journos in Murray's pocket but he will surely be affected by them. Also, think about it in terms of self-interest for your friend. {presumably he has a mortgage etc to pay) what do you think would happen to his career if he came out with a suggestion that all was not fair and square in the SPL? Do you think he would go far or would he have to jump ship to an Englsh based paper like Spiers? And while we're at it, how does he reconcile Farrygate and the complicit media's role in Rangers signing/singing policy over the years or does he think that was treated appropriately?
rd
-
tlw - agreed on the diddy with the cash - made me cringe watching it on TV. Always thought even the worst element of our support were slightly above that sort of thing.
Totally out of order, and embarrassing in the extreme....
-
Bhass Bhoy, the Artur leaving story is a favourite of mine.
Fortunately he has just signed his third contract at Celtic in just under three years.
BoltonBhoy, I hope we’ll be moving soon, but until the work is finished I will not have a firm date.
Marktim, Lewis Hamilton is Henrik Larsson.
WG, I can bear witness that Bhoydell’s is a long serving Celtic fan of impeccable character.
-
Hmm when I was listening to the Radio Scotland coverage of the game they stated that we had been given 7000 tickets but had only sold half that. It seems they might have confused the words 'offered' and 'given'. Or lied.
-
Thanks Paul67 - will keep an eye out for the move.
John Hartson - legend!!!!
-
Boltonbhoy :- I can assure you that we are not running scared of you, this doesn't mean that we are overconfident or don't think that Celtic are capable of making a hard close game of it. We are playing on our own ground and are a hard team to beat there, nor does it mean we are dismissing the Celtic team but we are not scared.
E.U
apprehensivelyconfidentrsc
-
Tried posting and it disappeared, although I was told it would appear. Just wanted to endorse ian-in-budapest @22.43 last night.
I reached a personal milestone yesterday. f For the first time when I have had the opportunity, I didn't bother even buying the Herald. As my Dad says, it is now as bad as the Record. We will NEVER get a fair xrack of the whip from the Scottish media, no matter what Bhodell (and his media chums) might believe.
By the way, I think our manager conducts himself well in interviews. He treats the scum with the contempt they deserve. Let them treat him like their darling Walter and see how he responds. Jock Stein had plenty of run-ins with the refs and media scum and they didn't dare treat him like they treat our manager. We should all get behind him and the players, especially those they opt for knocking, like Donati.
We will be cheated on Saturday. I have no doubt of it and I have no doubt nothing will be made of it, whether it is like McGregor kicking our centre forward in the first minute and getting away with it or the hooligan McCulloch kicking McGeady throughout.
As someone has suggested, our manager's press conference should be relayed live on Channel 67 or whatever, so that the likes of Chick Young can't put their own spin on it. It wouldn't be remiss to mention that he hopes that our football players get some protection and mention incidents in the last game which were ignored by the Rev McCurry. It may not change anything but we will be standing up for the good of Scottish football (now where did I hear that one?)
-
Paul
you're on detention for having read the papers. What you don't read or watch, you remain blissfully unaware of !!
Samaras to score the winner !!
-
Paul67 :- I have to say I admire your stamina, I remember you saying once how hard it was to come up with a new subject to post every day so the fact that you have risen to the challenge of managing a new one every 200 posts or so deserves credit.
I hope you don't mind if I ask a rather tongue in cheek question though, are Celtic so bad just now that you can't find anything good to say about them? most of your recent articles seem to be anti someone else rather than pro Celtic.
-
Edward
Sadly nothing tongue in cheek about it.
-
Well Done Celtic !
While common sense tells me we wouldn't schedule a tour of Japan JUST to stop this league extension going ahead and getting one over on Wattie the Ned and his pal Smudger the bigot. A BIG part of me really really really would love it if that was the prime motivation behind it !
-
John Hartson = Celtic Great & Hun-Skelper extrordanaire.
"Hartson: I snubbed Gers approach
Former Celtic star John Hartson claims he rebuffed an offer from Rangers owner David Murray to quit West Brom for Ibrox 15 months ago.
The portly Welshman failed a medical at Rangers when Dick Advocaat was manager and subsequently signed for Celtic, where he became a fans' favourite under Martin O'Neill.
But during Paul Le Guen's ill-fated tenure at Ibrox, Murray tried to persuade Hartson to leave West Brom for what would have been a sensational return to Glasgow.
However, the former Wales international claims Murray's phone call was a waste of time.
"There was no way that I could ever pull on a Rangers shirt after all that I achieved in five years at Celtic," Hartson told the Scottish Sun.
"Mr Murray tried to convince me it would work but it was a no-brainer as far as I was concerned.
"It's a call that I will never forget but one I had to say no to.
"There are two clubs in the world that I could never contemplate playing for now - Cardiff City and Rangers.
"Mr Murray could have offered to pay me a £1million per week and I would still have said no.
"Honestly, I'm being serious when I say that.
"Put it this way, I didn't even ask him for time to think about it.
"That would have been a waste of his time and I didn't want to do that.
"In the end, he accepted what I had to say and we wished each other all the best.
"I didn't hear from him again and that suited me fine."
pablophanque
-
To have any chance on Saturday as we all know we will have to win the mid field battle, I sincerely hope we do not go with Aiden and Naka. I'm a huge fan of both players, but we need ball winning battlers for this one. Paul Hartley, Scott Brown, Barry Robson, and either Aiden or Naka
Alternatively play them both in a 5 man midfield with Samaras up front on his own. If we go with the tried and trusted 4 4 2 against their 4 5 1 then I'll be forced to watch the game from behind the couch.
-
The anti Celtic guff in the media prior to a C v R game is so predictable that it isn't even upsetting anymore.
Bang on with your article Paul and I echo others in citing your 'indefatigableness' in producing article after article.
So on that I firstly withdraw my criticism of your last run of articles. It was churlish of ME to do so when you are tirelessly trying to create a space for us to operate. Secondly I have to thank you for introducing the most unpronounceable word into my vocabulary 'indefatigableness'.
My earnest contrafibulations to you Sir. (ref: Blackadder)
Also, isn't it refreshing to see real integrity as demonstrated by our Big Bad John. I was in the dark regarding his real worth to the team but he does his legend status justice with the news that no amount of money would have persuading him to join the evil empire and take the devil's shilling.
-
Paul
wouldn't be the Old media without a twist would it?
Hass you beat me to it. It is almost a defined approach to Us v Them build up.
Playing down Hun bad news "Old Firm 5"
Telling everyone the Mint is a great guy (tickets more transfer money).
Sop to Celtic (provided by Smithmuscsore) with Mcmanus captain for meaningless Scotland friendly.
Dig at Celtic fans.
Thursday or Friday top Celtic player leaving. They have done Artur. My money is on Samaras source saying if he doesn't start the match he will be on his way.
Saturday full of suggested replacements for GS.
Sunday castigate lucky Celtic and 5 break away goals, Boruc lucky to stay on park. MOTM Stuart Dougal.
-
Paul
wouldn't be the Old media without a twist would it?
Hass you beat me to it. It is almost a defined approach to Us v Them build up.
Playing down Hun bad news "Old Firm 5"
Telling everyone the Mint is a great guy (tickets more transfer money).
Sop to Celtic (provided by Smithmuscsore) with Mcmanus captain for meaningless Scotland friendly.
Dig at Celtic fans.
Thursday or Friday top Celtic player leaving. They have done Artur. My money is on Samaras source saying if he doesn't start the match he will be on his way.
Saturday full of suggested replacements for GS.
Sunday castigate lucky Celtic and 5 break away goals, Boruc lucky to stay on park. MOTM Stuart Dougal.
-
corrib04
That ref made me laugh ... after we beat the huns on sat that whole paragraph might be applicable
Allow me to be the first to offer the loyal caridgan my most sincere contrafibularities! I am anaspeptic, frasmotic, even compunctuous to have caused him such pericombobulation.
-
Ed @ 1010hrs
I know you are a regular poster, however, you seem to have stepped up your posting level quite significantly over the last few days.
Now you are even indulging in a wee bit of psyops against Paul.
Methinks you are feeling just a tad confident about Saturday's game.
Possibly even overconfident despite your protests to the contrary???
Personally that's the way I prefer the gers fans to be in the run-up to a game against Celtic anyway.
HAIL! HAIL!
Token
-
Parkheadcumsalford, I don’t wish to confuse the issue, but I believe Gordon has made his fair share of mistakes with the media, but I cannot see the point in any Celtic fan being upset about this.
b.t.w. Chick Young is the journo closest to GS and has stepped in on one notable occasion to assist our manager. They have been friends for years.
Malceye, your honour, if I can refer you to the fact that I am two days late with my comment on the media coverage due to the fact that I have a water-tight alibi, and required a third party to relay their coverage to me.
Edward, thank you for your kind words. Praise for Celtic will only come when due, however, tune in next week, ‘cause the tone may change abruptly.
Corrib04, no need to withdraw any earlier criticism, we both have other things to worry about.
I am away to look up contrafibulations in the dictionary.
Tooheys new, it sure wouldn’t be.
-
re Samaras - Heard news reports saying that Celtic were preparing a "take it or leave it" offer to Man City to sign him full-time. My understanding of the deal was that he was on loan till the end of the season, but that we had the option to make the deal permanent. Surely this implies that the ins and outs of the contract and transfer fee were pre-agreed? Makes sense, as obviously if Samaras starts to get into the starting eleven and bangs in the goals, his value would go up, perhaps higher than we would want to pay..
Anyone else remember how this deal was phrased at the time?
-
TheTokenTim :- I'll admit my level of posting has increased a bit this week but it's the week of a Rangers Celtic game. art of the fun of the build up to the game is discussing it, whether on here or in a pub or work and I think that such talk and discussion even argument at time increases hugely when our two teams are due to meet.
I honestly don't think I'm overconfident, I never am when it involves a game against Celtic, I think I would be silly not to feel a wee bit confident though when the game is at Ibrox.
-
Pablo,
BBJ was and is a legend. The big man definitely knew how to score against the orcs and BhoyoBhoy did he enjoy it into the bargain.
Hope JVoH and GS have watched a video or two of how the big man played against them and took note!
Re. the media, I try to ignore them most times, but especially during the build up to a game against rangers. We know they go into overdrive, so I refuse to give them the satisfaction of reading their drivel.
That way I also do my blood pressure some good......unlike yesterday :-)
HAIL! HAIL!
Token
-
I wonder how many of the scum that claim to be journalists have even read this ?????
“The duty of the journalist is to further those ends by seeking truth and providing a fair and comprehensive account of events and issues. Conscientious journalists from all media and specialties strive to serve the public with thoroughness and honesty. Professional integrity is the cornerstone of a journalist's credibility.”
Full article from E-Tims Here.
pablophanque
-
Ed,
you may have noticed that my posting levels have increased this week as well.
This is partly due to the game on Saturday, but also partly due to the fact that I am in the middle of End of Quarter VAT returns/expenses and my brain is frazzled and need the relief valve that is CQN! :-)
Just as an aside, you have undoubtedly read many posters ideas (not mine as yet) as to Celtic's starting 11 on Sat.
What is your view as to rangers' starting 11 and is there any formation/player(s) you would prefer not to see by Celtic?
HAIL! HAIL!
Token
-
Paul
I have noted the terms of your plea-in-mitigation. I am prepared to reduce the sentence to one of one hundred lines as follows
"Samaras to score the winner."
-
malceye:
I've noticed your disappointment with Scott Brown over the last few weeks, truth be known, I share your disappointment with his performances, but I wonder if he is solely to blame.
That aside, the sweetest thing for me would be for Scott Brown to score the winner and not get booked for his celebrations. A nonchalant and parochial acknowledgement of the angst would pleasantly suffice.
Stoir Mha Chroi - Still Standing, proud and defiant, and in the best of company too.
-
Motherwell away set for Sunday 13th April with 2 pm kick off. Setanta just can`t allow the Celts to play at 3pm on a Saturday! :-(
Fingers crossed for the international Bhoys!
-
Saturday 12th April would have been better, an extra day's rest before the Rangers game.
NeverHappyCSC
-
Danny,
Perhaps we could ask for it to be postponed given that we have an important game that week?
-
Danny,
I know what you are saying but you'll probably find that the SPL (and SFA) are in cohoots on this one. Make Celtic play on the same day as Rangers as they will be playing Partick on the Sunday after their game against Sporting a few days before. Couldn't have Celtic gaining an advantage with an extra day and no midweek game before.
-
EdwardUrsus, from previous thread.
Yes I think rankers are mince. I have watched on may occassions this year and conclude that you have been pretty mince to watch and have carried lots of luck and decisions. Even in europe, for example Lyon away. Shots on target, possession all went against you yet fortunately for you, you manage to win. Unbelievable. But because you are lucky and carry the sway of MIB doesn't make you good.
Note, I do no think we are great but we have gift wrapped the CIS cup to you by failing to convert our chances at CP against Hearts. Gift wrapped the Scottish cup by again failing to take our chances against the Dons.
Please point me in the direction of a game that you have won because you have outplayed the opposition with some fancy football rather than clogging your way through matches.
For example 2003, you cannot tell me that the Celtic team of 2003 was not better than the rank rotten rankers that won the terrible back then. We were extremely unlucky that year and should once again have buried you in the league way before the last day of the season. The same should have happened this year and I still can't believe Celtic find themselves in the position we happen to find ourselves in. Obviously the unbelievable can happen to yours and rankers good fortune.
-
Paul,
I haven't seen any of the press comments about the attendance at the game on Sunday.
However a game v GRETNA, scheduled for MOTHERWELL, and a ticket stating the venue was FIR PARK, price £24 when it was £20 just about sums up the shambolic state of affairs Celtic fans faced.
Maybe I'm being too critical however I didn't approve of the actions of some young Celtic supporters waving notes at the Gretna players.
That said, was it mentioned anywhere in the press that the Gretna mascot (a rooster apparently) cum goalkeeper walked along the track with bucket in hand (wing?)asking the Celtic fans to "Save Gretna"?
The Celtic supporters, having already contributed £20 to the coffers, obliged in surprising numbers.
-
TTT,
Obviously, the Wattenacio will have to go with-
--------------------Alexander--------------------
------Broadfoot - Cuellar - Weir - Papac------
Thomson - Davis - Whittaker - Adam - Burke
------------------Darcheville------------------
Obviously, McGregor, Ferguson, Dailly and McCulloch are injured?
:-)
-
I just caught this story on the bbc website. I'm trying to figure out what exactly would be the point in this?
Why?
-
Marktim,
I think Charlie Nick had the same English teacher as Blackadder.
-
Out of the 92 teams, whose ground is at the highest altitude?
Name the only team out of the 92 whose name starts with 5 consonants
-
Porridgeand......
Unbelievable!
-
Artur Lee,
Crystal Palace for the consonants.
Is Ross County the altitude one?
-
-
TSOAL
Is it West Brom for altitude? Crystal Palace is definitely the other answer.
mvg
I just don't see the point. Is he at the wind-up?
-
porridge get yerself a gold star
-
Malceye, your honour, I accept the punishment you have ascribed as part of your on-going investigation into corruption in football.
Gordon, thanks for that update on the rooster, this is the first it has been reported.
TheTokenTim, Ed, Bhass Bhoy, I too am interested in the likely Rangers line-up. Edward?
Porridgeand, I have no wish to lay any blame for the death of John Thomson on Sam English, but this is the first time I have heard the “Thompson’s forward motion in diving towards the ball” being blamed for his own death.
The incident was a tragic accident which occurred as both players were in motion.
The need to cite Thompson as being the active party is no different than the need of those who jeered English in the 1930s.
Spirit of Arthur, as it's 92 teams I assume we are talking about England?
Altitude, Leeds United?
-
Fixture crisis ? The rotten mob have nothing to moan about,can any of the auld hands confirm if an extension to the season was suggested in 1974 ?
April 1974
3rd, Celtic 1-0 Dundee, Scottish Cup
6th, Celtic 1-0 Arbroath, League Division 1
10th, Celtic 0-0 Athletico Madrid, European Cup
13th, Dundee United 0-2 Celtic, League Division 1
17th, East Fife 1-6 Celtic, League Division 1
20th, Celtic 2-0 Aberdeen, League Division 1
24th, Athletico Madrid 2-0 Celtic, European Cup
27th, Falkirk 1-1 Celtic, League Division 1
29th, Aberdeen 0-0 Celtic, League Division 1
30th, Celtic 1-1 Morton, League Division 1
-
Who is the first player to score back-to-back hatricks in the SPL?
-
Woe unto you,scribes and Pharisees,you hypocrites!For ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin and have omitted the weightier matters of the Law-judgement,mercy and faith:these ought ye to have practised without neglecting the others.You blind guides! Staining out gnats and swallowing camels.
Matthew23 csc
-
spirit of arthur lee,
I'm inclined to guess King of Kings but if not what about Anthony Stokes of Falkirk?
-
TSOAL
Thanks mate, I will do! haha. I mind the West brom fact being mentioned during a commentary when the were in the Premiership. Is the hat-tricks one Owen Coyle when with Motherwell? Just a total stab in the dark.
Paul, on the Sam english honour. No-one could ever blame him for what happened and the fact he was booed up and down the land was wrong. I'm just wondering what the motivation is of this politician who has had run-ins with the Celtic fans in the past when travelling on the ferry. And this of all weeks to break this news just before a huge match.
I just struggle to see in any case what the point is of it.
-
Scott McDonald?
-
TheTokenTim :- I would prefer us to go with two up front, K. Boyd and A.N Other, I know he has his limitations as an all round player but with another striker to feed off of he can be lethal. I doubt it will happen and am pretty sure we will stick with 4.5.1 which although not pretty to watch is effective and if it gets the required result on Sat then I can't complain.
As far as Celtic go, there are three players that worry me, Mr McGeady who if on his game is more than effective but hopefully we can double on him to nullufy that threat. Mr Nakamura can be a very big worry, I don't think he will be suitable for the type of game it will be but even if the whole match passes him by he is a huge threat with free kicks around the 20 - 25 yard mark. The last one is Mr Samaras and this is a bit of a strange one as I haven't seen much of him but what I have seen shows a decent player who can be handy with his feet and has good running to get into position, I would try to have Mr Cuellar stick so close to him during the game that afterwards the police wonder if something indecent is going on. I wouldn't play C. Adama or C. Burke in this game as I think like S. Nakamura this is the wrong type of game for them.
If he plays I reckon our big threat could be N. Novo, due to his size and nippiness I'd have him run at your central defenders either getting past them or forcing them intp bringing him down in a dangerous area. In conjunction with this I would want L. McCulloch to not only rumble up your central defence but to give us the option of the high diagonal ball.
If you were to ask me the same question tomorrow I would probably give a different answer as I change my mind a couple of times a day on this one :-)
-
Mort
Mr Stokes is correct
-
Moonbeamswetdream :- I'm the first to admit we haven't been playing the silkiest of football this year, one game that does spring to mind though is the early season 7 - 2 game against Falkirk.
I disagree with you that you have handed us any cups this year, other teams have eliminated you from them.
When it comes to 2003 I disagree with you as well, if the team were so good they had 38 games to win the league, I still think the team that wins the league has proven itself the best that season.
-
Edward Icarus
Methinks you suffer from the head staggers due to the unaccustomed elation of your side.
Help is at hand..Gravity beckons
-
Thanks Spirit
I just had a creme egg as a way of giving myself a pat on the back.
-
The following are some of the largest football stadiums in the world. Name the city in which they are found.
a. Stadium Strahov
b. Rungnado (May Day)
c. Azadi
d. Estadio da Luz
-
Paul67 :- I hate trying to predict a team but if possible I would go with,
MacGregor
Whittaker Wier Cuellar Papac
Dailly
Davis Furgson Thompson McCullock
Darcheville
I know this is more a 4 1 4 1 but should be fluid enough to become 4 5 1 or even 4 3 3 if possession allows.
On the J. Thomson report I think the description of the incident is badly worded, it's been a while since I've seen the clip but I seem to recall two players fully commited to going for the ball, it happens day in day out in games throughout the country but in this case had a horrendous tragic outcome. I only hope it's something we never see repeated.
-
EdwardUrsus,
Fair enough on the Falkirk game, I happened to mis that one.
The best team does not always win the league.
One of your 9-ch-ugh-in-ugh-eech-a-eech-urcgh-row season. TB's team played best football and lost less games. If it had stayed at 2pts we would have won league but fortunately for rankers it had just changed to 3pts that season and you lot nicked it. But that's the way of it goes and I hold my hands up.
I do not think you deservede the league in 2003 and if you win aarrggh this season then I do not think you will have deserved it.
You'll never change my mind on that one but as you say it is all about opinions.
Apart from the Falkirk game was there any others? Not trying to get at you but would be intersting to know.
-
Druiddude :- I'll watch out for nosebleeds and try to make sure my wings don't melt :-)
-
Ed,
Surely McGregor, Dailly, Ferguson and McCulloch are injured though?
-
SOAL,
2 out of 4?
1) Prague
2)?
3)?
4) Lisbon
GS.
-
Ed,
Whats the story with Daniel Cousin,
Despite his thuggish behaviour in the last game I think he is a real asset to your side. Is he still around or has he been sent to Coventry so to speak?
Thnaks
-
Sherlock Holmes creator Sir Arthur Conan Doyle was the first keeper for which english football
-
Moonbeamswetdream :- I reckon this season we have been effective more than exciting, apart from the Falkirk game mentioned I would say or Sept game against Aberdeen and the Feb game against Hearts.
I don't count the earlier game against yourselves as much as from my point of view it was a great game and result I don't think in was a memorable one from a football playing sense.
-
Bhassbhoy :- The wonders of modern medecine :-)
-
Why couldn't "The Bank of England" play in the 1970 world cup match between England and Germany?
-
Corrib04 :- As far as I'm aware he is now back in training after surgery on his jaw, he should be back in contention in another two or three weeks.
-
While Ed's on doing a bit of Q & A session, Ed, wheres Buffel these days too? He played against East Fife and East Stirling I think but not been seen since. Nothing in the papers about this either I think
-
So it appears that the Craig Swan was lying through his back teeth in the Daily Record from the 20th March
"Unusually, Bayern sent former keeper Sepp Maier to Scotland to do their scouting on Aberdeen ahead of their UEFA Cup last-32 clash against last month.
The game in question was the match against Celtic in the Granite City and sources in Munich understand the reason for this is because German great Maier, who is Bayern's goalkeeping coach, wanted another look at Boruc in the flesh". ...fanatises young Craig
General Manager Uli Hoeness has scorned reports claiming the Pole is heading for the Bundesliga as Oliver Kahn's replacement.
It had been reported goalkeeping coach Sepp Maier had watched Boruc, but Bayern have denied it.
"There is absolutely nothing in the story." Hoeness stressed. "It's a strange story. Sepp Maier wasn't there (in Scotland). From beginning to end, there is no truth in it."
"It´s complete nonsense", It's grotesque to think Sepp Maier is looking for a goalkeeper for Jurgen Klinsmann (who becomes Bayern boss next season). We certainly won't be spending £13m on another keeper." said Karl Heinz Rummenigge
-
Bhass Bhoy :-)
Ed,
Interesting take on your line-up.
I would hope that Boyd doesn't play simply because he knows how to score and does so frequently -even allowing for his poor record facing us.
As for the McCulloch threat, that alone is why I would have played Bobo assuming he is fit. I think he could comfortably deal with McCulloch's/rangers' aerial threat and combativeness (being diplomatic there!). Not so sure about GC and SMcM's potential for aerial dominance.
For the record I detest Novo as I think he is a cheating wee coward, but his movement has in the past caused us trouble and I will be happy to see him on the bench at best on Sat.
I have no doubts whatsoever that Wattie will go for a 4-5-1 formation. It's what he does. Simple as that.
As to us, I have to say that I would have Naka on the bench as I believe that he is too much of a luxury for us to have in the 11 at Ibrox. Yes, we all know his potential at dead-ball situations, but he does not do enough work off the ball to deserve his place in this game.
I watched Dundee Utd's midfield dominate rangers' for long periods in the CIS Cup Final (that game was the first I had watched rangers in a long time, mainly coz I went up to my folks house to watch it with my dad - a gers fan, as I have mentioned before - who was convalescing after suffering a heart attack in the week before it).
They did so, not by playing brilliant football, although they did play some nice one-touch stuff at times, but more so IMO, through a very up-tempo, high energy workmanlike performance, whilst challenging quickly for the second ball, (typified by Willo Flood) which they won more than their fair share of, thus allowing them to keep possession and build attacks fairly quickly out of a defensive position.
It also helped that rangers' passing was shocking at times esp. the first half and in ET.
This is why I would advocate playing a midfield of McGeady, Brown, Hartley and Robson on Saturday, with JVoH and Samaras up front. This would allow us to have midfielders who have good work-rates, can tackle (Brown if he uses his head can do so....not literally though!) are comfortable on the ball, but can also get forward fairly quickly to support their two front men, one of whom has pace, strength and aerial ability (GS), the other one aerial ability but a very good penalty box player (JVoH).
Defensively, I know who I would like to see playing but as that isn't going to happen, it will no doubt the usual Hinkel, Caldwell, McManus and Naylor in front of Artur.
Whether the four of them can go 90 minutes without any silly mistakes, time alone will tell, but if they are not up for a fight then we could be in trouble.
However, in this case I honestly think we WILL do it, if our midfield plays as they are able to do, assuming that is that it is the midfield I (and more than a few other posters) have chosen that plays!
HAIL! HAIL!
Token
-
Porridge - I think we all know what kind of a sick and twisted mentality is behind the call to honour Sam English. It's sad that his memory should be abused in such a vile way to feed the warped need of the Dark Side to express its hatred.
-
Arthur,
was it Montezumas revenge ?
-
Muppetbhoy :- I think he is on a package holiday with Mr Riordan :-)
Seriously I don't have a clue why he isn't being played, after a few games to be match fit I think he would be the best footballer in the team. There has been some talk that it's due to a cash trigger if he plays so many more games but that I can't vouch for.
-
awe naw
well done
-
answers to stadium
a. Prague
b. Pjongjang
c. Tehran
d. Lisbon
