Gravesen phenomenon rolls out of town

Get in there

3rd

silver?

2nd actually - ill take silver ware any time

Shug - guess we're polar opposites. Glass half full / empty thingy going on here

West wales - haha brilliant - any signing news, or will it be kept until kit launch day for the most exposure?

Aw-Naw:

from the previous thread.

your "curry and Guinness" line... astounded of forehead eloquence.

Have a cigar.

I tend to go with the maxim: if it's too good to be true, it probably is.

Thomas gubbed the huns too early in his Celtic career. That the only reason he came in the first place. When asked he said "before I die I want to gub the huns". I think the SSM should have realised that once this lifetime ambition was achieved that Thomas would be lost without a goal in life.

Hail Hail

Paul

I think 'Circus'might have been a more apt word to have used. It has all been a circus both in his lack of interest and the amount of money that Celtic have spent on a 'clown'.

A sorry episode for those in charge of both negotiations and the financial package.

Agree Paul. I was extremely cheered by his arrival but he has imploded gloriously. Am sure some of those wise folks have told me there were clues available during his time with the Spanish huns but I remembered glimpses of him at Everton and thought he would be the business. I certainly didn't feel the same about Keane.

All in all a very costly punt and having to pay him off shows how low his star has sunk. How much did that cost us BTW?

Paul67 - whilst agree it is hard to log a lesson learned ((c) Prince2) from this one there are a couple of guidance’s I would like to see us apply to players:

Players with a point to prove - effective strategy from MON era
Players who still need to work to earn financial stability for the rest of their lives

Gravesen made enough money from the Madrid deal and that possibly takes something away from a footballer. Whether you agree with this or not, the evidence is there.

The move to Madrid confirmed in Gravesen’s head that he was the player he had hoped to be - why should Strachan tell him to change when he had played for the mighty Madrid?

TBH , I am more worried now about Riordan and wither or not we will get some money for him, A player like Tommy who hasnt made it for whatever reason and who in theory we could get at least some cash wither it is selling back to hibs wouldnt bother me at all. Now what about bobo?

was he curly in diguise ?

Is his wife staying?

Did we accidentally sign Uncle Fester? Did anybody ever see Tommy G in the same room as a lightbulb?

Enquiring minds want to know.

Now that the considerable cost of TG salary is off the books surely the question now is "Who is coming in??"
Where are the "Wow" signings for the season ahead?
We are told we are in a vastly superior position to the animals both on the park and off the park.
Our financial health is better than it has ever been.

If this is indeed the case, and RFC are on the edge of a cliff then I have a question for Peter Lawwell and the Celtic FC management;

Are you going to throw them a rope as we have done in the past ( particularly in 2003 and 2005 when they were staring into oblivion)

Or are you going to press home our advantage and crush them this season and continue our superiority??

Over to you gentlemen........................

sorry totally off the beat and track here.

Apparently Shaun Maloney was not in the Scotland Squad because he has not played enougfh games "recently". did i miss something? i thought it was the summer holibags? no one has played a lot of football. hhhhmmmmmmm!!!!!!!

and also what the hell is Terry Butcher on.

Truetim,

he played 35 times for Real Madrid in two years and they were all domestic ties

"The way he is, we won't have problems with him. He's just a little bit particular. I don't mess with him, he works well tactically. His behaviour is like this, and I don't like it, everything has to be done like he wants it to be done" Fabio Capello

The guy was purchased without any consideration as to whether he would fit into the rigid system our manager insists on employing .

He is an attacking midfielder , which is a useless commodity when you play with 2 wide players , 2 strikers and 4 at the back .In a different system he may well have been a good acquisition ...we will never know

He is disparaged by many supporters for taking payments in terms of a contract which we gave him .He was an emploayee available for work and ws due to be paid accordingly .

We liked the look of a signing of TG`s calibre , a pity he was never going to fit .

My main concern is that we may be saying the same thing about SB in a year or two .His playing style doesn`t suit or system ....i can only pray he is given more leaway than TG .

I`ll never forget your debut goal against the huns and your goal at Snake Mountain ...crap players can`t finish like he did at Ibrox

.

El Paso Has Left the Building....!!!!!

o1tommyGCSC....

test

Shug85 - It's funny how things change. There was a time when I looked forward to Scotland games.

Now I see them as an annoying interruption to Celtic's more important business. When I read that a couple of our players had pulled out of the Scotland squad, I thought "good".

Why send our players to risk injury playing for a Scotland setup whose own management team, to the highest level, sees it as being of secondary importance to Rangers?

I'll leave all that to the shortbread tins and "see you jimmy" wig brigade.

Need the help of my extended Celtic family. (Mineshafters AND happyclappers as we are an all inclusive support)

Seem to have misplaced my old celtic tapes and have been trying with no luck to source some of my old favourites. I've been really struggling with "Celtic doing it right". Anyone any idea if this is on any CD's available from the Celtic shop or from the Hats, scarves, badges and tapes guys @ Paradise???

Celtic, Celtic beautiful team,
Whenever I dream, it’s white and it’s green,
That magic moment when you take to the field,
I can’t conceal the way that I feel.

Celtic, Celtic watching you play,
Home or away, I’ve got to say,
There’s nothing better than the wonderful sight,
Of Celtic doin’ it right.

There’s a special place in Glasgow,
It’s the home of the greatest football team,
It’s called Celtic Park, there’s a pine in my heart,
On the field of football they’re supreme.

You can go the length of bonnie Scotland,
You can search all along the river Fife,
You can look high and low but there’s one thing I know,
You just won’t find a better side.

Celtic, Celtic beautiful team,
Whenever I dream, it’s white and it’s green,
That magic moment when you take to the field,
I can’t conceal the way that I feel.

Celtic, Celtic watching you play,
Home or away, I’ve got to say,
There’s nothing better than the wonderful sight,
Of Celtic doin’ it right.

Jimmy Johnstone, Danny McGrain,
We’ll remember you,
Celtic One, Rangers Nil,
That my bhoys will do.

Celtic, Celtic beautiful team,
Whenever I dream, it’s white and it’s green,
That magic moment when you take to the field,
I can’t conceal the way that I feel.

Celtic, Celtic watching you play,
Home or away, I’ve got to say,
There’s nothing better than the wonderful sight,
Of Celtic doin’ it right.

Celtic, Celtic I promise you this,
Come wedded bliss I’ll never miss,
The chance to see again that wonderful sight,
Of Celtic doin’ it right.

Of Celtic doin’ it right.

Hail Hail
Gogo

SHug85.

Terry Butcher is on very strong pain killers. He recently had his knee replaced and in the next few weeks slap bang in the middle of our WC qualification ... he´ll be getting the other knee replaced. Nothing like the SFA running our game professionally. The man failed at Motherwell ...who can forget the SPL´s decision not to promote Falkirk at Motherwells expense keeping him in a job for a bit longer. He lasted four months in Australia before he was fired and I think three months at mighty Brentford. As an unemployed ex Rangers employee he was perfect for the role of Scottish assistant manager.

HAil Hail

Celticlover, a painful one indeed.

West Wales Celt, we will never know exactly how much Thomas cost us but I reckon in the region of £5.5m.

TrueTim, a wise former boss once told me never to employ a wealthy salesman. The point to prove/mouths to feed argument works, but true professionals who move on late in their careers (Keane, Larsson) still perform.

I wonder if the due diligence we have put in this summer is a result of previous campaigns; I know there has been at least one target dismissed for non-football reasons.

Dreams and Songs to Sing, “wow signing”! Why would anyone ask for a wow signing? Give me a good player who fits a requirement, on budget, rather than a reputation.

How did Celtic “thrown them a rope” in 2003 and 2005? Surely not by limiting our playing budget to a loss of several million pounds each season instead of splurging ever more cash, as was being demanded by the media of the day?

It you are suggesting we should have spent even more money, let me know if there was an upper limit on how much money you would suggest we lost each year.

The very reason we have the superiority you refer to is because while Rangers spent irresponsibly, Celtic kept finances under control.

.

Tommy Dance's....!!!!

o1billiejeanCSC

The footballing equivalent of a Honeytrap.

As long as the lesson is learned.

PF Ayr,

in his time at Madrid he never played in an attacking role. He played as a holding midfielder contrary to what he played at Evrton. Toffees still debate to this day that Real got confused with Lee Carsley and Tommy G

I don't think there was one Celtic fan who was not extremely excited by his signing.The management need to be complimented on their bold move to bring him to CP.The whole thing fell down because,in effect,he conned us.He secured a fabulous package and in my opinion proceeded to go through the motions.He ran around trying to give the impression that there was lots of effort but the "headless chicken" thing came around because he wasn't really wanting to climb into tackles and get involved,controlling games like he could previous.He was always a ferocious competitor who could play a bit but at Celtic he was happy to pick up big(huge for us)money by doing very little and not risking injury.For this I feel sorry for WGS and SSM because if Graveson had wanted to be the old TG he would have been a revelation.A costly mistake but one that every one of us would have taken at the time.A lesson learnt but I hope the experience does not stop us stretching the budget for that one player who will make the difference.

Disco Stu,

.A lesson learnt but I hope the experience does not stop us stretching the budget for that one player who will make the difference.

Well said sir

I think that there are players at Celtic, particularly Donati who have been given a much greater chance by WGS than Tommy G ever got

But he didnt work out and its the best solution all round

last ever time

Oh Tommy Tommy

Paul67

All very well but you don't appear to offer an opinion on why it never worked out or why we even signed him in the first place - incidentally the subject of one of my posts a few threads back.

For a manager who signed the player to come out and say that he does not fit into his system is quite a shocking admission.

In that case why sign the player - or was he not Gordon's signing??

I feel sorry for Celtic on this one. As Paul says, we will never likely go for a player with a better CV and it was a real sign of the Board backing the manager to get a top drawr player when they were available and willing to come to us.

And then it all went horribly wrong....I guess it's just one of thos risks in football that you can just never tell how a player will work out until he joins.

PS Is Juan Pablo Sorin still a free agent? He was great in Champ Manager a few years ago :)

whitedoghunch on August 19, 2008 12:25 PM
was he curly in diguise ?

By philvisreturns on August 19, 2008 12:28 PM
Did we accidentally sign Uncle Fester? Did anybody ever see Tommy G in the same room as a lightbulb?

Enquiring minds want to know.

Gentlemen(?) -

I am astounded of forehead, moments after completing a half-day online course on the subject of harrassment, that I check on here to find me being castigated (that's castigated by the way!!) and compared with Mr. Graveson.

I do of course prefer to be compared to the incomparable (does that work?) Sr. Pier-Luigi Collina, a man reknowned for his honesty, good looks, charm and modesty, as indeed am I.

philvisreturns -

Were you at that fancy dress party 3 years past Hallowe'en when i went dressed as the afore-mentioned Uncle Fester? Looked god, didn't I?

Anyway, onto more important matters, those of a clique meeting - anyone going to BB's on Saturday pre-match?

Ryluc

No doubting his footballing ability but when someone is a few sandwiches short of a picnic then you're never going to get anything from them long term.

It was obvious from day one that he was slightly 'wayward'

Dreams and Songs to Sing

there is no saving as we have had to pay him out.I assume that's as much as if he had stayed for the season i.e no saving this season

I think that there are players at Celtic, particularly Donati who have been given a much greater chance by WGS than Tommy G ever got

But he didnt work out and its the best solution all round

last ever time

Oh Tommy Tommy

PF Ayr: Excellent point. Martin O'Neill did the exact same with Juninho. Ironically Juninho would have fit perfectly into O'Neill's system in the years previous to him being signed though.

I will be seriously underwhelmed if we don't sign a left back/wing back and a striker before this window closes. We've signed plenty squad players, now we need some for the 1st XI. Ok they are harder to get, I accept that, but so far we have spent in the region of £4M. Meanwhile the filth have spent somewhere in the region of £10M net and yet it us that are financially healthy, are making a profit and have Champions League income to look forward to. I also accept that they are taking (yet another) massive gamble, but sometimes even they pay off.

I sense that a lot of Celtic fans are at the moment too caught up in laughing at Rangers plight to notice that some of our own team are ordinary at best. I hope the board and management team aren't making the same mistake.

Maybe all the dreamers who expect Celtic to buy Premiership players can now accept that we are actually a bigger club than our assets show.

Peter Lawwell and his team are fighting a battle that can only be won when SKY pull the plug on bankrolling the English Premier League, but when you have a media and gullable readers believeing the Daily Record and second rate opinionated reporters (I refuse to call them Journalists as the likes of Ian Archer, Maitland, Cameron etc dispite their bias were journalists!) so too do you have Celtic minded people being misguided.

James McFadden, if true, has voiced that he doesn't want to play for us. That should be the end of it, he should never experience the privilage of wearing our hoops. Shaun Maloney now wants to come back claiming he made a mistake. Personally I would rather McCourt or Mizuno were given the chance before the January window in the SPL and save McGeady and Naka when we can for Champions League than resign anyone.

Other than Bertie Auld which successful resignings have we made?

My opinions wont stop me going ballistic if Maloney scores against anyone, my opinions wont stop me cheering Scott Brown who to me has been a major let down for the money, my opinions wont stop me supporting the best team in the world, and my opinion of Thomas Graveson remains that he wsn't good enough for Celtic,but that he tried!

From previous thread:

Captured - thank you.

Gordon_J - I can only speak for myself, but for me 3iar means that Gordon must be given at least another season. And of course he should be lauded for all that he has achieved. Does this mean that he is immune from criticism.... I think not.

But you also must take his success in the context of: our current standing within the Scottish game, the plight of our neighbours and the general state of health of the SPL (poor Aberdeen, poor Hearts, average Dundee Utd, etc.) I do not and never will buy into the theory that opposition teams are now much better prepared, better coached and therefore harder to beat. These things are relative - the same conditions apply to us equally.

I see no signs of improvement in the standard of play over the last two and a bit seasons. The 'after 2 games' thing is a bit of a red herring. In my opinion our form took a dip after wee maloney left (maybe coincidence maybe not) and has never recovered. We can put on battling performances at home in front of big, louad, motivated crowds but even then the standard of football rarely rises above the mediocre.

I have stated previously that I feel that Gordon's teams achieve while under-performing - a paradox maybe but in my opinion true. If all you want are trophies and victories then fine, you must be a happy man. I do not apologise for expecting to be entertained from time to time along the way.

One Star - where do you get the 'put upon' from? I think you've perhaps helped to make my point for me.

Tactics are irrelevant to this debate. We may well enjoy discussing them on here and down the pub with our mates, but I am not paid several thousands of pounds per week and surrounded by a network of support staff to come up with the right formula on the pitch. In fact I care little for amateur tactics; I am no coach or tactician. I am more interested in what I see on the pitch with my own eyes.

Lubo1977 - as I said above I think this is more to do with the quality of football on show rather than anything to do with the man himself or his achievements. Some malcontents may have a different view but certainly not the ones I know (and there are a few.)

From the current thread:

Paul67, I'm not convinced that Roy Keane would be too pleased with the statement that he and Gravesen shared "a similar pedigree". Is that not stretching it somewhat?

curly - Can I have a mystery game?

I can remember the day he signed and thought it was great news for Celtic. A real pity it didn't work for him here as he's been a model professional who has kept his mouth closed when many others who've played more often than he and made many more mistakes have shouted from the rooftops about not getting enough chances.

I'm sure WGS indicated he just didn't show enough discipline in the role he intended for him and that was plain to see, but TG accepted it and moved on. Fair play to him!

Hope he leaves with fond memories.

Good on you the Boss:

Glad to hear you made a few bob out of the Huns getting pumped. Nothing better than a wee Timmy making a bit of dosh out of the Huns misfortune.

Re: our respective perspectives on the merits, or not, of Glory Hunting Celtic Fans, well we’ll just have to agree to disagree and enjoy the rest of our season.

Re: you are a legend on here. Mate I have no idea what you are alluding to.

I state an opinion the same as everybody else. I don’t go out of my way to be confrontational and I don’t go out of my way to offend. I am reactive rather than proactive. Most of the time anyway. There are no Celtic supporters posting on this forum whom I have a problem with.

I generally post what I believe, in support of Celtic, and I stand by what I say; unless another shows me to be wrong in my opinion or belief. Then I am quite able to apologise and move on.

I am not the ‘happy clapper’ that so many take me for. But I am optimistic, no matter the mire.

Other than that, I am the same as every other poster on here. No better, no worse.
I may have a larger vocabulary; I may have a smaller vocabulary. I may be more eloquent; I may be less eloquent; I may have a pertinent point; I may have a boring post, but I never, ever profess that my love for my club is any greater than that of any other Supporter of Celtic, regardless of whether they post on here or not.

How could I ever quantify that?

You didn’t answer my question though, are you related to ‘the judge’?

first time user!!

This is the team that should be playing:

BORUC

CALDWELL LOOVENS McMANUS

CADDIS NAKAMURA BROWN ROBSON McGEADIE

MALONEY

HESSELINK

The 2 wide mid-fielders have the pace to come back and defend if need be. HAIL HAIL!!!

.uoy nraw tndid I yas tnoD .rucco lliw "tnevE" eht nehw si siht sa 5302 yluJ ht51 no srewoT notlA morf yawa yats ,nammaerD ,oslA .tsal ruoy eb ot siht tnaw tn'dluow I ,ylf egasuas eht deeh ot rebmemer tub ,yohb1o elcyc llabamsalp yliad siht yadiloH" ruoy yojnE .retfa noos seitud gnikcip otatop yb decalper erew nammaerD syadiloH" .nwolc krap a dna slessev dlihc noillim 05 ,slessev tluda noillim5 fo slessev tneconni eht demialc yldas hcihw tneve nA ."tnevE edepmatS srewoT notlA taerG" eht retfa 5302 ni dehsiloba erew "syadiloH" ."syadiloH" on era ereht morf ma I nehw yohb1o yletanutrofnU .esrevyps eht ni noissim terces a no neeb evah I ,yohb1o esnopser etal ym rof esigolopa I

"????....uoY rof yadiloH a tsuguA fo ht91 yadueT si rotit j"

,fo (daerht suoiverp) 15.11 @ noitseuq tcerid ruoy ot em detrela sah enihcam yM

nammaerD

curly

drinks are on you after that pay off ?

Would we be right in assuming any similar buys will be brought in only on a well structured deal meaning they don't earn the mega-bucks unless they play?

Paul67

The main rivals for Gravesen's signature where Big Sam's Bolton

Disco Stu

maybe i was in the minority of 1, but i did not want Gravesen to sign. anyone who watched spanish football at the time would have known that Gravesen was a joke figure in his time there, a sort of cult hero with the Madrid fans similar to that of our friend sebo at ibrox

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Uekue6-XIk

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1i3qqL6sFH0&NR=1

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ho7d2vqlChU

not that i proclaim to be all knowing, i thought we should have signed scott brown instead, and that hasnt quite worked out either(though i still have hopes)

From previous thread.

All the guys who answered thanks for your help.

Kittoch

philvisreturns on August 19, 2008 12:54 PM
curly - Can I have a mystery game?

Sorry, you have lost me there - not a difficult task, I know!!

Yuclr

PFAyr/Dinky Bhoy

The points you raised about the strict system and Scott Brown I beleive are very valid.

Strachan last year made Brown his number 1 priority , I think he was quoted on this when he signed.

Yet Brown had always played as the attacking point of a midfield 5 , he was also quoted on this.

Do you think Strachan will adjust the strict 4-4-2 he plays to allow Brown more freedom , or is it a case of Brown having to change his style to suit.

If its the latter then this is indeed a gamble.

If the system is foremost on our managers mind is it not prudent to buy players to fit that system.

lubo1977

Sorin is still on a free after being released by Hamburg. He's 32 now

would have taken him a few years ago when he played against us for villareal, not so sure about now

and, there's lotsa great players on champ man :-)

I'd rather we sent Shaun Maloney off to find the Cracks of Doom than bring him back to Celtic.

As for McFadden, if what he is alleged to have said is true, hell mend him.

ANNAOAN

There are so many good players in Europe who till now are undiscovered I'm not sure we are getting returns from our vast scouting set up.These players would not cost much and would be desperate to join Celtic.I think our management use the EPL transfer situation almost as an excuse sometimes.Go to Europe and if these talent spotters are worth their wages then we should have plenty to choose from.I believe we really need to stretch the purse strings for a PACY top quality striker.I am convinced, and I think Larsson proved it,that your key personnel should be in that position.There are many full backs or CB's who will do the job but when it comes to cutting edge then it has to be the striker who is the one to really get that special player.

I think Tommy G lost his hunger the minute he went to the Bernabeu.

curly - my mistake, I thought you were the guy from The Crystal Maze!

wishytim

why did we sign tommy g?

we wanted a dynamic central midfield player. a player in that position who in previous years had been voted in the EPL team of the season playing that position and had moved to real madrid to play that position became available. we couldn't believe our lucky stars when someone of that calibre stated he wanted to play for celtic and we came up with a package that would entice him. every single tim i know was ecstatic at the signing.

hope that helps...

WishyTim, it think it is self evident why we signed him, central midfield badly needed/needs a commanding figure.

As to why it didn’t work, I am at a loss and would be guessing along with everyone else.

I think Gordon was being kind when he suggested TG didn’t fit into his system, at the time he was still trying to off-load him, remember. If he gave a frank assessment of the player it would have ended any possible interest.

Bhoy David, I don’t think it’s stretching it too much, I looked up TG’s history last night and it put him in the top drawer of European midfielders when he joined.

Welcome dairybhoy. Three at the back, hmmm.

Workshytim, our main rivals for TG was Everton.

jtitor,

trying to work my way through your post but it's complicated. Your time machine must have sent it out backwards.

Maybe you can let me know who our new wing back McGeadie (see Dairybhoy at 12:56pm) is and when he signed.

Paul67,

Did all the tickets go for the Falkirk game, the hospitality £50 tickets if I can remember right?

I think GS comments re the system are the result of political answers rather than getting involved in a slagging match. The fact was that TG cam with great credentials. I had though he would be at best attacking the "quarterback" in the opposition 4-5-1 we oftern face and regain possession up the park. However, his lack of discipline was shocking. Players have to play in positions to fit the team, not always their best or their favourite but surely to the best of their ability. TG decided that was not for him. Latterly, he looked simply to be going through the motions. None of this could be identified at the time of his signing though.

Disco Stu - perhaps they're still resting on their laurels for having discovered Artur Boruc.

rotit j

tahw.

Paul67. On the button again. I was delighted when we signed him and thought he would be a hoops hero instead of a big fat dud who looked just out of an under 10's game. It was a risk worth taking in my book as I do not remember one Celtic fan who questioned the signing. The only issue i have with it is Gordon Strachans comment on TG and his system - don't get why you'd buy someone who didn't fit your system (that's if he did say that as it was the winalots who published it rather than me hearing it fromWGS in any interview).

Are we getting a left back? Is there more white smoke to come.

Please say yes Moonbeams Wet Dream ya numpty, there damned well is and watch this space.

kitalba

I am sure we can gree to disagree ;-))

I meant you have a touching respect from all posters on here to me that is the sign of a legend...

I am not the judge nor am I related however I think its right to agree/disagree with any poster whoom you agree/disagree with after all its the Celtic way :-)))

hail hail
The Boss

Paul67 @ 12:37, get a grip "never employ a wealthy salesman" some of us may be looking for a new job soon...........

Paul67,

Did all the tickets go for the Falkirk game, the hospitality £50 tickets if I can remember right?

Paul,
Agree with you on this. On reflection perhaps the only sign there could be a flaw in this player lay in the small transfer fee that Real Madrid accepted. They must have known something about him, for them to let him go so cheaply. A guy with his pedigree should have commanded a larger fee.

Lennindinho 18 at 12.46

Donatti has had more opportunities than TG because he has applied himself.Donatti has shown that,within his own style of play,he is trying his best to cement a starting place in the team.As I stated in an earlier post Graveson has conned us big time and I would confidentilly say that Strachan has picked that up early doors.

Re Gravesen

Cant find the link but article in one of the scottish broadsheets today or yesterday sheds light on what went wrong at Celtic, then at Everton. It extensively quotes a guy who was following Gravesen with a view to biography, whos impression was that he became beset by mental issues and changed personality completely...

Would explain not only why he failed, but also why WGS has chosen his words carefully and spoken about him postively.

Ill try and find it

lubo1977 / Paul67

And thats exactly the player we got!!

Problem was Gordon wanted him to do the things he hadn't done before, those being twofold:

1. Be more defensively minded
2. Only play in certain areas of the pitch

Thats what hampered TGs career at Celtic more than anything - the shackles our manager placed on him!!

I think Paul67 has hit the nail on the head with regards Gordon's comments about Gravesen.
If he had came out and spoke his mind then any possible takers would more than likely have walked away......just turned out there weren't any!
It says a lot when he is thinking about retiring

Paul67,

The next time you meet Roy, be sure to make him aware of the comparison. I'm sure he'll be delighted!!!

HillheadHoop

re Scott Brown, you said:

"If the system is foremost on our managers mind is it not prudent to buy players to fit that system."

Or to buy players young enough to adapt to a certain position and to follow instructions. Aiden McGeady was never a left winger when he was growing up but he has adapted and grown into that position. Similarly Nakamura was never a right winger but he has done ok.

The thing about Celtic is that there are so many excellent players and fitting them all into the team may be difficult but if they click somebody is going to be on the wrong side of a hiding. Lets hope its in 2 weeks.

Paul, recently you posted that although we are entering into the end of the transfer window ours has just began. By the day more and more of my confidence seems to be getting sapped. Yes we won the league last year, but despite selling their best player, the beasties have strengthened where they needed to and have stolen a march on us.

Are you still as confident of any transfer activity?

If we can win 4 in a row, I firmly believe that the beasties will be at an end for a lengthy period of time. This is indeed Murrays last throw of the dice.

Disco Stu

I think you are prob right in that Donati maybe tries harder and WGS likes that

but Donati has had so many chances and not taken them

Graveson was not afforded the same number of starts

Donati has great ability but he does not have the time he feels he constantly needs on the ball and thats not just in Scotland, it's in Europe aswell.

No good team allows midfielders to strut around looking for a 40 yard pin point pass.

Funny thing is he is the type of player that would rip us to bits with his passing if we faced him right now!

Kenny Bhoy

we hear every year about Murrays "last throw of the dice" but they still seem able to spend money on their team that we can only dream of almost every year.

They seem to be perpetually close to financial disaster but from where I'm sitting I dont see any evidence of it.

the boss:

I'm glad you have been touched.

I'm glad you are not related to 'the Judge' I don't think he'd be able to look himself in the 'Mirror' again if he shared your disregard for the written word.

And there was me thinking you were not a betting man.

philvisretuns @ 1.07

So are you saying that one success in 3 years is a good return from our European scouts ? Let me know

WishyTim, do you not think that every player should be able to take instruction. If WGS let every player play the way TG wanted to play he would have been as well going to a local football park and pick up eleven 8 - 10 yr olds and play them. All TG did with the exception of 2 games was run about chasing the ball all over the park whilst trying to fly waving his arms up and down. He looked like a demented crow and unforunatley along with looking at his girlfriend will be my memory of him along.

And since you enjoyed those links so much let me post them again for your very own enjoyment.

I'll never get sick of watching these.

Goal! Goal! Goal! Goaaaaaaaal!!!

Oh My Ghod the Huns must Score

Which particular part did you enjoy the most?

Paul67

TG became the proverbial riddle wrapped in a mystery wrapped in a conundrum - why did Madrid want to sell him, why did he not perform for us and how do we get him off the wage bill?

I suspect GS tried as much as he could from the "Football Book of Performance Management" to rehabilitate TG, but ultimately I think TG is too much of a maverick to comply - I think this is hinted at in his personal life. There is also the undeniable work ethic that GS imposes at training, which if we are to believe rumours, led to the quick demise of established MON players. I believe these may be contributory factors in his demise - motivation comes from within and it is clear to me he lacked this in his later career to put himself in a position where he could flurish at a football club where he could easily have been a hero.

When GS and Jon Sivebaek were in discussions, I do wonder if the wool was pulled over the eyes of GS somewhat, as you would expect an agent to do on behalf of his client. I am sure GS may be reluctant to gamble as a result, and that his due diligence on a player will be more focussed towards the person as well as the playing skills. In fact, I believe that at least one name mentioned in the media as being linked with us was "canned" as result of finding the fly in the off field ointment.

Recruitment is a hard game no matter the industry.

All the best and Mon the Hoops

"H"

philvisreturns -

Ahhhh! Never having watched the programme, I obviously didn't make the connection.

Lennondinho18 -

Maybe TG never got the starts because he never showed what was required in training?

Ulryc

I had doubts on signing Tommy G, based on the burst of form shown for Everton (Sep-Dec 04?) creating hype which carried him to RM. Hi performances for RM confirmed the lack of positional understanding that he had, in the EPL Carsley covered is arse more often than not.

Not being smart after the fact, I was just concerned that the circumstances (signing a RM player) had overtaken the reality.

I was keen on going for Darren Fletcher at the time of TG arriving, young and good football education at MU.

Fire at will ;-)

TGP

Paul67

Fair assessment, i think we need to try and sign players and allow them to get an impressive CV through us like forexample aiden is doing now

But as PL said we will always have a few 'bluechip' players but who are the just now? None of them were big money signings!

This is football

More of this

what happened to the guy roughly about 2.30 mins into this

enjoy

.

Lois Lane....!!!!

o1ClarkKentCSC...

Lennindinho 18

I am saying that WGS could see very early that he was just here for the ride and that of course is unacceptable.There is no way that you can play a guy in that circumstance.For the untrained eye it looked like he was trying hard without success,for the trained eye he was trying hard to show effort without committment.

Ghreen Pharty

No you didnt, you're just saying that now :-)

Mick Collins.

We do hear a lot of it and how we can finish them off every year. I think this year is different though. They are spending outwith their means. To spend near £20m in one pre season without qulaifying for European football is astonishing for a Scottish club.This is why I feel it's a last ditch move of desperation for Sir Moonbeams.

kitalba

As they say the older the fiddle the better the tune..

judge... dont understand your comment

What made you think that?

Paul 67

On the previous article I asked you will there be any white smoke this week??

I also asked you do you expect Crosas to play any part on Saturday against Falkirk??

You obviously missed my comment or perhaps you replied but I did not see it.

Sorry I,m just desperate for more White Smoke soon.

Regards Roccobhoy

Hail hail

One thing I've picked up on from the Strachan critics is their perpetual anger when he says something in public that they don't see as fitting with the facts. I'm afarid that the manager of a high profile team like Celtic has to watch what he says as it can have an impact on many things when reported via the media.

"Gordon, why is Naka back in the team today?"
"Because he's better than Barry Robson"

Result - Barry's confidence is knocked as his manager has a dig in public, better to exaggerate a wee cold he's had and make out it's down to that.

"Gordon, why did Tommy G not work out?"
"Because he's a total eejit who can't understand instructions and maybe be a borderline mental case"

Result - Any potential suitors lose interest fast

"Gordon, why does Riordan not play?"
"Because he's a lazy wee sod on the field and a total booze bag off it"

Result - see Tommy G

Mort/Moonbeams wet dream,

My machine has alerted me to your outputs at 1.05 and 1.08 respectfully.

I apologise for my late response, I have been washing the machine after a rather dirty venture