Kaunas buy Loovens - for Celtic
Two weeks ago I suggested the Celtic tanks were at the foot of the Ibrox marble staircase; this morning, they must have breached the Blue Room itself and be roaming menacingly around the oak-panelled halls.
The imminent signing of left-sided defender, Glenn Loovens, will disrupt the plans of Rangers every bit as much as it will bring much needed strengthening to Celtic. It recalls the days Jock Stein mischievously referred to when he was able to reduce the already limited talent pool available to Rangers.
A week ago Peter Lawwell referred to the extra money Celtic would earn as a result of Rangers elimination from the Champions League as giving him a bit more flexibility in the transfer market. I understand Loovens arrived inside the extra budget kindly directed our way by Kaunas.
Walter Smith and Martin Bain of Rangers must be frustrated. Their chairman, Sir David Murray, confirmed their interest in the player to the media, an unusual step in these days when commercial confidentiality is prized so highly.
More on Murray later today, but in the mean time you have to wonder if Smith feels like the subject under surveillance in The Police song, Every breath you take.
The imminent signing of left-sided defender, Glenn Loovens, will disrupt the plans of Rangers every bit as much as it will bring much needed strengthening to Celtic. It recalls the days Jock Stein mischievously referred to when he was able to reduce the already limited talent pool available to Rangers.
A week ago Peter Lawwell referred to the extra money Celtic would earn as a result of Rangers elimination from the Champions League as giving him a bit more flexibility in the transfer market. I understand Loovens arrived inside the extra budget kindly directed our way by Kaunas.
Walter Smith and Martin Bain of Rangers must be frustrated. Their chairman, Sir David Murray, confirmed their interest in the player to the media, an unusual step in these days when commercial confidentiality is prized so highly.
More on Murray later today, but in the mean time you have to wonder if Smith feels like the subject under surveillance in The Police song, Every breath you take.
Get a life CSC
Podium ?
Top 20?
Cruly
Bloke_109, shocking news. Take care.
Barcabhoy, an excellent point; that guy at Starbucks is in the wrong job.
Seville.67, indeed.
Sorry, I had just posted this at the end of the last thread.
Bloke 109 - Thoughts and prayers with you and your friends family. 42 is no age at all and with three young kids it is tragic.
GL2 - I'm not running for charity this time, I was afraid I might let people down if I went and didn't finish it. If this one goes OK I was thinking of doing the Edinburgh Marathon next year and I'll do it for charity then, maybe for child Leukemia as my Step-Uncle's wee granddaughter is suffering from it at only 5. She is in the Tele tonight I think as someone is running somewhere for her, maybe the same race. She was fobbed off for weeks by the Doctor as trying to bunk off School that she had just started, they weren't happy and went for a second opinion after 3 visits to same dr. An hour later they were in Yorkhill! She seems to be doing OK now though, thankfully.
Oh, what a beautiful mhorning! It's been a great summer to be a Tim!
Yours in Celtic!
Jim.
KeepTheFaithFourAndMoreInARowCSC
Jamsielegend
Happy Birthday......looks like we shared the birthday signings!
Paul67
If possible, could you ask Once Upon a Tim to email me from yesterday. Would be most appreciated. I would hate to have offended him.
SSM's new toy:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/onthefrontline/2559279/Flying-saucer-that-can-plant-explosives-or-bugs-set-for-frontline.html
Bloke_109
I hope the support and good wishes expressed on here help you and yours at this sad time YNWA
Paul67..........are you saying that the loovens signing is the cherry on top of the cake, complete with marzipan and icing that is the signings still to come from the budget already set aside for signings not withstanding..........???? if you know what I mean
Celtic tanks in the blue room ! Love it. Now to find Herr Murray in his bunker.
From what I read, the Cardiff fans are pretty sorry to see Loovens go. The best CH they've had in 10 years was one quote. Anyway, I fully expect Sir Minty's private jet (or is it a Junkers?) flying overhead shortly dropping propaganda leaflets explaining why Loovens was a ruse to get Mendes. Pedro will be on a large financial package which, for a guy sidelined at Portsmouth, must be a huge bonus. Interestingly, the Daily Ranker is claiming that Pedro had come back into Redknapp's favour. Or was a substitute appearance at the FA Cup final a farewell ? I know which my monies on.
CyanidePills CSC
Morning All
Logged on this morning for my daily CQN fix to discover Paul has just posted a new article. I don't post often enough to be in the first post hunt, but almost made it today, doubt I'll ever join that clique :-) Still, I've always got my CQN badges .......
Interesting comment from Paul that Loovens is a 'left sided defender'. I did see some of the comments from last night and there was speculation that he could play left back , and that we are still in the hunt for other defenders. Don't know if we ever got Loovens' height sorted last night, but from what I read 5'10" was the consensus.
Call me old fashioned, but I do like my centre backs to be in the 6 foot plus category, although I do appreciate the comments about Cannavaro - lack of height doesn't seem to have affected him.
Fingers crossed for another defender - be it tall and central or an out-and-out left back - and maybe a wee surprise elsewhere. I have faith that work is going on behind the scenes, and with Paul and Ayrtic making positive noises, hope to see some more white smoke soon.
alwayslookonthebrightsideoflifeCSC
harryhood
Bloke109
Thoughts are with you and your friends family, I have a 3 year old daughter and miss her when I go to work, I cant even contemplate how the guys wife and kids a feeling. Hang in there
Paul67,
Can you stop being so negative and start enjoying yourself please.
Also, for those who missed it, here are some views from Cardiff fans
http://tinyurl.com/6dzjvv
Whooshman
Shug85 (from the last thread) - Don't know but he might be better than somebody that gets £28k for sitting on the bench and £35k if he makes an appearance or £42k if it's twice in one week.
So the answer is if he's on less than £14k/week he's cheaper than playing Balde twice. If he's as good or not substantially worse he's the better option.
13th, I'm getting better.
Potentially a good piece of business in a footballing sense.
More parochial than that, a MASSIVE, GIRFUY to Sir Moonbeam and his hun hordes :o)
Here we go for 4-in-a-row
Paul67
I do not see what this signing is to gloat about
We are signing a player who is not going to be a first choice, so why should it of been any worry if Rangers signed him
We do not need squad players for the CB position and to me this appears to be a pointless signing.
That is not to write the player off but i can not see him playing esp given he is competing with the club captain
Paul, you cutting my grass :o))) Canny wait for your Murray assassination. You love this don't you :o)))
A wee question for those in the know. When I access CQN on my phone, the wee globe stays on the screen. Does this mean I'm still on the 'net ? ie, am I still being charged for this, or once I've downloaded the page, is that it ?
Thanks for the feed-back guys.
BjM, another day to chalk up to you. Keep on keeping on my friend.
Dick Byrne, see you next week and guess what ? I'll no be driving for the first time !!!! Gotta leave at 19:30 right enough, but hey, my first time in BB 's when I can have a drink :o)
Bloke, thinking of you and vman also. What a place this is.
pablophanque
According to Sky Sports, Fulham now want £7m for Steve Davis. Everyone's picking on poor wee Ragers.
Meant to add this from Celticminded.com Our new Dutchmhan speaks out.
"But last night, as the dust settled on a day of drama, Loovens spoke exclusively to Record Sport to reveal why his heart was set on Celtic. He said: “I have to be honest, the Champions League really appeals to me and I can get that opportunity with Celtic.
“I see this as a massive step in my career. In fact, signing for Celtic is the crowning moment of it so far. But I have a lot of ambitions and know I can achieve them as a Celtic player.
“I’ve worked hard to develop as a defender in the Championship with Cardiff but Celtic offer me the stage of Champions League football and that was a very important factor in my decision.
“I knew there were a lot of things going on and was aware Rangers wanted me too. It was an exciting time and there was a lot of tension but I feel I have made the right move and it’s good to know it’s settled.
“It’s a massive club and every week I’ll be playing in front of 60,000 fans. That’s the kind of stage I like. I was playing in front of 50,000 when I was only 18 years old at Feyenoord so I know what I’m getting involved in.
“People stopped me in the street in Cardiff and asked me to stay but I don’t think they will blame me for joining one of the traditional mega clubs in British football.”
Celtic’s raid on Ninian Park came late yesterday at the end of a day of complex negotiations. Although Ibrox boss Walter Smith was first to meet Cardiff’s asking price, Loovens held out for a dream ticket to Europe’s elite competition.
Lawwell’s £2m offer was rejected by Cardiff chairman Peter Ridsdale. Rangers offered an extra £500,000 to meet his price but within an hour Lawwell had matched that and now Loovens – who believes he can earn a place in the Dutch World Cup squad by proving himself in Europe – was on his way to Glasgow’s East End.
He said: “I am so excited about this I can hardly speak. I don’t feel pressure – I am just eager to show what I can do. Playing at Cardiff for a couple of years has been ideal. A lot of players move straight from Holland to Celtic or Rangers and are shocked by the pace and physical style of Scottish football. It’s nothing like the Dutch game.I’vehad three years to learn the British style and am ready for this.
“I played in an FA Cup Final in front of 90,000 people and that’s the sort of experience you need to bring with you to a club such as Celtic.”
pablophanque
Shug85 (from last post)
You better watch what you are saying about us Blantyre Bhoys.
We have friends in high places :))))
blantyrefridgemagnetsc...
It's all getting a bit triumphalist in here. We'd do well to remember how close we came to losing the SPL last season.
And, to paraphrase the Stones, here's my Memo To Strachan:
BARRY ROBSON IS NOT A RIGHT WINGER!!!
Right, feel better now. Just a wee cup of tea, and I'll be back for a gloat later on.
John "Quick off the mark" Bhoy
Paul,
Is there anymore business to be done today, I ask this for my F5 buttons sake, not a lot left of it!!
RD
Bloke_109,
My thoughts go out to you Buddy its been a bad year for the Roses.
Walk On !
HAil Hail
Paul67,
You clearly allude to the fact that Loovens is a "left-sided" defender.
Given the manager's clear preference not to play two left-footed central defenders, would it be safe to assume that it is the captain's position in the starting XI that would be most under threat as opposed to Gary Caldell's (assuming of course that he's a. been bought to play rather than as a squad player and b. will not be used as a left-back?)
Wooshmhan, here yeh go.........
Thanks to the computer genius that is Subterranean, I can now post how to do the links without it disappearing !!
Thanks Chris.
How to do the "Linky"
<a href="Put your link's URL inside these quotes">Put your link's name in here</a>
Here is an example:
<a href="http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=vXhTmL5kMBE">Roll on Arte</a>
Here's the above link code in action:
Roll on Arte
BTW, how he worked this out is waaaaaaaaaaaaayyyyyy beyond me !
pablophanque
Does anyone else thing the winner of the 100m final will be Gay?
Once Upon a Tim, St Anne’s would like to get in touch, let me know.
31003, 10:20, let me put it like this; I expected two more signings before this one and I still expect two more signings.
Whooshman, wait until I publish my David Murray article, talk about enjoying myself!
Antsman, I doubt very much if Glen “is not going ot be first choice”.
RAGDaddy, they fall when they fall. Yesterday’s news arrived sooner than I expected.
Bhoy David, I have no info on this, but I cannot see Gary Caldwell being dropped, he is out best defender at the moment.
BlantyreKev
are you on the bevvie ?
Bloke 109,
Just want to add my condolences to you and yours.
Sad news.
Loovens isnt as one-footed as the other centre-halves we have, so I could easily see him playing to the right of McManus.
Paul67,
you be careful with this next article I would explicitly mention anyones name and the word alleged should feature often. It wont take much guess work on our behalf. Not trying to tell you your business but ..just looking out for you.
CorneredbearsCSC
Just in case they think they can get Davis on the cheap, Roy Hodgson has this to say. It doesn't make good reading for them.
Shame.
"
The Cottagers boss is fed up of hearing the Glasgow giants plead poverty and says if they don't find almost £7million before August 31 then Davis will stay.
The Ibrox club have been chasing Davis' signature since his successful loan spell ended at the end of last season.
But Gers boss Walter Smith has not been able to complete the signing, despite his desperate need for an inventive midfielder after Barry Ferguson's injury.
And Hodgson has now hinted that the SPL side could be set to miss out on the 23-year-old altogether, telling the Daily Record: "They say Rangers have not had much money until now.
"But I find that hard to understand because they get 50,000 people every other week and it is a very big club.
"We are being obliged to contemplate transfers of £6m, £8m and that type of figure, so it seems strange a club of that stature can only afford what they have offered us.
"I am perfectly happy to keep Steven. He is a good player and I would be very disappointed if the club allowed him to go for a sum of money that is below his worth."
WDH
Is it not your birthday today?
Should you not be on the bevvy?
Whitedog
Check out the qualifiers
Paul67.............so as I thought, cake and marzipan still to come.........d'ye think there might be a chance of some icing as well?
Here's a thought. Bobo , Myalby , Valharen . When MON wanted to field a strong attacking line up with Henrick , BBJ and Sutton all on at the same time he played three at the back and had a stacked midfield 3-4-3. Loovens , Mick and Hinkel conceivably could fill this same role with GC and Robson or Hartley or Doneti through the middle and Aiden and Naka supplying the amo for up to three forwards up front from JVOH , Skippy and Sammie. Attack is the best form of defence. Gordon Strachan has to win first , thats the bottom line. He then has to please us lot by winning with style. The squad has lots of options for the various competitions we will be challenging for. 4inarowandallthecupstoo.
............all of a sudden I'm feeling quite hungry
So Peter Ridsdale is Cardiff's chairman. Let us hope for their fans' sake that he has no ambitions to "dream the dream". It also begs the question: "What do you have to do to become unemployable as a club chairman?" But I wouldn't like to pre-empt Paul67's next posting...
6-8m for Davis is madness. He's a very average midfielder and certainly no better than what we have already. He's solid and industrious but certainly not a signing which I will fear. Good on Fulham though as it just further confounds their misery.
Great Post Paul67 ram it right into them huns they are suicidel and with planty of signs saying rope for sale I am sure a number of them could commit hari kari this weekend if we sign wee saun..
As for who will be driopped for loovens anyone who knows anythuing about the game will tell you mcmanus I hope so..
ps g'day to everyone on CQN
blantyretim
it is soon how you know ?
BlantyreKev
got that.
Bhoy Sean,
he cost Fulham 4m 2 years ago he was 21.
He´s now 23 and inflation etc. Take Cuellar 3xoriginal value in one year and played in the same team as Davis
They cannot afford to buy one expansive MF never mind two unless there are some speedy departures
Bloke109,
Just caught up with your terrible news. My thoughts are with you and your friend's family.
Bloke 109,
Terrible news. My heart goes out to his wife, children, close friends and family.
Paul,
I take it Glenn will be officially signed and sealed by Saturday at the latest. With this in mind is there a chance he'll go straight into the squad for the Utd game? After all his fitness should be around the same level as our squad and with playing three seasons in the Championship he shouldn't be taken by surprise from the physical nature of the SPL.
Obviously he'll need to get to know his teammates through training but a spot on the bench could be a possibility.
bhoy sean
a wee slip there i hope...better than we have already..?
inky bhoy and your love in on tuesday morn gave it away.:(
There isn't a huge difference between Caldwell and McManus. Both are good defenders but I think at the moment Caldwell is definitely the form player so for that reason I think we'll be look at Mick taking a step aside for now.
So Paul - A CB and a LB still to come?
A left sided defender.
Surely then they might consider pushing him to the left of Big Mick
if he has a football brain then he is likely to be able to slot there easily and help Mick out in a way that Naylor rarely does.
I think Gary Caldwell has worked very hard to become the best defender in our back line but he is often helped by Andy Hinkel who has a far greater awareness of his space than Lee does on the other side so the two right sided defenders help each other cover the space better than our two current left sided defenders do.
Problem might be pace for Loovens but as I have never seen the guy I can't comment - does anyone know if he has the pace to play left back?
Tuarangabhoy - I posted at some length last night about why Strachan may be heading towards 3 at the back, either 3-5-2 or 3-4-1-2.
To my mind it's the only way of playing our best players in or near their most natural positions and stops teams from over-running us in midfield as seems to happen quite frequently.
It should also enhance our chances or returning to 5 or so years ago when we regularly won by 4 or more goals and many fans equate with us playing constant beautiful football (which we didn't really do).
Is Alexander Frei fit yet?
Could he be a last-minute deal?
Boy Sean...better than we have??
WDH..Inkybhoy and i had a wee remimise about the calder and my gran who lived on lightburn road..
it was his birthday and he meantioned that it was your birthday in a couple of days...
i used to work undercover...:(
sorry if this is a repeat but i got an error previously....
Could this be the Rankers next target?
bhoy sean why should the players who have just won their third title in a row , the only Celtic team to do this since Jock Stein , move aside for any signing. Did Loovens take us to the last sixteen two years in a row. Perspective people.
The new signings will need to prove that they can do the business same as the bhoys who have already done it for us these last three years. Lee Naylor included. If you look at the siginings so far they all give options and create huge competition for first team spots. One more centre forward would complete my set now.
shamrock diary,
He may have the football brain to help McManus out at the back, but I dont think he's the type of player who likes to get forward a lot, which is what we need in our new LB. We need someone to overlap and create room for Aiden.
Paul,
It's always great to get one up on them, and if Loovens is a decent player then that's a good bonus.
But for anybody who has followed the news for the past week the imagery of tanks rolling on enemy territory may not sit particularly comfortably.
Hopefully not nitpicking, but it's only a game after all.
Best wishes.
Ewan Murray in the Guardian today, says:
Time to wake up and smell the coffee, folks. Rangers, and Celtic for that matter, are feeder clubs where the major leagues of Europe, namely England and Spain, are concerned. Transfers such as those of Hutton and Cuéllar dwarf what domestic television revenues mean in monetary terms. Make no mistake, if a side from south of the border launches a £10m bid to prize Aiden McGeady from Parkhead, the odds are strongly in favour of him being offski as well.
Can you someone remind when we last sold a first team player who didn't want to leave? You expect this nonsense from the Scottish papers, but the Guardian should really know better.
Whole blog is here:
http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/sport/2008/08/15/cuellar_sale_to_villa_is_no_tr.html
blantyretim
I think Loovens is better than what we have
Pablophanque,
Thanks for that.
Regarding who will be dropped for Loovens. I'm not sure he will walk right in but if he does, captain or not, it can only be Mick. Like most, I was a critic of Gary Caldwell but by the end of last season, he had more than won me over with his performances. I've also got to say that he must have immense strength of character to come through the criticism that came his way. I like Mick and want him to succeed but to be honest, he looks the weaker of the two.
I must also say that by the end of last season, I was more than happy for the two of them to continue as our first choice pairing for the start of this season, mainly because a partnership seemed to be developing.
Whooshman
ChrisSutton...
The Evening Times ticker on their website has them bidding £2.5m for an American midfielder so you may have unearthed who it is. It also has them ready to spend £9m on restructuring their midfield.
Maurice Edu from Toronto. Wow.
Weeminger - good point, howevah - 2.5million plus 14k per week whic h would if you say rise if he plays twice per week.
Balde for one more year - £2,184,000 if he plays twice every single week
Loovens for the year - £3,228,000 if he plays twice every week, which includes the transfer fee.
my point is, the defence is not as bad as people think, so could we not get someone that is going to take us forward in the champions league? Basa? we may still get this guy...which makes the move for Loovens even more pointless this season. i hope i am wrong and he is great but... i think the money could have been spent better.
Cheers
I dont think any forward-thinking teams play 3 at the back anymore. Modern football is all about width. If you play a back 3, you need wingers who can tackle as well as they can dribble and cross, and although McGeady has improved in that regard he and Naka are still too lightweight for that shift. For most teams now, the full-backs are essential for flowing, attacking football.
A back three would be a backward step. I'm surprised Rangers dont play that way.
bambi,
Best thing about it, from what I can gather is, this guy is another DM.
I shouldn't be surprised by this and yet... I am.
Bhoy sean
i meant your post at 10.50... :)
6-8m for Davis is madness. He's a very average midfielder and certainly no better than what we have already..
i really should get on with some work....
weeminger didn't get to read all of yesterdays posts. I remember being in the Jock Stein when we were gubbing the sheep 7-1. My cousin had put money on BBJ to score three I think and also a crazy odds bet for us to score 7. We spent the last ten minutes screaming at the hoops not to score any more. What I remember most about the home games that season was how people strolled in after ten minutes left with ten to go and spent most of the game chatting about pure guff. Winning by a barrowful every week was ok but winning games like the one where Myalby scored against Hibs 3-2 after being 2-1 down with minutes to go was a hundred times more exciting. I don't think any manager with any style will please us really but I do like what is happening at Celtic Park. I am excited.
Paul67, great article again. Do you know of which positions these two potential signings play?
Bloke 109:
sincere condolences on your loss.
Ogilviebhoy:
previous thread - thanks for the update.
Now with three dutch players in our first team squad are Celtic going to release a new 'Orange' away strip.
Taurangabhoy
I don't disagree, I think our defense has served us well and I did say they both are good defenders. I do happen to think though that Loovens is good enough to force his way into the first team. I don't expect Mick or Gary to just step aside and accept it, I believe they will raise their game and leave us with a selection headache.
whoosh>Yo! peeps what gives??? day off from bedlam eventually..
Yo! paul67..you are in fine form..
bloke>deepest sympathies..tragic news..
welcome to celtic mr loovens..
pablo> great tunes! although " pure morning" hasnt made your playliste yet...hmmm
joshyboy... i find the remarks about people committing suicide in poor taste and utterly disgusting..
if you had any sense you may consider in future what impact self harm and suicidal ideation has on people, their families and the wider community ..(of which you are rather unfortunately and reluctantly considered a part of...)
slan
aldo
Anstman,
Agree that it's not exactly something to gloat about but you hit the nail on the head; it's unlikely (I think) that Loovens would be an instant first-teamer for us - however he probably would be for them.
Us signing him illustrates the gulf between the two - we've signed him as a squad player with potential to be a regular (I hope), whereas he'd probably be first pick at Mordor.
aaaahhh
No, no, no, no, nooo better than what we have already!
Davis that is, not Loovens! ;-)
Speaking of work I better get my boots on
Hail, hail
Bloke 109 - no words, but in our thoughts.
Blantyretim
WDH and I eventually relented, to be fair. By the way, was in your neck of the woods yesterday, taking inky junior 2 to the indoor skateboard thing in Calder House off Bardykes Road. I got soaked to the skin just so the wee man can investigate fresh ways to pick up injuries before the schools go back.
Loovens - Early 20s, product of the Dutch football system, but with experience of the 'British' (ie, not as skillful, more physical) style of football. Paid for with Kaunas Windfall Tax That's not a bad buy in my book
Mendes - So if he was on £32k a week at Pompey, and Rangers have made a 'reasonable' offer to him plus £3m fee to his club, that's going to eat up a lot of the money from the UB sale. And he's 29. And he's covering until Ferguson is fit again.
Hmmmmm. DO you the difference in strategy here.
Loved Murray inflating the UB money by quoting the figures in Euros. Why, when the deal was between two British clubs who operate in Sterling, you know, the one with Betty Windsor's coupon on the folding stuff.
STANDING UP
bhoy sean thats the way it should be...and the winner is Celtic.
Fighting the Fuzz Since 1888 we have options at the very least. If we are up against a SPL 10 man defence , rearangers for example, we could field seven forward thinking players. You are right , MON did have Agathe and Thomo who both put in a whole lot of tackles. Naka and Aiden are not the same but whover is in the middle might be able to compensate. I agree width is very important and having the options to take advanatge of the balls into the danger areas just as much if not more. My point is that we have a squad that can change shape depending on the competition. Must be a good thing.
Im pleased with Loovens, on the whole Dutch players can normally pass the ball very well so for me he potentially could be the best passer at CB we have had since big Stubbsie.
inkybhoy..
i stay on the street just as you turn into bardykes road..
was in the west end about 4.30 for an hour or so..
Raining in Blantyre....Never....:)
Sorry to go over old ground
I Passed by the desk with the the communal newspaper selection on it and had a quick glance at Daily Spurt or something similar(purely for research purposes you understand) And unless LOOVENS is wearing TOM Cruise type insoles he looks to be nearer JVOH in size than 5ft 10 quoted as he shakes hands after recent Friendly in Portugal with BIG Jan.
ps for those interested Sammy on page 3 had lovely eyes
jc2
what age is sam fox now????????? :))))
One option which could be considered:
We could play Loovens at Lb as he has played there in the past. He might not be a great threat going forward in this position but he could tighten up that area and give McGeady more freedom to roam as it would relieve him of his defensive duties. So essentially sacrificing the attacking threat from one area in order to intensify the threat from another.
I find it astounding how a seemingly smart person thinks that 'getting it up the huns' is in some way beneficial to our club.
Rather than the 'SSM' cleverly signing a central defender, whilst screwing the huns I would suggest that we had run out of signing targets due to complete incompetence and thought that walter has a decent eye for a central defender.
Its outrageous to suggest that we should care what the huns are doing. I wish our club would go out and sign some quality players and forget about what the huns are doing. Whilst its great we have finaly signed a central defender, its a very disappointing signing if that the best our scouts could come up with - a player the huns alerted them to.
All this bluster about tanks and marble staircases is just to keep the back patters comments coming. Forgive if I reserve judgement until the 'SSM' actually does something worthwhile like sign a decent player without all the fannying around.
For those of us who lived through some of the worst days in Celtic's history should have more sympathy for our Glasgow rivals. Then again, it's probably the reason why we are loving their demise so much. And for reasons stated by others why should we not celebrate, gloat and generally revel in the discomfort of a club who discriminated against our forefathers and whose followfollowing are at the top of the list of most odious, small minded, bigoted, myopic, ill behaved, lacking in culture, intolerant and otherwise hateful in the world of football.
Indeed we should feel no sympathy at their troubles.
I am also ever fearful that they may actually use the cash they have received to buy some decent players. I don't think they are as far out of it as we were in the 90's in terms of ability to match us on the field. I will caveat that with the feeling that we have a few gears to move through if we need to on and off the pitch, they are already at full throttle with red, white and blue smoke belching from a very limited engine.
Anyway, it all adds to the joy of following Celtic these last 8 years. In fact it is at moments like this that I am reminded of the euphoria of leaving Celtic Park after the 6-2 game and knowing, deep in my soul that the bad days were well and truly over. No more false dawns. It was and continues to be the real thing. Long may it continue.
I love lubo - Time to wake up and smell the coffee, Ewen Murray. The huns are el skinto. No amount of pretending Celtic are in the same sinking boat will change the reality of that situation. There's only one club in Glasgow that's hawking their best players around the mid-tier of the EPL to pay off their debts.
Rangers = selling club
Celtic = not a selling club
Fa-fa-fa-fa-fa-fa-fa-fa
Fa-fa-fa-fa-fa-fa-fa-fa
I am a dull and simple lad
Can not tell water from champagne
And I have never met John Reid
And I wish I could have all that he has got
I wish I could be like Joshyboy
Fa-fa-fa-fa-fa-fa-fa-fa
Fa-fa-fa-fa-fa-fa-fa-fa
And when I lie on my pillow at night
I dream I could start a fight like joshyboy
Lead the school team to victory
And take my exams and pass the lot(except english)
(wish I could be)
Wish I could be like Joshyboy
(wish I could be)
Wish I could be like Joshyboy
(wish I could be)
Conduct my life like Joshyboy
(wish I could be)
I wish I could be like Joshyboy
Fa-fa-fa-fa-fa-fa-fa-fa
Fa-fa-fa-fa-fa-fa-fa-fa
He is the ball boy at the school
He is the sponge boy of the team
He is so gay and fanny free
And I wish all his money belonged to me
I wish I could be like Joshyboy
Fa-fa-fa-fa-fa-fa-fa-fa
Fa-fa-fa-fa-fa-fa-fa-fa
And all the gays in the neighborhood
Try to go out with Joshyboy
They try their best but cant succeed
For he is of pure and total weed
Wish I could be like
Wish I could be like
Wish I could be like
Fa-fa-fa-fa-fa-fa-fa-fa
Fa-fa-fa-fa-fa-fa-fa-fa
Cheers Pablo day2!!!
When the page is downloaded you should not get any more charges. Each time you refresh you will be charged. From what I can see the way the site works it downloads the full page again.
BJ
We could potentially play 3-5-2 with this signing. Not sure we will though but gives us more options. I would like some other signings but how about this for Euro away game?
Boruc
Hinkel/caddis rwb
Caldwell
Loovens
McManus
Robson lwb
Hartley
Crosas
Brown
Naka/McGeady
JVOH/Skippy/Samaras
Could do a job I think. Some players would be interchangeable e.g. Robson if we get a new LB/WB
Taurangabhoy
Yeah, having options cannot be a bad thing. However, I just dont think playing 3 CBs will be of any benefit to us. Even MON ditched the 3-at-the-back system. We got torn asunder in Europe, and even a very poor Rangers team managed to exploit it several times when we played them. Against the 10-man defences of the SPL, I'd hope that our fullbacks would be flying forward for most of the game anyway.
Perhaps, in away games against Barca, for example, we might deploy 3 CBs (or 2 + a sweeper) if we want to sit in for 90mins against torrent after torrent of attack, with the wingers chosen to act as wing-backs. But, even then, that's not very Celtic-minded!
jc2,
This site as well as a number of others have him at 6'2", so I'd guess he's closer to this than the 5'9" the wikipedia has him at.
http://www.football.co.uk/cardiff_city/players/glenn_loovens_58783.shtml
/Bishop B
Blantyrekev
No. It will be a Bolt from the........Caribbean!!
Blantyrekev
No. It will be a Bolt from the........Caribbean!!
Would anyone be happy on here if we signed a gut who had played fourteen games last season in the EPL, been subbed in 4 of those, scored no goals AND we were paying £3 whilst making him the highest paid player on our books????
That's what you get with Pedro Mendes.
Definitely seems like the Cardiff fans rate him, which is good, but I always find it frustrating how piddly little clubs like that look down on Celtic. Champions league football a "bad choice for him"??? I ask you.
FriendliesMeanNothing CSC
Blantyretim
No this Sammy is 23 and very pretty with it.
Did i say she had a nice smile or was that me ?
Gordon Strachan will not deviate from 4 at the back. He might play 5 across the middle, but he won't go to 3 or 5 at the back.
It was another kick where it hurts for the fans; that's if they have any feeling left in that area after events of the past week.
Darrell ... we can feel your pain :-)
http://sport.scotsman.com/sport/McClaren-speaks-in-Dutch-accent.4395539.jp
LOL
Joshyboy, when wishing suicide on people, imagine how you would feel if it was, say Mike Galloway, who is battling all manner of demons right now, and has been for some time.
I agree with weeminger about the three-at-the-back strategy, I mentioned it, but way less eloquently, on the last thread. Would hope that a pacy left back would be on hand, though perhaps the extra cover would take some pressure off Lee, with Caddis fulfilling the Didier Agathe role on the right. Hinkel and Wilson and the missing JJPD (anyone seen him yet?) as cover on the wingback front, Darren and, er, someone, as defensive cover. We'd still have plenty options for a flat back four if that was the preferred tactic against certain opposition.
Fighting the Fuzz Since 1888 the three at the back started to fall apart when Joos lost his confidence. The pressure was all put on the left hand side and Joos just wasn't mobile enough and was opened up. When it works it means very good attacking football , you must remebr how good it was having the luxury of Henke , Sutty and BBJ all on the park at the same time , but yes it is risky and teams do eventually work it out especially if there is a weak part of the back three. We will find out soon enough what the strategy is with this signing.
Joshyboy, thanks.
chris sutton is, no info, but I reckon there is a change Glen will play on Sunday.
bhoy sean, more info when I have it.
Lubomir25, yes, imagery point taken.
Mickelbhoy, thanks, no info.
Aldo, yo! Good to hear from you.
Kurdt Cobain, 11:30, I see you are new. What a cheery opening message; don’t hurt too much over this, though.
Doesn't look as though his team mates wanted him to leave either.
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=K8X_1WRnVn0
/Bishop B
Maloney signs for Celtic
Kittoch
What would be the re-action if Celtic put in a bid of 3.5 for Mendes. I know we have more midfielders than you could shake a stick at but hey F/F would really go into meltdown.
Awe naw
do you think that Mclaren had any idea that he was making such a twat of himself
LOL is right
why does he feel compelled to speak English like a Dutchman ..
could you imagine Swalex with a Mancy acccent
Nopasaran 11:52
Celtic would only have to bid the same as the huns (£2.5m) and speak to the player to see if he fancied CL football.
Loovens will replace McManus on Sunday as Mick is still injured and shouldn't have played last week.
Paul 67 - sorry ..... here u go
Great article - roll on 4iar.
Steve Mclaren is goldmember
Shug85
What do you know of Bassa which makes you so sure he is a better option than Loovens ?
What do folks know of Tamas that makes folk think he is a better option ?
All I here about both these is negative's re nocturnal activity, and not much to suggest they are better players than this chap who is plying his trade in a league which is the 4th richest in Europe.
Roy Hodgson is a fool.
"They say R*ngers have not had much money until now.
"But I find that hard to understand because they get 50,000 people every other week and it is a very big club.”
Yes Roy and how much does your crappy wee club get in TV money per year. This ignorance annoys the hell out of me, you could easily replace R*ngers with us in this instance and I get this question down the pub every single week.
What hope is there when even a manager of an EPL team cant get their facts straight.
On a lighter note, Im still laughing at r*ngers since last Tuesday, does it get much more better than this!!
That McClaren thing is comedy gold. I particularly enjoyed the "what you call...underdogs?" thing, like English is a foreign language to him, or like the fluent-English-speaking Dutch interviewer might have a different English word for underdogs.
http://sport.scotsman.com/sport/39Romanov-TV39-goes-live-at.4394175.jp#3122454
Can anybody help me with the tuning details for this channel.
Could possibly get to see the Huns V Baby Huns game for free ?
PF Ayr,
ingratiate yourself to one and all thats how you rise to the top if you have no personality
Just in -
....... Sir Davy shivered as a smattering of light rain began to fall from the dark Bearsden sky. His tired eyes were transfixed on the blue flashing lights on the roof of the police car, illuminating the walls of the surrounding houses in the leafy suburb. The wind was beginning to chill, and he wished he had brought his blanket. 3.30am the phone call had woken him. At first, he'd thought that Raman idiot off Scotland Today had thought of some more challenging questions. Now he wished it had been him. What the hell am I doing here at this time, he thought.
Finally, the chief inspector emerged from the front door and walked briskly towards where Murray waited on the pavement. Years of business negotiations told Davy that the CI's expression meant bad news.
"Im afraid theres no sign of him at all Mr Murray", he sighed heavily, "but you might want to take a look in the bathroom."
Davy's mind raced as McDowelly wheeled him up the path to Bainy's front door. What was in there? What, or who - would he find? Where was Martin? Why had the neighbours called the police?
As they approached the open door of the ground floor bathroom, the unmistakable dark musty smell of Johnsons Holiday Skin tanning lotion almost overwhelmed them. "Jesus!", choked McDowelly.
Davy covered his mouth and nose as he rolled into the bathroom, and the sight he saw almost stopped his heart. Smeared in dark brown lotion over the pristine white tiles were the words:
LAWWELL.... 7
ME...... 1
SORRY
"Well?" spoke the inspector, after a long silence. "Mean anything to you?"
It took Murray a moment to speak, partly due to the smell but mostly due to the horror of the realisation that gripped at his throat. Finally, he simply uttered the words "Put Sky Sports News on."
Confused, the inspector relayed the order to a couple of officers, who were finding much amusement flicking through Martin's What Every Woman Wants modelling scrapbook.
They saw it right away. The breaking news infobar rolled across the bottom of the screen: Glen Loovens set for Celtic switch.
"Kenny, get my Zantac!"
"Yes boss", and McDowelly dutifully reached into Davy's jacket pocket.
Murray closed his eyes and rubbed his temples. It was all beginning to make sense..........
......... as they sped past Loch Lomond in the lashing rain, Walter checked his rear view mirror. All he saw was darkness and rain, and the soft red glow of his tail lights. Nobody was chasing them yet.
Walter shot a furious glance to the passenger seat, as his concentration was broken by yet another blast of a text message from Coisty's phone. "I told you tae put that thing oan silent!!! Who the F are ye textin at this time anyway???"
Coisty's cheeks grew red, and he shifted nervously in his seat. "Sue Barker", he muttered. Walter shook his head, and turned his attention back to the road.
In the back seat, the black canvas bag had stopped writhing and screaming. Now it lay at peace, a weak whimper could just be heard above the storm as it lashed at the roof and windscreen.
Walters eyes narrowed as he squinted through the storm.
"I told ye before ya useless c___t, shut it!!" he growled. "Hartley, McDonald, fine!" he continued. "Even Scott Brown - i could live wae that. Riordan as well, remember Derek Riordan??"
A muffled, sobbing reply came from the back seat.
"But now.... now Loovensy?? A CENTRE HALF??????? Thats just not on Bain! You hear me??! Its just not @#£*in ON!!!!!"
Coisty gulped. He had never seen the gaffer this furious, even the time Gascoigne had pished in his coffee. As he watched the dark shadow of the loch through the thick rain he wondered where this night would take them, and where it would end.....
Could have been written by Estadio!!
Crylu
Yo! paul67..right back at you..
i have news on golf day photos..expect a mail soon..!!
loving the "tanks" imagery...always thought there were a load of "shermans"(rhyming slang)there in the first place...
bjmac03> welcome to your new days....are you aware of "adfam"?
if you wish further support, pablo will give you my email....
oneantonrogan.. sadly mike galloway has a long standing history of illness...hopefully he will get the help he needs...
awenaw..Lol...steve mclaren joins a list of england managers who speak other languages.. im sure that graham taylor had a hint of "swede" about him.. :-)
Burnley`78
interesting point re the financial clout in that league
also
bound to say that i have been more than a little impressed with the testimonies that have been left on the Cardiff site
may be i was rash ...as i stated last night
i will be delighted to be very wrong and FUll support to anyone who wears the hoops ( particularly one who turned the huns down )
On a unrelated matter but nonetheless worthy of attention check out this interview with Steve Mclaren...who mysteriously (and hilariously) seems to have developed a French accent while coaching in Holland.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F8oN58cyp2c
Joshyboy, when wishing suicide on people, imagine how you would feel if it was, say Mike Galloway, who is battling all manner of demons right now, and has been for some time.
listen up urangatang when you have grown up in a country that despises you because of what school you went to what religeon you are where the streets were awash every year with naranjamen screaming sectarain bile and being allowed to do it then I would feel NO GUILT if every one of them huns committed suicide...
sorry - just saw the other entries for this.....got a bit too excited there
Like most people i've only seen Loovens in the pre-season game in Algarve but he looked aggressive in the challenge, showed good positioning & most importantly could use the ball. Reminded me of Arthur Numan
Hopefully this will put an end to McManus & the 70 yard pass to no-one
If we can get a left back with the same profile as Loovens we'll be fine particularly against Champions League opponents where you need to keep the ball