Dinamo Moscow for Celtic

Tough draw

Mon the Hoops!

Paul67:

Dates?

...is made for you and me!

Alright guys

Worst case scenario.....is europe over if we lose this one?

Was that the team that played at Ibrox pre WW2 when they had a Swastika flag flying to show solidarity with the other Huns?

Bolshoi!

Paul 67

Is it decided today who the winner of the tie will play in the "play-off"(4th qualifying round?)?

Tough baptism for Big Tony in europe

Ferdo Kev
if we lose we go into the final qualitfying round for europa league

hard draw me thinks. finished third in russian league. a few more signings will need to be brought in soon.

ThisLand, not announced yet.

Ferdo Kev, lose and we play a Europa Cup qualifier.

Naw-am, they were the team who visited Ibrox, although I thought it was 1948.

pol1888, no, that draw is on 7 August.

Let's take them in the first leg at CP, we will need to do our part in the stands.

Hail Hail

Ferdo Kev....

No, we'd drop into the Europa League....

Lurgan

Cheers.

we beat spartak before. they were a better team than dinamo

They have played 13 games this season, won 6 drew 2 lost 5.

From the start of the season.

Dinamo Moskva 3 - 2 FK Khimki
Terek Groznyi 1 - 0 Dinamo Moskva
Dinamo Moskva 1 - 0 FK Rostov na Donu
Spartak Moskva 0 - 3 Dinamo Moskva
Rubin Kazan 3 - 0 Dinamo Moskva
Dinamo Moskva 0 - 1 Krylya Sovetov Spartak Moskva 0 - 2 Dinamo Moskva Dinamo Moskva 1 - 2 CSKA Moskva
Dinamo Moskva P 2 - 2 P CSKA Moskva
Saturn Mosk Oblast 0 - 0 Dinamo Moskva
Dinamo Moskva 1 - 0 Zenit St Petersburg
Tom Tomsk 2 - 3 Dinamo Moskva
Dinamo Moskva 1 - 1 Kuban Krasnodar
Amkar Perm 3 - 1 Dinamo Moskva
Volgar Gazprom Astrakhan 2 - 0 Dinamo Moskva

Not won in their last three games, they have a home league game on Saturday.

Dinamo

Paul67:

You posted last night that unusually the media were on the money re-Allasandra!

Are they on the money re-claims of an eleventh hour bid for young James or are they wide of the mark?

Just interested following your post last night:

"...as of late yesterday afternoon Tony had no firm interest in James McCarthy."

...is made for you and me!

Hail Hail!

Tricky?

I am certainly hopeful and would go as far as confident.

Won less than 50% of their games so far. (6/13)

Roughly a goal a game for. (14/13)

Roughly a goal a game against. (15/13)

A nice two goal cushion should suffice.

bringitoncsc

Apart from the Romanian outfit, Moskow would have been my preferred opponents so I'm happy enough. I'm glad we don't have to go to Turkey.

Maybe this draw will 'inspire' the Board to release money quickly for a few more signings

It won't be easy but I am quietly confident of going through, even it it goes to penalties.

Bring on the Arsenal.

This is what we get for giving them the league (this and Rangers being given a financial lifeline).....we just need to roll our sleeves up and get on with it though. I don't think these guys will be as tough as Spartak Moscow and we got through that one.

I went to see them play three times in the past year, they aren't anything special. Had a good run chasing Rubin last year, but completely collapsed including a drubbing on their own patch by CSKA (bloody cold night, and the old guy kept shouting about Aberdeen when he realised I was Scottish) that effectively ended their hopes of finishing second.

They have Kerzhakov who is not consistent enough, but Kolodin is a good player at the back for club and country, and Gabulov is normally a reliable keeper. The Kombarov brothers on the side of midfield and Kokorin up front are hot prospects. Khokhlov is a big player for them in the middle of the park and a lot of their play is channelled through him. Overall though, to say it is the most difficult tie is a bit premature. Twente have had a great season in Holland, and Sivasspor did well in a competitive Turkish league. I would have taken Dinamo Moskva as second pick behind Timisoara.

The only question will be where the game is held. Their stadium is under renovation, and they normally play at Khimki for league games (short elektrichka ride from Petrovska-Razumovska metro). However, if they expect lots of fans, they may well just play it at the Luzhniki.

I'm sure Dinamo are not half as dangerous as the Spartak side we only just beat last time round.

Should be a good tie but we are surely favourites.

FeelingconfidentCSC

Paul67

We need to be realistic, if we beat Dinamo we will be after a big pay day in the final qualifier and most likely going out.

We are simply paying the price for our failure last season

DundeePerth

I wish you had done the draw ;~)

EN

I wanted to go turkey - ah well.

Perhaps the toughest draw we got have got.

Dinamo are by no means among the best in Russia but they'll be in full flow. Celtic will have to score away from home in the 2nd leg to progress, I'm fairly sure about that.

A left-back please.

From previous post...

steelica @11:01 AM
Think your point might be getting made to the wrong person mate.

Regarding Dynamo Moscow I think this could be a good draw for us. I would much rather take a team who are a known quanity than one we wouldn't have a clue about.

They are currently 7th in the Russian league having played 13 games.
They've currently Won 6, Drawn 2 and Lost 5. And they have 14 goals for and 15 goals against.

I'd take that!

/Bishop B

We went through(granted,only just) against a better side from Moscow 2 seasons ago. Okay, we are starting two weeks earlier with a new manager who does not have any European experience but we have plenty of players who do. It is tough but maybe we need "tough" rather than face an Artmedia type team again. At least nobody within the club will be taking anything for granted or be under any illusions.

@стахановец
Luzhniki? Is that the big one with the artificial pitch?

Not Fair!

Paul67,

Cant see them flying the Swastika at Ibrox AFTER WW2, mind you wi that lot you never know....

whooosh> yo! paul i hope you are well....
you are a busy man these days, did you have 5 other articles penned depending on outcome of the draw? ;-)

match fitness will be paramount to success, friendly against cardiff then the wembley cup games to get the squad up to match fitness....
Third qualifying round, 1st leg 28/29.07.2009
Third qualifying round, 2nd leg 04/05.08.2009
http://www.uefa.com/uefa/keytopics/kind=64/newsid=836938.html

22/07/2009 Friendly Cardiff City 19:45 A
24/07/2009 Wembley Cup Al Ahly 17:15 N
26/07/2009 Wembley Cup Tottenham Hotspur 16:00 N
01/08/2009 Friendly Sunderland 15:00 H
08/08/2009 Friendly Manchester City 15:00 A

bigjoe> got your post last night... i missed it as i was away watchin a wee team in their first european game...dull and monotonous stuff it was too...the game that is not yer post!

Oh feck!!

Next signings must be a left back and centre halve.

Main guy to watch will be Aleksandr Kerzhakov.

Aye Aye. That's what we get for gross incompetance and abject failure. A hard lesson learned (I hope).

Masty (if you are about) - can you email the address detailed below.

Want to make yourself feel better.

How about this (I know you've read it - but read it again - go on you know you want too).

Get Kano before Christmas.

CQN Cycle for Kano.

Bigjock67
Mouldy67
Jonnybhoy
Falkirkbhoy
Bigsinend
MWD (me)

are now registered participants in the Pedal for Scotland event taking place on the 13th of September 2009.

We will be cycling from The Peoples Palace in Glasgow Green to Victoria Park in Edinburgh approx. 50 miles give or take a couple of hundred yards.

We will be hoping to raise a few quid in sponsorship which will be added to the Kano fund already setup. If you would like to make a donation or sponsor Team CQN Cycles for Kano per mile then please send an email detailing your donation\sponsorship per mile to: -

CQNCycleforKano@googlemail.com

No donation too small. 1p, 10p, 20p, 50p, £1, £5, £10, £20, £50, £100. We don't mind. The choice is yours.

Thanks in advance and a big Hail Hail

Thanks for your pledges so far.

Twist n Turns
TommyTwistsTommyTurns
Oldtim67
Freveranever
Bankiebhoy
TimsinNY
The Village Green Preservation CSC
The Token Tim (how did I miss you previously)
RRC
Chris Sutton Is A Legend
DavieL
Setting Free The Bears
Vogue Punter (apologies for missing you out)
Masty
Bernie (CQN lurker - be not afraid and join in with this fine Green place. Will mail you tonight.)

from all the Bhoys of CQN Cycle for Kano

The biggest threat from D.Moscow is the fact that they are up and running in their season and we are still in pre season mode.

Re Mc. Carthy.

On what I've seen of the boy, he is not any better than what we have, except that he is tall and has declared for the ROI, which seems to make him a better player.

If we were interested, I would prefer a realistic offer and leave him where he is for a season.

Syllawhowasmince (11.33am): "we beat spartak before. they were a better team than dinamo"

Indeed, but that was an established Celtic team. We go into this tie with a new management team and a number of new players who are not yet in tune with their team-mates. Furthermore, the whole squad will be short of competitive match practice going into this, and it is a long trip to a destination that may well be much hotter than our players are used to playing in.

Remember what happened the last time we went into a CL qualifier with a new manager and a few new players?!

Then, even if we get through this, we could be playing Athletico Madrid, Arsenal or Fiorentina next... and that's before we even qualify for the CL group stages!

The first one to say this is what we got for not investing in January is gettin their baws kicked.

:)

Malarkey:

Aye, that's the one. Khimki Stadion is natural grass, it's a new and modern stadium, unfortunately it only holds 18,000 fans. Funnily enough I say modern, but all of their hot food on offer is served by...one microwave.

Am I right in thinking Kolodin was the Russia player who hits long range shots whenever he sees the ball?

I remember him putting windows in all over Euro 08.

Paul67

What time is our new Bhoy be presented to the media??

They dont seem to travel well. So we will have to put them away at Celtic Park. We might get lucky and take a 2 goal lead over there. We just scraped Spartak with the return leg at Celtic Park. Lets hope they dont have a bouncy castle for a pitch.

The team that played Spartak Moscow in Russia

Celtic (4-4-2): Mark Brown; Wilson, McManus, Kennedy, Naylor; Hartley, Scott Brown, Nakamura, Donati (Sno, 74); McDonald (Caldwell, 79), Vennegoor of Hesselink. Substitutes not used: McGovern, Killen, McGeady, Zurawski, Pressley.

and at Celtic Park

* Artur Boruc,
* Mark Wilson,
* Gary Caldwell,
* Stephen McManus,
* Lee Naylor (Darren O'Dea, 110),
* Shunsuke Nakamura,
* Scott Brown, S,
* Massimo Donati,
* Aiden McGeady (Derek Riordan, 104),
* Scott McDonald (Maciej Zurawski, 97),
* Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink

I think it´s doable

Lets be honest even if we get past Moscow its unlikely we'll get past the play-off so lets enjoy it, then try and get straight into the Europa.

As many have said we're paying the price for mismanagement at all levels last season. Onwards and upwards though. We need a few sigings and no big players to leave if we are to stand a chance.

Still unconvinced as yet.

DD

thomthetim

I'm speaking for myself here, but maybe others feel the same. I dont think McCarthy would be bought to go straight into the first team as i agree that at present he is no better than those already at the club. However i think he would be bought as a long term investment...a couple of good seasons once he has established himself and we are sitting with a 23year old worth £10-12million!

is it not better to have a run in the Europa cup, beating a few teams along the way. or go into the Champions league and come bottom of the group.

win the league back

Ulster-Celt

this is what we get for not investing in januarrrrrgggghhhhh

Estadio:

That's the one!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8BEXFz7jsKk

Not a good draw for the travel, Sparta Prague would have been the best really but we go on and give it our best.

First leg in Glasgow is also not so good, unless we win 4-0.

Big odds probably give us a chance because as favourites we generally fail.

At least if we lose we have decent excuses - they are mid season, good players etc.

Ironically Scottish teams do well against Russian teams historically both ourselves and the other mob so who knows.

WGS

Agreed to get through we need a left back and a centre half. Should the Le Harve Striker sign too we have 5 strikers on the books.

If we get Mensenguez too then our attacking options and our midfield are enough to give most teams something to think about, we need a defence that we can rely on, not just a goalkeeper who is reliable.

Boruc will be big for us again against the Russiansn although I don't think this mob are as good as Spartak were.

They may be mid-table but they have notched up recent victories against Spartak Moscow and CSKA among others. Their form, however, is inconsistent so if we get them on a bad day...

All in all, one of the more difficult draws. We will need some real men for the away leg.

Their defensive 4-5-1 style will make the game a telling indicator as to how Mowbray's attacking formations will fare against the Huns this season.

Gold Coast Tom

This is what we get for not investing in January....

thomthethim on July 17, 2009 11:42 AM

'except that he is tall and has declared for the ROI, which seems to make him a better player.'

If that was a serious comment its absolutley ridiculous and shows even some celtic fans are resentful of guys like McGeady and McCarthy choosing to play for Ireland.

DD

Paul67,

A timely signing of a good experienced strong powerful centre half and a good left back wouldn't go a miss over the next few days.

Agree Dinamo might not be good as Spartak, however, worse possibly draw if you ask me.

I jinxed the draw today. I said to someone, wait and see us getting the Russians.

went to the spartak game in moscow the last time

was a fantastic trip

hope anyone goes enjoys

стахановец

what do u do in moscow

Not the worst draw, IMO.
"Minnows" can sometimes turn out to be sharks.
A long journey, yes, but not a frightening team.
Just do it.
COTH.

Nothing to do with Mosco Dinamo, apparently it was a United German team against Scotland at Ibrox, on Wednesday, October 14, 1936. The Huns brought a couple of Swastika flags with them and asked if they could be proudly displayed during the match, of course no problem came the reply and Bob's yir uncle, up they went. Dont know how I thought it had anything to do with Mosco Dinamo. Good ol Google.

Let us not dwell what might have been had we won the league...we are where we are!

...is made for you and me!

Hail Hail!

bazza67:

I returned just over a month ago. I was a student there.

ulstercelt> your post makes sense read backwards...win the league...anything else is a bonus...
im giving time to the transitional period...

стахановец> must be a very large microwave!!!
hmm whats russian for "sausages"? :-)

My opinion of McCarthy is simple:

He is too young and inexperienced to play at a big club with pressure on his Shoulders. If he came to Celtic, would he get a game?

If not then he should go somewhere else or if we are desperate for him, then sign him and loan him back to Hamilton.

Wolves in the EPL would probably be better for him anyway because all the eejits who sing racist trash at him every week up here.

KrakowBhoy

Maybe not first choice to play at home first but remember the seville run, i think we played the first leg at home in almost every round!

alwayslookonthebrightsideoflifeCSC

Got a feeling we need to go to Moscow with a 2 goal cushion .

If it wasn't so early in the season would have felt a lot more confident about this one.Russian opposition never easy and don't expect there to be a great difference technically between Dinamo and Spartak . If we do the business at Parkhead in the first game then hopefully go out to Russia and set up to play on the break.

This is Strachans fault that we need to play these damn qualifiers.

JFFF

ThisLand... on July 17, 2009 11:53 AM

I hear you.

I know there is no chance but Celtic should give us the Dinamo gane on our season ticket!!

We live in hope!

...is made for you and me!

Hail Hail!

England all out 425.

Artur Boruc will be key to the outcome of this tie. Therefore we have a decent chance.

Naw-am-urny, I think Moscow Dynamo played a 2-2 draw with the huns at Ibrox in 1945.

aldo67:

Depends what kind of sausage! Kolbasa is the most common, or the ones we have are just called sosisky. You are more likely to get sandwiches or local sweets at the stands. A piece and salted salmon...is that more or less extravagant than a prawn sandwich? ;)

Awe Naw,

If fairly sure McGeady featured in Moskow. Didn't he miss a great chance to win the game when clean through on goal late on?

Bhoy from County Hell:

That was Scott Brown, McGeady played him in.

Two hunters from Moscow charter a small plane to fly them to Siberia to go bear hunting.

On landing, the pilot says, "Remember, this plane can only fly with two hunters, one pilot, and ONE bear."

The hunters go out and return with two bears.

So the pilot says, "I told you ONE bear!"

But the hunters point out that the previous year, on payment of an extra 100 rubles, the pilot had let them put two bears on board. After long discussion centering on the impossibility of the thing and the disgraceful degree of inflation, the pilot takes 200 rubles and with much pushing and shoving the hunters get aboard with the two bears.

After struggling into the air and fitfully flying for about two hours, the plane gives up and plummets to the earth in a snowbank.

Climbing out from under the snow and the bears, the hunters ask the pilot where he thinks they are.

The pilot says, "About the same place we crashed last year."

bit off the subject but does anyone know where i can buy a lurcher pup or bitch??

when is the press conference today?

We need to score goals in the first leg.

Where are they going to come from? The 'stars' who have yet to turn up at Easter Road for the 2nd last game?

We used to be able to rely on a bit of Naka magic in games like this.

We need to keep it tight at the back, previously in games like this the opposition targeted our left side as they spotted that was a weekness.

Transfer dead line for this round is midnight next Friday.

We can do it if we really want to.

стахановец

Cheers, thats the man, Im not getting a ticket for behind the goals.

DBBIA

"England all out 425."

Is that good? Is it better than what Tom Watson scored?

Re McCarthy

Alot of folk are saying (paraphrasing) "I haven't seen him do anything" "he didn't stand out for me" are not factoring in the fact the lad is 18 years old. An 18 year old who can hold down a regular place in the SPL and go through games against the Old Firm where people are not saying he was rotten or out of his depth is a find. The boy is talented. Has the physique to make it. Is a Celtic fan. I think we would be mad not to sign him.

Buy him. Coach him ourselves for a year so he gets a better standard of coaching. (no disrespect to the Hamilton setup intended) Then send him on a year long loan somewhere (preferably Championship or league 1 England). He would then be 20 and ready for our first team.

The flip side of course is if he did sign for us his life would be made even more miserable than it is by the small minded bigots who live in our wee backwater. I am sure Aiden would be able to help him with this.

£1.2m up front? Get the chequebook out Pierre, it is not that much of a gamble!

We have to get into the Europa Cup thingy as a minimum. And a decent run in that competition will actually be far more beneficial to both Celtic, and Scotland in general, than finishing 3rd or 4th in a CL group with 5 or 6 points.

We must ensure that we increase our UEFA coefficient year-on-year, as we are currently at a 7 year low in this respect.

Am I right that we play Dinamo two days after playing Spurs at Wembley? If so, pretty awful planning.

Lets take into account that we still have one of the best records at home in Europe and made last 16 in recent years in CL. Lets stop talking up other teams who aren't worthy of fear because we go in as favourites for a reason. It is a typical Scottish trait to be already acting defeatist before a ball is kicked. The next round will be tough but we are more than capable so start thinking about getting behind the team on 28/29th for another big night. Can't wait..

pol1888

True but I would fell better if we had the Seville team playing Moscow. Just a joke. I personally am over that Seville team as I gfell many people should be by now. We dopn't want to keep on about Seville because it becomes a burden on future teams in a similar way that the Lisbon Lions were to many generations.

Both Lisbon and Seville are wonderful parts of our History but we must strive to make new legends as Mr Stein said.

If we get the plastic pitch again will it help us?

aldo67 & lubo1977

Investment, or lack of, in January never caused this predicament. We are in this mess because the tinkerman mis-managed the team. Cast your mind back to transfer window in summer 08 - we spent £2.5M on Loovens, to sit in the stand; so there is no guarantee that any player signed in January would have been selected. WGS' man-management was dreadful, and I think the public spat with Aiden was just the 'tip of the iceberg' - our form afterwards was dire for the rest of the season and he couldn't change it.

стахановец> many thanks! i had kolbasa in mind but i thought that was polish...
every day is a school day indeed...

DBBIA> i feared the worst last night with strauss they were batting well...thankfully natural order has resumed :-)

Emmm wee bit of worrying news for everyone whos saying that they will not be up to the standard of Spartak:
They've beaten them 2-0 and 3-0 already this season in league and cup.

Pol1888,

Remember Spartak have lost some very good players like Pavuylchenko, Mozart and a few others since the played us.

pol1888

The Spartak team we played has benn disassembled and many of those players are now elsewhere.

WGS, didn't Mozart pull the strings for them in midfield?

pol1888

but,eternally optimistic I am going to take that to mean that Spartak have gone downhill.

modern spartak is rubbish

BigChipsUK on July 17, 2009 11:44 AM

fair points but i don't think our squad is in such poor a shape as when strachan took over. a lot of the player now have a lot of european experience and know what is needed to win these kind of games.
i guess we'll have a better idea of our chances after watching a couple more friendlies but so far i'm optimistic

bhoys'r'us,

You still around? Sorry I've not been in touch for a while. I had my phone stolen and decided not to replace it for a while as a little experiment. Its amazing how dependent we have become on the things and equally amazing how peaceful my life has become without one.

Tough draw but no point complaining. They are a good side but certainly not great and are the type of team we could and should be beating in Europe.

I suspect they will be as worried about this tie as we are.

That's a decent draw to be fair, they won't fancy us at all.

A team with established CL experience, new manager creating a buzz around the place, new players keen to make a big impression, a home stadium where only Barca can win, not Manutd, not Milan, a little angry Aussie who can score against the biggest of big teams...
Nope, if I was the MOscow manager I wouldnt fancy facing us at all.

Stakanovite ;)
you realise you're gonna get milked dry for info on this, good luck!

Lets take into account that we still have one of the best records at home in Europe and made last 16 in recent years in CL. Lets stop talking up other teams who aren't worthy of fear because we go in as favourites for a reason. It is a typical Scottish trait to be already acting defeatist before a ball is kicked. The next round will be tough but we are more than capable so start thinking about getting behind the team on 28/29th for another big night. Can't wait..

Well this will be the first time we really see what the new Celtic team is going to be like.. so I for one notwithstanding our previous success approach this fixture with a modicum of trepidation!

lubomiraculous> indeed it is true, however there are many in the squad and hopefully some new peeps to get match practice....

jackbauer> january was an episode of gross negligence. i do not have a time maschine to travel back and say if we bought x y or z we would have won the league but it certainly didnt help matters...
you are correct in citing the lack of man mangement as a factor in farting away (twice) a healthy lead to the orcs...i am still traumatised with the thought of us handing it on a plate...
moving on tho onwards and forever upwards...i responded to gold coasts post and the booting my nads were due...nothing more :-)

Sorry lads saw the results and panic-typed i should really think before i do anything. Thanks for calming my nerves though, it would probably have taken frantic google searching to arrive at those conclusions!

I need calmed down again....just saw on the BBC gossip that the club are prepared to sell Andreas Hinkel for £2.5million? Please someone tell me this is nonsense! I think he's a good, solid player who is good going forward - why would we sell and leave ourselves with 2 problem full-back positions?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fUGDZ0xuEEk

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TP9aOgy1bHs&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7NFE5pObpHs&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GZkNQH2kV34

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

Cracking player

doonhame del:

Not to mention they sold Semshov in December to Zenit, one of the players who was an engine in the midfield. They also never replaced Danny from last year, who although regularly misses sitters for Zenit, created a lot of Dinamo.

Bhoy From County Hell

Re a new fone -

I think Dennis 47 might be able to help you there soon.....

:)

Awe_Naw:

16 goals in 2 years, 5 of which were penalties. SPL strikers are more prolific!

Looking at the teams who played against Spartak.I'd say we were no weaker now than then.If TM gets his formation right,we should get through this.

That said we'll probably get drawn against Shaktar or Athletico in the next round....revenge time??

Australia 4-1. Hughes ct Prior b Anderson

стахановец

On Dynamo forum people say that the game is on Khimiki stadium.
I lived in the hotel Zarya Maxima. That's near Vladykino metro station. Good place to stay for this game.

Khimiki is out of Moscow, very close to International Sheremetevo airport. North direction from the city.

стахановец ,

How many games ?

Paul67.

After Celtic won the European Cup in 67,we had to play in the first round in 68.
We drew Dinamo Kiev and were beaten 2-1 at home and held to a 1-1 draw away,at that time they were classed as a Russian team.
But after the break-up of the Soviet Union, their country reverted back to the Ukraine.

This draw will be as hard as the tie in 68,if we get a result against them,we may do quite well thereafter.

Advice and information for some of you.

Information:-
Scotland has one of the highest rates of depression in the country, why is that? Loads of answer... however one would be the fact that we dwell on the negative past, from primary school to now... Jack Black not the actor, can tell you more about this.

Advice:-

Stopping going over what happened last season, or all the previous seasons. Our board, our players, we, have all learned from this experience, use this and drive forward.

We are were we are.

We have a new manager, new players, a new strip!
So instead of sitting in our seats moaning about the extra games we have to play lets get right behind the team.

bankiebhoy1,

LOL :)

Did you get your computer sorted btw?

stakan
do they tend to play wattienacio away from? if so It should be an ideal chance for fortune to get stuck and show what he can do.
We'll beat them home and away, and the teams in the next qualifying round will not want to get us.
There you go, sorted
Best wishes to BBJ, anyone got a genuine update?
C'MON LANCE!!

Loved the comment from the editor of World Soccer? magazine interviewed on Sky Sports News and asked about Celtic's reputation in Europe and how they are viewed. I paraphrase but he said Celtic's reputation in Europe is always high and regardless of a change of manager or players no-one takes them anything but seriously and are not fooled by the loss now and then of the odd league title.

falkirkbhoy: "We are were we are."

Without the "h" that reads completely differently from how, I am sure, you intended.

Zbyszek:

Yeah normally the trains are put on for free when fans go to the games there.

Have you visited the Streltsov Stadion yet?

Awe_Naw:

42 games. Both games and goals totals include Russian Cup.

dbbia>merv hughes is back in australia squad? sheesh i know warneee is in the commentary box but if merv is back then theres no stopping them!!
moderncricketmoustachesarerubbish CSC

стахановец ,

taken from Wiki,

SEASON CLUB GAMES GOALS
06/07 Sevilla 27 7
Meisterschaft 15 5
Cup 4 0
Europacup 8 2

07/08 Sevilla 16 4
Meisterschaft 10 3
Cup 2 0
Europacup 2 1
Supercup 1 0
Supercup UEFA 1 0

(Meisterschaft): 25 8
(Cup): 6 0
(Europacup): 10 3
(Supercup): 1 0
(Supercup UEFA): 1 0
TOTAL: 43 11

Awe_Naw:

I got my details from here, should be more up to date than wiki.

http://www.rfpl.org/clubs.shtml?team=7&act=players&id=700&year=2009

Tough draw but I think we've got a chance. We always get tough draws anyway. Only Rangers get the easy ones. Well...easy for most.

Does anyone know of anywhere in Paris where I'll be able to watch the 2nd leg? Or if pubs in Paris will show the game? I booked a really cheap 4 day holiday thinking it was too good to be true...then I looked at the dates for the games.

BigChipsUk, if we get through this one we can't get A Madrid or Fiorentina but we could get (depending on a coupl getting thru 3rd round) :-

Arsenal
Olympique Lyon
Shakhtar Donetsk
Sporting CP Lisbon
Panathinaikos

Here's a true tale of Moscow I shared with CQN'ers when we drew Spartak couple of years ago.

I've dusted it down and hope you enjoy it.

'Celtic may never have played Spartak before but in the early nineties a hastily formed CSC comprised a Celtic Football Club ‘official delegation’ to the Moscow club.

I was involved in a FCO funded project that aimed to export the notion of voluntarism to post Soviet Russia. For a couple of years I took groups of young volunteers and youth workers from the UK to undertake social projects in a city some 500 miles to the east of Moscow.

Anyhow at the end of every visit, which lasted a month at a time, we would have a few days in Moscow to sightsee and unwind. Our Russian partners were also keen to show to us the best of Russian culture and so we ended up at the Bolshoi, the State Opera and the State Circus on these visits. On this occasion the volunteers were less than impressed with the option of a politically satirical puppet show (huge at the time in Moscow – a guess a bit like Spitting Image Live) and one wee boy, a Jambo as it happens, suggested catching a gemme.

As luck would have it Spartak were at home to Torpedo Moscow the next day but our partner, Sergei suggested that with it being a derby getting briefs would be nigh on impossible.

Time for action, McGrain. On these visits, the giving and receiving of small gifts was considered essential whenever we met new people and as project manager I was given a sizeable budget for badges, pens, t-shirts and the like. Now as luck would have it tourist offices up and down the country will happily supply to with untold amounts of ‘Coventry, where the sun never shines’ paraphernalia gratis, leaving me to use my budget for more Celtic related cultural emblems, if you will. I would buy dozens of Celtic badges, a dozen or so hats and scarves and usually half a dozen sets of Hoops for special Russian friends of the project. I considered it my duty. I’m sure you understand. And this time I had holdall-full left over which I planned to use for the next visit.

Sergei and I took a cab to the Stadium. Sergei was resplendent in his jade and black number me in my traditional Hoops. Unaware of my intentions I instructed Sergei to translate everything I said and we made our way to the main stadium entrance.

‘Let me introduce to you McGraininSpain, the president of the Glasgow Celtic Supporters Club, here for the official visit. I assume you received our fax.’ I could hear incredulity in Sergei’s voice

Without question we were whisked in by the doorman to meet an under manager of some sort who was flustered and a bit embarrassed by the fact that he was unaware of our visit but sought to save face by claiming he had indeed seen the fax. He apologised that the club president was not present but having established that we expected to attend the match the following day, promised he would be there to meet us in person pre-match.

Official badges were swapped and we agreed the official delegation of 20 would arrive for a reception 1 hour before kick off. At that point what seemed like a smart ruse to get a few free tickets was beginning to grow legs and have its own momentum.

The following day I dressed up a motley crew of exhausted volunteers in the remaining Hoops and scarves and we arrived at the stadium to be met with the red carpet treatment. We were wined (ok vodka’ed) and dined on the best available and Sergei, and I with the wee Jambo in a albeit begrudgingly worn set of Hoops sat at the top table with the president.

I still have a photograph of the president and I, he wearing a green and white scarf and I in with a red and white Spartak number. We gave our remaining bits out and were then introduced to the 80000 crowd and given the best seats in the house. The 80000 gave us a warm reception applauding politely.

The abiding memory of the match, which I think Spartak won 5-0, was how quiet the crowd was, no singing at all. In the second half from the directors box we started a ‘Spartak, Celtic, Spartak, Celtic, Spartak, Celtic,’ chant and it caught on and years later I watched a Spartak game on Eurosport and I swear I could make out the ‘Spartak, Spartak, Spartak’ chant from the crowd.

On recounting this tale now I feel I slight guilt that our warm reception that day was built on a falsehood but I remain satisfied that we ‘represented’ the club well, even the wee Jambo.'

McGrain
President, Celtic/Spartak Friendship Club

By RogueLeader on July 17, 2009 12:02 PM
Re McCarthy

With the greatest of respect , loaning him out and waiting till he is 20, is not something i would do.

Your idea comes across as very "strachan minded". He was all for buying talent then let is waste away on the bench or reserves.

WHAT NOT TO DO!

Get a good/excellent prospect, nurture him (although he has played against every team in the league for 2 years already)

Loan him out (so he loses the nurturing/coaching we gave him)

And get him back 2 years later and let him play against the guys he stood out against when he was 16.

I hate all this holding back, he isnt ready, bring them in slowly rubbish that surrounds young footballers these days.

If your good enough, your old enough.

WHAT TO DO!

Sign him, and get him in there he could be the next Paul McStay.

andheisoneofusCSC

Bhoy From....................

No, not really... yet.

But I seem to have accrued very many new wee icons on me toolbar, that take turns in telling me that Im under attack from a gozillion hun viruses that will render me and the machine humped in a nano second.

It reminds me of that Not the Nine O'clock news sketch were Mel Smith gets so befuddled by the suggestions of the Hi Fi shop assistant ( Rowan Atkinson?) that the poor sod happily agrees to having a bag over his head.

Cheers!

hopefully we get a good and fair referee in these ties. looks like dynamo moscow have been taking lessons from the orcs at cheating...
http://picpoke.com/im/8b5y9tc

blatant handball cmon ref....

Paul67,
Surely we are playing at home in the 2nd Leg. As we are the seeded team in the draw then advantage goes to the seeded team rather than how the names come out of the hat, or rather the perspex bowls.
Neither UEFA nor Celtic have announced fixture details yet.

Bobby Gould is on Talksport speaking about John Hartson.
Not sounding very good.

/Bishop B

AJB
Celtic website confirm first leg at home on wednesday 29th. Tickets go on sale today at 2pm to season ticket holders.

Australia 10-2 Ponting ct Strauss b Anderson 4.

Aussie skipper victim of a pretty rough decision.

McGrain in Spain
I remember you regaling us with that tale many moons ago, excellent stuff. Has the makings of a film I'd say, what say you James Forrest:)
Del

Dinamo Moscow are a decent side, but they lost to the huns in 1972 so how good can they be? Rangers supporters celebrated that historic win by bravely rioting against Franco's policemen, and urinating on the Nou Camp pitch. What is it with ra peepil and rioting and bodily waste? They were literally defecating on the streets of Manchester.

If you think Rangers have a shameful history, and they do, Dinamo Moscow's is even murkier. They used to be the secret police's team, and were under the authority of psychotic mass killer Felix Dzerzhinsky, before he descended into Hell in 1926.

Like most Establishment clubs, they haven't done so well since their domestic league became more of an open contest and less about shady backroom dealings and influence.

стахановец

No. I haven't visited any stadiums there in Moscow.

To all who want to go to Moscow. The city is quite expensive.Glasgow is for sure cheaper place to stay. If you don't want to pay more than 200 GBP for the night you must find the hotel earlier ouside the city. I remember that I have paid 90 Euros per night for three stars hotel. It was quite long distance from the city (40 minutes by the metro).
They have the best metro conections in the world. It doesn't matter where you stay. It's always an metro station in the near.

bankiebhoy
what's up with your pooter? Is it from Sunday's efforts to get the commentary?
Del

I had a feeling it would be the Russkies again. Oh well we did it before why not again.

Going back to my hobby horse of the TV deal here is a copy of an exchange on KDS that I think teases out the issues further and where I think Celtic now stand. I'm off to the country soon so you'll be glad to know I'll not be bumping my gums so much as I'm confined to a mobile for connection :)

(This in response to would the other SPL teams engage in a one to one rather than totally collective deal)

Auldheid:
A lot depends on how much they would get from negotiating direct with Celtic for each time they played us compared to what they get for fewer games against us under a collective deal. This collective deal is so poor it increases the chances we can line their pockets better than under a collective deal.

Here is a scenario.

36 games v Celtic compared to say 18 to 20 picked games v us under a collective deal. 36 games v a team who attract one of the biggest TV audiences on a PPV per game basis

In a separate direct deal with Rangers the other teams can play another 36 games under the same circumstances/conditions.

Total 72 games v 60 where ALL 76 games are with the teams with the greatest viewing audience potential as opposed to a lower audience size when the Kille v Motherwell type of games are part of the 60 game schedule.

Then there is the price. To make a worthwhile profit based on viewing audience of 30,000 for 36 games and production cost of £5M a year I estimate an average of £9 odds per game, say £36 a month to see EVERY Celtic game with the higher proportion of receipts going directly to Celtic (In the case of Rangers then to them). I think the Celtic support would be happier with that kind of arrangement than what we are saddled with.

It is a schedule that would draw in more of an audience over the season based on Celtic alone (36 games v 20) and as far as the others are concerned they could double the audience size if they had a similar deal with Rangers. So for the perspective of the other SPL teams deals with Celtic and Rangers are likely to produce greater income than the collective deal. They would get a negotiated share of that greater income.

But it does not end there. for them They would be free to enter into a collective deal for the remaining matches for the kind of money that the BBC or STV could offer and top up their income further.

Games involving us and Rangers v the others would be televised on say Saturday 3pm and 5pm switching alternatively, remaining SPL games games are played on a Sunday with one televised at a later time or even on the Monday evening.

There are enough factors in that mix, increased games, larger viewing audience (hands up who watched any other game but a Celtic one on Setanta?), loyalty pricing etc to sustain a steady income stream better than that just accepted. If the capacity is in place and the assumptions on numbers and costs are tested to give some assurance of viability then why would the other SPL teams not go for it?

I would expect Celtic to commission a feasibility study in preparation for changing minds by 2012.Morning Auldyin , as you know I have been reading your posts about "Celtic TV" with some interest , I agree with most of your ponts . But there is one mother of all assumptions you are making and thats the "match day
production and related" costs .

A Response:
The business model stuff is always great fun and can have multiple examples but its all pie in the sky , unless we can define costs . Setanata nose dived because of expantion, we presume . But we have nothing solid to pressume that they where doing ok with the SPL package .

I really dont want to poo poo your idea , its something that does excite . As I have said before I can almost taste the money, something I have been not to bad at during my business career . I just wish we could define costs.

Auldheid
Yup I accept that completely and I've tried to be clear about that upfront by calling it a guesestimate and asking for more solid figures from anyone in the know in on line discussions when I first posted the business case.

Indeed that production cost is one of the reasons that Cetic would want to share those BACKGROUND costs with Ranger to bring them down through economies of scale (less spare equipment, fewer admin staff etc).

Against that however our support might be prepared to pay more to watch the Rangers games, (I used £15 per game) and there is the advertising revenue those games would attract but probably more tellingly the audience would very likely be much higher than the 30,000 used in my calculations.

It is also possible that the viewing audience for each Celtic game v the rest would exceed 30,000 at the prices I have used (£10 for games v the other top 6 excluding us and Rangers of course) and £6 per game for the bottom sixers.

But this is exactly why a proper feasibility study is required that would involve establishing production costs (which we would probably contract out via tendering to keep them down) and conduct a marketing study to find out a) the actul potential viewing audience size, b) the impact on SB sales depending on the size of the non televised zone around Celtic Park and what the support would pay to watch Celtic knowing that most of what they pay is going direct to the club but with a sharing arrangement that makes the other SPL clubs willing to engage.

If I have a complaint its that this should have been in the can already as a contingency against the Setanta failure given our misgivings last year, but it is maybe something that could never have seen the light of day until the conditions arose that would merit such a study without question.

Those conditions now exist and not to commission such a study to look at a) going it alone b) sharing BACKGROUND costs with Rangers (not Old Firm TV puleeez everybody that "branding" is still born) and what the rest of the SPL could do collectively to get a supplementary deal that fills their coffers on a totally equitable sharing basis between themselves.

The whole point of my input was not to say it is a goer but to get folk thinking about a different way of approaching the issue in such away that we establlish what is a goer and to open closed minds.

I think we would both agree that the feasibility case is well worth exploring further.

Thanks for the thoughtful feedback.

I remember a ditty from my Labour Stooodent daze.

To the Song Red Fly the Banners Oh!

I think it went

"I'll give you eleven Oh"

Red Fly the banners Oh!

What is your eleven Oh!

Eleven for the Moscow Dynamo!

Anyway they no reds anymore...but them to the sword Celtic!

I couldnt say where they're coming from,
But I just seen a team named dynamo humm

Zappa CSC

'Former Wales footballer John Hartson remains in a critical but stable condition after emergency surgery on his brain following a cancer diagnosis.

It is a week since the 34-year-old ex-Arsenal and Celtic player was told he had testicular cancer.

The disease spread to his brain and on Wednesday, doctors confirmed it was also present in his lungs.

Abertawe Bro Morgannwg (ABM) University NHS Trust said on Friday his condition remained critical but stable.

Father-of-three Hartson underwent surgery at Morriston Hospital in Swansea on Tuesday.

He was transferred from Singleton Hospital in the city to the larger Morriston hospital on Tuesday evening when his condition worsened.

Dr Gianfilippo Bertelli, a consultant medical oncologist, said earlier this week that a course of radiotherapy and chemotherapy would be started as soon as possible and that he could foresee many months of treatment.

Meanwhile, it is understood 37-year-old American cyclist Lance Armstrong, who won the Tour de France a record-breaking seven consecutive years, has sent a message to Hartson.

Armstrong was diagnosed with testicular, lung and brain cancer in the mid-1990s.

He made a shock return to the Tour this year after retiring from cycling.

Armstrong is reported as saying on the social networking site Twitter: "My thoughts go out to John Hartson.

"Livestrong, John! We're pulling for you! Folks, hold him in your thoughts and prayers please."

from BBC Wales

I see Alassane is knicknamed "Ferizimo" which translated apparently means "the warrior"...like him already.

Lets hope he can jump higher than JVOH and without committing as many fouls.

Rogue leader - you make the most persuasive argument for signing McCarthy yet. I am not against his signing but if it happens then it must be staged payments when the bhoy delivers.

Doonhame Del- you completed the double in changing my mind - I was about to post some doom and gloom prediction for our CL prospects, but you are spot on. Other teams should and perhaps DO fear us in the draw. We must make sure that they still fear us after the first leg.

Big test for Tony Mowbray's new look Celtic. I look forward to it as tough as it might prove to be.

Incidentally I watched the draw on line and I KNEW from the first momet we would get Moscow. I just KNEW it. It was never in doubt. How is that? I only wish I'd known half an hour before so I could get a Ton or 2 on at the bookies!

Re my previous post.
Left out
" and IT WOULD BE REMISS not to commission etc..."

Australia 10-2 Ponting ct Strauss b Anderson 4.

That's not very good is it though, curiously 10-4 is deemed to be okay...or is that just in songs about truckers and waitresses?

goodbuddycsc

Is that the same Ponting that grassed up MI5 when Thatch was the head man in guv UK?

Zbyszek:

There is a hostel at Sokol metro which is about 850 rubles a night. It would be worth a consideration as well as it is only a few minutes walk from the metro, and from there Moscow is your oyster! There are plenty of other similar places that are very well maintained. I can't remember the website address, but you might be able to find it on a web search.

I see that Landry N'Guémo accordingly to wikipedia is a keen Falconer, maybe Celtic can hire him to get rid of the seagulls after the match?

Kes CSC

rdk7 - it is hardly "Strachan Minded" in fact it is a perfectly reasonable strategy employed by a great many football managers including some of the best at bringing on young talent. A certain Alex from Govan is very much a fan of this approach. It gives the youngster a good basis for his coaching and then lets him get regular football week in, week out, in a less pressurised environment.

McCarthy would unlikely be ready to displace our established regular international midfielders until around 20 years old. It is much better the boy is away getting experience than sitting on his bahookie in the stands.

TNB - as long as he is not Willie Falconer.

robertressell
cheers my raggy troosered friend, I'm touched.
Del

First leg AT HOME is the best thing in a European tie. If you get one away goal in the first leg it is all you can get! the second leg is a different beast with both teams usually needing to score. that makes it easier to score away goals in the second leg. Are you with me?

Also, if you can limit them to no more than 1 away goal in the first leg you leave yourself with a great chance of going through, regardless of the result, be it 0-1, 1-1, 2-1, 3-1 or whatever. As soon as you score again in the away leg you are back in it. Seriously I PREFER the home leg first. The only downside being there is no home crowd to celebrate progress when we win through.

We need to get a centre half - any news on this Paul67? Are we looking for one?

This is a great game to start our competitive season with. The support will be out in force and the new bhoys (and prospective new signings if we haven't finished our business by then) will be blown away by it. far better than a home game against St Johnstone IMO.

Bring it on. Sha mone.

Pol1888,

I don't think that Mc.Carthy, having played first team football for a few years, would relish the thought of returning to development status.

DD.

of course I had my tongue in my gums re the ROI.

I just wish that some of my Black Baby money went to developing young players who qualified through the Irish Missionaries of Mary.

I just haven't seen the outstanding talent of the boy, but perhaps I haven't seen enough of him and certainly not live.

Australia 22-2 at lunch on the second day.

The Narrowbhoat Tim - I like to imagine that he stands in the centre circle and commands his bird of prey to attack opposing players and staff.

He has a falcon called Gregory Peck, and he can't wait to set it on Ally McCoist.

Ally: "Aaaargh! My eyes! My eyes!"

Walter: "Leg it Ally!"

Landry: "Ha ha! Birds are excellent!"

If Kirk Broadfoot thinks eggs are dangerous, wait till he meets the bird!

Tomthethim

No, but i think he needs to realise that development is needed to raise his game from stand-out performer at Hamilton to stand-out performer at Celtic. He's still young and i'm sure he knows he has a lot to learn!

Celtic's preparation going into this match against a team that's in mid-season is laughable. But if you all say we can do it ... I'll have to go along with you.

Del -

pooter running ok, but cant get the spywarebots off (anti,SpyZooka,Spyhunter)

I have Norton AV, I've run it and says all ok,
I've run Windows defender, it says all ok and no malicious spyware present..........
but when i turn the thing on in the morning......
voila - antispyware bot and the others on the Toolbar, and I can see that bugger Zango when i look at the files.

Please dont ask if I want a bag over my head!

Bankiebhoy1,

Have you run spybot search and destroy? If you can give me a detailed description of your problem(s) I will run them by a current bun mate of mine who is a whizz at these sort of things and get back to you later today or tomorrow.

On a seperate issue. Has anyone seen how some hun calling himself Billy Wright has single handedly dragged the John Hartson support group on Facebook into the gutter? I have asked all my bluenosed mates to leave messages of support for John (stating that they are gers fans) maybe some of you would do the same? It would probably be better to close the page down but then that little maggot will have gotten what he wanted. I would also ask any tims not to respond to him or get involved in a slagging match as that is not helping anything.

doonhame del - thanks - of course for projects such as these casting is vital. I've got Johnny Depp penciled in for the McGrain role.

Some plain silly negativity here. Of course we can do them. Difficult? Sure. But doable.

C'mon BBJ!

Lubomiraculous - All we need to watch out for is them pulling a Crazy Ivan in the bottom half of the hour.

Bhoy From........

Thanks I'll try that....

Cheers

NBT- it also says on wiki that Landry is always running around blessing himself to show his' strong Catholic faith'. I hope we don't have to put up with that nonsense when he's at CP, and he remembers to keep it for the death star.

His favourite raptor is called Mr George, after George Weah.

un conversacion avec landry n'guemo:

http://www.asnl.net/pages/fiches/nguemo.html

er, at the bottom of the page

http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/sport/display.var.2520540.0.0.php

Time to go it alone.

philvisreturns:

Thanks for the wee mini-history lesson on Dynamo Moscow mate. I had no idea they were the club of little Iron Felix.

It was a good day in Russian history when they toppled the statue of that evil, evil man. It's just a shame the American military shamelessly appropriated the gesture and set up the sham felling of Saddam's statue in Iraq. I know which of the two events most resounded around the globe, even if CNN wasn't there.

Another good reason to whip the skin off this team ....

If we want to be in Europe and stay in Europe we have to return to the days when we feared no one in Europe. This is as good a time as any to start.

I agree with roberttressell, the first leg at home with a packed Celtic Park, bring it on!

And then for the knockout blow in the second leg, wear the new bumble bee strip, and we're through. How can they possibly beat us when they're all wearing sunglasses!

gsu

bankiebhoy1

pc tools spyware doctor
and Ad-Aware

Bankie
recently had same type of prob with one called virus-shield(steer well clear!) on my mother-in-laws pc but dont worry the way to get rid of this kind sh*t is out there, just meeans you have to go into things like registry keys ets. One I had recommended is

http://www.exterminate-it.com/malpedia/remove-spyzooka

step by step, but if you know someone more IT literate get them to it. Or smash the pc to bits with a 16lb sledge hammer, then claim for it on your household insurance.
(I didn't say that if anyone asks;)
Del

bankiebhoy1

Norton AV is about as good at removing/finding spyware as Sebo is at shooting.

If you have spyware I've always found SuperAntiSpyware to be good at removing bugs that others don't pick up on.

Spyboy Search and Destroy & AVG are decent as well but Superantispyware seems good at removing things completely.

Bhoy from the County Hell
I'm just catching up.
I've just get back from holiday and wives 'r us seemed to think the garden needed a bit more attention than CQN.
Strange creatures, these women.
Heading to the pub for a well deserved pint.
Will get back to you tonight.
COTH.

James Forrest = we are slowly returning to some normality here. You still looking for thoughts on Dead Dark?

James Forrest - We shail into hishtory!

Those posters of a delicate disposition please skip this post.

Yesterday I was visiting Scarborough for Fish'n'Chips and some sea air as you do. While walking down the main street to the bay, Ice Cream Parlours and shops that sell "Kiss me Quick" hats, I had the great misfortune(is that pronounce Miss-Fort-to-Nay) to pass the biggest Hun Abomination of a pub that I ever saw. I swear it made the Loudon Tavern look like an Irish Theme Pub complete with Leprechaun barman holding Shelalaghs and pots of gold.

This establishment of bigotry is called the "The Golden Last" (I believe they have 2 more dens of sectarism in Benedorm, must have some Masonic connection in the name can Ed help us out here?). Huge crest of the Huns in the window, about 10 red hand of Ulster flags (with one Norwegian one, WTF?)Masonic Symbols and quotes on the outside with a mural of an Orange Walk running along the bottom of the building.

I had to google the pub to find out more about it,( For only people with strong stomachs be warned) They advertise "Unique bars where you can enjoy yourself with your own kind of people" "Sash Bashes" and my personal favourite "Orangeokie" where their DJ will play your faqvourite Loyalist or Hun songs to sing along too.

For those of even stronger stomachs check out the picture gallery, it is like the customers of that Bar in Stars Wars visited Scarborough and Benedorm.

The portrait of the "The Golden Last Supper" is also a treat, with the publican in the JC role wearing his sash.

You wonder what type of species these people are as they are certainly not human.

Anyhoo up to Clydebank tonight for the weekend, going to see a band tonight at O'Donnells in Hardgate then maybe BBs on Saturday to spot any CQNers and guess who they are.

Bhoatless in Yorkshire

WGS
I'm sure somebody will post the actual factual bits from that.

Geek Police for Bankiebhoy1

The Narrowbhoat Tim - "it is like the customers of that Bar in Stars Wars visited Scarborough and Benedorm."

It sure sounds like a wretched hive of scum and villainy.

Did you know the disgusting crime lord character was originally based on Derek Johnstone and called Jabba the Hunn?

Hay lapa no ya, Solo!

McGrainInSpain:

I certainly am. Your own would be greatly appreciated.

Hail Hail.

Its not looking good is it ? domestic TV revenues going down, domestic prize money going down, shirt sponsorships going down, attendances going down, transfer fees and wages going up, costs going up, large compensation fees being paid. Many and difficult mid summer European qualification ties, a stagnant recruitment philosophy and a permanently failing youth policy

It´s not a surprise with the product we have chosen to put on the pitch these last three years. Needless to say those that have chosen to do so can say that they have been proven right and it has nothing to do with being unable to beat Aalborg or many abjectly poor Scottish teams and being unable to muster shots at goal over 90 minutes etc and everything to do with the rest of the world and its present financial state except we (The fans) have proven that we are the exception

We are in safe hands ...

Just think what we might achieve with only a half interested competent football orientated board.

Que the "Well lets be all happy we aren´t Rangers comments"

The main question for all of us shouldn´t be if we can get passed Moscow Dinamo right now it should be is Tony Mowbray just another YES man.

As I haven´t seen any sackings after the mis management we have seen over the last two years especially we can safely assume that we´re about to find out.

Hail Hail

Awe_Naw_No_Annoni_Oan_Anaw_Noo - "Its not looking good is it ? domestic TV revenues going down, domestic prize money going down, shirt sponsorships going down, attendances going down, transfer fees and wages going up, costs going up, large compensation fees being paid. Many and difficult mid summer European qualification ties, a stagnant recruitment philosophy and a permanently failing youth policy"

You're a cheery soul, Awe Naw.

Have you thought of auditioning for Radiohead or The Verve?

Awe_Naw_No_Annoni_Oan_Anaw_Noo

Perhaps if the board had splashed out and then we were hit by the recent circumstances, that were virtually nothing to do with the product on the park, we would be in a crap-hole the size of Ibrox.

Clubs all round the world will be affected by the current economic climate but we seem to have got a bit unlucky with the timing... the TV deal falling through with no competition, the sponsorship ending when sponsors are cutting back. Of course guaranteed CL money would have been nice but is only part of the problem.

Heaven knows Awe_Naw_No_Annoni_Oan_Anaw_Noo is Miserable Now

Morrissey CSC

philvisreturns,

If you cant deal with the facts philvis then attack the personality behind it. LOL

I blame myself for not permitting the well at least we are not Rangers comments.

Honestly bud if you want to contribute to the forum and debate then do so. Personal attacks are irrelevant here on this virtual forum.

Yours in Celtic

Awe NAw

awe naw> you have all your cups in the cupboard today!
although im reserving judgement on tony mowbray until he has a bit more time...
slan
aldo

The Narrowboat Tim,

I am guessing the Norwegian flag is in honour of the lady of the house. Under the flags on the homepage are the names Liv and Ian. I presume these are the owners, Liv being a common female name in Scandinavia.

Ooh! get me away from here I'm dying

Play me a song to set me free

bankiebhoy I found this a great help

http://download.cnet.com/Malwarebytes-Anti-Malware/3000-8022_4-10804572.html?tag=mncol;pop

Philvis

here you go

And I've got no right to take my place
With the Human race

Oh, bigmouth, la ... bigmouth, la
Bigmouth strikes again
And I've got no right to take my place
With the Human race

Narrowboat

Do they only serve Oranjeboom?

Or are they just BITTER?

aldo67,

if Moscow dinamo get beat 4.0 at Parkhead and then beat us 5.0 in Moscow and we end up with an Artmedia aggregate scoreline. Will he be making comments about his gravestone ?

Hail Hail

Is Dominic Cervi a Celtic Player?

the narrowboat> eeeks that has got to be one of the worst pubs in the world.....
definately a parental guidance required opening that link...
strange how there exists oasis for those kind of souls around the world,
i went for a pint near exeter bus station in the late 80's..after spending an idyllic week in devon...
must have been some kind of squaddies retreat..they had red hand flags/union jacks and a mural mounted on the wall with loughgall massacre and "shoot to kill all t**gs" scrawled on it...
i can argue a point but not with a pub full of beered up squaddies...
slan
aldo

....Gaius Baltar Is A Tim on July 17, 2009 12:29 PM

There is only ONE place to watch the Celts in Paris - The Harp bar right next to the Moulin Rouge.

http://harpbar.com/newhome.php

Paris home of the French CSC.
Nils, the owner and a Celtic loving Swede, runs a great place. :)

Unabashed ad for the French CSC, just in case you're traveling around the country.
http://www.frenchcsc.com/en/content/watch-celtic-live-tv

Amuse-toi bien !

steelica

I was wearing a green and gold top so I figured I wasn't their type of people, so reluctantly I declined to enter. I think they had Aye you Ready Salted Crisps behind the bar (wee blue Satchel of course now there's one for the teenagers)

Malone19,

The support bucked the financial trend with our beloved plc and remained faithful as they always do. In the mean time what has the plc brought to the table.

When it comes to ticking boxes. No boxes get ticked except the box marked lets be careful with the little money we do generate.

Where are the new markets ?

Where are the increased deals ?

What happened to the increased exposure of our global brand ?

It has not happened.

Shouldnt we be employing people who can make it happen and remove those from the wage bill who have proved that they cant.

Or can DD not fire himself ?

AyeandtheretherubCSC

everyone here i assume realises that JANUARY was a disaster for us, and BTM will suffer because of it. he suffers, we suffer.

we are in pre season / they are not ???

that is huge for me, and whilst i am far from defeatist, i am realistic enough to hopefully get a very long run in the europa cup.

that would allow for a new team building and confidence enhancement,

and let BTM cut his teeth before the following year. !!!!!

the only way is up. the good times are coming, but a few stalled attempts on the way, shouldnt be seen as disastrious

awe naw...i dont know what comments he will make,all i know is that he needs a wee bit of time, i havent even seen a proper game with him in charge! a bit too early to make a decision...

if we see 2 shots on goal in 90 minutes it will be a 200% improvement ;-)

Aw Naw...

zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz change the record, will you? You make IM Jolly seem like a regular coco the clown

aldo67,

I too hope that Tony Mowbury has the midas touch. I´m in the exact same camp as the plc. It´s the only policy the plc have in their locker.

If he doesn´t then he can be hung out to dry.

Lets hope that Sir Minty does not lead them the merry dance that he did the last two transfer windows.

WHERE IS THE QUALITY LEFT BACK ?

tick tick tick tick

Hail HAil

mackybhoy - an interesting approach to optimism! So you think we should be positive about this inevitable defeat?

McGrain

Jack_Bauer's_a_Tim,

try to ignore my comments like I try to do with yours. It´s a virtual forum not cheerleader practice. I´m just looking for answer to civilised genuine questions and concerns.

Hail Hail

Australia 31-2. Rain.

What we need to get the team into shape is a 1980's style movie montage, perhaps with Gary Caldwell chopping wood, Aiden waxing cars, and it would all be set to a rousing 80's power ballad, like "You're the Voice" by John Farnham or "Jump" by Van Halen.

All this time, the evil Ruskies will be training with scientists and high tech machinery, pumping themselves full of dodgy chemical supplements.

However, when it comes down to the big match, our heroes will prevail over Russkie shenanigans by winning at the last minute, like The Mighty Ducks.

By Awe_Naw_No_Annoni_Oan_Anaw_Noo on July 17, 2009 1:47 PM
philvisreturns,

If you cant deal with the facts philvis then attack the personality behind it. LOL

I blame myself for not permitting the well at least we are not Rangers comments.

Honestly bud if you want to contribute to the forum and debate then do so. Personal attacks are irrelevant here on this virtual forum.

Yours in Celtic

Awe NAw
....................
Awe naw
could you be anymore patronising if you tried, and whilst attacking philvis for 'attacking the personality'
More like the truth is that most of these guys have heard absolutely all of this ad nauseum, ad infinitum from you. We were in the middle of speculating upon the euro draw, important news I'd say, and you just give it the same old same old broken record 'incompetent board sack the of them' etc. Can't you see that? Seriously I hate having a go at you like this but I'm just trying to see what makes you tick, mate? Why you do what you do? Even your user name is an insult toward a Celtic player (yes it's a funny one)
I loved your other line about us beating moscow 4-0 and then losing 5-0 over there, what then? Eh what then?
All the best mate
Del

philvisreturns,

I just hope we don't come out the tunnel in shiny suits dancing to "Living in America" by James Brown and then when the captains meet in the centre circle, their man punches Caldwell's fists away, looks him in the eye and says "I must break you".

If that happens then we're in real trouble...

mackybhoy,

I dont think we should be getting ahead of ourselves and I dont think we should be putting too much pressure on Tony Mowbury to begin with. He will need a season to settle in and patience (LOL) will be a virtue .. hence my question to aldo concerning gravestones. Tony will be given more leeway by the support due to him being a former player if that were to happen unless unlike Gordon Strachan he fails to win the SPL.

I think we should be more realistic yes we have bought two players but we have lost three.

I think beating Dundee Utd once or beating Hibs at Easter road will be massive this season.

Maybe acquiring a new left back before the CL game would give us all a lift ... probably even Lee Naylor.

HAil HAil

awenaw> the midas touch can be a problem as all that glitters is not gold ;-)
I dunno whats happened over the last 3 years after martin left, maybe like the mindset of the team selection and operating from a position of " just dont lose" under WGS it has spread among the support and we have a collective "just dont lose" pragmatism

previous to this (IMO)we had a "we are celtic..we dont care what the animals say" attitude...

ok some of us still do but since when should we be building our plans on what a self publicising arrogant despot of a man spouts to his laptop loyal....

fool me once blah blah blah...

slan
aldo

Awe Naw - it's not a personal attack to suggest you audition for Radiohead or The Verve, they're both good bands.

Had I meant to insult you I would have suggested S Club 7 or Billy Bragg.

doonhame del,

Welcome the Rolling Stones :-)

I cant be held responsible for your inability to handle more than one thread in your mind at a time blame your IQ. Or your propensity to press gang those that might irritate you - blame your mum and dad. Or your unquenchable desire to solicit favour from butch masochistic posters blame your hormonal imbalance. I accept that not everybody wants to answer these questions - even though it is CQN. So why dont you just skip it instead of behaving like an animal ?

HAil HAil

Awe Naw - I agree with many of your points, but can you please start spelling tony MoWBRAY's name right ?

Bankiebhoy
Been reading the threads about your PC problem!

MurdochauldandHay gave you good advice:
http://download.cnet.com/Malwarebytes-Anti-Malware/3000-8022_4-10804572.html?tag=mncol;pop

The program is free (you have to manually run it though!. You only pay if you want it to scan automatically. Latest versions of Norton
(360 V3 and Internet Security 2009) are excellent but don't rely on only one program for security. Only downside of Malwarebytes is that it only works on Windows XP. If you use VISTA than forget all my good advice! Good luck!

Once A Bhoy...... on July 17, 2009 1:56 PM
Dominic Cervi is indeed a Celtic player, and I think he is one to watch out for.

gsu

philvis

Do yourself and everybody on this board a favour and behave yourself. If you dont like my posts then try and behave in a civilised manner and skip them. Whats wrong with that?

BTW I agree both excellent bands but heavily influenced by other truly great bands.

HAil Hail

ToniBasilCSC

Moscow will be as chuffed with this draw as us
during our UC run we played at home first

Henriks Sombrero,

I will try but I´m sure if you check my post I get it right normally. I blame DBBIA for not keeping me in spelling check. :-)

HAil HAil

Aw_naw

"I´m just looking for answer to civilised genuine questions and concerns."

When people look for answers, they usually find them - even although there are always more questions than answers, but you're on some kind of virtual crusade against the board. You either need to get out more, or just learn to accept when you're powerless to change the status quo, because you certainly won't influence the board's behaviour by posting on here.

Hail Hail

Celtic rule out McCarthy transfer

Date: 17 July 2009
CELTIC manager Tony Mowbray has closed the door on a move for Hamilton midfielder James McCarthy.
Accies have reportedly agreed a fee with Wolves and Wigan of around £2million but the Parkhead club have also been linked with the Republic of Ireland Under-21 international.

However, asked if the 18-year-old was on his radar, Mowbray replied: "No, I would suggest not with the numbers that have been bandied around at the moment."

Mowbray, however, will have the services next season of Landry N'Guemo who signed on a year-long loan from French club Nancy.

Celtic have the option of making the move permanent at the end of the season if the 23-year-old Cameroon international impresses
"We are happy to have him on board", Mowbray said.

"He creates competition in a part of the field where we are a bit lighter than last year with Nakamura and Hartley moving on.

"I am looking forward to working with him and seeing how he gets on."

N'Guemo was glad of a chance to join the Parkhead side, saying: "I feel very happy.

"I joined because Celtic is a big club and it was a pleasure to know that Celtic wanted me."

(From the Scotsman)

I'll give BTM till Monday the 20th of July and if we don't come back winners of the Jock Stein Friendship Cup by thrashing the Wee Rovers playing the Celtic Way I think he should be sack!

Excuse me now while my nurse administers my medication to calm me down.

Cantankerous CSC

aldo67,

Re plans and despots

We shouldn´t but we do

It does mean we are defined by what they do - sad huh ? and this guy is the majority owner of Celtic.

lubo1977 - I don't see that happening. They are in awe of our decadent kepitalist rock and roll. So we should roll out the big guns, like Del Amitri.

If that doesn't impress them, we can get Scotland's answer to Anna Kournikova, Michelle McManus, to seduce their team captain so his mind isn't on the match.

norton is about as much use as a chocolate fireguard, avast! and to a lesser degree AVG will give more consistent anti virus...
ive been using avast! for months now and havent even caught a cold....
good basic house keeping of your pc and clearing cookies etc can help..
advanced windows care, ATF or Ccleaner will help your pc run faster
and if you use p2p torrents etc then use a guard filter...

So
The Landry is in the basket ( sorry couldnt resist that one )

We aint paying gazillions for a plooky faced wee bhoy, even if he is one of us, and there is still no sign of a left back, do you think there's maybe a secret rule at parkhead about not being allowed to sign one ? As In " Right Mogga the job's yours, but your on probation and if you even think about signing a left back, your history !"

The boss has said according to the GET that there "could" be a couple of arrivals before the CL deadline, which as we all know usually means there wont be, I reckon we should have a whip round and get Maulder & Scully on to the mysterious case of the missing left back.....

Ming

By Stefferano del Bhoyo on July 17, 2009 2:30 PM

I'm sure that in other times Celtic would have taken a £2M punt on McCarthy but with limited funds Mowbray will want to use them on guys who will be starters or on the bench every week reday to come on and add value when they do.

We probably have a few lads on the books with the McCartney technical and physical profile (less his playing experience of course) that will not cost £2M.

Jack_Bauer's_a_Tim ,

I know that for sure but be rest assured I have influenced many Celtic supporters and friends and my very large extended family who in turn influence there´s.

The number of emails of support that I have had from lurkers when I have posted my email address is an impressive list that I have a dedicated email account for. They are all massive Celtic fans hence they wouldn´t be still be emailing me.

I also reckon that CQN is more for the cerebral Celtic fan than the cheerleader types. Personally I think that the cheerleader types should be seen and read less ..... yawnnnnn Zzzzzz.... I find that far more boring than those that ask questions.We are a broad church however and although the brainless cheer leading is as irritating to us as is the intelligent questions to the cheerleaders. We need to be able to demonsrate in a civilised manner as Tims that we can accept that. That stuff I normally skip until one of them assumes an intelligence that he hasn´t demonstrated ever. :-)

So why no sacking so far. Discuss ? :-)

HAil HAil

greensideupAuthor Profile Page on July 17, 2009 2:27 PM

Thanks for taking the time mate..........cheers. Competition is what Artur needs.

You've got to love big Anton's honesty eh! How refreshing after years of that annoying wee nyaff!

In fairness if 2m is the fe its a lot to pay especially if BTM has it earmarked for a left back.

Our midfield should be good enough to at least win the league.

Up front and left back still needs work.

DD

Once a bhoy,
Cervi is a 6'6" 23 year old goal keeper that we signed from Michigan Bucks recently.
He came over on trial last year but his signing was held up as he didn't have any caps for the US at full level so he applied for an Italian passport to gain European citizenship.

He's is meant to be a real cracker and would have been a good backup to Zaluska had we sold THG in this window.

/Bishop B

MurdochAuld and Hay

Way Hay Hay!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

That did it matey, Free at last, Free at last!!

"Roaming in the Cyber Gloaming.....with a dongle in my hand........................"

Thanks Matey - Cyber pints being pitched in your direction!

Bankiebhoy1

Auldheid - that's pretty much my take on it too. Would rather we put the 2 million towards a left back (please).

By ExiledBhoy on July 17, 2009 2:39 PM
I'm beginning to despair on the left back situation. There are two lads at Hearts and Dundee Utd (Wallace and Dixon) that would strenghten that position and not cost the earth. I'd rather spend up to £2m on one of them than McCarthy at present.

Aw_Naw

Just for you......

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pb1XXs7e7ac

Cheers

JBAT

Len Brennan on July 17, 2009 2:43 PM

Cheers Len. I thought he was signed and found mention of such online but couldn't remember any photoshoot at CP..........I thought with him and Zaluska signing the writing was on the wall for Artur funding squad strengthening elsewhere this window. I don't see us keeping all 3 happy with 2 on the bench/stands watching. The thick plottens!!!

awe naw> there must be an end in sight..its not like a sausage :-)

im now thinking of Landry and his raptors...

maybe the training pitches at lennoxtown will have 11 metal perches with all the celtic players sitting on them wearing them little hoods that cover the heads and eyes to keep them calm..
when the training kicks off tony whips off the hoods and has a win bonus on a bit of string that he waves about his head....
while certain board members try and shorten the bit of string with a pair of scissors saying " watch you dont get yer fingers bitten ..ha ha..."...

PHIlvis,Doon Hamer,Jack

Take a leaf out of Auldheid and Exiledbhoys book.

They know me better and how to get rid of me.

Discussions on the possibilities of Celtic signing a quality left back or is it just left back has been going on for five years now. That always makes me leave CQN pretty sharpish as it really rams home to me how crap our club is ran.

HAil Hail

or do you 'always look on the SH*** side of life?'

AuldHeid at 12.17

If you've not gone to the country yet you may catch this.

I have reservations about the feasability of a Celtic TV initiative.

I love Celtic but I would say this also I think the standard of competition in the SPL and the excitement generated at a Celtic game in the SPL is less than guaranteed and more often than not is patchy at its best. That is why apart from the Rangers games most Celtic matches shown are those away from home where there might be a contest. So I ask myself the question that if Celtic were playing any of Hamilton St Johnstone Kilmarnock St Mirren or Motherwell at Celtic Park and I had to pay to watch it, would I? Psychology is important I believe and the product could only be sold on a monthly subscription basis for all matches else games such as these would not attract an audience.

Beyond that I have read often on this blog and others of the haggling most indulge for a reduction in monthly cost with both Setanta and Sky for football shown and I wonder where the enthusiasm for a PPV scheme would come from.

Add in the unknown costs of production and I am not as certain as you seem to be that this has legs.

The bottom line for me is that supporter loyalty and enthusiasm extends only so far and that as we all unfortunately know the problem that exists lies with the SPL and Scottish Football in general. It really is a poor poor product. Until reality bites, clubs fold and /or amalgamate with the sole purpose of providing entertainment that the public will pay for we will stumble on getting exactly what we deserve. I believe we are very much in a situation of force change or wither and die.

Sorry for being a party pooper.

tough draw, but Id rather a big name than some unknown 'pub team' with all the pitfalls that said pub teams can provide

Thanks to everyone with suggested comp remedies.

Cheers Lads.

Bankiebhoy1 ( Nanu, Nanu!)

Auldheid

Lee Wallace has the Fizog of a skelpt whippet, which would usually make him more suitable for the penal colony at mordor, however, we live in the 21st Century and being fizogily challenged is not the barrier it used to be, so mibees..

On the Dixon case, I tend to think that Dundee Utd players are a bit like the women left in the club at the end of the night, made up to look a lot better than they do when you get them to your place, and, in the cold light of the following morning, a bit of a let down

Equally, Since we cant shop in the EPL for any real value, I cant begin to think of a well known candidate that we could afford, I think we will probably end up with a young Frenchy or Spanish kid, or even possibly somebody whose name would score 100+ at scarbble from the former soviet republic of whateveristan....

M

philvisreturns- i agree. an 80s style montage would greatly help our preparation for the game against those pesky commies. i think now is the time to sign chuck norris. have him playing in the centre of midfield, he'll sort them out. great captain material too.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oKTiwCez6Zs&feature=channel

Aw-Naw

I'm not trying to 'get rid of you'; I just wonder why you are so negative about all that is Celtic but still claim to be a fan. It can't be good for your mental health.

Having to 'boast' that you have a lot of contacts in an e-mail address folder seems a bit too much like a cry for reassurance. Let it go....or goosfraba, as the eskimos say.

DonegalD

Can you not just let it go FGS!

Ghordon Strachan is gone FGS. So you think Celtic should do all its communication and negotiations through the meeja. Be open and tansparent at all times.

Negotiations can be like poker....

I'd love to play you at poker!

And BTW I can not think of one incident where Ghordon Strachan lied to the Celtic supporters. If he chose not to talk to the meeja on their (the meeja's) terms then he found me in support for one!

Cannot get excited about anything at Celtic park
right now
Still miffed off at the inept performance of the board
last season and have not renewed (first time since we
returned from Hampden)
Worst kept secret was the fact that the second placed team
in Scotland would be unlikely to qualify for the CL
due to the high level of competition of the teams trying to qaulify
Why oh why did the board pick last season to self destruct!!!!!!!!
Had a laugh at J Reid's rampant hypocratic outburst when he ranted at the spl about a 12 million drop in revenue to Celtic when he knew better, but no mention of the fact he watched a 15 million Cl pot melt away like last years snow.
Still cannot raise any excitement about anything coming from
Celtic Park right now
seatinthepub emerald

DonegalD

And again your being a height fascist!

Jack,

I´m stuck in a moment that I cant get out of. If only those in the pl could learn to behave like proper tims I´d get out of it ;-)

Don't believe the devil
I don't believe his book
But the truth is not the same
Without the lies he made up

Don't believe in excess
Success is to give
Don't believe in riches
But you should see where I live
I...I believe in love

Don't believe in forced entry
Don't believe in rape
But every time she passes by
Wild thoughts escape
I don't believe in death row
Skid row or the gangs
Don't believe in the Uzi
It just went off in my hand
I...I believe in love

Don't believe in cocaine
Got a speed-ball in my head
I could cut and crack you open
Do you hear what I said
Don't believe them when they tell me
There ain't no cure
The rich stay healthy
The sick stay poor
I...I believe in love

Don't believe in Goldman
His type like a curse
Instant karma's going to get him
If I don't get him first
Don't believe in rock 'n' roll
Can really change the world
As it spins in revolution
It spirals and turns
I...I believe in love

Don't believe in the 60's
The golden age of pop
You glorify the past
When the future dries up
Heard a singer on the radio late last night
He says he's gonna kick the darkness
'til it bleeds daylight
I...I believe in love

I feel like I'm falling
Like I'm spinning on a wheel
It always stops beside of me
With a presence I can feel
I...I believe in love

Hail Hail

Awe_Naw_No_Annoni_Oan_Anaw_Noo,

Who would you sack?

IMO, the manager was backed to the hilt. He spent more in his 3 seasons than any other club in Scotland. His net spend was massive and certainly bigger than all other teams. I'd suggest his net spend was bigger than Rangers in 2008/2009 as season in which they spent big.

So why do you keep saying the Board was at fault?

Now, IMO, having thought about it I reckon the Board was at fault BUT for entirely different reasons to you.

They backed the manager well - the facts easily illustrate this to be true.

We still have not learnt our lessons from the last 2 manager's about putting a structure in place to control profligate spending without due process.

I'd suggest that any manager should be allowed a maximum of 25 1st team players.
They should only be allowed to sign new players if they move on players from the 25.
They should have a net spend allowed for each of the next 3 years. Any savings should be fed through to the following season to discourage spending for the sake of it.
The net spend should be amended upwards based on targets achieved (basically CL qualifications and to a lesser extent league victory)
They should be allowed 3 tiers of players within the 25 - Perhaps 5 top, 10 middle and 10 lower corresponding to wages.
Clearly there would have to be some modest flexibility in this but in general, I'd like to see something like this implemented....
It woulsd encourage proper asset management.... manager's seem to fail to understand that binning players has a significant cost ... putting them in the shop window is a necessary evil on occasion.

Anyway that's my thought for the day.. don't think any of it will happen though... I just feel evry time a manager moves on we end up with a bloated pool and a poor squad.. these 'rules' should help the manager and the board keep a bit more of control.

B

Once A Bhoy...... on July 17, 2009 2:43 PM

No trouble at all mate, I see Len as usual has more facts and figures. He did the right thing in rejecting a cotract offer from the MSL for around 40 or 50 K in us dollars. I hear he has tremendous atheleticism for a guy his size, we will probably be hearing a lot about this guy in years to come.

gsu

steelica on July 17, 2009 3:04 PM

Calm yourself love...

Yes I think its great big Tony is honest with us.

I can think of many many times WGS lied to us all.. After every rotten game last season when he gave us the usual 'That was a right good game, we should've won..'

Honesty is the best policy.

And I'd love to play football against you almost as much as you'd like to play poker against me.

DD

So if we get through this one (the home tie the key - big effort to bury them), we then will play either Arsenal, Athletico Madrid, Stuttgart, Fiorentina or Lyon in a final play-off round.

Every one of those five have been involved in transfers totalling tens of millions this summer.

Europa League here we come, I fear.

A price paid for utter lack of professionalism in closing out the league last season.

I trust any failure in Europe will not fall against TM's regime in the eyes of the support.

On that point, all those who raised voices against TM's appointment and accused the club of lack of ambition in not pursuing Roberto Martinez any further may chose now to renew their discontent amid wigan's awesome preseason performances (0-1 at Crewe) and the signings; Jason Scotland for the hoops anyone?

Thought not...

This is ridiculous this game is not on our season books. A joke of a decision. I don't believe CP will sell out for this game and we need it jumping.

Re James McCarthy

Tony Mowbray - "No, I would suggest not with the numbers that have been bandied around at the moment."

STV - "Celtic Priced Out Of Move For McCarthy"

Hmmm. Deciding he is not worth the money he is being sold for obviously means we can't afford him.

Whatever next?

How's this for a headline STV...

"Rangers Priced Out Of Move For Everyone"

mickybhoy> "Had a laugh at J Reid's rampant hypocratic outburst ">>>>of course its hippocratic..the mans a qualified doctor!!!
ok im being pedantic..its friday...
Iswearbyapollo CSC

Jack,

Of course your not trying to get rid of me. Its the other way around on here normally. Your new on CQN ? How long have you been supporting the tic ? Only Paul67 can officially remove someone from his blog. If I was a cheerleader and a coffee table psychologist like yourself then maybe I would have the capacity to move on - we should get you on board - your the perfect calibre

Aldo67,

LOL ... lets hope that TB is Kes big Brother and PL is Kes. I can equate the failed bookie slapping scene with the failed to acquire yet again a left back.

Hail Hail

Sandman

Fairpoint, but the song that came out about him in the world cup was funny as f....... !!!

M

Australia 49-2. More rain...

awe naw its awe naw

do you ever have moments of clarity and read some of the stuff you write?
The shite you've come out with today against myself and others reads like someone with serious issues about something. Or a pissed up ned.Or both.

But the most pathetic stuff is the keyboard hardman stuff. Pitiful little man.

The crucufix round my neck has just brought me back to myself. So just so you know I feel sorry for you, and hope genuinely you become a better person one day.

Rogue

I noticed that as well, sounds as though BTM would have a look but not at silly money.

Midfield is ok for the league IMO need left back and an attacker whether that be a naka replacement or another striker.

All over 5ft 10 please, eh steelica :-)

DD

So someone having a difference of opinion to you makes them a liar!

Is that the case on planet Donegaldanny?

BTM has a different approach to Ghordon to the meeja...we shall wait and see if that remains the case when the press turns ugly on Celtic (and that will happen as sure as night follows day).

If The Manager has the enjoys the same success as Gordon then we will all be extremely happy hoopies!

Was told by coyles family he didn't take the job because of the small
Transfer budget looks like its true

Sad but losing out on mccarthy is biscuit tin penny pinching

Celtic it was ever thus

Hail hail

Tony Mowbray - BBC Website.

"We are happy to take whoever it was and I don't have any preferences in cup draws. We are not in the industry of making excuses"

Nudge Nudge Wink Wink Tony....

"No excuses" - I Like it!!

awenaw> i can see a bag of chips replacing a left back funnily enough...just like Kes!

by coincidence..what is a coffee table psychologist?
someone that helps coffee tables adjust functionally to other furniture?

Steelica

It was blatent lies, or else blatent stupidity wouldn't you agree?

A right good game when we couldn't beat teams away from home? On planet DonegalDanny that sound like arrogant wee man syndrome to me and many others even on here.

If BTM endures a dreadful season like last season I don't think there'll be many happy hoopies do you?

I'm sure that won't happen though as Tony Mowbrays quite tall :-)

DD

Aw-Naw

For someone who 'only looks for genuine answers' you do a good line in snide remarks. I might be a new poster on CQN but have lurked for a few years.

On the basis of a few posts, you have me assessed as a cheerleader and coffee table psychologist? Wow, what a guy!

FYI my first game watching Celtic was v Dunfermline in May '66; have you ever been to a game?

DD - I know I shouldn't be surprised but it just gets on my wick that they are so blatant. It is a joke of a headline based on wishful thinking rather than even tenuous fact.

I agree about the midfield. If we could get young James, brilliant get him on board, but the budget should not be compromised because of it. We need a LB, another striker (this Le Havre guy on trial might be a good shout, he is a JP shout I here) and a Naka replacement.

And yes, all over 5'10" please.

You will be pleased at the ethnicity of the latest signings :)

although I better not mention that again as the PC brigade will no doubt sound the rallying call...

I dont think McCarthy would be an automatic first team player for us and we cannot spend £2M on a plyer who is not first choice. Thats just the financial climate we are in unfortunately

Eustace - "Sad but losing out on mccarthy is biscuit tin penny pinching "

You have just followed the exact same thread that the STV reporter did. That alone should make you stop and re-assess your thoughts.

New songs if we sign trialist striker Amadou Alassane

Am-a-dou-dou-dou, get the ba, go on a scoring spree
Ama-dou-dou-dou, get the ba, score two or three
With the left, with the right,with your head or use your knee
Come and score every night, sing the Celtic Symphony

or

Oooh we'll love Alassane
Open up the Champagne, he's a ray of sunshine
Oooh we'll love Alassane

Well love Alassane
Love Alassane

Oooh we'll love Alassane
Open up the Champagne, he's a ray of sunshine
Oooh we'll love Alassane

Well love Alassane
Well love Alassane

Thin White Duke CSC

BromleyBhoy,

If the manager has a budget that he is aware of and has complete control over who he wants and how much he pays then then I can go with most of what you stipulate. Unfortunately that is not the case at Celtic Park as you well know hence why I am surprised as some of what you stipulate. We (thats me and you) unfortunately can only assume how the club is run due to the lack of accountability and transparency. Gordon Strachan was the patsie. He knew for sure that one day he would be. That is how Celtic is ran. The lack of a summer spend and winter spend was why WGS left. He along with us (not so much the board apart from applying their miserable policy) were the reasons the club managed to re-address the debt and lose out on CL Millions.

Is TM a MON type or a WGS type ... we´re about to find out and I am really looking forward to seeing how his tenure unravels and as I said above to Aldo our only hope collectively is that he has the midas touch and has knocked the recruitment by committee into touch and has banged a few heads with regards scouting and will be around long enough to invigorate for the first time since Jock Stein a successful youth program

Hail Hail

bhoatless in yorkshire

you knew damned fine that the wierder ones among us would have hours of fun perusing the website of that pub. I see that they defend the bible as well as the crown. Busy b's! I liked the message board especially. One poster said that he was Rangers til he died, quickly folllowed by the same post suffixed with "1690"...for the avoidance of any doubt presumably. My favourite though is the extract below...

"hi anne from orange and blue disco larkhall scotland....."

I assume some on here have heard of this thing. Talk about niche marketing! I suppose if there has to be an "Orange and Blue" disco, Larkhall is a good place for it.

trust you to go to BB's in the close season!

DundeePerth on July 17, 2009 3:20 PM

need to be careful posting that one mate, you don't want to start a "contempt for the meeja" debate :))

gsu

Aw naw
Jack
Doonhamme
Lads puleez.

Remember you are making all of this up as you go along and can make up what happens next.

Why not make up that you make up?

Izitcositsfairfriday ur sumphin?

RogueLeader

Delighted with them so far, i'm telling you stronger fitter faster, just look at the pictures of N'Guemo and Fortune, both are pure muscle. They are athletes pure and simple and we'll see a difference right away.

We should've got Tim Attouba as well at left back!

DD

philvisreturns @ 2:20

easy on the Billy Bragg comments ....

remember being at one of his shows a few years ago, and he was going on about his love for West Ham (okay, so no one's perfect) ... when some yob in the crowd shouts out 'rangers' ... without missing a beat, Billy responds '**** them, they're just a bunch of racists'.... shut the guy right up

Billy's always been okay in my book, but he went up another level after that.

Rouge leader

Don't be such a sanctimonious bhoy

Its penny pinching plain and simple

I'm sure even you lot at the celtic pr dept can see that

Hail hail

Ps coyle was told 2 million net

doonhame del & Jack

It´s good that I am getting to you. That reaction is exactly what I am looking for. Thanks for indulging me. You´ll be looking out for my posts regularly from now on. That´s exactly what I intended. Lurking for years Jack yep sure ;-) When you get that angry that the spelling goes out the window and your grappling at crucifixes ... pleases me no end.

Why do you not take my advice and start behaving like tims. Instead of working yourselves into a right lather. We dont want to be hearing about virtual heart attacks or visits to the confessional box.

Ignore me and move on or join my homoerotic fan club .. what´s it to be ...

Hail Hail

So RogueLeader and DD

If we cam across the next Roberto Carlos or Bixente Lizarazu and they are of the same dimensions we should rule them out on grounds of only being 5'8" and 5'61/2" respectivley?

Steelica who thought we wanted federation footballers not Gaelic Footballers.

And god save us from the likes of Xavi, Iniesta and Messi.

Awe_Naw_No_Annoni_Oan_Anaw_Noo on July 17, 2009 3:26 PM

Was it not possible if not plausible that the reason there was no spend in the winter window, was down to WGS already resigned to leaving?

gsu

Auldheid
I admire your work, esp on kds, but you wanna have a read of what this little man Awe naw has been coming out with in the last 2-3 hours. Conduct unbecoming for sure. I just feel sad for him, what can you do?
awe the best, keep up the good work
Del

Afternoon all,
Here is the latest update of the list.

-------------------------------------------

CONFIRMED TRANSFERS IN:

Name------------Age-----Club---------------Source----------Fee

Zaluska---------27------Dundee Utd---------Various---------Signed for free (01/07)
Fortune---------27------Nancy--------------Various---------Signed for undisclosed fee (08/07)
N'Guémo---------23------Nancy--------------Various---------Loan deal for 1yr (16/09)

CONFIRMED TRANSFERS OUT:
Name------------Age-----Club---------------Source----------Fee

Nakamura--------30------Espanyol-----------Various---------Free
Balde-----------33------Wolves(Trial)------Various---------Free
Hesselink-------30------Bristol City-------Various---------Free
Hartley---------32------Bristol City-------Various---------Free
Doumbe----------30------None mentioned-----CFC-------------Free
Cuthbert--------22------Swindon Town-------BBC-------------£100K (13/07)

UNCONFIRMED SHAMPOO RUMOURS:

KEEPERS:
Name------------Age-----Club---------------Source----------Fee

Gordon----------26------Sunderland---------Independent-----No fee mentioned

DEFENDERS:
Name------------Age-----Club---------------Source----------Fee

Sylvinho--------34------Barcelona----------Various---------Free
Rat-------------27------Shaktar------------Various---------£2.5-£4m
Cech------------26------WBA----------------ET--------------No fee mentioned
Ottesen---------25------SönderjyskE--------LOTW------------No fee mentioned
Ricketts--------27------Hull City----------Vitalfootball---No fee mentioned
Petkovic--------23------Eintracht----------NOTW------------£1.5M
St Ledger-------24------Preston North End--Hunday Mail-----£1.5M
Caceres---------21------Barcelona----------Frech press-----Loan
Diaz------------25------Wisla Kraków-------Eurosport-------£1.5M
Calvé-----------25------Nancy--------------French site-----No fee mentioned
Angelov---------31------Energie Cottbus----ET--------------£1M
Fox-------------23------Coventry City------Mirror----------£800K
Krizanac--------30------Zenit SP-----------Rumour Mill-----£3M

MIDFIELDERS:
Name------------Age-----Club---------------Source----------Fee

Kljestan--------22------Chivas USA---------Footylatest-----No fee mentioned
Valero----------24------WBA----------------KTF-------------£4M
Sharbini--------21------NK Rijeka----------Express---------£3M
Stilic----------21------Lech Poznan--------Various---------£2M (Possibly due on trial in July with a Lech team mate)
Vargas----------19------Cobreloa-----------Independent-----£1.5M
Beuzelin--------30------Coventry City------Express---------Free
Meghni----------25------Lazio--------------Various---------£2.5-£4M quoted (Possible Donati plus cash deal?!?)
Zemmama---------25------Hibs---------------Arabic site-----£2M
Ferguson--------17------Newcastle United---The Chronicle---No fee mentioned
Marques---------24------Iraklis------------Express---------Free - Player offered trial with us (14/07)
Hasebe----------25------Wolfsburg----------Tribalfootball--No fee mentioned
Aguiar----------28------Hertz--------------Independent-----No fee mentioned
Bischoff--------22------Arsenal------------Sunday Mercury--Free
Ivanschitz------25------Panathinaikos------Austrian press--£750K
Menseguez-------25------San Lorenzo--------SSN-------------Possible loan
Bouazza---------24------Fulham-------------SSN-------------£1M
Greening--------30------WBA----------------Fanzone---------£2.5M

STRIKERS:
Name------------Age-----Club---------------Source----------Fee

Mandzukic-------23------Dinamo Zagreb------TNFP------------£8M (WIT!)
Arango----------29------Real Mallorca------Setanta---------£3.4M
Kamara----------28------Fulham-------------Various---------£5M
Naumoski--------25------SV Mattersburg-----Express---------£650
Lewandowski-----20------Lech Poznan--------Various---------£5M (Possibly due on trial in July with a Lech team mate)
Reyes-----------25------Athletico Madrid---Express---------Free
Seydou----------21------BSC Young Boys-----Rumour Mill-----£1.5-£2.5M quoted
Garcia----------31------Atheltico Madrid---Spanish sites---Possible loan
Alassane--------26------Le Havre-----------The Sun---------£1M - Player on week long trial (17/07)

CONFIRMED SHAMPOO RUMOURS:

Name------------Age-----Club---------------Source----------Fee

KEEPERS:
Turnbul---------24------Middlesbrough------BBC-------------Signs for Chelski for free (01/07)

DEFENDERS:
Hreidarsson-----34------Portsmouth---------Daily Rectum----Signed new 1 yr contract with Portsmouth (23/06)
Bjarsmyr--------23------Gothenburg---------The Sun---------£400K - Panathinaikos agreed terms with player (04/07)
Atouba----------27------Hamburg------------Hunday Mail-----Signed 2 year deal with Ajax for free (07/07)
Jones-----------29------Hibs---------------Express---------Hibs accepted £350K from Scunthorpe (09/07)
Robinson--------30------WBA----------------Various---------Signs for Bolton on 1 year loan (12/07)
Collins---------25------West Ham Utd-------Daily Mail------Sunderland have offered £5M (14/07)
Castillo--------23------Real Sociedad------Various---------Reportedly signed for Bilbao for free (16/07)

MIDFIELDERS:
Gomez-----------24------Espanyol-----------Various---------Signed for Wigan for £1.7M (19/06)
Gercaliu--------23------Red Bull Salzburg--Express---------Signed for SC Wiener Neustadt for undisclosed fee (30/06)
Commons---------25------Derby--------------Various---------BTM states we have no interest in the player (09/07)
Tisza-----------24------Ujpest-------------Hungarian site--Cup-tied after playing in the EL qualifier (16/07)
McCarthy--------18------Hamilton Accies----Various---------TM states we end our interest in the player (17/07)

STRIKERS:
Fletcher--------22------Hibs---------------Various---------Signed for Burnley for £3M (01/07)
Kucharczyk------18------Swit Nowy Dwor-----Polish press----Signed for Legia Warsaw for undiclosed fee (01/07)
Owen------------30------Newcastle Utd------Various---------Signed for Man Utd for free (03/07))
Cox-------------22------Swindon Town-------BBC-------------Signed for WBA for £1.5M (08/07)
Campbell--------23------ManUre-------------Daily Star------Signed fot Sunderland for £3.5M (11/07)
Viduka----------33------Newcastle Utd------The Sun---------BTM rules out a move or the former Celt (12/07)
Janko-----------25------Red Bull Salzburg--Various---------Cup-tied after playing in the CL qualifier (15/07)

RUMOURED TRANSFERS OUT:

Name------------Age-----Club---------------Source----------Fee

Naylor----------28------Various------------Various---------No fee mentioned
McGeady---------22------Spurs/Hull---==----Express---------£8M
Donati----------27------West Ham-----------Rumour Mill-----No fee mentioned
Brown (S)-------23------Spurs/Villa--------Various---------£9M
Boruc-----------28------Bayern Munich------Mirror----------£8M
Killen----------25------Wellington Phoenix-Various---------No fee mentioned
Caldwell--------27------Wigan/Burnley------The Sun---------£3M
Loovens---------25------Birmingham---------Daily Rectum----£5M
McDonald--------25------Hull---------------Daily Rectum----£6M
Brown (M)-------28------Aberdeen/Dundee U--Rumour Mill-----No fee mentioned
Naylor----------29------Burnley/WBA/Stoke--Rumour Mill-----£2M

-------------------------------------------

/Bishop B

Steelica

Not at all I think Caddis is a great wee player, however in the SPL as was shown last season we get muscled out far too easily. hearts and Hibs games were perfect examples of that.

N'Guemo is only 5ft 8 but I bet he can hold his...but not in the biblical sense you understand..

DD

Awe_Naw_No_Annoni_Oan_Anaw_Noo,

Again... how many players did we sell last year?

Do you really think it's sensible to increase the squad size ad infinitum... It's all well and good looking at transfer fees... but those wages must have been a sod with the number or 1st teamers that couldn't get a sniff of a game.

It was even wierder about Gordon Strachan... cos I'd got the impression he could deal well at southampton... then he comes here and barely sells a player and just keeps buying more wee diddies... honestly it was bizarre - could not one person tell him that he needed to get height and strength or was everyone too afraid cos he was such a small guy himself and it might seem insulting?

Why sign the players he did sign last year? Flood/Maloney - 2 more midgets... and Samaras a player who failed his trial?? I mean surely someone could tell Gordon that this was not a good idea.

B

Eustace P Merryweather:

We look to acquire Players, part of the research is deciding how much the Manager believes the Player is worth...in the case of McCarthy he belives he is not worth the asking price...this is not the biscuit tin mentality, which disappeared in 1994!

You as are the media entitled to put your own spin on why we are not progressing with the McCarthy signing!

My spin is this; we are doing okay with Players in the position McCarthy plays and whilst I think he is an exciting prospect. I also fear we will never see him in the Hoops as his stock will grow and we will definetely be priced out of future chances to sign him. Unless his Agentis wise enough to insert a clause that he can go if a certain amount is offered!!!

You can never say never though who knows we may pay £6 million for him in the future; this would dispell the biscuit mentatility but no doubt there will be those who will moan...we could have had him for £2 million.

The truth of the matter he is Hamilton's Player and they are entitled to hold out for what THEY believe he is worth, good luck to them if they can get it. And good luck to McCarthy, a shame though as I do genuinely believe he wants to go to Celtic!

I would much rather that the extra money would have had to be added to what we were to offer be used to strenghten other areas of the Team that we are light on e.g. LB!

PS: I'm not having a pop at you just expressing my opinion as were you!

...is made for you and me!

Hail Hail Hail!

Eustace - Sanctimonious for not automatically assuming that we are skint and are therefore not moving for McCarthy rather than giving the benefit of the doubt to BTM and assuming he doesn't believe McCarthy to be worth the money he is going for?

Nice one. There has been alot of personal stuff flying round here this afternoon so I am not surprised to see you joining in.

Some reports are saying £2.5m up front now and then add ons. I would agree that is too much for the lad.

Oh and now the Daily Record have joined their loyal brothers at STV and followed your assessment of the situation. For you that should be a second red flag to get you to reassess your opinion.

greensideup,

Very possible. I reckon the Loovens deal when GS waxed lyrical about 6m Gary Caldwell was the straw that broke the camels back. So instead of it being a winter of discontent it was a summer.

Reacting to the Kaunus result was why WGS ultimately quit IMHO

HAil HAil

By ExiledBhoy on July 17, 2009 3:00 PM

I think it was Absurdistan.

My choices were based on limited viewings of said offerings, but I take your point on what we can afford and what we get.

Its a bit like queueing outside a left back store in the old USSR. You know there might not be any stock but if they are they are not worth the 100 rubles you are asked to pay.

sheeeeeesh kebab

i just love the way that newish posters or peeps that have lurked for years feel the need to "establish credentials".... resorting to foul language and then pointing the finger at others...
first time ive spent any time on here in ages....is it new?
must be a close season thing!

Steelica - not at all. Lenny isn't a giant and held his own however last year we were clearly outmuscled. We desperately need more height and power in the side, especially in the spine of the team.

Does that make me heightist and musclyist too?

For me McCarthy has potential, maybe more than most of his age in the SPL, but not worth a punt of 7 figures given his cv to date.

It is similar to the Fletcher transfer. The price is inflated and TM doesn't see either as value for money at this time. I agree, not to say he won't prove us wrong. I wish him well.

We do not have enough of a kitty to throw circa £2.5M at potential. We need to sign 1st team shoo-ins for that sort of money.(preferably of the Left Back variety?)

3 more to come I hope LB, CB & goalscorer. Spend it wisely Tony.

DD

Whit N'Guemo is only 5'8"...utter disgrace. Now I never said I liked my holding midfielders to be one of the AntHill Mob did I?;-(

A lot of what Awe Naw No Annoni Anaw Noo says makes a lot of sense but like all of us who post on CQN there are areas which we may disagree with him.However,it appears one or two new posters have decided to have a go at him for his views.Surely the point of any blog is for somone to express his or her opinion and for others who disagree with the views to post there opinion and then to debate there points.So to you new Bhoys ( you know who I mean) stop slagging off a fellow Celtic supporter and enter into the spirit of debate on CQN. May your Day be Blessed.

Bromleybhoy,

Maybe PL should not have bought so many without getting rid of some of them first (See Bobo , See Riordhan, See Miller)

WGS turned Celtic around financially due to his wheeling and dealing and ability to compromise. A quality MON just did not have.

I think that the athletes that we required was not due to any discrimination but that Celtic were not prepared to pay what was necessary to require such athletes.

HAil Hail

Aldo- modernCQN is rubbish ;_)

awe naw
anybody'd see right through that feeble effort.

Talk to anybody your own size like that out of the house do you? Ha Ha pity the fool, hopefully you'll grow out of it.

Although IQ isn't a perfect measure of intelligence ,I highly doubt your's exceeds mine unless it's well north of 150. You brought it up.

All I hope is you have a read of some of the bile and unneccesary personal stuff later and have the cojones to come back and apologise. That would be behaving like a real tim as you put it.
Del

By doonhame del on July 17, 2009 3:36 PM

Och I know its easy to get caught up in the debate, done it myself.

Just thought I would call for a Timeout.

Trouble was the wife heard me and hit me on the heid wi a biscuit!

Eustace...:

If Mowbray thinks that McCarthy could add something immediately and really wanted him, do you think the Board would not fork out another £1.75 millionish to what WGS bid for him earlier in the year!!

If TM wanted McCarthy I have no doubt he would not being to Wolves or Wigan, he would be getting paraded in the Hoops!

...is made for you and me!

Hail Hail!

Awe_Naw_No_Annoni_Oan_Anaw_Noo

agreed, it's time we put the blinders on and not worried what's going on over there. I see the shirt deal is in the news again, a good opportunity to start distancing ourselves from them once again.

Do you think it will happen?

gsu

steelica - meant to add a wee :) to the end of my last post to you!

dbbia> :-)
has it stopped raining yet?

del > behave yerself...thats a toy out the pram remark....
get a grip man....

Steelica

Lenny wasn't big either, difference was he had three rather massive chaps behind him that scared the life out of people shuld they manage to get past him.

Thats been a problem for us for the last few seasons, there needs to be a mix of skill, pace and brute strength.

Donatis bigger than N'guemo but I bet Landry could throw him about like an empty tracksuit.

DD

what are the requirements for getting into the USSR these days.

Is a Visa required?
What if you go with Thomas rip off Cook?

falkirkbhoy

a time machine

UC

Some off the wall rumours from the rumours website.

Celtic to sign Toulouse striker Soren Larsen. The 27 year old has scored 11 goals in 15 games for the Danish national team.

Christian Vieri– who turned down the chance to join Celtic on a pre–season trial– is highly unlikely to be offered a contract by Blackburn Rovers due to his extreme lack of fitness. However this has not put off Celtic and a one year contract is set to be offered next week after Mowbray convinced Peter Lawell he desperately needs at least one experience striker before the Champions League qualifying draw.
SHOOTER

Cadizzy on July 17, 2009 3:30 PM

I knew you would like that site, one comment said it was a great place to take your grankids and take a picture of them wearing a balaclava and holding a plastic AK 47.

Here is some reviews of the pub on a beer drinking site called "Beer in the Evening"

Different....although not my cup of tea.....it may appeal to to some disfunctional rejects who have an alchoholic disfunction and a strange view with politics/religion/cleanliness/beer taste/aroma/parrots and other seaside attire!!!
Report this for removal littleoldwinedrinkerme - 6 Jul 2009 00:52

Different. I did notice the sectarian stuff on the walls, but then i really dont give a flying monkey about things like that, as i know i just pop in to try a beer. You can go to whole swathes of places in Brum that are Irish themed pubs and happily show it, so if thats what the owners want to do, thats their choice, they live with the business decision.

Different is the parrot, who sits in a non-sectarian way, on his perch, unpaid

What i was in turmoil about was the painful strains offered by the karaoke singers, under the guise of popular music. Dulled for just a short period by half of Cameron's Smooth, which again was different to the other pubs, i actually thought it was the parrot that was singing, until he asked me to leave for my insulting behaviour.

Overall verdict - different!
Report this for removal Archivist - 12 May 2009 20:17

Whichever sectarian persuasion or football club you support you will have to wipe your feet when you exit this hole.
Report this for removal muzzyofrotherham - 19 Apr 2009 20:50

Should even be on the site. DSS hostel masquerading as a pub. awful punters and a secterian atmosphere with flags aplenty. AVOID!
Report this for removal anonymous - 2 Nov 2005 16:38

Cadizzy

Off season is the best time to go to BBs no one asks you to buy a CQN badge then.

Father Tim, Aldo67,

forget them. I´m only asking questions that I feel are pertinent. PL talked incessantly about performance related contracts. It would seem debt reduction over the last three years has been the only measure as thats the only are where we have improved. Why are some Celtic employees exempt from this ? I think it would be a
good idea to have this from the chairman down to the ball boys.

Hail Hail

aldo

it's okay if it's still raining.They've got until 20th September to finish it and that doesn't even include extra time and penalties.

Awe_Naw_No_Annoni_Oan_Anaw_Noo,

Problem is it's tricky to get rid of underperformers.

There is a danger of setting an unhealthy precedent of payoffs for underperformance.

I do agree that there appeared to be one or 2 too many standoffs with certain players where we decided that they were too expensive... now I don't know who makes that decision though? Is it the manager or is the board... I'm genuinely uncertain. If the manager is given a budget and a wage bill to play with surely it's his call... but it may be the board... in which case the board have a certain amount to answer for... But imo given the structure I outlined previulsy I'd like to think it's the managers' call.

It's a bit pointless deciding that every left back is too expensive when you REALLY need one. And ultimately were they TOO expensive when other teams were prepared to pay the price?

B

auldheid> debate is healthy, ive never read you lose the plot and become abusive (on here anyways)...

5 hours after a draw for european quals and its down to this...

ThisLand... on July 17, 2009 3:48 PM

I still think we'll gazzump them both in the final hour, is his agent not Willie McKay? I bet he's on the phone with Celtic right now keeping them abreast of the situation.

gsu

Can someone tell me how we could have only got 1 of 5 teams in the champion league, what happens to the likes of bohemians and the other lesser sides?

True RogueLeader

At times last year we missed Barry Robson badly for that added bite and snarl. Ever team needs a Robson like pit bull terrier. (Gattuso and Edgar Davids being prime examples)

But some 5'10"s can be as gentle as Bambi. And as you rightly pointed out Lenny could hold his own.

Also JVOH 6 foot whatever but 5'10" when he jumped last year.

My final say on McCarthy:

He is a young lad, he could decide to sit tight spend another year with Hamilton and then hopefully persuade Celtic to bid more money!

Although Hamilton have agreed fees he does not need to move and I'm sure they would be more than happy to keep him!

If somebody on here knows him or any of his kin get on the phone to him now...lol!

...is made for you and me!

Hail Hail!

steelica - "but 5'10" when he jumped last year"

He wasn't as tall as that.....

By RogueLeader on July 17, 2009 3:55 PM
steelica - "but 5'10" when he jumped last year"

That could also apply to some of our centre halves.

Loovens could buck the trend though.

DD

greensideup July 17, 2009 3:49 PM

No I dont see it happening as the sponsors of Old Firm shirts are only interested in the Scottish market. They can break into another market. Sponsoring one and not the other is a commercial kiss of death.

If it meant only 500k a year I´d ditch it entirely. We would probably make more in increased shirt sales and it would mean less sponsorship money for the huns. I think our bottom line obsessed board would never countenance it however.

Hail Hail

This is a true story apropos nothing at all.

I wiz telling somebody yesterday how when I wiz a boy in the 50's ma faither wiz a bookie operating oot the back bedroom of my aunties tenement flat in the Calton.

It wiz before Turf Accountancy (ahem) wiz legal and he used tae get wan token arrest a year in line wi the clause in his protection agreement with Tobago St polis.

Every New Year he wid go tae work to open a book and although he wiz generally a sober man, he ae came hame drunk because aw the punters wid gie him a hauf. This happened every New Year.

The thing wiz we ae hid a duck for New Year's day dinner an ma Da wiz supposed to carve it but never quite made it frae the front door past the bedroom tae the kitchen, so ma maw had to dae it.

So it wiznae the Chinese who invented shredded duck!

DD

My reply on N'Guemo was tongue firmly in cheek.

As for Massimo absolutely...what surprises me is that Trappatoni described Massimo as "like concrete". Wouldnae like to by a hoose with Italian foundations then.

By aldo67 on July 17, 2009 3:49 PM
dbbia> :-)
has it stopped raining yet?

del > behave yerself...thats a toy out the pram remark....
get a grip man....

.................

Aldo
you mean at 3:47? Well if I've over stepped the mark I truly apologise.
In my defence ;) I've only answered the stuff that awenaw has been throwing at me ( and others). That's not 'but ma, he started it' stuff it's true. Feel free to have aread back. All the personal stuff was started by awenawe, all the I'm a better tim than you stuff as well.
I hope that long time posters arent automatically jumping to awenaw's defence simply because he's been posting longer here than some of us who disagree with him without actually reading the 'debate' that preceded.
Again apologies for any untowards, esp to Paul...it's his hoose.

Celtic website seems a bit out of touch with reality...

'The Russian side finished third in the league last season, while they sit seventh in the current campaign after 13 matches of the Russian season. They play at the Dinamo Stadium in Petrovsky Park, which seats just over 36,000.'

I think they'll find that stadium is under renovation!

BromleyBhoy on July 17, 2009 3:52 PM,

Post of the day.

When a manager is flexible enough to accept other peoples recommendations for players then there is much more scope for a stand off. There is therefore less likelihood that the squad develops further. IMHO that was the trouble with Gordons entire reign.

He wanted to keep Shaun .. we punted him. When Kaunus happened and the plc pulled back ..we got Shaun back (mistake imho) amd Loovens (to annoy rangers) it wasn´t what Gordon really wanted and it wasn´t what we needed as you point out.

If that structure does not change under Tony and we will quickly see how much it has changed by the timing and the recruitment of a quality left back.

HAil HAil

Awe Naw - I'm not adding to the debate but I do have a genuine question for you. Are you Gaudd?

And if you are not Gaudd do you belive in him? Are you in fact, a disciple of Gaudd?

$$$STANDY, E2WDyn7809 FROM: Will Stewart, Igor Monichev, east2west sport
From East2West Sports

Dynamo Moscow - once the team of the feared KGB secret police in Soviet times - acknowledged yesterday that they have a tough task being drawn against Celtic in the Champions' League.
"It could be better but it could be worse," said 31 year old Serbian defender Jovan Tanasievic, making clear that the Scots fans will give their foes a huge boost.
"Celtic is a difficult opponent. To play in Scotland is hard but also interesting - the stands are always full there," he said.
"So their team will be 100 per cent motivated, but I hope we will too."
He stressed: "I'm sure we are heading for two very good games with the chances being 50-50.
"It's been a long time since Dynamo last played in Europe and that's why we have no idea what we are really capable of in the Champions League."
During Soviet times, the club had close links to Stalin's secret police, then called the NKVD and later named the KGB.
The number one fan was the notorious and brutal head of the intelligence service, Lavrenti Beria.
Once after a bad run, he threatened to put machine-gunners behind the Dynamo goal.
No-one dared ask whether he was joking.

By roberttressell on July 17, 2009 4:05 PM
Awe Naw - I'm not adding to the debate but I do have a genuine question for you. Are you Gaudd?

By roberttressell on July 17, 2009 4:06 PM
And if you are not Gaudd do you belive in him? Are you in fact, a disciple of Gaudd?
.......

Quality!

doonhame del - as Rambo would say........"let it go"

roberttressell ,

No. When he writes it is always coated in unnecessary insults. I only react to insults from cheerleaders; those that can be seen and heard often but add zilch to the discussion regardless of hos high their IQ is. I agree with quite a bit of what Gaudd writes except that he cannot give credit when it is due. I believe I can.

I also believe that we are going backwards off and on the pitch and that the plc are heavily responsible for this by poor planning and poor decisions. Going over a number of years. I think I have been consistent with this.

Hail Hail

By aldo67 on July 17, 2009 3:53 PM

No it was on KDS once and it taught me a lesson about humility and what happens when the ego takes over.

Mind you life is reday to do that every day. ;)

Does any1 have any idea when the man city tickets will go on sale? been checking the official site for days and there's nothing ?

Cheers

steelica on July 17, 2009 4:02 PM
DD

'My reply on N'Guemo was tongue firmly in cheek.

As for Massimo absolutely...what surprises me is that Trappatoni described Massimo as "like concrete". Wouldnae like to by a hoose with Italian foundations then.'

Like concrete? What immobile, dull and better off outside the stadium? I tend to agree with big Giovanni :-)

DD

I see N'Guemo gets Bobo's old squad number...6!

...is made for you and me!

Hail Hail!

West Wales Celt@7:40AM
Thanks for the compliment...
Glad to see you are a connoisseur of the old Razzle Dazzle Shuffle and Slide Step... ;0)

jvoh67@8:49AM
Thanks for the reply.
If the Chairman had reservations, as is claimed.... Why was he not not prepared for the eventualities he warned about? Why no proposal or contingency plan. The lack of long term thinking the Chair accused others of, is exactly what he was guilty of himself... LOL ... Its hilarious the way he switched it.
The dexterity he displays has to be admired It really does...
Or is it chutzpah....
Its Both.

I would be interested in Paul67s' opinion of how the club prepared for yesterdays meeting and the Chairmans statement following it. I found the statement disingenuous and calculated to spin the issue away from both his 'old firm' activity and his 'long term thinking' inactivity....
To tidbit issues more palatable to the support to digest.....
He pointed and accused the Usual Suspects..
And some people bought it.
...Just my opinion mind.

Awe naw
Stop it. Yer like a cat with a couple of wee mice.... ;0)

Wee gift for you... ;o)

Can anyone confirm that the new signing Landry N'guemo's nickname is "Dirty Landry", thought I read this translated of a french site, when Celtic's interest was first reported.

Just maybe he's a hard nose midfielder and could be a wee bit of a hunskelper in the making.

gsu

Hi Pol1888 - Thanks for clarifying the fixtures. I saw that just after my post, but I always thought the seeded team played the 2nd leg at home. Don't know how it has worked out that way....

del> im not picking any particular poster or any particular time...i am not taking sides either, we are all entitled to our opinions - thats what makes this site unique...

however, im sure the mods will have something to think about with your post at 3.16.. a poor attempt at debate and just downright shocking thing to say to anyone... let alone a fellow celtic supporter..which is what we all supposed to be here....(ed excepted!)

Aldo -good news is the rain has stopped. Latest score is 79-2.

Christian Vieri spent his childhood in Australia, and was a useful cricketer.

He has also launched his own range of condoms.

an absolute gem of a sign off from the golden last's message board

"keep up the bigotry ... we are the people"

Its the silly season chaps, all the personal stuff is boring, now lets all sit down get calm close our eyes and concentrate

Forget all the noise, focus on the inner self, and chant, slowly at first, then slightly louder and louder and with even more focus until with a thousand voices screaming everyone can hear

WE WANT A LEFT BACK !
WE WANT A LEFT BACK !
WE WANT A LEFT BACK !

Simples

PJBhoynyc,

thanks for the gift.

Robertressel,

Thanks to you also. When it gets personal and its unprovoked. You lose.

Hail Hail

No problem with your views Awe Naw. I honestly thought you might be him (or her). Not having a dig. These blogs need a variety of opinions to keep them healthy. It's what keeps us coming back I suppose.

I don't agree with your analysis, but I can't deny that it is well thought out and argued.

Hope you can come to an amicable conclusion with this one guys. Otherwise it'll have to be sorted in the old fashioned way - someone storming off in a virtual huff, as I have done myself on many virtual occasions.

anyone see Mitchell and Webb last night? there was a relevant sketch. made me giggle. All to do with Cyber Rage. Shamefully recognised myself in it. The best comedy does indeed hold up mirrors.

auldheid> yep i read that one ;-)
is yer blog name on KDS not auldwiseheid ??? :-)

cadizzy> creeket is ok in one day events for me.. test matches just have the same effects as zopiclone..

стахановец > the celtic website is notoriously late for most things...if they had been here after the draw you could have told em that!!!

A cheerleader to cheer Awe-naw up, and banish the negativity.

Young McCarthy is undergoing medical at Wigan!

...is made for you and me!

Hail Hail!

Exiledbhoy,

When it starts to get personal on a virtual forum you need to be as thick as pig feces you must admit.

But if you insist on talking left back I´ll need to let these wee mice go ... unharmed Robertressel You´ll be pleased to know.

LordOfTheFliesCSC

By PJBhoynyc on July 17, 2009 4:15 PM

I touched on this earlier today. To save yu scrolling this is the relevant extrcxat from a long post. The first para is a bit of context and the second relates to your point.

" But this is exactly why a proper feasibility study is required that would involve establishing production costs (which we would probably contract out via tendering to keep them down) and conduct a marketing study to find out a) the actul potential viewing audience size, b) the impact on SB sales depending on the size of the non televised zone around Celtic Park and what the support would pay to watch Celtic knowing that most of what they pay is going direct to the club but with a sharing arrangement that makes the other SPL clubs willing to engage.

If I have a complaint its that this should have been in the can already as a contingency against the Setanta failure given our misgivings last year, but it is maybe something that could never have seen the light of day until the conditions arose that would merit such a study without question. those conditions now apply"

Its part of my general concern about no "Vision" statement from Celtic or indeed the need to make one.

dbbia> fascinating facts ..can we get a condom over to bankiebhoy so he wont catch another virus?

DBBIA.

even you have to admit that she´s nicer than that spinal tap groupie your obsessed with :-) BTW I am not responsible for any future attempts at assassination of your character or sexual morality or prowess.

HAil Hail

By aldo67 on July 17, 2009 4:23 PM

Its Auldyin but my avatar was me poking a bit of fun at myself.

".....theres no better feeling than being a hun."

last one from the golden last

"Wind up by a tim" is crying out at me but I honestly don't think it is.

Dinamo Moscow.

Thanks, Gordon.

ThisLand... on July 17, 2009 4:25 PM

he's had one at Wolves also

thefatlady'snotsingingyetCSC

gsu

cadizzy >>>its not healthy being on that site for this long!!!
auldheid> i know i was noting your humility and thinking how wise your view was...
cyber rage aint good for the soul

Anyone hear how the French trialist (the striker) is doing? He has had two days now.

Anyone else on trial, e.g., the Icelandic defender who plays in Denmark?

By the way, the Latvian that we have is a better LB than Misun IMHO. What age is he?

So many questions, so little time.....

rebus

greensideup:

We live in hope my Bhoy!

...is made for you and me!

Hail Hail!

aldo, I did go and make a cup of tea and normalised myself before going back on. I do think it is hilarious. The owner replies to posts along the lines of "unfortunately we won't be here in July because we always go home for the parades. Take care and give the wee one a kiss from us WATP NO SURRENDER."

Awe-naw- the young lady is Minka Kelly, although she's a million miles from being a mink.

She played Leilah Garrity in the brilliant 'Friday Night Lights', which has reached 3 series in the U.S but they only showed the first series over here.

Her dad was in Aerosmith.

A bit like Liv Tyler, although I'd be very depressed if Liv is now running a darnelist hell-pub in Scarborough.

okies take care peeps, dinner to be made...back soon
slan
aldo

By roberttressell on July 17, 2009 4:22 PM

A virtual huff? I like that but it got me thinking. What does it look like and who can tell if you are in it?

Does it not come under the category of "if a tree falls in a forest and no one is around does it make a sound"?

And then that got me thinking how can a tree make sound its got no mouth?

and that got me thinking

its time I stopped thinking and got off to the country as I intended at 12:30.

˙˙˙˙˙˙˙˙˙˙˙˙˙˙˙˙˙˙˙˙˙˙˙˙˙˙˙˙˙˙˙˙˙˙˙˙˙˙˙˙˙˙˙˙˙˙˙˙˙ɐılɐɹʇsnɐ uo ǝɯoɔ

BigWantsTHEauzzzzzzies2whipThePOMS

79-2. Tea.

So Strachan was 'odds on' for the Southampton job ?

Not just me and some discerning others on here who knew he was a dud.

TOTAL WASTE OF TIME and now we teeter on the brink of CL dismissal.

And, no, I'm NOT getting over it !

By rebus67 on July 17, 2009 4:32 PM

I heard he could'nt cut it

and was guillotined!!!

auldheid
I imgine a virtual huff to be where, you sit in front of your PC/Laptop with your arms folded, staring at the floor whist you tap your foot furiously

For anyone who is interested...............

ގ⇂ ǝƃɐʇs sʎɐpuns uıʍ llıʍ ƃuoɹʇsɯɹɐ ǝɔuɐl

BigJoeWHOisWELLin2theT.D.F

Awe naw
I believe the e tims rumour mill sums up the board argument
quite well imho.
In short
Kaunas beat tfod
Celtic board cancel two high profile incoming transfers
Wgs and sharp suit severely miffed off
wgs tells them he is for the off
No money spent in January to speak of
Disastrous end to the season
But look on the bright side
while they are hoisting the league flag at the cauldron of hate
and straight in to the CL
we can wave the balance sheet at pittodrie (if you can understand it) and look forward to the europa cup
Keep telling it as you see it!!!!!!!!!

mmcq - Bragg seems like a nice enough guy, I don't share his political views but I don't doubt that he means well.

However, he has the worst voice I've ever heard in a professional singer. And I include Posh Spice in that.

syllawhowasmince - Sadly, Chuck Norris could never come to Celtic. The resulting explosion of awesomeness would destroy the universe.

The clamour from some posters on here for

Auldheid

"And then that got me thinking how can a tree make sound its got no mouth? "

With it's bark!!

To ANyone

Having had BT vision with the "free Setanata" package for the past season, I am now unsure of what package I need to get the games.

ESPN looks like its now broadcasting on the spare Setanta slot on BT vison, but is ESPN also broadcasting on SKY free or id ESPN a futher subscription package?

I suppose my question is, what package do I need?

Any help greatly etc etc

hello all,

just had a listen to some of the celtic underground podcast and they got onto the topic of fortune's goal record.

they said that players in france rarely get a lot of goals and that they were even thinking about giving more points for more goals scored over there. they also said they'd be interested to see benzema's goal record.

well, last season he scored 17 league goals, 7 more than this guy alassane we've got on trial. that's in a team challenging for the title, against a team who got relegated. not bad record.

i also remember adebayor being not very highly rated before he went to arsenal and so i checked out his record. 5 goals in 30 games the season before he joined them.

obviously a bit late on the point of fortune since we've got him now and so most people will be behind him but it's quite interesting stuff regarding alassane.

the little i know of him is that he's more of a skippy type, a finisher, which could help share the goal burden up front, with fortune doing the other work.

i'm quite excited by the prospect of this guy coming.

Australia 103-3 Katich ct Broad b Onions 48.

The clamour by some posters on here for Celtic to spend when you add on signing on fees close to 3 million on young McCarthy seems to me unfathomable, it just doesn't make sense either financially or in football terms, i have not seen anything other than a good young athlete with reasonable ability in McCarthy, nothing exceptional, if the likes of the wigans/wolves are prepared to gamble around 3 million fair enough. Given the tough draw for the C/L today, Celtic need 2 quality, athletic genuine pace defenders, central defender and a LEFT BACK please tony!!

Cilla Black's voice had a fingernails-down-the-blackboard quality that sorted out your fillings.

Bankie Bhoy: 1.08:

Can't help much with the immediate issue (?wipe it clean if you have the software discs and files backed-up) but this programme:

http://www.sandboxie.com/index.php?DownloadSandboxie

is free and runs any application (including your browser) in a self-contained file. You just delete it when you're done and any nasties are killed off at the same time. Been using this a while for P2P and all those virus-fraught sites the teenagers insist on visiting - no problems.

Who didn't keep their fingers crossed then?
Dinamo indeed, wouldn't you just Adam n Eve it!

Ferguson seals Blues move
Birmingham have completed the signing of Barry Ferguson from Rangers for an initial fee of £1million

Tara then Bazza

Now that the draw has sunk in I think we can do it, cant wait to help raise the roof in not more than a weeks time.

I found this funny when it was on TV last night.

Text A Blog

notthebusAuthor Profile Page on July 17, 2009 5:09 PM

Ferguson seals Blues move
Birmingham have completed the signing of Barry Ferguson from Rangers for an initial fee of £1million

Tara then Bazza

Does the fee diminish as a result of games missed?

Does his yellow card immunity travel with him.

Does he get to be captain?

So many questions, so few answers. We should be told.

Aldo
:)

It's virtual penicilin required here!!

I see Celtic have a striker on trial who was a late starter in football, having been playing amateur football in his early 20's, the last time we had a striker with a similar profile, he was at the end of his career, Ian Wright

Australia 111-4 Hussey b Flintoff 51.

By celtic dawn on July 17, 2009 4:44 PM

You are not suggesting that we webcam ourselves in a virtual huff, upload to YouTube and post a link are you? Click on

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-hQ5eQax0b8

and move to 7:15 near the end. :)

By thomthethim on July 17, 2009 4:58 PM

Aye very good. It'll be a Birtch tree I take it?

thomthethim

I've never liked Birminghan, I look forward to thier demise next season.

As for Bazza..the big fish in the small pond has just been thrown into the atlantic.I will watch with interest

I hear Real Madrid are trying to get Ronaldo to label himself as
C Ronaldo on the back of his shirt. Apparently the supporters are digging out the old shirts from the last Ronaldo and new sales aren't doing as well as expected.

Hell mend them with their obscene spending, speaking of which any sign of a new Left Back?

Have we ever actually offered a contract to a player, who has come over for a weeks trial?

Australia 111-5 Clarke c Cook b Anderson 1

mickybhoy

Have to agree. Seems the board's ability to bet badly even outdoes my efforts at gambling!

auldheid
Sounds like a good idea but unlike your link there would be no talking, a proper huff must be conducted in silence

Dinamo Moscow in July. The phrase clucking bell strings to mind.

This is the reason why I thought an experienced European coach would have been the best direction to go in. With meagre TV money on offer in Scotland the CL gravy train is very important to both Celtic and Rangers. Mowbray will need to hit the ground running and beat some big boys while still learning.

I fear we have surrendered the financial advantage we held over rangers after a series of poor buy ins from previous manager and our title collapse.

Can't help feeling that if we had gone that extra mile last season - we'd be in the champion's league group stage and rankers would be bankrupt (or very close).
Now it's a really though draw followed by an even tougher draw. The Europa cup in no way compensates and Celtic's profile internationally will suffer. When you play in the SPL the champion's league is the only way to remain on the horizon of the greater footballing public. Daft decisions to save a few quid at the expense of losing a great deal more - like betting £100 to win £2. Why didn't they act.

All of the above is the result of today's draw and the knowledge of who awaits the winners while Kirk Broadfoot goes directly to the group stages!!!

GHD ceramic hair straighteners

Murray's

But too busy

Oh, and all of John Le Carre's novels?

Mintyboy's

mega busy but...

The damage was done at the end of the 3 in a row season, the unique and fortunate set of circumstances which handed us the title for 3 in a row were disastrously overlooked, and Strachan was allowed to continue for another season. Now Mowbray has a massive rebuilding job to do, at at the very least he needs all our full backing and support. not doom laden predictions with forecasts of defeats.

Flew in from Miami Beach BOAC
Didn't get to bed last night
Oh, the way the paper bag was on my knee
Man, I had a dreadful flight
I'm back in the USSR
You don't know how lucky you are Bhoys
Back in the USSR!

"I don't believe it!!"

Strachan joins Peterhead FC

Lurcy

Paul67 - a genuine suggestion - there's been so much verbal diarrhoea on here over the last 5 or 6 weeks we should be considering a CQN summer close-down. What d'ya think? Would give you a a deserved break and it really would make no difference at all to the CQN family. Shut down next June 1st and come back on Aug 1st when signings are more real than speculative.

Your contribution is immense but you need a break!

lionroared67
You can draw a late starter parallel with one of our
most prolific attacking midfielders
poached by swalex to man-u
Brian McClair

mickybhoy

I believe Choccy was a teenager at motherwell and a Celtic first team player before his 21st birthday. Hardly a late starter!

Still one of my all-time favorite players.

On McClair:

A piece of useless information but he was once on Aston Villa's books, they released him!!

...is made for you and me!

Hail Hail!

nobody got any info on my post at 4:14?

appreciated if u do .. cheers

doonhame del

Thanks for the email bud ... I was only joking about the homoerotic stuff btw

your first uninvited post to me today

Note the time

By doonhame del on July 17, 2009 2:15 PM

Awe naw
could you be anymore patronising if you tried, and whilst attacking philvis for 'attacking the personality'
More like the truth is that most of these guys have heard absolutely all of this ad nauseum, ad infinitum from you.

doonhame del on July 17, 2009 4:02 PM

I've only answered the stuff that awenaw has been throwing at me ( and others). See above you started it uninvited That's not 'but ma, he started it' stuff it's true. Mhhhhhh no it isn´t Feel free to have aread back. Yeah We all just have and I´m now demonstrating what a bare faced liar you are All the personal stuff was started by awenawe, Mmhhhhh no it wasn´t lying through your back teeth again all the I'm a better tim than you stuff as well.
I hope that long time posters arent automatically jumping to awenaw's defence simply because he's been posting longer here than some of us who disagree with him without actually reading the 'debate' that preceded. Anyone reading this will see you to be the obvious deviant scum bag that you are
Again apologies for any unto-wards, esp to Paul...it's his hoose. .....

I fully accept your apologies

HAil Hail

Interesting draw in the Europa League.

Flamurtari/Motherwell (1-0) v Steaua Bucharest/FC Újpest (1-0)

Would be good to see Újpest on local tv or live.

Are you lot Arguing again...

Caaaalm Dooowwnn ;-)

Lubo :-))

kingoh,
what I mean by McClair being a late starter is that,
I am sure he never played much as amateur or schools.
I am sure I read that he played football at uni to keep fit
and was spotted and picked up by MFC
I agree 100 per cent, one of my favourite Celtic players
of all time

Are any of next weeks friendlies being televised?

mickbhoy

My misunderstanding. From memory I think he was doing a degree whilst a Motherwell player so you may be right in that football was not his main focus during his teenage years.

Celtic dawn

Cardiff Channell67 Audio only with a full footage later.

Wembley Live on Sky Sports.

EN

mickybhoy,

Believe McClair left university to presue a Football career with Aston Villa - Also don't believe he ever played midfield with Celtic - It was later in his career when fergie bought Cantana, he put McClair in the midfield!

I Think he out scord ALL his striking partners 'til then, including MoJo - First Man U player to score 20 goals since Best!

estad
Thanks

Awe-Naw:

I haven't read back and am making no comment on the row between you guys. Just think 'deviant scum bag' is a bit strong whatever came before.

chairboy,
saw him play right through his career with celtic
Had a terrific ability of arriving late in the box at the right time.
very difficult to mark and had an unbelievable ability to rise early and hang in the air and had exceptional heading ability
for his height
If I could compare him with any modern celtic player it would have been Stan Petrov box to box and Eric Black (aberdeen) for
heading ability.
I believe he was cfc top scorer for 4 seasons
Met the guy once at celtic park, quiet ghuy but very nice,
Celtic let him slip away under the wave of popularity for
LE Petite Merde

moonbeams
e-mail sent

West Wales Celt,

You should see the email.

HAil Hail

bankiebhoy1,
I won't need that new phone now.
Managed to sort out the problem.
Don't ask how. It's too embarrassing.

Chairbhoy & Mickbhoy:

McClair was indeed on Villa's books, studied whilst with Motherwell!

As I posted earlier Villa released him!

He was the year below me at School did not feature prominently in the School Teams...but just goes to show, he was indeed a late starter in proving he was a Player!

He was a prolific scorer with us. And if memory serves he scored more goals in his first season in England that Le Petite Merde did in his first season with Watford! Incidentality I do believe that the pai of them did not see eye to eye in their time at Celtic.

...is made for you and me!

Hail Hail!

mickybhoy,

Agreed,

He outscored him in every season and did more for the team - went for a song - even in those days SPL players never got the value of their English counter parts! His 'Quiet' persona mean't he often was over shadowed by players who on reflection were second best!

Dennis 47

Well done, you'll need to break the news gently to Bhoy From County Hell tho' :) He's in his Greta Garbo phase at the mo'...and anyway, have you seen the attempts I've had at understanding spyware!

Double D'oh!

hail hail

ThisLand - Airdrie bhoy then!!!!

Paul67:

Were you at the PC today?

Now that we have N'Guemo have you any news on our progress in future signings ahead of next Friday's deadline, apart from Allasanda?

...is made for you me!

Hail Hail!

This Land...

"did not see eye to eye" with petit merde. So not only a great player but a fine judge of character!

Brian McCLair was 16 when he went to AV.He returned home largely due to homesickness.

He joined Motherwell while studying accountancy at Uni and got his break when he scored a hat trick against rangers and 2 against celtic in consecutive weeks.His signing was a bit of a punt by Billy McNeil at the time (£75,000, I think)

By the way, he attended ST Margarets High School in Airdrie and was a follower of his home town team, was never a follower of Celtic.

He played Centre Half throughout his school career and only started playing up front when he joined Motherwell under the management of Jock Wallace!

Chairbhoy:

Yes and no born in ML5 moved to ML6 for last year of Primary and Secondary, moved back to ML5 when I got married!

Also attended same Primary as McClair where his Mother taught!

Kingoh:

Yes he was indeed a fine judge of character.

Man. Utd. paid £850,000 for him if memory serves me!

...is made for you and me!

Hail Hail!

Haven't had a chance to catch up with things since lunch time but something struck me earlier when catching up.

Some posters are seeing the lad McCarthy going to EPL as some sort of failure on our, meaning the Board's, part.

However a lot of the same people who want him bought as he will develop into a great given time, lambasted the Board and Gordon Strachan for doing the same with young lads like the twins from Wolfsburg(?) and shouted about the waste of scarce resources which would have been better employed on players who could walk straight into the first team.

Come on folks make your mind up, you can't have it both ways.

notthebus:

You are correct in your assertion he was an Airdrie Supporter!

I think the fee was £90,000 but will not argue over £15,000!

I take it you are from Airdrie?

One player who was bought by McNeill that did cost us £75,000 was Billy Stark...I have to say pound for pound was one of the best signings that have ever been made by any Celtic Manager...the daisy cutter he scored against the Rankers in hirst Old Firm game paid the fee there and then...we won 1-0!

...is made for you and me!

Hail Hail!

BE interesting to see what remains on our transfer business. I presume we are after another striker, a left back and a creative, goalscoring midfielder (or two).

Presuming that we will still see another 3/4 players leave the club, with 2/3 players positions looking vulnerable.

The scenario about the TV deal is very disappointing - i feel this is one area we can work with Rangers to achieve mutual benefits, even if it remains at say, holding our own TV rights for overeas games. Hopefully Sky will show some Celtic Home games as oppose to the dross away games we see.

ThisLand.

Interesting thing about Billy Stark signing.He was actually the first player big billy signed when he returned in the centenary year, however he held back the announcement of Billy's signing until after he announced the much more high profile signing of the then wonderkid from motherwell ,Andy Walker.

My dear,dear,dear,dear,dear,dear,dear,dear,friend.. Owen.

I for one, would have been disappointed if Celtic had entered the bidding for this young chap.

Like everyone else, I was intrigued when foist I hoid of this youngster.

A Sixteen Year Old, holding down a Foist team Berth?

Sounded like a winnah!

Howvevahhhhhhhhh...

Once I saw him play against us, oan three occasions.. I soon came doon tae earth.

Na...

I thocht.. This Guy is no any bettah than any of the Reserve Players, that we already are grooming for the Foist Team.

So..

Guid Luck tae the Guy..

But.....

With a loat of youngsters there is ayeways liable tae be a..

But.. at the end o' the end of the Sentence.

And this youngster Fits that category.

Actually, I believe that we Dodged a bullet.. oan this yin.

He is woith, what we originally bid..200,000 Pounds, of the finest Tapioca...which was a mair than generous offer.

For that kinda dough we could have afforded to take a Flyer oan him.. but, soitenly not fur Wan Ounce mair!

Kojo.
yer pal.. who likes ye.

notthebus:

Your correct again, I can remember Billy McNeill stating publicly that Stark had been his first signing but held it back as you say until he signed Walker...I guess he would have been berated had he announced Stark first.

Stark should have been at CP long before he did!

Walker, was it £375k?

...is made for you and me!

Hail Hail!

bankiebhoy1,
Believe me, no congratulations are in order, more like a good slap for stupidity.
Sorry your problems, and those of The Bhoy From the County Hell.
I myself made the mistake of downloading a "drive cleaner". It was totally useless and I couldn't get rid of the damn thing.
Big sinister red warnings would greet me every time I switched on the computer.
Ah, we live and learn.

Once again hughely impressed with TM in a press conference, just watched clip on bbc in which he 99% ruled out a bid for McCarthy, however it was his comments on John Hartson that were pure class, my god how good is to have a man of intelligence, honesty and integrity back at the helm again.

By Dontbrattbackinanger

Are you Richie Benaud ;)

I see Barcelona have signed the player with the jumbo-sized ego, Zlatan (even his name is big-headed) Ibrahimovic. I first came across him when I was following Larsson and Sweden in the Euros. I thought,'Who is this guy? With the best will in the world, he's awful!' Not only that, he loved to shout his mouth off about how he was Sweden's greatest striker. As he was in a team containing Larsson in his pomp, this astounded me. I was glad to see Martin O'Neill thinking the same when he gave his opinion of him in the pundit's chair, saying "He is possibly the most over-rated player in the world."

Maybe both of us have been proved wrong by Zlatan's recent exploits for Inter, but I predict he will crash and burn in La Liga (where the faster pace will send him into a monstrous huff), along with Guardiola's platinum reputation.

Trying to find the link with Celtic on this....ermm... yes! Got it! Henrik embodied so many of the sporting values that I, as a Celtic fan, cherished, and, typically, encouraged and supported him. Zlatan strikes me as the polar opposite.

We shall see.

A left back and defender for me before the Dinamo game, then we will have a chance big time not only in this game but the following round as well.

Kojo,

Don't take this the wrong way but you make me laugh. Your posts sure are unique.

Lionroared67
OK I will take the bait...

You are implying, or stating, that the previous manager was not a man of intelligence, honesty and integrity....

Thats a Big Statement on a Public Forum.
Can you support it?

This Land

was in the region.

2 excellent signings in a memorable year.Our last league win before the dark days.

Paul67 introduces no nonsense Moderator
any sausages or infringment of rules
poster responsible will be made to dissapear

http://z.about.com/f/wiki/e/en/thumb/c/c0/Ac.beria3.jpg/250px-Ac.beria3.jpg

Auldheid@4:25PM

Wise words as ever...
We nearly agree. But your posts as ever represent....

Direct, honest and thoughtful communication, an increasingly rare quality in a World Spinning into Control...
;0)

PJBhoynyc

You will be waiting for some time for any supporting evidence from that poster.

He has previuos.

Take my advice, ingnore the bait, it has a blue tinge to it

The new bumblebee jersey has been leaked.

Up_over_Goal,

I remember that MON put down of IBlaaaahimovic - at the time MON was spot on, but recent form by "the gratest..... " is very good. I don't think Barcelona are a bad judge of a player, but lets see if he is as well thought of as Henrik.... somehow, I doubt it !

Notthebus

Now that does make sense....

Cheers.

My dear,dear,dear,dear,dear,dear,dear,dear,dear,dear,dear,dear,friend.. MyboysnowaTim. @ 8.14.

My dear, chap.. that's exactly how I plan them to be..with a leetle soupcon o' uncoammon sense.. dribbled, intae the mixture.

Whimsical... Part Humour... and, Hopefully....Informative.

so..

Whit mair dae ye wannnnnnnt?

Ah am glad that my woik gladdens yer Hert.

Kojo.
yer pal.. who likes ye a loater.

Lurgan 53

Sorry for being a bit late responding to your post yesterday due to a combination of circumstances both domestic and watching a dvd of Brendan Grace. You need a good laugh now and again and the bould Brendan is your man.

Both Armagh-Dublin games in the Championships were crackers and there was over 50,000 at the National Lge with the Dubs after the Orchard won the All Ireland.

You are spot on regarding our bogey team Kerry, it's over thirty years since we beat them in the Championships I do not share your confidence in the Dubs,however we live in hope. Kieran McGeeney has done a great job with Kildare.

Donegal will give Derry a run for their money on Sunday, a potential banana skin their for D.

The Marianas Trench?

The Murray Mint's idea - fact

Post Creationist Alzheimers?

Or just tooooooo busy?

...

And pop tarts

waaaaaay too busy - mega business man you know

GCC:

When you click on the link you can't see the Top, says your not authorised, you need to log on.

Can you not save the picture as a jpeg?

...is made for you and me!

Hail Hail!

Cheers Kojo. Keep em coming.

Kojo ..... do u change your mind as often as you change socks??

firstly u were banging on that Simon Ferry should be centre mid for ages then on the basis of 1/2 hr of a friendly u say he is not ready.

then for the last 3 weeks you were telling everybody we should be nowhere near this fortune dude, walk away, he is poor, whats the board playing at! then based ob 28 mins of a friendly you say he is the bees knees, a super signing!!!

still think Marc Millar is "the best midfielder in the country"? even though he has yet to make his debut?

Still think Paddy mcCourt should be in midfield, even though he is the unfittest player i have ever seen? Barring injuries the guy wont last 40 mins.

SFFS

Molly MAlone/Lurgan 53 ....... get you mortgage on Tyrone -8 pts at EVNS. Gift. fill yer boots.

SFFS

GCC:

Got it under 'Articles'

...is made for you and me!

Hail Hail!

Does anyone know if Kirk Broadfoot has a German cousin?

Kirk's cousin

On the subject of Brian McClair, he awarded me the player of the year trophy when I played for Duntocher Boys Club way back then and he was a truly nice guy. Very genuine and interested in everyone that was there that night. In comparison to Le Petite Merde - b'jesus the night I met him even as a Celtic player - nearly as embarrasing as Varga using his kids so that he did not have to sign autographs.....mo jo uber hun in the making

Sorry This Land. It must be members only.

Kojo

I am in your camp about McCarthy.

Some are blinded by his age ,and his love of the Irish republic.Which i should say is commendable,for i love it myself.

Blimey, it's even more Bee like than the first one

A tough draw although they won't be looking forward to a visit to Celtic Park.

Can't believe its £23 for season ticket holders and I hope this doesn't effect attendance.

In fact scrub that. It's on the front page of celtic underground.

Juan too many
Do tell the Varga story.

PJBhoynyc and Auldheid:

A mere fag paper between ye.
The point you so nearly share is the most relevant I've read on here for a good some while. Equally, it s not one that would have occurred immediately (I might have got there at some point) to me who would have no doubt been suitably 'razzle-dazzled'.

My thanks; its the incisive stuff I really like...

PJBhoynyc @ 8:25 PM'

The fact is the celticfc.net has improved expodentially reecently - got blogs, articles, opinion & information on it (so you don't have to 'depend' on E-info or the old media) for the first time in along time (BTW before GS).

The openness of The Rt Hon Mr Reid and Tony Mowbray has been refreshing - I've been along time admirer of CQN.

BUT

The fact is we should be hearing IT from the horse’s mouth! If Tony Mowbray has in some way brought that about, fair do's – The last manager I can think of, that came to Celtic Park and was told how things work – then said to the Board here’s how I do things was Jock Stein.

NopressurethenCSC!

I see some chat on Brian McLair, to me the most under valued player we had in the last 25 years. This is not revisionist, but it used to bug me they way support lauded wee flash pants when we had a better player playing alongside him who never go the credit or onto the hymn sheet. It ...........really bugged me a few years later!!

I think it is too early to say on McCarthy, though the signs are good, so I'd rather spend the dough on players that will go straight into the first team. Its a pity if that means we miss a star, particularly one that has a Celtic heart, but I've had enough of a massive squad of projects, we need guys in their early twenties who will be first team regulars, hopefully N'guemo is an example, I have a good felling about him, nothing scientific just a gut instinct, especially as there does not seem to be a clip anywhere on the net of him playing.

Just Seven Fishes @ 8.48.

I dae chinge my mind..frae .. Time tae Time

Howevah...

Disnae Everyboady?

And there is an Ineluctable Reason, Why that kinda thing is pandemic amangst the cognoscenti.

It is because..

Now, write this doon somewhere, in case ye furget it..

People, chinge their Opinions because

CIRCUMSTANCES CHINGE!

And..

I have found that whenevah. Circumstances change.. then the WISE MEN AMONG US..

Chinge their Opinions.

TAE SUIT!

Maks sense tae me!

How many Atheists.. suddenly get.. Religion..As the Shells begin tae Zero in..

Oan thur .. Foxhole?

Like Ah said,pal..

Whenevah, Circumstances chinge..

Then Wan should always be alert tae that fact..

And, Thereby..

Chinge One's Opinion to suit the Newly Birthed Circumstances.

Awright?

Got that Clear ?

Get it? Goat It? Good!

Kojo.

Celtic will lose millions not qualifying for the CL.

They need to charge for the qualifier.

Sorry ,but it is a consequence of us not being champions.

Less income,less to spend on players.

I for one wil pay and take along the family for what i hope is a memorable european night.

Celtic need us.

I will be thankfull that i have enough work ,and that i am healthy enough to go.

I understand that many will find this financially difficult,but the club just can't afford to make it free for everyone.

Just back from working in london today and as with a blackberry you get kicked out when the blog gets to big so just catching up on some replies

This land

"If TM wanted McCarthy I have no doubt he would not being to Wolves or Wigan, he would be getting paraded in the Hoops!"

good one, not a chance even if he wanted him and i think he does our budget does not stretch to mccarthy or his ilk.

Losing out on Mccarthy is another short sighted act by a board that talks big but acts small.

rogueleader

Another good one never meant to be personal but your holier than thou act is very sanctimonious. Is anyone who perhaps thinks we could be a bit more ambitious without being finacially mad just a media stooge or easily led?

Anyway it was never personal so apologies if you took it that way

Hail Hail

As I recall it, Brian Mc.Clair was one of three strikers to leave that season. The others being Alan Mc.Inally and Johnston.

Apparently Davie Hay had offered MJ £2000 a week, but he turned it down.

Mc.Clair, who outscored him, asked for the same, but was refused.

Exit Brian Mc.Clair.

Others may have different memories of the matter.

TinyTim

I understand your point and I will also be there however I was under the impression that Celtic didn't budget for the Champions League.

If the draw was against a real minnow the cost would be around £7 less if any cost at all.

There is an over reliance by the board on the supports loyalty and I think its about time we were rewarded - would it really have be made a difference to the budget if this was a season ticket game?

no Kojo i havent got it ...... but like most things you say i never get so we will leave it at that.

SFFS

thomthethim, couldn't totally verify the £2k figure but that sounds just about right. Too many people love the rogues.

Leabrannagh,

'I see some chat on Brian McLair, to me the most under valued player we had in the last 25 years. This is not revisionist, but it used to bug me they way support lauded wee flash pants when we had a better player playing alongside him who never go the credit

It's interesting how many supporters don't rate McClair - on the bases he deserted the club (presumably to take the English schilling) - I think we are much more realistic about Football players these days - the Kojo test - what have you done for me lately!

Dinamo Moscow it is then. That'll make it two things to purchase on Monday.

A tough draw but by no means the worst. I'd have preferred FC Timişoara or possibly Sivasspor, although they did finish 2nd in Turkey last season, so they'd be no mugs. But I'd rather play Dinamo Moscow than Panathinaikos. FC Twente could be either really good or awful.

One good thing is the loss to Dinamo Moscow of Igor Semshov. He wouldn't renew his contract so Zenit came in for him and off he went. Good news for us. Bad news for them.

West Wales Celt.
Cheers, that is high praise indeed.

Chairbhoy
Sorry but you have lost me there...
The only reference I recognize is to The Chairs' (nae relation?) openness.. I made no mention of TM or other media...

As I said yesterday...

His statement involved him being economical with some unpalatable truths.... While being histrionic with tasty tidbits.

A Chairmans job includes keeping to the Agenda...
A Politicians involves setting it.

He is particularly good at the latter...

Eustace:

If as you say our budget does not stretch to McCarthy or his ilk, I will apologise to you if we do not spend £2.5 million before the transfer deadline.

I believe we do have he funds but need it to buy Players for more needing areas i.e. a replacement for Naka and in defence and in particular LB, which I am sure Mogga is all too aware of the need!

We have already spent £3.8 million on Fortune plus what we paid for N'Guemo's loan fee, not sure what that was but it will take our net spend in excess of £4 million so far. The only money in thus far £100k for Cuthbert!

We have spent without selling!

In my humble opinion if we wanted McCarthy he would be here!

In your humble opinion we are penny pinching, you are entitled to your opinion!

As I say my friend I'm only too willing to come on and apologise if we do not spend £2.5 million.

Take care!

...is made for you and me!

Hail Hail!

Paul 67,

Tried to e-mail you a couple of nights back re the Wembley tournament.

Can you let me know if you got it please, otherwise will re-send?

Cheers for now,
HB

JBBHOY

If the gate is 45000 it will make a difference of about £1million pounds in gate monet,maybe another £500k in tv money.then there is food sale as and merchandise etc.

It is a significant level of income.
One we need if we are to lose

£12million from CL. £2million from Setanta,and potentially other loses of sponsorship.

If our income reduces the quality of player we buy reduces.

This is the situation that Mr Strachans side left us in.

Larry.bhoy

I think Barca will rue the day they signed this guy. They looked unassailable last season. Why change things? Ibrahimovic better than Eto'o? Nae chance!

The only thing in their favour is that Real Madrid seem to be on one of the worst signing sprees in football history, clogging up their squad with stellar strikers, in a revolutionary new approach to the game whereby defence doesn't exist anymore.

James McCarthy is worth the fee.

if Celtic don't sign him then good luck to the young man.

Ulster-Celt

Auldheid,

Just reading through today's posts and noticed you were still banging away on the TV rights issue. The last time I remember you being so active was just after the January window when you were hopping from site to site defending the club's lack of spending at a crucial part of the season. I know the Board aren't paying you, but I really think they should. The amount of time and effort you put into defending them whenever sections of the support are unhappy is quite remarkable. But good luck to you. You adopt a position that appears to defend the likes of Desmond and Reid at every turn and you fight tooth and nail on their behalf. I admire your dedication, although I believe it to be misguided. I just hope they appreciate you. (you being an old Gallowgate boy) Somehow I doubt it though.

Last word from me on the topic we debated last night.

Let us hope that yesterday's Old Firm failed joint initiative will see the last of the New Labour tactic of moving so close towards the position of your opponents that the difference between you and them becomes hardly distinguishable. The Blairites, of whom Reid was a ringleader, adopted such a policy and it ended with apathy amongst their core support. This was highlighted on many occasions, none more so than the astounding New Labour loss of the East End of Glasgow to the SNP.

That same apathy is Celtic's enemy today. There is a disenchantment among wide sections of the support towards the club. Last season I thought some supporters were spoiled with the relative success of the past few years. But it goes deeper than that. I remember times when there was a love for anything Celtic. I rarely see that now. Love has been overtaken by mistrust and suspicion. Did the Board do everything possible to help win the League last season ? I don't believe they did. From what I gather there are many thousands like me.

For some, sleeping with the Devil over TV rights would have been the last straw. Fans have posted on this very site to clearly express such views. They would have been pleased that the initiative fell through. And they wouldn't have been the only ones. For Murray's claptrap means more than just floating moonbeams into hot air. Taken literally it means something else. That is why the desparate housewives of the Celtic Board members must have breathed a collective sigh of relief today. No discreet visits of their husbands to Black Street, or where ever the STD Clinic is located in Glasgow nowadays.

I hope you enjoy the new season. Despite our disagreement on this issue maybe some day we could meet up before one of the games and talk about the Fernies and the Mochans and remember how we sang, 'For we only know there's going to be a show' not realising that the show would actually happen one day in Lisbon.

Hail Hail

This land

With respect

We have spent nothing y