Accies will fancy their chances against Celtic

At the start of season 2005/06, Rangers were strong favourites for the title. Alex McLeish, having won the title the previous season with 93 points, losing only 3 games in the process, had strengthened his squad with the additions of Fan-Fan, Rodriguez, N'Guessan and Bernard in the summer, with Jeffers on loan, and Boyd arriving in January.

The only major departure was Lovenkrands, with a selection of bit-parters such as Vanoli being released.

McLeish took Rangers into the knock out rounds of the Champions League that season, a unique achievement for a Scottish team at that time.

Celtic, having disintegrated on the final day of the previous season, and been humiliated by Artmedia in Gordon Strachan's first game in charge, had lost Bellamy and Lambert, with Sutton going in January (Sutton breaking his jaw on Neil Lennon's knee early in the Artmedia game). Strachan replaced these players with a selection of players few had ever heard of. Celtic lost 3-1 to Rangers on August 20th, with Rangers enjoying a 5 point lead at that time. The hottest topic of debate (and source of media ridicule) at that time was whether Strachan would still be manager of Celtic at the end of August.

Gordon Strachan's Celtic won the league with 91 points that season. Rangers' disintegration from champions and red hot favourites to 3rd place also-rans remains inexplicable.

That Gordon Strachan humiliated Alex McLeish, perhaps Rangers' best manager of the noughties, during a period of rapid transition and wage reduction at Celtic, should be given the respect it deserves. Such respect being huge.

TBB

Celtic to win 3-1 against the Accies.

nearly

I'd just like to thank....

1st?

First?

Happy Friday CQN’ers, here’s hoping for a great result and performance on Saturday it’s long overdue.

Gordon_J and 001 bhoy thanks for you’re replies, I’ll deal with the retailer first.

Hx2

No points today :-(

hail

CQN COUPONEERS,

This week my selection is:

Aldershot home to Grimsby. 4/6 (not the best price but...)

HAIL! HAIL!
Token

Cross bar!

Come on the Hoops. Another game approaches. I love football again. I will never learn. I suspect there are a lot like me, because fancies come and go, but love never dies.

Accies will put up a good fight. I saw a bit of them against Rangers in the cup and while they didn't have much of the play (in the replay anyway) they were dogged enough and stuck well to their task.

Heres hoping we can recapture some form and that all players put on their shooting boots.

The conversion of goals to chances ratio needs to improve.

Mort

DonegalDanny I think there is something happening in Edinburgh in February to commemerate a fighting Celtic man. Do you know anything about this.

There are still men alive like James Maley.

I never came here for glory

James Maley
heraldscotland staff
Published on 14 Apr 2007

Obituary: James Maley, a born fighter, threw himself headfirst into the fray on February 19, 1908. In 1936, James answered the call of the Spanish Republic after hearing La Pasionaria on the radio.
Scottish Communist and Spanish Civil War combatant;
Born February 19, 1908;
Died April 9, 2007.

JAMES Maley, a born fighter, threw himself headfirst into the fray on February 19, 1908. His father, Ned, was a Mayo man, his mother, Anne Sherlock, Glaswegian. Raised in Stevenson Street in the Calton district of Glasgow's east end, James attended St Alphonsus.

An older brother - an altar boy - died young, leaving James, an older sister, Annie, two younger brothers, Willie and Timmy, and a younger sister, Mary.

James worked from an early age helping his mother - a hawker - wheel her barrow around Glasgow. Sometimes he'd take the empty barrow home with his wee brothers sitting in it. Out on an errand in 1919, James took a detour to George Square, where the tanks had rolled in to crush dissent.

In the 1920s, he listened to his father's friends, back from the war, discuss the state of the world. This was Red Clydeside, the Calton a seedbed of socialism.

In 1926, during the General Strike, hospitalised with pneumonia, James had part of his lung removed. Judged to be at death's door, he was given the last rites, but heard the sound of distant music. Whether it was the priest or the pipes that did it, he was soon back on his feet. Within a couple of years, he buried his own father.

In 1929-30, James left Glasgow for Cleveland, Ohio, where three Irish aunts had emigrated. When remarks were passed about the new generation of immigrants, he took the humph and decided to go home to Glasgow. When he knocked on the door, tanned and smartly dressed, carrying a case, his brother, thinking he was selling something, closed it on him.

In 1932, James joined the Communist Party, emerging as a noted public speaker at Glasgow Green. Walking along Argyle Street, trams tooted their horns, acknowledging a firebrand socialist. In 1936, James answered the call of the Spanish Republic after hearing La Pasionaria on the radio.

He was in action at the Battle of Jarama in February 1937, part of a heavy-machine-gun company, covering the retreat for three days. Captured and sentenced to 20 years, he was released in a prisoner swap. At his mother's request, he didn't return to Spain.

Back in Glasgow, James continued to speak on public platforms, often ones he carried under his own arm. Before the war he worked in Parkhead Forge, leading a strike. When war broke out, he served in Burma and India, where he made contact with communists newly released from prison.

After the war, James did no more public speaking. He sensed a change in the British working class.

He worked in Maryhill Barracks as a telephone operator until 1947, walking home each night to his mother's house in Shettleston. Around this time, he went to the Highlander's Institute, a popular social venue, where he met his future bride. He was 40, his next life just beginning. Anne Watt, from Cowcaddens, was 26. James asked Anne to dance and never let her dance with anyone else.

James proposed within two weeks, and in March 1948 they were married. Friends said she'd be a young widow. They were wrong.

He could be dogmatic - his mother recommended the frying pan for his head - but they were a pair of lovebirds. Within the next 14 years they had nine children, five daughters - Barbara, Cathy, Marina, Anne and Patricia - followed by four sons, Jimmy, Willy, John and Eddy.

Although he never smoked or drank, James was the life and soul, a popular local presence in Possilpark. He was raised a Catholic, but his children went to non-denominational schools. Once, a priest came to the door asking after this big family with the Irish surname, muttering the word "turncoat". James said he couldn't be in heaven knowing there was one person in hell.

An avid reader and educator, James borrowed books from the Book Exchange at Gilmorehill, giving his children a week to read them before taking them back in return for others. The small bookshelf at home never expanded, but the reading list was better than anything to be had at school.

He was never one for harping on the past. A volunteer for liberty in 1936, one of what Pablo Neruda called that "thin and hard and mature and ardent brigade of stone", he remained a committed socialist and internationalist to the end, but he was passionately interested in what was happening in the here-and-now.

He followed Channel 4's evening news religiously, waiting patiently till Anne had watched Emmerdale before switching channels. He lived in the present, which is why he was still kicking at 99. In later years he swapped a bunnet for a baseball cap and seemed to have rediscovered his youth.

James Maley was one of the last of a generation, a working-class hero, but first and foremost a hero to his family, a loving husband, father, grandfather - to Clyde, Louisa, Sonny, Norma and Josephine -and great-grandfather to Connor, Tyler and Mason.

Eighty years down the line, the pneumonia came back for him. Finding himself in hospital for the first time since the last rites of his teens, he treated his oxygen mask like a muzzle, pawing at it, raging against the dying of the light.

When his wife kissed him and said "Nighty-night", the fighter was at peace. He took his last breath just after midnight on Easter Monday, surrounded by his family.

A few days earlier, while his granddaughter Louisa was cutting his hair, he recalled a few phrases from his time in Spain 70 years earlier. He knew more than "no pasaran", and in his passing he leaves an exit wound his family will struggle to close.

When I saw `New article posted` I was expecting to see the heading

`McManus, Skippy Naylor Fox OUT

Keane, Wallace Solvesen `

Only because it`s a FACT

Any news on a ch lb or striker?

Hail Hail
the good bhoy

Paul67

Did someone pay you to go ? I hear it was dire.

Every game is a must win, starting tomorrow. Never easy against a team that plays decent football but at least we won't have any hammer throwers to worry about.

Starts for Ki and Rasmusson?

What's with the new Keane rumours? Is it something definite or just a reaction to Gudjonsson coming into Spurs? Isn't he the replacement for Pavlyuchenko rather than Keane?

Bobby R - gonna need more info on that claim mate.

_____________________________________________

___________________________________________________________
Should Anton Mor be allowed the time he needs to remould Celtic ?
A simple head count.
YES or NO.

Yes.

Kilbowie Kelt.
DannyMac77.
Bradford Bhoy.
Moonbeams wet dream.
Barber of Samaras.
SuperSutton.
joecraigsboots.
Chris Sutton is a legend.
ZetaBhoy.
jvoh67.
Eustace P Merryweather.
Kojo.
Jobo Baldie.
notthebus.
mickthetic.
gietheboyachanceman.
Corrib 04.
goldstar10.
Sheany.
Ibleedgreen&whitebro.
killerheels.
Burnside Harp.
CAL.
Roy's Keane.
Bhoy812.
Shimmies33.
Greenwell's Glory.
GeryAdams'beard.
Celtrick bhoy.
gc55.
Karl Augustine.
2thecore.
Singapore Celt.
Bolton bhoy.
half n half.
Vinibhoy.
Once A Bhoy.
Syein's a Legend.

No

PjDali.
Donegal Resident.
The Narrowboat Tim.
Mac1888.
notafanofstan.
roccobhoy.
Lux Celt.
vale bhoy.
celticblack.

The above are the clearly stated opinions of the posters concerned from when I asked the question yesterday evening, to the end of the previous article.
Not all of them were in answer to my question.
Apologies if I have missed anybody or misrepresented anybody.
It would seem that the VAST majority of us want to see Tony Mowbrey given whatever time he needs.

Listen if that does become a FACT then there is still a chance in this league but only if we cut out the stupid mistakes and finish teams off.

Arithmetically it is not finished but given the number of let downs we get after seemingly getting back on track I am not holding my breath.

I want to believe but there are only so many times you can take it in the same way there are only so many times you can take a girl saying no to you (oops too much information)

I'm getting back on form. It is Friday and I have a fridge full of beer with a dinner party to come tomorrow. I'm making Scotch Broth and Haggis neeps and tatties for Slovaks. Anyone fancy it?

Just an aside, I've checked the SPL rules and apparently teams can have numbered shorts (on the left leg), the only stipulation being you still need the number on the back.
I would have thought numbered shorts for the first team might be a bit of a money spinner as well as invoking memories of better times!

While I'm at it, I would get rid of the club crest on the hoops also. We don't need a badge to let people know who we are.

Roy's Keane - I have been reading your views on the joint sponsorship with Rangers with interest this morning. With interest as I know you are in an extremly small minority with your views. Unfortunately your wee minority include the Celtic board.

From reading your posts I think these are the points you are making:

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

Other boards have done it so why the problem now? (Another interesting thing about this point is it too is the exact point made by the board)

Answer: Just because something has always been done a certain way does not make it right. The joint deal helps Rangers more than us. The joint deal is a poor deal for Celtic.

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

"To project onto the board that they should stop acting in the best business interests of the club and act purley as a supporter would in our financial matters, is extremely naive."

"These "fans" are often the ones also calling for BTM's head on a stick as well as the whole board. It's just another pointless stick that is used to batter the board with little justification."

"Do supporters have to like it? No.

Should supporters have there say on it? Of course.

Should supporters demand the resignation of the board for doing so? Well."

Answer: This is where you have got the completly wrong end of the stick. Once again interestingly the same end of the stick the board have a hold of. You say we who do not like this are naive, unfortunately my friend it is you who are naive, or are maybe just failing to see the bigger picture here.

We are a football club. We are not a normal business. Your customers, who pump their money in, have deep (sometimes extreme) emotional ties to the club. These emotions make people behave far differently to normal customers. Treating them as normal customers and Celtic as a normal business generates, well, what we have today.

Rangers in recent years through the behaviour of the fans (TFS, Rioting, It wasnae us it wuz Chelsea fans) have shamed Scotland. They have shamed our league at a time when we are desperate for good publicity. Any decent minded Celtic fan would not want anything to do with them. Every decent minded Celtic fan wants as much dissassociation with them as possible.

The board seem to think they can do as these please under the auspices of "what is best financially". They have been reminded that this is a football club and these considerations, whilst important, have to come secondary to what is fast becoming an ideaology.

I am acutely aware of the ins and outs of this situation. Acutely aware of the finances involved and I am also acutely aware that the best deal financially for Celtic PLC is NOT THE BEST DEAL FOR CELTIC FOOTBALL CLUB.

I haven't noticed you posting before so I will adress your comments on people just wanting to use this as a stick to beat the board, with myself as an example in case you are not aware of my posting history.

I was an uber clapper last year. I thought the board were adequate but were making mistakes. I didn't bash them as I had felt PL, like GS, had earned a chance through their previous performances with the club. That started to change last January. No I am not a happy clapper never have been, nor am I a mine shafter, never have been. I am a Celtic supporter. Not a Celtic board supporter. A Celtic supporter. My opinions, as all opinions should be, are transient. If events occur that challenge your beliefs you should use that evidence to review your opinions. The evidence now says the board are not doing a good job. It would be remiss of any Celtic fan who thought this not to challenge the custodians of the club. Because remember they are merely our custodians. Nobody owns Celtic. We do. They answer to us. To dismiss fellow Celtic fans' views as "naive" or (paraphrasing) "board bashing" only highlights your own naivety to the situation....

We are Celtic. What we stand for is not for sale.

Kilbowie Kelt

Put me down as a yes

Tomtheleedstim, it was in reference to a post at the tail end of the last thread. Would love it to be true but taken with 2 grammes of sodium.

Kilbowie

I am a Yes

UC

Garngad to Croy, it was not a great game but I saw two teams battle like you wouldn’t believe for every ball.

Anyone know if Landry and Brown will be available ?

kilbowie kelt

put me down for a HELLLLLL yes =0)

hail hail

Paul67

How are you today?

Are you able to give us any news on comings and goings today?

Just out of interest, does anyone know how many times we have managed to win back to back SPL games this season and what our longest winning run is?

Much appreciation for anyone that goes digging through our results for me.

By RogueLeader on January 29, 2010 12:27 PM
Did you get penicillin for that Uber Clapper?

Rumour of the Day then is this another Nike Friday......?

Paul67 give us some info
make it up if you wish but lets try and cheer the place up a bit today

Messi straight swap for Scott Macdonald

kilbowie

A definate Yes.

Anyone like me find Darren ODea the new Gary Caldwell?.....Not very good but likes to talk alot to the media about what he can do and seemingly what is required to be a Celtic PLAYER!!
WAKE-UP-Darren!!

Kilbowie Kelt,

I posted YES last night.
Guessed you missed me.

HAIL! HAIL!
Token

KK - yes.

Paul,
your article makes for sobering reading. Not surprising reading - I am sure that we all feel the same way - it just kind of hits you when you read it in black and white. Hamilton Accies? Ouch.

The sad thing is that many folk can predict how this game will go.

Hamilton will get in our faces in midfield. They'll start to get a bit of posession. No-one in our middle 3rd will get in a tackle.

They'll get balls into our box. Bad things will happen.

Now, whether or not these bad things will outweigh the odd flash of genius from Aiden, Sammy or Fortune, who knows?

I'd be surprised if we play in a way where we are comfortable in posession, or dominate the midfield.

Predictable, slow passing, with no physical presence or energy, that's what our season has given us so far. Horrible stuff.

I for one, have been confused as to why we went back to a rigid 4-4-2 against Hibs. See what it did to our full backs? Wingers predictably on the touchline....no space for the full backs to push on into.....Crosas and Zi hopelessly exposed against 3 (energetic) Hibs players.

You are absolutely right. Hamilton will fancy their chances.

As for the future....I'm not encouraged by the screesh of bodies coming in. Rather than quantity, we should know that it only takes a wee bit of quality to win the SPL. If we have the right FIVE men of good quality, then the rest of the team can get by with journey men.

Keeper, CB, Central midfield, striker.....and manager.

It is going to be a long and painful winter/spring, methinks......

Just thought I'd post something to cheer you all up.....:)

KK

yes for me 2

SSN

Gudjonnsen deal done.........Robbie Keane?
McManus deal nearly complete......Solvi Ottenden?
Fox expected to sign today.......Lee Wallce?

Any 2 out of 3 would do

No news on Skippy/West Ham on SSN

Kilbowie

A definite yes

saint stivs fp

Your take-off last week of the Radio Snyde phone-in was hilarious. Please feel free to provide another witty sketch or two along the same lines.

we will blooter the Accies tomorrow, by at least three.

KK

Yes for me also please.

Kilbowie Kelt

Yes!!

Just out of interest, does anyone know how many times we have managed to win back to back SPL games this season and what our longest winning run is?

Two i think!

Kilbowie,

Fairly loaded question that makes us refuseniks look a bit uncharitable...

but...

on the premise that our manager is the board's biggest mistake of the season in appointing him and his mismanagement team, I'm a no for the clear reason that current and past perfromance of Mr Mowbray suggest he is incapable of managing our club to success.

The board could buy the whole Barca squad in the next 24 hours and I'd still have my doubts he'd be able to form a cohesive unit and provide enough motivation to win a game.

Look how low we've fallen if we are all facing a sleepless night with the worry that we face a possible dropping of points at the mightly giants of Hamilton...

Big Wavy

Yes we have to give him time, things ain't going wel at the momnet but if we don't back our manager they will get a helluva lot worse.

ayrtic

see you,,,i demand you tell us who we are signing right this instant

pleaseeeee =0)

you must know something buddy??

hail hail

Roy's Keane on January 29, 2010 11:57 AM

You're wrong in your opinions about Rangers' early history.

Their anti Catholic bigotry didn't kick in until around 1912 when Primrose became chairman. Coincidentally H&W opened a yard on the Clyde at about the same time. They brought over foremen from their Belfast yard who were bigoted. To get a job in the yard you had to be a non Catholic. The more bigoted you were once you were employed the easier it was to get on with the foremen. That bigotry found a means of expression through Rangers. I suppose in a way it's another example of good old economic determinism, where a social factor like Rangers sectarianism has its roots in an economic cause like employment.

You're welcome to your opinion, but it is contradicted by the facts.

An opinion which isn't consistent with the facts is not dissimilar to bigotry, is it not?

Kilbowie Celt- put me down as a 'Yes', although I'm very suspicious of CQN poll results after somehow Oasis got more votes than Commander Cody and his Lost Planet Airmen

Anyways, for any lurking Greenockians: Natalie Merchant was in very fine voice last night, and I'd say about the size of twa bags o' sugar.

ballwinningcentrehalf @ 12.33pm

3 games in a row is the best we have done, first 3 (Aberdeen, St Johnstone, Hibs) and also 3 against (St Mirren, Aberdeen, Motherwell)

Killerheels....I said the same about Hibs at home on Wednesday unfortunately and also put my money where my mouth was. MY team let me down in a 5 team accumulator that would have netted me a handsome sum.

The money didn't really matter in the grand scheme of thing's though:¬(

A Yes from Ayrtic there......Hmmmmm.....must mean a busy couple of days in the offing;~)

AULDBHOY at 12:34 PM

Be fair. Darren is standing in as captain of the club and has no choice but to make public pronouncements, in the match programme, in other club communications and to the outside media.

I bet he would rather just concentrate on getting better at his game and winning a regular place in the team.

Cut the lhad some slack.

I have it from an impeccable source that a room has been reserved at the Strathclyde Hilton for the night of 31st Jan in the name of a D Yorke. Has anyone else heard?

Nguemo is vital for this game against their five midfielders, the gaps in the middle of the park on Wednesday were more obvious than normal.

If we can win the midfield then the wingers can run riot against their back three.

Assuming Nguemo is back, fit and ready to go?

kilbowie

A definate Yes.

Paul67

thanks for the heads up on JD Salinger,

time for any Old exclusive on our personnel

has the Fox left his lair?

HH

Feels good to be back amongst the points!

Hopefully the Hoops'll do the same tomorrow :)

Any word on the petition? I've lost the link for it.

KK - Yes from me

McManus and Mendes both off

SSN saying McManus deal confirmed and also confirm Mendes away, undisclosed fee

Kilbowie Kelt

YES

Keep the faith

SSN

McManus loan agreed

mendes sporting/huns agree fee, so much for the cardigam noboday in or out, press will hve a go at him tomorrow! NOT

According to a KDS poster Snyde has stated that McManus & Fox deals are done.....surely they would not be going anywhere unless 2 replacements were sourced. I don't believe the nonsense about we have cover already for Fox...we don't.LB is an enigma to our recent managers.

Afternoon all,

'Keep the faith'
That gets harder to say almost by the week but here we are again on a friday and a glimmer of hope is appearing, enough to wet the appetite for tomorrows game.

Not sure where that glimmer of hope has come from, maybe it is the very reason we all love football and most importantly CELTIC

Faithfull through and through

Mon the HOOPS

New poster here, usually a lurker but had to sign up after reading kitalba's post.

kitalba on January 29, 2010 12:20 PM :

Great post, really enjoyed reading it.

I'm currently browsing through many sources on the Spanish Civil War as I'm writing my History dissertation on the Scottish experience in the International Brigades. Originally I wanted to study Landlords in the Irish Famine, but this is such an interesting topic with so many heart-wrenching stories and something that I'm fascinated with.

Great to hear about heroes like James Maley, and although people today find it difficult to understand why guys like him would risk so much to travel to a foreign land to fight a war that was not theirs to fight, the bravery and committment they showed to attempt to defeat fascism was unbelievable and must be recognised.

So thanks a million for letting me use kitalba, Celtic Quick News (January 29th, 2010) in my bibliography! Please don't sue me for plagiarism!

Hail Hail.

So Rangers have a buyer yet BDJ?

2 days to go.

Mendes away? Hmmmmm. We don't need to sell? Hmmmmm.

McManus gone? Loan or forever?

Mendez "undisclosed" - must be in excess of £5m then!!!

Kilbowie

Yes

Kilbowie,

Yes from me also

Pinnerbhoy

KK

Yes

Do I hear the Ayrtic alarms ringing?

ayrtic

thats cheating,,,you read that off of ssn=0)

come on mate what can you tell us MMmmmmmm??????

hail hail

P.s. Viva la Quinta Brigada!

By hoopeddreams on January 29, 2010 12:35 PM
saint stivs fp

Your take-off last week of the Radio Snyde phone-in was hilarious. Please feel free to provide another witty sketch or two along the same lines.

Ta, but that wasnt a witty sketch ........ that was a recorded transcript of a real programme.

hahahahha.

I will post another when the mood takes me, but to be honest not felt cheery at all since wednesday night.

its hard work being a tim.

McManus is loan deal til end of season

http://www.celticquicknews.co.uk/2010/01/accies-will-fancy-their-chance.php#comment-505380

The Battered Bunnet

Excellent. Let it not be forgotten nor history re-written by the revisionists.

By derbyshirebhoy on January 29, 2010 12:40 PM

You mean this guy?

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0948685/

Bewitching!

All the best Big Mick, hail hail!

PaulMcGrathshouldhavebeenaCelt-
tomorrows the day it all starts to change, for every fiver you put down I'll put down a tenner!
I'd better watch my phraseology on here, I might be accused.
Keep the Faith

Ayrtic

You must love coming on here ;^)

I've been told that a new LB and CB are to sign in the next couple of days. The CB my source has talked about most is Ottesen.

What's your latest information?

Coupon

Berwick to beat Montrose.

So far

TTT - Aldershot
EN - Berwick

ibleedgreenandwhite

only info I have so far is that Fox is defo going. He doesn't want to go and is gutted at being forced out. We apparently need to generate more cash and he is the only player we have received a bid for. The manager doesn't really want him gone either but I'm told has NO plans to replace him

By Kilbowie Kelt on January 29, 2010 12:27 PM
Should Anton Mor be allowed the time he needs to remould Celtic ?

No for me, don't think he's capable.

As for Mendes, deal done in December for him to leave and only needed to prove over his injury

Ayrtic on January 29, 2010 12:48 PM

My word thats a sorry state of affairs if true. No reason to doubt you mind.

DD

By Ayrtic on January 29, 2010 12:48 PM

Does that mean that any ins must be paid for by outs (initial transfer fees & wages)?

CentenaryBhoy

Kitalba's post is a copy and paste of a Herald obituary article (as he makes clear).

It's the Herald article you should be citing as your source.

ayrtic

who are you really,,,mystic meg Mmmmmmm ??????

cheers for the info pal

hail hail

Seldom post,but ma bloods boiling so a resounding YES from me!

COUPON

Bristol Rovers....

McManus on loan? Is this with a view to a permanent deal or are we keeping our options open for the summer?

By Ayrtic on January 29, 2010 12:48 PM

If true then an absolute disgrace.

RogueLeader @ 12:27

that sums it up in a nut shell. Well said.

MWD

So Fox is being forced out for a profit, unless its millions, I dont see the point. Hes no world beater, but best of a bad bunch of options at LB. Shaba Laslo on SSN saying Wallace is not leaving - doesnt mean its true!

celticsephiroth

i have heard as i stated no one would come in until fox mcmanus and mcdonald were out door

replacements lined up but not processed till monies were freed up
so now as 2 of them have gone told to expect there replacements over the weekend

CelticSephiroth

I hope your right, but I would not be surprised if right backs playing left back is the way we go until the summer :(

KK - Count me as a yes.

We must give him time, considering that post the transfer window it's likely that only Boruc, Hinkel, O'Dea, Crosas, McGeady, Samaras and McDonald will be the only players he inherited that are in the squad. He must be measured NOW on the 51 points available, I reckon we need a minimum of 45-47 to win the league. Let's start believing now

Any news on Wallace and Solvi?

If Celtic have declined in stature that much that we can’t be confident of beating Hamilton then I do not live in interesting times, I live in despair.

If we pay so much for poverty of expectation then we might as well rip up every player’s contract and sign the whole Hamilton squad instead.

You article Paul is a sad indictment of how hollow the slogan TGFITW is.

I expect to beat Hamilton, and to be honest, after what we have recently endured, any other result might have horrendous ramifications.

As the song goes “we’re on the one road, maybe a long road”… but the together part? Well… we lost the together part about twelve months ago, and I see very few trying too hard to darn the rifts.

I think we will win this league, I really do, and if we do, a lot of people are going to have to sit down and have a long talk to themselves about whether their hearts are up to the task.

ibleedgreenandwhite

More like septic peg ! :)

Kilbowie

How bad does a car crash have to be before you call the ambulance?

NO, NO a thousand times NO.

Ayrtic

Thanks for that mate, a total farce if true as that would mean we have NO left footed people on the left wing at all.

We shall have to wait and see.

kilbowie celt

YES...

...of course

To the CQNCouponeers-

Carlisle U v Leyton Orient- home win

Da Nang v Haiphong Cement -away win.

Kilbowie Kelt

Yes to giving Mowbray more time.

Hamilton look exhausted after 3 tough games v Rangers then a relegation battle. Our attaking pace from the bench should do it. Despite all the evidence of my eyes I refuse to be give up hope.

I'll post more on the statistics around posession and shots on target (the key predictors of football success). Dull work stuff to do.

Ernie Lynch,

I wouldn't actually use Kitalba and CQN as a source...as much as I'd like to. So no worries there pal!

Hail Hail

Kilbowie Kelt

YES

Kilbowie Kelt

And a big yes from me

KK

100% YES for me

NO2OF

kitalba

Haven't heard of anything happening but a good mate of mine will know so I'll give him a shout.

However I have heard rumour of another 'Celtic' band coming to the capital soon on the back of the successful wolfetones gig at the end of last year so it may be to coincide with something like that.

DD

ayrtic

you just made me spit my lunch out lol

hail hail

KK - NO

kilbowie kelt

YIP

Carlo Cocozza@12.52 - what makes you so sure Fox has been forced out for profit? Maybe he hasn't settled up here. Perhaps they're making him a wage offer he can't refuse.

CentenaryBhoy:

That was a herald article also reproduced on KDS : 'James Maley'.

I have read disturbing books about the Spanish Civil War but I have never read one that I could put down.

KK,

You've missed out a lot of No's, including me. They're not hard to spot.

So far Ive read that no one is going out until we have a replacement secured and no new players will be bought until we have got rid of players.

What comes first?

Monday is the day for ranting about the windows.

Talking of windows it looks like theres around 7.5mm of surprise snow cover laying here in G72.

I had to break my silence to vote.
If we win our next two games Yes
If we don,t No
So at the moment it is YES

Ayrtic,

Why does he need to generate cash....is he skint or something-:)

Buy a leader Celtic.

Árd Macha

Carlo Cocozza
Apparently he's not really settled in Scotland. The chance to play EPL football was also something he couldn't turn down.

Not sure he's being forced?

donegaldanny:

Is it 'The Wakes'?

well said Lubomiraculous i was missed also

Transfer Stories from Evening Times

Ronnie Cully seems to be saying that it's a no for Solvi Ottesen and a yes for St Ledger.

He also says that Lee Wallace is a target.

maybe the fox is really a mole

Anton Mor must get time

.

Frankie Howard will be Turning in His (Harem) Grave....

The Official Site has been Taken Down (Non Payment of Web fees 2K)....

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

Open letter to those ruining, sorry 'running' PFC

Dear Ali Al Faraj, Ahmed Al Faraj, Mark Jacob, Daniel Azougy etc.

Think of something that you really love - something that means just about as much to you as anything else in the world.

Have you pictured that?

Now think how you would feel if a complete stranger came along and threatened that existence of that particular thing.

How does that make you feel? Not good is it!

Well, that is how I and just about every other Pompey fan feels right about now - we genuinely do not know what each day is going to bring, but genuinely have a fear that with each day that passes it moves us closer to our existence, of over 110-years, coming to an end!!!!

You, Mr Ali Al Faraj have not even bothered to show yourself to us - you have rarely even addressed us and when one of your 'aid's', or 'advisors' address us they treat us like mugs.

Mr Jacob, lets just quote a few of your own words: 'I (Mark Jacob) have a message to all football fans

'It is: be pro-active. Don't be passive. Don't accept being treated as turnstile fodder. Don't accept poor facilities, useless managers and players who go through the motions. Don't just grumble, organise!'

Oh, and his speaking about your club, Spurs, I get an eerie feeling of déjà vu but about us instead: 'the club's DNA is being eroded by a chairman who knew virtually nothing about football before he bought the club.'

Maybe we should just call you 'Nostradamus...'

Jacob you are standing by and allowing faceless people to gut our club, they ARE ripping it down brick by brick yet you are able to sit comfortably while they do this - you are a hypocrite of the highest order!

Azougy, a convicted fraudster is being left in charge of our finances - it is seriously believed that HE is doing our transfers at the moment, quite how he is being able to do so is beyond me, legally and morally he should not be allowed, why the premier league are allowing this when someone must know this is beyond me!

You, and this is a 'collective you' to those 'running' the club, like others before you had asked for 'trust' and 'patience' - trust and patience is something that we have done for so long and I find it neigh on impossible that you could find another set of fans that, on the whole, are as willing to do this as we do so do not be going down that road with us!

I, and many, many others, have TRIED to give you this time, and have put trust in you but it is very hard to trust people that constantly seem to be doing things that leave you unable to trust them or have faith in them.

You say this and that is being done - but IS IT?

Is money really being put in? Or are things merely being juggled around and the money that is being used is merely the money that the club is raising anyway, mostly due to that which WE, the fans - you know the ones that DO care, unlike yourselves, put into it!

I know that people here before, including a certain Mr Peter Storrie, left behind a bloody mess, but if this is not a mess that you are willing/able to clear up then what exactly are you doing, what is the point of you owning Portsmouth Football Club?

Taking us for what you can, before the seemingly inevitable death of the club comes, seems to be what you are doing - thanks guys!

Yes, that mess is someone else's but when YOU, that collective you, took over the running of Portsmouth Football Club you took on that responsibility, so this is now YOUR problem, but this is a mess you seemingly have no chance in hell of sorting out as you struggle to even pay the poxy wages for the players and staff each month on time - there will come a time one day when you cannot pay it at all!

You have a whole club full of disgruntled employees, from top to bottom and I know this for a fact having spoken personally to several of them - we suffered the ultimate embarrassment of seeing the official website taken offline as payments were not met, we are taking a payment of something like £2,000 here. The electronic advertising hoardings were offline on Tuesday, not due to a 'technical glitch' due to non-payments, the fans marquee has been shut for the past couple of games, due to nothing else other than non-payments so generators have been taken away - I suspect that the marquee itself will be taken down by the time we face Sunderland in our next home game, well assuming we make it that far!

We cannot ignore these things that need paying and hope that they go away, go away is what they are now doing but not because they are 'letting you get away with it', they are taking away their survive as they are not letting you 'extract the urine', I think you know what I mean, anymore...

The prognosis for this once proud club is looking dire, administration - at best, not that this is a 'good thing', seems a ray of sunshine at the moment but then just think of the local community, a community that could be crushed as this falling into admin could destroy so many local business! I sure as hell know that I do not want Portsmouth Football Club to be remembered as the club that destroyed so many businesses in Portsmouth! Admin looks the 'best case scenario' although liquidation seems the most likely!

Do you have ANY idea of how much this club means to so many people the world over?

Go back to that thing that means the most to you, and again you are there but this heartbeat is getting fainter and YOU will be responsible for this fading away - but you will be ok, you can swan off from whence you came, no doubt with a few quid profit in your back pocket while we are left with the devastation.

Portsmouth Football Club is my life, as it is hundreds of thousands of others around the globe, and I cannot imagine a world without it but this seems to be getting closer - I fear that you are only helping us down this path and 'seemingly' taking what you can while you can! From my point of view is just looks like were are now going through the motions with whatever can be salvaged from the carcass being salvaged, but where is this money going?

Is 'seems' like it is going to YOU until the inevitable happens!!!!

There are some rumours of a possible 'saviour' coming in for us but their interest could end because you will not allow them to see the books - this only adds to the thoughts that the death of Portsmouth Football Club is what is wanted?

The left hand does not know what the right is doing it seems, one of this administration says something then someone else contradicts it - no one seems to know what the other is doing and people that are MEANT to be on the 'same side' are working against each others, and WHO suffers?

We, the LOYAL Portsmouth Football Club fans! Yet sadly we continue, and to adapt slightly your own words Mr Jacob, to 'accept being treated as turnstile fodder!'

Can those 'running' the club please now move on for someone that might actually be able to do this to ensure we DO have a club in the not too distant future - unless this is your end game, to see that we do not and then reap the benefits of this somehow...

I gave you this trust, I gave you this patience and I gave you this time but my patience has run out as has the time I give you, so - not tat you care, or will listen - I implore you to move on and let someone that can save us come in and take us away from this 'new level that we would not believe,' we certainly would not believe this level, I just wish that we had been told it would be an all time low level!

Put up, or move on, but PLEASE do not let Portsmouth Football Club die and stop treating us all like morons, stop bleeding us dry. Although all in all I have no doubt most likely wasted x-amount of time writing this as do you even give a stuff?

I very much doubt it as you all seem morally corrupt anyway...

PLAY UP POMPEY! Or should that be SELL UP POMPEY!

TOF

The Battered Bunnet at 12.15 - an excellent post, a good one to gain the first post for the change.

Credit to Gordon Strachan for that 1st season. Someone posted earlier today about how important it was to have a strong spine in the team, it may have been Donegal Danny.

Our Spine that season was

Boruc

Balde & McManus
Petrov & Lennon

Hartson

Four of those players were key under the previous manager, even McManus was inherited.

Our spine has been weakened season by season resulting in the current team where, well frankly, there is no spine and the captain's armband is one to be passed around between the latest underperforming centre half. Let's hope the spine is established by close of business on Monday night.

Vinibhoy - Ayrtics post at 12.48 suggests Fox is being sold against his and Mowbrays wishes.

Ayrtic

Do you have any information as to the reasons why the PLC are acting in this manner? Do they believe financial armegedon is coming? Do they foresee the US Dollar being obliterated and Sterling crashing with it? Or are they just tight wads? Surely they must have reasons for acting this way with our club. If not then the only other thing I can think of is "Collusion" with the Beggars.

Seems liek the five year plan has at it's end Celtic Football Club competing for top 6 in the SPL.

Their time is a coming and it is a coming soon if they stick to their existing plans. "SACK THE BOARD" sound familliar.

MWD

Naka to Middlesboro? CHarlie Adam to Middlesboro???? MQN will be in meltdown. Looks like WGS is trying to rebuild last years reserve team, following the closure of the reserve league

AN Other (Brown - just made up)

AN Other (Wilson - rumoured)
McManus
AN Other (Odea - just made up)
AN Other (Mulgrew - rumoured)

Flood
Robson
Naka (in talks)
Adam hun

Killen
AN Other (McDonald - rumoured)

Interesting point there from Squire Danaher brilliant username BTW, how bad will things have to get before Mowbray is removed from his post? If the unthinkable happens in that we finish 2nd again, will we have the glass half full brigade calling for a stay for another season, or if God forbid we lose on Sunday will Mowbray be relieved of his position then? When will we start believing enough is enough? Would really like to know what expectations folk have for Mowbray. Is second always going to be good enough provided we are pleasing on the eye?

We all know the results have been disappointing but we have to stand behind BTM.He has his own ideas so we have to give him more time,and this is from someone who wanted Bilic,YNWA.Slan

YES for me on giving Mowbray more time.

HELL YES.

We will STILL win this title!!!

I BELIEVE!

The Lizard King

See posts from me and again and BigChipsUK on that subject on the previous blog.

Mort

kitalba on January 29, 2010 1:01 PM

No I've heard its the self styled 'greatest Celtic band in the world' not been confirmed yet but I'm hoping its right.

AS I say might not be anything to do with it, what have you heard is happening for James Maley?

DD

KK - yes, for sure.

Ayrtic - if that is true re; Fox then the truth will out once he signs. It always does.

Vinibhoy

100% he's being forced , straight from the Fox's mouth as they say

weeminger on January 29, 2010 1:00 PM
Vinibhoy on January 29, 2010 1:01 PM

I was responding to "Ayrtic on January 29, 2010 12:48 PM"
that he was being forced out, I should have writtten , "if its true" at the start!

Peeps

SStL poss movement

Left Full back at Prem Club being looked at.

Based on Fox outcome

KK

put me down as a YES

agree that TM must be judged on his players playing his way
he was trying to make Gordans players play Tony's way

so 51 points to play for lets get behind the team and behind the manager and win this League

but please bear in mind all of the above was stated by a Fan.
I cant really think about it Im not pundit, Im an Fan, biased and following my team wherever it may lead me, good and bad, Im destined to follow my team, I can moan I can mutter I can winge but I have no control over who the manager is or who they sign I can only follow

maybe its time to stop telling people we support our team and actually start supporting it...

maybe the GB should have banners encouraging/demanding/provoking the rest of the Cetic support to sing as much as they do (and boy those boys know how to sing)

Ive seen bad times at Celtic this isnt good but its not the worse Ive seen

not sure if this makes me a happy clapper, mineshafter or a board apoloigist (sp)

but I sure as hell am a celtic fan I pays me money I sit and suffer its all I can do .................

kitalba:

You're right, have you read 'Homage to Caledonia' by Daniel Gray?

Thanks again for the link.

Hail Hail

KK - a reluctant yes, given the paucity of alternatives (ie no money to apy off BTM and buy a new manager)

By CelticSephiroth on January 29, 2010 1:02 PM
Don't think there's any doubt that StLedger is TMs first choice. Was told last weekend that we were willing to pay £2.5m for a centre back (no name but i assumed SSL). With Fox being sold maybe we're going back in with a higher bid. I would guess that is we get St Ledger then we won't get Wallace and wil settle for either Kilbane or Mulgrew for left back. If we don't get St Ledger then we'll go for a cheaper centre half, possibly Otessen, and pay the extra for Wallace. Can't see us getting both StLedger and Wallace as you're probably looking at close on £5m for both.

AYRTIC @12:48
If that is true we are really fecken DOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMED

DontbrattbackinangerAuthor Profile Page on January 29, 2010 12:39 PM

I once saw Natalie Merchant with the 10,000 maniacs at the ole....Glasgow....er Apollo I think. A fan got up to dance with her on stage and was beaten up by two bouncers and a hoolie started. Was the day that English Football fans/thugs were running amok through Glasgow City Centre about 20 years ago. Merchant stopped singing and said there was enough violence on the streets without bringing it in here. (bouncers were totally out of order)

It wasnt a complete waste of time and money but I think Natalie may beg to differ!

Ayrtic, disappointing news about Fox and that we dont have plans to replace him. Does that rule out L Wallace I wonder?

Wallace AND Mulgrew? anyone?

Maybe WGS will come in for Nayls too....

Henriks Sombrero

I can assuere you Fox isnt being sold against BTM's wishes

MWD- or is this the realisation that we are only playing in front of sub 40,000 crowds now and we need to budget accordingly for the future?

10,000 lost season book sales equate to approx. £5 million lost revenue.

My info was that Ottesen was the backup name to St. Ledger but that the bid for St. Ledger was dead in the water as his club wouldn't budge from their ridiculous valuation.

Wallace has only come up recently and I think was possibly seen as an option when it became clear that Fox was for the off.

If a replacement LB is not signed and we go with RBs at LB for the rest of the season then we really are in trouble.

RCBhoy - I'm simply commenting on Ayrtics info. He suggests he is.

cardiffbhoy on January 29, 2010 1:03 PM

It was me, I agree, Mowbray didn't even inherit a spine in this team!

Moonbeams wet dream on January 29, 2010 1:03 PM

IMO I don't think you're too far off with the collusion idea, the evidence would certainly back it up. I posted on here last season when the idea first raised its head that we'd more than likely continue to help them with a joint shirt sponsership yet again and hey presto the tennants story arises recently.

DD

Sorry

Never seen Ayrtics comments. Def isnt.

KK-Yes.

Strongly agree though with thomthethim that carrying out such a poll is a sad indictment of the support. It smacks of something they would be doing or indeed their friends in the media.

Buy a leader Celtic.

Árd Macha

Corrib - I saw 10,000 Maniacs at the Pavilion in May 89, supported by Kevin McDermott Orchestra. It was the day of the last Scotland - England home international. I remember that because I was part of a group invited to leave the city by the police for chanting unfavourably about Jimmy Hill's bedroom proclivities.

Kilbowie Kelt

A 100 percent definite NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hail Hail

Roccobhoy

RCBhoy, are you saying TM wants rid of him? can you elaborate?

Kilbowie Kelt

Its a YES for me too.

Come on BTM you can do it!

Ayrtic on January 29, 2010 12:48 PM

That would be my reading on it. Anton Mor has more or less intimated that anyone of ODea, Caddis, Naylor or Wilson can play left back.

Didn't want to see Fox go and would only be satisfied if he was to be replaced by Wallace.

Shambles if this is how it works out.

RCBhoy

Manager doesn't want Fox to go, but has been told need cash in IF there is to be any further movement in the transfer market

Donegaldanny
Good to be logged on at the same time as yourself as some would believe that you and I are indeed one and the same poster. You must be good looking, intelligent and knowledgable about all things GAA and Celtic also.

Henriks

Arytic suggests that Danny Fox is being forced out. He doesn't say who is doing the forcing out although he does say the manager isn't really happy about it but that doesn't mean it's against his wishes.

Perhaps Tony doesn't want him to go but is pragmatic enough to know that if he is sold that the extra money can go on someone in a different position that he needs filled.

Mort

Kilbowie Kelt

Yes

DonegalDanny:

I think they are going to celebrate his bithday with a concert. Maybe the James Connelly Society might know.

CentenaryBhoy:

No I haven't read the book you mention: 'Homage to Caledonia' by Daniel Gray, but I know of it.

Most books here in Australia are imported and the price reflect that. Thirty+ or so pounds is what you'd expect to pay for a decent book.

A long time ago, well not that long ago really, it just seems so, I used to work in London and one of my greatest pleasures, to the dismay of many a lunch time drinker (which I was not totaly averse to myself)was to waste a couple of hours in one of the dozens of clearance book shops.

I learned more in those dinner hours than I ever learned in school.

I learned about Scotland and Spain... I already knew so much about Ireland... or so I thought.

Welcome to the blog mate and good luck with your studies.

Mort

Spot on my friend

Kilbowie Celt

I'm a yess but

The major thing that bothers me is whether or not Tony Mowbray has the ability to inspire. That above all is what this current collection of strangers will need plenty of if they and Celtic are to succeed. They're certainly not going to get any coming from the Celtic Park crowd who I would suggest are little help to the team nowadays.

Realistically it seems quite obvious that the Board are not going to dump him out of hand having allowed him to make the wholesale changes he has so far.

I'm being philosophical at the moment in that the raw material he is selecting seems to me to have a lot going for it but as I say at the moment they are strangers to each other and to the way they're being asked to play. I tend to take comfort from that with the view that Tony Mowbray will make a team of them to his own credit or someone else will ultimately replace him who has that talent.

What concerns me much more are the people who failed to invest last January and who subsequently mis managed the transition from Gordon Strachan to another manager. If we're looking for culprits then I would suggest that there's where we should start.

Personally, I would be very dissappointed if if Fox were to leave. Not a great player but better than what we've had and if there are no plans to replace him, I worry.

Also did anyone notice those twats at the Sun this morning had a picture of Zheng Zhi beside the caption:
"Ki player.... youngster will settle in"
Idiots.

Donegal resident on January 29, 2010 1:14 PM

Good stuff mate, I love both my Celtic and my GAA!

Although following Donegal can be alot like follwing Celtic at times.

I'm close to the Mayo GAA scene as well through my other half, mad county for it!

DD

I see Mendes is off to Sporting Lisbon.

Could the HBOS lot be about to do what we did and assume the league is in the bag ?

Corrib- she was on last night as part of Celtic Connections, with Lunasa, who are traditional Irish musicians.

It was a mixed night; she has one of THE great voices but FWIW I didn't think the musical styles of her and Lunasa worked particularly well together.

Natalie Merchant's mum invented the Hang Glider.

Mort on January 29, 2010 1:15 PM

You simply can't fathom that anything wrong is happening at Celtic at all can you?

DD

Ayrtic

Not main reason. He was told he's not up to it. Cant expand any more.

KK

A YES from me.

Wednesday was a depressing drive back up the road, and indeed the drive to work the next morning.
Could have been worse, a mates wife told him to cheer up, it was only a game (Always the last thing you want to hear!).

But do I want our manager sacked while he's in the middle of rebuilding what was one of the most boring Celtic teams I've had to watch, no chance!!!!
Give the man a break, try singing a few songs when you're at the park instead of moaning (can't believe how many slag off Skippy & Aiden for moaning...always seems ironic!). Seriously, it's embarrassing when teh away support not only outsing us but are louder!!!

The football is already better to watch. I know we're no world beaters just now but gsus give it a chance.
6 months to have us playing better football without really having brought in different players is a hell of a start.

Start with the Accies, and 1 game at a time we'll start drawing them back.....and it will be one crackin party when the trophy is held aloft at paradise!!!!

Mucker
Standing up once again!!!!!

Afternoon folks

No biggy if we don't get a new LB if you ask me. Think we've now got or about to have the players for 3 5 2.

-------------Boruc/Zaluska-------------

Rogne/Thompson---Hoiveld---St Ledger/O'dea

------------Crosas--Nguemo---------

Brown/Caddis-----------------McGeady

---------------Ki------------------

------Fortune-----Rasmussen--------

Strong enough at the back with the extra protection from Nguemo. Crosas taking the ball from the defence and passing through the midfield. Should have enough creativity and goals to overcome anyone in the SPL. Maybe I'm too optimistic but really think this league is still ours to win.

Keept the Faith!!

Kilbowie Kelt

I'm a Yes.

AULDBHOY - the fact that O'Dea is currently captain says more about our current predicament than anything else. Nothing against him per se (I think he's a decent left-back option away from home) but we're desparately lacking leaders.

By RCBhoy on January 29, 2010 1:06 PM
Left Full back at Prem Club being looked at.

Kevin Kilbane?

Ayrtic

That's what i thought. Tony was sortof hinting at that during the week.

I also don't think they would let Mick go unless they were fairly confident of getting another Centre back in by Monday.

Hopefully any money from Fox's sale will go towards this position but I suppose there are still many things that can derail a potential transfer. Maybe Danny will take a stand and not accept whats on offer at Burnley?

It will be an interesting couple of days anyway, more so than previous January windows.

Mort

Ayrtic

What about incoming players??

They are in the McKenna cup final on Saturday, as for Mayo well beat anybody on their day and get beat by anybody on any other given day. Bit like Celtic at the minute. We can sign 11 new players as far as I see, it won't make one iota of difference as IMO Walter Smith has Mowbray's number already.

My wife, who had a season ticket with me last year, thought that we had twins playing for us last year - the FFS twins. FFS Naylor and FFS Samaras.

gerry

Hopefull of at least 1 . May go right to the wire though

I've mentioned it before, but is Brian Easton from Burnley a possibility? If they take Danny Fox, they will surely have even less need for him?

I'm abstaining from the yes/no until the end of the transfer window, and the first game thereafter. Sorry. The skelfs from the fence are sore, aye.

By Dominant Forces on January 29, 2010 1:12 PM

the Pavillion! That was the place. Yes that was the gig I was at.. As for Jimmy, Geez he got a rough ride (metaphorically speaking) from us back then! Poor guy, not sure he deserved all that flak...it was funny though!

If we are to ever sign Robbie Keane then this is our opportunity. Spurs want to offload him and they certainly will need to cover some of his wages. If he winds up at West Ham, I will be pissed. I would much rather have Keane than McDonald.

I have had dreams of Keane scoring at Ibrox and doing his famous summersault goal celebration in front of them. This would be a major boost, it would fill seats, and would sell jersey's. A win win for all parties.

Peter & Dermott, please make this happen!

Donegal resident on January 29, 2010 1:22 PM

Indeed, be a good start for the new league season after a poor show last year. The championship is where its at right enough but we never fulfil our promise.

Mayo, similar to Celtic need a bit of bite about them, have some exceptional young players, see big Aiden O'Shea for example, although could be another one lost to Aussie rules by all accounts.

DD

I'll be astounded of forehead if Fox goes without a replacement signed......saddened to the core to see how poor and disorganised we are as a side let alone shifting a player we just bought 6 mnths ago.

goingbackwards.CSC

Kilbowie Kelt

Yes........I suppose so:-)

Hail Hail

Kilbowie Kelt

Yes........I suppose so:0)

Hail Hail

By notafanofstan on January 29, 2010 1:18 PM
I see Mendes is off to Sporting Lisbon.

Could the HBOS lot be about to do what we did and assume the league is in the bag ?

Don't think so, Huns fishal site says Smith has permission to go out and buy players now. A smokescreen?

Warning- link to RFC website.
http://www.rangers.co.uk/articles/20100129/looking-for-new-faces_2254024_1948995

If you had a face like those 3 in the picture you would look for a new one too.

.

Re; Fox....

BTM Has Gave a Couple of Interviews on Fox Leaving....He has a Chance to Play in the EPL....(Maybe not Settled)....BTM Stated he Could use the Transfer Fee in Other More 'Needy' Areas....

TOF

Whooosh> Yo! paul67...hopefully a few articles before transfer deadline welcoming fresh blood...

Yo! peeps > what gives?
its a sad sign of the times when we cant put a run of wins on the trot together....

kilbowie...its a YES from me......is this until the end of the season or a full year????
slan
aldo

Daily mail reporting Robbie Keane offered to Celtic and West Ham.

Carlo Cocozza - I see that now. Fair enough.

RogueLeader on January 29, 2010 12:27 PM

A most excellent post sir.

and from previous article.... that BT is like a whippit onto a promise!

Hail Hail

If we sell Fox to raise cash we can't then go and replace him with an EPL player, such as Kilbane, whose on EPL wages, can we?

This transfer window is looking more and more like it's as organised, thought through and planned as the last hehicopter out of Saigon.

By Kilbowie Kelt on January 29, 2010 12:27 PM

KK put me firmly in the Yes camp.

Cheers kitalba, all the best.

Got a text from my mate in Greenock yesterday who's never too far off the mark saying Lee Wallace is a done deal. Waiting on the green light from Fox's transfer.

Indulging in the realms of fantasy for a moment. I've been known to sell a player before I've just bought in Football Manager. Profit's profit. If it helps improve the team then it's fair enough.

HatboroCelt,

If Keane did his usual celebration at Ibrox he would be sent off for excessive celebration.

West Ham are looking for a striker - but do they have any cash to spend?

Here's a new question for us all to answer.

If the window closes now with the current squad following the departures of Fox and McManus today. Will you be happy with the transfer window or will you think we've shot ourselves in the foot at the death by selling Fox with no replacement?

Celtic are playing a dangerous game here. I know some players are lined up but they better be more than just lined up. Other teams will now know how desperate we will be to get a CB or a LB and this may reflect in the quoted price.

I hope this crap doesn't result in us sitting here on Monday, hitting F5, only to find out our sqad is the same as it is today as we didn't get the signing TM sold these players to get.

Worrying times.

If the deals are on the table to purchase our players I do not understand us letting them go prior to us first signing the replacements.

RussianRouletteCSC

Disapointed to see us 'shunt/punt/shove' McManus away, he was one of the few remaining links we had to past glories.

can anyone confirm the date and time of the transfer deadline

UC

donegaldanny,

You better watch yourself.

The wrath of the blind-faithers and the rest of the Flat Earth Society will come down on you before they have had time for the next dose of Prozac.

Don't you know everything is rosy ??

Letthemeatcake CSC

EN
Well said. Bloke deserves better.

KK - Yes for me.

However, like Paul67 said in his article the other day, we will know alot more about the team by the end of next month. It was always on the cards that BTM would want to build his own side but I would have expected the bulk of these players in at the start of the season, not HALF way through!!! I felt strongly in the summer that BTM had not been fully backed by the board to get new faces in. Also, I'd be extremely concerned if theres any truth that Fox has been forced out just for a small profit.

By Gordon_J on January 29, 2010 1:32 PM West Ham are looking for a striker - but do they have any cash to spend?

They've spent £2.75m on McCarthy (awaiting work permit) but Del Boy who runs them now says their loking for 2 strikers.
McDonald @ £3.5m or Keane on loan?? Difficult choice!!

Talksport at 1335

Fox has left Celtic.

Play

By CelticSephiroth on January 29, 2010 1:32 PM
Here's a new question for us all to answer.

If the window closes now with the current squad following the departures of Fox and McManus today. Will you be happy with the transfer window or will you think we've shot ourselves in the foot at the death by selling Fox with no replacement?

FOOT and ANKLE

CelticSephiroph - If we let McManus and Fox go without further strengthening then we're all as well chucking it. Only winners will be the beancounters again.

All the best to the Mountain Goat

notafanofstan on January 29, 2010 1:34 PM

I'm well used to it don't worry!

DD

Ulster-Celt

5pm Monday I belive

Gary67.

Don't worry. They have the money and will spend it.

EN,

Agreed, I felt big Mick played through a lot of injuries for us and it has cost him a bit further down the line.

Maybe a loan move will get his confidence back and see him return a better player.

Nafos,

see you are your usual bundle-of-joy-self this afternoon.
You need some cheering up - fancy doing some baby-sitting??

:-)

HAIL! HAIL!
Token

FOX away, confirmed on SSN

Ulster Celt it's midnight Monday I believe. Fox signs 3 and a half year deal for Burnley.

MH

fox confirmed away

Fox gone - SSN

Window shuts at midnight on Monday. Obviously it "slams" shut, cos there's no other way for it to close apparently

Put me down as a YES

Like a few, I have some reservations, but please, please let's learn the lessons of history from SAF to even PLG, give the man a decent chance to build his team.

I am really encouraged that he is taking some brave decisions in moving out players that many of us have been saying for a while are not good enough. So far I like what I see in some of the new bhoys, fingers crossed............

UC
Midnight Monday I think

Carlo

cheers

thought I had heard it was 11pm.

UC

SSN confirming Fox signed three and a half year deal at Burnley.

re - By playfusbal4dguilders on January 29, 2010 1:35 PM

they defo said that -FACT

p

By big wavy on January 29, 2010 12:37 PM

Bug Wavy,from earlier I agree 100%,I have no faith that the manager would make us a better team if we gave him 200million to spend.

Its all too easy for us to blame everyone but the manager but the buck stops with him and we are simply not getting any better under his leadership.We have the best squad in the country so why are we so bad? There can only be one reason.

I completely understand that moving him on right now is probably not feasible but when will it be? Do we need to wait till we finish 3rd or 4th?

I would be more angry with the board right now if they allow him to spend any more,keep any money we may have till the summer for Mowbray to spend should he turn it round or for his replacement.

Carlo

I gotta feeling.... that its midnight for scottish clubs....

Don't hold me to it!

CelticSephiroth - no, they will have tried to shoot themselves in the foot but will have in fact shot themselves in the head.

Mr Lawell, we are watching....

Carlo, apolgies think that you are correct with 5pm.

Gordon J

Dream scenario....

McDonald to West Ham and Keane to Celtic.

I would more than happy to see Keane get a yellow at Mordor for excessive celebrations. He would be captain material as well. With Keane and big Jos in the lockeroom, we would have two leaders that could instill passion into the side.

Ulster-Celt,

SSN says 5.00pm Monday. Not sure if that covers SPL though.

Árd Macha

Donegal resident

The glass half full brigade you refer to with such distaste are Celtic supporters with the same emotional attachment to our club as you hold. The only difference is that they hold a differing opinion with regards to the manager as you.

My view is that TM should be allowed the remainder of the season to turn his team around on the park.

How long should he get? Well for me there is not a simplistic answer to that.

If he does not win the league should he go? Until the season has unfolded I cannot give you an honest opinion on that either.

A few scenarios for you.

TM after having cemented his team with new signings in January goes on to flop consistently through February into March then he should be replaced A.S.A.P.

TM after having cemented his team with new signings in January goes on and wins consistenly but loses the league marginally then I believe he will have earned another year.

TM after having cemented his team with new signings in January goes on to win the league but his team only wins the league due to the Beggars imploding then he should go.

Simplistic scenarios. You could probably add a few more yourself.

But to give a new manager only 1 half of a season before sacking him is laughable in my view.

Oh yeah and what "IF" (that is what we are dealing in is big IFS) you sack the manager and bring in a new manager who does no better or God forbid worse. When do you sack him? February/ March/April/May. Then if he is sacked and we bring in another manager and he is pants as well. How long do you give him?

I did not agree with TM's appointment as I feel our club should be shooting way higher than TM, Owen Coyle etc. But with the current regime in place with all it's financial prudence then I suggest that our next manager would be around the same level as TM. Until there is change at the core of our club or the policies of those who hold those positions at this time change their tight wad position, we are were we are. I beleive that those looking for TM to be sacked would only find themselves in a similar position 6 months down the line with any new manager. Then we will have the same situation all over again. Is that really the way you want our club to go?

Your frustrations and the frustrations of those who hold your view with regards sacking TM should be vented attheir anger at the PLC as until these people change their position re. financial prudence or sell up to someone willing to splash the cash then this is were we are and this is the level of manager we will have.

Not nice but true.

MWD

TTT,
Thanks but no thanks !!

So farewell then Danny Fox

You came
We saw
You had tattoos
We noticed them
You played
We hardly noticed you
You left
We didnae care

NAFOS (14 and 3/4)

It would be a strategic mistake to dismiss the manager now; such a move would damage Celtic's reputation as an employer, making it even more difficult to recruit in the future. Give him time to get it right - judge at the end of the season and if he hasn't made significant progress.........

Kilbowie Kelt....

As an experiment, try asking the question after a victory then again a few weeks later after defeat...see if the same people give the same answers.

I guess I'm in the "yes" camp (slightly) but I'll ask all others who have said yes. How much time is considered "enough" before a line is drawn? The record is worse than Barnes and I'm sure people weren't making excuses about him having "time", about how dreadful the team he took over was and the very valid excuse of not having a fit Larsson....

Thoughts....

Kilbowie Kelt on January 29, 2010 12:27 PM

Put me down as a Yes.

Results have been disappointing at times, but calling for the manager to be sacked after just 6 months with the league still to be won, unbelieveable.

cant remember where I read it, trying to find it now, but I have it in my head that its only extended til 5pm as the window closes (slams shut) on a Sunday. Seem to recall same time last year as it slammed shut on a saturday!

By RogueLeader on January 29, 2010 12:27 PM

On joint sponsorship.

I think there is a very definite desire on the part of the support to have nothing to do with Rangers for the reasons you have given TFS etc.

I am not sure if Celtic understand how strong that feeling is or how to use it.

Were I in charge of negotiations and knowing the strengtyh offeeling I would be saying to Tennants that we would be unhappy about entering any deal that meant Celtic and Rangers were seen to be acting jointly.

I would also make it clear to Tennents that the only way we could justify to our support in entering a deal with them would be if TENNENTS made it clear to Rangers that their offer to them was conditional on Rangers setting out a policy to separate themselves from the bigots in their support. Not weasel words but a policy including refusing to take tickets from Celtic for games at CP until their support changed.

Tennents can then decide if they want a deal with both of us badly enough to make the Rangers offer conditional or deal with Rangers alone.

The risk of course is Celtic fail to get a sponsor which means less cash to spend on players, but if that is the price of making a stand then that is the price.

Tennents of course, by only entering a deal with Rangers after declining to make it conditional would be seen to be condoning Rangers supporters behaviour. Something they might or might not be prepared to risk.

They may also of course pull out altogether.

The thing is there is nothing to make Celtic approach the deal in this manner unless the support make it perfectly clear that any deals that involve Rangers are conditional on fixing what it is that makes our support reject them.

The means of making it perfectly clear that all or most of the support feel this way has to be created. The Celtic support, live and virtual, must start speaking with one voice and create a mechanism for doing so.
The opportunity to start will arise at the meeting The Celtic Trust have arranged at St Mary's Calton on 20th Feb (which I know you know about ;) but for those that do not get along. It is an open meeting.

Maybe his left foot literally WAS like a wand; that would explain the almost entirely shash deliveries from it.

So this window

In

Hooiveld 1.9
Rogne 0.5
Ki 2
Rasmussen 1.8
Slane? Free
Solvi?
St Ledger?
Keane?
Wallace?

Money spent - 6.2 million

Out

Caldwell 1
McManus ( the chuckle brohers they really were to me to you) loan
Killen
Robson
Flood - 1 million combined
Fox 2?
Skippy?
Mark Brown?

Money back in 4 million roughly

Net spend so far - 2.2 million approximately.

Wheeling and dealing

With the revolving door at CP requiring a squirt of WD40, how come Lee Naylor is still there???

Afternoon Guys

Shimmies33, I think you stated the other day a LB was signed but a hitch his end (poss work permit?) is that still on or has it fallen through?

Ayrtic/Shimmies33/RCBhoy
If McDonald goes will there be more in's?

Fingers crossed
Solvi
LB (Wallace)
Striker (Keane)

Hail Hail

Stephen with a "ph"

goldstar10 @ 1:10 - who's fault is that. Do you believe that if we invested in the team and the manager there would be a drop of 10,000 + at the games. Cause and effect!

MWD

Transfer window is Monday 1 Feb 2010 (5pm in England but midnight in Scotland).

See now if my Greenock friend is full of **** or not. Fox gone, let's see if Lee Wallace is on his way.

By RogueLeader on January 29, 2010 12:27 PM

RL, first of all, let me say you are obviously at a disadvantage as I certainly know more about your views as a poster, than you I.

I give you respect as a great contributor to the site. Caps doffed and all that.

BUT.

Let's get down to brass tacks here.

You say:

"Just because something has always been done a certain way does not make it right. The joint deal helps Rangers more than us. The joint deal is a poor deal for Celtic."

It doesn't make it wrong either. In fact in a recognised financial world, and argue as you might this IS about finances, generally good business practices will be repeated. Ergo, the new deal.

The joint deal may be of more benefit to Rangers than us given their plight, that is true, but that is of no concern to me. You plead seperation from Rangers whilst recommending we make finacial decisions according to their plight?? Eh?

The joint is a poor deal for Celtic? In the absence of a better deal, it is the unequivically the BEST deal for Celtic, of that there is no argument.

If you think the BEST deal for Celtic is a poor one, that's your truck. However it is not based in reality in my opinion.

You say:

"I know you are in an extremly small minority with your views. Unfortunately your wee minority include the Celtic board."

I think you misinterpret my views, to be frank. If you re-read my posts I frequently mention that it would be ideal if we could seperate as much as possible from Them. Unicef shirts? Great idea. A different sponsor from them that would give us more money than the Tennets deal. Ideal!

Personally, I think that your views are the in the minority, albeit, as usual, a loud one. It's from my experience that my views are usually the views of the silent majority.

If you view idealism as a stick to batter the pragmatists, then we are clearly poles apart. But don't confuse this with the idiom that I actively WANT a joint sponsorship. I just wish people would wake up to the extremely real needs of taking the best deal on the table, whilst in the middle of some of the most trying economic times.

Money/Football. Football/Money. Arguing the fact that money shouldn't dicate football IS naive imo. I'm sure we all don't like it, but the simple maths is money strengthens team in general. But let's not debate the most simple economic lesson in football. It's just fact.

You say:

"We are a football club. We are not a normal business. Your customers, who pump their money in, have deep (sometimes extreme) emotional ties to the club. These emotions make people behave far differently to normal customers. Treating them as normal customers and Celtic as a normal business generates, well, what we have today."

I see what your trying to say here, and as a lifelong supporter of the club for 30 years it certainly tugs at the emotional heartstrings, but it just doesn't stand up.

I'll tell you why. Take a bunch of directors who DIDN'T take the best deals. Take a bunch of directors who belived in the emotional ties. Take a bunch of directors who had the very essence of Celtic stitched into their own families.

Take a bunch of directors who very nearly crushed Celtic OUT of existence.

Take the Kelly's.

In their place we put Fergus. A Business man. Guess what. We thrived. The managers since then? MON and WGS. Both successful.

A business man gave us that platform. He even built the stadium ffs.

I do not mean to dismiss or not address the rest of your post, but it is very much in the same vein as above.

I short, I think you are seeing what you want to here: The exclusivly small minority of poster who sells the soul of the club to the highest bidder. It suits your agenda, please forgive the clumsy expression.

I put it to you that it's a naive, romanticised set of ideals that, if permeated throughout the rest of our club, would slowly but surely point us back towards the dark ages.

There's a time an a place for romanticism with Celtic. The players, the memorable games. Walking up to the stadium on a Saturday. Christ, I just love seeing them walk out onto that rich green turf.

But don't get this confused with the very real business of pounds, shillings and pence that real business man have to address to take the club forward and make them stronger.

appologies, BBC says 5pm England, and midnight Scotland!

KK Put me down for YES. It's our only option.

donegaldanny

You simply can't fathom that anything wrong is happening at Celtic at all can you?

Off course there are some things that are wrong and shouldn't be happenning but there are also many things good happenning. We have a new striker that many wanted, new defenders and the possibility of new players arriving. We have also got rid of a few players nobody really wanted.

Yes I come across as uber clappy as some might say and rarely say a bad word against any in charge at or players of Celtic but it's my nature to see the positives in things and to be honest with you it's my perogative to support the club in whatever way I feel, just like it's your perogative to support (financially) other teams in the SPL at the expense of Celtic. Cheap dig I know but why should I be castigated for being positive or putting another side to things.

Not all supporters are interesting in moaning and complaining about things completely outwith our control. Many like to vent anger in certain ways. I prefer not to and to just support the team. No doubt you'll say it's supporters like me who almost brought the club to its knees in the early 1990s but those who didn't boycott were just doing what regular supporters do and that's support the team through good times but more importantly through bad times.

When things are going well we will always have supporters. It's when things aren't going so well that the supporters need to stand up and be counted and give their support to the club.

Our fans are really fickle. Had O'Dea's goal stood the other night or Samaras put away one of his chances to see us winning rather than losing, everything would be rosy.

Anyway I will continue to be positive about Celtic and to support the team in my own way.

Hail Hail and Up The Celts

Mort

notafanofstan,
Just out of interest....(to me anyway) who ARE you a fan of?

btw, liked your 'you had tattoos we noticed them' bit !

Here's the thing about being a glass half full type.

It's not that I think everything's rosy. Everything clearly isn't. But if I don't assume that those in charge are doing what they think is best for the club, then I have to assume that they are actively and knowingly acting to the detriment of the club.

Do people think that?

Danny Fox

Thanks for He haw

Love

Is TOny Mowbray the first manager to sell a decent left back since Jock Stein sold Tommy Gemmell to Notts Forest? Not that there are any further apt comparisons between Jock and BTM or Tommy and Danny Fox.

Kilbowie
Yes for me.

NAFOS

I thought that was penned by notafanofdan

We had BETTER have something BIG in the pipeline .....

Still believing .... In Tony.

Not in the board though.

Gary67 - cos hes utter mince and no one wants him!?

CelticSephiroth = Just had word that Ottesen is sitting with his bags packed but that Celtic are waiting on the word from another player before they decide a deal.
It could be that Ottesen is being seen as a back up I think.

Hey Donegal Danny,
You're a busy man what with all that posting to your alter ego Donegal Resident!!

(Wee smiley thing winking)

MWD
Could never take you serious with a username like, kinda name I would slap the 18year old son for coming up with, but that was a decent post. "Glass half full brigade" is not meant to be derogatory, just referring to the optimists. Unfortunately I have seen nothing to fill me with optimism. Lost count of how many times I have said "right...season starts today...."

HH

Fox gone

Again no reason to doubt the post from Ayrtic,

However, it only part of the story. Mowbray was telling the other half on Wednesday night before the Hibs game. A sale of Fox, which he addressed fairly bluntly, would represent an effort at squad management. If Mowbray wants to spend £3m on St Ledger, he needs to bring in a couple. If he also wants to spend money on another striker, he'll need to take a bid for McDonald.

Not passing comment on the wisdom of these moves, but I'm not sure why this is being labelled a disgrace and used as yet another stick to bash the board with. It's not ideal, it's just how things are.

I'd be sacking some of the fans before the board. We've been the most disappointing aspect of the club for around 18 months now. Obviously not en masse, but the mindless grumbling about loyal servants in the team and dilligent and honest members of our board really is tedious... particularly when accompanied with no useful insights or suggestions for alternative financing, beyond sheer fantasy.

This is our lot. We can discuss how we manage our lot, but we cannot have someone else's.

McManus confirmed on Sky loaned to Boro

sky sports sayin mcmanus to middlesbro and fox to burnley....
are we bringin wallace in at left back? or is it the other wallace (ross) making a comeback....

CelticSephiroth = Just had word that Ottesen is sitting with his bags packed but that Celtic are waiting on the word from another player before they decide a deal.
It could be that Ottesen is being seen as a back up I think.

Kilbowie Kelt

Put me down as a Yes!

The past few windows have shown that the board have absolutely no problem in shafting the support. They don't care how disaffected we are.

If we come out of this window with the current squad I'll not be too pleased. Simply because we've weakened the left back position yet again. Glad to see a new striker, glad to see a new centre half but I can't help but feel we've weakened in other areas rather than strengthening the team as a whole.

This can't keep happening. Prove me wrong Celtic or face the fact that our stadium will be mostly empty for a good while.

By The Battered Bunnet on January 29, 2010 1:48 PM
Does Wim The Tim punting Tosh McK to Stoke on loan then Grasshoppers count?

Mort on January 29, 2010 1:47 PM

Ah see Mort that where me and you are different, you think things are outwith your control, they aren't. Celtic fans have mobilised before when the club was going down the pan and if things keep going the way they are it'll happen again.

Things aren't quite at that level yet but carry on this way and it won't be far off.

Liked the cheap dig, keep up the blind faith and maybe we'll end up 3rd in the league with all that positivity but who cares eh the balance shet'll look lovely and you'll be able to sit whereever you like when you come over for a game at some point because there'll be a helluva lot of empty seats to choose from.

DD

Will we win the league this year? While not writing it off totally, I seriously doubt it. And here's why. It's clearly apparent that there's no heart in this team. Indeed, it seems that there's no heart in the club-period.

For me alarm bells rang when wwe were drawn against Arsenal and the talk beforehand from the manager seemed to be playing up Arsenal. MON played up opponent's strengths all the time but you were pretty sure he wasn't saying that to his team.

While not expecting BTM, a guy I liked and respected as a player, to be a Stein or O'Neill,he should still be able to get adequate performances from the players to ensure that we're still able to win the league under our own steam and not depend on the goodwill of others. The biggest problem is 'How manymore games are we going to lose by the season's end.

Honestly, how many winners do you see at Celtic Park- on or off it?
Can't the manager see this, something as I say that has been apparent all season.

Sack the manager now-probably not. Sack him in the summer - unless attitudes change- most definitely.

BTW can we lay the myth that refs are costing us the league. From the games I've seen this season we should not have had to depend on dodgy decisions to at least be in with a fighting chance as we've had a bucketload of chances.

weeminger

It's not that I think everything's rosy. Everything clearly isn't. But if I don't assume that those in charge are doing what they think is best for the club, then I have to assume that they are actively and knowingly acting to the detriment of the club.

Excellent point. Sometimes as supporters, we just have to support the team and the club as they strive to make things better.

Hail Hail

Mort

The Spirit of Arthur Lee at 1:47 PM

Danny Fox

Thanks for He haw

---
notafanofstan at 1:41 PM

So farewell then Danny Fox

You came
We saw
You had tattoos
We noticed them
You played
We hardly noticed you
You left
We didnae care

--

Can we assume that the Teser isn't running a voucher scheme this year?

KK YES for me. Did the Fox and McManus news blow the system????

Kilbowie Celt = I would say Yes.

Dane Bhoy

That matches my info. We must be going back in for St. Ledger and awaiting his club's response to our bid.

I'd rather have Ottesen and Wallace than just St. Ledger who I don't really rate.

Don't know anything about Ottesen but I'd rather have him AND a left back than no left back at all.

MWD- where the blame lies is one thing.
But the unavoidable fact is we have 40,000 per game and will be £5 million down in revenue plus of course the Setanta debacle, so the spending budget has to be adjusted accordingly.

Celtic board, hard as the knees o a mountain goat, at buying
players..

hail hail
bft

CelticSephiroth,

No it was ....

Notafanoffandans

KK Double yes due to wee system blip. Count me once and once only.....

By CelticSephiroth on January 29, 2010 1:57 PM

If we do get StLedger I would still expect a left back, not Wallace but a cheaper alternative (e.g. Mulgrew, Kilbane, Goncalves)

Hail Hail all

Questions for the travelling bhoys.

How long and much does a taxi cost from glasgow airport to george street (premier inn)?

Kilbowie kelt

im a yes

Gerry

Centenary Bhoy

Spanish Civil War
Have you came across a book called "Brigadista" by Bob Doyle an inner city Dubliner who died last year aged 92.
Bob had been in the IRA in the 1930s and went to fight in the international brigades.Interesting personal account.
Spanish civil war was a very sad part of 20th century history,
The two great "Isms" of the era (Fascism and Communism) used spain as a guinea pig while the great "democracies" of UK,France and Britain looked the other way.
The losers were the Spanish people,left to suffer 40 years of Francoism.
Great country,marvellous people

Good luck with your studies

By Henriks Sombrero on January 29, 2010 1:35 PM

It is pretty clear that making the team better is the objective usng the cash generated by a sale to enable a purchase.

There is also the risk that a deal arranged will be gazumped or fall through for other reasons. However I also think it not beyond the wit of a lawyer to draw up a document agreeing that club a sell us a player at an agreed price if the sum agreed is presented in x number of days/hours. Something on those lines can also be done with a player, precluding all but a silly money intervention and the guys we are after do not command silly money.

Not to have the ducks in a row with safeguards would be an act of extreme foolshness which is surely against the underlying prudent nature of those that deal with these things.

I'l wait until Monday when the dust settles.

Corrib
Alter Ego, I like it.

Corrib 04

nafos LOVES Scott Brown

HAIL! HAIL!
Token

goldstar10

But the unavoidable fact is we have 40,000 per game and will be £5 million down in revenue plus of course the Setanta debacle, so the spending budget has to be adjusted accordingly.

them across the city aren't exactly rolling in it yet they are 10 points clear and on for a treble!

Can Ottesson not play midfield? I thought i read it somewhere. Him sitting in front of the back 4 he could slide all day. Dolph played midfield for Sweeden as opposed to centre half.

Cheerio Danny Fox- I for one won't miss you.

Left back is not our priority, scoring goals is.
Sort that and we win the league.

ssn celtic trying to sign ivan ramis

What's going down?
hAVE WE SIGNED ANYONE?

Kilbowie Kelt,

I am definitely in the Yes crowd with regard to giving our manager more time.

CelticSephiroth = Holmen is also still available but there is interest from England.
This move would be linked to the player Brown leaving I think.

2 more out then. When do their replacements arrive?

Fox only had a short stay with us, and not altogether a happy one. Guess Burnley must see something in him.

Good move for Mick I think. Regular football and a chance to get his career back on track. Club captain to loaned out can't be easy to take though.

CelticBob
He's a centrehalf isn't he?

goodbye danny fox,
though I never knew you at all...

What is it about Tony Mowbray?

John Barnes is usually considered to be Celtic's worst ever manager. Tony Mowbray's record so far is worse than that of John Barnes.

WBA supporters still wanted him as manager after he got their team relegated (having steadfastly refused to rectify the problems that all the supporters could see).

A lot of Celtic supporters are prepared to give him more time and ignore all the evidence that tells us he is a dud manager.

I know Tony is a smashing bloke ...but what is it about him?

Gary67

There's a few guys on here who have received info. I'll try to add that up as best I can but may come out with something totally wrong.

Still, tis the season.

I've been told for a 100% certainty that we are interested in Ottesen and that he was one of the options for the CB position.

Clearly St. Ledger and Kilgallon were higher on that list. Kilgallon is gone, St. Ledger has been refusing to play ball.

My take on the situation is that one final bid will be put to St. Ledger's club. If they refuse then Ottesen will be tapped as I'm told all agreements are in place with him, Dane Bhoy has confirmed this just now and he broke the Rasmussen deal so I have no reason to doubt his source.

Ayrtic says that a LB hasn't been specifically targeted. To me that reads that it isn't the priority. I believe it's a matter of money. BTM wants to push the boat out for St. Ledger it would seem. If he fails in acquiring him, Ottesen will cost less and the money can go to meet Hearts' price on Wallace.

Furthermore, any more strikers coming in would be dependent on McDonald sealing his move to West Ham United ASAP.

I may change my name to CelticPoirot following this denoument. Still, like I said, that's just taking info from numerous sources and compiling it into something that makes a bit of sense. May be totally out.

Paul67 is remaining tight lipped on transfers these days. Mood among the support is very poor and following Fox's sale will get worse if a LB is not secured.

For me, getting a replacement LB is the priority at this moment.

What is the point of the PCC??

Dear Mr X

Further to our recent correspondence the Commission has now considered your complaint about an article in the Daily Record and decided that it was not possible, in the circumstances, to examine your complaint further under the Code of Practice.

As we pointed out to you in our earlier correspondence, the Commission usually deals only with complaints from those directly involved. On this occasion, it did not consider that it could waive its rules and investigate your third party complaint further. Its decision on this matter is below.

If you are dissatisfied with the way in which your complaint has been handled you should write within one month to the independent Charter Commissioner, whose details can be found in our How to Complain leaflet or at http://www.pcc.org.uk/complaints/process.html

We are grateful to you for giving us the opportunity to consider what you have to say.

Yours sincerely

Rebecca Hales

rebecca.hales@pcc.org.uk

cc Bruce Waddell Esq

Editor

Daily Record

Complainant’s decision in the case of

Martin v Daily Record

The complainant was concerned that the newspaper had misquoted footballer Aiden McGeady when it reported his comments about the attitude of Hearts fans towards the Celtic football team. The complainant felt so strongly about the piece that he had referred the matter to police as a potential hate crime and was prepared to take legal action against the newspaper. He did not accept that he was a third party to the complaint.

While it was clear that the complainant felt strongly about the article “Aiden McGeady: Hearts fans hate everything about Celtic but we'll just get on with it”, the Commission emphasised that it would require the involvement or consent of Mr McGeady to investigate a complaint concerning an alleged misrepresentation of his comments.

Before coming to any conclusion about whether or not the Code had been breached, the Commission obviously would need to see all relevant information and to obtain each party’s point of view. It would not be possible for the Commission to know what was said during the interview – or, indeed, whether Mr McGeady himself considered that his opinion had been misinterpreted – without his involvement. No complaint had been received from the Celtic player and, as such, the Commission was not in a position to take the matter further.

Reference No. 096028

Rebecca Hales

Complaints Officer

Press Complaints Commission

Halton House

20/23 Holborn

London EC1N 2JD

Tel: 020 7831 0022

Website: www.pcc.org.uk

Donegal resident
yes

Kilbowie Kelt

Should Anton Mor be allowed the time he needs to remould Celtic ?

Depends on the time he needs.

A year aye
3 years naw

FLC

Celtic_First,

Unfortunately not.

They were golden days !!!

I am sick to the teeth of reading folk on here who claim they are glass half full or half empty. I prefer to describe these as fantasists or realitists :-)

now, the reality is that I have had the same doubts about BTM since the start of the season. I am a realist but can also see that our board are backing tony to the end of the season, this has been shown by todays player movements. Therefore as a realist I have no choice but to support Tony until the end of the season, however, do I believe he will win the title? No. that is based on the same doubts I have expressed since the start of the season, namely his insistance on using his system in the spl which has been proven to be the wrong system (when he has been forced to change it the end result has been awesome performances).

savo01- yes they are 10 points clear (arguably 7 points) but they are there for a number of reasons that have been debated here ad nauseum- the main one our inability to score goals.

HH

DD

you think things are outwith your control, they aren't. Celtic fans have mobilised before when the club was going down the pan and if things keep going the way they are it'll happen again.

I think we are in danger of getting delusions of grandeur. Despite the boycotts etc in early 1990s, could the supporters alone have done anything to stop the problems if it weren't for Fergus McCann? I very much doubt it. Yes we put our money in when the time came but without Fergus' initial payment of the overdraft we were done for and the supporters wouldn't have been able to do a thing about it.

Things aren't quite at that level yet but carry on this way and it won't be far off.

It's a million miles away from that level. Rangers aren't even in the trouble we were in the early 1990s.

Liked the cheap dig,

Shouldn't have brought that up but couldn't help myself once I got typing.

keep up the blind faith and maybe we'll end up 3rd in the league with all that positivity

Will cheering the players or booing them be more likely to help them in their quest to reclaim the title?

who cares eh the balance shet'll look lovely and you'll be able to sit whereever you like when you come over for a game at some point because there'll be a helluva lot of empty seats to choose from.

I couldn't give a perverbial about the balance sheet but I do know that if we don't make money we can't buy the players we need to improve. I'm on record as saying that this time is when we need to spend a little extra to bring in the right players to help us get the league back and the associated champions league money that goes wit it, but one window might not be enough and it might not be down to mistakes at our end. See the Giroud saga that all in sundry were moaning about. he has now said the only reason we didn't sign him was because he wanted to stay with Tours for the rest of the season and we wanted him now.

Hail Hail

Mort

The Battered Bunnet @ 12.15pm

Great post.
You offer a perspective that is truly perceptive.

Around that time I posted that GS could only truly be judged after three seasons. It was ridiculed.
How wrong was I? He is judged primarily on his fourth.... Which is ridiculous.
Tony Mowbray should be judged after three seasons too. Some may find that idea ridiculous.... But I believe it to be reasonable.

Kitalba
Fantastic post.
Different Time.
Different People.
Different Values.
But relatively speaking... Only a moment ago.

Wheelin & Dealin?
How different would things be if McDonald had been sold in the summer.....
Hmmmmmm....

Aiden McGeady unaware of Celtic trying to punt him to Birmingham, "if they are it's news to me". He is holding out for a summer move to Seville.

SSN saying Celtic in talks with Real Majorca defender (sorry I,ve forgot his name)

does TM rate milan misun? i would have thought he could have moved up a level and do a job at left back....much more so than naylor who's last few games have been terrible by even his own standards....
strange goings on with the departures so far, both fox and mcmanus for me didnt cut it....bye and thanks for your efforts...

KK

'fraid im on the fence as i said last night, the CRC jury is out and still deliberating!!

As I said last night, put me down for a "NOT PROVEN"

Do we have a new "John Barnes" in our midst? Time will tell.

I hope Mogga is successful, as he is one of the good ghuys

CRC

Gary

Tosh was about 34 when he left Celtic, he was at the end of a good career, and was not in the 1st team picture.

Tam Gemmell was 28, and played on with Forest and then Dundee for another 7 years.

TBB

By CelticSephiroth on January 29, 2010 2:05 PM

Agree with all you say. StL + cheap LB or Otessen + Wallace (i'd go for latter). Either way no LB is not an option.

Ref last post his name is Ramis

Corrib 04,

I am a big fan of you

You are great.

You are my hero but I haven't had the coourage to say up until now !!

Why would we consider sacking TM any time soon? He is being allowed to spend the little money we have and we also paid 2m for him. It is a pointless debate, he will be given time to make it work. Im not saying I think he is the right man for the job. No comparison with Barnes in my opinion, I remember those days all to well.

repeat after me....Faithful through & through....

WIN LOSE OR DRAW

My friend who fancies Pedersen has sent me a text saying that he's heard Pedersen is on the way before the window closes.

Allardyce has just been reported by Sky as saying he expects him to leave this window.

I believe it's us or Fenerbahce, I reckon he'll be heading for Turkey personally.

Sorry mate. He'll be on now to chide me. ;^)

Trying to sign a player from Mallorca must be a nightmare with the collapse of Globespan.

Must be to tie in with the Santa Ponsa convention this, another marketing led signing :-)

Kilbowie Kelt

I am a YES but .......

.....I suspect that BTM will re-shape the entire playing squad, and we are now suffering a blip in the transition from changing the sterile tacics of the previous 3 to 4 years. The blip may last the entire season......and I reckon that BTM and the board are looking longer term, so BTM's job is secure in the short term, barring a total collapse.

We will however end-up like the harlem globtrotters, lots of nice touches, ball players but not ruthless enough and always too open at the back. We could , and I repeat could turn out brilliant but my head says that this will not happen. Modern footballers are much fitter and it is easy to run about, shut iup shop and stiffle the opposition.

BTM will re-shape the squad and we will be grateful (eventually) for that but getting the team to toughen up, and play a more pragmatic winning football will need another manager who with a couple of signings and change in emphasise will do the trick for us.

I see BTM staying at the club until Christmas and there will be an amicable parting of the ways with a dream ticket of Lambo and Henrik , feeling in the water at the moment.

To steal a phrase from a blog lurker mate, BTM is John the Baptist and Lambo will be Jesus.

I'll be cheering on from behind the sofa tomorrow!

K Celt
Yes from me - The Mona Lisa wasn't built in a day as the manager of Ye Olde Burns Howf used to say.

If we can build a team that plays football the way we have only glimpsed this year the I can wait.

Hail hail

chennaicsc

Well bhoys, I'll tell ye this - this January is certainly different to last year.
It seems that TM has decided to throw the dice (die) as he realises that he doesn't have too much time to wait for things to improve.
It's a risky strategy but completely understandable given the views of many on here about his tenure at the club.
Good luck BTM - I for one am desperate for you to roll a seven.

Pederson doesnt have enough fire in his belly for me. From now on our team needs nutters. TOTAL nutters. Solvi has a bit of the nutter about him as does Lee Wallace.

midfield maestro

Funny you should mention Aiden McGeady and Seville. Former NI footballer Gerry Armstrong who does a lot of media work in Spain wrote a couple of months ago that Seville and Villarreal were both interested in Aiden.

I haven't seen that mentioned anywhere else but it wouldn't be beyond the realms of possibility. He'd get a lot more freedom and protection in Spain that playing for a mid team EPL side.

Mort

Anyone know anything about this Spanish defender? Is he now top priority or a back up in case other deals can't be completed?

Carlo...

No comparison to the Barnes-era? Taking into account results and performances domestically and in Europe under the two managers, what is the big difference in your opinion?

Shane

about 20 english pounds

UC

hello to all fellow tims just a new member signed in hope the bhoys get the 3 points on sat and the huns drop points

is mc manus loan deal to boro gone through. sky sports reporting it has. anyone can confirm.

Mort

The quote came from his best mate today.

and about 20 english minutes

UC

Notafanofstan,

Oo-er............................................!

.......tumbleweed, tumbleweed, tumbleweed........

what about fox going to burnley the curse of the left back

Gordon_J

Ivan Ramis - Stats

HAIL! HAIL!
Token

The Token Tim,

Thanks. Looks like he has become more of a regular this season.

Donegal Resident @ 1:52.

You are in good company re. my nome de blog. You and Kojo could start a clique. I came up with it due to current affairs of the day I joined the blog ie. being Murray's 700million fantasy village. BTW, I consider myself slapped. :o)

Thanks for your nice words re. my post though.

MWD Theseasonstartstoday.CSC

Welcome Henke, enjoy the site.

Mort

''Will cheering the players or booing them be more likely to help them in their quest to reclaim the title?''

who's booing the players like? certainly not me, at every away game this season the fans have sang, chanted and generally went mental in support of the FOOTBALL TEAM.

That support does ot extend to the board and major shareholder.

DD

shane o d,i think there is a bus that runs to bucanan st station,ten mins walk to george st,probally about fiver..

By saint stivs fp on January 22, 2010 4:17 PM
I got asked to post this again ,

Your through to Peter McGuire Martin, and today on the top sports programme with its finger on the pulse, me Fat Deek and Huke Evens, will pad out a six hour marathon programme by laughing at idiotic childish jokes and setting non-sensical questions starting with "name 27 players who have stared in the Conference League and played in a DAF cup final ?".
So stayed tune as we give you the fastest goals service, as Big Derek reads them right off of Skysports with the sound down so we can pass it off as our own,

First Caller , a Mr Terry O'Neill of Parkhead,
"thats good to see Willie Haughey sponsoring the Scottish cup, what does the panel think ?

McGuire "ah Terry some of the old paranoia shining through there"

BFDS "thats typical, Terry on again with an agenda, I mean the referees are just bad, these things even themselves out, and Boydy is the better striker, even when your offside and the goalkeeper is lying injured, you still have to finish them, and he did that, and all credit to him it takes an athlete to play on to the 7th minute of injury time to get a winner"

Huke "see, you cant win with fundamentalists like this, there is just no talking to them "

Andy " I would have went down as well, any striker knows you get challenged in the box , you go down, and Rangers were playing well"

Mark Guidi " I might be 20 stone now, but when I was a goalkeeper I was better than Boruc, he is a disgrace"

Davie Provan " I agree with Derek, unless you have played the game then you just wont understand that the Rangers defender holding the attacker is obviously not interfering with play"

Hugh Dallas " I dont know why you let people like this call up, the referee might have got eight big decisions wrong, but he is there to make a decision , and he did"

Peter McGuire "exactly, so name a player that played 72 times for Nigeria at Basketball, but also had a trial at Stenhousemuir"

Mr Terry O'Neill of Parkhead,
"hello Peter, I think maybe the panel missed the point of my call, I was commenting that is it not really good that Willie Haughey has sponsored the Scottish Cup , and its excellent to promote health for the nation?"

Peter McGuire " Terry, come on, you had had your say on this, is there any need to get so uptight and obsessive, youve had your say on the matter, so would you at least have the courtesy to allow the panel to respond"

BFDS "and thats 1-0 to Bradford, up there in the Cotswalds, come on the seagulls, shark infested custard"

GUIDI "I go to the gym 3 times a day , morning , noon , and night"

Peter McGuire "now that is impressive, fine figure of a man"

GUIDI " aye I need to pass through it to get to the works canteen but thats not the point, what about the state of that Boruc"

Terry O'Neill "Peter, sorry but could someone just agree its really great that the Scottish cup is getting sponsored under the banner of the Active nation, promoting health and all that

Peter McGuire "I really feel I have to mention this but thats the problem with Old Firm fans, in particular the hardcore ones like you Terry, you just wont listen to reason, or indeed a sensible answer, from people like us journalists and ex pros who really are your betters, what part of it dont you get ?"

Spearsy "Peter, sorry, but again Terry demonstrates the bigoted insular medieval time-warped narrow-minded views that hold Scottish Football back, by being so obtuse and lacking in tranparancy and indeed genuine love for his fellow human beings, what he is really trying to say is the SFA have an agenda against Celtic by reinstating Dunfermline, come on Terry, thats the real point of your call is it not, just admit it, and lets not forget, Celtic are complicit in this, by staying silent on the whole thing they were basically guilty of doing nothing, and doing nothing in these matters was to Celtics advantage, here you are banging on about penanlties against rangers 3 weeks ago, my god man, let it go, its so far in the past, its totally irrelevent to the outcome of the season"

BFDS " a big one coming in just now lads, in the Welsh league, Llan, lan, clan, em Ketterin 6 lowestofe 1, desmond tu tu"

Terry "that wasnt the

click .......

Peter McGuire "I dont know why we bother putting together such a world class broadcasting format and then these charlatans with their jaundiced views come on spitting their bile, anyway onto what sounds like a sensible caller , William from Bonnyrigg fire away

William
"aye, we didnt here them saying anything when Roy Aitken stole a shy at the 89 cup final"

Peter "exactly, and what a perinent point, "

FAO harpsbhoy on January 29, 2010 2:19 PM

Confirmation through by text on my phone from the ORANGE Celtic alert service. It's rarely wrong.....

Aqua Al

Gordon_J:

He has spent time on loan in the last few years too, so those aren't his total career stats, merely the ones where he's been playing for the Mallorca team.

Promising. We'll see.

MWD
Morale of the story, never judge a poster by his postername.

Roy's Keane - I will deal with your points individually:

"The joint deal may be of more benefit to Rangers than us given their plight, that is true, but that is of no concern to me. You plead seperation from Rangers whilst recommending we make finacial decisions according to their plight?? Eh?"

I plead seperation from Rangers as joint deals with them marries our image with theirs. Theirs is tarnished. Look at how many massive companies moved quickly to disassociate themselves with Tiger Woods. This is the same thing. These companies did not want their brand associated with him, no matter how much money or exposure it got their company. This is the very same point. With regards to saying we should make financial decisions based on their finances, I don't know how you got that from my post but in the grand scheme of things the reported £1.5m deal for a club of our size is poor. It is even poorer when a club with the brand image Rangers have gets the same size of deal. Somebody at Celtic has dropped the ball here. The lack of massively negative image surrounding us should alone account for a larger deal.

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

"The joint is a poor deal for Celtic? In the absence of a better deal, it is the unequivically the BEST deal for Celtic, of that there is no argument.

If you think the BEST deal for Celtic is a poor one, that's your truck. However it is not based in reality in my opinion."

In my post I clearly seperated Celtic PLC from Celtic Football Club. This is disengenuous as I know they are the same thing but I was making the point that as football is not a normal business you cannot apply normal business practices to it. Your customers, who pay your wages, have massive emotional investments. A PLC board's job is to make decisions for the benefit of the shareholders. It is a very simplistic, actually to coin a phrase NAIVE, view that the best deal financially is by default the best deal. Once again a failure on your part to see the bigger picture. Does an extra £1.5m a year in cold hard cash but you pee off a large amount of your customers in the process, resulting in a further drop in season book money represent the best business choice? No it clearly does not. This is a factor you are failing to see. You are still judging us like the board of Coca Cola or Microsoft would. We are not a corporation. We are a football club.

-------------------------------------------------
"Personally, I think that your views are the in the minority, albeit, as usual, a loud one. It's from my experience that my views are usually the views of the silent majority."

Thats a pretty significant statement to make. My view on being in the majority, whilst it is extrapolated from the gathering of (in relative terms) the opinons of a small amount of people, I nonetheless do have evidence to support my assertion. I am also extremly confident if I were to canvas the opinion of the home crowd (which is an option being discussed)on a match day I would get a vast majority of the people agreeing with me. Now I am not nieve enough to believe this small canvassing is an unequivocal vote of confidence, however it offers enough evidence for me to make an assertion with reasonable assuredness. When we did the petition on this the vast overwhelming response was one of support. In fact you are the first voice of dissent I have heard from outwith the Celtic board.

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

I dont mean to dismiss the rest but I will continue from here:

"But don't get this confused with the very real business of pounds, shillings and pence that real business man have to address to take the club forward and make them stronger."

Now I am unaware if you intended it to sound such but that is quite a derogatory remark. I am fully aware of the figures involved in this. I am fully aware of the considerations a PLC board must take when decisions are made. I am fully aware of the ins and outs. The board are selling our soul, tarnishing our club for what would be £1.5m for next season. If we dont take a shirt sponsor next season that does not mean we are not going to have one for 3 years. Only for one year. Assuming 40,000 Season books that would be an extra £37.50. If Celtic came and said we are putting the season books up by £40 to cover this but we will work hard all year to get you a new sponsor for the next year I am willing to bet that the overwhelming majority would say yes. Using the spectre of the Kelly's or hard economic times doesn't stand up to the test of the facts and is merely an attempt to fight my rhetoric with your own rhetoric. My rhetoric is borne of a love for our club and has no subtext it is an invitation to my viewpoint, yours is designed to sway any fencesitters to your point of view using fear alone.

You seem unable or unwilling to seperate football and business and as a result, no matter what you say, you far from represent any silent majority. It is the same myopic affliction currently hanging around the Celtic board. £'s £'s £'s.

We are not a normal business. The best financial decision is not always the best decision for a football club. We do not want our good name further tarnished by association.

Several times in your post you have said I am nieve or have an unrealistic romanticised view of the club. That may be correct however I put it to you that you are totally out of touch with your fellow fans whilst having the very worrying opinion of you being the voice of the silent majority...

By weeminger on January 29, 2010 1:47 PM

Here's the thing about being a glass half full type.

It's not that I think everything's rosy. Everything clearly isn't. But if I don't assume that those in charge are doing what they think is best for the club, then I have to assume that they are actively and knowingly acting to the detriment of the club.

Do people think that?

I think the deeper question is do people even realise that is what they ARE thinking followed by the supplementary question - why do they think that?

That is the killer, the one where you have to check your motives, the one were you realise that you motive is not what you thought, that it is more selfish than selfless.

What makes us choose to think the Board are acting to the detriment of the club rather than they are supporters like us but with a responsibility supporters do not have?

I think part of it lies in our fairly recent history. In many of our lifetimes we as a support have always been suspicious of those that run the club. The old White/ Kelly regime gave us just cause, but we have got into the habit of being suspicious. So when mistakes are made, as they inevitably are, we do not see it as a mistake, we see it as a repeat of the past when those in charge were more interested in themselves than the support.

We really must get out of living in the past, it is gone or rather it will be gone if we stop allowing it to reappear through our thinking in the present.

We have a club, more professionally run as a business than any time in its history but where mistakes are made because that is what human beings do. When mistakes are made that we think have wronged us, we can hold a resentment or we can forgive.

You would think the latter would come more easily to a Celtic supporter given the Christian traditions the club was founded on.

Every glass is full, it is just that the capacity differs from glass to glass.

cheers bilbo for that, who do you think should slot in the left back roll, caddis is not bad but would prefer a natural left footed

Confirmation through that Fox is off to Burnley for £1.8m

transfers

hoosvield 1m caldwell 800,000
ragne 250,000 fox 3m
ki 2m robson 1m
rasmus 1.7m mcmanus 350,000

spend 4.95m monies in 5.15m

if we cannot buy 2 £2.5m players at this time then we are in trouble

we had a problem on wednesday with the players available to our manager against the 3rd best team in league
this was not the managers fault
the club would not allow him to conclude deals for hoos or ras until we got rid of players so for people who ask quite correctly why we didnt get players in earlier the answer is simple and i believe the board have left our manager out to dry and as james forrest said we are watching we want something good to happen soon unfortunately tony is going to have to go with roughly same players

KK:
yes for me.

I see you, heh, on down on the scene
Foxy
You make me wanna get up and scream
Foxy

goldstar10 @ 1:57

the budget was adjusted in January 2009 or prior to that. Not this season.

That is solely the reason why, in my opinion, we are where we are.

The PLC need look no further than their noses if they want to blame someone for crowd attendance being down.

If they had invested in January 2009 we would, although not 100% guaranteed, have went on to win the league and earned a reputed 15million (if you are Beggars a potential 300 million if you read the press). We would not be in the throws of such downsizing if we had spent 3 or 4 million on striker last January. I suggest the PLC visit spec savers as they are extremely short sighted. Everyone with a tie to our club knew what was required. Those in charge just refused to action.

MWD

Well that is the Goat and the Fox away

Now for the Kangaroo

George Orwell

Put me down as a yes even though I've been a long time critic of the Manager but I am now ready to give him my full support.

He is getting rid of the dross including Fox and bringing in fresh faces including hopefully another two before the window slams shut. We shall soon find out how good we are but I am more confident now than I have been all season.

The big fightback starts tomorrow...........believe!

what is the stars on January 29, 2010 2:00 PM.

No I haven't actually read that yet, but I will definately have a look at it. Thanks for the tip mate.

Agree with everything you say. Typical of Britain to look the other way when such a terrible political theory was spreading throughout Europe. Britain has a history of neglect, such as the way they shamefully looked the other way when millions of Irish people were starving during the Famine.

Thanks a million for taking time to post this.

Hail Hail

Roy's Keane:

I read your earlier post and I’d just like to point out that it is the emotion, the passion, the commitment, the necessity, the romanticism that predated the economics by almost a one hundred years. Commercialism and economics are important but the club will still have a heart and sole and pulse and a moral meaning if you were to take the financial aspect away. Take away the emotion and the passion and you can board up the commercialism and the economics for without the devotion, the coin is just a worthless coin.

Celtic should engourage the passions not confront them with crass PLC marketing and deceptions. And they do - crass marketing and deception.

shimmys33 at 2.32
where did you get the 3 millon for fox from?
sky said it was undisclosed fee.

SSN runnin the Ramis story ?

It is not often I correct my own spelling mistakes I don't normally care but I would like to point out that in my last post I meant "soul".

___________________________________________________________
Should Anton Mor be allowed the time he needs to remould Celtic ?
A simple head count.
YES or NO.

Yes.

Kilbowie Kelt.
DannyMac77.
Bradford Bhoy.
Moonbeams wet dream.
Barber of Samaras.
SuperSutton.
joecraigsboots.
Chris Sutton is a legend.
ZetaBhoy.
jvoh67.
Eustace P Merryweather.
Kojo.
Jobo Baldie.
notthebus.
mickthetic.
gietheboyachanceman.
Corrib 04.
goldstar10.
Sheany.
Ibleedgreen&whitebro.
killerheels.
Burnside Harp.
CAL.
Roy's Keane.
Bhoy812.
Shimmies33.
Greenwell's Glory.
GeryAdams'beard.
Celtrick bhoy.
gc55.
Karl Augustine.
2thecore.
Singapore Celt.
Bolton bhoy.
half n half.
Vinibhoy.
Once A Bhoy.
Syein's a Legend.
Dobbo.
Ulster_ Celt.
Ibleedgreen&white.
The Token Tim.( with apology )
Dominant Forces.
Kikinthenakas.
Ayrtic.
Blantyretim.
AULDBHOY.
MMITCH.
Dontbrattbackinanger.
Jamabhoy.
Pol1888.
southside paddy.
Pinner-Bhoy.
CelticSephiroth.
mcgorney.
Dubai Tim.
mcgraininspain.
The Lizard King.
Jinkybhoy.
Fender.
bhoy in cambodia.
Burley'sfrontteeth.
jimtim.
Che.
James Forrest.
Tomtheleedstim.
Tannochsidetim.
dp99.
Ard Macha.
DumDum.
PeteTheBeat.
Derbyshirebhoy.
Abmucker.
Big Ro.
sdstim.
aldo67.
Paradise Found.
Up-The-Celts.
Barassie Bhoy.
geebee1978... I think. :¬)))
owen.
Wee Joe.
Gerry K.
Strand67.
Dane Bhoy.
gerrybhoy 7.
Parkheadcumsalford.
FourLeafClover.
EKBhoy....I think.
jinkysredstar.
glendalystonsils.

No

PjDali.
Donegal Resident.
The Narrowboat Tim.
Mac1888.
notafanofstan.
roccobhoy.
Lux Celt.
vale bhoy.
squire danaher.
celticblack.
big wavy.
Gary67.
Tamstered. ( with apology )
Lubomiraculous. ( with apology)
roccobhoy.

The above are the clearly stated opinions of the posters concerned since I asked the question yesterday.
Not all of them were in answer to my question.
Apologies if I have missed anybody or misrepresented anybody.
It would seem that the VAST majority of us want to see Tony Mowbrey given whatever time he needs.

Enough already.
I should have been on the hill an hour ago.
I will leave anybody who wants to add his name to either list.

new article posted.

eye on the prize???

I presume Paul67 is referring to 2nd place in the league.

CentenaryBhoy
From info on the Gigis, relevant information and totally useless stuff, CQNs answer to Wikipedia, Stars is your man.

Gordon_J

how fast do things move on here. Went and made some toast and a couple of boiled eggs which I mixed in a cup with a little butter, salt and pepper. Sit down and eat it. Come back on the blog and there is talk of a Spanish defender.

I am goinf to have to get in a speed reader to keep up. :o)

Who is this Spanish defender you speak off?

MWD

MWD

14.17 Sky Sports News understands Celtic are in discussions to sign defender Ivan Ramis from Real Mallorca.

2thecore
It is coming up on the captions under Transfers

If posted earlier I apologise:

According to reports in Spain, Middlesbrough are holding talks with Espanyol over a deal to sign Shunsuke Nakamura, with the Japanese playmaker having played under Gordon Strachan at Celtic.

Seems WGS wants to rebuild celtic in championship lol anyone else we can give him??

Just read Che Timvara's article on MTH via newsnow, absolutely top drawer, referring to BTM, here's a taster.

"The man at the helm has identified the same problems. He looked at a back line which was not good enough and he has been ruthless. The same media who is criticising him for selling Caldwell and wanting shot of McManus are the very same people who last season blasted Strachan and Celtic for ever allowing these men to wear the club jersey. Never forget that. The media, in its cynicism, thinks a re-write of history will convince us that our manager is breaking up a good side. They are wrong. He is doing nothing the vast majority of Celtic fans did not want to see him do, and he is doing it quicker than we ever dared to dream".

Cant do the link thing but here's the address,

http://www.monthehoops.co.uk/showthread.php?p=438118#post438118

well worth the 5 minutes it'll take to read it.

Celtic Sephiroth

Would love to see Pederson joining up with us?
Watch him against Wigan and he was superb, Crosses, passes, right side and left tormented wigan all nite!! Even his long throws were effective I Hope BTM can sign him....Could even handle being captain...I think!!?

Kilbowie Kelt

A big YES from me.

CTID

RogueLeader/Roy's Keane

RougueLeader - I agree with you that we should not only consider joint deals with Der Hun however I also agree with RoysKeane that we should not dogmatically exclude such a sponsor who also wants to work with "them".

We should do what is best for the club, which until you can prove definitely who will or will not buy Celtic merchandise or season tickets on the basis of whose name is on the shirt, has to be the best net sponsorship deal. I can’t imagine many more people boycotting the club over a joint deal with a p:sh Scottish lager like Tennants than did with p:sh English lager like Carling. Hmmm perhaps that's the reason attendances are down?

We should pursue the best sponsorship deal, and get the best price for our brand, off our own back – if the same firm decides they want to do the same for the orcs because they don’t want to alienate a large % of Scotland, fine, they can negotiate separately.

We should not enter collective bargaining territory on this. We must not allow our untarnished brand to be used to help Rangers get a better price for their festering sore of an image.
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BTW Ernie Lynch: "An opinion which isn't consistent with the facts is not dissimilar to bigotry, is it not?" is a huge assertion. Perhaps the opinion was made in good fait but simply uninformed or unenlightened. That's a world away from bigotry. Let's try and use that word a little less on here eh?

A conditional YES

Yes

Celtic snubbed for English Prem?
Strachan leaves and sets up Celtic II in the championship.
Is there a cunning plan here and we should all forget about the Mowbray smokescreen?

Where is everybody

I,am away myself

Kilbowie Kelt

A big NO from me.

Herodotus