Football's outrageous silence

2IAR?

Totally agree Paul.
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Well Said
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Now I better go and read the article ;-)

Cta!

odium

Hail! Hail!

Scott Brown does seem to be getting a lot of stick and I would agree that pre-injury he was largely ineffective but perhaps we should persevere with him as our midfield badly needs some drive...

Team line-up for the Dunfermline game: Rasmussen plus 10 others

RaRa in for Kamara plus other 10 who finished at Kilmarnock, woth Brown in midfield in a 3-4-1-2 formation. We need to get some consistency and stability into the team line-ups. The time for tinkering has passed.

Shocking business Paul

Mort

Jobo

This is surely a p155 take? Or are they really bricking themselves?

First time poster how did I do

I still think that Celtic should have been sponsored by Innocent Smoothies. It would have been a better choice, promoting a healthy product. And with ”Innocent” across the front of our shirts we certainly wouldn’t have appeared guilty by association.

Rangers meanwhile could have sought sponsorship from the Greater Manchester City Council Street Cleaning Department or the NHS, as their supporters have certainly given both those organisations plenty of business in the last couple of years.

next time bilbo

Have Rangers gone into administration yet?

Keep The Faith

too slow out the blocks henkestongue :)

BigChipsUK

"Surely Not?"

workside of it let me down

BigChips UK

your a hun...2iar indeed.... ;0)

TSoAL (12.05pm), don't you mean odious?

Oops... I (12.06pm) missed a "".

pol1888 (12.07pm), Indeed!

blantyretim (12.08pm), wash your mouth out.

Paul67, I hope that every other African Nation threatens to boycott the next African Nations Cup unless this deplorable decision is reversed.

Vini
Some reasons for my selection
Zaluska: Arthur needs a reminder to get his finger out and his belly trimmed.
ODea:Looven should only play for us again when we are four nil up with five minutes to go.
Braafeid:Naylor has lost it and is a liability.
Brown and Nguemo:We need some dig in midfield and also Brown will get into the penalty box when he can.
Fortune: Our best player on Tuesday
Kamara: though his workrate was top class and he looks like hes could score.
Big Ra: We have been calling out for a penalty box stricker why the f--- did he not start on Tueasday?
Robbie Keane:Because hes Robbie Keane.
McGeady: needs a rest

Team for Sunday

Zaluska
Caddis Thompson O'Dea Braafheid
Brown Crosas NGuemo
Keane Rasmussen Fortune
Subs. Boruc Zhi Kamara Ki McGeady

This is exactly the type of situation where any government should be compelled to act, it ceased to be a footballing matter the second these people came under attack and the CAF should recognize that fact above all others. I know we have our own "football" matters to deal with at the moment but we need to make a show of support to the Togolese come Sunday. This is beaurocracy as cold and callous as we've ever witnessed.

A white van driver used to keep himself amused by scaring witless every Glasgow Rangers fan he saw sauntering down High common road in his blue and white uniform. He would swerve as if to hit them, and at the last minute, swerve back onto the road.

One day as he was driving along the road, he saw a priest hitch-hiking. He thought he would do his good deed for the day and offer the priest a lift.

"Where are you off tae, Father?" he asked.

"I'm going to give Mass at St Michaels's church - it's aboot 2 miles down the road,".

"Nae worries," said the driver, "Hop in and I'll gee ya a lift."

The happy priest climbed into the van and they set off down the road. Suddenly the driver caught site of a Hun on the pavement, and instinctively swerved as if to hit him, but just in time, remembering the priest in his van, swerved back to the road again, narrowly missing the idiot. Although he was certain that he didn't hit him, however, he still heard a loud "Thud". Not understanding where the noise came from, he glanced in his mirrors, and, seeing nothing, said to the priest, "Oh sorry Father, I nearly hit that Rangers Fan walking down the road there."

"No need to apologise Sonny," replied Father, "I got him with the door!"

Agree Paul67 a shocking decision.

Strange that the very oganisations that promote the 'football family' world wide are the most questionable in the game.

Fifa, Caf, Concacaf, Uefa, and Sfa.

On the surface it does appear to be a ridiculous decision by the CAF. Football administrators and commom sense would be an unusual match.
I wonder what Arsene Wenger thinks about it, according to Martin O`Neill he has an opinion about everything!

Will anyone name their team for Sunday with Boruc in goal?

Paul 67
Excuse my ignorance(second gravest decision)?

voguepunter

The first sentence explains the "gravest decision"

ianinascoli

Will anyone name their team for Sunday with Boruc in goal?

Tony will.

Mort

IMATIM67

Not bad ,but you will need to be on the ball with these guys ,obviously all work for council and have plenty of time on there hands :O) hail hail

vogue.

The gravest decision was to ban them. The second gravest would be the silence and inaction of the other governing bodies.

Hail Hail
jamiebhoy

AGreed Paul.

OK, governments shouldn't run football, that's true. But surely there were the most extenuating of circumstance?

ahh Gordon J

I see you are one of the chosen few.Must remember to suck up to you in future

notthebus

Thanks I was taking the whole decision in as one big travesty.

notthebus

Noticed that myself. :-)

Gordon_J - tut tut

Mort

.

My Name Says It All....

TOF

Mort on February 5, 2010 12:25 PM

His secrets safe with us

Mort

with every passing game Borucs value decreases.

For those among us who wanted him sold (I am not one) a big bucks transfer to the premiership has long since gone.

Artur if youre reading this you know this to be true.

Declare yourself unfit; get your head sorted get your weight sorted and GET BACK TO YOUR BEST.

We need hunskelpers in the team ASAP.

Somebody mentioned earlier that Paddy is out for another 10 days- is this true? Hope not.

Saw his interview on Ch67 last night- really down to earth bloke, he is living the dream.

I've had a change of heart...

Zaluska
Caddis Thompson O'Dea Braafheid
Brown Crosas NGuemo
Fortune Keano
Rasmussen

Boruc needs a kick up the jacksy
I think we need ODeas desire in there, he loves the hoops.
Ki needs time to settle and should start on the bench.
Caddis and Braafheid can step up to make it 5 in the middle.
We need Fortune to hold the ball up.
Rassa... speaks for itself really, we need some fe*kin goals!!!

Excuse my ignorance but are our most recent signings allowed to play in the Cup game? Is there not a requirement to be registered before a certain date, such as the date of the draw for that round.

joshsdad

Agreed about Boruc but I'd be happy if we had Killieskelpers, Hibskelpers, Heartskelpers or even Parskelpers in the team right now.

Hail Hail

Mort

The only case I can see for a government taking over a football association would be the SFA.

If only they were upto the job of going in there and sorting out that sham.

COUPON

MK DONS

My post at 12.09pm was once again corrupted by the vagaries (sp?) of HTML coding...

It should have had a (without the spaces) between the "".

Mort

too true

How could they NOT withdraw...crazy stuff.

Aaaarrrrrrgggggghhh! Ir STILL won't print it!

I was trying to get it to display a "close bold" formatting code, but I am now officially giving up!

Vini
Crosas instead of Kamara I would not argue with you about that you could be right.
Give TM a phone and tell him we,re willing to pick the team:-)

BigchipsUk

Elbows is talking form his lower rear facing orafice

Paul it is outrageous, wonder how they would feel if they were told to come into work the next day
After watching close friends being killed in cold blood in front of their own eyes
And having to deal with the guit/ some may call it luck in having narrowly
Survived themselves?

Paul,
Thinking outside the square.

I am wondering if you are using this post as a precursor to what might happen to Celtic, if we bring to notice to(which I cannot believe they don't already know) UEFA the wrongs that are perpetrated upon us by the powers that be within Scottish football and the so-called media.

Just a thought.

Cheers, Born 67.

Mort

But remember Im apparently that bitter and twisted I think all teams apart from The Celts are orcs.

So if the above is true then we agree.

Hail Hail

Afternoon bhoys

Recieved this via email, dont know if anybody can shed some light,

Interesting reading, not sure of how much is true but never let the truth get in the way of a good story! Is this what Wattie was alluding to with his 'dark days' statement?

"Rumour is that the RFC DID miss the deadline for payment of just under £3m towards the balance owed to LBG, and have now been instructed that no contract extensions are available for ANY staff.  This includes the much vaunted new contracts for Boydchenko, Fleckinho and Wilsonbauer.  

This apparently causes major problems for them, as most of their backroom administration staff are on Murray’s favoured temporary contracts, signed every quarter on a quarterly basis.  Imagine Super Ally having to man the phones at reception!

Also, all short term contracts with external suppliers are under review, including catering, cleaning and security contracts.  The intention is not to allow this review to affect their ability to host matches, however at least one of their most important suppliers has apparently threatened to pull out of their contract with them due to repeated contract renegotiations.

Donald Muir (the enemy within!) will instruct the board that immediate sale of assets is required.  As this is outwith the transfer window, this doesn’t leave much other than MurrayPark– and even then, they don’t technically own it.  Murray Park is a separate entity, owned by Murray Group and leased to the Rangers arm of the group.  Did you know that whenever a player coming through Murray Park plays for the first team (dunno if it’s one game or a number of games), Rangers have to pay a fee to Murray Group?  Strange but true.

And they’re still paying around 25% of Pedro Mendes’ salary for the remaining 18 months of his contract with them.  Not been much mention of that in the papers, strangely……

If they apply for administration at any point up until midnight on 31st March (pretty sure this is the cut-off date), a 10 point deduction and transfer embargo comes into effect immediately.  If they apply for administration after that, the deduction takes effect from the start of next season.   

Admittedly, this is a bit of rumour, speculation and hearsay…but if it’s not all one hundred percent bona fide, I’ll bet there’s a good percentage of it that’s very near the mark."

Paul67 - CAF have shown they are a dysfunctional and malevolent organisation.

The SFA isn't as unique as we thought. (thumbsup)

.

Separated at Birth....

Soccer Player Morten Rassmussen....Singer Richard Jobson....Comedian Rob Brydon....

The Hoops are on The Skids and The Jokes on Us....

TOF

celtictom - Did you know that whenever a player coming through Murray Park plays for the first team (dunno if it’s one game or a number of games), Rangers have to pay a fee to Murray Group? Strange but true.

I remember Lord Moonbeams on the radio a few years ago trumpeting this financially innovative scheme as the future of youth development.

Charles Ponzi was a misunderstood genius if you ask me. (thumbsup)

celtictom

interesting reading but for me it's a mere distraction to take our atention from Celtic current problem : our management team.

I’ve been singing this song, while waiting on BTM to get his act together.

You gotta accent-thu-ate the positive,
E-lim-inate the negative,
An' latch on to the affirmative
Don't mess with Mister in-between!

You gotta spread joy up to the maximum,
Bring gloom down to the minimum,
An' have faith ( Amen! ) Or pandemonium's
Liable to walk upon the scene!

To illustrate my last remark
Jonah in the whale! Noah in the ark
An' what did they do ( What did they do? )
Just when everything looked so dark?

( What did they, what did they, what did they do? )

Man! they said
You better accent-thu-ate the positive,
E-lim-inate the negative,
An' latch on to the affirmative
Don't mess with Mister in-between!
No, don't mess with Mister in-between!

But if we don’t win on Sunday, I think I’ll be changing the song to Joni Mitchell’s “BLUE”.
My stomachs churning at the thought.

Cmon Celtic, Don’t let us down, Again!!!

As for the “Blazers” helping Togo……….. Have they any Oil?
There’s your answer.

Hail Hail

celtic tom

I heard this from a Lawyer friend of mine and another friend of mine who is a high profile insolvency practicioner.

Hopefully the end is nigh!

How bad must the huns be feeling when Portsmouth can find 4 buyers in one season and they canny find any !

By PjDali on February 5, 2010 12:42 PM

Im not trying to distract from anything just thought i would pass it on.

On the management team, i must be one of the only people left that still thinks it'll come good. I can just about see what BTM is trying to do and i for one will allow him the season at least.

Hail Hail

celtictom,

Interesting, and believable, stuff.

Only thing is that there is no cut off date in SPL rules - an insolvency event at any point in the season causes an automatic ten point penalty. If it occurs in the close season the penalty is enforced at the beginning of the new season.

Celtictom

Surely they would realise that they would be strugling to make the payment and
Therefore sell one of their players? I.e Boydy ?

Just a thought?

celtictom, philvisreturns - this is kind of true. Rangers Football Club must 'pay' Rangers Youth Development for any players that get promoted to the full team.

Rangers Youth Development is wholly owned and funder by Rangers FC. So no money is really changing hands.

The sole reason for such a transaction is to apply a (made up) value to youth players coming into the main squad. This increases the value of the squad in the accounts

At Celtic we do not do this therefore McGeady, Caddis etc have no value on paper.

timjim
Too right.

I really hope there's no surprises on Sunday.
I just want a solid midfield for a change (without McGeady).

Big Rassa needs to play as well, I'm sure TM would have brought him on against Killie if we hadn't had injuries although why he brought on Scott Brown on the left I'll never know...

Celtic Tom 12.39, your information may be correct. It seemed that Wally and Sally were the only two on view (technical area)on Wednesday night v St Johnstone. Where was Kenny McDowell?

Clutching at any straw in the wind. mixingmetaphorscsc

Paul67,

The gravest moment in Football will be when the SFA/SFL bin the 10 point deduction rule the morning after oor sooside neeburs go into administration.

Believe me there are MAJOR happenings behind the scenes.

If Lloyds were to make an example of A football club to hand out a warning to other clubs, which would they prefer. A Premiership club who has infinitely more finincial potential or a Scottish giant in their own country, but who cannot, for love nor money, turn a profit.

It will happen - there are 2 options available

1) - should they go into admin now and still have a chance of winning the treble, perfectly possible.
2) - wait till the summer and start with the 10 points deducted.

One question - Are the SFA/SFL reconsidering the 10 point deduction as too severe?

Surely not.

Tojo

Paul67 - can you confirm/deny what Celtictom is saying, because the excitement could kill me.

Paul

There is the old saying you cant mix sport and politics or religion and politics which we all know of course its rubbish

FIFA dont do governments of any sort.Blatter and his crew have a high opinion of themselves and there organisation and as soon as any government gets involved in there buisness then the results are for all to see.

Its almost like FIFA or CAF in this case are asking TOGO that your either in your own governments gang or your with us. Whats it to be?

SMD

Oooops - thats littered with spolling misteaks - sorry

Joto.

Henriks Sombrero - How long has Subprime FC been on the market now - 4 years?

Nobody who isn't under criminal investigation wants to buy them. If they were a house for sale, they'd be this house:

http://seminars.torontoghosts.org/blog/media/blogs/new/AmityvilleHouse.jpg

(thumbsup)

boruc

can someone please tell me how and why boruc needs a kick up the jacksy,as some have said, and when did zaluska become this world class g/keeper

if my memory serves me correct boruc had clean sheet at hamilton,made a world class save v falkirk at 0-1,made another brilliant save to stop thomson ok v hibs and finally at 0-1 v kilmarnock produced great save so dont know which game people are watching but give me boruc in every game

or is it the bandwagon jumpers dont want to know about facts but just want to hit our best goalie in 20/30 years over the head regardless of the facts who needs the daily ranger when you have such ill informed people on here

BT

WBA away @4/5 for me on the CQN coupon pls

I thought, as major creditor and with the control they have, it is within Lloyds wish whether or not to put Rangers into administration and it is therefore not going to happen. Clarification?

Tojo

Can the SFA change the rules mid season? Wouldn't have thought so..........but then again it is rangers...so rules don't really affect them.

tomtheleedstim

This is 99.9% accurate and is pretty well known in legal and accountancy circles.

pissinghimselflaughingwhiletypingcsc

weeminger - Thanks for the clarification. Those Enron guys could teach Moonbeams nothing. (thumbsup)

This was discussed on the Guardians football weekly podcast on Monday. They tried to play devil’s advocate by explaining CAF’s reasoning.

The team and TFA wanted to return but the government ordered them not to. Therefore the punishment is for the Toga government getting involved in football affairs.

Football weekly’s thoughts echoed with mines = What a load of b*llocks.

PJD

No they cant - thats the dilemma though - the SFA cant bail is out - when do we call in admin?

:-)

Tojo

Valentines at Ibrox

Romantic meeting?

Romance Hun style, not sure they do candle lit encounters......

manfromgodknowshere on February 5, 2010 12:48 PM

Celtic Tom 12.39, your information may be correct. It seemed that Wally and Sally were the only two on view (technical area)on Wednesday night v St Johnstone. Where was Kenny McDowell?

It's well known that Kenny McDowall was in fact over in Milan running the rule over Ricardo Quaresma, rangers big summer signing target....

sorry couldn't resist it....

Weeminger 12.48

I seem to recall Rangers selling the youth development some years back. Were there not four individual businessmen put in £1 million each and they would get a fee every time a player broke into the first team?

Or am I getting mixed up.

Ok Bhoys, it's Friday and time for today's caption competition from FF.
Can we help the poor dave84 by suggesting an appropriate "motif"

[QUOTE=dave84;10574149]Honest question, does Britney actaully want to see us in financial ruin? Is there some kind of ulterior motif behind this article?[/QUOTE]

LFT

shimmies33 - my reason for wanting Boruc dropped is that he clearly has difficulty concentrating for the 90 minutes and has made several errors that while not resulting in goals against are at the very least the equivalent of the errors made by the likes of Lee Naylor, who most people prefer to not be on the pitch.

More importantly though is that his form is undermining the defence. While Zaluskas may not be as good a keeper the defence seemed much more comfortable with him in the sticks. They certainly seemed to be more aware of what he would or wouldn't do in any situation.

Estadio Nacional - I like the bullet point about how Donald Muir has allegedly blocked the repair of the big screens at Ibrox.

We all know how upset huns can get if a television doesn't work. (thumbsup)

A 'diamond in the midden' is this great Celtic article

Thanks to Greenwell Glory for the heads up

Hail Hail

From BBC April 2004

Gers launch youth scheme

Rangers have created a new company to develop young players that will see the club in the curious position of having to buy their own players.

The scheme has attracted £1m from outside investors, who will be looking for a return on their money.

Director Martin Bain said: "With transfers, Rangers will negotiate with Rangers Youth Development Limited and hopefully we'll come to an agreement.

"But if we can't we'll use the Fifa transfer model to agree a fee."

The self-funding company, wholly owned by the Ibrox club, has attracted four outside investors, while Rangers have initially put in £2.5m.

The company will own the youngsters and Rangers will have to bid for players who had previously cost them nothing.

"I can see how it sounds strange but, if you take the running costs of Murray Park, Rangers are actually committing £2m every year to this company."

"If Allan Hutton is sold, for example, to Liverpool at the moment, the money goes to Rangers Football Club.

"But if Bajram Fetai, who is owned by the new company, is sold to Liverpool then the money goes to the development company. And that money is used to further fund more players.

"If I'm very honest, the focus was on the first team for most of the nine years that I've been here.

"But we created this Murray Park facility and you have to offset some of the running costs - and you have to protect the youth side."

Abhorrent decision by the CAF.

I'm steering clear of commenting on Celtic matters for the next few days. Just don't know what to think. Still 100% supportive of the team on the pitch, mind.

scunneredcfc

shimmies3
Boruc
Everybody is entitled to their opinion including me and by the way I,ve never jumped on a bandwagon in my live.If you can,t see he is well overweight and has lost form then well that your opinion.

LFT - I just logged off FF there. Had a wee chuckle to myself at their thread on Andy Driver switching allegiance to Scotland. It's a great move apparently. They don't understand the word hypocrisy do they ?

The Battered Bunnet - It was the equivalent of a junkie pawning his television to buy more smack. (thumbsup)

celtictom 12:47 PM

"On the management team, i must be one of the only people left that still thinks it'll come good."

I think you may find that there a good few around.

It'll be fine.

StandingByTheRiverCSC

The region where the Togo bus was attacked is a disputed territory. However, it was deemed safe enough for some ACN games to be scheduled in the area, hastily re scheduled elsewhere after the attack.

Another example of Governing bodies from FiFa down to the kids leagues showing that whoever holds office is the boss. Common sense is banned from the rule back and ego trips have their own wee section.

Joshsdad - are you saying that they will definitely be applying for administration some time soon?
I thought that Muir was going to milk them over a number of years to try and get as much money back as possible.
If they go into admin they are unlikely to get anything much. They could sell the (few)players that anyone wants but they can do this without administration.

weeminger 12.58

re the defence looking more comfortable i suppose you must be thinking of the falkirk away when we lost 3 goals(which imo arthur would have saved 2 of) or the tannadice game when he stood on his line like a rabbit in headlights to lose 2 late goals AYE RIGHT

Hi Mort

I think the video you mentioned yesterday that you saw as a kid in the 80’s may well have been ‘The Celtic Story’, packed with old footage and great stories of the heroes from our history, certainly was the only one I could find in the video store in those days. Was a classic but unfortunately I don’t think it was ever released on dvd, that’s to say the full version of the video, which I’m quite positive was a good bit over 2 hours long. There is a similar named recording, probably a shorter version of the original.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00005R5I2/ref=asc_df_B00005R5I2557027/?tag=ciaouk-dvd-mp-21&creative=7966&creativeASIN=B00005R5I2&linkCode=asn

I was reading this article on Steve Bull this morning, I didn’t know Celtic tried to sign him! Can anybody remember anything on that?

‘[Steve, according to your Wikipedia page, Real Madrid, Barcelona, Ajax, PSG, Internazionale, Manchester United, Liverpool, Rangers, Lazio, Boca Juniors, Juventus and Genoa all tried to buy you. Did no one tell you?'
'No. Actually I didn't know about all them. I knew Torino and Newcastle, and Celtic and Coventry. But only those four.’

http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2010/feb/05/steve-bull-small-talk

Hail Hail

The Battered Bunnet 12.59

Thanks for that, (see my post at 12.57.)

fHUNd

battered bunnet, I had highlighted that before, but some of the beancounter bhoys said it was another accounting trick, this time to inflate player values on the books. I don't know anything about that, just passing on previous replies to me on the subject.

Right Gentlemen and any ladies, I am off to Bratislava for the weekend for merriment and culture (drinking culture that is) as it is my Birthday this weekend too. I take the whole weekend for myself.

PLease Win on Sunday Celtic, I will miss the match unless I get back home pronto on Sunday.

I will miss the pleasure of your company this weekend but I wish you all well (even An Honest Tim, if you can't be magnanamous on your birthday when can you be?).

I am sad that I am not here for music battles and the inevitable groaning about results, coupons etc but I need some time off.

Estadio Nacional

Have a very good Birthday mate just to re-iterate what I said earlier.

If anyone is in Bratislava tonight then please come down the Dubliner pub about 9pm and say hello.

Have a good one and see you all soon.

Call me Snake.

The green citizen
Brilliant just brilliant that cheered me up thanks

Snake Plissken - Have a great birthday, and no hangover! (thumbsup)

philvisreturns

I have one today anyway.

TIMJIM

well everyone is entitled to there opinion but why did not you try and look at the 4/5 instances of recent great saves he has made or do they not count

or maybe you will want robbie keane dropped for his 2 misses on tuesday

sdstim

Thanks for that. I actually have that video and went to see the play live in Dublin. Was really great.

Actually, having a look on Amazon and i think this is the one I was thinking about.

Why did I never think to look at Amazon before?

Only problem is I don't have a VHS player and it's unlikely that this will be released on DVD. History is probably better anyway, but this one has that bit of nostalgia attached to it. Probably better that I don't see it again as it might not live up to my expectations.

Hail Hail

Mort

Jings two positive stories in one day this from the Glasgow Evening Times

Turn it for Tony?

HH

Maybe a stupid question but ahh well I'll ask anyway:

Why is most of our matches on Sundays and not Saturdays? Very annoying!

BT -

CQN coupon pick -

Nottingham Forest (4/7, sorry) at home to Sheffield Wednesday to make it 5 out of 5 for Jobo!

shimmies33

The great saves are not in question but in all honesty if you measured a goalkeeper by the great saves there would be little to choose between most in the league. It's the consistency and high standards that we need on a weekly basis that he has been unable to deliver for 18 months or more now. In particular his kicking is now dreadful.

He is still my number one but he has it all to prove all over again.

tmc

Henriks
I go on from time to time when I'm feeling a bit down - it's always a reminder of how good it is to be a tim :-)

LFT

Shane O'Doirebhoy

TV unfortunately.

Mort

.

Walter & Sally aka The Two Wallies....

Toilet Duck....?

TOF

Coupon

A very tricky week. Im going for Chelsea to beat Arsenal, Sunday but Im willing to take the pressure should the rest come up.

So far

BT - MK Dons
TnT - WBA
EN - Chelsea

No matter what happens this week, this is the best coupon Ive seen in a while....

Beautiful.

celtictom on February 5, 2010 12:39 PM

I suspect it is all true....there will be fewer and fewer suppliers willing to take a gamble with the Gers....trying to get a purchase order above 50p signed at Dignity must be murder.

Anyway longer term they are knackered, a busted brand which the events of Manchester and the weekly outpourings from their stands have assisted in re-inforcing.

Still football is a crazy business, you never know what could happen, easy thing for the bank is to sell off Dignity's best players not sure what they would fetch (boyd = £4m, Miller = £1M, Bouggie = £4m, Davis = £5m, Thomson = £2M, McGreor = £4M) add the £10M due for CL money in March and hey presto the bank has £30M, I am sure it is owed more.

I suspect that Moonbeams arrogance, has not endeared Dignity to the bank, so the players will be sold...and if they win the league then the bank will get another £10M next summer.......hence Walter's prediction of doom.

Longer term the future is green but we need to extricate ourselves from the current mess....

shimmie3
There you go again making assumptions.I just think he like Aiden needs a break and I think Zaluska is a able replacement of course this just my opinion(which I,am entitled to)

Re: Togo decision typical of football governing bodies, everyone a disgrace. They should resign en masse following that decison.

re Boruc: no-one is saying Zaluska's world class but Boruc, like McGeady, appear to be guaranteed a place no matter that there form doesn't merit it and there are plausible alternatives for their position. Boruc has been on a downward slide for around 2 years; lets get real also the reason he's still here is that big clubs don't want him. previously he used to talk about moving on to a bigger league/club; you don't hear it anymore because he knows he's not as good. He struggles to get a game/in the squad for Poland as well now.

EKBhoy

If this week demonstrated anything it's that the brand isn't as busted, at least not in the eyes of the good people at Tennents, as we'd like to think. If it was what with past coverage of what happened when they went for a 'tennents breaksfast'in Manchester then this sorry week might have been different.

EN at 1.16 -

the thing I found strange with that article is that she had put on a nineteen-fold which included a 3/1 draw that came up!!

Back to work, catch up later.

Jobo

timjim

only making assumptions based on your inability to acknowledge the great saves he has made in recent games

thismancraig

if great saves didnt matter then rab douglas wasnt as bad as i and thousands others thought he was

shimmies3
I think it is time to agree to disagree see you

celtictom,

Whoever e-mailed you with that info is pretty much on the money. The only part that isn't true is Rankers paying part of his wages for the next 18 months. Mendes took a pay cut to go to Sporting such was his desire to get in Portugal's WC squad. Another bit of info i was told was that Bougherra was given an extra 3 days 'rest'in Algeria after his exertions in the ANC, which just happened to coincide with the last 2 days of the transfer window. Seems a particular North-East club were prepared to pay £3.5m for him on his return from Angola, hence his little holiday. Word reached Muir on Monday about this and all hell has broken loose.

With regards to the main article, is anybody really surprised that Blatter, Warner et all are not castigating CAF for this decision? They are self serving men who are in it for money and the kudos such a position holds

TMWTL

shimmies33

I didn't say they didn't matter, nice assumption. Rab Douglas was a good shot stopper, Sieb Dykstra was a good shot stopper - it doesn't make them great goalkeepers.

Boruc was a great goalkeeper, for 18 months he's been an imposter.

tmc

Gregg

Tennents another brand in long term decline, its just a pity we couldn't obtain another offer.

Tennents money will not save dignity, any global brands knocking on Murray's door to sponsor or purchase....I do nor believe so.....

I switched to draught Stella over the last wee while,

By Estadio Nacional on February 5, 2010 1:16 PM

hahahha FANTASTIC

Any word if Hooiveld is fit after his hamstring pull? Who will be captain on Sunday?

Jamsie 1:03 PM

My thanks, too.
I had the same impression as The Battered Bunnet.

weeminger always said otherwise.

weeminger.

Given that everything else you have posted on their situation agreed with my understanding, I felt you must be right.
But that bit did niggle at me bit.
That niggle is now gone.
So, my apologies for doubting you!

I also remember them promising the next door tennis club some sort of investment when Murray Park was built by way of thanks for not contesting the development.
Was that true?
If it was then I certainly don't see much visible evidence of them fulfilling that promise.

timjim

i think we both have strong views on this so you are correct my friend we will leave it as a score draw and look forward to our team going on a winning run regardless of who plays

stella is magic but it blows the head aff yeah

Shimmie33
I'll go along with that
Cheers
Hail Hail

Hatboro Celt - I think it will be Hoopy the Huddlehound.

henkestongue1969 on February 5, 2010 1:31 PM

Mmmm..probably explains why I am constantly feeling tired, I thought it was either the rampant onset of middle-age or watching the tic from behind the sofa.

Just checked the fridge , none there , thank god.

By HatboroCelt on February 5, 2010 1:29 PM

I think the whole Brown taking the armband of Loovens was TMs way of showing the captain is here. I think it's gonna be brown from now on.

Regarding the state of Rangers at the moment,someone asked on the last thread why no-one in the media or close to them would speak out about what was going on .

What really gets to me is that this article shows people within Ibrox were speaking out but Murray just refused to listen, and now they want the bank just to write off some of their debt.

Hugh Adam – seven years after sounding a dire warning over Rangers’ future

tomtheleedstim

they are in effective administration already but remember Muir is a 'place man'

Placed by the bank to ensure themanky mob agree to certain covenants.

They agreed to repay £3mill by Jan 31st they did not (only £2mill)

They made a promise to the bank and failed to deliver on that promise. And we know how banks react to broken promises.

The bank will instruct Muir to do 'all things necessary. to recoup the money owed.

I dont believe they will put them into actual administration but imagine playing against a team so depleted and bereft of talent... jeez we did that on Tuesday night!!!

joshsdadjustofftocryintohispintcsc

My team for Sunday

Zaluska

Caddis Thompson O'Dea Braafheid

Brown Crosas N'Guemo McGinn

Keane Rasmussen

Subs: Boruc, Kamara, Ki, Fortune, Loovens.

Boruc needs a rest, as does aiden.
We must play a solid midfield
The ra is a penalty box striker, start with him and get an early goal.

No cock ups please Celtic

weeminger, apologies, I didn't see your earlier paper value post on youth players.

Anyway I cant get excited at the moment with them going bust, been there before and just like their vists to UEFA beaks they always seem to limp on - if it happens I'll pop open the cava.

Celtic accept cut in shirt sponsorship?

Chris

I see West Allotment Celtic have signed former Newcastle United player Jamie McClen. Glasgow Celtic Board are said to be "disappointed".

They wouldn't get their hands dirty.

Can't see the cabbages for the leeks I suppose

CowgateLad@1.30 - I'm not too sure about that. I do know that they have planning consent for extra pitches. Nothing more.

I'm also fairly certain that the massive Cala homes/Milne development in that area might be the last. Meaning that Murray Park couldn't be redeveloped into housing, probably the most profitable way of selling it.

It might be able to get flattened and turned into a supermarket, it's the only use I can see that might make it sellable.

Any of the Irish lhads following the team's fortunes in the 6 Nations?
Don't think we'll do much this year - it would be very difficult to be champions 2 years in a row.

Seems the hoards are raising the stakes. The protesters seem well organised and would be interesting how this develops...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aaCJhQbTrKo&fmt=22

Re: der hun,As much as i think there is always an element of truth in these rumours,if they were 1m short,why not sell in jan,doesnt add up that one.

Anyway,we need to start winning and then watch there demise in the summer.

Hail Hail p1967

My team for Sunday

Zaluska

Caddis Thompson O'Dea Braafheid

Crosas N'Guemo

Keane Brown or Ki Fortune

Rasmussen

A straightforward win please Celtic,not another morning hiding from the Orcs.

Tony,for goodness sake please no Boruc or McGeady.Its a day for focused solid pros.

Afternoon Lads

Somehing about a Friday afternoon that would Raise Your Heart.
Now if only Celtic could go a Summit Surge that would be grand.
Failing that I can always find consolation in the Nags.
And today the focus (for me) is on Meydan in Dubai.(no not John Terrys estranged wife) and the following horses.

In the 5.10 Summit Surge is supposedly home and hosed and clebrating in the winners enclosure.No one has told the bookies yet and they are still offering 3/1 on Mr Fallon bringing home the bacon.GET ON.
In The 3.50 Joanna Morgan teams up with Pat Smullen and Raise your Heart can be backed at 14/1.I Think this is a great each chance and if it doesnt win today it will win in Dubai over the next week or so.
The same combination team up with Fourpenny Lane in the 5.45 and its also around 14/1.However Aspectoflove is a worthy favourite and I also have a feeling about Indiana Gal which can be backed at Big prices.

But Summit Surge is the nap of the day to Raise your Hearts

Bon Chance Mes Amis,Allez Les Vert et poo on les bleus

By McManus69 on February 5, 2010 1:45 PM

They just dont get it do they?

"The enemy within" banner held up under a huge advertising board for...AUCTIONS!

What's the rumours regarding rangers??

celtictom and others.

That rumour isnt too far wide of the mark. Lets just say through my work i know some people in business management roles within HBOS.

MIH is finished, if it lasts past the summer I'll be amazed from what I've heard. Unfortunatley for rangers, they are so tied to MIH its untrue.

How the situation was allowed to get as bad s it is should really have some ex bank of scotland employees facing court proceedings.

A lot of good people, and Celtic people, will lose there jobs. But win the rafeal its the fan, the huns as we know them are finished.

One final thought, next time someone tells you murray is one of Scotlands wealthiest men... as our host Paul67 likes to say. hmmmmmmmmm.....

McManus69,

As far as I can see it the bank has imply no choice but to recoup all monies owed otherwise EVERY club in the UK will expect (and demand) similar treatment. It's just not tenable...

My gut instinct on all this is that actually Rangers aren't really the issue here. It's frankly hard to see how with last year's League (and very likely - I hate to say it) and this one that they won't be earning quite a lot of cold hard cash especially with the cuts already taken.

The problem is almost certainly the Murray Group. From what I can tell Rangers may be the best cash contributor in the whole group at the moment. Heck it may be the bit that's keeping Murray's house of cards up!

It's a bit like Man Utd... basically their business is sound. But the Glazer's have nearly destroyed it with their own parent company debt position.

B

FIFA, with a reported almost €600m in the bank,donated €150,000 to the Haiti Appeal Fund.

That makes Celtic's £10,000 from the Charity Fund very worthy donation.

By McManus69 on February 5, 2010 1:45 PM

Bud I can't get Youtube... what's it about.

EKBhoy 1:16 PM

The debt to the Bank is amongst the least of their worries.
But it does make it simple for their tabloid reading followers to latch on to.
(Did I just say 'reading'? Probably more accurate to say 'be read to'.)

Sometimes it beggers belief just how little they know about the state of their club.

And long may it remain so!

For all it faults, particulary on the field at the moment, at least I think we have a reasonable idea of what's going on at our club.
We all can, and do, express very different opinions about it.

Things are a wee bit annoying right now.

But (and I hate to do this to anyone) just imagine being one of them when all chickens finally come home to roost.
they're not too far away now.

This season hasn't gone well.
It happens.

We're here for the long haul.

StandingByTheRiverCSC

Expected team:

Boruc

Caddis
Loovens
O'Dea
Braafheid

Aiden
Brown
N'Guemo
Kamara

Keane
Fortune

To be honest, would not have a clue where to start when picking a team to win Sundays game as there isn't one player I would consider a definite starter except N-Gumeo. He is the only ball-winner we have in there.

Keane should start because he is a class apart and despite Tuesday he will obviously come good given match time. I'd like to see Rasmussen in there but MAF was the only player to come away from Tuesdays game deserving a pat on the back.

Brown probably isn't ready. Aiden has taken a lot of stick on here after carrying us for months but I do think hejust needs a wee rest, but can we afford to do that?

Anyone know when Maloney will be back?

Hail Hail

PeteTheBeat

I think we'll win it again to be honest.

But then I always think we'll win it!

I also still think Celtic will win the league so that tells you I never like to believe any outcome other than my team will win... ;)

Faith. The last thought of the crazy man.

TLOPG

No mucking about on Sunday,

Anything approaching a 'traditional' 4-4-2 will win this for us.

No channel runners

Keane and Rasmussen up front and sub the first one who drifts wide and deep.

Restore the Crosas & N'Guemo partnership, play Aiden and Ki.

Play whatever defence he likes, sort out mid to front and stay disciplined and we will romp this.

martybhoy67 on February 5, 2010 1:38 PM

Team for sunday , its a bit more difficult to predict...the fifers usually play a stuffy game and their home form looks like they average 1.5 goals for and against per game.

BTM strategy will be to hit them with the kitchen sink early and put the game to bed....assuming Jos is out and Hinky fit then team will be:

Arthur

Hinky Loovens Odea Naylor

Brown NGuemo Ki Kamara

Fortune Robbie

Cup game, away you need your most experineced players at the back to give some stability. If Hinky is fit then he will be asked to push up, with Brown, NGuemo, and Ki playing a tighter 3 in midfield.

Kamara will join up with Fortune and Robbie.

When Kamara gets fit he could be awesome, thought he blew-up second half against Killie.

Does anyone know if the Huns owe anything to HMCE. vecause if they do, and they default on payment, I can tell you that they are going for the footballs clubs in England in a big way. They are issuing winding up orders on every club who defaults, regardless.
It's because here in England, the EPL and FL rules state that clubs must pay football debts first or they can get kicked out of the league.
This means that HMCE usually gets nothing if a club is in trouble. They really have their teeth into this at the moment a la Leeds, Portsmouth (coming up) etc.

Team for sunday has to be

Boruc

Caddis Thompson O'Dea Braffheid

Brown N'Guemo

Ki

Fortune Keane

Rassmussen

Need to get stuck in about this now and this line up and formation gives so much flexibility for fortune or keane to drop into midfield when they have to and leave us with a lot of attacking options.

BromleyBhoy, Bazzabhoy - that's what I've been hearing for too long as well. I'm amazed MIH has been allowed to go on this long.

Had it been with a non-Scottish banks I don't think it would have. I don't think one of Scotland's two main banks could be seen to be pulling the plug on one of Scotland's 'bright stars', not only that but also to the huge detriment if one of the two main clubs in the league that is sponsored (at the time when it became clear they were in trouble).

Rangers seem to have used every trick imaginable to prop up their accounts. This in turn has propped up the investment made by MIH in Rangers.

I'm actually starting to feel a bit guilty about this type of posting because as you say it's going to end up with a lot of good people out of work.

centerarybhoy

dont think you will be far away with team for sunday

i agree with you on aiden feel he needs taken out of firing line for the game and only change in your team i would suggest is brown moving wide right with crosas in middle next to n'gweumo

Shane O'Doirebhoy @ 1:36 PM

I think the whole Brown taking the armband of Loovens was TMs way of showing the captain is here. I think it's gonna be brown from now on.

Aye, looks like he's the new club captain.
Burley made a big deal of it in commentary but it's not something new. When Paul Lambert was used sparingly as a sub toward the end of his time at Celtic he was often handed the armband when he was subbed on.

I believe Gary Neville was handed the armband when he was subbed on for Man U a couple of months back to make his return from a lengthy injury. No-one batted an eyelid about it.

brown is better in the middle of the park and nguemo picking up the pieces

Rangers did owe Her Majesty £3 mill in unpaid taxes, however, the queens office somehow managed to write it off as an "written down loan arrangement lost by the old Queen Mother at the 3 o clock at Ascot back in 94"

hun fact.

That should read N'Guemo instead of N-Gumeo! Sounds like a new product from hubba-bubba.

Weird but True

Sprite Octogenarian Footballer and Saga Pin-up Boy David Weir went missing when he was a two-year old child in the local woods around Falkirk for three and a half years. David survived as he was adopted and cared for by a family of Free-Presbyterian Wild Red Squirrels. To this day David still believes it is a sin to bury your nuts on a Sabbath!

That's a fact, That's a Hun Fact!

I must say I find it a little perplexing that there has been lobbying of Lloyds to be nice to Rangers by government officials, including the Secretary of State for Scotland, when HMRC are about to close down Portsmouth.

Rangers may have more fans than Portsmouth, thereby perhaps influencing voting in the coming election, but why should a nationalised company be asked to forfeit debt due from one football team, when simultaneously a government department is ready to put another team out of business?

And by the way, if Portsmouth go down, there will be no Premier League football in the South of England whatsoever, with the nearest EPL game over 70 miles away in London.

Rangers supporters who feel that Lloyds are doing them down by continuing to provide £40 Million of working capital despite Rangers' broken business model, should be grateful the club is current with HMRC. Or are they?...

EKBhoy on February 5, 2010 1:16 PM

you seem to be under the misapprehension that there is still money in football and that the FIFA Financial Fairplay system will not take effect.

By the end of this season there wil be at least 1 EPL side wound up and 3 championship sides too.

Football finances are a burst balloon and the manky mob will be lucky to get £4mill for their first team squad at the end of this season.

I happen to know that the bank were furious that they never sold more players this window. So much so, questions were asked about the severity of Boydychenkos injury and were spitting feathers when a bid, albiet a very low bid, was rejected for mcshagger.

A long reign lies ahead if we are bold and brave enough to grab the opportunity.

The Narrowbhoat Tim on February 5, 2010 2:11 PM

Weir ex Celtic Boys Club I believe

I remember when you didn't need an armband to recognise a captain.

weeminger -

When the black horse took over, some backsides were slapped.

From what Ive heard it truly is amazing, MIH has been a busted flush for a LONG time. They have actually been USING rangers (lurking huns take note) to help them stay afloat. The amount of money that MIH takes out of rangers year on year for the "services" provided is truly staggering.

MIH is done, mr murray aint too far behind. Massive personal wealth, any lurking journos,,,, i dare ya.......

By The Battered Bunnet on February 5, 2010 2:14 PM

true, whoever had the biggest influence/presence on the field was the captain

NAFOS- a return to traditional footballers' haircuts on Sunday wouldn't go amiss either- A Grand Old Team

Anyways, poor Togo are finding all about 'Financial Fair Play' after that shameful decision by CAF. If FIFA had any decency they would do something about it, but they won't.

My team for sunday (and formation)
Boruc

Thompson O'Dea Braafheid

Crosas N'Guemo

McGinn Brown McCourt

Keane Rasmussen

Subs; Kamara, Caddis, McGeady, Fortune, Loovens

3at the back should b more than capable of handling the front 2
2 in front will provide extra cover for back three and stop us getting overrun in midfield as has been happening for weeks
McGinn and MCCourt for width and delivery (plus it the cup) Brown for energy and bursting through into gaps left by Keane dropping off.Keane because he will provide foil for a box player like Rasmussen

We are expecting 8-14 inches of snow here outside Philadelphia. Will be heading for a BIG carryout for the weekend. I am thinking some Belgian Ales may do the trick.

So, I guess Hooiveld is out then?

Interesting wee article about captain's armbands - should help wile away 2 minutes of your Friday p.m.

http://cultureofsoccer.com/2007/01/18/captains-armbands/

joshsdad on February 5, 2010 2:13 PM

Point taken......my estimates were at the Moonbeams end of the scale..... I am assuning that you mean Portsmouth, Crystal Palace and the other?

Given that the transfers out of Dignity are at the low end, they must still happen to get these guys off the wages and save cash......the wider picture with MIH (which others have pointed out) will undoubtedly kick-in, with the group split up and sold off sooner rather than later, which will leave Dignity in a right old mess either way.

weeminger 1:44 PM

I'll settle for a Sainbury's.
Always been my favourite.

Anything but having to drive past those gates!

When the day comes that those awful gates come down, I want to be there.
Given the chance. I will take any bit available.
I will then stick it in the back of my garage and leave it there to rot.

I guess 'standing by the Allander Water' doesn't have the same resonence.
But...

StandingByTheRiverCSC

EK Bhoy,

it wasnt the boys club , it was the youth team

I played alongside him in it.

He went to the states after that and resurfaced at Falkirk

Paul67

Any news on what is happening with the financial matter affecting the TFOD?

Any ideas on where I could find the Jan 08 Results?
MIH only goes up to the Jan 2007 figures.

Can anyone help me with a couple of questions:

1) How much of the TFOD financials are eflected on the MIH accounts -
90% in keeping with the MIH shareholding in the TFOD?
All of it because a certain ownership threshold has been reached, 75%+ ?
Specifically looking at the asset value of the TFOD.

2) All the talk seems to be around the £31mill debt, any news on the make up of the debt and the repayment schedule associated with it?
Split between overdraft and bank borrowings?
Bank borrowings, repayment schedule?
£1mill pa mentioned but that seems very lenient.
Would that be the overdraft only?

3) If the debt is the issue, what is happening regarding the MIH shareholding? Will SDM just have to accept the shareholding is worthless?

4) Given the CL money, what would be the expected positive cashflow this year which will be used to pay down the debt?

5) Any ideas on the football budget they will work to long term?

Trying to undestand what will happen next.
MIH looks to be a "Zombie" company, Japan 90's style where the bank has to try and keep it going and hope for better times as to liquidate it will impact on the bank's own balance sheet.

Regarding the TFOD, what is up for sale?
Football club + Stadium?
Football club?

There has been talk an KDS that it is only the football club that is up for sale.
That then allows MIH to keep the ground and training centre on their books at the ridiculous value that is part of the MIH balance sheet.

Football club then pays a long term rent to MIH.

Working on the current asset value, which I don't know but is very high, then using a rough / realistic rate of return would mean that the rent could be in the region of £7mill pa, possibly more.

Could this be a bigger issue than the debt repayment, whether in full or at some discounted rate?

TFOD T/O = £40mill + Europe money?
Ground rent = 15-20% of T/O.
Football wages = £15mill tops?
Would that be competive?

Main point is why the focus on the £31mill debt and what does MIH / SDM get from any sale?

The boy has only had one game for Celtic and the Irish Press are slagging Keane already. What a rag.

http://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/its-a-joke-2049592.html

DBBIA I think a better photo is the centenary photo where the players of 1988 wore
False taches and the 1888 kit!

Does anyone know the extent of Hooiveld's injury? Or even the eligability
Of our new players for the Scottish cup?

McCourt for Captain

Not at all bias lol :)

bazzabhoy

need to keep Minty and MIH separate IMHO
why ? - because he has never put any of his own money into anything.
who says so ? - well in at least one of his gracious addresses to the great unwashed in the Daily Mail - if memory serves me - he boasted that even the original £6M to buy out Malborough was BORROWED from the BoS and his pal Gavin Masterton

An operator loke Minty will never put his own money at risk - a lesson he learned from the bitter experience of the own father

The huns remind me of an article the Guardian did on the Halls at NUFC and the fortunes they took out of there - funnily enough one of the main players there was Freddy Shepherd - who has big connections to Minty

.

Strange But True....

Wullie (Mammy I'm Scared of that Man's Sideburns) Henderson....Bought 2 Afghan Hound Pups and Gave Me & My Brother One....

Ours Was Called Kang Taraung Of Taaree....aka (Cass) After Mama....

His was Called....Billie....After Billie Jean King....I Think....?( It was the 70s)

Very Strange....But Very True....

TOF

Bromley Bhoy

From previous blog. Your idea of playing Fortune in a midfield role does have merit. The guy is as strong as an ox with pace and watching him in his last few games is almost impossible to shunt him off the ball.

Remember the great Paul McGrath was played in midfield with great success by Jack Charlton for the ROI. It could be worth a try. I was surprised that Darren O'Dea did not even make the bench on Tuesday night. I thought he played well against Hamilton last week.

Looking at some of our posters team sheets for Sunday's cup game I notice O'Dea seems a popular choice.

Robbie Keane, I still have to pinch myself in disbelief that the guy is actually playing for us instead other EPL suitors.

Wonder if anyone could answer the following?

Am i correct in thinking that the winners of this season's SPL will NOT go straight into the CL group stages next season, if the 2010 winners of the CL have not already qualified directly for the group stages of the 2010/11 CL?

TMWTL

Weeminger et al

What monies do MIH take out of the TFOD for services provided?
Any idea of what is involved and the amounts?

My thoughts are that the figures can't be that big.
The one thing that does surprise is why do it for the sums of money involved?

Why get your sister to supply all the TFOD stationary?
Why get the name of being a chancer / shyster for 100K envelopes a year?
All nickel and dime stuff to me.

Reminds me of the GEC situation where Lord W's wife ran the travel account for the company and kept all the airmiles.

Cheap, cheap, cheap.

They make me laugh blaming Lloyds for their failings because the bank wants their money back.The fault lies with Murray and only him.As a shareholder with Bank of Scotland I would be very anger if they give them any leeway.I bought shares year ago for my retirement(next year) and have seen the value of them desimated.Look what happened to dear old Wollies and others, so why should they be treated differantly.So I say to Lloyds as a shareholder and a Celtic supporter foreclose on their loan and place them in admistration.It looks like that is what they are in at the moment.

Captain Scott!
on BBC website, Scott Brown is the new captain of Celtic.

Brown just been confirmed as captain by TM.

Pete The Beat

No reason why we can't win the Six Nations again, the team has a lot of talent. Let's hope Donncha O'Callaghan shakes off that injury.
I must say I prefer the Heineken Cup, much better competition.

.

Keane on SSN Next....Preview of SC....

TOF

Hatboro Celt 2.26 pm

Re that article in the Irish Independent on Keane. What about the line?

"He arrived at midnight and was greeted by an estimated 2,000 loyalists".

.

Scott Brown to assume Celtic captaincy....

Celtic manager Tony Mowbray has confirmed that midfielder Scott Brown will captain the side when fit to play.

Brown has just returned to fitness and took the captain's armband from Glenn Loovens when he came on as a substitute against Kilmarnock on Tuesday.

The 24-year-old takes over from Stephen McManus, who has joined Middlesbrough on loan until the end of the season.

"At this stage in his career, the responsibility will be good for him," said Mowbray.

"He won't change his personality, there will always be the potential for flare ups."

The Scotland cap has featured 12 times for Celtic this season and last season won the PFA Scotland Player of the Year award.

In December, Celtic denied newspaper speculation that Brown had been told the club were planning to sell him during the January transfer window.

TOF

I am no accountant but it would seem to me that 31 million is the tip of the iceberg for our friends in Govan. We go on about throwing them a CL lifeline, selling a few players etc. We forget they have operating costs not disimilar to ours and that they NEED CL money to keep this going, never mind paying the debts. Their monies in against monies out columns will be pretty much even stevens, so I doubt very much that they have made any impact on the debts yet. The savage cuts are still to come.

However, it all feels like nothing if we don't get it together the only place that counts - on the field. I hope there are a lot of wounded professional footballing egos bursting to prove a point....

Scott Brown to assume Celtic captaincy....

Another nail in Mowbray's coffin methinks.

Like McManus, Brown has not shown yet that he is good enough to warrant an automatic starting place - yet now he is captain.

Depressing.

So lets get behind the new captain the manager and the rest of the team.
Hail Hail

tomtheleedstim at 2:02 PM

I have it from the best possible source that they are one of HMRC's biggest debters.

The last time I had a discussion about it was Novemeber last year though so not sure if there has been much movement on it.

The figure was several millions...

Scott Brown captain,Sad thing is,there doesnt seem any one else to give it to.

Hail Hail p1967

Right or wrong every hun I work with or know could not really care
About being skint. They only care about winning.

Good luck broonie might make him grow up.

Hail hail

croppybhoy - minty is skinty mate. regardless of MIH.

madmitch - I dont know the exact figures, im sure others on here do, but its in the millions that MIH takes out of rounjers.

I wonder what Jim Traynor will have to say about our choice of new captain? :)

By BrixtonCelt on February 5, 2010 2:55 PM

Could you just get on eof your mates (then one i run rings around at fies) to flash it up on his screen and give us the up to date figure.

By the way phone yer mum

regarding scott brown

if he has been named as the new club captain,does that mean he has become undroppable?

i hope not because on previous form he does not deserve to be ahead of crosas and nguemo!

hail hail

Brown is captain.

I'm pleased about this. Hooiveld would have been my first choice but we don't know enough about him yet to make that decision.

Lets take a wee look into Browns head...
He's been out for months following his player of the year award and is chomping at the bit to get back in to the first team. He scored (and played very well) mid-week against a strong Irish side and is desperate to get back into the 1st team.

To give him captaincy now is a fantastic idea. His hunger will drive others on in a league where grit seems to out-do skill and technique.

Did celtic ever move forward with the threat to take the case to court regarding brown having no place in TMs team???

PS: I have no idea why brown being captain angers me but it does. maybe it's because he hasn't played a match in a while and before that he didn't add anything to the team which was really frustrating. now he can just walk on the pitch and take the armband. whatever happened to earning that position of respect.

Eustace

I think the ones with a little brain power are worried, but your right because there is not much of them:-)

If making Broonie captain means he is going to be playing alongside Crosas & N'Guemo in a midfield of at least 3 men, rather than Tony's seemingly preferred outmatched & overworked 2, then its a good thing!

madmitch@2.34 - I was thinking a lot about that very question at one point.

And I don't know the answer but it did occur to me that there were several ways that Murray could be fogging the mirror.

I'll take just one example. Response Handling. Now Rangers FC were using Response to handle the call-centre side of things. However the call centre was based inside Ibrox. I wouldn't be surprised if Rangers was putting through a charge to Response for leasing the space, high but not too far away from market rates. Income to Rangers slightly higher than might be expected.

This is then compounded because Response then charge slightly lower (but again within market rates) to provide the service. This doesn't matter to Response because they're making profits elsewhere.

So the upshot is a higher than expected income from the rental of space against a lower than expected cost of the service.

Apply this across the board of services provided and everything just gets muddier and muddier.

Oh and here's a wee tale of how their fans are really treated as customer. (I've told this before).

Back when Rangers were in the same CL group as Man Utd (2003?) David Murray's software company had a piece of ticketing and client relationship software called Relatis. They decided to beta test this on the Champions League 3 match package prior to selling it on to outside parties. It was so slow that it ended up with around 10,000 unsold packages and a near riot in the car park. The majority of these packages were in the lower sections of the ground and the seats needed to be filled or it would be obvious on tv that there had been a major problem. I know for a fact that the vast majority of them were given away for free. I secured 7 for a friend of a friend. Yes indeedy I was working there. And the wages paid for my Celtic season ticket.

Bhoy from the County Hell on February 5, 2010 2:58 PM

Who cares what that cretic says? Celtic fans should not be buying his paper or listening to his show.

Bhoy from the County Hell on February 5, 2010 2:58 PM

Exactly, I expect to see a lawsuit served on the fat ex-Airdrie trialist during his wind-up rant tomorrow tea-time...

.

Quote from Davie Hay....

Tony has hinted that he believes the responsibility might help Scott Brown grow, but I’m not so sure.

Robbie Keane is used to the job, having done it at Spurs and with the Republic of Ireland, and he instantly commands respect.

Who knows, being made captain might even encourage him to consider staying here beyond his loan.

.

Both Views Are true....But Skoosh Will be Here after May 2010 so My Vote goes to Skoosh....Correct Decision TM....

TOF

BTM is hopefully getting his mind games right with Broony, I still think there's lots to come from him as we've not seen him fit in mind or body, for ages. I've calmed down slightly from Tuesday but somethings got to give soon for the big man, so he amd the team he puts on the park need all the support they can get. Hoping we're just that one win away from producing consistent sparkling form in the run-in.

BillyimatimhangingbyathreadwithBTM

'cretic' should read 'cretin'

Brixtoncelt- I would understand why you would need to protect your source on the HMRC issue - but feel free to confirm who I suspect it is via email if you wish.
If this is true then the next deadline for payment should make for interesting watching - they are taking absolutely NO prisoners at the moment (as I am sure you are aware)

Danny Boyle....,

I neither care nor buy his rag. Just trying to imagine the look on his face when he heard the news thats all.

By the way, are the club pursuing those scurrilous comments from Jackson about Broony leaving?

re Scott Brown

Congrats on becoming Celtic captain. I hope you go on to have a long and very sucessful time.

For those concerned that will make him undroppable, I don't see it. Tony Mowbray has said that when he plays he will be captain.

Mick was (and presumably if he returns from loan will remain) Club captain yet there were times when he was fit that he didn't play.

Mort

We need to put out a team for Sunday mindful of the fact that they will most likely try to kick us off the park.................or my nephew's a primate.

Hatboro Celt

James Lawton the Hack who wrote that piece is an English journalist who works for the Express and the piece is syndicated. A fair lot of begrudgers out there I agree.

billyimatim,

As I wrote at the time - don't hold your breath waiting for this. It was a smokescreen by the board. They won't do anything about it.

.

Trivia....

Name the Most Expensive Player Not to Win a Cap for His Country....

TOF

My dear,dear,dear,dear,friend... Ibleedgreenandwhite@ 3,00

Pinkety, Pinkety!

Palomine, Ye stole the woids right this Present Page,of mine!

Ah hiv hid tae Erase that Matching... so,so, Perpicacious Point that you hiv jist... well.. Pointed it oot, fae this submission o' mine!

Anither demonstration of why I am convinced that Mr.Mowbray, does not know the difference between His Elbow.and his Gluteus Maximus!

Oan soiten things.

Yes, pal..

I means Exactly whit ye hiv.. well.. Pointed oot..

Mr.Scott Brown, is now the "ANOINTED ONE"..and as such..

Surprise! Surprise!

Mr. Brown now officially walks on Water, and is..

UNDROPPABLE from the Celtic First Eleven!

So ..

Dear Readers..

"Howdya Like Dem Apples?"

Kojo
yer pal.. who likes the wey ye think

tomtheleedstim / Brixtoncelt -

gonnie stop all this 'insider HMRC' talk. It's making me both nervous and excited in equal measures.

"Let me tell you how it will be
There's one for you, nineteen for me.
'Cause I'm the taxman, Yeah, I'm the taxman.

Should five per cent appear too small
Be thankful I don't take it all.
'Cause I'm the taxman, Yeah, I'm the taxman.

If you drive a car, I'll tax the street
If you try to sit I'll tax your seat;
If you get too cold I'll tax the heat
If you take a walk i'll tax your feet.

Taxman!

Don't ask me what I want it for,
If you don't want to pay some more.
'Cause I'm the taxman,
Yeah, I'm the taxman.

Now my advice for those who die,
Declare the pennies on your eyes.
'Cause I'm the taxman, Yeah, I'm the taxman.

And you're working for no one but me.......

Jobo

I was hoping you would pick up on this disgraceful situation re Togo's suspension. It does make me despair for football and it's future.....

Bad enough that the tragic incident occurred regardless of blame, bad enough that CAF have meeted out such a disgraceful and unmerrited punishment to the 'victims' of this atrocity.......

but for me it is beyond comprehension that the wider football family have allowed this to go completely unchallenged....

folk on here who campaign about hundred year old injustices and the values of Celtic's business partner club across the city seem to think this miscarriage is not even worthy of mention.

Disappointed in Football and also in our own response. We have green brigades and miltants who are quick to support causes, here is one in our own game and we seem very silent.

@assetmanager

That is nothing but lazy journalism by the Independent. It was 5,000 easy. The "loyalist" tag is just plain stupid. Irish journalists need to stop taking the EPL soup. It is disgusting.

EKBhoy at 2:59 PM & tomtheleedstim at 3:06 PM

I'll try and get a more up to date figure at football next week. I suspect there are quite a few people who will be privy to football club debt, but it's not as simple as just looking it up, especially with those types of traders. You need to actually be working on the case otherwise all sorts of alarm bells start ringing... Confidentiality an all that!

Is the game being broadcast on any legal channels on sunday?

Jack Regan on February 5, 2010 3:22 PM

Its on Sky

kojo

no harm to brown but i dont think he should just waltz back in and disrupt our most effective midfield pairing which in my opinion is crosas and nguemo,just because he has become club captain,maybe if we played a central three ,but not in a midfield two at the expense of one of the two ghuys previously mentioned

hail hail

JR

sky sports 3

Programme starts at 12 on SS3

@ Molly Malone

That surely clears things up. The Independent should be ashamed of publishing such utter nonsense.

HatboroCelt,

Few are lazier than the Irish Indo. The majority of their overseas and sports coverage is from the Guardian or the Observer.

TMQ. Obliged. Early rise and boozer. I've got Virgin

I actually think that this could be the making of Scott Brown at Celtic, being captain.

Kojo,

Make or or break for Scott now. I actually think something like this will show us the player he really is.

JR

This site is the oracle for this stuff - only thing is they dont always get the actual kick off time right --

http://www.livesportontv.com/football/

Ibleedgreenandwhite/Kojo,
I've had this discussion with Kojo before, but we are talking about 100% fit Scott Brown now.

Is it not fair to give last year's player of the year a chance?

TM has worked with him before and see's him train, go to the gym and most importantly he sees what effect he has on his team-mates.

I personally didn't want him near the team but I think the past 2 months have shown that the SPL will never be about 100% skill and technique. We need drive in the team and Scotty Brown has bags of that at his disposal.

I welcome his captaincy for now.

I suggest we all do until we see him in action on Sunday!

No point in writing off the horse before the race has started...

ibleedgreenandwhite

no harm to brown but i dont think he should just waltz back in and disrupt our most effective midfield pairing which in my opinion is crosas and nguemo

This partnership was broken up by the manager and by the fact that N'Guemo was unavailable in Jan due to African Cup.

Mort

In my opinion scott brown will be a good captain for our club. Also i wish some on here could forget about rangers debts its really got nothing to do with us our aim as supporters of our club is to back the hoops and that includes the manager who if i am honest is not up to the task of managing GLASGOW CELTIC.

DumDumBhoy 2:51 PM

No slight at you of course for breaking the news.

What is quite interesting is

p1967 2:55
(No input into this thread, or the previous one)
Seeemed to agree with you.

Eustace P Merryweather 2:56
(No input into this thread, or the previous one)
Seeemed to agree with you.

Bhoy From County Hell 2:58
(No input into this thread, or the previous one)
Seeemed to agree with you.

Ibleedgreenandwhite 3:00
(No input into this thread, or the previous one)
Seeemed to agree with you.

Jobo Baldie.
I was very impressed by your 'podium' analysis.
it would be very interesting if you, or anyone else blessed with such a talent, could turn their mind to this sort of thing.

Actually, probably not worth it. No doubt I'll be told it's just a big coincidence.

!

Paul 67

! (this means what exactly!!)

Jobo, I must have gone up a few places over the last 30 hours... I reckon I got something like 37 points!

But I won't be getting any more over the weekend as I'll be in the Lake District, nowhere near a PC.

Cowgatelad

Think you will find i did have input into this thread b4 2.55.

Anyway what are you on about?

Hail Hail p1967

it means what it say on the tin

I,am away back to the real world see you all later

My dear,dear,dear,dear,friend.. Ibleedgreenandwhite.

Exactly,pal..

I am of the opinion that the Crosas, N'Guema Axis, was shaping up wonderfully.

Those two laddies where starting to mesh like a guid Ten Speed.

So, whit diz Mr.Mowbray Dae?

Well, he diz ..and really, this, is typical of the Man..

He disna let the Ba' Bounce..even, WANCE.. in order tae see which way it is.. well.. BOUNCING..

Afore, he rushes in..

And Appoints a Player who..like ye hiv noted..

"Is in the Throes o' "Recovering, from a serious Injury!"(He didnae say that!..ed)( Well. no in sae miny woids,pal.. but Ah know that he Meant tae!)

The Intelligent thing to do,..is to ...
Wait and see. why..

How, and Where... that Ba' Bounces !

Then.. armed with that knowledge..

One would be more liable to make a sound and justified decision, as to, if Mr.Brown was ready to Don that Important.. Sheepskin and Liberty Bodice.. or..if ye prefer..Known to the Uninitiated..as.. The Team Captaincy.

Maks sense.. Tae Me!

Kojo.
yer pal.. who admires that wey ye comb yer hair.

Scott Brown confirmed as captain? Good grief! Bad to worse. Whatever next?

Jobo @ 3.17 - you're not the only one!!!

Paul - the Togo situation is an absolute disgrace and the first place to register our complaints should be with our own football association.
They are part of FIFA and should represent every right minded fan in this country by encouraging the world governing body to act.

Will they though?!

TTTT

Paul67
You are absolutely right and as the Togolese said if they were Ghana, Ivory Coast or Egypt it is doubtful if the same ban was given

On the Scott Brown captaincy issue - it could be the making of him - lets face it we havent much to lose now. i think it would have been wrong to give an on loan player the captaincy - even if it is Keane - i think that devalues the role as he will probably be gone at the end of the season - hopefully with a league winners medal.

CowgateLad,

???
If you are implying that i think this decision is another nail in Tony Mowbrays coffin then you couldn't be farther from the truth.
Please do not put words in my mouth.

I happen to believe that Tony Mowbray will go on to be an extremely successful Celtic manager if he is given a chance.

patnevinspen - Broonie had a lot of personel problems to contend with and had a niggling injury for months .Now thats all in the past ,I think most people are willing to give him a chance .I'm pretty confident he can be our new midfield enforcer

.

Paul67....

Are you in the Carfin Vaults Again....(Carlesberg Friday....?)

You Want me to Take Over Again (I Still remember the Code)....

Paul67

Ten Men won the league - re Champions League qualifying.

Scottish champions only go into group stages if this season's winner has already qualified through their own league.

If not they have a qualifier against Champions from "smaller" nations, i.e. Denmark, Belgium, Czechs, Israel etc

For those of you worried about captain Scott Brown breaking up the unstoppable force
Of Crosas and N'guemo don't. It is apparant to me that SB will be captaining
The team from the left back slot! ...........erm....FACT!!

;-)

As I see it, Brown is the obvious choice.
He has been at the club for a few years and has the drive to push the team. A bit of responsibility shouldn't do him any harm.

My dearest hope is that TM's two man midfield was a temporary measure, awaiting Scott Brown's return.

Robbie Keane can still bring whatever qualities of leadership he has, without wearing the armband. I don't think a loanee is suitable official captain material.

If he was injured and had personal problems, why on earth was he ever
on the pitch and constantly passing the ball to the opposition?

And just how long has he had to prove himself now?

Simply a poor player if you ask me.

cardiffbhoy

Cheers for that

LFAMWCH- Please Nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo! lol His natural position or dont bother playing him .

mort

yes the partnership was indeed broken up,but it was not tonys fault that it happened,also does not alter the fact that crosas and nguemo are the best midfield pairing at the club

in saying this i would not mind seeing us try a central midfield with three in there,as long as crosas and nguemo are two of the three that is

hail hail

My dear,dear,dear,dear,friend... WGS.

Pal.. I look at it in this way..

which is...

Not..the wey you have pit it..

"Why No..
Let Mr.Brown play a few Games,oan his return to the First Team???"

and then..

If he PROVES HE IS WORTHY of the Captaincy Mantle..by showing an Improvement on his Previous Form..and we all know about what the General Concensus of Opinion is..oan THAT!..

To continue...

If Mr.Brown, succeeds in IMPRESSING.. Insteed o' .. DEPRESSING!..(US)

Then.. and only.. THEN..

It would be ..

SENSIBLE... to Make the Appointment.. if one was still, in that frame of Mind.

Again, Pal..

Maks sense.. tae Me!

Kojo.
yer pal...who likes ye a loater.

Hello Kojo my ole freend
Hope you are well and prosperous.
I am a bit curious about how with our previous manager you went on and on and on etc. about how our failings on the football field were nothing to do with our esteemed manager of the time but all to do with the players on the park.
Now you seem to have somersaulted to the position that our current failings are all to do with our current manager.
I don't much disagree with you this time but just wonder where the "road to Damascus" type relevation came from?

Yer Pal
Pat.

patnevinspen - Your right he played his best football under Mowbray and for Scotland .I dont think Strachans tactics suited him .Lets wait and see .

p1967

You did indeed.
Unreserved apologies.

Iv'e just had enough time of late to watch the patterns on here and it pretty obvious what is going on at times.

Sorry for tarring you with that brush.

Kojo my friend. I can't find fault with any of your observations in regard to Scott Brown as captain of the Celtic. But its happened and will only change if our reservations are realised. This appointment is either a matter of expediency to get it up the press, test a young man's mettle ( how many of us have attained success because we were given an opportunity to change and shine), or finally, none of the new guys have been with us long enough to do the job.
Like everything new I just feel it has to be judged on results. Tony's big test will come if Scott fails his.

FJIW

I bet FollyFolly is in meltdown - The Pope's visiting Scotland this year on the UK trip.

Scott Brown is not a leader (captain). Im sick of the petty political retalations against bad press coverage. Would he be picked as captain if the press did not say he and TM had a problem?. This only highlights to me that TM aint in charge.

Kojo...

Agree entirely. This suggests that he will be a mainstay in the side, even though the jury is still on a ridiculously long sabatical on him..

By Gordon_J on February 5, 2010 12:24 PM

Football, as we have seen, cannot run football and it needs to be brought to heel.

The threat of a tax inspection or corruption investigation should be enough to change minds.

I think the EU are looking at ways of making football more accountable under law. For an activity that is so much of the social glue of society it has to be bound by the same civil authority everyone else is.

re the captaincy
I agree It should not be given to a lone signing ,how would It look if RK walked in and was give the armband when only there for 4 months .

Could be worse....at least we don't have John Terry ;)

geebee1978
at least he knows how to score

sorry!

Afternoon All
Saw this article on bbc scotland...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/north_west/8500552.stm

This article is about the sentencing of a con man who collected money for non existent tickets from gers fans for the 2008 UEFA cup final.

The lovely part is the Sheriff's comments at the end...

"Not only did you defraud people but you provided them with hope that they might have what could probably be a one-off chance to attend a Uefa Cup final.

"It is in judicial knowledge that it is unlikely that Rangers will be playing in any European finals for the next 30 years," he added.

Lovely...

patnmick

Paul67 - I've been reading various Celtic blog sites and chatrooms, and there are several reports of another dramatic, yet frustratingly non-quite-terminal decline in the huns finances. I've been thinking about this, and 2 things leapt out at me:

1) Walter didn't beat about the bush the other day when he said that things were bleak, increasingly so at Ibrox. All the money is effectively gone, and any future earnings from the CL go straight to debt servicing.

This admission should have seen cracked crests on the sports pages of every Scottish paper, but we know that things don't work that way here.

2) Celtic's activity this transfer window has been surprising. Some would say, out of proportion to the present league position. For us to win the league this season, is of course possible - but it's quite a (calculated) gamble.

Basically, is there word that anything dramatic is going to happen in the remainder of the season? I see mentions of 10 point deductions for the club that goes into admin, but some sources say that such a deduction isn't automatic. Not sure how to consider this?

I am starting to get nervously excited that the huns are heading into admin, and before the end of the season.

Have Celtic just brought in some major, major insurance should a point 'leveller' suddenly come about?

.

We Miss You Shunsuke....

TOF

I'm not entirely certain about the case for giving Scott Brown the captaincy right now. It may be the making of him, but it may also simply give him more to think about at a time when he has to work on his own game.

I like Scott as a player. I think that now he is fully fit we will see what he can bring to the team.

But, on balance, I would probably have made Keane the captain for the rest of the season, citing his experience in the role at club and international level, and then reasess the position in the summer.

Scott Brown for England Captain, he is more suited to that than he is to the Celtic Captaincy.

Here we go with the 'must pick him as he is club Captain' to add to the nonsensical picking of him previously due to his cost/wages etc. He has no right to step back into the team never mind Captain it.

We should be touting him about for sale not giving him a role he does not deserve.

Stephen Pollock
I'll give you some advise.

Listen to the men at our club, not the media.

SB has been TMs candidate for captain since he began the job. Trust me, it's nothing to do with the media non-story!

broon as captain ? what a joke.

"At this stage in his career, the responsibility will be good for him," said Mowbray.
"He won't change his personality, there will always be the potential for flare ups."

So, my translation is 'lets try and get one of our biggest underachievers playing better even if it leads to conflict'

Broon can barely take responsibility for himself never mind our team.
Can you imagine the pre-match huddle talk.
'Eh, lets get intae them'

Beggars belief or maybe (and I hope this is the real reason for moggas sake) the manager doesn't value the position of captain ?

Time for change

I am sure the Huns will be able to avoid administration before the end of the season. Do we really expect them to have 10 points docked if it does happen? I hope so, but I am sure a loop whole will be found.

Bhoy from the County Hell 3:52 PM

Not such implication intended. No words meant to be put in your mouth.

And I am completely with you on your thoughts on Tony Mowbray.

I'm something of an occasional poster myself.
So my apologies for including you in what seemed a wee bit of an onslaught.

They do seem to happen sometimes.
Hardly surprising I suppose.
They're running scared and getting desperate.

Come on guys.

Would we really give a loan signing the captaincy.
He's only here to get himself fit for Spurs.

Surely that stinks of desperation?

Paul67,

I couldn't agree more with your article. I was amazed at that decision. Even allowing for differing cultures, surely respect for the dead is a common factor among CAF members too.

Can we pressure the SFA to pressure FIFA. There is the draw for the European Championships coming up soon, maybe a joint statement supporting the Togolese could be issued.

henriks tongue
'Eh, lets get intae them'

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

The problem is, I think that's exactly what we need at the moment.

Give him a chance at least.
See how you feel on Monday.

By shimmies33 on February 5, 2010 12:52 PM

Glad you said that.

Whilst Boruc might not have pulled off the odd super save to stop a goal none of them fell into the ricket category.

His save v Kille late on was top notch.

It is not as if Zaluska is a step improvement.

My dear,dear,dear,dear,friend.. Patsean

There was no.."Road To Damascus" like, Epiphany,for
me,pal

Look..

I liked Mr.Strachan.. I thought and maintained that it was the Players who let us.. DOWN.in the Final Three Games of last year's Championship Race.. and ..STILL DAE!!!

Not Mr.Strachan.

I always was a Loyal and Steady Supporter of Mr. Strachan..

Why.. He gave us, what we wanted..

Boy, Did He Evah!.. and right thro all of his Most Successful Incumbency, as weel...untill the latter end.. when.. I maintain..it was the Players who
Bottled It.

Mr. Strachan gave us..

Three In a Row..which, is No Too Shabby.. Ye Know!

This Manager, has shown me ...

NADA! .. Zilch!..Naethin'!.. tae INSPIRE ME..

So..

I Canny Blame the Players,NO Being Inspired.. EETHUR!

This Present Celtic Manager,we hiv the Noo... couldnae Motivate A Cat, tae tackle that wee Moose,who, right under it's nose.. is Nibbling and Cheekily Sharing the Cat's Dinner!

Mr.Mowbray, is the Personification of the Legendary.. WET BLANKET..

a Real Live..

Party Pooper!

Dinnae Believe Me?

Hey.. pay mair attention tae whit ye see,pal..study Mr. Mowbray's General Mien.( Hey! Take it East, I wouldn't go THAT FAR!)( Ye ur right.. I suppose,it awe depends oan whit ye Mean, by.. Mien!)

So noo ye hiv it,pal..

Mr. Strachan... Good Motivator,

Mr. Mowbray... Bad Motivator.

Kojo.
yer pal.. who likes ye a loater.

.

There Seems to Be a Popular Name Missing from the Blog Today....

Is Fraser Wishart on his Holidays....:O)

007

Hi Ghuys ;- Salve Salve, Re the finacial situation with regard to our south side friends, If administration came to pass and 10 points were deducted, would anybody on this site really want to win the league under these circumstances? To do so would actually offend my sense of decency and fair play and I would feel decidedly shifty.
OK I have beeen around long enough to know that sometimes we are playing against a marked deck but I would rather preserve our integrity.
Greenwells

Corruptio optimi pessima

The Sunday line up should be used as the beginning of continuity.
Drop players who are out of form by all means (Boruc, McGeady) but not wholesale changes.

The chance of a long winning run in the leauge begins on Sunday.

Drop players out of form...

.. and injuries of course :)

Vinibhoy 4:18 PM

Surely "stinks" is something of an overstatement.

Greenwells Glory@4.26 - if that happens it means that they've won one league and more than competed in another by buying players that they couldn't afford.

Does that not offend your sense of decency and fair play? If not, why not?

CowgateLad,

No problem fella.
I enjoyed your analogy the other day(at least I think it was you) about the guy buying the new car. I feel pretty much the same.

Hail Hail

Ibleed
I am with you regards 3 in midfield. As most ,if not all opposition in the spl play 5 in there against us .3 is the minimum we should have in there .Look at the killie game Ki and Landry were in a no win situation ,vastly outnumbered in there hence when the attack broke down the ball nearly always fell to a killie player . getting outnumbered in the midfield has to stop ASAP .IMO the midfield should be our platform to create chances for the strikers .C'mon Tony get the side bloody organised and hopefully the strikers we have NOW should start putting them away .
hail hail

I can't see any way in which the huns will go into administration.

The bank are already running them so there is nothing to be gained by putting them into administration other than an automatic 10 point deduction.

If the huns were a stand alone company the bank would continue to run them for as long as it takes to get their money back or until a buyer can be found (and there's no sign of that happening).

The problem for the huns though is that they are not a standalone company. If MIH is wound up as insolvent then what do the bank do with Rangers?

I'd like to know how the Celtic board view the prospect of the huns going out of business.

Regarding the captaincy, the reality is that we do not have one stand out player who you could justify saying "he definately deserves the captaincy".

I don't think I would have grumbled if TM gave it to Keano, but its early days for him and theres already enough pressure on his shoulders after the disappointment of Tuesday night.

I don't particularly think Brown will make a great captain. Brown shouts a lot and it's true that he never hides, but I wouldn't say he's a player who grabs the game by the scruff of the neck and is a player we constantly rely on to perform and win us games each week.

This is a new team, we let leaders such as Caldwell and Robson go. That's happened and we have to move on.

Don't agree with Brown being captain but we have to get behind him and the rest of the Bhoys.

Hail Hail

Maybe WGS can start a poll to vote on which of these characters is the real John Terry. I'm in the not sure category myself...

http://www.insideworldsoccer.com/2009/02/john-terrys-tranny-lookalike-shock.html

DBBIA,

I ran out and got a similiar haircut when I saw that picture earlier. It gave me a laugh.

Now I hear the wretched Broon is now our club captain.

Words fail me in relation to the empty jaiket we have managing our club.

Bhoy from the County Hell 4:30 PM

Thanks.
It was me.
Glad you agree.

Weeminger;- Salve Salve, it is not what they do that concerns me, I am only concerned with the ehtos and history of our club, I believe in always taking a moral and principled stand and I always want to see us winning within the laws of the game. This I believe is the mayjor differentiator between us and others.
Greenwells

Sunt lacrimae rerum et mentem mortalia tangunt

Is the game on TV on Sunday and is Zheng Zhi eligible?

At least Brown has a bit of snarl about him. McManus didn't. Could be the making of him (or not). In MO'N's day we were strong because we hadda lotta captains - Lennon, Thompson, Sutton, Larsson, Hartson. Wha daur meddle wi them. Now we have Broonie, Keano and ??????

does anybody ken if the game is on sky or espn this sunday?

12:15 for kick aff is crazy, i thought half 12 was bad. whats to be gained playing 15 mins early, ridiculous k.o. times all season. 8.05pm in europa league, whats wrong with 8pm in these situations, or a good ol fashioned 7.45.

12.15 on a sunday? i hate whoever comes up with this

hail hail!

The problem for the huns though is that they are not a standalone company. If MIH is wound up as insolvent then what do the bank do with Rangers?

theres the point.!!!

the green white & golden eagle
Cant agree more. My cable is goosed will have to stand outside the pub with the radio for 15 mins. Its that or go to the masonic!!!!

NoremotecontrolCSC

to further explain, this boy muir isnt there purely to help rounjers.

TV

Just seen TM in the Asda at Robroyston.

Love

Off to the Boozer

john terry loses england captaincy if anyone interested.

Dubaibhoy,

Thanks for that, still laughing ten mins later...classic.

weeminger...

Not sure if I agree with the moral aspect of "buying players they can't afford"...

The entire world is run on debt, the banks, businesses, countries, my own house and now it seems football clubs.

The money wasn't stolen or made from immoral aspects. The banks were happy to lend them the money so it's their decision on whether or not to borrow.

Hopefully, time will show that it was a bad decision, but immoral, no.

heatleader @ 4.40 - Hooiveld

To awe and Sundry..

Let me mak Masel.. Poifectly Clear..

I, Kojo..

Dinnae Gie a Rat's Posterior aboot the Position in a Soccer Team.. Called..

The Captaincy.

In Soccer.. in MY considered opinion... The Captaincy is strictly a Titular Position, and who is or who isnae..

Has NOT THE SLIGHTEST BEARING in the Final Result of the Contest that takes Place between Two Competitors.

Howevahhhh..

I and Others...

Had for Many Moons . REGRETTED the Appointement of Mr.McManus to the Celtic Team Captaincy..

As..

This Position in the Team, Supplied the Bearer with a Thick,Thick Coat of the Finest Teflon..

and Made the Lucky Incumbent...

FIRE PROOF!

So..

Takin the Above reason into consideration..

I believe that If Mr. Scott Brown, continues to turn in such Lacklustre Performances,as he has been.. Turning in, pre his Injury...

Then if is the Very Last thing which I would wish to be saddled..it would be a similar Situation, that I ...and Others.. Suffered thro.. In the Case of..

"The UNDROPPABLE".. but, poorly playing.. Mr.McManus.
Who wore that Coat of The Drop Proof.... Teflon.
with impunity.

Kojo

By Ernie Lynch on February 5, 2010 4:31 PM

It depends on who we use as a benchmark.

With CL entry more assured do we tool up to make last 16 in the CL our benchmark or tool down to be a bit better than Hibs or Hearts etc?

Tool up and the SPL becomes totally uncompetitive leading to lower gates all round but not enough to remove the benefit of CL money.

Tool down to a degree to ensure we still get the CL money without making the last 16 the benchmark but with more competitive games in the SPL and gates remaining stable.

Decisions, decisions.

GG
I for one would se it as sweet justice .watie BFDJ and all are openly stating that the bank is running the club .Wattie put the cat among the pigeons with his outburst a few months back As WGS says they have won one if not two leagues with cash they do not want to pay back .
the BOS put half the spl into administration to save asking minty to curb his spending ,what goes around comes around .
hail hail

celtictom on February 5, 2010 12:39 PM

that put a smile on my face, seems impossible the huns will ever go oot a business though, we can dream, touch wood

hail hail!

Whats the issue with Brown as captain.

Only 2 real candidates for this role at this stage as far as I can see (and we DO NEED ONE RIGHT NOW) - Brown and O'Dea the second probably wont feature in as many games.

You can say what you want about brown and his contribution to date but one thing about him for sure is (and is what we are sorely missing) he will dish it back out. The huns are in a state off the park and their team is generally made up of players that would not stick out in any of so called lower teams in the SPL. The only real attribute they have (outside officials of course) is that they get stuck in and let teams know they're up for it.

I think that is what we are sorely missing right now. We cant seem to wear teams down. We put plenty of pressure on teams (in and around the box) enough to win games with a good margin of goals. But it's not happening because there is no aggression, determination and conviction to put ball in the back of the net. I'm hoping Brown will be in people faces, show some passion and lift us.

If TM thinks he's the Man to do it then lets get behind him. I'm fairly sure if it's not the case then it will change. Don't get me wrong I'm not a Brown fan. Far from it in fact but I do think while a player is at your club and good intensions are shown, then regardless how good or bad he is on the park, we should be encouraging them and not barracking them. It's the Manager that Picks them and it's the Board that gives him the dough to get what ever players he can.

Keep the Faith

Terry stripped of the England captaincy and replaced by a man who is currently serving a 4 match suspension for elbowing an opponent in the face

You couldn't make it up

Vinibhoy - TMs vision will soon be clear.

I don't disagree that 'get intae them' is the right message' its the 'eh' part that is my problem.
Broon (with respect) is not the brightest and is not a good communicator but just a moaner.
He also is injured a lot and may struggle to get a game at all.

Maybe the most damning indictment of the manager and the character of the team is that who else would he pick ?
Any good team should have several candidates and should spark a good debate.

We don't have any leadership ANYWHERE at the moment and I include the coaching staff in that.

Re Captain, why not mc geady?

Mr Kojo

The last thing you ever do is make yourself 'poifectly clear'

half and half
how many monikers have you had
hail hail

vonnie71 on February 5, 2010 4:44 PM

strange how when the huns play 24 hrs earlier they dont have to kick aff at 12.15. . .oh, wait, it's not. D.O.B's - agh!

hail hail!

By geebee1978 on February 5, 2010 4:47 PM

It all depends on how much they knew about their ability to repay when they did the post Kaunas borrowing.

If that was before HBOS collapsed they probably never asked the question if they could repay as they always got more debt when they wanted it.
Does the fact a lender is prepared to lend aboslve the borrower from any responsibilty for only borrowing what he can afford?

I think not. We are all captains of our own lives.

On balance Rangers probably did not think "can we repay" but they had the same responsibility to consider if they could as any other responsible borrower.

The were either foolish or did not care, either way they benefitted from their decision at the expense of those who acted responsibly (us) and that comes under the heading of immoral in my book.

The fact they might not have seen it like this does not absolve them from the judgement of history.

Dunno if anyone's posted this already but i remember reading it a while back on one of etims entertaining rumour mills, Jan 08th in fact.....

"We hear that Skoosh isn’t as badly injured as is being reported with Top Cat determined not to sell his baby. Take your time son is the message the Fife crackpot is getting from Top Cat and coaching staff while he zips around the gym at Lennoxtown driving everyone up the wall with his hyperactive antics. We’ve also been told by our Lennoxtown lollipop lady source that Top Cat sees Skoosh as his next Captain of Celtic."

erm,

Exclusive: Scott Brown set for shock Celtic exit after being told he has no future at club

Jan 20 2010 Keith Jackson

traynor and yer gutter clan of rateless hacks
GIRFUY

fergus slayed the blues,
beg your pardon? one.ask Paul I'm sure he would know.

geebee1978 4:47 PM

The banks who were 'happy to lend them the money' have now been found out for what they were.

As you reap so shall you sow.

"The entire world is run on debt..... and now it seems football clubs."

But not all football clubs. Ours now isn't one, thankfully.

Sit back and enjoy the show.

Or join me here, still plenty of room.

StandingByTheRiverCSC

The captain role is over-rated.
In Italy the oldest player in the team has the honour.

Cowgatelad

I can only post every now and then due to nightshift,today being my day off,very difficult to post during the week,(lack of sleep and all that).

Apology accepted m8

Hail Hail p1967

Afternoon CQN'ers,

geebee1978

You're missing the point.

The reason why clubs incur a 10 point penalty if they suffer an insolvency event is because they are regarded as having secured an unfair advantage over their rivals by spending money they didn't have or couldn't afford to repay.

SSN reporting that Hinkel + Hooiveld out for Sunday. Braafheid in line for debut with O'Dea back in the squad

bamboo on February 5, 2010 5:01 PM

really, i didnae ken that, learn summit new every day

hail hail!

.

Re; Why No Aiden For Captain....

If He Lost the Toss....He Would Chase after the Other Captain and Foul Him From Behind....:O)

TOF

Ten men won the league

Ferdinand likes to strike above the belt whereas Terry prefers......

My dear,dear,dear,dear,friend...Oceallaigh.

Pal, Ye ur sae right.

My predilection tae remain Inveterate in, Wallowing in My Obfuscation, is a Burden that Ah hiv strggled wi', since foist Ah wrote Ma...well. Foist... submission oan this Hallowed Spoat,on the Blogosphere.

Please, do what you can, in trying to Understaun whit Ah am saying..

Ah know that Ah must Try tae Dae Bettah..

But,,

Try.. as Ah may..

Ah Jist canny..write.. any clearer.. fur, some~

Fur.. Like the storied , Scorpion..

"I canny Help it...It is Ma Nature"

Kojo
Yer Pal.. who thinks yer swell.

southbhoy

So an etims rumour has turned out to be correct?

And Bill Jamieson is a hoops fan.

I don't think I can take any more shocks today.

half and half
you got me wrong ,a wee bit of humour on my part as I thought you had had a few half and half pints when nominating Aiden for the armband .no offence meant
hail hail

Invictus

Out of the night that covers me,
Black as the Pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be
For my unconquerable soul.

In the fell clutch of circumstance
I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeonings of chance
My head is bloody, but unbowed.

Beyond this place of wrath and tears
Looms but the Horror of the shade,
And yet the menace of the years
Finds, and shall find, me unafraid.

It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll.
I am the master of my fate:
I am the captain of my soul.

William Ernest Henley

biddulph boy

Liked that:)

Melanie Phillips absolutely slaughtered Terry on Questiontime last night .She dragged up alsorts of stuff from his past ,"she is the lowest of the low" She was trying to defend the rags for trying to tear him and his family apart.That fud Galloway tried to defend him by saying he hope's to see him lifting the WC in SA whilst captaining England.

Afternoon CQN'ers re the Brown captaincy, I'm happy enough for him to be captain, but hope that he only plays in the team if his performances merit it, hopefully we don't go down that road again.

There were no Tennants products used while typing this post.

HH

TOF,

maybe the responsibility would benfit him as a player on the pitch and do away with his petulance at times.

He would have as much right to it as skoosh imo as he is one of the longest serving players in the team.
just for arguments sake.

Mr Kojo

I hope your feeling were not hurt as that was not my intention.

As Christy Moore said to Shane MacGowan

'I love you too''

DBBIA,
Skysports3.

and I think that Zheng Zhi is ineligble thanks to the boards ineptitude.....wait....no

martymcflyCSC

TOF

did i miss the answer to your trivia question earlier?

most expensive player never capped?

bamboo on February 5, 2010 5:01 PM

'The captain role is over-rated.
In Italy the oldest player in the team has the honour.'

That reminds me, and apologies if it's already been mentioned, but apparently the huns did get some money in during the transfer window.

It was a cheque for Davy Weir's cold weather payment.

Fergus,
no probs.my moniker comes from my mum being from glasgow(rutherglen) and me being from Ireland.

fergus slayed the blues at 4:30 PM

I wouldn't claim to be the most perceptive of spectators but fifteen minutes in and even I could see that the mid-field was out-numbered.

This was compounded by the fact that neither Ki nor Nguemo were playing all that well.

The manager had over seventy minutes to change things but chose not to.

.

Trivia....

Name the Most Expensive Player Not to Win a Cap for His Country....

TOF

Ernie Lynch

my thoughts exactly!!

http://www.ideachampions.com/weblogs/ad081167b0887560be0fb9a75101af2c.jpg

CowgateLad...Well let's hope so. But we're still debating the difference between foolishness and immoral. Let's hope they "reap what they sow" but to be honest, I've been hearing this for the best part of a decade now.

Ernie Lynch....The penalty is for clubs who go into administration. They haven't - yet.

If they do, then there would be a case for being immoral and they would have their just deserts. My only fear then, is that their debt would be wiped out and they'd still be top of the league. If Smith can dominate us while managing a financial basket-case, imagine what they could do if they WERE on an even financial footing....

Ernie Lynch @ 4:31,

When Southampton's holding company went into administration the powers that be decided that the holding company and Southampton FC were 'inextricably linked' and Southampton were penalised as they were as good as in administration themselves. MIH and Rangers' case is more complicated than Southamptons' but the same broad rules apply.

My dear,dear,dear,dear,friend...Oceallaigh

Na..pal..

Ma Feelings were no hoit,in the least.

Ah kin tell a guid guy.. frae a No Good Son of a Lady Dog..any time.

There ur wan or two o' that type oan here..

Ah know them,weel.

Ahd..

Believe me,pal..

I recognise ye as Wan of the Guid Guys.

Kojo.
yer pal... who likes ye a loater.

mac1888@4.47
Yeah, Hooiveld could well be another on the list. Bloody hope so. Only 3 more to find.Did anyone read in todays Jockman that Craig Levein's mummy bought him a Celtic top for Xmas which he had to wear whether he wanted to or not. Says his ma was a big fan of the Hoops esp. Danny McGrain.

The Outrageous Fortuné - I'd guess he'd be Brazilian. Mario Jardel?

geebee1978

Administration does not write off debt.

HatboroCelt on February 5, 2010 2:26 PM

rags are rags in any country, just because it isnt a red rag doesnt mean its not pathetic amatuer journalism.
at least celtic got a mention in it for once, usually every inch of the fitba bit is plastered with english news. they barely even cover the league of ireland games in it

hail hail!

The Outrageous Fortuné.... on February 5, 2010 5:15 PM

well, who is it then?

geebee1978 on February 5, 2010 5:16 PM

Foolishness to me is something you do without your brain being involved, regardless of the consequences.
Immorality to me is something that you do with your brain being involved, knowing full well the likely consequences.

Foolishness is excusable. Immorality is not.

Waste no more of your energies on them.
Let them rot.

.

Trivia....

Name the Most Expensive Player Not to Win a Cap for His Country....

TOF

In Reverse Order....

2nd....Massimo Donati has never played for Italy, and at the age of 28 and currently plying his trade at Bari, is probably never likely to. When he moved from Atalanta to Milan in 2001 he went for £10m.

Winner.... "On 30 May 2008 Brazilian-born striker Amauri completed a €22.8m (£20.5m) move to Juventus, with part of the fee paid via player transfer (Antonio Nocerino, tagged for €7m and the half of registration rights of Davide Lanzafame, tagged for €2.5m).

"Amauri, who has never appeared at international level for Brazil, is eligible to play for Italy because he has lived and played there for over five years, and is eligible to acquire Italian nationality by marriage. After impressive performances at his former club Palermo, it was suggested that he would get a potential call-up under the then Azzurri coach Roberto Donadoni - but to no avail.

"On 31 January 2009, Dunga selected Amauri as a replacement for the injured Luís Fabiano for Brazil in an international friendly against Italy. However, a few hours later, in the aftermath of a Juventus league game on the same day, Juventus chairman Giovanni Cobolli Gigli stated the club's intention not to allow the player to respond to the call-up. As of yet he's never represented a country though he's come very, very close to playing for two nations."

Cap-less and 29 years old. Amauri appears to be the frontrunner. With the current exchange rates as they are, £20.5m to make him the most expensive non-international ever.

TOF

he Outrageous Fortuné.... on February 5, 2010 5:28 PM

id never have got that in a million years

hail hail!

Stop Press..Dateling.. Glasgow..

"I don't See any Panic" roars, Mr. Mowbray.

Ye dinna?.. Wonders, in Aghastment...or should that no be.. Aghastity...

.. Me, collie, Lou, Mabel, Diane, the Pookah, the Tommyknocker.. wee..Leroy.. BIG.. Leroy, Vito..Nutsy, and.. even.... Luigi,the Pappagallo..

Chorus...

"Mr.Mowbray.. dae ye no feel a Draft?

Hey.. A Whole Darn Battalian of S.P.L. Provincials..

Hiv jist Torn a Clump oot o' Celtic's Wazoo!"

Mr.Mowbray, noo that Ah think aboot it..

How are Things in Utopia..these Days?

Fur that is where ye must be ... living!

Kojo.

henriks tongue February 5, 2010 4:55 PM

Hooiveld has already said that he doesn't need the arm band and that he will motivate the team on the pitch.

Like-wise Keano will use his experience as captain and rally the troops.

Thats a forward and a defender, so Broonie marshalling the middle will IMO just add some spice to the pie.

Lets hope he shows us why we paid over £4m for him.

Gregg

If MIH goes bust then a 10 point deduction will be the least of the huns worries.

It's more likely to be the end of them.

Kaput.

half n half
no worries its my humour .I thought about being a stand up comic but mrs fergus said I was not even half way there as most weekends I can't even stand up let alone be funny .
hail hail .

martin 47 I think Landry and Ki were made to look bad as they couldn't even get on the ball to make an impression going forward ,I share your worry regards TM not changing the shape of the team to negate the killie advantage
hail hail

The missing ingredient from the Celtic cake is ATTITUDE!. Brown has attitude in abundances So putting him a situation where he can infect teamates makes sense tae me!© Kojo

Kojo 5:34 PM

"I don't See any Panic" roars, Mr. Mowbray.

Never imagined Mr. Mowbray as the 'roaring' sort.
Particularly over something so mundane as the odd football match given everything else he has gone through in his life.
(Maybe you have too, in which case I apologise unreservedly.)

However, even given the unlikelihood of such an event, I would hope that he would find something for articulate to roar.

Sometimes you can be amusing. Sometimes not.

My dear dear dear dear friend Kojo.......

As much as I concur wi the bulk of bountiful wisdom in that dome o yours
I think that Scotty Broon will surprise us all, all that is who'd given up on him.

And I'm sure there'd be none happier wi that outcome than your very good self

SB

All the talk about MIH going bust and the effect on der hun is p ing me off, they are the champions and looking like retaining it, we need to sort our own house, we need to go on a run of victories and get the Celtic fans totally behind the new look team.

Sunday will do as a starting point.

HH

My dear,dear,dear,dear,friend... Auldheid

Palomine, ye ur correct.

Attitude, is the thing that Dudes up the Dude..

A Swagger... a Gallusness..is whit it takes,

Tae Mak a Splash in the Fitba' League Stakes!

But..

JIst like the Twelve Apostles..

This Celtic Team needs a, Paraclete(Whit?..ed)( O.K. .. A Ghost.. Ah decided no tae use that woid... as I am powerfully aware,fur tae No scare any weans, who may be reading this stuff)

Yeah a Ghost.. A Holy Wan..is the Best kind..but, no ayeways Available oan Shoart Notice.

This Present Celtic Outfit..

Needs someone or thing.. tae

Breath Some SPIRIT... intae them!

Ye Canny beat a Dose o' Good Spirits..

But,the only kind that, that this Celtic Team is getting these days..is oot o' a Boattle!

Hey!...ah could dae.... A Five minute Set oan this stuff..

But...

Ah wullnae!

Kojo
yer pal..who likes ye a loater.

vmhan
I was hoping Tuesday was a starting point ,hope your right
hail hail .

Just looking at the next four league games

Hearts h
Dons a
Dundee utd h
Huns a

Givin the fact that we have failed to beat 2 of them this season, and lost a game to hearts,if TM doesnt get things in order we might be even further behind,No matter how much i try beleiving,i just cant see us winning all 4 of these games,which obv is a must.

waitingtobesuprised csc

Hail Hail p1967

There will be no 10 point deduction for Rangers as there is no precedent for it in Scotland. The precedent in Livingston and demotion, and that will not happen, and you can take that to the bank.

It may be the nightmare scenario for some for there to be a ten point deduction and lose the league to an eleven point defecit, but for me, we are living the nightmare scenario right now. Ten points behind a club bankrupt socially, morally and quasi-legally. Our club is sleepwalking through this, and has been since last January. My anger in this stems from this, and from the fact that we are so weak in the boardroom, in the tackle, even towards our stricken team-mates. We cannot lose this league. Just cannot. And the Cup.

My dear,dear,dear,dear,friend... southbhoy @ 5.51

Pal..ye ur sae right..

It's Frightfully, Frightening!

Fur..

There is Naebody oan here, that wid be mair Pleased, should Mr.Brown, make the Mother and the Faither of awe Successful Comebacks..when ..he..well.. Comes Back!

Ah am a Loat o' things..and Ah wear a Loat of Different Hats..,

But..

There is Wan Hat that I ayeways wear,so Proudly..

It's

"The Hat ..Me Father Wore!"( Wait a Minute, you are no Irish!..ed)( Who said Ah wiz?..there is Naetin' that Ah Suit bettah... than a Guid.. Homburg!)

Kojo.
yer pal..who likes ye a loater.

Hail hail fellow great guys.

Delighted to hear Charles Grant got 20 mins under his belt against Drogheda. He's a fellow Hamilton boy who Iv met a good few times and I know how hard he's been working to get back to full fitness. Hopefully he's on the right track to getting in the first team.

Mon the great guys!!

Bazzabhoy, your information is very good mate ....the chief enabler for the huns was Bank of Scotland and the main man involved can be found in the board room of East End Park, Dunfermline. Some of the things that went on and WILL come to light at some point are staggering ! Car park sales anyone ??

However you are slightly wrong when you say the arse slapping started when Lloyds took over mate, it actually began when HBoS came into being and the Halifax realised just what a pig in the poke MIH and Rankers were. The old Bank of Scotland Corporate division was run by a "jambo" but was also best mates with the Dunfermline director. To say the Mint led them a merry dance is putting it mildly...in fact MIH is like a bowl of spaghetti a length of which is RFC !!

You know what? I couldn'y give a monkeys about the huns off-pitch position right now.

Its on the pitch that counts and we are waaaaay behind them.

Close the gap there, WIN THE LEAGUE and the off-pitch situation will take care of itself.....hopefully for worse for them at that time!

Get the victory on Sunday Tony, bury that bampot Yorkston and his team and that'll do for starters.

HAIL! HAIL!
Token

TTT
couldn't agree more

Scoopatron
Good news about Charlie Grant. A bhoy with loads of potential

CQN COUPONEERS,

any teams been posted yet?

still deciding between 3 teams all decent prices. if any or all have already been picked that will save me some time.

HAIL! HAIL!
Token

My dear,dear,dear,dear,friend...Scoopatron

You and Me, both,pal.

Charlie is Ma, Darlin'!

I recognised this lad.. Five Years ago..as the second Coming o'

Bobby Evans!

Well,that is no strictly True, but we wull nae quibble over a Leetle Insignificant, Minutiae such as .. THAT!

Howevahhhhh... if ye MUST Know..

Ah nevah evah Actually SAW .. BOABBY EVENS, IN THE FLESH..or even in his Jammies!

But,, Hey!.. Why should Ah be telling you awe Ma Secrets,anywey?

Suffice, tae say..I was Told by a Friend of Mine who.. well..DID, actually See Boabby Evans, in the Flesh.. but, I hasten tae add.. I am sure that My Friend nevah eveah saw Boabby Evans in His Pajamas...that's, Boabby Evans' Jammies...No My Friend's, at lest Ah Hope, that was the case.

Charlie Grant is a Brammer.

so He is..

I,personally, hiv High Hopes fur Charlie.

He is my Kinda Guy.

Kojo.
yer pal.. who likes ye aloater

I think the elevation of Broonie to club captain is both brave & inspirational.
Nobody knows Scott Brown better than Anton Mor.
Anton Mor has forgotten more about the beautiful game than his egotistical CQN knockers will EVER learn.
The least we can do is SUPPORT our manager UNTIL he fails, if indeed he does.
Good luck to our new CLUB CAPTAIN.

Swagger is one thing SB used to have, has he still got it? And what does that bring to the captaincy?

What we need right now is a dose of confidence to flow right through the Bhoys,
something to get them together,and i think "our" own Robbie Keane will do that.

The Captaincy issue is getting too much headline between us all , better we concern ourelves more with sticking together, that is what Der Hun wants, is us all fighting with each other, we cannot let it happen. We will not let it happen.

We have become too impatient as a society, we want everything right away, and i include myself in that, but what we really have to remember is not to take our eye off the bigger picture.

We may be 10 points behind blah blah, our team in turmoil , fans revolting against the manager, we have heard it all before, this is simply a diversion tactic created by the media , there beloved Rangers are really in turmoil, they may be 10 points ahead blah blah, but after this season my friends in Celtic, We will be beggers no more, they will be 10 "Years" behind us!

It has been reported that John Terry lost his England Captain's armband. However, Wayne Bridge said he found it under his bed.

CowgateLad 3.37

Sorry but your post went right over my head - what you on about buddy?

Kojo
You are probably too young to have seen Bobby Evans. A Celtic great who would have won more Scottish caps had he played for the mob from the south side.

Like ye loads tae

Win every game and we WILL win the league!

We badly need to get the set up of the team right - and I'm sure TM knows this. I'm also confident that he knows what this requires. It's not about 4-4-2 / 4-3-3, or whatever; it's about balance and shape. I'm no expert, but I am a bit of a tactics nerd, and this is what I think we need:

1- The right combination of running, tackling and passing in midfield. For me, this immediately means Brown, N'Guemo and Crosas/Ki. For me, Crosas' passing brings more control & continuity; Ki's more vision & guile. Control & continuity is what Miller gave Hibs that allowed their midfield 3 to pick us apart, but Crosas' form has dipped lately.

2- To play our best/most effictive forwards. This is probably between Keane, Kamara, Fortune and Rasmussen - not Aidan at the moment (sadly), or Sammi. And play them where they can do most damage - high up the pitch. By all means let, eg Kamara, pick up the ball in a wide position and run at the defences, but this should be 30 yards out, not in midfield. Look at the positions Stokes took up on the shoulder of the full back, running the channel between Caddis and O'Dea against us. I would also like to see one forward 'fix' the opponents' central defenders by playing in the box. This means Rasmussen sniffing for goals, or Fortune using his muscle to turn players and create space (as he did at times on Tuesday).

The more I think about it, the more I think we need some combination of N'Guemo, Crosas and Brown in the middle, and then it's pick 3 from Ki, Keane, Kamara, Fortune and Rasmussen.

---------------------------------------------Boruc

Caddis---------------------------Thompson------O'Dea-------------------------Braafheid

---------------------Brown----------------N'Guemo---------Crosas

------------------------------keane-------------------------------------------Kamara
--------------------------------------------Rasmussen

As much as i want big TM to succeed,i am rapidly falling into the camp that can not see it happening.
Making Loovens captain{even if it is only ever 1 game} and then bestowing the captain's armband on Broonie on top of all the poor results,poor performances and mystifying substitutions is fastracking me to new depths of despair.

Sorry for such a negative first post but the big cloud overhead is not going away.

atroublesharedcsc.

Scott Brown has difficulty in completing passes and I'm not talking about 25 yard ones, I'm talking 5 or 6 feet. I can only assume this is due to nervousness or lack of concentration.

If so, then surely the captaincy will only place more pressure on him and lead to even more unforced errors.

I hope I am very wrong.

So I get home, untroubled by any pre or post-match trauma - game not until Sunday. Relax! What can possibly happen?

Get onto NewsNow - Scott Brown named captain.

NNNUUUUUUUUUUUURSE! THE SCREEEEEEEEENS!

valiumcsc

fergus slayed the blues aye hope so amigo.

TTT on the same wavelength..... might be up for a session ra night.

off line for a bit, toodaloo the noo.

Hx2

Dining out tonight so signing off

Here's to a resounding win on Sunday

KTF

The Ki to My Heart on February 5, 2010 6:38 PM

I'd hate to be Anton Mor picking a side. The combinations are endless. But one thing is imperative and that is midfielders supporting the front 1 / 2. This means getting beyond them and becoming a goal threat. So far this hasn't happened this season.

By the melvin gael on February 5, 2010 6:41 PM

Do not worry my firend, it is a sentiment shared by the 60-40 I think:)

Let us see what Sunday brings us in terms of result, let us what the performance brings us, let us how the shape of the team plays, it may bring us a bit closer to seeing what Mr Mowbray will bring to us.

Hail! Hail!

KTF

Scoopatron

Good to see Charlie on the mend at last.

Hopefully he'll be getting a run out against Queen of the South tomorrow.

TTT -

I posted this morning that I'd plump for Nottingham Forest at home. I think I saw 3 others?

Jobo

My dear,dear,dear,dear,friend.. Bobby Evans Superstar @ 6.35

You are correct,pal..

I never saw Boabby Evans...I am far too Young tae hiv done so.. I wis gonna say .. "Youthful", but Ah dinna want tae annoy the Guys oan here, who think that I am too Egotistical!

Perish the Thought!

Meanwhile, as an interesting adjunct tae this fascinating subject,of old and venerated Celtic Stalwarts..

My Big Pal.. the Same wan who swears he never ever saw Boabby Evans Wearing Pajamas..

Told Me..

That Padraig McCort, reminds him of the Great Charlie Tully..again, may I add..Whom, I never ever Saw ..with or without his Jammies..or..in the Flesh, eethur!

He said.. that is... Ma Big Pal,said..who,as a maitter of interest... did Play for the Celtic, aroon the same era as the Two guys under Discussion...

That Paddy, has the same ability that Cheeky Charlie, hid.

Paddy, beats his Opponents, with using.. Hypnotism..

They are Transfixed,into Immobility by the movement of his Hips.. that's Paddy's Hips...no Charlie's.

That's how ye get the woid... Hyp..no.. Tim.

Ah suppose ye knew that?

Course,ye did!

Kojo.
yer pal..who likes ye aloater.

The Ki to My Heart on February 5, 2010 6:38 PM

Agree that we need more from the midfield.

Against Kilmarnock it looked as if it wis a select team playing in a Celtic shirt.

No drive,
No agression,
We failed to compete.

Midfield for me against Dunfermline is Brown Nguemo Ki Aiden .

Front two Rasmussen n Robbie.

Aiden is rotten just now ad drap him normally but he has a suspension coming up so ad play him against the pars.

"jetzt werden wir dafür ganz schön verarscht.“

Interesting turn on an "Old Firm" cabal in Germany.
Bayern Munich are suing 1860 Munich over payments relating to the catering arrangements in the Arena. During the course of the trial it was made known that 1860 are counter suing over the purchase of Arena shares for 11mmln Euro, which in effect saved 1860 from bankruptcy. They feel that they have been "screwed" by Bayern.
Uli Hoeness, Bayern Manager, (director) has gone to town on the local rivals
claiming that they have short memories, going on bended knee to Bayern begging for their help, while others opined that we should let them go down. Hoeness said "We idiots on the board couldn't let them go out of business, and now they are taking the p*** with us". Hoeness was in a raging mood, not for the first time.
Did someone mention Celtic had shares in Rangers?
Could be a lesson to our board.

The Ki to My Heart

That's exactly the formation I'd have - it just seems so obvious that it makes me angry that TM hasn't tried it yet!

Only changes I'd make would be potentially O'Dea out for Hoovield and after a game or twos rest McGeady for Kamara.

On Thomson, while I don't think he's a great player and may not ever be he's probably been our best defender this year which without wanting to be hard on him because he's not put a foot wrong is a sad reflection on what we have at the back.

patnevinspen Feb 5 2010 @6.43

Totally agree on your view of Broonies range of passing but i always thought it was due to a lack of ability.It is time for him to step up to the plate and show us we are wrong to doubt him.

Hola
Auldheid..re,my,your post last night about the money cap UEFA are intending to bring in,either you misinterpreted,or I did not make myself clear,the latter I would guess..
I fully expect this to be brought in,what I meant by saying this would not happen, was that the big clubs would start a breakaway league,hence it will not happen.still don't know if that is clear,but I know what I mean.
Huns a 10 point deduction...not a hope in hell.
Brown as captain,seems a good move to me.
Correct me if I'm wrong,within the last ten years Real Madrid were 287mil in debt,the Spanish government bought a small piece of land from them,[a training pitch]for the said same amount,they then leased it back to them for 1 euro per year,what worries me is that our hun loving government might do the same.
Hail Hail
KTF

I'm easily confused when it comes to the world of business snd high finance.
Therefore I am totally confused by a report in the Scotsman today that David Murray has bought over Cockburns of Leith, Scotlands oldest independent wine company which had gone into receivership. How can this happen when he is skint and, presumably, not in any position to borrow cash?

Speaking of Snake Hips McCourt, if you look at some of the great European players like Totti oor Paddy's work-rate defensively would be on-par. I suppose their system allows this, he gets to focus on his play-making role as a 'second striker' without the midfield being over-run.

Surely Scott Brown as captain is a bad joke ?

A seemingly undroppable position from a man who can't do the basics at football ?

Good old Tony. Always baffling....

Someone explain this as a positive move ??? Anyone ??

Big Wavy

glendalystonsils

It was one of the companies he owns to bought over it... I'm not going to kid on I know about his finances but I'd imagine that some (like the above mentioned) of his companies are doing well and can still consume other businesses as it's a sound investment, even if his portfolio as a whole is in a bad way.

Malone 19

Thanks

The Ki to my Heart

Agree with your line up although i would have Fortune over Kamara. I don't think big Marco deserves to be dropped.

With regards to the authorities not enforcing a 10 point deduction if the Orcs went into administration, did somebody not point out yesterday that this rule is already in place in the SPL rulebook? I think it was rule 6.8?

First post and all - terrific blog by-the-way.

Just wanted to get my thoughts about the team out of my head as it is giving me major angst!

The Kilmarnock game seems to have thrown up more questions than answers with regards to team selection and shape, not to mention BTM's ability to motivate.

I am/was one of the group who were unequivocal in their belief that BTM must only be judged once he has his team in place. Now we must see some results ASAP. Long term goals are all well and good and something I can conform to, but we must see some progression in the short term in order to have faith that the long term plan can work. As a result our beleaguered manger must find a cohesive shape and first eleven that is capable of steadying the ship in, what is, a much needed transitional period.

He must also manage the number of players we seemingly have who, on paper, could quite easily consider themselves as being good enough to make the 1st XI.

With this in mind here's a stab at the team and formation I would like to see for the foreseeable future:

Boruc

Hinkel_____Thompson_____Hooiveld_____Braafheid

Brown(c)_____Ki_____N'Guemo

McGeady Keane

Rasmussen

This, I feel will give us the best combination of balance, technique, height, speed and tenacity. It will also allow us to change with the team with players who can slot into virtually every position of this formation.

For example - McGeady/Kamara, Rassmussen/Fortune, Keane/Maloney/Samaras, Ki/McCourt, N'Guemo/Crosas, Brown/ZZ, Hinkel/Caddis, Thompson/Loovens, Hooiveld/O'Dea, Braafheid/Naylor and Boruc/Zaluskas.

Furthermore, there is real flexibility to this formation, depending on how the opposition line up or how the flow of the game is going, and McGeady could drop behind the two strikers making
it a 4-3-1-2. Or even w McGeady moving left with Brown right making it a 4-4-2.

On paper we have a team and a number of options in the squad to truly bury every single team in this league. We may not win the title, but what we need to see is some semblance of progression starting from Sunday in the cup.

With hope in your heart...

'Mon the hoops!

Hola
Sorry Paul67...your original post,an absoulute disgrace by the powers that be,political intervention,that is my worry in Scotland.
Hail Hail
KTF

My, IMO , Team for Sunday,

Zaluska(Boruc needs a "rest")

Caddis(default),Thomson,O'Dea(glenda is pish!),Heid V2

Brown,N'Guemo,Ki,

Fortune,Keane,Kamara

We need three in the middle, everyone and there wee granny knows that!

Hail! Hail!

Won't matter what players we put out on Sunday if the motivation and attitude are still wrong.

We should have a shape by now but don't.Go ti Ibrox with the midfield we had on Tuesday and we'll get hammered.

The next few games will show us if TM has it on the pitch or he's a theory man.

How is Murray able to buy Cockburns of Leith, or indeed anything else, if he's £750M in debt?

Canamalar

Ref your post 1122 4/2 McCourt is never broke(BT Thumbs Up)

brown for captain?

i think i speak for the majority when i say...

FFS!!!

here's something i wrote yesterday -

"i didn't think BTM would fall into the same trap as WGS with his favourites but maybe he will with brown.
he didn't drop him earlier this season when it was glaringly obvious he was a liablility and then i think he told him to get the captains arm band off loovens.
i have a bad feeling BTM has chosen his captain and it's brown."

sadly i was right.

the least skilled midfielder we have. probably the worst 'footballing' captain we've had.

i am DEEPLY disappointed about this. i have been trying to keep the faith with BTM and shall continue to but this really is a questionable decision. what is he thinking?!

Hola
Everybody posting their teams for sunday who did not have Brown in it,myself included,better have a rethink
for what it's worth
Boruc
Caddis,Thompson,O'dea,Braffheid
Brown[well he is our captian]N'guemo,Crossas
Keane
Rassmusen,Kammara/Fortune
Keane needs to play in behind the front two,imho.
Hail Hail
KTF

I think most of us are agreed, the only way for this hoops team is 4-3-3!

We've got the Ki
We've got the secret
We've got the Ki
To win the league
Ah ah ah ah ah ah
A ha a ha

Ah ah ah ah ah
We've got the Ki
Yeah
yeah
a ha
Yeah
yeah
a ha
Yeah yeah
Yeah
yeah
We've got the Ki

We've got the Ki
We've got the secret
We've got the Ki
To another way
We've got the Ki
We've got the Ki
Ah ah ah ah ah ah
Ah ha
Ah ah ah ah
We've got the Ki
Yeah
yeah a ha
Yeah
yeah a ha
Yeah
yeah a ha
Yeah
yeah
We've got the Ki
Oooooooh
Yeah
yeah a ha
Yeah
yeah a ha
Yeah
yeah a ha
Yeah
yeah
We've got the Ki
Oooooooh
We've got the Ki
We've got the secret
We've got the Ki
To win the league

Brown for captain. Brilliant.

About time we had someone with a bit of fight in them who will stand up for his team and team mates.

Gaun yersel neighbor.

WGS

Unless you know something we do not, that is very badddddddddddddddd!!!!!

Mesaage To All Celtic Fans:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z_8JLkwzpd0

still believe a fit scott brown will be a sensation for us. all we hear is we need drive and fight from the midfield, brown on form is the only man in the squad for that. when fit and without off-field issues he's always looked the part

KK
I would like to have your belief regards TM forgetting more about football than most of us know but there are some instances this term that makes me doubt you .
I like TM ,I like is ideals on football and I hope in the fullness of time he gets the chance to implement them , at the moment though he just has to get results .IMO he should put more emphasis on his defence and less on the attack .I believe if he gets things organized from back to mid the chances will be created for the attack and we now have forwards who could convert them .
killie dominated large parts of the game the other night ,not because they are a good side but because our set up allowed the to .
Fill our midfield let that be the centre of our attack and at the same time be a solid bank for the defence .
Midfield players sitting /supporting when the time is right in the game
hail hail

Rangers Financial Crisis

Here are a few stories I have heard from people who know other people with really big mouths:

David Murray lost Rangers Football Club in a game of Monopoly with some friends. The truth is that during the game he purchased Old Kent Road and then persuaded the banker that its actual value was around £100,000,000 and not the price he had paid for it. David was also extremely unhappy that after naming his monopoly piece, the dog, after his favourite player Prodan it promptly fell over suffering four cruciate ligament injuries and the game was lost. Having put up Ibrox as the collateral for his Old Kent Road deal he lost everything.

The owners of Lloyds, namely John & David the tennis playing brothers and Christopher the actor are very unhappy with the situation as it is embarrasing for them to have such losses. Even Christopher who single handedly hoped to bail out De Lorean by using the car in his movies can think of no way to save the club without embarassing themselves.

David Murray through an unfortunate accident with a bunsen burner is actually a superhero Flaming Torch kind of guy. However due to the intense heat from him destroying th ozone layer the worlds superpowers have made up this clever plan to destroy his business assets.

David Murray actually think he is Sir Douglas Bader and club officials had to send him away in August when Rangers drew Stuttgart in the CL.

All of the above are about as likely as some of the tales told this afternoon.

My team for Sunday

--------------Zaluska------------

Caddis--Thompson--O,Dea--Braafheid----

Fortune--Brown--Nquemo--Kamara----

------------Keane--------------

---------Rasmussen-------

Once we are four nil up bring on McCourt Mcginn & Crosas:-)

Hail Hail

Some reasons for my selection
Zaluska: Arthur needs a reminder to get his finger out and his belly trimmed.
ODea:Looven should only play for us again when we are four nil up with five minutes to go.
Braafeid:Naylor has lost it and is a liability.
Brown and Nguemo:We need some dig in midfield and also Brown will get into the penalty box when he can.
Fortune: Our best player on Tuesday
Kamara: though his workrate was top class and he looks like hes could score.
Big Ra: We have been calling out for a penalty box stricker why the f--- did he not start on Tueasday?
Robbie Keane:Because hes Robbie Keane.
McGeady: needs a rest

WGS

lol

The infamous Delia:)

By THE EXILED TIM on February 5, 2010 7:07 PM

Cheers. I do not share your view. The big clubs voted for the new system along with UEFA so why would they then go against what they voted for?

There are only so many top footballing stars to go round and you would end up with fewer and fewer clubs being able to keep up with the wage demands.

In a breakaway league the team with the biggest backer would eventually win everything regularly but with no other stage on which to perform. No CL to enter.

Say it was Man City? They win a breakaway league regularly, so what? That would be expected and the lack of uncertainty and competition would kill such a league.

Football is a closed system that depends on a degree of competitive balance to sustain it. Take it out of its closed system and it is a different game, more a Harlem Globetrotters exhibitionist event that a football match. Match being the important term.

What makes football what it is is the uncertainty, no game is a foregone conclusion. Leeds can on their day beat Man Utd, Killie can beat Celtic for the first time in ages.
Take that uncertainty out and it is not the same game.

How is everyone tonight. Reading through the blog yesterday someone made an excellent point, players from now on in should be selected on form and impact they have made in a game. It's obviously too early for the new recruits to be judged, but so far McCourt, Rasmussen and Fortune should play if fit. Hope I'm wrong but I don't think Ki deserves a start based on his form so far. We need one tackler in the middle of the field and for me Ki or ZZ for that matter isn't the answer. Hopefully that will change. Apologies if this dosen't sit well with the rest of yous ghirls and bhoys of CQN.

Timjim
That's a 4-2-4 selection, is it no?

By No More Old Firm (a.k.a. Malone19) on February 5, 2010 7:09 PM

totti has been a lone striker at roma for a while, since they signed got toni that will change but he's been doing it for years.

WGS

Here we are! Is it safe?

By Kojo on February 5, 2010 6:59 PM

Having seen both Tully and McCourt play there is a kernel of truth in that, although I think McCourt is fitter.

God is there anyone Mowbrays not given the armband to?? is it so cheap now to captain Celtic? I can't see Mowbray winning anything unless Rankers and Hibs collapse!! he certainly wont win on his team selections or tactical knowledge so take it on the chin for this season then hopefully the inept board will appoint a new manager for the 2011 season. I think he's frightened to drop fat Borac or Greedy Mc Geady the oldest apprentice in the game, no wonder the huns are having a laff at our expence.

merc
expense - spell right, if you're going to come on here spouting that rubbish patter.

Donegal Residant

No need to be obtuse!:)

Hola
Auldheid
I bow to your superior knowledge.I didn't even look at it from that angle,are UEFA attempting to bring in a system similar to the Americans,where as near as damit,most of the teams are equal[in the professional sporting arena]
HAIL HAIL
KTF

Donegal Resident
Its four at the back, four in the middle, one behind the penalty box stricker and one in the penalty box.The way I,ve got it set out

timjim
Got it.

re paddy
I like the bhoy and when we struggled against hamilton I thought why the hell was he not on the park as one of the strikers .With them playing 3 at the back and MAF and Sammi running wide to pick up the forward ball to run at their defence paddy would have had a hat-trick in the first half .
Paddy came on against the saints ,had 4 attempts at goal ,one went in and the keeper had to save the other three .
Paddy and robbie K will make a deadly combination the secret is how does TM fit them in together .IMO Aiden needs to cool his heels for a couple of weeks .
All the ability in the world but no FOOTBALL brain .
hail hail

Disappointed I can't attend on Sunday, one of the few I've missed all season. I've been a massive critic of Tony and don't think he is the man for the job BUT....a victory and good performance will at least get some confidence back.

Whether Tony has the motivational skills or tactical nouse to take it from there we can only pray and hope............

By Donegal resident on February 5, 2010 7:42 PM

Since i havent had a drink since the derby on the 3rd I'm gagging for a pint but otherwise very well thanks. May I say how nice it is to be asked, manners are easily forgotten when we're too busy being smart and shouting our opinions. My last post being a case in point.

How are you?

mr x
alas we are now describing a win against dunfermline as a reason to get our confidence back .
We need a standard and regular shape with the option to tweak it as per opposition .How the hell do other teams exploit our weaknesses yet we struggle to exploit theirs
hail hail

I'm surprised at some of the criticism on here aimed at NGuemo and Ki after Tuesday's result.

What chance have they got when up against 4, sometimes 5, players from the opposition.

The blame lies squarely with the manager's bonkers system of having two players standing out on the touchline.

Time and time again this system has failed us. Somebody once said (Einstein?)that the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.

Tony, time to prove you've not lost the plot.

Doubleseven

HIH is a limited liability company.
SDM and family have private wealth over and above this.

MIH goes down and SDM has to pay up whatever he is liable for.
Could be nothing or he may have had to give some level of personal guarantee to the so that they would continue to support MIH.

What level of private wealth SDM has is open to conjecture.
The one thing is that he has 30yrs of MIM / MIH dividends at his back.
MIH is his public persona but he / family will have other assets.

The wine business is the most visible of these.
Another would be the stationary business his sister is reported to run.
However he is worth nothing like the figures spun by the ST as recently as 2yrs ago.

When all the dust settles I fear he will be seen as just another middle ranking Edinburgh property developer / chancer, much like the late WM of Hertz fame but with better publicity. Always on the make, always in the papers, always looking to leverage with borrowed money.

Too think the "88" double probably set him up for life.
Would he have got the TFOD so cheap if they hadwon the league or cup that year?ear?

Celtic40me
I'm good thanks, dunno why but feeling a little more optimistic. Season starts Sunday.

My dear,dear,dear,dear,friend.. Donegal Resident.

Wearing My Homburg.

This is Serious.

Pal.. You are correct.. when you say that Mr. Fortune, was one of te few successes which we had,in the Game Against Kille.

Sure,he was a success, but, all depends oan how ye interpret that particular woid.

He was successful, in that, He held the Ball rather well.. He is undoubtedly a tough man to dispossess.

He was successful, in that, his Passes to a colleague, were seldom, mis-directed.

All that being said..

He is not a Man in the Box Type of Player.

and he is not what could be described as a Potentially Prolific Scorer.

What Celtic Need is an Old Fashioned Poacher.

Not another hit or miss type of poacher.

We need a Predatory Poacher, a Lethal Poacher
a..."Gie me wan chance and Ah'll sink it", Type of
Poacher.

And also,oan the subject of Mr. Fortune's Drawbacks..

Although he is A Fast Runner...his other handicaps, SLOW down Our Attack...like his propensity to do a heckava loat of his woik, footering about the corner Flags.

Consequently , from the previous mentioned
handicaps..

Mr. Fortune.. again, in my opinion.. Shall never be the Ideal Partner for Mr.Keane.

And.. Mr. Keans is our ..Hole Card, every single
time he pulls oan a jersey.

Mr. Keane.. is a MATCH WINNER.

Howevah....

He needs the proper Type Of Supplier, and one who can
.. well.. supply,steady...well.. supply, of ammunition, for Mr.Keane's Gun.

I do not believe ,as I have already said..
That Mr.Fortune and Mr. Keans should ever be in Tandem..

Mr. Keane, besides being a Scorer , can also double,rather easily... as a Supplier, as well.

Unfortunately... he cannot supply .. Himsel..by Himsel...

Mr.Keane could do a very tidy joab as a supplier our , as yet unnamed... Six Yard Box Poacher..

Who should be...to wit...

One, Mr. Rasmussen.

Mr. Rasmussen, according to the fleeting glimpse, that I had of him.. strikes me as an Old Fashioned, No Frills, Poacher.

My kinda GUY!

He may, in fact, be a bit of a skilfull , Supplier of Scoring Opportunities, as well..that remains to be seen.. and if he is..

Then.. that extra Tool in his Tool Box, only shall
convince me even Further

That He and Mr. Keane, could be a Marriage made at Heaven,for us.

Rasmussen and Keane, Must be our Fundamental Striking Partnership.

Where shall Mr. Fortune fit in?

Frankly, I don't give a Darn, Scarlett!

I have no idea, but, at this time

It Must be ... these Two Names..

First oan the Team-sheet...

Rasmussen and Keane..and then.. fill in the rest of the Team Berths, accordingly.

Kojo.
yer pal..who likes ye aloater

Will the Daily Ranger still stand by their "SCOTT BROWN HAS NO FUTURE" story? Anyone wanna bet Traynor dodges the point on the radio?

Sorry, just catching up today - but Scott Brown, captain. Seriously?

Tony, you're either an absolute genius and this will be the catalyst that drives us to an unprecedented comeback league win and Cup double this year. Or you're hopelessly out of your depth and closing your eyes, rolling the dice, and praying for double 6.

I hope and pray that it's the former, however I very much fear that it's the latter.

Still no towels being thrown down in sunny Harrow though, bring them on. Faithful through and through.

Mon the Hoops!

Hail Hail
HB

Kojo
Agree 100% although tired after reading all that.

NAFOS,

Meant to ask pal, as I stand back and wait for the fireworks to explode, what are your thoughts on Broonies credentials to be a Celtic captain?

5, 4, 3, 2, 1...clear!!

:-)

Hail hail
HB

Kojo, spot on with Rasmussen and Keane up front. This nonsense of strikers that only run channels has to stop now.

Scott Brown as captain :

I haven't had time to scroll back, but what are people's thoughts on the midfield now that Skoosh has been appointed captain?

I assume he will be a regular fixture, so who is going to be sacrificed?

What will the shape be?

Will there be a shape?

Or is he going to play left back?

ggh

................zaluska............

.caddis...thompson..o,dea..braafheid..

.fortune.......brown.......nquemo..

..............mccourt.............

.......keane...........rasmassen

subs, feck knows better ask tony...

neverchangeawinningteam

HAIL HAIL
BFT

Evening fellow tims

Anyone know if there is a hotel in Paisley near St mirrens ground?? (Within walking distance)

Am thinking about going to the St Mirren v Celtic game on March 24th flights from Dublin are unbelieveably cheap!

Thanks in advance for any help anyone may be able to provide

Hail Hail

Roccobhoy

rocco

what about the airport if you are flying into glasgow,
think there is a travel lodge

garygillespie
Has to be Ki. Brown Crosas N'Guemo and Paddy when fit for me as the midfielders. Aiden/ Niall or Shaun if Paddy can't be pulled out of the bookies.

BTM's idea in promoting Brownie to captain is to control him on field. Responsibility etc forces the man to behave.

Should we defeat the paupers twice then its 4 points against 13 games. You don't lose leagues in February, watch out for next Wednesday. See off the wee huns and see if Der Hun can go to a ground where Smith has not won since he's been back. Down to 8 points and hold on until 28th then 5 then ...........

Auldheid,

If Charlie Tully was playing for Celtic today, he would get slaughtered by half of the Celtic support.

Supreme, charismatic entertainer, lousy team mate.

Donegal resident :

I would agree with Crosas and N'Guemo in the centre. I would just hope that Brown would do the covering back because I can't see Paddy having the work rate.
Would still like to see Aiden become a bit more team focussed and pass the ball without first having beaten three men. If he could add the early pass to his game he would be in my team every week.

ggh

my team for sunday would be
AB
CADDIS ------THOMPSON ---------D OD ---------AB

SKOOSH--------LANDRY----CROSSAS

RASSMUSEN
Caddis and Braffheid overlapping with KI sitting deep as cover who can also put a sixty yard pass onto a sixpence .Good atacking system with a solid line of defence and a bench with attacking options if required
hail hail

Pub calling!

Fergus : WE should be able to beat them with ten men right enough :)

fergus slayed the blues, that team you've picked only has 9 men. I admire your confidence but we're struggling to beat anybody with 11 at the minute ;0)

Blantyretim

As I dont know the area and its late at night when game is finished along with the fact that I dont know how long it would take to get a taxi I'd prefer to get somewhere within walking distance of ground if possible. Alternatively I will book into travel lodge at the airport!

P.S. Did I see that u and mini BT will attend the bigot dome at the end of the month? I'm going myself mate!

Hail Hail

Roccobhoy

Hola
Even nine men
Hail Hail
KTF

My dear,dear,dear,dear,dear,friend.. Donegal Resident.

Thanks,pal. for your concurrence.

That is all I ask.

If in achieving that sought after object,my circumlocutions and truncated English, happen to
suceed in exhausting the reader..

Well..

That pleases, my good self...no end.

Fur..

Hiv ye evah tried tae mak head or tail of anything that Willie Shakespeare, wrote?

And ...Did ye notice that after endeavouring to understaun.. even one woid of whit he is saying..
ye felt that ye brain wiz ready fur a lie doon.

Sure, ye hiv...

So when someone tells me.. that my writings are
almost imcomprehensible..as weel

Surely, if after awe these years.. Willie Shakespeare, is still getting away with
awe that Boring Guff..and People are thrilled
tae still eager tae gie it a try...

then, Ah figure that Ah should be able tae get away with the same meanderings as his, as weel.

Q.E.D.

That makes my writings, to be right up.alongside, the best.

Kojo.
yer pal..who likes ye aloat.

p1967.

Funny :-)

Lubo.

Evenin All

"Its hard with them but it would be harder without them" my father once told me.
We were discussing children but could easily have been talking about the team we both love.

At the start of the season I was strongly of the opinion that the manager should be given the entire season and then be judged.
I am still strongly of that opinion.

To take a dysfunctional team and in the course of 6 months, work out who to play, how to get them to play, who to sell, how to improve the players individually and as a unit, which positions need support, who gets new contracts, all while not only winning but winning well is quite an ask my friends.
While we might have the highest wage bill in the league the playing stock at the start of this season was very poor to average.
Every department except goalkeeping needed major, major surgery.
To win the league playing well with "only" these issues would have been a feat.
But throw into the mix other factors which have, for one reason or another, confronted the manager,,

A sustained campaign of being on the wrong side of some inexplicable decisions by officials

A media lead drive determined to help out the establishment club by printing everything about you, your player's, and your club in a negative light 100% of the time

Your star signing gets injured almost right away.

Most of the "old guard' of undroppable players dont like now suddenly being under intense scrutiny or your training methods so the dressing room splits

The fans relationship with the board is openly hostile leading to a lack of feel good atmosphere at home games so the crowd are quicker to turn on players.

Your closest rival’s while financially stricken are lead by a seasoned campaigner who has gelled them into a hard to beat unit.

And then on top of that pure simple luck has deserted the club entirely .I don’t think the club has had one single ounce of luck under the gaffer, not one iota.
And in football luck is quite a help.

After the second game against the beggars, I realised, and posted, that Tony wouldn’t win the league this year but I didn’t hold him responsible.

When Shaun Maloney got scythed down in the box clear as day we were the better team, had them under the cosh, were going to score that penalty, push on while they were down and I’m telling you I think we would have walked away with 3 points.

When thug Laffable tried to dismantle Hinkels ankle and then without even a word walks away and wink's, my mind went back to a sideways Alan Thompson tackle that might have warranted a booking receiving a straight red for being "malicious".
If that tackle wasn’t malicious what is?
And to top it off he's involved in the equalizer.
A demoralized ,contained and re-arranged team would have fell to wave after wave of attack and lacking their tall target man outball I doubt they would have coped.

To me these are the two instances that look like costing us the title, but in particular the Maloney non pen. To have walked out of Mordor with 3 points would have been a hammer blow, lifting our fans and team spirit. Remember we were on a run then and looking very much in the title hunt.
Goals change games my friends.
Had that penalty been awarded that afternoon(instead of the next day)we would in all possibility be on our rightful place at the summit looking down at the challengers.

Our good host has posted that we are right back where we where with John Barnes.
Luck deserted Barnes also but to me that is were the comparisons end. The team he walked into was far superior than our currents managers initial crop of player.
He hadn’t half the problems the big man is facing. Everything that could go wrong for Tony’s team has.
But what does Tony do in the face of such adversary?
WGS obviously surrounds himself with familiar faces and keeps to what he knows, thus the failure of his 4th year.
Our manager goes on a ruthless purge and ditches a useless defense and reinforces every area.
No fan who seen the remnants of a side that he inherited could blame him. I, like many, have applauded his boldness and the shrewdness in using available resources.
When life throws all it has at you, which it certainly seems to be at big Tony, different characters deal with it in different ways. Some turn to drink, some to God, some crumble. A smart man will knuckle down and work hard, perfect the basic’s and keep belief in yourself and your system, knowing that the odds say that soon a corner will be turned and the breaks will go your way.
I certainly don’t share the opinion that he should get animated because he’s under severe pressure,, football management is a severe pressure job. In fact it could be argued that to start ranting, jumping up and down on the sidelines would be a strong sign that the pressure has gotten to him, and if he’s telling the players to believe in themselves and then showing signs of buckling himself,, well what message of belief and strength of resolve would that be from your leader.
No,, actions speak louder than words, and Tony’s actions in this transfer window have roared.

While it might be a fact that we are now in the same place we were with John Barnes, “facts are stubborn things” as John Adams said.
I wont quote you any facts, but I will tell you all some things I know,,

We have the best squad in the league
We can only get stronger
Bad luck doesn’t last forever
Overcoming adversary is character building
Players usually take time to settle and perform to their peak
To say the manager is solely to blame for our current league position would very inaccurate

The way the team performs for the next 10 weeks will tell us all we will need to know about the manager.
I’ve a feeling some people will be surprised.

Hail Hail

Kojo
Even more tired now, like a French translation, translating every word!

rocco,
wouldn't take mini to ipox, the travel lodge is prob about a 10minute walk from St mirren park, one of the paisley bhoys will know better..

did you go up to Drog for the game?

Prestonpans Bhoy,

Totally agree with your sentiment. Don't doubt for a minute that the Huns will drop more than a few points before May, partly because of their lack of resources/back up, but also partly due to the fact that I don't think they're really much good at all.

Which should leave the door open to a better funded, more talented, well managed and motivated Celtic team charging past them towards the finishing line.

As much as I would love that to happen, though, I simply cannot see us going on the type of sustained, confidence inspiring, winning run that it's undoubtedly gonna take to win our title back.

Will the happiest man on Earth if I'm proved wrong, but...

Hail Hail
HB

Blog Police,

A bit of realism, well said.

Donegal resident ,

You are not alone with kojo's format, he's a good chap but unfortunately his info is sometime lost especially after a few G&T's. But more often than not there is some substance in what he says...... more G&T's for me!!!!

Agree Kojo,fitbaws no complicated start wae two penalty box strikers Ra n Robbie.

Samaras/Fortune/Kamara have attributes but when yae have balls gone in tae the box its got to be sniffers on the team sheet every time fur me.

Blantyretim

No mate I did not! Brown best player on park by all accounts.

I'll drop u a text before Wed mate to see if ur around on wed in the afternoon early eve for a beer or alternatively meet u an hr or so b4 game for a beer at the ground if ur available?

Hail Hail

Roccobhoy

Blog Police

I can't argue with you that we've had some appalling luck.
I can't argue that we've been on the receiving end of some shocking decisions.
I also can't argue that Tony has had to get rid of deadwood and has done some innovative wheeling and dealing.

BUT..........

His tactics in games are flawed.
His substitutions are incomprehensible.
It would appear from his body language and powers of speech that his motivational skills are limited.
His lack of outrage at some very poor officiating is unacceptable.
His team selections at times defy logic.

It is these things that make many of the support doubt that we have the man for the job. Make no mistake, I want him to succeed but I'll tell you this - if he loses on Sunday there should be no stay of execution until the end of the season.

Rocco...

I will text you Wednesday..def...

Alternatives to T in the local...

�3.50 Peroni
�3.00 Budwater

Celtic this sponsorship deal is costing good supporters a fortune.

ThE T brand lurks over the dregs of many pubs. im sticking to Peronni until home time, theres no time for T.

Celtic