Very pleased to hear Nir Bitton has signed a contract until 2020. Five years is an astonishing extension for a player who is clearly heading in the right direction. It gives Celtic assurance that they don’t need to worry about a key player’s contract running down for the foreseeable future.
Nir was the first manifestation of Ronny Deila’s player-improvement work. At the start of last year he was little more than a squad addition, a bit like Leigh Griffiths, but he’s since excelled in domestic and European football, as well as for Israel in the Euro qualifiers.
Let’s see if he can continue to improve.
I note the media going ‘a bit Tonto’ over Sports Direct’s insistence that the Rangers Former Players Benevolent Fund stop using trademarks they own. I know this will make many people swallow hard, but’s be clear, if the Celtic Former Players Association were selling merchandise bearing the Celtic crest the club would be saying “Cease and Desist that right now, Joe”. Same is true if you are a fan selling T-shirts or street vendor selling scarves.
Without making moral judgements, football clubs earn money from licensing their logos, you want to use it, you pay. You don’t pay, the club cannot discriminate between who they pursue and who they don’t, as such discriminatory behaviour would be a legitimate defence in law by a transgressor.
Sports Direct own thousands of logos and brands. They will have a department sweeping for infringements and they don’t strike me as the kind of company who let any slip through without action. I’d be amazed if Mike Ashley, or any senior SD staff, were even aware of the action. Cease instructions will come out from the legal team without a second thought.
What remains galling to some is the fact that Newco have to take instructions from Sports Direct on use of logos and other IP. This, on top of the whole Fifa 2016 indignity, could be ended by repaying the Sports Direct £5m loan.
Why wouldn’t they stop the embarrassment and just pay Mike his money? He’s not going to cut a new deal, no positive accommodation is ever going to happen, all that lies ahead is more embarrassment, and the risk of Ashley taking genuinely draconic action to recover his loan. I’m sure they money’s there to repay, right?
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COWIEBHOY on 3RD NOVEMBER 2015 10:09 PM
Christie is more of a Commons/Stokes replacement rather than a winger like Forrest. I would like to see Forrest get a new deal as he gives us width and pace up front and now seems to be managing his injury problems better than before making him fit and available more often. The signing of GMS may have been the kick up the backside he needed.
lennyhboy
Had a bit of a blip for a time there
But things back on track
If Celtic dont beat Molde its sorry Ronny from me. To get trounced by a mid table team from Norway is unacceptable imo. And i was in Tenerife.
Cowiebhoy on 3rd November 2015 10:09 pm
I asked last night, and no one responded
Ronny expects James Forrest to be contributing more goals to the teams ( I would be just as happy if he was creating more)
But
Should we offering James a new contract ?
Could young Christie be his replacement ?
Only asking, and Celtic talk :-)
—————
If JF wants to take a pay cut then I’d sign him up, if as I’d imagine he would be looking for a pay rise then I’d have to say no.
Gary67
I do recognise that, but, KC is often being played wide right, and SA wide left, granted when James not in team.
Not sure he is worth a new contract ? His end product, be that creating or actually putting ball in net, must improve.
Very good goal on Saturday, he has it in his locker, need to be seeing it more often though ?
Will be 25 next season, no longer a young prospect :-)
We also have a few very good prospects coming through ? Paul McMullan being one ?
Hail Hail
“And i was in Tenerife”
Jude,
I’ve been a fan of Ronny but if he gets beaten when you are on holiday then he’s for it I’m afraid.
Cowiebhoy,
Imo, Armstrong and kc don’t play wide anywhere.
The positions other than the centre of the ‘3’ shouldn’t be looked at as wide men. Common misconception.
Kc has played huge chunks of last 3 or 4 games in the centre where he’s been kinda ineffective Imo.
HH
Tomorrow’s HMRC related court adjudication will not be cut and dried. Rather, guilt will be confirmed on a number of counts with no overturning of earlier decisions on others.
This can has some road yet to be kicked down.
The SMSM may report this differently. Expect to read words like “victory, absolved, exonerated, innocent, tax payers” et cetera.
The world will keep on turning.
Ps, I’ve seen this movie and they do die eventually. Sleep well
Cowiebhoy
KC will most likely be gone in the summer and Armstrong will eventually move to his best position in the middle, most probably once Johansen leaves (again probably in the summer). With the likes of GMS and Christie fighting with Forrest for the wide attacking positions and a manager that manages his injuries a lot better than before then hopefully we will start to see a more consistent player, one who can play to the potential we’ve waited 5 years to see on a regular basis. I’d give him two years with an option of another two depending on appearances.
Forrest is worth a 3 year extension on sensible terms imo. Preferably with performance incentives built into the contract so that we don’t lose if he gets injured.
GM
So James Forrest also plays on the outside of that 3 then :-)
Is he worth a new contract, as he has 12 months left on current ( OK being pedantic 14 months)
Hail Hail
Just out from a gig (Everything Everything), really good.
Highlights of Man U in telly in the pub
Rooney would not score in The SPL if he played for anyone but Celtic.
The man is nearly done
Shame. Looked amazing as a youngster. Maybe he is first of that generation who played too many high level matches and burned out.
Cowiebhoy,
Ha:)
I meant in a touchline hugging winger sense.
Hmmmmm. I’m in two minds. Depends on who his replacement is.
Can I answer again once I see Christie,Allan or An Other play? ;)
HH
The Timreaper
You have no idea how hard we are trying to resolve this. Both Paul and myself are literally pulling our hair out.
Yesterday we got rid of these rogue ads only for others to replace them. It will be sorted asap.
We are fixing the log direction so it doesn’t take you to dashboard.
The site is WordPress as before. The new server is going to be increased and improved shortly. This is funded by the legitimate ads. It isn’t possible for Paul to continue to fund this personally as he has done for over a decade.
The site is attracting much bigger audiences than before but we are losing posts and denying access to the blog via the damn ads. They do NOT even produce any revenue. When the rogue ads are removed the audience will be even higher and that is our objective.
Celtic are loving our CRISIS CLUB stories by the way. We got some very high praise for them today.
Cowiebhoy- i would give Forrest a 1 year extension,given his sick record in the last 3 years,it would be stupid to offer him longer imo
winning captains on 3rd November 2015 10:40 pm
No problem, thanks for the update.
Coneybhoy,
I remember hearing some time back that Rooney struggled to walk the following morning after a game.
He was some player in the ‘distant past’ ;)
HH
UNCLE JIMMY
You’re probably correct on the outcome and the terminology to be used by the SMSM,but this DR article is surprisingly honest about it all.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Rangers tax case: Appeal court ruling over EBTs set to be announced in Gers’ long running battle with HMRC
21:25, 3 NOV 2015 UPDATED 21:30, 3 NOV 2015
BY JOHN FERGUSON
THE outcome of an HMRC appeal against earlier court decisions on payments made by former Rangers owner Sir David Murray will be announced on Wednesday.
AN APPEAL court ruling on the Rangers tax case is set to be announced on Wednesday.
The Judiciary of Scotland has said the judgement will be available to read by lunchtime.
The case comes after HMRC launched a second appeal against earlier court decisions on payments made by former Rangers owner Sir David Murray before the club was liquidated.
The decision on the notorious “big tax case” will have no impact on the current regime at Rangers.
The Murray group has always maintained the payments – made through the now outlawed Employee Benefit Trusts from 2001 to 2010 – were loans and not taxable income.
In July 2014, a judge dismissed HRMC’s first appeal against a first-tier tribunal (FTT) majority verdict which had decreed that a £46.2m tax demand on Murray’s company, most of which referred to oldco Rangers, be “reduced substantially”.
Murray sold Rangers to Craig Whyte in May 2011, and the club was liquidated 13 months later over separate debts.
The club was relaunched as a new company now controlled by Dave King.
Cowiebhoy
I’m a fan of Forrest, granted he doesn’t always produce but for me with his pace and natural ability I honestly think he’s among our best 3/4 players and has it in his locker to produce against the big teams in Europe if we were paired against them.
Players of his ilk rarely produce week in/week out, they are a luxury but when they perform they can turn important games in our favour. We don’t have many players that can do that.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h8dTXieIR-0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R07rYs-Cmhc
If James Forrest had been playing in the 80s, we wouldn’t question signing him up. How injured was Provan but we adored him.
PS Provan’s free kick in 85 is still the most important I ever saw.
Nakamura vs Man U was the best I ever saw but I expected it almost. Never thought Davie had it in him!
Wednesday’s Daily Record front page #scotpapers https://t.co/z19ceAU1dB
G M
Its more painful when ur on holiday imo
Cowie bhoy
I’m not convinced jf is due a contract – doesn’t work hard enough or produce often enough
He has 3 European matches ton prove himself .. and I hope he proves me wrong
Forrest Must Stay..Find a Way To Keep Him Fit..We Dont Have Another Player That Kind of Pace….And We Cant Afford To Buy One.
No Brainer For Me..
Bada,
Aye. He’s never played 4 games in a row ye know ;)
Wc,
Ads haven’t been much of a problem to me but any wee annoying pop ups have been easily discarded of late.
HH
WC-subscription to the blog would be best all round mate,no? HH
Cowiebhoy.
I hope J.Forrest gets a new contract.
His injuries have been better managed by Ronny than his predecessor.
Most teams double up defender’s when he’s playing. Natural pace . Few in the squad have it.
Infuriating at times , yes.
What winger isn’t.
A must keep who wants to stay.
I don’t think he’s looking for a big wage hike which given his injury record is understandable. HH.
GM- the stat must be from a point in time possibly,certainly true of last few years.HH
Jude,
NOTHING is more painful on holiday.
Well mibby the sunburn :)
HH
Gary67
Christie, Henderson and Allen, all contenders for starting positions next season ?
So may be some mirage in your thoughts.
Bada, not a bad option, 1 year extension with another as an option ?
I am in-decided, was just trying to start some Celtic debate, as only Celtic concern me :-)
Hail Hail
Bada,
I’d say it’s pretty bang on for last 2 or 3 seasons at least
HH
Bada Bing
Amazing that the hun story beats some others on the front page as important news.
Desperate times for that paper and the jobs therein unfortunately
B B
Oh dear!! Did you hear Graham on SSB tonight???? I can just see him hinging over the pan just now!!
BMCUWP…
Murray sold Rangers to Craig Whyte in May 2011, and the club was liquidated 13 months later over separate debts.
__________________
I see what you mean but maybe it should read…Murray sold Rangers to Craig Whyte for a quid!
The thing about guys like Forrest is they can influence games just by being on the pitch. For example on Saturday, i think it was a deliberate tactic to play Forrest instead of Armstrong. The reason being it would stop Logan from going forward as he has to worry about the pace in behind and also force McGinn or one of the sitting midfielders to double back and help out. As it turns out Logan didn’t cross the half way line and McGinn was pretty ineffective.
Or maybe I’m just giving Ronny too much credit.
WINNING CAPTAINS on 3RD NOVEMBER 2015 10:40 PM
The Timreaper
You have no idea how hard we are trying to resolve this. Both Paul and myself are literally pulling our hair out.
===========================================================================
Hope you realise how much we appreciate your efforts.
Banda Bing
Thanks for sharing update
Comments on Johansen are interesting, as I felt he looked like a player who was looking for a move at the beginning of the season.
IMHO he s a good player, but not as good as he thinks he is, and playing with us and in EL is about his level
Cowie Bhoy
James Forrest , when fit , in my view is the best player in Scotland.
The problem is, he is rarely fit.
If we flogged him, I doubt we would get much for him, maybe £1.5 m from a Championship club, and unless we are prepared to fork out £4/5 m , I am not convinced we will end up with anything better, and I point to Boerrighter, Wakaso etc as examples.
In the fullness of time, GMS and Christie may become better players, but right now I suggest that when you balance James’ wages vs other options, keeping him around for another 2 years is our best option.
Thanks for the responses Bhoys
Interesting :-) for an undecided.
Don’t think pace alone should influence ? Although very valid point by timreaper
Nytol and Hail Hail, only 2 more sleeps until we see the Celtic