Football leagues are all cartels, but the MLS in the US is a particularly malign version in that it is a closed system, without relegation and promotion. This lack of market competition is normal sports behaviour in the Land of the Free, but leads to a huge number of stale games from early in the season, as clubs outwith the title battle have little to play for.
Don’t be distracted by Messi’s December years in Miami. The former World’s Greatest is filling his coffers in a low tax environment (he’s famously tax averse), paid for by Amazon Prime customers across North America.
Where else would Celtic profitably sell-on Patryk Klimala, Lewis Morgan and Giorgos Giakoumakis? Patryk only managed an unproductive year before heading back to Europe. Lewis Morgan has enjoyed a successful four years, first in Miami, now New York. The one-time Celtic winger has found his level in the US.
Giorgos left us only 11 months ago. In 30 MLS appearances since (including from the bench), he scored 19 times. He is our stand-out successful export to North America and at 29, has surely also found his level.
Liel Abada is 22 years old, still learning his trade but already a respected player who has given us a clutch of memorable moments and goals. I think he can continue developing into a striker, his timing and calmness in front of goal is reminiscent of some of our greats, even if his wing play is not.
If Liel goes to the MLS it will be with some regret. He has potential well above that league. We gave him a platform to learn on and grow, but the developmental job is not complete. There will be more money on the table, but, unlike Messi, it’s February for Liel, not December.
175 Comments- Pages:
- «
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- »
To cheer people up, here is a bit a bit of brilliance, and shit hot drumming, fantastic stuff.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QgbgUrp1a70
KINGLubO
An Tearman
Aye I’d imagine he developed an affinity for Celtic in the 90s with the Kelly’s and Whites. They felt they were Celtic men too. They weren’t known for paying for their own tickets.
Neil Lennon ruled out of Ireland job.
BHOYJOEBELFAST on 20TH FEBRUARY 2024 7:08 PM
Neil Lennon ruled out of Ireland job.
Please no….
Bada Bing @ 7.10
You ok?
i’ve looked at all our league games played.
26 games
13 dominated, including the 2 hun games
13 we did not dominate, includes losses, draws and wins
that is 3rd or 4th place form and we were fortunate we did not drop a lot more points
in an optimistic mode, we have got away with it to an extent but the comeback needs to be NOW
We also need some points to be dropped by an average hun team who have got away with it due to a direct style which keeps their back 4 out of trouble.
Probably have to beat them 4 times which is highly unusual unless they leak a few soon
A programme on TNT on Santi Cazorla, cracking player for Arsenal, could have went to 95% of teams in Spain when he left,went back to his home town Club in 2nd Division, Real Oviedo……really not many players who would have done the same
BHOYJOEBELFAST on 20TH FEBRUARY 2024 7:17 PM
Bada Bing @ 7.10
You ok?
Fine here mate,thanks for asking 👍
Abada stays until we get the right price.
It seems like I am living in a parallel universe to many entitled fantasists and privileged folks on here who seem to believe every ounce of Hun propaganda designed to destabilize the club I have followed all my 62 years.
My experience in Feb 2000 was a team which had won just 3 trophies in 12 years. A ratio of 0.25 per season. A club which had not appeared in Europe beyond Xmas in 21 years and only 2 tier scalps in that time.
In the 24 years since my Celtic has won 38 trophies. 1.6 per season
Chairbhoy says that’s a myth. I must wake up soon.
Why was it one of the first duties of Fergus McCann when he took control of Celtic in 1994 was to sack Peter Lawwell?
Why is Pl’s relationship with Celtic from that time late 80’s to early 90’s rarely spoken of….by those who like having a lot to say….about PL?
Was PL behind the gimmick that was touted to seek fans to donate £2 each per week to produce a kitty for buying new players for Celtic?
This player kitty thingy was to be along the lines of the same scheme deployed at that time, late 80’s to early 90’s by a bloke called Mick Ryan at Crystal Palace….I think?!?!
A scathing Gerry McNee column addressed this gimmick at the time….and the gimmick was never mentioned again…..hmmm?!
Now there is no Gerry McNee….now there is corruption everywhere you look….Rangers even got away with pretending not to die. Lol
How long would the Lawwell / Desmond [suck the swamp] routine have lasted with a scathing Gerry McNee column biting their arses off every week?
Would the PLC have retreated to the comfort zone of the centre pages of the Celtic View to fire their peashooters at Gerry McNee like Fergus McCann had to do when GM exposed all of FM’s deceptions against Celtic fans?
Fake Phil would’ve been long ago exposed…and maybe Timdom wouldn’t be sleeping their way trough all of this corruption since 2008?
Blessed be the bogus bad guys!
oot.
BURNLEY78 @ 7:45 PM,
That’s not what you said.
Twenty years is the mantra from you not 24…
It was very clear what I said, the Twenty Years is the myth.
Anno Pedro is a myth.
You being disingenuous does not change that one iota…
Hail Hail
AULDHEID 12.08 Last night
An Tearmann
I would urge every shareholder to update their shares and default their voting rights to the Celtic Trust,settinv up alternate groups only serves Dermots divide and rule strategy.
===
AH-As stated to G Fearman the CST are structurally divisive. They do not represent non shareholding supporters.
AT- That is not really so AH ,there are many issues the CT(which i am not a member)have liased with the club for non shareholding fans,
– those criminalised who needed defending in Amsterdam,
– those criminalised in Scotland by OBA act were helped
– resolutions forwarded for sensory rooms and better more accessible disabled facilitities
-There are i am sure many individual issues dealt with over the years,not necessarily to do with shareholders,but to do with fans in general
AH-If you check back on the Restructuring proposal you will see that the aim is to create ONE group that can claim to cover both.
AT i remember vaguely some of the restructuring proposals but i think the CT does what it says,as soon as you join you(your membership fees/subs etc) goes to ‘trust’ ie that of buying shares in the hope a material difference can be made/being active in buying shares,its what they do,all the additional help/advice is given on a voluntary basis
AH-It is indeed the fragmentation of the support organisations that serves the Board, so it would make no sense to create another, but the CST as constituted and run to their constitution are a source of division and their jam tomorrow approach is for the pie in their sky.
AT- its a trust,a supporters- normally voluntary
Trust- as mentioned above AH they buys shares and participate at agm for the empowerment minority interests at Celtic,such as disabled,blind commentary,sensory quiet space.Hence they too can enjoy and not be excluded from the Celtic experience
AH-Did you know they turned down the offer of £20k in pledges from Res12 shareholders to get legal support on false grounds, misrepresenting what it was for?
AT-i didnt know, tho with a simple and transparent constitution i dare say they have their reasons and i can explain why
°Let me be DD for a second AH
I have already advised you the moment it was long grassed it was gone imo
The CT maybe rightly rejected 20k in pledges
If i were DD° i would have you cap in hand for a while yet,your QC v DDs QC you dont have the pockets to compare AH,he would go thro such dissent as he has the pocket for it,20k in QC is buttons to DD
AH-After my very first CST meeting I was at unease at what I perceived as a meanness of spirit and time has has reinforced that view.
AT thats sad P you feel like that,R12 is gone to me for a long time(longrass) but as you point out there are facets and openers there to make activity in our club more democratic and transparent ,i have met Jeannette and Eddie and they are sound Celtic supporters who always have time for others.Hamtim ex of these pages is a Celtic man that is my own experience of who i know,i dont get this meanness of spirit you talk of,
But i did know bit bout capatilism and R12 was Dermots bag as soon as it was longgrassed.
And i stand by what i said,i would urge all to be active in trust.
Hope your well :-)
HH
Every bit of woodwork in the country ,must be empty there’s that many huns have come out since Saturday
Ffs here we go with the entitled bollox again
B78- yet again selective in posts to you ,which you ignore as it doesn’t suit your agenda, you are the one who is obsessed with Lawwell (x 2 now), the ‘ living rent free ‘ crap is another of your favourites
19TH FEBRUARY 2024 8:45 PM
B78- you keep pedalling the same nonsense like a Tory Minister, Lawwell was negotiating with CCV agent at CP,just before Christmas.
MOD
Can you please remove my comment at 5:26pm it was an error on my part we should be able to edit.
Going round in circles here,I wish you guys all the best HH
boondock saint @ 2.32
Great aul story about buying the telly and taking it to the bar, to watch the Celtic
Just one thing…..wiz the game in black’n white?
!!BADA BING!! @ 8:17 PM,
Exactly the point.
Peter Lawwell is Chairman of Celtic Football Club.
In no official statement has it said he does nothing for the Club
Like I discussed with Auldheid earlier, PL has stated the need for a UCL buffer, a strategic objective that would certainly be in the Chairman’s purview.
Likewise, PL has reiterated the recruitment model, another strategic objective that would be under the Chairman’s purview
We can add the “has left the building” myth, to the “twenty years dominance” myth.
Hail Hail
This was in the official Club Statement when it was announced that Peter Lawwell was beeing appointed Chairman
“Peter Lawwell commented: “As a lifelong Celtic supporter it is a great privilege to be asked to take up the position of Chairman, having already been part of our great Club for nearly 18 years.
“These are exciting times for the Club and I look forward to contributing to the well-being and success of the Club.
“Our objective as ever will be to grow and further develop the Club across all areas. Led by an excellent Chief Executive in Michael Nicholson, and Chief Financial Officer Chris McKay, the Club has a high-quality management team in place.
“I will be offering my support and guidance to the Board and executive management team to ensure that we continue to drive the Club forward and protect and promote the interests of our supporters.”
Celtic Chief Executive Michael Nicholson added: “We are delighted to welcome Peter as Chairman and I look forward to working with him as we continue to progress and develop the Club.
“Peter has a wealth of experience in the football industry at a domestic, European and global level, which is invaluable to the Club going forward.
“Our collective objective is to create a world-class football club that our supporters can be proud of, competing at the highest level, with a strategy based on growth and continuous improvement.
So, if the Chairman is utilising his “wealth of experience in the football industry” to assist in the agent negotiations of a senior player, that’s nonsense from “entitled fantasists”.
Of course not…
Those who need questioning are those who want the Celtic support to believe our Chairman does nothing and has no influence on anything.
Hail Hail
!!BADA BING!! on 20TH FEBRUARY 2024 8:17 PM
19TH FEBRUARY 2024 8:45 PM
B78- you keep pedaling the same nonsense like a Tory Minister, Lawwell was negotiating with CCV agent at CP,just before Christmas.
*and you keep pedaling this so how do you know it to be true
Test
How do people know the directors and PL lied about such things as Res12 and the 5 way agreement? – answer nobody. These two items are irrelevant in the history of Celtic and have made no difference to our progress, or, prospects. It’s all bar room, student room, clever-dick point-scoring by barrack room lawyers with too much time on their hands.
————-
I see you still have a problem handling the truth and the evidence supporting what happened.
Check how PL avoided answering the 2 questions iro the 5WA put by another shareholder in 2019 whom I subsequently contacted after last AGM to confirm what he asked in 2019 even although I was at the AGM in question.
However even if PL told the truth and no one at Celtic had any idea from SPL Board meetings that a 5 Way Agreement was being developed , then you are talking about incompetency of such a scale PL should have never been allowed to return.
It wasn’t just the 5WA, PL was not truthful about and that too is covered at
https://docs.google.com/document/d/12PkpNMUvVNV8RJ8HHOHdTKzbcFfRBnCP/edit
As I said I was at that AGM and I know what PL knew about the 2011 UEFA licence because I handed the evidence of fraud to him before witnesses and he avoided addressing the issue, deflecting focus to the monitoring period after June when the first fraudulent return took place in March to obtain the UEFA Licence in the first instance. The evidence was provided to a lawyer who was at the AGM and it was his opinion that fraud had taken place and if its good enough for him, then its good enough for me.
Are you saying I’m the liar here? Really? It’s all made up? Is that your way of handling the truth? Do you really believe that a club founded on the best of Christian traditions will be well led by someone who is a stranger to them?
You or anyone reading the document at the link that says there is no evidence that PL responded truthfully get in touch.
I have The Tower Bridge to sell.
TONTINE TIM @ 9:04 PM,
Outside the Celtic bubble, why should this be so far fetched?
If you told anyone interested in football, say outside Scotland, that the Celtic Chairman has been negotiating with one if his senior player’s agent, it would not bat an eyelid.
What seems to be annoying the Celtic support is our Chairman’s (overbearing!?) Presence and the narrative that he does nothing and influences nothing.
It makes no sense…
Hail Hail
You or anyone reading the document at the link that says there is no evidence that PL responded UNtruthfully get in touch.
(correction)
Chairbhoy
Burnley running interference. Nothing changes.
Changes nothing.
PETERLATCHFORDSBELLY @ 9:16 PM,
Well exactly…
Digging up SiD yesterday for not getting his exact facts straight, then changing the goalposts when it suits.
Those that read the comments here will be very aware of his narrative and the support he has for Lawwell & Son – unlimited.
Interference is exactly what it is, this smoke’n mirrors has been going on far too long.
The Celtic support maybe toleratant, but they are smart…
As the chants on Saturday proved, the PL camp are fooling the Celtic support no longer.
Hail Hail
I require help.
Can someone please advise me on how to cancel my post @5″26pm
Anyone on here who conflates being Jewish with supporting a Zionist genocide deserves to be treated with the utmost suspicion
I’ve said before on here, that when we have a near fully fit squad, we can put out a half decent team. When we played against Athletico at the Park, earlier this season, we started, if I’m right, with only one player, Palma, not at Celtic the previous season. Not a bad performance either, especially in the first half. Had a fair few options on the bench too. Sometime after this Brendan and his loyal PA Callum started talking about ‘quality’, about ‘personalities’ and about needing four players etc. Undermining our own players. Some of our fans bought into it giving our Manager, and Captain a free pass when it is obvious we lack leadership from both in recent times. True we needed more firepower, hope Adam can provide it, and signed a winger whom “we scouted for months”, and loaned a better one out, Mikey J who has helped put WBA into a 3-0 lead. For those who cannot handle a title race, on or off the pitch, get outta the kitchen.
Tim Horton
Alongside posting the request to delete (as you have done) I believe there may be an email address for the site mod or mods.
Perhaps someone could oblige with the address?
Tim Horton
Post deleted as requested
Glenowen
Thank you.
Anyone have email address for the mod.
On a lighter note there is a fella playing for Southampton called Willie Smallbone.
AN TEARMANN on 20TH FEBRUARY 2024 7:53 PM
I am not dismissing the good work done by the CST and there is no reason that cannot continue under a restructured set up, but I make my judgements on how they treat others, as do other shareholders who left after the CST Officers intervention to remove evidence supporting a resolution their own members voted for!
The beneficiary of that intervention was Celtic.
Additionally why did they not act on evidence provided to them that PL had misled shareholders at the 2019 AGM iro the 5WA questions?
Why turn down a pledge of £20K from the Res 12 Shareholders to set up a legal fund to advise on matters of how Celtic are misgoverned and justify doing so on false grounds?
How can they be trusted to use any proxy given to them by small shareholders?
When they speak at AGMs they can only speak for shareholders not non shareholders and I have suggested how to address that as part of the restructuring.
That is where the division comes in and why numbers are not large enough to get The Board concerned.
In defence they of CST they are not large enough and being voluntary cannot act on every issue put their way.
An all encompassing organisation paid by subscription because supporters/shareholders are offered a relevant service they are prepared to pay for, has a much better appeal than giving away an individual’s voting power by proxy to a group without the capacity to meet all supporters wishes.
As an ex capacity builder I can identify where the capacity is lacking, but the CST, like any organisation of people, tends to be defensive if they feel their existence is being threatened ,but at the very least an alternative to current strategy of proxy votes from unknown number of small shareholders who might not provide proxy on certain issues, is worthy of consideration, its not as if the Restructuring suggestions is brand new.
The CST have had it for 3 years under a title Rebranding CST although I think the need for larger numbers requires restructuring.
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1IAPRvu6G7NNOzUiTCFOxAcLpmU_2PQel/edit
It is not just to address Board behaviour, at some point Celtic will be sold and there will be a need for a support united under one organisation to speak for the support at large.
As matters stand only the CST can speak for small shareholders and not enough to give them weight.
The next two meetings on 22nd for bloggers and Open Meeting on 29th should give an indication of CST thinking.