There’s always some excitement when a player arrives at Lennoxtown with the intent of giving the club a look at his wares. 17-year-old Norwegian midfielder, Kristoffer Ajer, did exactly that yesterday, ahead of what we hope is a busy transfer window.
I’m pleased Ronny is scouting a market he knows well, and that we are looking to recruit below-radar players with potential. It’s also good to have prospects play training games with the squad ahead of any decision. It’s too easy to make multi-year mistakes but Kristoffer will be measured against the first team squad, and the Development Squad.
One of Celtic’s perennial failures is our inability to promote the country’s best youth talent into top professionals. Before Rangers liquidation we were involved in an all-or-nothing arms race. Every game was precious so the prospect of allowing youth players time to develop in the professional game was seen as a luxury too far.
With the greatest respect to our current rivals (including Newco, should our paths meet in the Scottish Cup), those competitive pressures have now eased. Ronny can afford to take a different view of team development. Until August, anyway.
I know what you’re thinking. You read the charges laid out at some of the characters involved with Rangers, old and new, and thought: haven’t Craig Whyte and Charles Green suffered enough? Surely calls for due process to be fulfilled are nothing short of bigoted rants? These men made their mistakes and have come through the mill, they should be allowed to get on with their lives!
Aye, I know, it’s a ridiculous suggestion.
The charge list includes “fraud, conspiracy and serious organised crime”, which is a Sword of Damocles hanging over Ibrox. No current Newco directors were involved in the criminality which is alleged to have facilitated the club’s setup, but that won’t change what happens in the event charges are upheld.
I’m sure the SFA are pondering the scope of punishment appropriate for this scenario. Irrespective of team loyalties, such is the seriousness of the alleged offenses they will be praying for not guilty verdicts.
Please note that all men charged are innocent until and unless proven otherwise and are entitled to a fair trial unprejudiced by public comment and desist from inappropriate comment.
If you have two minutes, take a look at Steven Donnell’s page here. He’s currently cycling round the Premiership’s 12 grounds to raise money for Accord Hospice in Paisley. In minging weather. With his dad, who is blind.
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HEBCELT on 6TH JANUARY 2016 3:09 PM
Officially there is only one football ground/stadium that is called after the team that plays in it. The stadium is Celtic Park the club is Celtic – am I right? H H Hebcelt (in the UK)
Villa Park
Cardiff City stadium
Quonno,
I disagree with your claim that Celtic affairs are more important than what is going on elsewhere.
Whereas the current court cases hold only a passing interest for me, inasmuch as anything that exposes and embarrasses them is good.
However, the MOST important matters concerning Celtic FC at the moment are those involving the corruption and connivance that has/is taken place within the SFA.
Until that is sorted, nothing else in the game matters.
Being Celtic is not enough. We are not Celtic Bowling Club, or Celtic Basketball Club, etc..
We are Celtic Football Club. That is what we do. We compete in football competitions.
Until the trust and integrity are restored to the Game, all we are doing now is playing the equivalent of pre season tournaments, with a cup thrown in for the winner.
That, in the present scheme of things renders everything else irrelevant.
Sort out the governance of our Game, then we can concentrate on in house matters.
Dumbarton Football Stadium, the original ground was Boghead Park, no idea what the new one will be called although locals will probably refer tae it as Young’s Ferm.
Scavengers Stadium which is close to Kinning Park.
Poppers Park (also close to Kinning Park!)
Knew that would provoke a reaction, CQN at it’s best,being pedantic , it’s not Aston Villa Park and if Cardiff City Stadium is correct I’ll concede but it may be a commercial deal as will be St mirren’s soon to be renamed ground, thanks for the interest.
Anti Catholic Arena (ye get the gist!)
Hebcelt
Port Vale – Vale Park
MK Dons – Stadium:MK
The official name for WHU’s current ground is the Boleyn Ground although locals refer to it as Upton Park.
Good stuff ghuys at least shows you are paying attention!!!
I’ve always called it Celtic Park por cierto
The Grunn…………
HEBCELT
Well done on the production, West Side. Very enjoyable, and not amateurish. Captured the community spirit with some lovely background scenery. Well remember sailing from Oban to Lochboisdale in the 70’s and was sick as a pig ! You should get Sandra to send some of her pies to Lennoxtown !
CONEYBHOY on 6TH JANUARY 2016 3:29 PM
Hebcelt
Port Vale – Vale Park
MK Dons – Stadium:MK
Careful now or you will be called unimaginative / dull -)))
I believe it was Fergus who insisted that the official name, i.e., Celtic Park be used.
This meant that every time a home game was mentioned on air or in print, the name Celtic would be used.
All about exposing the brand. Think about it.
St Mirren now something like 20/21 Stadium….?
I hea
Philbhoy
Noted
Cheers
HH
Big Darren oDea away to Dundee till end of season, cover for McPake I’d imagine
I heard wee Fergus ,on more than one occasion,correcting the lapdogs that the stadium was ‘new Celtic Park’
I think branding stadia and venues can sometimes work really well or backfire completely for sponsors.
From my desk I can see the 3Arena concert venue on my left and the Aviva Stadium on my right.
3Arena used to be the O2 before the 3 phone network bought the O2 network. Most people still call it the O2 or give up completely and revert to the sponsorless ‘The Point’. 3 not getting much publicity.
On the other hand , most people have adopted ‘the Aviva’ despite many vowing to keep calling it Landsdowne Road.
Maybe branding only works once . Would be interesting to know if Derby fans are calling it the iPro yet or still say Pride Park.
best get some work done now!
Coneybhoy,
I know what you mean, the shitehouse is a bit whiffy
Is the main stand at Humpdump not the BT stand?
I could think of a few more apt names for it like the last stand( for sfa)
Dallas Dallas
21/12/13
Killie boss, Kenny Shiels currently serving a touchline ban, will appear before the Scottish FA after accusing Dallas of “outrageous fabrication”.
“I’ve got a clear conscience,” said Shiels ahead of the meeting with Hibs.
“When you’re sinned against like I have been then you don’t regret anything.
“No-one has shown remorse to me. I’m surprised at that, but it’s important that we put it behind us and move on and I move on where I’ve got no fear because I’ve got a clear conscience and that’s a big advantage.”
Asked how he thought his current dispute with the SFA would end, Shiels responded: “I don’t know, it’s way out of my thoughts at the moment.”
28/12/13
Stranraer boss Stevie Aitken has provided a strange insight into the thought process of referee Andrew Dallas.
The Stair Park side were the victims of a bizarre penalty decision at Ibrox on Thursday when Dallas, son of shamed bigot Hugh, awarded Sevco a penalty after Nicky Clark fell to the ground as he humped a shot high over the crossbar.
Without any sign of a claim from any players or supporters Dallas raced forward pointing to the penalty spot to the amazement of everyone on the park with Lee McCulloch netting to put the home side in front.
“Nobody else saw it,” Aitken, who confronted Dallas at half-time, explained. “He said there was contact, and he said if it was at the other end he would have given it. If it hadn’t have been for a dodgy penalty, though, we might have got more out of the game.”
Rather than explain why he gave the penalty it seems bizarre that Dallas would point out that he would have made the same decision at the other end of the park. That really shouldn’t be a matter for discussion.
The fast tracking of Dallas Jnr through the ranks is clearly to the detriment of other referees working their way up in the game.
Being identified as a rising star, like fellow Lanarkshire referee Willie Collum, it seems that Dallas Jnr can do no wrong with his promotion assured regardless of his ability to handle matches and apply the rules.
Last season Dallas fell foul of Kenny Shiels while acting as the fourth official in a Kilmarnock v St Johnstone match that resulted in the Rugby Park boss being sent to the stand for misconduct.
After appearing before the SFA Shiels said: “I brought in evidence to disprove the fourth official, who fabricated stuff to try and incriminate me. I don’t like that. I’m not going to lie down to these people.
“The fabrication was outrageous – at least four different things that were said about me – but he wasn’t aware I had visual evidence on my laptop.
“I think it was to get me into trouble. I’m sure it was to get me into trouble. There is no maybes about it and I would like some answers.
“He [Dallas] made the decision for the sending off, he made the decision to call the referee over to speak to me.
“He had to substantiate a really good story to back that up. He tried but he wasn’t aware I had evidence on camera.”
Dallas has yet to be given a Premiership fixture but is expected to be promoted before the end of the season as he continues his route to the top.
31/12/2013
“RANGERS have been informed Ian Black has not incurred an automatic suspension as he has not accumulated enough bookings to do so this season.
It appeared the midfielder was cautioned by referee Andrew Dallas during the second half of the 1-1 draw with Stranraer on Boxing Day.
Having collected five other yellow cards in League One so far this campaign, a sixth would have ruled him out of the home clash with East Fife on January 11.
The reason for that is any ban which is the result of a build-up of cautions begins 14 days after the final offence.
Dallas’ match report arrived with SFA officials after the game though showing Lee McCulloch and Sebastien Faure as the only Light Blues players to be booked five days ago.”
15/12/14
“Queens then went ahead after another sweeping counter attack caught out Ally McCoist’s visitors midway through the first half. Carmichael again caused havoc with his pace as he beat Ian Black with ease before chipping a ball in, looking for a teammate in the box. Rangers defender Darren McGregor slipped in his bid to intercept the cross and stuck out a hand to divert the cross. It was a stonewall red card but the referee Andrew Dallas somehow decided to only show a yellow, much to the fury of the home support.”
31/08/15
INVERNESS boss John Hughes says that Andrew Dallas is not ready to be a top flight official – and doubts if he ever will be.
The Caley Thistle manager gave a withering assessment of the referee’s performance in the wake of their draw at Dens Park on Saturday.
Andrea Mutombo was shown a straight red card in the closing minutes of the match for a lunge on former Caley Thistle midfielder Nick Ross and while Hughes did not disagree with that decision, he believes Dallas brought “a nervousness to the game.”
The son of former whistler and head of Scottish referees, Hugh, is widely viewed as one of the association’s rising stars and was promoted to the FIFA international referee’s list in January.
However, Hughes questioned whether or not the 26-year-old, who enjoyed a rapid rise through the ranks, is even fit to take charge of Premiership games at domestic level.
“What I will say is that I don’t think the referee is ready for the top-flight,” said Hughes. “He might be one day but not on this evidence.
thomthethim for Oscar OK on 6th January 2016 3:38 pm
I believe it was Fergus who insisted that the official name, i.e., Celtic Park be used.
“cannae see TD67 having a pint with the bunnet”.
Football Stars Are People Too
https://www.facebook.com/fcfootbole/videos/709431445865848/
Burgas Hoops
I’m just bored at work and like the old CQN pedantry/stats/wind ups/lists/puns.
PS
I think we might just break free and run riot against Stranraer – sorry if i just jinked it!
Any recommendations for an android box?
” Being a Celtic supporter is not always easy, but it is always worthwhile.”
Fergus McCann
Could the move for the Norwegian ‘starlet’ finally be the beginning of Deila having the opportunity to sign his own players?
Lets be honest, signings like Tonev were already guys Celtic were tracking before Deila came to the club so I can’t envisage that he had much to do with this…I’d be surprised if he had much hand in many of the domestic signings either…there can’t be half measures anymore…the recruitment structure is clearly failing…the manager must have the most input where transfers are concerned….my concern is should Deila be that manager? Or do we get someone else in with a bit more experience and more trusted eye for a player?
Coneybhoy
It would be ideal to get a good win down in Stranraer, set us up nice for the run-in.
5/6 goals would be perfect.
*recruitment strategy
<I. via heraldscotland.
The most accurate riposte to enquiries about what Fergus McCann is like could be provided by his reply, below, to a question about his best achievement at Parkhead. “You mean at Celtic Park,” was his response.
This is recognisably, authentic McCann even to this observer who has only spoken to the Celtic saviour on two occasions, both long after he had left Parkhead. I mean Celtic Park.
Twenty years on after the intervention of McCann to save Celtic from financial ruin – after a journey from Croy though Canada, from supporters’ bus to boardroom – he agreed to answer questions from the Scottish press.
“You mean at Celtic Park” is the sentence that shows he has lost none of his taste for accuracy, his desire to put matters right and his bristling attitude that may not signal war but suggests he will not retreat from its threat.
Robert Tressell
Agreed. Ibrox should be renamed Albatross Stadium.
The old saying “Hell mend them” appears to be at work.
Football grounds will ultimately be called what the fans call them no matter what thier owners would like. The Sports Direct Arena lasted a long time when the fans revolted.. Some were indeed very revolting.
HH
Ps : Newcastle supporters are indeed Huns. It seems that the first football team to play at St James Park were Newcastle Rangers.
MartyBhoy84
Ciftci, GMS, Armstrong and Christie all played against Celtic with Deila as coach.
How do you know he had nothing to do with it? People really do just make stuff up.
Auldheid
Peter…I mean….Charles Green’s Albatross Stadium?
Dont know if anything has been posted,
but stoksey has just came out of easter rd,
hoping to post a picture.