Balde, Hooper, summer challenges

1119

13 June and Celtic have signed a striker!  Do we have some important games coming up early in the season?  6’4” Amido Balde joined Sporting Lisbon three years ago but never made an appearance for the club.

After three loan deals he joined Vitoria Guimaraes a year ago, where he caught the eye of Celtic scouts.  At 22-years-old, he is right in the sweet spot of Celtic’s recruitment strategy: fully developed physically, old enough to be considered prime first team material but with many years of prime football ahead.

Playing for Celtic is quite different than playing for Vitoria Guimaraes, so it may take Amido a period of adjustment to settle into life as a Glasgow sporting celebrity, but he is clearly the man Neil Lennon and the scouts wanted.  Based on that, I’m happy.

Despite what could be described as cover, and the fact that the player has declined a new contract, I’m still not happy to sell Gary Hooper.  We have lots to do this summer before that moves up the agenda.

Welcome to Celtic, Amido.

The raffle for a signed Celtic top in aid of 1254125 ends early tomorrow morning. THIS IS THE LAST CALL FOR TICKETS, which cost only £1 each. Get in there…..

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  1. FAC statement.

     

     

    Government represented by Roseanna

     

    Cunningham have released the statistics for

     

    the first full year of the operation of the

     

    Offensive Behaviour at Football: Threatening

     

    Communication Act 2012 tomorrow (Friday

     

    14 June 2013). For some weeks now they

     

    have been making robust claims that these

     

    statistics will show that the Act is working.

     

    We are currently producing a detailed

     

    analysis of the statistics which are far from

     

    impressive in supporting the case for the

     

    continuation of this piece of legislation.

     

    However, we can say already that all that has

     

    effectively happened is that there is a fall in

     

    those convicted under the Religiously

     

    Aggravated Offences (Section 74) and an

     

    almost equal rise in those convicted under

     

    the Offensive Behaviour Act. Not much return

     

    on the £1.8 million pounds allocated to the

     

    Football Coordination Unit Scotland who

     

    police this Act.

     

    In addition to this, what the statistics will

     

    never tell us, but which we as football

     

    supporters are only too aware of, is the

     

    following:

     

    · The number of young

     

    people with no previous

     

    criminal record or activity who

     

    have come into contact with the

     

    police as a result of this Act

     

    · The smaller number of

     

    young people who have endured

     

    3 or more trips to courts in all

     

    parts of Scotland only to have

     

    the charges dropped by the

     

    Crown or to be found Not Guilty

     

    · The number of young

     

    people who have had their

     

    details taken unlawfully by the

     

    police

     

    · The number of football

     

    fans of all ages who have to run

     

    the gauntlet of police officers in

     

    order to attend football matches

     

    which are entirely devoid of any

     

    crowd trouble and have been for

     

    decades.

     

    · The number of football

     

    fans of all ages who are

     

    photographed, videoed,

     

    monitored and intimidated by

     

    the Football Co-ordination Unit

     

    Scotland, the recipient of £1.8

     

    million of government funding,

     

    all spent on harassing private

     

    citizens because they happen to

     

    be football fans.

     

    This is the human cost of the Offensive

     

    Behaviour Act however, a press conference

     

    will be held in Glasgow next week in which we

     

    will give a detailed analysis of the figures

     

    produced by the government as well as the

     

    stories behind the statistics, which illustrate

     

    how this Act has produced a style of policing

     

    about which all citizens should be concerned.

     

    Leading lawyer Paul Kavanagh, of Gildeas

     

    Ltd said today:

     

    There is an old saying lies, damn lies and

     

    then statistics.

     

    While every right minded individual would

     

    agree that there is no place in Scotland for

     

    bigotry of any kind whether by race, colour or

     

    religion the success of the Offensive

     

    Behaviour at Football and Threatening

     

    Communication 2012 introduced by the

     

    current administration raise interesting

     

    questions.

     

    87 convictions, how many arrested? How

     

    many proceeded to trial? How many pled

     

    guilty without legal representation or advice?

     

    How many with no previous experience of the

     

    judicial system? What has been the cost of

     

    implementing the act, policing it etc?

     

    How do we measure success? Do we measure

     

    it with regard the number of convictions? Do

     

    we measure it with regard the huge number

     

    of young football fans forced by police

     

    unlawfully to give them their personal

     

    details? Do we measure it by the decreasing

     

    number of football fans attending games or

     

    do we eventually measure it by taking a poll

     

    of young football fans and their voting

     

    intentions at next year’s referendum and

     

    whether they will vote for independence?

  2. Welcome to Paradise Mr Balde Mk II.

     

     

    I ho, however, prefer players who do their talking on the park. If you are going to reference Henrik or even Cadette, then it should be in terms of “honoured to play for a club where these greats have played” not about emulating or surpassing them.

     

     

    Of course if he turns out to be anything like my nom de plume then I’ll be right chuffed.

  3. BOBBY MURDOCH'S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS on

    LIONROARS67

     

     

    I read the article you referred to,and I am reasonably sure that there is no wriggle-room on this topic.

     

     

    Their charitable arm has been inquorate and therefore acting illegally.

     

     

    In addition,those actions it has undertaken have in themselves been fraudulent.

     

     

    Oooo-er….

     

     

    A further point I noted was that there is a reference to “The Rangers” which predates sevco application of said term.

     

     

    I wonder if this might be used against them in their quest to identify themselves as the same club but not the same company?

  4. blantyretim

     

    12:24 on

     

    14 June, 2013

     

    Minx

     

    Fashionably late.

     

    It’s a ladies perogative.

     

     

    Yes i will remember that BT

     

     

    minx1888

     

    12:23 on

     

    14 June, 2013

     

     

    Thanks for the lift Minx a very enjoyable evening, in great company

     

     

    Have you caught up with Charlotte yet

  5. SuperSutton

     

     

    I think, Hope, you will be pleasantly surprised.

     

     

    I am very excited about this signing, especially as we have had a long look at him. ;))))

     

     

    Who is Victor Wanyama?

     

     

    I can see an escalation of this policy, combined with the regular visits to the last 8 and hopefully, 4 of their flagship tourney.

     

     

    And petec bangs the drums…:D

     

     

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uNztq7Y_9g4

  6. P.I. Paul ‏@MTHForum 17h

     

    It seems a note is being passed around the SMSM that all Charlotte’s stuff is fake and not to be trusted…Irvine’s Sneaky Tricks?

     

     

    campsiejoe ‏@campsiejoe 17h

     

    @MTHForum Does that include the recordings, and the stuff Irvine had removed

     

    Retweeted by 19Lisbon

  7. Glendalystonsils likes a mr whippy with his lime green jelly on

    FAVOURITE UNCLE

     

    12:32 on

     

    14 June, 2013

     

    will we be getting live scores updates from the GOUF.???? we get them when the fitbas on.

     

     

    Better than that, if the U.S. Open gets rained off again today, Sky have got cameras ready and waiting at Aberdour!

  8. starry plough

     

    12:25 on

     

    14 June, 2013

     

    lionroars67

     

     

    Whit a crew, nothing is sacred to them..Gekko’s the lot of them..

     

    BOBBY MURDOCH’S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS

     

    12:39 on

     

    14 June, 2013

     

     

    We should all give thanks to Corsica he has kept up the pressure on this issue, the orcs have been giving him torrents of abuse, what on earth does that say about them as a support

     

     

    It is really disconcerting to say the least that this “charity” is allowed to continue

     

     

    Where are the authorities ?

  9. Green Lantern,

     

    There was definitely bowel movement when I realised how tall the grass was but I wasn’t for sticking around

  10. BMCUW @ 10:48

     

     

    My taste is somewhat eclectic, but I’ve never sold or got rid of a record, so those that weren’t purloined are up my loft. Keep promising myself to get back to the vinyl.

     

     

    But the Woodentops reminded me of that gig, it was a 4,000 sell-out, but there was 2,000 bootleg tickets, talk about cramped, dispiciple in a fund -raiser.

     

     

    However the bands were great, Edwin Collins was incredibly emotional and funny he did an OJ version of Rock’n’Roll I gave you the best years of my life.

     

     

    Ah! Memories.

     

     

    Canamalar1 @ 10:50

     

     

    “MrMcGuiness only just joined us I think we’ll need to wait a few years to have a regular flow from youth to first team

     

     

    That’s true and I hope he’s got that magic touch we’re missing, certainly seem to, but my thing is we dabble about too much.

     

     

    We had a clear out of the senior staff there a few years ago due to lack of results (I believe) but I can’t see a huge benefit since.

     

     

    As you say, hope Mr McGuiness can bring that special touch.

     

     

    LiviBhoy @ 10:51,

     

     

    Agree with all you said.

     

     

    “We will only get one or two gems from our academy like most clubs. We may at some point get a golden era of Bhoys like Man Utd did with Beckham, Scholes, Nevilles, etc but that only happens once every ten years if you are lucky.

     

     

    Bhoys change and develop at different ages ……. Some are dynamite at 14 and don’t make the grade. The big loss for our academy was Feruz Islam ……… I think the academy is working and there is a batch who could make the first team in the next few years …… Could Toshney be a centre back for the first team next season? ………………….. I would like to see the League Cup used as a sounding board for some of our youths….”

     

     

    Now the Man U golden era was the rock of a reign that will not be repeated in the EPL, but as you say seemed to be a bit of luck as they have come no-where near repeating that success.

     

     

    Yet Ajax and Barca, although they have golden eras, continually produce results, okay they’re World Class Academies but that’s what I thought we were aiming for.

     

     

    It was unfortunate to lose Feruz and let’s face it while we are playing in Scotland we will always have this problem.

     

     

    Maybe the next batch will be good, but how long have we said that, Ferry, Caddis Quinn were all ghuys I thought might come through, we could all name a dozen and to be fair to our coaches none of these guys are lighting the heather anywhere else.

     

     

    But then you have the likes of James McAthur who we missed.

     

     

    Shaun Maloney who seems to have developed very well away from Celtic.

     

     

    You wonder.

     

     

    But my main beef would be your last point, not giving the bhoys a platform while we release and loan out any number of foreign transfers that didn’t cut the mustard.

     

     

    The next batch could be the ones and I think Mr McGuiness will make a difference. Here’s hoping.

     

     

    Hail! Hail!

  11. A Stor Mo Chroi on

    A book for the book club about a man who would not be silenced… come what may or may not. I’m sure there are some who might be inspired by it if they take the opportunity to read it.

     

     

    Blessed Miguel Pro: 20th Century Mexican Martyr

     

     

    Book Description (Amazon)

     

     

    This is the inspiring story of the famous Father Miguel Pro who was executed in Mexico in 1927 for the crime of being a Catholic priest. This young Jesuit spent most of his short life in the priesthood dodging the Mexican police as he ministered to the underground Church during the Mexican Revolution. Father Pro’s quick wit and keen sense of humour were put to good use as he pedalled around Mexico City on his bicycle in various disguises, en route to administering the Sacraments, giving spiritual talks or begging food and money for the poor. But behind the disguises beat the heart of a Saint – as the Mexican people testified by turning out in throngs to pay their last respects after his martyrdom. Fr Pro offered his life for the Catholic Faith and his last words on this earth were: “Viva Cristo Rey” – Long live Christ the King! Blessed Miguel Pro makes history come alive and highlights the dramatic conflict between the Church and her enemies that continues even to this day. Every member of the family will be delighted by this fast-paced true story of a modern Catholic hero who proclaimed both in life and death the reign of Christ the King.

     

     

     

    Viva Cristo Rey

  12. NatKnow - "We welcome the paper-chase..." on

    “Mair interested in baseball and f¥ckin’ submarines!”

     

     

    Think the old tossers at the next table may be hearts fans.

     

     

    Happy Holiday of Liquidation guys!

     

     

    N.B. It’s basketball he’s into.

  13. Happy liquidation day to all the poor sevconians.

     

     

    he he ha he ha he.

     

     

    Swan ‏@Swan70 2h

     

    Yet more proof they are a new club #sevco #liquidationday #celtic pic.twitter.com/ebXEulJ8RI

  14. hen1rik

     

    12:49 on

     

    14 June, 2013

     

    P.I. Paul ‏@MTHForum 17h

     

    It seems a note is being passed around the SMSM that all Charlotte’s stuff is fake and not to be trusted…Irvine’s Sneaky Tricks?

     

     

    Is the note authentic, who sent it? can its contents be trusted?

     

     

    Bluff and double bluff means the truth gets missed

  15. The Spirit of Arthur Lee

     

    10:11 on

     

    14 June, 2013

     

    A father spoke to his son, “It’s time we had a little talk, my son. Soon, you will have urges and feelings you’ve never had before. Your heart will pound and your hands will sweat. You’ll be pre-occupied and won’t be able to think of anything else .”

     

     

    He added, “But don’t worry, it’s perfectly normal…it’s called golf.”

     

    ===

     

    I’d call the police that is bordering on extreme child cruelty. Imagine any sane adult introducing a child to the utter utter pointlessness and utter tedium know as golf. That is one step away from forcing him to wear a Zombie FC shirt.

     

    :-)

     

    Esther rantzen CSC

  16. HappyLiquidationDay ‏@corsica1968 6m

     

    Why did @RFC_Charity make big fanfare about donation yesterday? Have Walter & Jack been discussing damage-limitation strategy?

  17. Kilbowie Kelt on

    A Stor Mo Chroi

     

     

    12:58 on 14 June, 2013

     

    ___________

     

     

    Lovely story. A REAL saint.

     

    Thanks.

     

     

    That kind of guy is liable to get Christianity a good name.

  18. lionroars67

     

    13:01 on

     

    14 June, 2013

     

     

    Spot on mate.

     

     

    The MSM are cowards in this country and they will never be taken seriously again.

  19. lionroars67

     

     

    If you see or saw rankers as the establishment club then it doesn’t look too clever for the establishment to have to sanction and punish their flagship institution so the authourities are loathe to do so that and the fact that the stain from the bloody corpse on the floor spreads further and wider than we can see from the investigations so far!! Allegedly!!!

     

     

    It’s a dirty thing and no amount of scrubbing can make it clean..

     

     

    We fight on, well done to Corsica for keeping up the pressure..

  20. Dontbrattbakkinanger on

    Fakin’ Charlotte Fakes seems a bit sophisticated for them.

     

     

    When ole Bomber was goin’ round, wearin’ out his ole brogues demandin’ to kno the whitherality of the Deeds, they produced a big envelope with ‘DEEDS FOR THE BIG HOUSE’ scribbled in blue crayon on the front.

     

     

    Tryin’ to make Charlotte out to be a tease could be an attempt to discredit her before the ole dam bursts on their heads.

  21. If you go out in the woods today

     

    You’re sure of a big surprise.

     

    If you go out in the woods today

     

    You’d better go in disguise.

     

     

    For every Zombie that ever there was

     

    Will gather there for certain, because

     

    Today’s the day the Teddy bears went bankrupt.

     

     

    LashingsofjellyandicecreamCSC

  22. BOBBY MURDOCH'S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS on

    LIONROARS67

     

     

    That works out demographically,if you think about it.

     

     

    Ignoring minorities,Protestants outnumber Catholics about 5-1.

     

     

    So 5 such offences will be committed by Protestants against their favourite taig targets to every Catholic one.

     

     

    The other side to that argument is that a Catholic is statistically 36 times more likely to be on the receiving end!

     

     

    Go figure….

  23. BOBBY MURDOCH'S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS on

    CHAIRBHOY

     

     

    PURLOINED?

     

     

    Most of mine got nicked!

     

     

    Brentford on the 20th looking any good for you?

     

     

    Gotta start organising the troops about this ASAP

  24. The words Dignity and Paranoid doesn’t get used anymore :))

     

     

    1. Cheated for years.

     

    2. Cheated creditors out of millions.

     

    3. Pay the ambulance services etc what you owe them.

     

    4. Stealing from a charity you lowest of the low scumbags.

     

     

    I’m just glad my team have dignity and class.

  25. A wee modification to an earlier post.

     

     

    Firstly, welcome to Celtic Mr Balde I hope that you fully appreciate how fortunate you are. Good Luck.

     

     

    Secondly, bast of wishes to all those presently destroying the Fife countryside, I hope that you all have a great day/evening in the company of some fine Tims.

     

     

    Thirdly, my thanks to Mr Willie Wallace and our own BRTH for the excellent Q&A seesion in Greenock last night. Sorry I didn’t get the opportunity to say hello BRTH but every time I looked over you were in the company of others!!

     

     

    Many thanks also to GL2 and the committee from the Greenock CSC for putting on such an excellent event. That’s some place that you have J but it’s still not a patch on Bar67 :-)

     

    A pleasure to finally meet Vmhan and discuss the Hoops with him and his much better looking son :-)

     

    Also nice to meet GourockEmerald who sadly still thinks that I was hit by the baw at Tannadice :-)

     

    Sorry to have missed Papa John as I owe you a special thanks for a donation that you made a few years ago!!

     

     

    Lastly, thanks to Connaire12 for assisting me in my escape from the Greenock Growlers and for keeping us amused and entertained with his tails of Lisbon and all things Celtic.

     

     

    Oh and cheers for those in my company, you made it equally special :-)

  26. Joe Filippis Haircut on

    I have said it before no matter what Charlotte turns up even if she supplies a video showing the smoking gun nothing will be done or said about it.Bhoys The Rangers have been punished all they are likely to be punished the establishment (The Masonic Lodge ) will smother any action against any claims about the goings on over Ibrokes way.Some on CQN are rubbing there hands saying The Ranger will be liquidated as they are spending more than there income well in my opinion that wont happen as they will get financial help along the way.For me we would be much better concentrating on our club and leave that rabble to get on with it.H.H.

  27. Celtic_First on

    hen1rik

     

    13:00

     

     

    Gordon J of this parish was very quickly onto that last season.

     

     

    Another proof of the newness of their new club is TUPE. Their club has confirmed it, the MSM have confirmed it, Fraser Wishart has confirmed it. TUPE happened, which means those who transferred changed from the old employer to the new employer. This includes footballers (McCulloch, that goalie they have, can’t be bothered looking any other names up). Only a football club can employ a footballer to play football. Therefore, those players’ current club is, by definition, a different club from the one they transferred from.

     

     

    There is no squaring this circle. If those guys were playing for the same club as before, there would have been no TUPE.

  28. Professor Green on

    Malone

     

     

    Sorry for the delay in getting back.

     

     

    I don’t understand the clamour about Johnny Russell. Thought it was put to bed last week. If he’s that good why Derby? Not to mention Levein who knew him better than any manager but never picked him when journey men in the lower leagues of England were getting caps. Buying strikers in the Spl has been extremely disappointing of late, stokes aside. Chris Killen and Riordan banged in as many goals as JR and were very poor signings. Higdon is another, would you want him through the doors.

     

     

    Goal scorers are at a premium and I don’t think that spending relative big money for us in anyway guarantees goals.

     

     

    Obviously it can be hit or miss but being critical of the guys scoring record in a better league than ours seems pointless given the market we operate in. Scout potential and develo, is the way we will continue to do business.

  29. Joe Filippis Haircut

     

     

    Any ideas where they will get that financial help from Joe, would that be the fabled Real rangers Men who are loaded waiting in the wings..

     

     

    They are a toxic basket case and unless someone has got multi millions to write off they will remain so should they live that long..

     

     

    Business is business Joe why do think Whyte and Green were the only ones to touch it, Murray had them on the market for years no one would touch it with a bargepole…

     

     

    Yer biscuit munching pal in the valley..

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