Celtic curiously stretched in central defence

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Neil Lennon has been fluid with his team formations in recent weeks.  As a result, three central defenders, Efe Ambrose, Kelvin Wilson and Charlie Mulgew could each be regarded as first choice picks, although Ambrose and Mulgrew have also been deployed in midfield.  Ambrose has featured in all nine games since the beginning of December, while Wilson has featured in eight and Mulgrew in seven.

Add to the picture the fact that fourth-choice central defender, Thomas Rogne, has appeared in eight of those nine games, missing only the replay against Arbroath, and our central defenders look curiously stretched.  Much has been made of the proximity of Efe Ambrose potential involvement in the African Cup of Nations to Celtic’s Champions League tie with Juventus, but the numbers suggest a vacancy exists beyond this tie, hence the recruitment of Rami Gershon, who will join on a six month trial, pending a work permit, with a permanent transfer agreed in principle, pending performance between now and May.

Gershon, 24, has kicked around Standard Liege for three years without making a discernible impact, but he is an experienced international who fits the profile of a non-critical recruit, competing as fourth of fifth choice central defender.  His six-month objective will be to secure Thomas Rogne’s place in next season’s squad.  The try-before-you-buy strategy we discussed earlier this week will ensure Neil Lennon has a player keen to impress whenever he gets an opportunity. Sound squad management.

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  1. Off to bed. Waiting with bated (but not held) breath, to awake to a veritable lambasting from the media over Traynor’s piece.

     

     

    Aye right.

     

     

    Is this semi-literate?

  2. A prize fighter is in the ring and he”s getting badly beat up,

     

    His mother is in the crowd watching,..there’s a priest in the seat next to her,

     

    She turns to him and says,father can you pray for my son,he’s getting his brains bashed in,

     

    He replies,..yes i’ll pray for him,

     

    It would help if he could punch though.

     

     

    S

  3. macjay1 for Neil Lennon on

    OverthePage

     

    02:02 on

     

    9 January, 2013

     

     

    Now give us Rojas.

     

    Kiwi with Latino name.

     

    Good pedigree.

  4. Margaret McGill on

    chasbhoy

     

     

    03:30 on 9 January, 2013

     

     

    I would never call Jabba a semi he’s a lot worse than that!

  5. Just thought of this re semi-literate.

     

     

    Which is better? To express an open and honest opinion within the limits of your intellect no matter how restricted, or to spread lies and deceit with the eloquence of a Shakespeare sonnet?

     

     

    Right, really off to bed unless I come up with more gems.

  6. Margaret McGill on

    chasbhoy

     

     

    03:40 on 9 January, 2013

     

     

    Depends.

     

     

     

    If you had a million Shakespeares, could they write like a monkey?

  7. Margaret McGill on

    Summa of Sammi….

     

     

    03:41 on 9 January, 2013

     

     

    I think there is more than Whisky in your jar

  8. Morning Celts,

     

     

    Good luck to my eldest son Ryan who returns to Australia today from his hols, well sets off today arrives in Aus on Sat, slight difference in temp from 5c to 35c.

     

    Haste ye back.

     

    MoonhowlerCSC

  9. Roll up! Roll up! Roll up!

     

    Welcome to the three ring circus fresh from a less than successful tour of Yorkshire.

     

    Be astounded as the Fattest Man in Bedlam astounds the crowds with prestidigitation and sleight of pen.

     

    See the bear baiting as their Traynor goads and distracts while the seals clap.

     

    Gaze in awe as the Hampden Clown Heroes jump through hoops with their size 20 footwear firmly lodged in their mouths.

     

    The sideshows will make you gasp in astonishment seeing the Brass Necked Man, Fat Sally and his clowns part the admiring throngs from their hard earned cash.

     

    Look on or place your money on Find the Lady.

     

    Roll up roll up all the thrills of the fair.

     

     

    Warning. May not be suitable for children or the educated.

  10. Margaret McGill on

    For the benefit of Mrs Hite

     

    There will be a show tonight on Celtic Green (..cymbals ..cymbals…!!)

     

    Lenny’s sons will all be there

     

    late of Tony Mowbrays fair what a scene!

     

    Over men and horses green hoops and martyrs

     

    lastly through a hunshead of real fire.

     

    In this way Mr. D will challenge the world!

     

    The celebrated Mr D

     

    Performs his feat on Saturdee at Bishopbriggs

     

    Lenny’s sons will dance and sing

     

    As Mr. D flies through the ring dont be late

     

    Mrs D assures the tim public

     

    Their production will be second to none.

     

    And of course all the hairy old whores dance the waltz-!……..

     

     

    The band begins at ten to six

     

    When Mr. D performs his tricks without a sound

     

    And Mr. D will demonstrate

     

    Ten summer bets he’ll undertake on a solid pound.

     

    having been some years in preparation

     

    A splendid time is guaranteed for none

     

    And tonight Mrs Hite is topping the BILL!!!!!!!!!

  11. zimmerman

     

     

    04:51 on 9 January, 2013

     

    Vmhan,

     

    Heard on news that Australia temp heading up to 50 degrees.

     

    …………..

     

    I was a wee bit out with my guessTIMate of 35c

     

    :>)

     

    V

  12. Vmhan –

     

     

    just the usual routine here – early rise, weather report, breakfast with a scroll back and then work. Ho-hum…

  13. Vmhan

     

     

    That day we met up … I was asking ryan how he was dealing with the temp drop …. Sure he will cope better going the other way.

     

    Give him my best regards ;)

  14. margaret mcgill

     

     

    02:46 on 9 January, 2013

     

    If all the nations in the world are in debt, where did all the money go? .

     

    ———-

     

     

    China.

  15. overthepage

     

     

    02:02 on 9 January, 2013

     

    ……..

     

    Apologies ,

     

     

    Welcome amigo, I see your originally from the Green oak tree, twice welcome.

     

    V

  16. West Wales Celt on

    Morning Vmhan.

     

    Good luck to your lad.

     

    I well remember flights to NZ. I could never sleep and would arrive looking like something from alian nation!

     

     

    Maggie, 02:48:

     

    Your best post in an age…

  17. Morning,

     

     

    Still pmsl at Jabba.

     

     

    Anyhoo…

     

     

    Promising young Australian midfielder

     

    Tom Rogic will take part in a training

     

    camp with Celtic but no offer has been

     

    tabled.

  18. Just read Longmuir and he mentions Ogilvie’s input into this master plan.

     

     

    At the end of the day, it is geared towards dragging Celtic into the gutter with the rest because we invested alot of time and money into our youth set up and scouting network while others pissed it up against a wall.

  19. Morning Timland

     

     

    All this crap on re structuring.

     

     

    When are they going to realise we have too many teams sucking the game dry?

     

     

     

    Amalgamation or liquidation, then look at re-structuring.

  20. Murdochbhoy, yermanfromMK on

    Good morning CQN,

     

     

    There have been some very good posts overnight focusing on the SNP, Scottish demographics in relation to the Catholic population, OO marches and, a mischievous post about Scottish Catholic schooling.

     

     

    However, most if not all the posters missed one vital point – The Scottish Catholic population amounts to only 16% of the total Scottish population.

     

     

    The change in N. Ireland is being driven by the increasing Catholic population. The outlawed UVF (Paisley’s armed wing) may make a nuisance of themselves over the ‘fleg’ but they understand the new political dynamic.

     

     

    http://belfastmediagroup.com/numbers-game-is-becoming-a-reality/

     

     

    The outstanding question to be addressed in Scotland therefore is, what will oblige the politicians, the establishment or the media in Scotland to change their modus operandi in relation to Scottish Catholics and by extension Celtic and its supporters?

  21. Old MSM rags seem to be losing their appetite for reconstruction – funny that, they seemed full of enthusiasm for it only a few days ago. What could possibly have changed their minds?

  22. So Sevco are an associate member of the of the SFL and dont have any voting rights for 4 years and cannot officially take part in any talks or meetings.

     

     

    Makes the Jabba rant even funnier…

  23. Regardless of whether the restructure proposal is a good idea or not, it seems clear that Sevco will start in the bottom tier where they belong. Their rage today at not being part of the talks “as Scotland’s biggest Club” gets the slapdown it deserves – they are an associate member of the SFL and have no voting rights for 4 years.

  24. Morning all. Grey but brightening here.

     

     

    Is the deid team fae Govan’s best laid plans ganging aft aglee already? Oh, I do hope so. Now, let’s get rid of Ogilvie and his clique.

  25. The Spirit of Arthur Lee on

    In a few years time Sevco would have played in more leagues than Jules Verne.

  26. Thought i’d check out the news this morning …either BBC/sky…or al Jazeera/.RT…bit like saying…ribena or malt whisky.

  27. theweegreenman

     

     

    07:49 on

     

    9 January, 2013

     

     

    I agree and posted as much yesterday.

     

    For example, a new Forth Valley FC could draw support from Falkirk, Stirling Albion, Stenhousemuir and Eat Stirling, but then again fans of those clubs wouldn’t want it.

     

    Then there’s Fife, could have a big club if teams amalgamated.

     

    Unfortunately clubs want to stay the same, so the game in Scotland will trundle along and all the league reconstruction in the world won’t attract more supporters, especially when you realise that as a percentage of population we have one of the biggest fan bases in Europe, so growth is difficult.