Of all the players signed for Celtic by Ronny Deila, Nadir Ciftci was the strangest. He faced us for Dundee United after news leaked we were interested in him, so I paid close attention. After the game I was convinced he would not sign for Celtic, such was his languid performance.
More than any other Celtic manager, Ronny valued movement. Stefan Johansen was his architype player, always covering ground. Nadir was the exact opposite of this that evening for Dundee United.
Maybe Ronny thought he could build on Nadir’s touch and perform an engine and mind-set upgrade, whatever the reason behind this particular raid on United, the player was never going to cut it at Celtic.
He reminds me very much of Charlie Nicholas (although Nicholas had heaps more talent). Charlie was irrepressible in his first period at Celtic, but the game changed under Charlie’s golden feet. When he returned to Celtic, he looked lazy. In reality he was the same player, but shiftless brilliance was no longer enough.
I hope Motherwell get a turn out of Nadir during his six month loan. There’s talent buried there, if they can make it move around a little.
The CQN Podcast: A Celtic State of Mind (EP28) with former Celtic director Tom Grant
Paul John Dykes and Kevin Graham are joined by Celtic’s ex-director, Tom Grant, who offers a fascinating insight into the running of the club in the 1980s and 1990s.
Tom Grant explains exactly why Celtic refused to complete the Mo Johnston transfer in 1989, and lifts the lid on audacious efforts by Billy McNeill to recruit Peter Beardsley and Steve Bruce.
Tom Grant also dissects his relationship with Fergus McCann, and the impact of the ‘Celts For Change’ movement in overturning the ‘family dynasty’ board in 1994.
Jim Craig made two of the three goals in the 1967 European Cup Final. There’s a great wee video below for you to enjoy. Get Jim’s new Lisbon Lion Diary – Right Back to 67 from CQNBookstore.co.uk and you will receive a signed copy from the man himself plus a FREE copy of That Season in Paradise – Ten Months of Celtic Heaven signed by fellow Lisbon Lion Bertie Auld! Simply order Jim Craig – Right Back to 67 and the second book will be sent automatically.
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Cheers rollercoaster HH
Jimbob on 10th January 2018 1:10 pm
This slagging ex Celtic players on here, especially Citcfi,is out of order,did he like a lot of players who come to Celtic, really get a chance,no I don’t think so,same as Ronny it wasn’t the man’s fault.he was given the managers job,but he did ok,but on here he was a dud,which is unfair,to many on here think they know it all,in fact they just stir it all the time.
……………………….
Good post mate imo.
I may be in the minority here I accept that however, like the vast MAJORITY of Celtic supporters I have no idea of what may have went wrong with Ciftci or any other players that Celtic have signed ?
when Ciftci played for Dundee Utd my big Arab mate took me to see Utd v The Huns at IPOX in a cup quarter final around 2013/14 ?
At that time of course the Huns were lower league and it was a packed house that day as I took my place amongst all the Arabs in the “Celtic End”.
UTD GUBBED the Huns 3-1…and for the whole 90 minutes I was an Arab …as we all sang about the Huns being Zombies…great fun !
Cifcti scored Utds 3 rd goal that day…right in front of us in the Broomloan Stand…however it was one of the funniest things I have seen on a pitch as he rounded the Hun gioalie and facing an empty goal about 6 yards out….he STOPPED to CELEBRATE !
My mate and other Arabs around me were Yelling at him to put the ball in the feckin net…which he eventually did….the Huns were not amused.
I dunno if he was trying to “Showboat”…and I don’t care it was so funny !…it emptied 3 stands.
I thought that he had a very good 1st touch…when he put his mind to it, and in some ways he reminded me of Mark Viduka…although not as good of course.
Anyways, Cifcti gave this Celtic man a great laugh that day…and for hours afterwards, I couldn’t help but laugh at my Arab mate cos of the sheer bpanic in his voice when Cifcti stated to celebrate a goal that hadn’t been scored yet !
A magical day indeed.
HH
Chavez on 10th January 2018 1:29 pm
Charlie Nic was a great player. IMO it wasn’t his lack of pace and football changing that did for him – it was his lack of professionalism. The Champagne Charlie nickname was justified. Why would you choose George Graham’s Arsenal over Liverpool? He wanted to live the high life in London, and he did (although a mirrored ceiling in his place in Highgate – allegedly?!! Yuk). A Nicholas who worked hard in training would have been a top striker for years. Such a waste
………
Didn’t Nicholas eventually ADMIT in a book that he should have went to Liverpool in later years ? I may be wrong of course.
In his first stint with The Hoops, Nicholas was worth the admission money alone IMO.
He was just sublime.
When he joined Arsenal under Graham and almost immediately Graham put him in a midfield role. This had me stumped…why would any manger sigh a top class goalscorer and play him in midfield ?
as time went on it became obvious that Nicholas didn’t care where he played for Arsenal, and I remember an interview with him when he claimed that in London…he was getting £1.000 a week for modelling !
This was more than Arsenal were paying him of course, and maybe Nicholas thought he wouldn’t get the same modelling money in Liverpool…..but yet George Best must have got good modelling money whilst playing in Manchester ?
Nicholas was feckin hopeless when he returned to Celtic IMO. It shouldn’t be forgotten that a certain Frankie MacGarvey did all the spadework for Nicholas, Judas Johnston etc IMO.
HH
Big Jimmy, think this was the game, the goal you mention is at 7.55 mins into the clip, howler right enough!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DbptZUop4So
Big Jimmy, thanks.
2 from Champagne Charlie
https://youtu.be/y8vTS6XBR0o
Was it not Terry Neill that signed Charlie?
I was working in London and went to see them when George Graham was the manager.
He had Charlie and Tony Woodcock running into channels chasing long balls, useless hun.
BIG JIMMY on 10TH JANUARY 2018 1:51 PM
………
Didn’t Nicholas eventually ADMIT in a book that he should have went to Liverpool in later years ? I may be wrong of course.
In his first stint with The Hoops, Nicholas was worth the admission money alone IMO.
He was just sublime.
When he joined Arsenal under Graham and almost immediately Graham put him in a midfield role. This had me stumped…why would any manger sigh a top class goalscorer and play him in midfield ?
as time went on it became obvious that Nicholas didn’t care where he played for Arsenal, and I remember an interview with him when he claimed that in London…he was getting £1.000 a week for modelling !
This was more than Arsenal were paying him of course, and maybe Nicholas thought he wouldn’t get the same modelling money in Liverpool…..but yet George Best must have got good modelling money whilst playing in Manchester ?
Nicholas was feckin hopeless when he returned to Celtic IMO. It shouldn’t be forgotten that a certain Frankie MacGarvey did all the spadework for Nicholas, Judas Johnston etc IMO.
……
I think you’re right, Jimmy – Charlie did say that Liverpool would have been the better football choice. But that wasn’t his priority back then. He was a waster, like McAvennie. I’m sure they both had a great time but a lot of people who never made it would have died for a fraction of their talent.
Celtic v Aberdeen 1995
Some of the football played by Tommy’s Celtic team was a joy to behold.
Cadete got the headlines with a goal scoring debut from the bench that night.
Almost unnoticed wee Tosh quietly went about his game with three assists and was heavily involved in the fourth goal , not bad for a left back.Very underrated in his time with the hoops IMO.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=v1CiVlqiM_k
HH
Arsenal ? – It could have been Rube !!!
” There is much talk that Juventus will sell Galderisi to Verona . Juventus will be looking to replace him . One possible target is Charles Nicholas , forward for Celtic Glasgow . Proven goalscorer . Likely to be out of contract . Comes with a ” Good times ” reputation .– Juventus will have to keep him away from the ladies and the Torino discos ”
La Gazzetta dello Sport – 24 4 1983
.
Tosh is a True Celt.
Barney67 on 10th January 2018 2:00 pm
Big Jimmy, think this was the game, the goal you mention is at 7.55 mins into the clip, howler right enough!
………………Cheers mate for posting the link.
At the time his EARLY CELEBRATION seemed MUCH MORE….probably cos of the sheer panic in my Arab mates voice and face !
LOL
HH
BIG JIMMY on 10TH JANUARY 2018 1:41 PM
I thought that he had a very good 1st touch…when he put his mind to it, and in some ways he reminded me of Mark Viduka…although not as good of course.
=====
Big Jimmy
Just FYI…
I think you meant to write Wayne Biggins but accidentally wrote Mark Viduka
;)
HH
Trd- VG
ZENIT
Italian media running an interview with Roberto Mancini in which he states that he would be unable to say No to an offer re becoming the Manager of the Italian National team . He also made it very clear that he has yet to be asked !!!!
Dbhoy on 10th January 2018 2:26 pm
Celtic v Aberdeen 1995
………………
When Tosh played for Celtic..I was always of the opinion that he was “The BEST crosser of a ball especially on the run in Scottish fitba”…I was forever telling my mates that..they didn’t take any notice of what I ever said .
LOL
HH
traditionalist88 on 10th January 2018 2:46 pm
……………………..
ON HIS GAME….Ciftci had a very good touch imo…just didn’t show it enough for Celts. I was happy when we signed him…what went wrong ?….I dunno.
HH
The headline in the Scotsman, “Gers keen on Dulwich Hamlet ace”, proves that satire is not dead.
Dbhoy on 10th January 2018 2:26 pm
Celtic v Aberdeen 1995
…….
I was in the temporary stand at the Celtic end that season…we used to make some noise by stamping our feet on the metal flooring whenever Celtic got a throw in…never mind a goal.
We used to go Radio Rental when Celts scored. Paul MacStay asked me once how we generated so much noise, and I told him..he said the players loved it.
That season in that wee stand..it seemed that every game it was ALWAYS pouring with rain…but we didn’t care.
I thought I was having a heart attack when Andy Thom scored the ….as Celys looked down and out at 0-1 down. What a graet finish to that game also.
late winner v Dundee Utd in the cup that year
HH
Big Ciftci is a striker that comes into his own, when his manager, parks the bus and plays on the break, like Jackie MacNamara did at ibrokes, indeed, I have to say that, when big Ciftci played in our team, I thought that he did OK for the amount of chances that he got.
As for the cheap digs at, Charlie Nicholas, ah mean, is it CN’s fault that, when CN was done, the then Celtic management saw fit to recruit him ?
Just like later, desperate Celtic managers, saw fit to recruit, the done McAvennie and, Walker ?
Pishy managers will make pishy decisions.
Like, recruiting prolific Aberdeen striker Joe Miller, then trying to turn him into a winger ?
The lauded former director, Tom Grant, even after all these years, he couldn’t come clean and, admit that, Celtic tried to resign Mo Johnston, to get a, pre SCF boost vs the huns in 1989, who were going for the treble, and, a hun treble, would have seen the return to the front door, like they did after a home game earlier in the season, of the rebellious “Sack The Board” Junglists, threatening to empty the park, until the Kelly’s and White’s were sacked and, Celtic supporters to take control of “they’re” club.
Also, hidden in plain sight, when the Celtic board scunnered Mo Johnston into signing for the huns, did the MJ signing actually start the tax dodging era at ibrokes ?
Anywye, big Ciftci played under a, plastic, kid-on roar gimmick manager, that sadly, the dewy eyed Scooby Doo! pyjama wearing back ae the bus rebels and thur, £49 Old Firm Same Club lie ticket purchasing upkeepers of thur own wee uber Tim statuses, saw fit to fawn in worship at RD and his plastic roar.
Its like this,……..
If, the huns go oot the league……
Celtic’s Old Firm fans will disappear……
Brendan will no longer be affordable……
Malky McKay will be Lawwell’s next puppet……
and, Nadir Ciftci will be a longed for lift in morale…..
Brendan, the PLC’s same club fudge,…..stopped the ‘Magic Hat’s’ dismissal of, hapless RD and his plastic roar in the SCSF 2015, fuelled in the back ground by the PLC’s utterly pathetic, complicit silence as a response to, 25 years of Murray Mibbery, a 0-5 defeat for the cheats at Supreme Court, the SFA effectively booted the PLC’s baws re: the request or a Judicial Review, and, Brendan the fudge has ensured that, any lingering hope of a rebellion from Celtic fans, in the shape of emptying the parks, has been well an truly neutralized, by the slight of hand from a PLC board who know full well that, Celtic supporters, of 2018, will sing about rebels, but, when it comes down to actually being a rebel, the Celtic support, of 2018, are no more than paper tigers, wi Scooby Doo! pyjamas on,and that, is the end of the Celtic that I was brought up with.
From begging bouls 1888
to,…….
Selling souls 1994.
“The Game, The Game Is Over,…..The Rebels Have Gone!”
………oot.
This was on my works computers from 2011
1. Another week, another excruciating example of the problem Rangers have with a large section of their support. Walter Smith’s team, going into Sunday’s Co-operative Insurance Cup final as underdogs, won quite a few admirers for their gritty 2-1 win over Celtic.
Alas, no one who was at Hampden Park as a neutral, and who had any understanding of the type of songs that were being sung, could have found anything remotely appealing in the antics of the Rangers support.
For fully 120 minutes the Ibrox legions belted out stuff about the Pope, Fenians, and some of their other favoured subjects.
Quite a few of us have become used to “the Rangers problem” over the years but Sunday at Hampden was still quite an eye-opener. It was the consistent, incessant nature of the bigoted chanting that was truly shocking.
One of the problems we have in tackling bigotry in Scottish football is the sheer ignorance of the subject that we have to put up with. For instance, Kenny MacAskill, the Scottish Justice Secretary, clearly didn’t have a clue what he was talking about, to judge from the fatuous statement he released after attending the match at Hampden.
After the prejudiced chants had boomed out, the following was MacAskill’s take on the whole spectacle. “This was the showpiece everyone wanted to see — it was a great advert for Scottish football,” he said. “The players, management and fans contributed to a memorable occasion, and I urge that their positive example inside the ground is replicated outside it over the course of the evening and beyond. Football is a force for good in society.”
Given the nature of what was chanted inside Hampden, this was an utterly ludicrous statement. MacAskill, clearly, is totally unfamiliar with the sort of problems given an airing at Hampden if he thinks that the sort of chanting which the Rangers fans kept up apace represented “fans contributing to a memorable occasion.” This is risible.
I didn’t expect a Rangers statement yesterday on the shocking tone of their supporters’ singing, and nor was one forthcoming. Rangers’ preferred position on their problem is this: let’s just have a general media silence on the subject, and let’s keep any fuss to a minimum. From Rangers’ point of view, the fewer headlines there are about their problem, the less need there is of any requirement to act.
But that is a tough scenario to hope for. The Ibrox club have already been censured by Uefa over bigotry, and more than that, a number of Rangers supporters’ songs have specifically been banned by European football’s governing body. So it is asking a lot for every newspaper to turn a blind eye (or deaf ear) towards songs which have repeatedly been outlawed.
What is more galling for those who want to be rid of this poison is the seeming ignorance — such as was revealed by MacAskill — or inability in government or police circles to be able to fix it.
Hampden on Sunday rang out to bigoted chanting from the Rangers end, yet the police statistics for “sectarian-related crimes” were paltry, never mind MacAskill’s absurd words about how wonderful it all was.
This isn’t government action. On the contrary, this is inaction, and even incompetence. The truth is, we are getting nowhere today with the problem of sectarianism in football. In fact, we are regressing, Edinburgh summits or not, at an alarming rate.
Rangers, in trying to fight their own specific problem, have lost ground. Indeed, if you were at Hampden on Sunday, with bigoted chant after chant ringing out, you would think that the club had gone back ten years in their quest to solve the problem. And for many others, meanwhile, it actually means very little.
OK, so there is sectarian chanting, they say. So what? What does it matter? Just let it go, let’s just concentrate on the football.
Rangers lack the guts to truly take on their own support on the issue, and the same applies for the Scottish FA.
The docking of points really would force the bigots to stop their chanting, and the SFA has the power to do this, but it is too scared to.
Meanwhile, too many other people won’t touch this problem with a bargepole, claiming the accompanying aggro that comes with such debate simply isn’t worth it.
So Scotland just goes on living with its embarrassing bigotry problem. Ignorance, incompetence and cowardice ensure it.
last post written by Speirs
Barrowbhoy
That reads familiar.
Is it Graham Spiers?
HH
Doh.
Memo to self – refresh befopre posting.
Again in the early 1980’s Celtic gubbed the Huns in a 3-2 win at Celtic Park in the mud.
At 2-2 Murdo McL;eod went on a lung bursting run, to get onto a graet pass from Paul MacStay or Nicholas ?
Murdo scored what proved to be the winner, and me and my mates were in the jungle. He raised his hands briefly in celebration and then dropped them as quick as his team mates granned him.
Some Celtic fans after the game were slagging Murdo for NOT celebrating the winning goal enough ?
Murdo came out in the Celtic Vieiw
that week and explained………..” I was too knackered” !
HH
APRICALE on 10TH JANUARY 2018 2:57 PM
The headline in the Scotsman, “Gers keen on Dulwich Hamlet ace”, proves that satire is not dead.
VG:)
granned ????…..GRABBED !
BIG JIMMY on 10TH JANUARY 2018 2:50 PM
On his day hes a good Dundee Utd/Motherwell player. He is several levels down from what Viduka was in terms of touch, guile, skill etc.
Any physical resemblance is where the comparison ends IMO.
In fact have you ever seen Cifcti and Biggins in the same room?!
HH
Big Jimmy
Apparently the roar/noise from the fans when Cadete scored on his debut was so loud the radio transmitter stopped working for a few minutes.
It’s no wonder the racket yous were making over there :))
HH
Just watched that clip of Judas johnson on the other article. Having his ‘left footedness’ electric shocked out of him whilst team mates sing the sash in the background.
WHAT A TW*T.
Ciftci has the same number of heads as Viduka, there the similarities end….
away back to your crack pipe Kev J
on the mo Jo farce – – let us not forget the part played by Bill McMurdo, aka slimeball
KINGLuBO
One thing influenced le petit merde – greed
Big Jimmy – enjoy
Paul McStay was brilliant that day –
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6iI-2Jq3U24
A wee hun who i knew back in the day, told me he was signing for the huns 3 months before it happened……
https://twitter.com/shit_reviews/status/951114927602896896
Sometimes genius needs a bigger audience….
DBHOY on 10TH JANUARY 2018 3:20 PM
Big Jimmy
Apparently the roar/noise from the fans when Cadete scored on his debut was so loud the radio transmitter stopped working for a few minutes.
It’s no wonder the racket yous were making over there :))
Aye I remember being a 14 yr old huddled round an old radio with a few Celtic minded mates at the top of the multi storey flats in Coatbridge ( As that was the best reception ) listening to that game and as soon as Cadette scored there was an incredible roar then complete silence, after some frantic checking of the batteries and radio volume the radio eventually came back on with apologies from the broadcaster.
Couldn’t have been 1995 though unless I was still hanging about at the top of multi stories approaching my mid 20’s :-)