Ciftci, Nicholas and shiftless brilliance

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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.

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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.

RightBackTo67ADVERT5

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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315 Comments

  1. Right bhoys i’ve got posters to put up.

     

    The princess said ” how many huv ye still to dae?

     

    ” enough to go right round the Princess highway darling ”

     

    ” well as long as your back for your dinner ”

     

    You’ve got to love them ( 8-))

     

    H.H Mick

  2. Simpson

     

    Craig Gemmell

     

    Murdoch McNeill Clark

     

    Johnstone Wallace Chalmers Auld Lennox

     

     

    Subs Dalgleish Larsson

     

     

    Boruc

     

    McGrain van Dyke Connolly Tierney

     

    Dalgleish McStay Brown Lennon

     

    Larsson McBride

     

     

    Subs. Murdoch Johnstone

     

     

    Jock Stein

  3. I n a 343 Formation

     

     

    Forster

     

    McGrain

     

    Connelly

     

    Gemmell

     

    Auld

     

    Jinky

     

    Lennox

     

    Murdoch

     

    Larsson

     

    Dalglish

     

     

    Big Billy is barred due to 68 v Milan :-)))

  4. SFTB,

     

     

    I was sitting on the shale pile at the Huns end but, the only wean interested in the football.

     

     

    Looked like John Clark to me.

     

     

    Now, if it WAS Jim Craig, Celtic TV could get very interesting. :-))))

  5. thomthethim for Oscar OK on

    My memory says Jim Craig took the shie.

     

     

    John Clark seldom veered over to the right wing.

  6. Belated happy new year to all you hoops.

     

     

    Now that my nephew has enlightened me to the joys of ad blocker on Samsung S7 edge (don’t even get me started on trying to read the site on ipad!!) I hope to start posting more once again…

     

     

    Best team.. Easy

     

     

    Simpson

     

    Craig

     

    Gemmel

     

     

    Murdoch

     

    McNeil

     

    Clark

     

     

    Johnstone

     

    Wallace

     

    Chalmers

     

     

    Auld and

     

    Lennox

     

     

    Best seen by my own eyes…

     

     

    Forster

     

    Mcgrain Rieper Elliot Tierney

     

    Lambert

     

    The maestro Wanyama

     

    Lubo

     

    Sutton Larsson

     

     

    Subs: modern day

     

    Boruc

     

    Virgil van Djik

     

    Tosh mckinlay

     

    Agathe

     

    Lenny

     

    Broony

     

    Cadete

     

     

    Hail Hail

     

     

    And as an addendum… I agree with Jobo… Have said it since the start… Ditch the ten hubris… We’re going for se7en, the magical number.. One season at a time

     

     

    Mom the hoops

  7. thomthethim for Oscar OK on

    CALTONTONGUES on 11TH JANUARY 2018 12:09 AM

     

    Was ‘THAT SHY’ the beginning of our pishness at shying????

     

     

    *****

     

    No. Bertie Peacock was the worst offender in my time.

     

    He would invariably throw the ball to the nearest opponent, then win it back with a superb, clean tackle!!

  8. thomthethim for Oscar OK on

    SFTB,

     

     

    If Billy had handled the ball, instead of letting it run under his foot, it could have all been so different.

  9. Oh….. . Condolences and congratulations to all I’ve missed while lurking. You have been in my thoughts and prayers despite me not saying. This community that P67 has created has made me glad, happy, sad, angry, reflective, consolate, irritated, bemused, pensive and passionate during my infrequent ad annoying attempted reads.

     

     

    Ynwa

  10. SETTING FREE THE BEARS FOR RES. 12 & OSCAR KNOX on 11TH JANUARY 2018 12:16 AM,

     

     

    OK, John Clark replaces George Connelly – sorted.

     

     

    As for the stolen shy, check the footage, the game was crap, nowt happening, the ref was going to award us a foul but, the Bear kept it going by quickly taking a shy (ADVANTAGE) and, the rest is history….

     

     

    SFACSC :-))))

  11. Hail Hail CT and cheers for the reply.

     

     

    How do you do the link to the comment posted? Off to bed now so might not read your reply til the morning.

     

     

    HH

  12. thomthethim for Oscar OK on

    Calton,

     

     

    Bertie was a graceful, dynamic left half and a perfect foil for the bundle of energy and drive that was Bobby Evans.

     

     

    We had some really great players in that era, even though the trophy haul didn’t reflect that,

     

     

    “night all.

  13. LARSSONSE7EN on 11TH JANUARY 2018 12:34 AM

     

     

    Left Click your mouse and hold down then highlight the text you want to copy. When highlighted either Right Click and select copy of hit Ctrl & C (Copy) then place the cursor were you want to place the text and Right Click and ‘Paste’ or ‘Ctrl & V’…. SimplesCSC

  14. We need some clarification on these “best” Celtic teams.

     

     

    For example..

     

     

    There’s the best Celtic team who actually played together.

     

     

    Then there’s the best ever Celtic team of players in specific positions.

     

     

    Then there’s the best Celtic team of players YOU have actually seen play together.

     

     

    Then there’s the best Celtic team of players who were best servants to the club, eg Tommy Burns, Paul McStay..

     

     

    Then there’s the best Celtic team of players who were fantastic but perhaps not here for long enough..eg Lubo, Cadete, Victor Wanyama..

     

     

    Begins to sound like an award show..

     

     

    Until Brechin City rolls round, we need the Celtic Oscars..

     

     

    HH

  15. re OBAF Act,Mark Griffin MSP has indicated his support for repeal of this legislation,and joins Richard Leonard on my list of MSP`s supporting James Kellys initiative at Holyrood.

     

    HH

     

    Only takes a minute CSC

  16. Cosy Corner Bhoy on

    Best throw in was Charlie Tully throw against Aberdeen left back (Shaw?) to collect rebound to cross for us to score…..now that’s a throwin!

     

    Off to sleep Mrs CCB telling me !

  17. JUDAS,

     

    In the article Tom Grant states that “We knew that Johnston was going to Club functions and signing Rangers fc next to his autographs”

     

    Was this at Celtic club functions ?

     

    If so, what did Celtic do about it ?

     

    It couldn’t have been Hun functions surely before he signed for then on 10th june ?

     

    HH

  18. HENDERSON HORSE Today,

     

    He has one runner with NO.1 Jockey Nico De Bonville on board…who only has that one mount in LEICESTER 1.45. It is priced early at 5/2. It is only 4 runners, and it’s a tricky wee race…aren’t they all I hear you ask ?

     

     

    GODOLPHIN STABLE had ( yet again) 2 runners in the one race yesterday and the more fancied one delivered @ 4/1.

     

    Today at NEWCASTLE, they have TWO runners in the 3.35 FLAG FESTIVAL @ 5/2 and TABASONIC ( I may have spelt that wrong) @ 3/1…the supposed “1st choice is usually shown in the betting ?).

     

    They have another runner in the 5.05 called NATIVE APPEAL @ 6/5.

     

     

    Anyways, Bhoys and Ghirls if you have a we flutter on ANY horses or Dogs etc today best of luck.

     

    HH

  19. Am I alone ?

     

    My internet connection is often dis connecting when I am on CQN recently…there is no issue with other sites.

     

    Is anyone else have this problem ?

     

    HH

  20. Best Celtic XI.

     

    I will stick with players that I have seen for the moment. As for the Tully man, but I would only have been about 2 or 3 years old, so I can’t count him.

     

     

    Players that MUST be in your team..if you saw them ?

     

    MacGrain

     

    Murdoch,

     

    Dalglish,

     

    jinky,

     

    Henrik,

     

    Paul McStay.

     

    Just add on another 5 Bhoys to those six..and hey presto…SIMPLES !

     

    Can you imagine Henrik feeding off of passes from BOBBY MURDOCH and PAUL McSTAY…..80 GOALS A SEASON ?…..SIMPLES !

     

    HH