BBC’s Jim Spence reports this morning that Dundee United have rejected a £900k bid from Celtic for striker Nadir Ciftci (23), as Ronny Deila continues his quest to recreate the all-conquering (cough) Dundee United team of 2014.
While Ciftci is clearly talented, this is an unexpected move. He can hold the ball up and bring others into play but he never struck me as having Ronny Deila-type industry. Not that he would be the first convert to perpetual motion.
With John Guidetti away and Stefan Scepovic yet to stake a claim, we’ve space for a couple of strikers. It would be good to have at least one before the qualifiers.
Dukla Prague are one of those teams who my generation grew up hearing about. They were one of the finest teams in Europe, with one of the world’s top players, Josef Masopust, who sadly died yesterday. Masopust won the Ballon d’Or in 1962, after leading the great Czechoslovakia to the World Cup final that year, which they lost to Brazil.
He faced Celtic with Dukla in the semi-final of the European Cup in 1967, losing only once in the competition, at Celtic Park. Czech football retains the potential to create great teams, but, denied access to TV deals available in neighbouring parts of the EU, they have been robbed of the ability to achieve meritocratic progression.
The passing of Masopust is a chance to celebrate a great player and team, and to regret what appears forever lost because of television.
Enjoying Phil MacGiollaBhain’s work with the Belfast Telegraph, laid bare in his blog of yesterday. He includes scanned letters from the newspaper’s editor who regards it as “outrageous to suggest that I, or the Belfast Telegraph, would operate a blacklist of any form”, including one which includes Phil, despite how popular such a move would be in places.
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John Pilger,an Australian,asked a Union Jack bedecked T-shirt wearing immigrant if he celebrated Australia Day with any of Australia`s indigenous people,his reply escapes me for the moment,;))
must be the heatwave affecting my memory,but it was one of those oft repeated diatribes the white supremecists save for their more eloquent outbursts,
Wee Arra Peepul.or is that them Pygmies?
HH
Chairbhoy 7:28
Excellent post. Agree re CM – can cover so many positions. I think this is one of the things that could make Ciftci a good value buy – can play up front or as one of the three behind.
Antipodean Red
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Who mentioned Gillard/Rudd, are these new “laws” democratic?
That`s it?
That`s the only response.
A question?
Australians voted for Tony Abbott who promised to “stop the boats”.
He has.
That`s democracy.
What`s the drowning toll in the Mediterranean?
True quonno
I’m not getting your point though
?
MACJAY
Slightly disingenuous. The boats used to travel to Australia have to travel much further than those for the trip from Libya to Italy.
As a result,they have to be more seaworthy to make the ‘safety’ of Australian waters.
Not so in Libya/Italy. As long as they float long enough to make it out of Zlobyan waters,the traffickers have done their bit.
There are no easy answers to this,btw. I have never commented either way on the Austtralian approach. For that very reason.
KevJ
Jim McIntyre? Seriously?
My Hibs correspondent says they ahve signed a midfielder from Holland called Joey Suk. A newspaper headline writers dream!
I suspect any loan to Hibs will not be in the midfield area unless they offload anyone.
LB
SydneyTim
_________
I hear ye fella…I’m on the same page of frustration as yer self.
I’ve said on here for years that it’s down to apathy that financial failure is rewarded at Celtic Park were, the club is run by a rudderless PLC board who are answerable to no-one….know why?….coz nobody cares….Celtic FC is DD’s toy / plaything he disny take it seriously enough…when did he last attend an AGM and, when is he absent from a big glory hunting game?…..folk will say that he’s put £millions in…so what?…..who makes the biggest commitment to Celtic FC….the guy on £300 per week with a family / mortgage / car etc…..or, the billionaire…who, if he wanted….could put down an initial payment to get Celtic out of police/racist/Scotland without having to open his wallet…?
Ye see….Celtic money spending supporters are the real power at celtic Park but, they dont realise that….sitting on the SB-money for one season and letting DD know that the SB-money will not be goig into the club in the usual channels but…will only be invested into the club in exchange for the ownership of the club….do that and….you would see the real color of the chameleons who run Celtic FC….imho
Hail Hail
typos grrrrrr
LiviBhoy
_______
Aye….Jim MacIntyre.
I think he is the Scottish version of Roberto Di Matteo….
….watch this space…
Hail Hail
Another day, another lump of politically correct,liberal tripe.
Ban the Confederate flag eh?
Dearie me.
For eight days straight the diversity, multicultural champions of the BBC relentlessly ran with this campaign of vilification.
Didn’t hear any mention of the Union fleg,or St.George’s Cross – flegs that could symbolise racism to some.
Ironic to say the least.
What ever happened to this so-called tolerance that the loonies of the left constantly preach?
The hypocrisy is astounding.
HH.
KEVJ
Typos? Should see the one in my last post to MACJAY!
Bliddy iPhone…
GlassTwoThirdsFull
________________
Playing Cifti behind the front two would be along the same lines as, when MO’N played Sutton behind Henrik and BBJ from Blackburn away…onwards.
I like the sound of this Cifti guy….
Hail Hail
So just to clarify:
Duffers are signed by Peter Lawwell
Goodins are signed by the manager
BMCUW
_______
Aye….but you make it look good :)
HH
16 ROADS
There’s a difference between tolerance and free-for-all. But,in fairness,if someone wants to fly the flag of a country which no longer exists,let them.
I’m sure The Hammer and Sickle is still displayed. And probably the old South African one too.
Just one more thing, as Columbo would say – Is it only Scottish clubs that Celtic always seem to try to buy players from on the cheap?
What about the duds from continental clubs like Bangurra, Pukki and Balde, where money seems to be no object and the club just pays whatever price these gangsters demand?
Scouts and agents eh?
HH.
Absolutely Bobby M.
I would have been a supporter of the Union Side during the American Civil War by the way.
HH.
Someone once told me that heaven is a place on earth, I think it may have been Carlisle.
16 roads
Scottish clubs sell their best players for buttons regardless of who’s buying
My theory is that other scottish clubs tend to hand out short contracts of 1 or 2 years. If a gem emerges who performs above expectations, he is usually not far from departing anyway.
Sumdy asked earlier if Cifti was CL class?
Well, he would be joining a team who weren’t CL class last season but, will be in with a greater chance this season with SA & GMS on board…imho.
Have only seen Cifti twice against us and he was a robust awkward customer to deal with and quite skilllful. Looks more than his 23 years like Delayer the oldest looking 19 year old I’ve ever seen. Did the Dundee Ltd lad also score against us?
KevJungle
Not sure that is a good thing. Di Matteo was in the right place at the right time with Chelski. Not convinced he is a great manager.
If McIntyre does become our gaffer tho I owe you a Guinness or whatever it is you drink.
I will give it to 2018 and then you are due me one! Deal?
LB
I thought as predicted(FF) MASH had folded to
street wise Mr King.
But alas not yet
Gers agree naming rights deal
http://www.carrickfergustimes.co.uk/sport/football/gers-agree-naming-rights-deal-1-6826710
Herbo
10:13 on
1 July, 2015
True quonno
I’m not getting your point though
?
The point is simple.
In themselves harmless pieces of cloth, flags and flegs can be used to bring out the worst in people.
As for the American gun issue. Only the Americans can sort that one out.
I imagine that the insertion of the word responsibly where the constitution refers to the right to bear arms might just help to facilitate more gun related prosecutions.
Btw….apart from exploitation….why do we need a bumble-bee strip?
The new hoops and the new, pin-stripe 2nd strip are crackers….but, are we not allowed to mix and match….hoops with the green shorts for example?
Also….was it no Dallas that started all this p### about having to change Celtic and Hibs 1st team strips from clashing in an attempt to ruin the spectacle of the 2001 SCF?….and, also the earlier Celtic v Killie LCF were….imho….Dallas would have been given a knighthood if Henrik had been ‘done-in’ in that LCF were he stuck it right roon them wi his hat-trick?
timaloy29
10:33 on 1 July, 2015
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Fair enough point.
It still doesn’t seem right though considering all the overpriced dross that constantly arrives on our doorstep from Europe.
Forward players anyway.
HH.
LiviBhoy
_______
Deal.
Hail Hail to ye sir.
Indeed.
The hammer and sickle is on my t-shirt at this very moment.
:-)
Hammer and Sickle .
Best grafitto I ever saw was a hammer and sickle on a Prague wall – the tip of the sickle had been changed into a snake’s head with a forked tongue.
@KevJungle
3rd strips have always been a bit of a rip-off. We will only wear it 4 or 5 times before its replaced.
@16 roads
I agree that our recent record of foreign strikers is rubbish. Is big Jan the last decent one?
Once again, this is just a theory, but I think its because it’s easier for the competition to identify a good striker. We can be smarter than others and identify an undervalued defender but any daft club can look at somebody with a goal record better than 1 in 2 and think they are worth a punt.
This is why we might as well go for Ciftci. I think he is capable of getting 18-20 goals a season for us domestically. Along with Griffiths and maybe one other that will do.
Hope Lenny gets the Leicester job.
I think he could do very well there.
LB
Good Morning Celts
Any recommendations for somewhere good to park at St Mirren tonight, and any decent places to eat prior? First time there at the new ground, since can’t get a ticket for love nor money – last time was at Love St in, about, 1969/70…!
Thanks in advance, looking forward to the game with my bhoy.
HH
BOGNORBHOY
Belinda,begorrah!
friesdorfer
11:00 on 1 July, 2015
There’s plenty of on-street parking around the stadium providing you’re not there too late. I’m heading there by about 7pm which should be ok.
timaloy29
_________
Ah know….waste of time.
Maybe….Celtic’s benevolent board could give the 3rd strip to SB-holders as a gesture of appreciation?
Folk will maybe challenge that point and say that the club needs all the money that it can get coz of the environment it plays in etc….well, ifc the club is so hard-up for cash….why did the pinball-wizards in the board ‘gamble’ with CL qulification last season wit all the Murryfield / CWG’s nonsense?
And….why has no-one been sacked for this wreckless mis-management that has left a £20 million hole in RD’s plans?
typos sorry
timaloy29
10:57 on 1 July, 2015
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Totally agree.
I don’t have a problem with the club signing Scottish or SPFL based forwards, although the step up to European competition is proving difficult for some of them.
The only time ever in my life that I can recall being 100% certain that a player was going to score from the penalty spot was when Derek Riordan stepped up against Shaktar.
HH.
Looking forward to tonight. I assume that the players who were away on international duty won’t be in squad for tonight. Still expect to see Lustig (remember him?), VVD, Boyata, Armstrong, GMS and Scepovic along with some youngsters.