Spanish football, like its economy in general, in mired in difficult financial times, which, apart from one or two well-funded clubs, has restricted the budgetary scope of a large number of teams. I had hoped all summer to hear we were on the case but it wasn’t until the final day of the window that solid opportunities materialised.
Marseille-born Tunisian international Lassad Nouioui is a complete unknown to all of us but his profile, earned at Deportivo La Coruna, fits the bill. He scored a handful of goals as Deportivo finished 18th and dropped out of La Liga in season 2010-11 but hit the heights last season as they secured promotion. It would be practically impossible for Celtic to sign a striker with the equivalent profile in English football, despite the apparent gap in standards between La Liga and the English Premier. I’m also delighted to hear Levante, who finished 6th in La Liga last season, were so keen to capture him.
There is also something I like about the port-town mentality the people of Marseille have. It’s very Glaswegian. Lassad should flourish here.
I’m not sure what Phil Mac Giolla Bhain’s reaction was when The Sun called asking for an interview about his new book, which details the mainstream media’s failure to report the demise of Rangers. “Are you joking?” may have been appropriate. I had no prior notice they were running an interview yesterday and couldn’t believe the promotion they gave to a book detailing the failure of their industry.
This was not without consequences, of course, and The Sun got themselves into an incredible mess, today trying their best to backpedal, which is pretty much what the theme of the book predicts (irony #1). Meanwhile there is a book publisher in Glasgow who cannot believe his luck. Thousands of unwitting critics and a leading newspaper have ensured Mac Giolla Bhain, who would struggle for a platform without the anger of others, has a bestseller on his hands (irony #2).
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Reading back I noted the shambles over season book holders getting shunted out of their seats for CL games.
Here is another: As a customer of the online superstore, I ordered a shed load of goods (all in stock) over THREE WEEKS ago and it’s still yet to land on my doorstep in California. I have has emails of assurance it’s on it’s way, but as yet nothing. Surely this is over the limit in terms of acceptable shipping time?
Good morning from a still dark Paisley.
Checking post’s thru the night quiet for a change.
Must get into Breaking bad,
remember it’s great to be a tim,
Kit and Summa
A.B.C. lunchtime today gave an explanation of last nights riots in Belfast.
Showed one of the “bonds” outside a Catholic church in July,marching round in a circle to one of their folk tunes.
Blatant provocation.
Dangerous times for all Tims.
Delighted with our transfer window shopping. Two technically trained strikers? Ya beauty!
Tall, athletic Victoresque with an eye for goal CB? Almost too good to be true.
Young, international aspiring goalie? Nothing wrong.
Two South American aquantainces here, one Venezuelan, reckons we have got an absolute gem in Miku.
Still shaking my head over the demise of the huns. Growing up on the playgrounds of Southern Ayrshire, it defies belief. Can’t wait to bump into a few old faces on my next visit, strolling down High Street in Ayr. Comiserations, spiced with a smirk.
STUMPTOWNBHOY 0538
Iknow what you mean-I’m back home in Kilwinning next month,and,oh the fun I’m gonna have.
Especially since,when I say “I warned you all years ago”,they will have to agree!
Of course I am likely to be more subtle than that;confusing them is part of the game…..
Kitalba so that’s why you’ve been missing in action . Work. I suppose your season books need to be paid for somehow. Don’t work too hard.
Do you think that we have a squad capable of shocking Benfica , Moscow and maybe even Barca ?
Good morniong all from an unexpectedly dry and pleasant looking East Kilbride.
Jobo
Just dropped in to say
Good Morning Jobo Baldie
from an unexpectedly but welcome dry and pleasant ML1 :o)
Hail Hail
Good Morning
I just read an interesting article on Spartak website. Some pessimists there. They think they can beat Barcelona in Moscow but win in Catalonia will be hard to achieve.
Celtic supporters are different.
I don’t remember post saying that Celtic will not beat Barcelona in Catalonia.
Top of the morning to you all from a bright, blustery, but sunny Fife.
Could the Big Tax Case hit today? Here’s hoping.
All power to Phil who was courageous when other journalists were not.
CQN Book Club –
Just received my copy of the new Ian McEwan novel Sweet Tooth.
Can’t wait to get into it.
Has anyone on CQN read it?
Taurangabhoy:
Taurangabhoy:
All’s good here mate, I would say exceptional other than I forgot to stop on the way home for some wine and I’m buggered if I’m going back out now; Port will have to do.
Work sometimes gets in the way unfortunately; been good fun of late, though now I’m back in the office for a while. Off road driving is pretty spooky, especially when you are a complete novice like I am, reversing down hills is not to be recommended to the faint of heart. Saw my first ever Dingo in the wild which after all these years was pretty neat.
Do I think we can qualify? Yes I do. Much will depend on the quality of the new guys and how quickly they can bed in and blend. I also think Scott Brown and Victor will play a big part in how well the results will favour us.
But I am much more concerned with the league. I want us to put distance between us and the pack so we can maybe relax into our natural game and rack up the results. The league is much more important than ‘any’ cup to my mind.
We’ve seen how the others set out against us, we’ve seen how the MIB haven’t lost their loyalties, what concerns me if some authority tries to point grab off us for a petty misdemeanour.
Regards season tickets; I can’t remember how many I’ve bought over the last twenty years but driving home tonight it came to mind I’ve only ever sat in my own seat on three occasions and one of those was against Hibs when our crowd slaughtered Regi Blinker; not a very fond memory.
Send me an e-mail and I’ll forward across awe-naws e-mail to me.
Big Nan –
I’ve been away from the blog for a few days.
Is there a particular reason why you speculate that today might be the day?
Has something happened?
Thanks.
It’s funny I was reading the Guardian article on The serialisation of Phil Mac’s book, then looked at the news this morning on the events in Belfast.
Quote:-
‘Sending several thousands of these hybrids into a city would paralyse it for days.
Suddenly and without warning policemen would be attacked for no discernible reason and normal riot control methods wouldn’t work.
Rubber bullets would simply be lost in the rolls of blubber.
The creature had been designed to have wrists so fat that they would be too thick for a regulation police handcuffs.’
Seems fairly prophetic now.
JBhoy
Kit
received a white Port from Johan Murdoch..
look forward to trying that out… o))
Tom McLaughlin
No Tom I am in optimistic mode today.
And I still have the rockets to let off, so a bit of wishful thinking.
blantyretim:
White port is Pink
Just read the Roy Greenslade’s Guardian blog and The Incubator. Good to see Phil Mac Giolla Bhain’s Sun predicament get some wider publicity which will only help to increase awareness of what’s been going on at RFC(IA).
Unfortunately, although The Incubator was obviously satirical, it encourages a base slanging match across the old divide. I think a more balanced approach is required to move sports culture and Scottish/Irish culture forward. Using wit to get a point across is fine and a skill used to good effect by many CQNers but The Incubator uses a shillelagh about the head job. This may be the only way to get a point across to an orc but it won’t work with fair minded people of any other persuasion.
Kit
I will have a look when I get home. chilling in the fridge since Friday…
Morning all from a bright and (very) breezy North Ayrshire.
Keep safe, all you people in the North.
Morning,
Green is hilarious! No loans or debt, just investors who have been promised double their money back…
“Today we are the strongest club in Scotland,” he added in an interview with Der Spiegel magazine. “We have the biggest fanbase, no debts, no loans, no
overdraft and money in the bank. “Rangers are among the 15 most famous clubs in the world. We have the product, the names and the brand.”
Just saw my little girl off to her first day at high school. There was a time when we didn’t think she’d make it through the night.
Keep supporting wee Oscar everyone.
SolidarityCSC
Phil’s ‘post’ is no more sectarian than most of the sketches on ‘Only and Excuse’.
Meant to add that his book is not overly priced. What a hoot if people bought that many copies and gifted them to their bestest hun mates so much so the book made the best sellers list.
No idea how many books have to be sold to make that list in Scotland.
blantyretim:
It was a joke mate, you’ll never know how good it tastes by looking.
Too early Kit
Tomtheleedstim
Great day mate
beautiful morning in Aberdeen
my awesome wife took me for a meal last night and picking the wee man up from her parents afterwards i accidentally looked at a newspaper (the sun I think) – back cover and both inside pages were about the manky mob – one small article on the back saying that Celtic were being sued by Levante ……. good even handed unbiased coverage.
I have not bought a paper in a long long time and wont be accidentally glancing at one again!
Confirmation on flight to Moscow confirmed. 79 Euro’s flying out from Istanbul small 6 hour drive down to the Bull from Burgas.
Anyone kicking about the Irish centre in Constantinople on the last day of this month is welcome to join me in a light refreshment.
HH
You wait months for 1 Kitalba post and then 20 come along at once.
Welcome back Kit.
MWD
BT
What is the story morning glory with Awe Naw n UEFA story. You seem to be the point of contact for info.
MWD
Stumptownbhoy a few folk have had problems with the online store ( kitbag based in Manchester ) we cancelled an order after waiting for home and away tops for 2 months. Wrote a letter to Celtic to tell them about the service and received a letter from Peter Lawwell apologising and asking us to speak to the commercial manager of Celtic. He said that that had a delivery problem from Nike but were going to meet with kitbag to try and sort things out.
I wonder how many mugCelticfans have purchased a Sun or DR today???
HH
Henry
We have istanbulbhoy posting on here from time to time
tomtheleedstim – beautiful
MWD I was only passing on the info buddy
Think it is because everyone thinks I have all their email addresses o))
ibleed
none i hope
we should really consider what we are financially supporting with every penny we spend
i am very resentful of sky for showing 4th division football and think I will eventually get to a place where i stop paying that too
blantyretim
Yeh ive seen him on now and again, i wont be lonely 4 of us going over, big pal from Sofia is my co-pilot down to the bull, and another 2 good tims are meeting us there, they are bus’ing it up from the Mugla (Pronounced Mooola)region.
We were over in 2009 for the Dinamo game, so we’re nearly locals now -))))