You and I have seen enough of the football business to know that even when someone verbally commits to joining Celtic, we should assume nothing. Eddie Howe wanted his next destination to be an English Premier League city, not Glasgow. Right now, the Bat Signal is lighting the clouds, anyone who wants to secure English football’s best young manager had better make their move over the weekend. This is how football works, so let’s not get carried away.
If he arrives, it will be an appointment at the higher end of expectations, compare and contrast to Man City youth coaches who have never been in charge of a dressing room full of adults. Or even Roy the Intense.
Having filtered through so many possibilities in recent weeks, I can find fault with every one of them, even Brendan Rodgers, who is clearly the best manager in British football right now, did not get a tick in the box when it came to recruitment. We will critically assess Howe if and when he becomes Celtic manager. For now, let’s just hope we get our man.
Falkirk are atop the third tier and nurse a grievance from a year ago, when they were pipped to promotion by 0.03 of a point per game average by Raith Rovers. Tomorrow’s Scottish Cup tie has all the hallmarks of an underdog fully motivated against an inconsistent giant. Some of us will remember a comparable freezing cold night 15 years ago when a young Falkirk striker, Anthony Stokes, scored at Celtic Park on his way to a penalty competition victory in the League Cup. Let’s turn up prepared and hungry this time; I want the Scottish Cup.
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SAINT STIVS on 2ND APRIL 2021 2:01 PM
‘when I read Connolly i tend to think he would have been ok with a break up of the union.’
###
I’m sure you’d like to believe he would have agreed with you that Scotland should leave the UK.
The problem you have is there’s no evidence for your belief.
I got one correct. Does that mean I am the Champion?
Rangers were never relegated. They died and went out of business.
The mere mention of Connolly, himself
Eddie Howe 1/4 with William Hill. He was 4/7 yesterday.
ERNIE LYNCH on 2ND APRIL 2021 2:15 PM
SAINT STIVS on 2ND APRIL 2021 2:01 PM
‘when I read Connolly i tend to think he would have been ok with a break up of the union.’
###
I’m sure you’d like to believe he would have agreed with you that Scotland should leave the UK.
The problem you have is there’s no evidence for your belief.
———–
do you have any evidence that he would not support Scottish independence ?
The late great Scottish journalist Ian Bell, great-grandson of Connolly’s brother John, believed so. He wrote: “Once upon a time in Europe, a pair of ideals, socialism and nationalism, were not everywhere inimical, or regarded as such. Once upon a time, James Connolly seemed to assert that internationalism without an acknowledgement of national identity is a forlorn, empty gesture.”
SAINT STIVS on 2ND APRIL 2021 2:19 PM
I would rather be on your side but you cannot ask for evidence that is impossible to prove.
A bit like the guy who said we could not prove that there was not a chocolate teapot orbiting Jupiter but it was extmely unlikely.
I broke a self imposed rule today by getting involved in a small way in the Connolly independence debate.
But without responding to some of the passive and not so passive aggressive comments I would add this: does it matter?
Are you just as well wondering what Jesus would do about it?
Should it not simply be about judging the merits of independence at the given time, the only time being relevant being the here and now? Will independence benefit the ordinary person or not? N’est pas
Guys,
Did James Connolly know James Barnett ?
Of course not. You cannot compare values and ideals of a different era to nowadays.
Nicola would not even be allowed a vote never mind be FM.
But it’s interesting listening to your debate.
HH.
GREENPINATA on 2ND APRIL 2021 12:28 PM
The problem isn’t about whether club X is bigger than club Y. The league these clubs play in is vital. Most players and managers at their peak want to be in one of the “Big 5” leagues. Better quality, more money to spend and more money in their pocket.
I’ve heard people ask why Jessie Marsch would choose Leipzig over us and I honestly don’t think these people are living in the real world.
Are West Ham bigger than Ajax? Certainly not. Are Everton bigger than Benfica? No. But if it came to a straight choice between West Ham v Ajax or Everton v Benfica to pay for, attract and pay a certain player or manager, who do you think wins that battle? Would Ancelotti have gone to Everton if they weren’t in the EPL? Castagne didn’t want to come to Celtic/Scotland but couldn’t wait to join Leicester.
When I was living in Thailand, most Thai kids could tell you the Stoke line-up (they were in the EPL at the time) but couldn’t name three players from the Milan clubs.
It’s sad but these are the times we’re living in.
SAINT STIVS on 2ND APRIL 2021 2:21 PM
A Hypothesis
If there was an equivalent Scottish republican Army with the aim to have an independent Scottish socialist republic be set up in the immediate aftermath of the 1916 Irish rebellion and if James Connolly had survived that rebellion in 1916 it is inconceivable that James Connolly would walk up Leith walk from a Dublin boat to address that army by telling them that he did not support a free Scotland and Scotland in his view should remain within Great Britain and the Empire.
ROBERTTRESSELL on 2ND APRIL 2021 2:29 PM
Respectful debate is fine, all views and should be respected and replied to with decency
Personal insults, sneering remarks will inevitably result as it has today, there is a common denominator though
It is common knowledge that Buddha would have supported Scottish independence.
ROBERTTRESSELL on 2ND APRIL 2021 2:29 PM
I think it matters in so far as there are those who insist, and many therefore assume, that Connolly was in favour of Scottish independence when there is no evidence for it, and such evidence that there is suggests otherwise.
If nothing else people should be thinking for themselves and asking for evidence rather than just accepting at face value what they have been told.
Anything less is an insult to Connolly’s legacy.
GEEBEE1978 on 2ND APRIL 2021 2:36 PM
I totally understand what you are saying and I mostly agree with it.
However teams outwith the top 4 in their respective leagues will never experience European football.
European nights at Parkhead are legendary.
Do you think a manager like Eddie Howe would not realish playing teams like PSG, Barcelona, Real Madrid, Ajax, Bayern Munich, Benfica etc.
He will get that opportunity with Celtic, but highly unlikely with Newcastle.
If EH is successful at Parkhead then he will move on, a better, wiser and more experienced manager. We are only looking for circa a 3 year spell. ( The average EPL manager lasts < 2 years )
That is why European football is so important to us. We must never sacrifice European football for domestic aspiration.
HH.
SFTB
Question 8
I make it four Scottish clubs Celtic Aberdeen Rainjurz and Sevco
Another 1st for Sevco or as they call them 55th
The big sell on Eddie Howe
Roy Keane wouldn’t have been popular
https://twitter.com/ScotlandSky/status/1377974141261844485?s=20
GREENPINATA on 2ND APRIL 2021 3:00 PM
Rodgers did well for us and didn’t go to what we’d call a “big four” club. He left for a club arguably smaller than Newcastle.
Wanyama, Forster and Van Dijk left us for a club even smaller than Leicester or Newcastle. There’s no way Southampton could promise them Champions League football but they still felt it’d be a better move in terms of their careers.
I’m not saying for one minute these clubs are bigger than ours but in terms of what we can afford and attract, it gets harder and harder for us every year.
Paul67 hinted as much in his header that Howe would’ve prefered the EPL (Newcastle and Palace only viable options). Take the emotion out of our thinking and we see he’s probably not wrong.
GNP
A wee thing brought it all home for me ref big name clubs versus big bucks leagues.
We fought out a brilliant 2-2 draw with Inter when we were playing some of our best football. Wee annoying, chunky player with a pigtail was a standout.
Shakiri (sp?) was the name I caught. Player.
Next? He joins bloody Stoke!!!! From Inter.
The football world is wrong!
He’s since ended up with a club of a more equivalent stature and pedigree. But Inter to Stoke!!!????!!!
We’re a stepping stone. For managers and players alike. Even our fan who get lucky, with the megaphone to serenade our ultras, chose to go to pastures more wealthy and with more progressive football.
HH jg
Who would win in a fight between,Ernie Lynch,and Irony.
BSR
I’ll give you Sevco but not Rainjurz, cos they are not a current Scottish team
SETTING FREE THE BEARS FOR RES. 12 & OSCAR KNOX on 2ND APRIL 2021 1:41 PM
Apologies for ignoring your quiz and your attempt to reset the direction of the debate
JG
“Small independent nations have no history in recent centuries of invading others. Small independent nations have no history in recent centuries of invading others. ”
Fairly sure there were Danish forces in Afghanitan
Senegal and Ghana invaded the gambia in 2017
Turkish forces were in Syria in 2016
In Yemen , there are forces from UAE, Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait and Jordan
Israel invaded Gaza and the Lebanon
The Comoros invaded Anjouan
Ethiopia was in Somalia
Polish forces were in Iraq
All of these are restricted to 21st century examples
Lionroars
Happy to enter most debates but we are primarily a football site.
Now, would you sell Ajer and Eddy this summer to increase the transfer funds for Eddie Howe?
And do you think we might get a few Englishmen coming up as this is the only market Eddie Howe tended to use?
Don’t quite remember the freezing cold Glasgow night of fifteen years ago but I do remember one of the wettest Glasgow nights watching a game of football. Also remember the young Anthony Stokes of that decent Falkirk team. Managed by John Hughes if I’m not mistaken. Stokes caused us all kinds of problems, with his quick feet, clever movement and running, think he scored one of the goals during the game. Terrific young player. That is when he should have came to Celtic, from Arsenal, (though in retrospect might have caused problems for Glasgow’s Elvis impersonators) but as today the likes of Sunderland, under Roy Keane I think, could make him an offer he couldn’t refuse. Didn’t work out there though, only one night club in the town.
GEEBEE1978 on 2ND APRIL 2021 3:15 PM
I think Rodgers was attracted to the nature of the position at Leicester, as well as the increased financial rewards
The owners of Leicester from Thailand clearly have immersed themselves into the club both financially and personally
The lady who is CEO concentrates on business
Rodgers works with a DOF who gives him freedom and support with the football operation, important to Rodgers is that freedom related to all football matters, something he did not enjoy at Celtic
You could hear the hoof beats pound as they raced across the ground,
And the clatter of the wheels as they spun ’round and ’round.
And he galloped into market street, his badge upon his chest,
His name was Ernie, and he drove the fastest milk cart in the west.
Now Ernie loved a widow, a lady known as Sue,
She lived all alone in Liddley Lane at number 22.
They said she was too good for him, she was haughty, proud and chic,
But Ernie got his cocoa there three times every week.
They called him Ernie, (Ernieeeeeeeeeee)
And he drove the fastest milk cart in the west.
In 1952 Russian teams played in the Soviet Union League. Russian league didn’t start till 2001
https://news.stv.tv/west-central/man-arrested-in-connection-with-father-of-twos-murder
lets set the record straight on today’s article. The biggest issue with Celtic is not the manager and never was the manager. Peter Lawell and Hammond are responsible for the current Celtic playing staff situation – PERIOD!
Paul – “BR didn’t trick the boxes on player recruitment” ? really ? why do you think he left – clearly he wasn’t signing the players we were bringing in. Remember his comments on the new incoming winger? Remember his frustration at not getting Mcginn and I’m sure there are many others.
The new manager MUST have a say in recruitment to fit the gaps in the playing squad – New CEO and Dir of football is THEE most important set up for the next 5-10 years.
Get that model right and celtic will win whether its Kennedy, Keane or Howe
ERNIE LYNCH on 2ND APRIL 2021 2:55 PM
“If nothing else people should be thinking for themselves ”
Is that possible?
So, it seems clear that Celtic is a suitor for Eddie Howe’s signature. It also seems, just as clearly, that he would prefer to join an EPL club – any EPL club – in preference to Celtic.
This is a metaphor for the state we’re in – too big for Scotland yet not rich enough to be a major force in European football. Of course, this would change at a stroke if we gained access to the EPL’s financial doping systems.
Most supporters, I think, would welcome this and Celtic’s fan-base might widen to include English members of the Irish diaspora. Whether or not those charged with public order would welcome possible fortnightly clashes with the English Defence League etc. is much more moot.
Bigbhoy
“In 1952 Russian teams played in the Soviet Union League. Russian league didn’t start till 2001”
Of course it was a USSR league back then but I confined my question to Russian based teams in both the USSR and Russian leagues.
The only correction to make is that Zenit was relegated from a USSR league and have never been relegated since it became a Russian only league.
SETTING FREE THE BEARS FOR RES. 12 & OSCAR KNOX on 2ND APRIL 2021 3:47 PM
From the pre-season games (yes I know it was pre-season) It was clear that Edouard was not 100% committed, many rumours of clubs interested in Odsonne over the summer of course much is paper selling, however, an Italian journalist recently reported that Inter Milan made a late transfer window offer regarding an initial loan deal and subsequent permanent transfer, whilst out walking with that Hamilton Tim fella during pre-season I opined Lennon needs to sit down face to face with Odsonne ascertain exactly where his head and heart lie if it’s not with Celtic cash in, sadly for me Edouard has been a major disappointment on what was to be a historic season french eddy was retained as our talisman to achieve that ambition, our talisman failed badly. Eddie Howe now faces the same situation, no doubting Edouard talent and ability, but if there are offers with his agent advising to cash in, plus player wants to go, then sell, different types of strikers and ways to score goals alaways available
Ajer is a player I like I’m a big fan, a 100% committed team player who often runs to help out teammates, likes to win, good athlete, technically proficient for a big man, what is his best position? RB, CB or midfield, that versatility is a bonus, I would work on keeping him at the club, we need to get up to speed as quickly as we can, I see Ajer as a player that could form a nucleus of players that Howe could use to lay solid foundations in building a new Celtic for next season, not sell
Howe really has a job on his hands, Browns revelation revealing I think low morale generally with part of his reasoning for leaving to Aberdeen was the uncertainty in who was coming in to manage the football dept he clearly had no confidence in those making that decision, I hope Howe is in place ASAP to convince the existing players that he has the personality and skill set to give them the leadership and confidence that the football dept will be a success and be a happy confident dressing room to be in, he needs time plus huge support from both club and fans
It is clearly going to be a tumultuous summer T and should give CQN much football debate as it all unfolds, IMO we have not faced such challenging issues since Fergus won his battle over 25 years ago
I can hear the keyboards going now as the keep the faith brigade disagree with their ebullient confidence that the Glasgow Celtic will succeed
From previous Thread…
Maybe a wee song for our New Manager…IF it happens ?
BIG JIMMY on 2ND APRIL 2021 12:41 PM
SQUIRE DANAHER on 2ND APRIL 2021 12:23 PM
FAO Big Jimmy
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ZVIiQ8iNvKc
………
Cheers SQUIRE mate…Ive always loved that song and I play it at home and on my local pub Jukebox.
HH
Lionroars67
I’m glad you’ve taken some time away from the hills and SherpaHammieTim to post.
You’ve been Missed.
Much missed.
HH jg