The injury crisis in central defence had an interesting consequence for Celtic’s Champions League squad, announced yesterday. As things stand, we have only two fit central defenders who have played for the club, Liam Scales and Gustaf Lagerbielke. Nat Phillips is fit but has yet to make his debut.
As recently as a month ago, Liam could have expected to be at another club by now, but subsequent events, not least his performance at Ibrox, mean he was certain to be included as one of the 17 non-home-grown players in the 25-man squad.
Had Maik Nawrocki been fit, it is unlikely that Nat Phillips would be at the club, or that Liam made the cut (he would not have played at Ibrox), freeing up an extra place which would have been taken by Alexandro Bernabei.
Liam can also play left back, so our first reserve for that position missed out. Being Scottish, Scott Bain benefited as Benjamin Siegrist missed out. James Forrest, Mikey Johnston, Tony Ralston and Stephen Welsh, Greg Taylor and David Turnbull are the other Scottish-developed players in the squad. At the rate English and German clubs have picked off our teenage talent in recent years, it is no surprise the club work to keep fringe former-youth players on the books.
Clubs from small countries face many pressures, shoe-horning so much of our Champions League hopes into only 17 players raised outside our territory is one of them.
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Reason being, we always travelled up on a Wed then
for a huge swally, last attack lol, before we headed offshore
to dry out for a week or three.
H H. Mick
. Mick
SIONNAIGH on 13TH SEPTEMBER 2023 11:43 PM
Looking forward to us taking on Dundee this weekend. Will the Green Brigade pick up from where they left off and continue their jeering? I reckon the shameless will show up and support the team ….unless we drop points. Then, they’ll do what they do best, behave like huns and jeer. Faithful through and through my arse.
Sionnaigh
I hope your a×se is well,still awaiting an answer on which of those rebs wee stop singing about since the GFA.
Reeked like a poor curry with your record of reb choices.
Onto Celtic fans called the Green Brigade,your comment,in a small part is correct numbers wise, above lacks credibility,why only them?
They most certainly not the only ones
Lisbon lions stand booing given a miss?
Jock Stein stand given a miss?
North stand given a miss?
Not only bottom but top tier too
All booing,fergus flagday like.of course no one admitted it then.
I had to walk around a lot of the ground that day,only tellin you what i heard.
Lazy(and from you hypocritical) nonsense
HH
I know the game. Will post Details tomorrow. I was there as well. 14 though.
Ok bhoys and ghirls heading out now, warm already.
How do you think my wee 3 wheeler paint machine
would look with a tricolour strapped to the side ?
Just imagine it, with the rebs blasting my ear drums as
I march round the park. 🇮🇪
H H. Mick
RAB HAWE
“Rab Hawe the Glesga Glutton
Eat 2 loaves an a pun oh corned mutton”
Anybody remember the rest of this Glasgow street song.?
I see the naughty boys of the Green Brigade have announced the Dundee United game at Celtic Park 5th November as their foodbank collection day. Typical! Just thinking about themselves as usual ;-))))
Good morning CQN from a very damp underfoot, grey skied Garngad.
The Green Brigade do a fantastic job in supporting or team, do they make the odd decision, of course. That is part of life.
We have a corrupt board and we focus on our supporters. The corrupt board and liewell will be sitting thinking yes the flak is away from us let the dreg-supporters argue amongst themselves.
Have a nice day yall.
D :)
“Bigots don’t marry the other way”
Nonsense. I have met many a bigot that married the other way. & they use that fact to get themselves out many a tricky situation when they have been called out as a bigot. Don’t kid yourself
SARGASSOSEA on 13TH SEPTEMBER 2023 9:20 PM
DENIABHOY
In the late ’60s and early ’70s we had a “Ponsonby” played on the left wing for us, at the National Savings Bank, Cowglen, in the Civil Service Saturday morning league. I can’t remember his first name.
Its the only time I come across the name as I left in 1974.
Kenny Dalglish’s wife, Marina, worked there at the same time.
CowglenCSC
There was a family named Ponsoby who lived in Carnwadric, a good tim family :)), not far from the NSB in Cowglen. Three or four Brothers and sisters. May have been John, “ponny” who played for you, por cierto.
Loving the corrupt board chat.
A wee change from stealing all the money I guess.
Green Brigade will do as they do. I agree with An T they weren’t the only ones booing and at least they kept their protest to after the end of the game unlike the whinging moaners all around me in the north stand. The Scales and Taylor abusers who seem to think transferring their anxiety and fears onto the players is somehow going to result in a better performance. The GB were however the loudest at the end for sure.
Personally I wish the so called corrupt board would actually call out the GB for the attention seeking pretendy anarchists they they are though, instead of bestowing them with tickets for away games and platitudes.
They are no different to the wee gangs of ultra types all the clubs seem to have now. Just different tunes saying ‘look at me’. Like the naughty wee child in the class seeking to be noticed.
MNCELT on 13TH SEPTEMBER 2023 5:31 PM
Celtic have spent £54M assembling the current squad of players. This puts us in position 91 in the top 100 spenders in World football. Topping the spending list is Manchester Utd, closely followed by Chelsea who both spent almost £1B.
Our CL group opponents Feyenoord, Atletico and Lazio have spent £76M, £333M and £128M respectively. This leads me to believe we are never going to compete in the latter stages of the CL and will have to punch way above our weight just to get out of the group.
https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11661/12960426/man-utd-top-world-rankings-for-squad-cost-from-transfer-fees-premier-league-clubs-dominate
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Is that the Football Observatory on the banned list now? I checked the entire top 100 and no sign of Sevco, The Rangers International Football Club, surely some mistake? Have the not spent mullions and mullions assembling their crack squad?
Saint Stivs @ 12:37am – brilliant.
Any ScotGov lurkers ….
… add this post to the Curriculum For Excellence syllabus.
“He was so different off the park from on it. On it, he was a genius. He could take the ball from me on my six-yard line and start an attack from there. He could make the ball talk.
“But when the game was done he could be so quiet. There could be a big group of us chatting and George wouldn’t say a word. He was a nice boy but very sensitive and when Davie Hay, his big pal, left the club [for Chelsea] he was lost.
Evan Williams (2016)
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A huge loss.
BY: Richard Purden
October 17, 2013
AMONG a distinguished generation of Celtic supporter there is one name that unceasingly taps into a wellspring of imagined possibilities, mythological ‘last orders’ pub stories and a talent in a league of his own. His name is George Connelly.
Last Thursday John Paul Dykes launched The Quality Street Gang at Celtic Park. Dyke’s story focuses on Glasgow’s street-fighting years, during the late ’60s and early 1970s when Jock Stein produced Scotland’s most talented and hard-working reserve side.
But what about the great hopes you knew nothing about? Tony McBride is one of those, he turned up at Celtic Park last week, after overcoming some difficult times.
As a budding youth player he won comparisons to one of Celtic’s greatest in Jimmy Johnstone from both Jock Stein and Sean Fallon, the late Sligonian in his famous Irish brogue called him a ‘pocket edition’ of Jinky.
But McBride was attracted to nefarious street life like a moth to flame. Despite the best efforts of Stein and Fallon, McBride traded first team stats for a criminal record.
Another player who struggled with discipline was Jimmy Quinn, the grandson of the legendary player of the same name also ended up on the wrong side of the law.
Sean Fallon’s emotive voice is an essential part of the narrative spine — he was given the dirty job of telling a player they wouldn’t make it and it broke his heart, to the point he would lie awake at night because he knew these young men came from tough inner-city backgrounds, from Scotland’s industrial and shipbuilding heartlands. They would never get over not playing for Celtic, adding to a long list of dysfunction and loss.
But many of those boys from sodium-lit council schemes ignited Celtic Park with an unforgettable fire.
Arguably Quality Street produced the most complete player the British game has seen in Kenny Dalglish and one of Celtic’s most-loved greats, Danny McGrain.
David Hay and Lou Macari also come from this prodigious group of players. But arguably the biggest talent of all was ‘Geordie’.
One persistent question asks why George Connelly wasn’t playing against Feyenoord in the European Cup final on May 6, 1970.
He had given the performance of his career in the semi-final scoring against Don Revie’s Leeds (Celtic won 1-0) but wasn’t picked for the 1970 final.
In 1973 amid stiff competition he won Scottish Player of the Year. Yet it was from here that Connelly entered the proverbial downward spiral.
This is the player Jock Stein had publically earmarked to replace Lisbon Lion captain Billy McNeill.
Stein stated he wanted to build a team round this versatile ‘modernistic’ talent who while often playing left-half and inside-forward could play anywhere.
He had also won worthy comparisons to Franz Beckenbaur. Jock Stein and Sean Fallon fought hard to save Connelly’s career but with “an appetite for self-destruction” he achieved his dream of near obscurity.
It’s been a hard fact for those who witnessed Connelly to swallow the bitter pill of him walking out on Celtic.
In the digital age everything is over-analysed, debated and repeated until the mystery is gone. The ambiguity as to why Connelly left Celtic continues.
He is often described as a “country bumpkin” from the Fife mining town of High Valleyfield.
He traded his village for the bright lights of Glasgow and a tough working-class dressing room where the banter was thrown thick and fast. It was a challenge. Words often associated with him are ‘shy’, ‘sensitive’ and ‘introverted’.
He was something of an outsider, his tall physical appearance, east coast accent and sense of being different marked him out for some ribbing and practical jokes that perhaps went too far.
There have also been stories of mental illness and alcoholism.
Rumours in Glasgow have always abounded that a teammate had an affair with Connelly’s then wife — it was known to be a difficult and troubled marriage.
The rumours reached such a level that Connelly’s former teammate John ‘Dixie’ Deans decided to address them in his 2011 autobiography in which he denied any involvement. He does allude to one training ground punch-up between himself and Connelly but the Fifer’s account isn’t given.
In truth Dixie Deans’ style is brash and clunky, he comes across more of a pub bore than anything else, offering a glut of platitudes and little of worth.
As Dykes points out he was a ‘controversial’ signing, bringing values into the player culture at Celtic not appreciated by Jock Stein.
Connelly had friends and protectors who looked after him in the dressing room, David Hay and David Cattanach in particular. Once they left the club, the player was left vulnerable. George Connelly appeared at Celtic Park in 2006 and released a book in 2007 but has subsequently disappeared from view once again.
Paul John Dykes’ release will undoubtedly bring him back into the zeitgeist and is a welcome addition to the Celtic canon of literature, offering a valuable and fresh perspective on one of the most discussed and celebrated stages in Celtic’s illustrious history.
At his book launch, someone was overhead to ask: “Do you think George Connelly will appear tonight?”
We were all wondering.
I wonder if Bernard Ponsonby is descended from the Ponsonby who was executed by Edmond Blackadder and his death squad on behalf of Elizabeth I and had his severed head mounted on a stick on London Bridge for all to see.
Good morning all from Govanhill.
Imo, the Quality Street Gang could well have emulated the Lisbon Lions and possibly gone even further, if they had stayed together. Real class throughout the team but especially the one and only George Connelly. I am sure every Celtic supporter who had the privilege of seeing him play will never forget him. I certainly won’t.
Potter knocks back Rangers approach according to English media report this morning.
TMWTL
Wonder if Beale knows?
George Connelly held the world record for’ Keepie Uppie ‘ he performed his act as a young Celt dancing right round the running track in Parkhead.
NotAlotOfPeopleKnowThat CSC
PHILBHOY on 14TH SEPTEMBER 2023 9:30 AM
TMWTL
Wonder if Beale knows?
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Not good for squad harmony knowing that your board are actively looking to replace the guy in the dugout. Long may the chaos continue.
Login
Bernard Ponsonby had family in the Garngad when he was growing up.
He used to visit regularly.
D 66
Abada out until 2024 according to reports from Israel this morning
“Potter rejects Rotters !”
As posted previously when he was sacked by Chelsea ….
… Graham’s surname has so many rhyming words.
A headline writer’s dream.
With Abada out long term, that should give Vata an opportunity to show us what all the hype is about.
“Celtic will be without Liel Abada for up to 𝗳𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗺𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗵𝘀 after picking up a knock in Israel training.
Reports in Israel state that the injury is worse than first feared & he could be out until Feb/March.”
If he is out until March he is effectively out for the season. Real shame. SO that is Tilio, MJ and Abada out injured. WIll BR promote Vata or stick with JF?
Scullybhoy.
Its good you put author who writes a piece,if poss can you put source of article,ie which site.thanks mate.great posting and pics HH
Por Cierto/Sargassosea
PC you are correct,there was a family of Ponsonbys who were all big tims and stayed in Boydstone Pl,and went to St Vincents primary,i remember pat,jim,john and a girl Vicky(i think) there was an older brother than those mentioned,but he was outwith my knowledge.
He must have been the one who worked in NSB(like half of carnwardric:-))
Re Bernard,he was in same company as mine celebrating big Pierres header to win the cup in 1995.
See yi at the puggy(orCP) sometime PC.
Sargassosea- did you note wee Fergus taking in our most recent victory at ibrox
HH x2
Burnley78
Cannae have you and i agreeing :-))
They are all paid up SB holders so have the same rights as all other SB holders.
i know from Celtic Park,with all season tickets now on a digital basis a gentle tap of the return key can take out a seat,row or section of our ground.its been done before and no doubt will be again.One Celtic B78.
So lookin forward to game on saturday
HH
Sore one for Liel.
So much for the luck of the Irish Brendan.
Goodness me.
BPQN
KLV
Got to give Vata a run.
Don’t see the hype to be honest but like Liam it can give him an opportunity. JF not for me thanks.
Another long term injury, not had a one or two game injury like the good old days.
Looking forward to Saturday, see if we kick on
Reo back in the room?
KLV
Anyone else prefer the days when we had one winger and two forwards? When we played two from Sutton/Hartson/Larsson or two from MCGarvey/McLair/Nicholas etc etc.
Why the need to always play two wingers and a solitary CF?
Are we playing 2 wingers or 3 forwards? Abada isn’t really a winger, same for Maeda.
Vata scoring against San Marino does not make him a star,but in his head,I think it does.Done nothing to own the hype.Should have served his apprenticeship,at Aberdeen,St Mirren,or Motherwell this full season.Do it there,and get noticed.Irish manager said”He is definitely one FOR THE FUTURE”..
Mod67,
I was there the night George did his keepie uppie. I thought he had walked up and down the pitch rather than round the running track. I think it was at half-time and the opposition were Dinamo Kiev. Could well be wrong on all of that.
I too remember George Connelly going round the touch line playing keepie uppy ay half time.
Amd his goal in Leeds
Great player
KINGLuBO
PARKHEADCUMSALFORD
You’re right. It WAS against Dynamo Kiev. My recollection is that he went round the entire running track.
The_Huddle – I think it is fair to say we set up with two wide players and one CF. They almost always play out wide and they interchange with other wingers when subbed. Playing Kyogo and Oh together would be two CFs and the closest option to what I was referring to. So Kyogo, Oh and Yang, for example.
As I said, I have a lot of fond memories of us playing with two recognised strikers but it seems to be out of fashion.
TEN MEN WON THE LEAGUE on 14TH SEPTEMBER 2023 9:22 AM
Potter knocks back Rangers approach according to English media report this morning.
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Potter knocks back Rangers (sic) approach according to an Ibrox mole who has begun ‘Operation get Beale to resign which will mean that we don’t have to pay him for his full contract’.
I know it’s a long call sign but they only had a week to come up with it!