Trying so hard not to get drawn in to transfer window nonsense but our old pal Chris Sutton got the better of me last night on BT Sport. He has been assured Moussa is happy to stay at Celtic this window (presumably by the player himself, or his agent), so concludes that somehow Chris Davies is undermining the player by suggesting he is not playing due to transfer speculation around him.
I have not spoken to Moussa’s agent but I have heard lots about him. He is thoroughly professional and if Chris Sutton did manage to get a word from him, he is likely to have been 100% on-message. There have been no amateur dramatics from Moussa’s side, but that doesn’t mean the world and Own Coyle’s auntie doesn’t want to sign him.
January is famously a rubbish month to sign players, so if anyone wants to acquire Moussa, Celtic will hold out for top price. The same is true for our signing targets. Brendan has significant funds to spend, but the last thing he needs is to load the squad with more of the same.
When the manager arrived 18 months ago, improving results was a fairly straightforward proposition. Now, after twice qualifying for the Champions League and winning all four domestic trophies available to him, the job of improving Celtic is considerably more difficult. These are the joys of planning for successive trebles and a third consecutive season of Champions League football.
We are a week away from the window closing and the ball is in play, but you will not receive a bling hit this month, just to keep everyone happy. We will do the right deals or no deal, like it, or, express mild frustration, followed by a cognitive alignment indicating acceptance of the inherent wisdom. Or just lump it.
Being able to hold your nerve is another joy of planning for a successive treble.
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376 Comments- Pages:
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Hamilton Tim
Peter Chapman, Tory. Lewis MacDonald Lib. Tom Mason,Lib & Mike Rumbles Tory against the bill
Maria Gougeon SNP for the bill.
HH
…an’ a penalty an’ awe………
We started tonight 11 points ahead of our closest rivals. We’ve finished tonight 11 points clear of our nearest rivals.
HAMILTONTIM on 24TH JANUARY 2018 9:33 PM
Huge day tomorrow folks with the vote taking place in Holyrood on James Kelly’s bill to have the OBaF Act repealed. Please if you’ve not done so already, click on this link it’ll only take one minute.
https://t.co/h8iG8Zh6TX
Football fans not criminals.
——————————————————————————
I’ve received replies from the following stating that they intend to vote to repeal the OBAF legislation :
Jeremy Balfour – CONSERVATIVE
Alison Johnstone – GREEN
Andy Wightman – GREEN
Kezia Dugdale – LABOUR
Neil Findlay – LABOUR
I replied to all above thanking them for their response and reminding that the vote is tomorrow.
I received no reply from the following :
Gordon MacDonald – SNP
Gordon Lindhurst – CONSERVATIVE
Miles Briggs – CONSERVATIVE
Good movie on Flm 4 @ 11.05 Man on Fire
11 points clear not to be sniffed at:))
Bring on the Hibs we owe them a doing!
*Film 4
FASTBHOY on 24TH JANUARY 2018 9:40 PM
Aberdeen could easily have scored 6 goals tonight, Foderingham as to be man of the match.
=============================================================================
Yes, they had several excellent stops from Foderingham,but it was all in a compressed passage of play.
Aberdeen were hopeless,never kicked a ball until last 10 minutes,and were 2nd best all over the park,they were ran ragged by all those duds and freebies we have been laughing about.
Never at any time last night at Firhill did we attack Thistle with the same degree of intensity,which for me is a concern.I recognise size of park and condition of same is a factor but I was really surprised how a bunch of loan players gelled, and effectively made Aberdeen look extremely poor.
Scum played well tonight.Used the width of the park,and kept putting good balls into the box.Aberdeen slipping and sliding all over the park.Dont think I saw a Hun slip.Christie,poor.GMS missed a sitter at 0 0.
Very good result for us.Second or 4th,for the Huns,who cares?.
Fess
As expected but thanks so much for making the effort mate.
Natknow
If you don’t mind, try again. You’ve been kind enough to try before so you know it’ll only take a minute.
HT
Just emailed the 4 msps who didn’t respond to my first email.
Claire Adamson, Alison Harris, Graham Simpson and Margaret Mitchell.
So far the replies I’ve had have been in favour, yet the same generic replies as everyone else.
Hail Hail
Dont think anyone has taken into consideration the two surfaces we have played on.Terrible.Celtic Park surface is dreadful,Firhill the same.Tonight Ibrox looked very good,even with the weather.The Emirates surface looked like a bowling green.The Tattie fields do not suit our style of play.
sevco are a far better team than they were 6 months ago
LARSSONSE7EN on 24TH JANUARY 2018 10:02 PM
Pretty much every reply from every politician from every party has been the generic party response. Previously that would have been dreadful news but with the change in the SNP majority we’re very hopeful that this will see the end to the Act.
Without a doubt the efforts made by ordinary supporters to contact their MSPs regarding this legislation has made a significant difference.
BIG-CUP-WINNERS on 24TH JANUARY 2018 9:54 PM
Absolutely.
I trust Brendan & Chris Davies. I think it’s fair to say they’ve earned it. I’m also relaxed about the principle that signing people for the sake of it is a garbage strategy.
I’m less relaxed about the trajectory of our current form. Thought we were great second half last night, but we are worryingly vulnerable at times. Remarkably I would be worried about playing Sevco at the moment. The team’s just not quite right. I wonder if it’s because any number of guys are already in the departure lounge in their minds – Moussa, Armstrong, Jozo, Boyata. Also the injuries to key players – Armstrong, Paddy, Rogic.
We’ll win the league, but I’m less confident about the Scottish Cup, I also think we’ll be looking at quite a dramatically different team next season. All fine with me on the proviso we never, ever allow the Huns another sniff of the title. That would be negligence given all of our advantages and their financial weakness.
HAMILTONTIM on 24TH JANUARY 2018 10:01 PM
Natknow
If you don’t mind, try again. You’ve been kind enough to try before so you know it’ll only take a minute.
———————————————–
Already done so mate – great minds etc! :-)))
1 ) ” RON67 on 24TH JANUARY 2018 10:06 PM
sevco are a far better team than they were 6 months ago”
That is more praise than I have noticed you ever giving to Celtic.
2 ) BBC site:
” Hamilton’s Greg Docherty has agreed terms with Rangers and is expected to complete his move to Ibrox on Thursday.”
….and it`s a goodnight from me. Goodnight.
JJ
PETERLATCHFORDSBELLY
… their financial weakness.
A weakness which sees them continue to sign players while apparently being in dire financial straits. Very strange.
Natknow
I kinda knew you’d already have done that!!! Cheers sir Hail Hail
Celtic’s choice when trying to sign players is restricted less by money than by potential signings’ indifference to the SPFL.
Big question for any potential signing is “will they play in Scotland?”
NO.
What about playing for Celtic?
Well maybe, but only on CL nights with the tifo,singing, Zadok the Priest & Europe wide coverage etc.
That sentence should tell us all about what our place in the football food chain truly is.
Celtic’s choice for signings come from 4 sources.
– Exciting young up & coming players with potential (fill in you own list of these)
– Good pros who have some connection to Celtic or the Manager (fill in your own list of these)
– Older pros offering something to team/tactics & on shorter contracts (fill in your own list of these)
– Youth players who’ve come through our system (fill in your list of these)
We are stuffed by a sellers/players market when we want to buy & stuffed in a buyers/players market when we want to sell. Because we play in one of the lowest rated leagues in Europe on the fringes (literally & figuratively) on the football world. Tiny European nations like Iceland show that size is only relative to success if you want an excuse for failure.
Oldco showed that if you throw enoughmoney at enough people then some will play anywhere, but then again, they had to lie, cheat, break the law & stiff hundreds of creditors and their own fans to do that.
I don’t know the Celtic board’s transfer window priorities but if they didn’t have one eye on how much they were spending & on what players then they should be sacked for incompetence. Very obviously they do not have a bottomless pit of money to spend on players & neither do they have the same access to the level of players that Oldco signed during that club’s own Armadgeddon years – for reasons stated above.
Celtic’s signing policy for talented players from abroad has been very clear for years. Buy their potential, with the risks inherent in that, and then sell on their added value potential after they have impressed for Celtic in Europe. It doesn’t always end in a Van Dijk or Wanyama – but that’s the risk element Celtic have embraced.
Funnily enough, these players with potential sign for Celtic because of the potential that Celtic can offer them. Their intention is to use Celtic as stepping stone to one of the more lucrative leagues (usually the EPL) & Celtic accept that proviso when they sign them. This means that their contracts will contain clauses that either have a transfer trigger money clause, and/or a specified transfer club clause. The understanding between Celtic, these players and their agents is that they will agree to sign under these conditions only. Celtic offer them a good potential for onward transfer to the EPL. Our reputation for developing players who remain fit, focused & disciplined ensures that we will continue to recruit Van Dijks & Wanyamas.
Which brings us precisely to where we are with Moussa. He may go in this window but that has more to do with which EPL club offers how much money to both Celtic and to him than on his desire to move at this time. It seems clear that there is some interest in signing him but some clubs love playing poker until the last hour of the window.
HH
HT, hope we get the result tomorrow that you and so many others have been working for since 2012. It has been a long struggle, but tomorrow should see you all rewarded for your efforts, D.V.
HT @ 9:33
Done C, will be interesting to see the replies.
HOT SMOKED on 24TH JANUARY 2018 10:14 PM
RON67 on 24TH JANUARY 2018 10:06 PM
sevco are a far better team than they were 6 months ago
simply stating a fact , their improvement is noticeable when you consider they are starting from a low level,
i try to give my opinion on what i see and if we deserve credit then its forthcoming .
Did anybody else think that Real Madrid would score a few goals against Leganés, a team that has scored 17 goals and conceded 19 in La Liga? Goals galore my @rse.
The curse of the Pog strikes again, lol. RM 1 v Leganés 2
@The_Tman10
Hearing Falkirk are on the verge of signing 19 year old Celtic goalkeeper Conor Hazard on loan. The 6ft 6 Irish goalkeeper signed a new 4 year deal at Celtic last year and is extremely highly rated by Brendan Rodgers. Could be another good bit of business by the Bairns.
Connaire
This has been a long and arduous struggle, largely driven and supported by Celtic supporters. You, among many deserve huge credit for your efforts.
Sadly, there are still some halfwits amongst us who’re too stupid, belligerent or spiteful to appreciate what this Act is really about.
Prestonpans
Thanks J I hope you’re well mate.
CT
What are you talking about???
James Dornan MSP on STV having a go at Celtic fans last night when discussing the Act.
Been given word for Out Sam in the 3.00 at Gowran tomorrow.
The Thyestes Chase,one of the big races on the Irish jump racing calendar in the build up to Cheltenham.
Out Sam is 4/1 favourite in a 15 runner field,6 of which including Out Sam are trained by Gordon Elliott.
Any way the info is supposed to be straight from the horses mouth.
Horses talking!! Whatever next?
THETIMREAPER on 24TH JANUARY 2018 10:36 PM
James Dornan MSP on STV having a go at Celtic fans last night when discussing the Act.
——————————————————-
What was said, dude?
TTR
Dornan is an absolute clown. He’s just said that there wasn’t existing legislation to deal with sectarianism and hate crime. Yes there was and it’s still in existence for arrest at anything other than a football game.
You were on about fans last night.
I had my share of the idiots so, what happened with you?
I had drunks, junkies etc. as well as teuchters who, I upset by slagging the golden child, they were slaughtering every stray pass (they were drunk) certain players made.
Now, the Golden Child, Keiran (Luv U to Bits), don’t know if you read these pages but, and it’s been happening a lot, if you, or anyone else on my team EVER pointed to a spot were I, or anyone else should be on a field of play during a game I would feckin knock you out.
It’s not professional, your team mates are.
You are not VvD, he was the worst.
NATKNOW on 24TH JANUARY 2018 10:41 PM
He said repealing the Act would give the green light for fans to behave in a way that he heard at the Celtic game last night.
Where have CT’s posts gone?
GLENDALYSTONSILS on 24TH JANUARY 2018 10:16 PM
PETERLATCHFORDSBELLY
… their financial weakness.
A weakness which sees them continue to sign players while apparently being in dire financial straits. Very strange.
Hasn’t that always been the case? Their business is so dependent on season ticket sales that they need to feed the fans something, even if it is loans wnd the odd low cost transfer
Anyone not contacted their MSP’s ?
Here’s an excerpt from Police Scotland submission:
The Section 38 offence involves a similar ‘reasonable person’ test for the
Court as that used in Section 1 (2) (e) of the Act. In relation to this there
appears to be a misconception amongst some sections of the public that
police officers base their actions on whether or not they personally are
‘offended’ by an accused person’s behaviour when in fact officers are trained
to identify behaviour which the Court may deem offensive to a reasonable
person (or which meets the criteria of the other subsections of section 1(2)).
=====================================
Reasonable person, trained ?
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-glasgow-west-23271493
http://www.sconews.co.uk/news/19052/strathclyde-policeman-suspended-over-alleged-sectarian-offence/