I was initially surprised to hear we’re tracking a Jack-of-all-trades defensive midfielder-cum-central defender. Neil Lennon’s clear preference in central defence is Efe Ambrose and Virgil van Dijk, both of whom have been in excellent form this season, but he has backup in the form of Charlie Mulgrew, or even Mikael Lustig, who has played there before.
Defensive midfield, along with striker, is one of the key positions Celtic should be looking to strengthen; so a dedicated specialist would seem the better option, but our last outstanding specialist in that area arrived with exactly the same CV. I remember the disputes here when Neil Lennon talked about Victor Wanyama being able to play centre half. He could, but he didn’t.
It’s more important that we do our recon well than utilise everything in a player’s locker. Buying from England is usually expensive, but at least if affords you the opportunity to solicit plenty of reliable opinion on a player.
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A Ceiler Gonof Rust
00:44 on
24 January, 2014
God bless The Glorious Green Brigade and Jeanette Findlay, I hope I can dance with them all before I die.
———————————————————————————————–
I hope so too.
If so,would you be kind enough to ask her a question on my behalf?
Do you want a seat for yourself on the Celtic Board?
eddieinkirkmichael 00:44 on 24 January, 2014
Sitting up waiting on bye election result, god am I bored.
…………………………………………………………………………………..
Tune into the bools on BBC 1 its riveting, or alternatively get a dram or two.
Haud oan, I think this guy is Scottish and he’s firing green baws on a hunnish hue blue turf. Loadsa huns in the crowd, well theres loads of auld dears wi a sevco rinse.
How’s the election doing?
Macjay
You have lost me.
I honestly don’t know the point you are making re Lenny and loved ones.
Lenny has survived parcel bombs, assaults in public and private on the streets, what is a banner going to do to change the hate they feel for him or us going to change things.
Serious question, what the feck am I missing here ?
HH
THE EXILED TIM-Free the Dam 5
01:03 on
24 January, 2014
Sorry I didn`t make myself clearer.
Displaying a banner of Bobby Sands at Celtic Park may prove to be dangerous for Celtic supporters everywhere.Particularly Lenny and his family.
Just last week I felt the need to remind myself of the Shankill butchers.
They don`t need much of an excuse.
TD67
You are doing it again.
Asking, or worse telling Celtic supporters who you don’t agree with to get te feck.
That is not a mindset of a Celtic supporter, that is a hun like mindset, are you a hun in your day job ? when you are not on here agitating and dissing good Celtic people.
And if you can’t see that.
I doubt you can can sleep well at night worrying about the Tims under your bed,
Dearie me.
HH
That`s more than half an hour.
No reply.
Why not?
————————————————————————————-
macjay1 for Neil Lennon
00:32 on
24 January, 2014
The BIG question
Does Jeanette Findlay want a seat for herself on the Celtic Board?
The multitude of her supporters here surely know.
No shilly shallying.
A straight answer,please.
Gorrago.
HAIL HAIL to all.
Macjay
With all respect, I very much doubt a banner with Bobby will influence them one iota.
They hate us, always have, always will.
My point was, the support never mentioned the banner till te media ran with it, and the point still stands.
Unless you can convince me otherwise.
HH
A Ceiler Gonof Rust
00:58 on
Labour win with a turnout of only 34%, is this the democracy that everyone wants so much?
Only 1 out of every 3 people who were entitled to vote bothered to vote, something is wrong with our system.
macjay1 for Neil Lennon, no problem pal. She’ll never refuse a dance with a man as handsome as me. Consider your question asked.
Although, I doubt she’ll be interested in the small talk when she see’s me suited up with my dancing shoes on.
In fact the only gorgeous babe I’d make more of an effort for is the much maligned Annabel Goldie, now there’s a woman I’d dance all the way to hell with……..Hubba Ding, and an extra ding.
Off to bed, it’s going to be a long day tomorrow.
ACGR
628539638
new mobby number
HH
And if any hun lurker want’s to phone me,feel free,
ACGR
I will mail it to you as well.
HH
eddieinkirkmichael, that’s a pathetic turn out and it’s indicative of the apathy in the electorate.
As long as those 66% don’t whinge about the current state of affairs for the next few years I’m good with the result. I was brought up to exercise my democratic right and I vote in every election.
If people cant get off their arses to put a X on a piece of paper then they should STFU about whinging, is what I was told.
How’s the bools going?
macjay1 for Neil Lennon
01:11 on
24 January, 2014
That perception persists in spite of the orginal resolution changing about three years ago and being put forward this year as follows:
Resolution (with Supporting Statement) to be proposed at the AGM of Celtic Plc under the terms of the Companies Act
This AGM requests that the Board organises a working party on corporate governance with representatives of the Board and supporters’ organisations and with the Supporters’ Liaison Officer which will report to the 2014 Celtic PLC AGM. This report will include recommendations to improve and formalise a two-way communication structure between the supporters and the Board, and to consider in detail how the role of the Supporters’ Liaison Officer will work in practice
As you will see there is no mention of any desired outcome certainly not a supporter on the Board and certainly not Jeanette, but no matter how often it is said some folk persist to believe in the original resolution.
ACGR
Will do pal. Won’t make CQN10 but have organised a guest for Docs table. Go to London every year for a bit of theatre, food and the St Paddys dance in the Camden Irish Centre, great craic.
Looking forward to just swinging the club….no played for about 6-7 months because of the hip.
Toodle pip, aff tae bed.
Kikinthenakas
Where are all the howlers tonight ?
Flagging a bit, but still game, where the feck re you all ?
HH
Feck it, off to the pit.
Sleep well Timland
HH
KTF
Pete C, if you’re lurking this ones for you bruv.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G6ZFZ-shKJg
I hope you like it and it’s with my apology for being a twat about your beliefs last week.
Hail Hail
Happy birthday to my big brother Gerry. Me and Pedrocaravnputituponblocksman67 love you.
Have a good day and a few swifties doon the Glendal.
eddieinkirkmichael said:
Labour win with a turnout of only 34%, is this the democracy that everyone wants so much?
Only 1 out of every 3 people who were entitled to vote bothered to vote, something is wrong with our system.
That’s nothing new for a by-election.
In Australia, voting is compulsory and if you do not exercise your right to vote, you can be fined.
I disagree with that, because I consider not voting to be as much a part of one’s democratic right as voting for a particular candidate.
Speaking of which, On Sunday – Australia Day – I become an Australian Citizen which allows me to hold an Australian passport as well as granting me the right to vote.
I have to attend a “Citizenship Ceremony” with other new citizens and am required to take the pledge of allegiance etc.
Should be fun.
nakasammi
22:59 on
23 January, 2014
The last Celt out of Seville?
Probably Paul Gallacher,mugged and stabbed at bus stop ,in hospital for a few months.
—————————————————————————————————————–
Seville stadium burny hoat ,not a drop of water to be found ,Willy ‘O’ arrives late
with his napsack on his back.
” Anything to drink in there Willy?”
” Aye ” says he ,bringing oot a bottle of Glayva…I swear it was bubbling with the heat,
no takers that day.
a ceiler gonof rust
02:38 on 24 January, 2014
Happy birthday to my big brother Gerry. Me and Pedrocaravnputituponblocksman67 love you.
Have a good day and a few swifties doon the Glendal.
~~~~~~~~~~++~~~~~~~~~~
Well,after pishin masel’ laffin’ at that,there is only one thing to say…
Happy Birthday,Gerry-enjoy the Glendal!
Bloody hell,ACGR-ye were firin’ the night….
TOM
Congratulations,mate. I think my niece has joint UK/Oz nationality.
I reckon she’s gonna be over your way permanently as soon as she can.
Me,I’ll stick wi being British!
GCT
Congratulations on learning all the words to ‘ Waltzing Matilda’ and constructing
yir billabong.hh
BMCUWP
BRITISH!!!!!??? WTF need to to change hootenanay banner.
Auldheid
01:37 on
24 January, 2014
Thanks for your considered reply.
Life has taught me to look for the ulterior motive, for self interest.
I`m afraid that I fail to see what benefit the Celtic trust has been to my Club.
I would be delighted to be put straight on that score.
Tom
02:46 on
24 January, 2014
Best wishes with the lobotomy.
:-)
Australians all let us rejoice.
Interesting stuff in BARCA?
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2544675/Barcelona-plunged-crisis-ahead-Manchester-City-clash-president-Sandro-Rosell-set-quit.html
VOGUEPUNTER
Sorry about the tardy reply.
At the moment,British.
After the referendum,British. Yes or no,I will still be stuck down here.
But I have a friendly wee Scots village to retire to when I get found out,or retire,whichever comes first.
How you keeping,big fella? Still on nights,or guilty conscience?
MACJAY
if you are still around……
You and I view politics differently,and we rarely-quite-agree about the GB.
However,over the years,we have never had reason to fall out. Nor have we now,btw,just in case I had you worried,haha!
Too much of same interest at heart,ability to see another’s point of view,and humour of course-The Bells of Hell…….
The big however if is with your views on JF in particular,and on the CST in general. I do not have an opinion on either,because I have had no dealings with them.
Is it because they see wrongs in the running of Celtic which need tweaking before they become the norm? Because I certainly do. And I’m quite sure you do too.
Now,individual voices cannot be heard,we all know that the club has a few things which need to be tweaked,and a grouping of fans and associations is the only way to affect that.
I don’t think you should have such a problem with JF,but I respect your right,and your reasons,for doing so. But dissension needs to be heard.
Sorry if I’m monopolising the blog but……
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2544510/It-really-emergency-Old-Trafford-Drunk-man-calls-999-demanding-chat-Sir-Alex-Ferguson-Sunderland-humiliation.html
Presumably The Samaritans were engaged!
(I’ve waited twenty years to tell that joke…)
SpikeMilliganCSC
CELTIC face a real fight to land Rhys Williams as West Ham prepare to bid for the Australian international.
SunSport revealed on Wednesday the Hoops and the Hammers were interested in the Middlesbrough defender as a switcto Swansea stalled.
Williams’ preference has always been to move to the English Premier League.
That could sway his decision if the Hammers meet the price — believed to be around £1.5million — that Boro want for the versatile 25-year-old.
Williams said: “The way things stand right now nothing formal has been said to me but I am aware there has been interest.
“I am just keeping my mind wholly on the football side of things and if the club does want to sell then that’s out of my hands.
“What I can do is concentrate on playing well — which I feel I have been doing this season — and then we will see what the future brings.
“Middlesbrough’s a great club and with five wins from our last six games we are only five points out of the play-off places.”
Williams — who can also play a holding midfield role and at right-back — insists he’s been happy with his form this season, especially when he’s played as a stopper.
He added: “Things have been going well for me.
“Even when we were struggling I thought I was doing okay.
“The results weren’t there and when that’s the case individual performances can get a bit lost.
“I really think centre-half is my best spot.
“It’s where I feel that I am at my most effective and obviously I have an eye also on the World Cup, where I feel there are places up for grabs in that position.”
CELTIC are in talks to sign Israeli striker Omer Damari.
SunSport can reveal agents for the Hapoel Tel Aviv hitman have been in Glasgow this week.
Hoops boss Neil Lennon has been tracking Damari for three years, and admitted he was on his wanted list back in June 2011. Now sources in Israel claim Lenny is again in the market for Damari, 24, as he continues his
search for a prolific frontman.
Hapoel are resigned to the fact they must sell Damari, the league’s top scorer who has netted 12 goals in 18 games.
Hapoel have been engulfed by cash problems this season, and now the Hoops hope to take advantage.
Last week Spanish side Celta Vigo tried to land Damari on loan until the end of the season, with an option to buy him in the summer. But their £250,000 loan bid was thrown out by Hapoel.
The Hoops could look to strike a similar deal, or push through a permanent move for around £1.2million.
Damari would likely be refused a work permit as he has not played 75 per cent of Israel’s games in the last two years, meaning Celtic would have to plead their case if he does sign.
Damari was at Maccabi Petah Tikva when Lennon first considered a move for him, but despite reports claiming a deal was close, the move did not happen.
TWISTS N TURNS
Thank f… you’re alive!
What happened to everyone else?
Safety first as Celtic prepare to take a stand
Graeme Macpherson
Football Writer
Friday 24 January 2014
THERE may be safe standing areas in the SPFL Premiership next season without the need to deploy the bulldozers.
Safe standing areas continue to be popular on the continent
The creation of the new governing body last summer brought about a raft of changes, one of which slipped largely unnoticed under the radar amid chat about play-offs, pyramid systems and a fairer financial distribution model. Gone is the previous requirement for clubs to have 6000-seater arenas to play in the top division, replaced by proof that they can meet the bronze standard in the Scottish Football Association’s club licensing manual. That means, among other things, having a minimum of “500 covered places”, whether standing or seated. Should Alloa Athletic, for example, make it up to the top division then there is nothing in the regulations that would stop them from continuing to use the terraces at Recreation Park next season.
Oh,btw…
Oul’ Irish acquaintance finally tracked me down on Monday.
“Bin lookin’ f’ya,horse”
Man of few words,it runs tomorrow.
Local stable,out of form(IMO)and first time at the distance.
Hmmmm….
Rangers director King: Listen, we simply can’t risk a 6-0 battering at Celtic Park
By STEPHEN MCGOWAN
Former Rangers director Dave King fears a savage programme of cuts will leave the Ibrox club unable to halt Celtic’s title-winning momentum.
Reacting to news of Rangers players being asked to consider wage cuts of up to 15 per cent King remains committed to investing heavily in the club via a new issue of shares.
As Chief Executive Graham Wallace tries to slash the club’s losses before seeking fresh investment, however, South Africa based King tells Sportsmail in a wide-ranging interview of his fears that could hand Celtic a free run at 10-in-a-row.
Fears: Rangers director Dave King believes a programme of cuts could hinder Rangers’ chances of halting Celtic’s title-winning momentum in the future
What is your view on the proposed Rangers cut-backs by Chief Executive Graham Wallace?
‘My view has been very clear from the start and it hasn’t changed. I think the club require a level of investment in the playing squad that allows it to hit the ground running when it gets back into the SPFL Premiership.
‘My view has always been that the funders should be like-minded people who are willing to come in and fund ahead of what’s required to win the leagues they are currently in.
‘If we cut the club back to a level that’s just enough to win the League One or the Championship then that’s fine. But the gap between ourselves and Celtic when we get to the Premiership will be obvious.
‘And it will render Rangers a small club in SPL terms for a longer period of time than need be.
‘I’m concerned that because the shareholders there at the moment don’t have the appetite or willingness to invest ahead of getting back to the top league we will be really short in terms of the financial and on-field strength.
‘No one wants to see Rangers finishing sixth or something like that.
‘That would be absolutely horrendous. And certainly contrary to what I would want to do with the club.’
The counter argument is that they are losing £1million a month. Even Rangers can surely only spend what they earn?
‘They shouldn’t be losing £1million a month. There is no question that you must run the business at an appropriate level – that is clear.
‘But I have seen comments that they could run it with the Dundee United wagebill and make a profit.
‘They could even run it with the Dundee or Stranraer wagebill and make a profit because of the revenue a club like Rangers has.
‘But if you run a club like Rangers on the budget of an East Fife it makes Rangers an equally small club.’
But wouldn’t the cuts allow the club to stockpile cash for the Premiership as you suggest?
‘Look, we have a situation where they had a fund-raising exercise where they raised tens of millions of pounds.
‘One would have thought that that amount of money for a club operating in the third division with the revenue Rangers get for home games compared to the competition would have meant Rangers comfortably winning the third division and running up a surplus which would allow them to slowly move up the leagues and upgrade the quality of player as they go.
‘In the latter half of the final season in the Championship they could significantly improve the squad.
‘But they have not maintained a strong financial platform.
‘We know now the money has been wasted on legal fees, wasted on so many different areas.
‘But I don’t feel the club should respond by cutting the costs to the point of saying ‘we only have to do what is necessary to beat East Fife or whoever.’
‘Because if you do that Celtic will build up to 10-in-a-row and we could be so far behind them that even when we are back in the Premiership we are not in a position to catch up.’
So there has to be a middle ground between the cuts proposed by Graham Wallace and lavishing cash on the team?
Finding middle ground: King believes the club need to spend appropriate sums of money
‘Yes. It’s about finding the middle ground and the balance between losing money and doing what it takes to win.
‘You certainly don’t want a Premiership wage structure to win the third division or even the second division.
‘Your costs have to be appropriate. But just cost cutting per se and doing just enough to get by in the lower leagues is not what the fans pay for.
‘The fans are not paying East Fife prices for season tickets. So they should get more on the pitch than the level they are at.
‘We have not used the opportunity created by being forced down to the lower leagues to start blooding youngsters and getting them mentally attuned to the demands of winning titles with Rangers.
‘Young players allied to a kitty to bring in the level of players needed to compete with Celtic was the way to go.
‘Celtic are getting stronger financially. They have sold the McGeadys, the Hoopers, the Wanyamas and they are building up a reserve.
‘They have cut their cloth and they are going to be in such a strong position with the revenue coming in that the gap may just be too large for us to bridge.
‘That is my concern. Cost-cutting is not going to help us when we get to the Premier League.
‘Because we could go into the SPFL top tier and finish fifth.
‘The only alternative is someone having to open the taps up – and you can’t just buy a whole new team in a season. You can’t do that.’
Do you fear that the cuts might even endanger the smooth path back to the Premier League for Rangers?
‘Absolutely. Rangers ambition should not be to be slightly better than the teams in the first division.
‘We really have to have a team, next year in particular, which is strong enough to prevail.
‘We have to get through at the first time of asking next year.
‘We have to be in a position to go up to the Premiership and we have to be in the position to launch a challenge to Celtic.
‘There is no guarantee we are going to beat Celtic in the first season – infact it’s unlikely.
‘It would be a miracle if Rangers were to go on and win the league the first season back.
‘But, similarly, we cannot risk going to Celtic Park and being battered 6-0.
‘We can’t start losing 3-1 to Hibs and Aberdeen and accepting it.
‘Saying, “we are in a period of adjustment, it’s not too bad a season,” is not an option.
It’s totally unacceptable.’
Should boardroom executives be shouldering more of the burden for cut-backs?
‘If the CEO of the company has no money he has no choice but to cut wages and costs any way he can.
‘But then Rangers are going to be a small club.
‘They need an investment profile and what I was expecting post AGM was for the board to say, “we understand we have a funding gap, we understand we have to go and raise funds to start preparing Rangers for the inevitable return to the Premiership. We need to start bringing a youth squad through, we have to start scouting and having a proper preparation for challenging Celtic.”
‘And that would require the raising of funds in the marketplace.
‘But it seems to me they are either unwilling or unable to do that.
‘So what they are saying is, “we will cut the costs to make sure we do not need money.”‘
‘Which effectively means living on the fans season ticket sales.’
Graham Wallace says he could speak to you about investment once the cuts are made. Should he be doing it now?
‘I think that’s a decision they must make.
‘For me there is no problem with any CEO making cuts to right-size the business if that’s what they want.
‘But the fans deserve more than the downsizing of Rangers to compete in the Scottish first division.
‘They deserve a team which is superior to the competition in the lower leagues because they are paying for that.
‘They deserve to see a progression in the quality of the finances and the players on the pitch as they move up the leagues so that we enter the Premiership in a competitive frame of mind.
‘My concern is that we are making the club smaller. And that we are creating a gap.
‘That’s not the fault of Graham Wallace because he is the CEO and has to deal with what he has got.
‘It’s an issue relating to the board who should be having a rights issue – and that could mean the existing guys putting the money in if they want.
‘The club needs a level of funding that allows it to go forward above the level they are competing in and make sure they have a fighting chance in the Premiership.
‘I would never have expected us to go into the Premier League and come worse than second
‘I’m mentally not attuned to the possibility of going up there and coming fourth of fifth.
‘As a fan I would find that quite unacceptable and I don’t think Rangers should be run as a club which finds it fine to finish fourth or fifth while saying, “that wasn’t bad for a first season back.” The worst we must do is finish second.’
Have you had any communication at all from the Rangers board since your offer to invest after the AGM?
‘None at all.’
Bobby
Drop me the name of the nag……..please.