Most scouted player in years, new keeper, Balzers wreaking havoc

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A big Celtic welcome to our new goalkeeper, Logan Bailly, who joined from Belgian side Leuven yesterday, and to Nadir Ciftci, who was confirmed a Celtic player this morning, Ronny’s third and fourth signing of the summer.  And it’s only 9 July!

Craig Gordon will be difficult to shift as Celtic’s first choice keeper but Celtic rested him regularly last season, his first back in action after three years recuperating, so Logan will expect a chance to shine and stake his claim.

Nadir Ciftci should be expecting the most difficult preseason of his career.  The weeks ahead will be an intense step up from what he was used to at Dundee United, but if he responds he stands an excellent chance of leading the line on the third Champions League qualifying round, should Celtic overcome Icelanders Stjarnan.  Next week’s second round game might come too soon.

Ciftci’s every move, kick, pass and, erm…. disputed event, has been watched by Celtic for months.  They know as much about the player as it’s possible to know without actually employing him.  They will also have had the opportunity to take references from Gary Mackay-Steven and Stuart Armstrong.  In short, if we have another Pukki-Balde-Scepovic on our hands, we have more acute problems than simply another striker who didn’t work out.

For this reason, I’m sure Ciftci will deliver what’s expected of him.

Delighted to hear former Fifa executive committee member Chuck Blazer has been banned for life by the game’s governing body.  Blazer ‘came to a favourable arrangement’ (I think that’s the appropriate phrase on these occasions) with US prosecutors when convicted of tax evasion, money laundering and bribery.

Unfortunately, Fifa’s structure, which gives the Cayman Islands, the Cook Islands and Comoros more combined voting power than Germany and Spain, encourages corrupt patronage to thrive.  The money flushing through tiny countries in order to ‘develop the game’ ensures wealthy people are created, given powerful positions, from where they can be relied upon to vote the ‘right’ way.

Still, at least no one with Blazer’s rap sheet would be allowed to exploit the patronage to hand out blazers in order to wreak havoc on a vulnerable Scottish club (laughs away to himself for weeks).

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  1. Truth_Beauty_and_Freedom on

    One day we will be lucky enough to see a striker as good if not better than Henrik Larsson lead the Celtic front line once more. Who’s to say that it won’t be Nadir Cifti?

     

     

    Good Luck to you Nadir! I hope and pray that this wonderful environment that is Celtic allows you to develop to your full potential and beyond and that you go on to become a free-scoring Celtic Legend! :-)

  2. macjay1 for Neil Lennon on

    bournesouprecipe

     

    12:30 on

     

    9 July, 2015

     

     

    Right on the ball,as usual.

     

     

    But what`s that got to do with politics?

  3. The hand of God on

    Looking forward to tomorrow’s game hoping for a better show although its a friendly it is our last one before the serious stuff begins so i will be expecting a line up which will resemble our starting 11 for next Wednesday.

  4. I was one of the ciftci not for me brigade but as always anyone who pulls on the hoops will have my full support. So welcome Nadir, Logan, Saidy and Dedryck as long as you try your best we will be behind you .

  5. thomthethim for Oscar OK on

    Sorry Mike, I don’t follow you re 19’69.

     

     

    They didn’t waste much time in getting Ciftci on to the training ground and by the look of his spare tyre, not a moment too soon.

  6. jude2005 is Neil Lennon \o/ on

    I think big Nads will need to shed a few pounds!! Chubby or what???

  7. The hand of God on

    Unfortunately without being pessimistic i fear we will never see a better or indeed as good a striker as Henrik.

  8. West End of East End on

    Read earlier that as soon as he signed if was off with the suit and on with the training gear, see he has AM #2 gear on, thought he was going to be our new #7….

  9. jude2005 is Neil Lennon \o/ on

    Why is the system tell me Ive already sent this message and I havnt. Been doing this for the last few days!!

  10. Can I ask one Question Paul67?

     

     

    It’s good too see the hard work put into Cifti

     

    Ie watching every kick of the ball etc

     

     

    What were our scouts doing when they watched Pukki my mate watched Shalke every week and his comments ( and his german mates ) were slow , could not tackle ,weak, hid in games

     

    What were our scouts doing and who was removed due to Pukkigate?

  11. I was grumpy and irritated at the weekend when we lost to dukla in a meaningless warm up , think about being an argentinean after losing to chile with a team with messi higuain di Maria and all of the superstars in a meaningful game . Lesson to me don’t be a grump.

  12. jude2005 is Neil Lennon \o/ on

    Why is the system telling me Ive already sent this message when I havnt. Been doing this for the last few days!!

  13. ArranmoreBhoyLXV11 on

    HH

     

     

    Great headline banter awaits with reaching our Nadir etc..

     

     

    Excited for new season

     

     

    A buzz about the place,maestro!

     

     

     

    HH

  14. jude2005 is Neil Lennon \o/ on

    Why is the system telling me Ive already sent this message when I havnt. Been doing this for the last few days!!

     

     

    Most annoying!!!!

  15. Joe Filippis Haircut on

    Well done Celtic Cifti delivered I am looking forward to seeing him playing in the hoops.However,for the moment Griffiths is still my first team choice. H.H.

  16. From earlier.

     

    I reckon Eric Black was the last opposition player to score a hat trick against us at CP.

     

    Does anyone have any other contenders or have I,for once,got it right?

  17. the long wait is over on

    “Unfortunately, Fifa’s structure, which gives the Cayman Islands, the Cook Islands and Comoros more combined voting power than Germany and Spain, encourages corrupt patronage to thrive.”

     

     

    Genuine question – is there a more high profile yet thoroughly corrupt and universally despised organisation on the planet?

  18. mike in toronto on

    thom … no worries … obviously a poor attempt at juvenile humor on my part! :)

     

     

    … re: ciftci.. I was one who said that we needed a big physical presence up front … and I always thought Big Bad John looked out of shape, but, he was a physical force, and did the job for us …. so, hopefully, Ciftci will have the same impact. …

     

     

    although, I will admit that when I saw the photo, I thought it was Mulgrew who had really let himself go! … but I still think RD will get him in the best shape of his life, and he will do the job for us this season.

     

     

    good to see we are doing our business so early, given the CL qualifiers … .now, just a left back and I’ll be happy …. (or, if not happy, I’ll at least stop moaning for a little while).

  19. Welcome Big Nifty!

     

     

    You can now be re-born in the cleansing waters of Paradise.

     

     

    HH.

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