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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Didn’t manage to catch Ciftci’s press conference but I’m sure the journos managed to slip in at least one reference to the deadclub.
Utterirrelevance CSC
Now has anyone got any advice about how to avoid being bitten by sharks on the NC coast next week?
——
yes
sit under a tree
there have been no recorded incidences of a person being attacked by a shark while sitting under a tree
FACT
Foghorn,
The very fact that nobody has ever been bitten by a shark whilst sitting under a tree, just goes to show how effective an anti-shark bite deterrent this method is.
glendalys
They wanted to ask him about his ‘a forthcoming ban’ Celtic vetoed any questions much to media annoyance.
AR sorry to hear that but had I known you were in Barra i would have arranged a welcome and arranged to have some Stornoway Black Pudding despatched to Barra -check where Barra is in relation to Lewis. Nevertheless I,m sure you had a great time there, maybe next time. Hail Hail Hebcelt
PS AR all Celtic fans are “my own” H H Hebcelt
rioskorrie … but more people are killed each year by cows than by sharks (its true) … and, where do you find cows (not in the supermarket!)? under trees!
you are obviously one of those highly paid members of the pro-shark lobby …. I’m watching you!
I’m sure we can all identify with this (shamelessly stolen from mate’s FB)
A guy sends a text to his next door neighbour:
“Bob, I’m sorry. I’ve been riddled with guilt and I have to confess. I have been helping myself to your wife when you’re not around, probably more than you. I know it’s no excuse but I don’t get it at home. I can’t live with the guilt any longer. I hope you’ll accept my sincerest apology. It won’t happen again.”
Feeling outrage and betrayed, Bob grabs his gun, goes into the bedroom, and without a word, shoots his wife.
Moments later he receives a second text:
“Really should use spell check! That should be “wifi”.”
hebcelt
my new physio is from Lewis just went back for her holidays to help her mum shear the sheep
JJ, that is too funny, never seen that one before
HH
gsu
foghorn leghorn
You really ought to tell him about those tree dwelling King Cobras though……….
Bournesouprecipe
Now why doesn’t that surprise me. Wanting to ask about a ban that hasn’t happened yet, for an alleged offence he hasn’t been found guilty of yet.
Elephants paint their toenails red so they can hide in cherry trees.
WDH are you sure it was shear she said!!!! H H Hebcelt
Still have concerns about RD as manager. Pressure on him to deliver Champions league football. Been supported in both transfers and preparation for the games. Can’t remember any other manager getting this treatment.
Pogmathonyahun…..
Almost as bad as my Otters/Oxters faux pas….:)
hebcelt
yip she was showing me photos of last years haircuts and the lovely surroundings
Weeron 16:20
Some very good points there.
Was in a great local restaurant last night – Digby Chicks – could hold its own with most of the top restaurants in Scotland, you’d love it WDH. Without googling who knows what a Digby Chick is? H H Hebcelt
hebcelt,
Indeed I did have a great time on Barra, what true Celt would not. Got sunburned there in 17 degrees last year. Managed to get some Stornoway Black Pudding in the Scullery a few weeks ago, really superb.
Highlight of my trip to Europe this year was not Monte Carlo but my brief meeting with the remarkable Delaneys Dunky at The Chandlers in Clydebank, what a Celtic man he is!
AR
antipodean red
17:10 on
9 July, 2015…
Yes, I think I recall that disagreement. Don’t recall the details, but I accept your apology….:) Kidding….!
I hold Paul67 in the highest regard and don’t for a second question his motives or character. I do find – in the media, and among blazers (not just Chuck), that there is a fair amount of thinly veiled racism at play on this story. the undertone is that if we just return power to the privileged, first world countries, everything would be fine – and of course, it wouldn’t.
It would only mean that corruption and it’s ‘rewards’ would be returned to the colonial powers,
Exiled Tim – I agree that the game here is not up to even second-tier European leagues.
All teams who play Celtic want to ‘get in our faces’ – it makes most games competitive, but lacking real quality.
We are in the wrong place at the wrong time, as the football world, especially the big five, England, Germany, France, Spain & Italy, are at the height of their money-laden existence.
Whether we like it, or, not, we are on a par with N Ireland and the Republic of Ireland now, even Welsh teams can aspire to share the EPL’s riches – Cardiff and Swansea have each benefited by tens of millions, over the past five years.
Unless we can get into a better, richer, league, I am sorry to say, I believe that we will ‘wither on the Scottish vine’
In the last ten years our crowds have gone down from circa 55k, to now barely 40k, except of course n CL nights – if this trend continues, we will be playing to 20/25k, and looking to downsize year on year – that would also, in my opinion, include ‘slicing’ the stadium.
Grim prospects, I wish to God I could be more optimistic
Hebcelt….
Will let you know the travel plans. Just as soon as the wife informs me.
Weeron
Since you are on weeron, here is my response to you from the late hours.
The part I wanted to bring forward was the risks in spending on CL qualification. I’m not saying we cannot, but I think we have to have some idea of the reasons why the risk is not being taken as much as we would like.
Auldheid
01:55 on
9 July, 2015
weeron
15:29 on
8 July, 2015
Good discussion this morning……
AULDHEID,
the Swiss Rambler is indeed a good read. It certainly highlights the disparity in TV money.
I think that the day will come when UEFA come to terms with the following:
1. It makes no sense to have ‘Big Clubs in Wee Countries’, heretofore to be known as BCWC….:) .willfully removed from the big football table. Especially in light of:
2. The increasingly boring repetitiveness of the UCL. Yes, there are some great names, but unless you are watching your own team, the seeding process renders many group stage games as meaningless.
3. One has to believe that football’s current set up (forcing clubs to play only within their national associations – and in UEFA sponsored tournaments) would not stand the test of a European court. They would rule for the clubs as they have done for the players.
I believe that this view may well have been discussed among major Dutch, Portuguese – and perhaps even a Scottish club. They may be clinging to the hope that thus can be done within the UEFA family, and that UEFA will move to a European league.
===================
I’m hopeful that the negative effect the CL has on so many clubs and on the competition itself will lead to a full European Wide League Set up withy Regional National Leagues in a pyramid arrangement.
=====================
Who knows. But in the meantime we are condemned to scrap for what we can.
So, within the financial straight jacket that we find ourselves in – there is one gamble that is worth taking. That is, getting into the Group stages. The path is clear. The pay off is quantifiable with great certainty. I really don’t understand why we don’t take more aggressive steps to qualify.
On most matters, I consider myself more cautious than most posters on here. However, this is one bet that is worth taking. Not for 20 million pounds of course. But an extra 5 million spent to try and qualify would be a decent bet. If it is one good player, we either qualify or not. If we don’t, we still have that player. If we fail again the next season, the money could be recouped by selling that player, or someone else.
I just don’t understand the mentality that says we might try and acquire a player or two IF we qualify.
Anyway, enough rambling. Back to real life.
==============
The difficulty is the level of wages that finished article players of CL qualification quality will expect. I’ve made up a back of a packet spreadsheet that tells me:
If wages are around £40K over a year that is £2.08M or £6M plus over a 3 year contract. Add in the £5M that is needed to buy such a player for he is unlikely to be brought in on a Bosman .
Over 3 years that costs £11.2M so we stand to make good money (£33M) if we qualify every season that player is with us at £15M being earned from the CL.
If only two seasons that falls to £18M and £3M if only one season and we lose £11m if we don’t qualify over 3 years..
If one player is not enough (he may get injured in his first game and his power decline over 3) the obvious thing to do is sign 2.
That reduces profit from £33M to £22M over 3 successful years, makes us £7.5M over 2 seasons and we lose £7.4M if only one season in the CL.
Three players brings in £11.2M profit over three successful seasons but we lose £3M if only two successful seasons and lose £18M if only one successful season and God forbid £33M if the players are not enough to help CL qualification over three years.
Now I am not saying we should not invest in better quality players but I think it will need more than one to actually reduce the risk of not qualifying but that also reduces the profit over three years and needs two years of qualification out of three to avoid loss.
These are back of the fag packet calculations but I think they demonstrate where the risk lies and do not take into account the inflationary impact on the wage structure at Celtic which would reduce profit levels and increase losses, or the costs of staging and playing in those games apart from player wages. Nor does it take into account the quality of player £5M and £40k a week actually brings.
In two words. “Its complicated” </strong.
Digby chick.
From watching the Italian version of Masterchef Canada .-
A smoked herring .
Been a hot one – 30 degrees at 18 53 – way down south.
foghorn leghorn
17:16 on 9 July, 2015
Now has anyone got any advice about how to avoid being bitten by sharks on the NC coast next week?
——
yes
sit under a tree
there have been no recorded incidences of a person being attacked by a shark while sitting under a tree
FACT
***
I started scuba diving a few years ago … one my first ocean dive (in Roatan), the dive master says to us ‘if you see a shark, do not try to outswim it, you will never outswim a shark …..” then he smiled and said, ‘but make sure you can swim faster than the guy beside you!’….
of course, he was joking …. I think!
hebcelt
I’ll pass the restaurant reccomendation on to My physio
Bedtime in West Oz, Ashes in the balance for the moment, good times ahead for the Celts.
AR
MiT
I heard that as two guys being chased by a tiger. One stops to put on his running shoes.
” Don`t be daft,” says his mate,” You `ll never outrun a tiger!”
” No,” he replies,” but I will outrun you!”
JJ
Auldheid :
Are you presenting your opinion as fact?
JJHS …. the old ones are the best! Sadly, I had gone to Roatan hoping to see a whale shark, but didn’t see a single one ….
weeron
Its more likely to be beavers than otters up here.
The 4 legged ones , before anyone tries to be funny.
Parkheadcumsalford
17:07 on
9 July, 2015
Tontine Tim,
It was a classic, imo. Would love to hear it chanted again regularly.
*that night we demanded a lap of honour even though we lost 1-3. Was the first time we wore crew neck tops (I think) with the white socks following shortly after.
Wee Lorraine – completes Celtic quadruple
Auldheid :
In 2 words… it’s hypothesis.
Grim prospects, I wish to God I could be more optimistic
So do I csc
kitalba
18:06 on
9 July, 2015
Auldheid :
Are you presenting your opinion as fact?
============
What part of that post makes you think that? I thought I had made it pretty clear that I was presenting factors not facts.
kitalba
18:17 on
9 July, 2015
Auldheid :
In 2 words… it’s hypothesis
===============
In which case argue the case.
I used to date a nice girl but when she told me she was a plumber i said, ‘it’s over flo’.