Occasionally an innocuous comment left here can stay with you for years. The day following the 2005 defeat in Bratislava someone wrote, “I suspect we’ll find an injury in Nakamura’s fitness test”. The player was scheduled to sign imminently, but with Champions League income looking unlikely, doubts emerged that Celtic would pay the money.
Soon others expressed doubts that Shunsuke would want to come, but within 48 hours of that defeat, he was sitting in front of the media at Celtic Park. I was there, among a gaggle of Japanese and Scottish journos, when one of the locals asked why the prospect of being without European football didn’t put him off.
Shunsuke handled the question perfectly, “I am not here for six games of football, I have signed for Celtic and hope to play here for many years.” Rumour has it that not everyone in the dressing room back then was equally as enthusiastic about life in Glasgow.
I’ve heard lots about Wakaso Mubarak in recent weeks, he appears to be a genuine talent, as well as being spirited. What is most appealing about him is that he wants to be here. This deal would not have happened if the player was not absolutely committed to coming to the club, and making his stay a success.
Back in August 2005 we didn’t know what we were getting with Naka, and I’m not going to burden Wakaso with a comparison to a player who turned out to be a transformational legend, but we need players with big personalities who can walk into the dressing room with the determination to be there, just as Naka did.
Welcome to Celtic, Wakaso. Be yourself and you’ll love Glasgow; Glasgow will love you too.
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Patrick27:
Was it really offered though?
Oldco were liquidated.
Newco were born.
Fans of Oldco were persuaded (or just had to) transfer allegiance to Newco.
Newco will progress up the leagues until they arrive in the SPFL. Eventually :o)
Newco were assisted in their quest by the SFA just as much as Oldco were in surviving.
None of that is or was ever in doubt. None of it.
Newco with the club-less and aimless fans from Oldco, was a commercial opportunity that drew the sharks from all over looking for easy pickings. Their fans and other investors have been stiffed.
The cast of delboys that have come and gone (some staying) tells its own story.
No one with any knowledge of Scottish football could ever believe that they were gone, not to return.
Enjoy the break from the hate filled fixture. We will miss the calm when we have to face them 4 times a season.
Glasgow Royal Infirmary CSC
HH
My advice on Referendum, England with the continuing growth of UKIP is likely to become more right wing than ever. Strong support for withdrawal from EEC. Get out while ye can.
My advice to Peter Lawell. Don’t sell Virgil or Kris, It could be the straw that breaks the camel’s back.
My advice to the rest of ye. Keep the Faith.
My advice to my daughter on just discovering that her upcoming wedding clashes with an upcoming Europa League game. Well better not go there.
Mrs. corkcelts advice to me, Get off the bloody Computer.
Think I’ll take my wife’s advice.
Adieu All.
traditionalist88
15:02 on
28 August, 2014
Catman
I thought Scepovic held a Spanish passport and so did not require a work permit?
HH
___________________________________________________________
No info on what passport the Serb holds but have been told a work permit application today has been successful
BRTH – yes, yes a thousand times yes.
It aint gonna happen though is it – unless you know what Ruperrt is thinking?
Catman
Ok cheers, will await further info, hopefully its a done deal then whatever criteria he needs to fulfill,
HH
Had lunch today at The Crab Shakk in Finnieston.
Scallops. Glass of White. Very nice.
While I was there I was thinking about all the different things that had to happen in order to get this meal on my plate.
Lets forget the centuries of countless centuries of human endeavor.
At that daydream moment I thought of all the tradesmen involved in building that little restaurant, from the joiners, tilers, plasterers, electricians and plumbers who fitted the place out back to the manufacturers of the fixtures and fittings and to the convoys and supply lines for all the raw minerals that made the fabric of the place. I thought of the skilled and unskilled workers who made everything from the cutlery and crockery from the napkins and the fabrics of the seat I sat upon, to the ovens and pots and pans. I thought about the chef and his years of training and the waiters and waitresses, the barman’s lives that led them to that moment in time. I thought of the fisherman, the vineyard workers and the sommelier, I thought of the farmer who milked the cows and the factory where they churned the butter. The printers and designers of the label on the wine and the packaging of the boxes that the herbs and spices, salt and pepper came in.
I thought of a million other little details that went into getting something as simple as a plate of Scallops and a glass of White Wine set there in front of me to enjoy.
And as the moment passed it dawned on me that life isn’t so bad after all.
Celtic are always in my thoughts. In a similar fashion I thought of all the fine details that go into a match day experience for me. And I soon realised that failing to get the the Champions League ain’t so bad after all. A lot worse things could have happened.
Things have gone wrong in the fine details and need to be righted. But if we all pull together we can forge a way forward.
I’m determined now to enjoy the Europa League.
Win, Lose or Draw. What the hell do we care?
Sevco would have been gone by now, just like their horrific knuckle dragging ancestors.
If certain people had a mind to query the sevco shenanigans.
But no….the Celtic Aristocracy remain silent, they don’t want to rock the bigot boat.
Shhhhh….
HH
Brogan Rogan Trevino and Hogan supports Oscar Knox, MacKenzie Furniss and anyone else who fights Neuroblastoma
“Answering yes or no would you be happy with Celtic playing in the English Championship”
———————————————
Yes, the question about playing Sevco again would also answered.
HH.
stevo
OK – back to a sensible topic.
Arsenal are a well run club and do try to operate some of our “Moneyball” principles, but they do so within the confines of an EPL enjoying all the un-earned income that comes their way and allows them to operate sensibly at a more rarified transfer level than us. Nonetheless, Arsene Wenger, Ivan Gazidis, and Peter Hill-Wood have received the same flak as their counterparts in Celtic, for failing to adopt the same sugar daddy and bloated finance tactics employed by their rivals, Chelsea, Man City and United. They even pointed out that an under-achieving SPurs outfit was outspending them. Make no mistake, Arsene’s jacket has been on a shoogly peg, and still is, as he sticks to his principles and loses out on title and cup achievements to financially cheating clubs.
Porto, Like Lyon in France in the noughties, are enjoying a purple patch in Portugal. They have won 20 of their 27 Portuguese titles since 1984 and 9 out of 12 league titles since 2002. Still they finished 3rd last year as their two rivals beat them down to 3rd in the league. They have 9 Brazilians in their current squad, enjoying the lax Portuguese rules on dual nationality registrations, a pass Celtic cannot employ. Benfica actually have 6 more titles than Porto, and more of a worldwide fan base, perhaps even than Celtic.
Portugal also has twice as large a native population from which to recruit (and Arsenal have 10 times what we have) so I think you have given me some superior benchmarks with which to compare.
Just in and disappointed to see Paul taking stick. Yes, he’s sympathetic to PL, but you factor that in when reading his stuff. It’s a small concession given the forum he provides for us, the intelligence of his writing and the insight it gives us into the Board’s thinking. We owe him a debt of gratitude, not criticism.
On the issue of the day, another loan signing of an unknown doesn’t placate me for Maribor or the general downsizing strategy. Judging by the changing tenor of debate on here Lawwell is finally exhausting the patience of the support and at this rate it won’t be long before significant numbers begin voting with their feet on a Saturday. Good luck to Ronny who strikes me as a really good guy, but he’s got Lawwell’s patsy written all over him. Yes we operate in a hopeless football environment, but there is no excuse for losing to a wee team from Slovenia who aren’t any good, but are still miles better than us. This is the worst team since before Tommy Burns and it’s a product of a deliberate strategy. One that relies on the punters paying more and more to watch less and less. Players like Berget? Give me strength. The balance of opinion is finally swinging against this strategy. Would love to know Lenny’s honest views on the matter.
Barcabhoy 12:34
Sorry cant c&p but I agree with your observation.
HH
Greenpinata:
Well mate, that is one argument I find hard to go up against.
If we were there and they were not it would, finally, end this absurd talk of us being two heads on the same coin, this nonsense about the OF (I never use the phrase when I can avoid it) and this perception of us that we are “as bad as each other.”
Never, ever, having to face any version of them again would be the one compelling factor that might sway me.
Wakaso: ‘“I had no concerns after Tuesday’s loss. They say you should appreciate what you have in hand because we have Europa League and although we wanted Champions League, losing is part of football so we have to appreciate what we have now and make use of it because the Europa League is also a good competition.’
SFTB
Arsenal and Arsene have stepped over the precipice. They have spent £60million this summer and will spend again before the week is out on a foreword and a midfielder. They might break the 100m barrier. This doesn’t account for Ozil when they finally succumbed to the fans desire to spend like their rivals.
Arsenal are just like the rest now and will of course battle it out for the sky-inspired ‘race for fourth’ behind 3 other big spending maniacs.
Portillo comment:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=saDBQ2myV38
stevo
14:30 on 28 August, 2014
Looks a lot like Che Guevara
Your points are hard to violently disagree with.
I did say he should have a seat at the top table just not at the head of it.
I did not say anything about ‘a football man having the cheque book’
My point was really that he can only behave the way his education and experience tells him (same as you and me) and that it’s not going to change.
We should be getting better every season given the magnitude and income of the club but we seem to be getting worse. Just to be clear – I don’t mean spending more than we earn but the transfer market surplus is more than excessive.
I don’t believe this week is as a result of RD becoming the new manager – I believe it the result of several years of non-investment.
I also made the point the other week that I would happily pay more for the season card if it guaranteed investment and I am sure others who are able would also be willing to do the same. I don’t need a free badge or scarf if I join a global membership – but I do need better on pitch
________________________________________
I understand your point. I’ve known a few stereotypical CAs in my time. I would disagree that PL is one. He is a very commerciallly minded senior manager with the expertise. Wouldnt you rather have a CA of that level in the tent, out than other CAs/ Bankers outside, in? I would argue that his education and background as a Working class Glaswegian Celtic supporter make him very suitable for the job he has. I remember the days we had Sir Patrick Sheehy, Brian Quinn etc on the PLC Board. These guys were supreme heavyweights in their field. Their recommendation was substantial. PL passed their test.
I agree with you completely. I am also not a fan of CEO CA’s or even FD CA’s whos only perspective is reduce costs to allign income, or to increase profits or balance sheet. I dont believe PL to be one of those. Uk business is notorious for Short term actions at risk of medium and long term security. Commercial reality and medium long term business planning when short term pressure in terms of cash, income or investment is always there. The easy decisions are easy.
If ever there was a time to experiment with a new, possible successful long term strategy its now, its here. I hope it succeeds.
Yogiy
I am aware of Craig Murray’s position and his great work on revealing the extraordinary rendition Scandal. We have known scoundrels operating within the government of the UK. That does not change my position or thinking as I cannot believe the fantasy that we will not have scoundrels operating within any future stand-alone (ha!) Scottish Government.
The union of 3 countries and a statelet is not defined by its tawdry record in Iraq anymore than it is in its heroic stance in WW2. I am aware of no goverment that has no scandal and disgrace in its past, so, unless you want to throw away all government, then you still face the challenge to reform from within or break away.
sftb
Why do you mock our country’s ability to stand alone?
So today would appear to be the feast day of St Flounce I must have missed it.Bottom line is that this is a blog if you don’t like it or get annoyed at no one agreeing with your point of view then go somewhere else.
My particular bug bear with the site at the moment (and one for which I have no plan to flounce) is being told by so called Celtic fans who no longer go to watch the team telling me that I should follow suit and I’m stupid if I don’t.Sorry ain’t going to happen,I watch Celtic because I’m a Celtic supporter its really that simple.
Next general election,a UKIP/tory alliance lead by Boris Johnson God forbid,vote YES!!!
The Green Man
15:28 on
28 August, 2014
No they wouldn’t. Even if they’d have started at the very bottom they’d work they’re way back. You could argue that by doing what they did, they’ve maybe hastened their own demise again.
I think we’d all admit that a large part of their support is purely about being the opposition to Celtic, so they’d have maintained a core support bigger than almost every other team’s on that basis alone.
For me their death is all about their midden. Provided that’s standing there will always be a ‘Rangers’ even under a completely different guise.
Catman
Anything else in the pipeline ?
maybe question rather than mock
timmy7_noted:
We may slightly disagree (and only slightly) on the Celtic situation, but Douglas Carswell’s decision today makes some kind of Tory – UKIP alliance more, no less, likely.
That’s our next UK government, and our future, should we vote No. No doubt in my mind.
big wavy
15:35 on
28 August, 2014
60k capacity stadium where the cheapest season ticket is £1000 buys you a lot of players.
traditionalist88 15:31 on 28 August, 2014
Wakaso: ‘“I had no concerns after Tuesday’s loss. They say you should appreciate what you have in hand because we have Europa League and although we wanted Champions League, losing is part of football so we have to appreciate what we have now and make use of it because the Europa League is also a good competition.
……………………………….
Blessed One indeed. But is it Wakaso Mubarak or Mubarak Wakaso?
Celtic call it one way and Wikipedia the other.
HH
setting free the bears, thank you for your considered response and I fully respect your decision to vote in the way you think will give Scotland the best future. Hail Hail
Steinreignedsupreme
14:13 on 28 August, 2014
Where is the National Peoples Gang? Is he still alive :)
“Yogiy
14:46 on 28 August, 2014:
Sorry … just read that again. Cripes. I am going mad today. Too much caffeine, too much work, too little time to relax and hold a thought.
So, the actual suggestion is that if Scotland ISN’T independent there will be a problem.
That’s … unusual.
Some people at UEFA have long chaffed at the way one sovereign state was allowed two seats on the General Council. I didn’t know that continued over to FIFA.
Yeah … troubled by this actually … what the Hell are they sticking their noses into this for?”
@ James Forrest
Because a yes vote is what the internationalist pseudo marxist pseudo capitalist estoeric elites (actual fedualists with limited Marxism for those below 30 million pounds net worth and reverse Marxism for the folks and cults above that net worth, individualistic arguments mixed with conformism when what we need is empathetic individualism societisim) wan’t therefore I will not give the elite dangerous versions of the masons their will and will be voting no. Why would the want to split the Uk up? Somehow they think it will lead to a global centralized government. I’m all for globalism if it where being run by neo marxists (as in those who disregard the materialistic or conformist or anti society parts of marxism and keep only the good charitable stuff) and limited social libertarians but its being run by materialists who pretend to be neo liberals to neo liberals and centre left to lefties but are in fact fedualists who see us all as objects. Globalism is fine if it is the Chavez model of cooperative international decentralized social-centralism (a mix of socialism and charity and business, the alternative to third wayism) but international governments, police states, though police and stiffling of the individual for the supposed good of the whole? Not for me. Bi directional conformism is required so personal liberty is protect and that the individual feels a duty to those less well of than them selves and society feels a duty to protect the right of people to have opinion without being labelled insulting names or worse jailed. Mono conformism is the tool used by all shades of political totalitarians so that people become easier to control and suppress individual right in the name of the hive mind.
James Forrest is praying for The Unconquerable Oscar Knox
15:43 on
28 August, 2014
Careful you’ll get accused of scaremongering, like I have been when talking about the constituency border reforms. Despite the fact the changes were agreed in principle in 2012, were scheduled to be introduced in this parliament before the Con-Dems fell out over Lords reform and are tabled for debate in 2018.
Despite the board having a “we’re all in this together” approach when it suits them, the only official reaction to the CL debacle has been the post match comments of RD.
Surely the events of this week are big enough and important enough and have caused sufficient concern amongst the support to merit a board statement to address the justifiable concerns expressed in various ways over the past two days?
A statement to address what efforts, if any, were made to strengthen the attacking options between the date of Legia reprieve and the Maribor game;
A statement to address the allegation that the club has actively decided to downsize in recent seasons;
A statement to clarify the full circumstances surrounding NFL’s departure, including the existence or otherwise of any restrictive covenants/gagging orders;
A statement to clarify the full circumstances of the GB’s ban for the Maribor game and the position of the GB going forward;
A statement addressing what current strategies are being pursued in respect of TV revenues and whether Celtic would advocate a renegotiation or revocation of the Sky deal or a unilateral move to individual selling of match rights;
A statement to confirm what strategy, if any, is bring actively pursued in respect of any potential move to any other league or league structure;
The club’s policy on squad size;
Any development of Lennoxtown including covered facilities;
Whether there has been or will be any review of scouting systems including addressing the expressed concerns regarding the influence of players’ agents.
There are other genuine concerns not listed above which I’m sure others could list.
However, no one can deny that very real fears and questions now exist in the minds of many fans. These are not crackpot conspiracy theories or concerns. They are live and they will grow if not addressed by the board as soon as possible.
Porto sell and reinvest. We don’t reinvest.
My Benfica mate assures me that much of Porto’s domestic success is due to honest mistakios. He may be biased though. Well actually he is.
RWE
Wakaso M. on the shirt I think
HH
big wavy
Yes, Arsenal have compromised on some of their principles and it may not be the saving of them- I don’t really know enough about them.
However, Arsene might be losing impact, after 18 years in post, and may be ripe for a DoF promotion himself or a tilt at managing the French National team- they have some good talent coming through.
weeminger
I wont be propping sevco up in any way.
Those cheating bigots are a disgrace to football.
I cannot stand the thought of those vile morons, spewing their venom at CP
I had too many years of that, from their knuckle dragging ancestors.
Whatever they call them….they can burn in hell.
HH
James,agreed and very worrying indeed.Based upon many of your previous posts I believe you and I are probably very aligned politically,lets hope the YES prevails.
Vote YES.
Aiden Bhoy
15:41 on
28 August, 2014
Catman
Anything else in the pipeline ?
____________________________________________________
Looking for a left back but more likely January
HH
Things are not rosy, but there’s no point in just shouting for money to be spent for its own sake. That’s a strategy befitting you know who. If there’s enough wailing and gnashing of teeth then the wallet will open, but when it plays out like this we usually end up with players like Rasmussen, Braafheid, Kamara, Pukki and Amido.
All these loan signings shouldn’t necessarily be a worry. If PL had the foresight to get Try Before You Buy deals in recent seasons then our squad would not currently be bloated with goal-shy shadows of strikers and ex-Hibs boozers.
Ronny says he wants to turn us into a modern, progressive football team. We have to be careful we don’t make the same mistake fans of the deid club made when PLG tried to drag that lot into the 21st century.
Yes to athletes with skill, intelligence and bravery who want to play for the greatest football club in the world.
No to panic buys, over-tattooed journeymen who smoke and drink, and any player with a first-touch worse than mine.
Find a striker who can run, hold up the ball and score; see if you can offload some of Lenny’s panic buys; keep VVD and tell KC to have a word with himself.
Welcome to Celtic, young Mubarak. I’d never heard of you, son, but then I’d never heard of Lubo, Naka, Artur, Hooper, Wanyama or Virgil.