Absolutely delighted for St Johnstone, who recorded one of the finest aggregate results by a Scottish club in European football in the last 30 years. My brother was speaking to a Saints player this week, who told him the successful strategy and drive came from chairman, Steve Brown, a fact which Hibernian would do well to ponder today.
Malmo’s 0-7 victory at Easter Road yesterday was chastening ahead of our game against fellow Swedes, Elfsborg on Wednesday. Celtic are in a remarkably strong position now, having produced excellent on and off-field results for the first time in the modern era, but those seven goals last night (not to mention the multitudes we shipped preseason) are a cautionary tale. It’s also worth remembering that Rangers decline into liquidation was precipitated by Champions League elimination at the hands of Swedish opposition two years ago (“Larsson has scored”). Wednesday presents a huge challenge.
As soon as I heard the stadium announcement on Tuesday I knew there was trouble in store from Uefa. The second pyro punishment will lead to a heavier fine. Celtic’s statement yesterday advised of matters of concern to Glasgow City Council Safety Advisory Group, who issue stadium safety licence, regarding a whole range of issues (overcrowding, lateral movement, moshing, body surfing). What to say about 131 broken seats? Ouch.
The club and Green Brigade (whose members occupy only a part of section 111) have met and we carry on as normal for now. Question is, can either control everyone in the section? I hope so but it’s a big ask. All it takes is one off-message person keen to ‘stick it to the man’, and there’s a long season ahead. Place your bets, folks.
Our thoughts are with Paul Lennon and the Thai Tims after the news that one of the boys who sang on the Celtic videos died in a road accident while another is critically ill.
[calameo code=00039017126b6a648d717 lang=en page=128 hidelinks=1 width=100% height=500]
1,347 Comments- Pages:
- «
- 1
- ...
- 25
- 26
- 27
- 28
- 29
- 30
- 31
- ...
- 36
- »
For those demanding we spend all of the £18 million we received for Victor and Hooper, can you expand on that.
How many players ?
6 at £3 million each ?
2 at £6 million and 2 at £3 million ?
What positions ?
What about wages, where does the money come for that. Victor was on entry level money, and Gary was on his original contract. Combined they were probably on no more than £20 k a week.
If we sign 2 at £6 million then they will probably denand £30 k a week each, and the 2 to be signed at £3 million will probably demand around £18 k a week each, and then you will have 6 players all demanding £10 k a week payrise.
Its easy to say give it all to Lenny to spend on players, but the reality of that is it could cost us a wage increase of £6.5 million a year to sign 4 expensive players
Just read the GB statement.
It, like the statement from the PLC, could have been written by Edward Bernay.
A Hard Rain is going to Fall…
Nae Doubt
G’Nifght
Especially the Old Beloved Antipodeans
Roll on the old Divide and Rule…
Am a Right Or A Marangue…?
macjay1 for Neil Lennon
06:16 on 27 July, 2013
I’m a bit of a stickler when it comes to my own. Aidan is the real pronunciation, his coach still texts me the Aiden name, from him it doesn’t annoy at all as he is helping Aidan become A Strong, Fast, and Agile person, bottom line – I have no idea if he is a Tim, i dinnae really care that much about that, the guy is a Father of one of the boys in the Team, not every team can be like the under 13/14 team (assuming they have been updated on the ole website) CELTIC have assembled.
Morning all
Heading off to Motherwell for my last day working there. Praise the Lord!
Not been on since immediately after the Cliftonville game though still reading what’s being said. All seems a touch fractious for a happy clapping formerly angry young man like me..
Sorry to see Hooper go -£5m seems on the light side to me though £12.5m for Victor seems too much but what do I know? A midfielder who can run the show is needed rather than a straight replacement for VW. Too early to write of Amido but he doesn’t look a 25-30 goal a season player to me. Stokes is good but his Achilles heel increasingly seems to me to be missing easy chances. Elfsborg look a difficult proposition this early in the season and we still seem underdone.
As for the GB – well much as I enjoy the displays and fail to be offended by anything they sing- there does seem to be a Big Boy Did It syndrome when as in Udine and the other night something negative happens. Wise up Bhoys.
As I say sorry to read the negativity both towards the club and each other the last few days. The negativity towards the former is understandable as not for the first time the club seems to be happier to accumulate money rather than spend it on players for key matches but that seems to be our lot. Canamalar1’s petition to establish what Celtic (plc) have or have not done in relation to Rangers ( or whatever) seems much more important
But all this slagging off folk for disagreeing with what you think – reducing it all to personal abuse. Grow up guys. ( except when it’s me slagging off the Singing Detective)
Yours, on the last train to Airbles.
Jimbo
Jimbo…
Humm it…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VUUSdvwEC_Y
PJBhoynyc
06:38 on 27 July, 2013
Critical Thinking…..
A definite flaw in your Character. aye Right.
Delve deep into this go from 2009 earlier of after.. Read the jibber Jabber in their 3 hour titles, each week and take things from there… Unfortunately after 7, yes 7 years, they decided they had to go and do other Charity Work.
CQN – to me has kinda parallelogrammed Future Quake and Mike and Tom. These Bhoys Love Humanity, Genesis wants us to make as many Babies as possible. The Elite dinnae want the paupers having any kids……
And thats the Bottom Line.
Last one.
The heroism of a Scottish Roman Catholic chaplain during the sinking of the Lancastria.
Geoffrey Bond in his book “Lancastria” writes of Father McMenemy:
Captain Charles McMenemy, an army padre aboard the Lancastria had a certain cherished possession which he had succeeded in carrying through the French campaign. It was with him in his cabin, two decks down and second from the barbers shop. This was a pale blue Li-Lo, the epitome of comfort on a summers afternoon, basking on the beach or floating leisurely across a private swimming pool. But it was not destined for any such use on that June day. At the hour when Kensington dowagers were beginning to think, not of war, but of their afternoon cups of tea the padre picked his Li-Lo off the cabin floor, where it had been laid in readiness for a nap after a much needed shave.
At first it felt as if a heavy gun in the stern had fired twice, but when a strong smell of explosive pervaded the cabin and the ship rolled clumsily it was apparent what had happened.
The padre made his way through the corridor. Here the situation was amazingly calm, in direct contrast to what was happening elsewhere at the time. About three hundred troops packed the alleyway. They were cool and unruffled, though every man must have realised the threat of those bone-shaking thuds. Marshalled by an officer the men filed quietly up a companionway and on to the deck; each one waiting his turn as if in a rush-hour bus queue.
Soon the corridor was almost clear. One soldier had become hysterical and been bundled into a cabin in order to stop the mental infection spreading and developing into a disastrous stampede. But the youth soon recovered and was helped by understanding companions up to the deck. On the way McMenemy saw two men without lifebelts. The padre himself had not claimed an ordinary issue one, for he was a strong swimmer and now as he saw the pair hesitating he crossed to speak to them.
‘Can you chaps swim?’ he asked. They glanced uneasily at the water and shook their heads. ‘Take this then,’ the padre held out the incongruous, pale blue Li-Lo. ‘Get into the sea and climb on it. You’ll be all right.’
‘Oh thank you sir. But what about you?’
‘Don’t worry about me. I’ll be safe enough. If God wills many others will be too.’
In his quiet, sincere way he gave them a blessing, watched them go, then turned to move on along the crowded deck. McMenemy saw a strange sight. A solitary figure dressed in full service marching order was standing rigidly to attention in all that mob of jostling, half clad figures. The padre came up to the man and recognised him as a private in the Pioneer Corps. The soldier saluted and then his homely face broke into a broad grin, bewilderment giving way to confidence at sight of the officers cloth.
‘Thank God you’re here sir,’ the voice was rich with the brogue of Southern Ireland. ‘What shall I do now?’
McMenemy looked at the man, quite unable, despite a straight face, to keep his eyes from twinkling with amusement. ‘Can you swim?’ he asked for the second time in five minutes. The private nodded and his helmet tipped at a rakish angle over his freckled snub nose.
‘Then get into the water and swim clear of the ship before she finally goes under, advised the padre, ‘But if I were you I’d take my boots off first!’
The deck was ankle deep in water and listing badly to port. Padre McMenemy joined a member of the ships crew and another soldier in trying to free one of the rafts which was still secured. However the wooden structure was cluttered up with sundry equipment piled high upon it and this had to be slung off before the mooring ropes could be reached and loosened. Although the trio worked hard and fast the water was soon rippling over their hands, swelling the knots until they were impossible to unravel. The sailor was the first to go, making for the side and disappearing into the crowded sea. The other two exchanged a glance. There would be no getting the raft away now. The water had won. Together they walked to the side. There was no need to jump. They stepped over and began to swim. The padre survived.
later again in the book, no mention of Father McMenemy, but this extract reads:
“Four soldiers, each holding one corner of a pale-blue Li-Lo were paddling away nearby. On the inflated rubber cushion lay a wounded sergeant major. The dark stains on the pale-blue rubber were not those of oil.”
Company Quartermaster Sergeant Johnson, of 663 Artisan Works Company Royal Engineers had slid down the side of the Lancastria and was soon clinging to a baulk of timber, on the other end of which there chanced to be an army padre, still wearing his traditional dog-collar. The pair hung on, not speaking, and drifted with the tide, until a German plane swept low overhead, machine guns blazing.
The Chaplin ducked, then looked up, cursing quietly towards a rear gunner who was easily visible in his turret. ‘You bastards!’ the padre remarked with feeling. ‘Thank God you’re human, sir’ Johnson said and, comrades in the face of adversity, they drifted on.
Captain Charles McMenemy had succeeded in reaching a French tug and on it spent the remainder of the evening helping to pull people from the sea as the boat cruised slowly backwards and forwards, finally dropping off the survivors alongside the destroyer Highlander. One survivor he recognised immediately despite the oil which coated the body. Gunner Tindall (left) and the padre had originally gone to the same school, then lost touch with one another. Neither were they to re-establish contact, for the private was very seriously wounded and died that same night.”
The tug must have picked up five or six hundred but it was grisly work with less than an even chance of survival for so many. The toll rose even higher. Drowned, shot choked by oil. McMenemy happened to look down and saw another familiar face in the water. It had been his duty to read so many letters, censoring them for any incautious statements. Sergeant Burke’s letters had never presented any problem, but it would be no pleasant task to write to his widow, or call later to see the children.
Finally they are transported to the Oronsay from the highlander:
Late that evening, Padre Charles McMenemy came aboard. One of the first people to speak to him on deck was the Irishman who, several hours ago, had dived into the sea full kit. The man was still completely dressed and equipped save for his helmet. There was no mistaking that snub nose and caricature of a long upper lip. ‘So you made it, Mike?’ smiled the padre. ‘Good for you’. Then he turned in mock severity. ‘But whatever happened to your tin hat?’
‘Well now father,’ the Irishman responded warmly ‘Was like this. It must have fallen into the water when I jumped overboard. Should be in South America by now. But I’ll not let it happen again!’
Twisty
Re fags
Well done …hope your feeling better for it
I’ve got a few shirts you can borrow as you eat yourself into hem :-))
Ps…need to get a paten up to cover that pledge to TKF
Keep her lit
jimbo67,
…cannae wait until I see Thee Bob D Tee Shirt again on the 28th.
The olde FFM kindly asked me oot for a beer or 10 last weekend, I Took full advantage of his kind offer. If we organise a day oot in the next few weeks, not an extravaganza, then me and FFM, I’m sure, would be delighted to have you as a daytime moonhowler.
“We’re looking and looking, it’s not as easy as everyone thinks. Yes, we have brought in a lot of money but we have to safeguard the future of the club as well. We have to be mindful of that when we go into negotiations with players. Some of the prices are too much, some of the wages are too much and sometimes players are happy where they are. We are trying to push the button on one or two players. We have already brought three in but obviously attacking areas are a priority.”
Neil Lennon quoted above, Neil just as Paul67 has also previously stated, reaffirms that the club has a strategy of buying young players with potential along with a wage structure for the 1st team, they are determined to stick with it.
Is this negligence or sound economics? Just over the border the bubble continues sucking in players and agents, what is the correct strategy when faced with great financial muscle?
The EPL and the Championship continuing to amass money with ease, (Wealthiest leagues, EPL No.1, Championship No.7)
World’s richest football league gets richer
Premier League earnings hit new heights as clubs enjoyed record revenues of £2.4bn in 2011/12.
Thursday 6 June 2013
World’s richest football league gets richer The combined revenue of Premier League football clubs has surged to a record high of almost £2.4 billion.
In 2011/12, the revenues generated by the 20 clubs in the English top flight rose by 4%, hitting £2.36 billion overall, according to business advisory firm Deloitte.
And in the years to come the figures for the Premier League are expected to soar further – to £2.5 billion for the year 2012/13 and over £3 billion the following year when new broadcast deals kick in.
Deloitte’s Sports Business Group also reported that revenues increased among England’s 92 league clubs, surpassing the £3 billion mark for the first time.
Rising wage bills
Deloitte’s Annual Review of Football Finance indicates that clubs in the Premier League spent nearly three quarters of their revenue increase on wages, in a bid to attract top players to their teams.
The wages-to-revenue ratio of sides in the top flight remained at 70%, as the cost of their payrolls jumped by £64 million to £1.7 billion.
A global brand
Growing global interest in the Premier League is among the factors which have helped its teams to generate larger revenues, according to Dan Jones, a partner in Deloitte’s Sports Business Group.
He said:
“The combined revenue of the Premier League clubs increased by 4% to almost £2.4 billion, with another year of impressive commercial revenue growth, largely focused among the highest-ranked Premier League clubs, and relatively stable match-day and broadcast revenues.”
Championship boost
Among its wider findings, the business advisory firm revealed that clubs in the Championship – the second tier of English football – enjoyed a 13% jump in revenues in 2011/12, with the figure increasing by £53 million to £476 million.
A changing mix of clubs and parachute payments allocated to those relegated from the Premier League fuelled this growth in revenues.
European record
Looking further afield, the report highlighted that the combined European football market rose in value to £15.7 billion during the 2011/12 period, which also represented a new record.
The revenues of clubs in the Premier League were markedly higher than those seen in other countries. Germany, Spain and Italy trailed behind, with figures of £1.5 billion, £1.4 billion and £1.3 billion respectively.
Ensuring sustainability
With English teams streets ahead of other European nations in terms of revenues, fears regarding the sustainability of its clubs have arisen.
However, steps are now being taken to address these concerns, according to Alan Switzer, director in Deloitte’s Sports Business Group.
He said: “The Premier League clubs have agreed to a system of enhanced financial regulations, designed to improve the sustainability of its clubs.”
Mr Switzer concluded that the successful adoption of the new rules could offer “huge benefits” to the league’s long-term development, when combined with an “imminent boost” in broadcast revenues.
Good Morning Bhoys, The Battle for Middle earth of CQN continues i see, PL is all that is evil in the world and the GB are saints, Spend 40m or don’t spend the 40m, The Atmosphere on the site has totally changed and i can’t help but feel some of the new posters have short fuses and take a kick at some of the good ole Bhoys on here. Things will sort themselfs out, we will spend money we just cant compete with england the gb will self police and sort it with the clubs blessing via the laison officer.
Chin up Bhoys, We are in a great position off the park and by the season KO we will be in a great position on it.
God Bless and Hail Hail!!!
KLV
Barca. We have freed up about 60k a week in wages after all the players have gone
All the fans want is all the transfer money to go to Neil and not sit there as insurance money incase the gamble does not come off
Too many times under lawell we have gambled going into Europe
Neil’s 1st full season is testament to that
Remember going into Europe with no goalie. No centre halfs and allowing Cha a place in the first eleven caused a disaster
PL has history there and he is doing it again
Petec
Yeah be good to catch up pre-hootenanny .
Pjbhoynyc
Video won’t load.
Jimbo
latchford
06:16 on
27 July, 2013
‘On the GB I wouldn’t criticise the club. Flares and smoke bombs have no place at Celtic park or elsewhere.’
#######
What about all the whiz bang stuff that goes along with presentations of league flags, cups etc?
What is the strategy? Surely we should take the risk of a moderate spend to secure UCL Group stage participation? Rather than go in hoping we will get through. Wednesday will be tough, if successful the play-off round will be even tougher.
Good Morning Timland
Reading back ,last night on cqn was truly
depressing and negative…….get the feeling
some on here are hoping we fail to qualify
for CL group stage,that way they can have
a real moan…………think I’ll start buying the
papers again………..might even come across
a positive article about Celtic…….not a lot of
that on here these day’s.
bettertobeinsidethetentpissingoutCSC.
lionsroar67 I don’t believe they will ever put in a safe guard of limit in the epl as i think money talks and the fa are only too keen to listen. Hence how it has gotten so crazy already. The sport is being wasted by the english and the tv money is above the counter financial doping in my opinion. Eventually no one will be able to compete with any english club and i mean Madrid and Barca and the likes, The top 6 are in europe every year and their co efficient just keeps going up. I think last season i had no interest in the epl for the first time in years, spoiled players not trying a jot.
KLV
Jimbo, stay clear of the electric bar, ultra Hun hole, takes being cleaky to a new kevel
Level
IMO He will never play for England, however this is what Celtic face, players who come to paradise, expecting to jump to the EPL as soon as ANY EPL club lifts her skirt at them, professing adoration for the fans, numbers like 67 & 88 on their backs, meanwhile agents with the players blessing are in constant touch with EPL clubs for a transfer
Celtic first always
Gary Hooper: Why I had to quit Celtic
GARY HOOPER says he had to leave Celtic to move to the English Premier League to have any hope of fulfilling his England dream
By: Scott Burns
Published: Sat, July 27, 2013
0Comments
Gary-is-desperate-to-make-it-into-the-England-squad- Gary is desperate to make it into the England squad
The 25-year-old striker completed his £5.5million move to Norwich yesterday and then, in an exclusive interview with Express Sport, explained why he made the decision to leave Parkhead.
Hooper wants to play for England and knew that, after being overlooked by boss Roy Hodgson last term, during which he scored 31 goals and was a key player in Celtic’s Champions League run, he would not get his international break until he proved himself at the highest level down south.
Hooper, who has penned a three-year deal with a further 12-month option, said: “I’m desperate to play for England. That’s a massive thing for me. The problem is nobody really gets a chance for England when they’re playing in Scotland.
“I know Fraser Forster, above, got in last season but after the Champions League run was over he found himself out of the England squad again.
“It is just really hard to keep yourself in the public eye when you’re not playing in the English Premier League.
I’m desperate to play for England. That’s a massive thing for me. The problem is nobody really gets a chance for England when they’re playing in Scotland
Hooper
“I’d been top scorer for Celtic over the last three years and done really well in the Champions League and I still didn’t get anywhere near a call-up.
“If I’d managed to get in the England squad with Celtic, it would have changed my thinking completely but it didn’t and that’s why I knew I had to go prove myself in the English Premier League.
“It was hard to leave Celtic but it was something I felt I had to do.”
Hooper was also adamant his move had nothing to do with money. As Express Sport revealed yesterday, he turned down a far more lucrative offer from Championship big-spenders QPR to make the move to Carrow Road.
He added: “It was hard telling Neil Lennon that I wanted to go. I had a great three years under him at Celtic.
“I enjoyed my time and owed him and the club an awful lot but I was just desperate to play in the English Premier League.
“When I knew I had the chance, I spoke to him and told him I wanted to go.
“I know he was disappointed but I think he could understand my position and my reasons for wanting to leave.
“It was never about money. If I was only leaving Celtic for money, I would have gone to Queens Park Rangers.
“They offered me more money but for me it was all about playing in the English Premier League.
“The English Premier League is the best league in the world.”
Hooper has turned his back on the Champions League but can’t wait to get going at Norwich and to finally play in the EPL – completing his rise from non-league Grays to having played in every senior league south of the border.
He said: “Hopefully, if I do well and I can play well week-in, week-out, I’ll be playing against some massive clubs, like Manchester United, Chelsea and Tottenham.
“It’s an exciting challenge playing against top players and teams every week and you need to be on top of your game every week.
“It’s another challenge to show I can score goals and do well in the English Premier League.”
You make very valid points SydneyTim and this is the underlying anger from a lot of posters since vic and hooper went. PL sitting on the golden egg again and only spending it when it’s too late, I dare say it harder to get players in than just a phone call but it has happened on 3 occasions in recent times, we have been short for europe, For me we still need, 2 strikers and a creative mid at least.
KLV
overseasbhoy
07:33 on 27 July, 2013
What is the strategy? Surely we should take the risk of a moderate spend to secure UCL Group stage participation? Rather than go in hoping we will get through. Wednesday will be tough, if successful the play-off round will be even tougher.
—————————————————————-
I can see why people are getting VERY edgy, the Ole BSR called it right once agan…..
Neil is the Man, he has built a really good/squad team. Beram was getting standing ovations when he was probably wanting a Move?
ALL Men huv Secrets
kevinlasvegas
07:35 on
27 July, 2013
Never watch EPL, dont watch Skysports news, nor the BBC’s EPL highlights shows, 2 mill a year for Alan Hansen to say “that defence is shocking” a joke on licence fee payers expense
Logged on to have a wee bit of football craic but seem to have inadvertently landed on site about Catholic priests can we also discuss the Catholic clergy involvement with the Ustaše I and the death camps in Croatia during WW2.
The world is full of good and evil people of every faith.
Anyone want to bet Hooper wont hit 10 EPL goals?
overseasbhoy
07:33 on
27 July, 2013
What is a moderate spend ?
What does a moderate spend get you in terms of players ?
Will a moderate spend give any sort of a guarantee of success ?
I think Grant Holt hit the grand old total of 8 last term :-)
PEC Zwolle 5 – 1 Ross County: Adams unfazed by heavy defeat
Hibs 0 – Malmo 7
Congrats to St Johnstone given results elsewhere
Is it any surprise Celtic are desperate to get out of Scottish football? hang your heads in shame SFA, omnishambles running the game for decades
oglach:
If I have to put up with page after page of abuse of the Catholic Church then I am well within my rights to post post after post after post in defence of an institution that does so much good.
If you don’t like the posts about good priests then I suggest you complain to Paul or just scroll on by and stop bleating.
Lionroars
Was that a friendly for County
A Stor Mo Chroi
Do you know of any catholic priests who play football perhaps.
Still bleating by the way
A Stor Mo Chroi
08:03 on
27 July, 2013
The concern about child abuse and the Church isn’t so much about the abusers themselves, it’s more about the way the Church as an institution dealt with the issue.
Telling us about all the good individuals in the Church therefore doesn’t address, never mind refute, the criticism.
If anything it just looks like an attempt at deflection.
‘If anything it just looks like an attempt at deflection.’
ps I’m not suggesting that’s your intention, just that it could look like it.
overseasbhoy
07:45 on 27 July, 2013
Anyone want to bet Hooper wont hit 10 EPL goals?
————————————————————————–
If Gary, can stay away from injury, he’ll pass 10 easy, I’ll take the bet, name your on.
Ernie lynch @ 7.33
whizbang, brilliant….. a bit like the Dr Strangelove line : “no fighting in the war room”
PC67
name your price!!!!
….PFayr
08:05 on
27 July, 2013
Lionroars
Was that a friendly for County
It was a friendly, match report below
http://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/spfl/pec-zwolle-5-1-ross-county-adams-unfazed-by-heavy-defeat-1-3017954
Off oot as our resident non paying champ often says
Looking fwd to paradise today
Adams, though, feels the Staggies got exactly what they needed before facing the champions in Glasgow. He said: “We knew what we were taking on in the game and we knew the quality of the opposition. I wasn’t surprised by the scoreline or how good they were. I took on the friendly to play against a team of that quality because we’re going to Celtic Park next week. Celtic are as good as PEC Zwolle, so it is pretty much ideal preparation. We needed to play a top-class team. We’ve had a difficult week training-wise and we’ve enjoyed it. We were training everyday, so next week is about rest and recovery.”
Celtic are as good as PEC Zwolle!!! Thanks Derek Adams. I live in the Netherlands and Zwolle in are total mince