Anthony Stokes is in the best form of his Celtic career at the moment, arguably the best form of his life if you overlook his stunning cameo at Falkirk. It’s hard to know if this is related to no longer being in the shadow of a more favoured son, or if Anthony has just got his ‘stuff’ together, but his intervention was absolutely crucial in our only Champions League win so far. He had all the wisdom necessary to bate an opponent into a clumsy foul.
The psychology of a three year contract, worth more money, before performance bonuses, than the player will be able to spend is not always a good thing for a footballer, but the competition for a starting berth up front for Celtic is acute. On the back of his winning goal on Sunday Amido Balde has been talking about his ambitions to secure a regular place, Teemu Pukki is guaranteed nothing while Georgios Samaras has been used regularly as a striker. Anthony will remain under pressure to perform.
All of this competition will come into sharp focus in Amsterdam next week. Celtic will come under pressure for most of the game, but this is something they are comfortable with. We will need someone to exploit the openings Ajax will leave in their defence. Put your money on Anthony for the George McCluskey role.
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Livibhoy…..hmmmm. Ok then. But I’d rather we were in both finals;)
DD, luvit
theretroceltic
13:04 on 30 October, 2013
Doooh…….
The Green Man. Are you going to stop watching football in order not to see them again as they are likely to be in the SPL the season after next and playing a team near you ? I would certainly be happy with a ban on going to Ibrokes for a Scottish Cup Semi Final it would show them and the football authorities what we think of all the cheating that has and is going on I am not sure though that the majority of Celtic supporters would agree. H.H.
That win in Amsterdam was a time I’ll never forget – I arrived in Amsterdam the day before the game on my own, after leaving a group of folk in Belgium following another trip. Found an excellent small hotel, went out for the night, and ended up in a Romanian restaurant (I’d never seen one before or since !)… very quiet in the restaurant, got chatting to the waitress, and ended up getting taken out around night spots in Amsterdam with her. Arranged to meet up the following evening (after the football of course). Ended up trying to get a ticket at the ground of a Dutch tout, but he wasn’t for selling to the opposition. Watched the game back at my hotel (the owner and his friends were a good bunch of Russian guys, very happy for me at the end of a great game). Off out with the waitress again for another splendid night. Left the next day, but a bit of an issue with travel arrangements as I had neglected to watch the pennies… ended up going to British Caledonian office, turns out I qualified (just !) for a young persons ticket, well within my meagre budget, and enough left over to eat and drink my way back to sunny Glasgow.
One of the most entertaining few days of my life; I was a lucky Bhoy on that trip :-)
The Honest Tim
Let’s clarify the bet.
They all start from today on Zero goals.
My bet is that Stokes will score more than Sammy and Balde from today until the end of the season.
TT
the green man
14:04 on 30 October, 2013
Post of the month…..SPOT ON ….!!!!!!!!
I will never set foot in ipox ever again, for any reason
I will never watch them in any way, shape, or form, ever again
I will never contribute in any way to their foul persona
Rangers are deid….ha ha ha…GIRUY..:)
HH
Joe Filippis Haircut
Joe…I refuse to watch them…even against Celtic
Im ignoring that excuse for a football team. they are monstrous in the extreme
HH
The Green Man. I get it now fella I just wish there were many more Celtic supporters who shared your point of view and would do the same. H.H.
Mr Johnny Clash- next year Final of GBBO is bein’ held in Greggs on Paisley Road.
This is classic piece of ole whataboutery as Commonwealth Games showcases Celtic Park, includin’ rubble and detritus of ole school.
I clicked onto an RM link posted earlier. The hatred and bile spewing from the zombies is truly disgusting.
If we make the semis of the cup, we should simply boycott that game and encourage fans of our opponents that day to do likewise. IMO, fans of quite a few clubs will share our opinion re thems. The MSM couldn’t ignore such a protest.
gerrybhoy57. Count me in. H.H.
The Green man
Well said! Me too!
Larrybhoy
So Charliebhoy, Georgiebhoy and Larrybhoy, all scored in the Dam that night ;))
The MSM couldn’t ignore such a protest.
————————
Aye they could….no shame
HH
I would love to see that a Cup Semi final at Ibrokes without a crowd.What a message that would be to give the Football authorities. H.H.
Larrybhoy
Went to Amsterdam on my own in 1982.
I was starting a new job on the Friday after the match in Glenrothes Fife at 9.00am.
I made my mind up to go on the Monday before the match.
I booked a cheap student flight.
The deal was that you could only book 24 hours in advance.
Therefore I could only book my outward journey,I had to book my return journey from Amsterdam.
On the flight to Amsterdam ,I met a couple of Bhoy’s from Ayr.
Paddy Malone and his mate Gavin.
We had a great couple of day’s in the Dam .
The flights home were all sold out.
So we hitched a lift from the stadium car park on the Glasgow uni CSC bus.
At the ferry port ,I then hitched a lift on a bus going to Glenrothes.
I arrived home at 7.00 ,washed and changed ,and made my new job start .
I see Paddy and Gavin everywhere Celtic play.
I bumped into Paddy at half-time in Seville.
The two of them a ST holders in the same business class lounge as myself.
When it’s spring again ,we’ll sing again 2-1 in Amsterdam.
TT
I have been reading this blog for a few years now and only recently started posting myself. I told my dad about it and now he is an avid reader as well. A big thank you to all the posters on here (especially the ones who can make mincemeat out of a story some sevco loving journo has printed) and appreciate never being called a hun.
I tell you this…If we fund them directly by going to ipox and giving them a cash hand out, we need our heads seen to….give them nothing, they hate us.
HH
Steviebhoy66
Well, it would take some expaining away. Celtic fans could easily get the message across at matches leading up to that one. All this, of course, presupposes that we reach the semis.
So when I’m in Amsterdam next week and meet a 30 year old Romano-Scot called Larry, I’ll tell him his da was asking for him ;-)
The Green Man 14.32. The most sensible post I have read on CQN for a long time. H.H.
Regret I’ve never seen Celtic play in Amsterdam and won’t manage this time either, but I DID once see a great band playing there back in the 70s. They were playing in the streets and I saw them all over the place that day, calling themselves the Centraal Station All Stars, thru Dam Square
Stockwell referred to them as Scotland’s most successful football club.
When will Celtic challenge this with the SFA and UEFA?
If it is not challenged then it will BE the truth.
TT
id really love to see us boycott those vile bigots…en masse
HH
Oops…the Dam Square All Stars, the Prinsengracht All Stars…within a year, we knew them better as ZZ Top. Those boys could play a bit…still can.
Delaneys Dunky
I remember the trouble at the game. Also remember there was few Celtic supporters crying with sheer delight after the game as it was the first time we had done anything away from home in Euorpe for a long time.
The Green Man
You are 100% correct.
I’ve always rated players from the viewpoint if they were playing against us would they cause problems. I don’t think Stokes would be a major worry whoever he was playing for.
Lacks the pace to be a top level striker and I seriously doubt he will trouble even a stretched Ajax defence when we will need to be quick on the break.
Regards the Scottish, I can envisage a semi-final date at Piebox v Sevco but doubt the ticket allocation would be 50/50. Equally I can see any club reaching the final v Celtic would have cause to complain (Home venue and doubt it can be 50/50 split of tickets)
Enough talk of POSSIBLE problems though…we have more than enough to contend with and MUCH more important fixtures to enjoy than a minor domestic competition.
Tinytim
I remember you. I was on the Glasgow Uni bus to Amsterdam. My mate S. O’N organised that trip :)
joe filippis haircut
14:23 on 30 October, 2013
The Green Man. I get it now fella I just wish there were many more Celtic supporters who shared your point of view and would do the same. H.H.
>>>>>>>>>
you canrest assured that I am another Celtic Supporter who will never the same studio as those horribles again……they really do hate us and, now that they are deed, let’s leave them ‘there’…
The Green Man. One of the problems is we have to many fans want to Question our Board why they have done nothing to challenge The Rangers situation.When in my opinion your suggestion is much more sensible and we can show the World what the best fans in the World think of the cheating in Scottish football and the Gangsters at Ibrokes.Stop leaving it to others the Celtic fans can show there disgust by boycotting Ibrokes. H.H.
joe filippis haircut
14:23 on 30 October,
What have I been drinking…LOL
Sevco beware?
Probably won’t effect the vermin though due to Scotland’s indulgence of their bigotry.
HearNoEvilCSC.
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Boyce issues warning over chanting
30 October 2013 Updated 12:30
Fifa vice-president Jim Boyce has issued a warning to Irish League clubs in the wake of sectarian chanting at a game between Linfield and Cliftonville.
Sections from both sets of supporters were involved and referee Hugh Carvill asked for an announcement to be made, urging those involved to desist.
“Guidelines are being brought in by Fifa and Uefa as the days of fining clubs are a waste of time,” said Boyce.
“Sanctions include playing games behind closed doors and deducting points.”
Boyce, who has enjoyed a long-time involvement with Cliftonville, described the behaviour of some fans at Tuesday night’s County Antrim Shield semi-final at Windsor Park as “pathetic”.
“Last night was the first time for quite a long time that I’ve heard it as bad as it was for a short period, but these days we shouldn’t have to listen to it at all.
“Clubs have to take this issue seriously because if it is reported to Fifa or Uefa and the local authorities do not take action, Fifa and Uefa will be forced to intervene.
“Last night the referee felt compelled to take action and I admire him for taking a stand to eradicate this sort of thing.
“Options being discussed for the future include the closure of sections of the ground where this behaviour occurs, ordering games to be played behind closed doors and, if it continues, points could be taken off clubs. People who indulge in this behaviour don’t care about fines.
“Since stewarding was introduced at Irish League matches things have improved 90%, it’s nothing like it used to be in the past, but it still should not have happened.
“Players on the pitch of all religions should not have to listen to these idiots and if they want to indulge in sectarianism, then they should stay away from football grounds.”
boscobhoy02
Not sure if you would be called a hun….more likely you would be asked the question
….well, are you ?
:-)
joe filippis haircut
14:43 on 30 October, 2013
Correct….!!!!!!!
I believe a few on here are forgetting that Anto Stokes goal to game ratio (prior his lengthy injury imposed lay off) was nearly as good as Hooper’s. I have little doubt that had he remained fit he would not be far off Hoops overall total. Plus there is the added bonus that there is much more to Anto’s game than scoring. Hoops is on record saying he would not have scored so many if he hadn’t been partnered by Anto.
The problem as i see it Anto needs to play alongside a predator like Hooper. Sammi, and Pukki are definitely not goal box predators. Big Amido, at the moment, reminds me of Bambi on ice skates and i am yet to be convinced that he is good enough to play for Celtic let alone be the answer to our quest to find a prolific goal scorer and he most definitley is not a pen box predator. However I hope he proves me wrong and I am aware he took his goal very well on Saturday.
Given decent service, which our front players do not get from our midfield, Anto will bag around 20 this season.
One of my memories of Amsterdam that night was me and my mate going to go for a pint after the game. We had gone back to the hotel and just got to the end of the road when a large chunk of masonry bounced off this police car as we walked past it. Apparently the police had decided to evict a load of local squatters and had a mini riot on their hands. We looked at one another and decided to go back and drink at the hotel.
I also remember Ajax fans chucking coins and bottles at us, fortunately there was a net up, at the end of the game so their hooliganism is nothing new.
That’s it lhads…its simple….give them nothing but your contempt
No Ipox, No Old Firm, No Sevco
Rangers are deid
HH