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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A boycott of ibrox by Celtic fans is surely a given, apart from everything thats gone before I cant see us having the stomach for it, the only concern I would have is would our players understand and of course would it have any impact on how they perform…
DBBIA
How are you my Friend , long time no see
Malky & retro
“Stokes is the cheap Lawwell option !”
Yeah making the guy possibly the best paid striker in Scotland is the cheap option.
The Green Man
Given it’s close proximity to the M8, a demolished bigotdome would be a great location for a McGills bus depot and a Sports Direct distribution centre.
TMB,
If Celtic are lucky enough to reach the semi, who’s to say their opponents aren’t equally disgusted and turn down tickets?
dontbrattbakkinanger
Indeed I am not doing the halftime show
HH
If you’re ever driving through East Kilbride and see sheep in the fields, with red dots on their coats – it means they’re in a local gang.
malorbhoy,
Aye, scunnered I cant make it.
I expect it will take a serious incident for the HSE to look at it properly.
GM
I am sure that fans of the Dons, D. Utd and Hibs would not attend the Semi Final.
bournesouprecipe
16:01 on 30 October, 2013
If you’re ever driving through East Kilbride and see sheep in the fields, with red dots on their coats – it means they’re in a local gang.
“…….
Flock that.
looks lennie’s doing a lennie on stokes – whatever it is he does which gets the players to up their ante
* like
DD,
Probably, although I’m not sure about hibs.
A Scottish cup tie in Glasgow is not to be sniffed at ;)
Being totally pedantic,
Stock thingy can be quite right in some form.
Depends on your criteria.
If you are talking about most trophies amassed by a club, then the Bigotdome was the home of Scotland’s most successful club.
The fact that that club no longer exists does not mean that the Bigotdome was their home.
The wording is quite significant as he does not claim Sevco, the current incumbents at the Bigotdome, are the country.’s most successful club. That of course would be lunacy given their short time in existance.
The though is rather moot as clearly the criteria for judging Scotland’s most successful club is, who has won the most prestigious tournament, Becoming Champions of Europe, which is of course, Celtic.
EC67
neil canamalar lennon hunskelper extrordinaire
16:05 on 30 October, 2013
malorbhoy,
Aye, scunnered I cant make it.
I expect it will take a serious incident for the HSE to look at it properly.
“……….
Given the history of staircases you’d think HSE would be all over it.
Delaneys Dunky
Prime site for a retail development killing…that’s for sure
And maybe…an Ipox car park with wee screens in every bay, showing highlights of yon deid team in its heyday of rampant cheating :)
HH
Not their home
No way should the Scottish Cup Final be played at Celtic Park if Celtic is in the Final.Fair play must be upheld.
If the Final is to be play at our ground so should the semi finals,is the SFA argument is/was that they should all be played at the same ground(Hampden) so that all teams have the benefit of playing at the Finals arena.
This decision smacks of a deal done behind closed doors,for once again one teams advantage.Where will the fish & chip final be played now?
Over the past few years there has been a more sensible approach to semi final arenas,so why the rush to decide now.Ross County vs Inverness semi for example to be played at iPox ,let’s see what happens then,boycott?
GM
You are probably right about Hibs. Horrible support!
Ole Chortles Green has been spotted back in his native Yorkshire, wearing a cat flap.
The Green Man
Any of our two scenarios, are closer to fact than fiction. I hope :))
the moon bhoys
15:50 on 30 October, 2013
You can’t see us having the stomach for it ….hahahahahahahahaha…..bhun
EC67
Sevco?
“We know, They know, We know they know.
They know we know they know.”
Hail Hail
FF going mental about the rankers bbc page :-)
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/teams/rangers
Malorbhoy- hoping to be at St Columba’s on Sunday.
Delaneys Dunky
Rangers Heritage Village could be on the cards, I can see it now :)
HH
BSR- Red Hand Commandewes?
Scottishleaf
Ordinarily, SFA uses Hampden Park, but this time around SFA require to hire a venue. Therefore they require to pay the venue owner. The deal will be in the ballpark of 20% of gate receipts, perhaps a fixed fee plus 10%. But they’ll need to pay for it one way or the other.
Thereafter, you have the proceeds from the match, net of venue hire, from which SFA will take their slice for producing the show, the balance being distributed to the featured clubs.
In your scenario, SFA will lose money in putting on the 3 matches – the venue hire will cost more than their receipts unless the venue rental is less than 10% of gate receipts, which is unlikely. They’re a crazy bunch I’ll grant you that, but they’re not fechin stupid.
DBBIA
Ha – Can you make a ewe turn?
Fanadpatriot,
You have just touched on another plan.
They get all three, the semis and if Celtic get to the final and the opposition object they get the final too.
Kippered innit
‘venue rental is less than 10% of gate receipt
– no wonder the ole Gazebo looks like it could do with a lick of paint.
Len Brennan
I thought it was highly significant that the BBC referred to the “team playing in Rangers colours” today when reporting on Sevco.
Maybe, just maybe.
Every fan of any other Scottish club, I talk to, holds the same view on Sevco’s standing, ie, a new club.
EC67
From STV: Can’t see how Celtic’s CEO can have any conflicting interests with a club 2 divisions below, certainly no ore than any other club rep sitting on a committee or decision making board.
Peter Lawwell has described Dave King’s possible return to the Rangers board as “a very complex issue” and says he would only forgo his Scottish FA duties if he felt there was a direct conflict of interest.
The South Africa-based businessman flew into Glasgow last week to hold talks after it was previously announced he was due to take up the position of chairman.
King told STV he would not have travelled to Scotland to hold the discussions over taking up a role at Ibrox if he had not received an indication that his convictions would not impact on his appointment. He has since backtracked on that statement.
After being convicted on 41 counts of contravening tax legislation in South Africa, King agreed to pay £44.75m in owed income tax and fines as an alternative to an 82-year jail term.
That sentence, as well as his involvement in the demise of Rangers oldco, could potentially lead to the governing body refusing to deem King as a ‘fit and proper’ person to hold a role in Scottish football.
The Scottish FA’s Professional Game Board, on which Lawwell sits, must ratify any attempt by King to take up an official position at Rangers.
Asked on the matter, Lawwell told STV: “Well it is a very complex issue and it is one for the PGB [Professional Game Board] initially, it may also be for the SFA board but it would be difficult for me to comment on SFA business here today without having fully consulted my colleagues.”
When quizzed if he had a conflict of interest given his position at Celtic, Lawwell said: “As an example in terms of the Scottish Cup final, where clearly we [Celtic] were in bidding for the final I would have to excuse myself from any discussion on that because it is a direct conflict.
“Where there is an obvious and direct conflict of interest, you would excuse yourself from that debate.
“If there’s any very obvious conflict then I have a duty to do that.”
Can’t remember the last Celtic semi final I missed but I know the next one I will.
bournesouprecipe
16:01 on
30 October, 2013
If you’re ever driving through East Kilbride and see sheep in the fields, with red dots on their coats – it means they’re in a local gang
Gang? Or….clique? Eh?
What they need is some Irish dugs to do some kettling. That’ll learn thum.
Celtic sign Stokesy despite his receding hairline, and wee tufty bit
Samaras is ultra confident
Canamalar
Murrayfield.
Archdiocese Glasgow
Archbp Tartaglia will bless a cross at Dalbeth cemetery Sat at 11.30am with @CelticGraves society in memory of all departed linked to club.