Anthony Stokes joining up with John Hughes for a third time, on this occasion in Inverness, would be a great move for all concerned. Hughes knows how to get the best out of the player, who is wasting away in the stands at Celtic. There will be a financial consideration, as unlike a team in the English Championship, Inverness will not be able to cover all of Stokes’ wages, but Celtic are better having a contribution to his wages than nothing.
Anthony is still only 27, he could have several productive years ahead, but he needs to get back to putting the ball in the net somewhere (last goal was against St Mirren in December 2014).
Also delighted to see Darren O’Dea back in Scottish football at Dundee. As we discussed last week, Dundee are full of goals at both ends of the field at the moment. An experienced international like Darren (28) will help.
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TBA
To be honest, I think Marpapa, a really nicer ghuy you could not wish to meet, has disowned any knowlege of friendship to me. :-)))) HH
Bognorbhoy
Jokes are always a welcome supplement to the blog, although it must be said, some are better than others.
Don’t give up the day job, but keep them coming :-)))))
Cheers and Hail, Hail to you.
Paul67 et al
Anthony Stokes played for and scored for better Celtic teams than the present one. Let us not pretend his lack of game time this season is anything to do with ability relative to others, it isn’t in my own personal Celtic View. Despite occasional encouraging words from Ronny it is clear to me that Stokesy has been made persona non grata by those who run Celtic, and I do not mean the first teams coaches. 4-3-2-1 is the official cover for getting rid of him. Maybe that should read 5-4-3-2-1.
readysteadygocsc
WeefratheTim on 7th January 2016 8:23 pm………….
Thanks.
Fine is as fine does. Looking forward to seeing some of the finest people imaginable on my all too brief return to ‘The Dear Green Place’ next week ………….
Very, very, late/early, here, so up the stairs to Bedfordshire for this old ghuy…………..
God Bless.
Regards & Hail Hail
TBM
I wonder what day Celtic took down the Christmas decorations?
HH Superstitiouscsc.
The Green Man
Was interested in your earlier post on Agriculture. Would be interested in going to a lecture, so maybe you could lettuce know, and I and a hosta others will turnup.I have taken a lichen to the subject and it’s a sure thing that it will make me no anemones. Udderly ridiculous, I know, but knowledge will come in handy against the sheep.
Evening folks,
Fine post Tontine Tim,
Got me thinking of the old times as well, 70’s 80’s and beyond. Some good and bad times. Not in any particular order of importance. And loads missed out, but hey ho.
4 to 5 hour drive up to Aberdeen, sitting on the benches across from the main stand. Game finished 1 all, Joe Harper the barrel scoring for them, can’t remember who scored for us. Stopping at Auchterarder on the way home for brilliant fish and chips.
Arriving late in to Tynecastle (due to the usual crush to get in) ten minutes gone, 2 nil down, and 3 to 1 down, ended up winning 4 to 3.
Scottish cup replay at St Mirren, Love St. Drew first game 1 all at Parkhead. Think it finished 3 to 1 for us. Biggest crowd I ever seen at love st, crushed beyond belief on the way in, very scary.
The 4 v 2 game to win the league, Danny McGrain’s greatest game for me in a Celtic jersey. Getting chased by the mob after the game in London Rd. 10 men won the league. Murdo’s glorious strike in Injury time.
Going to hampden in the rain, getting soaked as no cover at the Celtic end. Going to cup finals in the glorious sun, getting sun burned, the terraces awash with Green White and Gold, huge numbers of fans standing in the terraces, the great big cloud of stour after we scored as they had not bothered to tarmac our end. The hampden riot.
Charlie Nicholas doing his magic against the Rangers on new years day at Ibrox, wonder goal from a throw in to us. Winning 7 nil against Motherwell at Fir Park, Nicholas ably assisted by Frank McGarvey.
Winning the league at Easter Rd, Joe Craig scoring in a 1 nil win, the bottles of Pomagne popping on the massive terracing across from the main stand.
First old firm game, 1975, 2 all it finished, 2 goals down at half time. Blown away by the atmosphere.
League cup final v Hibs, won 6 to 1, over 100,000 at Hampden.
Celtic 2 v Real Madrid 0, big cup quarter final, Jonny Doyle scoring with a header, don’t think I saw him score with a header after that. What an atmosphere.
Standing on the big steep terracing at tannadice across the main stand, some cracking games up there against United. Jim McLean’s fine side of the 80’s, great midfield.
Long trips up to Aberdeen in the 80’s, mostly defeats to the sheep managed by Sir Alex. Paul McStay’s debut up there when he scored, think we won by 3 goals to 1.
Beaten 5 v 1 against Dundee at Dens park, thing big Tommy Gemmell was their manager at the time, think it cost us the league that season. 1980?
Love St again, 5 to 0 for us to win the league on the last day of the season to deny Hearts, so sweet and unexpected.
The late winners in so many games during the Centenary season, it was just fate to win the league and cup that season. Thatcher was the guest of honour for the Scottish cup final, great to see the whole crowd brandishing red cards to her during the game.
Time for bed, more to come later when the old mind drags up some more memories.
HH Dan
Was up at the Royal the other day.
There was this wee group of Pro life protesters, standing in the rain. Maybe 8 people, all standing quietly, either holding a banner, holy picture or simply there at the main gate.
I wasn’t really interested, it’s something that’s so emotive and personal, that I usually avoid the issue, or more accurately never cast an opinion.
But one of the figures quoted , well it literally stopped me in my tracks the number of NHS terminations since 1987 is the equivalent of 8.3% of Scotland’s current population.
As mentioned stopped me in my tracks.
TBM
The 23rd is the next home game, looking forward to our big meet. Take care and, HH
WeefratheTim on 7th January 2016 8:36 pm…………….
Don’t really know about that other than to say that the ghuy in question does not have a bad bone in his body or if so, I am really the worst judge of character on God’s green earth.
Maybe just a wee misunderstanding. It happens.
Have to go as it really is rooster time here…………
Good Luck……………
TBM
TBM
Haha…made me smile there au!d yin….a timely wee reminder to get the
Jamesons and the Cider in …….not be long now ☺
Ya brammer, no spoke for ages, was going to my kip but just missed you the other night; the old eight hour time difference. Couple of days in North Wales with our Kevin and then to South Lanarkshire on Thursday………….
Looking forward to seeing the great and the good, no the great, the best, bar none………..
Regards & Hail Hail
TBM
WHITEDOGHUNCH on 7TH JANUARY 2016 8:11 PM
16 roads – Celtic über alles
No
and thanks for clearing up the John thing that has stumped both Christian and non Christian biblical scholars
for centuries.
got dishes to wash
bye
————————————–
Good.
This is Europe, and you are still entitled to your own opinion, regardless of whether I agree with your opinion, or not.
You should be be grateful for that at least – freedom of speech.
Now you think about that for a wee second.
HH.
Marspapa, I meant absolutely no disrespect to you, was more tongue in cheek which is why I finished with :-))). Anyhoos, my reputation appears to follow me here. HH and Night Night.
Marspapa
Meant to say, sorry if any offence was taken, I assure you, none was intended. HH. Byeee.
Stan Petrov BBC 3 niw
Weefrathetim
Why on earth would I take offense to anything you say to me, it would only be from your heart. :)
What I can say is way back you made a statement about the trouble isis was causing.
It caused a wee debate in here, people didn’t see it as you did and it went pearshaped
I was worried for you, because people tried to reason with you and you weren’t having any of it.
I tried as did others to console /appease you, but in my opinion you lost the plot.
I thought in your and my best interest to let you come round on your own time.
I’m glad you have and if I have disrespected you or offended you with this post I’m truly sorry
If it were not for you and Dena29 I wouldn’t have met so many good people
(the coarnir)
Anyhoo, as I said I’m glad youri back posting and your back at the coarnir.
I blame D… Fir rattling that nut of yours to many times way her stick.. :))
Take care my friend.
I
Transforming Scottish Football The Fans Manifesto Holyrood Edinburgh 7th Jan
I attended the above event on behalf of SFM today and posted the following on their blog. There are a number of areas of common interest for Celtic supporters to consider and indeed comment on but I found it encouraging that at Government level (a number of MSPs wandered in from real interest ) there is a realisation that Scottish football is in trouble and needs help.
Posted on SFM 7th Jan 21 30ish
John Clark and I attended this event this afternoon although John had to leave a bit early which is a pity as he is brilliant at reporting detail. I’m more of a what does it all mean guy?
Luckily for me though the actual manifesto can be downloaded from
http://scottishfsa.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/SFSA_The_Fans_Manifesto_A4_20pp_Screen.pdf
Briefly it contains nine interlocking proposals viz,
1. ‘Bring Back The Fans Through Competitive Pricing and Family Facilities for Every Club
2. Make Scottish Football Media -Friendly and Innovative at Every Level
3. Remarket The Scottish Game Pressing For Financial Fair Shares And Transparency
4. Rebuild The Game with Larger Divisions, More Variety and Improved Competition.
5. Equip Every Club to Be a ‘Community Hub’ for Wellbeing and Entertainment
6. Re-invest in Youth Through Fresh Plans for Training and Education.
7. A Diversity Drive;: 25% Fan Representation On All Governing Bodies in Five Years, 50% women, a Permanent Place for The National Fans Body.
8. Regular, Independent Auditing and Review of The Performance of Governing Bodies and Clubs.
9. Extend Community and Collaborative Ownership, Create a Fan’s Right to Bid or Buy When Clubs are for Sale, Create a Fans’ Bank or Fund.
More detail can be obtained from the document at the link and there is quite a lot there to attract interest across the Scottish Football Monitoring spectrum.
The most obvious area of common interest for SFM is in points 3 and 8 where this from point 8 says it all:
“When asked to rate the overall performance of the SFA, the majority score was just 4. And when asked to rate the overall performance of the SPFL, the majority score was slightly lower at 3. (So Regan is more popular than Doncaster? :)). The gulf between those who run football and those who love it and pay for it is far too wide to be healthy, which is why substantial reform in the boardrooms and throughout the governing bodies is in their interest, the fans’ interest , and the interest of Scottish football as a whole””
(If John Clark had not had to leave I would have asked him when he wrote that :) )
Henry McLeish commented on the disaster for the game that has resulted from the absence at Rangers FC of points 3 Transparency and of course Point 8 Independent Auditing . The two words he used verbatim were “Transparency” and “Accountability” and it was actually good to hear Mr McLeish, who has some authority in Government and dealings with the SFA, actually say what we have been saying here because that means there may be a way for SFM to help take that part of the manifesto forward at an appropriate level subject to further discussion. (and I know how McLeish is perceived btw)
That is not to suggest of course other SFM contributors cannot pursue their own particular interests from an SFM base, the resources, experience and expertise to draw on here is well recognised by the SFSA.
Finally I was very encouraged to hear the Chairman of The SFSA Simon Barrow say that this was a task of changing mind-sets, helping folk to view things in a different way.
That to me means sharing skills, thoughts, words and experiences in dialogue and I think SFM is pretty good at that but as I’m buggering off to Spain in a week or two (BP’s words mods) I’ll be mostly leaving what happens next in the coming months in his and others capable hands. but not bowing out.
Hamiltontim on 7th January 2016 8:33 pm
Email sent a couple of evenings ago – as predicted, no reply yet from my MSP – Alex Neil – who is a Grade ‘A’ balloon, IMHO (and even if he does reply, he’s still a balloon!!).
HH
BGFC
AULDHEID on 7TH JANUARY 2016 9:40 PM
Do you think a proposal to amalgamate the four Home Associations would be favourably received?
BGFC
Good man. Nope I’ve heard nothing as yet from my own so a wee reminder will be sent tomorrow!
You and wee BGFC off doon the coast on Sunday?
Accrington Pals ( look it up 1st world war historians) sign up to terrorise the Celts…..
Hahahaha ……
Not to worry…..we will beat them with League 1 ‘marksman’ Leigh Griffiths…..scored a few for Wolves that half season ….and spent lots of it on the bench……..
English football is shite……where are we?
ernie lynch on 7th January 2016 9:51 pm
AULDHEID on 7TH JANUARY 2016 9:40 PM
Do you think a proposal to amalgamate the four Home Associations would be favourably received?
– See more at: http://www.celticquicknews.co.uk/stokes-mentor-hughes-and-odea-at-dees/comment-page-8/#comment-2749599
Ernie Lynch
That thought went through my mind as I was listening but I thought it the wrong time and place to ask :)
However if progress was made in establishing community clubs then that might create a division point where clubs below it formed a Scottish Community Football League as a joined up entity allowing the clubs residing in larger community areas to become part of a wider UK set up.
What bothers me is the Scottish fan base is limited and TV money from elsewhere is not going to suddenly gush in although more could done there with the BBC (MOTD and the cost of one programme > Sport Scotland Annual budget got a mention) so there are limits to how much larger crowds can rise.
Without that extra money I’m not sure how the other family and community initiatives could be funded.
***Fatbhoys Slim 2016***
21 fatbhoys and 1 fatghirl have registered their interest in joining Fatbhoy Slim 2016. Lets see how many manage to join us! I am betting a very high %. Still time to join us but you need to register before COP Saturday. Email me on celticrollercoaster@yahoo.co.uk
HH
CRC
AULDHEID on 7TH JANUARY 2016 10:10 PM
I’d genuinely prefer one association because it would be to Celtic’s benefit and we’d finally have a level playing field, but the more I think about it the more I suspect that the whole of Scottish football would benefit financially.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rpI5_cZZgsA
The 4-2 league game. 10 men won the league. Not great film but as you know……….
In fact when you open that link, you’ll find a better quality video of the same game just below.
BCW
Was up at the Royal the other day.
There was this wee group of Pro life protesters, standing in the rain. Maybe 8 people, all standing quietly, either holding a banner, holy picture or simply there at the main gate.
I wasn’t really interested, it’s something that’s so emotive and personal, that I usually avoid the issue, or more accurately never cast an opinion.
But one of the figures quoted , well it literally stopped me in my tracks the number of NHS terminations since 1987 is the equivalent of 8.3% of Scotland’s current population.
As mentioned stopped me in my tracks.
– ——————————————————
Good post BCW
It’s well named “The Silent Holicaust.”
And that’s the problem. Too many of us stay silent about it.
HH
*Holocaust even
I love that John Clark fella.
But seriously, a UK team? is it even possible?
definitely something to pursue!
Like No Other
I thought it a good post too.
If the American Health Care insurance system wasnt so niggardly based on issuing contraceptives to niggardly types there would be a lot less abortions. Its all about money. Isnt it always?
CSClawwellheateddrivewaysrus
Big Georges Fan Club – Hail, Hail, Wee Oscar on 7th January 2016 9:46 pm –
That made me smile
are you going to the game Sunday?
HH
Boo
HH
MARGARET MCGILL on 7TH JANUARY 2016 10:23 PM
‘But seriously, a UK team? is it even possible?’
###
‘Be realistic, demand the impossible!’
Celtic finished 2015 as the 2nd highest British club in the world rankings according to statistics released by IFFHS. The SPL club finished overall in 24th position ahead of Premier League heavyweights Manchester United, Chelsea, Manchester City and Liverpool. Arsenal were the only British side ahead of Celtic after they finished in 14th place.
The IFFHS ranking is intended to establish among all domestic and continental competitions the strongest team of the year in the world. It is decided by the sum of all weighted points in each competition from January to December.
Keeping up?
Scottish football is graded as level 3 by IFFHS meaning they are at a disadvantage against Premier League teams when it comes to picking up domestic points.
Celtic’s position in the rankings was helped by the club retaining their SPL title last season, and also picking up the Scottish League Cup. Despite their lofty position in the rankings this could have been bettered if their form in Europe would have improved. Celtic missed out on this season’s Champions League group stages, and have also failed to reach the knockout stages of the Europa League.
It’s no surprise Barcelona finished top of the rankings after Luis Enrique’s side achieved a treble last season including the Champions League. The Catalan club were followed by Juventus in second place, with Napoli in third.
ernie lynch on 7th January 2016 10:46 pm
ok.
No more Old Firm.
Hullo Hullo we are the Tim Malloys! :)
Celtic look set to sign the exciting teen star Kristoffer Ajer.
Ajer will spend a week on trial at the Scottish champions, allowing his fellow Norwegian Ronny Deila to decide whether to launch a bid for the midfielder.
Having made his debut for the Tippeligaen side Start in 2014, the 6ft 5″ Ajer has scored 13 goals in 34 games, with 12 of those goals coming from his 21 appearances in 2015.
Incredibly, Ajer captained Start aged just 16, making him the youngest player to wear the armband in the history of the Norwegian top flight. Watch him in action below.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dBmaRP0KxN8