The capture of Kolo Toure (35) on a free transfer following his release by Liverpool, goes a long way to addressing one of my key concerns for the coming season. In the last 12 months we’ve spent £6.5m on three central defenders: Dedryck Boyata, Jozo Simunovic and Erik Sviatchenko. They joined Efe Ambrose and Charlie Mulgrew, but the mix was far from right.
Dedryck and Jozo are both long-term injured. Jozo may yet establish himself as a top defender, but Dedryck has already caused performance concerns. Charlie is now out of contract, and with the arrival of Kolo, I don’t expect he’ll re-sign.
Efe put in an excellent performance against Leicester on Saturday (aside from his first 30 seconds) but his consistency and susceptibility to make crucial mistakes in important games, makes him unsuitable for anything more than a backup.
The manager needs someone he knows he can rely upon and who can bring an ocean of experience to help develop what is otherwise a young central defence. Kolo will do that and more, just as soon as he’s match fit.
The Pink Pound.
I’m unfamiliar with fashion blogs but if the debate on the pink shirt is a guide, maybe I’m missing out. Third strips are fashion items, the football strip equivalent of bling. They’ve been so since someone invented the need to invent a third strip every season. It was never in case your first two strips clashed with an opponent.
I remember a similar reaction when we released a third strip with tartan shorts a few years back. Despite some heavy weather on release, the shorts sold out. In it’s online coverage the pink shirt already has a higher profile than most of its predecessors. Bet it sells well.
I had a brief chat with some people at New Balance last year and the colours we use at Celtic cropped up. There’s green, white, yellow, black and silver/grey. Before the 1970s it was pretty much green and white only, then the palette boundaries were pushed. The New Balance people were all from England, so the nuances of orange, which was used as trim on a well-received black away strip, were lost on them.
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!!BADA BING!!
Hearing that also. Out three weeks. Can we get Toure on a chartered jet?
HH,
CaliBhoy
Aye you will.
Done it a few times.
Dearie me,have we been taken over by Hun Media?.Permarage everywhere.
Nite.
One post only and I’m off to bed…
I keep hearing about how strong Astana are and how well they did in last season’s Champions League.
Astana Champions League group stage 2015-16 facts:
They had just 44% possession at home and 42% away from home.
They scored just one goal in three away games, conceding seven.
They scored and conceded 4 goals in their three home games, just over 1 per game for & against.
In their three away games they managed just 9 shots on target, with their opponents managing some 27.
…with 16 on target for and 18 against in their three home games.
Overall they managed 13 shots (4 on target) per game with 18 (8 on target) against.
They finished bottom of their group without recording a single victory.
Astana’s entire UEFA competition history amounts to 22 games (including qualifiers) over the last three seasons, with 7 wins, 7 draws and 8 defeats. They are however 21 games into their domestic season and have won 10 and draw 1 of their 11 home games, scoring 17 and conceding just 5 times.
All in all I’d say that they are not as good (CL-wise) as the media is making them out to be. A 1-1 draw over there and a 2-0 win at home should be eminently achievable for Celtic.
KTF.
Mon the Hoops!
Intae the Khazakstani’s.
GUYFAWKES@11:47
So if Kolo has an “ocean of experience” – then Warby could be said to have a ‘puddle of experience’.
Eric S- was having a late lunch in the Esquire @ Anniesland on Saturday before the Leicester game with his Mrs and extended family.
Looked like a burger and fries was on the menu.
I thought then that he’d struggle to jump for a header…..so guessed he wiznae playing “-)
I’m fairly certain we won’t keep a clean sheet in Astana.
We have kept 1 clean sheet in the last 13 away matches in Europe.
Legia Warsaw, Maribor, Salzburg, Astra, Zagreb, inter, Stjarnan , Malmo, Ajax, molde, fenerbahce and the red imps have all scored against us at their own place. 10 of these 12 teams also scored against us in the reverse fixture at Celtic park, the exceptions being the minnows of Stjarnan and red imps.
Qarabag are the only team we have kept out on their own turf over this period.
So I think it’d be a monumental shock if we kept Astana off the scoresheet in Kazakhstan. I think we will probably need to score at least 3 or 4 goals over the 2 legs to progress.
Good afternoon CQN from a very hot LA
Sitting by the pool with beer just letting it all go by
Having a ball hope you are all well
Will be up early to listen to the game on Wednesday morning
Come on the Bhoys in Green and White
Take care all
HAIL HAIL
Mt
AoW
Eating in Esquire is a bad move for a Celtic player. Awrite fir the fans though.:)
Mountblowtim
Looking out the windae to a rain soaked Dalmuir.
Enjoy USA pal.
DD-i was surprised to say the least. Cheap Bastard lol.
Didn’t take his shades off the whole time. Must a been the black eye he’s got!
Taken from the Sun newspaper.
ERIK SVIATCHENKO is OUT of Celtic’s Champions League clash with Astana tomorrow.
The Dane is crocked and didn’t make the trip to Kazakhstan with the Hoops squad yesterday.
—————————————————————————————————————————————
Get Kolo there pronto Brendan.
AoW
The new Sunderland manager is an ex Esquire Bhoy.
Mats Nilloc on 26th July 2016 12:18 am
Suit yourself. I’m happy to praise Celts. I’m equally happy to slag huns. I try hard not to include both in the same sentence.
Thanks for the chat.
Mountblow tim
Where are you staying in LA?
HH,
Calibhoy
Stefan Johansen also not with the squad…… hmmmm.
ES possibly out for up to 4 weeks.
What a terrible top. Hideous.
the aberdeen game is fast selling out.
While I’m on, SinCityBhoy what ‘s going on in SinCity?
My niece just had a birthday bash in Vegas. Three sassy, street-wise 30yo glamour pusses. All had their phone stolen on the same night, Our girl’s phone lifted from a zipped insert inside a closed bag that never left her shoulder.
It leads me to think Las Vegas lowers tourists’ guard or maybe USA sucks. (No that can’t be the reason. Buffalo has a GAA team called the Fenians. What a classy country.)
I know recent history suggests otherwise but i’ve got a feeling we’ll win on wednesday.PMA.
====================================
“Is a hippopotamus a hippopotamus?Or just a cool popotamus?!”
MITCHHEDBERGcsc
Saint Stivs
I would hope that the matches against oor biggest rivals Aberdeen will sell out.
Calibhoy, I use evolve for uk irish tv, http://matsbuilds.co.uk/repository. And install it from there also uktiurk is very good,I haven’t got that one to hand, hope that helps mate HH
Thank you very much PeterBhoy. I will give it a shot.
HH,
CaliBhoy
Is Ajer also injured?
We must be one of the unluckiest teams around or are our training methods suspect?
Or do we really just sign big girls blouses?
DD we are having a great time
Hope you had a good time on your holiday
Calibhoy
We are in Anaheim Next to Disney Land
We move Wedneday for Hollywood
For the last few days of our holiday
HailHail
Mt
CALIBHOY on 26TH JULY 2016 12:52 AM
Get doon tae the pool wi Mountblow Tim pronto.
He has a certain endearing quality of not being slow to open his wallet when there is beer in the offing.
;-)
Sin City Bhoy
Your a top Bhoy it was great to meet you
Hope all is well in Vagas loved our time there
Hail Hail
Mt
GUYFAWKESAFOREVERHERO on 26TH JULY 2016 1:05 AM
I’m sorry to hear that.
In recent times the strip has become a haven for petty thievery.
In fact all US cities are experiencing a similar wave.
The reason I couldn’t speculate on other then the increase of poverty (yes, poverty…) since the “crash” 2007-2010-ish.
MOUNTBLOW TIM on 26TH JULY 2016 1:31 AM
It was in actuality my pleasure to meet such a fine Tim and ambassador for Celtic.
If you need any pointers to find the LA Celtic supporters clubs, I’m your man.
Who knows, you might bump into ole Rod himself?
Sin City Bhoy
If I bump into Rod he will get my last
KANO scarf with the greatest of pleasure
How cool would that be
Hail Hail
Mt
Sin City Bhoy on 26th July 2016 1:33 am
No worries, they had a ball in your town.
Travelled teflon-coated and had tickets for the shows they wanted pre-booked. Been putting away £10pm since they were twenty one. Went shopping, I understand.
GUYFAWKESAFOREVERHERO on 26TH JULY 2016 1:44 AM
Glad they had a great time. A shpping paradise it is here too.
I live on the western reaches of Las Vegas, an area called Summerlin near Red Rock National Park. A new planned community designed by the Howard Hughes Foundation. Very little similarities with this area and the five mile radius of the strip.
Now if we just weren’t running out of water.
With Erik also now out of the game, will we see a fluid back five on Wednesday?
With the lack of experienced center backs do we we just pack the defence with bodies?
SIN CITY BHOY on 26TH JULY 2016 2:07 AM
I believe I read on here that the Astana striker is injured and will not play.
Small mercies.
Brave attempt by Paul Simon.
GUYFAWKESAFOREVERHERO on 26TH JULY 2016 1:05 AM
Police here have been asked by local politicians to adapt a low profile in many high crime areas for social reasons and complaints about aggressive policing and programs like stop and frisk.
As a result petty crime is on the increase.
In some areas police on neighborhood patrol will no longer leave their cruisers for safety fears.
God bless Japan in the aftermath of this sensless crime against the most vulnerable people in their country.
Another madman cunt runs amok.
Hopefully all of those injured will survive and live full lives to thwart the maniac,
Sad