Yet again during 2013 we asked you to put your hand in your pocket and you responded as only Celtic fans do. You raised £6000 before and during the focus of our summer fundraising activity, the annual golf day. £4500 of this went towards the 1254125 Appeal, which during the year did an enormous amount to anchor the club and support right back to where we came from. Clic Sargent, who help children with cancer, also benefited at that time.
Thanks also to those who sponsored my 10k at the Great Scottish Run in October to the tune of £1552. Times remain tight for many, so I the value of your support.
Perhaps the biggest response all year came from the commitment we made to Mary’s Meals to build and kit a kitchen at the Kholoni Primary School in Malawi. 1200 kids are registered at the school but there are no catering facilities, so students go hungry, or simply don’t go to school at all. Pablophanque’s family sent on the £4500 support they received in 2011 to the appeal, while 470 people booked a seat at the CQteN St Patrick’s Day dinner, with more on the waiting list. The work we’ll achieve in 2014 will be incredible.
This place can stress and annoy sometimes but it has become a great window into the soul of the Celtic support.
Have a great Christmas and thank you for all your support.
1,233 Comments- Pages:
- «
- 1
- ...
- 24
- 25
- 26
- 27
- 28
- 29
- 30
- 31
- 32
- 33
- »
Travellerbhoy
You seem in fine form mate, I’m pleased about that. Hope you have a great 2014.
Well, just one article. ( not by THE David Hay)
Davie Hay: Bargains to be had for Lennon in January sales
IT HAS not been the Christmas markets Neil Lennon has been scouring in the past few weeks – it has been the transfer markets.
Neil Lennon has already started to look around for new winter signings
In his search for the extra quality he knows his side needs, the Celtic net has been cast all around the world.
No sooner do you discover a market where the quality is good enough and the prices and wage demands are low enough, but everyone else latches on to it and the targets rocket out of your reach.
So, it is a constant challenge to find the next country where you can get what you want at the price you can afford to pay.
Just look at the current United Nations squad and the last few days’ headlines for proof of how comprehensive the search has become.
Celtic have had a midfielder from Japan on trial, Hiroki Yamada, and Neil has been over to Holland where it is reported he was looking again at Iceland striker, Alfred Finnbogason and an American front man, Aron Johannsson.
Then there’s the link to Huddersfield’s James Vaughan and Dundee United’s Stuart Armstrong. You don’t get much more diverse than that lot. But, will any of them end up at Parkhead? That’s the $64,000 question.
When he took over as manager, Neil did a fair bit of business in the English Championship, signing Joe Ledley, Adam Matthews, Gary Hooper, Kris Commons and Kelvin Wilson, who all become key players in his team.
He was back down there looking again the other week, but that really has become a difficult market for Celtic as values have risen so much and wages with them.
Finding another Hooper would be the dream, but that’s a lot easier said than done – especially for £2.4million.
It’s also harder to get good value in the January window than it is during the summer, though Commons is an obvious example of how it can pay off.
Clubs tend to price their players higher in this window, perhaps in the belief anyone who wants to buy is under a bit of pressure to do so mid-season.
In actual fact, Celtic don’t need any new players to help them retain the title.
However, with the Champions League qualifiers coming round so early in the summer, they would prefer to get new faces in now to give them plenty of time to settle into the side before these vital games.
Celtic’s other problem is that the players they want to recruit – a goalscorer and a creative midfielder – always come at a premium price because of what they bring to a team.
That brings me back to what I have been saying for several weeks now, that the club must be prepared to go the extra mile with a transfer fee and wages when the need arises.
I’m wary of destroying the harmony of a dressing room by introducing a player on a higher wage than anyone else.
But, look at Liverpool. When they decided to hand Luis Suarez a bumper new contract, do you really think the likes of Jordan Henderson would have had a case for going to the manager and demanding a rise?
Of course not. Certain players simply bring more to the team, and everyone benefits from it.
Having said all that, I know Celtic can’t compete with the really rich clubs, so it comes back down to doing the best with what you can afford.
Holland is a key market for Celtic, and there’s no doubt Virgil van Dijk has proved to be excellent value for money, even if Derk Boerrigter has yet to do the same.
However, while the transfer fees there can be within their reach – though the money being asked by Finnbogason does appear to be a little beyond the valuation put on him by some within Celtic – you always have to look at the entire package.
That means multiplying the wages by the number of years the contract will run, and that can come to a lot of cash.
It might be cheaper to look even further afield, as Celtic have done in the recent past with Ki Sung-Yueng from South Korea and Shunsuke Nakamura and Koki Mizuno from Japan.
However, any signing from these countries must be for purely football reasons.
I don’t really think Celtic made any real inroads into the commercial market there during Naka’s time with the club.
In fact, I’d wager Naka’s goal against Manchester United to put Celtic into the last 16 of the Champions League brought more cash to the club than anything they did commercially with him.
So, if Hiroki Yamada is to be offered a contract after training for a week at Lennoxtown, it has to be because of what he can bring to the squad, not the jersey sales.
With adjusting to a new country always a gamble, it’s obviously a safer bet to look inwards for investment in players, and the young lads at Dundee United have certainly shown there is potential here.
The likes of Armstrong, Ryan Gauld, John Souttar and Andrew Robertson have caught the eye of plenty of clubs, and surely, if they really wanted to bring them to Parkhead, Celtic could offer them a significant wage increase and a step up in terms of Champions League football?
That would keep the money within the Scottish game, and, just as importantly, this talent within our league.
Ultimately, Celtic want to be producing and developing their own young players, like James Forrest, and put a lot of money into doing this.
But that’s no reason not to look seriously at the best other clubs have managed to unearth – a rule that applies to talent all over the world.
Good morning CQN! Hope you all had a great day yesterday.
I wonder if the Hun hordes are prepared for the mass exodus which is about to be visited upon them. That new fella Graham Wallace seems ready to implement huge cost reductions and oversee a complete financial revamp.
It’s almost like they are in administration or something.
Hehehe – stupid,teetering on the brink, Huns.
Gold Coast Tom, I am just back from my kiwi family Christmas. Family is the most important thing in the World. I feel your pain and that of your Dad and brother and his family. Take care of them all mate and yourself.
Good morning CQN
I’m still at the in-laws in Cupar, Fife, for Christmas, but will slip the leash for a couple of hours to watch the game. Can any Fife Tims recommend a Celtic-friendly pub in these parts?
Morning all and belated merry Christmas
Here’s to three points and all the hoops home safe today
Does anyone know if there is a CQN naps comp today??
Good Morning Timland.
Lets hope for a pyro free day,the polis and smsm will
be lying in wait……never give yer enemy what he wants.
Got Stubsies book from my Bhoy in law. Would certainly recommend it. He gives a great insight into the Club and tears into the MIB, especially Dallas. Also tells how the SMM are biased. Good book well worth a read.
Compliments of the season to all on CQN
GRETNABHOY
I always rated Stubbs as a player,and his illness was as big a bl
Oops…..
GRETNABHOY
I always rated Stubbs as a player,and his illness was as big a blow to the club as it was for him personally.
I have waited a long time for an ex-player to “get tore in to that lot” and if he has done so,it seems only fair to thank him by buying his book!
Thanks for the info,bud.
Good morning friends and Happy St Stephen’s day from a clear skied, dry and wind free East Kilbride.
Hoping for a peaceful afternoon ;-)
travellerbhoy
05:50 on 26 December, 2013
16 roads – wee oscar the celtic warrio hiya mhate went to Graceland about 4 year ago. Brill me and my ex were are big Elvis fans. Also used to go to church called light and life. It’s a travelling people’s church. Seemed a bit extreme. Have you heard about it. They now have churches all over scotland and the world
Hi traveller bhoy
Been an Elvis fan for decades and made it to Graceland courtesy of my ex bro in law who drove us down from upstate New York. I had to do the tour twice because I didn’t think I seen everything. Would love to go again before my time is up..
Keep on rocking
Hail Hail
Ps. 4.0 to the hoops today
Happy birthday stevie Chalmers
Coybig
MHARK67
Dunno,mate. But I doubt it.
Post it here anyway just in case.
We all need to replenish our funds after the Christmas wallet massacre.
Mornin’…..
…The Rebel County is bathed in golden sunshine, dusting of snow on the very tops of the hills……..chilly tho’ as should be expected.
Keeping The Faith for a good clean fight today – on and off the park.
Celtic – Victorious……..
Our Opponents – disappointed.
HH.
Ok dokey BMCUWP ta for that
In that case I’m going for…..14:00 KEMPTON
GREEN. FLAG…. Today of ALL days this has to be a winner I think it got banned from running at Perth!!!
Good luck sll
Good morning celts.
My daughter made Christmas dinner yesterday, her first time and only being seventeen… It was lovely. The aftermath I was left to clean up…well, it was worth it, a proud dad.
I hope the game is incident free today as the smsm vultures are waiting.
3-0 to the tic, might even pop into the oasis and buy Tony d a pint and a half for his latest posts ;) HH
Bankiebhoy
Seasons greeting friend
I’ll second your motion …
HH
Horrible feeling they will fill the jails in Perth today. Combination of grumpy polis who would rather be in the house and the escalated tensions due to the banner nonsense and Fir Park melodrama.
Then there’s the politics. Great day to make a point, Brother House?
Some within our support will be blootered and will be easy pickings. if your going, please be safe and keep an eye on those around you you can help. There will be some of or support looking for a confrontation today also and sadly a full rebeloke is likely from the stands.
Can’t shake the feeling that we will be talking about this game for weeks to come – and that none of the conversations will be about football.
Celtic minus a goal is my bet, doubled with over 11 corners. Interesting to see how the St Johnstone forward May does today if he plays.
Sipsini
Thank you for that very kind offer, but I’ll be in the brazen today, Merry Christmas mate, here’s hoping for a result today, and our fans stay alert and on there toes, this game worries me, not for the team, but for our fans, Kippers ( Lynch) nose is out of joint, and in my experience, when Huns are upset they let it rip, BUT when Huns in uniforms are upset, honestly you don’t stand a chance, ” tacs a lang spoon ti sup wi a fifer” be careful lads, “ya hoor aye” ;))
PF
………….same to you chief.
HH
StStephen’sDay CSC
Tonyd
Are you aware that sipsini and I share a mutual friend with you.
Morning all. Happy St Stephen’s Day. Once again, it is wet and wild down here, although not as windy.
merry christmas to all…….
.had a fab day with family yesterday a brilliant day with the people i love
and cherish, i am, indeed, a rich man!
http://www.culturainquieta.com/es/musica/item/3302-noah-shaye.html
Tbj
No I wasn’t, who would that be?
Well, I see the rags today praising the Huns for giving 1000 tickets to the homeless for today’s match. Via Rangers charity ….hmmm. Then they change to 650. Maybe the charity could not pay for the other 350!
Compare and contrast to Celtic giving our season book holders 5000 tickets…yes, genuine giving, not via a charity, and we get ridiculed with Celtic trying to fill otherwise empty seats…..
And some among us are daft enough to buy these papers. ( I look at the back pages in Morrisons when I’m doing my shopping)
Tony d/ stringer b,
I share your concern, our fans are not all angels but I feel there is an agenda to blacken our clubs name.
I’ve said before that Irvine is getting well paid for a specific job and that is to use his sources, to deflect from the real problems in our game…newco. KTF and Keep the Heid Bhoys.
Right, let’s forget all this festive stuff and get back to the football. A good away win after two more narrow home successes will keep the run going nicely.
Off the field, stay safe and stay smart. We know the press will be looking to pick up on anything at all.
St Johnstone still have around 200 tickets left for the Celtic ends if anyone is in a state of mind and boady to attend.
Grace Kelly in High Society………….!
Thank-God for great-looking Tims………….
( I know for a fact, the boul’ Grace was briefly Ents Convenor on the Clydebank Emerald)
FACT.
Sorry for the negativity,but i can see a rocket letting off a smoke bomb/flare today,and the fleg ban will start at Inverness on Sunday.
Flegs stuff. Interesting.
Watch out in case Dr Haass has nipped from Belfast to Perth today to see the mighty Hoops and our associated banners!
http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/opinion/news-analysis/northern-ireland-flagflying-expm-brown-opened-pandoras-box-29867152.html
HH jamesgang
bankiebhoy1
Since we’re all telling the truth,I once walked the
bold Grace hame fae the dancin.
I suppose the Huns must have had a couple of bob left from the Money they blagged of the charities in the Millan game, the thing is, as long as Jack Irvine thinks we are as stupid as thems, we will always be ahead of the game, stupid, stupid, Hun.
Bada
Let’s hope not.
Banners aren’t the problem though I think most of us recognise that as being spurious and misleading.
I’d guess that any flag sellers outside the ground will make a pretty penny this afternoon.
Wee Craig Bellamy on SS1 Fantasy Football Show.
Top of the morning to you all from a sunny and still Fife.
Great day for the game and just hope that FoCUS have their attention focused on other things, but I doubt it. The progrom against football supporters in general and Celtic fans in particular began with the Football Summit on 8th March 2011.
Proud of my Irish ancestry and a bird lover, I can’t equate the two with the barbaric practice of clubbing a wren, the most shy and gentle of birds, on this day. Any Irish CQNers enlighten me?
HT-i hope not too mate,but the element who go to away games dine out on the bad publicity they bring to the Club IMO specially the live games.HH