Celtic Banter Archive March 27 2014

27 Mar 2014 21:53:54
With emergance of promising young players also Biton still to return from injury and hopefully Kayals return to fitness, it seems once again we are spoilt with several more than decent midfielders to compliment Brown .Could this possibly spell the end of Forrests Celtic career? Will NL still find a place for Mulgrew in the mid section? Will any of the farmed out players have a future at Celtic Park?. Surely Sammy s bargaining position has been weakened, if indeed he intended to do that . Sammy 1 of the few consistent European standard players we have, but very frustrating in the weekly grind of league football.
If Forster and VVD stay it will be a great boost for next season topped with the return to form of Izzie (need cover here )and 3 decent rbs .
That bring us to the small matter of a striker or 2 .We have the strike force that will score for fun week in week out and playing a similar style of football as last night we will, it just something special that's needed, a rise of your seat type player of European standard but at what cost?.At today's inflated prices would our holy grail, £6m, buy such a player?.Maybe get lucky and sign an out of contract player of a and acceptable standard and use the 6 mill as a signing on fee?.Maybe somewhere amongst the development and youth squad the next King Kenny, Dixie Dean is waiting to pounce Celtic used produce profitable goal scorers .There has to be a plausable solution somewhere? Maybe a PL that doesn't know what purse strings are.

Well that's that, feel free to comment .

Sorry i'm lost. Why would you want to sign a £6m striker when celtic already have your hero Stokes? Contradicting statements as usual

In the league games next season I'd have Griffiths, Stokes and Watt as a top 3. We'd run riot IMO

Big team, wee team aside - does anyone think if we did have a young Kenny Dalglish or Jimmy Johnstone in our youth squad, we would be able to hang onto them?

{Ed007's Note - They would probably have to leave to get first-team football.}

Ooofft these 2 and a few other past players (Scottish) are miles ahead of most in the current team. Not sure they were ever replaced?

Larson maybe - Although not from Scotland

Mrs E I feel that maybe home grown players would be more loyal to the club they have a connection to but is it not the case that home grown players of a standard required are getting scarcer and scarcer .

I'm old enough to remember the excitement down south when Scottish players moved down that way and the impact they made .
Where are they now? Something seriously wrong with the whole set up .

Scottish football is free falling a and will eventually end up a part timers game similar to something to what is on show in Irish League or League of Ireland

I actually just seen the Larsson/Dalglish discussion elsewhere, pure coincidence!

TTTS yes, totally agree. The standards have fallen terribly for whatever reason. Whether its coaching or talent just isn't there, I don't know. Scottish football is needing an overhaul!

Does anyone really think any of our current youth players are the answer and would you trust them in say a Champions League game - serious question?

It's a fine balance, buy wrong and the play the youth avocators will be on your case, play young lads and loose a match or two and the need to spend apostles will be baying .Where do you draw the line .
NL has now win 3 league titles, some of the wins unspectacular, some of the losses maybe embarrassing, is it enough in the present climate, most likely not .In fairness to him he hasn't had the luxury of a steady seasonal team, with the moving on of players and injuries at crucial times. He will have to deliver another league title at least 1 cup and at least be in the second euro tournament after Christmas to keep the masses happy .

To be honest Celtic should be selfish and looking outside Scotland for football if they want to maintain their status as 1 of Europe's big clubs as those that are running Scottish football atm are running it into the ground.

To be honest Celtic should be selfish and looking outside Scotland for football if they want to maintain their status as 1 of Europe's big clubs as those that are running Scottish football atm are running it into the ground.

One of Europes big clubs, really?

Of course they are .

More nonsense from TTTS scottish football will never go part time. Even without the old firm, this still will not happen. Total bs.

@johncass we are the only team carrying scottish football through coefficient ratings. Sevco has never been involved in europe and I doubt they will for a long time, possibly never with "sevco the sequel on the cards" fud

Doesn't make yous a big European club, an average European club yes, fw

@johncass but we ARE a big european club so your wrong. One of the biggest clubs supported worldwide and the ONLY scottish team who will ever win the biggest competition in europe.

You seem to be creeping on this page quite a lot recently, jealousy doesn't get you anywhere. You need to accept that SEVCO 2 is imminent and concentrate on preparing for it coming. Sevco should not even be in scottish football, so you really have no place to comment on size of our club

27 Mar 2014 20:01:11
Sevco talk warning.

Just had to comment on their interim account figures and what my ex bear pals make of them.
They were actually pleased with figures and gleefully noted that operational costs were "only" up £200k. I tried to point out that operational costs should have been DOWN as they were in a lower league with supposed fewer costs but they could not see it.
Their next statement had me laughing out loud, IF they win Scottish cup they will appeal to SFA to allow them to go into Europa League next season the thinking being their "friends" at the SFA (Cough Campbell) will nominate them even without 3 years accounts. Go over to the other site and people on there actually back up this theory. Some have even "costed" what they can earn from Europa League next season.
Finally, for now, they believe this magical £50m that King has promised is already in their bank account. Maybe I should have began this post with
"once upon a time" lol

Timalloy, I don't usually go in for Sevco talk and don't pretend to be clever when talking about off the field stuff as it doesn't interest me.
BUT. I was watching my sons training from the warm comfort of my car tonight :) and tuned into my usual footie phone in, reception was mince so had to resort to the dark side phone in!
Most of it celtic related regarding our 3 in a row and more to come.
Anyway. they read out the statement to 1 or 2 zombies who did actually bother to call in, and like you said weren't to bothered.

From what I got (which we already knew) they need the season ticket money ASAP. That only keeps them afloat, they would also need outside investment for player purchases and further wages and that's only talking like the rubbish of Boyd, Miller, Hutchinson bla bla bla.
Their £1.5mil loan has kicked in as no money left, which takes them to the end of the season!
The current regime are claiming Kings "drip feed of money" can't work so at this time aren't considering it?

In trouble no matter what!
Same season ticket sales= run as is (at a loss)
Any less= player and staff cuts.
Unless they are brutally honest to who's willing to listen, at worst which was differently worded in the statement!
The current club will cease to run.

I really can't be bothered with sevco talk on here, so I'm a hypocrite tonight, but it was actually music to my ears.
We have our own problems but minuscule compared to that lot.

Bigbadjohn

I know what you mean, at work today 1 of them actually said " it breaks down to only losing £600k per month"

Tim, these people are seriously deluded and bordering on the verge of insanity.They actually expect a company to sign over their ONLY assets to a leaderless non company pressure group!

They are also under the impression that King will jet in, you noticed that he only ever jets in while everyone else flies in, and open his cheque book. So this master businessman who could have had the whole thing TWO YEARS ago for £5-7m, now wants to shell out £30m?.

The big problem for them is Greens much lauded institutional investors.These fund managers will pull the plug and sell the lot rather than be involved with King and the rest of the numerous sevco fan groups, it is that serious.Profit is the name of the game for these guys.

They are in a helluva situation. Think I'll go and get an extra big dollop of jelly and ice cream

27 Mar 2014 17:49:57
League done and dusted, well done Celtic.
Let's start planning for CL qualifiers NOW.
Heard Lawwell on Sly Sports saying we do not need to sell Forster/Van Dijk ( Peter we may not NEED to but I think you WILL) our Mr Lawwell's usual double speak while season tickets are on sale. I would be happier if he was more honest with us the fans.
I said before if both players allowed to leave we must replace them with similar quality player.
Team does not need major surgery maybe 3 top players in, give our best players as long a rest as possible. Play our fringe players and younger squad members to see what they can do.
I am hoping with a full pre season training behind them players like Balde, Pukki, Boerighter, Biton, Johansen, Fridjonsen and even Griffiths will bring them all on a ton.
Any player we sign I hope we sign them early and not wait until end of window as in previous years, get them bedded in and full pre season there also.

That is exactly what I'd be hoping for too Timalloy.

If we spent near to what is available then 3 maybe even 4 'signature' signings. A bit of 'pedigree'. It really is Lawell's last chance from me this window to start spending what we CAN and should be. Or as you say, stop the bull and just tell us where the moneys going.

The trouble about getting players in early is that the kind of players we should be getting may not want to gamble on us not getting Europe, which is a thin edge of a slippery slope. Even I remember days when we were walking into a European qualifier anticipating us winning by more than a few.

I think that we should all take a leaf out of PLs book and announce that "Yes, we have the season ticket money. Yes, we can afford to spend our money and as soon as we see the club investing in the type of players that will entertain us in a way that justifies us spending our hard earned money, we will gladly do so." in the interim, PL can keep things ticking over with the profits from our sales dating back to Ki and our pre-season overseas trips. I know that this will not happen but I just can't see PL doing anything different this close season from what has happened in the past.

The Sharp Suited Man is no mug and that's a fact, I for one am glad he is running our club, he runs it with the best interests of Celtic first and foremost. Celtic cannot turn down offers of £12M plus for players we bought for £2-3M. We bought in Big Virgil and no-one had heard of him, we bought in Stefan J and no-one had heard of him, credit were credits due. Stefan, Biton, Griffiths, Henderson and Rogic all with a good pre season will pay dividens for us next season and backed up with the Browns and Mulgrews should put on on our way for a good Champions League campaign and a long overdue Treble. In the Sharp Suited Man I trust. Hail Hail

{Ed007's Note - Lawwell is certainly no mug, it's just a pity the same can't be said for the fans that buy into his BS.}

Tam, he runs the club with the major shareholders best interests that's for sure. As for his flirtations with UEFA, that's only going to put him in good stead not us. Unless UEFA Are actually corrupt. I'd heard of Virgil, he was a dutch u-21. Not so much Johansen, but he's a full international. If we're going for youth then that's the kind we should be. Fair enough Wanyama, but that's a bit of a fluke. Not every player we sign for 750k will leave for 12m. Park ain't that good. Yet when we underspend, all people say is 'yeah but Wanyama. Yeah but Larsson.' Speculate to accumulate.

@jimtim, why would Eufa NOT be corrupt its clear only money talks re CL.FIFA certainly are 1 word proves that, Qatar. If you ever read Fergies book he spoke to a high ranking Italian official who said " do you know the difference between Italian football and English football. No relplies fergie. Well in Italy we know the football is corrupt till proven otherwise, compared to England who believe it is honest till proven otherwise. Take out of that what you will lol.

Tam a hate to say this but I knew who VVD was before he came to celtic he was spoke about a lot between me and my mates same with van der hoorn who joined Ajax

Rayman, think you missed my sarcasm a wee bit there. I think most football governing bodies are corrupt (anybody else, feel free to call me paranoid ; I couldn't care). If Lawwell's roles now with UEFA are to benefit us over anybody else, it can only be biased. At least though, we're at the dining table of people who may form a European league; financially, historically, identifiably, we'd certainly have something to offer. Unfortunately, unless balls get moving, it's just a pipe dream.

{Ed007's Note - Celtic had no representatives in Monte Carlo this week where there were again discussions regarding the European Super League amongst other things and there are no plans to invite Celtic to any table. Lawwell does not have any role in UEFA, he is on the Executive Board of the ECA.
His role at the ECA serves Celtic no purpose (look at Scott Struthers, one of the most knowledgeable administrators in the game today, he holds positions in the SFA, UEFA and FIFA, Accies don't get many favours from them do they, or remember when David Will of Brechin was VP of FIFA?) but it does raise Lawwell's profile and will stand him in good stead for any positions within the governing bodies. Touch wood his plan is to move onto UEFA or FIFA, and hopefully ASAP.}

Thanks for sharing your knowledge once again Ed. So at the minute, it has no benefit for Celtic, just his own career?

{Ed007's Note - Remember the episode of Only Fools when they had the Jolly Boys Outing, ECA meeting are like that but more rowdy. When was the last time you heard anything about them before Lawwell was voted onto the EB? Privately they actually side with UEFA and are against any breakaway Super League.}

Ha. I remember the one. Educating me again. Forgive my ignorance I thought the ECA was a renamed branch of UEFA. If it is a completely independent body would the ECA not be the ones pushing for a super league? I understand UEFA are against it or is the ECA still secretly under UEFAs thumb?

{Ed007's Note - The ECA came about when the G14 group was disbanded in 2008. Platini had said that the G14 group were elitist and wanted the G14 clubs to drop their lawsuits regarding compensation for players injured on international duty, when UEFA agreed the clubs disbanded and formed the ECA. The ECA currently have 214 members (105 Ordinary Members and 109 Associated Members) from all European FAs so you can see why they are opposed to the Super League idea, the vast majority of their members won't get a sniff near it and it would weaken their league if the 'big teams' left their domestic leagues.
The ECA will send delegates to sit on UEFA, FIFA and even EU committees to do the bidding for it's members but as a single entity they have no real power although there is a Memorandum of Understanding with UEFA that the ECA be recognized as the sole body to represent the interests of clubs at a European level. The current MoU runs until 2018.
The ECA produces reports on a number of things to better the game but they have no power to enforce anything, it was the ECA that got UEFA (but now FIFA) to pay compensation for players injured on international duty.
I would say that on any major decisions the ECA will back UEFA's stance. As an example of the politics involved, the Chairman of the ECA is Karl-Heinz Rummenigge (representing Bayern Munich) yet Bayern Munich are one of the teams heavily involved in the unofficial talks regarding any break-away league.}

That is a heck of a lot of members. Kind of makes sense then cheers Ed. Probably wearing my green tinted specs but can't believe, if it is to be a two-tier system, we wouldn't be seriously in contention.

{Ed007's Note - I'd certainly like to think so as well Jim but I fear we will be nothing more than an afterthought in the second tier, which could end up being seen as no more than an extended Europa League. Granted it would help our income in comparison to just now but we'd still be nowhere near challenging clubs like Man Utd, Real Madrid or Bayern Munich. How would the fans feel about seeing our income rise but having no realistic chance of winning any trophies?}

I'd be fine with that scenario Ed. I'm not a 'gloryhunter' or anything. Sure it's nice to win titles, but, I have a second team, Newcastle, and we win hee haw but its great just to watch us play better players more regularly and under a bigger spotlight. A 'super league' would increase that even more too. Realistically we're long shots for the CL, but the buzz surrounding and at European games is second to none. Why couldn't we have a 90,000 capacity of the best atmosphere in Europe? Genuinely, I think Celtic are a sleeping giant in terms of where they could be, I'd be quietly confident of us climbing to the top, providing the the elite aren't given too much of a buffer from the rest. Would you favour a move to a super league?

27 Mar 2014 12:03:08
Started like a tornado then a lull, but a very good second half with some really fine goals = Champions!
I have enjoyed watching us play more recently and the goals have been a tonic after that run of 1-0's earlier in the season and we have been very, very consistent. Well done to NL and The Bhoys .
There is still room for improvement however as this very impressive league run was obviously helped by being eliminated from European football and taking no part in the latter stages of both domestic cups.
I don't know if Lennon will stay although he seems to be preparing for another campaign; but at the same time he seems to be touting for a job in England?
Whatever happens, there is no doubt we need to improve the team/squad before the CL qualifiers and I would hope the club get their act together regarding proper quality transfer targets.
The signings of Balde, Pukki and Boerighter have all but been a disaster for one reason or another and this cannot happen again. There were also a lot of young players released/ loaned out like Rogic, Watt, Atajic and McGeough and I would hope at least a couple of them will have a future at Celtic as to lose them all asks questions about our youth development strategy?
Anyway, it's time to enjoy the moment and bask in another title win 7 games before the ridiculous split.
Maybe the squad and fringe players will get a chance to show what they can do albeit under no pressure and make a stake for next seasons starting 11.

JJ

26 Mar 2014 23:37:02
GLASGOW CELTIC CHAMPIONS!

45 league titles and going strong. To win the league in March just shows how dominant we are, let's hope next season we really show it in all competitions.

Delighted with the game and being crowned best in Scotland again :-)

Aye Mrs E nice to do the job and, as you say, improve next season although I suspect we could see a wee bit more challenge next year. Also, we are the first team to win the new Premiership (another first for the Bhoys). Hail Hail

We are indeed Tim! A bit more of a challenge will be welcome.

Hail Hail. Something to be pleased with!