Celtic Banter Archive December 28 2017

28 Dec 2017 19:45:16
i read a lot of debate on Celtic forums about Madden refeeing our game Saturday.
I remember how the great Jock Stein used to handle biased refs at Celtic park.
First he would tell players to "make sure the referee never decided the game" ie score a handful of goals.
His other ploy, particularly in very cold weather was to order staff to turn off heating and hot water in the referees room, and instruct tea ladies NOT to send in a pot of tea and food.
The refs soon got the message.

28 Dec 2017 23:12:16
Timalloy don't doubt your Stein story but over the passing years many myths have grown up about what J S said.
My favourite after a ref had been particularly biased against Celtic, Stein told him he was as big a bastard as his father .

For Saturday all he can do is raise hell of a noise from the very first dubious decision Madden makes, each one getting louder and louder.

29 Dec 2017 00:06:38
It is a blight on the integrity of the game in Scotland that Madden is getting to referee any match involving either Celtic or Rangers.

Psychologists have done a lot of research on "Ingroup Bias" and there is strong evidence that people favour people from their own group. Which is why he should not be allowed to referee this match.

Imagine there was a referee in this country who had been a season ticket holder at Celtic and was an affiliate of a republican organisation, would they be allowed to referee a Celtic v Rangers match?

29 Dec 2017 00:12:38
Ask welshy.

29 Dec 2017 09:16:19
I don't think they'd let me.

28 Dec 2017 17:07:18
Hi Ed, I see that Steven Caulker has left QPR and is a free agent, are Celtic likely to show any interest? , if he gets his act together he could be exactly the type of commanding centre back we need .
Drewzybhoy.

{Ed007's Note - Yes. I said a couple of weeks ago that Caulker could sign in January or in the summer depending on his contract situation. Brendan Rodgers speaks to him regularly and met him recently but a lot will depend on the player himself.}

28 Dec 2017 17:58:56
Sorry, just seen this and just posted this aswell . He's miles better on his day than anyone we currently have, not including the new bhoy as I've never seen him play.

28 Dec 2017 18:45:13
Get him signed. Get the lad back in love with football and with the support fully behind him we can all help him recover. He would be a great asset if we can get him back to his best. Regardless i hope the lad can get back to health soon and start enjoying life again.

28 Dec 2017 19:35:09
Here a thing. Why has QPR released him rather than sell him for a small fee or something?
Is he struggling again?
If he is will he be able to perform for us?

{Ed007's Note - His contract runs out in the summer and QPR were always going to let him leave then after his problems. Perhaps they have done Caulker a favour by releasing him because he has a club lined up and they know that the stability of that will help his ongoing recovery.
Caulker will 'struggle' for the rest of his life, Kev. Once you're an addict, whether it's drink, drugs or gambling, you're always an addict. The fight/struggle is keeping clean and sober every day of your life.}

28 Dec 2017 19:35:58
Worth a punt definitely.

28 Dec 2017 19:58:35
Leave him out, he is a good player, but definitely another sick note, we do not need the risk.

28 Dec 2017 20:59:22
I know quite a bit about alcoholism to be fair and the constant battle. Him suffering from debilitating depression could be a major problem. If we can't get him on the park then doesn't matter how good he is.
People saying get him in the gaffer will sort him and the fans will show him the love. It doesn't work like that. Hopefully the guy has his demons under control and if are looking at him that we check it all out 100%. He is certainly better than any CB is Scotland when he's at his best.

{Ed007's Note - That's why I said a lot will depend on the player himself. He'll need to show that he's at least on the right track before anyone will think about signing him although there are a few Championship clubs that have been in touch with him recently to register their interest.
The reason people are saying Rodgers could help sort him out is because of their relationship. The manager has known Caulker since he was a teenager and it was Caulker that got in touch with Rodgers about his problems so he must trust and respect him.
Problems like Caulker has experienced are a lot more common at football clubs than you think, even at Celtic.}

28 Dec 2017 21:36:52
Maybe he was one of the ones PL and BR was talking to during there visit to London? Heard that Musonda was definitely one. Be happy with Caulker and punt Boyata. Caulker, Ajer, Simunovic and Compper is an improvement on what we have at the minute an would only have cost £1m without taking into account the sales fees for Erik and Boyata.

28 Dec 2017 22:14:13
Lennon suffers bad with a lot of it as does big Hartson and they are to of the best I have seen at parkhead. He would definitely improve us if we could help him manage it.
Didn't you post that you heard we were going back for him in this window a couple months ago?

28 Dec 2017 22:54:49
Worth a ‘punt’.

Anyone see the irony here?

28 Dec 2017 23:36:13
Haha didn't mean that at all.

28 Dec 2017 16:38:39
Caulker has left qpr by mutual consent he's got to be worth a punt.

28 Dec 2017 17:22:10
While he would be more than adequate for SPFL and is a great goal threat, I don't think he is good enough for Europe and I also have concerns over his mental health.

He is a big risk due to his high wages.

28 Dec 2017 19:51:38
He was good enough to get an england cap when his head was right.

29 Dec 2017 09:25:48
Mc Greggor has been awul the last couple of games, I would put Armstrong in.

29 Dec 2017 10:44:39
Carlton Palmer and Francis Jeffers also got england caps and I don't think either of them would have been good enough for Europe.

28 Dec 2017 14:28:24
Does anyone Park in the carpark on janefield Street next to the burger vans? Am hoping to get parked there on Saturday cos am taking ma boy and he can't walk far. A was just wondering how early we would need to be there before its too busy. Cheers.

28 Dec 2017 15:59:39
I think it shuts 1 hour before kick off and you then have to wait for all the buses to leave before you can go. Park up at the forge its not too far a walk.

28 Dec 2017 16:07:56
Stay away from London road csa end it’ll be closed for gb.

28 Dec 2017 16:47:17
Cheers boys, just going to park there then stay in the bar area for a while to let the traffic calm down a bit. It's ma bosses seats in the posh bit so we can sit in the lounge or whatever its called. It was more to see if we had to be there before 10.

28 Dec 2017 17:21:46
Stephbhoy2, I'm not sure what lounge you mean, but I don't think that the Kerrydale bar is open before Saturdays match. If it's one of the other ones inside the stadium then they might be.

28 Dec 2017 19:34:50
Av been before, u go in at the corner where the green brigade are but the seat is on the half way line. No sure what the lounge is called cos any time av been av been well oiled to say the least. It'll be strange bein sober this time.

{Ed007's Note - Isn't that the McNeill Suite in the North Stand?}

28 Dec 2017 20:44:54
No idea ed, a foned this morning to see if a had to book ma car in and the boy said the carparks are full already but the one round the other side is a free public carpark, we're just going to head in before 10 to make sure we get a space. Am buzzin for it, it's hard keeping it a secret from him but it'll be worth it when a tell him.

{Ed007's Note - I'm sure that's what the hospitality suite in that stand. I hope you and the wee man have a great day mate, I'm sure the result will please us all.}

28 Dec 2017 22:31:58
I've got no doubts about the result at all, I think it will be a comfortable afternoon stroll in the park. They're totally pish, even with a masonic ref we'll be too strong.

28 Dec 2017 01:54:20
Sorry my 2nd post on this subject - VVD. Southampton make £75M while Celtic made £13M or so. I know there's a transfer sell on fee of approx 10-15% but Southampton. They couldn't lace Celtic shoes but take some of our best signings. It's crazy the market now. Please stop subscribing to Sky or BT until there's parity in the football world.

28 Dec 2017 12:53:10
Couldn't agree more.