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Celtic Diary Thursday March 9: Gordon Signs, And A New Loannee

We’ll tell you who at the end…

Goalkeeper Craig Gordon repaid the faith Celtic put in him a few years ago by penning a new contract which will keep him at the club until 2020, which is about halfway through Eastenders.

He said;

 “I’m delighted to get the deal sorted. We’ve got a big end to the season coming up so I can put all that behind me and fully focus on finishing the season well.

“There were a few things to talk about but not a great deal. It was always going to happen, it was just a matter of time. The club never accepted any bids. Until that happened there was no chance of anything happening.

“It was just up to me to keep playing away and to the best of my ability, and I was happy to keep playing and doing my job. I never got to the point where I had a decision to make so it was just a case of getting on with my football and I’m concentrating fully on Celtic.” 

 “I want to play as long as I possibly can, I’m very hopeful this isn’t my last contract. I want to play at the highest level for as long as possible. If that’s beyond this contract, and I’m hopeful that it will be, then we’ll see what happens.

“I hope my best years can be ahead. I’m happy and I’m enjoying my football. It’s a great place to be and a great team to be involved in. I’m hopeful I can have quite a few more years yet where I’m playing at this level.”

There was a point when Dorus de Vries arrived that some of us thought the Scots days were numbered, but as soon as we saw de Vries play it was more or less certain we’d stick with Gordon. So much so, in fact, that Leo Fasan risked a loan with Port Vale rather than have his confidence shattered by being told he was further down the pecking order than “Whoops ” de Vries.

There’s a couple of others who are out of contract in the summer, and to be honest, it may be that none of them get a deal…

Player(s) born/age Nat. End of contract Contract option Market value
Patrick Roberts
Right Wing
Feb 5, 1997 (20) England 31.05.2017
Kris Commons
Attacking Midfield
Aug 30, 1983 (33) Scotland
England
31.05.2017
Emilio Izaguirre
Left-Back
May 10, 1986 (30) Honduras 31.05.2017
Kolo Touré
Centre-Back
Mar 19, 1981 (35) Cote d'Ivoire 31.05.2017
Fiacre Kelleher
Centre-Back
Mar 10, 1996 (20) Ireland 31.05.2017

Roberts is on loan, and a lot will depend on whether or not that valuation above is realistic, as lets be honest, he won’t feature for Manchester City, in the same way that Jason Denaayer didn’t.

But will he want to stay at Celtic, where let’s be honest, he isn’t guaranteed a start either ?

Commons is still here, which might surprise you, and he will be away, as will Efe Ambrose, who didn’t make the list, and while Kolo Toure may step up to coaching, the promise of a deal for the likeable and capable Emilio Izaguirre hasn’t materialised yet.

Which means it probably won’t.

The man on the right in this picture is Lee Congerton, who may well be the new head of recruitment at Celtic from next week.

Lee Congerton (right) is expected to join Celtic as the club's head of player recruitment

Hang on… I’ve seen him before somewhere…

Image result for ronny deila

 

Of course, it’s not Ronny Deila really, before one or two start panicking.. its a guy who has worked with Rodgers before, at chelsea, so thats alright then.

The Mail claims that Paul Mitchell, the Tottenham scout linked with “rangers ” was also in the frame, but theres no way we could compete with whatever package was on offer at Ibrox. We believe the package on offer over there will remain secret until someone can get the brown paper and string off it.

Any doubts anyone has about a long term strategy under rodgers should be eased by this news.

We’re going places, it’s just a matter of how quickly.

 

We’re not actually that bad at the moment, when you think about it. some critics, usually poor ones, will claim that Scottish football is piss poor and Celtic are the best of a bad bunch, but lets take that into a wider context.

This week in the Champions League knock out stages, Arsenal lost to Bayern Munich 5-1 in London, after losing 5-1 in Munich in the first leg.

Talkshite Radio haven’t done their “Arsenal need to get out of the EPL ” debate yet, nor have they questioned the in depth quality of that league.

Barcelona took six off Paris St Germain to overturn a four goal deficit from the first leg, and yet again, we don;t see any criticism of the French league, nor have the Evening Times done an article about how clubs such as Arsenal and PSG, clearly out of their depth at that level, should form their own English channel superleague , and refuse all invites to take part in the UCL.

Could this theme have merely been a stick to beat Celtic and Scottish football with ?

Or do the EPL and the French League need a strong “rangers  ” as well ?

An inexperienced Celtic didn;t peform consistently well enough in the UCL this year, but the other sides in the group were a cut above average, as their most recent results in this years competitions show…

Fiorentina 2, Borussia Moenchengladbach 4

Manchester City 5, Monaco 3

Barcelona 6, Paris St Germain 1

Incidentally, all of these games saw the winners come from behind in spectacular fashion to win. 

The problem is that Scottish football is constantly compared with English football, notably by the English, as they feel that its only right to place a country with ten times the population of its neighbour on a level playing field when it comes to comparing the leagues.

England has 89 towns with a larger population than 100 000.

Scotland has 4.

It cannot even approach the in depth strength of the English league, and as we know, cannot attract the finance of the larger market.

But hey-that doesn’t matter to Talkshite et al.

All the likes of Adrian Durham and Jason Cundy-I resisted the temptation to use onomatapoeia when spelling the latters  name, which would have taken a very slight alteration- can see is a large fanbase which rises to the bait every time they open their mouths on air to rubbish the clubs-and the game -north of the border.

A deflection from their own leagues failings, which include a dearth of English talent and a widening gulf between the fans and their clubs.

Scottish football may have its faults, and there’s certainly room for improvement, but where else in the world can you see an achievement that no other club will ever match…

Image result for 54 titles in four years

Chris Sutton, who left the English league to play in Scotland, has assumed the mantle of public protector for our game, and it appears that the Talkshite crew don’t fancy a debate..

It all started when Sutton tweeted…

.@btsportfootball Blimey if a Scottish team had lost and humiliated 10-2 we would be hearing how bad the standard of the league is....

Which prompted Adrian Durham to respond…

“There’s so much wrong with Chris Sutton’s tweet. Let’s put him right. Celtic are by far the best team Scotland can offer.

“Judging the league by Celtic’s performances is kind of misleading. Celtic are in their best moment in years and have a manager they all think is a genius as Liverpool fans did for a short while.

“So when Celtic lose 7-0 in Barcelona you wonder about the state of the league. Jeez, what would happen to Hamilton? So now Arsenal are in a terrible run of form, a manager the fans were protesting about before the game, crowds are the lowest for years, they aren’t the best England have to offer and recently lost at home to Watford. 

“It’s no surprise they got battered, especially after their captain got sent off. Imagine the score if Scott Brown got sent off in Barcelona. Are Arsenal, in the state they’re in, representative of what the Premier League can offer? Of course not and everyone realises it apart from Chris Sutton.

“Celtic are the best Scotland can offer and lost 1-0 to the Lincoln Red Imps of Gibraltar. Sutton has forgotten that after all the hidings dished out to Motherwell and Ross County.

“What Sutton is forgetting is that the fourth best team in England last season got to the semi finals of the Champions League last year. He’s also forgetting that a team fighting relegation – Leicester City – got further than Celtic this season and that Manchester City are still in the Champions League.

“It’s a short hit to win fans, to get Celtic fans behind him. Real analysis takes a bit more than a tweet. I would’t go on individual games because anything can happen over 90 minutes but if you think Celtic drawing twice with Manchester City proves they are as good as City then you go with that. 

“Does it prove Celtic are as good as Inverness because they drew with them? Does it prove losing at home to a mid-table Bundesliga side Gladbach means they’re as good as them? Or losing in Gibraltar means they’re worse than Red Imps?

“If Arsenal were ripping up the Premier League and Arsene Wenger was top dog and all was well at the Emirates then Sutton would have a point but he’s failed to do his homework so his argument is laughable but it will make a lot of Scottish people happy.

“He was saying the Scottish Premiership was on a par with the English Premier League based on Arsenal’s result with Bayern Munich – let that sink in before you laugh your head off.

“Not only is it wrong but it deludes idiots into thinking there is no problem with Scottish football. From the bottom to the top there are massive issues. I suggest time should be sent on those rather than trying to win points from Celtic fans.” 

Image result for david mitchell hand gesture gif

This was actually billed on the radio as Durham “taking on ” Sutton, and implied a debate, which it would have been had Sutton been allowed to defend his corner. Which he would have done better than Blackburn defended a corner against him back in the day, when it was men against boys…except durham hasn’t got any dangly bits between his legs, so he just had that rant and then sat back hoping for a reaction.

Here’s mine..

Image result for david mitchell hand gesture gif

and here is Chris Suttons..

 “Adrian has a vivid imagination. He has history of rants and sometimes they are factual but he clearly took it upon himself to misrepresent my tweet.

“He said there was so much wrong with my tweet! This is a guy who is sticking up for his mate Jason Cundy after Brendan Rodgers dressed him down for his ridiculous comment last week! 

“This is a guy who said there was so much wrong and ridiculous with my tweet but then said Arsenal aren’t representative of the Premier League… Erm which league do they represent then?

“This is a guy with a grudge against Scottish football who said a few weeks ago Scottish football had lost its mind!

“Everybody north of the border knows that the game isn’t perfect and that there are so many things that need improving.

“It’s purely finance which is the difference and it’s true to say that English clubs in recent seasons with all the money at their disposal have underperformed in Europe.

“That’s the truth and we keep hearing how strong the EPL is. Durham likes nothing better than bashing Scottish football and you only have to look at his comments regarding Brendan Rodgers and Moussa Dembele. 

“It was promoted as Adrian taking on Chris Sutton. Just for the record it’s easy reading off a script and taking someone on when they aren’t actually there to defend themselves.

“Funny thing is Talksport have my number! But he’s entitled to his opinion. Absolutely entitled but I’d maybe rethink the Mark Warbuton for England manager one.

“And that Mark Warburton has been building his excellent reputation at Rangers.

“The only accurate thing I’ve seen Adrian say of late is that Mark Warburton has transformed Rangers. Yes Adrian he certainly has….”

Which is effectively the same as mine, but with more words.

Football, fortunately, is about much more than money and tv coverage. Its about atmosphere and enjoyment.

Like at the Manchester city game last night, in the EPL..

“rangers ” visit Celtic Park on sunday. Though I’d better mention it, as they seem to be hogging the headlines.

They haven’t got a manager yet, but they might get one this week. They’re not bothering with a Director of Football, because they can’t find one stupid enough to believe its a job worth having, and  the day of reckoning is getting closer…

Image result for grim reaper ibrox

Oh , by the way…they’ve had someone in to look at the roof….

Image result for I'm fucking sick of this Ibrox

With talk of Celtic players being bullied, and perhaps the referee being a little more enthusuastic for one team than would normally be regarded as fair, Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers has drafted in an emergency loannee to stiffen the sides resolve…and he seems somewhat keen on the idea..

Image result for I'm fucking sick of this Ibrox

Yesterdays picture..

Yesterdays winner, by a country mile…

5TB March 8, 2017 at 1:02 pm · Edit · Reply →

Caption:

Grandmaster’s wife’s attempt at teasing the ceremonial hamster out of her husband. 

Today…

Civil War Sling Cart (c.1865)

 

 

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charlie
7 years ago

ono ma tap o wit huv you been practicing wae them foreign language tapes again ralph

charlie
7 years ago

durham thinks scottish football should have died along wae the zombies its a hun thing

charlie
7 years ago
Reply to  charlie

if he wants to help scottish football he should do a programme on the offshore game reports

Charlienich
7 years ago

Caption,I’m about as big as sevcos warchest

mike
7 years ago

Great read Ralphy,

Hope Paddy Whack stays with us a very gifted player.

It seems to me that the Head of Player recruitment, means that Brendan confirms his desire to stay with us for a long time, that IMHO has been and will continue to be our best signing.

charlie
7 years ago

caption mike that guys stole your flares

watsamatabooboo
7 years ago

Caption – sevco’s new director of football proudly reveals the company’s latest innovatio…

watsamatabooboo
7 years ago

Oops,connotation, obviously!

mike
7 years ago

Tommy Gemmell (Rocket Man).

Rocket man,
Rocket man,
burnin out his fuse,
as only he can,
it was just his job,
six days a week,
A Rocket man,
RIP Tommy, our Rocket Man. mibbee gone, but never forgotten.

Pat K
7 years ago

Caption.
“Rangers” show marketing photo for the new and more representative company song – 3 Wheels on My Wagon

Bognorbhoy
7 years ago

Caption

The sevco brake club get ready for celtic park
The wheels on the wagon are bigger at the front ,bigger at the front,bigger at the front…

Martio67
7 years ago

Caption: Director of football? Even the cart horse has bolted

Bognorbhoy
7 years ago

And before ye ask I know it’s the front because thats the guy that pulls it…

Leões de Lisboa
7 years ago

Caption:

Sevco roll out the big…..wheels for Sunday. King on his way with the gun…and the warchest…and the director of football…and a manager…and….Ice cream and jelly, anyone ?

Danny
7 years ago

Caption: Am heavy hoachin tae blast her flaps intae oblivion . . . (re: Union cavalryman Jack Williams aka Frances Clalin mother-of-three from Illinois who pretended to be a man)

Tam the tim
7 years ago

The daft English have been at it for years. Leeds were going to be too good for the Tic. Look what happened to them. Watching the Barcelona match last night Big Jock and his Dunfermline team got a good mention so they’re not all bad.
HH

john young
7 years ago
Reply to  Tam the tim

No talk of PSG being an embarrassment after a hammering from Barca,everyone and their dug had a go at us,look at Arsenal 10-2 ffs.

charlie
7 years ago
Gash67
7 years ago

This years Canon for Forces day at Ibrox

reflects GASL commitment to over investment.

Desmond & The Dekkers
7 years ago

Guy to the left of Congerton looks a bit like yogi hughes….

Admin
7 years ago

Chorlton gets a King Kong Size makeover

(One for kids in the 89s!)

desdamoaner
7 years ago

For armed forces day a new cannon in tribute to sevco. All bluster and no bang.

Uralius
7 years ago

“Or do the EPL and the French League need a strong “rangers ” as well ?” – Had me in stitches Ralph.
Caption: Cute pea-shooter, did you build it yourself?

mike
7 years ago

Suicide in the trenches, by Siegfried Sassoon.

I know a simple soldier bhoy,
who grinned at life in early joy,
slept so soundly through the lonesome dark,
and whistled early like the lark.

In winter in the trenches, cowed and glum,
with cramps and lice and lack of rum,
he put a bullet through his brain,
no one spoke of him again.

You smug faced crowds with kindling eye,
who cheer when soldier lads march by,
sneak home and pray you’ll never know,
the hell where youth and laughter go.

charlie
7 years ago
Reply to  mike

good yin mike

charlie
7 years ago
charlie
7 years ago
Reply to  charlie

ile jeest leave this here he he

mike
7 years ago
Reply to  charlie

Viva Pedro, All Tims the gather.

Highland Tim
7 years ago

Looking for some advice here. Just recieved a fine of £45 for the Hamilton game for parking outside Tescos. Do I pay it or ignore it? Company called Smart Parking.

mike
7 years ago
Reply to  Highland Tim

Highland, I read on CQN about this issue some time back, if you post on CQN and ask, they might offer you the advice you seek.
Good luck man. H.H.

Highland Tim
7 years ago
Reply to  mike

Thanks, appreciatted.

D'Fhinnein Mick
7 years ago
Reply to  Highland Tim

HIGHLANDTIM

Everyone I know ignores them. But eventually they will win a court case.

Morto
7 years ago

Law in Scotland is different from England regards parking. This is subject to contract law and parking company would need to take a civil case to recover what they are asking for which is unlikely in the extreme. For more info ask at your local CAB for the leaflet, “it’s not fine”.

mike
7 years ago

Caption, The new sized wagon wheels, big in size and wee in fat.

steve
7 years ago

Sutton hit a raw nerve with Durham as his tongue is so far up Arsenals arse it’s pathetic. talk sport would be so much better if they were banned from discussing Arsenal every god dam minute.

7 years ago

“Rising to the bait”. Irony overload or what?

The Charlie Saiz International
7 years ago

Caption:
Burtons Biscuits advertisers fuck up the new 2017 wagon wheel launch promoting a biscuit cannon which has a set 1970’s wagon wheels on the font and the new 2017 wagon wheels on the back.

The Charlie Saiz International
7 years ago

Kelleher is a decent CB from what I have seen strong in the challenge (both on the deck and in the air) comfortable with the ball on the deck capable of playing it out of defence with a decent range of passing.
He’s tall and strong but needs to fill out a bit but at 20 is still maturing.
Hopefully he comes back and get’s a deal.

7 years ago

Think he got injured and came back from loan. He’s playing for the young team and scored the winner in a recent game.

It’s going to be very difficult with O’Connell to come back also.

Brendan keeps changing his centre backs with Erik and Jozo swapping and Ryck being current fave.

Perhaps he’s not entirely happy and it might be an area he’ll look to strengthen.

Cartvale88
7 years ago

Caption
The new big gun is delivered to Ibrox, what they wanted was a manager.

Hope Commons gets a full game so that appreciation can be shown to him for his stint at Celric.
Thought I would be back in time for the game on Sunday, held up. Does anyone know a bar in Milan that shows the match?

portpower
7 years ago
Reply to  Cartvale88

Try these Cartvale88.HH

Pub O’Connell (no website)

Pogue Mahone’s (no website)

http://www.murphyslaw.it/ITA/

http://www.mulliganspub.it/

7 years ago

Barca goal well offside amazing comeback.

Monti
7 years ago

Celtic need to treat these inbreds with complete contempt on Sunday, straight from the kick off we must chase them and hound them, they are an abomination, the unwashed, the undead…get fucking wired in Bhoys!
I believe the monkeys have had their allocation cut, do we know how much by?
Personally i wouldn’t have let one single one of these knuckle dragging, sunken forehead, shell suited vermin, set foot inside the Holy ground!

Ooh Aah!

Rob O'Keeffe
7 years ago
Reply to  Monti

Don’t worry Monti,Hibs will probably sign your pal Efe.Take deep breaths.Breaking news,Pure Tim signs deal as Sevco manager! God is a Celtic Man.HH

Monti
7 years ago

So pleased to have James Forrest back and fit,in the squad for Sunday.
His pace and direct running should have the Hun defence blowing out their arse in no time.
Is it Sunday yet?

Monti
7 years ago

Has Jozo Simunovic just been rested or did he pick up an injury?
In my opinion Simunovic and Sviatchenko are our best pairing?

HH

7 years ago
Reply to  Monti

Absolutely Monti by far

7 years ago

Huns allocation not cut JP Taylor confirmed amid rumours.

If we did cut theirs then they’d do the same and I’d rather have a large visible Tim presence at their place, as we can ignore them in the corner at ours.

Think both Erik and Jozo have been injured lately but at mo Brendan seems to prefer Ryck and one other.

Danny
7 years ago

P.s “Union cavalryman Jack Williams aka Frances Clalin” was also known as “Union Jack” (to those who were fooled by her disguise) hence yer man at the wheel (a Tim whom could see through it) had more than one reason to blast her but chose a loving (Ahhhhh love to love ye baeby) not warring blast in his head.

Tim Buffy
7 years ago

Highland Tim. Tell them to fuck off. As far as I’m aware these egregious fines are unenforceable under Scots Law. But don’t just ignore their letter, write back and let them know what you’re doing.

Danny
7 years ago

On a serious note, how mad is humanity at times, as brave as she was, yet so futile?

Female Soldier in the Civil War: http://www.civilwarwomenblog.com/frances-clayton/

mike
7 years ago

Its great to see a settled Celtic side with back up players who can flit in and out of the team so easily.
Celtic dinny need Lenny back anymair, hes to auld, to fat and Managing the Edinburgh Tic.
They have oor ain GIRFUY in Kouassi Eboue, anybody that can walk around Glesga wi that hairstyle as sure as fuck isny frightened.
I canny wait to see him get up to speed and kick lumps oot of any opposition players, especially them with affiliations to the DEED club.
Prove me right on Sunday, GIRUThems.

Danny
7 years ago
Reply to  mike

With very much respect Mike, he’s not here to kick anyone but certainly impose himself in cultured fashion . . . like Broony has learned. With Brendan moulding him, whatever erratic manner in his game, wont be long in taking out.

We as Celtic want the timing perfect when it comes to these challenges (like Stuart Armstrong did in a game recently, think it was against TRFC 2012) Cos when we lash out, we become what we espouse against. And we don’t need to cos we have the skill. Sorry to go on, just on his first show, I believe he’s gonnae be brilliant.

mike
7 years ago
Reply to  Danny

I agree with you Danny he IS going to be brilliant, mibbee I got carried away, I was in my retaliation mode, its hard to watch your team The Tic. trying to play fitba. and get kicked lumps out of.
Every team needs an enforcer, one who can take it but dish it back, wee ten thirty, Davy Hay, two of my hero’s had that attitude, it sort of, sends out a message, we can give it back when necessary.
Skill, talent, for me every time, but, but, but, when necessary, kick but. H.H.

Apricale
7 years ago

Look, I know it’s a big velodrome, but they just won’t let you ride it in there.

Danny
7 years ago

We have such a wonderful manager who’s going to take us beyond our expectations and the stars indeed have aligned for him to do so. This certainly is . . . just the beginning.

We can see it, They can see it . . . We can see them seeing Us, seeing Them see it 😛

Rob O'Keeffe
7 years ago

Caption: British Army send all those willing to go to Bandit Country for six month tour!

Barcelona,the Spanish Huns.Tax dodging superstars and two unbelievable penalty decisions.Thank God that ref and his official behind the goal aren’t Scottish.Aparently,Barcelona routinely harass refs when things aren’t going their way.Are you watching Celtic?

Rob O'Keeffe
7 years ago

Kiernan loses appeal,good.Lenny says he’s interested in old man Miller? Lenny,stop bevvying down Byres Road!

Monti
7 years ago

Ford Kiernan suspended for the game on Sunday?
Just let him play FFS lol 🙂

Monti
7 years ago

Celtic v Sevco 5088

4-4-1-1

Gordon

Lustig
Sviatchenko
Simunovic
Tierney

Sinclair
Brown
Armstrong
Forrest

Roberts

Dembele

jimmybee
7 years ago
Reply to  Monti

Nice team Monti, I would have Griff instead of Roberts behind Dembele. Roberts to play wide and then Jamesy to come on later. HH

Monti
7 years ago
Reply to  jimmybee

Forrest would start every time for me m8, Paddy is class as well but James has the pace.
Maybe we could play James and Paddy on either wing and Sinclair behind Dembele?

Monti
7 years ago

Caption: Britannias Huns they forgot their guns,
As they sailed in through the Foggy dew!

puggy 67
7 years ago

Caption: Kris Boyd not happy with the apprentice who got sent to the shop for wagon wheels.

jimmybee
7 years ago

Caption: Not that’s what I call a bogey!!!!!!!!
For those of you too young we used to make them out of wood, old pram wheels.and rope.

Monti
7 years ago
Reply to  jimmybee

Jimmybee,
I made a good bogey as a kid, all parts stolen 🙂

portpower
7 years ago

Caption:
“I`ll paint your wagon.”
Was the cry from the sevconian board.

mike
7 years ago

Where is the SEER of Broxburn/ Boston, Mass.

Feel i’m going back, to Mass oan chooseday,
something’s telling me, I must go home,
all the light’s all went out, at Mass oan chooseday,
the day I left and forgot to pay the lecce bill.

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