Menu Close

Celtic Diary Monday July 17: Close That Window

On Saturday Celtic faced Lyon in a friendly. Less than twenty four hours after starting the champions League campaign in Belfast with a 2-0 win over Linfield.

Nobody expected much from this game, and on paper the 4-0 reverse looks like a bit of a dampener on an otherwise promising start to the season.

But we don’t want to look at it like that.

Kundai Benyu has made sure that Brendan Rodgers isn’t looking at it like that. The new bhoy started the game, and made the manager sit up and take notice.

“He has surprised me to be honest,”

“He’s a young player and we will just see how he develops.

“Initially the plan was to have him in, thinking he could come in and get an idea of how we work and then go on loan.

“But I have changed my mind with him over this period of time, just watching him.

“It’s going to be good for him to come in and have six months with us initially to see how we work and train, and get an education in our football idea and then we will review it again in January.

“He is certainly a boy who can contribute for us and he has done very well.” 

Some may have been a little surprised that Celtic have now more or less finished business with over a month of the window still left, but rather than wait for those who will see if the club makes the group stages of the champions League before committing, sign young and hungry players.

Benyu seems to fit that profile;

“I wasn’t sure if I was going to go out on loan but I have come here and worked as hard as I can so I’m happy to stay and fight for my place.

“I would much rather be settled in Glasgow with the boys playing week in, week out.

“Given time and me working hard in training, listening to the gaffer’s advice, I think I will be able to get in the team as much as I can.”

“I think I am ready to step in now if the gaffer calls upon me but the main objective is to keep working hard in training every day.” 

You can’t fault his attitude.

The Lyon game saw a lot of youngsters given a run out at Celtic Park, and that can never be a bad thing. It encourages them to return to work and apply themselves correctly.

A win win situation, apart from the result, obviously.

Theres been lots of talk surrounding Stuart Armstrong, and a lot of somewhat unfair criticism.

He’s taking his time to decide whether he wants to stay at Celtic and develop as a player so he can make enough money to make him secure for life when that big money contract does appear, or he can get the money now and try to progress from one of the less glamourous English sides to one of the big teams, in the way that Wanyama has and probably van Dijk will.

Its a difficult decision, not made any easier by the money on offer. Armstrong, according to some, has been offered around £20,000 a week by Celtic, the English sides are in at around £45,000.

He’s currently on around the £10,000 mark, and a hike like that on offer would tempt any of us, regardless of how much we profess to be Celtic minded. And he, of course, wasn’t. Its just a job, and he’d be daft to let his heart completely rule his head at this stage.

He could stay, bank the £20,000 a week and move south later. However, football is a fickle game, and there is always the chance he could be injured, especially as Kenny Miller hasn’t retired yet.

(Although from what we gather Miller may well be retired from Ibrox whether he want it or not. We hear its either him or Pedro, and it would be cheaper to lose the forward… )

Whatever Armstrong decides, he should, however, go with our best wishes. He was an integral part of one of the best seasons in the clubs history, and that should be how he is remembered if he does go.

All this talk of loyalty is just that. Talk, and its easier for us to criticise someone than it is to understand his predicament.

Apart from Armstrong, the usual sources are telling us that the usual players are away.

The good news is that theres another six weeks of this nonsense.

 

Ahead of the return game against Linfoeld, it appears the Belfast side are a little embarrassed by their supporters, and are actually going to do something about it..( from the Belfast Telegraph…)

Thugs who hurled missiles at Celtic players during the Champions League clash will be identified using television footage and banned for life from Linfield’s matches, the club’s chairman has vowed.

Roy McGivern said individuals who threw a bottle at Leigh Griffiths, as well as lighters and coins, at Windsor Park on Friday will all be traced using video footage taken at the game. 

A source said the Linfield chairman wanted the guilty Blues fans weeded out before the team travel to Glasgow for their second leg Champions League match against the Hoops.

Dozens of pictures of a fan have been circulated across social media sites since Friday when a Buckfast bottle was chucked at Celtic striker Griffiths while he took a corner yards from Linfield fans.

One image shows a man with a bottle protruding from his back pocket, while other stills from videos taken by fans show the same person apparently throwing it.

Celtic’s new signing Jonny Hayes was also targeted by missile-throwing Linfield supporters, while others chanted sectarian abuse at the visiting players during the game.

Mr McGivern stepped in during the match to plead with the thugs behind the trouble in the South Stand to stop targeting Celtic’s players.

In an interview yesterday, he stressed that it was a “small minority” who committed the offences, and said they were not worthy of being called Linfield supporters. 

sounds alright, but then…

Mr McGivern met with the Windsor Park stadium safety team after the game, and said some Linfield fans were provoked by Celtic fans “making gestures”.

Mr McGivern also said Celtic needed to “deal with other incidents” during the match, which included Griffiths tying a Celtic scarf around a goalpost, prompting a home fan to invade the pitch and head for the striker before he was hauled off by PSNI officers. 

Former DUP MLA Sammy Douglas, who was in the grandstand where some of the incidents took place, said the atmosphere at the game reminded him of Old Firm clashes between Rangers and Celtic.

He said supporters on both sides had been trying to antagonise each other during the match, and that a Starry Plough flag – associated with the INLA – had been waved at home supporters.

Mr Douglas said: “The missile-throwing louts are not welcome at Windsor Park and I hope the club are able to identify and deal with them in the appropriate manner.

“I would like to pay tribute to the Linfield chairman Roy McGivern who personally approached the Linfield support and helped to calm the situation.

“I also think it is important to keep things in context and acknowledge that there were only a very small number of misbehaving fans in a crowd of almost 10,000.”

However, the threat of a heavy Uefa fine – possibly up to €30,000 – for the thugs’ behaviour now looms over the Blues and could put a significant dent in the payday generated for the club by the European tie.

Linfield have issued a statement urging fans to be on their best behaviour for the return game at Celtic Park on Wednesday.

 I’m sure they’ll be fine, as long as they don’t get provoked , so no singing, no shouting and above all don’t score any goals.
Meanwhile, the Sunday Herald drew attention to something that we all knew, but gets ignored a lot..
 I think thats their Family fun Day, or something.
However, it did seem to upset the chaps at the Lodge, who condemned the coverage, but not the actual dressing up .

Fair and balanced in this context means “don’t say anything bad about us. ”

The statement was remarkably similar, especially the boycott threat in the last paragraph, to a statement released by Club 1872, who were miffed that the Record didn’t give them, er , fair and balanced coverage when they put out their ramblings on the big tax case verdict…

Club 1872 is disappointed to note that the Daily Record chose not to cover our statement last week regarding the Big Tax Case (BTC) verdict. This was despite running calls for title stripping from Aberdeen, Dundee Utd and Celtic fans’ groups both prior to and following our statement.

Unfortunately this is not the first time the Daily Record has failed to treat Rangers and its supporters in an equivalent manner to how it has treated others. Last year Club 1872 polled members on action following a completely fabricated story by Record journalist, Jane Hamilton about Rangers fans causing disruption at the Cup Final. This prompted an apology and IPSO judgement against the paper.

Rangers and Club 1872 have met with Daily Record Editor, Murray Foote on several occasions and attempted to resolve the ongoing issues with a number of Daily Record staff who appear unable to put their own feelings for our club to one side. Despite these efforts – and reassurances that more balance would be achieved – the situation has worsened.

The Daily Record has a number of fair and competent journalists but the senior management of the paper seem to be completely unable or unwilling to control a handful of their staff, who go out of their way to produce skewed and at times completely false coverage of our club.

There are currently three people paid by the Daily Record – one in a senior editorial role – who have made overtly sectarian comments about Rangers fans. This has been condoned and they continue to be in a position to influence the output of the newspaper on matters regarding our club.

Club 1872, and in our opinion Rangers, have now done all we can in terms of raising these issues and seeking a resolution with Murray Foote. We do not believe there is any genuine wish from his side to remedy the situation.

Unlike BBC Scotland, which has a duty to be impartial, the Daily Record is entirely free to push a one sided agenda if it so wishes. There is no duty to be impartial or even handed. There is a duty to be accurate however, and Club 1872 is currently in the process of examining several recent articles to see if there have been further breaches of IPSO guidelines.

Club 1872 understands that the press has a role to play in holding Rangers, its directors and supporters to account. They did so with regard to the previous regime at the club but there is a difference between holding to account and pursuing a baseless agenda to attack and diminish. Particularly when that agenda slavishly follows the promptings of those whose commitment to sporting integrity extends no further than using the words to attack those they dislike.

Just as we believe the Daily Record has made its choice – so too can Rangers supporters. We can choose not to buy the Daily Record. We can choose not to click links to Daily Record stories online. We can choose not to share those links and stories on our social media networks and forums.

In summary, we can treat the newspaper and the management who are running it into the ground with exactly the same level of contempt they show to Rangers and Rangers supporters on a weekly basis.

If Rangers supporters continue to choose to spend their cash or read news online via the Daily Record website then it is unlikely anything will change. If we do not, then perhaps those running it will finally realise that we will no longer accept anything other than fair and balanced coverage of our club.

It’s time to change the Record. 

Astonishing. They really need to take a look at themselves.

Then there was this, what could be considered, er, mildly ironic..

Its self explanatory, but I’d put that coffee down before you read it..

 Presumably theres a Marseille fan emailing his club even as we speak with pretty much the same complaint…

Has anyone stopped to consoder that perhaps other clubs don;t want anything to do with either of them  ?

That would explain why they were able to arrange a friendly at such short notice during the pre season…

Oh, speaking of silly statements…

Ralph Topping, the outgoing SPFL chairman, shows us why we’re better off without him.. title stripping ?

No way, he said…

“In these circumstances you have to rely on legal minds.

“We have not gone to a solicitor in Arbroath.

“We have gone to the finest solicitor in the land and taken his view, which we were duty bound to do.

“He has given us what we think is very sound legal advice.” 

No names, but we are assured he’s the best.

“We sat with him [SPFL’s solicitor] on what must have been four occasions – and he was challenged from everyone.

“We wanted to make sure we were ready for any challenges subsequently. And I think we are. 

He is. He’s buggering off and leaving it to the next guy to deal with.

“That won’t stop people having views.

“It won’t stop people talking about it for years to come.

“It’s useless to say keep quiet. The fact is they won’t.

“There are a lot of wealthy people who support football clubs who will fund certain activities around challenges.

“The authorities just have to accept it and be measured in their response.” 

He knows the storm is coming, and that he’s better off out of it.

Then he had his own entry for the “Irony Can Be Pretty Ironic Sometimes ” award..

 Oh, I can assure him that a few of us are more than well aware….

 

There was no diary yesterday, the CSC AGM took place on Saturday afternoon and I’ve only just got up.

So, we go back to Saturday -pre meeting- for this picture…

Pat Higney July 15, 2017 at 11:33 am · Edit · Reply →

Caption: There ye go boys, that’s the copyright issue sorted out! 

today..

 

 

0 0 votes
Article Rating
128 Comments
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Westendtim
6 years ago

Footage is discovered of the Barcelona police riot squad clearing Los Ramblas in 1973 after Glasgow Rangers Fans had exchanged cultural greetings with locals who taunted them by brazenly wearing items of green clothing

mike
6 years ago

Will he go or will he stay,
he would stay, if we had our way,
but will he leave for extra pay,
but that is his choice anyway.

Deflection or Genuflection,
Genuflection every time.

6 years ago

Stuart Armstrong…I said it a long long long long time ago that the deal was gubbed.
Brendan has went from “Sorted Soon” to “Lets just get these games out the way” to “Has anyone seen his agent?”

Good luck to you Stuart if and when you go. Grab your cash, hopefully you make it in the EPL before it implodes ( I see Sky have lost more Golf coverage rights) and hope you do enough to get a chance of a bigger move to an Everton or Liverpool if you can, all before you head home to play for Aberdeen in your 30s.

Shame though, you could have been the next Captain and Mr Celtic but we all smile, shake hands, move on and wish each other well should an exit come to pass.

Looks like Brendan already lining up the next generation with youngster praise over weekend and also all this “An Ideal nbr 8” patter for NChampion and should see my next prediction of Broony as sweeper coming to pass!

We still await the Patrick Roberts outcome..

Lottery numbers this week : 4, 23, 24, 34, 38, 41

6 years ago

Spookiest thing is that Close That WIndow picture looks like Ralph from 30 years ago!

Monti
6 years ago
Reply to  Desimond

Ralph isn’t 30…….

jimmybee
6 years ago

Only under Brendan has he progressed. He was running around like a headless chicken when he first moved, had talent but wasnt a Celtic player. Brendan moulded him into one.
I thought Johansson was the better player to be honest at first.
If he goes we have McGregor who can do the job.
So can a few others. I would like to see him stay but good luck to him if he wants to try down south.

6 years ago

Unbelievable that sevco are questioning cheating by another club, namely the team they are playing this coming weekend! Well it certainly comes to mind, kettle, pot, no need to finish it as I am sure even a small minded person will know the story!! Audio’s!

Wisnae me
6 years ago
Reply to  Hugh Burns

1. Should have been “Hunbelievable”

2. Do Sevco and Marseille have history? Don’t recall anything in the past 5 years.

jimmybee
6 years ago
Reply to  Wisnae me

A lot of huns used to wear heir tops in the early 90s dunno what the connection was though. Maybe players transferred to and from each other.

mike
6 years ago
Reply to  jimmybee

Bernard Tapie of Olympique Marseille, was friendly with Minty, before he was embroiled in that bribery scandal, (friends united eh) in the C.L. They i think put “Rangers” out of the C.L. semis and i believe that they bought a Marseille player, that is i believe why they had a relative friendship.
Tapie was accused of bribery against Spartak Moscow and others in the C.L. him and Minty were were like a pair of bookends.

Doc
6 years ago
Reply to  mike

The CL, that year, was two groups with the winners going into the final. Marseille didn’t beat them, they drew twice. rangers went into the last game knowing a win would put them in the final but the best they could muster was nil-nil against CSKA. They done it to themselves but manage to blame everyone else as usual

Wisnae me
6 years ago
Reply to  jimmybee

In the early 90’s many of Sevco’s assets were being used by a different club, one that ended up overreaching so much they used dodgy tax schemes to limit costs and eventually stopped paying tax altogether before effectively being put into administration by HMRC. Sevco have a relationship with only one European club, a wee part time mob from Luxembourg called Progres.

George Lazenbhoy
6 years ago

Caption: Manchester 14th May 2007

mike
6 years ago

We all agree that Armstrong is a good player and progressing under Brendan, I would never blame him for trying to build a better or more lucrative career. Having said that, my preference to stay would be Dembelle, Tierney, Rogic. Goalies, defenders, midfielders may come and go, but strikers are the rarest and most difficult to replace.
So good luck to ya Stuart, someone one else will come in and make themselves Celtic hero’s.
p.s. if we could get £10 mill. that would constitute a good bit of business.

6 years ago
Reply to  mike

I agree with this post entirely.
To add to it l would say McGregor has the potential to be the next Brown he has the engine and the desire not too mention the fact he shows for the ball in the big games regardless of how he’s playing.
The new signing Ntcham has far more potential than Armstrong has IMO and will no doubt for him onto the bench sooner rather than later.

6 years ago
Reply to  Charlie Saiz

Force’

Houdinibhoy
6 years ago

Caption “Fear not, Sire. The raging Hun hoardes shalt not pass the Luxembourg borders”

mike
6 years ago

A pale moon was rising above yon green mountain,
the sun was declining beneath the blue sea,
when i strayed with my love to the pure crystal fountain,
that stands in the beautiful Vale of Tralee.

She was lovely and fair, as the rose of the summer,
Yet t’was not her beauty above that won me,
oh no, t’was the truth in her eye ever dawning,
That made me love Margot, the rose of Tilleee.

The Cha
6 years ago
Reply to  mike

Margot? Is it all the muck spreading in The Good Life that has you confused?

mike
6 years ago
Reply to  The Cha

Margot is the wifey, could’not say Mary could I? I value my lifey.

charlie
6 years ago
Reply to  mike

ha ha ha ha a spat ma coffee oot there mike

charlie
6 years ago
Reply to  mike

or sheel stick her knitten neadles up his arse like a knifey

mike
6 years ago
Reply to  mike

Click Click Clack, needles and pins, merried 48 years for ma sins, headin fur the looney bins. wheel’s are doon to the rims, all i have left is ETims. 😉

charlie
6 years ago
Reply to  mike

margot deserves a sainthood

mike
6 years ago
Reply to  mike

Yes she does, the Marks and Spencer trophy, try it oot before yoo buy, then return the goods and make them cry. 😉

mike
6 years ago
Reply to  mike

Mike the one knight, stand and deliver, your money or your wife, take the money, open the box, take the money, she is worth mair than any money, charlies right, she should be a Saint.

The Cha
6 years ago
Reply to  mike

I’m sure we’ve been in similar positions with others in the past; Stan, Vic, Virgil and, although they all eventually went, it was later on and on our terms.

If stuart armstrong (see what I did there?) goes now then we need to get maximum return and replace him.

Of course the replacement may already be at the club; McGregor, Hendorson, Kouassi, Ntcham and the money can be used for reinforcement elsewhere eg central defence, striker etc.

6 years ago
Reply to  The Cha

Spot on

puggy 67
6 years ago

Caption’ Sevco travel club member’s exclusive offer. 3 knights in Barcelona or Manchester £50 plus fines.

mike
6 years ago

Caption, There’s a Bruce, loose about this hoose.

Mike
6 years ago
Reply to  mike

Caption- William Wallace to Andrew Moray, ” Ah ffs, I typed Stirling intae the sat nav, so whaur the hell’s the bridge?”

Marcello Stefani
6 years ago

Caption: Leigh Griffiths and Johnny Hayes on a shopping spree in Belfast.

mike
6 years ago

Joe O Rourke’s (CSA) mail to Regan and his response, is what you would expect from the severely conflicted, Joe’s return reply is spot on, we will wait and see if Regan respond’s to it, my money is on a non reply.

6 years ago

Caption:
And St Hector raised the Holy Tax Grenade up on high saying…
“Oh lord blessest thy Tax Grenade …that with it thy will blow thy Tax Evaders too tiny bits in thy mercy and rescindeth all trinkets and trophies won”
Tic tic tic B 🙂 :-)M

6 years ago
Reply to  Charlie Saiz

B 🙂 🙂 M

6 years ago
Reply to  Charlie Saiz

And the lord did grin and the peepul did feast upon the assets the succulent lamb and the bullshit.

6 years ago
Reply to  Charlie Saiz

😉
The Holy Hand Grenade of Auchenhowie

Apricale
6 years ago

Caption: The Thistle end at Firhill after Glasgow’s newest derby

jimmybee
6 years ago

Caption, Did you no read the memo, come as a Knight of the Klan,to the Airdrie orange hall,not the fuckin Knights Templar.

6 years ago

Caption: The blue nights of Sevconia survey the damage after the failed CVA

D J Smyth
6 years ago

There are two sides to S Armstron’s situation. Move to EPL & earn big bucks , very tempting but more SPL players players in the past have gone south & career likewise . Second thing S Armstrong was a struggling SPL player before he came under the tutorage of B Rodgers , 6 mths of becoming a star , many would think a little bit of gratitude on his behalf wouldn’t go amiss .
However we don’t know what is happening in his renewal talks , rumours are rumours .

Does anyone know what Links are there between Rangers & Linfield , clubs that play In, or run different associations , apart from low life scum of the earth Catholic hating fans who follow both clubs & who are encouraged to behave like animals

6 years ago
Reply to  D J Smyth

Well there is the 5 stars of shame on each of their shit stained taps.

ewanbhoy
6 years ago

I think maybe Armstrong is worried that Ntcham will take his place in the team and won’t be first choice anymore………Armstrong proved to be a very good SPFL player but he is still not quite CL level yet. If he stays Brendan would certainly take him to that level but if he leaves now there is a good chance he will sit on the bench down south and go backwards and in 3 years he will be back in Scotland playing for an Aberdeen or a Hibs with his tail firmly tucked between his legs

Admin
6 years ago
Reply to  ewanbhoy

That might be a tad harsh although I do see a touch of the Joe Ledley scenario here…a good box to box midfielder who can score a few goals and could do a decent enough job for a smaller EPL side before they then start eyeing his replacement after a season or two.

Would say Armstrong more a goal threat but also a bit fragile so quite a few things for him to ponder really but que sera sera and all that

FredCDobbs
6 years ago
Reply to  ewanbhoy

No where near as good as he thinks he is. Look at that monumental fuck up vs England. Without Brendan he will be as pish as he was for delia

6 years ago
Reply to  ewanbhoy

He looked ok under Deila v Inter l seem to remember?
He’s always had a bit of quality which was very evident when he faced us for the Arabs.
Hence why we signed him in the first place?
If we get anything over £7m it’s been top business all round IMO

Bgbhoy
6 years ago
Reply to  Charlie Saiz

Everyone’ was pish under deila. It was a deila thing, but we’re ok now

liftedinmoscow
6 years ago

The orange order statement makes no sense at all using words like ‘friends’, ‘hard earned money; ‘read’which obviously don’t apply to any of their in-bred knucle-dragging members.

ewanbhoy
6 years ago

Every day I just hate the Huns more and more…..
Winter is coming and the white walkers think they can’t be taken down but we will finally put these zombies back beneith the ground again……strip the tittles!!!!

Mike Annis
6 years ago

Caption: Right, if they throw a bottle again get intae them.

charlie
6 years ago

caption the guy on the horse looks back in terror as a wee guy says fuck this bhoys mon weel let them rich cunts oan the horses dae the fighting and weel go for a pint

Cartvale88
6 years ago

The inbreds believe the statement ‘ we are the people,everybody hates us’ their stupidity is legion, look At the latest escapades by members of the LOL Airdrie as usual, everyones got it in for them.
Their arrogance knows no boundaries,
Topping and the gray mob at the SFA will ultimately have to look again at the titles gained under the EBT

charlie
6 years ago

strip the stolen trophies

Cartvale88
6 years ago

Cation
This mob continuously play anti football

6 years ago

Caption
Crusaders ponder linfield threat for the upcoming season and decide to retire to Ye olde inn as there’s nothing really to worry about

mike
6 years ago
Reply to  Iancelt67

As dear auld Monti would say….. fill in the blankety blanks.

6 years ago
Reply to  Iancelt67

Just took arse out of an already lame attempt. Yeah I knew that weered. I’m a fully paid up member of the crusaders fc . What colours do they wear again?

elcormaco
6 years ago

Good to see the diary and comments being all grown up about Armstrong.

We all like him, think he can get even better but understand that doubling your wages is not an opportunity you get every day, well not since they knocked the EBTs on the head anyway.

I d be very sad to see him leave, so many goals from midfield last year will be really hard to replace, but if his heart isn’t in it then let him go, taking in what we can and looking to add a centre half

Cant say I’m surprised at the antics of Linfield fans. I went years ago to Windsor to watch my local team – Omagh town – take on Linfield in an Irish Cup match.

Omagh were know to be “taigy”, but sitting in the main stand we got along fine with the blue nose beside us, Linfield were winning and he was very magnanimous. “youse are a decent wee side” etc etc

Some how Omagh equalised and the mood very quickly changed, “Fenian b*stards” was the refrain, including from our former “friend” , and when Omagh went ahead it got scary enough that we had to leave quickly. The supporters bus got stoned later on.

So, while they might pretend to be decent in my experience it doesn’t take much for the mask to slip

6 years ago
Reply to  elcormaco

There are popular prison screws?

gordon ross
6 years ago

Maybe young Benyu can impress Us even more with displays like Saturdays.He may be the new n8 to fill amstromgs role,should he decide to move on.Hopefully Peter Lawell comes up with the numbers that work for Armstrong and he signs a new contract.

mike
6 years ago

Gordon, Brendan calls the shot’s on all things team related, dealing with agents, salary’s, team selection, but like ALL club’s there will be a ceiling cap on all player’s pay structure. Brendan will not break that ceiling cap and will find someone to replace him, Ntchan or Benyu
As long as we get good money for him, to add to the player pot, then i will be happy.

FredCDobbs
6 years ago
Reply to  mike

Brendan won’t pay more than he thinks a player is worth. Armstrong ain’t in the same league as Sinclair hence he ain’t getting the same. It’s that simple

Wisnae me
6 years ago

White horse is saying “We can’t start the battle yet, I’ve lost my contact lens.”

Uralius
6 years ago

Caption:
Squire: King Leigh shouldn’t you wear a helm with a visor?
King Leigh: No, no we have been assured it’s safe.
Squire: I’d hate for one of those Orange bastards to shoot you in the eye with something.
King Leigh: I think you have your Williams confused.

puggy 67
6 years ago

Caption: FFS squeeze up! He’ll never get us all on the back of a pound note at this rate.

charlie
6 years ago
Dziekanowski's nightclub child
6 years ago

What I find amazing is that the football authorities do not allow courts to intervene in footballing matters but the SFA have taken the advice of outside legal council… do they not run the game and administer punishment? Go to CAS and get their advice.

mike
6 years ago

Getting there slowly, It seems that our Lord’s and master’s at the SFA/SPFL are in denial, they are issuing their deflection stories, saying nothing but pure mince, denying the truth, anything to suppress the reality of what has gone on before, intimidating with stories of goblins, fairies, leprechauns, Q.C.s. Meethinks the troops will need to muster at Ralphy’s fleg. Before we can get them to alter their mindset and acknowledge the truth. If we do not achieve that change, then we deserve all we get.
Strip the Titles.

FredCDobbs
6 years ago

When I posted a few weeks ago that Armstrong was. History what I meant was Armstrong is fucking history. Hence Ben not going on loan. You have had your money Armstrong now fuck off

hector
6 years ago

Get Armstrong out for as much cash as you can get and move on. The same should have happened to Forrest when he was dicking about but no club was willing to pay a reasonable amount for his services. Armstrong should go with our best wishes as he will always be one of the invincibles but time to end this over long saga. Brendan has shown what a great man manager he is and if he cant sort out Armstrong then the boy wants to go so punt him.

FredCDobbs
6 years ago
Reply to  hector

Correct

Monti
6 years ago
Reply to  hector

Pish

rebus67
6 years ago

There are two reasons that it would be disappointing to lose Armstrong. Firstly, he has really only excelled for one season, and it is disappointing that that is all that it takes to lose a key player. Secondly, his departure will affect a settled team. Sure, he will be replaced, perhaps even, from within, but the pattern of play will be disrupted for a while.
Should he go? Well, if it is money that is important to him, then the answer is “Yes”. On a three year contract, even if a failure, he will gross 2 million a season for a total of 6 million. He will then be set for life in his second career. If it is glory and titles that he wants then at 1 million a season for three years he ends up with 3 million gross plus three league tiles and numerous cup winner’s medals plus playing in Europe. By the way, I have no problem with him focussing on the monetary aspect.
At the moment, Armstrong is a tad slow in releasing the ball. As a result he often gets clattered by defenders. Since other teams recognise how important he is to Celtic, he is seeing more of industrial play. Against Linfield we saw his frustration with this. Maybe he feels there will be less of that in the EPL.
Good luck to him, whatever he decides to do, but we must ensure that we get something for him.
Rebus

FredCDobbs
6 years ago
Reply to  rebus67

Linfield are minging and Armstrong was getting caught in possession. 10m. Yes please. With a hefty sell on in the unlikely event

mike
6 years ago

I think that we knew we were getting a good player when we bought him from Dundee Utd. at a reputed £1.75 mill. His first year under Deila did nothing for him and he looked a poor buy. Brendan spotted something and we all know how he progressed, like Liam Millar who also showed promise and went to Man. Utd. and subsequently disappeared.
Players have the power to choose there own futures and that is how it should be, on the back of Brendan’s coaching he was picked for Scotland and his value has since been on view to the EPL.
I would be more than happy to sell him for £10 mill. and add to the pot for the centre defender that we now clearly need for the C.L. Qualifiers.

FredCDobbs
6 years ago
Reply to  mike

There is no room in this team for prima Donna’s

mike
6 years ago
Reply to  FredCDobbs

No that is correct for team spirit, do you know that he has the reputation of being a prima donna, or is that just your opinion?

henkesdreadlocks
6 years ago
Reply to  mike

Wow, the venom and vitriol towards Celtic players on here by some people(or is that peeepil) is truly astounding. The guy has done really well for us, as have numerous others who didn’t exactly shine under the Norwegian sensei. If he moves on, we wish him all the best and look forward to a Celtic team that is capable of truly competing in Europe.
I’m totally sick of these whining fucks Mike, best ignored.

FredCDobbs
6 years ago

you must lead a very sheltered life hen

Monti
6 years ago

Henke,
Well said & i fully agree!

FredCDobbs
6 years ago

well you wont get rour reacharound otherwise

BondiBrian
6 years ago

Ah agree Henke. However its rather pathetic that whilst some also agree with you in regards it no acceptable to slag current Celtic players.

Unless, unless.. its the likes of Efe Ambrose or Ronny Deila. The abuse the copped certainly comes under the heading of “venom and vitriol”

Some folk really don’t get irony.

henkesdreadlocks
6 years ago

I never slag players, but when it came to Deila I think it’s been proven that it was completely justified . If you can remember and it’s not that long ago, he was a disaster. He did a great job at emptying the stadium and was turning decent players into a shadow of what some of us knew, were good players. A decent manager would have got so much more out of them.

FredCDobbs
6 years ago
Reply to  mike

if he plays on wed I am wrong

rebus67
6 years ago
Reply to  mike

Mike,

I agree with your comment on the need for a CH. I am afraid Eric will not do with the CL. Pity, at one time I thought he was a future captain. His judgement seems a bit off at the mo but maybe further games will iron that out.

Rebus

mike
6 years ago
Reply to  rebus67

Sadly that is how i also feel and sadly my opinion of Boyata has crystalised, (haha) )into the same opinion, in that we could do better.
Young Ajer is coming along nicely, but i think he needs another 1/2 years before Brendan would trust him for C.L. duties. That is such an important part of our season, (qualification) so i would expect another centre half in before the window closes.

The Cha
6 years ago

Oh FFS!

Uefa charge Griffiths for ‘provocation’

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/40636340

6 years ago
Reply to  The Cha

So to break this down…
Griffiths got booked for narrowly avoiding a head injury through multiple missiles being lobbed at him.
Celtic reacting to getting kicked all over the park second half
Griffiths showing his appreciation to travelling support who despite the best efforts of their own Club stopping them turned up took abuse and backed their side.

UEFA = WANKERS

Doc
6 years ago
Reply to  The Cha

Anyone still have that ‘Fuck UEFA’ banner?

The Cha
6 years ago
Reply to  Doc

Can we not just append it to the “Fuck the SFA” banners that are surely in production!

Doc
6 years ago
Reply to  The Cha

Maybe something like ‘SFA – rangers fc. Partners in crime’. I’m sure GB will make sure its a good one.

6 years ago

Caption: July 1690…
William -Of course you do realise this victory will never count my friends
Loyalist-How can this be so King William?
William- Because Rangers haven’t been formed yet you thick Irish cunt

Paul
6 years ago

We seem to playing into the presses agenda, it’s even starting to effect me in a negative way. This is what they want, if u have no prozac to help out, just think of sevcos plight laugh out loud and then smile; onwards to 10 in a row.Fuck the smn and the sinfield/sevco scum.

6 years ago

I reckon Celtic could get 11-12 million for Armstrong from Southampton. they have done very well out of us and if they want him should cough up. He has been playing everybody over the past few months. He either signs by Friday or move him on. I think we need to prepare for losing Dembele, not 100% sure it will happen but I will be surprised if he is still with us in September. Although maybe with the arrival of his pal he might stay. But the big boys down south now seem to be preparing to bid for him. A bidding war is good if it comes to it. Roberts is gone. If we didn’t nail him down when he was in the building it ain’t happening when he is on the open market. Same with Arm strong, if he hasn’t signed by now then he clearly is not 100% committed,better to get as much as we can and buy wisely.

6 years ago

Here’s where l am at regarding Armstrong…
He was a good signing for the money we paid United a blind man could see the quality he has.
The game at home v Inter showed this to be the case.
He along with several other key men Lustig Brown Johansen all had serious dips in form and Armstrong took a bit longer to recover.
He signed a 3 year deal when Mackay-Steven penned a 4 year deal this speaks volumes as to where he seen his future.
The fact he has been sitting a law degree also backs my theory up that he’s not in football for life and will most probably follow the real money elsewhere?
If he can double his wages in England then he’d be a fool not to do it if this is in fact the case.
Celtic have let the clock tick down KNOWING it was a shorter contract than normal.
Lastly we are not short of quality in midfield in fact l would go as far as saying it’s our strongest area of the park depth wise and he like Ledley previously will not be missed once he has gone.
He’s a good player,he’s been worth every penny and if he goes he will go knowing the shirt wasn’t too big for him.
If we can get anything over £7m given the length left on his contract then that would be cracking business al round.
If he signs great.
If he doesn’t it no big loss and others will step up and step in.
No danger.

Doc
6 years ago
Reply to  Charlie Saiz

Exactly. If he wants to stay, well done. If he wants to piss off, then he can piss off. He was amazing last season but so were those around him, he has played in 102 out of 168 games for us and has two caps, is that really worth £20k a week?

If he thinks he is billy big time on the back of one good season and a good Scotland game then we should take the money.

6 years ago
Reply to  Doc

I agree he’s not been outstanding in among average players Doc those around him have been equally so this past season.
Brown Rogic Sinclair Forrest Roberts McGregor have all put a shift in.
He was decent at Utd though and was standout in several games when we met them for them.
He’s not been a failure and has at times been excellent but l feel there is that in others biding their time.
Ntcham cost that price for a reason.
He’s a step up IMO and l think Armstrong may know it’s now or never whilst his own stock is high.
Good luck to him if she does he wil be forever remembered as part of a record breaking hoops team.

FredCDobbs
6 years ago
Reply to  Charlie Saiz

here is a newsflash for armstrong’ lawyers are next in line to be fully automated…

uber lawyer

ewanbhoy
6 years ago
Reply to  Charlie Saiz

i agree totally with that Charlie

6 years ago

Big erik has had a few bad games but it is surely too early to write him off. I don’t think we need another centre back. Ajer and McCart are ready for the league and Big Erik And Simunovic are both decent players and can handle the CL. We need a solid experienced attacker in case Moussa has his head turned.

jimmybee
6 years ago
Reply to  john

He is too slow m8 for europe.

henkesdreadlocks
6 years ago
Reply to  jimmybee

Rodgers doesn’t rate him. Too easily beaten with a ball over the top.

6 years ago

Too small for me Andy and l totally agree on yer point he’s a weak link to a simple ball.
Solid enougha as bench backup nothing more.
For all the shite Boyata gets at least he’s banging the set pieces in at the other end.

ewanbhoy
6 years ago
Reply to  john

yup weak in the air and prone to mistakes when pressure put on him

Cortes
6 years ago

Caption:

So then Pike, you’ve burnt my bannocks? Stupid boy!

Monti
6 years ago

Probably that fat cunt Boyce….or Campbell Ogilvie maybe?

Monti
6 years ago
Reply to  Monti

Weered,
Just ignore the Boyce one, i got that one wrong…but Ogilvie is a cunt 🙂

jimmybee
6 years ago

So if you tie a scarf to a goal post in front of your fans this constitutes inciting trouble.
The games fucked. Someone has it in for Celtic at uefa. No other reason than this for this trumped up charge. Ban the cunts on Wednesday.

Monti
6 years ago
Reply to  jimmybee

Jimmybee,
I don’t get the tying of scarves to the posts anyway, cut it out Leigh FFS!

jimmybee
6 years ago
Reply to  Monti

He’s done it at all the Hun grounds where we have wiped the floor with them m8. Swinecastle Ibrokes Hampden now that shit hole Windsor park. I for one love it fuck them Hun fucks.

jimmybee
6 years ago
Reply to  Monti

Shouldn’t be such an issue m8 to the authorities. Fans throw scarves onto the pitch, so he’s just helping the ground staff collect them easier to lift. Manual handling and all that.

Follow us on Twitter @ETimsNet