Gary Hooper has passed a medical at Norwich, and is apparently poised to sign a contract with the English side. A four year deal and his personal terms have been agreed . The move to the city will give him the chance to move his career up a level, as it has done for many others in the past.
However, 16 year old Slovakian winger Samuel Mraz has joined the club, but isn’t thought to be a direct replacement. No, we’re still waiting for that one. Around twenty five goals need to be found from somewhere, and we need it quickly , so you would think..
Or do we ? Balde may not yet be up to speed, but casting back ones mind to his initial signing, he did say something about making us forget about Hooper..
The Daily Express, in between its adverts , says that Hooper chose the glory with Norwich in the EPL, as opposed to significantly more money at QPR. Worth mentioning so you can see the words “glory ” and ” Norwich ” in the same sentence.
QPR boss Harry Redknapp was a little miffed at losing Hooper-though technically you cannot lose something you don’t actually have;
” You have got to get transfers like this done quickly, ” said the Loftus Road boss. ” If you take your time you are always open to the risk of somebody else coming in and that seems to be what happened with Gary hooper. Its definitely a huge setback for us because i thought it would have been a fantastic signing for us. ”
Thats the way to do it. Get the deals done and try not to draw attention to yourself.
Celtic face an investigation from UEFA after supporters let a few flares off at the Cliftonville game. According to the clubs statement,
” Three fireworks were exploded within Section 111, causing the match referee to require a stadium announcement to be made instructing such behaviour to stop. As a result of this unprecedented step by a match official, Celtic FC will now be the subject of a disciplinary action for contravention of the UEFA safety and security regulations. ”
Note the wording. “Exploded ” is not normally used where fireworks are concerned, they are “let off ” , and the tone used with the referees “unprecedented ” request.
Seems like Celtic are more annoyed with the referee for mentioning what is a fsairly common occurence at grounds throughout Europe, than they are with the support for letting them off. Or Detonating them from a safe distance by remote control, which is how it will be reported in some papers.
Still, it gives us an excuse to bring out this banner again, should the club be fined.
A fine is likely, but certain sections of the press are reporting a couple of Celtic directors claiming that the club may have to play behind closed doors in this seasons UCL. So here we go with the old anti Green Brigade debate again.
The club have this on the official website;
” The Directors and Board of Celtic Football Club are responsible for the safety of all supporters, and this is their primary objective.
For some time the Club has been under close scrutiny by the Glasgow City Council Safety Advisory Group with regard to serious safety concerns within Section 111. The Safety Advisory Group is responsible for recommending the annual renewal of the General Safety Certificate which determines the safe spectator capacity of Celtic Park and allows the stadium to operate.
The Safety Advisory Group’s primary concerns, which are shared by the Club include:
• Overcrowding of Section 111 resulting in unsafe congestion.
• The refusal of spectators to comply with the direction of safety stewards.
• The unsafe lateral movement of spectators blocking aisles.
• ´Moshing´ – mock fighting/jostling – causing crowd disruption and damage to seating (131 damaged at Tuesday’s night’s match).
• The ´body surfing´ of young people over the heads of spectators.
Regrettably, all of the above concerns were evident at Tuesday night’s fixture against Cliftonville FC. In addition, three fireworks were exploded within Section 111, causing the Match Referee to require a stadium announcement to be made instructing such behaviour to stop. As a result of this unprecedented step by a match official, Celtic FC will now be the subject of a disciplinary action for contravention of the UEFA Safety and Security Regulations.
Following the events of last Tuesday’s match, the Club’s position was to close Section 111, but following discussions between the Club’s Supporters’ Liaison Officer and representatives of the ‘Green Brigade’ that decision has been reviewed and the section will remain open. However, the situation will be monitored at both the Celtic FC v Borussia Monchengladbach match on Saturday 27th July, and the Celtic FC v IF Elfsborg match on Wednesday, July 31.
The Club is keen to work with spectators in Section 111 to resolve safety concerns. However, it should be understood that failure to stop this unsafe behaviour will require the closure of this area in Celtic Park.
The Club recognises the many examples of good support for the team emanating from this part of the ground and in particular the efforts of the ‘Green Brigade’ in organising positive displays which are commended. However, the unsafe aspects of spectator behaviour in Section 111 require to be addressed with immediate effect.
The Directors and Board of Celtic Football Club consider their responsibilities with regard to Spectator Safety to be of paramount importance. We will continue dialogue with representative of fans in this area to resolve these serious safety concerns however this unsafe behaviour must stop.
Thats youse telt !
On the one hand, it could be viewed as another pop at the colourful and lively Green Brigade. On the other hand, safety is paramount. Its all good fun until someone loses an eye. In these days of blames and claims the club are probably terrified-well, the clubs insurers anyway-of a massive payout once supporters twig they can blame a lack of proper care on any accidents that happen at the ground. Or, of course, it could just be that they care..
Finding a middle ground is necessary, supporters and the club must recognise the effort the GB put into the match day experience, and the GB must realise that not everyone around them thinks its great fun to be surrounded by boisterous youngsters.
Especially that bastard with the drum.
Theres no point in the GB claiming victimisation over this. They can be annoying, and the same rules apply in all stadia throughout the continent. But, the club must also show common sense when dealing with this section of the crowd, who have earned praise for the tifo displays and banners, which are the equal of anything else in the world of football.
The most abiding memory of a firework at a football match I have was in the old Jungle, against Rapid Vienna, when some wag thought it would be amusing to put a firework in some young ladies jacket pocket, which caused a wee bit of panic followed by much hilarity. A very nervous hilarity ,it has to be added.
Common sense should be allowed to prevail. Which would probably be a first.
A big well done to Hibernian, who kept the score down to a respectable 7-0 when they hosted Malmo in the Europa League qualifiers. That means that another aspect of the old Rangers club can be erased from the history books, as the 9-0 aggregate eclipses the 12-4 pounding the now defunct Ibrox club took from Eintracht Franfurt, back in 1960.
Hibs boss Pat Fenlon says his side “lost their way after the first goal “, and he needs to take a “look at himself ”
Fair play to him for that. After a defeat of that magnitude, I’d be ashamed to look at myself for months.
St. Johnstone got through, though, and that was a hell of a result over the two legs for them. That means Scotland have three wins, a draw and two defeats so far this season. Which is better than this stage last season.
Old pals John Hartson and Eyal Berkovic were featured in yesterdays picture, before they had a little tiff at West Ham.
Heres a trickier one. Who is the fellow in the brown jacket on the left of the picture as we look at it ?
Tommy Callaghan methinks
is it one of the youngsters signed by jim mclean finally coming to the end of his contract
yeah i agree tommy callaghan
Ralph
Can I just inform everyone that some very tragic news has come through from The Thai Tims. Two of the young boys in the group have been involved in a traffic accident, Ton and Non. Ton (13) has very sadly died and Non is in a comma.
Our thoughts and prayers should be with the whole Thai Tims community and with The Good Child Foundation. This must be an extremely difficult time for all concerned, especially The Lennons. Please pray (if that is what you do) and express your deepest sympathy for the families, the other children and all their friends.
R.I.P. Ton. Sing with the angels.
Recover soon, Non. We need your smiles.
Thank you.
H H
PB,
That is tragic news. Deepest condolences to the family of Ton and thoughts and prayers to the family of Non. Here’s hoping he recovers sufficiently to make the trip to Paradise one day.
I don’t even know who the other two punters are and I thought the one on the left was Charlie Tully.
Re the green brigade fantastic display that they bring to parkhead but the other side is when your in the middle of them at a game.
First saw the other side of the GB or the hangers on it was at the game at Motherwell at end of season going to our seats some idiot let of a flare right at our seats and there was a crowd of people at our seats we had to ask them to move as it was our seats which they did saw the same people getting moved four times before kick off as they thought they could sit anywhere.
Next time was at Dundee utd again flares let off people standing on our seats would they move no chance so we moved all during game some idiot kept putting a flag up right behind the goal so that you could not see the goal it took some guys who wer behind them to threaten them and those next to them to stick the flag where the sun don’t shine for them to stop.
Just thinking if things go on same way then either we will play games behind closed doors or there will be violence between our own support.
Sad news about the TT – my thoughts are with them.
Yeah its very sad news re Thai Tims – RIP little Ton & get well soon Non.
Yes its Tom Callaghan in picture.
GB bring a fantastic atmosphere but some of them need to have a long hard look at themselves leave the fireworks to Guy Fawks for Fawks sake!!
Nae signings yet?
I have to say when I have been to away games with my fellow Hoopees, the self-policing has usually always worked to the extent that major trouble was always avoided and potential troublemakers were told to behave in no uncertain terms.
I don’t wish to taint the entire GB with the same brush as troublemakers or brainless eejits but there has to be the same level of self-policing among them that you get from Celtic fans in general. There is certainly a minority element among them who are retarded idiots (I don’t use that term lightly, I do know some of them) who, in a buckie and nose powder haze, leap around mindlessly forgetting that there is even a game of football going on whilst singing tunes of which they don’t have a scooby the truw meaning of. These are the spambots who think it’s big and clever to bring bangers and flares to games despite repeated requests not to do so. They are an embarrassment and a danger to our club.
It would be a tragedy to lose the songs and banners that the GB bring to matchdays but the minority of braindead twats hiding among them need to be told in no uncertain terms that they are representing our great club and must behave accordingly.
Let’s hope this is just a storm in a teacup and normal service is resumed shortly, or else.
Can you possibly imagine being denied the opportunity to go to a CL group game because of these muppets? I would then miss the other 5 games as I would be in Bar-L on GBH charges!
The whole GB debate smells like gentrification to me. As for violence between our support, can any of the greeting lot still actually fight?
Gentrification? No, it’s about being responsible for your own actions and realising that you are NOT bigger than the club that you supposedly represent and love. As I have said before, if we suffer some kind of closed doors sanction due to the actions of a few ameobic lifeforms then there will be hell to pay.
The debate is not about what the merits of the GB and what they bring to matchday but merely some of the mongoloid imbeciles who attach themselves to them.
“Mongoloid Imbeciles” Really?
Clearly you and a lot of others haven’t been keeping up to pace with the complaints that some of our younger supporters have been making over the past few years.
Nobody from the GB has insulted any other part of the support the way auld tims like you have.
I understand why the Police and the Media would want to aggravate, threaten and criminalise our young fans, there’s nothing new there. I’m not in the least surprised that our Board would collaborate with the above but I am astonished not only with the attacks from within our own ranks but the ferocity of them. I remember a time when we wouldnae huv heard a word said against wan anither. Sad day.
Yes, really!
What is so difficult to understand about the term ‘unacceptable behaviour’? I’m not taking an ivory-towers like distant viewpoint of the matter (but thanks for commenting on your perception of my supposed age anyway) as I do know a few of the ill-educated f#ckwits who have attached themselves to the support in the last couple of seasons simply to vent their ill-informed Republican viewpoints, when the vast majority of them do not have a clue about the complexities of Irish history and have never even been there in the first place!
I’m not criticising anyone for having a political viewpoints (I certainly have them myself) but please do NOT use Celtic as a vehicle for your ignorance when the consequences could affect every single one of us.
I know there have been a couple of disturbing instances of over reaction fron authorities to individual supporters of late and this is a matter of concern. The debate here is simply about ignoramic behaviour on match days. Are you denying that this is not a problem with the actions of a few idiots and what the consequences of the behaviour of a minority of eejits might have on our club?
I’ve been trying to reply to you but my comment won’t register for some reason. So I’ll try and stick it up somewhere else.
Well well markybhoy looks like you want our supporters to fight with each other.
You were the wan that brought it up.
That would be TID, the gentleman that is Tommy Callaghan. Had the pleasure of his company on the journey to Seville, cold beers and many a story about the Lions and Mr Stein. All this and on the way to see the Celts in a European final – happy happy days.
So sad about the Thai Tims.
Just want to say thanks to Ralph for putting the link to the Keevins article in yesterday’s diary – good to see E tims listenin to their fans!
And Keevins, what a fud.
get rid of these bastoorz, every feckin’ last one of them NOW
How many times have the Greek, Turkish and Italian clubs been fined by UEFA for the fireworks, flares, smoke bombs, fans sitting on top of fences etc? Don’t see any of them having to play behind closed doors.
PAOK and Rapid Wien (remember them) have just been handed staduim closures and 3 year suspended bans for crowd disturbances/setting off fireworks. One more thing in the next 3 years and they will be banned from europe.
Banned from europe.
It doesn’t get more serious than that. God help anyone that causes this to happen to Celtic
Doc,
Couldn’t agree more. I know we may be (hopefully) a long way from getting to the stage of being banned from Europe or having to play behind closed doors but we MUST nip this in the bud early on.
Think of the legendary European nights we have revelled in over the last 12 years or so and how imprinted in the memory they are with the array of European legends all acclaiming the mighty atmosphere within Paradise. We didn’t need daft firecrackers or flares then did we?
Even a suspended ban would be too much. Never want to see a situation where away fans know that if they let a few bangers off in Celtic Park, then their team will get a bye into the next round. A repeat of rapid and the bottle throwing on the cards?
Looking at big sporting events in general, especially rugby, when the teams come out there’s a big fireworks display followed by eighty minutes of pure shite. We don’t need that at Celtic Park, the supporters can generate all the atmosphere that is unique at our ground. The GB have been great for the atmosphere, without them, nothing. Lets just have the singing, we have the best songs in the world.
Sad news about the Thai Tims , my thoughts and prayers are with them at this terrible time.
As for the GB the idiots amonst them need to get sorted out, it oor wee country and oor beloved Celtic who UEFA will make an example of if there is any more nonsense.
Tid is the guy in the picture. Any body remember the cracking goal he scored in his first game for the bhoys.
HH
Time those within the GB took a good look at themselves and started screwing the nut.
You are costing Celtic more than money when shite like this goes on.
By all means havs a craic and a sing but ffs cut the other shite out before our good name get’s tarnished for good by those who wish it to happen.
Celtic should simply ban anyone caught damaging property or bringing the name of the Club into disrepute.
Numpties.
It’s in the clubs hands ,don’t ban them just relocate them so they don’t sit together,other fans cant book a block of seats that big together,and do the same at away games,as for the guy who couldn’t get his seat that’s what stewards are for and if don’t listen to them last resort is the police
I sit at other end but theres meant to be only
70 gb or thereabouts. What does 111 hold and 110?
Its made out black and white, no grey for the
Outraged. And some of gb are banned. But it
Suits sevco media + the old farts to hammer
The gb wee mob.after how much we’ve been
Screwed, this is the shit thats top agenda.
Suffering christ.