The idea of buying in young , prodigious talent and giving them a fast track to top level football continued with stories that Rodrigo Riquelme has been approached by Celtic.
As usual, we try to look at how others report this kind of story, and so let’s look at it from how it might affect Southampton, and possibly Mo Elyannoussi….
Southampton’s chances of selling Mo Elyounoussi could be set to take a hit as Celtic eye up a summer deal to sign Rodrigo Riquelme from Atletico Madrid.
According to Corriere dello Sport, as translated by Sport Witness, Celtic have made a “big economic offer” for Riquelme, who is set to be out of contract at the end of the season.
The report compares Riquelme to Barcelona and France star Antoine Griezmann in the way that he plays.
This could be a huge blow to Southampton and Elyounoussi, as Riquelme could be signed as a replacement for the winger. They both play in similar positions and, as it stands, Elyounoussi is due to return to Southampton this summer, when his loan spell ends.
If Celtic are able to snap up Riquelme from Atletico, they could then have no need to pursue a permanent deal for Elyounoussi. Southampton could then need to find other suitors for Elyounoussi, either for a loan or a permanent move, in order to get him off the wage bill for the 2020/21 campaign.
One hope for Southampton could be that Elyounoussi has a strong finish to the season and does enough to convince Celtic that they should sign him, along with bringing Riquelme in.
This could be the ideal situation for all parties, as Celtic get two forwards and Southampton offload a player who is surplus to requirements.
TO honour our Club’s founding principles and the existing aims of Celtic FC Foundation, we are proud to announce support measures during the current coronavirus crisis for the most vulnerable in our community through the Football for Good Fund.
An initial £150,000 will be available for those who need it most. Monies have been allocated from Celtic FC Foundation, supported by Celtic Football Club.
These are extraordinary times for everyone. The fear, uncertainty, upheaval and disruption to everyday life through the COVID-19 outbreak, is like nothing we have experienced before. Quite rightly, our priority is keeping our loved ones and families safe. Health and the financial burdens are in the forefront of all of our thoughts.
Primarily, we are looking to provide assistance to vulnerable families, pensioners, individuals who have been affected financially by the crisis, the homeless and frontline NHS staff who are going above and beyond to protect each and every one of us.
Starting from this coming midweek, we will:
– Feed around 250 people, including NHS frontline staff, at Celtic Park over three sittings, every week day (within the parameters of Government guidance around social distancing)
– Grow delivery to reach the most vulnerable and isolated through the local Foodbank network
– Provide funding to a host of our charity partners to urgently provide food to the most vulnerable in our community
With self-isolation and social distancing currently being essential for certain groups such as elderly people and those with underlying health issues, and recommended for everyone else, we will also be making a concerted effort to reach out by telephone to our existing participants and new client groups that find themselves alone.
FULL DETAILS ON THE FOOTBALL FOR GOOD FUND, TIMES OF CELTIC PARK FOOD SESSIONS, AND HOW TO GET INVOLVED WILL BE ANNOUNCED EARLY NEXT WEEK.
Celtic’s Chief Executive, Peter Lawwell, said: “Our Club was born to bring comfort to the most vulnerable on our doorstep and we strive to maintain that charitable principle today, through the work of Celtic FC Foundation.
“The current climate we face is both alien and daunting and, as a family, we must do everything in our power to provide assistance and comfort to those who need it most.
“The Celtic support have continually epitomised the essence of our Club in their charitable actions and I hope that this Fund will provide a focus for a concerted team effort to provide a lifeline to so many.”
Tony Hamilton, Celtic FC Foundation’s Chief Executive added: “These are exceptional and surreal times for all of us. What was normal even a week ago has gone, and many families and individuals are now rightly worried about their families, their health and their jobs.
“This is primarily about helping people with the money we have, it’s not about fundraising, although we would clearly like to do more as we could be in this for the long haul. We know that a lot of people who normally help Celtic FC Foundation will not be able to help this time.
“The priority areas are organisations who care for vulnerable pensioners, the homeless community and those who run Foodbanks. And we will play our part in helping frontline NHS staff who work tirelessly for all of us. There will also be many new Foodbank users in the coming months and while many people are stockpiling food, even less is going to the Foodbanks.
“We are very grateful for anything you can do to help us further protect our vulnerable neighbours through this crisis. Thank you from everyone at the Club and the Foundation.”
To register for further details on the Football for Good Fund or any other Celtic FC Foundation activities, please email cfcfoundation@celticfc.co.uk and we will respond to you as soon as we possibly can.
MARK HATELEY today visited two local care homes to gift them hand wash, thanks to club partner Molton Brown.
As the world faces the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Rangers were today able to give back to the local community with Molton Brown, in just a small way, and give care workers and residents a helping hand.
The industrial-sized hand wash will assist the Ailsa Craig Care Home and St Francis Nursing Home during a time when care workers are fighting to keep elderly residents safe from coronavirus.
The Rangers Charity Foundation supported the club’s donation by identifying care homes most local to Ibrox Stadium, both are within a mile.
After making the donation, Hateley said: “I think you look at the community and our community is all about our football club, they have been there through thick and thin.
“At times of such need, it is good that we are able, through our partnerships with different companies, to be able to go into the community and help them in such trying times.
“The more we can do right now the better it is for the surrounding community of Ibrox and Govan. We chose nursing homes because the elderly are part of the most vulnerable group to this virus.
“Through our partnership with Molton Brown we were able to do this and it seems like such a simple thing to be able to do but I think it is a very important thing that we’ve been able to do. The more a football club can do for the community the better.
“We have to stand strong together as a community and help each other. We all live in a community, no matter where we are and I think it is very important to keep an eye on the elderly at the best of times.
“As a family football club, along with our partners, Molton Brown in particular in this case, then that is what we will seek to continue to do.”
As part of its commitment to being a good neighbour, the Rangers Charity Foundation regularly welcomes care home residents to free tours at Ibrox for some respite and entertainment.
The Foundation also bring local elderly people to Ibrox for a special ‘Festive Friends’ Christmas dinner each December, where guests can spend time with ex-Rangers players, enjoy entertainment from a school choir and socialise with others.
The care homes are also supported each season with merchandise and prizes, in aid of their fundraising initiatives.
I may be giving the impression here that perhaps I’m not giving the club/company the respect it deserves.
In actual fact, they deserve the fullest praise as it is often those with the least that give the most, and this is not something to be ridiculed.
Right now the log is on top … …but but bazza here can have a swing with his chopper and low and behold it’s not on top anymore…. Right Bazza show them wit a mean.
The SPL/SFA come up with a solution to decide between Celtic and Rangers for the League title. After the referee tosses the coin the Celtic representative finds himself in a disadvantaged position.
Jeez, it was only a cough !
Caption – is this a visual representation of Sevco financial position.
Caption
The peepul do a crowd fund experience for the peepul
Christ I have withdrawal symptoms. Keep the good work up Ralph
Caption: a right shower of planks teeter on the brink
Caption: Failed candidates for the Sevco PR job are told that they were unsuccessful because they had a 4×2.
Good statement from the club,my only concern is that Lawwell is home working and his doorstep is in Thorntonhall
From the BBC:
In Scotland, Celtic’s 13-point advantage over Rangers means they have a 98.87% chance of winning the Premiership, although the latter will cling to that 1.13% until the bitter end.
The only thing seemingly standing in these leading sides’ way is, as Brady proposes, the season being written off.
Caption…
Extreme social distancing club …
Because it’s almost impossible for man to fall because of the blue pipe and the length of plank left on the roof I go for a non football CAPTION. “Budding Houdini says that his next death defying trick is to go over the Clyde falls in a suit of armour and an aqualung”.
Caption : ‘Right, I step off the plank, that wanker is toast, I get his bird and we’ll blame it on the virus. Winners and losers….’
Caption; Effin mentalist!
Caption: Boris reveals new social distancing measures to tackle the coronavirus spread
Season ticket renewals out, player links started early
Caption: An exciting new “Board Game” for generation Z to keep from being ‘board’ during their enforced isolation with grand and grandad, who heartily endorse the game…
Gran or Nana, not ‘grand’ My eyesight is going—I wonder what caused that? I was warned!!
Should have been St Johnstone today, Ralph
Caption
Did you shag my sister?
Caption: What putting on your hand-me-down Winfield football boots felt like.
“Actually, it would be interesting to run a serious computer model, and one can only wonder why none of the laptop loyal have done it.”
Because it’s been done by people who know what they’re doing.
“Using the relative strengths of teams and 100,000 simulations, the Euro Club Index football ranking has provided BBC Sport with a scientific prediction of the remainder of the campaign, giving a final ranking and clubs’ percentage chances of finishing in certain positions…. In Scotland, Celtic’s 13-point advantage over Rangers means they have a 98.87% chance of winning the Premiership, although the latter will cling to that 1.13% until the bitter end.”
I see for ‘balance’ Katic’s goal in their win in the last game now appears above our charity donation story on BBC Scotland sport page. Wouldn’t mind so much but Aberdeen were never afforded the same attention when they were second best.
Caption: Frank, Skank and Wank on a plank.
Puggy wins the caption comp again???
Must be sex involved somewhere….
Look we need to do something to brighten the mood…
Can fellow posters put up their all time World XI, i’ll go first.
4-4-2
Buffon
Thuram
Desailly
Baresi
Maldini
Messi
Pirlo
Iniesta
Ronaldinho
Ronaldo ( original )
Maradona
Simpson, Craig, Gemmell, Murdoch, McNeill, Clark, Johnstone, Wallace, Chalmers, Auld, Lennox. Subs Pele, Messi, Ronaldo C, Burns.
Donadoni FFS.
Roberto was a fine player but no Martin Hayes.
Shelton
Carlos
Beckenbauer
Puyol
McGrain
Giggs
Mattaeus
Messi
Maradon
C7
Pele
Iancelt,
Decent team that.
Yesterday, when I was young!
Well I watched some cracking games, featuring Clough’s young Martin O’ Neil, I had forgotten just how good a player he was. Heavily sanded poor pitch’s, huge crowds, dilapidated stands, p!sh referees, blood and thunder, long balls, head high tackles, keeper pass backs. A young John Barnes B.L. (before Liverpool), a great player, who had the pick of clubs.Kenny Burns- Gordon McQueen- John Robertson, Muzzy Izzet. Brian Taylor.
And then the crème-de-la-crème Diego Maradonna. A Greek Tragedy, of illegitimate son, drugs, love, hate, more drugs, criminal cartels, intrusive, invasive, a life lived in front of the worlds press. Supremely talented and possibly the best player who ever played football.
I’m not stating this for point scoring but there was probably more money and effort went into the Ranger’s PR video than there was securing two bottles of hand wash. Arseholes
Thank Heaven for little ghirls, for little ghirls get bigger every day: Phoooaaarrr. Beef Wellington, Pork loin, Volumptuous Breasts of chicken and my favourite,
Long, Long, extremely Long Legs of Lamb.
Happy Mothers Day Ghirls, Phooaaarrrr.
Mothers day is a lot of pish, as is fathers day!