Theres been a wee bit of a fuss over the tickets for the trip to Maryhill on the 27th, when the first Glasgow derby for a couple of years takes place.
From Partick, we got this-
Celtic Ticket Information
Sunday 27th October, kick off 12.45pm
Home Support
- Adults £25
- Concession £15
- U16 Season Ticket Holders Free*
- U16 £5
*U16 season ticket holders as at 7th October 2013. We presently have circa 700 in this category.
Away Support
- Adults £25
- Over 65 £15
- Under 16 £10
Priority will be given to all Celtic Supporters Associations. Please contact mail@ptfc.co.uk to request a booking form.
Tickets can be purchased from the Main Office at Firhill Stadium from 10am – 4pm every weekday from Thursday 10th October. Tickets can also be purchased by phoning 0141 579 1971.
All Adult tickets purchased entitle the holder to a £5 discount on entry to the Partick Thistle v St Johnstone match at Firhill Stadium on Saturday 14th December, kick off 3pm.
The 5% charge that the Celtic ticket office put on purchases does not happen, and this sparked a little bit of a debate over why the club should charge this.
Now, theres also been a bit of a debate over who should get tickets. Partick would prioritise supporters clubs, meaning individual fans who fancied a day at the football would be down the list. And those who set fire to the ground during the youth game against the new glasgow club-I forget their name-would have no chance.
But the thing that grabbed the eye most was the price for away supporters under the age of 16, compared to that of the home support.
Etims investigative reporter Desi Mond asked them, and received this reply;
” The decision was taken that the prices would be £25 for adults for both sets of supporters, and kids prices would be set at £10. However as you may well know we do have a very popular kids scheme which we have a very good sponsor for, and they have kindly agreed to cover half the costs for all home kids as part of their ongoing sponsorship. ”
You can’t argue with that, so we won’t.
Something else that has appeared in the press, and prompted much discussion , is the rumoured European Super League. Galatasaray chairman Unal Aysal reckons the new invitation only league will be up and running in the next five years.
Happily for the Scottish press, this gives them something else to harp on about and use to clip the wings of Scotlands top club, just in case those uppity fenia s were getting, well, too uppity.
Ronnie Cully in the Evening times warns;
“… if it is based on turnover or TV market, Celtic could find themselves on the outside looking in, and the chance of repeats of the big-match nights, like the one recently enjoyed against Barcelona, would disappear. ”
Ignoring the fact that Celtics last game, against Barcelona was the preferred choice of the British national independent broadcaster ITV, Cully continued, giving perhaps a little more credence to Aysals rambling by repeating them;
” But Aysal remains adamant that clubs have been making plans and said: “Every reality starts with a dream.
“At the moment, it looks like a dream, a vision. I am sure, sooner or later, in a maximum of five years’ time, it will be a reality.
“Other clubs boss presidents and chairmen are looking at this opportunity and talking to each other.
“I think we will come together and look into each other’s eyes and follow it.”
He added: “The first 15-20 big clubs of Europe all agree with this. Nobody will say no. Manchester United, Paris St Germain, Real Madrid.
“There may be one or two exceptions for local reasons, political reasons.
“But, as the future for European clubs and the future of football, nobody can say no to this.
“It can be controlled by Uefa or the clubs – preferably by the clubs.
“Clubs will have to reach standards set by certain criteria, like financial fair play.
“It would be good for all European clubs to participate in this league.”
The president of Juventus, Andrea Agnelli, struck a less strident chord, but conceded a super league might answer a lot of the control and financial concerns held by may of the top clubs.
He said: “If one was to break out of the system, probably the best competition that could follow is a closed competition with the 20 best European clubs.”
Cully only quoted a little of what Agnelli said, and none of the European club Associations reply;
“This was never discussed by the European Club Association.”
Andrea Agnelli, the Juventus president is currently on a bit of a media tour, and is quite happy to talk about anything at all, as this video shows, so maybe we should take that into context.
Somehow, though, in their hunt for a bad news Celtic story, they all missed this one;
Mundo Deportivo yesterday did a vote of Barcelona fans and as it stands over 40% want Samaras. He’s well out in the lead, with the next closest being Klose on 25%. Mundo have a big feature on him today and say that he and Klose are the two options which look the likeliest.
They go on to explain that Samaras ticks all the boxes. He’s tall, a good header, but also good with his feet and can lead a line but also play in more withdrawn positions if needed. ”
” Perhaps more importantly for Barcelona, who know they’ll need to add a goalkeeper and perhaps a defender in the summer, he’d be free from June and relatively cheap if they wanted to move in January. ”
Or is it that they don’t want to give any sort of credit to Celtics management that they have not only discovered players, but developed one or two as well ?
Samaras has gone from being a bit of a joke-be honest, we all despaired at him in the past-to being on the short list-nay, at the top of the short list for a gig alongside some of the worlds greatest players.
Read that again. Its actually true. Barcelona and their support want to have Samaras in their team.
Even ahead of prolific German forward Miroslav Klose.
We’re spoilt, so we are.
Perhaps we are even more spoilt than we think, and even more popular than we think.
Lee Wallace, currently away from the glamour of the Scottish Third division and on international duty with Scotland, has offered to help Neil Lennon plot the downfall of UCL opponents Ajax.
( go on, this should be good )
Gavin Berry, of the Daily Record, tells us how;
” THE Gers defender is studying Celtic’s Champions League opponents for his coaching badges and says he’ll hand over his dossier to boss Neil Lennon. ”
( go on, I’m on the edge of my seat here.. )
LEE WALLACE confessed he’s turned into an obsessive football geek in a bid to earn his coaching badges.
And Neil Lennon could do worse than give the Rangers full-back a call to get the complete lowdown on Ajax.
Wallace has been studying the Hoops’ next Champions League opponents in detail this season as part of his B-licence course.
The 26-year-old loves learning about that side of the game and insists it’s helping to make him a better player.
Wallace already takes charge of Edinburgh amateurs Heriot Vale and has immersed himself 24/7 in football to be the best he can.
The former Hearts defender – on Scotland duty ahead of Tuesday’s final World Cup qualifier against Croatia – said: “I spent nine days in Largs during the summer doing the first part of my B licence.
“My homework was due at the end of last week – I had to pick a team and look at their strengths and weaknesses.
“I did my analysis on Ajax this season, I was keen on Frank de Boer. Obviously it has been hard to find their weaknesses.
“I’d read Pep Guardiola’s book so was close to doing it on Barcelona but a friend on the course chose them, so I opted for Ajax.
“Everyone knows they are renowned for the total football philosophy and way of playing so I thought it would be good to touch upon them. I will give Neil Lennon a bell if he wants.
“If he gives me his email I can send my dossier over! They were a good side and it took me two weeks. I learned a lot and it was an enjoyable task. ”
If only Wallace had spent as much time studying the team he plays for before he joined them, he would have noticed that they were a) in liquidation, and b) he was in fact joining a tribute act which would spend a few years in the lower leagues whilst venture capitalists carved up what was left of the club he thought he had joined.
So , I think we might leave his Ajax research to one side for now. Oh, wait. He’s sent us a copy.
Ach, thats not fair. His analysis of how they will line up is quite revealing;
Wallace continued, bright eyed with hope and optimism;
“There is an assessment next summer. If I pass that I go straight on to A licence. I’m just getting used to power-point, word documents and screen shots and what not. And I’m learning from guys such as Lee McCulloch at the club and goalkeeping coach Jim Stewart. ”
That what not sounds tricky, but I’m sure Lee Mcculloch will help him out.
We can only wish him luck. As we wipe the tears from our eyes.
Back in a minute, I’m falling apart here..
Right, serious now.
Ally McCoist has welcomed the news that Dave King is about to come in as the new Rangers high heid yin, and is looking forward to “serious investment ”
Oh bollocks to it.
Yesterdays quiz was correctly answered by Tony Paterson, when he said they were all victims of a dodgy scam.
Today, find the connection between these three.
Re Quiz A: They all 3 have arms?
All assistant managers who took charge of the first team
Yikes, I thought the last photo was Ian Paisley. I offer my resignarion with immediate effect : (
Me tae!
Theres no shower cold enough in this or any other world!
so did i.don’t feel so much of a numpty now.
You’re not wrong there so did I!!!
When was Ian Paisley our assistant manager?
Dave
He was in charge of the half time oranges
H H
OK. Joe Jordan, Sean Fallon & Frank Connor. They were all assistant managers but the connection between them is they had invisible Celtic scarves??
Feck 1st glance I thought that was Ian No Suspenders Paisley, not good to see in the morning or in fact anytime
The cry was No Remember!
Only one had teeth but all stepped into the Managers hotseat as caretaker AND – going out on a limb here without googling – won their first game in charge?
They were all unbeaten as Cltic manager?
They were all unbeaten as Celtic manager?
Do they all have unbeaten records as (caretaker) Manager?
OK. They were all assistant managers who had Invisibility Celtic Scarves and funny fake front teeth, known to mime YNWA, who may have lied about their age. They won their 1st match in charge, possibly against St Mirren, but more probably whilst wearing a paisley pattern cravat and no braces, or against The Very Reverend (fake title) Ian whilst singing No Remember?. Go on, tell me I’m along the right lines here. NURSE!
“Oh bollocks to it!”
That is the perfect riposte to the latest development at soap opera land that is Sevco. I love the legendary Laurel and Hardy picture (or is it PensionerBhoy and pal up to hi-jinks?) that goes with it. And the pictures to go with the Lee Wallace ‘story’. Brilliant stuff.
On the Lee Wallace thing, I know it might appear a bit misguided but it’s very civil of him to offer his assistance when you consider the stick he will receive from the permaraging hordes.
I’ll hold my hands up and admit I also thought it was the noted humanitarian and civil rights activist Ian Paisley as well. What did poor Frank Connor ever do to deserve such a curse?
I thought the same about Wallace, Frank. ‘Gift Horses’ etc. etc.
Cheers.
Asst managers who stepped up to the main job for a while, although big Joe is the only one who never actually took charge for a game, he took one training session after Liam Brady left, but decided that since Brady had appointed him the right thing to do was to step aside as well, enter Frank Connor for four games, none of which we lost. Lucky the board stepped in and put that to an end with the arrival of Lou Macari.
Dave King insists he will pass any “fit and proper person” test ordered by the SFA for him to return to Rangers as chairman. Fecking hell Ghengis Khan could pass that test.
Ralph
Oh man, I simply can not get the tears from my eyes. I was convinced the lying in state week waiting on another international burial would be difficult to fill with any kind of interest. But, wow! Le Wallace (just to make his blue face paint looks worth while)! That was cracking stuff. I even took it to the attic to read to the wife but warned her she would not always get treats like that. Once I put the mask back on I told her she will simply have to be content with a wee bit craic from me in future because Ralph simply could not keep this up. Fantastic stuff!
I have to say I am gobsmacked at the Sammy interest. I admit I always thought there was a hidden talent in there but was convinced the padlock was unpickable. He has certainly proved us all wrong although I am not prepared to go nuts like some. He is not consistent enough in games or in the season for me to put him way up there. However, I do accept he does shine in European games and is probably more suited to the easy pace of continental football. I still have my reservations about his ability to regularly turn on his undoubted talent and if it is not let loose in full, he could find the planes to Greece are more regular from Spain than Glasgow. Good luck to him however it turns out. I really like the big guy. One might say that at 5’4″ I definitely look up to him.
Frank, thanks for the comment but which one do you think I am? For one, I have never had the Oli look in my life even though I could be having twins going by the present size of my midriff. He does have my taste in ties, mind. As for Stan, the only time I have a look like that is when the wife lashes out from the cage and misses my backside. Ach, I have no need for them now, anyway. If you really want spitting image, go back and check Danny McGrain’s photo yesterday. They used to call me that at the club till I told them I caught Wee Jimmy in the head. My face kind of changed, sorry got changed after that.
Quiz: I guessed Frank Connor first but then for some reason really thought it was Big Ian from Paisley – WHY? I guess I am always looking out for your curve ball, Ralph. It would be interesting to have had Big Frank in the dug out nowadays with the new Bill. Even the Green Brigade would have been sending in objections to the board. Did Frank ever speak anything but SWEAR? I can not say anything about him. He got me two signed game balls for zilch for my boys’ Christmas one year. They were never allowed to kick them. Handed them in for a raffle at a Save the Rangers night. Only because I knew they wouldn’t make anything.
I think the answer is as stated several times before me Ass is t ants who had a bit of a charge. Are you all thinking I come on late just to look good with the quizzes? Not so. I am just a natural. Ian Paisley? With a mouth like that? Come on guys.
H H