There is a little bit of evidence that Tony Watts loan at Lierse might have had the desired effect. Apart from his return to form-and improved behaviour, those pesky kids at the Daily Record have managed to ask him a couple of questions, which he dealt with maturely. According to the Record-and listen, you don’t get a better source than that-Lierse want him to stay and he has hinted he would like to open talks….What he actually said, when asked about his plans, was; “I haven’t thought much about my immediate future. “I will have to talk to Celtic and wait to see what is decided, but I love Lierse and Belgium.” Which is a marvellously diplomatic and grown up answer. So, after the criticism of Lennons tactics and selections this week, he does deserve praise for the way things are going with Watt. Although judging by this tweet from the forward, it might be time to give him a ring and let him know he’s still one of us..
Tony Watt@AnthonyWatt32When things are going bad you get kicked when your down. But when there good everyone comes back and forgets what they said
Theres an article in the Daily Mail about Greek forward Georgios Samaras which is worth a read, as John McGarry outlines the dilemma facing Neil Lennon now that the big fellow looks set to leave for nothing at the end of the season. Theres a hint within that Samaras had his phone off on the last day of the window, while a London club was desperate to sign him. We can only guess at what goes on underneath those flowing locks , and it seems sometimes even Samaras himself doesn’t know.
For the record , though, its maybe time to concentrate on players that are committed to the club, especially as the UCL qualifiers will be here very soon, and with the struggles we had last year to qualify, then we need to get ready. If Boerrigter, Pukki and Balde are not going to get game time now, then it looks as though they never will. Nir Bitton reckons he is ready for some game time. The Israeli hasn’t exactly burst onto the scene since his arival, but its fairly clear theres a player in there somewhere;
“I have moved to one of the biggest clubs in Europe from what was not the biggest club in Israel, so it is a little bit different for me.
“The biggest difference is the tempo. The Israeli Premier League maybe has more technique. “In Scotland, when you get the ball, you are immediately pressed by two or three players. In Israel, you had more space to dribble.
“I have tried to settle into this kind of football, and the coaches and my team-mates tell me to think fast, and to try to take just one or two touches.
“The manager has helped me a lot. He speaks to me and gives me advice about what to do and what not to do.
“Scott Brown also gives me advice all of the time, ( Probably explains his sending off that time )
“I try to learn from him and from Charlie Mulgrew, Georgios Samaras and all the experienced players.”
Noting what he said about the time players get on the ball in the SPFL, then it might explain why some of the foreigners fail to adapt. Now, its pretty much common knowledge that football is faster in Scotland, so it shouldn’t have been a surprise, and moving the ball on quickly to counter it isn’t rocket science, which is why the four in a diamond worked so well against Hearts and Motherwell. It wears the other team down very quickly.
So, why don’t we use a system to suit the players rather than one that doesn’t ? You wouldn’t go out to Tescos and buy a dvd if you didn’t have a dvd player ? Although to be fair I bought the 12″ version of Grandmaster Flashs “The Message ” on vinyl, and didn’t notice I hadn’t got a record player until I got home. To be fair though, the only appliance I use at home is the fridge, where the beer is.
If the new additions are struggling initially, they need the help of those around them, during a match. Not ten or fifteen minutes at the end.
The perfect example is Virgil van Dijk, who has -due to the absence of Kelvin Wilson-been forced to play every week. He has formed an excellent partnership with Efe Ambrose, and you wonder if we had an alternative whether he would have got a run in the side. Especially after that time when his headband fell over his eyes. Still, if he does as well as the last player that happened to…. In fact, we should give all our players headbands.
Van Dijk himself couldn’t be happier with the way his £2.6m move to Celtic has turned out, notably talking about the league , rather than the cup-
“It feels very good to be unbeaten in the league so far and I’m very proud of it.
“I think the whole team should be proud. It’s a big team performance to do this and also a personal achievement for me, too, because I’ve never experienced this before in my life, so I’m very happy.
“It’s a good partnership I have with Efe Ambrose – he’s a good guy. Off and on the pitch I talk with him a lot and I learn from him and I think he can learn from me.
“It’s definitely me who is the talker, though. It’s something that is natural for me, to talk a lot during the game, not only to Efe but to all the other players.”
Milan midfielder Nigel de Jong reckons he’s ready to step up to the Dutch international team, and van dijk was flattered by the remark;
“That was nice to hear from a very good player but, for that to happen, it’s up to me to show everyone that I’m good enough and to play good games.
“Will results like Sunday’s hinder my chances? I don’t know. It’s difficult for me to say how the national team coaches judge players. But all I can do is to continue playing well and win the games with my team. “But I do think the Premiership is a competitive league – definitely. If you compare it to the Dutch league, it is quite similar. There only a few differences, like the physicality.”
Its hard to believe he’s only a young lad, but then they teach them different in the Netherlands. One comment in the replies mentioned the culture in Britsh football, too much money, too many women and too much drink, and that might explain why -especially in England-there are few youngsters making the grade. The talent is obviously out there-its virtually impossible for it not to be. Finding it and nurturing it is a different ball game though. That was reflecting in the minimal number of players moving up a division during the tranbsfer window, which used to be the norm. For all the claims that we should avoid SPL “dross “, at least there is a decent chance we’ll get players who want to play for Celtic, and might already have an affection for the club.
Anyway, as you know tomorrow is a special day, and all over the country, couples will be planning a celebration.
Some might even celebrate St. Valentines day, which falls on the same day. Its Administration Day again-the second anniversary of the beginning of the end for Rangers FC, the now defunct former major rival to Celtic. To get in the mood for the big day, read this, which is what Rangers Tax Case wrote last year, as a possible end game scenario for the new club, who are teetering on the precipice, in a scenario which looks like a remarkably well produced tribute to the way the old club died.
The Rangers Supporters Trust have just bought 200,000 shares in the club, to add to the ones that they lost a fortune on when they bought some at the original issue. This is from the Scotsman, who seem to think this is a good thing…
THE Rangers Supporters Trust has announced it now holds over half a million shares in the Ibrox outfit after buying a further 200,000 this week. The fan group’s long-term ambition is to hand control of the club to the Light Blues faithful, and they now hold 557,856 shares after using £52,000 donated by fans using the BuyRangers direct debit scheme to snap up their latest tranche. However, their stake only equates to 0.86 per cent of the League One leaders’ total shareholding, and Trust chairman Gordon Dinnie admits outright power is a long way off. Dinnie said: “There is still a long way to go. ”
( At the price they just paid, they have less than 1%, so to control the club another 50% is required, so fifty times £52,000 is around £2.5m. That is, by any definition, a long way to go indeed. )
“We started our direct debit scheme just before Christmas. If we can get enough interest going in that then we can buy shares on a monthly basis and build up our stake. We can also borrow against that money coming in and use it to buy more.
( Of course they can. )
“However, the big issue is availability of the shares. With the current price being so low, when you try to buy them on the market, folk are asking for a few pence more. So it’s not a case of buying a £1 million worth of shares if there is £1million worth of shares available.
( I think you might find that there are one or two that would happily get whatever they can for the shares. The y probably just don’t think any offer is serious, as no-one could be that fecking stupid. )
“But then again, we don’t need to aim for anything like a 50 per cent stake in the club. Because of the fractious nature of the shareholding, a 10 per cent stake could give you a major say in how the club is run. “James Easdale had just one more share in the club than the RST following the IPO (initial public offering), yet he was appointed to the board. “If we get to five per cent, we would hold the right to call an AGM, and the things you are able to do increases as your stake goes up from that point. “We need to take it slow but if we can generate enough interest then hopefully we can then look towards taking our holding past one per cent, then five, then as our stake in the club grows we can think about getting a director onto the board of the club that has been elected by the fans.” ‘Next target is one million’
( And they’ve got all the time in the world to do this. )
The RST ploughed £250,000 – including £5,000 pledged by former Ibrox striker Kris Boyd – into Rangers when it was floated on the stock market in December 2012. However, that was not enough to stop controversial former chief executive Charles Green gaining control. The shares were priced 70p each at that point, but the off-field turmoil surrounding the club since has seen that price tumble to just 25.75p per share. The RST was able to buy its latest tranche at 26p per share after negotiating the seller down from 29p.
( So, the price is 25.75, and they negotiated it down to 26. The seller probably took their dinner money and trainers as well. )
In an email to RST members, Dinnie claims that low value could help the Trust double its stake. He said: “It’s a tremendous achievement for our members to reach this level of ownership through our BuyRangers scheme. The next target for us is to own a million shares in the club.
“The addition of a direct debit option to BuyRangers will be a great help and enable us to buy more shares as and when they become available at a reasonable price.”
The RST announcement comes just two days before Supporters Direct Scotland stages a presentation to Rangers fans at the Loudern Tavern, Ibrox, about the possibility of setting up a rival scheme. SDS has already helped Hearts and Dunfermline set up rescue bids for their administration-hit clubs and will now advise the Light Blues’ support how they can gain control. Dinnie refused to criticise the government-backed group for competing with the RST scheme, but insisted the Trust would now step up BuyRangers. He said:
“They say their meeting is a consultation process and not a new scheme, so there is no need for us to stop doing what we’re doing. In fact, we’re now cracking on with BuyRangers. “But the long-term aim is to see fan-ownership realised at Ibrox – that has been our reason d’etre (sic) for the last 10 years. Their new scheme that could have have worked alongside BuyRangers.
“However, I won’t condemn it. It would be ludicrous for me to condemn it when they are working towards the same thing as we are. However, we will carry on with BuyRangers because we think it is the best way forward.”
Reading that, no wonder they had their club taken off them and killed. The real fan, the guys who go to the games, is getting shafted. He probably doesn’t give a stuff anymore. And that apathy will finally see them consigned to history.
This time they won’t be able to pretend it never happened.
Its too late for them now. Its almost over.
We hear that there is no Arab backer, we hear that everyone who has shares is afraid to dump them because of the massive price crash that would follow. Which means they would have to stop trading.
Compare that to the way in which Celtics support have rallied to highlight the injustice of the fans at the football bill by getting Roll of Honour into the charts, its at 24 midweek, because when our club -and its fans-are threatened, we pull together and do something. By the way, do it again, download the tune. I can’t wait for Sundays chart show when it’s introduced as a cheery Irish ditty.
It was Charlie Tully, Bertie Peacock and BobbyEvans in the picture yesterday.
This is one of a select few, actually I can’t think of any others, who have played for Celtic and Sundays opponents , St. Johnstone. Who is he ?
Regarding the tweet by Watt what I get from that is the Lierse Coach gave him grief (publicly)about his weight and fitness on arrival,dropped him from starting games and now it seems he wants to tie him up on a permanent deal.
I cannot see Watt turning his back on Celtic to play for a wank like him myself Ralph.
I see him returning in the Summer either Pukki or Balde getting sold and Watt fighting for the main Striking role at Celtic after a successful loan spell.
..Further to that he is the best finsher I have seen come out the youth ranks since Charlie Nicholas.
I don’t think Lenny has managed this situation all that well to be honest I feel Watt should have been taken to one side sat down with someone like Sutton or Larsson and talked to about what is required at Celtic for him to fully express himself both on and of the Park?
The Bhoy was playing football for fun up the Public Park at 16 ffs he’s not had the usual process that most kids get when they sign for Big Clubs at a young age,he was a raw teenager at Airdire and was snapped up by us for obvious reasons.
When he was asked to come off the bench at 18 in front of 60,000 at Celtic Park against the side he no doubt choSE to be on FIFA 13 and scored the winner is it any fucking wonder the aftermath went to his heid?
I doubt very much Neil Lennon could have coped with that with the same background as Watt.
Christ he’s been up in front of more Panels for behaviour than any of our Current side as 30 something with decades of Mentoring behind him.
It’s been handled very poorly all of this I feel from start to finish by both Lenny and the Club.
Who was it that said you were a fud?
Well said Charlie, totally agree with all of what you have said! HH!
Now I know how Pensionerbhoy feels when a post disappears.
Ralph
You will have whole week-load of company. I am sure the moderator is ageist or maybe sexist. That’s the worst of being old and handsome.
H H
1% of shares..its like saying you own a car with your pals but in fact you just get to swing the furry dice when they’re in the back with a burd.
These Nutcases are kidding themselves on and quicker they state the obvious “We just want a seat on the Board” the better we will all feel. The Louden meeting is more interesting given thats advice for when your Team go into Admin!
Cillian Sheridan, another who joined the list of Celtic folk who scored against us. I imagine that could be Tony Watt of Aberdeen next season too.
Cillian Sheridan
Is that not a picture of Momo Sylla?
No. but it would have been if I had thought of him.
Tony Watt needs to improve his attitude at Celtic Park, doesn’t matter how many goals he scores for Lierse!
The goals he is scoring just now is nice to see & hope this is a sign of him working hard & getting back to basics.
Would still rather see him in a Celtic shirt over Samaras, Balde or Pukki!
If Celtic seriously moved for ‘ top ‘ strikers & have been rejected, they must tell us, I am actually quite worried about what is happening at Celtic park!
Sheridan – good cavan man.
Momo Sylla other player stjohnstone and Celtic
The main problem with our young players is that they, usually, have one good season then get a big contract and from then on they can’t seem to find the same levels of consistency and work rate.
Is a mental thing that these guys think they’ve hit the big time and don’t need to work as hard or are opponents seeing them more often and becoming more effective at stoping them playing?
Both I would say Doc!
Watt certainly has all the tools at his disposal, where as Pukki & Balde are just tools!
Watt was doing fine until Lenny decided Stokes could play the main Striker role and started firing Watt out wide.
A fucking one eyed monkey can see Stokes plays his best Football in SUPPORT of the main Striker on the left side where he can cut in or supply a good pass.
Watt through the middle playing off the shoulder and look what happens..He’s direct can handle a tackle and ALWAYS hits the target and makes the Keeper work.
Stokes on the other hand either takes too many touches or has a tendency to snatch at it resulting in it either flying wide or over.
Seldom does he make the keeper work.
The reason being like Hooper Watt is a natural finisher in the area.
Doc
I have asked many times. What is the point of the millions spent on Lennoxtown then, if what you say is correct? We used to produce a lot more for a lot less from Barrowfield. There were and have been few whose heads went haywire than Wee Jinky and look he performed till his later years in the game.
H H
That’s Cillian Sheridan, the bhoy from County Cavan
I notice the predictable media response to Celtic going out the Scottish cup, while they are all jumping up & down holding each others apron…..is anyone going to tell the Huns,if they do win it they will not be allowed to play in Europe regardless…:) PMSL LOL
Has anyone told Ally yet….he will want names!
Tony waaaaaatttt!
Tony f***ing waaaaaatttt.
Magic.
Keith.
Hail Hail.
For Keeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeith
http://youtu.be/74BrJXa-n3U
@Ralph Malph Malph,
Could we have a wee discussion about who we could have as our next manager?
Could posters take it seriously & genuine realistic names only please…..i’ll go first seeing as it’s ma ‘ba….err Joseph Guardiola 🙂
I’m loathe to join in with this topic as Lenny is still very much the man in the hot seat but there is every chance a certain Mr Moyes may be looking for new employment come the end of the season……
Failing that, and taking into account the PLC’s level of ambition, what’s Mark McGhee up to these days?
@Frank,
You say Lenny is still very much the man in charge, fair enough Frank but are you genuinely happy with Celtic, on the field at the minute?
Far from it Monti. I have said previously that Lenny has to question if he can take us any further AND question whether he is being backed properly by the board, rather than being a fall guy who has to build a squad from square one each season after selling all the star players. That would be a difficult enough job for an experienced managerial pro, far less the relative rookie which, let’s face it, Lenny is. It sounds ridiculous to be saying it when we could be on the verge of history by going through an entire league term unbeaten but it could be best for all, Lenny included, if he moves on. Did I really just type that?
Changes are definitely required if we don’t want to be playing in front of Lou Macari era crowds next season.
Monti,
Lenny will prove all his critics wrong.He had a quality striker
lined up and was let down by the powers that be.
Lawwell has to deliver.What I have heard,he doesn’t to be given johnny foreigners anymore.He wants players who have a
passion for Celtic and want to wear the iconic jersey.Lee Tomlin is one such player,who could be in the Hoops in the
summer.
Monti, trust in Lenny.He knows what he wants in this summer
transfer window.The board WILL deliver,as they know how
disenchanted the fans are with the club.
@Holy sea,
Not for me my friend, I’ve had enough of it, I want better for Celtic!
Lenny as a man & for what he has given to Celtic as a player will always be in my heart!
HE IS NOT A CELTIC MANAGER, WE NEED A CHAMPIONS LEAGUE MANAGER, WHO CAN ATTRACT CHAMPIONS LEAGUE PLAYERS!
SORRY M8!
Sorry Monti but no matter who we have as Manager it is purely down to where we play and how much dough we pay that stops Big Names coming bud.
They all want to play in the Premierhype on Big Money end of story.
Our best option is to produce top players from scratch and give them Champions League every year where possible.
The likes of Watt George Henderson McGregor Forrest with the right coaching and proper prepAration these Bhoys can come good and stay loyal top a Club that can satisfy their need for the Big Time.
Sure we need to suppliment these kids with proven talent from the amrket but these guys will come and go and make us some dough as they leave and get replaced.
I also believe buying the very best of Scottish too like Mackay Steven and young Gauld will also be very beneficial in the long run.
Charlie,
Agree re players.Attracting them here takes top dollar.Good
shout with Mackay-Steven,could play either flank and do good job for us.Gauld ? Maybe hyped up too much.
I believe Peter Houston,is now scouting for forward players
for the team.John Park is now covering the defensive side.
Trusting in your scout(s) is important.I am led to believe,pukki
boerrigter and balde is the reason for this change.Take out of
that,what it implies.
@Charlie,
Nothing gives me greater satisfaction than a home grown player coming through the system & into the first team & staying in the first team!
Sudan Mcgeady, Shaun Maloney & John Kennedy to name a few…
This is the best way forward, but does Lennon agree?
Atajic, Watt, McGeough away on loan, but Lennon persists with Samaras, while gives little game time to Pukki or Balde, plays a midfielder ( commons ) up front & Stokes who couldn’t score in a barrel of Huns?
Boerrigter? What game time does he get?
Gary Mackay Steven is a player I would take in a shot, give Forrest something to think about because I think he’s guaranteed his place & he knows it!
Kayal? What is he contributing?
Biton should be starting every week IMO, Why send Watt on loan then sign Fridjohnsson? Atajic? how must he feel when he scores for fun in the development squad only for Celtic to go & buy another young striker? I don’t get it!
Monti,
With the greatest respect,you’ve lost the plot.Lenny not a
Celtic or Champions League manager ? Come on. Where you
saying that,this time,last season ? NO.
Yes, he has made mistakes.But he has the passion and ability
to take our club forward.
Today,Commons in the media,said it has been a good season.
Winning the league and qualifying for the group stages, he
considers as a success.I concur with his view.
@Holy sea,
Can I ask you m8, if a poll was conducted among the entire Celtic support,what percentage would you guess would want Lennon to stay?
As far as losing the plot goes, my opinion is based on trophies m8 & I this case trophies LOST to the club, yes there is a bigger picture than winning domestic cups, & winning the league & qualifying for the Champions league IS the priority, I know that.
I honestly feel Celtic should be doing better in the Cups however, what you have to remember Holy sea, is that i just want us to win, win & win, it makes us feel good, makes life easier & enhances the clubs reputation!
We aren’t going to agree on this m8, it’s Lennon out for me! HH!
looks like ex MIB stuart mcdougal
@Monti,
Not a Lennon hater by any means but I think his time has come and gone.
Who to replace him then?
Maybe we should be ambitious instead of realistic for a change?
Michael Laudrup for example. Team played some great football and surely we’re as attractive a proposition as Swansea.
Thomas Schaff?
Evening Franco,
Thomas Schaff? Is he the Werder Bremen chap?
I don’t know too much about him m8.
Just a thought but if Celtic had a high profile manager maybe we would have more success with transfer targets at the top of the list?
Celtic need to show ambition & intent now!
I love Lennon Franco, but he isn’t a Celtic manager & he shouldn’t have been offered the job in the first place! HH!
I respect others opinions on this site, but for me the discussion on Lennon succesor is a strange one, it’s still early days, I feel he has another few years to give the Celts. Let support him & the team aspiring to get a few more legues under his/our wing. Bucksake man, disheartened even writing this post…..but
Hail Hail N aw that.
change has to happen very soon.
The fanbase is beginning to get rebellious with regards the football that they are being forced to watch.
If we get over 20,000 on sunday against st johnstone it will be a miracle.
Peter Lawell must now be seeing the errors of his ways – we need the young ones creating an atmosphere and we need the team playing free flowing attacking football (NL the ball’s in your court).
If these things don’t happen soon, we’ll be lucky to get 25,000 ST’s next season.
I supported NL from the start, but lately I’ve had my doubts about his ability to take us any further. Maybe we’ve just reached the natural parting of the ways. No idea who we would replace him with, but whoever it is, needs to start exciting the fans again.
Someone needs to explain to me why Samaras is still getting a game – he should have been told during the window that he either left or signed a new contract or he would never play for Celtic again. He wants to go to the world cup and needs to be playing to do that – he’d have moved, even if only on a 6 month contract, but we would have saved £300.000 in wages and maybe got a transfer fee as well.
Someone else explain to me why Fisher was dropped for a half fit Matthews.
And why we persevere with Stokes.
And why we wait until 15 minutes to go before we make tactical substitutions when everyone can see the tactics aren’t working.
Sorry to say that Neil Lennon and his back room staff couldn’t identify a striker on a picket line and give the impression that they believe tactics are something you use to freshen your mouth !
Their man management skills in regard to their inability to get the best out of the asset that is Tony Watt has been downright shocking. My guess is that they will find an excuse to sell him rather than have him come back to Celtic and embarrass them with the goals he will rack-up IF given the chance to play.
Tony Watt and Leigh Griffiths, who has the ability to become a Celtic legend, if played as a front two will create scoring records in the SPFL and my gripe is over why we did not sign Griffiths last January when he was on-loan at Hibs, scoring goals galore, out of favour at Wolves who we’re looking to recoup the £ 150,000 they paid to Dundee. Why wait a year and pay £ 1 million ?
Doesn’t make a lot of sense but that has been the norm during the tenure of Neil’s managerial career and I believe he should go at the end of this season. Dare I say it he is starting to make Sleekitsally look almost competent !
Neil will go with the blessing and thanks of all the fans for his efforts on behalf of Celtic FC in a job that was virtually thrust upon him without the opportunity of learning the trade and without the benefit of an experienced old-hand at his side.
” He did well, could have done better, should have done better ” would fairly describe his time as Celtic manager, in my opinion. HH