Tottenham goalkeeper Hugo Lloris is ready to leave the London club, in search of Champions League football, which has prompted the Daily Star, sister paper of the Express, to link Fraser Forster with a move to the capital. They join Newcastle on the list of clubs ready to battle for the the keeper, and yet again the price seems to be fixed at around £6m.
Forster himself can be seen on Weekend Warm Up, a Sky Sports programme for those who have no friends and can’t stand coronation Street. In the interview, he compares playing for Celtic with international football, saying that there are long periods of inactivity, and that concentration is required to make that vital save when its needed.
The interview is here, and is an interesting listen.
Newcastle fans website, Black and White and Read All Over, has a more sensible outlook on any return for their former reserve, with Tim Krul on his way out, but they still haven’t given up hope…
” we would look rather silly to have let Forster go only to then buy him back (no doubt at an inflated cost). For his part, Forster was desperate to leave St James’ Park and get the first-team football he craved, apparently aggrieved that his path to our first team was blocked by Krul. As the Dutchman’s replacement, he wouldn’t have to worry about that any more, but nevertheless, having left slightly under a cloud, you do wonder whether he would really “welcome a return to Newcastle“, as the Journal insist. Perhaps the widely anticipated ousting of the Silver Fox, the man who denied him the opportunity to stake a claim for the position, would be the key to any deal. ”
Incidentally, Barcelona have had their transfer ban lifted, so anything can happen….
It doesn’t matter if he goes, as we have a more mobile replacement lined up; ( Thanks , Baresi )
The other Celt widely touted for a move by the press is Dutch centre half Virgil van Dijk. After a great start to his Celtic career, he’s tipped to move on, but the man himself is looking ahead to the Champions League;
“It’s going to be tough again but you need to be ready for that when the time comes and we are looking forward to them,”
“We deserve to play in the group stages as we are one of the biggest clubs in the UK and are champions but it’s not that simple.
“I don’t know what Murrayfield is like so it’s difficult to say but so be it and we just need to make sure we get to the group stages so we get more nights at Celtic Park again.
“You hope it’s going to be much better than what happened this season. When the draw was made and I saw the three clubs, it was an amazing feeling. My first season in the Champions League, to play against Barcelona, AC Milan and Ajax was brilliant, I enjoyed it a lot.”
Still only 22, he is in the right place at the right time to fully develop into a top class player, which is something that the management should be reminding him of daily. And it might be an idea to steal his phone and hack his email account….
One player who seems to have no inclination to leave Glasgow is left back Emilio Izzaguerre, and he’s just sorted hinself out with a little bonus by advertising bottled water back in his native land. He’s made a few short films where he is seen walking around Glasgow and the Highlands extolling the virtues of Aguazul mineral water, and somehow that suits the image of the clean living family man that is Emilio.
We hear as well that Neil Lennon is the number one target for Norwich, despite the fact that they don’t really seem to be able to offer him anything that he could possibly want. Unless he wants to invest in some corduroys , a pipe and some comfy slippers, its not the place for him. In fact , its not really the place for anyone.
Many years ago, the motor i was in broke down, and I was stranded-and believe me thats the right word-in the city for a full day. If ever a doctor tells me I have six months to live, I’m going to move there.
It’ll make me beg for death.
Elsewhere, Paul the Tim, who posts frequently on the Huddleboard and Twitter was delighted to see his gift of a Celtic top handed over to il Papa himself, Pope Francis I, when his mum and gran went to see the man in Rome.
The shirt has Pope Francis 1 on the back, and there is a suspicion that he put it on over his robes when no-one was looking and pretended to be Henrik Larsson in a kick about on the Vatican car park.
Today sees the publication of the one hundred and twenty day review conducted by the financial gurus over at Ibrox. The hordes were warmed up by director and Morton fan Sandy Easdale, who warned that the club was “fragile ” , presumably because you can’t say “fucked ” on the BBC.
Easdale told the BBC;
“The club is at a crossroads at the moment and a fragile position,” said the chairman of the club’s football board.
“It can either go forward with a strategic view, with a long-term view, steady as she goes, or be pulled apart in other directions.”
I think we have a fairly good idea of whats going to happen. and I think he does as well.
Easdale said he did not know the exact figures for season ticket renewals but admitted: “At this moment in time, ticket sales are slow.”
Someone sent us a picture of the ticket office over there. Slow might be an exaggeration.
Asked whether they would be sufficient to sustain Rangers in the short-term, the Greenock-based bus tycoon said: “We’ve got all the numbers. Me and chief executive Graham Wallace are confident and the board’s quite confident that we’ll meet those numbers.”
But he added: “If you’re loyal and you support the club, then come out and support the club.
It might be too late for that
“It doesn’t matter who’s running the club or who wants to run the club… the main thing is the loyal supporters need to come out, by a man, and stand by the club. That’s what the club’s been built on: loyalty.”
As opposed to a sound financial footing, which would probably have been a better idea.
Asked whether poor season ticket sales could increase the risk of a second administration, Easdale replied: “That’s a difficult question and it’s a question that I hope I don’t need to answer.
Second administration ? I see the BBC are still dealing with the facts…
“In 140 years, the club’s gone into administration once. I don’t think it would survive a second one.
It didn’t survive the first one . So he’s got a point. Sort of, anyway.
So I would ask every loyal Rangers fan – and I pick my words correctly in saying ‘loyal Rangers fan’ – supports the club at this time and gives it a chance.”
Three words-none of them accurate. They’re not loyal Rangers fans. Rangers died. Not as loyal as the Easdales, anyway
Easdale denied he was guilty of “emotional blackmail”.
He added: “We don’t want to go back to the dark days of administration. Everything’s a possibility and we’ve got to look on a positive as a board. As a board, it’s business as usual. We’ve got to keep going forward.”
Hurtling headlong over the precipice would be more accurate, but it is going forward, I suppose.
Ibrox chief executive Wallace is due to release the findings of his 120-day review into the club’s accounts on Friday.
Speaking of reviews, this is from the flyinghippo, from a Rangers website;
Had my 15 year old brother up from Milton Keynes for the holidays and decided I’d take him on the tour. I did it last, maybe, 5 years ago and was blown away.
I could not believe the difference. The place just seemed like it needed a good scrub, the wallpaper on the inner corridors towards the press room and the dressing rooms was all water damaged, there was a hole in the carpet in the blue room,there was dust all over the place, the press room had some sort of foosty smell in it. Outside, in the main stand, nothing looked as though it had been painted in years, the dugout was rusty, the covers on the seats were manky…….I was just really disappointed. I can’t remember the name of the gentleman who did the tour, he said he used to do security, he was excellent but they hadnt even given him a club suit to wear. There was just an obvious drop in standards to what I had experienced before and it was genuinely sad to see. Who can I complain to? Is it worth it?
Back to the report;
Easdale said he hoped it would answer any questions fans may have.
“It answers our questions and it’s a clear indication where Graham and the board want to take the club,” he added.
“We’re kind of tied by the Stock Exchange in what we can say. I’d love to tell the fans all, but, the PLC board is tied by rules and regulations.”
No, you aren’t
Responding to Easdale’s comments, the Union of Fans – a collective of Ibrox supporters groups – said the club’s precarious situation was not down to a lack of loyalty from fans.
“It is down to two years of mismanagement and the squandering of huge sums of money, which Mr Easdale has been a part of for the past seven months,” added a Union of Fans statement.
Its a little more than two years….
Another “senior ” Ibrox source claims the club is on a life support machine….probably best not to tell this chap then;
Anyway, man of the peepil Ally Mccoist, who has been draining the club of hundreds of thousands of pounds a year admits to being surprised that things are so bad;
Whilst the rest of us admit to not being surprised that he’s surprised. Or stunned, or however his pals in the press paint it. Makes you wonder if Keevins got out before the crash so he didn’t have to point the finger at his pal…
Or did Keevins go because he just cannot compete with the quality of reporters these days ?
Granted , theres not much competition for the award, but Keith Jackson ? Seriously, the man struggles with twitter, where you only have to coherently arrange 140 characters to make your point. And he missed out the “n” in tender.
Perhaps they got the award mixed up with the PR Man of the Year gong.
Theres sad news today about Sandy Jardine, the Rangers and Scotland right back, who has lost his battle against cancer. He loved his club as much as we love ours, and was respected by those who played alongside and against him.
Gabriel Batistuta was the man being eased off the ball by Johan Mjallby in yesterdays picture, today we wonder of you remember this guy..
Norrie Nescafe or Kenny Kenco?
Liam Miller
Mr Miller….who by the look of that foto is still trying to get his career to take off after his career stalled about the same time he left the Glasgow City Limits.
Ralph
There is no doubt where our first thoughts and comments should be this morning. If not, then our priorities are really all eschewed. Sandy Jardine was one of those players in a rival club (and they were extremely few and far between) that one perhaps regarded as “red hot” but found it difficult to dislike. No one could fault his qualities both as a player and a person. He was simply a nice guy who, for us, wore the wrong colours. His greatest flaw was being accommodated in the Scottish team at the expense of Danny McGrain playing out of position. If everyone I knew had that level of blemish, my world would be a fine place to be in. It is a very sad occasion and my thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends. R.I.P.
I think I expressed my feelings yesterday for the Magpies and their plans to rob our nest. I would not give Pa Doo (pigeons are probably beyond him as well as football) a pair of gloves never mind anyone in them. If Fraser is taken in by “a tha tak down ‘ere”, then he probably deserves to be incarcerated in the bleak black and white doldrums (don’t believe a word about their hyped up support. I watched a European match there once and I had to pinch myself to make sure I was not in the morgue – yes it was centuries ago. Well, you know how old I am). Yes, I do love them really 🙁 and, just for the record, I am in Northumberland – not the same I assure you, even though a bit of Geordiitis does rub off on some.
The 120 day reprieve, sorry review, is on its way somewhere. Mind you, 500 tons of gloss were seen being carried into Ibrox and I do not think it was for this, “Outside, in the main stand, nothing looked as though it had been painted in years, the dugout was rusty, the covers on the seats were manky……” So, even though other companies would be sailing down the Swanee in a rusty tub, this leaky raft will probably “be given” a way to stay afloat even in the rapids. They must have more buckets over there than Oor Wullie. The press will be in its element as they rally round the sinking ship. Hopefully “journeymen” – is that an insult to journeymen? – like Jackson will be more coherent when they are drowning – gurgle, gurgle, gurgle……Told you.
Aye! Liam Miller now playing at the level he possibly should have been from the start. Fergie could make a fair few boo-boos too. Never mind, Liam should feel at home Down Under with all the crocks around.
H H
Agree with pensionerbhoy about Sandy Jardine. I used to deliver milk to his house and his wife Shona was a very nice lady. Used to give his kids a wee hurl in the milk float, nice family. Only one thing Sandy, I’m still waiting for my Christmas tip. R.I.P.
HH
Excellent post Pensionerbhoy my old mate re Sandy Jardine
Told it like it was and and proved once again that real football people can rise above the the hate and bigotry and appreciate all of those whatever colour, class or creed should be part of us all
Your auld mate
Joratim
” our club was built on loyalty ” my arse.
So why did we get half of Ibrokes in the 80’s,when they couldn’t sell their tickets ?
While we compete every season in the Champions League,
whatever club they are,will NEVER challenge our dominance
of Scottish football.
as a former celtic fan and current shareholder since the 1st share issue , may I say it is still very nice tae watch the ORANGE SCUM HIT THE ROCKS TIME AMD TIME AGAIN, YA BUNCHA SCABBY MUNKEE HUN BASSAs YI DESERVE EVERYTHING YOU STOOPID HUNS GET, P.S. R I P SANDY JARDINE AH REALLY MEANAT INAT!!!!!!!!!! oh how thick ur aw yoo SEEVCO FANS
like every Celtic fan,sad at the news,of the untimely death of Tito Vilanova.A very unassuming man,he was held in the greatest regard at Barcelona,and the wider European football family.
RIP Tito.
hs
Did not see this till this morning. His illness was in the news last year but kind of went off the radar in recent months. Very sad to hear he lost his battle. I thought he was behind a lot that was best at Barcelona and one wonders how far he could have gone with them. Given our almost family relationship with Barcelona, I think it is fitting that we, the Celtic family, show him the same respect as one of our own. As always, prayers and thoughts are with his family, friends and Barcelona club and supporters. R.I.P.
H H
Well said re Sandy Jardine….didn’t know him personally but clearly well respected by many players and fans of the game in Scotland.
Liam Miller, now with the Brisbane Roar. Still plays with quality and ‘I can’t really be arsed’ attitude until the ball is at his feet. Gets away with it as the game is a bit pedestrian here. You get a yellow card for running – I’ve seen one booking in 3 years.
Brisbanecelt
“You get a yellow card for running – I’ve seen one booking in 3 years.”
An absolute cracker, mate 🙂
H H