Celtic face Real Sociedad tonight, which if the weather holds out, and the berr gardens are open, could be a pleasant way to spend a summer evening.
Even in Paisley.
The club will debut the all new green away kit, which gives them plenty of time to order new ones ready for the competitive games after it falls apart in the wash afterwards.
Sure it looks great, but we need a wee bit more than that for our money.
Nadir Ciftci signed a four year deal with the club yesterday, and many expect Ronny and johnny to work their magic on him and tame his wilder urges, but one wonders what the point would be in signing someone because you like the way he plays, and then changing it ?
Nah, now we’ve got him, let’s allow him to annoy the opposition the way he annoyed us, and if it doesn’t work out then we could try a different approach.
For those who question his desire to play for Celtic, it’s worth noting that within an hour of signing, he was out on the training pitch…
Ronny has said he will introduce different systems, and although it will usually revolve around the number ten playing behind the striker, the temptation to see what these two can do together must be overwhelming.
Brown , Bitton Armstrong behind Johansen and these two up front ?
Could be productive.
But that’s football. We all see the game differently.
Cifci has been handed the “coveted ” number seven shirt, following in the footsteps of a couple of legends.
This , as you see, matters little in reality. In actual fact, although one or two legends have worn it, so have a lot of diddies, and as far as i’m concerned as long as he doesn’t make an arse of it on his debut like the last big number seven did, I’m happy enough.
Ciftci is happy enough as well;
“It’s my favourite number and I’ve worn it everywhere else.
“I know what this number means to this club and the players that have worn it before so it’s an honour and pleasure for me to wear it here as well and I know what it is all about.
“It will be nice to have the pressure. You’ll always be remembered here especially if you do well and I’m here to do well and be remembered and do the best. It’s a pressure that’s put on me and I’ll just work for it.”
He played down any suggestions of problems between him and Scott Brown;
“We are all professionals here and when you are on the pitch you do your job for the team you play for. Scott Brown is a very good professional as well and everybody would love to have him in their team and I have him in my team just now.”
He does seem to have the right attitude, and hopefully will carry it on to the ptich. Celtic need someone who will put themselves about a bit. He might just fit the bill.
After all, he’s our pain in the arse now, and must be supported as such.
Broony may have given us an iconic image when he celebrated scoring against Rangers,
whereas Ciftci didn’t even wait until he’d scored.
Meanwhile , Celtic need to be aware the Real game is probably the toughest ahead of the European clash next week, and it gets even tougher after that, should Celtic get past the men from Iceland.
Next Friday will see the draw for the third qualifying round, and the seeding don’t make for easy reading.
It’s time to start taking it seriously, there can be no repeat of the lackadaisical approach that allowed Dukla to score five. Against Real, we need to see progress. We need to see sharpness, and we need to see the beginnings of a settled side.
The transfer business has been done early, the players who have gone have been replaced. Ronny deserves enormous credit for not hanging about, and now it’s time to bed them in.
There were stories that Celtic have spoken with both Swansea and Sothampton about a move for Virgil van Dijk. One source described them as “positive “, but didn’t say who for.
Ronny has repeatedly stated that van Dijk will play in the qualifiers, and unles a move to a big club comes along, he will be here for the group stages, should we progress.
There’s no reason to think that the situation has changed.
One thing has changed though.
You’ll become more accustomed to using this during the season. It’s the new access control system at Celtic Park, which may explain the need to use Paisley for the friendlies.
The official website gives instructions on how to use it, as it will be used against Stjarnan next week.
Your Season Ticket contains an embedded microchip that communicates with the ticket reader at the turnstile. Please take care of your card and do not bend it or you may break the chip and your Season Ticket will not work.
To gain access to the stadium, go to one of the turnstiles printed on your Season Ticket. When you reach the turnstile, you will see a green Fortress ticket reader.
Introducing new technology-they are aware it’s a card these days, and not a ticket-aren’t they ?
Place your Season Ticket into the ticket reader which looks as shown. You will see one of the following lights:
- Green = Go through the turnstile.
- Green and Amber = Go through the turnstile (concession ticket).
- Amber and Red = Wrong turnstile.
- Red = Please visit the Information Booth located at the Jock Stein or Lisbon Lions booth.
Thankfully, it’s not fitted with a breathalyser. Otherwise one or two people i knwo, may nt get value for money from their cards..mind you, placing it in the slot could be enough of an issue for them.
Here’s something from the Manchester Evening News that you might find interesting;
Denayer wants Man City first team assurances – agent.
Well, he’s had a taste of the good life, and doesn’t want to end up like Deydrick Boyata stalling on the bench. He has an international career to think of, and has to think very carefully about what he will do next. Okay, so he’s out of our price range….
but surely the progress he made last year will make him at least consider coming back ? Alongside Boyata ?
From the article, his agent said;
“We are negotiating a five-year contract deal. But Manchester City have to show us that he will get the possibility to integrate into the starting XI.”
“It is complicated and we are still far from an agreement.”
Sources in Spain, such as tv pundit Petter Veland, claim that those in the know, are expecting Odegaard to stay in Spain, which makes sense. Their new manager will want a look at him to se if he wants to keep him, and for the amount of money they are paying him, they will want to see if he’s worth keeping, which is better done closer to the parent club.
But Jack Harper, the Scot currently with Real Madrid soon to be defunct C team, may be after a move. With the dissolution of the C team, he has an anxious wait to see if he will make the step up to Castilla, the B team.
If not, and we want to develop a wonderkid properly-not like in the past with Feruz and Adu- then why not a lad who’s family hail from Barrhead ?
Harper signed a five year deal back in 2012, but after early promise, may now have stalled in his development….especially if he’s , at 18, still in the C team.
St. Johnstone boss Tommy Wright yesterday said that his club wasn’t to blame for the poor European coefficient, and then went on to see his side crash out of the Europa League to the side who finished fourth in Armenia. Saints won 2-1 against ten men , but went out on the away goals rule.
Simply put, they weren’t ready, and that can only be the managers fault.
Aberdeen, however, joined Inverness in the second round when they progressed on away goals.
The streets of the northern town were full of celebrating dons fans lat night, not caring about the dull 0-0 draw, because at this stage it’s all about going through.
They will have to improve for the next tie, but at least they have a little bit of time to work on it.
One fan who complained about the chaos surrounding the code which got a discount from New Balance on the new tops has had a reply from the man on the case John Paul Taylor;
Ref the New Balance issue with the discount code, I followed this one up yesterday. The code that was used in these cases was issued erroneously. The code was initially issued to 10 winners of a Cricket competition exclusively however someone put it out online which resulted in everyone piling in, not just Celtic fans but countless others who believed this was a general release discount code.
I have passed on all the complaints I’ve received directly to New Balance and they will be in touch directly about the matter. Let me know how you get on.
We know what has happened now, though quite how New Balance didn’t foresee it is unexplainable.
Perhaps their lack of experience is showing, as it does all sem rather naive.
Why they haven’t just took the hit and milked the publicity is a strange one though, it’s a marketing man’s dream.
Elsewhere, and we could see a decsion in the big tax case today.
It’s not really made the headlines thus far, which suggests it may be going badly for the establishment.
If the old club is found liable, then won’t the media have a little problem in keeping to their same club line ?
The current appeal only covers part of the case, don’t forget they’ve already been found guilty of five charges, and there are others that have been returned to the FTT. Simply, the media are just hoping we’ll forget all about it, and business can carry on as normal.
Hector, oddly enough, doesn’t see it that way. Once Rangers are found guilty, there’s other clubs he wants a word with…
This piece from Layton bhoy, from On fields Of Green, should refresh your memory as to how serious the Ibrox crimes were…
The old clubcall 0891 number was featured yesterday, which used to be advertised on teletext and in the papers as a way of getting exclusive news from Celtic Park. As it was a premium line, you can imagine how slowly the guy at the other end spoke, and how long it took him to get to the point.
I listened to a whole game on it once, and to be fair, it moved my then young family closer together.
We had to sell up and move into a flat.
today, identify this player.
right, gotta go.
I’m off out tonight for a meal. The wife wanted to go Dutch, but I’m in favour of going Greek, and just running off when the bill comes.
Jim or John Weir whose only first team appearance i remember was a three nil win in the 1980/81 season at Tannadice.
United had beat us three nil a few weeks earlier in the league cup semi final second leg at Celtic Park.
We got our revenge.
John Weir played and scored his only goal in that game at Tannadice Jvr.
Think he played about 20 games all in.
Thanks Andybhoy.
John also playedi in our team who won the daily express national 5 a side tournament at Wembley Arena.
Wullie Garner was also in the squad but Wullie’s Celtic career doesn’t bring back good memories.
Welcome to Paradise Nadir, prove me wrong and be an regular goalscorer and irregular suspendee. At the very least start to let us believe in the no7 shirt again.HH
Thanks Ralph.
Why is Griff (may fav tea-cake munching goal-machine) wearing tights? in July?
You know if you go Hun on your meal, you simply claim not to be the same people who just ate the meal; even though you have the same name and live at the same address and won’t give up the silverware you acquired via a dodgy offshore account.
After all the carry-on with the new strips,you would have thought, New Balance would have it all sowed up by now ®
Just hope he doesn’t play Van Dijk in next few games simply because of all the hype behind his want away saga. I just do not feel his mind will be on the job
colin51..if his mind’s not on the job then he shouldn’t pick up his wages. I’m sick of spoiled footballers who only look for what they can take out of the sport (money, money, money) and not what they can give to it.
Yes he’s an excellent player, yes he has the potential to be a great player…but he thinks he’s chocolate and the fame/money have already gone to his head. When he goes (not “if”) we’ll find a replacement, Celtic will go on and he’ll play in Poundland down South and quite possibly disappear.
He is not my favourite Celtic player as you can tell. HH
Ralph
I am just settling down for the game on CTV after a pretty hectic day. I was on a training course (imagine training at my age. Had a bit of trouble with the parallel bars) and I am assured I will be fit and ready for next Wednesday as long as I get through tonight unscathed.
There are asteroids with easier names to pronounce than most of those third round teams. I think I will just wait till Big Dereck gives me the right pronunciation. He could say anything and I would just take it he is out his brains.
That wee Harper guy looks a decent bet if we want a young prospect with some history. I would not be against it but at the same time I just do not understand the need to look beyond our own youngsters. In interesting though.
That ticket/card thing had me baffled for a minute. I thought they had installed parking meters and I was feeling so sorry for the “watch ye’r car, mister” wains. It looks like a Ciftci, ready to bite you. I will give him a chance – one!
I vaguely remember John Weir but could tell you very little about him. Maybe that says it all. Somebody mentioned Wullie Garner. Now there is a memory or nightmare. I had forgotten how much dross has blown through the doors of Celtic Park.
Time for the game.
H H
Just watched the match v Real Sociedad. Plenty of pluses from it I think you’ll agree(?). Young Darnell underlining that he has an old head on young shoulders and definitely has a great future with Celtic. Bitton showing how to pass under pressure (what pressure?) from midfield to the attackers. Cifctci making an immediate impact (without biting anybody). Johanson running about with his inbuilt nuclear reactor. Boyata looking solid. Broonie being what we expect and know we’ll get from Broonie..100% commitment.
It was a friendly, but a true test ‘cos Real Sociedad are nobody’s mugs. My only doubt is has Madden bought his season ticket yet? Don’t think I’ve ever seen a ref give so many corners to the opposition when it was a clear by kick, or so many free kicks to the opposition when there wasn’t any infringement committed…I think even this early we can forget any dreams of a treble…they will NOT permit that.
Anyway, roll on Wednesday..the iCEMAN COMETH..TAE GET A GUBBING!! hh
Enjoyed the game. We looked sharper.All I wanted really.
John weir actually played a few games for us around 1981/82 . Think Caesar thought he could be a ready made replacement for ‘Dom the bomb’ , ok dom now your a timaloy ! However big john couldn’t cut the mustard, don’t remember where he went after us .
Played in 20 matches between 1979 and 81, was sold to Airdrie in 81 for a bag of joob joobs and a blow on a ragmans trumpet.
Watched the game to/last night and have to say after 20 minutes I was fearing the worst.
No one closing down bar Griffiths and loose passing all over the place and them stroking it around us like we were the warm up act.
Until Bitton that is decided to put his foot on the ball and start controlling his bit of the Park this seemed to wake up the rest.
Thought we were very good on the eye second half should have probably slapped in 2 or 3 by the end so all is well going into next week.
Thought Ciftci was solid when he came on showed some great strength and ability on the ball unlucky not to open his account.
He will be a good acquisition of that I am sure.
Thought the youngsters that came on did very well especially young Fisher who I thought had a much better game than Lustig who’s passing was poor to say the least.
Boyata looks a great buy so much so in fact I have failed to notice the absence of Denaayer.
All is well going into next week can see us doing a job first leg perhaps keep a clean sheet now they are all moving a bit quicker and a bit more switched on.