{"id":4581,"date":"2014-02-13T10:18:56","date_gmt":"2014-02-13T10:18:56","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/etims.net\/?p=4581"},"modified":"2014-02-13T11:30:27","modified_gmt":"2014-02-13T11:30:27","slug":"4581","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/etims.net\/?p=4581","title":{"rendered":"Celtic diary Thursday February 13 Third attempt."},"content":{"rendered":"

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; \u201cI haven\u2019t thought much about my immediate future. \u201cI 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..<\/p>\n

\"\"Tony Watt<\/strong>\u200f@AnthonyWatt32<\/a><\/div>\n

When things are going bad you get kicked when your down. But when there good everyone comes back and forgets what they said<\/p>\n

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 \u00a0flowing locks , and it seems sometimes even Samaras himself doesn’t know.<\/p>\n

samaras<\/a><\/p>\n

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;<\/p>\n

“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.<\/p>\n

“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.<\/p>\n

“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.<\/p>\n

“The manager has helped me a lot. He speaks to me and gives me advice about what to do and what not to do.<\/p>\n

“Scott Brown also gives me advice all of the time, ( Probably explains his sending off that time )<\/p>\n

“I try to learn from him and from Charlie Mulgrew, Georgios Samaras and all the experienced players.”<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

Van Dijk himself couldn’t be happier with the way his \u00a32.6m move to Celtic has turned out, notably talking about the league , rather than the cup-<\/p>\n

“It feels very good to be unbeaten in the league so far and I’m very proud of it.<\/p>\n

“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.<\/p>\n

“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.<\/p>\n

“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.”<\/p>\n

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;<\/p>\n

“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.<\/p>\n

“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.”<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

Anyway, as you know tomorrow is a special day, and all over the country, couples will be planning a celebration.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

RTC<\/a><\/p>\n

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…<\/p>\n

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\u2019s long-term ambition is to hand control of the club to the Light Blues faithful, and they now hold 557,856 shares after using \u00a352,000 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\u2019 total shareholding, and Trust chairman Gordon Dinnie admits outright power is a long way off. Dinnie said: \u201cThere is still a long way to go. ”<\/p>\n

( At the price they just paid, they have less than 1%, so to control the club another 50% is required, so fifty times \u00a352,000 is around \u00a32.5m. That is, by any definition, a long way to go indeed. \u00a0)<\/p>\n

\u201cWe 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.<\/p>\n

( Of course they can. )<\/p>\n

\u201cHowever, 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\u2019s not a case of buying a \u00a31 million worth of shares if there is \u00a31million worth of shares available.<\/p>\n

( 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. )<\/p>\n

\u201cBut then again, we don\u2019t 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. \u201cJames 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. \u201cIf 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. \u201cWe 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.\u201d \u2018Next target is one million\u2019<\/p>\n

( And they’ve got all the time in the world to do this. )<\/p>\n

The RST ploughed \u00a3250,000 – including \u00a35,000 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.<\/p>\n

( So, the price is 25.75, and they negotiated it down to 26. The seller probably took their dinner money and trainers as well. )<\/p>\n

In an email to RST members, Dinnie claims that low value could help the Trust double its stake. He said: \u201cIt\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe 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.\u201d<\/p>\n

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\u2019 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:<\/p>\n

\u201cThey say their meeting is a consultation process and not a new scheme, so there is no need for us to stop doing what we\u2019re doing. In fact, we\u2019re now cracking on with BuyRangers. \u201cBut the long-term aim is to see fan-ownership realised at Ibrox – that has been our reason d\u2019etre (sic) for the last 10 years. Their new scheme that could have have worked alongside BuyRangers.<\/p>\n

\u201cHowever, I won\u2019t 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.\u201d<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

This time they won’t be able to pretend it never happened.<\/p>\n

Its too late for them now. Its almost over.<\/p>\n

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. \u00a0Which means they would have to stop trading.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

It was Charlie Tully, Bertie Peacock and BobbyEvans in the picture yesterday.<\/p>\n

This is one of a select few, actually I can’t think of any others, who have played for Celtic and Sundays opponents , \u00a0St. Johnstone. Who is he ?<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

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