\u201cIt\u2019s been a great season,\u201d said van Dijk. \u201cIt started off not so good with the game in Kazakhstan. But after that game we have done very well, especially in the league.<\/p>\n
\u201cImproving myself as a human being and as a player were the most important things I wanted to do, and I feel I have improved a lot. I have learned a lot about the British style and European style of playing.<\/p>\n
\u201cEvery player who has a slight chance can dream of it and I still dream of it. We will see next week when they announce the squad.<\/p>\n
\u201cI have never been called up but you never know. I am ready for it, definitely. I feel I deserve a chance but it\u2019s up to the coach and if I don\u2019t get a chance then I\u2019m not good enough so I need to keep improving.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u00a0Whoever is keeping him out of the Dutch squad must be a hell of a player.<\/p>\n
Johan Mjallby has pretty much told us who is going to replace Neil Lennon if he ever does decide that Norwich is the place to be.<\/p>\n
If I’m a manager and doing well and I was asked, then the answer is that you don’t say no to jobs like Celtic.<\/p>\n
“You just never know with football what is down the line.<\/p>\n
“Four years ago Neil phoned me and asked me to become his No.2 and he said it would probably be for only eight games.<\/p>\n
“After the Scottish Cup semi-final defeat by Ross County we thought the board would go elsewhere.<\/p>\n
“But they did not and we have had a very successful spell together since then.<\/p>\n
“I have been at Celtic for 10 years now, with six as a player and four as assistant, and although I need a new challenge you never know where life will take you.”<\/p>\n
Mjallby added: “But I would definitely like to try and manage. I’ve been very happy as assistant, but I’m not ruling anything out for the future.”<\/p>\n
No, obviously not.<\/p>\n
He also played down the visit of Anthony Stokes to a bar in Belfast, by saying;<\/p>\n
We always deal with situations like this. It will be up to the manager and the club to sort that out.<\/p>\n
“(Anthony) has been great for us this season and he is a very talented boy, a very good footballer. But obviously now and then he doesn’t behave as well off the pitch as he does on it.<\/p>\n
“Of course it is disappointing when small things like this happen but we need to look into it and hopefully make the right decision for the club and Stokes.<\/p>\n
“We can’t look after him 24\/7. First and foremost, the most important thing is that (the players) do the right thing on the pitch for the club but it is also important that they behave off the pitch as well and show they are great ambassadors for youngsters, so it is disappointing in that respect.”<\/p>\n
Hardly seething, or furious.<\/p>\n
\u00a0Could the Record have got it wrong ?<\/p>\n
well, not as spectacularly wrong as this from the Express, which is ridiculous by even their standards;<\/p>\n
EXCLUSIVE: Old Firm clash could be staged in Dubai<\/h1>\n
Of course its an exclusive. The story began life in the fervent imagination of \u00a0writer Graham Clark, over a few beers with his mates.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n The only way we can talk to Rangers is if we sit round a table and join hands.<\/em><\/p>\n Surely cheaper just to ban fans of the new club. There is a precedent for this….jump in here,<\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n we’re off to the 27th of January, in 1994….and the Herald…<\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n CELTIC supporters have been banned indefinitely from Ibrox, which Rangers claim has been vandalised once too often.<\/p>\n Rangers say it has cost them more than #20,000 to repair damage caused by Celtic ticket holders at Old Firm matches played at Ibrox since March 1992.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n ”We regret the matter has reached this point. However, due to the intransigent attitude of Celtic Football Club and their lack of responsibility with regard to the behaviour of their supporters’ behaviour, we believe no other course of action is now available to us.” Rangers wrote to Celtic on Tuesday informing them of the ban.<\/span> <\/p>\n Its hard to read that and not reach for the phone to order more jelly and ice cream.\u00a0<\/i><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Back to thpresent , and the Express.<\/p>\n The most recent debacle saw more than 100 seats wrecked and smoke bombs, flares and bangers set off, with the result that it has already been decreed that the next Glasgow Cup Final between the teams will be held behind closed doors.<\/p>\n So it will be just the Ibrox staff \u00a0singing… Won’t be the first time.<\/i> Oh hang on, he’s sobering up.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/section>\n \n<\/blockquote>\n<\/section>\n Er, no match between Celtic and the new club has ever taken place. For all we know, the fans might get together on George square before hand to pray for world peace.<\/em><\/p>\n Many so-called Gers fans still blame Celtic, at least in part, for their demotion to the lowest tier of senior Scottish football following the Ibrox club\u2019s financial meltdown.<\/p>\n So- called Gers fans ? Does he mean the so-called Gers, or the so- called fans ? The so-called journalist should be clearer.<\/em><\/p>\n The next Old Firm game in the top flight is still another year or so away, at least, with Rangers having to clamber through a very competitive Championship following successful Third Division and League One campaigns, but Scottish Cup or League Cup clashes before then remain a possibility.<\/p>\n Very competitve ? He means full time teams, those against whom the new club has repeatedly toiled.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n It has been suggested by officials that taking the match out of Scotland when it finally comes around could help diffuse tensions.<\/p>\n There is another way to take the match out of Scotland. Take the new club out of Scotland. mind you, they’ll be taking themselves out before long. I’ve seen the accounts.<\/em><\/p>\n But there is an enormous amount of work still to be done before the embryonic plan becomes a done deal.<\/p>\n He’s not only sobering up, but just put the kettle on for coffee.<\/em><\/p>\n No one can plan too much without knowing when the game will take place, the SFA and SPFL would have to give permission, the clubs would need to agree, and a host venue would have to be found.<\/p>\n Daylight dawns…..<\/em><\/p>\n If the game went to Dubai or another venue outside Britain and tickets were strictly vetted, it\u2019s hoped the tie would pass off peacefully, although many will insist that such a move would merely postpone potential problems until the next time they meet in Glasgow.<\/p>\n The only thing that should be vetted is this article,\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n From the clubs\u2019 point of view, they\u2019d be able to sell the TV rights for the first Old Firm derby for years for a vast fee and would look at cashing in further with a beam-back to Parkhead and Ibrox.<\/p>\n Last flurry there, but i think even the author has realised that even Hugh keevins will be laughing at this one. Still, the letter offering a job at \u00a0the Daily Record is probably already being typed….<\/em><\/p>\n And he’ll be on Radio Clyde next week with the other idiots.<\/p>\n Well, not all the other idiots. Some of them went to Celtic Park yesterday, and they themselves can tell you what happened next…<\/p>\n To be fair, there was a larger than expected turnout, and police had to rely on their superior \u00a0numbers;<\/p>\n But it was close ….. ( 3-2 )<\/p>\n When one of the shareholders last week demanded to know what directors at ibrox were on, the club was forced to respond-despite what the press will tell you about how they have got the scoop;<\/p>\n <\/p>\n RANGERS chief executive Graham Wallace is entitled to a 100% bonus on a salary of \u00a3315,000 per year if he and the club meet certain performance targets, it has been revealed.<\/p>\n The details of the salaries of top \u00adexecutives emerged as \u00adRangers moved to seek voluntary redundancies from non-playing staff in a new bid to curb spiralling costs.<\/p>\n Mr Wallace, who was appointed in November, will receive 50% of his salary as his bonus if the club hits financial targets, while the other half is payable if he meets individual targets.<\/p>\n His salary will also increase by \u00a325,000 a year from the date Rangers achieve promotion to Scottish football’s top tier and will rise by a further \u00a325,000 if the side qualifies for European competition.<\/p>\n In addition, Mr Wallace also receives a \u00a315,000 a year car allowance, pension contributions equivalent to 10% of his base salary and private health \u00adinsurance for him and his family. ”<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Meanwhile, the club have asked for voluntary redundancies amongst the non playing staff, which was no surprise. although it was a surprise that they have a “playing staff “.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ach, forget them. They are just a humourous sideline in the annals of Scottish football.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Today should be a great day at the ground, the new footway looks fantastic, and have you seen the view at night ?<\/p>\n Didier Agathe was the man with the beard, now compulsory with former full backs, in yesterdays picture, and i liked the comment that reminded us that sometimes we forget how good players were, and remember only the bad. amongst other fine performances, who can forget his performance against Juventus all those years ago….he was like an Olympic sprinter down that flank…. ?<\/p>\n Now, speaking of Europe, Celtic featured the feared front two of Hutchison and Sheridan very rarely, but the two did finish a game against one of Europes biggest clubs in the champions League. which one, and when ?<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n By the way…..<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Just in case you missed it, and you are free, don’t forget next month you can meet a legend….<\/p>\n Of course, the Daily Record will be covering the event….<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n<\/section>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Celtic welcome Aberdeen to Glasgow today, before setting out to avenge a couple of defeats earler in the season. Theres no need to remind you…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":4016,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/etims.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/11\/celtic-v-aberdeen.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p2J7If-1hs","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/etims.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4926"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/etims.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/etims.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/etims.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/7"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/etims.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=4926"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/etims.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4926\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4927,"href":"https:\/\/etims.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4926\/revisions\/4927"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/etims.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/4016"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/etims.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=4926"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/etims.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=4926"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/etims.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=4926"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}CELTIC and Rangers have been holding secret talks over the possibility of staging the next Old Firm game abroad.<\/h3>\n
<\/p>\n
Mr Murray says that the problem hit him suddenly while he was writing a cheque for #142,000 to be paid to Celtic for Rangers’ ticket allocation at the last Old Firm match at Celtic Park on New Year’s Day. It struck him that he was collecting for Celtic when in return their fans go to his ground and cause damage.<\/span>
”They don’t buy our programmes or eat our fast food. But they do smash our seats,” he said.<\/span>
Rangers also say that they have to pay an added #12,000 on their police bill when Celtic visit. Mr Murray does not fear a backlash with Celtic refusing to give tickets to Rangers’ fans. He knows, of course, that Celtic, who are more than #5m in debt, cannot afford to go without the money generated by Rangers’ supporters.\u00a0<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n
\nBut there will be huge logistical difficulties in moving a senior Old Firm clash \u2013 not least getting appropriate approval from the football authorities \u2013 even if it is an idea that is being seriously mooted at the highest level.<\/p>\n\n
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