{"id":7436,"date":"2015-07-09T09:59:56","date_gmt":"2015-07-09T08:59:56","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/etims.net\/?p=7436"},"modified":"2015-07-09T09:59:56","modified_gmt":"2015-07-09T08:59:56","slug":"celtic-diary-thursday-july-9-stuff-nonsense-and-memories-but-mostly-nonsense","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/etims.net\/?p=7436","title":{"rendered":"Celtic Diary Thursday July 9: Stuff, Nonsense And Memories. But Mostly Nonsense."},"content":{"rendered":"

Well, that was a headline which er, turned the head;<\/p>\n

Celtic want hottest youngster in the world<\/h1>\n

 <\/p>\n

However, it’s Martin Odegaard. Which in a sense is a little disappointing for those of us who still mourning the cessation of the annual Miss world competition.<\/p>\n

Though no doubt in whichever alternative world a humourous Rangers Diary exists, that’s their jokes sorted for a couple of weeks.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

And it appears we are in the hunt for a Polish striker;<\/p>\n

\"Image<\/p>\n

I should probably spend a little time reading the full stories.<\/p>\n

The Polish fellow is Lukasz Gilkeiwicz, a free agent who couldn’t get a game for Levski sofia and has therefore been told to get another club.<\/p>\n

Gikiewciz, 27, is a free agent after leaving Bulgarian club Levski Sofia last month, following a brief four-month spell which saw him score three goals in nine total appearances.<\/em><\/p>\n

The 6ft 2in front man has struggled to settle since leaving Poland\u2019s Slask Wroclaw for Cypriot out Omonia in 2013, having had further stints with Kazakhstan\u2019s FC Tobol and AEL Limassol over the past 12 months, and is now being linked with a move across the Atlantic.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

Talks have stalled with Nadir Ciftci, his agent Pierre van Hooijdonk uncharacteristically refusing to comment on why, but if he’s involved we can certainly hazard a guess, but if we are to use an interest in another striker to force Ciftci’s hand, perhaps we should have leaked interest in one that’s a little more talented and desirable than Gilkiewicz.<\/p>\n

\u00a0Anyway, van Hooijdonk was pictured outside with a handbag, and you should never trust a man who has a handbag.<\/p>\n

\"08\/07\/15.CELTIC<\/p>\n

\n

From there it’s only a short step for him to spend his spare time watching Eastenders and telling his friends that leggings are very comfortable.<\/p>\n

We hear that during talks Ciftci poured himself a drink of water, but overdid it, spilling quite a bit onto the table. Lawwell asked him if he was nervous, but van Hooijdonk intervened and said he always gives 110%.<\/p>\n

Looking at that photo it’s a little strange to see van Hooijdonk with all that hair, and it reminded me that there’s a new German solution to baldness, called Alpacin, which offers hope to all us shiny headed people.<\/p>\n

\u00a0However, I have to confess that taking German chemicals into a shower is making me a little nervous.<\/p>\n

So, it seems that Ciftci isn’t a definite yet, although the move is “expected ” to go through.<\/p>\n

The arrival of keeper Logan Bailly has been confirmed, though.<\/p>\n

\"New<\/p>\n

He seems happy enough;<\/p>\n

“I think I’m in my prime just now as 29 or 30-years-old is a great age for a goalkeeper,\u00a0It’s a great feeling, it’s big team with a big history and I’m very happy I’m here. When you see\u00a0Celtic<\/a>\u00a0from the outside, you know it is a big team but when you are here you realise that it is a lot bigger.<\/em><\/p>\n

“My manager told me about the interest but when you hear that a club like\u00a0Celtic<\/a>\u00a0is interested in you, at first you don’t believe it, it’s like a dream to pay for\u00a0Celtic<\/a>. When you play football you dream of playing on the big stage,”\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

“I was up at the training complex yesterday morning and I met the players<\/em><\/p>\n

\u00a0Every country is different but this is my first time in Scotland and if you are happy in your football then everything else is all right.<\/em><\/div>\n

“Glasgow looks like a great city and I think I’m going to be very happy here.” \u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

\u00a0When it comes to signing keepers, the club seems to consistently pull out a gem. Although his name suggests he’d be more comfortable playing traditional Irish tunes in the pub after a match, he sounds like he’s been around a bit but lost his way. One thing that is worth noting, Radislaw Czierniek was available on a free, and we’ve seen how well he can play. If the club have decided that Bailly is a better bet, then he must have something about him. Woever found him is likely to have also found Boruc and Forster, as well as deciding Gordon was worth the risk.<\/p>\n

For those who are interested, John Guidetti might have finally found a club to score a few goals for before finding something wrong with them. Celta Vigo are favourites to snap up the man who is a legend in his own lunchtime, and we wish them all luck.<\/p>\n

Liam Henderson has spoken about his time in Norway, although he could just be speaking in the hope that Ronny remembers he is still here, and there’s no real need to bring in Martin Odegaard, and he says he doesn’t regret it, even though he missed out on a league medal with Celtic;<\/p>\n

I went out there, took the opportunity and learned a lot,\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m in line for a medal if they win the league, so that\u2019ll be good and I\u2019ll maybe go back over for that league game.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cTheir league finishes in December, so if I can get over I will.<\/em><\/p>\n

\n
\n
\u00a0\u201cI missed a league medal with Celtic by one game.<\/em><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s the chance I took, I missed out on a medal to go out there and the manager says for the long-term it will be great and I totally agree with him as I\u2019ve learned a lot and I\u2019m ready to come back in.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cThe long-term goal is to stay here for as long as I can, hopefully I can get in the team and keep working hard and give everything for the team. That\u2019s all I\u2019m looking to do.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/em>\u201cThe manager and the coaches have been really positive with me since I\u2019ve been back and that gives me confidence that I\u2019ll get an opportunity.\u201d\u00a0<\/em><\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
\u00a0Oh go on. give him a medal.<\/div>\n
\"\"<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
Bloody hell, one game ? Had he not gone on loan, and done it with good grace, he’d have no doubt had that game at some point.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
Logan Bailly mentioned the history of Celtic, and he’s not the first to talk about the history of a club he’s joining this summer;<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
\n
Rangers FC<\/strong>\u00a0\u200f@<\/s>RangersFC<\/b><\/span>\u00a0<\/a>\u00a013h<\/span>13 hours ago<\/span><\/a><\/small><\/div>\n

.@<\/s>MarkWarburton9<\/b><\/a>: “There\u2019s such a weight of expectation because there is such a magnificent history.”\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

The old Rangers, of course were the closest rivals of Celtic. These days, they have a new rival;<\/p>\n

AlloaAFC<\/strong>\u00a0\u200f@<\/s>Alloatoyou<\/b><\/span>\u00a0<\/a>\u00a013h<\/span>13 hours ago<\/span><\/a><\/small><\/div>\n

@<\/s>RangersFC<\/b><\/a> @<\/s>MarkWarburton9<\/b><\/a> Magnificent Mark, though you’ll have to buy it off Charles Green. \u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

Which gives me a chance to link you up to the origins of this rivalry…<\/p>\n

same old alloa<\/a><\/p>\n

\n

Now then, just to prove that the Scottish MSM doesn’t have a monopoly on publishing piss poor opinion pieces on football, bwin, a betting site, offers us this.<\/p>\n

After years of unchallenged dominance, selfless Celtic appear willing to risk their status as the sole powerhouse in Scottish football, or so their recent transfer activity suggests.\u00a0<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

No, I’m not sure how he comes to this conclusion either.<\/p>\n

Essentially guaranteed the Scottish Premiership title before the start of each and every season to follow Rangers\u2019 exile from the upper echelons in 2012, the Bhoys seem keen on levelling out the discrepancy in quality existing between their squad and those of their trailing rivals.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

Or this one.<\/p>\n

The foundation upon which this assumption is built is the Old Firm outfit\u2019s new-found obsession with buying players from Dundee United, a team only good enough to finish fifth last term.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

Possibly because Celtic took their best two players in January ?<\/p>\n

Nadir Ciftci is the next Terror earmarked to make the Parkhead switch, with a \u00a31.5m bid for his services accepted by Jackie McNamara\u2019s men.<\/em><\/p>\n

The Turkish striker has found the net 33 times across two seasons in Scotland, 14 of which were registered in the league last season.<\/em><\/p>\n

He\u2019ll be the third Tangerines favourite to join Celtic this year, with highly-rated Stuart Armstrong and fellow forward Gary Mackay-Steven recruited in January for a combined sum of \u00a32.75m.<\/em><\/p>\n

The former was part of a lauded raft of youngsters harvested from the Dundee United academy, alongside Ryan Gauld and Andrew Robertson (who was signed from Queens Park as a teenager), who were sold to Sporting Lisbon and Hull for a sum just shy of \u00a36m.<\/em><\/p>\n

So, it’s not just us raiding the team who finished fifth , then ?<\/p>\n

Auctioned off before the season began, neither of the pair kicked a Scottish Premiership ball in 2014\/15, but their three former colleagues to feature on this page were heavily involved.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

Until January, at least.<\/p>\n

Yet, despite stocking millions of pounds worth of talent, United were unable to finish higher than impoverished outfits St Johnstone and Inverness in 2014\/15.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

Inverness won the Cup, St. Johnstone are now in their fourth succesive European campaign.<\/p>\n

With Celtic intent on siphoning off a mediocre Scottish Premiership side’s , perhaps devolution is their primary objective this summer.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

It’s a brave, but necessary move.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

Rangers\u2019 expulsion from the top tier led many to fear for the future of Scottish football, with a dearth of competition for honours diverting fans elsewhere in their search for intriguing title tussles, an eventuality that would, inevitably, have a disastrous impact from an economic perspective.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

Er, expulsion ? and as for competiton, how many clubs have landed silverware since the er, expulsion of Rangers ?<\/p>\n

Similarly, a league not worth winning is not conducive to attracting the best players, preventing Celtic from improving on a continental scale.<\/em><\/p>\n

Fearing for the long-term prospects of the Scottish game, the Bhoys have taken drastic, yet benevolent action to revitalise the nation\u2019s top flight, even if that prevents them winning a 47th<\/sup>title next term.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

\"Image<\/p>\n

They\u2019re 8\/1 to relinquish their crown in 2015\/16.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

And this guy is 5\/4 to land a job at the Record or the Herald. Or the Scotsman, the Sun etc….<\/p>\n

If he can prove he can adapt when he is reintroduced \u00a0to society<\/p>\n

Who is he ? It’s a chap called James Middleton.<\/p>\n

According to the site, he’s “contributed to a variety of sports based journalistic mediums” .<\/p>\n

Though presumably not in any productive way.<\/p>\n

Compare and Contrast time again. Four \u00a0headlines;<\/p>\n

The Scotsman;<\/p>\n

End season sooner to help clubs in Europe – Wright<\/h1>\n

And the Herald;<\/p>\n

Celtic as much to blame for poor coefficient as rest of us says St Johnstone manager Wright<\/h1>\n

The Express;<\/p>\n

Perth gaffer Tommy Wright raps Celtic’s John Collins<\/h1>\n

The Mail;<\/p>\n

Hurrah For The Blackshirts !<\/h1>\n

Alright, the last one wasn’t yesterday. Eve the Mail \u00a0felt it a step too far when celebrating Geroge Osbornes budget which redistributed the wealth of the nation, giving more money to those who least need it.<\/p>\n

The story concerns Tommy Wright, the St. Johnstone manager who said, in response to a traditional leading question about the comments of John Collins re Celtic having to face three qualifiers, a few weeks ago;<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s unfair. The coefficient is the same for everybody. Other teams could say they have been let down by Celtic and Rangers when they\u2019ve been in Europe.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cI look after my own club. I think we have done alright in terms of coefficient.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cWe have won away and that gets you more points, and we\u2019ve drawn away with teams that are better.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re a small club and it\u2019s difficult to win games in Europe.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cIf you are looking for people to help you, our season continued to May 24 and our players were back within three weeks.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t think there is enough done in terms of working with the clubs.\u201d\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

What he appears to be saying is that the SPFL could be doing a little more, and that’s an excellent point. He gave a one line answer, which certainly wasn’t a rap, and then moved on to his own point. A good point, well made, as they say.<\/p>\n

You can understand why the smaller clubs feel there is a tendency to ignore their achievements, and certainly little support from the pres when all they want to talk about it what a Celtic coach \u00a0said when your club is facing a season defining match in July.<\/p>\n

Still, that doesn’t fit in with the agenda, and let’s face it, the headlines were already written, so they needed a few words to kind of justify them…<\/p>\n

speaking of agendas….I have one.<\/p>\n

Billy McNeill to raise the flag on august the first.<\/p>\n

Tweet it, post it on your facebook. email the club, whatever it takes.<\/p>\n

Dave king is absent again, but we at Etims have it on good authority he’s at wimbledon watching the tennis.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, it appears that her majesty’s finest have found a new place to get breakfast before heading out to arrest a few kids for singing the wrong songs…<\/p>\n

\"Embedded<\/p>\n

Adam Matthews might have a job on his hands to get back into the Wales team, with the news that broke yesterday;<\/p>\n

Coral<\/strong>\u00a0\u200f@<\/s>Coral<\/b><\/span>\u00a0<\/a>\u00a06m<\/span>6 minutes ago<\/span><\/a><\/small><\/em><\/div>\n

So…Wales are now 10th in the Fifa world rankings… above SPAIN, URUGUAY, ITALY and FRANCE? \u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

And Chile, who are South american champions.<\/p>\n

Still.going to Sunderland should help.<\/p>\n

\"laughter\"<\/a><\/p>\n

\n

Dariuaz Dzeikanowski and Tommy coyne were the two strikers in the picture yesterday, both of whom will be remembered in different ways. Coyne was a fantastic player, vastly underrated, whilst Dzeikanowski, it has to be said, was a bit of a player as well.<\/p>\n

Anyone have any particular memories or stories about this ?<\/p>\n

\"Embedded<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

H<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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<\/div>\n

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Well, that was a headline which er, turned the head; Celtic want hottest youngster in the world   However, it’s Martin Odegaard. Which in a…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":7438,"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\/2015\/07\/stuff-and-nonsense.gif","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p2J7If-1VW","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/etims.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7436"}],"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=7436"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/etims.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7436\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":7439,"href":"https:\/\/etims.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7436\/revisions\/7439"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/etims.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/7438"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/etims.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=7436"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/etims.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=7436"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/etims.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=7436"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}