SPL Discussion Thread

[Hibs4Ever]

Mixu Paateleinan is new Hibs manager. Delighted he was picked, hopefully he can turn things around at ER


http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/h/hibernian/7180691.stm

[drinkfeckarse]

Surprised the Police agreed to this given that it's an evening kick off.

[Hibs4Ever]

Surprised the Police agreed to this given that it's an evening kick off.



Wouldn't say they had much of a choice. Game had to be midweek

[geysir]

Boruc signed his new contract to 2011.
That's the most important business Celtic have done. Artur is a top class goalkeeper and an intelligent lad, I'm sure the contract benefits were mutual.

I can't count the number of middling to top clubs who would immediatly improve their all round prospects with having him in their team.
But why should he just go to Spurs for example, he has the pick of the top clubs in Europe, when the time is right.

[Hibs4Ever]

That's the most important business Celtic have done. Artur is a top class goalkeeper and an intelligent lad, I'm sure the contract benefits were mutual.




Good keeper, and good for celtic he signed. But Artur Boruc - "intelligent". Funniest thing heard in a long time :D:D

[drinkfeckarse]

I know but I'd have expected some sort of official acknowledgement that they advised against it or something like that. Just find it unusual that there's no word from them. I'm looking forward to it personally because I play football on a Saturday so rarely get to see an OF game these days.

[feo123]

im sure theres alot of people that wont be able to travel to the ref-fixed game...alot would have been going over from ireland with it being around new years and that, would have had work booked off etc, id say there would be a few tickets available if you look hard enough

[GreenStar]

No joy so far but I do have a very good lead. Fingers crossed......

[eirebhoy]

Good keeper, and good for celtic he signed. But Artur Boruc - "intelligent". Funniest thing heard in a long time :D:D
Proof of his intelligence. He's mastered the hill billy American accent:
http://ie.youtube.com/watch?v=1st20RK2SM4

:D

[TipCelt1]

Also looking for 2 tickets for this game if anybody can help?

[geysir]

Good keeper, and good for celtic he signed. But Artur Boruc - "intelligent". Funniest thing heard in a long time :D:D
Easily humoured or you should get out a bit more?

There are good goalkeepers and there are class goalkeepers.
Boruc on his own has got an average Celtic team with a leaky defence for the second time into the last 16 of the CL. Without him they wouldn´t even have got past Spartak.
He is in the top league of the best goalkeepers and would walk into the position of any top team who needed a goalkeeper.

[Stuttgart88]

Boruc oozes class. His style is a bit like David Seaman at his peak, or even our own Shay, languid and totally natural. He's very good in one on ones and he must be a joy to play in front of if you're a centre back, the ease with which he takes high balls and exudes self-confidence and attitude. Sure he makes errors and I think his concentration may be a bit suspect but at his best he's top class.

His performance in Milan in last year's Champions League was brilliant, without being flash.

I watched it with a German Bayern fan and he asked "who's the keeper, he's some dude!".

I'd sooner have Boruc than the over rated Cech.

[Junior]

I felt the same when Petrov signed a new 5 year contract. Great news for Celtic. Doesnt mean he'll be a Celtic player for much longer, just means we will get some decent cash for him when he ends up at Milan or wherever. Please god he stays though.

[GreenStar]

celtic v rangers game is postponed

Newsroom Staff
CELTIC’S league clash with Rangers, scheduled for Wednesday, January 23, has been postponed. It follows the cancellation of Rangers’ Scottish Cup fourth round tie against East Stirling.

That game, which was due to take place today (Sunday) at Ibrox, was called off because of a waterlogged pitch. It is now set to take place on January 23.

The Hoops match with Rangers at Celtic Park was originally scheduled for January 2, but it was called off following the tragic death of Motherwell captain and former Celt, Phil O’Donnell.

When the re-arranged date was announced as Wednesday, January 23, it was on the understanding that both Celtic and Rangers would safely negotiated their Scottish Cup fourth round ties, given that this date was pencilled in for any possible cup replays.

And while the Scottish Cup holders defeated Stirling Albion 3-0 to book their place in the fifth round of the tournament, where they will meet the winners of the Airdrie United versus Kilmarnock tie, Rangers are now set to play their fourth round match against East Stirling on January 23.

Celtic Football Club is naturally disappointed that the game with Rangers has been called off and sympathises with supporters over this postponement, which is obviously due to circumstances outwith the club’s control.

A new date for Celtic’s game against Rangers has still to be announced. Further details to follow on www.celticfc.net

[EAFC_rdfl]

Van Buyten expressing an interest in a loan move to Celtic

here (http://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2008/0115/celtic.html)

sounds like he wants it and a loan would definetly suit Celtic, would be great playing along side McManus I think

[drinkfeckarse]

That would be a great move by the club. He's a very good player and Celtic are crying out for a decent centre half who can play it a bit.

A loan would suit all parties initially to see if he could settle but I wouldn't have any qualms about signing him outright.

[Bottle of Tonic]

Right lads what do ye make of it all now?

I've backed the manager all the way until very recently. Bar a couple of good showings in January we have been muck since November. I was hoping it was just a dip in form but I've come to my conclusions these last few weeks. When I'm looking for reasons and excuses as to why we've ended up this way the finger of blame keeps pointing at Strachan.

The players are decent but don't appear to be playing for the manager. He has failed to motivate them at this most crucial stage of the season.

We've been papped out of two cups on our home turf and dropped far too many league points at parkhead.

All our heroic late goals are now looking like an amazing stroke of good fortune.

We have two tactics against every team we play. 1. give it to Aiden and hope he creates a bit of magic. In fairness to him he's done it all season bar the last month. 2. knock a few slow square balls across the middle/back four, eventually Caldwell, Naylor or McManus will punt it up to Jan and we hope something happens from there.

And thats it. No tactical nous whatsoever. 442, slow, ponderous, predictable, one-paced borefests every single time.

The players mightn't be great but thats the coaches fault. We have no settled midfield and no ability to break down any side and create chances.

The worst player on the park yesterday was Nakamura. I'm sorry Eirebhoy I know you love him but he has been rank for ages now. For a supposed dead ball specialist his set pieces especially corners are appalling. Two or three exceptional free kicks a season are not enough for a place in the Celtic side. Especially at Ibrox. I was at the game yesterday and when you are in such an atmosphere it is incredible to see one of your own players pussying out of tackles and contact situations like Naka does. His heart isn't in it and maybe he should go in the summer if the new manager can't coax a bit of form out of him.

At the moment the only players I'd keep are
Boruc (will be leaving this summer IMO)
McGeady
Hinkel
Samaras (only on loan and won't want to stay with us given our current set-up)

Thats an effing disgrace considering the position of power the club was in barely a year ago! With the right management the huns should have been buried for another couple of seasons. Now we're handing them a treble with a cherry on top.

Maybe a good coach can come in and make something of likes of Sno, Brown, Donati, Jan, McDonald etc I don't know.

Thoughts Celtic fans? (and neutrals)

[superfrank]

Why does he insist on playing McDonald from the bench? He's an outstanding goalscorer.

[Bottle of Tonic]

He doesn't insist on playing McDonald from the bench. He's started in virtually every game this season. It was a brave decision to DROP McDonald yesterday, something I will give the manager credit for, as his recent form has been woeful, far from the hungry, composed, technically sound man we saw in the first half of the season. In recent months his control has been abysmal, three touches to trap the ball, and for a forward getting ball to feet it's a huge part of his game the way we play under Strachan. He is forced to come out and collect these balls as with our patient build up style of play he doesnt get the kind of service he would thrive on if we actually attacked with conviction and 'got in behind' opposition defences.

A decent, but limited player IMO who would do well in the SPL in the right set-up.

But he's now a classic example of why I want Strachan to get to ****. Had a great start to the season as a new player (Brown, Donati, Graveson, Jan etc) but something went along the way and he's now a shadow of his former self. Hope its a dip in form and the soon-to-be-away managers fault.

[eirebhoy]

The worst player on the park yesterday was Nakamura. I'm sorry Eirebhoy I know you love him but he has been rank for ages now.
I thought he was one of Celtic's better players. He actually tried very hard. Get a tape of the game and watch him because I seriously must be watching a different player. I don't want to get into a debate about it tbh as i'll cry. I just hope he leaves Celtic and proves everyone wrong elsewhere. He was quite involved on Saturday, more than most. Anyway, I won't even read this thread for a reply as it seriously puts me in a bad mood debating about Naka. More than any other player.

And feck his set pieces.

I've also given up reading Celtic forums for the past month or so. I don't know what it is but when Ireland aren't playing well it's not half as bad reading this forum than it is listening to Celtic fans.

Also, I watched the game with a non-Celtic supporting friend who knows what I think of Naka. Because of that he tries to wind me up and will make sure I know when he has done something wrong. He made a point that you just know what he's going to do when he has the ball but you just can't stop him doing it. He also said the ball was like glue to his boots. Everything he tried to do on Saturday was pretty much succesful. He didn't lose possession. He had more of the ball than most. He looked so much more determined than he has done in recent weeks. He's well earnt his place in the next Old Firm anyway. Strachan won't have been disappointed with him. I'm certain of that.

[eirebhoy]

Actually I've just seen a quote from Strachan saying Naka did very well. I always seem to agree with Strachan's assessment of Naka when 95% of people seem to disagree.

[eirebhoy]

Thankfully some people thought he did alright.

http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/sport/display.var.2158226.0.blank_cheque_the_price_for_f ailing_to_cash_in_chances.php


NAKAMURA Repaid manager's faith in starting him with his best-ever performance at Ibrox.

Granted he hasn't been great at Ibrox overall but I watched 8 Old Firm games back to back recently and he has had a couple of good games there.

[drinkfeckarse]

Thought Naka did reasonably well. Certainly a lot better than his other visits to Ibrox where he has undoubtedly been anonymous.

[Bottle of Tonic]

Look it, I realise Naka is the most technically sound player we have. Like you mentioned, the ball sticks to his feet, he doesn't pass directly to the opposition (Naylor, Caldwell, Donati, Brown, Aiden on occasion etc) and if games were won playing neat little triangles out on the touchline 40 yards from goal we'd have a right hero on our hands. But games aren't won on completed passes and miles run up and down a touchline.

Look at the ease with which the hun scored their goal. Must have taken all of 5 seconds from Ferguson releasing the ball to back of the net. We don't play that way and the slow predictable ponderous build up we tend to favour features Naka heavily. But how often does it actually end up in something positive? Eventually Naka himself, or Aiden or Naylor just pumps in a cross as the elaborate build-up has yielded nought and the opposition has had all day to get 10 men in their own half their box organised!

You posted a video a while back of Naka controlling a phase of play at Old Trafford. It was grand and you could see Naka was the fulcrum of the whole situation. However that was a good example of how we try and play (it's normally broken down quicker than that) and yet very little came of it as far as I remember. United were not a bit bothered with us doing that.

Look it i'm not having a go a Naka exclusively. It's more that we never look like scoring. Naka's main job would be to create/score goals. It's the rigid system we play. Do you get to watch the home matches in Ireland on Polsat or one of those? I've been sat there for so many games this season thinking where is the goal coming from? Everyone around me is the same. In some games if we don't score in the first half you just KNOW the second won't be pretty. It was the same at Ibrox. I was looking up at the clock 60 minutes gone. I just knew there wasn't a hope in hell of us scoring. And bar one 30 yard drive from the german full back we didn't even come close. Pathetic. :(

[cartman]

[QUOTE=Bottle of Tonic;909151]Right lads what do ye make of it all now?




"With the right management the huns should have been buried for another couple of seasons. Now we're handing them a treble with a cherry on top."


its clowns like you who make football unbearable sometimes.. the huns!!! that would be rangers would it??? i presume thats a reference to protestants?? if im not wrong celtic have many huns playing in their team, sorry i mean protestants.. and also many other religions too, you ignoramous...
personally, i think it would be no shame or loss at all to football if celtic park burned to the ground in the morning - no reflection on any of the players or management at the club - but the supporters are some the most galling and ignorant shower on the planet..

[Hibs4Ever]

[QUOTE=Bottle of Tonic;909151]Right lads what do ye make of it all now?




"With the right management the huns should have been buried for another couple of seasons. Now we're handing them a treble with a cherry on top."


its clowns like you who make football unbearable sometimes.. the huns!!! that would be rangers would it??? i presume thats a reference to protestants?? if im not wrong celtic have many huns playing in their team, sorry i mean protestants.. and also many other religions too, you ignoramous...
personally, i think it would be no shame or loss at all to football if celtic park burned to the ground in the morning - no reflection on any of the players or management at the club - but the supporters are some the most galling and ignorant shower on the planet..



Brave man posting that here. Could well mean a ban, ar post deletion at least ;)

[EAFC_rdfl]

[quote=Bottle of Tonic;909151]Right lads what do ye make of it all now?




"With the right management the huns should have been buried for another couple of seasons. Now we're handing them a treble with a cherry on top."


its clowns like you who make football unbearable sometimes.. the huns!!! that would be rangers would it??? i presume thats a reference to protestants?? if im not wrong celtic have many huns playing in their team, sorry i mean protestants.. and also many other religions too, you ignoramous...
personally, i think it would be no shame or loss at all to football if celtic park burned to the ground in the morning - no reflection on any of the players or management at the club - but the supporters are some the most galling and ignorant shower on the planet..
of course we are:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/c/celtic/7318430.stm

As for your religious reference above, I have done and always will refer to the rangers team as bottle of tonic does, nothing to do with what religion the player is its just what im used to, and afaik huns relates more to a barbaric race who lived in asia/eastern europe around the 4th/5th century and nothing to do with protestants. there's plenty info on the net about what a hun is!

[cartman]

[quote=cartman;911435]
of course we are:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/c/celtic/7318430.stm

As for your religious reference above, I have done and always will refer to the rangers team as bottle of tonic does, nothing to do with what religion the player is its just what im used to, and afaik huns relates more to a barbaric race who lived in asia/eastern europe around the 4th/5th century and nothing to do with protestants. there's plenty info on the net about what a hun is!

i know what a hun is.. celtic supporters put there own spin on it - it is said with vile and anger and it is meant as a religious taunt to rangers supporters... when you speak of rangers as huns - are you making reference between a race of people from hundreds of years ago and a modern football club?? i dont think so

[EAFC_rdfl]

[quote=EAFC_rdfl;911610]

i know what a hun is.. celtic supporters put there own spin on it - it is said with vile and anger and it is meant as a religious taunt to rangers supporters... when you speak of rangers as huns - are you making reference between a race of people from hundreds of years ago and a modern football club?? i dont think so
you don't think so, oh well thats that then. in your earlier post where you wanted parkhead burned to the ground, you made a clear difference between the club/team and its supporters, I tried to do the same in my reply, i.e. that i referred to the team as 'the huns', not the rangers fans as you imply I do.
you seem to have your mind made up already but its the team i hate and this is football based, they are the only real threat/opposition to celtic so why wouldnt i hate them! Im sure rangers fans only ever refer to celtic as celtic!! of course they do! it goes both ways and I don't see any probs in a bit of rivallry or what ever you want to call it
and the comparison is not drawn from hundreds of years ago, its based on the allies referring to the germans during WWI as 'the huns', rangers are celtics enemy, therefore I shall continue to call them 'the huns'

[cartman]

"you seem to have your mind made up already but its the team i hate and this is football based, they are the only real threat/opposition to celtic so why wouldnt i hate them! Im sure rangers fans only ever refer to celtic as celtic!! of course they do! it goes both ways and I don't see any probs in a bit of rivallry or what ever you want to call it
and the comparison is not drawn from hundreds of years ago, its based on the allies referring to the germans during WWI as 'the huns', rangers are celtics enemy, therefore I shall continue to call them 'the huns"[/QUOTE]

can i ask why you hate rangers?? purely footballing reasons?? why is that the level of antagonism between celtic and rangers supporters is way higher than between other rival supporters... it borders on vitriolic.. its purely football based though of course;)
oh and by the way - did you actually put up in an earlier post a bbc piece where celtic fans were accused of sectarian chanting as a response to my comments on celtic supporters!!!! they are a laughable shower

[EAFC_rdfl]

yes i actually put up that link :rolleyes: which clears them of the accusation and which also praises their good behaviour. i actually put it up in response to you're very objective quote: '...the most galling and ignorant shower on the planet...'
it is a unique hatred alright, you wouldn't see it between teams in any of the other major european cities Rome, Istanbul, Milan, Manchester, even Dublin! Its part of football. my parents lived their lives in glasgow, this is where my love for Celtic comes from.

[Bottle of Tonic]

[QUOTE=Bottle of Tonic;909151]Right lads what do ye make of it all now?




"With the right management the huns should have been buried for another couple of seasons. Now we're handing them a treble with a cherry on top."


its clowns like you who make football unbearable sometimes.. the huns!!! that would be rangers would it??? i presume thats a reference to protestants?? if im not wrong celtic have many huns playing in their team, sorry i mean protestants.. and also many other religions too, you ignoramous...
personally, i think it would be no shame or loss at all to football if celtic park burned to the ground in the morning - no reflection on any of the players or management at the club - but the supporters are some the most galling and ignorant shower on the planet..

Christ lad it's just the unofficial nickname for the team and their supporters. You think many celtic fans give a damn about religion?! :D Get over that malarky, I genuinely don't think anyone gives a toss about it.

And by the way, every team in scotland refers to rangers as the huns.

[cartman]

[QUOTE=cartman;911435]

Christ lad it's just the unofficial nickname for the team and their supporters. You think many celtic fans give a damn about religion?! :D Get over that malarky, I genuinely don't think anyone gives a toss about it.

And by the way, every team in scotland refers to rangers as the huns.

i lived in scotland for a couple years not long ago... and i guarantee you every other team doesnt call rangers or their supporters the "huns"... celtic supporters would want to get their heads out of their ar*es, with all your bigotry bullcr*p.. galling shower of muppets

[celticV3]

[QUOTE=Bottle of Tonic;912220]

i lived in scotland for a couple years not long ago... and i guarantee you every other team doesnt call rangers or their supporters the "huns"... celtic supporters would want to get their heads out of their ar*es, with all your bigotry bullcr*p.. galling shower of muppets

you lived in scotland did you and never heard another team refer to rangers as the huns? did you walk around with your fingers in your ears or were you well buried under that rock of yours? hun is not sectarian as you would like to suggest. in the context of celtic fans towards rangers it is a term meaning enemy, derived from the second world war when the brittish referred to the germans as "huns" and in fact it was rangers fans who referred to celtic fans first as huns. Hibenian, Motherwell and Abeerdeen are only 3 other teams i know that refer to them as the huns. your ability to try and apply a commonly used phrase and try and make out that it is sectarian is the exact kind of en-educated crap that leads people to believe celtic fans are as bad as the scumbags the other side of the city!!

[Junior]

Its easy lads.....

Football rivalry the world over = Great footballing rivalry that makes the game what it is.
Football rivalry between Celtic & Rangers = Religious Sectarianism & Bigotry

Unfortunately thats how it is simplistically perceived by the likes of cartman and his ilk.

Now I couldnt care less if this thread is locked and binned but if you carry on with this line of discussion thats where its going, Id imagine.

[drinkfeckarse]

[QUOTE=Bottle of Tonic;912220]

i lived in scotland for a couple years not long ago... and i guarantee you every other team doesnt call rangers or their supporters the "huns"... celtic supporters would want to get their heads out of their ar*es, with all your bigotry bullcr*p.. galling shower of muppets


I can't say I've heard EVERY team calling them that as I don't know fans of every SPL club but I have heard fans of Hibs, Hearts, Morton, Aberdeen and Dundee Utd definately calling them that so I'd imagine it's a term that's fairly widespread. Who cares anyway :confused::eek:

[celticV3]

Thought this would be the best place for my question. does anyone know of supporters busses going from ireland to glasgow for the rankgers game in two weeks? got tickets for the game but travel is proving to be tougher. great win today scoring all five goals today, hope we can get as many against the dark side wedensday:)

[scottish_bohs]

celticv3, take a look at the Green Brigade message board. I'm sure if you posted your query up there they will point you in the right direction. There's alot of Ireland-based Celts fans on there whoshould help you.

[celticV3]

posted it up there already so just crossin me fingers can get help, thought the tickets would be harder:(

[rambler14]

What a goal!!!!!!:eek:

Shunsuke Nakamura take a bow. Just when we thought the league was over the Man from Japan steps forward.:eek:

[jebus]

Not a Celtic fan by any stretch, but they do put on good shows on occasion, just result in the end I think

[rambler14]

That was unreal. I would have loved to be there.

[Marked Man]

Picked a good time to finally win a ball in the air in Rangers box.

They really need a target man in the Sutton mold to maximize the effectiveness of McGeady's wing play and Nakamura's passing.

[Plastic Paddy]

Agreed . JVoH should be that player but he's a lazy sod. Oh for another Sutton... :(

:ball: PP

[Poor Student]

Just wait till Eirebhoy gets here to discuss Nakamura's goal.:D

[Marked Man]

Fluke.

[rambler14]

Nakamura is highly over-rated if he wasn't so great at a dead ball then he wouldn't be playing.
He got Player of the Year last year for his dead ball ability alone but this year he's a totally different player.

[celticV3]

Whatever about Nakamura, what a goal!! should have had another great goal only for that ugly **** cuellar!!! such a result and hopefully we will be two points ahead next time we meet the darkside and put enough pressure on them to slip up:) cannot wait to be in glasgow in two weeks hopefully the same again

[eirebhoy]

Nakamura is highly over-rated if he wasn't so great at a dead ball then he wouldn't be playing.
He got Player of the Year last year for his dead ball ability alone but this year he's a totally different player.
Celtic wouldn't have won the league last season without Naka. He ran the show in almost every home game and quite a few of the away games. Like I'm saying in the S.Ireland thread, those 5 yard passes can be very effective and last season Naka was playing more passes than anyone on the pitch in the majority of games. 50% of the time Lennon got the ball last season he gave it to Naka. If you watch closely, every time someone close to Naka has the ball he'll make sure he's in a position to receive it. When he has the ball the players seem to expect him to find them. They might make a forward run into the box in the hope he'll get it through to them. I love the Japanese genius.

After last night there's no doubt in my mind Naka has outperformed Barry Ferguson in the Old Firm's since Naka arrived. You never hear anything about Barry going missing at Celtic Park because his aggressive style of play. That's my main gripe. 6/10 Ferguson got in one of the tabloids last night. Naka's performance a few weeks ago was so much better than Ferguson's last night. I just don't get it. I've no doubt the vast majority of managers watching last night would have had Naka as motm.

Anyway, I can't believe how lucky Rangers are. They were so close to getting yet another undeserved result against Celtic last night. Thankfully Cuellar is suspended for the next Old Firm.

[eirebhoy]

Strachan got away with his gamble last night in taking Robson off but the boo's said it all. Robson was probably Celtics best player. The front 2 were a joke. Cuellar had Hesselink in his pocket. When Strachan goes the new managers first task should be removing Hesselinks £28k a week wages from the wage bill.

I didn't think Robson was great actually. Was very aggressive and worked his arse off but way too anxious which meant a heavy first touch. When I saw that Samaras was coming on my friend asked who'd be taking off. I said McGeady or Robson. The majority of fans thought Robson was excellent last night though. He's a good player, I like him.