[QUOTE=drinkfeckarse]Quote:
Originally Posted by Plastic Paddy
Hope you're right :D
Looks like Intertoto for us :( but better than nothing
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[QUOTE=drinkfeckarse]Quote:
Originally Posted by Plastic Paddy
Hope you're right :D
Looks like Intertoto for us :( but better than nothing
I don't see the problem with that tbh. :)Quote:
Originally Posted by Hibs4Ever
If Hearts get lucky with the draw they could well make the group stages. They'll certainly be strengthening their squad, we're talking about a chairman that said they'll win the CL within 5 (?) years. :D
Quote:
Originally Posted by eirebhoy
Did you see the picture in the EEN of mad Vlad and his son Roman at the Hib v Rangers match on Tueday night in the main stand wearing Hearts jackets.
The man is LOCO :D
Yeah, the Setanta camera focused on them a few times. I was wondering whether I had seen them on the Hearts highlights before the game until they were mentioned again. :)Quote:
Originally Posted by Hibs4Ever
Not qualifying for the CL will hurt Rangers' rebuilding programme under the new manager - makes it harder to attract decent players.
Hearts could do ok depending on the draw. Everton were unlucky drawing an eventual CL semi-finalist. Hearts appear to being built on old eastern block players.
Saw the Hibs vs Rangers game. The former lack a Keane like player in midfield. Otherwise they competed well.
I think it's great that Hearts have come second, and not just because it consigns Rangers to UEFA. Fair play to them even if their owner is an idiot. I wonder what would have happened if Burley had stayed.
Thats not an impossibility for Celtic as it stands (Come on Barca!!!!!!!) and who's to say we won't fall at the first hurdle again if we do have to play a qualifier?Quote:
Originally Posted by Plastic Paddy
IN: Caldwell & Miller so far:rolleyes:
OUT: Who knows but poss Hartson (though he's said he's staying), Keane, Naka???
Nothing to be overly confident about as it stands..................
But Celtic fans aren't the one's dancing about the place with "Champions League here we come" t-shirts. Celtic fans know only too well what could happen if a qualifier has to be negotiated first....especially after Artmedia.
Anyone else seen this:-
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/foot...an/4970138.stm
Hearts owner Vladimir Romanov says midfielder Rudi Skacel wants to leave the Tynecastle club.
In an astonishing interview with BBC Scotland, Romanov also criticised Andy Webster's parents and the hygiene of the club's medical staff.
:D :D :D
I can't see any of those leaving. Hartson said he's now staying, Keane said he'll do what's best for Celtic and Naka will probably want to test himself in the CL. There should be a lot of money available to Strachan. Clarke said that the club were willing to pay £6m for Samaras in January if he felt he was worth it. Petrov should fetch a good fee too (plus he was on very high wages) so Strachan should have at least £10m to spend in the summer. It looks like they're in negotiations to sign Czech left back, Kadlec.Quote:
Originally Posted by Junior
Also looks like talks are ongoing with Nico Kranjcar of Hajduk Split, for about £2.5mQuote:
Originally Posted by eirebhoy
As I said, Hartson should be staying based on what he has said. Keane, injury/fitness will dictate in the end, If he stays but is on the sidelines that doesn't assist our CL chances. Naka, I hope you're right, I really do, but he's allegedly found it difficult to settle in Scotland and so who knows if CL football (not guaranteed at this stage, but hopefully will be come May 17th!) will be enough.Quote:
Originally Posted by eirebhoy
Well it will be the first time I can remember 'lots of money' being available in the close season but I like your optimism.Quote:
Originally Posted by eirebhoy
I read the Clarke comments a little differently, 'we might have bid for him if it was in the region of £2m what we think he was worth' or words to that effect. On a side issue, Samaras was pants last night!!
Agree - but we'll need to replace him, not cheap and wont be on low wages!! unless of course we get lucky with a find.............Quote:
Originally Posted by eirebhoy
We desperately need a LB - though I have no idea what Kadlec is like.
That's what I remember reading about Clarke's comments too and regarding the left back..I'd like to see Mulgrew get a shot as he's done very well at Dundee Utd. He's only been there 6 months and was voted their Young Player of the Year the other day.Quote:
Originally Posted by Junior
Clarke:
"We liked the look of him but his club were looking for something like £6m and a 25 per cent sell-on. It could have cost the club around 12m euros all in.
The club had said they would back me with the money if I thought he was the right player, but I felt it was a big investment on a player who is still relatively unproven at the top level.
It was a lot of money and I felt it was too big a gamble. If we could have got him for something like £2.5m then I would have told the club to take the chance."
Thats not quite "the club were willing to pay £6m if he was worth it" is it?Quote:
Originally Posted by eirebhoy
I've heard the "the club have said they will back me with money" numerous times over the years, even after Seville when we failed miserably to bring anyone in to build on that period of relative success.
I don't meant to be so negative, but next season is going to be massive for Strachan and the club. I hope we can get a few of these relatively unknowns for a reasonable price that can add some strength to the squad (it will need to be before the world cup tho' otherwise prices will rocket!)
Agree re: Mulgrew seen a few clips of him on Setanta at Dundee Utd, had rave reviews in the 6 months (whilst also having an injury). Depends if we bring someone in or not but maybe another full year on loan would be the best thing for him.
I don't know but it sounds like that to me. Actually, I'm certain that's what he means. There's no other meaning you can take from what he is saying. :) He would have cost £6m. The club said they'd have splashed out on him if Clarke thought he was worth it but Clarke didn't think he was worth it.Quote:
Originally Posted by Junior
I guess neither of us really know. But after our failure to reach the group stages of the CL this season, I am fairly certain Celtic would not have been splashing £6m out on a striker (worth it or not) especially after acquiring Zurawski in the summer. This is further confirmed to me with FREE signing of Kenny Miller.Quote:
Originally Posted by eirebhoy
Quote:
Originally Posted by tetsujin1979
That would be a good piece of news...
Nico is highly rated, his club have already turned down €4m.Quote:
Originally Posted by tetsujin1979
http://www.footballrefugees.com/modu...1&t=197529&a=1
There are quite a few clubs making offers.
I was looking at the testimonial game (the event hype really doesn't interest me) for signs of life in Celtic. If there is anything to read into kickabouts.
Petrov looked happier in the middle after Keane switched sides. (haven't a clue if there was any issue about his playing role this season)
Lennon looks as good as ever.
A fit Balde with Varga might do.
Wilson is a strange one, a fit lad, full of enthusiasm and support play but some serious shortcomings, improvement?
Telfer goes awol, huge gaps left there at times for United. His positioning was shockingly poor.
On last nights game alone Hartson was an embarrisment to his own benchmark of professional standards. Clearly his injuries have handicapped about 90% of his game. In contrast, from a fitness point of view, Dublin looked in his prime.
Youre not wrong Petrov wants to ( and should) play in the middle, his best position. Alas it is of little concern anymore as he will surely be off in the summer.Quote:
Originally Posted by geysir
Varga is pants and will be off in the summer I think.
Telfer - too slow, squad player at best.
Wilson, cracking wee player IMO. Will hopefully be our regular Right back next season despite filling in at Left back since January.
Thomson didn't do a bad job in the 2nd half in terms of trying to secure himself a move back to England!!
From the games I've seen on Setanta, Wilson looks the business.Quote:
Originally Posted by Junior
I see Terry Butcher is off to coach in Sydney. That's a loss to the Scottish game.
Okay so Wilson is a RB, then that explains a few things.
But what about Hartson? he made Dublin look world class.
I have to agree with the 2 previous posters about Wilson, he looks a great prospect and a bargain. Mulgrew didn't have much to do but he was apparantly Dundee Utd's best player in his few month's there on loan and he is certainly comfortable with the ball at his feet. He should still be backup at left back to a new signing next season though.
I'm still annoyed that Lennon looks like he'll be offered another contract. All he offers to Celtic is his off the ball work as anyone could do the work he does on the ball.
Its a criticism that is thrown at Hartson by many of the celtic support, in terms of his mobility and fitness. Personally, I like the big guy and think he has many strengths,he's a handful for defenders and scores his fair share of goals.Quote:
Originally Posted by geysir
It was an end of season friendly, you can't really read too much into the performance last night.
Only from what I saw last night of Lennon. He offered calmness when in possession. Made space for himself. Always available to receive the ball out of defense.Quote:
Originally Posted by eirebhoy
Can tackle (if the game allowed it), rarely gives a bad ball.
Looked confident and controlled. Very good positioning.
Outpaced twice though.
Considering financial limits, another year can't be that much of a negative.
When he's club captain it is a negative imo. I wouldn't mind if he was going to be backup but he'll most likely be playing in all the Champions league games. Keane offers all Lennon does plus so much more. If Keane is going to stay then I don't see any room for Lennon. I am usually in the minority when it comes to this subject but I can only imagine what fans of other big clubs would think if they were going to sign Lennon this summer.Quote:
Originally Posted by geysir
He is calm but I watched him at one time on the ball last night and every Celtic player around him was marked tightly, he was clueless. He has no imagination and just passes it to anyone that is free. I think we can all agree that Lennon offers little going forward, considering how badly Celtic defended this season there's a lot of improvement needed there. As I said, if Keane goes then there is room for Lennon but it is a waste having the two of them.
The Scottish Youth cup final is live on this link:
mms://channel67.celticfc.net/keanetelly
25 minutes gone.
if Keane stays there is plenty of room for Lennon ... when Keane is injured.Quote:
Originally Posted by eirebhoy
Keane was fully fit for a 1/4 of the games?
He probably missed missed 1/4 of the matches through injury but certainly wasn't fit for just 1/4. :)Quote:
Originally Posted by geysir
Anyway, if Lennon was going to stay as backup to Keane I'd be more than happy but that's not going to be the case. If Lennon stays he plays in all the important games plus most of the rest.
I would regard it as similar to the feelings that the Lone Ranger would have if he had to put down a 2 legged Trigger. It would hurt, but feelings aside, his last and enduring quality was his ability to win balls in the air. You could read that he couldn't jump. Maybe Hartson was handicapped by having to keep his elbows in check :), United's (cinderella) defenders won almost every high ball with ease plus actually shoving Hartson off the ball.Quote:
Originally Posted by Junior
Any chance that Boruc (an ace shot stopper) could get a bit of catch and kick practice with the Kerry GAA squad?
As I said you're not alone in your thinking but he has consistently scored goals where ever he's been (including Celtic). He's only just turned 31, he needs to watch the weight and fitness levels, but he can do us a turn for a few seasons yet.Quote:
Originally Posted by geysir
He's looked suspect on the old crosses alright!Quote:
Originally Posted by geysir
Someone on Celtic forum, KDS, yesterday opened a thread saying Celtic have signed Riordan. A mod on the Celtic Minded forum opened a thread yesterday afternoon with an "Exclusive" that Riordan has signed. Today's Evening Times are now reporting the deal is done. The Evening Times wouldn't post crap so it looks like Riordan will be a Celtic player next season.
http://foot.ie/showpost.php?p=408848&postcount=342
:D
:ball: PP
http://www.celticfc.net/newsroom/news.aspx?id='2006-05-13_1122pc'Quote:
Celtic are delighted to announce that they have signed Derek Riordan from Hibernian on a pre-contract agreement. The player will join the Champions in January.
Riordan, who has already been capped by Scotland, scored 20 goals for Hibernian this season.
And he becomes manager Gordon Strachan's latest signing for Celtic, following the capture of Scottish internationalists Gary Caldwell and Kenny Miller, both of whom will begin their Celtic careers when the players report back for pre-season training.
Quote:
Originally Posted by eirebhoy
DAM IT:mad:
You've just got an AMAZING player there lads
I assume he'll start training with Celtic in October when his contract expires?
/edit - according to most Celtic will just buy out his contract and get him before the season starts.
I expect he'll be the best player in the under-21s by a distance.Quote:
Originally Posted by Hibs4Ever
(It's like taking sweets from a baby... :D )
:ball: PP
I'm caught in two minds about Riordon. He's a good player (though not sure how he'll fit in?) but he seems to be a total ned. Awful hair and called Skacel an asylum seeker.
'Tis confusing when you get this piece of journalism
http://www.sundayherald.com/55628
"Strachan spent most of his playing career in red and the traditional Arsenal colour would suit him again on Wednesday when he watches the Champions League final hoping for the British victory that would put Celtic straight into next season’s group stage and guarantee them around £10 million. A Barcelona win would require Celtic to play in the treacherous third qualifying round on August 8/9 and 22/23".