Celtic Rumours Archive February 19 2013

19 Feb 2013 21:49:01
Very lucky to get a point tonight but we should of been 5 up at h/t. What the linesman was thinking for dis-allowing St J's goals (def the 2nd one) looked a very bad decision, I was only watching on a stream but the bloke looked 5 yds on-side, very sloppy 2nd half display. Stevie

I'd rather the squad was tinkered with against spl teams than CL. You can't wn them all

19 Feb 2013 20:46:10
What happened with young Swedish keeper? Did he sign? Not seen anything since desdline day to say officially signed.

He has signed. Good article on him in this week's Celtic View - potentially a useful addition. Said he is settling in well, with several other swedish speakers at the club - mjallby, lustig, rogne to help him with any liguistic problems. Said he had no idea the fans were so passionate - he had never heard this before he got there, but it is obvious how important the Club is.

19 Feb 2013 15:21:26
Having just watched a clip showing the policing of the Green brigade on Saturday a couple of things have came to mind.
Despite repeated arrests, removal from matches and the embarrassment of being visited at work by police, none of these guys, to the best of my knowledge, have been convicted. This, despite being filmed at every game, home or away, has resulted in nothing standing up in court. Yet the Police seem to find it reasonable to have around eight officers at the entrance to their section. Add to this the stewards, again around eight to ten in number, and this might be considered heavy handed. They are entering their own teams ground, what did the police think they were going to do?
On moving to the front entrance at the Park it seems the riots that just happened (?) have scared the police. There are ten mounted officers, supplemented by over twenty stewards, to intimidate a group, who quietly and with out any fuss, had decided to stage what can only be classed as a silent protest.
What I would like to know, and Celtic or the Police should have details, is how many of the rangers fans at the last EVER old firm game were arrested? In the clip, widely available on you tube, they are being filmed by a person in the group and Police. During the wrecking of the toilets, criminal damage? they indulged in the most heinous sectarian chanting. Why did the Police, who seem prepared to jump the Green Brigade at a moments notice, not make any arrests despite this happening in front of them.
I have been critical of the GB with regards to some of the songs and political stuff, but they Police themselves, rather well I thought, and do not deserve this treatment. After the "Dundee riots" not one of the five (must have been some riot eh?) were a GB member, indeed one was a Dundee fan! They are Celtic fans and are deserving of our support when unjustly treated. green jhedi

Big thumbs up from me jhedi, arrests being made to make up numbers, not necessarily convictions, and it appears our fans are being targeted for the WHOLE quota.

These policeman have a cushy job, numerous "working" holidays (Barcelona etc). If they aren't making arrests then they're redundant in that role, which has to be noted.

Jamie mac

19 Feb 2013 17:12:24
@GJ my post yesterday asked the same questions.
Why does it only appear to be our fans and the GB are OUR fans, who are being targeted?
Every 2nd week at Ibrox they are still belting out their old songs and even at away grounds, yet nothing is done and surprise, surprise no mention in the press.
Also GJ the incident at Celtic Park in the toilets was filmed by POLICE inside the toilet watching it happen, yet no action taken. Celtic FC should be posing these questions to the police. Timalloy

Was one of Strathclydes finest not off duty & involved in the carry on at the last ever old firm game? Am sure it was the same incident in one of the toilets at parkhead? AbS

Very very well said Mr Jhedi. I disagreed with you a couple of weeks ago regarding Alan Brazil at Parkhead (I think it was You anyway) but ragarding what you have posted here, I totally agree. Well said my good man. Fran

This I'm afraid, from what I've been reading GJ, has all the hallmarks of what I witnessed in the early 80s in the north of Ireland as a youth and young adult. Week ends the pubs and clubs frequented by certain sections of the population were shall we say well policed around closing time whilst just a few hundred yards down the road clientele of other clubs pubs went about their entertainment unhindered.

Provocation in numbers and in your face policing seems to be acceptable in this case whilst you say others seem to do anything they want from singing foul sectarian songs to assaulting members of the public on public transport without fear of prosecution.
Hopefully CFC will take a stand on this and try and defuse a situation that could spiral. If it means removing head of security employed by themselves and replacing him with someone with a less aggressive approach so be it.
This should lead to a better all round feel good factor inside the ground. After all we all follow football for its entertainment value not to be victimized by some little Hitlers who just might not have the interest of the club at heart?. TTTS

19 Feb 2013 20:46:17
I am also concerned after watching police in recent weeks target young men, sporting Celtic colours, walking to Celtic Park being stopped and searched for no apparent reason as well as being threatened that their season books would be seized and revoked if they failed to give their particulars. It seems that the Police are really trying to provoke trouble with our young supporters.

Were can I find this footage?

Sectrian behaviour of any kind cannot be tolerated and I for one would stand behind the police in routing out any type of bigotry and sectarianism from wherever it comes. The police though must be seen to be even handed and when there are accusations with many examples given of lack of even handedness then obvious conclusions will be drawn and the police will lose public confidence. This is bad for everyone. The old songs are just that, old songs and they should be left in the past where they belong. By and large the vast majority of the CFC support understands this and is only interested in football whatever the past injusticies were, we have all moved on. The GB perhaps sees iteslf as the Pertorian guard of our common heritage and interests. I don't have any issues with this. I do have concerns when they are potentially used in the greater political sense by those (whoever they may be) to attack the club. The GB must get smart and set out a plan or even a rebranding exercise to ensure they cannot be made a scapegoat or be accused of siding with those less savoury aspects and characters of society. I for one love those Bhoys and I hope that if their civil rights are being abused then those individuals should use the full force of the law to protect their interests reputations and not allow their good names to be sullied Those in power often use diversionary tactics to ensure their own bad behaviour and poor standards are hidden. my advice therefore (for what it is worth) to the GB is don't allow anyone or any group to outwit you. My first research would be into the backgrounds allegiances and persuasions of the police authorities. It should be on public record and for example be relatively easy to check the religion of all employees in that branch of public service. I mean we don't want any Trekkies or Humanists causing any problems for the GB at CP do we. Beam me up Scotty! Sopotcelt.

Sopotcelt you say that you would stand behind the police in tackling sectarianism but then go on to say the religion of officers should be researched - surely that is contradictory?

You'd stand behind the police to help tackle bigotry but then suggest that the same bigotry could explain the treatment? Almost like saying " you got to be the problem to beat the problem"

I'm maybe picking up what you mean wrongly here but from what you've written I don't think I am.

Your post has me puzzled buddy,

Jamie mac

You have got me wrong. To clarify. There is nothing sectarianist, bigoted illegal underhanded inconsistent or contradictory about researching or asking a question which is available on the public record. Actually the first question should really be, if I as an individual or group am being targeted by what effectively is the state ( for whatever reason) Why am I being targeted? I really want to know why this is the case if it is the case at all, if it is and there appears to be evidence that the GB is being targeted they therefore should ask who gains the most from this particularly when others are being ignored for apparently greater and more prevelant shall we call them indiscretions. You look for the suspect or group or power base with the most to gain and sometimes for example the one closest to the alleged crime, your accuser. let's not try to be too clever here, the police have a long history in every country both in the developed world and everywhere else of failing in their duty to uphold the law and having officers involved in everything from drugs crime to corruption rascism and everything else in between. Now I am not can I make it clear accusing any Police service in the UK of any of the above. I do know though that many Police forces in the UK have had cases of such including high profile rascist cases proven against serving officers. So given that the police service is just as likely to have bad apples as for shall we say anyone else including the GB why should they not be held to account? Why can a private citizen not ask questions about their impartiality and objectivity? part of that questioning sadly may neccessarily have to include questions like for example Are you in the orange order? Are you a memeber of any illegal or banned organisation? I would stop short of do you play the flute or drums and paractice a lot in June/July but you get the picture. I think the logic path is pretty clear. The issue is much more of an issue particularly when there are obvious cases with witnesses and statements readily available regarding the behaviour and alleged criminal activity of other groups which are not being investigated. However the police alone should not bear the whole burden of questioning of their motives and agenda Scottish society and the free press appear not to have covered the story/situation in an objective and impartial way. All of this is extremely worrying and disappointing and lies at the core of democratic freedoms of expression and basic human rights. What is the real agenda of those who are attacking the GB, who are they and why are they doing it? Seriously if the GB were guilty of any crimes do you not think they would be charged and locked up without too much fuss? Finally I actually do not know the numbers of catholics and protestants in the Strathclyde police, I do know a number of years ago there were more serving officers who followed the way of the Jedi than the way of Rome and yes I am serious. The new Scottish Police Service will I hope cure some of these historical imbalances. So forgive my rather long winded answer but really far from being accused of sectarian double think my point is about everyone being subject to the same human rights and freedoms open to all in what is purported to be a civilised and democratic country. Sopotcelt

Celtic Park absolutely needs the Green Brigade for the atmosphere they create! I think most Celtic fans would agree with that.

Brian M

I think I was quite clear in my post that I was confused about what you ment sopotcelt. Never accused you of double standards just asked a few questions to dig deeper into your post. Apologies if it seemed I was accusing.

We are in a predominantly Protestant country so it, I assume, would follow that most of the sps would be Protestant also surely? Proportionate representation in policing etc is a good idea but its not a new one and I cannot see any changes til it suits the "system"

If we are honest the police are there to protect people as a secondary, going through the motions purpose.

They are there to keep the working class in check and to protect the ruling class, first and foremost. This is the case the world over.

For me a contributing factor to the mistreatment is the amount of people within the mistreated social grouping who are not willing to upset the apple cart and highlight the problem, by means peaceful of course.

If the authorities manage to divide the group being treated unfairly (which they have) then that is most of their battle both fought and won. Solidarity is the only real way to highlight the discrepancies in my opinion. If a whole grouping protests it's clearly going to hold more weight than if its only a portion from that grouping.

By turning a blind eye or slamming our own we are basically condoning it, which makes us at least equally to blame. Ill be making myself counted in any protests etc taking place.

Another thing are phil mac, Thomson, mcconville etc only interested on writing about the rangers? A little bit of investigative journalism by someone like this would turn up all sorts.

These policing complaints are not new, they are all aware of previous claims, so why no blog etc? Are they too afraid of police attentions turning to them? Find it hard to understand why they haven't touched this issue in any great depth?

Jamie mac (standing up)

Doublethink Jamie mac´its a concept from the book 1984, you may be familiar with the work by George Orwell. I know you did not accuse me of double standards or anything else but it does seem clear that we are suffering from some Orwellian circumstances. I agree with just about everything you said. I for one am pretty shocked about the reports of the intimidation of our support and I hope eveyone boxes clever here and gets this nonsense sorted out once and for all including supporters and the clubs ledership. Apologies to all for my lack of paragraphing and poor grammer, tis ever so when I rant. Sopotcelt

19 Feb 2013 12:36:13
I fancy a season ticket next year. Do I need to pay it all up front or is there a payment plan?
@jockdj83 {Ed007's Note - You can pay in instalments Jock, get in touch with the ticket office and they will be more than happy to help you out.}

Cheers man

19 Feb 2013 00:33:52
Hears hoping pl doesn't con the fans next season with a paltry transfer budget. after potential transfers and champions league money were looking at close �25m. a healthy 10m in bank 15m on transfers give the fans what they want for ther loyalty. no more squad players give us quality. john park has done a great job, but who's to blame for your miku, Bhangura, hoovield, effran, that's close to �10m waisted we deserve a bit of quality were doing our bit.

From what I have been watching it has been quality and more, we don't need a huge transfer just more young talent but maybe he will let a more slitly expensive young talent in. I'm happy with what is going on and looking forward to another unheard of gem. Think more people like the idea of finding a gem instead of huge signings. Save the money until later on for I think we might find our way out of spl and they are saving the money to spend when/if we go into a bigger and more money league.

19 Feb 2013 09:16:40
He may well have to cut his cloth. His job is to ensure the future of the club. our job is to support the club. At the moment, the place is half empty, the club cannot spend money it is not generating. I know it is asking a lot (Paying �500 to watch SPL) But the club is going in the right direction, it may continue to do so, but without the fans financial backing, there will be no big budget for transfers.

Not being cheeky but read your post again. you say PL should spend money, but also mention when he has we have wasted money. the way we are signing cheap players is working, why change it? to go further in europe we would need to spend over £100 mil which is suicide for an SPL side. we can improve slowly but surely with what we are doing now.

Agree with above. Why spend loads when its not needed. Original Post is a huge pile of nonesense. let's just buy a big name for no reason, they work don't they. Ljunburg, Roy Keane, Dion Dublin; proper "legends" they turned out to be. Stop posting useless comments and back the team to uncover more gems like Vic, Kayal etc. SB

Are you a real fan your comments of peter lawell are a disgrace ref: con the fans we are I think the only top level club in britain with zero debt, you just pluck all the figures from champions league money do you not take into account than celtic have high running costs, think of the staff outwith playing staff that have to be paid, and not to mention the tax mans cut of this magical 25 million we don't have to look far to see what wreckless spending and mis- management can do to a club our prudent approach is the best way to move forward in football in this financial climate and I for one think we are in a good place because of peter lawell and also the real quality players you crave don't want to come to the SPL

Methinks you are a bear OP, anyone who thinks to critic the way the club is run is either a fool or a mischief maker

Like all managers/clubs there will be players signed that don't work out after the event.
It does balance itself out and the manager learns from the bad experiences.
The part I find difficult is when we have 'found' a star and develop him, just to see him eff off when he is showing potential.
The guys know they will play in the SPL when they sign and the chances of CL football is greater with us than most and we have one of the best arenas to boot; but we are sometimes used as a stepping stone by guys who care more about cash.
I do take the point that when this happens we HAVE to replace with players of at least the class of those who go.

Jungle Jim

Because the guy asks to sign a couple of players he's accused of being a bear? why is that line always used by people who lack intelligence to get involved in a grown up conversation

Spot on m8 as the above said only a couple players of quality for the fans. the fans are the life of the club. if as expected Wanyamer hooper goes give us 2 of equal quality not 5 that's going to sit on bench