Celtic Banter Archive September 01 2014

01 Sep 2014 23:13:16
Am happy if we have signed Guidetti along with Scepovic these lads will score goals between them. And am reall happy we have VVD untill at least the new year. Am a lot happier now than I was this morning.

01 Sep 2014 22:32:38
Cant Believe we got the Scepovic deal done

Know a few on here today were saying chase him away

But let's face it he now has to come in and "bust his backside" to win some over

Very happy at the transfer!

Hopefully get a LB and a CM as well.

B Nice DN30 Mate

01 Sep 2014 22:30:02
Scepovic now confirmed on tv, no word about Giudetti on it. Would make a big difference to forward line!

01 Sep 2014 22:25:06
Well this is awkward. Hah i'm just glad his info was wrong, left sided defender if possible now.

01 Sep 2014 22:21:20
Scepovic signs a four year contract. I don't know whether to laugh or cry! With him and guidetti upfront, a much needed boost.

Logan33

why not laugh

life too short

01 Sep 2014 22:14:56
Just 100% confirmed Celtic sign Stefan Scepovic on 4 year deal.

Very good news, when we have him and the twin speedsters, that haven't yet played I think that Deila has the main tools to play his style. We should soon see a big improvement.

01 Sep 2014 22:14:40
Thingymeboby. The Serbian has signed a 4yr deal

01 Sep 2014 22:00:11
3 strikers out and only 1 in leaving us only 3 strikers to cover the season ahead. Still only 1 left back at the club and only 2 central defenders so short in defence as well. We sign 3 left wingers on loan and already have tampon but only have 1 right winger who spends most of the season with the physio. Still not replaced wanyama but we need a holding midfielder to play RD formation. So for me we are short back middle and front.

Fitzy. It wouldn't make football sense to sign all the players you mention in the one window . If we can get our offensive game going well and can get support and help on the field to support our fullbacks and not leave them isolated as Izzy is in most games .

I disagree why have 4 left wingers. We should also have replaced efe and used him for cover as just now we either cover cb with a lustig or mulgrew who I don't rate at cb. We don't even have a decent youngster to cover izzie if injured

01 Sep 2014 21:46:41
For a manager who didn't want loan signings, he's seemed to have accumulated half a team of them. Wonder how many of them were Ronnys choice.

Well, am sure I heard Lennon say he was on the radar, so yet another of the Park/Lawell scouting book

01 Sep 2014 21:20:50
cant help but think come the end of the night we will have 2 really good strikers on board. hh

01 Sep 2014 21:42:44
Stealy that would be fantastic but can't see the Serb joining us if we get Gulletti. I think PL will draw the line at signing him. He pulled out the deal so why would PL reserect it?

01 Sep 2014 20:57:46
So we were looking for a big NAME signing?

Well welcome

John Alberto Fernando Andres Luigi Olof Guidetti

Not sure how good you are mate you appear to have some record @ Feynoord

But you will make us a fortune in shirt sales @ 95p a letter :-)

ATVB

Has he joined yet

Yip :-)

01 Sep 2014 20:44:20
John Guidetti. Happy with that. Loan or not, the board did everything right in order to get Scepovic so they deserve a bit of credit for getting this done tonight.

I think it would have sent out a wee statement to the fans if we had sign him permanently? Wishfully thinking I know given out board. Not sure on the loan fee and wages but given we missed out on the Serbian we had possibly 2.5mil to spend (miserable I know) we could have used the remainder to buy a left back to at least put pressure on izzy. (And that's just scrapping the barrel by the way, we should have done a lot more)

01 Sep 2014 21:10:04
Awrite kevbhoy. Seen a lot of good comments about this boy and the other boy who's backtracked (sepovic )either I'm missing something or just nirvana clues up as I once was but I've never heard of any the two of them , hopefully rumours or opinions are correct and the boy can do us a turn

Exactly Kev. We have also gotten rid of some dead wood also ( for a year at least ) and the possibility of scepovic is still on

01 Sep 2014 20:31:39
Given we thought we weren't going to sign anyone I'd be delighted if we got Guidetti, even if it is a loan! Exactly the type of striker we need

01 Sep 2014 19:05:30
Can't believe jelle Vossen went to Middlesbrough on loan! Surely he would of come to us before them did we even try to get any players in! Surely there must be players out there that would fancy coming to Celtic one of the greatest clubs in world football! I really don't understand our transfer policy Ronny has been here 8weeks now that's 8 weeks we've had to bring players in and we have bought no one! Shocking!

John Guidetti on his way according to tv, Hail Hail

Gaz he's off to Palermo, is he not?

Conflicting reports between Celtic & Palermo Geography might work in our Favour

So a looked him after mentioning him earlier Ed was spot on from weeks ago btw! he has a record of slightly better than a goal in every 2 games! But for a 22 yr old he has only EVER played 45 games in his ENTIRE career and half of them as subs! He be welcomed for sure but does not fill you with confidence, not the big powerful type to play the single man role, atvb

Told ye Chris. :)

01 Sep 2014 18:38:12
Where is wee phat for to cheer us up?

Here is some material for you mate!

Today Rangers STAR Bilel Moshni (why can't they make that last L silent btw lol)

Has been fined £400 notes for driving WITHOUT Insurance and WHILST using a mobile phone! (Rumour has it, it is a pay-as-you-go )

He was caught (wait for it!) in Saracen St. Possilpark! (is that a posso postcode phat)?

Given his flying head-butt in the Derby County game and the above it seems he has settled into the "govan-way-off-life" very nicely :-)

ATVB

01 Sep 2014 17:40:08
Ed don't know this is true but seems Scepovic wants to join us now

asturias.eldesmarque.com/sporting/noticias/4609-scepovic-reactiva-la-opcion-de-su-traspaso-al-celtic

As far as I can see Celticbhoyy 1 paper in spain sayin the deal is done with Getafe other paper saying there is a "hiccup" but it is not money orientated mate! atvb

01 Sep 2014 17:56:30
Speaking in the Scottish Express Ronny said the following:

“I am not very concerned by the results. Now we get 10 days away from each other, because almost the entire squad is going away with their national teams.”

Well Mr D, for your information, we ARE very concerned by the results.

01 Sep 2014 17:24:06
Just heard on radio there that the scepovic deal could be back on. Apparently getafe are saying his wages are to high. Now I'm as keen as the next fan for new faces to be brought in but surely this guy can't be trusted now after getting everything sorted out and all that was needed was a signature and he turned his nose up at us. I for one would be glad if the board told him to ram it. I've been very critical of the board with lack of signings etc but I'd body swerve this guy after what he done

01 Sep 2014 17:11:31
Well its 5pm, typical Celtic. No news.

Heard 2 things today, Peter Liewell, I can't understand this, in relation to Scepovic or whatever his name is not signing, well Peter your the only one then cause everyone else knows.

Then this defender from Rennes - doesn't want to move to Betis - Celtic are interested but have offered LESS, well surprise surprise there.

Celtic Football Club - The laughing stock of European Football

01 Sep 2014 16:17:07
Watching yesterday's game made it clear for all to see that opposing teams this season just have to be patient and hit us on the counter attack.
We were shocking at the back every time Dundee came forward and it looked as if they could have scored every time. No disrespect to Dundee but, well, they shouldn't be causing our players any real bother. Should they?
And another thing, I'm no expert in body language but it is clear in EVERY game that RD does not look comfortable in his role. He looks fekkin petrified every time the camera shows his coupon! He was comfortable at a lower level in Norway but the demands of our club are just too much for him.
Will he grow into it?
Will he ever come to terms with the expectations?
Will he be given time?
Who knows, but the signs don't look good at this stage. Yes it's early to be making assumptions but unless there's a miraculous change I don't see him lasting.
I hope he proves me wrong. Quickly!

The confidence and enthusiasm seems to be draining out of him and I know many managers look worried when things are tough, but he looks totally shell shocked and as I have said before there is little or no help in the dugout;
or the place that matters most - The Board Room.

NL was given time, NL grew into it, so, yes he should.he has been in the unfortunate position of taking a team over that has suffered from poor signings last year, and players that are past their best and some who have lost form but need to be played because we don't have any one else at the moment. If blame is to be apportioned then it should lie squarely at the door of the transfer/signing strategy.

01 Sep 2014 15:59:29
Derby are willing to listen to offers for Johnny Russell can't imagine what they would want for him but surely can't be much as he's warmed their bench a lot since being there so we could get him for less

01 Sep 2014 15:37:36
Well Mr Lawell better pull off a major coup or his tenure as Chief Executive could be over as the fans won't take anymore of his lies and downsizing

Prepare to be disappointed marco1888.
In my opinion Lawwell won't pull off a major coup today.
What he will do though through a lack of decent activity is confirm to us fans that the club has completely stalled.
Why are we in such disarray at a time when we should be pushing forward?

When has he ever pulled off a major coup?

01 Sep 2014 15:25:49
Hi,

What a tumultuous fortnight. Could it have gone any worse?

Looking at the comments on here, it would seem CFC PLC have very few places to go. They are getting battered by doing Q&As and then second guessed on authenticity of responses. They are being pilloried for missing out on players (that until the "link" was revealed we had never heard of). Scepovic (as another contributed hinted) was clearly lukewarm and so his last ditch U-turn maybe isn't such a bad thing.

Can we all agree that we are where we are (philosophical and cliched as that might sound!) but here is the million dollar question (I use dollar because we might not have the £ much longer) .

What do we want PL to do?
What do we want PL to do?

What do we want RD to say?
What do we want RD to do?

Because we are in somewhat of a "rut" which is now in to its 2nd month, we (as fans) are shouting from the rooftops about this and that but no one contributor has come up with any solutions.

If we buy a few unheard of players tonight, half on here will say "panic buys" "who are they?" "why the fuss?". if we don't the PLC will be punished by us (and in the media) for being negligent (and asleep at the wheel)

We have a VERY BIG squad and we are in transition. RD and PL (it would seem) will have to get on with it and deal with the hand they are playing with. Now, I am all for retrospective audits to ascertain how we got to where we are, but we are where we are and we need to work out how best to

(a) get more out the squad
(b) how to generate income to bolster the kitty to afford higher wages
( c) how to play to our "collective" strengths

The season is not over and we are scrapping at the barrel at the minute but miracles can and do happen. This time next year we might be talking about £5m Bitton and a revitalised Kayal or the dynamic McGregor or the injury free Forrest (or.wait for it.) the prolific Stokes. The only way to enhance our prospects of seeing such miracles unfold will be to show a degree of resilience and BACK the team, anything else would be totally futile.

The other option is "boycott." which would see the revenue tumble and the confidence slide. To what end? The logic there would only make sense if we honestly felt that ridiculous £sums were in fact circumnavigating the squad (for improvement) and finding other pockets (IE the Board and the commercial/financial managers behind the scenes). I have seen nothing to suggest this is happening.

We have had a miserable time in the transfer market of late, a lot of high risk punts that have given us a £0 return; it happens. This MAY be the wake up call for a different approach (a strategy modestly adapted)

PL has never had it so bad and this will be the acid test, IE what is he made of? Can he play a pivotal role in helping the team, the management and the fans garner some self-respect and confidence. Our credit worthiness is high, or bricks and mortar assets are pretty sound and we (as fans) can make Celtic Park an exciting, colourful and dynamic venue or we can hang the Board out to dry.

One way or the other, we need to be "united" because even a wealthy Celtic with an under performing RD is better than an ever poorer Celtic with RD gone and no one on the horizon to come in.

Do we honestly think that there is billionaire out there who wants to take Celtic to the top table?

Another question needs to be (one that the board need to ask themselves) is how far can we push the £turnover. Can we have a sustainable Celtic with 6 first team KEY players paid £30,000 per week (£1.5m a year). Can we spend £20m on material improvement. If the answer is yes but season tickets need to be £400 minimum with 45,000 pre sold with match day tickets snapped up at £25 a pop (another £4m a year), if we are TOLD in no uncertain terms that this is what it will take then let us tell you the answer; canvass us properly.

CFC PLC "living within their means" is one thing, but if we could somehow get the answer to the question "how much are we willing to sacrifice £financially" to see a fresh, hungry, dynamic, attractive Celtic on the park" then the Board might be surprised.

Do we have the b**** to think a little bigger? Do we fans have the staying power?

United we stand and divided we fall (and the fall will be long endured if we end up with a split support)

01 Sep 2014 14:08:34
Been watching tv Transfer Day Deadline you know round the country stuff been watching for 2 hours now and they have not bothered to bother there Scotland correspondent yet!

Shape of things (not) to come?

I emailed sky complaints last week about this matter they never have anything about Scottish teams I think they forget we subscribe to sky tv aswell absolute joke!

Said it for years, SFA should set up their own Pay per view subscription network.

It would have many benefits such as:

1. Higher revenue.
2. Coverage of more scottish games.
3. Although minuet, it is less money sky will get!

Also you never know, if successful other FA's might follow and set up their own network hitting sky hard in the pocket

DN30, they do it in Italy and the home gates are derisory . not sure if the trade off means that (financially speaking) it is swings and roundabouts or if the clubs benefit but having spent some time in Turn and the north, the crowds are paltry …in a nation that LOVES its footy!

01 Sep 2014 12:37:37
Am I the only one feeling totally fed up with football? When I see the teams in England spending infinite amounts of money on players, because they can, I sometimes think "whats the point in me going through all these emotions as a Celtic supporter?"

James McArthur is being linked with a £7-8m move. James McArthur! We couldn't even buy him (not that it would excite me in the least).

Unfortunately, living in Newcastle I have to go to work every day and listen to the locals slag Celtic for being a big team in a small league. No competition, players like Hooper "stepping up" when they sign for nobodies like Norwich. It really is sickening, especially coming from them!

I used to quite look forward to transfer deadline day because it excited me - remember when we did sign big names. Even as recent as Robbie Keane! But now I find it disgusting how much the EPL teams spend on players.

But what can you do eh? At least I'm not a Newcastle United fan!

Hail hail and Keep the Faith

01 Sep 2014 14:35:42
Can't stand newcastle they think they are this massive famous team yet have won nothing 2 back it up they have a cheek slagging anyones fans

01 Sep 2014 14:46:17
The English premier league is the cause of a lot of the problems for clubs who aren't in it.
when totally average players are being paid ludicrous salaries, clubs who can't afford these players are left fighting over the dregs.
I am sorry about the scepovic deal falling through, but if he was so lukewarm about coming, was he ever going to give 100% for us.
I think in hindsight we would have been better appointing a young scottish manager eg Jackie mcnamara, who not only knows what makes Celtic tick, but has a good knowledge of the game in this country, and could identity players who would look on a move to Celtic as a move up.
Since he's been in charge of Dundee United, he's got them playing a brand of football they are comfortable with and doesn't seem to be confusing them with tactics they don't understand.
Ronny deila doesn't seem to have known much about us when he arrived, he had to watch videos to see how we play, and he is persisting with a style of play the players obviously can't adjust to.
I think as well as the players, it is also important for the manager to be flexible.
Change the style of play when you have recruited the players that can play it, until then keep the team playing in the system that they're happy with.

HT you are not alone. It does get me down knowing the it is not a fair playing field out there. I also look at what other clubs in SPL must feel looking at us and thinking the same thing. It is what it is and without a major change in regulations, nothing is going to improve. That's no excuse for lack of ambition by our board and right now, I don't see that they understand where they are failing the club and supporters.

01 Sep 2014 11:40:42
Seen the last post about coates are we realy getting excited about a player like that. Would be much happier seeing ciftci makay stevens and a decent cb ed are you hearing anything for today or is it going to be a long one?

01 Sep 2014 12:17:35
Jelle Vosson supposed to be going to M'boro on loan. 1m up front and 4m at the end of the season. Surely we could have done something there. Worryingly quiet as we speak.

Is that for a permanent transfer at end of season?

PL should see the bigger picture here Daz not only is he good just think of the jerseys he would sell if he got the number 7 and said he would now like to be known as JELLY! ATVB

They'll pay 4m to keep him at the end of the season but they think that will happen if they go up.

01 Sep 2014 11:10:11
Ed come on give us some names, all is very very quiet!

{Ed003's Note - Tom,Dick and Harry. How's that ;-) }

Ed, you're probably closer to the truth than anyone knows.
We'll probably end up with any old Tom, Dick and Harry in a vague attempt by the Board to appease the fans!

Ed cannot give you any names, No One is Comming, Hooper was approached last night, but a Defoe "No Way" Response

Phew! had to go get my glasses a thought that read Tom Dick & SALLY! :-)

01 Sep 2014 10:22:53
Ed, do you know if there will be any attempts by celtic to sign any players before tonight's deadline? Especially as we've been let down with the scepovic signing. We're screaming out for a goal scorer

{Ed007's Note - Of course they will be trying to get players in.}

And you know what is going to happen they will rush buy someone who can not get a lot of goals just like Balde, Pukki but I can not see us getting anyone in

Agree with u celticbhoyy, there will more than likely be no one brought in but rest assured we'll also be told it wasn't for the lack of trying. Why is it every transfer window we're left chasing our tails when the windows been open so long. Regardless of what does or doesn't happen today the board haven't tried anywhere near hard enough to strengthen this team. As for VVD the only reason he'll not be allowed to leave is because there really would be a serious backlash from the fans. Here's a wee thought, and I know there's more chance of it not happening than actually happening but the ZOMBIES are crying out for money, why not go in with a decent offer for lee Wallace? In my opinion he's much better than izzy, he's scottish, and to be honest I couldn't care less if he's a rangers man. The days of players not playing for the other half of the old firm are long gone. He'd definitely do a better job at left back and could rangers really afford not to sell?

Lee Wallace better than Izzy what do you base that on?

01 Sep 2014 10:36:09
What about a move, even a loan one, for Hatem Ben Arfa? Looks like he's available and is certainly the type of player who would excite the fans

Said this a few days ago he isn't going to play at Newcastle so y not let him come up here and play in Europe and he might get punted for a fee next year

01 Sep 2014 08:22:46
CRAIG GORDON:

He may have an injury-plagued past but my goodness, he has been impressive since he came to us. On this form he is every bit as good as Forster was.
His fitness seems to be spot on, his attitude and hunger for a game is clear to see and if we can keep him fit and injury free (which seems to be the worry for many folk) then we have a gem of a keeper on our hands.

01 Sep 2014 09:11:57
Totally agree Chris, Craig has shown the passion we need for a keeper, constantly letting himself be heard and looking for the quick ball. I just pray his injury doesn't return as he is just about the only thing positive about the team at the moment. More worrying is why we had to rest Virgil because he was ' mentally unfit' Are we now going to have a huffy petulant player because he didn't get his big move?
The Scepovic deal going off is infuriating to say the least. We need a striker as Stokes and Griffiths are not the answer. It just proves how important it is for us to be playing in the Champions League. I don't care what you say, as far as I am concerned, we might as well be in the Petrofact cup than the Europa League.

Sorry tam but if John park doesn't sign a striker today then we have a good strike force in stokes and Griffith waiting to be linked up again if ronny is willing to change tactics to suit his squad. I wouldn't have minded signing scepovic but after hearing it was john parks man and that ronny hadn't seen him I'm not so bothered he isn't signing as he might have been a pukki/balde. I would much rather return to the days when a manager signs a player he wants not who someone else wants

Yeah Chrisbhoy am a CG fan (and an ex goalie) not put a foot wrong yet and now winning us points too

We go on and on about penny pinching (quite rightly so) but on that vein they would never have handed him a 2/3 yr deal if they really doubted him IMO they would have took the Mouylouko? route handed him a year and "hedged there bets" ATVB

{Ed007's Note - You don't think Gordon was caught in no-man's land at the Maribor goal? When the ball broke and was moving away from the goal he had plenty of time to move back towards his line, even if he had took 1 or 2 steps backwards he'd have had it covered. That's just one highlighted, and very costly, example of his lack of sharpness and awareness but I suppose you've got to accept it after years out of the game.
Watch his general positioning during any game, Jamie, against better quality players we would be punished for it.}

Ed, a take your point on that factor it is a good/fair point l

A had a closer look at and maybe in what you are saying he may (harshly) misjudged the pace on the ball/lob

As a GK myself a thought he was more unlucky rather than negligent

But if giving ground my feeling then is the same now that the bigger frame of FF would have got it

atvb

{Ed007's Note - I'm not blaming Gordon for the defeat, the full team were rotten on the night, but he could (should?) have done better there I thought.}

Maybe Ed, A have a question to ask you about Fasan btw! (who I think looks really great) but I will leave it till tomorrow because you will be busy today with your ear to the ground. ATVB

{Ed007's Note - No probs.}

01 Sep 2014 07:34:14
So where do we go from here? Could the deals for Pukki and Fridjohnsson allow us to buy Makienok? What about Nadir Ciftci from United? Or my first choice, Gary Hooper?

Am thinking that to LM Pukki involved in the deal for Makienok it is a goos shout . What do you think Ed?

Norwich manager been blanking calls all week about Hooper apparently and Celtic were not one of them!

Did he not sign for Palermo?

01 Sep 2014 03:53:43
In relation to Scepovic, l'm sure I'm not alone when I say I just knew this was going to happen. It had bad vibes written all over it from day one.
why couldn't CFC see this and move on?

01 Sep 2014 00:54:12
Ed you been a bit quite today mate, not like you not to "pipe -up"?

But can ask you the other day PL came out and said this "Celtic fans are Delusional" it carried on from there mate but that was his opening gambit!

Well that is ME he is talking about you see as I said on here a backed this man to the hilt when he said "we don't need Rangers" truth be told a loved hearing it! as a have said before on here many a time a don't like Rangers! am not a Rangers hater by any manner means and like most of people on here they will have friends / associates that are Rangers fans I like others will enjoy there company

But a don't enjoy an Old firm game that nervous / nauseating feeling you get prior to kick off, a have many other reasons too I don't like Rangers to many to type or air at this juncture!

But you see I have left this to the last minute of the weekend to see if any other "celtic man/fan" had picked this up and sadly no one did :-(

But you see there a difference this time, this time he is talking about me and if he is talking about me he is talking about US ALL on here!

When he said this I really wanted to say "who the F**k are you talking too, who the f**k do you think you are?" you see there is nothing delusional about at me @ 42 a think a have made a success of my life a wanted to take my 6ft 3 and near 18 stone of a frame look him in the eye and say " who the F**K are you calling delusional?

If this takes some of the heat of RD great, if PL thinks coming out and saying this deflects away from RD initial shortcomings/failings or even "chapter 1 over"

Well Mr Lawell this was YOUR appointment you have to answer for this don't dare try and wriggle out it / from it because I FOR ONE can see right through you! But never EVER be derogatory to anyone of us AGAIN!

{Ed007's Note - I'm just very busy, Jamie, and trying to bite my tongue best I can.}

01 Sep 2014 08:23:27
Jamie you are spot on. Look up above your post. I left a post this morning along similar lines not do much about being dissalutioned but more about PL taking responsibility for the appointment. It's going to be a difficult season.