Celtic Banter Archive May 21 2014

21 May 2014 20:32:10
Ed, a wee question.
Is there any reason why my keyboard misses out lots of letters when I'm posting on this site? It doesn't happen when I'm typing on any other sites or using my PC for work stuff but it happens here all the time.

Hail Hail

{Ed033's Note - There is no reason for that. Please use the contact form for any technical queries.

21 May 2014 14:54:18
I can't believe that's 11 years since we took over Seville. By far one of the best times I have ever experienced as a Celtic fan. Sadly the way things are now I doubt I will live to experience anything like it again.

{Ed007's Note - Sorry Che but I can't get my head round why people are getting all misty-eyed about it. Since when did CFC fans celebrate abject failure? People seem to forget that we lost the league on the last day of the season, lost the League Cup final to Rangers and suffered another embarrassing capitulation to ICT in Scottish Cup.
Considering Rangers won the treble it can hardly be seen as a successful season. Why celebrate losing this final yet losing the 1970 European Cup final to Feyenoord doesn't warrant a celebration. We have enough success in our unbroken history to celebrate without scraping the barrel and celebrating a 'just being there'.}

I spent a week in Torremelinos with friends and family and was fortunate enough to attend the game but the actual final is not something I look back fondly at . The actual week away was great with the atmosphere and spectacle top class only to be ruined by defeat in the final and to arrive back on the Sunday only to find out we had lost the league . I prefer to rember this day 35 years ago as a 19 year old I spent the best night ever as a Celtic supporter when 10 men won 4-2 to win the league . The only downside was not going to pub but running the short journey home to see the highlights only for STV to announce the game wouldn't be shown because of a "strike" . Funny how the footage was damaged or lost never to be seen . STV eh . Bet BT wouldn't have lost it . DH

Can't remember the season? But big jan scored against them mid week for us to win the league, due to alcohol intake my memory is blurred lol . Met him outside the ground the week before and my kids got photos with him . When we won I hung a tri colour out my top window! Only just made peace with my zombie neighbour at the bells this year!

I see old age isn't mellowing you out ED007, you're still the same miserable sod that you always were!

Only kidding chief, I know you're one of the good guys.

Ed 007 . I believe you are right, I have never read your sentiments before . Something was very wrong that year with the quality of players and to finish with nothing. So many people speak so fondly about 2003, but I now see it more realistically .

{Ed007's Note - It was a terrible season when you look at it without a haze of sentiment obscuring your view. Did we really just agree on something? ;)

I am always willing to agree with what a wise man posts .

{Ed007's Note - Aw shucks, thanks lol.}

I disagree. and please post. here's why. we had a great team of players. money was spent building a team which played with their hearts and had some real quality about them. Larsson, Sutton, Hartson, Lubo, Mjallby, Lennon, etc. we committed to europe and resulted with midweek draws which cost us the league but what a ride! remember Larsson telling Souness to shut it till the two legs are over or Hartson taking spit in the face from celta vigo's jesus but scoring to put us through on aggregate? knocking out Liverpool over two legs! brilliant! compare that to the rubbish we watch now! griffiths, stokes, commons!?! oh my god! we are settling for mediocre players. Q!?!?!?! what's going on!!!???

{Ed007's Note - Lubo had left the previous year but overall an all round good attempt at an excuse for complete failure to win anything, it couldn't possibly be that when push came to shove we just weren't good enough, it never is. The record books show that we won nothing and Rangers won a treble, that's the reality of it and no matter when or why that happens there are no acceptable excuses, CFC's season is a cataclysmic disaster IMO if that happens.}

Its called nostalgia, everything always looks better, you don't remember the bad times.

{Ed007's Note - I do, but then again not everyone has my cheery and optimistic outlook to things.}

I agree Ed; I wasn't at Seville so don't have all the memories and nostalgia of so many other supporters, but I will never forget how bad I felt watching us give every last drop of sweat and energy at Rugby Park while Dunfermline were taking a day off at Ibrox.
The cup defeats all had a degree of injustice, disappointment and failure, but losing the league and finishing with nowt was one of the worst seasons in our long illustrious history - and it still hurts.

JJ

Ed, I normally agree with you most things, but that was the best European run of my time, Don't forget we lost, in extra time to a really good José Mourinho team that won the champions league the following year.

Celtic fan's were also awarded the FIFA Fair Play Award, which UEFA described as "the largest travelling support to have assembled for a single game".

Ed, I tend not to read much into rangers affairs but would 2003 not be a time where they cheated success?

20 May 2014 23:55:38
Just watched highlights from finnbogassons season 29 goals top scorer in holland! That boy is some talent man if wee don't go in with a five million pound bid and offer 25/30k a week for him there's something seriously wrong the boy is world class that the calibre of player that could take is to the next level! Snodgrass is another lad that's daft for the tic and would jump at the chance of playing here! Honestly if got they two a think teams in the champions league would be scared to play us rather than looking at us as the whipping boys! Time for the kidding to stop this sort of quality is required

Totally disagree, give Griffiths achance in europe, Finnbogasson has been hyped to hell, am not convinced about him, especially at the money being talked about.

21 May 2014 07:00:04
European's elite scared of Snodgrass?

Anyone not convinced wi Finnbogason but would give Griffiths a chance needs a psychiatric assessment! I'm with ye on this PepeBhoy, we need a big game player and that's exactly what this lad is!

Are we still going on about this guy folks. Not wanting to sound like a moaning git but give it a rest please

Yes, we are Hew. D'you know why? Because our First Team strikeforce for next season consists of Anthony Stokes, Amido Balde, Holmbert Fridjonsson, Teemu Pukki, Leigh Griffiths, Tony Watt, Bahrudin Atajic + Denny Johnstone.

Last seasons stats:

Stokes = 21 in 46
Balde = 3 in 24
Fridjonsson = 0 in 0 for us, 10 in 21 for Fram (ICE)
Pukki = 7 in 32
Griffiths = 7 in 14 for us, 13 in 30 for Wolves (ENG)
Watt = 0 in 3 for us, 9 in 18 for Lierse (BEL)
Atajic = 1 in 3 for us, 0 in 13 for Shrewsbury (ENG)
Johnstone = 0 in 0

Does that fill you with confidence that we have goalscoring strikers in our squad to get us to the CL Group Stage and compete for 2nd/3rd spot or achieve a domestic Double or Treble? Because it sure as hell doesn't fill me with faith!

Were January quotes not around 7/8 million for him? This guy is way out our price range! It will be the same old same old 2 mill nobody dud as in the past or a loan has been! Do any of you out there think we will even sign anyone until 1 the World Cup is over? 2 forster or vvd are sold or even 3 till the board see if we qualify for cl?. This could be along summer!

{Ed007's Note - I don't know how much Heerenveen are looking for but I'd hazard a guess at around the 5/6 million Euros mark. The reports that Fulham bid £7.5 million in January aren't entirely accurate, it was 7.5 million Euros (approx £6m).}

If we hadn't spent £2.4m on Pukki, £1.8m on Balde, £1m on Griffiths + £100k on Fridjonsson I'm sure we could've had Finnbogason last summer for £5.3m who almost (31 in 34 for Heerenveen) scored as many as our entire strikeforce did put together - a paltry 39 goals! He actually scored more than those 4 new strikers who only managed 17 goals for us last season.

I honestly don't think he would come to us tbh, he said just as much last year. Wouldn't say no mind you. I think Snodgrass is a more realistic target and I'd be over the moon if we replaced Forrest with him. We need a few wingers now though. Does anyone know any other strikers we may be interested in?

I totally agree we should sign one or two guys in the 5/6 million region this year but I just don't think the policy at the club will allow it, a 2 million dud is bad but not overly serious but imagine we spent 5/6 million and it didn't work?
I honestly feel that our signing policy will catch up with us this season if we don't aim higher than potential, the champions league is the holy grail to maintain our current level and I have severe doubts about making it this year with 2 of our probable back 4 at the WC.
On another point I had a major dilemma wether to renew my season ticket this year as our signing policy / style /lack of competition and all round disharmony at the club made me question was my 500 pound worth spending on renewal, in the end I did but I'm still not convinced I did the right thing?part of me still thinks I shouldn't have renewed to let the money men know they have to do more to convince me

I might be wrong here but did Alitidore not score a barrel load in the Eredivisie last year but has only scored one in the EPL? I'm not saying Finnbogasson isn't a good player and I was one of the fans wanting him to come but last year but at the price quoted is he really worth the risk?

Agree Jim, can't see us signing anyone until our European fate is signed, sealed and delivered but as this has became the norm the past few years! Altidore scored 51 in 93 for AZ, that's not quite the same as Alfie Finn who has scored 59 in 66 for Heerenveen. Plus, the SFA/SPFL competitions aren't quite the EPL.

Am fed up to hearing about him do people not realise Ed he was on our radar when he was a Helsingborg player! He signed for dutch mob the week before we played them season before last in CL qualifier it was recognised then that Helsingborg had lost there threat going into the game! Anyway as a result of signing for a team who WAS a world class striker! his game has improved big time!

A know ED does not agree with on the need for a COACHING striker and that's fair enough

But John Park's overview / assessment of Fingbossan was that was ALL he was a poacher/scorer! a Kris Boyd type who outwith scoring did little he haw else it is difficult to see what has changed, he signed for Herneveen? for circa £600k

{Ed007's Note - I just don't think we should be shopping in the market for players who need taught how to score goals, fair enough for youngsters but if our first team strikers need to be taught to score goals then they simply shouldn't be our first team strikers. Who taught Larsson, Sutton, Scott McDonald, Hooper or even Commons how to score?}

I'm sick of the "what if it goes wrong" argument. Inventors, pioneers and those who dare to achieve don't ask such questions. Neither should a football club looking to progress. If we can sell players for that much, we can, no, should be buying players for that much. I don't care about money in the bank, I'd rather see it 'risked' on something better on the park. For the record I'm going to say this lad would be sensational for us.

Jamiebhoy is an attacking minded coach not what you mean? I agree with ed we shouldn't need a striker coach.The lads a finisher, just get the team creating more chances. It's the three or four behind a guy like Finnbogason that need the more coaching. He knows his job is to put the ball in the back of the net. The only trick is working out the best way to get it to him. It's simple really. A couple attackers behind him that can chip in with goals. Two attacking minded midfielders who are 'playmakers' and an anchor who is also capable of playing a pass. That's all we need to do.

Thanks Ed but giving where we are and the fact we are now looking to "purchase to sell at profit" ( I know it sticks in the throat)!

But we are rubbish at purchasing at this end of the park and we get fed is well "everyone wants a striker" its crap!

A would have loved big Sutton in there bit won't happen now! for sure

Finally in an agreement mode it is refreshing for someone to call/say what Seville is/was

If Peter Houston gets this no.2 post I will scream!

I would have thought goal scoring is a natural art. I am not so sure it can be coached . A striker coach could actually destroy the natural flair that strikers have . Strikers sometimes don't bring their goal scoring ability from one club to another .

JimTim a mean a STRIKER coach! that's it the most trusted coach at celtic is Stevie Woods has he not turned big FF around introduced to Yoga etc, got him first out at HT doing a routine etc

Did we not make Wanyama, Wilson, etc better players through coaches who played these positions?

We had the chance of the lad @ 600k he goes and signs for and is coachdd by Marco Van Basten now we are going to pay 6mill, a rest mycase

So @ 7 14 tonight the DR highlight that Henrik is fav to land the job

MaYBE big Sutton be No.2 after all lol

We also signed Harold brattback (spelling) most prolific striker in the world ratio wise! Couldn't hit a coo on the arse with a stick! Thanx for stopping 10 in a row Harold hail hail!

What would a striker coach teach them, the direction the goal is in? "Hit the ball with your laces son". It's the movement in and around the box, the positioning, passing moves, the urgency of them and overall technique in the final third that can be coached. I'm not sure there even will be any "striker coaches" as such. Fair enough coaches that were strikers but I'm pretty sure they're not getting paid just to show footballers how to hit the target. It's overall attacking play they'll be working on. Wilson who?

JimTim a was taught the "goals never move" but as your thread says movement, technique etc but also dealing with a "barren spell" expectations of playing of a club the size of Celtic etc

Why have a goalkeeping coach then it is much of an art to keep the ball out the net as it is to put it in!

Also who was the last to fill the No 7 jersey? KEANE we ain't getting the marquee signing we all want and getting fed the "nuggets" like VVD and Johnansen are getting harder to find! etc

Wilson as in Kelvin, we need to try something that is for sure!

Jim Tim what you say is the natural instinct of a striker, he either has it or else he hasn't . It cannot be coached or trained into a player. The difficulties some strikers can have is getting into the same timing as the other attackers. They need to make the run into the space to suit the other players.