Celtic Banter Archive December 29 2014

29 Dec 2014 20:30:42
Having to laugh at all the rumours on the go. Armstrong, cifti, Anya, the boy from St Mirren, the guy from Genk. If celtic buy gudetti for 3 million no way will PL spend another penny in January. Unless we sell Van Dike and then we will spend half of the profit from that deal with might bring in a couple to appease the fans. After the last few years transfer windows I can't believe that fans actually believe PL will splash the cash.

Markie I honestly know some ticket holders who didn't renew due to our inability to spend. Celtic have always had a fans favourite and if the fans are to come back then we must spend. Have to say based on current form 3 million for Guidetti ain't value for money

Can't see the sense in paying 3 million plus wages for Guidett. Now that he's hit a dry patch he doesn't look interested. Time for a change up front!

Hi Markie & Kev what's the betting we get "well know 1 wants to part with any 1 at this stage of the season"?

Like you am not holding my breathe but the powers at be need to do/give us something even to get bums on seats!

RD was their choice, now more than ever need to back him

atvb jb7

Markiebhoy, I cannot understand your seemingly surprise at the amount Celtic have spent and are likely to spend . Lawwell tries to keep out goings in line with our income . Is that a bad thing?

Chris02 or should I call you Peter?

July 2005 we were told that we had agreed a 6 million fee with Newcastle for Bellamy and even though we signed Zurawski and Bellamy went to Blackburn we were told we would spend the money on another marquee signing - didn't happen.

July 2010 told that all profits from sales would be invested back into the team. It did happen that year but only because Lennon was left a load of mince - never happened since.

May 2013 told we could shop on the 4 million pound player market as that kind of money was available. August 2013 Hooper, Wanyama and Wilson sold at a massive profit and no decent replacements.

January 2014 told we could shop in the 6 million pound player market. July/ August 2014 told by Peter that there is big wad of cash for players. Peter then takes a nice fat million quid from the clubs coffers as a salary and bonus.

Yes he has kept costs down but as I have said before the fans aren't being entertained and are finally saying enough is enough. We all know that Guidetti won't sign, Virgil will be sold eventually and inferior players will be brought in as replacements.

29 Dec 2014 23:24:51
Well Niall! There's not a chance in hell we're spending any real money either now or the summer! Virgil will be off for the 1st decent offer and if man city are lookin for 3 mill for guedetti in the final 6 months of his contract there's no chance Lawell payin that either! The fans aren't buyin at anymore! Just take a look at the crowds at celtic park if anyone thinks different! And I've listened to RD over the last couple of weeks,be it the young Norwegian or guedetti were he says he's in control of these situations! He's in control of nothing at parkhead! From getting his number 2 JC picked for him and getting a token couple of million for scepovic in the summer to keep us fans quiet! Any manager of ilk or pedigree who got offered the job on those terms would have ran a mile! KEANE LARSSON MOYES MACKAY! Who they tryin to kid!

You are right to call me Chris, I don't know about the historical bit you brought up but having examined this year's accounts as per those we received as shareholders I don't see evidence of a vast war chest available for the board to spend . Maybe you can see what I missed.
I think when you heard Lawwell say every pound bought in on transfer would be spent on players, you didn't realise he may have been including players wages and insurance and other players expenses . Surely you didn't think just transfer fees .
Celtic have a problem with buying players over the last four or five years. Those Celtic improve demand a move, those who are happy at the Celtic club enjoy themselves and are difficult to move . We are stuck with them .

Dangy, do you honestly think any of the names you mentioned could do a decent job for Celtic . They have one thing in common all failures as Managers .

@ 7) Happy to contradict you again Chris02! PL actually said " every penny brought in in transfers is reinvested out " to cover his ar$e! in a clever "quote" scenario which then accounts for the £3 MILLION spent on improving the Celtic Way entrance! to accommodate the jamboree that was the Commonwealth Games! As a few of us regular posters can vouch we are awaiting next years accounts to see (if anything)! was rewarded / given to Celtic to accommodate them!

To discover what PL "decanted" us for with the then pending important CL games! A think the sevconians tried to bill this as "state aid" the only real questions is how much was it? will it show up in the accounts? maybe not if it was "forty pieces of silver"

ATVB JB7

Chris02

So what you are saying is we made around 10 million on Forster and Watt and all this was spent on the fee for Scepovic, insurance and players wages?

Can I ask what the ticket money and merchandise profits are being spent on if not wages?

I wonder how some people have the neck to contradict people when they don't understand basic English . Maybe Ulsterscot is your first language, so I forgive you. What part of re-invest does not include signing on fees wages shoe laces boots etc etc . Lawwell. If he was put to his sword could clearly demonstrate where all the money that has come in on transfers have been spent. Did you check the accounts you got as a shareholder, or maybe you haven't any investment in the club . Just a mouth with nothing behind him .

NialH I would love to give you the details of where every penny that comes into the club goes . However one of your colleagues thought he was smart by mentioning that maybe I am Peter . Rather than list all the income and outgoings seeing that you are interested may I suggest that you too become a shareholder invest in the club that you are interested and then you will get the accounts for you to read at your leisure and so you will be able to answer your curiosity .

Jamiebhoy I am surprised at you tainting the Celtic banter forum by reporting ridicule from people from Sevco and even trying to add substance
Disappointed I thought better of you.

@ 11 ) "lawwell put to the sword" really? is that the same man that called YOU delusional @ the start of the season? btw I have plenty behind me for the record, but did you get your happy meal yet?

29 Dec 2014 15:57:10
Just had a look at the fixtures for the next few weeks, one home game out of eight, and that schedule could go a long way in defining our season.killy.

Said towards the start of the season after a somewhat poor start and unimpressive window I had doubts about us winning the league. Apologies in advance before anybody snaps. But in ways I still do and it's nearly january. This schedule as you say could catch up on us, which is why it's even more important the board improve the squad. It's funny, the more I've warmed to Deila the more it has crossed my mind it may be that he would in fact be a good assistant manager. What he's doing in a modernising, progression, sports science sense is only good. However, again apologies in advance for mentioning the man, but there are qualities NL and his staff have that the current coaching regime don't. That's about as much a rant as I'm going to have though. What RD is doing requires new players, time, and from our point of view, patience. I am certainly not calling for RD to resign! I also said at the start (after CL elimination albeit) that a successful first season for RD would be qualification from Europa group (tick), the league (as things stand tick) and one domestic cup (so far tick on two fronts). So, by my own ambitions, keep up the good work RD. Just stop telling us things are great after a bad game. Griw some a bit, highlight where things are going wrong and have the ruthlessness to give others a chance. Scepovic for me has to be given a run, Guidetti has gone a few without scoring, so at least give Stefan a couple games to get things right. However I realise at this time dropping Guidetti may do our chances of signing him some damage.

{Ed007's Note - Good points, Jimbo but a good manager should never publicly slate his players IMO. The manager is there to soak up that pressure, if you remember correctly NL took it to the extremes, any poor display was blamed on refs, the pitch, anything to take the pressure away from him, that's not the right way to do things either.}

Fair enough Ed every manager has their own style with regards to publically criticising players. Fergie didn't, Mourinho does. Personally I would never single out a player no. But areas of the team/game can be highlighted imo. I think RD doesn't quite have that fire in his belly that NL did. Although good in some ways, I'd like to hear a bit more desire for us to win when we don't. NL would have branded some performances this season as unnacceptable. Perhaps RD hasn't though because he, like me, knows it is just early days. One of my biggest criticisms of NL was whinging rabout refs actually. When Juve humped us I'm sure the refs performance was his first port of call in the post match interview. If anything that's just unsporting towards Juve!

A said very early JT that a thought he would have made a great asst manager to mate

When Moyes was spoken to whether or not Henrik Larsson or Roy Keane was first to be offered it both turned us down NL never did RD any favours IMO by declaring that he was being into to replace big Johan that undermined him from the off an Roy Keane said that his asst was already earmarked and non negotiable if he was to take the post and I think PL just ran out of options and gave it to RD

We all want him to succeed because even if you don't like him/ rate him its the carnage and upheaval that is left that is the most damaging!

But he has to stop telling us about the improvement because in all honesty it is not the case to the product on the pitch

ATVB JB7

Thought that was a bit disrespectful of NL too jamie, think RD soon got his own back by exposing the state that fitness levels had got to though.

29 Dec 2014 18:28:50
In think you are right! @jim tim

One of my criticisms of Deila is his unwilliness to cite or blame the referee.
Big Tony took it all on his chin and he got more "honset " than anyone else . I hope Deila's lackadaisical approach to the Scottish Brand of refereeing doesn't have bad consequences for him and us.
We have got over the real busy part of the season with so many European games and mid week League Cup games . Given any sort of decent run of decisions from those who ref our games and those who assist them I think we will win the league with games left .

@killy If and its a big IF we win 8 games now do you think Rd would get the credit he deserves!

Kev if he does go 8 games winning the lot, after four or five games most posters will go into hibernation, but not to worry should we lose one and draw one after that, they will all flood back on again with Deila's need to resign or time Celtic got rid of Deila

The thing is RD is here, let's give him the season & Discuss then.
I still can't believe that professional players were allowed to drink & eat what they wanted before Rd arrived, I thought it was a given that modern day players didn't drink coke, eat crisps etc.

Kev T I would have to say at the moment it's a big ask for us to win all eight games.If we do there will always be rd fault finders just the same as the anti ambrose brigade or any other player who has an off day, some of the stuff I read on here from celtic supporters beggars belief.killy.

29 Dec 2014 13:07:23
Can anyone explain our trip to Gran Canaria? Our manager has gone on about some of the players are tired and need a break, yet we are apparently playing 2 meaningless friendlies over there, some rest. It looks like Lawwell is trying to increase the club's bank balance again at the expense of the players as both games are on pay per view tv.

{Ed007's Note - Remember we done the same last year, Tim and went to Turkey to play in some meaningless, but profitable, tournament.
I'd imagine all the club's costs will be paid for by the organisers so it's a free holiday, Pedro won't even be paying for flights.}

29 Dec 2014 13:49:19
ED007 I had an idea Celtic would be gaining financially from it, at least players will get to train in the sun which might do them some good, but I seem to recall Deila saying after a host of pre season friendlies had left the team ill prepared for the CL that these friendlies must be curtailed. When we come back we have a tough away cup tie at Dundee, then Sevco, then Inter game so again not ideal preparations.

{Ed007's Note - If I remember things right NL wasn't best pleased with the Turkish trip last year either but it's up to Pedro what we do and where we go. I'm sure the manager and the players would rather have a break, play some golf, do some training, relax & recharge the batteries and do a bit of team bonding over a beer or two.}

I would say the club have got to service high costs both in salary payments and other costs and there's nothing wrong in maximising their income.they should have a big enough squad to cope with the two games anyway.I don't agree with Ronny's assessment if he said that players have played too many games by Christmas they're supposed to be athletes after all and this is an excuse used regularly for players losing form and a bit of sun on your back at this time of year shouldn't be a problem.

Are we not making mountains out of molehills can. Surely the two games are not going to be strenorous of mind or body . A week of heat and relaxation could well help the team to prepare for the difficult final months of the season . The problem for some of our posters is that this sunshine break may not cost the club money .

Totally agree Chris. All the things suggested by ed to make the team stronger would surely be better served in warmer weather. I know where I'd rather be playing golf or having a beer at this time of year. Throw in some light traing and a few friendlies to try some new things. It's like the break that they apparently need although I find any footballer making that complaint laughable but if that's what they want go and have a break whilst keeping them together.

Its team bonding too, Friendlies are never played at a quick tempo and its a way to test this 'formation' out against European team we could come up against in the EL

29 Dec 2014 03:08:06
I am open minded to both sides of a discussion before making up my own mind on the topic. Where a debate fails though is when people use cheap arguments. And in my opinion this non supporter rubbish lessens any good points made. Generally in football people will loose faith in there manager wether it's 5 games or 5 years. Unfortunately a lot of people seem to have lost faith in our manager, I respect there opinion as fellow celtic supporters. I don't believe that some one who shows concerns over a managers decision making and ability to manage our club should be branded a non supporter.

Couldn't agree more Gary. I don't necessarily agree with the posters who come on saying all is well give RD time. The difference between us is I respect there views and allow them there views without resorting to slagging them off. It not very classy. Markie

The thing is markie I like rd. he seems like an honest genuine hard working guy and he always conducts himself in a dignified manner. I think he will be given time to sort out his own team and his own ways. And we all hope he turns out to be a success. My concern with rd is some of his substitutions and post match comments are baffling. You just wonder if he is cut out for the massive demand of managing this club. Would he have lasted against strong domestic competition. that doesn't mean I want the guy removed it's just voicing some concerns.

Yeah I agree with you. Someone who doesn't like RD or has concerns with him can't make them less of a fan.
I just find it odd why there has been so much criticisms this term. It's clear that the manager has a plan for the future, and this will take time. CL was a disappointment but this has happened with every manager we have had in recent times. Surely we should have expected it. The players standards are dropping but hopefully this can be addressed the next few windows by either buying good players or bringing through the youth.
There is a clear lack of trust in the manager I think, which I do find worrying. He has started his career better than Lennon or strachan but has faced more criticism than either

Garrybhoy 1888 you are certainly not giving a ringing endorsement of Ronnie's tenure at Celtic .
It appears it's the noisy minority as those who are happy enough, tend to lie low and keep their opinions to themselves . You can see for yourself before the last couple of games there were very few posts re games we were winning. Now we have five times and more knockers coming on to discourage our manager and players .

Chris I am not convinced by the guy. But as I've stated I hope he can prove himself. And I wish him nothing but success. The point I was making was the people who have decided they do not want him as manager of there club anymore aren't any less of a supporter than you or I they just have different opinions. My biggest gripe was people being branded non supporters because they have a different opinion. Let's not forget your not convinced by guidetti I wouldn't class you a non supporter for having an opinion.

I will always brand fans who discourage Celtic players or the Celtic manager as not supportive . What I mean that the people in stands that hurl abuse at individual players can hardly be called supporters .
Similarly people who constantly ridicule the manager and/or players, can hardly be called supporters .
Surely supporters should encourage or help not make the task harder .