Celtic are still small fish in the shark-infested transfer market

They may be the undisputed kings of Scotland, but the Hoops still have some way to go to make their mark on the European stage.
Read more [Sportingo]

Reserve pre-season friendlies

While the first team head off to the Algarve via Southampton and Fulham and onto Rotterdam it's a little less exotic for the reserves and youths.

Albion Rovers, Livingston and Berwick Rangers will all be facing Celtic XI's as well as a visit to Ireland taking in Donegal Celtic, Newry Town and Bohemians.

Glentoran will be visited at some future date, but not in July I suspect.

FULL PRE SEASON LISTING
Read more [Video Celt]

Celtic Make Bold Attempt To Tap Into International Markets

CHAMPIONS APPOINT A DIRECTOR OF INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT TO PROMOTE THE BRAND
Read more [Mon The Hoops]

Man City Friendly at Celtic Park

On August 6th, Celtic will face Manchester City at Celtic Park. This will be the last warm up for the Bhoys before the season begins against St. Mirren. While there will be no chance of a Willie Nelson cover band after the show, City will be a decent test for the Bhoys. After a flying start to the season, City fell out of Champions League contention eventually, but finishing in the top half of the EPL and beating their Mancurian rivals twice is nothing to sneeze at. Of course, if this game is exciting as the friendly against Parma last year, fans should get complimentary pillows with their ticket.

Celtic hear about this whole “Northern Ireland” thing and Shaun Maloney?

Apparently the members of the Celtic board were informed that there were some minor tensions in the past in Northern Ireland. Seeing that more often than not the different sides of this little spat have very polarizing feelings on Celtic, the team decided not to go ahead with the friendly scheduled with East Belfast team Glentoran FC. Instead of a friendly with Glens, a Celtic XI will now be taking on, in much more Celtic friendly West Belfast, Donegal Celtic on July 23rd. Besides being a namesake, Donegal Celtic has been facing financial trouble and a high profile friendly like this might be able to help some of these woes. Without even getting into the politics of it, it seems like this is a much better friendly to help a club facing difficult times. As far as I know (and if anyone is aware, please correct me), Glens is not facing the financial trouble and it seems like a charitable thing to try and help out a struggling club. The day out against Glens at the Oval would probably had some good craic, but it seems more like the “Celtic” way to help Donegal Celtic.
In the wacky world of transfers, old Bhoy Shaun Maloney was reported to be having a wee sleep over at Celtic Park. The rumor was that Maloney was at Celtic Park to discuss a five year deal for “substantially” more than he was offered before he packed up and left to go down south. With Gordon Strachan oozing over the 4-5-1 formation that can become a 4-3-3 when the ball is possed during his time as a commentator for the Euros, one must wonder if Maloney is a piece that Ginger Baws is looking to put forth this plan. Sources inside Celtic Park have said that Strachan believes that a Roman Pavlyuchenko would be a perfect top man for this formation, but a Maloney could morph into one of those midfielder/striker types on the attack. Many Celtic fans have called Maloney less than flattering things such as “a greedy twat” and “a moneygrabber” and I can’t say I disagree. It finally seems that at the end of the year, Strachan found a formula that worked yet he is already wanting to change it up it seems. Hopefully this all just pish…

TAL

(The Picture meant to attract the female hoops fans to the blog, did it work eh? It was one of the first pictures that came up on Google Images…)

Sentanta Deal equals the close of CSCs?

Sorry for the silent weekend from me, as I was in the Land of Lincoln aka Illinois. Over the weekend, the big news for me was Celtic “signing James McFadden”…except that a jerk texted me a fake news story. The real story over the weekend was the SPL agreeing to a £125 million dollar contract with Sentanta to continue to broadcast the SPL until 2014. This of course means more money for all of the teams in the SPL, which can only be a good thing right? Unfortunately, while it might land a big signing and possibly increase the stature of the SPL, this move might be a continuation of pricing the average fan out of football. Perhaps the most effected might be the follower of the SPL in North America.
It has been reported that Sentanta will be increasing their subscription fee for the season. Perhaps it is to cover the now more expensive costs of the SPL or other leagues. No matter what, the bill will be much more expensive. Who is this going to hit the most? The former season book holder who could no longer afford his season ticket so he has to catch his beloved Celtic on TV or the North American supporter in the CSC who barely makes enough money to pay for the club’s subscription and now might not be able to afford it.

Listen, I’m not a class warrior and this is not an article on the proletariat or bourgeois, but it certainly seems that Celtic and the rest of the SPL are trying to maximize profits. The big clubs of the Old Firm Glasgow are certainly leading the way, trying to clean up their history, both the good and the bad to become a more profitable entity. In the world of modern football, where you need the big profits to sign the big players in a seeming endless cycle, this type of business practice is hardly new or unexpected. Yet, Celtic isn’t exactly in a bidding war with Real Madrid for the pretty Ronaldo, yet a “new”home kit will be released (let me give you a hint, there are still green and white hoops) for $80 American and be bought up. Celtic triumphantly announced that this year’s season book prices were frozen. ALL HAIL THE HEREOS OF THE WORKING CLASS! Or was it because people could not afford your raised prices from the previous season? No matter what, it seems that the “average” Celtic fan is being priced out of the club.

It’s a big thing to ask Seamus Workingman to spend his entire paycheck on Celtic for Half Dead crowds against Killie or extreme prices with Thomas Crook to European trips while fans who have been to every game are left out for Joe Corporate. And now, to seemingly price out the North American fan spending $15 a game to watch a small tv at 7 AM seems quite ludicrous. Sentanta has a decent product, but if no one in North America (I realize the price gauges effect all, but I am focusing on the CSCs in North America closing) sees it, you lose money. If people are not following the team, they aren’t buying replica kits, they’re not buying Celtic jewelry , and your losing your stake of the new football market that is North America.

The most disappointing of all this is Celtic’s history. If Celtic were Man U or Chel$ki well known for being a corporate entity this would be a less hard pill to swallow. The fact that the club WAS FOUNDED to help the poor Irish of Glasgow makes this more sickening. The questions we should be asking is…what would Brother Walfrid think of this? What would Willie Maley think of this? It might not be feasible to be putting soup on the tables of the poor and still be competitive, but I would like to hope that every Celtic fan regardless of occupation and class will be at least able to come to Celtic Park as a release from the troubles of his day, or at least watch it on tv but it seems like even these are becoming less and less possible.

TAL

STEIN SOLD HIS SOUL FOR A FEW £££

"Up until Jock Stein came, Celtic were nothing, absolutely nothing." Celtic had one or two decent players but as a team they amounted to nothing. Crerand was decent as was big John Hughes, but that was about it. We used to love humiliating them, rubbing their noses in it. Back then they ...
Read more [The Daily Hun]

KENNY MILLER HAS A SCORE TO SETTLE

Kenny Miller declared himself to be 'delighted, honoured and proud to be once again back at Ibrox with his 'ain folk'. Kenny also made it clear that he had a score to settle with Celtic chief executive Peter Lawwell, who he accuses of " humiliating and belittling' him, by forcing him ...
Read more [The Daily Hun]

SIR DAVID MURRAY IN GERS EURO SUMMIT

Gers Chief in Summons to Top Club Bosses to Thrash Out New League Plans. Rangers supermo, Sir David Murray has not been seen or heard from in recent weeks, since jammy Celtic won the league and rioting Chelsea fans trod all over the Gers Euro dreams in Manchester, but that doesn't ...
Read more [The Daily Hun]

Two Bhoys Going No Where

Shunsuke Nakamura will be a Celtic player next season, according to his agent.The 30-year-old midfielder had been linked with a move to Serie A club Bologna, something both Celtic and the Italians deny.Naka's agent has insisted the player has had no change of plan. It is believed he will fulfil the final year of his Hoops contract before returning to his homeland to play for Yokohoma Mariners.
Read more [St MacNissi CSC]

Oh dear, Hugh Keevins has done an Artur

- Jorge, that is, not Boruc

First, the facts. The Daily Record is a rag. Not only that, it’s a pro-Rangers rag as was shown when Messrs Murray and Bain (along with one or two SFA bigwigs), decided to hold off their “reaction” to the refusal of their request for a second league extension as an exclusive to the paper.

Beforehand, there were only complaints, suspicions, insinuations and, of course, an assessment of the output of a supposed newspaper where Rangers only “drop their interest” in potential signings whereas players Celtic have never even spoken to always seem to “snub” us.

Then, of course, there have been attacks on Celtic players, not least the world’s number one goalie, Artur Boruc, who has been continually abused in Scotland for his religion. However, Hugh Keevins felt he had to join in.

Keevins is a curious beast. It is probably true that Celtic fans working in the media face suspicion from both sides. The Celtic-haters demand that they show their impartiality by regularly indulging in unwarranted criticism of the club, while Celtic fans accuse them of selling out before a word is crayoned in.

But Keevins is almost unique in the calibre of his vindictive prose against Celtic. It was he who was banned from press conferences during the tenure of Kenny Dalglish.

It was also Keevins who mercilessly attacked a very intelligent, dignified and respected man in Dr Josef Venglos, haranguing him in post-match radio interviews and trying to ridicule a man who was superior to him in every qualitative measure.

But let’s not forget it was also Keevins who once told us of the fact that our next Celtic manager would be the Portuguese Artur Jorge. He was so certain and so wrong on that one that he was shown the door at The Scotsman, his credibility having gone the way of a claim of a £700million Ibrox superstadium.

Yesterday, however, he went one stage further. He clearly and verifiably lied about a named individual to convince readers – and there are mercifully few Celtic fans amongst them – that Shunsuke Nakamura was the subject of interest from Bologna.

It is almost unprecedented for the president of an Italian club to feel it necessary to respond to a story in a Scottish newspaper with Alfredo Cazzola declaring emphatically "that he has not released the long and detailed statement which appears on the website of a British newspaper talking about interest in Nakamura".

Cazzola went on to insist that "the statement was completely made up, and that he is appalled in the face of this scandalous way of doing journalism".
People in Scotland may be appalled; we may be angered but we are not surprised. How the numerous other titles that quoted the story in good faith will react will not be so clear.

However, the Daily Record has now been exposed to international ridicule and that will impact on the credibility of its news reporting as well as its fawning sports homage to David Murray.

His mischievous little story is surely a step too far. Or to paraphrase the man himself, it's time to “release the Clydebank one!”

He will not be missed.






Read more [the Celts are here]

Scotland vulnerable to racial intolerance gestated in football

Aiden McGeady is the victim of more racial crime than any other individual in Scotland. He is regularly the subject of assault and racial abuse and at 22-years-old, cannot walk the streets of Glasgow alone. I have sympathy for the police, who are seldom aware or involved in Aiden’s problems, I have sympathy too for the football authorities, who are charged with the responsibility of protecting young players from hoards of profane Neanderthals, but at a time of significant immigration, Scotland cannot be allowed to turn into a ghetto of racial hate. I have been reluctant to write about the truly awful, “go back home” chants heard from the visiting support at Celtic Park on Sunday, as I am a Scot, and feel the image of my country has been violated by such racial intolerance, but the slide must be stopped. Football has been hijacked as a breeding ground for racial intolerance all over the world and difficult though it is to combat, Fifa and Uefa have found ways. Whether it is a Polish goalkeeper celebrating a Polish Pope (and goalkeeper) or a Scottish born winger playing for Ireland, which he is entitled to do, Scotland’s institutions; the police, football authorities, education authorities, the media, even you and I, must continue to repeat the mantra; One Scotland, many cultures, until its resonance penetrates the thickest of skulls. Aiden in particular needs all our support; he is not here to become a poster boy for protest, he just wants to play for Celtic and enjoy a normal life.
Read more [Celtic Quick News]

Aberdeen - Dundee United game could determine final day motivation

One of the reasons points look so difficult to collect right now is that two of the top six are chasing the league title and another three are chasing the Uefa Cup spot, but Aberdeen have an interesting couple of weeks ahead. They play Dundee United at home next, followed by a visit to Motherwell. With Motherwell, Hibs and Dundee United all playing Celtic and Rangers over this period, Aberdeen will hope that two wins will bridge the gap and set them up for a final day showdown against Rangers. Of course, if they beat Dundee United on Saturday, only a point for United at Ibrox is likely to see them still in the hunt for a Uefa place when they play Celtic on the last day.
Read more [Celtic Quick News]

Oh Rangers did you really think it’s over?

Rangers had not lost to Celtic after getting their noses in front in 15 years, so they must have felt they had done enough yesterday when they edged in front. Celtic Park was at its very best though, which I am sure helped drag the team off the ropes and on to victory. Perhaps one small aspect of getting the mood right was the return of some traditional supporters songs on the PA system. Getting the tone right with traditional music is more difficult than getting it wrong, so well done to whoever made the call yesterday. More please against that lot from Hibernia.
Read more [Celtic Quick News]

One away win against top six opposition all season for Rangers

Rangers will enter May with still talking their league chances up, but with only a single league victory from seven away games against top six opposition all season; over Hibs, who won at Ibrox. With a full nine months of the season expired, the premise that they cannot handle pressure away to reasonable SPL opposition appears irrefutable. They have visits to Hibs, Motherwell and Aberdeen, as well as St Mirren still to come. Celtic have won five of their eight away encounters against top six opposition, and have away games against Motherwell and Dundee United to play, where they won 1-4 and 0-2 respectively earlier in the season, two of their best away results all season. All Celtic could do these last two weeks is win their games and put Rangers under pressure. If the Rangers players are as exhausted after yesterday’s game as I was watching it I don’t fancy their chances of handling that pressure. Extra time and penalties for the work-shies in Florence please.
Read more [Celtic Quick News]

Lusty celebrations the sign of a team reborn

Even though Rangers played as well as they have at Celtic Park in years, they still ended up losing to a Celtic fight back which will live long in the memory. I am never concerned when Celtic defend a corner kick; although I cannot give you the stats, we lose very few goals this way, so as well as the predictable frustration of conceding two ‘preventable’ goals (aren’t they all) I was genuinely surprised. Barcelona hadn’t lost a headed goal all season until they arrived in Glasgow two months ago, when Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink and Barry Robson both scored headers in the first 45 minutes, which was not statistically (or tactically) significant, so I have to conclude that losing two goals direct from a corner today does not reach statistically significant proportions for Celtic. What may be more significant is the ratio of goals we lose to direct attempts on target. There can be few more satisfying goals than one which comes from both your strikers linking up. 11 days ago it was McDonald who headed on for Vennegoor of Hesselink and today Jan returned the compliment. Both players looked tired and off form recently which for me was typified in the penalty miss by McDonald against Rangers, but that injury time winner seems to have changed things. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a player who didn’t score celebrate as lustily as Scott McDonald did then. He set up a really important goal and it looked as though a weight had been lifted from his shoulders. His touch, which we have despaired at recently, was perceptively better against Aberdeen last week and when I met a couple of CQN’ers before kick-off I predicted he would be our winning player today. Can you tell me when we signed the hard man, Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink? His tackling in both Rangers games this month was uncompromising, it’s as though he has realised that these games are as much about the physical battle as silky football. He was not the only hard man today, Robson and Hartley again were up for the battle, even Samaras knew when to make an important foul. Talking about lusty goal celebrations, what can we make of Mr 167%, Barry Robson? I get the feeling this guy is loving every minute of life as a Celtic player. He also showed the experience we missed in central midfield earlier in the season, as the match drew to a close he held the ball and carried it into space. He even tried a cheeky wee one from a corner kick that hit the post. First name on the team sheet for me.
Read more [Celtic Quick News]