The Official Celtic Thread - Part 5

[scoobytwo]

nope, couldnt stand them or the signers voice. still think mansun is a rotten name for a band as well.

[Dee]

So Dee these Trap rumours...waht have you heard?

Things started getting a bit heated the other night Estey. Calls and texts saying that his appointment may be imminent and Denis O'Brien was meeting him along with Desmond. It has went all quiet again so who knows if it was just the rumour mill going in to meltdown or if there was some substance to it. My biggest doubt was whether a 71yr old who has a cushy and well paid international post (with its minimal hours) would want to ditch that for the stress of a full time job with Celtic? I also don't see how the Lennon for No2 part of the rumour would work because surely Trapattoni would bring Tardelli with him. If anything it may be an advisory/director of football role for Gio with Lennon manager..............

[esteban_c]

Wow thanks Dee - I was wondering about the whole NL side of things. Could imagine him and McStay and Mjallby staying as coaches or youth team coaches.

I would take Trap, Marco and Liam back as the management team but Liam would probably get moved up to Eire manager if Trap goes.

Head coach would do me - I was checking out some quotes from Trap and he can handle the media up here no probs:

Trapattoni’s Salzburg address. Roughly translated as

“Our training is strong. Is modern. Training wins also. I have 21 trophies. There is blah, blah, blah from you. Fools write who know nothing. Blah, blah, blah, blah. I can understand people paying. No problema. Let whistle. Is right. Have lost. But run 90 minutes! I am a professional in psychology. We train, make fitness. You people always make qua, qua, qua. BAD WORD fools!”

Its whether he is hungry enough for club management and we can give him the cash he wants.

[Steff]

interesting wee read from a Boston paper
http://www.boston.com/sports/soccer/...on:twit:soccer

Celtic-Rangers game should be held at Gillette, not Fenway

By Mark Stokes

Concerts, Little League games and father-and-son days have worked at Fenway Park when the Red Sox are not in town, but the proposed Celtic-Rangers game, which could take place on the hallowed ground in July, is wrong on so many levels.

Monumental interest has been generated among local fans since this story aired last week, the brainchild of Sam Kennedy of the Fenway Sports Group. While Kennedy should be commended for his willingness to bring one of the greatest soccer experiences there is to our doorsteps, the reality is that Gillette Stadium is the only sensible option for such an event.

Few who witness an Old Firm game ever forget it – the pride, passion and banter generated at one of the world's biggest derby contests is second to none. Nothing this writer has experienced in the world of sports has ever compared with the rivalry between these clubs – just think of Game 7 of a Sox-Yankees ALCS, and multiply the intensity and multiply again.

For those who've not seen the happenings at Scotland's most passionate affair, a look (on YouTube) at a rendition of 'You'll Never Walk Alone' is sure to whet the appetite.

The fixture is a perfect fit for the Boston area given that both clubs will be in the United States at the time – Celtic scheduled to meet Manchester United in Toronto on July 16 or 17, while Rangers are reportedly locked into games in Miami and New York.

There’s little doubt that an Old Firm derby at Gillette Stadium would sell out, which raises questions initially about the wisdom of settling for Fenway, a venue half the size of Gillette. Sales of tickets for Gillette would see both clubs gross about $1 million each, which after all, is what had them interested in the first place.

Celtic has tens of thousands of fans across America, with some 13 supporters clubs located from coast to coast. The team will draw on that support and the thousands more traveling from Scotland, Ireland, Australia, and many other parts of the globe. Rangers, the newly minted Scottish champions, are also well catered to Stateside, all of which makes a carnival atmosphere and plenty of revenue for the city of Boston a slam dunk.

All roads point to Gillette Stadium for economic reasons, yet the bigger issue is one of security.

Old Firm contests have been associated with some of the worst violence seen in the game (having narrowly escaped the mayhem visited on north Dublin by Rangers fans in the 80's, I can vouch for that).

While it is recognized that not all Rangers fans involve themselves in extracurricular activity, one can't help wonder how the city of Boston will fare out after a Fenway game, should the Rangers faithful feel the need to express themselves, as they did in Manchester in 2008.

Following their team’s defeat in the UEFA Cup final, the blue clad fans left parts of Manchester in shambles and forced the local constabulary to don full riot gear to restore order.

But Rangers have a long history of violence on their travels, dating back decades. Who can forget their pitch invasion in Barcelona in 1972, which earned the club a one-year ban from European competition?

The same fans brought their particular brand of fanaticism to Romania last year, clashing with police who were forced to use tear gas. Back home last December, the unruly ones saw fit to engage the fans of Hibernian, for which one of their number received a five-month jail sentence and 10-year ban from all football stadia.

With Spanish police reporting Rangers violence in 2006 (Villareal) and 2007 (Barcelona), the list goes on and on, right up to Edinburgh last Sunday, where there was unrest between Rangers and Hibernian fans once again after the Blues won the Scottish title.

Most notably, disaster struck at Rangers’ Ibrox Stadium in 1971 following a crush-barrier failure, but it is widely accepted that the tensions between Celtic and Rangers fans played a major part in the 66 deaths that day (many of whom were children).

Celtic by comparison, can be charged with ... well, not much at all. A green and white clad fan invaded the pitch and struck the Vienna goalkeeper at Old Trafford in 1984, after the club was ordered to replay a European game.

If their archrivals have dragged the name of Glasgow through the mud, it must be said that Celtic fans have done their best to restore the good name. Indeed the same Manchester police who struggled to contain the Rangers fans commended Celtic’s for their behavior in a recent friendly vs. Manchester United.

If any evidence was needed as to the pedigree of supporters of the green and white, it surely comes from the Mayor of Seville, Alfredo Sanchez Monteseirin, who was so moved by Celtic's supporters that he wrote a letter to Glasgow’s Lord Provost Liz Cameron.

Having traveled to that city's Stadio Olimpico for the UEFA Cup final in 2003, Celtic fans, who numbered about 85,000 according to best estimates, just would not fit in the 60,000 seat facility. Thirty-five thousand ticket bearing Scotsmen made it inside the stadium while the remainder watched the game in local bars and parks.

"I would like to send publicly the congratulations of the City of Seville to the fans and, in general, to all the citizens of Glasgow. We hope to see you again in Seville on a similar occasion, when you will surely be luckier on the playing field."

Lord Provost Cameron said: "I am proud and delighted that the Mayor of such a lovely city as Seville has praised the Celtic fans so highly. I was in Seville for the game and saw how the fans created a party atmosphere. The fans were wonderful ambassadors for Glasgow and maintained the city’s good reputation across Europe."

Voicing his concerns about Fenway Park and Rangers fans marauding through Boston afterwards (and in the process giving a big thumbs up to Gillette Stadium), local Celtic Supporters Club chief Billy Ramsey says: “Segregation is going to be a major issue. Maybe if they gave them (Rangers) the bleachers and us the seats it might work.”

All things considered, the assumption must be that the Boston Police will be 'on top of their game' when Celtic and Rangers come to town. The BPD is reserving comment on the game until it is confirmed, I was informed by a department spokesperson on Tuesday.

An historic soccer game at Fenway Park is something we all want, but not at the cost of blood-stained faces, smashed store fronts and police sirens from Kenmore Square to Fanueil Hall. Celtic vs. Rangers at Fenway Park - let's hope it is remembered in years to come for all the right reasons.

[Lovely Pants]

Wonder what his roots are.



Edit: Actually reading further into that, there is a pretty disgusting part of that article.

[Nacho10]

Most notably, disaster struck at Rangers’ Ibrox Stadium in 1971 following a crush-barrier failure, but it is widely accepted that the tensions between Celtic and Rangers fans played a major part in the 66 deaths that day (many of whom were children).

Since when exactly!

[Keenan]

"Rangers, the newly minted Scottish champions"

[Dez]

Most notably, disaster struck at Rangers’ Ibrox Stadium in 1971 following a crush-barrier failure, but it is widely accepted that the tensions between Celtic and Rangers fans played a major part in the 66 deaths that day (many of whom were children).

Stopped reading there.

Ignorant journalism isn't exclusive to the west of Scotland (and the Daily Mail) it would seem.

[Humphrey]

You only posted that cos it basically says Rangers fans are thugs and Celtic rans are angelys by comparison

[esteban_c]

...and better looking. It did say that didn't it?

[Nacho10]

...and better looking. It did say that didn't it?

judging by the car park brigade when Keane signed... I would suggest you aren't.

[Lovely Pants]

judging by the car park brigade when Keane signed... I would suggest you aren't.

"Scholes, thats whitt he'll get ye is Scholes."

[Lovely Pants]

Celtic done the Under 19s Cup Double tonight.

First goal was crazy good, the guy had been on the park like 2 minutes and scored a cracked, second came from a guy who came on and took even less time to score than that... Was weird.

In all honesty I thought Rangers had the better of the game which is easier to be happy about at this level. As I said anyone who went in the Celtic end tonight would have had a great night in with the Green Brigade, the most Ultra-like performance I've seen from any crowd in the UK.

Seems there was a group of around 500 or so walking together to the ground which I think I predicted, if not then I meant to, and thats not counting yer average fan that would have joined them in the ground.

[Dee]

Great stuff tonight from the GB and the team. Something to cheer about, wooohoooo

Oh and tonights crazy rumour is:

John J Fisher (US business man - owner of GAP - already a shareholder) and/or Irish Billionaire Denis O'Brien to buy Dermot Desmond's shares. Big investment and Martin O'Neill to return home and Lennon to remain part of the coaching staff.

[horrorshow69]

Aye unlike the dire-fest friendly against AZ Alkmaar I attended this evening.

Was a bit of a training game with a frings squad. Celtic probably should have won and a couple of saves their goalkeeper pulled off were sensational McGinn had a "McCourt" moment, skinning half the team then hittin ghte post which was good but in the end I think we'll probably have seen the last of some players.