He’s the one with the briefcase I presume?
Very witty bandage. Christ if you’d told me a week ago we’d sign a left back of any description, Vinegar Hill and Gravesen I’d have creamed myself.
It’s mad isn’t it? Vinegar Hill, cracking CL draw, wonder debut by the big Dutch man, McGeady really beginning to show he can be a superstar, now Tommy G. Celtic signing players from Real Madrid and PSV. Now I’m spoilt and I want more. It’s in effect Gravesen for Stan and ?6m into our pockets too. Big Sam Allardyce will be sitting at home wondering how it is all these players are coming to Celtic!!! I wonder do they have any centre backs secretly on their radar. Imagine getting a quality CB before Thursday. That would be immense.
If we are getting Gravesen for 2million, why not keep Petrov. We would have some midfield then. Can we afford ?2m without selling Petrov?
Does anyone know what the current status of Kennedy is? He was back training and playing 5 aside at the beginning of the summer.
Fuck a centre back and we would have a cracking team with good squad players as back up.
My 11 would be:
Bourc
Wilson McManus Bobo Naylor(haven’t seen him play but reports say he had a good match.)
McGeady Petrov Gravesen Maloney
Vinegar Miller
I think it’s because of the fact that Petrov so desperately wants to leave that they’re considering selling him. I agree that there’s no point holding onto an unhappy player. Stan Petrov is not bigger than Celtic and kudos to the board for holding out for a great price. They easily could have buckled and sold him to Portsmouth for 5m or less a month ago. I still have time for Petrov and at least Celtic will get the money in to strengthen the squad, there was none of this winding down his contract so he could leave on a Bosman so he’ll be happy to rejoin O’Neill and Celtic will be happy with the fee. A win-win in my opinion.
rock, got this email from a guy in Celtic today after I complained about the ticket fiasco. Others on the HB got similar from the same bhoy and they all said he’s sound and been very helpful about various things in the past. Would you be able to gather the details together so we can email him back. I doubt they’ll fully refund people but they might offer some kind of discount/part refund etc.
'Thank you for your e-mail regarding the Champions League fixture dates published on the website.
To assess the extent of the situation, we are currently compiling a file of all supporters who have booked travel and accommodation on the strength of this information.
In order to assist with this, we would ask that you please forward a copy of all relevant booking details and costs incurred.
Thank you for your patience.’
Regards
Mark
Forwarding on the flight confirmation emails to ya now. Maybe we should ask for tickets for the Man U away game or something?
Forgot to say earlier the last I read about Kennedy is that he’s been training and kicking it about in the 5 asides but hasn’t played a proper contact game yet and won’t until the end of September in the reserves. Obviously taking it very slowly with him and hopefully he’ll come through and be in first team contention come December, a good 33 months after the horrendous tackle by that fook.
After taking a ‘sick’ day to monitor the Gravesen situation I was very worried about things this morning. But like Depeche Mode I should have enjoyed the silence. He’s at Celtic Park now and about to sign.
There’s also talk of some Dutch player’s agent being there. I’m going to take a stab at Van Der Vaart because I don’t know any good Dutch centre backs.
Looks like Gravesen has left Glasgow without signing. Speculation that either (a) Celtic are waiting for Stan to leave before finalising or (
He is considering EPL offers.
Talk that he failed his medical and Celtic are renegotiating a ‘pay as you play’ deal. His agent expects things to be cleared up tomorrow morning. The fact that he’s gone off to Denmark and not to talk to another team suggests that Celtic are still in pole position to sign him. I believe he had a knee injury towards the end of last season and that may have caused the difficulty. Can’t quibble if Celtic are protecting themselves from potentially paying a large salary to an injured player so hopefully they can sort something out between them tomorrow. If not, then Petrov stays and that’s that!
http://home.skysports.com/list.aspx?...es+Celtic+deal
Thomas Gravesen has revealed he has agreed a deal with Celtic.
Celtic’s move for Real Madrid ace Gravesen was cast in doubt on Tuesday when the player left Glasgow without signing a contract.
Gravesen left Scotland to return to Copenhagen on Tuesday to link up with his international team-mates ahead of this weekend’s Euro 2008 qualifier.
Celtic agreed a ?2 million deal with Real earlier this week and Gravesen held talks and underwent a medical at Parkhead.
Some reports had suggested that the deal was in the balance, but the former Everton star has admitted he has reached an agreement with Bhoys boss Gordon Strachan.
“I can only say Gordon Strachan, John Sivebaek (Gravesen’s agent) and myself have come to an agreement and we are going to release a statement tomorrow,” Gravesen told the Daily Record.
Gravesen is expected to sign a three-year deal at Celtic and his arrival could pave the way for Stilian Petrov to join Aston Villa.
That?s excellent news. There?s still talk that there?s going to be one other coming in that nobody is aware of yet.
rock, pagey, anyone, there is talk of one of the Hibs young midfielders Scott Brown or Kevin Thomson coming. I have only seen them a couple of times against Celtic and they looked good players. Brown scored at Celtic Park on Saturday and is an attacking player whereas Thomson is more a deeper midfield player in the passing, get the team flowing mould. I think there?s enough attacking threat there now from midfield but would really like to see a Thomson style player there to replace Lennon. If Petrov goes too and with Alan Thompson only a bit part player and Jarosik yet to convince I?d like a second central midfielder to come along with Gravesen.
Do you rate either of these Hibs guys? Any thoughts?
I know little enough about either of them but from what I’ve read I’d be inclined to agree with you about Thomson. It’s a defensive guy we should be looking at because Gravesen and Jari will get forward like Petrov used to then it’s coverage for Lennon that is required. Interesting to see if Sno develops into that role however.
Petrov gone to Villa - from their official site:
WEBFLASH: Petrov Signs
Midfield playmaker Stiliyan Petrov has signed for Villa on a four-year deal.
The 27-year-old Bulgarian international becomes Martin O’Neill’s first signing since arriving as manager at Villa Park.
The fee for the transfer from Celtic is undisclosed although press reports have suggested it could be as much as ?8m.
Petrov joined the Hoops in July 1999 for ?2million from CSKA Sofia, but struggled to make an impact under then head coach John Barnes following his move.
However, when O’Neill arrived at Celtic Park, the midfielder flourished, helping the team towards a domestic treble before breaking his leg in an SPL game at St Johnstone in March 2001.
Petrov was an integral part of the Celtic team which reached the UEFA Cup final in 2003 where Porto defeated the Hoops in extra-time in Seville.
Tommy G has signed:
Celtic Football Club is delighted to announce that it has signed midfielder Thomas Gravesen from Real Madrid. Danish internationalist Thomas (30), has signed a three-year contract with the club, with Celtic having the option of a further year.
Thomas said: "I am delighted to have joined Celtic, one of the biggest clubs in the world. When I was made aware of Celtic?s interest, naturally, I was very keen to talk to the club and now having spoken to the Manager, the Chief Executive and other people at the club, I am very excited about this move.
"I am eager now to get going and do all I can for Celtic. I look forward to meeting up with my new team-mates next week. The team did brilliantly last season to win the Championship and together we will be trying to retain the title and do as well as we can in the Champions League.
"I know other Danish players who have had the opportunity to play with Celtic and they have nothing but great things to say about the club. I have also visited Celtic Park for matches, where the atmosphere is tremendous and I am very much looking forward to playing there.
“I am aware of Celtic?s magnificent support and I will be doing all I can to bring as much success as possible to the club, for the fans to enjoy.”
Celtic manager Gordon Strachan said: "Thomas has shown great desire to play for Celtic and it is very clear that he is looking forward to joining the club. He is a player with great ability, experience and character ? qualities which could enhance any team.
“We are delighted to have secured his signing and we hope he will be a valuable addition to our squad.”
And Celtic Chief Executive Peter Lawwell, added: "It is fantastic that we are able to welcome a player of Thomas?s quality to Celtic Park.
"Having spoken to Thomas, it is clear that he is for ready for the challenges which lie ahead. His passion for the club is incredible and he is extremely positive about his move to Celtic. We are sure he will be a great signing.
“Thomas is the third player we have signed in the last few days and the Board is delighted to continue to support Gordon?s plans for the squad.”
Thomas Gravesen will be officially unveiled next week at Celtic Park, with further details to be announced.
Sometimes think footballers make themselves out to be stupid …
Heard Gareth Barry, Villa’s captain on the radio this afternoon. Delighted with Petrov he says an outstanding footballer. Although I havent seen much of him to be honest, obviously, as he has been playing in Scotland.
So presumably the guys at Villa have no access to TV or maybe they just don’t acknowledge the existence of “foreign” leagues. Coooooonts.
Read a good interview with Gravesen in, off all papers, the Daily Record. Says his Dad was mad for him to join after he took him to a Champions League game at Celtic Park a few years ago. Said his auld lad filmed the support singing ?You?ll Never Walk Alone? and listens to it all the time. Also mentioned that Morten Wieghorst got him into Celtic and also Alan Stubbs when he joined Everton. When he was with Everton he used to go watch Celtic all the time ? he was at Blackburn for the UEFA Cup win and has been to testimonials at Old Trafford where Celtic were playing. Has also been to loads of Old Firm games and Rangers invited him up as a guest for one a few years back but he didn?t want to be a guest at Ibrox so told them where to go. He also spoke to Henrik about the move as they got to know each other in Spain but it was mainly his father who was adamant he should come to Celtic.
Said there was no hitches at all depsite the delay. It seems Celtic wanted to extract the best possible price out of Villa for Petrov and didn?t want to announce the Gravesen deal before Petrov was sold for fear Villa wouldn?t match the asking price. You can picture Villa saying ?well you got Gravesen for ?2m so why are you holding out for ?8m for Petrov from us? So Lawwell and Strachan asked him to keep things under the carpet until Stan was on his way. It?s scary but it almost seems Celtic are being run very professionally (not counting their website and ticket office).
I was reading that about his dad alright - legend in the making is Tommy G.
Not sure I’m all that happy about today’s events. Delighted to be getting cash for Varga and Wallace (Varga especially as he was a free agent a couple of weeks ago) but I think we’re very short on cover at the back now. The bhoy Cuthbert looks a player but he is untested - missed out on pre-season with the senior team because Scotland U19s were going well in that tournament. We could use some cover if we can get it.
The new black and green kit is out today. Depending on how pished I am I aim to get up early and pick it up in town on Saturday before the Ireland game.
Definitely want to get Vennegoor of Hesselink 10 on the back but some dude just posted on the HB telling people to hold off getting him as they?re making special condensed lettering to fit better on the back and it won?t be available for a few more weeks. Otherwise I?ll get McGeady 46 or Gravesen 16.
Maybe letting Varga go is a risk but I?d snap that cash right out of their hands. Maybe they?ll get a centre back in tonight ? I?d take Gallas ? but if not maybe it?s a sign that they?re happy with Kennedy?s progress and have faith in Cuthbert.