Plenty of maybes in the last sentence Bandage.
I think I’ll go for Vennegoor of Hesselink 10 on the back of the white or the green top but I prefer the big writing. That will look stupid though if he’s wearing a different font altogether.
Next choices would be McGeady, then Maloney (though I may wait for the latter to sign a new contract)!
I have Naka 23 on the white one (should have got McGeady 46) and Maloney 29 on the home. Really want Jan but wouldn?t be disappointed with Aiden. Might still get The Telf for the laugh if Strachan doesn?t punt him this this evening.
The same way that teams sign Japanese players (or Beckham) to increase their shirt sales in the Middle East, signing Venegoor of Hesselink seems like a blatant attempt to make money off selling lots of lettering for the backs of those shirts. You should just have “Jan” put on in protest.
Just got the new away jersey. Miller 9 (long sleeved ofcourse!). Looking forward to this day next week.
Miller 9!!! That?s incredibly gamey mate.
Like I expected when I went in on Saturday and asked for Vennegoor of Hesselink 10 I was met with a blank stare and informed that they wouldn?t have the template ready for 2 weeks. I plumped for McGeady 46 instead and hope the youngster continues on with his excellent form. Getting Maloney 29 on the home jersey last season wasn?t a bad omen for Shauny so I?m confident Aiden will keep impressing.
My favourite players for the Hoops have always worn nine. - McAvennie, Big Pierre and Sutty. I Think Miller is class. Ok he hasn’t scored yet but he is waiting for September 23rd before he does that!!! His work rate is second to none, he tracks back the whole time, has set up a number of goals so far this season, is extremely fast and fit and very good at going by people. Once he gets one under his belt there will be no stopping him.
I hope you’re right about (King) Kenny. Apparently he was sensational up front on his own for Scotland in Lithuania tonight and away is where we always said he would be most crucial, especially with his pace.
With the week dragging a bit because of the internationals (seems to be longer when Ireland are not playing) we may as well start the sepculation about next week. What team and formation would you go for? Maloney’s not going to be back until the week after and Bobo hopes to be fit for Saturday but it would be too risky to play him against ManU having been out since April imo.
Initially I favoured a 4-5-1 with Vennegoor of Hesselink up front on his own and Naka and Aiden breaking from the wings. But now I think maybe Kenny’s electric pace may give them something to think about but if they play 4-4-2 away at Old Trafford with Neil Lennon (no pace) in midfield then they might simply get overrun.
I’m stuck between a 4-5-1:
Boruc
Wilson, Caldwell, McManus, Naylor
Gravesen, Lennon, Pearson
Nakamura, McGeady
Hesselink
and a 4-4-2:
Boruc
Wilson, Caldwell, McManus, Naylor
McGeady/Naka, Lennon/Pearson, Gravesen, McGeady/Pearson
Miller, Hesselink
I honestly don’t have a fooking clue. I’ll need to watch the game on Saturday lunchtime and then reassess.
What a tosser Lou Macari is. His comment about the pre-season friendly this season is laughable. It was two reserve teams playing eachother - he doesn’t know enough about Celtic to have realised that at the time. Also saw him previewing the Champions League draw when he said Celtic were 5 or 6 players short of progressing in the CL. Yer man asked him what about Vennegoor of Hesselink? Macari said “… eh … I’m not sure he’s good enough.” It was blatantly obvious he’d never even heard of him, nor did he know he’d just joined Celtic.
Macari expects Celtic to struggle
11/09/2006 - 12:25:59
Lou Macari believes Artur Boruc and the rest of his back-line have to pull off performances of a lifetime just for Celtic to avoid defeat to Manchester United at Old Trafford.
The former United and Hoops star does not expect anything other than an English success on Wednesday night but he does not think it will be as one-sided as many think when Group F gets underway this week.
Macari said: ?Boruc is going to have to have a blinder and he and his defenders really need to be at top form and realise that they are up against much better players than in the SPL.
?The back four and the goalkeeper need to produce the games of their lives to get a result. But I?m not so sure that?s going to happen for them.?
He added: ?If you look at previous encounters between them then it is not promising for Celtic. Not so long ago United beat Rangers and I got the shock of my life that night at the gap between the two teams.
?That night the gulf was enormous and even though it was 3-0 it could have been five or six. When you weigh up those things you have to say this fixture is going to be exceptionally tough for Celtic.
?But when you look at the Champions League results in recent seasons, and results at the World Cup and throughout the world, it proves anything can happen.
?It gives everybody the opportunity. I saw Arsenal five or six times before Christmas last season and they were absolutely shocking and they got to the Champions League final. The year before Liverpool were similar. They were average in the Premiership and they actually won the Champions League.
?But Celtic have to ride their luck to hold out and everything has to drop for them for a shock.?
United inflicted a 3-0 defeat on Celtic in July ? even though Alex Ferguson?s young side were weeks behind the home team in terms of pre-season fitness.
?You have to worry about Celtic,? added Macari. ?Although United won up in Glasgow 3-0 it could have been five or six and United were well below strength.?
Even though Macari expects a United win this week, he expects Celtic still to go through in second place.
?I can see United winning the game because they are bang on form but I don?t think it will be a landslide victory by any means,? he said. ?I don?t think those travelling supporters from Glasgow will go away too disappointed.
?They will obviously disappointed with the outcome but they won?t be too bothered in the grand scheme of things.
?I do think if they play to their best in the other games then the group is tailor-made for them to go through. The group definitely gives them a chance to go through. I was delighted they were drawn in this group.
?When you look at the other groups they would be tough for Celtic but this is a great draw for them. Forget about the glorious name of Benfica. They are not the team they were and I think Celtic could beat them and FC Copenhagen at Celtic Park and go through in second.
?The draw has been kind to Manchester United and it gives Celtic a real fighting chance.?
Lou Macari is a bitter fook after being run out of Celtic after the pathetic job he did as manager. Didn’t he spend a few years trying to get a shit load of money out of them without success?
I just hope Celtic do themselves justice on Wednesday night after all the debates we had on this sight about the strength of them in comparison to English sides.
This could be the game that see Strachan accepted into the arms of the Celtic faithful once and for all!
A bit of a come down from the thrills and spills of Wednesday night today with a 1-0 win at home. Apparently they played well in the first half and should have had a few but second half was poor enough. Naka and Naylor are taking all the plaudits on the HB. Pissed off big Jan didn’t score after the money I had on him and Kenny’s drought continues. I believe after 8 games without a goal (16 including pre-season) he must be destined to open his account next Saturday against the huns. Think I’ll have a cheeky bet on that - imagine the celebrations if that happens.
Bit of a query in relation to the Celtic bench today. A good few bhoys are dismayed that Riordan wasn’t in the 18 (he scored 20 goals for Hibs last season) especially considering Kenny’s 0% strike rate. The Beat wasn’t on the bench either, Magic being the only striker. One guy reported that Strachan mentioned on the radio it’s because the SPL have a rule that you have to have at least 2 Under 21s in your squad or on your bench and that’s why young Jim O’Brien, who’s never played for the first XI, was on the bench. Others said this was scheidt, any of you able to enlighten me?