Remember the phantom tackle on Joe Aribo from Ryan Porteous?

Remember the uproar at the “intent” that was being claimed by pundits and reporters that the boy could have ended Aribo’s career if there was contact?

I do. I also remember Clyde 1 pundit Alex Rae being apoplectic about Porteous’ tackle on the show and making and claiming that these kind of tackles need to be outlawed.

It’s in the archives, if anyone can be bothered to check.

But when it comes to Celtic players? Game on according to Rae.

Speaking on the show, Rae was analysing Jota’s performance as the game went on and as he watched Celtic’s Portuguese winger terrorise the Dundee defence, he made this rather outrageous statement, “I think it’s Cammy Kerr. He doesn’t know if he’s coming or going.

“He’s beat him three times there and he’s a real quality player this boy [Jota].

“Aw see that carry on, I think if I was Cammy Kerr I would be just getting a little bit closer to leave a little bit on him.”

When challenged by another pundit, Gordon Dalziel that you can’t do that these days, Rae went on, “But you can still lay something on them Daz.

“You said that yesterday when Man United had to closer to Man City, you were going off your head. 

“At least make a tackle you said!

“You can still lay a little bit on him. Nothing too much but just let him know you’re there.”

Leave something on him? How much is something?

Just enough to hurt him or injure him? Take him out the game?

How much force are we talking?

Rae has a long standing tradition of speaking out about Celtic on this show, I’ve written about it many times on here and how he get’s away with what he says unchallenged is beyond me.

Like I said, after all the furore of that Porteous tackle were NO contact was made then to advocate hurting a Celtic player just shows you the agenda of some people in the media.

This article was originally posted here

I genuinely don’t know what it is with ex Celtic players and their scathing criticism of the club.

I don’t take any great joy in saying this, but sometimes I am envious at the backing former Rangers players give their club.

Not one of them, and I am talking from experience here only, rounds on their club when things are going wrong.

Now that can be a bad thing as well as we all found out when Rangers got liquidated, but still, the amount of ex Celtic players willing to stick the boot into the club at any given opportunity is a disgrace.

A couple of days ago I wrote about former Celtic winger, Joe Miller, and his thinly veiled accusation that Postecoglou allegedly lied about who was the actual penalty taker last Saturday.

Quire why Ange would feel the need to lie about such a thing is beyond me, but here we have, yet again, another former Hoops star willing to stick his size nines into the club and manager for teh sake of a pay cheque and a few likes on social media.

Speaking to Football Insider [as posted by Facebook page Celtic Insider],“The fans were not happy,”McAvennie told Football Insider correspondent Ben Wild.

“That goal would have given us three points we really didn’t deserve.

“The manager has backed the player and he’s sort of taken the blame for that.

“I don’t think that’s true. I think Giakoumakis wanted that penalty. McGregor should have stepped in and said no.

“That penalty was one of the worst I’ve ever seen, certainly for Celtic. I don’t want him on pens again.

“If you are taking a penalty in the 93rd minute, you have to give yourself a chance.

“Just put your foot through it. The keeper could have gone the wrong way and still saved it.

“Who side-foots a penalty?”

Wow. Just wow.

This article was originally posted here

As we approach another Europa League crunch tie, UEFA are looking to get all the fans in the mood by providing an update of the form of all the clubs prior to the fixtures taking place tomorrow night.

Celtic are second place in the form guide with four wins in their last five fixtures with the weekends draw against Livingston the only black mark against an otherwise extremely impressive record.

With the Hoops overcoming tough away fixtures against Aberdeen, Hibs and Motherwell, they have managed to reduce the deficit at the top of the league to just four points whilst climbing up to second place.

Only Serie A cracks Napoli, are ahead of the Hoops, with strangely the exact same record but the Parkhead side do find themselves above West Ham, Rangers and, incredibly, Lyon.

📈 In-form teams in the #UEL

Based on league and Europa League results only ℹ️@Swissquote | #UELstats pic.twitter.com/NyAVntFCFJ

— UEFA Europa League (@EuropaLeague) November 3, 2021

As always, the Celtic fans love a good Hoops tweet and in true fashion, they jumped on it with some class replies:

pic.twitter.com/kE2uz0cK2w

— Ryan راين 🎅  (@Ryzor1888) November 3, 2021

pic.twitter.com/zCvCDgGqyg

— Conor (@CM67_) November 3, 2021

pic.twitter.com/kHliDORzhb

— Adam (@aoflynn10) November 3, 2021

🍀🍀🍀

— Andrew lyall (@Alyall1888) November 3, 2021

pic.twitter.com/X3N5r0NbCb

— JRCeltic 🍀 (@Jrobb67) November 3, 2021

pic.twitter.com/XKTyZ4skng

— Christopher (@Christo10024571) November 3, 2021

As Celtic look to defeat Ferencvaros in Hungary on Thursday night to keep their Europa League hopes alive, they will be hoping that Bayer Leverkusen will do them a favour and take three points from Real Betis to set up a massive showdown at Celtic Park where if the Hoops defeat the Spanish giants, they will progress to the knockout stages of the competition.

This article was originally posted here

It seems like an age since Christopher Julien last pulled on the famous green and white hoops.

The big Frenchman is an icon amongst the Celtic support and since that game against Dundee United last season where a collision with the post effectively ended his participation in the ten in a row campaign, the Parkhead side have really struggled to get a settled partnership in the heart of defence.

Shane Duffy struggled last season and Carl Starfelt, after his initial shaky period at the start of the season, has now settled in well and found some real decent form.

But, frustratingly, the big Swede finds himself on the end of a three week sideline stint after he suffered a hamstring injury  in the 0-0 draw with Livingston.

With Celtic ready to face Ferencvaros tomorrow night, on Celtic TV, Ange Postecoglou gave an injury update on the Julien and it seems the Celtic fans will have the opportunity to see the big defender in action soon, “Yeah it’s to early for him and his recovery.  Again, we have got to be careful with him.

“We want him back. He’s gonna be an enormous asset for us when he does get back but you know long term stuff we just want to make sure that he’s absolutely right.

“He’s not too far away but for a game like this tomorrow. He’s nowhere near ready.”

So it looks like we will need to wait a little bit longer but it is encouraging that Julien does seem closer to returning to first team action and that will be a welcome boost to the CEltic manager as faces the next three fixtures without his £4.5m signing.

This article was originally posted here

We all love a good news story. Especially when it involves one of out own academy players.

Yesterday afternoon, Anthony Ralston signed a new four deal at Celtic after a season, so far, that has left the Hoops fans showering him with praise.

Upon the news breaking of the deal being struck, these Celtic fans were overjoyed at the news:

📝 #Ralston2025 🧱

Brilliant news, Celts – Anthony Ralston has signed a new #CelticFC contract until at least the summer of 2025! 🆕🍀

— Celtic Football Club (@CelticFC) November 2, 2021

Fair play to the guy. He’d have been near the top of my list of players that we needed shot of at the end of last season. He’s bought into what the manager is telling him and worked his arse off.

Some effort from the guy, fully deserved 👏👏👏

— P*** McQ**** 🇯🇵 (@Queenmachine88) November 2, 2021

Hats off 2 the BHOY, he may not be the best in world, but never leaves anything on park, must be a joy 2 manage, if asked him 2 play in goals for us, he would be thr

— Steff the GLASWEGIAN Bhoy (@rsmorrow1964) November 2, 2021

One of the bright lights of the season. Wasn’t initially up on Ralston however he’s played his way into the team. I’d have him as captain as well as he looks like he’d put you on blast rather than CalMac. Well deserved 👍

— Jay P (@MMAandCeltic) November 2, 2021

Defo future captain if he continues to stay in the team

— Lumos🍀 (@starryplough67) November 2, 2021

Hats off to ye Tony. The dogs abuse you got from a section of the fans was a total joke. You just batted it away & kept on comin.
Definitely a future captain, you always have Ur team mates back ,♥️🍀👍

— Lumos🍀 (@starryplough67) November 2, 2021

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— CeltsAreHere (@HereCelts) November 2, 2021

Fully deserved. Maximum credit to the lad

— Davy Furuhashi-Postecoglu 🇮🇪🇬🇷🇭🇲🇯🇵 (@DavidJo70904530) November 2, 2021

But it could have been all so different at the start of the season as journalist, Roger Hannah, pointed out on last night’s Clyde 1 Superscoreboard.

Hannah revealed that Ralston could have been playing in the Scottish Championship this season if he wasn’t offered a one year deal by Postecoglou, “Tony Ralston is one of the stories of the season.

“In the early summer, Tony Ralston was out of contract at Celtic and was speaking to Kilmarnock about signing a contract to play in the championship this season.

“Circumstances fell slightly in his favour, in so much as, when Ange Postecoglou arrived  there wasn’t another right back in the premises.

“And it suddenly dawned on Celtic to give him a one year deal.

“Tony Ralston grabbed his opportunity with both hands and is playing the kind of football now that Celtic fans three or four or five years ago, hoped he would be able to play as they were touting his as a sort of Kieran Tierney for the right hand side of the pitch.

“So all credit to Tony Ralston. It is a massive boost to sign a four year contract.

“He is forcing Josip Juranovic to play on the wrong side of the pitch and he’s done absolutely everything that’s been asked of him.”

A great story and one that the Celtic fans will be hoping continues throughout this season and beyond!

This article was originally posted here

The Celtic managerial merry go round this year was a circus.

Absolutely no doubt about that. From Eddie Howe to Lucien Favre to even Thierry Henry, the amount of names linked to the Hoops top job was the veritable who’s who of world football.

But one thing that was for certain was that current West Ham manage David Moyes, was never in the running. How do I know?

Because The Celtic Star reported back in July of this year that Moyes admitted himself, that even though contact was made, there was never any serious negotiations that took place, “Over the years there’s been approaches and talks, but we never got to a stage where anything got too serious.

“To manage Celtic you need to be special and realise the size of club it is.

“I think there will be a time when I choose to come back.”

So why then did journalist, Mark Guidi, then decide to claim that Celtic ‘missed a trick’ by not appointing Moyes?

Speaking on The Go Radio Football Show, Guidi was speaking glowingly about The Hammers gaffer when he made this bizarre claim, “He’s been brilliant.

You look at his CV. I think he’s coming up to 1000 games in charge as a manager, which is a hell of a achievement.

“He’s only 55/56 and he’s recovered from the setback of Man United.

“And that hit him hard. That hit him really, really hard and no wonder the way he was treated there by some of the players and the hierarchy.

“It was absolutely appalling.

“He was left hanging out to dry but he’s recovered and Celtic missed a trick by not appointing him a couple of years ago when he was out of work.

“Celtic really missed a trick.”

How exactly was that trick missed?

If there was never any serious contact made how could Celtic have missed this appointment if negotiations were never even held?

I genuinely wonder if these pundits actually think about what they are saying before they go ahead and blurt out opinion as fact?

Because surely they know that people like me will look into what people like them claim about our club to make sure that it is factual and correct right?

This article was originally posted here

Two massive talking points last week was regarding Celtic was the Ryan Porteous tackle on Callum McGregor and the continued outstanding form of Celtic defender Anthony Ralston.

Vital Celtic took the opportunity to ask the contributors of fan media site The State of Scottish Football a couple of questions on their live show and put a question to the host Regan when I asked him how good does he think Ralston is and his opinion on THAT Porteous tackle.

Regan didn’t hold back when he said,“I thought the Ryan Porteous tackle was an absolutely shocking tackle.

“He is going to end someone’s footballing time in a couple of months because, I think, even though the tackle got yellow card, he also done a tackle on Rogic as well in the first half I thought he should have been booked for.

“I’m just starting to think although he done a tackle on Joe Aribo at Ibrox as well, but I think it’s a couple of times he’s done it but he needs to be told to stop being as forthright maybe in going into the tackle as hard as he does as it might put off a big club trying to get him from Hibs.”

And on Ralston? Regan continued, “I think he’s [Ralston] been so good.

“I mean I was the one that said that he will maybe play at St Johnstone or Dundee United but from the start of the season he’s been great.

“He’s been absolutely brilliant. Obviously Celtic bring a Croatian right back and and he’s not been able to get a sniff.

“Obviously he gets a sniff now because Greg Taylor is injured but I think  Tony Ralston has been absolutely brilliant.

“And obviously I like the way he has been able to become a really big player for Celtic as well.

“Because people really wrote him when he played against PSG for Neymar and stuff.

“But I think now he’s turned into a big, big player for Celtic and it’s really good to see from Tony.”

This article was originally posted here

Another day and another transfer story. But this time it’s not a good news one.

Celtic have long been linked with a move for Bologna defender Aaron Hickey.

Transfer speculation was rife over the summer as the young Scot was struggling to get game time at the Serie A giants but he has recently found some scintillating form and proved now that he is an integral part of the Italian side.

In an interview transcribed by The Daily Record, young Hickey opened up on life in Bologna and delivered some news that will disappoint Celtic, “My parents text me every day to see how I’m doing.

“My mum actually came over last week and is really enjoying herself. I’ve just got a new house and my mum is helping me with that.

“Dad was here a long time then he went home in the summer and I’d been by myself since.

“When I have time off I’ll sometimes go out for a walk around the city.

“Sometimes I’ll go to Florence with the boys from the team. We’ve been to Milan as well.

“Bologna is really nice. I feel really settled here.”

And it was also revealed that the Italians quoted Celtic a massive £6.8m fee for the electric right back in the summer.

This clearly was the reason interest from the Parkhead side cooled and as Hickey continues his rich vein of form, that price will only continue to rise.

For now, it looks like this move will never happen.

This article was originally posted here

With all the talk around Celtic surrounding mainly the possible transfers in the January window, the Hoops fans must have thought that any possibility of some new backroom developments had all but disappeared.

From the ill fated January review (it is now November) to the complete overhaul of the footballing department, the behind the scenes running of the club. it seems, has been nothing but shambolic and it doesn’t seem to be getting any better anytime soon.

Until now.

Speaking on The Go Radio Football Show, host Rob McLean was interviewing ex Celtic defender, Ramon Vega, when pundit and journalist Mark Guidi asked Vega about the connection with him and the Director of Football role at Paradise.

And what he had to say was very interesting indeed.

Speaking candidly, Vega said, “I have not formally applied. These things you don’t formally apply. I see my potentially? I don’t know.

“But I have been asked and potentially thinking about to do something in that direction. 

“That was definitely there. And there’s no doubt you know, if Celtic calls it is not the question mark.

“I will not think about it because it’s definitely a club I love and it’s something will be done if requested and been asked to.”

So is there movement in the background that no one knows about yet and is Ramon Vega the man that is needed at Celtic to help support Ange Postecoglou?

Vega is certainly very outspoken and his passion for the club is well known.

Could he and Ange work together to bring back some sanity to the club?

Well, I decided to ask him and this was his response:

Asap

— Ramon Vega (@Ramon_Vega71) November 2, 2021

Watch this space!

This article was originally posted here