Celtic FC Team Talk/Gossip/Rumours Thread 2014/15 Mod Warning post #6011

Lennonist

Antifa161 wrote: »

Stokes not being trusted in bigger games is a fault that lies with Lennon not Stokes. You cannot never play him in "bigger games" then claim he can't play in them (or give him his one shot in a role he can't play against the best possession side in history). It's nonsense and I wouldn't have blamed Stokes for leaving as it's detrimental to his career.

He'd work very well with an out-and-out finisher like Hooper who plays in the box.

Stokes started all the CL games this season bar the last one v Milan, he didn't exactly pull up trees in those games. He did his best, wouldn't fault him for effort, hit the cross bar from a free kick in one game which would have turned the tie.

He's a good player at SPL level, not quite good enough for the CL. If he had left before he signed a contract extension I'm not sure where he would have went to, probably back to a Championship side in England?

Antifa161

It was his individual brilliance that laid on the most vital goal of our campaign this year against Karagandy. Without which we wouldn't have played any group games. He also hit the crossbar and had a shot cleared off the line in that game.

He also his the crossbar with one of our best chances in Milan, and if Brown wasn't so awful at shooting would have had an assist for our only goal there too. And he won us another crucial penalty against Ajax.

The team in general did not cover themselves in glory this year, albeit against tough opposition, but Stokes was one of our few threats - even while playing with no strike partner.

Lennonist

Antifa161 wrote: »

It was his individual brilliance that laid on the most vital goal of our campaign this year against Karagandy. Without which we wouldn't have played any group games. He also hit the crossbar and had a shot cleared off the line in that game.

He also his the crossbar with one of our best chances in Milan, and if Brown wasn't so awful at shooting would have had an assist for our only goal there too. And he won us another crucial penalty against Ajax.

The team in general did not cover themselves in glory this year, albeit against tough opposition, but Stokes was one of our few threats - even while playing with no strike partner.

He has played well on occasions, is definitely good enough for the SPL, but comes up short of what is required for Celtic up front at CL level.

Antifa161

Have to say, as much as I hate Twitter this is absolutely hilarious: https://twitter.com/GreetinBrigade

Dempsey

http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/amsterdams-mayor-blames-ajax-hooligans-2881003

Amsterdam's mayor blames Ajax hooligans for starting violent clashes with Celtic fans ahead of Champions League match

MAYOR Eberhard van der Laan said Celtic fans had been provoked - but insisted some supporters then dished out "excessive violence" to plainclothes police officers.

Eberhard van der Laan wrote:

“I interpret this hooligan behaviour as possibly the most important cause for the emergence of disorder between the Celtic supporters and the Amsterdam police at Dam Square.”

I note that the agents were met with excessive violence and no fewer than seven were injured. For a short time, the agents no longer felt safe. They must and are expected to react proportionately in such a situation.”

Full Letter

Celtic fans are entitled to "react proportionately" to people, trying to kick the **** out of them? Remember that the police in question didnt identify themselves until after the fact. I've no doubt in the face of losing their jobs/promotions/benefits etc, they'll collude where possible.

Lennonist

What happened in Amsterdam stinks and then after that a few Celtic supporters got rounded up and scapegoated for what happened. The Mayor is going part of the way towards bringing a bit of honesty to what happened, but he seems to be trying to provide legal cover for the Amsterdam police against legal action. Celtic should push ahead with full determination with those cases from the fans taken out against the authorities in Amsterdam. An absolute disgrace the way that the authorities handled that event.

Dempsey

http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/neville-southalls-warning-neil-lennon-2891927

Neville Southall's warning to Neil Lennon: Losing Joe Ledley would be bonkers and false economy.. It will cost £10m to replace him

“Ask yourself this? How much would it cost to replace Joe right now?

“I’d be looking at £10million. You are not going to get someone of his experience and quality for less.

“Selling your best player is false economy. Letting a 26-year-old who is coming into their peak leave for free is madness.

“If you’re trying to tell fans you’re building a team, why would you let someone like that leave? For me, it would be simply bonkers and the manager can’t possibly want to lose him.

“I wouldn’t let him near the door. I’d board up the door and not let him leave until he’d signed or do a Brian Clough and go round his house.

“The manager will have a valuation of him and sometimes those in higher places don’t understand how good players are. There are players who get glory once a month and there are boys who do it every week for you.

“Ask any manager which one they want. Ask Neil what he wants. At this time of year, do you want a car that you know will start every morning or one that’s super-fast but starts once every few days?

“Joe is a Volvo footballer. Safe, reliable and although unspectacular, he’ll get the job done all of the time. You pay for value for money.

“He’s not the type who lies down when he gets a headache. He gets on with it. Why would you let someone like that go?

“In a few years, he’ll be at his peak. Then at 30 and 31-years-old, he’ll be phenomenal at bringing players on. The kids will see someone who has been there, seen it and won it.

“Joe would become the Ryan Giggs of Celtic and I could pay him no bigger compliment.”

He added: “Let’s be honest, we wouldn’t be having this conversation if Joe had sco red 20 goals, yet he’s just as important as a goalscorer.

“Joe is one of those lads you don’t have to think about. He tries his b*****ks off every game, he’s a good lad and he’ll do whatever you want on the park.

“Sometimes, lads like that get overlooked because they don’t kick up a fuss, or shout from the rooftops
about how good they are, they get taken for granted.

“But Joe’s a manager’s dream. He does what he’s told and does it every single week.

“Joe’s similar to Gareth Barry, in many ways. He’s changed the way Everton play.

“He just gets it, moves it and keeps it simple. He’s a players’ player.

“You can’t build a house without a bricklayer. Someone has to lay the foundation and Joe does that for us.

“It’s because of him, that the likes of Aaron and Gareth can shine.

“Joe would be someone every top manager would love to have in their side.

“Real Madrid have players like Joe. Barcelona have players like Joe. Players who get it, move it and work hard for the team.

“They do the simple things exceptionally well and leave it open for others to shine.

“Joe’s a proper footballer. He’s box-to-box and if there is a ball to be won, he goes there.

“I see midfielders these days who don’t make a tackle. Joe will.

“He reminds me slightly of Gary Speed. Lots of positions, good in the air, can tackle, keeps it nice and
simple and knows what he can and can’t do.”

He said: “If I was Joe, I’d stay at Celtic. He gets Europe every year and that won’t be guaranteed in England.

“Look at the English Premier League from the top six down. Is there a club to touch Celtic? I’d say no.

“Wherever you go in the world, you see a Celtic shirt.

“He’s playing for one of the biggest clubs in the world. If he’s going to move, then he should only go for a nailed-on and guaranteed club who are playing European football, yet he’s got that just now.

“It’s not as if he’s playing in front of 3000 people.

“Scotland is a great place to live, he’s playing for one of the world’s top clubs and has Europe every year. What else do you need?

”Sometimes you just need to realise how good a certain place is for you.

“Joe might be more high profile down in England but is he that type of guy? I don’t think he is.

“He’s in a great place with a great manager in Neil Lennon. Go to the Premier League and within six months, your manager might have changed.

“Joe has got everything going for him at Celtic and, unless he goes to a Man United or Arsenal, then he’s not going to better things for himself.”

You'd have to look long and hard to find a Celtic fan to disagree with what Southall has said there. Far more important that his contract gets tied down than Samaras's imo.

EDIT

http://www1.skysports.com/football/live/match/289408/preview

Celtic are beset by illness and injury problems ahead of their Scottish Premiership clash with Motherwell at Fir Park on Friday night.

Midfielder Tom Rogic has a calf problem, while wide men Dylan McGeouch (ankle) and James Forrest (hamstring) are also doubts for the match.

Forward Georgios Samaras and midfielder Nir Biton have both missed training in the last two days with a virus.

Celtic have been boosted with the return to training of defender Adam Matthews following shoulder surgery, but he will not be involved while Beram Kayal (foot) and Steven Mouyokolo (Achilles) remain out of action.

8 players injured, carrying heavy knocks, sick or just back to training.

Antifa161

Dempsey wrote: »

EDIT

http://www1.skysports.com/football/live/match/289408/preview



8 players injured, carrying heavy knocks, sick or just back to training.

Just the usual then :rolleyes:

Going back to my earlier hypothetical, alternative line-up, it's actually borderline unrealistic since it's rare we even have 16 senior players fit in any given week. I don't know how much of it is down to a poor medical team, dangerous training regimes and conditions or just rotten luck really but it's been going on for a few years now. Doesn't help that we get booted up and down the park by most opponents.

Dempsey

Celtic's medical team barely get pass marks if you ask me. Forrest, Brown & Stokes all had injuries that turned out to be far worse than first diagnosed. Lustig was planning having hip surgery now so he could be 100% for the WC. I wonder what sort of brainfart plan they'll come up with now. He should be having surgery with a view to being fit for a few games towards the end of the season so he can be assessed again before offering him a contract extension.

Still though, there is a few others in the squad that need game time, i.e. Fisher, Twardzik and Balde.

Antifa161

Brown's injury was managed fairly well I thought. He didn't actually need to go for surgery in the end did he? And he's been fine since.

Tawdzik himself has had a long lay off hasn't he?

Hagar the Nice.

Re Stokesie, I've always maintained that if it wasn't for him then NL would have got the sack after the Killie game had we list that day.
On a side note,I know NL loves changing the side every week but find it hard to fathom why he's yet to play the same team two games in a row since he became boss.

Dempsey

Antifa161 wrote: »

Brown's injury was managed fairly well I thought. He didn't actually need to go for surgery in the end did he? And he's been fine since.

Tawdzik himself has had a long lay off hasn't he?

Sports Science & Injury detection/preventation has evolved alot in recent times, I expect Celtic to spot these things before they become major issues like he had. Seems there was not a full medical done before handing him a new contract at the time which I found strange.

http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/25240442

"I've been watching a lot of players," said Lennon. "Maybe I wasn't specifically looking at James Vaughan."

"I'm not here to talk about one specific player," he explained. "There were 22 players at Huddersfield-Burnley and 22 players at Bolton-Huddersfield.

"I've been linked with him (Vaughan) and that's fine, people are putting two and two together.

"I have spoken to Mark Robins, I know Mark from my playing days. So it's not just James Vaughan I'm looking at but he is a player we think is a good player."

"The January window is more difficult - clubs don't want to part with players," he said.

"But we are looking to bring maybe one or two players in with the view of bedding them in between January and July for obviously, if we win the league, for the qualifiers in July and August.

"The close season is so short and with some of the players being away at the World Cup, it will be even shorter this year."

Striker Mo Bangura is set to return, with his loan at Elfsborg over and the Swedish club not intending to sign him.

"He is still involved in the Europa League and we are planning to give him a bit of time off," said Lennon of the 24-year-old from Sierra Leone.

"He has been playing for almost a year. He is due to report back in at the start of next year.

"It's up to Mo, we will see what sort of condition he is in and what sort of form he is in.

"In the early part of his loan spell at Elfsborg he was doing very, very well so we will see if the loan has given him that match experience that he needed."

At least we are trying to get our targets early so they can bed in. Begs the question who is leaving

ColeTrain

Dempsey wrote: »

http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/neville-southalls-warning-neil-lennon-2891927

Neville Southall's warning to Neil Lennon: Losing Joe Ledley would be bonkers and false economy.. It will cost £10m to replace him



You'd have to look long and hard to find a Celtic fan to disagree with what Southall has said there. Far more important that his contract gets tied down than Samaras's imo.

EDIT

http://www1.skysports.com/football/live/match/289408/preview



8 players injured, carrying heavy knocks, sick or just back to training.

I like Ledley but I wouldn't be too down if he left. The likes of him, Brown, Kayal, Biton and Mulgrew are similar. Maybe if an offer is accepted for him in January then we might see the likes of Rogic get more gametime and then Lennon might look to bring in a more creative player in the summer. Ledley is already one of the top earners at the club and who knows what kind of wage/signing on fee he is holding out for.

Hagar the Nice.

From The Telegraph.

By Ewing Grahame11:59PM GMT 05 Dec 2013
Celtic owner Dermot Desmond could now sell his stake in the club at a profit while Rangers shares are down almost 50 per cent in a year.

The economic gulf between Celtic and Rangers widened on Thursday with the clubs’ share prices facing contrasting fortunes.

It was a particularly satisfying day for Dermot Desmond, the Irish billionaire businessman who became the majority shareholder at Parkhead when he bought out Fergus McCann, who had helped rescue the club from the brink of bankruptcy five years earlier, in 1999.

RELATED ARTICLES
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Celtic's destruction of Hearts was best display since 1986, says Danny McGrain
Thursday was one to savour for Desmond because it was the first time in those 14 years that the increase in the value of his interest in Celtic would allow him to realise a profit. Not that Desmond is of a mind to sell but, were he to offload his shareholding this morning, he would find himself £2  million better off.

As a consequence of that boost, Celtic’s market value climbed to £95.7  million, an estimation which sees them regarded by the markets as worth nearly four times as much as Rangers.

However, while Celtic’s share price rose to 76.5p on the AIM London Stock Exchange, Rangers’ price sank to a new low of 39.5p.

By extension, it means that Rangers is currently worth £26.3 million.

Charles Green, the chief executive who acted as the front man for anonymous investors who bought the assets of Rangers after the club sank into administration and liquidation, made many preposterous statements, from claims of links to the Dallas Cowboys to talk of a £25 million transfer war chest for manager Ally McCoist. Few, however, could compare to his boast in July 2012 that, within a year, Rangers would have a stronger bank balance than Celtic.

Green, having bought his shares for 1p, will still make a handsome profit on his outlay. Ordinary supporters, meanwhile, have seen the worth of their investment plummet. Rangers raised £22.2 million from their share issue last year by selling ordinary shares at 70p. They began trading on Dec 19, and by close of business that day, the price had gone up to 76p.

Unfortunately, the price of shares has abseiled down the ratings since then, they are worth almost 50 per cent less in under 12 months as Rangers have been rattled by internecine warfare.

In that time they have gone through three chairmen, three chief executives and as many nomads (nominated advisers). That instability, allied to the fact that the club announced in October that they had posted a loss of £14  million for the year ending June 30, has not generated confidence in the City.

While Celtic have benefited from Champions League revenue in the last two seasons (and are also guaranteed to win the title next season), Rangers face an uncertain financial future.

Rebel shareholders Malcolm Murray, Paul Murray, Scott Murdoch and Alex Wilson have placed a motion proposing their election to the board – plus the removal of financial director Brian Stockbridge – at what will be a combative annual general meeting at Ibrox in 13 days.

Malcolm Murray, forcibly removed as chairman in May, told a meeting of supporters in Belfast on Monday that Rangers could be back in administration by Easter should he and his partners lose the vote at the meeting.

“I personally think that the club is in danger if we don’t get a win here,” he said. “I don’t see how it’s going to be funded. The official statement from the last fans meeting with the current board said that they would have £1  million cash left in April.

“They have spent quite a lot of that already in payouts, so I don’t know how much longer it will be before it runs out – probably before Easter if things don’t change dramatically or unless they have investors lined up, which they haven’t said they have.”

Hagar the Nice.

Celtic aim to bring Japanese midfielder Hiroki Yamada on trial
STV 6 December 2013 09:44 GMT
Neil Lennon
Celtic boss Neil Lennon admires Hiroki Yamada.SNS Group


Celtic manager Neil Lennon says he hopes to bring Japanese midfielder Hiroki Yamada to the club on trial.

The 24-year-old plays for Júbilo Iwata in his homeland and the Hoops boss says he is a player they are interested in.

Yamada made his debut for the Japanese national team, collecting two caps during 2013.

"He can play left side or off the striker," the Celtic manager told the Herald.

"He looks okay, but we'll not have a real idea until we've seen him over here. I don't think there would be any money involved."

Lennon has indicated his desire to bring in players during the January transfer window but admits it can be hard to secure the right targets.

"The January window is more difficult - clubs don't want to part with players," he said.

"But we are looking to bring maybe one or two players in with the view of bedding them in between January and July for obviously, if we win the league, for the qualifiers in July and August just to bed them in to the way we play.

"The close season is so short and with some of the players being away at the World Cup, it will be even shorter this year."

Dempsey

ColeTrain wrote: »

I like Ledley but I wouldn't be too down if he left. The likes of him, Brown, Kayal, Biton and Mulgrew are similar. Maybe if an offer is accepted for him in January then we might see the likes of Rogic get more gametime and then Lennon might look to bring in a more creative player in the summer. Ledley is already one of the top earners at the club and who knows what kind of wage/signing on fee he is holding out for.

Brown & Ledley are a level above the rest. Kayal is injury prone and most likely never reach the level he once looked so comfortable at. Mulgrew is just Mr.Versatile, a great stop gap for so many positions. His set pieces dont carry the same threat as they once did imo. Biton looked good against Hearts but then everyone did. Rogic has flattered to deceive so far. He's definitely a player that should be sent out on loan. Both of them have alot of proving to do.

It would be completely disingenuous of Ledley to be claiming that he wants to stay at the club but holding out for a deal that he knows wont be offered. I dont think he's that sort of person. Himself & Samaras have their contract offers and Lennon has given them both deadlines for responses to the offers, their agents are playing mindgames i think.

Hagar the Nice. wrote: »

From The Telegraph.

By Ewing Grahame11:59PM GMT 05 Dec 2013
Celtic owner Dermot Desmond could now sell his stake in the club at a profit while Rangers shares are down almost 50 per cent in a year.

The economic gulf between Celtic and Rangers widened on Thursday with the clubs’ share prices facing contrasting fortunes.

It was a particularly satisfying day for Dermot Desmond, the Irish billionaire businessman who became the majority shareholder at Parkhead when he bought out Fergus McCann, who had helped rescue the club from the brink of bankruptcy five years earlier, in 1999.

RELATED ARTICLES
Celtic's transcendant display ranks with finest in their history
Celtic's Virgil van Dijk takes inspiration from Fraser Forster in World Cup dream
Celtic's destruction of Hearts was best display since 1986, says Danny McGrain
Thursday was one to savour for Desmond because it was the first time in those 14 years that the increase in the value of his interest in Celtic would allow him to realise a profit. Not that Desmond is of a mind to sell but, were he to offload his shareholding this morning, he would find himself £2  million better off.

As a consequence of that boost, Celtic’s market value climbed to £95.7  million, an estimation which sees them regarded by the markets as worth nearly four times as much as Rangers.

However, while Celtic’s share price rose to 76.5p on the AIM London Stock Exchange, Rangers’ price sank to a new low of 39.5p.

By extension, it means that Rangers is currently worth £26.3 million.

Charles Green, the chief executive who acted as the front man for anonymous investors who bought the assets of Rangers after the club sank into administration and liquidation, made many preposterous statements, from claims of links to the Dallas Cowboys to talk of a £25 million transfer war chest for manager Ally McCoist. Few, however, could compare to his boast in July 2012 that, within a year, Rangers would have a stronger bank balance than Celtic.

Green, having bought his shares for 1p, will still make a handsome profit on his outlay. Ordinary supporters, meanwhile, have seen the worth of their investment plummet. Rangers raised £22.2 million from their share issue last year by selling ordinary shares at 70p. They began trading on Dec 19, and by close of business that day, the price had gone up to 76p.

Unfortunately, the price of shares has abseiled down the ratings since then, they are worth almost 50 per cent less in under 12 months as Rangers have been rattled by internecine warfare.

In that time they have gone through three chairmen, three chief executives and as many nomads (nominated advisers). That instability, allied to the fact that the club announced in October that they had posted a loss of £14  million for the year ending June 30, has not generated confidence in the City.

While Celtic have benefited from Champions League revenue in the last two seasons (and are also guaranteed to win the title next season), Rangers face an uncertain financial future.

Rebel shareholders Malcolm Murray, Paul Murray, Scott Murdoch and Alex Wilson have placed a motion proposing their election to the board – plus the removal of financial director Brian Stockbridge – at what will be a combative annual general meeting at Ibrox in 13 days.

Malcolm Murray, forcibly removed as chairman in May, told a meeting of supporters in Belfast on Monday that Rangers could be back in administration by Easter should he and his partners lose the vote at the meeting.

“I personally think that the club is in danger if we don’t get a win here,” he said. “I don’t see how it’s going to be funded. The official statement from the last fans meeting with the current board said that they would have £1  million cash left in April.

“They have spent quite a lot of that already in payouts, so I don’t know how much longer it will be before it runs out – probably before Easter if things don’t change dramatically or unless they have investors lined up, which they haven’t said they have.”

The key difference is that Desmond didnt buy shares in Celtic to make a quick buck. Sustainability has been the mantra of his reign and long may it continue.

Hagar the Nice. wrote: »

Celtic aim to bring Japanese midfielder Hiroki Yamada on trial
STV 6 December 2013 09:44 GMT
Neil Lennon
Celtic boss Neil Lennon admires Hiroki Yamada.SNS Group


Celtic manager Neil Lennon says he hopes to bring Japanese midfielder Hiroki Yamada to the club on trial.

The 24-year-old plays for Júbilo Iwata in his homeland and the Hoops boss says he is a player they are interested in.

Yamada made his debut for the Japanese national team, collecting two caps during 2013.

"He can play left side or off the striker," the Celtic manager told the Herald.

"He looks okay, but we'll not have a real idea until we've seen him over here. I don't think there would be any money involved."

Lennon has indicated his desire to bring in players during the January transfer window but admits it can be hard to secure the right targets.

"The January window is more difficult - clubs don't want to part with players," he said.

"But we are looking to bring maybe one or two players in with the view of bedding them in between January and July for obviously, if we win the league, for the qualifiers in July and August just to bed them in to the way we play.

"The close season is so short and with some of the players being away at the World Cup, it will be even shorter this year."

Hopefully he's better than Lee bloodly Tomlin!

RoryMac

What's the story with us playing tonight?? It doesn't look to be on any tv station so seems strange to be playing on a Friday

LiamoSail

RoryMac wrote: »

What's the story with us playing tonight?? It doesn't look to be on any tv station so seems strange to be playing on a Friday

It's on BT. If you havent got BT & are a sky customer, you can get it for the month for €1

Dempsey

RoryMac wrote: »

What's the story with us playing tonight?? It doesn't look to be on any tv station so seems strange to be playing on a Friday

Friday Night Football has been part of the new SPFL format, BT Sports are televising the game.

RoryMac

LiamoSail wrote: »

It's on BT. If you havent got BT & are a sky customer, you can get it for the month for €1

Yeah I got that deal but when I checked the listings on the Setanta website it doesn't show the game!! The Sky+ app does show the game so probably just a mistake on the website.

Maybe my €1 will help them get their website up to speed!

RoryMac

Dempsey wrote: »

Friday Night Football has been part of the new SPFL format, BT Sports are televising the game.

I think it's a great time for a game, much better atmosphere at the evening games and also better for barstoolers like myself that don't get to travel as much as they'd like.

Dempsey

RoryMac wrote: »

Yeah I got that deal but when I checked the listings on the Setanta website it doesn't show the game!! The Sky+ app does show the game so probably just a mistake on the website.

Maybe my €1 will help them get their website up to speed!

BT Sports has it listed

http://sport.bt.com/sportfootball/football/live-football-on-bt-sport-S11376627423099

SCOTTISH PROFESSIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE

Friday December 6: Motherwell v Celtic - 7.45pm, BT Sport 1

Coverage starts at 7

RoryMac

Dempsey wrote: »

BT Sports has it listed

http://sport.bt.com/sportfootball/football/live-football-on-bt-sport-S11376627423099

Yeah I'm sure it's on but the Setanta listings have Gateshead vs Oxford listed for BT Sports1 which was on last night so obviously just a problem on the website

http://www.setanta.com/ie/tv-listings

Dempsey

RoryMac wrote: »

Yeah I'm sure it's on but the Setanta listings have Gateshead vs Oxford listed for BT Sports1 which was on last night so obviously just a problem on the website

http://www.setanta.com/ie/tv-listings

Yea, you can see that they are stretching that €1 offer!

RoryMac

Dempsey wrote: »

Yea, you can see that they are stretching that €1 offer!

Knowing Setanta and how hard it was to cancel my subscription when they went bust last time I reckon they'll turn off the phones on the 30th & 31st so nobody can cancel.

Hagar the Nice.

Celtic end is a total sellout.

RoryMac

Celtic team to play Motherwell: Forster; Lustig, Ambrose, Van Dijk, Izaguirre; Brown, Mulgrew, Ledley, Commons; Stokes, Pukki

Subs: Zalsuka, Fisher, Balde, Atajic, Henderson, Boerrigter, Johnstone.

Lennonist

Lookin forward to this. Friday night games make perfect sense for the SPL. Should be a full house, should be a great atmosphere.

Respect to Nelson Mandela who said he was directly influenced by Bobby Sands when he went on hunger strike in Robben Island. Mandela would see the irony of the furore over the Sands banner, while those members of establishment who branded him a terrorist laud him today

RoryMac

Expecting a good game from Pukki tonight, should get plenty of space as Motherwell push players forward.

RoryMac

Is it just me or is Mulgrew playing at the back alongside van Dijk & Ambrose?