der Berliner

So first it was Lennon saying that he would think about signing Boyd, now the club says that it has rejected a move after being sounded out? What next? Will we (re-)sign a "Celtic reject" soon? Sometimes you simply cannot make this up.

There's hardly a more strange enigma when it comes to team selections this season. I simply cannot fathom what McKay has done wrong ... when you compare the sub-standard displays of Davis, the use of Edulloch and even Papac in midfield. If there was a fall out between them, credit to both that they keep their dignity so far ...

That would indeed be Peter Lövenkrands, you are correct!

I honestly have no clue whatsoever about his current form. Age is not a relevance to me, I have seen Weir, Berg, and even a "striker" like Caniggia doing well way beyond the 30s. We still have no real right sided attacker ... then again, you wonder what Ally thinks of Ortiz and Bedoya ...

Of course, we don't even need to sell anyone to sign Boyd up for e.g. 6 months. And then imagine a frontline with Wylde, Aluko, and/or Lafferty, with Jela and Boyd to feed from. Which reminds me that we need a creative midfielder ... unless Ally finally gives McKay a chance.

Just imagine, January comes around, Jelavic goes for 8m and we sign three freebies with Boyd, Riordan and O'Connor to replace him! Half of the existing boards members would vanish into orbit in no-time! Matter of fact, if Jelavic goes and we can agree reasonable fees and wages for say Jordan Rhodes and Boyd, as well as adding Jamie Murphy for creativity, I would be happy. In the striking department. Since we still have Lafferty and Hemmings there. We desperately need cover in midfield ... if Ally decides to keep McKay on the bench (he becomes a greater mysterium than Paul Ritchie ever was). Creative midfield that is.

Heck, I almost forgot about Kerkar again! On a sidenote, only one source is repeated all over again and thet photo with Smith can be photoshopped by anyone. Sceptical Loyal

He's been a decent servant to the club, but his pre-season contract wrangle got him in my bad books. Not that this keeps me from being objective. Then - with his new bumper deal under his belt - he essentially managed to single-handedly destroy our ambitions for the Champions' League (giving the ball away at Ibrox in the lead up to the Malmö goal), then, after going on about "we can beat Malmö", he got himself send off needlessly midway through the first half in Sweden. That was followed by a string of sub-standard performances and overall, this has not become much better. And we have mid-December now. Of course, the whole team seems to look for some sort of form and inspiration, but as a seasoned pro (he's 27, mind you) he should at least give the 100% he has. As has been said, there is a creeping feeling that some people in the squad will play no matter what (whether because they are favourites or on high contracts or whatnot), be that Whittaker, McCulloch, or Davis. While others, who show sparks of talent are benched or even terraced time and again, get hardly any playing time at all, be that McMillan (right back?), Cole (right back), Ortiz (right back and wing), Hemmings (striker), Fleck (creative midfield), Mckay (creative midfield), or Bedoya (right back & wing). There was hope when Ally handed Bendiksen some playing time in recent weeks, but at home against ICT, he puts Papac in the engine room and leaves Jela with virtually no real support bar a link-up player who hardly got a game before. If these were friendlies or tests, fair enough (and Mckay did well against Liverpool), but at home against ICT, St. Mirren or St. Johnstone ...

Whohoo ... someone signed and even Willie Vass did not spot him at Murray Park (or was asked not to show a photograph?) during the trial period? That's a change of events. Then again ... unless someone else reports it, I take it with the proverbial pinch of salt, for google gave me this ...

We won't need Kris Boyd. Ally's got his game plan fixed now and they already train for it at MP.

WBA ... well, all I would argue against them is the essentially frozen-out Dorrans (and against England as such: Goodwillie). I'd assume he would like to play some football and I doubt he will get that much as an untried Scot in a multi-million pound team. Of course, money at this age has its lure ...

Have to admit that despite all the furore, I haven't seen him thus far and do not know whether he's actually that good. Anyone got any insights here? Would signing him spell the end of the road for ... say Fleck? At least for the time being?

Rest assured, some twisted official being will say / find that this is actually a Bluenose who wants to besmirch the good name of the Hooped Horrors.

Actually, we now also have Aluko and with him, Wylde and Bendikson on the park, we should have some speed and creativity that Jela, Lafferty and hopefully another striker (Hemmings) can feed from.

I think the SFA beaks are thinking of a 4-game ban as we write. I mean ... this US citizen actually endangered Scottish people! No matter whether that happens on the field of play or beyond! Scandalous! ... now wait, there is a flaw. For that ruling would mean that most players of the Hooped Horrors are not included. Hm ...

As I said over at FF ... you can go back 20 years, 10 years, 5 years, one year or even one week to see what sort of lies they spout ... as there is TV and video evidence from Sky, ESPN, Setanta and whatnot. It is all there and you do not need to delve into Double Standards to find this. Mind you, if you have half a brain and can use a computer, you will finds tons of evidence on youtube. The amount of ignorance required here is staggering.

Since when does "minority" refer to inbetween 3.000 to 50.000 people, pending on the venue?

IMHO a case for Ofcom's debate about them not being able to look into and charge the BBC for lack of quality and impartiality.

I do assume that the letters regarding the Hooped Horrors IRAoke aired during the game against Atletico are already on their way. Next stop Udinese ... and rest assured, friends from beyond the Clyde, it won't stop there.

Of course, not only is their chanting religiously sectarian, but also political. But don't confuse them with facts. Or tell the SFA and Strathclyde's finest to act according to the law (Terrorist Act 2006) ...

The more I read of this conversation, the more I get the feeling that someone from that dubious tax-affair-website has found his/her way to these shores. Just my impression. At the end of the day, I doubt anyone on here (or over there) knows the facts and that the case have shifted to London has some formerly well-informed people source- and thus restless.

Their dream is over ... and the SFA looks a touch silly now. Celtic fined by UEFA over â??illicit chantingâ?? In any case, Strathclyde's Finest have something to work with.

Politicians at their worst. Milking a non-story to the hilt. As has been shown by facts and statistics, there is no such thing as widespread sectarianism in Scotland and even that shown at football grounds is nothing more than cynical or vile banter. But banter nonetheless. There ain't Billy Boys - brigades et al roaming the streets at night. These people should get their act together and ban and pursue those who commit criminal acts against the Terroism Act 2006 week in and week out. Obviously, politicians have no word in how the SFA and SPL handles their leagues. Thus far ...

... especially if anything Bundesliga (no matter whether 1 or 2) is involved. Unless we are very quick. Oh ... and Fulham may or may not want Whittaker!

And thus the witch-hunt starts, Lisa Gray names her article ... Rangers diver Aluko backed by Ally Of course, you would want to know how close she is with our gaffer, naming him with only his first name.