CELTIC1CALEY3

Pressley was inspirational at Hearts. Experience, as shown by David Weir and purchased by Falkirk with their summer signings, is vital at this level. He may have slowed, but Grant would be a great foil with him alongside. Dods was not that fast.

The clear message from Craig Brewster was that he had no influence over the fee accepted for Marius. When Marius was signed by Charlie or when Charlie was Manager, certain sell on conditions would have been negotiated. Craig Brewster was nothing to do with the Club at that stage. Marius has recently got married in his homeland. Some will recall reference to the Red Dogs early on for it is obvious Marius has found his spiritual home. I suspect Craig Brewster had nothing to do with events behind the scenes. Indeed, Marius himself would have had the final influence. Circumstances were right for all parties to move on.

Times have changed. Here's an extract from Bobby Mann's diary in Orkney: After a longish ferry journey the 12 seater minibus arrived and all 15 of us crammed in. I managed to wrestle two seats for myself. We arrived in Kirkwall at 4.30 where Pele confirmed I was rooming with Big Jim Calder. At 6 Pele invited us all into the local bar for drinks. We were in bed by 11.30 with lights out at about 2.30 after Jim and I collected Stevie from the bar and despite abuse from Big Dunc we put him to bed. Up at 8.30. I felt good as Jim helped me get into my Wranglers for breakfast. Full Scottish for me. Saw Pele next at 11.30 as Dunc took us on a wee jog round the harbour and then up th street pass the Cathedral. At 12.20 we assembled in the back bar and Pele briefed us on how we were to tackle the Orkney Select. Pele joked that we had to imagine we were going to Parkhead in the Cup after Celtic had beaten a top European team in the European Cup and against the odds we beat them. Teasdale laughed so Stevie told him he was rested. Big T just said 'OK boss I'll just go and get my hair permed' .Just a Shandy for me as we ate a light lunch of local beef pie and chips. The game started at 3.00 precisely. Charlie flew into the first tackle as if the season depended on it. Wee Stewarty scored three goals all from Sheerin crosses within the first 13 minutes. By half time we were 6-0 up so big Dunc asked Pele if he could go out for the second half and show the young uns how to score. Pele looked glazed which Dunc took as 'yes'. After just 15 minutes of the second half the Orkney select were really feeling the full force of a full time team and Dunc had scored a hat trick. Young Richard Hastings was playing a blinder and wee Rossco was the only player to get booked after Orkney's 15 year old substitute skinned him. Rossco had to be warned by me to cool down. Barry Wilson looked a class above Orkney. We won 11-0 and left the field knowing we would be champions of Division 1. We dreamed of beating Celtic 3-1 in the Cup with Calder joking he would be the hero. Orkney brought a crate of beer into our changing room at the end. Stevie perked up. We managed to get to the pub at 5.30 but Stevie as a treat got the club to buy us all a fish supper in the Chippie at 7. As Captain I had two massive pieces of Haddock. Historical note - Big Dunc was not at the Club but it makes a good story! To be continued....

Not sure if anyone locally contributed to the linked article but to the doubters yet further confirmation of our progress!!! No other club in the SPL has come so far, in so little time, and been supported by so few. http://bleacherreport.com/articles/39339-i...ed-at-euro-2008

Be fair to him he has just finished his honeymoon.

McGuire was carrying a hernia problem for some time before his operation. The Italians are good defenders and certainly not all 6' 7'' It does amaze me how some some supporters criticise our players even now - after Internationals for instance! Why can't we support the players in future?

Was it Lionel's ambition to play for Calais? How far over the line was Andy MacLaren's Killie's 'goal' in the Scottish Cup? Was Hagi ever a scout for ICT? What did Charlie say to Boner at Ross County that got him sent off? What did Charlie say to Brian Irvine at County that so incensed him? Who was our Manager when we lost 1-5 to County at home?

I blame Marius. Apparently he popped out during his honeymoon celebrations and a reporter heard him tell the doorman ' I'm going back to paradise shortly'. After some fresh air and trip to shops, he headed back to his newly married wife. As he passed the doorman, oblivious of the journalist, he said ' Paradise for us all. Play like Rat? Also Tam ask me to get him Celtic souvenir'

Juanjo is history so Guy Kerr needs to move on up. He has the right shape for a good defender but needs to really believe in himself particularly after his breakthrough at the end of last year. Investing in him if he makes the breakthrough this year will be far better than re-investing in Juanjo despite Juanjo being a decent person.

An interesting challenge - you can be better than Rankin if you try!

We are a club with a small fan base. We are a club with limited resources. If Lionel eez ungry pour le jeu il fait le jersey. Basically Darren Dods came as a squad player and ended up captain and then indispensable rock in the back four. He was renowned for own goals. Steve Watt did not appear to have hunger and believed he was far better than othrs judged him. I hope Lionel proves people wrong and in 12 months they humbly post some pie.

Was he significantly slimmer? If Brew has slimmed him down he might just get back to a good prospect.

I wondered if Burnley had bid for one of our players and this was part of the deal. There again, Owen's probably an old mate of Brews. Either way, this is what we have been asking for so again I hope we make 1-10 August totally positive time for ICT. Everyone stops being negative and gives 100% to everthing they post. Surely that will help the players make a good start? Our first ever visit to a Championship ground for a fixture. Liverpool XI, Burnley, Denmark, Ross County and St Johnstone - not bad!!

Did they have public hangings at the jail?

I have this view that we should declare 1-10 August ICT Let's be totally positive period. If everyone in the club - players, supporters, management, groundsperson - is 100% positive we can perform extremely well. The dandy Dons are already predicting that they will shoot to the top of the SPL and stay there for a couple of months because the fixture list is kind to them. They start off with the diddy team. The last 12 months have seen an outpouring of moaning from probably all of us. Some a lot more than others. However, lets look down the road. Hearts have debts ?30 million more than ours. ?26m more than Gretna. Security of this debt is through an absent landlord. Their supporters do not have the facility to moan at their manager - nobody seems to want it. A lot of their players are on short term contracts. These are negotiated on the basis that regardless of performance or Puppet Manager, Mr Romanov has guaranteed to pick me! Frail may well receive his jotters this week. There again, he might get the job full time if all he does is show Romanov's instructions from the dug out and substitute players when ordered to do so. 1-10 August is therefore ICT 100% Positive Period.

Very shortly Marius will be on honeymoon and I guess he will do whatever ever Mrs Nicolae whispers into his ear. I doubt it will be 'do you fancy scoring for Dundee United?'

Official website confirms he's off to Fife. We can always look back and respect the enormous work he put into games.

Zibi is back training with Hibs who need him as cover for the big lad off to the Olympics with Belgium. Cuthbert is joining Ken Dodds diddymen.

http://www.eveningexpress.co.uk/Article.as...07520?UserKey=0 Well known podgy boy has warned his star players they must get in shape like himself. Game on!

.............and 11 George Bests off it!

I have to say I have considerable respect for Andy Millen. To me he was a winner in a fair sense and we will miss him as a player.

We rarely feel bad when an opposing Manager gets sacked following an embarrassing defeat at the hands of the diddy team although Gordon Strachan survived and Martin O'Neill's misjudgement did not harm his career. However, 'Barnes battles for post as boss' http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/7463038.stm and I wondered if there was anything we could do to help his cause? Let me kick off and suggest he stars in this year's pantomime at Eden Court. The wicked witch could refuse to come out for the second half.

Honor Fraser came to an early game. Not sure if Bob Dylan has been yet. Dave Stewart is pretty famous both as a politician and front guitarist.

Barrowman may be perceived to be lazy but if his job is to goal hang and tap it in that's what we've been missing. In particular Dennis and Marius had so many chances last year to tap home but missed them. ICT create an enormous number of chances but we do not tap them home.

If anyone heard the telephone interview with Marius tonight on Grampian they would know this thread needs updating. Marius is not interested in any talk of transfers at present because he is getting ready for his imminent nuptials. I wonder how this will be recognised on the front page of this website? Maybe it's time for a Richard Hastings flag. Anyway that's Marius knackered for pre-season training then!