[Mr Nice]

Here we go again.

A resounding success on the pitch this season(on paper anyway!), some would argue one of our best in recent times. Scottish double winners and a glorious run to the 2nd round of the CL in only Gordon Strachans 2nd season. A league campaign that, really was without challenge, and ultimately was sewn up before christmas time. A few exilerating CL nights, summed up by the fantastic 3-0 win at home to Benfica, which broke the hoodoo and gave us what we had been chasing through the MON years and emulating the achievment of Rangers the previous year. The big highlight of the year had to be the two games against eventual winners, Milan. Performances in both legs that done the players, fans and club proud, only to be undone in ET by the wonderful Kaka. However, the exertion took it's toll, and a we seen a rather subdued run in to the league season, which seen defeats in the remaining 2 OF fixtures and defeats to Hearts and Falkirk. The season ended with, again, a tired and weathered win against dunfermline at Hampden to pick up our record 34th Scottish Cup. The cup win coincided with the 40th Anniversary of the clubs greatest night in it's history, when big Caesar lofted the European Cup above his head that great night in May 1967.

On the pitch, continual questions still persist, but The record of Gordon Strachan can't be argued with. The 2nd half of the season was poor by the clubs standard, and the club have hopefully moved early to address this. Out has went the enigmatic Neil Lennon to Notts Forest, a stalwart of the MON years and club captain. With performances waning, his influence will be missed within the club. However, the arrival of the dyedinwool-tatooedlegged-donedeal Scott Brown, Scotlands hottest property, in a record beaking 4.4M deal from Hibs should do alot to add something that's been sorely missing in the Celtic midfield. The close season signings of JVoH, Thomas Gravesen, Gary Caldwell, Lee Naylor & Kenny Millar promised alot. Only JVoH and Naylor have really made their mark on the 1st team, with Kenny Millar playing alot but doing little and Gravesen in and out of the team all season. The latter two have been disappointing to say the least. January saw the departure of Shaun Maloney and the arrival of Hartley and Pressley. Maloney's departure, like Petrov's a few months earlier, was shrouded in contraversy, and hurt the club and it's fans. Hartley has been average, showing rare glimpses of the engine and drive that has been his trademark over the last few years. Pressley, whilst offering invaluble experience to a young and inexperienced defence has been showing his age.

Two shining ligts this season has been the emergence of young Darren O'Dea and the performances of Lee Naylor. O'Dea has already been in the ROI squad and is sure to win his first cap soon and Naylor has been a breath of fresh air: Finally a LB whos performances we can be proud of and certainly someone who is hungry and plays for the shirt. A mention for Evander Sno too. A bargain at approx 150k, the guy has come into the midfield at only 19yrs of age and showed composure beyond his years and experience, despite being a raw talent still. Becoming a Dutch U21 regular and breaking in the full Dutch squad says something about his level of performance and development that he has shown this season. Lastly, The re-emergence of John Kennedy after 3yrs out due to the horrific injury that occured whilst on Scotland duty, has given us all hope that he still might be able to fulfill the great potential he displayed before his absence.

What will be next season? Will Riordan be able to break into the first team next year? Will we still have our abundance of strikers come September the 1st? Who else is still to arrive?

The new season starts August 4th, with the flag being unfurled at home to Kilmarnock. This identical fixture last year produced a 4-1 win, let's hope for the same.

Pre-seaon fixtures:

5 July - Basle (A)
7 July - Young Boys (A)
13 July - Peterborough (A)
15 July - QPR (A)
19 July - MLS All-Stars (A)
22 July - Chicago Fire (A)
26 July - Newcastle (A)
29 July - Parma (H)
30 July - Dumbarton (A)

Celtics' SPL Fixtures

Transfers:

IN:

Scott Mcdonald - Motherwell 750K
Chris Killen - Hibs FREE
Scott Brown - Hibs 4.4M

OUT:

Neil Lennon Freed
Kjartan Finbogason (?)

[Findlay]

Gravesen vows to stay at Celtic

Celtic midfielder Thomas Gravesen is determined to stay and fight for his place, according to his agent.

The 31-year-old Dane failed to establish himself in Gordon Strachan's first team last season after his £2m move from Real Madrid.

Sunderland and Sheffield United have been linked with a move for the former Everton player.

But John Sivebaek told the Sunday Express: "Thomas wants to prove that he can be a success at Celtic."

Gravesen lost his place to Paul Hartley after the Scotland midfielder signed from Hearts in January and failed to force his way back into Strachan's plans.

Sivebaek said the midfielder had no intention of leaving Celtic Park and was looking forward to next season.

"I think Thomas will still be at Celtic next season. He will fight to get back into the team," Sivebaek said.

"That is the way he wants to act as a professional footballer. I still think he is a really good footballer and I do not know why he has not been playing at Celtic."

Sivebaek added: "Thomas has never expressed a desire to leave Celtic. He is very happy at the club and very happy with the fans."

Strachan said in February he had no problem with Gravesen and that he was part of his first-team plans.

Link.

here's hoping he stays and gets more of a chance in the first team

[bigmarsh]

Originally posted by Findlay:

here's hoping he stays and gets more of a chance in the first team

had his chance, very poor.

I was so excited when he signed, but has been a huge dissapointment

hoping we can get rid of him, use the wages for 2 decent players.

[Mr Nice]

I like Tommy, he plays for the jersey. I was the same, very excited when he signed, and he's been a bit of a letdown, although not disasterous. He has chipped in with some important goals and passes, particularly early on in the season.

However, if Appiah arrives, i think he should leave. His wages and a possible transfer fee can be used to stregnthen other areas

[bigmarsh]

Originally posted by Mr Nice:
I like Tommy, he plays for the jersey. I was the same, very excited when he signed, and he's been a bit of a letdown, although not disasterous. He has chipped in with some important goals and passes, particularly early on in the season.

However, if Appiah arrives, i think he should leave. His wages and a possible transfer fee can be used to stregnthen other areas

i'll agree with most of that, but he hasn't performed in the big games, sure a goal here and there but his general 'football' in open play hasn't been what was was expected.

sometimes runs about like a headless chicken, not sure if that's trying too hard or just ineptness.

[Findlay]

Nakamura is absent in a lot of games too but no-one wants him to leave

Imo Gravesen has more to show, I think he'd be better in a midfield without Lennon (hopefully everyone will though!)

[cjjones1714]

Originally posted by Findlay:
Nakamura is absent in a lot of games too but no-one wants him to leave

Imo Gravesen has more to show, I think he'd be better in a midfield without Lennon (hopefully everyone will though!)

Naka's role in the team is different, he's there to create, not graft. If he goes missing we lack creativity if the midfield goes missing we lack possession.

[Mr Nice]

yeah, i agree he has more to show. He's better than Hartley. He is the most experienced midfielder in our squad now, and that counts for a hell of alot. In a mobile midfield i think he could do a far better job than last year, although i think if another arrives they might try and push him out of the door.

New Arrival, Brown, Grav, Hartley, Sno and Bjarnasson all competing for CM places next year. Teddy should be shipped out on loan to an SPL club for experience. I think although Brown should be primarily a CM for us, his ability to play on the right will be invaluable in rotating Naka, so there will be plaenty of chances for Sno and Grav, if he stays.

[Juve4EVA]

here we go:

Celtic target Gennaro Delvecchio believes he could help turn the club into a real force if he joins from Sampdoria.

Both the 29-year-old and Milan midfielder Massimo Donati have been linked with a move to Scotland.

Delvecchio told the Scottish Daily Express: "If I move to Celtic this summer I would help them become bigger and stronger and dominate Scottish football.

"Celtic have already shown they can compete in the Champions League, but I think I could take them further down that road."

Delvecchio is valued at around £3 million, but Celtic face competition from Palermo.

Meanwhile, Donati’s agent Andrea D'Amico, is set to hold talks with Celtic next week.

He spent last season on loan at Atalanta.

Delvecchio is a solid player.

[Jeebs]

I was just about ask, is there any more news on the two italians we're supposedly close to signing.