Celtic Splash The Cash At Last

A gradually building impatience among the ranks of the Celtic support – if the annals of CelticMinded.com are anything to go by – will hopefully be deflated slightly by the news today that the Greek international striker Georgios Samaras has signed for Celtic.

Samaras arrives at the club permanently on the back of a loan spell which saw him play a crucial role in Celtic’s dramatic title win, a role which has not always been fully recognised. The striker made 21 appearances for Celtic in the second half of the season and scored six goals – five of which came, often decisively, in the league campaign. That most of his appearances came from the bench makes this a haul he can be justifiably proud of.

His arrival initially seemed to be significant not because of what he personally could offer, but because of what his arrival offered others already at the club: the competition for places seemed to spur JVoH and Skippy on to greater feats, and – to begin with at least – it seemed this rivalry for places was a Godsend for a team struggling for ideas through a bleak winter. Furthermore, his debut at Kilmarnock offered a tantalising glimpse of the talent this 23 year old undoubtedly has: a slow, easy stride into the Kilmarnock penalty area was followed by a very cool finish as Samaras rolled the ball beyond the helpless Killie keeper.

Given the form of JVoH and Skippy – a partnership which yielded 51 goals – Samaras was destined to be used as a substitute for most of the remainder of the campaign. From there, though, he still managed to chip in with some vital goals. Notable among these were his winner against ICT, his clinical finish to see off Hibs, and his vital goal – the only goal of the game – against Aberdeen (where his outrageously disallowed goal was ignored by the press in favour of a similar effort by the Dons); the winner against Motherwell in a game which was not for the faint-hearted was a key moment in our title win. Samaras also helped out the team with some crucial assists – and it was, let’s not forget, his knock back to Gary Caldwell in the first Huns game at Celtic Park which led to that all-important winner.

Samaras himself seems incredibly happy with the move, stating today the move was, “the best moment in my career, so far.”

It’s the ‘so far’ part that interests me; here’s hoping he has greater highlights coming soon.

Welcome to Paradise, Georgios.

a MUST read thread from FF....COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO

dh1963 dh1963 is offline
In the footsteps of my team
Join Date: 29-07-2006
Posts: 4,843
Default Tims 5 points in front....
Speaking to a mhanky at work, and he is staying optimistic about the SPL.

His logic...

Celtic beat Motherwell tomorrow - gap down to 4 points
Celtic beat us - gap down to 1 point

Celtic beat Aberdeen while we don't have an SPL game - they go 2 in front
Celtic beat us again - they go 5 points in front

We'd have 3 games in hand, but a huge fixture pile-up, and loads o... [Read More]

My Day At Tommy Burns Funeral

I will start at lunchtime yesterday, I received a phone call from Mince asking me if I would be able to attend TBs funeral as the official representative of celticminded. Without a seconds hesitation he had my answer and i was frantically texting just about everyone in my phone log to tell them my news.

As the day wore on my nerves were under major stress, here was me to enter St Marys church on my own knowing there most likely wouldn't be a soul there that knew me. I hardly slept a wink last night worrying that I wouldn't let myself or celticminded down.

I was to arrive at the church at 11.40, but turned up 10 minutes early just as the players past and present were going in. Feeling like a celeb in my good suit I proudly walked in with Roy Keane by my side (the things that Keano will do to get noticed). I entered the church and was directed to a section just behind the present day players.

Having turned up a good half hour before the mass began, it gave me the chance to look around and take in just what I was amongst. My head was spinning as I noticed the greats from my era, Bonner, Rogan, McGrain, Dalglish, McStay,provan, McAvenie, McgGarvie, Grant, Collins, McGhee, White, Morris, McCluskey and Walker. Then there was the managers Hay, McNeil, O'Neil and Strachan.

Then the coffin carrying TB came in to the congregation singing "Ave Maria".

The mass started and soon it was the turn of big Starky to start the tears flowing among the faithful.

Onto the homily from Monsignor Monaghan, a touching and fitting speech it was. By this stage in the proceedings I was only just holding myself together. How could I be feeling like this, for goodness sake it was only last week I buried my favourite Aunt and never felt this hurt.

Leaving the church I was sandwiched between Jim Jeffries and Billy Brown from kilmarnock, that along with the rangers management team carrying TB in, brought home to me just how much this man was respected and loved by everyone who had the pleasure of having met the man.

Finally I was to bump into someone that I knew (rab2inarow) but by that time I was among hundreds of friends.

Rest In Peace TB.

Tommy Burns Tribute Videos

Image Challenge : McCurry

The theme given to our users was "McCurry" and they were left to run with that.

The Huns moligated again.

The moligations keep on coming for der Hun. An ingenious prankster has been stocking the shelves of supermarkets & sports stores with this gem of a DVD. (more on page 2 of this article)