Beram Kayal, Gary Hooper, Charlie Mulgrew and Kelvin Wilson all travelled with the rest of the Celtic party to Switzerland  ahead of tonight’s make or break Europa League tie against FC Sion.

With the tie perfectly balanced at 0-0 manager Neil Lennon might be prepared to gamble on the fitness of ALL four in a bid to get through to the group stages.

With the Hoops firing blanks in our last two outings even the sight of Gary Hooper on the park would certainly give the Bhoys a boost, though I’m not sure Neil will go for that.

My suspicions, and it’s only really a hunch, is that Lenny will go for the same tactics he employed, successfully, at the Bigotdome in January. Sammy will be used upfront on his own with a five man midfield supporting him.

As for the defence,  it makes sense to bring back Kelvin Wilson to add a bit stability besides Dangerous Dan, though the game might just be a bit too soon for Charlie Mulgrew after the player limped off at half time on Sunday.

As for Beram Kayal. Celtic can’t afford to go into the game tonight without Kayal’s drive and penetration. He could be THE man to make a difference if he gets on the ball and takes control of the game, like we all know he can. We’ve certainly missed that in recent games.

But will Lenny take the gamble? At this stage of the season it’s got to be worth Lenny’s  while to take a chance. Celtic NEED to be playing in Europe.

Let’s hope he get’s it right.

****for any Bhoys and Ghirls in the Blantyre area who want so see the Celts and enjoy a wee refreshment, the Columba Club are also showing the game. Admission is FREE and if you get in early enough and tell him you saw this message on the Celtic Fanzone,  Lisbon Lion John Fallon might buy you a drink!

Manager Neil Lennon’s persistence has paved the way for Newcastle’s Fraser Forster return to Celtic Park on yet another season loan.

The giant keeper helped a much maligned (by the press) defence keep twenty clean sheets during his forty-four appearances for the Bhoys.

So Lenny know’s what he’s getting.

Although Lenny had other goalkeepers on trial it was Fraser he wanted all along, so by not taking no for an answer, we’ve got the Bhoy back between the sticks, for at least another year.

At this point there’s no reason to slag off Newcastle’s manager Alan Pardew for his derisory comments about the standard of the SPL, you never know in football, he might be looking for a job up here in the near future!

#Belated Birthday Wishes….

Even though we’re a day late, the Bhoys and Ghirls of the Celtic Fanzone would like to wish Lisbon Lion a belated Happy Birthday!

John was…….yesterday!

Happy Birthday pal!

John Fallon

It came as a shock yesterday morning, when Jim Ward called on the phone. I was leaving the house to go to local shops with Esther, when he delivered the sad news of Willie(pumper)O’Neil’s death. I just never expected to hear that.

It had been two weeks since my visit to see him in Monklands Hospital, and he was starting to get back to great form, the ususal joking and mickey taking. Of course I told him Big Jock was right to sell him to Carlisle ,cause thats all he was good for!

I can just hear his reply. And we had a good laugh when I said I never got nutmegged from 20yards, Willie did, in Di Stefanos game.

Willie was one of the best left-sided players at Celtic Park in his day, his defensive positioning was excellent, some may add, rightly so, he was the best, at either fullback or in midfield.

Since we finished playing we’ve been to Vegas, London, and a few other places together to attend Celtic functions.  Willie was always the joker and played many a trick with a straight face (like the huns say wiznae me)!

Yes Willie, I’ll miss our going out, whether it’s to Lennoxtown or Celtic Park. I remember on your last visit to the unvieling of Big Jock’s statue you said to me “wits he doing here, I thought I got rid of him”. Typical Willie.

I’ll miss our time together, I’ll have a drink in Vegas with Charlie in memory of you along with San Fran Bhoys in their wee room.

REST IN PEACE WILLIE

Get yourselves along to the Columba Club in Blantyre for a Charity Question and Answer night on Friday 29th October 2010.

Among the panel for the evening will be;

Our very own Lisbon Lion…. John Fallon,

Radio Clyde’s and the Daily Record’s…….. Hugh Keevins

Ex-Boxer and Boxing Promoter……….John McDermott

Albion Rovers Director and Top Celtic Comedian……..Pat Rolink

We also hope to have a “Special Appearance” on the night from Coatbridge Bhoy and  New WBO Super Featherweight Champion……..Ricky Burns

Compere for the evening will be the Celtic Fanzone’s FRP…….Phil Agnew!

The evening starts at 7.30pm and tickets are only £5.00.

Tickets can be purchased here through Celtic Fanzone or directly at the Columba Club in Blantyre.

Champion Ricky Burns

Pat Rolink

Everyone connected with the Celtic Fanzone would like to wish our friend, colleague and Lisbon Lion John Fallon a very Happy 70th Birthday today.

I’m sure the big man will be in a great mood this Monday after the Bhoys’ 1-0 away win at Inverness last weekend.

John truly is someone who lived the dream spending 14 years as a player at Celtic Park.

People speak often about supporting Celtic as a boy then being lucky enough to play for the club.

Well John has done all that, and more.

In fact you’ll still see him outside the Celtic Superstore on match days, waxing lyrically about the club he loves.

John Fallon is one of the nicest men you will ever have the pleasure of meeting. He is a geniune man. He is a great ambassador for Celtic.

Happy Birthday John, have a hoopy day!

P.S. It would be nice for Celtic Football Club to honour their former player as a thanks for the fantastic service he gave and still gives the club.

Happy Birthday John!

The Association of Irish Celtic Supporters Clubs held their annual dance last Saturday in the City West Hotel, Dublin.

Among the guests were new Celtic manager Neil Lennon, Chief Executive Peter Lawwell, Lisbon Lion John Fallon and his lovely wife Esther, former Celt Chris Sutton and current players Scott Brown, Josh Thompson, Morten Rasmussen, Andreas Hinkel and Paddy McCourt.

The dance was preceded by a Q&A session where the most ‘potent’ topic seemed to be the losing of two successive titles to a piss poor Rankers team.

All who attended were assured that the title remains Celtic’s number onep riority and Lenny will have the players focused on bringing the SPL flag home to Paradise.

Below are some pics from the evening…

Team Photo In Dublin

Chris Sutton Speaks!

Lenny Addresses The Congregation!

Click here for more pics…

If the media speculation is to be believed, and quite frankly that is a hard thing to do, but if it is, then Lenny’s latest ‘transfer target’ Scunthorpe’s striker Gary Hooper shows a complete lack of ambition by the Celtic caretaker manager and the Celtic board.

I suppose the line from Dr Reid and and Co will be that we don’t have any money and that these are pressing times.

All the while expecting the Faithful to put our hands in our pockets for season tickets. Well then, surely the club will reduce the prices if we are to watch ‘lesser’ players than in previous seasons?

Unfortunately, this won’t happen. In the next few weeks we’ll be served up the usual nonsense about ‘WOW’ players and the ‘board will back the manager pish’.

Reminds me of the days of Andy Payton and Carl Muggleton….and the Kelly’s and Whites!

Note: Blast From The Past 2:

Back Row: Ian Young; Tommy Gemmell, John Fallon; Bobby Murdoch; Billy McNeill; John Clark:

Front Row: Stevie Chalmers; Charlie Gallagher, John Hughes; Bobby lennox; Bertie Auld.

The Cup…..The Scottish Cup 1965.

This is YOUR chance to put questions to your past Hoops’ heroes. Tell them what you think, and ask them for their take on the current Celtic team.

Full details click here

You won’t want to miss this one!

I canny believe what I’m reading these days. Or seeing for that matter!

The Hun has another story linking us to Robbie Keane. Which isny too bad, for a minute I thought it was gonna be Roy Keane!

I suppose the hacks have got to write something to get our interest, cause the two teams that are playing at the Bigotdome tomorrow canny.

Watching that dross on Thursday made me think about the stick WGS got. It now looks way over the top when you consider what’s on view now.

And then I hear that Scott Brown, the £4m man, is going for a scan to London on Monday after the game.

I hope it’s a brain scan, and I hope he takes Tony with him!

HH,

John Fallon

P.S. Watch out for my new column, starting next week…..

Now in our fifth year the Celtic Fanzone is going through a major overhaul and to make the site more user friendly we would like your opinion.

John Fallon

Already we’ve looked at a few ideas of our own, and one of them is to do interviews with former Celts, celebrity Celts and ‘Celtic’ men and women of all walks in life.

But we need your help.

Who would YOU like to ask a question?

Lisbon Lion John Fallon? Celtic legend Paul McStay? Ex Celtic captain Tom Boyd?

These are just a few suggestions, YOU tell us and we’ll try do the rest.

C’mon then, get posting!