For a moment there I thought the title was going to be longer than the actual Diary.
We’ll start with the story that apeared first in monday’s diary, which concerned the tale of Rangers and “rangers ” novel and refreshing way of dealing with that tiresome utility bill most of us get from the Water board. Or Water company as they now are.
A tale reached us on Sunday about a broken pipe in the Ibrox area, which when treated, led to the discovery of another pipe, which wasn’t on the water company’s own map, leading from a nearby church, thought to be the Ibrox parish church, leading to Ibrox stadium via the mega store. The Ibrox clubm when questioned by the water people, denied all knowledge of their apparent windfall, but still balked at the presentation of an estimated bill, calculated by some to be around £2m, and the demand for a surety against future supplies.
Otherwise, their supply was going to be cut off.
We left out a few details, hoping that readers or others would add to it, and perhaps even confirm it. We have had confirmation that other businesses in the same area also didn’t receive water bills around the same time, and are now being pursued for the debt.
So there does appear to be something in it, but not absolute confirmation from any of the parties said to be involved.
Yesterday, my attention was drawn to the John James blog, which is written by a Rangers supporter who isn’t exactly keen on the present regime, and is not shy of calling them out for what they really are. ( Thanks to PJ and The Clumpany, which incidentally is a great name for a band. )
His blog, which initially looked like a re-arranging of the words in Mondays “Where The Waters Run Free ” on this site, actually did include some of the stuff we left out.
Which means he either got the same information from the same source as we did, or he has another , independent source. We are aware that we were not the only ones to receive the information in Monday’s diary, but until John James mentioned it, we were the only ones to run with it, because we don’t really give a toss about what lawyers might say, as we are dead hard and smoke fags and drink beer and leer at ladies. And one of us used to drive a truck and ride a motorbike. While smoking fags , drinking beer and leering at ladies.
Mind you, smoking a fag on a motorbike makes your jacket roll up at the back, so you don’t look that mean. Just silly, in fact.
Anyhoo, the fact is, if John James has a different source than we do, then the story might be true. Which fucks up my credibility and I’ll have to invent something about a new signing or something to get it back.
If he doesn’t, then we are stuck at square one, but at least we’ve had a good laugh.
The bit about other businesses not getting a bill, and the owner being latterly pursued is true, though, and that leads me to think that other users in the area, either residential or business may also have shared in the bonanza, so if that has happened to you, or someone you know, let us know.
We won’t mention who you are, and happily that means we don’t have to thank you either. You can reach us via direct message on twitter or contact us via the site.
Or just tell us in the replies. No-one uses their real name anyway.
On now to the fallout from the European campaign, a campaign which has sadly shown that although Celtic can raise their game now and again, we don;t really sem to have mastered the knack of scoring more goals than the other team, and keeping the ball off them for any lengthy period of time, except when they’re winning comfortably, and are reminding us that no matter how fantastic our support is, not one fan has ever raced on the park and scored a goal.
That guy against Milan nearly did, but Scott MacDonald got there just before him.
Celtic campaign, one draw, two defeats, three goals scored-and one of them was offside, another a deflection- with twelve conceded is not the form that is required to get something out of this group other than the proverbial wooden spoon.
We’ve changed the keeper, and have improc=ved in that respect, but the real issue, and most of the replies yesterday tend to support this theory, is in central midfiled, where Celtic simply are not strong or athletic enough.
Up front, our style allows us to be fairly easily nullified, and despite his undoubted ability, Moussa Demebele isn’t as much of a threat as we had hoped. Not on his own, at any rate. His laconic style doesn’t add much to the pressing game when its needed, and so he either needs help up there, or maybe a wee rest for the second half of the campaign.
The defence isn’t protected like it should be at this level. If they are caught out, then its usually a goal conceded, so they need a bit of help.
Scott Brown is athletic, and he’s strong, but he can’t do it on his own, and we need someone even stronger, even faster and perhaps even more commited.
The transfer window won;t open until these games are done, and we wouldn;t spend the money to get a big, tough strong athletic internationally honoured and a proven winner at that level anyway.
But the solution to both of these conundrums, up front and in midfield, is already at Celtic Park.
In attack, only Barcelona have faced the main man, Leigh Griffiths, and he scored against them in the International champions cup, pouncing on a mistake by their defence.
Griffiths never stops running, he never gives up and he knows where the net is. In the air, on the ground, the guy is a goal machine, and nither of our next two opponents have had to deal with a fully fit and hungry Leigh Griffiths yet, and thats where we can possibly salvage something from this group. goals win games, and he’s the man to provide them.
Stopping goals, and stopping teams dominating you is also important, and the time has come to replace Nir Biton, as the European games require that brute strength, size and athleticism that he doesn’t have, and we desperately need someone in there who will battle for every ball, someone who is strong in the air, strong in the tackle and very difficult to bully off the ball.
Someone who is experienced at the highest level,both for club and country… someone who knows what is needed.
Oh, wait, we already have one. and one who has been a champion at international level at that…
Sure, he’s made a mistake or two, in defence, but an occasional mistake in midfield wouldn’t be so bad, and his speed gives him that little bit longer to get back and rectify it, which he has done even when playing further back.
And he won’t give up either. He will run and fight until the final whistle has gone. And that kind of fire was missing against Barcelona and Borussia,
Oh hang on, our resident expert has spoken…
Pish!
Is it ? Is it really ?
Okay, consider this, you are a midfielder , in possession of the ball, and you’ve just glided past Scott Brown, and the next thing you see is the grinning face of Efe Ambrose as he bears down on you at about fifty miles an hour….
I think its worth a shot, and we should practice this against that lot on sunday, a game which is a must win simply because, as i have said before, you can;t have a treble without the League Cup.
Gordon, Lustig, Tierney, Simunovic, Svaitchenko, Brown , Ambrose, Forrest, Rogic, Sinclair, Griffiths.
Keep that line up until we play in Germany, and then slightly alter it with Toure as sweeper and either one of Rogic , Forrest or sinclair benched.
Piece of piss this management lark.
For that game on Sunday, opponents “rangers ” will be without another of their star signings, Niko Kranjcar, who has got arthritis or something, which is not uncommon for a man of his age, and therefore “rangers ” will be a slightly stronger side than they were last time.
Captain Lee Wallace, recently praised by Chris McLaughlin as a man who thinks before he speaks, as opposed to most in the Scottish media who are told what to think before they speak, and parodied by blogger The Clumpany in his hilarious recent revelations about Wallace’s private life..
the-clumpany-on-the-hidden-genius-that-is-lee-wallace
has told the “rangers 2 support, and those who still think its Rangers, that he wants revenge on Celtic this sunday..
Oh . that reminds me, when you see all the promotions for the latest instalment of the Walking Dead saga, they are referring to an american tv show , and not the Scottish League cup semi final.
Remember, the crucial difference is that in the tv show the zombies are the characters and actually take part in the events, in the League Cup they just sit and watch .
Back to Lee Wallace-I’m rambling again, sorry… he was told to tell the Record…starting woith the hibs game last year, where. like his team mates , he suffered a brutal beating both on and off the pitch, and only one part of that was recorded by the cameras. making prosecution a little tricky
“It was disappointing the last time we came here. It was the chance to get that first piece of major silverware in a number of years.
Could maybe lose the last five words of that sentence to make it a little more accurate…
“But we will use that final and that moment as motivation and we will be looking to get Rangers silverware in the cabinet.
It would make more sense to sell the cabinet and pay the water bill.
“It’s a big part of why I came to this club and I’ve not managed to do it yet in six or seven years being here. It’s very much a big ambition of mine and I still have time to do that.
Six or seven years ? Do you think the penny might drop soon that it isn;t going to happen. and if it does drop, will they pick it up and give it to the water company. Hang on, maybe they haven;t paid the bill becuase they don;t know whether they should pay the company, or the club ? Two doifferent things, you know, when it comes to paying bills and so on…
“We can get to a cup final if all goes to plan and we win on Sunday. The aim is to bring that true Rangers silverware back to our support who have been ever so loyal in the last number of years. As players, we are desperate to deliver that to the fans.”
“True Rangers silverware ? “Oh for a comma, so we know what he is really saying here…is it True Rangers that he is hoping to convince us of, or true silverware, the type won by fair means when you pay all your taxes and stuff. Like everyone else has to.
Then he spoke about the 5-1 thrashing last time out…
“It was definitely one of the worst experiences of my football life. It is all about learning for us. Going into this game, we are more excited and more positive.
What ? Up there with realising that you’ve made an arse of your career by joining a third division club and wasting your time in the lower leagues ?
“The last time, we went into the Old Firm game on the back of two points dropped at Kilmarnock.
Oh, thats why they were shite…never considered that. Thankfully, our last game wasn;t against Kilmarnock, so we should be alright..
“After the game it was hard to speak, having felt so emotional.
Tell the truth…you couldn’t speak because you couldn;t find a policeman to tell who had just robbed you of your dignity you in front of all your friends and family
“But there was a real intensity to it the last time and that might just gather as the week goes on.
That at least is correct. for that lot, this is as big a game for them as they will have all season.
“We’re aware of that, we know the rivalry and I’ve said it 101 times – there is a real aggression, a real passion for this fixture. It’s one of the best games worldwide and we have to relish that.
For them, yes, for us, its a semi final against a team of duffers. Who granted, may spring a shock, but we should be alright, as its only first division sides we struggle against in cup matches, as for them its a big day out. “rangers ” are in amongst the big boys now, and , oh wait, its still a big day out for them , I suppose. They’ll probably get t-shirts made again.
“We understand the responsibility to our fans and it’s about imposing our style, imposing our game plan and going and being the best we can be on the day.
I think they’d better try and impose their style and game plan on their own players before trying it on the opposition…
“This time we have kept four clean sheets in the last five and are on the back of two good results. The momentum is there and even the game we didn’t win, I think it was clear to see we were back on the right track in terms of performance.”
“While I am captain I’ve always said we have four or five other skippers in the dressing room. They can pick players up and use their experiences to keep the dressing room positive. We are fortunate to have those types of characters.
“It is easy to keep guys in a positive mindset. While it was a sore defeat to take, we were back a few days later using that pain and turning it into motivation.”
No you weren’t. Your manager said it wasn’t a 5-1 defeat, it was only 3-1. That’s not turning it into motivation. Thats pretending it didn’t happen. Like you did with liquidation
The Record article, written and produced by Level 5 and passed to the paper for publication, finishes up with the claim..
But it’s a test the left-back will relish like greats of the past.
The past four years ? Kind of limited list of “greats” in that period….
In other news, or at least in the Daily Mail, Celtic are making moves to replace John Park, and surprisingly, i’m not on the list, despite my handy hints outlined above to save the club a bob or two… ( you don’t know what “surprisingly 2 means, do you? Ed )
Huddersfield Town head of football operations Stuart Webber has emerged as a frontrunner to become Celtic’s new scouting chief.
Boss Brendan Rodgers is seeking a new talent spotter following the departure of John Park after nine years at the club.
Webber, 32, a former academy scout for Rangers’ head of recruitment Frank McParland at Liverpool, features high on the list of candidates.
The writer, Stephen McGowan, keeping on message there with a wee nod to the fact that Celtic are going for the monkey, as “rangers ” already got the organ grinder..
Not quite enough to win him
Knob Of The Week,
though. that requires a special talent, and a little more effort.
The police have released more pictures of those wanted for the riots after the Scottish cup final, which could spell trouble for a popular Edinburgh beat duo whose hit ” Sunshine on Leith ” was belted out by Hibernian fans before they apparently went out belting “rangers” players
Speaking of the police, they deserve praise for stopping the streets of Scotland being invaded by an extremist organisation which promotes bigotry and racism by emphasising its own superiority and right to be British, whatever that means.
“We will not tolerate any group that incites violence or hatred in our communities across Scotland.
“We are working with a range of organisations across the country to intervene and where possible, prevent any event that promotes extremist or racist views.”
“There is no place for hatred of this kind in Scotland.”
Unsurprisingly, they are not talking about Orange supremacy here, but that of the white kind. The Orange Order will continue to be allowed to dress as clowns and go around terrorising decent people. Which I think is breaking another new law that came in this week…
The police cannot actually do anything about that, as all of their top brass are usually on holiday when they take place, and they get a chance to wear their other uniform for a day, and go around terrorising decent people.
Its great for them that their fucking hobby is actually their job as well.
Anyway, its Friday, and that means its time for the afore mentioned
Knob of the Week,
This week has seen a lot of strong contenders, but you have to hand it to Lee Wallace, who must surely have inpsired his team mates and brought cheer to many tims with his burbling in the above article, and such a strong run to the final post cannot be ignored.
Lee Wallace, you are this weeks Etims
Knob of the Week.
Though I must mention the editor if the Sun “newspaper, who made a thopuriughly honourable effort himself, when he attacked tv presenter Gary Lineker, who pointed out that a wee bit of humanity should be shown to migrants fleeing the countries that the US and Britain are taking it in turns to bomb.
Todays paper takes irony to a new level…
The editor, is Tony Gallagher, and its fair to say he doesn’t look at himself in the mirror very often,
but then what self respecting editor of the Sun ever could ?
Caption competition now, and yesterday we had this…
won by this..
Caption
Glasgow Council say £1brokes roof is safe
HH
Today we have this.. from Binghamton, New York, in 1948.
By the way, the comments and discussions yesterday in the reply section yesterday were , for the most part, of the highest standard of any to date. Thanks, it was a pleasure reading them, plenty of thought provoking and entertaining insights.
Oh, wait, there’s always one….
Pish!
