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Celtic Diary Friday October 28: Brown Back For Scotland

This week, manager Brendan Rodgers gave Scott Brown a couple of days off and laughingly told him not to do anything stupid like he did on a previous break, and that under no circumstances did he want to wake up to newspaper headlines featuring his captain and any tales of drunken behaviour.

Scott Brown ready to make sensational Scotland comeback in Wembley crunch

How much exactly did he have to drink ?

Brown has rediscovered his form of late, and perhaps now feels that he can resume international football whilst continuing to perform at club level.

More likely, he just fancies playing at the new Wembley in what will be a big game.

Apparently, he’s been texting Scotland boss Gordon Strachan this week, and someone found a phone on a bus which we suspect may belong to the Celtic captain, and so from that we can explain how it happened.

Hear you had a wean???? 

                                                                                                                             Aye. Got A pay off. lol                      

                                                                                                                              Day off. ducking autocorrect pmsl  fancy a pint and a kebab? 

Naw. Watching Walking Dead. Losing 1-0 at Ibrox.

 Fuck that shite. Whagwa? 

Playing England next month. You up for it?

  Where? 

Wembley.      

 Wheres that ? 

London. its on a week night so you’ll have to book it off.                        

                                                                                                                                  Aye. Pisser. I’ll tell him I’ve had another wean. LOL.        

Ah fuck. Huns have equalised.          

 

For Scotland and Strachan, having Brown in the side is a bonus, but there are doubts about his ability to perform at international as he has never played in the English first division.

He could have, however, at least according to Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers have played for him at Liverpool,

Scott Brown, if I look at my Liverpool team that nearly won the title, would definitely have been in it. There is no doubt about that,”

“That’s the level that the guy is at as a player and as a captain – you want him in your team and on your side.

“He’s someone I’ve been so impressed with since I first met him earlier on in the season. He’s really devoted himself to how I’ve wanted the team to operate on the field and off it.” 

Well, he wasn’t, and I don’t recall any talk of him going to Liverpool.

Of course, Rodgers is merely stating the value of Brown to the current Celtic side, and there is a feeling that for probably the first time since McNeill and Stein, we have a genuinely working relationship between manager and captain.

Alright, maybe not as far back as that, but these two do seem to be close.

Rodgers must have been in a good mood yesterday, as he also waxed lyrical about almost-forgotten man Stuart Arnstrong, whose career at Celtic has stuttered a wee bit.

“He has played a lot of his time here on the left side, which I can understand why maybe managers would play him there, because he is very diligent and works well and he has an eye for goal,”

“But we spoke to him a lot in pre-season in terms of his position and where he felt most comfortable, and at that time it was maybe difficult for him to get a game in his preferred position.

“But what he has done, each day from that, he has looked to improve and understand the tactical element of playing on the inside.

He’s got a wonderful intelligence. He’s a good footballer, Stuart, and he’s improving tactically all the time.

“Technically he is strong, his finish on Wednesday night I see in training every day. He has a wonderful strike in him, different types of finishes.

“Physically he is very good. Our first goal came from his ability to press the ball very quickly, and his goal, he spotted the space and showed great speed.” 

“He has come into one of the biggest clubs in the world and it sometimes takes that little bit of time to find your feet,”

 “But he has definitely found his feet, he is a player I really enjoy working with, he is super-bright and thinks about the game and his role in the team.

“He is starting to flourish now and it’s down to him, getting the confidence to play the role, understand his job. Anywhere centrally where he can use his power and pace to break forward, that’s his best position.

Hopefully over the coming years you will really see the best of him.

“If he keeps improving and showing those levels, there is absolutely no question he is a player that can feature for his national team.”

It does seem rather basic to play players where they want to play, but surprisingly its all too common that they feature in other roles just to get them on the park. In general, its surely better to have a happy player in his preferred role than an unhappy player in a role he cannot do justice to ?

It doesn’t always work, for instance Dorus de Vries still wants to play in goal, but on the whole, the reason a player is recruited by Celtic is because he has done well in a particular role, and it would make sense to keep him in that role.

The exception that did work was Didier Agathe, bought for £50,000 when he was playing up front for Hibernian, and converted to a wing back by Martin O’Neill.

The praise for Armstrong also shows other fringe players that they are still in the managers thinking, and that hard work on the training ground will pay off.

The manager has never shirked from dropping a player if they don’t perform, and has shown the reserves-for want of a better word-that they have to be ready when called upon.

And the manager praised them for being ready,

“The players that are not playing so regularly are not down,”

 “They obviously want to play football but they go into every training session giving their maximum and that means the tempo and quality of our training is at high level.

“So it allows them to go into a game at a difficult venue and help get a great result. It probably demonstrates the trust in the squad I have here.

“It reinforces the professionalism. Because it’s very easy to look after the ones that are playing but our job here as coaches and management is to ensure the players are not featuring so much fell very much part of it. That allows them to be motivated and committed to what we want to achieve this year.

“If they are not working hard, not looking after their diet, not preparing themselves well, then you can’t go into that game and make that many changes and play with that level of intensity. So it’s a huge credit to them and how they are looking after themselves and resting and recovering and training.”

Eight changes was a lot, but the players did rise to the challenge, and prevented an upset. Lets be honest, during the game I couldn;t have been the only one nervously remembering the eight changes made by Martin O’Neill ahead of a cup game against Inverness…

With the excetion of Partick, Celtic have now faced everyone in the league and we are already into the second round of matches. Two wins out of two against Ross County, and hopefully this weekend it will be two out of two against the side most experts expected to run Celtic a little closer for the title than they did last year.

Last year, Aberdeen were consistent against the other sides in the league, but this time round, they have struggled to get going.

Then again, this is Celtic’s strongest ever start in the top flight, a feat shared by “rangers “, although to be fair its also the Ibrox clubs first.

Derek McInnes, who loves a good moan, spoke ahead of the upcoming Pittodrie clash…

“I think it is understandable that people believe Celtic will win the league,”

“I do feel that it is up to us and others to do all we can to make sure that isn’t the case though.

“Only a fool would say Celtic aren’t going to win the league the way they have started the season but we all have responsibilities to make sure it is not too comfortable for them either.

“They have little bits of doubt throughout the season and there is no better time than when you play them yourself. You can leave your mark on them and do damage to them by winning the game.

“That is our intention for Saturday. I think that helped us stay with Celtic last season. I don’t think they won the league until three games to go and us beating them twice here was a big part in that.

“You look at leagues all over Europe and normally by Christmas there are one or two dominant teams who are stretching away from everybody else. That is how it is in most countries but for us to try and stay with Celtic it is going to be difficult.

“I have always said Celtic will need to have a poorer season by their standards for others to get close to them. They actually have improved and that makes the challenge more difficult but I don’t think we should just roll over either.

“We have a bit of pride in ourselves and we want to give them something to think about. The only time we can really do that is when we play them and hopefully we can do that on Saturday.”

He went on to largely talk about Celtic, which was either a sign he was very canny, and allowing his own players to just focus on the game, or it was just Derek being Derek and having a whinge;

“Their attacking threat is definitely stronger but Toure’s arrival has certainly helped them defensively.

Denayer and Van Dijk were probably the best defensive pairing the SPL has had for a long time but they maybe never had the firepower at the time.

“Last year they were so reliant on Leigh Griffiths but now Sinclair looks like he can score 25 goals in the league this season. Dembele will score something like that as well and maybe more and Griffiths is still capable of that so you are probably talking between three players potentially 70 goals.

“It doesn’t sound too far-fetched and that is a lot to 
stop and I do think with Toure being there at centre-back it helps whoever he plays with be more solid.”

The tone of that article suggests that he is expecting to concede the  seventy goals , and presumably he was just getting his excuses in for that eventuality.

The general bonhomie and feelgood factor was shared by police chief inspector Murray Main, who dropped his other last name , Creditor, when he found out there were hundreds of that name on court listings everywhere.

 “The overwhelming majority of fans come to matches with their friends and family to enjoy the fixture, and they want to do so in a safe and secure environment.

“However, let me be clear that police and both clubs will deal with any anti-social behaviour in any form, and I can assure you that anyone who chooses to act in such an unwanted manner will be dealt with quickly and robustly.

“You could be arrested and potentially appear in court. You could also be banned from future matches.”

 “I also want to remind fans that they should not drink alcohol in the street, in the stadium, or when travelling to and from the game.

“Those who attend the ground drunk will not be permitted entry into the stadium and may well be arrested.

“The city centre is expected to be busier than usual with pay day weekend and those out for Halloween, so please bear this in mind when you are making your way through the centre of the city and act responsibly.”  

He’s a bundle of laughs, isn’t he ?

Chief Inspector Murray Main

Like most policemen, he probably spent his childhood pulling the wings of butterflies, the legs off spiders and the end off his willy.

Though he did used to be in comedy, but the show he was involved in was a one joke series based around multiple predicatable characters, so he joined the police where even less humour was needed to be a success.

Image result for matt lucas

At least, I think its the same guy.

Away from all that, and the big news yesterday surrounded Joey Barton, who was yet again suspended by “rangers ”  after talks with Mark Warburton seemingly broke down.

No one commented afterwards, so as far as we can see, Level 5PR are just another company who have been told the cheque is in the post.

A wee bit of good news, and Celtic’s return match with

will be shown free to all on BT’s Sport showcase.

Four Four Two magazine has compiled a list of footballs Greatest teams, and Celtic 1965-74 come in at number fourteen, which is no mean feat considering it features international sides as well.

four-four-two

The wee write up it gives the side is quite good as well…

It’s Friday again, and the weeks as well as the days appear to be getting shorter as we hurtle towards the festive season.

For Etims Knob of the Week judges, though, its been a long week, as with every passing day someone, somewhere has thrown his hat into the ring to claim the coveted title.

Speaking of hats, magic or otherwise, and one contender is Mark Warburton, for his comments about the gap between Celtic and “rangers ” , after his club were beaten on sunday in what he called a “nip and tuck ” game at Hampden.

But even that wasn’t enough…

Then there was the fellow who implied that Scott Brown was on drugs, simply because he was fitter than the “rangers ” players…

But even that wasn’t enough…

Not when Josh Windass gets near a reporter….

Windass, formerly of Accrington Stanley, which is a non league football team and not a phone book listng for a northern English plumber has never played in senior league football before this season, and obviously doesn;’know how the points system works, as down at Accrington the games used to go on until the players mothers called them in for tea.

But that still doesn’t excuse quite possibly the funniest article I’ve ever read about football

So, josh Windass, take a bow, because against possibly the stiffest competition in the history of the award-well over a hundred years as we bought the history of another award- , because you should be a very proud man this morning.

Etims Knob Of The Week.

Image result for josh windass accrington stanley

Seems happy enough about it.

Caption yesterday….

Kodak Projector, 1954

And in this bit he says the gap is closing…  

Today….

Image result for joey barton missing

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D’Fhinnein Mick
7 years ago

Don’t do it,Scott. Form of your life,no coincidence.

CarlJungleBhoy
7 years ago

^ The winner!

Half_Fool
7 years ago

Yup, don’t drop down a level on us

CarlJungleBhoy
7 years ago

Caption: Joey and the Invisible War Chest – The Musical

Mbhoy
7 years ago

Joey, return to base, operation hunnnmiliation complete!

CarlJungleBhoy
7 years ago

Just another wee reminder that if any other E-Tims are going to Dusseldorf/Moenchengladbach you can buy me a pint if you want.Oh & if Helen Flanagan’s reading this… – Room 67 next to the Sauna

Devoy45
7 years ago

Joseph and His Amazing Technicolour Turncoat!
The Sheep tomorrow:
Gordon
Lustig/Sviatchenko/Simunovic/Tierney
Brown/Armstrong
Roberts/Rogic/Sinclair
Dembele
2-1 to the Bhoys

Admin
7 years ago

Joey – Live at the Appalling

Cortes
7 years ago

Caption: “This week (and for the next 78 weeks), Matthew, I’m going to be … £21k better off thanks to Sevco Comedy Club.”

Half_Fool
7 years ago
Reply to  Cortes

Nice one Killer

Celtic_First
7 years ago

“Non, rien de rien … non, je ne regrette rien.”

D’Fhinnein Mick
7 years ago

Re the round holes and square pegs,I got told that when Martin O’Neill first met his squad,he asked each of them their preferred position.

Stan said-central midfield. MON was astonished he’d been played as a right-back!

When he wasn’t learning English in a kebab van…

Quick Draw
7 years ago

Joey Barton, after being supplied with a lifetime worth of comedy material during his hilarious stint at The Rangers, finally gets his big break with a show at Live at the Apollo.

Paul1888
7 years ago

Shout out to Bayern Munchengadbach…

Great sense of humour… Would be good to see more clubs act the way they have during this seasons campaign.

Hail Hail

Uralius
7 years ago
Reply to  Paul1888

Aye, I ken a fair few Mönchengladbach supporters. I find there are many similarities with our own support. When you get off the bus at the stadium from the train station get in about the main beer garden, they are a great bunch.

Uralius
7 years ago
Reply to  Paul1888

Borussia Mönchengladbach…..

Paul1888
7 years ago
Reply to  Uralius

“A German Team” 🙂

HH

Paul1888
7 years ago
Reply to  Uralius

Don’t know where the hell I got Bayern from…

Bondibrian
7 years ago
Reply to  Paul1888

Munich?

wulz
7 years ago

Caption
Joey sings Grace after learning they can’t sack him
HH

Half_Fool
7 years ago

Trying to look like a Beatle at Elvis’s comeback special, makes as much sense as a Catholic footballer playing for the undead ones.
Says it all about Joey.

Monti
7 years ago

Test

The Charlie Saiz International
7 years ago
Reply to  Monti

icle^

Monti
7 years ago

🙂

jimmybee
7 years ago

Any news o Tierney,got a text saying he might have a broken leg or ankle ?

Monti
7 years ago
Reply to  jimmybee

What the fuck?

mike
7 years ago

Devastated for Kieran,i only hope that the news is not to serious.We are ALL Kieran Tierney.

jimmybee
7 years ago
Reply to  mike

Think he got a bad yin at training ankle ligament damage at least 2 months out.

Monti
7 years ago
Reply to  jimmybee

🙁

mike
7 years ago

News that Campbell Dallas,the Rankers Accountants have serious concerns re there accounts,comes as no big suprize.
They will not allow the Directors salaries among other items to be know to the auditors,far less published.
The accounts show a shortfall of £4.00 million pounds for this season alone,that is after receiving some £2.7 million pounds in soft loans.
Abandon ship,Abandon ship.
Haud oan to yer life jackets ,this sea is only gonna get rougher.

portpower
7 years ago

Caption:

Coming out of the pouch.

mike
7 years ago

I have never been to Dubai, Brendan,just sayin like.

portpower
7 years ago

CELTIC have suffered an injury blow with the news that Kieran Tierney is out of action for two months after he suffered ankle ligament damage in training.

The 19-year-old has been in superb form this season for the Hoops and has been an ever-present in Brendan Rodgers’ starting XI before missing out on the midweek win over Ross County.

Everyone wishes Kieran a speedy recovery from injury.

Monti
7 years ago
Reply to  portpower

FUCK FUCK FUCKING FUCK FUCK FUCKING WHAT THE FUCK?????
NO JUST FUCKING NO 🙁

The Charlie Saiz International
7 years ago
Reply to  Monti

I feared this may happen with Kieran he’s played an awful lot of football for such a young bhoy.
Looked very leggy second half v BMG and looked like he needed some rest time.
Izzy will no doubt step up to the plate.

Monti
7 years ago

What? You felt he would get a bad ankle because he has played a lot of football?
Anyone else you think might get injured?

The Charlie Saiz International
7 years ago
Reply to  Monti

No I felt he needed a rest and feared he might pull something because at his age his body isn’t as robust as say someone in their mid to late 20’s.
He’s still growing/filling out at his age tendons and ligaments are being stretched as he does so.
I felt during the second half of the Gladbach tie he looked a bit heavy legged.
We have a fully fit and able International RB as back up rotation should be an option for one so young I feel.
He played in 33 games last Season 4 of which in Europe
This Season he’s already clocked up 17 appearances 8 of which were in Europe.
Bearing in mind the role he fulfills too as a wing back overlapping for full games normally he is putting in some legwork as a result.

jimmybee
7 years ago

Although Kieran is a huge loss,we have the ideal replacement in Izzy. It will do Izzy the world of good to get back into first team action. A player who also gives his all for the club,though not as good in positional play as young Tierney. But Brendan will sort him out. We could also go with 3 centre backs to allow Izzys more attacking style suit better.
Best wishes to young Kieran. HH

The Charlie Saiz International
7 years ago
Reply to  jimmybee

My thoughts exactly jimmy and I think next week we should do exactly that.
Push both WB’s up a bit and create a primary line of defence.

Monti
7 years ago

Celtic XI V Aberdeen 4-1-4-1

Gordon

Lustig
Sviatchenko
Simunovic
Izaguirre

Brown

Forrest
Brown
Armstrong
Sinclair

Dembele

Monti
7 years ago
Reply to  Monti

Bitton in front of the defence, not Brown!

mike
7 years ago
Reply to  Monti

Good team Monti,mine as well.

I broke my ankle some 4 years back,but it was/is nothing compared to ankle ligament damage,not only is it very painful it takes a long time to heal.
This is the last thing that we wanted to happen.
God bless Kieran,get better and i am certain that you will return and be as good as ever.

Bondibrian
7 years ago
Reply to  mike

Same, done mine in Cuba, nae insurance but the hospital done it for nuthin. Stoated around on ma todd for a month in agony.

Monti
7 years ago
Reply to  mike

Mike,
It’s probably better breaking your ankle than doing your ligaments.
I done my ligaments on a dodgy pitch when i was 17, my ankle was always a wee bit of a concern after that.
Truly disappointed for kiernan this morning.
Two things that first spring to my mind when i get up in the morning are 1) I need a pish or 2) i fancy a ride.

Today? My first thought was Tierney, gutted!
HH

Monti
7 years ago

Gordon

Lustig
Sviatchenko
Simunovic
Izaguirre

Bitton

Forrest
Brown
Armstrong
Sinclair

Dembele

jimmybee
7 years ago

Bin bitton bring back griff
Gordon
Lustig Eric Toure Izzy
Forrest Brown Armstrong Sinclair
Griff Dembele.

Monti
7 years ago
Reply to  jimmybee

Jimmybee,
True 4-4-2 should work well domestically

jimmybee
7 years ago
Reply to  Monti

As long as we win m8 In Brendan we trust HH

The Charlie Saiz International
7 years ago
Reply to  Monti

Mike Bassett you say? 😉

Monti
7 years ago

It would work fine!

The Charlie Saiz International
7 years ago
Reply to  Monti

Sure it would Monti but I don’t think Brendans a fan tbh he’s already stated he prefers to play between the lines rather than a flat System like 4-4-2.

mike
7 years ago
Reply to  jimmybee

Jimmy,not his biggest fan,Biton that is,but he played well when he came on against Ross Co. when Brendan put him on to add height at the back and shore up the defence when they began to look shaky,so for against the sheepies he is a yes for me.

jimmybee
7 years ago
Reply to  mike

Understand the reasons behind it m8, but he is not needed against the sheep.
Keep him as a sub bring him on after griff gets his hattrick. HH.

mike
7 years ago

Disapointed that Broony is continuing his Scotland career,but totally understand why he would,sometimes you have to put something back to guys that help you,as WGS did to Broony,bringing him to his spiritual home,the Tic.
So for that reason alone Broony,well done you,just for this World Cup campaign tho.

Monti
7 years ago
Reply to  mike

Mike,
I agree with you, Brown has done the right thing here, play out the rest of the qualifying campaign then retire for good from the international scene!

portpower
7 years ago

Gordon.

Lustig, Toure, Simunovic.

Brown, Sviatchenko,

Roberts, Rogic, Armstrong, Sinclair.

Dembele.

Celts by Ralph`s 7.

jimmybee
7 years ago

Ohh my Goshhhh I have just seen the front page of the sevco programme on the clumpany website for tomorrow,i just can’t believe my eyes. Utterly shameless this mob.

portpower
7 years ago
Reply to  jimmybee

hunbelievable

comment image

Why are they holding up a feline arse?

comment image

The Charlie Saiz International
7 years ago

With KT out I would push both WB’s up a bit and stick with the front 3 that has served us so well.
3-4-3
…………..GORDON
.
….LUSTIG SIMUNOVIC SVIATCHENKO
.
GAMBOA BROWN ARMSTRONG IZAGUIRRE
.
…ROBERTS GRIFFITHS SINCLAIR

Subs: DeVries Toure Bitton Rogic McGregor Forrest Dembele

portpower
7 years ago

comment image

sevco zombie zence FC.

Bondibrian
7 years ago

Jimmy thought yi just commented on all things Celtic?(calm doon, just a wind up) Whut did the sevvo program say?

portpower
7 years ago

Have a Grand Day Ghirls and Bhoys.

Keep safe.

COYBIG

Devoy45
7 years ago

Without Tierney, Brendan needs to re-jig the lineup. Griffiths scores well against Aberdeen so should start.However, we also need Dembele’s presence and muscle. Any of the above lineups would work I think. We need to try something a bit different against the sheep. 4-1-4-1?
Gordon
Lustig/Sviatchenko/Simunovic/Izzy
Toure
Roberts/Brown/Armstrong/Sinclair
Griffiths
Still think 2-1 to the bhoys.

The Charlie Saiz International
7 years ago
Reply to  Devoy45

comment image

Uralius
7 years ago

4-2-3-1

Lustig/Toure/ETV/Izzy
Brown/Armstrong
Forrest/Roberts/Sinclair
A Striker

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