
Celtic Diary Wednesday March 15: Hope Springs Eternal
There we are. The sun is finally out, and the weather is turning for the better. Is that an analogy that relates to all the little niggly problems we have these days ?
Or should we heed the words of the bard, quoted above ?
I love this time of year. It’s a traditionally optimistic period, where we step a little more lightly, and hold our heads up as we stride about our business. For a while, at least.
Flowers bloom-I’m a big fan of colourful floral displays, and the garden once again needs a wee bit of attention. Actually , I hate gardening, but love flowers, so when we sell this place I’m going to buy a house next to an accident blackspot.
Or is the sense of cautious optimism down to events happening elsewhere today ?
Amazingly, a Rangers website wants fans to watch the proceedings live, which might cause an awful lot of confusion among them, unless of course, the media can get their interpretations out quickly..
They can get confused , you know..
Are we really surprised they think its still the same club ?
Also today, we may well hear a bit more about the Kinloch case, the one where a chap had a bet on a certain club being relegated…
Who knows, maybe the law won’t be deemed to be an ass by this evening…
But we can hope. Its that time of year.
Yesterday , we noted that it was about time the club stood up for itself against the institutionalised bias within Scottish football. After the establishments favourite club went into liquidation, society allowed them to carry on as though nothing had happened, and it appears we may be paying the price for that now.
The news everyone dreads. The cancer is back.
Evidence of this has been noted at recent matches featuring “rangers “, who burst-well, oozed- onto the scene in the immediate aftermath of the collapse of the original anti catholic, anti irish and anti civilisation club , with the backing of the SFA/SPFL and an astonishingly weak media.
Now that it appears there will always be a “rangers ” of some sort, although when you examine it closely it’s exactly the same sort, we’re left with a much more difficult task to cleanse the game than we really ought to have been.
Protests against the SFa/SPFL are largely ignored, the same people who were in charge five years ago are still there, and incredibly still doing what they did then.
Cheating.
In England, referees are not allowed to officiate at a match featuring a team they are associated with.
Obviously, in Scotland that would present a severe problem as there would be no one who could take charge of any game featuring the Ibrox incarnation, but a similar rule up here would at least signal change.
A concerted effort has to be made to put a stop to it before it gets any worse, because if we remain silent, it will get worse.
A reply to yesterdays piece didn’t get to the page until just after midnight, and it deserves further consideration..
It’s clear that the reason the players were ‘having an off day’ was because Brendan had warned them that Midden and his pissant assistants would send off any Celtic player who so much as brushed against a Sevcon gobshite at speed.
You could see this in their collective hesitancy throughout the match.
I’ve watched these kind of fixed games for nearly 50 years and Sunday was exactly as we can expect the Cup seem final to be.
The Celtic board have already proven that they, too, are in the SFA’s pocket and, despite Phil’s claims that it was KingCo’s ‘undignified celebrations’ last April that forced Dermot to dig deep, I’ll wager it was the mounting level of fan outrage re Res 12 that was the true driving force behind his financial decision.
You’ll never hit a money man harder than by threatening his wallet and Desmond was astute enough to preempt the mounting calls of a fan boycott by going for Bremdan and ‘the strategy’.
As for the refs, our only hope is to refuse to play with these orange fuckers in the middle corrupting our game and we should demand until we get either English, or foreign, refs, for every Scottish football match forthwith, citing Midden’s display on Sunday as being the straw that finally broke the humpy fella’s back.
Besides, doesn’t it reek of blatant discrimination that every ref in Scotland just happens to be Scottish, with 18 out of 20 known to be of ‘The Peepil’, and the other two left cowed, intimated and terrified by the ongoing torrent of threats and abuse to themselves and their families should they ‘refuse to play ball ‘The Rangers’ way.
As “gringo ” says, we know its going to happen, but instead of calling it out, we adapt to it.
If your next door neighbour had a penchant for playing loud music at three in the morning would you just add soundproofing to your walls ?
No.
You would give him the rough edge of your tongue.
And thats where we have to start the fightback.
Firstly, emails , letters and even phone calls to Celtic.
They have a responsibility to their customer base and shareholders to ensure that the product we pay for is of a merchantable quality . If the dice is loaded in any game, then it isn’t a game.
Over the next few days, we need to let them know exactly how we feel.
Season book renewals are due soon, and although we might be told there’s a queue, and we might not get our own seats, it might be an idea to hold off purchasing for a while.
That would give us time to think whether or not we want to participate in what is quickly becoming a poor imitation of the World Wide Wrestling on the telly.
One criticism that may be levelled at such action surrounds our support for the team.
Well, if it stops one of them getting a career ending injury then I would consider that to be support for them.
Its spring, as I said earlier, when we can still be optimistic that its going to be a good year.
But that will only happen if we plant the right seeds.
Back at the ranch, and Stuart Armstrong thanked Brendan Rodgers for helping him into the Scotland squad.
Of course, had he quit Celtic and signed for a second rate English side it would have happened much sooner-European experience at club level is frowned on in the Scotland camp, ask any Aberdeen player-, but for him its better late than never.
Armstrong said;
“Since he came in, we had the initial conversation at the start of the season and how he wanted me to go about my business at Celtic,”
“That really spurred me on and gave me a great platform and opportunity to work my way into the side and play in my favoured position. I owe him a lot for reigniting my career at Celtic.
“I had been named in the Scotland squad a couple of times, first at Dundee United and then at the start of my first full season at Celtic, but I got an injury so that was a bit of a disappointing time. It was very tough to take as I have never been capped before and it was a great honour to be called up, so to decline with an injury was very disappointing.
“It was a bit up and down after that but since the gaffer has come in he has revitalised my career. He moved me into the middle and I have built on that in training, working very hard in training and contributing in games with goals and assists. It’s been a good season of progress so it’s been very nice to be rewarded with a Scotland call-up.”
hopefully, he won’t talk to any of the English based players while he’s there. They’ll fill you full of nonsense about their lifestyle. although the majority of them now know that career wise they are in a dead end, its important for Armstrong to know his is just beginning.
With the increasing likelihood that Moussa Dembele may cut short his stay in Glasgow, its refreshing to see the return of Leigh Griffiths to action.
Denied a late winner against “rangers ” at the weekend, the all action forward seems to have got through his own crisis and beaten off his demons, which included public criticism from the manager
“I’ll be honest and say that it wasn’t nice to hear it said publicly, That wasn’t the best. It wasn’t a great feeling to have it out there but I spoke to the gaffer after that and we had a good talk.
“To be fair, he has been good with me and I have nothing but the utmost respect for him and what he has done here since coming into the club. I understand where he is coming from. I know exactly what he wants from me and I can do it.
“There are ten league games remaining now and I want to get my head down and just keep myself ticking over so that I can finish strongly
“It is one of those things. I was frustrated at being injured and clearly he was too.”
Thats where Rodgers excels, man management, and it looks like it has worked with Griffiths.
With the passing of one of our Lions, I would like to remember one who is very much still here, and wish a belated Happy birthday to John Clark, the quiet man of the bunch.
Ally Begg, former rock star and Celtic TV presenter, posted this wee story on twitter..
Yesterdays picture featured a “rangers ” supporter , presumably banned from licking the windows, indulging in another form of oral activity..
There were several along the same lines, so i put all the names into a hat , and ..
That’s the closest any hun will get to tasting success.
Today, the Garda could be picking on the wrong guy..
Caption: No you can’t send me back to the US. They’ve got to bat fekn numpty Trump in charge. (Or words to that effect.)
Now that the dust has settled on, let us face it, a poor performance against whatever you want to call them, what has been learned? Not what do we know but what fresh knowledge have we gained?
We knew before that the ref was biased and that Sevco would flood the midfield…..they always do. What we should now realise is that, firstly, we are not as good as we thought we were. Secondly, they are not as bad as we thought. Thirdly, we shall have to be much more astute in the semi.
Performances have tended to shade off since we do not have to play two matches per week. I see little benefit from the Dubai trip. The intensity has dropped and we are back to not being able to finish teams off when we get the chance.
Several players are not good enough for our European ambitions. I may surprise a few by saying I include Gordon in that. He is not as good as he thinks he is at playing the ball out, and willl cost us one day.
Two of our CBs do not like the physical and neither does Bitton.
By next season Dembele may be gone, so the target should be qualify for the Group stages. Anything else is a bonus.
Rebus
Jamesie/McGregor/Biton/Erik def not good enough for the upward move.
PISH!
Good moron comrade…i only saw your last question (yesterday) to me this morning
Yes I am a tad backward…
A prisoner of the past
Rebus, tactically we got it wrong.
We should have went more direct against Hill and co.
3 times a long ball put us through but Dembele didn’t capitalise and of course we know what happened in the final minute.
We fucked about too much playing tippy tappy side to side pish.
A refs who didn’t protect the football team,and too many poor performances.
But it’s in the past now, let’s go forward,onwards and upwards to Sunday.
Go for the jugular. HH
Madden`s punishment from the SFA.
He`s to be paid to officiate in the Scottish Championship League.
Threshold re-entrance into the Premiership is but a knock away for Bobby.
Surely that should be only a handshake away of that dick…
Shakespear, is he no the new Leicester Manager?
In everything, we strive to be the best,
our players are tired, they need a rest,
the “Rankers” club, surely a jest,
our players on Sunday, failed the test,
Bring back Bobo as our special guest.
Mike,
Did you see the picture of the Monkeys with tbe laptop, the one on the right?
Know what i’m saying …..cough.
Yes your saying, that’s my next ride.
William Shakespeare?
Just like Robert Burns, a total wanker!
PISH!
Fuck knows how anyone can read that drivel, much better with the ‘Viz’ mag, now that is quality writing!
Accident blackspots? Great idea Ralph, i regularly steal flowers left at accident blackspots to place on my fathers grave.
PISH.
Mike,
I don’t take all of them, i leave a few.
It’s the thought that counts 🙂
🙂
VIZ different colored covers same materials inside every week 🙂
A fellow fan then? 🙂
Yes I thought it was very funny
Chapelhall bhoy John Clark, Celtic, Scotland, Lisbon Lion.
Celtic’s sweeper, “the brush”
For twenty years he has been Celtic’s kit man,
The second longest serving Celt.behind Willy Maley,
” I don’t go telling people, who I am,”
A modest man, accessible, approachable and humble,
Big Billy’s Assistant Manager in the 80s,
A Celtic Icon, a hero, still going strong, still working as our Kit Man at 76 years old, (13th March 1941).
You always manage to slip under the radar John, but you will ALWAYS remain in our hearts.
A cracking guy,and he like all the remaining lions should be cherished. I used to live next to him,I was a young lad at the time,but he would always give his time.
I liked the story when Evander Sno, came to Celtic. As he was getting showed around John was laying out the kit. Hi I’m Evander Sno,I’m going to be playing here, did you ever play football, just a little bit son came his reply.
Absolutely Mike a true Celtic great.
Referee protests?
Why not everyone in the Celtic end raise a red card before kick off, then during the half time interval?
Just don’t drop one, or the cunt will pick it up and brandish it at a Celtic player!
To quote a sage on here – What fucking good will that do? 🙂
🙂
albert kinlock lost his case because the huns wurny relegated they died he he aint life grand
Caption;the lodge members next attempt to stop the treble, Moussa pulled over and arrested as he heads to the semi against the knuckle draggers….then released after the game,
Charlie,
Sadly I think “rangers” will not not die til the last trace of endemic institutionalised naked bigotry/anti-irish racism is cleared out of “bonny Scotland “. “rangers” is a stoical , poisonous iron grip on sections of your society that pervades right through the media and financial and government institutions of your sick little place . What do we do ? Roll over and keep accepting the status quo or start to effect change by doing something,anything? I’m starting to realise that “celtic minded” scots have faced more naked sectarianism in all branches of their lives than I have ! Me being an U.F.B. born in 1971 in a town Gerry Adams called the norths’ Alabama .
There is hope , there’s a certain thoroughfare (the Queens highway)in our town which is remarkably quiet on the first Sunday of every July now .
Fight the bigots all the way . Cropping won’t lie down .
greenday ffs mate oor bigots taught yoor bigots how to be bigots
Croppys won’t lie down .
GREENDAY,
SPOT ON!
It reads remarkably similar to my input yesterday and both of our contributions are written from the heart and in my case bitter experience…
I was born 16 years earlier than you and seen the bigotry at first hand…and seen the inevitable insurrection against it.
I do hope that our Scottish comrades heed the warnings of our recent history…
YOU MUST STAND UP AND BE COUNTED…
FIGHT THE BASTARDS IN A NON VIOLENT WAY
The North of Ireland now has a reasonably even playing surface with a few divots and hummocks still to be attended to by the grounds staff 🙂
Why non violent? 🙂
Rod McKenzie(SPFL Lawyer)
Another person to add to the same club adynaton.
Caption: Garda realise there’s no fight in the Celtic team, they bring a friend to sort it.
Caption (2 seconds after the photo was taken);
Woooooosh!..Woooooosh!…..sounds of well balanced footsteps nonchalantly waking from the scene as the two scummy pigs lie witless, with only their teeth for company.
There’s a weered, under the bed,
a friend of Monti it has to be said,
that young daftie, who’s easily led,
Sons of Erin, there heart to bled,
oh yes, to be sure, to be sure,
a love of Erin,sincere and pure,
That Emerald Isle, just has an allure,
its power to drag you, just like a lure,
oh yes, to be sure, to be sure.
Oh fuck…I’m fillin up
Mike…are you the POET LARIAT
No just Pinnochio’s wee brer!
Psst…pass it on!
All rangers(IL) trophies achieved by cheating shall be stripped on the
31/10/2017.It`s only fitting.HH
WHERE ARE YE GETTING YER INFO FROM???
A board Ouija?
AH…YES YES
🙂
The letter ‘R’.I`m seeing the letter ‘R’.
Is there anyone in here that supported a club beginning with the letter ‘R’?
funny dude! got me laughing out loud
Cheers Ralph, highlight appreciated.
And right back atcha too
‘They have a responsibility to their customer base and shareholders to ensure that the product we pay for is of a merchantable quality . If the dice is loaded in any game, then it isn’t a game.’
If there’s no fightback from Celtic fans, and particularly our Tory bastard board, then the whole game is fucked forever.
Those who refuse to see that (and I don’t think there’s one of them on here) will deserve all the crap they get.
Lomg live the spirit of Turnbull Hutton!
The joke is they think they are that good, stupid knuckle draggers.
The error was BR we ended up with Brooine and McGregor in midfield, outnumbered by the Orcs. Yes some of the players need upgraded, but we clearly lack a leader on the field that can see what is going on and tell the players where to go. On Sunday we still were not as bad as them.
Since I was at school and applied for summer jobs their was a bias, when I went to Uni, I learned only to go after non Scottish companies for summer work, ending up working at Gla Apt where the bigotry was non existent.
On working in schools especially non Dom, I was shocked at the blatant hatred against Catholics and the Irish, my name is not Doyle or Sullivan,
I worked in areas that are not poor the majority of my life and the hatred amongst some if the so called more intelligent was vitriolic.
We can rage against the machine, but it is inbred, it has not changed sinc the fifties it has. Becoming more sinister.
Think back to old reporters in the media, they clearly criticised White, the manager and Waddell, praising Stein, now that would not happen.
After returning to the UK I note all he garbage written about the bullfighter, the only person to say no chance is Willie Miller of ABZ.
We will turn them over in the semis, but the club should seriously start to rock the boat with the SFA and the SPFL.
The Supreme Court will judge against them on their EBT crap and the club should demand a level playing field, removal of titles is a prerequisite.
Another great article Ralph!
Cartvale88,
the reason I left Scotland was because of this. could not get an interview for a van driving job, with a college degree I was falling into despair.
the old what school did you go to on application forms was always the giveaway. straight into the trash it would go.
for my 20 years in the states I have never been asked what school; Scotland could be a great country if we sort out the intuitional bigotry.
All very negative today too much so in my opinion. We arec33 points ahead in the League, have the League Cup in the bag, qualified for the Champion’s League Group stages, have more money than we know what to do with, have the best manager in Scotland, the best squad and the main opposition seem to either bottle it in one case or else in the other have appointed a manager who knows nothing about football in these shores and doesn’t look as if will get much money.
The semi final is crucial, referees didn’t stop us getting so far ahead, we win in the pitch.
Welcome to Paradise Lee Congerton
HH
Liverpool, Chelsea, Hamburg and Sunderland, Allerdyce moved him out because he wanted to have his own hand in recruitment deals, now why does that not surprise me! The main thing is BR knows him.
Caption: Cop says “We asked John Clark,he says he doesn’t know you!”
Cmon Bhoys and Ghirls,are we for an uprising or are we just going to move along and kid on everything is ok?
What part of being 33 points ahead in the league winning the League Cup possibly the treble being the best by a country mile isn’t kid on , well I wouldn’t like somebody else being where we are for sure.
I’ve lived outside of Scotland and my religion (or lack of it) was never asked or of any concern to anybody. Only in Scotland, especially in Glasgow.
Monti, I liked Shakespeare but I like Viz too. When I first read Viz many years ago (my kids had copies)
Johnny Fartpants
Roger Melly
Sid the Sexist
The Fat Slags
Bob the Faithful Bin Bag
Billy Half Goalie Half Fish
Biffa Bacon (a Hun if ever there was one)
And many many more
Are they still around?
Devoy,
You mean Black bag the faithful border binliner ? 🙂
PMSL
Yip,
I loved Mr.Logic!!
Genius
What about ‘8 Ace’?
Aldridge Prior
Anna Reksik
Alexander Graham bell – end 🙂
Victorian Dad
Terry Fuckwit ( Charlie saiz )
Millie tant
The vibrating bum faced goats
Wanker Watson
🙂
Rude Kid?
the Rebels have Won.The Leagues Ours.But if nothings done about these Hun Refs Rest assured 10 in a Row will be a pipe dream.Something has to be done,For the Safety of our players and No fan of any other Club deserves to get shafted by Mason n Co.HH GGAW!!!
Ooft this Monaco side are frightening in attack 2-0 game on!
(5-5 on agg )
I’m watching the game as well CS, very easy on the eye Monaco aren’t they?
Caption: fuckin right they won’t be marching down Gervaghy Road. Let me at them boys.
Cmon Monaco
Caught a wee bit of tbe live footage from tbe supreme court today, Guy representing HMRC was outstanding i thought.
Interesting bit was when he said the EBT became a part of the players salary when the player applied for the ‘ loan ‘?
Shite… I tried to find the live feed… Crap computer or maybe my dyslexic keyboard. Must try harder tomorrow
Weered,
I only watched for 10 mins,as i had to go to hospital for a follow up/check up on my penis reduction surgery.
3 inches will suit you sir. Yer dog will be pleased
Relieved you mean?
NO… Its you that gets relief
I’d imagine that the hairs grew again on the palms of yer hands
🙂
Go Monaco!!!
” rangers have the best squad of players in Scotland ” – pedro.
Shut the fuck up you stupid cunt!
“Every time i go to Muirfield now, i won’t have a nice taste in my mouth” – Rory McIlroy.
Probably because the womens cooking is not up to scratch, Rory.
I wouldn’t have let women in, unless it was for stag do entertainment.
I hope females entering Muirfield Golf Club, are aware that they are only being allowed in because of a threat to hosting future championships.
The male members attitude towards female members has not changed in any way.
…..I mean picture the scene, you’ve been on the course all day, back to the clubhouse for a swally and watch the Celtic game, bit of Craic with the bhoys…..what do you find tho, a cluster of wimmin gabbing loudly about x factor or the voice, Masterchef etc, the game isn’t on the telly because there is an Omnibus edition of Call the midwife on?
Fucking madness.
They’re there to wash their balls