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Celtic Diary Thursday April 6: Wheels Begin to Wobble

Partick Thistle popped across town to become the first side to face Celtic since the hoops secured this seasons title, and although they provided a guard of homour, that was pretty much all they let us have.

Though if they fancy letting us have Liam Lindsay, who seemed to have mastered omnipresence in the Partick defence, I’ll be okay with that.

Celtic took the lead through the reborn Scott Sinclair and didn;t seem to be in any bother until rendan rodgers thought he’d liven things up with a couple of substitutions. The team was fairly settled up until then, but by removing Emilio Izaguirre from the left flank and just sort of hoping the others would fill in as they went along, he gave Partick an opening which they pounced on.

It led to an equaliser and a fairly exciting last quarter of the game, a sense not dulled when Tomas Cerny saved Scott Sinclairs penalty kick.

After that, any lap of homour was going to feel rather forced.

The manager made the changes to allow some players to get a bit more game time, and others to have a wee rest, especially those who had put in up to two hour and a half shifts most weeks.

Funny how when things are going well we can accept tiredness as a factoe, yet when it goes badly they are all lazy bassas who run about a football field twice a week.

Eboue Kouassi made his full debut, and despite a nervy start kept it simple and straightforward, presumably doing exactly what he’d been asked to. There were starts for Gamboa, Izaguirre and MacGrefor, all of whom would be regulars anywhere else in Scotland, and they all slotted in quite well, it was just that the urgency maybe wasn;t there.

Thats to be expected, but what also needs to be considered is that when the momentum is lost, it can be difficult to get back.

Take into account that teams will be battling a wee bit harder as the games become more important for them, combine that with a feeling that they might think Celtic have taken their foot off the pedal, and we may well find it harder to keep winning than we maybe thought.

The players need to get their focus back very quickly, as our upcoming Cup game-thats the one on the 23rd, the league game is on the 29th, as a pedant pointed out, will see a side-although fairly limited- come up against is who will be fighting as though for their lives.

And I want to win that treble.

After the game, manager Rodgers explained the changes he made.

 “After the weekend our next peak is the semi final. So that’s what we are building towards.

“This is why I needed to make the changes tonight. If I didn’t make them tonight and I made them against Kilmarnock, and then we are building into the Ross County game and then the Rangers games.

“It might mean some players who are asked to play in the Rangers game, if they played tonight then were rested against Kilmarnock they would maybe have got one game in 18 days.  

“You’re always trying to gauge the momentum of your team and I thought this was the game to make the changes. But over the course of the next couple of games the team will be pretty stable to give us that momentum to hopefully arrive in a peak condition for the semi final.

Later today, he’s agreed to come on and explain the explanation.

For now, however, he continued;

“It was probably a fair result in the end after playing so well to clinch the title and making a number of changes so players get game-time, against the second form team in Scotland, along with Aberdeen.

“The plan beforehand was to give players game time who haven’t played so much of late. We wanted Tom Rogic to get half an hour and in the moment when we made the changes we make a mistake and Partick scored.

“We got the penalty and I haven’t seen Scotty miss a penalty since we were at Swansea and we played Manchester City when Joe Hart made a great save.

“Their keeper makes a save and we couldn’t find that final touch or goal to win the game.” 

He sounds tired.

There is a curious kind of limbo between now and the cup game. Its going to be difficult to maintain the momentum, and even harder to get it back.

However, the semi final, and hopefully a final to follow, will be difficult games.

One because a team will try anything to win, and the possible second one because that team are playing very well at the moment.

Maybe everyone should switch back on.

One player especially seems to be losing focus, and it was evident last night..

 “Since January, I have not figured as much as I had hoped. It is the first time in my career, I have sat on the bench and not been selected, although in fact I’m fit. It is not optimal and it is a new situation I must deal with.” 

 “If he has decided that I am third choice, I will do everything to prove that I must be one of the two in the middle. And the thing that strikes me is that I train really well, and I feel in good shape. Right now it’s frustrating.” 

Screen Shot 2017-04-05 at 18.21.41

Thats our Erik, talking to Danish newspaper BT , and probably already working on his lost in translation excuse.

 

It had to happen sooner or later, its almost impossible to keep everyone happy when the squad is as big as the one currently using up all the lockers at Lennoxtown. In fact, we hear that not everyone has got one, such is the overcrowding these days as no one seems to want to leave.

With Sviatchenko starting to wonder about his future, what will happen if Celtic secure the Romanian midfieder currently on the clubs shopping list ?

Tom Rogic is back. Stuart Armstrong and Scott  Brown have been outstanding. What about MacGregor, who has performed admirably, or Biton ?

Or Eboue, Henderson and Kristoffer Ajer ?

The Romanian midfielder story is in all the papers, and since the media tend not to get any sort of transfer news before the multitude of drunks out there who pass on this sort of tittle tattle, then I’m sceptical.

Usually this kind of interest is a smoke screen to give the recruitment guys a bit of peace to get on with their jobs.

Anyway, with no doubt a sense of mounting excitement, the Record’s Mark Walker, wrote..

Celtic are eyeing a move for top Romanian midfield prospect Ovidiu Popescu after they sent a scout to watch the Steaua Bucharest playmaker.

And Steaua’s owner has revealed he’s already held talks with the Hoops about their top player, who he believes will one day be worth £25 million.

The Scottish champions watched the 23-year-old at the weekend in the derby between Steaua and Dinamo Bucharest.

Popescu, who has seven under 21 caps for his country, cost Steaua £200,000 last year when they signed him from Poli Timisoara on a bumper six-year deal. 

And he’s blossomed into one of the best players in the Romanian League.

Outspoken Steaua owner George Becali immediately inserted an £8 million release clause into his contract.

And he’s waiting for Celtic to follow up their initial interest in Popescu, who can also play right back.

I never heard of an escape clause being inserted into a contract before when another club expresses interest, as the article hints, but this is the Scottish media, and anything can happen.

Becali said: “Celtic came to watch him at the weekend and we’ve talked.

“There has already been an offer for him, although I won’t say from which club it was from.

“He has a release clause which isn’t unrealistic. Anderlecht paid us £8million for Nicolae Stanciu and Ovidiu is just as good…probably better actually.

“When we signed him, I told him within a year or two I would guarantee him a move to a big club in Europe where he is paid a big salary and that’s what will happen.

“He’s the most exciting player to come from Romania in years. He’s not going to be sold for nothing.” 

 “Ovidiu is the same type of player as Frank Lampard at Chelsea.

“He will be worth £25 million one day. He’s a central midfielder, who can also play right back – he’s so versatile.

“He runs at opponents and humiliates them when he gets past them. No one can keep up with him with that initial five yard burst of pace.”

So his gaffer says he’s the most exciting player to come from Romania, which reminds me of the old Everest window advert where they told us they were the best.

What do we know about Popescu ?

Image result for ovidiu popescu

Not very much, it appears, which means that all we have to go on is what his boss says, and when you buy a player for 200,000 Euros ( june 2016 )he would have to be pretty special to see his value jumpo to £8m within a few months.

He may have potential, but thats it.

What is notable, however, is that we have heard that £8m was the price Celtic were prepared to pay for Bojan of Stoke, but the players wages were the issue.

If all this is true, then the ceiling has been lifted and the club is going to have another tilt at Europe, and there can;t be anyone among us not relishing that.

 

Over on the other side of the city, the team who will get first crack at stopping the treble, gained another point against an improving Kilmarnock side, giving them yet another cause for celebration.

And when you consider they didn’t lose any further ground on champions Celtic, then its shirts into the crowd and beer on the bus home for the new “rangers ” as they settle into life under their latest Pedro, Patsy Caixinha.

Sorry, latest patsy, Pedro Caixinha

Pedro blew into town on a media driven gust of hot air, and has still to taste defeat in his opening three matches.

He too, will have one eye on making a name for himself with the Scottish cup to play for, and whilst Brendan Rodgers can be said to be a little predictable in his team selections and tactics, Caixinho is waving a red sheet in front of him which is disguising what goes on under his hat.

He followed a 4-0 debut win over Hamilton with a draw at Ibrox aganst Motherwell last weekend. During that game, he replaced three defenders at half time and gained the plaudits of a fawning media with his “unpredictability ”

Last night they forced at draw at Rugby Park, and as Kilmarnock boss Lee McCulloch said, a point is important..

As for Patsy, the hordes are revolting already…

Image result for i'm here all week

Thanks for the memories Pedro but it’s time to go 

They won’t admit it, but there does seem to be a significant silence on their chances of winning the cup…

And all is not well in the camp…

You shouldn’t believe everything you hear from a horse.

Image result for horse lol

The chap who went down to speak to the “rangers ” players didn;t get one of their world class breakfasts, but to be honest, that should ad a few years onto his time on earth..

Yesterday, we gave you this picture..

IRISHGUY April 5, 2017 at 11:49 am · Edit · Reply →

CAPTION……………

” Don’t jump Alex, maybe they will come up with a Number 4 position.”

today…try to be imaginative..

Elsewhere on the site, there is a forensic examination of one of Scottish footballs major issues. It is long, but it is comprehensive.

If there is anything you can;t quite work out, please ask,. the only stupid question, after all , is the one that doesn;t get asked.

We would like everyone to be perfectly clear on how everything works. The reason for the complex article is because the rules are complex, and we are just trying to make them more transparent.

That way, we can gain more support against those who make the rules so complex that no one knows when they are breaking them.

 

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Monti
6 years ago

Caption: Weered’s holiday home!

Monti
6 years ago
Reply to  Monti

I thought i was fucking in there first 🙂

Monti
6 years ago

Ya bugger 🙂

Monti
6 years ago

🙂

6 years ago

Caption: Through The Keyhole’s Keith LEMONADE poses the cryptic question “which Sevco member lives here?”…

6 years ago

Lemon… bloody predictive text!

Rob O'Keeffe
6 years ago

Morning Erudite.Ralph has been at the “legal high” stash.Homour,rendan and McGrefor??

Bognorbhoy
6 years ago

Should the sign not have an addendum :

The scourge of Barcelona ?

Monti
6 years ago

Caption: Charlie saiz’s shag pad in the Highlands.

Rob O'Keeffe
6 years ago

Caption: Small parcel of land.

Rude answers are banned,signed Ralph.Erudite Monti,I must go out to work.Please don’t let any rockets put up poems and sagas on this site.Tell them to keep it short and brutal,bit like the life of Sevco.

mike
6 years ago

Iv’e got a tup, its braw and mean,
with the biggest hee haw’s you have ever seen
his lovely tee shirt is bright, bright green,
the biggest supporter you have ever seen,
if you know who it is, then please come clean.

To support wee Nicola, is his role,
the thought of her, extends his pole,
his patters good, its not to bad,
to be his pal, your awfy glad.
Name that tune!!!

Martin67
6 years ago

Caption: How the mighty have fallen as Tony Watt advertises his services.

mike
6 years ago

Ralphy,

We recognize and fully appreciate all the hard work and effort that’s gone into identifying and highlighting the various aspects of the rule bending (cheating) that have allowed the mankies and there shirt lifting cousins in the Scottish media to continue with the lies and truth suppression.
We recognize where the blame lies, with the so called Governing bodies, the SFA and brethren the SPFL. who are guilty of an outrageous contravention of rules of Scottish fitba. shame on them.
We as supporters, are more than willing to do whatever we can to back any attempts to correct the wrongs, but we are limited in what we can do to help. We are frustrated by the fact that our Board continues to ignore the lies and the cheating, why is that?
In the meantime we wait patiently in the hope that after the Supreme Court ruling is published, hopefully in Hectors favour that our Board wakes up and confirms our hopes, that they will take the necessary action to lead our fight and correct the wrongs, as well as retrieve the titles.

Macca
6 years ago
Reply to  mike

Sadly Mike there is no chance of Lawwell rocking this boat.

mike
6 years ago
Reply to  mike

But will they? I do not think so, so this festering sore continues, like an itch that cannot be scratched and supporters frustration or indifference allows the cheats to continue with there charter and the game remains bent.
Sadly this is the World that we live in.
GRRRRRR.

jimmybee
6 years ago

If we want to be champions league then we need better then Eric, Bitton, Ajer, Henderson and their like.
Good for the spl but not at the highest level.
During Martins time he brought in top quality to add what was already there. Sutton Hartson Thompson and of course Lennon.
4 top drawer signings.
We need players to better the squad not go with who we have.
Gordon
Lustig Jozo Tierney 3 starters at the back if Jozo stays fit.
Boyata could come good but still a bit reserved about him at present. Eric is far too slow to be a champions league player.
So a strong athletic centre back required.
Brown and Armstrong are the only genuine midfielders at present. McGregor Bitton Ajer Henderson etc spl but not the next level. Eboue ive not Seen so can’t comment.
Forrest Rogic Sinclair good enough and will pose threats, but another Sinclair type on the right side of midfield would be the answer and maybe this guy is it.
I haven’t included Roberts as he’s not our player.
Dembele Griff and hopefully one more attacker to come in.
To me 4 key signings top quality required.
A back up keeper A centre back Right or central midfield Dynamo with a goal scoring threat and another striker.

ROB O'KEEFFE
6 years ago

YOU’VE STARTED ALREADY, ERUDITE, WAKE UP, MONITOR THIS SITE!

jimmybee
6 years ago

Monti, in response to your reply m8, even if they did need the money,why didn’t they just wait to see who all was in the top 6.
It’s a very curious decision to show only one game post split.
Something not right in my mind m8.

6 years ago

Caption
Walter smith just About to slap Ian dutrant again
“Hey Durrant. I told you to put twatt into the gps instead of McCoists hoose, we’ve been driving fer hours”

mike
6 years ago

Robotic referees, aided by video and goal line technology, is the way forward, wired into Radio Rome, cos if anyone can the Vati can can.
Cameras slung over the pitch, keeping up with play, showing pictures to the video fourth official, who is wired up to the ref’s mic. to enable a better understanding of what is happening on the pitch, using digital cameras for evidence.
Will it mean anything,no, not if a hun is guiding or operating the cameras.

mike
6 years ago
Reply to  mike

Weered I sense a blending of minds and taste, someone who like moi, enjoys the finer things in life, like poetry, music, I sense a common bond a bond of brudders.
Do not let the carpers annoy you stick to your true spirit,
inform the world of your talents. Keep the faith.
Alternatively shut yer pus.

mike
6 years ago
Reply to  mike

I like you already brudder, keep the faith and remember—————-.

Oh Mary this London’s a wonderful sight,
There’s people here working by day and by night,
They don’t sow potatoes nor barley nor wheat,
There’s gangs of them digging for gold in the street,
At least when I asked them that’s what I was told,
So I took me a hand at this digging for gold,
But for all that I found there I might as well be,
Where the Mountains of Mourne sweep down to the sea.

mike
6 years ago
Reply to  mike

Well said Weered, My family farmed near to the Kildare Maze, many years ago. But our name is very similar to the Mourne Mountains, so the chances are that we originated from there.
Who wid have thunk it, very distant relations mibbee?

Monti
6 years ago
Reply to  mike

Housebreaking…..

Monti
6 years ago
Reply to  Monti

” Bone beeaking “?
Oh dear another internet hard man lol
Do you drink drain fluid as well?

PMSL

BondiBrian
6 years ago
Reply to  mike

Mike, they have introduced ‘video ref’ here in the A League

https://worldsoccertalk.com

Only a matter of time it goes global.

HAIL HAIL N aw that !!

mike
6 years ago
Reply to  BondiBrian

Hail hail Bondi and thanks for that.

portpower
6 years ago
Reply to  mike

Hail Hail The Celtic Ciborium Holy Eucharist Satellite Dish,Mike.

Thy all seeing Tic tabernacle.HH

mike
6 years ago
Reply to  portpower

Hail hail port, trust the Austral Asians to come up with robotic refs first. H.H.

Una
6 years ago

Caption:Tony Watt gets sign erected to remind him where he lives.

Donegal
6 years ago

Caption : Ah can see ma hoose fay here!

5TB
6 years ago

Caption;

Tony Watt on the phone to his ‘pal’, “You’re right enough, they have named a place after me!”…

Mike Bhoyle
6 years ago

A wee message to BR and Scotty Sinclair…

BR: If it ain’t broke…don’t fix it.
Scotty: If you score from a penalty on a Sunday…chances are the next opposing keeper watches a video to see where you put it.
Just sayin’ like.
And before ah get pelters aboot BR…
Only two people in this world are infallible..
The Pope. And ma wife.
And no necessarily in that order.
HH

portpower
6 years ago
Reply to  Mike Bhoyle

Happy Wife,happy life.HH.

Joe Blow
6 years ago

If I don’t keep bearing left, I’m going to end up a right twat.

6 years ago

Jags have always been my second team not too displeased with that result. Go the harry wraggs

6 years ago

Cerny is a good keeper should be signed

Monti
6 years ago
Reply to  Iancelt67

Is he any better than Bailly tho m8?
Wha we need is someone equally as good as Gordon to fight it out for the jersey.

6 years ago

Tony watt made history for our club liked to have. Seen what Brendan would’ve done with the boy. Too much talent home grown slips through the system

Monti
6 years ago
Reply to  Iancelt67

Iancelt,
From what i’ve heard Tony Watt is a bit like Weered, not the sharpest of tools in the box.
I think Tony has he wrong attitude to make it in the game, sadly.
His goal v Barcelona should have been the catalyst for a blossoming career at Celtic.
You can forgive someone for not being the best but you must have the right attitude…every single day.
If you aren’t prepared to listen to the manager, carry out his instructions or be prepared to knuckle down and work your arse off…well, they know where the door is!

Rob O'Keeffe
6 years ago

ETIMS Online Celtic Fanzine.Read the description of this site.Only poems and stories about the Celts(or Sevco)allowed from now on.Signed Erudite Monti,cough,cough

Monti
6 years ago
Reply to  Rob O'Keeffe

Well said Rob….

Monti
6 years ago
Reply to  Rob O'Keeffe

I think Rob speaks perfect sense…bit harsh.

mike
6 years ago
Reply to  Rob O'Keeffe

I do not need advice from anyone Rob, I post what I like, when I like here is what I think.I notice that your posts were not fitba. related, just mumps.
I come on here for fun and japes,
not to be the recipient of your sour grapes,
the solutions simple, its not to vast,
do not let your finger linger,
just scroll on past.
Funny how Henke leaves and Rob appears, mibbeee aye mibbee naw.

rebus67
6 years ago

Popescu is an odd target to surface. Firstly, his current manger seems to want to negotiate in public…not our style. Secondly, out of 43 games played in the midfield, he played as a defensive mid for 33 of them. Does he sound like the creative player that we need?
I think Popescu is Poppycock……it is most likely an invention of the deluded press.

Rebus

Monti
6 years ago
Reply to  rebus67

Rebus,
You may recall that i have posted in the past about Celtic scouring the eastern bloc market.
Romania, Hungary and Bulgaria have hidden gems in there, Popescu may be one of those gems.
Wonder if he is related to Gica Popescu, quality player from the past i recall.

rebus67
6 years ago
Reply to  Monti

Monti,

Yes, I agree Eastern European markets are fertile. The Germans have a close eye on them.
I particularly like the Hungarian market for midfielders. I wonder if our new head of recruitment will try these markets.

Rebus

Rob O'Keeffe
6 years ago

Thanks for your erudition.We can do without implied threats of violence as well.We are the Celtic family not zombies.

Monti
6 years ago
Reply to  Rob O'Keeffe

Rob,
Completely agree, it’s about time Ralph took action against those who make threats.
It’s not on at all!

Monti
6 years ago

Weered,
Are you a florist?

Monti
6 years ago
Reply to  Monti

But you are definitely an er i can think of!

Monti
6 years ago

Weered,
I can’t get to sleep now after your threats, could you stop it please?

jimmybee
6 years ago

Caption: After Neil Doncaster and Stuart Regan asked for signs to be put along the west highland way for their sponsored walk,the council duly obliged.

Monti
6 years ago
Reply to  jimmybee

Winner!!

Rob O'Keeffe
6 years ago

Bone breaking is my style! Weered you knew what you were implying.You didn’t mention your job at that point and you state that you physically threaten people that are in front of you.You were also verbally abusive.You sound a charmer.Maybe Mike should think about who he thinks is a kindred spirit.Once again,this is a Celtic site.Let’s raise the level of contribution Bhoys.

Monti
6 years ago
Reply to  Rob O'Keeffe

Rob,
Well said….yet again!

mike
6 years ago
Reply to  Rob O'Keeffe

View my post above and keep your advice to yourself.

charlie
6 years ago

ime no wan for threatening people and ile punch fuck ooty any cunt who says amur ha ha ha ha ha ive got to admit ime a really funny guy

charlie
6 years ago

i thought this was very intresting

charlie
6 years ago
Reply to  charlie
charlie
6 years ago

wellits an early night for me night night crackpots

Monti
6 years ago
Reply to  charlie

Goodnight Charlie, hope you can get some sleep, i’m going to have to keep my bedsite lamp on tonight…..

Monti
6 years ago
Reply to  Monti

You’re struggling now aren’t you?

Monti
6 years ago
Reply to  Monti

I know….

jimmybee
6 years ago

When is Stuart Armstrongs contract up till anyone know ?

Monti
6 years ago
Reply to  jimmybee

Jimmybee,
I think it’s the summer of ’18 m8

Rebus67
6 years ago
Reply to  Monti

It is end of May, 2018.

Time to get him signed.

Rebus

jimmybee
6 years ago
Reply to  Monti

Think we better push the boat out for him. He’s going to be even better next season. Never thought he would make it too,looked like a headless chicken last season,but then again apart from griff and Tierney who didn’t.
Now the team isn’t the same without him in it.
I don’t like it when players say there’s no rush,just get it done Celtic,before he puts England to the sword in June.

Rudebhoy
6 years ago

End of next season for Armstrong JB. Still got hope for Mackay Steven, would love to see him make it. Great attitude on and off the field. Just needs games and confidence. Too many changes in the one go last night, can see the point in resting Tierney and maybe Brown for a half but apart from that,? Keep it goin! Fair play to Thistle for not trying to murder any of our players, nasty challenge in the second half on big Tom all the same. And fair play to the ref for letting the game flow till he realised there was a chance Celtic might not win. Bring on the zombies.

Rudebhoy
6 years ago

Just watching the highlights from Sunday and what a performance in that atmosphere and under so much pressure to get the job done. Sinclairs first and Patricks goal were the icing on the cake. God bless the 1500. … love to see the wee
huns beat. Between Sinclair and Brown for player of the season.

Rudebhoy
6 years ago

EXCLUSIVE! Pedro Caxinha reveals where he will be living for the next three years.

Monti
6 years ago

Go Donald Trump!!

Monti
6 years ago

With regards to Eric Sviatchenko, i would be a pissed off if i lost my place to Dedryck Boyata as well.
However like i have said before, don’t moan to the press, just get your head down in training and impress the fuck out of Brendan, it’s your shirt, show how much it means to get it fucking back!

Personally i am most comfortable when Sviatchenko and Simunovic are at the heart of our defence.

HH

portpower
6 years ago

Extremities with Barry(8)…

He`s to bring back the handle bar look.

sevco bloo beneficial pomade FC.

portpower
6 years ago

Caption:
T`rangers,T`watt.

portpower
6 years ago

Popescu for 8?
P. Francis knows Mackay`ll walk across the Clyde for 6.

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