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Celtic Diary Saturday August 26: The Wright Plan

There was no sign of Patrick Roberts or anyone else at Celtic Park at 3pm yesterday, which came as no surprise to regular readers , or anyone who has been following the saga of the Englishman since he popped back down south for a few weeks at the end of last season.

Fact is, Lawwell found out Etims had found out about the announcement, and immediately sent out a text cancelling the event.

Anyway, from now on we’re going to take on a new editorial policy, which only allows the publication of complete bollocks. ( From now on ? Really ? -Ed )

Nothing you read, see or even interpret from this day forward will have any semblance to the truth.

We’re going to be the first website to be admitted to the mainstream media.

 

Celtic host St. Johnstone today in a top of the table clash between two sides with one hundred per cent records.

Michael O’Halloran, on loan from “rangers ” has scored three goals in four games since stepping up a level, and will be the one to watch among the Perth side.

Celtic Quick News gives us a piece of thought provoking fact-St. Johnstone were the last Scottish  team to beat Celtic in ninety minutes, back in May 2016, after the league had been won and Ronny Deila had lost interest in the job.

Look at this line up..

Bailly; Janko (sub: Ralston 74), Ambrose, Sviatchenko, Izaguirre; Johansen (sub: Bitton 66), McGregor; Roberts, Allan (sub: Rogic 80), Christie; Griffiths.

Only McGregor and Griffiths remain from the starting line up, if you accept that Sviatchenko is away.

There has been change within the squad, but its been subtle, and perhaps the reason its gone largely unnpoticed is that none of the key players have left.

Will that change over the next week or so ?

We believe so, but then again we’re so full of shite its leaking out of our ears.

Image result for disgusted face

But as for details, forget it, I can’t even be bothered making stuff up any more. Though it will be interesting to see if Simunovic starts…

With all the focus on Celtic and the glamour of europe this week, Saints have been a little quiet by comparison, and the manager is focused on bookending the unbeaten run with a win…

He told the Dundee courier…

“I don’t think it will (the Champions League) will make any difference,”

 “And their focus will be getting back to the league after yesterday’s draw.

“They will now look to win the league as quickly as possible and that’s what I imagine they will do.

“Everything will have been done to make sure they are in the right state mentally and physically to go and perform again.”

 “Are they stronger than last season? They haven’t got any worse, that’s for sure. They’re still winning games and it’s no secret Brendan is still looking to strength now they are in the Champions League.

“They’ve got the core of their team there, although Moussa Dembele has been injured for part of it, and they’ve played youngsters to illustrate the depth and quality they have throughout the squad.

“It’s in the back of my mind that they might freshen things up but ultimately with the system they play you still have to be organised.

“They’ve got good players and their depth in quality in the squad means that the personnel might change but the enormity of the task doesn’t.” 

Right, thats the diplomatic bit out of the way…

They were going to be put under pressure in Kazakhstan because of the 5-0 first leg result as Astana had nothing to lose, 

Astana had a right go and they did cause Celtic a lot of problems, and at 4-1 had a couple of chances, and Celtic didn’t play as well as they could defensively. But they had Bitton in defence again and young players at the back.

“That would give you a little bit of encouragement but to ask questions of them we need to make sure we keep the ball and get up the pitch and try and make it difficult for them.

“We need to play for 90 minutes and we need to be disciplined. You can be organised but the key is making them work the other way when you win the ball back.

“We’ve got to make sure we get three or four passes in that can get us up the pitch and the important thing is what we do when we get the ball.

“Michael O’Halloran’s pace is something we think we can utilise against all teams because without the ball he’s one of the quickest players in the league. 

“But I keep reiterating that if we don’t keep the ball we don’t be able to get Michael or Scougall on the ball.”

Well, they did beat us back in 2016…

“I hope it’s a good omen,”

“But it’s a different manager and different time of the season.

“The league was won and we still had something to play for but a win is a win and we’ve won at Parkhead before.

“We probably scored more goals against them than anyone last season and played particularly well for an hour of a lot of the games but didn’t pick up a single point.

“We’ve had some bad decisions against them. At 2-1 last season (at McDiarmid) for example but to be fair to Craig Thomson he came out and phoned me.

“But there was an even worse one in the 1-0 defeat when Scott Brown pushed Steven Anderson and Andrew Dallas didn’t award what was a blatant penalty.

“We’ve done well against them for periods but with their quality they can just go bang, bang, bang and you find yourself 2-0 or 3-0 down.

“It’s the most difficult game of the season for all the clubs.” 

He sounds like a man with a plan. It could be difficult today, especially after the long haul in midweek.

 

As usual, the club have gone all out to ensure the match day experience is a winner..

Celtic Superstore
Open from 9am, pop in and stock up on matchday essentials before kick-off. The new 2017/18 Home, Away and Third Kits are all available now, alongside a huge selection of Training Kit as worn by the Bhoys.

Ticket Office
The Ticket Office at Celtic Park will open from 10am for supporters looking to pick up tickets for today’s match.  Tickets for Celtic’s upcoming SPFL matches v Ross County, Hibernian and Dundee are also available to buy.

Season Ticket holders can also take the opportunity to secure a three-match package for Celtic’s upcoming UCL matches v PSG, Bayern Munich and Anderlecht – CLICK HERE to find out more.

1:30pm: Stadium opens.

 The Celtic Family Stand (Sections 115-117 of Lisbon Lions Lower) will have lots to keep young fans entertained pre-match with Celtic Academy coaches offering mini coaching sessions with inflatable goals. There’s also an Xbox games zone plus Hoopy the Huddle Hound will drop by to meet fans before kick-off.

Pick up your copy of the Celtic View pre match, together with the Official Matchday Programme for a special combined price of just £5 (a saving of £1.45).

You’ve got to be in it to win it! Paradise Windfall tickets will be available to buy throughout the stadium ahead of the game, with the draw taking place at half-time. Look out for Windfall staff wearing their famous yellow jerseys and get your tickets to be in with a chance to win.

3:00pm: Kick-off. Come on you Bhoys in green!

It’s not too late to secure a seat for Celtic v St Johnstone with tickets still available to buy online and print at home! Visit eticketing.co.uk/celtic to secure a seat. 

There is talk that a new campaign is being discussed with a famous man putting his face on the pictures…

Image result for give us your fucking money now bob geldof

This was compounded yesterday when the price for the Champions League games were announced.

£114 for the season book holders package, and £150 for the casual fan.

Sounds a lot, and with Santa Claus poking his head above the horizon, it is a lot, but if you want a night to remember, you need to pay for it.

On the one hand, supporters want the club to be well off, but that money is always going to come from us, whichever way we pay it.

And I suppose nights like the ones ahead will be worth every penny.

Compared with  thirty or forty quid a month for the sports channels, its not really that over the top. Especially as most of us only signed up to watch Celtic.

Other comparisons include this one, from Craig Hood on twitter..

Liverpool

3 match CL package (with meal) £714

Celtic

3 match CL package (pie & bovril cost £5.10) £114 

£5.10 ?

Take sandwiches, and stub a lighted fag on your tongue to simulate the bovril.

 

Elsewhere, Pedro Caixinha has been rambling again..

He also explained why he let Michael O’Halloran go out on loan..

PC on O’Halloran: He is not my type of player. He is not the type of player Rangers need. 

Three goals in four games…. clearly not up to the high standards required at Ibrox.

Wait till he finds out he’s not the kind of manager “rangers ” need, probably for the same reason…

Come to think of it, he let Waghorn and Garner go as well, and they’re banging them in at Ipswich.

Harry Forrester is joining Wimbledon. Get a few quid on him scoring this weekend if he plays.

Caixinha obviously doesn’t know what he’s doing.

O’Halloran is still a “rangers ” player, yet he has publicly humiliated him.

He doesn;t have the basic skills to be a manager.

Its that simple, and they can’t afford to sack him.

This weekend they are up at Dingwall to face Ross county, which is always a tough game.

Will he cope ?

Who cares ?

Their fans are more worried about what we are doing, including this somewhat sad creature.. though he was shot down rather sharply.

Dougie Ross, todays linesman , hasn’t phoned in sick yet, and may be surprised at the reaction from the crowd after his comments on the travelling community showed that he is but the latest in a long line of bigots to be employed by the SFA.

 The most infamous of all, Hugh Dallas , received a pay off when he threatened to sue the SFa when they sacked him for linking the pontiff with child abuse in an internal email.

The SFA are “investigating ” Ross, whilst UEFA stand idly by, despite their massive campaign to “show Racism the Red Card “.

Then again, UEFA employ Dallas, so it probably doesn’t matter how entrenched the bigotry is over in Switzerland either.

I’m no lover of the Alpine nation, but their flag is a big plus.

Anyone fancy a game of Pointless ?

 

Etims contributor El Cormaco was on this show, and will be upset to see he didn’t get these questions.

 

Bruno Alves, the highest paid player in Scotland, according to some, has truly settled into his new life..

Thats a Premier Inn he’s staying at, proof indeed that the only question on anyones mind at Ibrox should be which will go back first, Alves or the clocks ?

As if they didn’t have enough to worry about…

That one, I think, is a little tongue in cheek…

If it is, its could be the start of another phase in the grief process.

Maybe the anger has now dissipated, and humour is creeping in….

Caption time…

I’ve already explained what this actually was , but your opinions differed…

Bongo August 25, 2017 at 11:07 am · Edit · Reply →

Caption ‘My God he’s got the calculator out, to work out his bonus, already!!! 

Today….

 

Finally, a word of thanks to TicToc, we met up yesterday for an enjoyable blether and upon parting he passed me a wee gift which I’m humbled and grateful for.

And he hardly complained about my wee puppy, which seemed to be in a bad mood all morning.

As we left the house, she looked like this..

However, by the time we met up, she had changed a little..

Image result for very angry dog

Though to be fair, it was only people, animals , the weather, pushchairs, grass, trees and flowers that seemed to bother her.

Thanks again, though Vinny.

If there’s no diary tomorrow, it’ll be because I’m in a coma due to the rather splendid bottle calling me from the other room….

Image result for cheers whisky

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6 years ago

http://celticbynumberscom.ipage.com/thrice-bitton/
Brown, Bitton, McGregor, Ntcham and more. HH

D'Fhinnein Mick
6 years ago

Some size of a Celtic ring KT’s wearing on his left hand!

6 years ago

I am usually more often wrong than right and certainly hope I am in this case but I have had doubts about the Roberts deal. It is taking too long and there appear to be difficulties. It would not surprise me if it is a non-starter.

6 years ago
Reply to  john

Permanent signings will take longer than loans especially in a week where mental money is being chucked about down South like confetti at a lavish wedding.
Keep smiling John 😉

D'FINNEIN MICK
6 years ago
Reply to  john

Same with Scott Sinclair last season. Took forever. Turned out grand!

6 years ago
Reply to  D'FINNEIN MICK

I think Guardiola can be a bit confusing when it comes to players and where they think they are with him?
Comes across as a bit of a narc at times to me.

rebus67
6 years ago
Reply to  john

John,

You may be correct but I suspect the delay is because MC wish to sign a particular player and are having difficulty getting it done. UNtil then, Roberts stays.

Rebus

6 years ago

Looking at that photo I would suggest Liam Henderson is not a happy bhoy at the moment?
Such a shame when promising young talent doesn’t seem to come to fruition?
I think of bhoys like Dylan McGeough tearing Real Madrid a new arsehole getting halved by that cunt Ramos then ending up at Hibs Celtic career over before it actually got going?
Then I look at young McGregor and think perhaps Liam still has a chance…
Either way good luck son in the Season ahead.

Geo
6 years ago
Reply to  Charlie Saiz

Charlie I really like this boy and I will be gutted if he doesn’t make it !! I love the way he plays the game heads always up, always wants the ball, knows we’re he’s putting it before he even receives it bhoy is class in my opinion, another wee loan spell at Hibs for season under Lenny would give him a better chance establishing himself at us..

The real Anton Rogan
6 years ago

caption; hold on a minute!!! I am a footballer. Where’s ma fooking tatoo?

Pat Higney
6 years ago

Caption: KT, “FFS Leigh,it’s not a goalpost! stop trying to tie that scarf around my arm!”

Pat Higney
6 years ago

Caption: KT- ” Boss, Leigh’s still pished fae last night, I’m the fifth one he’s written his mobile number on their shirt, with ‘call me anytime sweetheart ‘ on it!

Mick
6 years ago

Caption : ‘ooooo young man!’

Bognorbhoy
6 years ago

Caption …
Awe come on K.T. if paddy sees you wae sleeves rolled up like that he’ll kick ma erse when he comes back up ..ah said I’d look after yer fashion sense…

6 years ago

Caption Tired of the constant suspicion and accusations Griffiths finally snaps and grabs a sample of DNA for the CSA

Axe
6 years ago

Caption compo….”Sup Griff…Am no a fuckin goalpost by the way!”

Monti
6 years ago

I’m still not understanding this fucking game show ‘ pointless ‘! 🙁

6 years ago
Reply to  Monti

It’s shite move on.

jimmybee
6 years ago
Reply to  Monti

Am the same with your posts 🙂

6 years ago
Reply to  jimmybee

Yet here you are 😉

6 years ago
Reply to  Monti

Easy got to pick an answer thats the least likely answered. 100 people surveyed the thingy runs down from a hundred to zero the team with the lowest answers wins the right to try and get a pointless answer to win the handsome sum of 1000 pounds. Win more at a trivia night at the local pub

6 years ago

Wondering if and when KT will get the No3 now Izzy has departed?
I think we can safely assume the wee man has made the Left Back slot his own.

6 years ago

At the moment I’d like to see Tierney as number 5!

jimmybee
6 years ago

Caption: New balance kit comes with your own needle and thread kit as shown by Griff and KT get yours now.You will need it.

6 years ago

Caption: Right Keiran,i’ve done the loveheart,you can fill in the ‘I Love Paddy’ bit yersel.

jimmybee
6 years ago

Off to paradise with the grandson COYBIG
5_1 the hoops. Have a great day fellow tims.

6 years ago
Reply to  jimmybee

Watch out for those Perth ultras jimmy. Enjoy

6 years ago

Watching psg , they’re no Barca or Bayern for that matter. Daisy janko gifting them a soft penalty. Even game against st etttiene

6 years ago

Daisy or saidy, what hind of fucking names is that anyway?

6 years ago

Totally disagree with you on the pricing. Remember it is the guts of 500 quid for a season book and then another 114 quid on top . have a look at what other clubs are charging and look at how much they spend on the team. They are taking liberties here. Part of me thinks it is a desire to rid Celtic Park of all working class people and replace them with the ‘new supporters’. who don’t really like Celtics ‘historical baggage’. only problem with these guys is that the atmosphere will be terrible and they will go back to playing golf in a season or two when they are bored. But make no mistake Big Peter would love to freeze out whole swathes of the support.

6 years ago
Reply to  john

60000 yuppies shouting “crumbs” when we go one down. And cafe latte and friands at half time, then home after a spiffing match against the teuchter blighters. What ho!!

BroxburnBhoy
6 years ago
Reply to  john

What a load of tosh John. Let people decide how they want to spend their money. And compare it to Liverpool and others.

6 years ago

Caption
Griffiths hasn’t snapped out baby sitter mode yet, as he picks a loose thread from kts shirt and thinks that the sweat shops in the Phillipines are getting a bit lax with their production methods

portpower
6 years ago

Is Pedro a Paddy baker mahn?

It`s a Brendan & Co. screw the bobbin side and i`m loving it.

Watch out,we`ll be skint by January.

As long as we`re there to be there again.

portpower
6 years ago

Semblance Ralph. Port Power won but kind of didn`t.

Hail Hail the hard way.

portpower
6 years ago

Last time Michael O’Halloran played against Kieran Tierney,the two played to the byeline. O’Halloran had the better of Kieran with his speed,though his distribution is poor.

Keep him out of the box.

Uralius
6 years ago

Caption: LG – “Mak’ fun o’ ma hat will ye. Your wearing an undershirt!”

Uralius
6 years ago

Just realized that last night I was so drunk entering the Caption Competition I didn’t even notice Peter was holding something. I genuinely thought that bloke was looking at Peter’s arse. I was drinking Talisker Dark Storm, what were you drinking Ralph?

Una
6 years ago

just seen the worst offside decision in my life for that mcclean goal fucking cheating bastards.

Rob O'Keeffe
6 years ago
Reply to  Una

Nope,Ralston played him on….and that language…..

Una
6 years ago

Link for the match

portpower
6 years ago

As I said, beware the man in nera on the line.

It`s it to take?

portpower
6 years ago

MP of Scotland.Douglas did us.

6 years ago

Still what’s Gordon doing that was so lazy and casual on the outside of his foot , to their player!!!ffs. That was so lazy looked offside though.

6 years ago
Reply to  Iancelt67

He has a rick in him been saying this since the Inter game.
We need to sort the Keeper situation out long term he’s going to cost us in Europe.

rebus67
6 years ago

A lot of issues in the first half. Sinclair not in the game except for a mazy run at the end of the half. Gordon sold the goal by sclaffing the ball in a too casual clearance.

We are moving the ball too slowly to trouble StJ. We really miss the aerial threat in the centre. This cuts our options down.

StJ are a well organised team that have two cluggers in Comrie and Patton that are getting away with murder.

We need more consistent pressure on the StJ defence. Still plenty of time but if we play the same way we shall not win this game.

Rebus

portpower
6 years ago

Can they no show the overhead pictures of the St.Johnstone goal?

Suss.

portpower
6 years ago

Suss Saint goal.

6 years ago

Almost a betting inquiry on that one

Rob O'Keeffe
6 years ago
Reply to  Iancelt67

Nope…paranoid….

portpower
6 years ago

Bugger.
I hate it when one of us get it right.

Pick’n’Kick Craig.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OzxeBykMOuk

El Guapo
6 years ago

Has anyone got another link for game. This ones frozen. Thanks una btw

portpower
6 years ago

That effin post & crossbar day today I reckon.

portpower
6 years ago

Arms extended and expecting from the ref. 🙂
Pressure and control the game.

Next corner,put the keeper on his backside.

portpower
6 years ago

Thump an agents.

Plenty of time for the defenders to get the feel of the ball here.

70 minutes in.

portpower
6 years ago

We all know that wee bassas disgruntled Collum`s at it.

And within Scotland he`s to teach.

portpower
6 years ago

You fvcking beauty.

portpower
6 years ago

Watch Collum getting in the way of the ball here,

portpower
6 years ago

Can you not challenge the keeper when the ball is on the ground?

portpower
6 years ago

Back cross low and hard

Una
6 years ago

BBC Reporting SEEMS TO PUnch is the verdict/ More like he did punch Tierney

Posted at 16:36
Escape for MacLean
Celtic 0-1 St Johnstone
Steven MacLean seems to catch Kieran Tierney in the face with a punch, but the St Johnstone striker is only booked by referee Willie Collum

rebus67
6 years ago
Reply to  Una

Una,

I think McLean caught Tierney with his elbow. It was deliberate so it should have been a red card whether it was fist or elbow. The ref made a number of poor decisions throughout the match, starting with not stopping the game for the head injuries two minutes into the game. Lustig’s booking for a shoulder challenge was another. Patton’s consistent fouling by using a trailing leg was another. There were a couple of off-sides that he missed as well.

He is just a poor ref but we should have won in spite of that. We did not play well in the first half. Gordon has been on the cusp of giving a goal away with his casual clearances for some time. Hopefully, he learns from this. I suspect, tho’, that he blames Ralston since he did not pass the ball to him again.

Cheers,

Rebus

portpower
6 years ago

William “Willie” Collum is the standing standard.

Poor.

portpower
6 years ago

Although you`re to duck if they assault you.

I`m the other side of the World,yet you were closer Willie.Did you not see it?

He`ll always over emphasise and be at it.

6 years ago

Stale, predictable and boring. Shite. Gordon, Lustig and Brendan’s Bitton. Please punts these three chancers immediately. If ever a team needs to be freshened up it is this one. Too many specualtive digs from 20-25 yards because we lacked the imagination to breakdown St Johnstone. Difficult to watch. Gordon has done this type of crap too many times. De Vries should come back in for the league games and get a goalie signed for the CL. He is a complete dick Sticking with a few of these guys is going to make us a laughing stock. If Gordon is in goal for the CL we will not come 3rd. He is finished as is Lustig. Time to go boys you are too old and too shite.

6 years ago
Reply to  john

So effectively we are boring,reduced to long range efforts,the players are shite and Brendan’s a dick?
Get this clown tae fuck Ralph.

Monti
6 years ago
Reply to  Charlie Saiz

🙂

henkesdreadlocks
6 years ago
Reply to  Charlie Saiz

Well said Charlie. Cap well and truly doffed to you sir.

charlie
6 years ago
Reply to  john

sais leave um alane hees hurtin bad ha ha aint life grand john

6 years ago
Reply to  charlie

🙂

Monti
6 years ago
Reply to  john

John,
You need to go and sit in a padded cell, brilliant white light and listen to some Max Bygraves albums 🙂

Geo
6 years ago
Reply to  john

John I don’t post much on Etims but I take a wee look now and again and there is guys like Monti and Charlie who have been on the site for years !! But we’re the f@*k you came from I don’t know, have been reading your posts you are the only unhappy so called Celtic fan I know !! Brendan’s a dick, Brendan’s peters bitch !! Go and get a life and a bird pal and give up your life trying to kid on your a Celtic supporter ya knob jocky, its fucking great to be a Celtic supporter just now best it’s been for years, and see even if you are one of us your probley one they supporters that’s in there 40s but never been in the old parkhead in your life glory hunter, Etims block this c@’t he’s a Hun..

Rob O'Keeffe
6 years ago
Reply to  Geo

Geo,don’t laugh,there is meant to be a new policy of not abusing posters now.IF Ralph turns up,he reads some of the abuse,as long as it’s not his and will go in a huff/pub for a day,don’t laugh,it’s hilarious though.Some people apologise for their antics and one doesn’t and starts to post sweary words and multiple posts.Rather confusing.Oh,and it’s OK to abuse the Catholic Church,people’s beliefs,gypsies,travellers and guys that are Irish/Catholic and are assumed to be involved in fixing driveways.Honestly,none of the above is made up.KTF,if that’s allowed?…..

BroxburnBhoy
6 years ago
Reply to  john

Oh John more Pish flows from your angry depressed pen. You are living in a different world friend.

6 years ago

Forget about the ref and the possible penalty for hand ball we should be gubbing these clowns with the reserves. Something is not right. We have been quite poor since the beginning of the season; Rosenborg at home; Thistle and now this. And of course Astana away. The results have all gone for us in the end but the signs are there and people need to wake up. The board needs to wake up. Rodgers needs to sahow he has Celtic at heart and call the board out on their lack of investment. Or is Brendan getting a share of the saved cash. A wee bonus for duping the dummies by saying we are OK. Problems with the South Africans transfer and clearly issues with Roberts. Who would be surprised if no one was signed and BIg Tory Scumbucket Lawwell claims the deals just could not be done and we didn’t have time to get anyone in. Believe me if they start this crap, Rodgers will be off very, very soon, although he may be stuffing his already full coffers as we speak. I have heard he is very amenable to extra cash.

charlie
6 years ago
Reply to  john

yeh yeh yeh yeh yeh john hows things in zombieland

6 years ago
Reply to  charlie

😉

FredCDobbs
6 years ago
Reply to  john

30m comin fae the CL. nae fuckin problems wi that

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