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Celtic Diary Tuesday December 5: Back In The Saddle Again

After a few days where the author sulked like a big sulky thing, the Diary is back, and what a treat we have for you today.

Well, we don’t, but after a thoroughly miserable weekend, at least its a pretence at being cheerful.

Friday night, a small detachment from the Lennon CSc went up to Harrison Park, home of Leek town, where former Celt and current BT sport pundit Chris Sutton held court with a few stories from his career.

Fair play to the big fellow, when he arrived I asked him if he would join us a for a chat and a photo or two, and when he realised Celtic fans were in the house, he announced he would come over straight away.

His show was excellent, and if he does appear in a venue near you, its well worth the money.

Afterwards, a couple of us went on the town, where some bastard made a grab for my spectacles, and whilst I was defending myself from him and a few doorman, some other bastard ran off with my jacket, and stole my phone.

So, I’ve not been my usual chirpy self of late, and frankly up until about an hour ago, couldn’t be arsed with anything or anyone.

But enough about me..( praise the lord-Ed )

As expected , Celtic duly put motherwell back in their box with a crushing 5-going on 10-1 win at Celtic Park.

With Moussa Dembele unsure whether or not to renew the lease on his flat at Christmas, it was important to give Oddsone Edouard a run out, and its fair to say he showed promise, grabbing the first hat trick by a teenager in the league since Brian McClair managed it in 1983. Or thereabouts.

Its hard to imagine Brian McClair was ever a teenager, but according to some bloke on twitter, he was, and so therefore he must have been.

In form James Forrest was on the park as a late substitute and he added another couple of goals to his seasons tally, and knocked a few quid of any price Celtic may have to pay for Patrick Roberts.

Special mention  must go as well to Johnny Hayes, who had his best game in the hoops, and reminded us that we shouldn’t write him off just yet. things are still not clicking for him, but his attitude is one hundred per cent, and thats one of the reasons he is at Celtic.

The horror trilogy now over, manager Brendan Rodgers spoke out about what annoyed him, alright, what annoyed him the most.

This week, there has been a debate around the honesty and professionalism of the Celtic players,’ 

 ‘There have been questions asked of the supporters.

‘But there’s not a debate. These are players who have gone 67 games unbeaten because of their honesty and professionalism. They devote their lives to it — and our fans have been brilliant.

‘I understand Motherwell were hurting after the cup final and that spilled over a bit into Wednesday. But some of the nonsense that came out of their club this week was absolutely incredible.

‘After the game on Wednesday, we had the chief executive of Motherwell — a guy with senior authority — walking around with a laptop trying to demonstrate to the media that it wasn’t a penalty.

“Well, at least that makes it easier for the Etims guy to pick his Knob of the Week. ” 

Alan Burrows is the CEO in question, he’s the dashing and intelligent looking fellow below..

 

Penalty and disciplinary rows prompted Motherwell to contact SFA referee chief John Fleming for 'views and feedback'

In order to prevent a repeat of his antics involving his laptop, may I suggest to his parents that they change the internet password while he’s doing his sums.

Anyway, all of this nonsense led to an official statement from the club, so I’m led to believe..

 

Someone needs to have a word with the PR guys. The Brits have already gone.

The convincing win put the Celtic train firmly back on the rails, as there were signs that all the fuss over penalty awards and so on was starting to get to the players..

I was fouled! Now fuck off!

 

Three games against Motherwell, Dembele injured, though he has recovered enough to be considered tonight, a recovery not entirely unconnected with young Edouards performance on Saturday…

Celtic last won a UCL group game at Celtic Park back in 2013, and for what was once a feared fortress in European football, thats unacceptable. These days, opposing players look forward to coming to Glasgow, often bringing their wives and kids for a “nice day out ” .

Paul van Himst, a well respected man in Anderlecht circles, said last week he couldn’t figure out how the Belgians lost to Celtic…

“We should never have allowed ourselves to lose to a team of peasants like Celtic.

“They were a bunch of woodcutters. It was one of our worst matches ever in Europe, and we didn’t even muster an attack.

“Under Rene Weiler we just went backwards. 

Hein Vanhaezebrouck is not doing anything special. He does some good things, but you can’t say it is anything out of the ordinary.

“His progress is normal. What could he do better? Win the games against Paris Saint-Germain or Bayern Munich.

“But the fact the team has been knocked out of the Champions League is not his fault.

“However it is still possible to play champagne football these days – just look at Barcelona..

“If anyone can do it, he can.” 

van Himst was an outstanding player in his day…

Image result for paul van himst escape to victory

that’s  him in between Ossie Ardiles and Bobby Moore and Pele.

Here they are again before a UEFA Cup tie at Ibrox..

Image result for paul van himst escape to victory

The side above almost won everything in the game, but were let down by a dodgy keeper….which in fact takes me back to Friday, and something Chris Sutton said…

The Belgian manager has all but written off his teams chances of making the Europa League, as they require a three goal win. something not done since the last fucking time a foreign side turned up at Celtic Park.

If you don’t count Bayern Munich, who only scored twice.

He told reporters..

We’re not even talking about qualifying, we’re just talking about making a good result, that’s the most important thing for us.”
Whereas Brendan Rodgers has not quite got the hang of how it works..

“For us it is 0-0,” 
We want to win the game but of course you have to pay attention to a good opponent. 

“But we haven’t overly thought about it, we have been busy with lots of other games but in this game we have to be tactically ready and prepared and we know if we do that then that can equate to a good result for ourselves.

“We got a great result over there and we look to finish it off at home.

“We played very well. Anderlecht will be disappointed being at home and us winning quite convincingly.

“They changed their coach so they will look at that as a positive. They will come to attack and look to get a victory – but that is what we want to do as well.

We want to give the supporters a Champions League victory at home.

“We have been in two campaigns now, this is obviously the last game.

“It has been absolutely brilliant. The supporters have been incredible for us home and away but it would be nice for us to finish with a victory at home and take us to six points which will show a real level of progress.” 

What would show progress is a little bit of what the side Chris Sutton played in.

This team-and manager- needs to get streetwise at this level, and quickly.

Image result for nodding gif

Anderlecht to win tonight, as they are much improved from the last meeting, is not as bad a bet as it would look.

I’m not confident of a positive result on the night, but am still fairly optimistic about competing in Europe after christmas. In fact, I’d say a score draw was almost certain. Which would do, i suppose, as it gives us pretty much all we could have hoped for when the draw was made, which is a place in the Europa League, not an easy thing to do when you’ve come through the qualifiers.

So, credit where credit is due if he pulls it off, but what we don;t want are any more pastings.

Even after Christmas.

Rodgers needs to start adapting to this level.

Oh, and its not 0-0. Its 3-0 to Celtic.

And no amount of pretending will shake that from the players or supporters minds.

 

 

Elsewhere, and Derek McInnes celebrated a flying start as “rangers ” manager with six points out of six against his old club Aberdeen, which moves the Ibrox side into second place, just seven points and an extra game played behind Celtic.

Yeah, I know, he hasn’t gone yet, at least in body, but his mind has.

I’m still not entirely sure its not all just a load of bollocks, designed to take his mind off the two games just played, as we have seen the media distract players before, so there’s no reason to think they wouldn’t do it to a manager.

The next step, of course, will be the press claiming that McInnes is being prevented from bettering himself with a move due to “rangers ” being held to ransom.

Not that it will matter.

Irishman Tom English , who writes for the Scotsman, claimed to be in the know..

John, you have to be better than this. The media are writing about McInnes to Rangers because they have information.

Er, presumably they don’t have that bit of information about it not being Rangers…

Anyway, English went on to slate “comedy bloggers” …the ones who have done the work of the Scottish sports media for them, and still been ignored as it doesn;t suit the editorial agenda..

Replying to 

Some comedy Celtic bloggers don’t count, sorry 

Comedy ? Tom works for the BBC, who gave up on comedy a long time ago, as well as truth, integrity and honesty…

I can do comedy…

Replying to   and 

Did you hear the one about the Scottish sports reporter who put honesty and integrity at the forefront of everything he wrote ? No, me fucking neither.

Actually, some at the BBC can, and perhaps those at BBC Scotland should have a wee look at the work of their colleagues down south, who seem to understand things a lot better, and not suffer from leaky bowels every time they are asked something… ( BBC sport)

Fleetwood v Hereford FC – Saturday, kick-off 15:00 GMT

As a club who have not even celebrated their third birthday yet, Hereford FC are comfortably the newest team left in this year’s FA Cup.

But, having been formed from the ashes of the old Hereford United’s demise in the London High Court in late December 2014, the Bulls are not short on cup history.

The heroic tale of Ronnie Radford’s equaliser and Ricky George’s extra-time winner against top-flight Newcastle United in 1972, put Edgar Street’s mudbath on the map.

Now the new Hereford meet Football League opposition for the first time with a visit to League One Fleetwood, a club who have passed them by on their own rise up English football’s pyramid.

Surely the same club ?

Tom, or any of the others who denegrate ” comedy Celtic bloggers ” , how about explaining how one club can be a new club, and another is allowed to carry on as though nothing happened ?

Image result for I'll wait

He won’t.

Thats because working for the BBC in Scotland requires a certain amount of balls.

None.

And every single one of their football reporters meets that criteria.

 

On to the caption competition, which last appeared on Friday…

 

GuigsyBhoy December 1, 2017 at 10:50 am · Edit · Reply →

Caption:

Luke Skywalker: “Yes I also couldn’t believe who my REAL father was!” 

Today…

6

 

 

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6 years ago

http://celticbynumberscom.ipage.com/paris-mismatch/

As we prepare for Anderlecht, a review of the Paris (Mis)Match. If Europa football is delivered that is demonstrable progress. But against Europe’s elite, was this better than the battering in Barcelona?

Alzyerpal
6 years ago

🙂 A worthy winner of the caption contest 🙂 🙂 🙂

Sorry to hear about your “misfortune” on Friday 🙁 but who would have expected a Hun cell operating in Leek?Hope the Police catch the bastards.

Alzyerpal
6 years ago

Caption: The DWP take Norman Tebbit’s “Get On Your Bike to find work” directive, from the 80’s, to a whole new level.

salad queen
6 years ago

Is this the new club sevco,plenty of power but going nowhere!

6 years ago

We have Milo Yiannopoulos causing havoc over here

Melvin Udall
6 years ago

Caption: No rest for the DUP members as they make their way to the Brexit negotiations

Melvin Udall
6 years ago
Martin67
6 years ago

Caption: Its the only ride tubby on the left is getting this year.

Rob O'Keeffe
6 years ago

Ralph,as Weered and SF will confirm,the Brits are still there.Around 5,000 regulars with reserves being topped up.Add in the charmers at the DUP and it’s still not happy days.
Was surprised at BR talking about nil nil.He should be more upbeat and state we can’t wait to show them that we’re not peasants and ram the words wherever seems appropriate.
BBC Scotland,nobody takes them seriously,they have a glass ceiling for Tims and Masons flourish…….

Monti
6 years ago

Ralph,
Sorry to hear about your troubles on Friday, wish i was there, you would have got your stuff back quick!

HH

Rob O'Keeffe
6 years ago
Reply to  Monti

Heard Uncle Phil is The Clumpany,is it true? He’s not saying……

Monti
6 years ago
Reply to  Monti

Listen ya fuckwit, anyone who knows me will tell you what i think of Salad……so go fuck yourself!

Monti
6 years ago
Reply to  Monti

Looks like the next troll has stepped up….as general Melchet would say ( rubbing hands vigirously ) ” excellent ” 🙂

Bring what you have Grinch.

Monti
6 years ago
Reply to  Monti

Weered,
My sucpicions are confirmed!

Rob O'Keeffe
6 years ago

Caption: Guy says ‘Right,we’ve got the jacket’
Lassie says ‘Right,these pockets are all sewn up,I’ll try to open them!’…….

Bognorbhoy
6 years ago

Caption

New sevco kit supplier revealed…

VooDude
6 years ago

LOL. Winner.

Bognorbhoy
6 years ago

Caption 2

Awe maw da just sharted…..

Monti
6 years ago

Caption: Fred West demonstrates how to get lots of people into a small space.

mike
6 years ago

Sorry you were in the jail,
but your cultish story was beyond the pale,
hopefully now your back for good,
keeping us all in the Celtic mood.
Knew that you liked a ride, but on a horse Ralphy?

mike
6 years ago

Bill Gleckett wearing his “Rangers” kilt and sporran,
hiding away in his rat infested warren,
spouting pish from the blue hued Sun,
a bigoted infested paper just like the Dailly Hun.

With words so coloured and phrases course,
puking vomit from his Hun filled source,
the stories concocted the lies never varied,
no balance or fairness, where the truth lies buried.

Common the woodcutters and the peasants,
give our support an early Christmas present,
give the Belgian truffles a fitba. lesson,
attack from the front with a high pitch presson.

charlie
6 years ago
Reply to  mike

ime wae you mikeybhoy

mike
6 years ago
Reply to  charlie

Watch oot for that Chico, because his favourite job,
is going out weekends on the rob,
lambs and sheep for him to steal,
mutton is his favourite Sunday meal.

That’s why I keep my shotgun to hand,
hiding behind the trees is where I stand,
shooting pellets up his arse,
the targets HUGE not to sparse.

Shiltrum
6 years ago

On another matter a friend of mine was walking
Past Ibrox the other day and saw 2
Season tickets nailed to the door. So being
a man thinking of the future he says to
himself I’ll have those you can’t have
enough Nails.

Rebus67
6 years ago
Reply to  Shiltrum

Shiltrum,

Great blog de plume!

A variation on your theme. Two guys walk past Ibrox and see two season tickets nailed to the door. They walk by thirty minutes later and there are ten S. Tickets nailed to the door!

Rebus

Rob O'Keeffe
6 years ago
Reply to  Shiltrum

Most people run past it……

charlie
6 years ago

ffs ralph the auld specticles and bouncer trick never thought ye wer daft enough tae faw fur that he he

charlie
6 years ago

see that alan burrows he lokks like a hun

henkesdreadlocks
6 years ago

Caption……….

…….and if you shove a brush up ma arse, I’ll sweep the floor at the same time.

Monti
6 years ago

No need for the brush……just instruct them…..i mean her 🙂

Cortes
6 years ago

Caption: Tread softly for you tread on my seams.

Nice to see Caroline Ahern looking so well in the picture with Chris Sutton.

I’ll get me shroud.

Cortes
6 years ago
Reply to  Cortes

Or is it the granddaughter of the Mike Giles bird on the cover of the McDonald and Giles album?

charlie
6 years ago

celtic played really well in the first game but that team urny mugs so like ralph says on occasion be careful oot there Celtic……. COYBIG …..oh and cheer up ffs ralph it might never happen ………..oh it already has he he

charlie
6 years ago

caption is that wanny they new fangled contraptions for frightening the shit oot yer wee sister ha ha if it isnae ma bhoy wants the patent

charlie
6 years ago

ralph and desi catch the phone theif

charlie
6 years ago
Reply to  charlie
Tim Buffy
6 years ago

Caption: “Whaur’s yir washin’ machine noo’ Graeme Obree?”

charlie
6 years ago
Devoy45
6 years ago

We’re all peasants but we’re ok
we play all night but work all day
We chop down trees, we eat our lunch
have Belgian teams for breakfast…

Puggy67
6 years ago

Caption (Putin) One psychopath with two big tits on their high horse – it’s another day on the ETims forum.

Caption: What Singer has been rode more than Madonna?

SteveNaive
6 years ago

Guy to the left of Sutton has a fist growing out of his head !

Rebus67
6 years ago

Tonight is a true test of our progress in European terms. Anderlecht are the type of team that we should beat at Parkhead if we are to have credibility in Europe.
I hope the team goes for it as if a win was crucial, despite merely conserving a three goal cushion.

Let’s see how far we have progressed under BR!

I hope Dembele starts. For me, the jury is still out on Edouard, although his overall play on saturday was impressive. I still se him as our #3. I hope the quoted price tag for him is exaggerated…8-10 million euros! He needs a few more hattricks to justify that spend!

Rebus

mike
6 years ago
Reply to  Rebus67

But you gotta play to score hattricks! and a striking goal scorer is that most expensive of player.

Rebus67
6 years ago
Reply to  mike

Mike,

Yep, he needs games. My concern is that he does not connect with the ball cleanly and hard. Now maybe he can score by placing the ball…fine by me! We all need to see more of him to pass judgement
I have a feeling that we are looking at the L’pool striker that has been injured lately….can’t recall his name

If fit, he is a proven goalscorer. He can also hold the ball up. Griff is a different striker….we need someone to hold the ball and bring others into the play. Dembele does this plus he scores. In time, he will be gone so hopefully we are looking at replacements.

Rebus

Rebus67
6 years ago
Reply to  Rebus67

Danny Ings

Rebus

Gerry
6 years ago
Reply to  Rebus67

Correct Rebus, I don’t just want to get through to the Europa, I want a performance and three points (not very demanding these Celtic fans eh?)
Part of our European development is getting into Pot 3 of the Champions League and a win tonight, aside from the more important fact of winning games for the fans and club, gets us precious coefficient points and a million quid. Something to build on and give us all confidence ahead of the draw for the EL, I hope the bhoys give us all something to cheer tonight.
Gordon
Lustig Jozo Boyata Tierney
Armstrong Brown
Forrest Rogic Sinclair
Griffiths
Depending on who is fit; regardless I cannae wait!!

Stu67
6 years ago

Dave King organises replacement bike for the ibrox trophy room , befitting of a team built on world class breakfasts

mike
6 years ago

caption, As another Ipox leccie bill goes unpaid, auld Agnes the kit lady has to move fast so she can sew a bigger triangle into the back of Kenny Millers shorts.

Devoy45
6 years ago

Caption: Sun Headline” The real truth behind Lance Armstrong’s success!
Caption: Unique family cycling act demand payment from auld Rangers ‘You screwed the face painters but you won’t screw us’!
Caption: Super patriotic family are eager to attend the next royal wedding.
Caption: Dorothy’s fuckin family have forgotten Toto!

Cortes
6 years ago

Caption: Sir Bradley Wiggins shows Deidco how to sew up titles with his Therapeutic Use Exemptions.

Chris
6 years ago

Caption: Puma & Parks of Hamilton team up as austerity bites at the bigot dome.

Melvin Udall
6 years ago

If only acts like this in football got more publicity from Politicians and media etc than all the negative stuff they are happy to jump on.

Brilliant Wee video;

https://twitter.com/awaydayfooty/status/937267218173382657

Monti
6 years ago

Wonder if Brendan would be tempted to play Edouard tonight?
Be interesting to see how he did starting tonight…..

Puggy67
6 years ago

Where did my captions go? Take 2

Caption: A Singer that’s been rode more often than Madonna.

Monti
6 years ago

” On a lonely country road,i seen a bike it was overload,
But they carried on regardless anyway,

You can keep your BSA, BMX & RALEIGH……

But you won’t be cycling down Garvaghy road “

salad queen
6 years ago

I don’t know what i’ve done to annoy buoys on here or phil’s site. Maybe you can fill me in ?
A few months ago my email was revealed by Charlie said in a banter with monti.
I don’t know why or some person or cyber space has copied me.

Rob O'Keeffe
6 years ago
Reply to  salad queen

Bhoys please. Signed Monti/ SQ……

London Celtic
6 years ago

Hail Hail folks. Has anyone a good link to the game.? I’m in the middle of nowhere. Il be a ball of nerves if I’m listening on the radio.
Many thanks.

London Celtic
6 years ago
Reply to  Ralph Malph

Thanks Ralph. Hail Hail

Macca
6 years ago
Reply to  London Celtic

Cricfree also streaming well (tho painful to watch at the mo..)

Monti
6 years ago

Good luck tonight Celtic!

Signed,

P O’ Neill.

Macca
6 years ago

Poor performances all over the park. Needs to be much better second half.

Cartvale88
6 years ago

Go for it, this is nail biting hiding behind the sofa
HH COYBG

Monti
6 years ago

Awful first half, once again possession and distribution wholly inadequate.
Anderlecht have improved since the last meeting but this is OUR home game?
I understand we are 3 up but we have 60,000 supporters there tonight, where is the passion from the players, the fight, the spirit?

Get out there in the second half and show these cunts who we are!

Come on!

salad queen
6 years ago

Better second half, but as monti would still pish.

Macca
6 years ago

Pish indeed. Only the subs were half decent. Still in Europe but if we play like that we will get grubbed again. Been a very very poor campaign all round. Team needs investment, esp at the back if we are to improve in Europe. Also, Sinclair needs a boot up the arse.

Puggy67
6 years ago

Aye well we’re still in Europe and Arlene Foster can do fuck all about that!

6 years ago

Unlucky with the goal only saw second half even game celtic looked a bit better

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