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Celtic Diary Thursday December 7: Big Club In for Dembele

Shall we lighten things up a bit ?

Brighton considering £20m January move for Celtic star Moussa Dembele

Shall we continue in the nonsense theme ?

Kenny M on Sportsound defending media role in tapping up Aberdeen manager: ”when a journalist uncovers some facts they report them.  That’s how it works.” 

Of course it is. I must have missed the episode that discussed the Offshore Game report.

On a serious note, lets hope this is just a poorly timed picture..

 The Champions League campaign is over, and Celtic have made it through to the Europa League knockout stages.

After the round of matches tonight we will know who the eight remaining qualifiers will be to join the 24 already through..

Arsenal*, Atalanta, Atlético Madrid**, Braga, Celtic**, CSKA Moskva**, Dortmund**, Dynamo Kyiv, FCSB, Lazio*, Leipzig**, Lyon, Milan*, Napoli**, Nice, Östersund, Partizan, Plzeň, Real Sociedad, Salzburg*, Spartak Moskva**, Sporting**, Villarreal*, Zenit

One star denotes a group winner, two stars denotes the diddy teams who dropped down from the UCL.

Any teams with no stars are the ones we cannot face, which is a blow.

Games will be played in principle on Thursdays 15 and 22 February at 19:00CET and 21:05CET, with the exact schedule released after the draw. The seeded teams are at home in the second leg. 

That means our next european game is on Thursday 15 February at Celtic Park. Either at 6pm or 8,05, whichever causes us the most inconvenience.

In between now and then, there is a winter break and a transfer window.

Celtic need them both, and need to use them wisely. If that turns out to be the case, then we have little to worry about.

There may be some big names in that draw, but the reason they are in that draw is that they are no longer great teams, just like us.

It’s a knockout tournament, and I think we will benefit from getting our dodgy home game out of the way first.

Whilst some have criticised everything from the team to the competition format, qualifying for the lesser competition with three points is well below average, as this table shows..

So it appears we got lucky, which makes a change.

What we need to do though, as this table shows, is sort out the home form…

a winter break and a transfer window…use them wisely.

Elsewhere, and it appears our neghbours south of the river don’t like Anderlecht..

whatever could have influenced this ? Usually they support our opponents, as it gives them an interest in european football…

Sounds bad…

I have to shoot off to Liverpool airport now, the lad and his lass are flying in from dublin to stay for a week or so, which means I am going to hand over the reins to someone else.

Or reccommend an excellent piece on our Scottish football media, which is probably easier.

Two hundred percent article

Well worth a read.

And with Resolution 12 now the only possible way of getting justice done rearding the governance of the game, this is an important read, as it links in with what I’ll be discussing tomorrow.

Captions…

Image credit: Fred Mott

Pat Higney December 6, 2017 at 12:23 pm · Edit · Reply →

Caption: “No Mr Milne, I can’t seem to find the folder containing the rules reference tapping up another team’s manager!”

today..

Covent Garden Labourers

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Una
6 years ago

Caption: Dave king shows how to balance the books

CarlJungleBhoy
6 years ago

There are some strong teams/big clubs in this years Europa League, so unless we see a vast improvement – especially with the 1st leg being at home – we’re going to need a bit of luck with the draw to have any chance of progressing further. However, there are a few teams currently leading their respective groups that we could draw which – at least on paper – we should have some chance against .. Ostersunds? Sheriff Iiraspol?, Sporting Braga?

Kenny
6 years ago
Reply to  CarlJungleBhoy

Knowing our luck we’ll get Atletico Madrid or Napoli if you don’t laugh you’ll cry.

Admin
6 years ago
Reply to  Kenny

Its gonna be Arsenal, I just know it

CarlJungleBhoy
6 years ago
Reply to  Desi Mond

… well, at least we might get a decent away ticket allocation..

CarllJungleBhoy
6 years ago
Reply to  CarlJungleBhoy

So.Of the 3 mentioned, only Braga are possible… Both Sheriff & Ostersunds lost last night & neither won their groups (Lokomotiv Moscow & Athletico Bilbao instead). Viktoria Plzen the only other small-ish side from kast night

CarlJungleBhoy
6 years ago

*Tiraspol

CarlJungleBhoy
6 years ago

Caption: Dirty orange baskets lying all over the place – what’s new?

Pat Higney
6 years ago

These sevco fans are never going to have to worry about being offered Ambassador positions to any developed Nations any time soon!

Davebhoy
6 years ago

That’s not a coracle Mr King. Not even Chris Jack thinks you came up the Clyde on that.

Puggy67
6 years ago

Caption: Ibrox 1873 and Ranger’s players queue for the extra bread they were promised in a side parchment.

VooDude
6 years ago
Reply to  Puggy67

Superb 🙂

Monti
6 years ago
Reply to  VooDude

A bit crusty but decent 🙂

puggy67
6 years ago
Reply to  Monti

panned my loaf in thinking that one up

Monti
6 years ago
Reply to  puggy67

Plain daft m8

Corrib04
6 years ago

Apprentice tortoise turns up to his first day at work.

Monti
6 years ago
Reply to  Corrib04

?

Pat Higney
6 years ago

Caption: “ Hello Hello, is that murder inc.? It’s David Murray here..I said I wanted to see Whyte and Green in caskets…C.A.S.K.E.T.S……….eff it, never mind!”

Monti
6 years ago

Caption: Tonight Matthew…..i’m going to be ” rangers”

Rob O'Keeffe
6 years ago

Caption: Charles Green turns up near his French chateau with a basket of assets….

Monti
6 years ago
Reply to  Rob O'Keeffe

Big ‘ ands for them baskets …ee ba gum lad…wi nowt taken owt.

Rob O'Keeffe
6 years ago
Reply to  Monti

I think he took so called for plenty,Monti,and they blamed Whyte.As you state,stupid,stupid Huns……

Bognorbhoy
6 years ago

Caption ..

Naw they canae be the rangers assets in your basket , cause I just sold them to big haunds charlie

henkesdreadlocks
6 years ago

Caption……..

Post Brexit Britain. A fucking basket case.

Devoy45
6 years ago

Just to repeat, if a manager somehow loses two matches to an uderdog team, then gets hired by said underdog team, is that sporting integrity? How much will that Sevco team get away with? And McInnes? There needs to be an investigation. How does Aberdeen Football Club feel about this, its players and fans? I would be fuckin furious. Something is fishy in Aiberdeen.
Caption: A few new ‘trendy’ catering and vending ideas at Ibrox.
Caption: Having defeated Sevco, the Luxemburg club resume their day jobs.
Caption: Celtic FC search far and wide for central defenders.

Monti
6 years ago
Reply to  Devoy45

I remember being in something fishy in Aberdeen……was 17 at the time.
Didn’t get much change back.

Monti
6 years ago

” If i were a rich man yibby dibby dibby yibby dibby dibby dibby bum ” 🙂

Honest Hoops
6 years ago

Caption; the pay day loan activities increase… as they prepare to pay for something they cannot afford…..back in the old routine….

Rob O'Keeffe
6 years ago

Agree,the Christian ones……

Rob O'Keeffe
6 years ago

Sevco’s NEW tv series: Proddy Blinkers……

Cartvale88
6 years ago

Caption
The deeds are no here Bomber

Totally agree if McInnes goes to the Wankers in the next fortnight there should be a cry for an enquiry into their results against the zombies.
If Dembele goes to Brighton he will end up in the championship, think Virgil.

charlie
6 years ago

me monti the mauler pentionerbhoy the piledriver mike the eh ….fermer want tae challenge the winners ha ha

charlie
6 years ago
Reply to  charlie
charlie
6 years ago
Reply to  charlie

tic toc can hawd the buckfast ha ha ha ha

Monti
6 years ago
Reply to  charlie

Charlie,
That drinks a bit strong for TicToc to handle, maybe a Babycham or bottle of schloer 🙂

TicToc
6 years ago
Reply to  charlie

Charlie, just ignore that silly big cunt Monti, I’d be delighted tae, er, ‘watch’ the Buckie for you……
HH

charlie
6 years ago
Reply to  TicToc

tic toc a jeest rewatched the video so fuckit ile hawd the buckie and you go in and take the glory he he

Monti
6 years ago
Reply to  TicToc

🙂

charlie
6 years ago
Reply to  TicToc

monti tell yon fermer tae bring his gun a think weer gonny need it ha ha

Monti
6 years ago
Reply to  charlie

Nice m8

Jinkylarrson
6 years ago

Roy Keanes comments show he is pandering to the English media.Celtic don’t get the millions of E.P.L. teams. He also forgets he was in a Celtic team beaten by Clyde.

Monti
6 years ago
Reply to  Jinkylarrson

Jinky,
Keane is RIGHT it ISN’T good enough, are we saying it’s ok to lose at home to Anderlecht now?
Your point about Celtic not getting access to EPL money is neither here nor there, what mega millions do Anderlecht have access to?
Or Molde? Maribor and Malmo?

Did we have access to mega zillions when we were beating Barcelona, Juventus, AC Milan and Manchester utd?

Keane is like you & I, a Celtic supporter who is watching his side perform miserably at home in Europe.
I’m sure Roy wants to Celtic winning!

D J Smyth
6 years ago

Revisiting Tuesday night , far from me to advise Brendan Rodgers but if he wishes to really improve results in Europe he will have to play non first players in the diddy wee tournaments. Like the league cup & even Scottish Cup.
On Tuesday night we had played 8 more competitive games than Anderlecht . This mean Brendan & coaches missed 24 days when they could work properly on fitness, skill , stamina, strength & mental alertness. I can’t measure how much of a difference these 24 work days but surely they have to make a difference . We try to play a high press very intense game but we haven’t the fitness to do it against quality teams .
We need to give our 24 hours a day athletes the training to go with lifestyle . The game is completely different now than even 3 yrs ago ,if we don’t get our over-all fitness improved considerably we won’t beat average European teams

Monti
6 years ago
Reply to  D J Smyth

D J Smith,
I disagree, strongly disagree.
The squad should be able to cope with the games, rest & recuperation in between games then you go again.
I think the form of a lot of our players is not of the same standard as it was last season.
Dembele in and out the side, same with Griffiths, Roberts injuries, Armstrong not as dynamic as last season.
The only players who have maintained last seasons level are Tierney & Brown in my opinion, factor in James Forrest this season & we have 3 outfield players who can be trusted to be consisent to a high level.
In short, we need the whole team or at least 7 or 8 back on song.

HH

DJ Smyth
6 years ago
Reply to  Monti

If u read my post Monti I was not arguing whether the players should be able to cope with the games by rest & recuperation , u are probably right but I know successful managers try to have their teams playing less competitive games & allow coaches 24 extra working days by start of December .
Of course Celtic didn’t play high pressing game on Tuesday, any home they had of doing so was blown away by the vastly superior fitness of the Anderlecht players . They were reaping the benefits of 8 fewer matches & hence 24 working days for their coaches to build up speed,stamina , hunger & drive . We couldn’t match it , our team is fitter than SPL teams but not near fit enough for average European sides

TicToc
6 years ago
Reply to  DJ Smyth

DJ Smyth, I’m not speaking for Monti here and nor would I. But that comment is just complete drivel. But it’s YOUR drivel and you have every right to post it if you choose to.
Come On You Bhoys In Green and hell slap it intae them orange bastards.
HH

TicToc
6 years ago
Reply to  D J Smyth

DJ Smyth, maybe you could explain to me the “high press very intense game” you refer to because I saw NONE of that on Tuesday night. I saw a team run out onto the park at Paradise and then collectively shit itself and disappear, perhaps with the exception of Craig Gordon. The “high press” could only be the high pressure exerted on our supporters when our team bottles it. Much as it grieves me to say so, that’s what I saw for the first 45 minutes and I don’t want to see that again from Celtic, not fucking ever. Get players motivated to run into space going FORWARD, ready to receive the ball and go for goal instead of making a cunt of playing tippy-tappy forward, square and back, repeat. That kind of possession is piss-poor to watch and only gets us in trouble. Come On You Bhoys In Green, give us supporters something to really cheer about.
HH

Monti
6 years ago
Reply to  TicToc

Tic Toc,
Once again bang on!

Martin67
6 years ago

Caption: you call that a basket of assets? THIS is a basket of assets!

Devoy45
6 years ago

Monti, good stuff. Fitness is key and we have no excuses on that score, with the huge squad we have. I always believe the more you play the fitter you should be. It’s hard to be fit and get fit when you ain’t playing. A lot of our good players have had lots of bench and ‘rest’ time: Griff, Ntcham, Simunovic, etc. Dembele’s had lots of rest. By the way £20 million for Dembele’s not enough.

Monti
6 years ago
Reply to  Devoy45

Devoy,
If anyone offered £20m for Dembele i’d tell them to double it or fuck off!

BondiBrian
6 years ago
Reply to  Devoy45

Devo…Call me a pessimist ( “you’re a pessimist”…so got that one in quickly )ah don’t think we will get 20 mill for Dembele. Hope am wrong.

3-0 Good Guys, although I’ll no be totally disappointed if Hibs end oor fantastic unbeaten run.

MON THE HOOPS !!!

jimmybee
6 years ago

Brendan got the team selection wrong.
When i saw the team he picked for tuesday i knew we wouldnt win.
He leaves us far too open on european nights teams can pick us off easily.
Improvement only came because he introduced a proper midfielder in ntcham.
Armstrong and Mcgregor continually fail on the big stage as does sinclair.
We shouldnt be playing the same team in the same set up as we do against Hamilton and Partick and the likes. Its poor from Brendan.
1_0 loss at home to Anderlecht is not good enough. We have the players to beat Anderlecht and the likes and Brendan should have changed tactics for this match

Monti
6 years ago
Reply to  jimmybee

Jimmybee,
Agreed m8!

TicToc
6 years ago
Reply to  jimmybee

Jimmy, you’re maybe not that far out, especially re Armstrong, but all the tactics in the world wont matter a jot if the team doesn’t turn up. And they didn’t, at least until HT, and the two changes were made.
It’s all about character and less to do with tactics, and, unfortunately, it’s not new either. The ‘steel’ needs to start in our defence……
HH

Monti
6 years ago
Reply to  TicToc

Tic Toc,
Spot on!

TicToc
6 years ago
Reply to  Monti

Cheers, Monti. There’s no pleasure derived in having a go at the Celtic, but you can’t hide from the evident truth. Noo where did a leave that Babycham……? 🙂
HH

Monti
6 years ago
Reply to  TicToc

Next to yer Advocaat?

Monti
6 years ago
Reply to  TicToc

It’s been implied:)

TicToc
6 years ago

Caption: Guy on right, “Is that a basket of assets oan yer heid or a 140 year old fitba club”

Cortes
6 years ago

Superb!

Monti
6 years ago

Taxi

Monti
6 years ago

Caption: Bomber Brown – ” Show us ra baskets of assets, yooz buy the breed “

Cortes
6 years ago

Caption: The Board Meeting of Parks of Ayebrokes (formerly of Hamilton) January 2018.

Monti
6 years ago

Can’t get my head around Scott Brown quoted as saying ” we were scared in the first half “?
What was there to be scared of for fuck sake?

Scared? Fucking scared?
Scared is living with your family in Syria or Dundee…..
Scared?
What the fuck?

Monti
6 years ago

Where’s Mike today? Oh wait it’s Thursday isn’t it?
B&Q 25% aff the day …ken.

TicToc
6 years ago
Reply to  Monti

Mony a Mickle, Maks a Muckle? Fuck me, does that actually mean something? 🙂
HH

Monti
6 years ago
Reply to  TicToc

Don’t know i’m not Syrian 🙂

TicToc
6 years ago
Reply to  Monti

Monti, I think ‘ye ken’ that was for oor Mikey savin’ a few groats at B&Q!
Onyway, d’yae ken ra Dundee history? Arabs’n’at?
Is Mikey mibbees part Syrian?
Who can answer the Mickle/Muckle conundrum?
More to the point, Whaegiesafuck?
HH

Monti
6 years ago

Hugh67,
If you are out there looking in, a big hello to you & your lad David, two nicer men you’d struggle to meet.

HH to all the Greenock Bhoys!

Monti
6 years ago

Caption: Jack Charlton ( centre pic ) asks where the local cafe is, he can’t get a Hebrew anywhere….

Monti
6 years ago

Fat fingers?

Monti
6 years ago
Reply to  Monti

Too far 🙂

Rob O'Keeffe
6 years ago

Nice to see Celtic visit Children’s Hospital today.Even though we bunged the weans £10,000 they still got a 3-3 draw.Craig Gordon stated that the goals were all Sviatchenko’s fault even though he wasn’t playing ……..sharing is caring…..

charlie
6 years ago

rumour un glesga is mcinnes knocked the huns back cause of the bigotry against tonyy d ……….neil the flimflan man is the backup wae wee bawwy ha ha ha ha please let it be true

TicToc
6 years ago
Reply to  charlie

Aye, pretty please…..an’ him and Docherty will be doing themselves a big favour.
Oh, Hell, slap it intae them huns.
HH

Monti
6 years ago

Where did my Tottenham Hotspur post go?
It wasn’t that offensive…..was it? 🙂

TicToc
6 years ago
Reply to  Monti

Did it include reference to any large part of Mike’s anatomy? 🙂
HH

Monti
6 years ago
Reply to  TicToc

Lol

TicToc
6 years ago

Well, must rush and get some Buckie to ‘look after’ as a proper ‘charlie’ welched on his earlier offer.
Charlie’s hopes are answered as McInnes rejects phony huns, according to the Herald, 4 minutes ago.
HH

Monti
6 years ago

Mcinnes say’s no……lol lol & fucking lol

Stupid, stupid Huns

Devoy45
6 years ago

McInnes stays. I got this one dead wrong. I thought the two sheep losses were part of a larger cunning plan. I also thought that Sevco would throw make-believe money at him until he couldn’t think straight. McInnes is a good manager and would do even better with better players at his disposal but I don’t think Sevco is his answer. He would be better for Scotland. In truth Murty (whose family support Celtic) would be their best bet both short and long term. I respect him more for this but Sevco were shameless and illegal but what’s new?

SteveNaive
6 years ago

Mc Inness is a good manager… in what possible way could you construe that ?

jimmybee
6 years ago

Paisley waiting on the result tonight.

jimmybee
6 years ago

Caption: Citizens of paisley await the result tonight.

jimmybee
6 years ago

Hahaha McInnes walks away the gift that keeps giving.

Devoy45
6 years ago

Steve Naive. McInnes gets a lot out of the players he has. Brendan says McInnes is a good football man so I think I’ll take our manager’s word for it. I don’t like McInnes, Sevco or Aberdeen but that doesn’t matter. So, I’ll take Brendan’s word for it. Aberdeen may yet run us closer than we think. McInnes deserves better than Sevco in any case and he chose that.

Wisnae me
6 years ago

I’m a basket of assets what are you?

Monti
6 years ago
Reply to  Wisnae me

An Unrepentant Fenian Bastard!

TicToc
6 years ago
Reply to  Monti

HH and UTLR to that, Monti.
Tiochfaid Ar La.
HH

Monti
6 years ago

Jabba will have a heart attack teying to spin this one lol

” Mcinnes wasn’t the first choice etc etc ” lol

TicToc
6 years ago

I constructed a really fantastic comment, explaining what was causing/allowing our dismal home minus-performances at Paradise. Fuckin’ lost, according to my browser, as ‘unable to connect to the ETims server’ or some such shite. Fucking infuriating as it explained exactly what was missing, and even ‘weered’ could have understood it. 🙂
It was ultimately about ‘FEAR’ and its potential effects. It also covered why them filthy orange bastards died. All cleverly connected to our finest moment in ’67. Alas, gone.
Anyway, c’est la vie. The point was, really, that Brendan clearly incites no fear in OUR team, evidenced by some of the truly shocking displays this season in Europe, but not only there. Big Jock wouldn’t have fucking tolerated it, and THAT’S the difference; that’s why we are where we are.
Disconsolate despite 67 in a row undefeated, because performances are absent this season and FEAR is the key; or more precisely, the lack of it towards our managers and our supporters but in fucking spades against ANY half-decent opposition. THERE YOU ARE. Do with that what you will, but you wont fucking scare me.
HH
Oh, and this. The paid for, by you and me, organisation known as the BBC is still fucking cheer-leading for the huns. On Ceefax (Ceeshit), it’s not D McInnes rejected them bastards, it’s some Traynor-type PISH about Murty “to remain”. Check it out and then let’s get organised about this; them bastard huns at the BBC are accountable and WE have to call them out. FFFUUUUUCCCCCKKKKKK.
(Charlie, get them 4 big fuckin’ tarts from that earlier fight video and let’s fuckin’ see what’s what)
And breathe. 🙂

Monti
6 years ago
Reply to  TicToc

Did you spill yer Malibu on your keyboard?

TicToc
6 years ago
Reply to  Monti

DBACAYL.
The 2nd part is “Have a day off!” 🙂
HH

BondiBrian
6 years ago
Reply to  TicToc

Tic…ah asked on here a few days ago if anyone thinks “BR gies the hairdryer treatment” or as you put “Brendan clearly incites no fear in OUR team”

Of course the usual numpties on here steamed in in feet first ah even got called a wait for it…wait…got called a ZOMBIE.

That’s what were up against; slightest questioning of BR methods or tactics then were considered huns etc.

TicToc
6 years ago
Reply to  BondiBrian

Bondi, I try to speak it as I see it, without fear or favour and people can make their own minds up if they agree, disagree or are unequivocal. I don’t really care. I DO care when I’ve gone on a senseless, bladdered rant that doesn’t add anything on here, but I challenge critics to ‘cast the first stone’. I may be atheist but I’m not afraid to use biblical terms when they clearly convey a decent, sensible message.
Hibs will give us a right good game on Sunday I reckon, but we should be too strong. Our unbeaten run will come to an end one day and if it’s Hibs that do so then that’s who I’d want, but not on Sunday, around about 2021. 🙂 COYBIG.
HH

portpower
6 years ago

🙂

Cheer-up sevconians,there`s always Wales.

Concomitant concomitant
We will
Concomitant sevco

We are the Perishable

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