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Celtic Diary Wednesday December 27: Media Attempts Derailment Again

With just one game left before the winter break Celtic moved eleven points clear at the top of the league with a comfortable 2-0 win up at Dens Park.

Well, comfortable if you don’t count the injury to Johnny Hayes, who was beginning to settle, but doesn’t seem to have much luck in the hoops.

He went for a fifty fifty ball with Josh Meekins and ended up with a bruised shin that saw him leave the proceedings. It did look as though Meekins left his foot in, but after viewing the incident a couple of times there doesn;t look to have been any malice.

However, it was Josh Meekins, who made a great save in a Cup game a while back, so as far as I’m concerned he not only set out to harm Hayes, but had told everyone in the pub the night before that he was going to do it.

If that was the low point of the game, then the high point would be the emergence of Kristoffer Ajer as a centre half.

A dependable and assured centre half as well.

Since the Hearts game and the four goal drubbing, the defence has gone 270 minutes without conceding a goal. That is down in no small part to the presence of the Norwegian.

On loan to Kilmarnock last season he proved he can play in the league, and there arw signs that he can improve further. More importantly, the rest of the defence seem a little more comfortable that he’s around.

Maybe Marvin Compper is here to bring hands on help with that development…

Another pleasing aspect is the resurgence of James Forrest.

The much maligned marmite winger has began to add consistency to his skill and work ethic, prompting pundit Chris Sutton to describe him as the “best player in Scotland ” .

Forrest himself is a little more modest..

We’ve kept going and we’ve picked up some good results,” 

“We’ve been really solid. We’ve been defending from the front and the back four have been really solid in the last couple of games. Our performance against Dundee was really good.

“I’m buzzing with getting a goal and I want to score more goals for the team, so hopefully I just keep doing that.”

“It’s been a great first half to the season, 

“We’ve hit all our goals so far, so to finish it off on Saturday with a win would be a great way to end the year.

“We’re still in Europe after Christmas so that’s a big boost for us when we come back. But we’ve got one last big push and we’ll give it our all. When we’re at our best it’s hard for anyone who plays us. We just need to start well and work hard and we’re ready to that.”

 

Next up on Saturday are fledgling cash stapped “rangers “, who, as usual, will think they’re going tpo make a game of it. With all sorts of problems off the pitch, it could well be the last clash between the two clubs, and so it might be worth buying a programme or something to show the grandchildren.

“rangers ” are the only top flight club I’ve never actually seen in the flesh, so I’m making an effort and attending on Saturday.

Wonder if they’ll turn up ?

With the game being touted as some sort of showpiece, perhaps because of the Ibrox addiction to the idea of their club holding some sort of relevance in world football, its seen by many as the only link left between the old and the new club.

We’ll get the media telling us that form goes out of the window in these games-it didn’t even when t was the Old Firm-, how every player wants to play in this fixture, and even how the competitiveness of the clash puts it up there with great world derbies.

These days its a clash between the old , established name of Celtic, and the young pretender in the guise of its more famous predecessor.

There isn’t a single player in the Ibrox ranks who would make even the celtic bench, and there hasn;t been for the duration of its short and controversial existence.

That makes the mainstream medias job of building up any kind of pre match tension rather difficult, so instead they’ve upped the sideshow of unsettling Celtic and the support with the anti Celtic stories.

It began on christmas morning with the Dembele to Brighton nonsense, a story which prompted a reaction from respective managers Chris Hughton and Brendan rodgers, who both dismissed it out of hand.

Even the Frenchmans agent was a little surprised, and went to the extreme of attending the Chelsea-Brighton game just to confirm there was actually a club called Brighton.

(From Football Insider)

Moussa Dembele’s agent Mamadi Fofana jetted out to London on Boxing Day to watch Brighton play Chelsea in the Premier League as speculation swirls around the future of the Celtic star, according to a report.

The Scottish Sun claims that Fofana was in the stands at Stamford Bridge to watch the Seagulls lose 2-0 in the Premier League after it was widely reported that Brighton’s £18million bid was accepted by the Hoops for Dembele.

However it is understood that the Scottish Premiership championship have rubbished any notion that a deal has been agreed to offload the 21-year-old ahead of the January transfer window.

 

That isn’t enough, however, and the media have begun to push the idea that Dembele will be sold this winter.

When asked, Rodgers simply told the press what he told them the last time..

Fuck off “.

Publicly, however, he said: ( as he did last time )

There will be interest, of course, but there is nothing in it.

“We don’t want to lose any players and we won’t lose any players.

“However, if there is something that comes in, it goes back to that issue, morally.

“If a player can earn five times as much as what he is on now then it is very difficult to stop him, especially if you get a fee for a player.

“But there is a lot that needs to be right. We don’t need to sell anyone – that is the idea. But what is always important at Celtic, especially when you are doing so well, you know there is always going to be interest and you have to prepare forward for the ‘what if’.

“And if we do lose any of our players, then we hope to have some to bring in to keep the continuation.” 

If he goes, he goes…

After his goal at Dens yesterday, Leigh Griffiths appeared to mouth “i’m the fucking man ” to the support, prompting a few in the media to assume he’s all disgruntled and wants a move. Griffiths admitted to being a little frustrated this term, but again the issue has more that a whiff of mischief making about it.

“It’s been a frustrating time for me, not scoring and not playing as much as I would like,” 

“I got the nod today and I managed to contribute with a goal and help the team get three points.” 

There is a lot of competition for places between me, Moussa and Odsonne. We have a big game at the weekend so we will see what happens.” 

I’m going for two each. Each of the strikers that is.

Have a look at this table, which lists shots on target from free kicks this season…

 

But the press campaign to level the sides up does seem to be taken notice of by some people,,er, peepil..

Image result for manchester rangers riot

The next one has to be read twice, as your eyes will fall out the first time. Get ready to cathc them and pop them back in..

Image result for but we're still the people right

Its all they have left…

 

By the way,after the christmas festivities died away, I found this amongst the carnage in the kitchen, which is another example of the sense of entitlement some people cling on to.

Yesterday, we showed this picture, and asked for an explanation…

Alzyerpal December 26, 2017 at 11:53 am · Edit · Reply →

Caption: Pssst! D’yae want to buy any ‘4 in a row’ DVD’s 

Today..

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Morto
6 years ago

Caption: Nessie injured in clash with Bear?

Tam the tim
6 years ago

Big Roy leaves the Loch Ness monster for dead after it tried to steal the ball.
HH

6 years ago

Caption: Although many tried for many years, it was not until Celtic signed Henrik Larsson that they found a player who could walk on water

Noelskytrot
6 years ago

Nessie loses ball after a 50-50 challenge with the Bear.

On the shite scribes who pass as sports journalists, they’re an embarassment to their profession. I know they need to use headlines to grab our attention but by fuck do they print some shite. Shark Jump at the Evening Times and Keef “radar” Jackson at the Daily Shite Talker are the worst of the bunch. They despise all we stand for and it’s great to see them suffering as we run amok, long may it continue

JimmyBhoy
6 years ago

CAPTION: “Any you lot got any bog roll?”

D'Fhinnein Mick
6 years ago

CAPTION

(I’m assuming that’s Big Roy having a guid time near his childhood home at Seamill)

Haw,lads,nae sign of Wee Jinky,must still be in the boat. Funna baw,says to gie it back tae the huns,he never let them see it when he played them.

Mike
6 years ago

He’s behind you!!, just like the baby seals who are being targeted by the Orcs no that’s correct the Orcs and not the Orcas.
Its just great that MR. Dales, the Diary writer has exactly the same thoughts on players as yourself and holds the same opinions on fitba.
Long may it continue, it was 95% before and now creeping upwards towards 99%, oooohhh I could crush a grape.. I am sooo happy.
Well done Ralphy my brudder in fitba.

puggy67
6 years ago

Caption: As the rest of the squad trains at Saltcoats Big Roy just goes through the motions.

Martin67
6 years ago

Caption: Rock on Rockall you’ll never fall with R.A protection ltd

Cortes
6 years ago

Caption: The “Mabozar” Legend Begins

D'Fhinnein Mick
6 years ago

Read JohnJamesSite earlier today.

He outed Jim Spence as Phil’s source. I posted my disquiet about it,but he rarely approves my posts.

So here it is.

*

Hi,John

Happy New Year when it comes. I notice you didn’t approve my rebuttal a few days ago,not surprised.

Today’s article would have been better without the outing of sources,what use is an olive branch if you batter someone to death with it?

I think you have put Jim Spence in a bad place,and he has lost a lot through his bravery.

Weasel words from you,IMO. Frankly,I’m disgusted.

Mike
6 years ago

I really like Jim Spence and read his articles in the courier every week a rarity these days an honest reporter, I have a lotta time for Jim and would believe him every time against the shite that emanates out of any other current Scottish journalists.

Noelskytrot
6 years ago

Fellow comrades, Bhoys, we’ve got the inept hun fuck Bobby Madden as ref on Sunday, thoughts?

Monti
6 years ago
Reply to  Noelskytrot

Thoughts?
We will fuck them like Ron Jeremy on horse steroids!

Noelskytrot
6 years ago
Reply to  Monti

Monti,

Lol, We all know what he’s all about, remember his last game when we played Sevco? I suspect it’ll be more of the same. In saying that I still think we’ll soundly beat the Govan weapons.

henkesdreadlocks
6 years ago
Reply to  Noelskytrot

Sunday is fine by me.

Monti
6 years ago

Peter Lawwell will love all this talk about Kristoffer Ajer being a brand new shiny, central defender.
“Tuppence is Tuppence”.
So the thinking is, play Ajer ( midfielder ) beside 32 year old Marvin Compper?
Bring in between 5 & 7m for Van Dijk and just keep that in the bank, help towards the Hotel i suppose.
Champions league 2018-2019?

Farewell & adieu farewell Spanish ladies, farewell & adieu you ladies of Spain,
For we’ve received orders for to sail back to Boston,
So never more in the Champions league again.

Rob O'Keeffe
6 years ago
Reply to  Ralph Malph

Ralph,abuse of posters,cough,cough……

Mike
6 years ago
Reply to  Monti

Sad and bitter he may be, however that is not the point, neither is the point that Ajer might save the club some money by becoming a talented centre back, if he is a talented centre back then he deserves his chance.

Monti
6 years ago
Reply to  Mike

But he’s a midfielder……ffs

Mike
6 years ago
Reply to  Monti

He is a fitba. player, a young fitba. player still finding his way in the game, he will only be defined by what and how he is played and if his best position is centre back then that is what he will be.
Big Jock was adept at redefining players and would change there positions if he saw things in the player that showed him where that player should play.

Monti
6 years ago
Reply to  Mike

Fuck sake min, can you no hear what the fuck i’m saying?
We are shite at the back and you want to solve that by puting a young inexperienced midfielder at the back?
Bollocks min!

Ken.

Mike
6 years ago
Reply to  Mike

Thought you wis talking about Peter Lawwell.

Mike
6 years ago
Reply to  Mike

Just remember what I said about Ajer in the not to distant future when he is our new record sell to the EPL. He is gonny be great!!

Rob O'Keeffe
6 years ago
Reply to  Monti

Exactly M,but as long as it “saves” money.Maybe it’s morally correct……

Monti
6 years ago

Caption: ” So you’re a rock and i’m an immovable object, but it’s my fucking ball “

6 years ago

Caption
Big Roy makes Ailsa Craig look tiny

puggy67
6 years ago
Reply to  Iancelt67

🙂

henkesdreadlocks
6 years ago

Caption……….

Big Shirley retrieves his Hampden ‘clearance’ v the Huns in the Scottish Cup final.

SteveNaive
6 years ago

I agree.it was a bad foul…watched it a few times now and trying to be objective but think he did try to do Hayes. Honest mistake to make !
Good point on Ajer Monti, biscuit tin shuts again but he is a wee bit raw yet . Prone to pushing his man when the forward is holding the ball up . Gets caught sometimes with the ball over the top but has good speed to recover. Can defend and comfortable on the ball…Southampton interested….save the lying press the time.

Monti
6 years ago
Reply to  SteveNaive

SteveNaive,
I was impressed by Ajer v Dundee but i’d strongly question how he would cope when under intense pressure by better attackers.
He’s not the answer, we are trying to be ” World class in everything we do ” apparently….cough.
We need defenders m8 & anyone who thinks Ajer is a central defender is deluded.
After watching this years Champions league games we need robust central defenders asap!

jimmybee
6 years ago

Caption: Another stray pass by Boyata at Seamill.

Monti
6 years ago
Reply to  jimmybee

Jimmybee,
What would you give to have the bear in the side today, in his prime?
One of my all time favourites, like me he was a bit dirty 🙂

jimmybee
6 years ago

Monti he was just inspirational m8 remember when the huns were singing at ibrokes about their uvf the big yin drove us on and we equalised a true captain and Celt.
They dont make them anymore like the bear.
If we were down he would just go on one of those runs and get us back in the game.
A true inspiration m8

jimmybee
6 years ago

Like you Monti Ajer is not the answer for me at centre back. Bitton the same. Those guys would be far better protecting the back 4 than being in the back 4. Now i know that players have adjusted Tom Macadam being a striker converted to centre back so it could happen for Ajer but at this point we deserve better. We have given all that we can, the board must find us 2 centre backs a keeper and a right back for the champions league campaign next season.Anything else will be a cop out.

Monti
6 years ago
Reply to  jimmybee

Jimmybee,
Exactly!

Rob O'Keeffe
6 years ago
Reply to  Monti

I concur……

jimmybee
6 years ago

Celtic Quote of the Day “I only know the first 2 lines of ‘the sash” because after that we’ve usually scored”. Roy Aitken 1984

Mike
6 years ago

Young players are not defined by what position they play, a talented coach can spot a players best position and redirect his career.
Big Jock took more than one player and changed his career around by changing that players position.
For me its not about economics, its about young players still learning the game and by being coached in the right way and allowing them to find there best positions.
If Big Jock did it, it showed an open mind and what would benefit the team and that is all I look for, a coach who can develop players and that is why you pay him, to benefit a team.

Yoker Bhoy
6 years ago

I think Ajer has certainly shown that he has at least the potential to become an important central defender for us, Only time will tell and he still needs to be tested by better quality opposition as Monti has said. It would be wrong to expect too much and equally wrong to write him off as it’s way too early. I personally like his style of play a lot.

Mike
6 years ago

Jock Stein changed players positions, like Bobby Murdoch from inside right to midfielder, Bertie Auld from winger to inside right, good coaches can spot potential in young players, Chris Sutton changed from centre half to striker. The thing is to keep an open mind, Ajer played as centre half at Kilmarnock and was voted player of the year, he has bulked up and grown up, he has played 5 times at centre half for us so far this year and we have not conceded, he will get his chance and I believe he will take it and prove his doubters…wrong!!

Monti
6 years ago
Reply to  Mike

It was a different game in those days m8

Mike
6 years ago
Reply to  Monti

Not so different methinks, its still a team game with coaches good and bad, yes they are fitter now, quicker perhaps but they played on shite pitches then and the name of the game was tactics but most importantly….players with talent. You have to find the talent, recognise it and nurture it, that is why we pay for good coaches, the most important position of all…the coach who can be worth there weight in gold. Give me a good coach and success follows, this isn’t about money, its about talent and where to position that talent in the team.

henkesdreadlocks
6 years ago
Reply to  Mike

Tom McAdam, came in as a centre forward to replace Kenny (lol) and turned into a good centre half and had a terrific record scoring against the vermin.

Mike
6 years ago

Noo, let me think… The big white hope of Scottish fitba. he cost reputedly £3.5 mill. he came from illustrious fitba, stock, Croatia, hailed as the best thing since short breed only problem is he canny play for half the season and he isny fit for the other half…gless knees. Alternatively we could pay shittee £1.5 mill. for Boyata, he to comes from an illustrious fitba. nation Belgium but but but he continually makes basic errors. Sviatcenko a great guy but gets bullied all over the pitch…eh no thanks, but haud oan a minute we could go back fur Denayer eh naw or perhaps pay the rumoured £zillions fur Virgil, nope, so who then, who, who, who do you recommend………..

Monti
6 years ago
Reply to  Mike

Take Jason Denayer back in a heartbeat, excellent for Celtic.

Mike
6 years ago

My post disappeared.

Mike
6 years ago

I can see this moving forward with the tic.

Ralston, Ajer, Compper or another and K.T. with Broony utilised as defensive mid.
with another midfielder, perhaps even McGinn taking over Broony’s position.
and that isny the disappeared.

Mike
6 years ago

If they are foreign they are good, if they are home grown in the eyes of some supporters then they are shite, that is the negative shite that emanates from some so called supporters minds.
Cast yer minds back to the three amigos and remember that sense of excitement that came over you at the thought of those wonderful fitba. players, who wid have thought that they were mercenary bassa’s.
That view was emphasised when the moved doon sooth with the financial shenanigans that was in their suitcases and was about to pop out and welcome there new paymasters.

Monti
6 years ago
Reply to  Mike

I would have gave Paolo, Jorge & Pierre everything they asked for, if it meant keeping them in the Hoops!

Macca
6 years ago
Reply to  Monti

Paolo and Jorge yes, definitely. Shine went off big Pierre much the way it did with Viduka.

Mike
6 years ago

Thank crunchie the turkey’s finished, if it had stayed any longer I wis gonny charge it…rent.

Monti
6 years ago
Reply to  Mike

Did it gobble?

Mike
6 years ago

It didny anymore when I bit its heed aff. 😉

Monti
6 years ago
Reply to  Mike

HAHAHA

Mike
6 years ago

Starry Starry nights,
watching Celtic under the lights,
the atmosphere was pure delight,
watching Forrest in full flight.

Sunny, Sunny days,
watching Celtic beside wee Jay,
playing fitba. the Celtic way,
the way that only Celtic can play.

Ah those are the daze and the nights!!!

Leões de Lisboa67
6 years ago

Caption:

Big Roy: “Couldnae find the baw, so we’ll jist have to play wi’ this Polar Bear’s nut instead….”

Rob O'Keeffe
6 years ago

Could anyone tell me the last time Celtic scored from a corner?…..

Caption: Your distribution is improving Craig!

Monti
6 years ago

Some say we get 9.37m for VVD?
There’s your two new central defenders bhoys!

Mike
6 years ago

I hiv a defender its Bearitz green with an ocean white roof and of custard tinted wheels, I love it.

Cartvale88
6 years ago

Caption
Big Roy realises Tyncastle is a shite pitch.

jimmybee
6 years ago

Good luck to Johnny Hayes just heard he has suffered a broken leg.
Hope you make a speedy recovery HH.

BJF
6 years ago

I think Ajer has played really well, he played In Kilmarnock’s defence and has looked good at Centre half so far but anyway I will focus on whether he is going a real Centre half job given what others have said. Jimmy Bee, was that super quote about the Sash not from Bobby Lenmox?
Anyway quite looking forward to Saturday, a few folk crept out of the trenches after the Hearts game and they will be getting it right up them Sat night.

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

henrik wis only as good as he was cause he watched the buzz on tape

Steviebhoy
6 years ago

As funny as that stat is, didnt Alves score a free kick near the start of the season? the MSM kept telling us he learns from his best mate Ronaldo on international duty???

charlie
6 years ago

fuck me a watched that harts and hibs game the night how the fuck did them minis beat us

charlie
6 years ago

caption ts 1979 ten men won the league the night before and the bears still lookin fur mer huns tae skelp

jimmybee
6 years ago

good luck to Virgil at Liverpool tierney must be worth double.

charlie
6 years ago

jimmy would denayer have been as good as he was without big virgil in my opinion we should find oot

charlie
6 years ago
charlie
6 years ago
Reply to  charlie

caption big roy says ffs is it time for trainin bobby a wis jeest rebuildin the giants causeway

charlie
6 years ago
Reply to  charlie

the buzz answers who needs a causway when ye can walk oan watter

charlie
6 years ago

heers wan for every tim

charlie
6 years ago
charlie
6 years ago

that wis for the greatest fitba team that ever walked this earth …ps ma auld pal jc superstar wants tae get thum back again in heaven jeest tae watch the bhoys swagger AGAIN COYBIG

Doc
6 years ago
Reply to  charlie

Amazing team, one of the greats. The Di Stefano testimonial show their class, maybe Jinkys best game?

charlie
6 years ago
Reply to  Doc

doc mahttps://youtu.be/95jKohSPSDo

Doc
6 years ago
Reply to  charlie

Cannae get the link.

charlie
6 years ago
charlie
6 years ago
Reply to  charlie

doc the scottish press blamed us …cause that wot fuckpigs do fuckum

Doc
6 years ago
Reply to  charlie

Press haven’t changed at all.

charlie
6 years ago

THEN WE STRAIGHTENED OOT SOUTH AMERICA EVEN THOUGH THEY STOLE IT AFF US THEY KNEW WHO THE CHAMPIONS WER FUCKEM EVEN AWE THEES YEARS LATER THEY KNOW

charlie
6 years ago
Doc
6 years ago
Reply to  charlie

I think we could have done it if we resorted to the ‘dark arts’, instead, we played football and fought like men.

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