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Celtic Diary Sunday February 18: Just Keep Swimming

After the bread and butter of European football its back to the rarified high octane atmosphere of the Premier League today, with St Johnstone the visitors at Celtic Park.

For those who like to risk a shilling or two predicting the outcome…

THE KICKOFF ALGORITHM’S WIN/DRAW/WIN BETTING TIP:

Celtic have a 61% chance of beating St Johnstone

Which doesn’t sound that convincing, does it ?

Celtic have won 70%, drawn 30% and lost 0% of their last 20 home games.

Celtic have scored in 95% of their last 20 home games.

Celtic have kept a clean sheet in 9 of their last 20 home games, going on to win 8 and draw 1 of these matches. 

St Johnstone have won 40%, drawn 15% and lost 45% of their last 20 away games.

St Johnstone have scored in 65% of their last 20 away games.

St Johnstone have kept a clean sheet in 4 of their last 20 away games, going on to win 3 and draw 1 of these matches. 

Some people need to get out more. It’ll either be 4-0 or 5-0.

To Celtic, in case you were wondering.

The win in midweek has lifted everybody’s spirits, after the game there was a sense of universal elation that the train was back on the tracks and it was full steam ahead for the rest of the journey.

Well, nearly everybody’s..

The lights hadn’t even gone out at Parkhead after a 
great Euro win – but boss Brendan Rodgerswas already preparing his team for St Johnstone.

At 11pm, after Celtic’s 1-0 victory over Zenit St Petersburg on Thursday, a full-scale training session was 
taking place on the pitch.

The likes of Scott Sinclair, Charly Musonda, Tom Rogic, Odsonne Edouard – and even Patrick Roberts – were being put through their paces by coach Kolo Toure. 

I may be on the point of spotting why there is planning permission sought from the council to build a new wing at Lennoxtown for the medical unit.

At that time of night, especially if you’ve got work in the morning, and perhaps been subjected to extreme levels of excitement, its a good idea to go to bed.

It’s not a good idea to pop into the garden and put yourself through a series of sprints, jumps , stretches and lunges as you may find yourself a little ratty in the morning.

Not as ratty as your neighbours will be while you’re doing it, but ratty nonetheless.

It’s fair to say that I need some convincing as to whether or not the training schedule at Celtic could use a little common sense.

Now the experts may criticise my ignorance, and come up with some study that proves that the session will be beneficial, perhaps increasing energy output and muscle flexiblity over a five year periods by point six percent, but if that was the case, why are all training sessions not at eleven pm on a school night ?

Well, the manager seems to think so, and i guess he’s earned the right to be a bit bizarre again.

Back at the ranch, well, for those allowed back at the ranch and not being sent out on a cycle run at four in the morning, there are talk of a few changes for todays match.

Those involved in the late night session-which would have meant a completely different thing when footballers and coaches weren’t obsessed with body fat ratios and aerodynamically shaped heads-are likely to feature today, to give those who played on Thursday , and finished a few hours earlier, a run in the team.

Tom Rogic could make his comeback, which would allow the team to return to the old tactic of running into a crowd of opposition players before losing the ball, and he could be supported by Scott Sinclair, himself no shirker when oit comes to finding blind alleys to run down.

The reader may think i’m being a little grouchy here, but after a display such as Thursdays, surely that team should start ?

Scott Brown excepted, as he is banned ?

That would allow for Tom Rogic to take his place at the head of a diamond midfield and allow the players a bit more practice with the system.

Rodger said ..

“St Johnstone can be an awkward opponent and that was my message to the players after the Zenit game.

“It was a brilliant performance 
from us, one of the best since I’ve been here. But we need three points in the Premiership on Sunday. 

Fair enough, he needs to keep them focused, but allow them to pat themselves on the back and feel good about what they’ve done. Otherwise they won’t aim so high again…

Today, however, they face a St Johnstone team which has lost its last four matches, and their manager Tommy Wright, who may be reaching the end of his usefulness in Perth, doesn;t  hold out much hope of that run ending..

“The players have never struggled to go to Celtic and put on a performance, whether it’s a dogged performance and we lose narrowly or we make it difficult for them.

“I think the stadium, the team we are playing, helps the focus.

“The problem for us this year has been our home form, the focus hasn’t been as good as what it should be.

“I have no problem with going to Celtic, my players will be motivated and ready for it.

“Sometimes it’s simpler, they know what they have to do and they know exactly what they are going to come up against. They know they have to do their jobs or you can get a serious beating.”

 
Reading between the lines, he doesn’t give a toss, and this morning he’s sitting tossing his phone from one hand to the other wondering whether or not its worth ringing in sick…
Its hard not to feel for Wright, who is a more than capable manager, but sometimes in football , familiarity can breed contempt, and its probably better if he moves on.
His body language today will tell us a lot.
Just think, had he quit a couple of weeks ago, he might have been in with a shout for the Scotland job. He’d certainly have been a better bet than Alex McLeish, appointed boss in a move which shows how far the SFA will go to keep things in house over at Hampden.
Calling in favours, and so on ? Well, there was one that caught the eye…
STV went out into the streets of Edinburgh to ask fans what they thought of the appointment of McLeish..
Er, except that isn’t Edinburgh…its just across the road from Nacho Novo’s pub, in glasgow.
So I’m told. It’s not a part of town I visit often, as I have working opposable thumbs.
Wonder what sort of peepil hang around there who are willing to talk about football…
Although thats the last throw of the dice for them, there is a sense that there is something in the wind following the exits of Regan, MacKinlay, from the top, and Broadfoot and Russell from the flanks.
something else that caught the eye over the last day or so was the resignation of Daily Record editor Murray Foote, who has presided over the paper which has seen a downturn in circulation that means it now ranks alongside publications such as Great Pavements of Old London and Telegraph Pole Weekly.
Could Foote have gone because he’s heard the wind blowing, or have his bosses at Trinity mirror asked him how he managed to miss the biggest sports scandal in history ?
Of course, thats pure speculation, but of late there’s a lot of specualtion, and there will continue to be so until the compliance officer makes his report.
From where I’m sitting, however, my guess is that someone has learned the gist if it, and the news has spread quickly….
The quicker something happens here the better.
Scottish football has come on in leaps and bounds, with Aberdeen, the two Edinburgh clubs , Kilmarnock and even murty’s Rangers improving greatly over the lat few months.
Crowds are up, Hibs played Aberdeen yesterday, and won, in front of a sell out crowd. Its taken a while, but there are sings the league is becoming competitive again, like it used to be the last time Rangers were on their knees in the eighties.
The stadia are being improved, the kids are getting a shot at the big time, largely due to a new wave of management.
Above all, interest is on the up. The moment is there to be seized…
It’s just a shame the SFA/SPFL lack the vision to develop it, and one can only wonder where we’d be now if six years ago there was a touch of reality at Hampden, and the powers acted accordingly.
As it stands, the game could move up a level or two, but the lack of leadership is still be a hindrance.
Unless, of course, there’s something in that report to push things along….
But optimism remains high, as the other clubs get their act together…
Whether he’s right or wrong, he’s enthusiastic and imaginative.
So is this guy..
Arguable even more imaginative…
Image result for insane quotes
And the media have joined in…
This is the long running will he- won’t he- of course he fucking won’t saga surrounding “rangers 2 forward Alfredo morellos, who has taken the football world by storm with about a dozen goals for the Ibrox side this season.
This second, or third , or fourth bid from a Chinese side is now in the region of anything between £7m and £11m depending on how fucking stupid you are.
To get this spectacular news into context, and the line from the gullibilies inside and outside of the media is that we should prove them wrong, which again is probably an indicator of why their sales are falling, have a look at this..
And now this…
Image result for make your own mind up
Or the fourth option, my chosen response…
Image result for don;t talk shite
Hey, and I know a thing or two about talking shite.
Image result for wink gif
Elsewhere, and Rab Douglas, the former Celtic keeper , watched the Zenit game in Scruffy murphys, over in Benidorm.. with a wee pal..

Meet my Wee pal Gary from Scruffy Murphys in Benidorm who asked me on Thursday night if I had ever been to a European night at Celtic Park

Ach, we’ve all done it. and there’s no real harm, but don’t forget, there is a responsibility that comes with social media..

Glad to of signed a new improved deal with Rangers , thanks for the support

Glad to of ?
Image result for etims t shirt
Fridays picture…
Well, lets use it again today, as it appears you were all too busy watching a rerun of his goal…like me, really.

 

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Puggy67
6 years ago

To the we’ve got £31m in the bank brigade that will be 3.5 games TV money for Wolves next season. Unreal.

Mike
6 years ago
Reply to  Puggy67

McCann, tried to join the board prior to when he arrived at Parkhead,
his attempts to do so were rebuffed by the old board. John Keane put up £1 million pounds out of his own money to save the club from going under. Think about that, he put up that amount of cash out of his own pocket because of his total love for Celtic, unconditionally.
McCann an ex supporter who ran the Croy bus to Celtic park, came in at the eleventh hour to guarantee that Celtic would continue in business. He made his first fortune, estimated at aprox.£9- £14 million running golf tours from North America to Scotland. He had to put his fortune at risk, to ensure that Celtic could continue, although it has to be said that other investors like Gerald Weinsfelt ? also offered to become major investors, his step son Michael McDonald became a board member, after contributing £1 mill.
Fergus had a 5 year plan for the club, he must have taken soundings to find out if his plan would work. It did, consequently the new Celtic park with its modern stands came into being. He said at the time, that he would offer the shares firstly to the Celtic support, D.D. invested some £10 mill. at the time, he increased it later. When Fergus left it was said that he pocketed some £40 plus mill. Most people would say that this was an obscene amount of money to trouser and they would be absolutely right. His money, his risk, at the very least the supporters have a stadium fit for the modern game and he did fight for the club, seeing of Farry at the SFA. How I yearn for someone like the bunnet, who would fight for Celtic the way that he did.

Mike
6 years ago
Reply to  Mike

That risk, that investment, saw of Murray and ensured that Celtic would lead the race to a bigger club than Ipox. They would have to build a bigger stadium to compete with Celtic. Instead they with there brethren at the SFA lied and cheated and went bust trying to compete.

Mike
6 years ago
Reply to  Mike

No, I know what D.D. said, but lots of people say lots of things for lots of reasons, that is why I said that “I yearned for someone like the bunnet who would fight for Celtic the way that he did”, for example for calling Farry out over the Cadette registration. I did click on that link and read different views and different thoughts on what Fergus spent or did not spend, do I think that he should “walk away” with all that money, no definitely not. When you read the press or watch the telly and you read of the huge salaries and bonus’s paid out to CEO its obscene, the disparity in directors salaries compared to working men’s wages is completely disgusting. The power lye’s with the Celtic board, they make the decisions, we might not like or be happy with what they earn or do, but it seems to me that there is not a lot that we can do about it, or to challenge it, but be happy about it, no chance.

Mike Annis
6 years ago

Sometimes I think Etims should have a black border round it. However you recovered some spirit and joie de vivre in the second half. Must have been the oranges and cup of tea.
By the way, don’t knock Telegrapg Pole Weekly, I’ve heard their page three us upstanding.

Noelskytrot
6 years ago

Bhoys 4 Strawberry pickers 0

Steve B
6 years ago

Good diary Ralph. The reason you got no replies to the caption competition on Friday is the same reason you’ll get no replies today. The picture hasn’t embedded and we can’t see it. Just can’t the staff these days…

Celtic Symphony
6 years ago

Looking forward to Paradise later,even though your idiotic comments ‘re training won’t put me off.lol
You do realise,after every home game,players in the squad who have not featured or been subs have a training game ?
Be it 5pm or 11 pm,it keeps them on their toes.Why you think this is stupid is beyond me ?
HH

SteveNaive
6 years ago

New caption competition , we think of cations, you put up the picture later. Whoever is closest wins ! Kind of Spot the Ball with captions.
Caption “So I said, what £ 50 each and he says, No, for the whole lot !”

Iancelt67
6 years ago

Just come out of my rage re rogic. However that team should stay the same. It’s a great balance. Sinclair and rogic can be selfish but they can also be match winners

Iancelt67
6 years ago

Caption
Secret is we had the same curriculum as the prods. The Hail Marys gave us the edge

BJF
6 years ago

Ralph I wish they wouldn’t change your medication on a Saturday night it clashes with whatever you inhale, inbibe or inject or just plain sniff and lo and behold we get the beginning of the diary like today. Anyway you eventually you came down, yes St Johnstone have been part of the awkward squad for a few years and maybe they are due a result but somehow I can’t see it unless next Thursday obsess us. Really enjoyed the comments from the Sevco guys, you need a laugh sometimes, I think Rangers had much better players than Sevco and they didn’t do great!

Bognorbhoy
6 years ago

Caption …

I blame embedding for dummies.. ?

Sunday I’ve got Fridays caption on my mind ….

To paraphrase a wee tune

Brencelt
6 years ago

Caption:Ralph was on the beer again
Or
Sevco full apology for years of cheating

Bognorbhoy
6 years ago

Is it is it …

See no caption , speak no caption hear no caption?

Monti
6 years ago

Celtic

3-5-2

DeVries

Simunovic
Ajer
Tierney

Lustig rwb
Sinclair lwb

Ntcham
McGregor

Rogic

Edouard
Dembele

Gringo
6 years ago

Big Rab’s replies to the trolls on that tweet are class too.

Mike
6 years ago
Reply to  Gringo

I see the silhouette of a man,
scary moose, scary moose, will you do the fandango,
thunderbolt and lightning, very, very frightening,
Garry Baldy, Garry Baldy,
Magnifico…. Will you let it go?
class in a glass.

Mike
6 years ago
Reply to  Mike

Now leave oor Monti alone, Garry Tank Commander, he’s a good bloke. Well spotted with the missing millions btw. Bankier/Wankier was no doubt going to utilise some of the dosh to finance a new distillery.
Now I gave you some answers about my own self, time for some quid quo pro. Your currant country, your profession and your relationship viz a vei the Tic.
Young bhoy, get outa ma hair,
ma sides are splitting, I cant take anymair, so spill, or forever haud yer wheesh.

Monti
6 years ago
Reply to  Mike

Same asshole tho…..

Monti
6 years ago
Reply to  Monti

I must have shagged your wife in my youth….it would explain how you can’t get me out her head!

Mike
6 years ago
Reply to  Monti

Dinny ken why, but I like you. 😉

Mike
6 years ago
Reply to  Monti

When you join a football club, it is an emotional attachment, Celtic were formed to feed the poor. Wrongly perhaps you think that the people who run your club are imbibed with the same charitable thoughts, so you trust them to keep within the boundaries of that ethos. We know that the support certainly do, the board are rightly viewed with deep distrust. Fergus, yes he left the club with a mountain of cash, he it is said risked his own fortune to build a stadium and to save the club from the enemies of the club. He built a stadium fit for the modern era. It seems to me that his risk all strategy was something for the supporters to appreciate and not to denigrate. He tapped into the vast love and affection that people have for this great charitable club. Was he overly rewarded? yes, probably, but at least he left something tangible, something obvious, a stadium to be proud of. Are ALL the supporters happy about the cash he left with, no they are not, but at least they SEE the benefits of his 5 year plan.

Monti
6 years ago
Reply to  Mike

My opinion is you are a complete fucking bellend!

BondiBrian
6 years ago
Reply to  Gringo

Good tweet. Terrible shirt.

6 years ago

This is the team today

CELTIC (4-2-3-1) De Vries; Gamboa, Hendry, Ajer, Miller; Kouassi; Rogic, McGregor; Musonda, Edouard, Sinclair.
Subs: Bain, Simunovic, Dembele, Forrest, McInroy, Tierney, Ralston

6 years ago

Sinclair to score first, Charly bhoy to net also.
Good to see Big Tom back.
5-1 the hoops
COYBIG

George Lazenbhoy
6 years ago

Is bag rab auditioning for Paint Your Wagon?

6 years ago

Brokback mountain Mair like 🙂

6 years ago

Any links up for the game guys still doun souf

Mike
6 years ago
Reply to  Jimmybee

Jimmy CQN page 3.

Rob O'Keeffe
6 years ago

Ralph,sorry,don’t see improvement in Aberdeen.Lose every important game they come up against.There is only a title “race” because Celtic are underperforming this season.
If Parkhead is flea infested,Bo ridden etc why do the Sooside Scum pay £49 a pop to visit the aforementioned stadium? United Ireland can’t come soon enough,then we can deal with these “peepul”.
Probably be a dreary no score draw today(post time 2.59pm,no hacking allowed,a bit like in Europe).Bring on the Zenit,cos they’re not competitive yet unlike the mighty tractor drivers….

Yoker Bhoy
6 years ago

A very frustrating afternoon and a far cry from Thursday night. St Johnstone were dirty cunts and the ref was shite.

Mike
6 years ago
Reply to  Yoker Bhoy

Absolutely, auld experienced pros who are master tuggers, cluggers and sluggers, they play a different type of fitba. a hint of junior mixed up with a tad of pro with a dash of amateur. Add a cheating ref. and the mix turns into PISH. Seen young Ralston warming up with the subs. On the plus side, no obvious injuries, on the negative side,
that is 80 minutes gone that I can never get back. Onwards to Saint Petersburg and some hope of watching a better performance.
B.L. (Bobby Lennox).

6 years ago

Well the changes brought us back to again not having fluency.
Too many though we understand why.
Poor and no real chances created, but Thursday is the most important match for us.
We really should be good enough to take care of St Johnstone,but the ref allowing persistent fouling going unpunished really is diabolical.
But we didn’t deserve any more out the game. Passes were wayward due to guys not match fit.
Match fitness will be key Thursday. Let’s hope the tempo is the same. But we are dropping too many points in the league,which is a worry.

Puggy67
6 years ago

Is that the first rugby team to pick up points from us? Ref was a disgrace. Pass from Tierney on 90 mins to Sinclair would grace a snooker table.

Cortes
6 years ago

comment image

Took me a while to recognise the St Johnstone left back.

Mike
6 years ago

Pulling, tugging, clugging and shoving, a new kind of fitba. aided by a shite referee, Beaton. Lift your apron and make a square, spoil the game and don’t you dare, let Celtic play, fully qualified by the SFA.

Doc
6 years ago

Not at the races today but Thursday is what matters. Ref was, by far, the worst on the pitch.

Mike
6 years ago

If you see a cute wee arse poking up from the ground, with the head buried in the earth, then that is me, (please don’t kick it or poke it) as I will be ruminating about how I can get that last 90 minutes of my life back. Life’s far to short to watch that again. A new kind of football, clugging, pulling, tugging and shoving, Beaton Ya Bass.

Broxburnbhoy
6 years ago

Poor performance today form the Celts. A lot of changes with an eye to Our European adventure. Referee was absolutely terrible. The persistent fouling going unpunished. All that said we increased our lead by a point to nine points ahead. We do need to put teams like St. Johnshun away though.

TicToc
6 years ago

St Johnstone came with a plan today; just foul them every time they try to play football. That bastard Beaton agreed with them and helped them to take a point. An absolute fucking disgrace today by the visitors’ anti-football and the man in black giving a top-class, freemasonic, orange bastard display.
I think that’s actually the worst refereeing I’ve ever seen, and that really takes some doing.
It’s well time Celtic took action on this as it’s going to cost us a lot of supporters who are just fucking sick of it.
I know of a few life-long supporters, season-ticket holders, who are asking questions of why we don’t do something AS A CLUB. Fuck it, I’m outa here.
HH

Monti
6 years ago
Reply to  TicToc

Good…..

BJF
6 years ago

Three points firstly the guy behind me said he understands that Thursday is the priority but a lot of the good feeling from last Thursday was disipated by today’s performance. Secondly for the past few years we have had Aberdeen on our back waiting to see if we fall, never having enough to make it happen themselves but waiting, hoping. This year they have to watch Sevco and they both have to watch Hibs, so it is not just a case of pursuing us. Finally there were seen moments of real class when Tierney came on and he and Sinclair could find each other down the left instinctively while before it was more laboured with young Miller( who did well btw). Similarly Gamboia was good but was not linking with Charly despite his surges. Anyway Thursday is what counts.

Cortes
6 years ago

I’m wondering when proper game management will involve a few players accidentally colliding with referees like Beaton. Accidentally.

Cortes
6 years ago
Reply to  Cortes

Although maybe a wee bit more subtly than this:

http://uproxx.com/sports/high-school-target-referee/2/

VooDude
6 years ago
Reply to  Cortes

I had exactly the same thought.

Monti
6 years ago

Disappointing performance & result today, i couldn’t give two fucks about the referee, he was shite but is anyone surprised at that?
This season the amount of dropped points is unacceptable, we should be able to beat St.Johnstone at home.

There’s a few posts about ” It’s Thursday that matters “….nah, today matters & again we can’t find a goal from anywhere in the side?

Not good enough!

BondiBrian
6 years ago
Reply to  Monti

The Roaster should neck a packet of Olanzapine and be done wi it. Tedious as buck. Doesnay even go ti the gemms.

Iancelt67
6 years ago
Reply to  BondiBrian

Olanzapine. Bi polar ?

Monti
6 years ago
Reply to  BondiBrian

Oh dear…..my troll taking things to new depths.

Monti
6 years ago
Reply to  Monti

Weered,
I could never condone violence………Cough

Monti
6 years ago
Reply to  Monti

🙂

Monti
6 years ago
Reply to  BondiBrian

Bondibrian,
Have you just urged someone online to commit suicide?
Oh dear oh dear……

Ralph i need to flag this up….come on?

SteveNaive
6 years ago

Today, right in front of our eyes, we saw a prime example of a bent referee in Scotland. 1 minute 25 in and they had fouled twice and he let them disrupt the whole game from then on. Naked sectarianism in full view, he knew exactly what he was doing. Dora was very poor today but Eduoard was poorer. We need a scorer of goals.

GAV
6 years ago
Reply to  SteveNaive

Nah mate, it’s Bigotry… To paraphrase Red from Shawshank… “Sectarianism is a made up word so pen pushers like the Scots Government (who I support BTW) can write their words, have a job and seem important. Sectarianism…. I know what they think it means… But it’s just a bullsh1t word”… Let’s stop this sh1te and call it what it is… Bigotry

Mike
6 years ago

We witnessed another type of football today, a mix between junior, pro and amateur football, the tug, slug, and the clugg, pushing and pulling. They only play that way at Celtic park, because if they played that way anywhere else they would be sent off.
Beaton you are a class A’ bigoted cheat. Celtic were mince, too many changes all in one game. When MON managed the team and he made so many changes after/ before European games the same thing happened, its one of the disadvantages of playing European football and it apply’s to all teams who play European football. For example Spurs via the league one team in todays cup game, 2-2.

rebus67
6 years ago

If ever I had any doubts that some refs in Scotland are biased against Celtic, these were dispelled today. That was the worst reff’in I have seen for a long time. I hope that the club ask for an explanation of the inconsistency in his decisions. He tried to cover his tracks by handing out cards in the final moments of the game to make the card count resemble something like it should. However, by that time, the damage was done by letting StJ have open season on our players.

Disappointed by the performance today, but not downhearted. The PT and Zenit games were the priorities and we got the results in them.

Today we started well and if Ajer had scored early it would have been different.

Miller was exposed as a poor defender..lost most high balls aimed at his area. He received little support from Sinclair.
Edouard was poor both at the main chance that he received and in holding the ball. The midfield was overrun after 15 minutes with McGregor looking tired Ebouie wondering where he should play. Musonda wants to play inside not on the wing but he received no support at all. Rogic was not match fit, so the attack was disjointed.

Lots more could be said but last thursday was what mattered.

Rebus

Monti
6 years ago
Reply to  rebus67

Nurse

rebus67
6 years ago
Reply to  Monti

Bedpan, please.

Rebus

Iancelt67
6 years ago

Monti I didn’t watch the game but I agree this was always going to be flat and ant climatic. Champagne football against stodgy broken nosed Scottish guys isn’t always possible. My guess is musings will shine in Europe and be innocuous in Scotland.

Munti
6 years ago
Reply to  Iancelt67

Ian, ah didnae watch it either!

Iancelt67
6 years ago

Musonda

Iancelt67
6 years ago

No musonda will shine. Someone of his stature needs protecting fuck knows how jimmy Johnstone did it when it was really agricultural. I’think rodgers is doing the right thing balancing it up giving fringe players games. 9 points is ok with hibs improving and hearts and the dons and rangers providing slightly better opposition. It’s just about right last year was a cakewalk with more individual standouts. Thursday’s team is the best eleven imho for Europe. I hope he picks the same team. Bring musings rogic and Sinclair on when needed

Monti
6 years ago
Reply to  Iancelt67

Iancelt,
It’s not about Musonda m8, it’s about Celtic!

Monti
6 years ago

As far as i’m concerned we have a title race, if we were to lose on Sunday at Pittodrie the gap will be six points……that’s a big concern to me.
Then again if we win the gap increases, unless Sevco win & it remains as you were….
My point is if some don’t think we have a fight on our hands, they need to think again.

As for the St.Johnstone game, i think Brendan got the line up wrong, i know it’s a juggling act but we needed to win on Sunday and didn’t again.

We should be beating St.Johnstone at home, it’s that simple.

Mike
6 years ago

Well that is 90 minutes of my life that can never be retrieved, the Perth men play a different kind of football reserved only for Celtic park. Its a mixture of junior semi- pro and amateur. Where officiated by a cheating hun, you are allowed to tug, clugg, pull, push and shove. A style that they are not allowed to play in any other game.
Ive said it before and will say it again, until we start putting the sly boot in and make some agricultural challenges this will go on and on. Wisen up and dish it out even if it means a few cards.

Iancelt67
6 years ago

No I know it’s not but with current injuries to our creative players he needs to play a big part in Russia. The league and Scottish cup will take care of itself. Watching that performance on Thursday is a clear indicator that no one domestically is near us. Had sneaking doubts not now. Tbh 1-0 isn’t a great result but a good one as mentioned before I think last years dembele would have been on to one of those early chances and I think zenit would’ve crumbled. But it is what it is. We’re a chance, every celtic fan would’ve taken that result before the game

Noelskytrot
6 years ago

Disappointed with the result yesterday but let’s get things into perspective. We’re 9 clear of our nearest challengers, could still qualify for the last 16 of the EL, have won the LC and will probably beat Morton to advance in the SC. Some of the shite coming from CFC fans on social media is staggering. Last seasons brilliant effort is in the past, we need to realise that was a one off and let it go. Did anyone on here genuinely believe we would replicate that?

As for yesterday, we know changes were made with Thursday in mind. Other teams know that they can’t play football against us so it’s all very industrial and that’s what’ll be week in, week out. Refereeing, does anything really need to be covered, we know what the script is, step up Lawell, can’t see that happening, maybe BR should put them under pressure. As fans we pay our way and have the right to criticise but I’d imagine being the manager of CFC is realky difficult. For all the blatherskites on social media, back the team or jog on.

Mike
6 years ago

Juventus 2 Spurs 2 ROCHDALE 2 Spurs 2, Says it all really.

Noelskytrot
6 years ago
Reply to  Mike

I actually meant to highlight the point you just did, Mike. Wholesale changes for a reason. If we get by Zenit and draw an Athletico for instance, yesterday’s result won’t matter. A couple of negative results in a league that we’re 9 points clear in doesn’t define our season. It’s what tally’s at the end that matters. I just think it’s good game management by the manager. Again, fans have the right to a critique and express their opinions but some are just not thought out in my opinion.

Mike
6 years ago
Reply to  Noelskytrot

Noel my posts are not showing, probably just as well, still raging at the mason in the black.

Monti
6 years ago
Reply to  Noelskytrot

Noel,
The problem is i’m not sure about us keeping this 9 point gap, i’m genuinely concerned.
It’s a bad habit to get into dropping points at home.
The honest mistakes are about to be cranked up lol

Noelskytrot
6 years ago
Reply to  Monti

Fuck them all, Monti.

Monti
6 years ago
Reply to  Mike

Mike,
What does it say?

Mike
6 years ago
Reply to  Monti

It says, shut your pus. 😉

Monti
6 years ago
Reply to  Mike

Hahahahaha

Mike
6 years ago

Saint Johnstone, Play a different kind of football, a mixture of Junior level, semi-pro and amateur, its the pull, push, shove and clugg brand of football that only emerges at Celtic Park. Why because weak referees only allow it against Celtic, at any other stadium cards would be given to the cluggers. Two Saint Johnstone players would have been sent of anywhere else in the World of football.
Beaton was a disgrace, its hard to think of any other description of his performance that could only be referred to but CHEATING.
Said it before, we need to dish it back to opposing teams who think that they can subject us to that type of football.

Mike
6 years ago

BEATON…. incompetent Cheat, GIRUY. Only in Scotland.

Cortes
6 years ago
Reply to  Mike

Au contraire, he’s very competent.

Mike
6 years ago
Reply to  Cortes

Cortes, Your correct, that display was as obvious as I have seen.

Rebus67
6 years ago

We have a terminal health situation in the immediate family. Perhaps this has provided perspective but I do not think so. It is one bad performance by a makeshift Celtic team. The purpose of the team was to rest key players for next thursday. At was also to prevent the Zenit spies getting another look at our real setup. These objectives were achieved.
If we get three performances like that in a row with fair refs then there is cause for concern. Otherwise it is just a blip.

IMHO the takeaway should be the performance of the ref. This should be highlighted and pursued by the club.
Musonda must wonder what he got into in this league. That type of reffing will keep the game in the dark ages. The problem was not the physical approach by the opposition, but the lack of action by the ref. One tackle by McClean in the first half exemplifies the problem. He went right through a player and was not booked. It merited a straight red.

Change in the mib is now a priority along with, first, change in the sfa.

Rebus

Monti
6 years ago
Reply to  Rebus67

Brendan needs to raise the issue of refereeing standards, he should ask for protection of his players…..put pressure on the refs & let them know they are being scrutinised.

Rebus67
6 years ago
Reply to  Monti

Monti,

I agree 100% if nothing is done then it will get worse. This is a test of what we shall accept prior to the cup games. If there is an agenda, it will surface there.

They cannot stop us winning the league but they can make a mighty effort in the cup.

Beaton’s decisions were inconsistent and biassed against one team. The whole system needs to change. Refs need to be accountable for their decisions…publically.

It is a difficult job but a way has to found that allows scrutiny of performance, without making the job impossible.

Rebus

Noelskytrot
6 years ago
Reply to  Rebus67

The SFA should do what they do in Engerlund and make them declare where their allegiances lie, if they support a club they don’t officiate in those games, really simple. In saying that most refs would just say they support St Mirren or someone else. The standard here is terrible and somethings got to give.

Monti
6 years ago
Reply to  Noelskytrot

Noel,
You mean they should tell us they are all DOB?
LOL

Rebus67
6 years ago
Reply to  Rebus67

Weered,

All the best to you. A wise doctor(rare event) once said that eventually someone’s suffering takes them to a point where they are no longer there. Their suffering is over but at that point it is the family that are the sufferers.

I should not have mentioned it for this is a football blog.

Rebus

Monti
6 years ago

Day 3 of my Forklift licence…….passed with flying colours!
It must have hurt the cunt giving me my licence lol

Cortes
6 years ago
Reply to  Monti

Fork him.

Monti
6 years ago
Reply to  Monti

” Over the line “

Monti
6 years ago
Reply to  Monti

Sssshhhhhhhhhhh Terry fuckwit

6 years ago

Celtic need to toughen up, They can’t keep depending on Broony. McLean should have been tackled and put in the stand for his carry on. Cmon Celtic stop being fuckin easily pushed around fight back ffs.
Fuck if you get booked, give it to them,their making an arse of you.

Mike
6 years ago
Reply to  Jimmybee

Said it above jimmy, its just appeared after its stint in purgatory.

Monti
6 years ago

Money is better spent on other things than football at times…….your wife for instance….not that that costs too much.

Monti
6 years ago

Weered,
This clown is only on here to disrupt the blog, he probably thinks the Masons are responsible for global warming.
Where is this bullying he speaks of?

Monti
6 years ago
Reply to  Monti

Yep,
It was probably the Masons 🙂

Monti
6 years ago
Reply to  Monti

It’s the same with Bondibrian m8, every single fucking night he’s at the trolling….
Did you see his post encouraging me to commit suicide?
Wtf?

That is simply far too much…..

TicToc
6 years ago
Reply to  Monti

Aaaaaaaaaaaawwwwwwwwwwwwwww, Monti, poor baby!
Has that bad man been saying horrible things to you? Aaaaaaaaaaaaawwwwwwww, poor baby!
HaHaHa 🙂
HH

TicToc
6 years ago
Reply to  Monti

Weered, “…. I have put my socialism into practice without favour and for the benefit of all sections of society.” WOW.
I bet Dermott Desmond and Peter Lawwell can’t wait to get their free ‘tin of beans’ come Christmas!!
A ‘true’ Socialist, Weered, well done! Sterling effort!
HH

Noelskytrot
6 years ago
Reply to  Monti

A comrade after my own heart. Fair play Weered it’s tough holding socialist principles and sticking by yer guns at every turn.

Yoker Bhoy
6 years ago

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