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Celtic Diary Thursday March 1: Scapegoat Required : Will Consider A Swede

Mikael Lustig is a good defender. Form is temporary, class is permanent.

Brendan Rodgers is a good manager, again, form is temporary, c;as is permanent, and he’s still learning at European level at least.

Things haven’t been entirely tickety boo at Celtic since just before the winter break, and arguably the whole season has perhaps been a disappointment after the highs of last term.

However, and believe it or not I do take on other viewpoints, and the one that stood out this week concerned the possibility that there has been little time to work on anything on the training ground due to the hectic fixture schedule.

Its also worth considering that the invincible tag was always going to go at some time, and every club wanted to be the one to take it, and after a season of watching how Celtic play, the better managers out there would be a little more clued up on what might just work against the hoops.

This week, however, the postponement of the game with Dundee has allowed for a wee bit more time to be spent with the players. A few things, such as set pieces, high pressing and team shape, especially at the back,  can all be worked on, and you may have noticed how quiet its gone over at Lennoxtown, similar to how it went before the UCL qualifiers.

If my theory is correct, the team will be back to top form when Morton arrive in town at the weekend, and with a further weeks work on the training ground, one is tempted to think that the resurgent “rangers ” will be in for a bit of a spanking come a week on Sunday.

Especially as we hear the manager is quite keen on administering a short, sharp slap to the new pretenders.

Pretending to be Rangers that is, not having pretences on the championship. Thats way beyond them.

Rodgers is immune to criticism from some quarters, especially in the support, and anyone-me , for instance, who dares to venture from the party line, is dismissed as anything from pissed ( not impossible ) to being a “green ” hun, which is presumably one thats died and gone a bit mouldy.

He’s having a difficult second season, other managers, who have played against his sysytem on a number of occasions are trying something different, thats all. One or two are getting results, nothing more , nothing less.

The next two weeks will allow him to take stock and do a wee bit of tweaking here and there.

But, apparently,  Mikael Lustig isn’t immune from criticism. Which is ridiculous.

In the absence of Dedryck Boyata , Efe Ambrose and despite Jozo Simunovic’s habit of running blindly around the first third of the pitch in the hope the ball-or anything else-comes near him, Lustig is carrying the can for the recent run of less than electrifying form, even though he spends a lot of his game trying to cover for the relatively youthful central defence, which until recently had changed on a week to week basis.

He’s probably knackered, not only from his efforts on the pitch, but from those sleepless nights where he wakes up screaming “where the fuck have they gone now ?” as he looks frantically for whichever of our defenders should be positioned to his left.

Which brings me to this confidence boosting piece, on the HITC website..

Does Mikael Lustig have a Celtic future if replacement dazzles at Ibrox?

BBC Sport reported on Wednesday that Celtic right-back Mikael Lustig is likely to miss the trip to Rangers this month through suspension.

The Swedish defender was expected to serve out a one-match ban in last night’s visit of Dundee, but the postponement of that one has caused the 31-year-old’s ban to carry over to Celtic’s next Premiership game, which could be the visit to Ibrox on March 11 unless the Dundee clash is rescheduled before then.

Cristian Gamboa and Anthony Ralston are the obvious choices to deputise for Lustig and could it be the beginning of the end for the 2012 signing at Parkhead if one of those two impresses? 

Let me stop you there, Christian Gamboa is not an obvious choice for anything.

In truth, Lustig has been abysmal in recent months and looks more of a liability with each game, having been sent off in Sunday’s 2-0 win at Aberdeen for two yellow cards. 

On the one occasion when the rest of the defence did their jobs, against Zenit at Celtic Park, Lustig could get on with doing his. Which he did very well.

That performance followed a shocker in Russia last Thursday, which in itself was another in a series of increasingly worrying performances from Lustig and you wonder whether manager Brendan Rodgers could move him on when the summer transfer window opens if Gamboa or Ralston impresses at Ibrox.

It might be time for a changing of the guard at right-back, similar to how Kieran Tierney displaced Emilio Izaguirre on the opposite side of defence in late 2015 and hasn’t looked back since. 

Ah yes, because we can compare Tierney with Gamboa. Ralston is a decent prospect, and will need mentoring, with Lustig being the obvious choice for that role.

Celtic fans would love academy lad Ralston to be that guy, though Gamboa has looked a decent defender at times and if either one has a good game against Graeme Murty’s side then it’s very difficult to see Lustig getting back in Rodgers’s best XI in the short term.

Contracted until 2019, Lustig, on £24,000 per week according to The Daily Star, is a big earner at the Bhoys and maybe, just maybe, the Celtic boss will free up that £1.2 million-a-year salary by calling time on the defender’s time in Glasgow this summer. 

Gamboa has looked a decent defender at times ? I’ll just leave that line right where it is.

 

Lustig has been one of our better players over the last few years, he gets Celtic, and he has become one of us.

Whilst one or two of you might say I’m being a little hypocritical here, given my recent rants against Rodgers, and you may have a point, Lustig should be cut a little slack, as no matter how his form has been, or how much support or help he gets from the rest of the defence, he never, ever, hides, and thats the kind of player who needs support, not abuse.

 

Meanwhile, over at ibrox, they’ve got one or two real problems ahead of their crucial title clash against Celtic-well, thats how it will be billed next week.

First of all, Dave king, the financial whizz kid from south Africa , lost hos appeal against the Takeover Panel decision.

In a rather short presebtation, he backflipped on his claim that he was skint and said that his family trust -hah, King, Trust, there’s two words that don’t go together- would pay the cost of purchasing about 35 million shares at twenty pence each.

The judges, three of them, did a huddle, honestly, this is apparently true, and chucked his case out after about thirty minutes, largely because they’d had enough of his bullshit.

There is no truth in the rumour that after the huddle, the judges shouted Up The Ra and burst into a chorus of the Boys of the Old Brigade.

Coupled with another rumour that flew around the internet last night concerning a further request for money, around £800,000 , from close Brothers, which was denied , things are looking mighty grim down in the land that time forgot.

Desperate times call for desperate measures, and we hear that one of the major players at Ibrox had seen a film where it was possible to get a seven year loan with the only security being his soul, and with all at Ibrox condemned to eternal darkness, he figured there was nothing to lose.

So, last night, while everyone else was posting pictures of snowmen, stranded cars and the results of finding a bottle of hair dye next to the Prossecco, a strange ritual to contact their latest financial advisor was underway at Ibrox..

 

It appears they have summoned Satan and his minions, although it could be argued a number of them already have season books, and before you say I’m making this up, can you explain how the somewhat warm place where the damned reside ended up with its location confirmation sign covered in ice ?

 

Back at the ranch, and one of the Celtic players is considering legal action after his image, for which we believe he receives a wee bonus from the club when its used, was stolen and used in the tv series American Horror Story, which sort of has horror as a theme, but in later series switched over to the Game Of Thrones model, which is just naked people rubbing up against each other, to keep warm, presumably.

Speaking of shocks and horrors, the Sun reported…

A SHOCK video has emerged of Rangers fans chanting “We hate Catholics” hours after the Ibrox club’s 2-0 win over Hearts.

The Gers fans can be heard on the clip, which was posted online by a member of the ‘Honest Toun Loyal’, proudly belting out the offensive slurs. 

I’m not quite sure how this can be termed a shock, they do it all the time.

Like on the early Crewe to Glasgow train last week, where someone recorded forty five minutes or so of singing, with not one song being about their team.

Moussa Dembele, Billy McNeill and the rest of the lions were among the targets in a repetoire which has to be listened to to be believed.

I’ll work on getting that uploaded, as long as I can protect the identity of the source.

Caption competition from yesterday..

Not a caption as such, more of an observation..

jimmybee February 28, 2018 at 10:43 am · Edit · Reply →

Dermot Desmond and Broonys ancestors top right hand corner ! 

Today…

Thanks to those of you who wished me luck at the hospital yesterday.

The biopsy came back clear, and as an added bonus the one that wasn’t clear two years ago has now gone over the time where recurrences are likely, which meant I was completely discharged.

Which was kind of what I’d hoped for.

By the way, its still a bit nippy and slippy out there.

Don’t go out unless you have to, but if you do pick me up some beer.

 

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6 years ago

Great news and enjoy your beer!

Bognorbhoy
6 years ago

Caption ..

Anybody seen the three bears ?

Bognorbhoy
6 years ago

Good to hear
You got the all clear…

Johnny Richards
6 years ago

Good to hear you’re OK. Think you could be right about 11/03. Hunageddon : The Sequel.

D'Fhinnein Mick
6 years ago

Glad to hear you got the all-clear,mate

Bognorbhoy
6 years ago

Caption

Yes baby bear I’m sure your a polar bear now come out of there ..

Monti
6 years ago

That image of light emanating from ibrokes, is the power sourced from a nearby church? Just asking as they apparently get their water from there.

Maryhillbhoy
6 years ago

That’s great news Ralph congratulations

Noelskytrot
6 years ago

A real bear pads about Ibrox looking for RRM to help shore up King and his failing clumpany.

Ralph, I’m relatively new here but glad too hear that you’re well. Onwards and upwards, comrade.

John Holland
6 years ago

Great news regarding your health Ralph. May you be blessed with peace of mind.
Excellent article. Mikael Lustig deserves to be cut some slack and you have defended his cause admirably.
I to believe that the rest, forced or otherwise, from midweek games will do wonders for the team. This team has had very little in terms of rest period for the past two seasons. At some point it takes its toll.
Celtic fans have become so used to success that they have forgotten how to support the team through thick and thin.
Rodgers will deliver 10iar!
As for The Rangers FC, the reports coming out of Ibrox via Phil MacGoilabhain do not make good reading for them or their fans.
The Appeal findings re King only exacerbate the situation.
The writing is on the wall for them. There is no way they can recover.

6 years ago

Caption
Right calmac move over I’m driving

George Lazenbhoy
6 years ago

Caption: Dave King pimps broxy bear on street corners

Alesto
6 years ago

caption, watch yer motor fur ye pal?

Noelskytrot
6 years ago
Reply to  Alesto

Alesto, that’s a peach. Lmao

6 years ago

Good news Ralph clean bill of health good excuse for a swally

Morto
6 years ago

Caption:
Twenty pee a share, I’ll have some of that!

Monti
6 years ago

Ralph,
The picture of that thing from ‘ American Horror story ‘…..
I’m sure i shagged her on my 21st Birthday.

Quality.

Monti
6 years ago
Reply to  Monti

Remarkable likeness to Una…….

Noelskytrot
6 years ago
Reply to  Monti

Monti, ye just canny help yirsel, it’s on top for you once Una sees this. Lol

Monti
6 years ago
Reply to  Noelskytrot

Lol

Monti
6 years ago
Reply to  Monti

Ach…she knows i’m alright……

Mike Annis
6 years ago

Glad to see you got the all clear, one less worry and your piece today far more uplifting. Needed here under over a foot of snow in Dumbarton and more all the time.

Caption: Hey, are you the bstrd who stole my glazier mints?

Monti
6 years ago

Ralph,
Now you have been given the all clear ( great news m8 ), can you stop fucking about now & make sure there’s a fresh diary every day? 🙂

Cortes
6 years ago

Glad to hear your great news.

Caption: Yes, it IS cold in their shadow.

Bigdunno
6 years ago

Is the guy on the right David De Gea wearing Masonic speedos?

Glad you’re well Ralph, puts everything else into perspective.

James61
6 years ago

Congratulations Ralph keep well

Ewen
6 years ago

Caption

“Do you know there’s a boundary charge?”

jimmybee
6 years ago

Good news Ralph on your all clear.
Lustig has been a fine servant to the club,no doubt about it.
Ralston looks a good prospect,Gamboa has speed and could do a job. Lustig can score goals and is good in the air. I think that’s the difference between them all and why Lustig should play before the others.
With a settled team there is no need to change,only suspensions and injury should now be the reason.
The more a steady 11 is playing the better it is.
Passes find their marks,players know better when and where to pass as they know how their team mates will run into space or step back. Like the excellent poster who commented on the lack of preparation due to the heavy fixture list,this will be all fine tuned on the training ground.
Here’s hoping the bhoys get the game on Saturday as a prep for next Sunday.
Caption, Have you got any glacier mints m8

jimmybee
6 years ago

Take that caption away m8 as I’ve just seen Mike Annis who has beat me too it lol sorry Mike

Mike
6 years ago

Caption, Hello is it me your looking for?

Great news about your health. Lustig is like Gamboa and a few others with there contract running down, he Lustig has been a great player for Celtic, but I would like to see young Ralston get a good run in the team, starting on Saturday. Enjoy your beer, no fags though.

bawsman
6 years ago

Great to hear you’re all clear, now you canny blame the drugs for the shite you write about Brendan. 🙂

Seriously, sometimes form slumps, it slumped for about a decade in my lifetime, I treasure every win and support even more when we are shite, that’s when ‘support’ are needed.

We’ve played more football than any other club on the planet, I think the gaffer and players need some support, not slagging.

jimmybee
6 years ago

Caption : Boo

6 years ago

Caption: “hello, Broxi! Are ye lookin’ furr “biznis”?.. tenner furr a gam, or full sex for twenty quid!”

Glad to hear all’s well with you, health wise.

I love how the SMSM are portraying celtic as being “desperate” to reschedule last night’s game for next Wednesday so that Lustig can play against Der Hun! Nothing whatsoever to do with getting it played before the split!

Mike
6 years ago
Reply to  Steven R

MMMMM £20 quid sounds like a good deal, where can we meat? 😉

Martin67
6 years ago

Caption: Meet me at the polar son, meet me there at noon. I need you brave young Irishmen, there’s something we must do. Meet me at the polar son, it still is not too late. Its time to sing a freedom song, come soon I cannot wait.

6 years ago

Caption: with Siberian weather in Scotland, new valet parking takes off

Excathedra
6 years ago

Glad you got the all clear.Well done.

Gerry
6 years ago

Ralph, award yourself the caption comp, that picture is funny as fuck!
Well I laughed out loud anyway.
Congrats on your results!

charlie
6 years ago

mikael will be there for the ten

Devoy45
6 years ago

Excellent news on the health front Ralph. “All clear” is one of the sweetest things we can hear. Peace and good health to you young man. I hope you can fully enjoy your life once again. Good health is our greatest gift and blessing. We all must never take it for granted.

charlie
6 years ago

the devil went down to ibrox to challenge any zombie who could play the fiddle and found they were all on the fiddle he he

charlie
6 years ago
charlie
6 years ago
Reply to  charlie

yee haa bet that johnny wans a tim

charlie
6 years ago

good news oan the biopsy ralph congrats ………………….noo get back tae work ya fuckin mallingerer he he

Puggy67
6 years ago

Caption: Are you the guy looking to get a seal on your gasket sorted?

Doc
6 years ago

Would much rather Ralston played ahead of Gamboa, if he’s fit.

Big well done on the health news.

Caption: Only place still open in Scotland is the safari park

puggy67
6 years ago

Just me or is a wee whiff of SPL competition better than being squintillions of points clear every year? Sevco were bound to improve – hiring a trouser press as manager would have done the trick. Aberdeen’s copy book has been sullied by their manager’s walk on the dark side and resulting points gifted. But Hibs and Kilmarnock both have something to offer. The race for second should be fun.

Daziekanowski's nightclub child
6 years ago

Great news on the all clear.

Caption: mean while on duke street ‘can come in it’s freezin out here!’

Mike
6 years ago

Who would win the fight between “The beast from the East” or the
cauld shooder. Currently here the “Beast from the East” is winning, but at least there is a soon to be thaw, where as the cauld shooder, its gonny get freezing for King, soon enough.
Roll up, roll up, “Rangers shares going cheap” from the creep.
Five for a pound, buy more than five and get another five free.
Roll up and watch the Worlds most expensive striker..Moreorless,

Mike
6 years ago

Watching the news and seeing those poor people caught up on the M78
you see one side blocked by lorries and cars, but the opposite side free of snow. Why can they not cut the metal barriers with a blow torch and bring the cars alone out onto the other side so that they can continue with their journey’s. They could re-weld the barriers back later. As for the HGV’s they can stay where they are.

Monti
6 years ago
Reply to  Mike

Mike,
You should be out clearing the fucking roads with that nose of yours……ploughcentral!

Monti
6 years ago
Reply to  Monti

For he is the merry plough bhoy and he ploughs the roads all day,
And when he clears the paths of snow, we will cheer big nose all day.

🙂

stuart Davidson
6 years ago

Good news on your health Ralph.
Bon Sante a vous

Monti
6 years ago

Why still no announcement on the rearranged date for the Dundee game at home?
Is the lodge not open yet?

Brian (not the messiah)
6 years ago
Reply to  Monti

They havent figured out if its better to have a tired team or lustig available for ibrox

Monti
6 years ago

Blessed are the cheesemakers!

Monti
6 years ago

Going out to build a snowman with the wee girl…….i’ll build the snowman, she can get my black beret, shades, black leather gloves & sniper rifle.

Oh momma oh momma comfort me…..

Monti
6 years ago
Reply to  Monti

Decommissioned obviously…..cough cough….

Monti
6 years ago
Reply to  Monti

🙂

Monti
6 years ago
Reply to  Monti

Finished…..ready….present 🙂

Brian (not the messiah)
6 years ago

Good news ralph,

Caption: carmaggedon 2…. Lee griffiths gets a north pole dancer up the pole.

Monti
6 years ago

Bgbhoy,
I hope you have cleared Andybhoys path for him, the weather won’t stop these veterans heading to B&Q on discount day.

Broxburnbhoy
6 years ago

Delighted to hear your news Ralph.

Broxburnbhoy
6 years ago

Many moons ago Weered – Cresta!

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