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Celtic Diary Wednesday April 4: Almost There

Celtic will play the penultimate pre split game tonight against Dundee in Glasgow, and three points will move the club closer to title Seven Of Ten.

Scott Bain can’t play against his parent club, but Craig Gordon is back in training and could well start.

Manager Rodgers explained..

We are just going to check with Craig to make sure everything is okay, but he’s been back in training and if he declares himself fit and ready, then he will play. He’s come back earlier than what we thought.

“Scott was great in the games he played in, but he’s not able to play so we’re looking to replace him. Craig’s been brilliant in his rehab. It was a sore one he took but he’s come back and worked very hard and he’s back ahead of schedule, which is great news.” 

Thats what competition for places does..

Bain might be around a while longer, which is bad news for Dorus des Vries, who never looked more than five minutes away from a disaster..

“He’s definitely someone we want to keep here long-term,” 

“He’s at a good age. He’s still got a lot of development and importantly he understands what we are trying to do here. Hopefully, his representatives and the club can organise a deal for him to be here.

“He’s shown all the attributes in his short time here. It was fast-tracked with that game against Rangers but you really get to see the personality of the player as well as his goalkeeping qualities. He’s been able to show that.” 

Bad news for this guy , then..

There was more good news when the gaffer explained that Keiran Tierney will return to training on Thursday, and that was compounded when Leigh Griffiths proclaimed he was all better as well.

He’s been to see a specialist about his recurring calf problems.

“The specialist identified straight away where it was coming from and how we can rectify that.

“It is all to do with my hips. My hips, the muscle tissue, were so blocked that my calves and my hamstrings were doing double the workload. 

Here he demonstrates where it hurts..

“I wasn’t getting the full range of my movement. That is why my calves were going either side.

“Hopefully now that has been released and the muscles are flowing again, I will be back sharper with more movement.” 

What he really wants though, is to get his first century of goals out of the way..

“I have hopefully got 10 games to go to reach that goal mark.

“If I get a good run in the team I’ll have time to hit that before the end of the season.

“Being fully fit, you don’t want to miss out on games.

“Three of us are vying for one position. At times we have gone two up front but mostly it’s one.

“I’m selfish. I’m a striker. I want to score goals and be in the team but it’s up to the manager to pick the team and whoever gets the starting slot will be deserving of it.

“It is an exciting part of the season to be involved in. The semi-final against Rangers is going to be massive for us but we need to win our next two league games before that to put us in good stead for the title.” 

Maybe we’re about to see his second spell as top dog begin…

 

Scott Brown posted an old picture of himself with Shunsuke Nakamura from a few years ago, and I’ll be I’m the only one to spot something..

Look at the size of the “slightly  built”  Japanese playmaker compared to the all action midlfielder who has a physical edge to his game..

Stereotypes are endemic in the media, and weren’t we told Naka wouldn’t cope in Scotland ?

 

Anyway, as Celtic push towards a seemingly inevitable seventh crown, perhaps its time to look at what lies ahead in the UCL, which begins on either July 10 or 11 for the club, and is followed by eight straight midweek games, should results go our way..

Here’s how its set up this year, thanks to Moravcik 67 on twitter..

A bit of a ball ache, but there its at least more than likely Celtic will be seeded for all four games.

To save space, I’ve presumed that the hoops will win the first three ties, and this is how the play off round shapes up should all the other “favourites ” do the same..

Although that is by no means a guarantee, there’s some tasty outfits in the previous non seeded teams.

However, pot 3 is still a possibility,and moravcik 67 explains why..

15. As for the group stage, to avoid Pot 4 we’d need 8 teams to be ranked below us. Current standings show Lokomotiv Moscow, Leipzig, Inter, Spartak Moscow, Brugge & Galatasaray in position to qualify, but also below us. We’d need just 2 more teams ranked below us for Pot 3. 

16. But if the EL winner also qualifies automatically for the CL group stage, the 3rd place French team moves into the group stage without qualifying. That would be Marseille on current standings. Also ranked below us. That’s 7 of 8 required. We’d be right on the edge of Pot 3. 

Still a ballache, but there is a chance of relief.

And at least we still have something to look forward to.

 

With Aberdeen and Hibernian winning last night, “rangers ” have slipped behind the dons and are now just one point ahead of Hibs, which makes for an interesting run in.

There is the possibility that Celtic could host “rangers ” after the split with a possibility of clinching the title against our newest rivals.

The SPFL may well have a conundrum on their hands.

League chiefs currently have Rangers’ trip to Parkhead pencilled in for the first weekend of action post-split.

But those plans could go up in smoke should Aberdeen drop points at Hearts on Saturday.

 

Should the Dons slip up at Tynecastle and Celtic win their fixtures with Dundee and Hamilton the Hoops would be able to clinch the title on the provisional date for the final Old Firm derby of the season. 

 

However, the staunch Ibrox support could be the difference when these battles begin..

Still, there’s always next year..

 It doesn’t matter how many times they get hit on the head, they really have to be admired for ignoring the pain and believing it will go away.

More to be pitied than scorned.

Yesterdays picture was this one..

Women among the Republican combatants, 1936.

jimmybee April 3, 2018 at 12:28 pm · Edit · Reply →

Caption: Unas volunteers waiting on Montis train arriving. 

today..

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D'Fhinnein Mick
5 years ago

CAPTION

Police Scotland try to get round the problem of iPhones and social media as they plan their next ambush on innocent Celtic supporters.

Mike
5 years ago

Almost there, we’re almost there,
How wonderful, wonderful, the Celt’s to see,
For you, for me.

We’re almost there, where we will share,
to warm embrace our Celtic’ness, for number seven,
We are in heaven, in Paradise.

Gawn yersell Ralphy, enjoy, your Celtic’ness.

Noelskytrot
5 years ago

Caption….Sevco squad get ready for title clincher at CP.

CarlJungleBhoy
5 years ago

Caption: Bill & Ben’s Fenian Army

Charlie Saiz
5 years ago
Reply to  CarlJungleBhoy

🙂

Gary B
5 years ago

Caption. England release new world cup kit

CarlJungleBhoy
5 years ago

PS to Ralph – Just tweeted diary link. Wasn’t yet on @Etimsnet

5 years ago

provisional date

I see what they did there!

Monti
5 years ago

Caption: TicToc heads out for a stroll.

Monti
5 years ago

Caption: Charlie Saiz takes his loft collection along to Christie’s auctions.

Monti
5 years ago

Charlie Saiz is the one right at the back…….furthest away from the action…man.

Charlie Saiz
5 years ago
Reply to  Monti

Yet there he is all the same .
Meanwhile back in a Dundee flat …

A scantily clad manikin makes tea fur a bam
Who plays COD all day whilst applying jungle cam
Dressed in flared jjeans and a faded khaki coat
A 1000 yard stare reminisce of Roaul Moat
In his imagination he is the bold Seán South
Patrolling bandit country somewhere north of Louth
The reality however couldn’t be much further fae the fact
He’s just a sad wee plastic Paddy and this is just a bit of craic

Puggy67
5 years ago

Caption: The Dundee squad practice ‘containg’ Scott Brown.

Pensionerbhoy
5 years ago

Caption:

“The Broonie execution squad in training.”

H H

Charlie Saiz
5 years ago
Reply to  Pensionerbhoy

Hullo auld yin good to see you are still around
HH

Pensionerbhoy
5 years ago

Caption:

“They wore their Easter bonnets……in the Easter parade”

H H

Charlie Saiz
5 years ago

Caption
“We are the knights who say Ni… Nine in a row ….
Nine in a row.. hallo… hallo”

Mike
5 years ago

Harry Hood, cuts the ball back from the bye line, Jinky heads (that is correct) the ball back across the goal and Stevie Murray sends a looping header over the goalie “Goal” in extra time in Paradise, the Celtic supporters go mental. Celtic beat Basle 6 goals to 5 in the European Cup quarter finals and head into the semi-finals, where they meet the “animals” of Atletico Madrid. Stevie Murray, “the cultured midfielder” was brought in by big Jock to replace the legendary Boabby Murdoch. Jock Stein had watched Stevie play for Scotland, his one cap (he refused to play for Scotland again) and saw how well Jinky had played with Stevie behind him, saying..he could add another two years to Jink’s Celtic career. Stevie had found out from a journalist who in journalistic terms had informed Stevie by a telephone call that the “Duke” wanted him, later Stevie realised that he was talking about big Jock. Stevie would later find an almost telepathic understanding with Kenny Dalgleish, each knowing the others movements and where they wanted the ball played to each other.
Stevie played for St. Pats and it was there that he started to seriously think about football. He was a clever fella a bit like “Hairy Armstrong” and was a deeply religious person, going to church every day, (must be related to pensionerbhoy). He played for Celtic B.C. before moving on in his career, enjoying playing for Dundee, Aberdeen and of course the Tic. I met Stevie after his football career when he was a branch manager of the TSB. A really lovely fellow, like all good players he was a modest, quiet person, sadly injuries stopped his career far to soon. Stevie was an artist, “where her dress Stevie, whats her dress dain Stevie”he had a degree, but I always remember him as a Hunskelper, who enjoyed beating them and scoring against them. Stevie Murray, the Cultured midfielder who replaced the legend that was Boabby Murdoch.

Mike
5 years ago
Reply to  Mike

Bassa’s I was working on mine before they posted. Typical Dundee pish.

Uralius
5 years ago

Caption: Some witty bollocks that singles out Monti in the same fashion he singles out others.

Monti
5 years ago
Reply to  Uralius

Woooooooooo

Uralius
5 years ago
Reply to  Monti

It’s won the last 2……

Monti
5 years ago
Reply to  Monti

Weered,
I dish it out so i’ll take it 🙂

Mike
5 years ago
Reply to  Monti

Knob.

Monti
5 years ago
Reply to  Monti

What?

charlie
5 years ago
Reply to  Monti

ok wee knob

Mike
5 years ago
Reply to  Monti

😉

Puggy67
5 years ago

Caption: The Larkhall Klu Klux Klang

Mike Annis
5 years ago

Caption The Brexit Volunteers about to make England great again.

Charlie Saiz
5 years ago
Reply to  Mike Annis
Charlie Saiz
5 years ago
Reply to  Charlie Saiz

Best article I have read in a long time regarding the grand scale robery of democracy.

charlie
5 years ago
Reply to  Charlie Saiz

saiz your fulla shit imho

Charlie Saiz
5 years ago
Reply to  charlie

What’s up Charlie has the realisation that Neoliberalism is a con made you feel like a mug?
Read that piece sober pal and then you might realise what has actually been going on for the past Century in the West.
ie get acquainted with the truth about the EU and it’s real purpose regarding trade and Central Bank.

charlie
5 years ago
Reply to  charlie

saiz your still fulla shit

charlie
5 years ago

theyr trying to split the sinn fein vote

charlie
5 years ago

caption is that the ned kelly fusiliers

charlie
5 years ago

a dont know why they call dave glib and shameless a like um

charlie
5 years ago

monti the ref in that fight cheated parker imo

Monti
5 years ago
Reply to  charlie

Agreed m8

Gerry
5 years ago

Sad news about Ray Wilkins, I’m too young to remember much of him as a player, but he always seemed like a gentleman and spoke well as a pundit, seemed very knowledgable and did a good coaching job at another mucky team down south.

Monti
5 years ago

Gerry/Weered,
I share the sadness of Ray Wilkins passing today, football people who love the game will respect the skill he brought to the game.
RIP Ray Wilkins, god be with your family today!

HH

Monti
5 years ago

Caption: Una turns up at ibrox with her Kim & Aggie cleansing crack team, slightly underdressed for the occasion.

Monti
5 years ago
Reply to  Monti

Weered,
That went clean over my head 🙂

charlie
5 years ago
Reply to  Monti

monti weered wants tae intigrate the schools hees worth the watchin imo

charlie
5 years ago
Reply to  charlie

weered did your wains go tae holy cross

charlie
5 years ago
Reply to  charlie

if you dont know wit would be the point

charlie
5 years ago
Reply to  charlie

wers the bigotry slabber

charlie
5 years ago
Reply to  charlie

i asked because i think anyone who went to holy cross in 2001 -2 would not want to go to an intigrated school because of the bigotry

charlie
5 years ago
Reply to  charlie

see weered listen to me and ye might learn sumfin ha ha ha ha

Rob O'Keeffe
5 years ago

Caption: Compliance orifice takes no chances delivering reply to Monti’s mansion….

5 years ago

Caption
Murderwell stewards go through the paces for the visit of Hamilton

Mike
5 years ago

Fact…since 2009 Broony has never won the Scottish player of the year
despite numerous trophies and 6 league titles, why is that?
The best player that Scotland has produced since Kenny Dalgleish.

Charlie Saiz
5 years ago
Reply to  Mike

Paul McStay?
Steve Archibald?
Brian McClair?
Charlie Nicholas?

Mike
5 years ago
Reply to  Charlie Saiz

PISH
PISH
PISH
PISH.

Mike
5 years ago
Reply to  Mike

Me bad.

charlie
5 years ago
Reply to  Mike

naw you good

Iain in Alberta
5 years ago

Mike,
Thanks very much for the Stevie Murray info. I was a bit of a fan of his but more Bobby Murdochs’.
TC Tommy Callaghan

Mike
5 years ago

My Pleasure Iain, Yokerbhoy, takes the credit for that post, his initials S.M. (Stevie Murray) made me remember Stevie as the player he was, a wonderful football player and a wonderful person. It just shows how little things like that spark something in your brain.
Stevie was gutted to leave the Dons and then to go on and play for the team he loved. Later he became a coach at the Arabs with Jim McLean, he is fondly remembered at both the Dundee clubs, he lost his wife and he never really got over it, I’m sure that he stays in America and still paints. Like you of my football hero’s Bobby Murdoch was at the very top, much the same as Davy Hay and Danny McGrain and and and, I could go on and on at the wonderful players we have been so priviledged to see. Hope you are good Iain, enjoy the run in, its going to be good. J.H. (Yogi).

Yoker Bhoy
5 years ago
Reply to  Mike

Thanks Mikey but you take all the credit for an excellent post on Stevie. I was very small when he played for us in the mid 70s but realise what a good player he was. There’s loads of footage/highlights of games from the 70s to refresh our memories of these golden oldies.
AAAAAAGGGGHHHH!!! FFS Boyata to start. Oh well, enjoy the game anyway.

HH

Yoker Bhoy
5 years ago
Reply to  Mike

Mikey, comment lost in the ether, maybe it’ll come up later. Enjoy the game despite Boyata’s inclusion.

HH

Mike
5 years ago
Reply to  Yoker Bhoy

Cheers Yoker, Gulp. 😉

Charlie Saiz
5 years ago

Quality

charlie
5 years ago
Reply to  Charlie Saiz

weered ur u a hun like saiz

Honest hoops
5 years ago

The spin doctors are out I see, anybody but Celtic, I love their pain, Steve Clarke for MOTY yep he deserves it…league cup in the bag, close to a treble winning season….oh wait!?!

Honest hoops
5 years ago

Caption; the split fixture committe arrive however their identities must remain a secret…as does the fixtures.. already agreed..

Mike
5 years ago

😉

Charlie Saiz
5 years ago

Caption
“Right Fergus ,Danny,Seamus,Finbar,Declan and Brendan you head to the junctions surrounding the GPO and make out yer a post box”

charlie
5 years ago
Reply to  Charlie Saiz

saiz dont be a cunt awe yer life

Monti
5 years ago
Reply to  Charlie Saiz

Wait i hear the sound of a brass band…..no wait…no it’s definetely stopped playing.

Charlie Saiz
5 years ago

Yasss Salah 1-0 Liverpool

Charlie Saiz
5 years ago
Reply to  Charlie Saiz

Ooft what a strike by Oxlade Chamberlain 2-0 Liverpool

Charlie Saiz
5 years ago
Reply to  Charlie Saiz

Mane 3-0 Liverpool destroying City

Charlie Saiz
5 years ago
Reply to  Charlie Saiz

Terrific break by Robertson-too small to be a Celt ffs

charlie
5 years ago
Reply to  Charlie Saiz

teirney v robertson pick wan actionman

Monti
5 years ago
Reply to  Charlie Saiz

Who gives a fuck about Liverpool?

charlie
5 years ago
Reply to  Charlie Saiz

no me

charlie
5 years ago
Reply to  Charlie Saiz

monti how can they stop celtic gettin seven against the peepul ha ha …late nights even for zombies ha ha ha ha

Charlie Saiz
5 years ago

Get Griffiths on Brendan ffs

Charlie Saiz
5 years ago

Oh well ye canny win them all.
Remember folks if all fails blame Boyata 😉

charlie
5 years ago
Reply to  Charlie Saiz

7 in a row 7 in a row

charlie
5 years ago
Reply to  Charlie Saiz

remember folks dont slag saiz or the cunt finds a dug tae walk ha ha ha ha

Monti
5 years ago
Reply to  Charlie Saiz

Not quite, it’s a major concern the anount of dropped points, we should be fucking teams like Dundee!

charlie
5 years ago
Reply to  Monti

has emdy seen monti and saiz in the same room ha ha ha ha

Monti
5 years ago

Not good enough failing to beat Dundee at home, it’s that simple.

Monti
5 years ago

Fancy a bit of fishing down by the Sligo water…..

Aweeya weeya waya

charlie
5 years ago

monti when a spider plays wae a fly thers nae hurry he he COYBIG

Monti
5 years ago
Reply to  charlie

Should be a blast m8 …….cast off 🙂

charlie
5 years ago
Reply to  Monti

ffs monti dont say blast or saiz will cum in his civvies

charlie
5 years ago

heers wan for us human beings

charlie
5 years ago
charlie
5 years ago

awe yoos tims a wish for yoos wit a wish for ma ain …..night night crackpots

Charlie Saiz
5 years ago
Reply to  charlie

Late night on the tinned wine again I see 😉

charlie
5 years ago
Reply to  Charlie Saiz

get a job sodgerboy then you can join me

portpower
5 years ago

Caption:
sevco semantics FC.

Noelskytrot
5 years ago

Last night was fucking murder, sitting in the freezing cold watching us labour against rat faces team is not good enough. We were awful. Get it together Celtic.

Mike
5 years ago

As disappointed as everyone else, Dundee are playing as good as they have all season, our shooting at goal was mince, our three strikers and our midfielders couldn’t find the net. Like all supporters we will ask the obvious questions like, where was Masonda and Paddy Roberts, only the manager will know why he never played them. Six draws at Paradise out of sixteen games is not good, I remember Tommy’s team losing the league because of draws. Teams come to Celtic park with their buses and park them up, hoping to catch us on the break. They have figured out how we play and set themselves up to frustrate us…its working. How to open them up, only by using different tactics and by hitting the target when the players shoot at goal 17 times and cannot score? If it were only 2/3 draws we could perhaps expect that but six? We always expect to win especially at home, so Brendan needs to find answers or more questions will be asked of him, lets hope he can find the answers, we have great players and a great manager, I am still confidant that he will find the solutions. HMMMPH as heed hits the table. Gutted.

Monti
5 years ago
Reply to  Mike

” We have great players “? Nah we dinnae i’m afraid, “great” is an overused word in football.
What Celtic has is some very good players mixed up with very ordinary players, who this season struggle to beat spfl shite.
Excuses don’t cut it anymore, a draw at home to Dundee is fucking awful.

Mike
5 years ago
Reply to  Monti

Listen to yerself, a team full of Internationals from back to front, when have you seen better players since the Lions, oh that’s right you didny. MON team apart Celtic have had some real shite players and this team is better than you credit them, course in your World you know better, my arse. For the money we have and the league we are in, where are these better players, cos none are playing in Scotland and that is the reality. “Excuses don’t cut it anymore, a draw at home to Dundee is fucking awful. PPFFTT.

portpower
5 years ago

Artificial pitch on the weekend… Hmmm.

Wee Jamesy plays well at New Douglas Park.Whack him in with Paddy.
Boyata,(the best center half in Europe at the moment) will scathe himself on this pitch if his shin hairs aren’t tucked-in properly.

It was unplayable(New Douglas Park)at the end of December from Referee, Barry Cook.

KTF

portpower
5 years ago
Reply to  portpower

RIP Raymond Colin Wilkins,MBE.

charlie
5 years ago

celtic are doing it in second gear ffs who wants to go ther holidays in plaster COYBIG

charlie
5 years ago

bring back mike galloway on accountae some thugs needin sorted out

charlie
5 years ago

john clark was another wan who wisnae shy aboot showing a kiddon hard man the wurny hard enough

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