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Celtic Diary Wednesday July 11: New Season, New Systems

Celtic began their champions League campaign over in Armenia last night with a comfortable 3-0 win over Alashkert, which probably makes them slight favourites to win the tie over the two legs.

Taking into account the long flight, the high temperatures and the time difference, it was an excellent result.

The manager spoke with a mixture of relief and delight..

It is a huge credit to the players and medical staff.

“We know we have a long way to go in terms of getting to full capacity, but certainly at this stage, to show that hunger and desire to continue to work to the very end, it was a real winning difference.

“They kept pushing and kept working and they got their rewards. So, it was a great credit to how hard they have worked fitness-wise.

“A clean sheet was important because as you start to tire in the game you can maybe lose a goal cheaply.

“But we didn’t do that, we concentrated well and scored three very good goals.” 

And it was warm…

“It was breathless, really. You sense it just standing in it.

“I thought the players coped with it very well. They will really benefit from that game in terms of fitness and it sets us up well for the next leg.

“It is just a case of picking the team to win the game, but also to get the players developing their fitness.” 

He seems obsessed with fitness, and last night showed perhaps why.

With around twenty minutes left, both strikers-and I’ve waited a long time to type “both strikers ” -were replaced.

To the layman, that simply means that Celtic were happy to play out the game, content with a one goal advantage.

What actually happened was a change in the system, but not in the style, and the hoops scored twice more against a bemused Armenian defence who didn’t know who they were supposed to be looking out for.

To keep going for that long in those conditions at that intensity is tremendous, and despite tales that one or two players and coaches think that too much emphasis is being placed on fitness, it seems to be working, which is what matters.

As does the subtle in-game tactical change.

Rodgers has been criticised in the past for his one up front stoicism, but he started with two strikers last night, and if these two get a run together we probably won’t need a defence.

Its as though the basics have been put in place over the last two years, and we’re now ready to move up a level.

The manager again…

We pride ourselves on how hard we work, how hard we run, and the intensity of our game. It’s a huge testament to how focused and how concentrated and fit they are at this point and there is still a long way to go for them. It was evident in a game that had some meaning to it and that really pleases me.

‘It was very hot, especially for us and we were only watching. I take my hat off to my players because they played in conditions we are certainly not used to but they coped with it very well. They showed a real strong mentality.’

Which means that what initially looked like a very difficult qualifying campaign can now be viewed with, if not complete confidence, then certainly genuine optimism.

Image result for yippee gif snoopy

There’s no let up either, Celtic flew back last night and are back in training this afternoon, though you’d like to think the lads will do a couple of laps around the track, stretch their arms a bit and then go to the pub for a game of darts, I’m fairly sure that won;t be the case.

Another way in which Celtic appear to have moved up a level is in the way they look after their players. The executive charter jet that flew the squad out to Armenia was highlighted in a video posted by Scott Sinclair, and it shows that the club is looking after the players.

The video is available here, thanks to Video Celts..

Airplane

Treat them like they are the best, they will believe they are the best, and perform correspondingly.

 

Next up are Standard Liege in a friendly at Celtic Park on Saturday. More practice, and more game time for the fringe players, although its hardly fair to call them that, as this season , perhaps more than any other, we will see the squad being used more and more as the players come up to speed with the managers plans.

Speaking of the squad, Football whispers, a website that gathers in all the stories it can find and then rates the possibility of truth seems to think that Celtic will sign an out of contract James Morrison from West Brom,

The midfielder is available for nothing, but until the asking price drops to something more realistic, its not going to happen.

The English transfer window closes on August 9, which means that we might have to prepare ourselves for some more silly money bids from down south, but a lot of water can pass under the bridge between now and then, and with the champions League being where players want to play, as each week goes by in the qualifiers, the chances of anyone going decrease proportionately.

 

With Celtic having moved onto a higher plane-see what I did there ?- other Scottish sides have been left on the runway, with at least one still in the terminal waiting for its luggage.

The Europa qualifiers begin this week as well, with Hibernian getting a run out against a side from the Faroe Islands, and “rangers ” playing one from Macedonia.

A disappointed Steven Gerrard was told by Brendan Rodgers that he couldn’t get a loan of our plane because its not actually ours, and it is in fact hired on a pay as you go basis.

Brendan then offered the new “rangers ” boss the number for the hire company, but Gerrard politely declined, mumbling something about there being no chance, especially if they want the money up front.

There might not be any money later on either for the hapless ibrox entity, as a judge will rule today whether or not they can actually sell any replica kits to cash in on their lucrative ( can someone check the meaning of that word for me, I might have got mixed up ) contract with Danish sportswear firm Hummel.

The court case revolves around Sports Direct, owned by Dave kings drinking buddy Mike Ashley, who claims he should have been made aware of the details of the Hummel bid, so he could try to match it, better it or decide to leave it.

He wasn’t, so its all gone to court, and the Judge may well decide that Ashley is right, and in a nutshell, that means that “rangers ” will not be able to sell their strips.

Word on the street is that the Judge will decide he wants to think about it, probably until December, and no doubt that will start Dave king off on one of his rants.

Not that it will matter much.

Without that revenue from merchandise, they won’t be worried about catching an easy jet flight, they’ll have to hire a couple of camper vans and set out a couple of days earlier for their next European game. And hope that they don;t want the money up front.

Should, of course , they win their first one.

Which , given their convincing win over top English side Bury, might actually happen.

Image result for laughter gif

 

As Glasgow prepares for another weekend of orange order marching, it might be worth your while getting behind the campaign to have them stopped.

Last week, those jolly jesters abused a priest and his congregation outside a church after Mass, and there were, as usual, a number of incidents that can only be described as legalised sectarian abuse.

Rather than whinge and whine about the obvious, and lets face it, they still march, so that style of protest clearly isn;t working, there are a couple of things that may yet remove this boil from our collective bottoms.

First, there is a petition..

petition to curtail orange walks

And secondly, and this is important, there’s an email address you can use to inform the council that you have signed the petition, and a chance to tell them why.

Please send your complaint to processions@ced.glasgow.gov.uk we need people to contact the Council directly. 

It’s important that you do both. The media, alright, just the  the Ibrox Evening times, have begun their campaign to protect their annual jolly boys outing..

THE majority of Evening Times readers have said they do not want to see Orange Walks banned in Glasgow.

Our poll came on the day tens of thousands of people put their name to a petition calling on Glasgow City Council to call time on the parades.

We asked readers the question: “Do you think the Orange Walk should be banned in Glasgow?”

 

From a total of 19,547 votes, 12,015 (61%) said no while 7,532 (39%) voted yes. 

If thats their readership from a catchment area of around one million, they might want to consider retraining as a newspaper.

 

There were a few other burning questions last night…

No, he wasn’t.

 

And Shay Logan…is he angling for a move to Celtic ?

That was before his time at Aberdeen….which makes me think he has deep feelings for our club.

And from Viz magazine, the political journal that demands answers…

 

England play Croatia this evening, and for those of you uncertain as to whether you should support them, here’s something to help you make up your mind..

If you cannot obtain a Croatia top in time, there is an easy way to replicate one.. simply stick post it notes over your chest and back and lie outside in the sun for a bit.

There is a picture somewhere, but I can’t find it.

And no, don’t actually do it. that would be fucking stupid.

 

Yesterdays caption competition…

Alzyerpal July 10, 2018 at 9:41 am · Edit · Reply →

Caption : “The dogs watch the girls while the crocs watch the boys who watch the dogs go by
Arse to eye, they solemnly convene to make the scene.” 

A popular winner as well…

today, from the same somewhat disturbing article..

 

 

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Fudball
5 years ago

Thai officials close suspected cave entry location

Cortes
5 years ago

PowerPoint Slide #1 from James Blair’s Club 1872 Balance Sheet Statement to members.

Mike Annis
5 years ago

Caption: It seems Super Ally’s gardening leave was as successful as his football management.

Devoy45
5 years ago

Caption: “Another fun day in Playpark Brexit…”

Monti
5 years ago

Caption: Fred & Rose West creche services,
25, Cromwell street,
Gloucester.

Daily Tours start at 09:00, muster point at the Patio at the rear of the property.

£10 per head.

Una
5 years ago
Reply to  Monti

What a shocker monti I’d expect that from dobbs or deidhead.

Monti
5 years ago
Reply to  Una

Una,
I agree it’s in poor taste so Desi or Ralph, feel free to remove it.

When i post something like that Una, it’s important to remember i’m not making light of the ACTUAL victims.

FredDDobbs
5 years ago
Reply to  Una

when was the last time you got yer hole?

Monti
5 years ago
Reply to  FredDDobbs

Ask your wife….

FredDDobbs
5 years ago
Reply to  Una

its just theres so much sand blowing about here I am wondering if its coming out your crack

jimmybee
5 years ago

I hope people of all faiths and those of none have the decency to sign the petition, it shouldn’t be about us and them. It’s about what’s right about living in a modern society, and allowing our children freedom from the bigots who want to hate.
It also shouldnt be restricted to Glasgow.
Lanarkshire, Central Scotland etc all have parades with the same Klan attending each of them. It costs in the region of 1.5 million to police parades in Scotland higher even than those in the North of Ireland.. Yet Labour in Falkirk decided to give the orange order a community grant Glasgow gave them George square to hold their orange fest? We will never have a decent debate because it’s always us and them if its governance of our football,politics or the rights of our citizens to live without fear or favour its always us v them.
The problem we have is that the Orange order has huge influence in politics in this country in sport and in the Police.
The OO had a huge influence on the independence vote. It also is influential in the return of Tory Mps and local councillors to Scotland.
I hope the citizens of Scotland find their voice and condemn the OO and sign sadly I dont think the silent majority will take a stand.

jimmybee
5 years ago

🙁

Monti
5 years ago
Reply to  jimmybee

Word of warning tho, it costs an arm and a leg for parking.

puggy67
5 years ago

Caption: Shortcut to the Daily Record circulation meeting.

Brian (not the messiah)
5 years ago

Caption: perfect re-routing of the Orange walk.

Btw ralph, Im getting this message very often when i try to accesos the site

Resource Limit Is Reached
The website is temporarily unable to service your request as it exceeded resource limit. Please try again later.

Cortes
5 years ago

Club 1872: Where the chute always hits the fans.

Mike
5 years ago

E-mail sent, well done to the team last night, a professional job from start to finish.

puggy67
5 years ago

Caption: A fitting receptacle for child murderer jokes

5 years ago

Govan beauty spot known locally as the Sevco career path.

50 Shades of Green
5 years ago

US border control open new play park for captive Mexican kids….

George Lazenbhoy
5 years ago

Has anyone seen a Thai football team around here? They were playing by the swings just a minute ago.

Cortes
5 years ago

I may be forced to steal that!

jimmybee
5 years ago

A wonderful quote from a lady rice farmer when her rice fields were flooded due to the water being pumped out the caves onto her crop.
You can regrow rice but you can’t regrow children
Well done to everyone who gave everything all heroes.

Jinkylarrson
5 years ago

Caption…hey Billy have you found the war chest yet no keep digging Billy. Sign the petition to stop bigot walks.

bigdelbhoy
5 years ago

Caption – A picture has been released by SMSM from “The Rangers” recent training camp. It is of the top of the range swimming pool and flume facilities that were available to them.

Mike
5 years ago
puggy67
5 years ago

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/44791069

Nice to see Sevco inviting the wee Deliverance banjo player to a game.

Una
5 years ago

Caption

Montis caption entry should be buried in that hole.

Monti
5 years ago
Reply to  Una

Una,
I agree a hole is for filling, all holes should be!

jimmybee
5 years ago

My favorite English Bhoys
Peter Latchford, Frazer Forster, Lee Naylor, Tony Mowbray, Alan Stubbs, Kelvin Wilson Paul Elliot,
Alan Thomson, Paddy Roberts,Scott Sinclair,
Chris Sutton.
Good luck to both teams tonight.
I have no grudge against the English football team. Good luck to them.

jimmybee
5 years ago

Caption: Larkhall pleasure beach opens.

Pat Higney
5 years ago

Caption: Dave King comes up with an idea to rival the Oak Island money pit for investors. He’s calling it, ‘The Ibrokes slide your finances into the shit,pit’

Mike
5 years ago

Now repeat after me, tell putrid Petrie to go and shove it and sign a pre-contract agreement with McGinn in January, there, saved the club £2 million pounds.

puggy67
5 years ago

Good luck to England tonight I really hope they get through to the final against France and Lord Nelson, Lord Beaverbrook, Sir Winston Churchill, Sir Anthony Eden, Clement Attlee, Henry Cooper, Lady Diana, vi har slatt dem alle sammen, vi har slatt dem alle sammen [we have beaten them all, we have beaten them all]. Maggie Thatcher, can you hear me? Maggie Thatcher? Your boys get a hell of a beating! Your boys get a hell of a beating! ah that’s better than a good shit in the morning.

Noel Skytrot
5 years ago

A real show of professionalism from the Bhoys last night, one hurdle cleared.

I sent an email on Sunday to the folk who deal with processions complaints at GCC, guess what? no response. Another thing I saw on Hun pages is that the OO have signed a legally binding contract that allows them to march and have the use of Glasgow Green for the next 3 years. They also are having an indoor Orangefest at one of Glasgows major hotels, the name I can’t mind just now. All this talk of something changing…nonsense. I also sent an e-mail to SRtRC over the libellous crap with Brendan, guess what? no response.

SteveNaive
5 years ago

Just got that Monti

SteveNaive
5 years ago

Sorry, Charlie Saiz…trying to get one on Glasnost but doesn’t work.

Mike
5 years ago

There are a lot of balls in the air regarding McGinn and his transfer.
1. Is the press and there lazy tendency to talk mince.
2. Is the clubs valuation on McGinn, how do they conclude his worth.
3. Is the fact that the players valuations drops like a stone when he is in the last year of his contract.
4. Add ons from his previous club/s.
5. The relationship between both clubs, buying and selling.
6. Other players being involved in the transfer, who pays the difference of his wages. Say, Allan’s wages is £5 grand a week at Celtic and the most Hibs will pay is £2 grand a week.
7. Petrie is an arse, he knows what is in the biscuit tin and he hates Lawwell, Lawwell has no strength or appetite to open the biscuit tin, especially when he knows that he can get the player for a bargain price if he signs him on a pre-contract in January. But to be fair to him, he has offered IMO a fair price.
8. The add-ons that figure in if the player leaves his new club.
9. Petrie is an arse, Dempster the CEO. is an ex Hun season ticket holder and we shouldn’t be doing business with either.
10. Petrie is an arse, the player would wish to come to Celtic and should/would hold on till January.
11. Petrie is an arse and I wouldn’t give him a brass farthing.
12. I hate Petrie and so does the Hibs support.
14. Petrie is an arse and I wouldn’t give him the satisfaction of a 13.
10.

Mike
5 years ago
Reply to  Mike

I think that he is a good enough player, but I am not totally convinced that we need him, I prefer Kouassi, plus I don’t like Petrie because of his dealings with the Hibs support and especially at the SFA. Why do we need to spend £2-3 million when if we wait a few months we could pay him more and purchase a centre-back with the money saved. With all the money we have should we be trying to spend it wisely… absolutely. Its not just McGinn, it was Harry Wilson also, why should we be developing other teams players, when we can buy our own like Odsonne. Awfy quiet with other names innit.

Mike
5 years ago
Reply to  Mike

6 months 23 weeks, plenty of time. to P P Pick upa bargain.

Mike
5 years ago
Reply to  Mike

YES I would because Broony’s replacement is at the club.. now Eboue Kouassi.

Noel Skytrot
5 years ago

Mon the Croats. Get intae this mob.

Goran Ivanisevic Zagreb Emerald CSC
5 years ago

uništiti engleski

Mike
5 years ago

No I really like him. GRRRR.

Mon the Croats, Get intae these fuds and don’t show yer face until yeh dae.

Mike
5 years ago

nnnnnnoooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

FredDDobbs
5 years ago

1-0 England ya fucking dancer

Goran Ivanisevic Zagreb Emerald CSC
5 years ago
Reply to  FredDDobbs

comment image

FredDDobbs
5 years ago

croashite

hahahahahahahahahaaha

Goran Ivanisevic Zagreb Emerald CSC
5 years ago
Reply to  FredDDobbs

comment image

FredDDobbs
5 years ago
Reply to  FredDDobbs

come on England!!!!

Goran Ivanisevic Zagreb Emerald CSC
5 years ago
Reply to  FredDDobbs

Get it right up you you fucking cock.

Noel Skytrot
5 years ago
Reply to  FredDDobbs

Come on Engerlund…..hahaaaaa

Cortes
5 years ago

Broony a major disappointment in that wig as he referees the semifinal. Giving Croatia nothing.

Goran Ivanisevic Zagreb Emerald CSC
5 years ago

Englands arses collapsing.

Goran Ivanisevic Zagreb Emerald CSC
5 years ago

Henderson is shit.

Goran Ivanisevic Zagreb Emerald CSC
5 years ago

80 minutes and this shit have had one shot on target.

Goran Ivanisevic Zagreb Emerald CSC
5 years ago

England very,very,very lucky to get extra time.

Goran Ivanisevic Zagreb Emerald CSC
5 years ago

hahahahahahahahahahahhahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha

Goran Ivanisevic Zagreb Emerald CSC
5 years ago

Haw Hun Fred, take some of that ya clownshoe.

Goran Ivanisevic Zagreb Emerald CSC
5 years ago

One, 1,1,1 shot on fucking target.They are shite.

FredDDobbs
5 years ago

well if you hate england that much, why are you writing in english ya fuckin retard

Goran Ivanisevic Zagreb Emerald CSC
5 years ago
Reply to  FredDDobbs

Where did you disappear to last night, out lighting your bonfire?
You are a fucking wankstain.

FredDDobbs
5 years ago

I wiz doing your burd up the shitter. lovely and she took seconds

FredDDobbs
5 years ago

whit she said was you cannae get it hard enough! So we need to be fuck buddies when you oan the hightshift. Dinnae worry I wull make sure she is satisfied.

henkesdreadlocks
5 years ago
Reply to  FredDDobbs

In your dreams ya weirdo.

Una
5 years ago

Footballs staying putt get in, as they say in Moscow someone must go

Goran Ivanisevic Zagreb Emerald CSC
5 years ago

Sweet English tears, mmmmmm, delicious.

Noel Skytrot
5 years ago

Hahaaaaa, Freddie, what’s happening?

They’re going home, they’re going home, Engelunds going home. Engerlund, cheerio.

Una
5 years ago

Stick tgat waistcoat in the bin

Stick that waistcoat in the bin

Bgbhoy
5 years ago

Travesty…..

jimmybee
5 years ago

I’ve seen the French bhoys drive into lennoxtown they do like a bit of vroom vroom vroom

Una
5 years ago

Played two decent teams, got beat by both the epl is shite

Goran Ivanisevic Zagreb Emerald CSC
5 years ago
Reply to  Una

They couldn’t beat Columbia who were without their star man.

una
5 years ago
Reply to  Una

Who morelos lol

Goran Ivanisevic Zagreb Emerald CSC
5 years ago
Reply to  una

Lol.

Monti
5 years ago

Pablo Escobar?

FredDDobbs
5 years ago
Reply to  Una

theres always a dumass blonde burd. If the EPL is shite why do celtic keep taking the begging bowl over there.

FredDDobbs
5 years ago
Reply to  FredDDobbs

that must be because the EPL is shite…I got it now

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