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Celtic Diary Tuesday October 9: Griffiths Blamed for Israeli Defeat

Oh hang on, that will be later this week.

When Alex McLeish has a go at him for a lack of loyalty.

I know….I know..

Striker Leigh Griffiths has pulled out of the Scotland squad with the diplomatic injury issue mentioned in a previous diary. No other Celtic players have been able to get a sick note yet, but we believe they have asked.

Alex McLeish at first said he understood Griffiths’s reason, which was that the forward wanted to concentrate on getting himself fit as he had a few problems, but then, presumably after a few drops of tonic wine round the back of the bus station with his mates, decided to have a pop at the striker..

It is up to Leigh to see what happens in the future. There are no guarantees. He knows that. That is how I left it.’ 

In response, Griffiths said;

“Playing for Scotland still means the world to me.

“I’m hugely patriotic and passionate about representing my country. 

I’ll do it before the SMSM does…

Image result for leigh griffiths tricolour

“Despite what some people will think, I have not taken the huff about potentially sitting on the bench over in Israel. Anyone who knows me will say I’m all about the team and it’s never about individuals. 

“Sure, it was disappointing to be on the bench for the Albania game at Hampden – everyone could see how I was feeling on the night.

“But that’s football and I’m big enough to be able to take decisions like that on the chin. I’m not too big to sit on any bench.

“The fact is I need to be fully fit to be able to play to my best for club and country and right now I don’t think that’s the case.

“I spoke to both managers of Scotland and Celtic and they supported my decision.

“I need to be in the best possible shape physically and mentally and I think missing this one game will help me get to where I need to be.” 

Very diplomatic, and not the response I would have given…

As far as playing for Scotland goes, where Celtic players are concerned , I’d rather they all adopted a diplomatic calf strain, or an ear infection.

Anything really, as the SFA stinks, the manager is a tosser and most of the players in the squad are bloody useless.

It cannot possibly do our players any good to listen to McLeish ramble, or to watch Peter Grant point, and I’ve absolutely no idea what James MacFadden brings to the party.

Here he is talking about James Forrest, who is clearly not a favourite of McLeish either..

Everybody here has got a chance of playing. There is nobody here to make up the numbers and that’s what’s great about the squad at the minute.

“We are looking at how we go into the game on Thursday, and it’s great. We want players that are playing at the top of their level and scoring goals.

“It was fantastic for James Forrest. He’s a great player and we want guys coming here saying ‘I want to be the man – I want to play.’

“I’m delighted for him, and it’s a great problem to have that we need to find ways to fit players into your team.” 

Its a problem fitting a free scoring winger into your team ?

How about playing him as a winger, with a licence to get into goalscoring positions ?

Michael Stewart, the token non EBT pundit at the BBC offers a bit of insight as to how things work with the Scotland coaching staff…

Leigh Griffiths is for me, our number one striker and I can understand why he was annoyed.

“The game against Belgium was a thankless task. He’s playing up front on his own against the second best team in the world at that point and then he gets dropped for the Albania game.

“I don’t understand how you can be so frustrated you drop him for the Albania when you know there’s going to be lots of chances. There’s no long term strategic planning thinking dropping him after that one game.

“This is clearly off the back of the Belgium game where I am led to believe Griffiths was absolutely hammered in the changing room by the staff.” 

Then there’s Craig Gordon, ousted to find room for Alan MacGregor, who was banned for life from the Scotland set up…

McLeish has his favourites, thats obvious.

None of them wear hoops in their day jobs…

None of them deserve to be treated like second class players at a third class set up.  

 

 

Anyway, Scotland should not be playing in Israel while that nation has its soldiers shooting and killing civilians.

The counter argument is that Celtic have played in Israel recently, and that makes us all hypocrites.

Its a fair point, but I’d rather the club had pulled out of those games as well.

Which, of course, with our morally flexible board, was never going to happen.

 

After Kris Commons and Kris Boyd offered their invaluable insight into the inner circle at Celtic, the even more fuckwitted Charlie Nicholas threw in his tuppence worth.

He has a column in the Daily Star, Britains only newspaper that is entirely written in crayon, and seeing as how nobody buys the Star, I ficured i’d reproduce a bit of his burblings here, for your perusal…

Brendan’s relationship with Peter Lawwell and the board is strained. 

“I even wonder what players are actually Brendan’s signings and which ones have been thrust upon him. 

“The talk is that Brendan will get significant money in January. No chance! 

“He didn’t get the signings he wanted in the summer – Edouard aside – even though the team desperately needed freshened up.

“Don’t be sidetracked by a strong performance and 6-0 win at St Johnstone – which was long overdue. 

“This Celtic team is stale, defensively weak and in real danger of sliding backwards at a time where their rivals are getting ever stronger.” 

Nicholas presumably was at the meeting where the budget for January was planned…sitting next to Boyd and Commons no doubt.

Many have said that the club should comment on these type of comments, but in reality, there’s little point.

By denying these stories, they give them credence, and by ignoring them they initmate that they aren’t worth bothering with.

We should feed them even more shite to destroy their reputations, even though there seems to be plenty making their way to them at the moment, a few more titbits couldn’t hurt.

There will be a podcast recorded on Thursday night which I can say with certainty will be especially interesting , as there are a few things that are better discussed openly than just written down.

Keep an eye out for it.

We promise it will possibly even reach the giddy heights of quality offered up by such luminaries as our own publicly funded state broadcaster…

Can Boyd remember his eight dogs’ names?

Kilmarnock striker Kris Boyd tells BBC Scotland’s Tom English about his eight dogs but can he remember all their names? 

Dogs on a podcast ? Where did they get that idea ?

He probably can’t. In the same way he seems to be struggling to recall if he had an EBT, or a side letter. The BBC don’t seem to mind, in fact, it seems to be the requirement for most of their pundits.

Tom English used to have a bit of credibility, but his association with Boyd and allowing him airtime has eroded that.

In fact, you could say its gone to the dogs.

 

Yesterdays caption competition…

Cyclone, Oklahoma, 1898

Desi Mond

 October 8, 2018 at 8:55 am · Edit · Reply →

I hear it rains down in Africa!!
Shut up Toto…youre pissed 

Today…continuing the “pissed ” theme…

 

Alex McLeish talks with Scotland coach James McFadden during Monday's training session

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Cortes
5 years ago

“Put on your “staunch” look, Chief, gonnae!”

5 years ago

“Tell me again how you went to South Africa with the SFA on a jolly even though you know you were already joining Birmingham on touchdown”

Wisnae me
5 years ago

How can you possibly pick Forrest after his precipitous drop in form where he failed to score in the whole second half of the St. Johnsone game?

VooDude
5 years ago

“Alex, has Hector been in touch yet?”

Mark Gillespie
5 years ago

CAPTION

GUY IN RED TOP: “Hey Rocky,did you get Cher’s autograph when you made The Mask with her?”

portpower
5 years ago

Caption:
Mahna mahna
(ba dee bedebe)
mahna mahna
(ba debe dee)
mahna mahna
(ba dee bedebe badebe badebe dee dee de-de de-de-de)

puggy67
5 years ago

Caption: Tin Tin after a few tins too many

JTT
5 years ago

The Taigs just put six past St Johnstone, gaffer.

Brian (not the messiah)
5 years ago

caption: the griffalo has pissed Off the grinch

Bognorbhoy
5 years ago

Caption…

Come on boss wee Leigh isnae coming , so tunnocks huvnae sent any,can you no just hiv a jaffa cake ?

The bhoy with mcgrain in his side
5 years ago

Caption- Tintin & the EBT’s Curse.

iancelt67
5 years ago

caption
Niasmith?? Naegriff!!

Lord of the Takeover Panel
5 years ago

Caption

There’s someone called Hector waiting at reception for you………….

Hoop hoop hooray
5 years ago

Boss I see there’s another 50p on a bottle of buckfast

Monti
5 years ago

Caption: ” Eck, there’s a rumour doing the rounds that you are an EBT recipient, is this true “?

The Cha
5 years ago

Caption “Boss, if a Celtic player scores can I claim it, like I did with Barry Robson?”

5 years ago

You been sniffing glue as well as drinking ya cheating ebt Hun relic ?

charlie
5 years ago

caption ecky sumdae telt griff about your ebt and he sais he disnae play for cheats

Konrad
5 years ago

Caption: The bar’s closed gaffer….

charlie
5 years ago

caption ecky if ye think sumdaes gonny ask about yer ebt start talkin aboot dugs …….it works for boydy the wig

BJF
5 years ago

“ Faddy can I use Griffiths as an excuse to not pick Forrest and drop McGregor like I did with Gordon?”’
Don’t particularly hate McLeish he took an EBT so he can face the consequences but I am pleased Griffiths is going to work on Celtic things to get his form back. Of course if Scotland lose it will be his and Celtic’s fault ! From a media perspective only Mikey Stewart seems to approach Scottish football issues from his own rather than a partisan position.

Monti
5 years ago

I’m actually enjoying all this emnity between the SFA & Celtic, much healthier place to be when at war with these cunts.
McLeish is a cheating cunt & should be constantly reminded of this!

What i’d like to see is every single time Brendan is asked about Aston Villa, Brendan asksthe questioner to recite the EBT recipient list.

Just keep doing it……every single time!

Uralius
5 years ago
Reply to  Monti

Or he could say, “I hear there are a lot of former Rangers EBT-loyees looking for work.”

The Cha
5 years ago
Reply to  Monti

Altogether now, Fuck the SFA.

Uralius
5 years ago

Caption: Those Eccies hitting you yet Alec?

D'Fhinnein Mick
5 years ago

Leigh got hammered after the Belgium game? Zatso?

I wouldn’t have waited around to get hammered from a bunchatossers like that,I’d have thrown the jersey in their face and walked.

They’ll never get another job in management,and can’t afford to alienate quality.

Leigh doesn’t need to GAF,he’s got the caps,he’s got the goals,he can tell them to GTF.

I’d let their tyres down anaw,you know you want to,Leigh!!!

D'Fhinnein Mick
5 years ago

CAPTION

“Turns out I was wrong when I said that pub next door didnae open early. Sorry,Eck”

Mike
5 years ago

EBT McLeish, Scotland’s own, “Nowhere man, shitting in his nowhere land, making up his nowhere plans for nobody”. A Darker shade of Blue.
Griff. is right to give him the Jinky Shooder, a drop of the shoulder and then he’s gone.

George Lazenbhoy
5 years ago

Caption: so he’s just won the Balloon d’Or, never played for Celtic but he is a Catholic. What do you think Eck?

Cartvale88
5 years ago

Caption
Do u think Stevie G is in for the Villa job, boss?

I am quite happy that Leigh has told them to piss off, I would admire the rest if they had injuries. Used to support Scotland, but not since Roxburgh, the SFA think its a mini Sevco.
MvLeish will piss off back to Engerlund in due course, then we will get another Hun.

Uralius
5 years ago

Caption: I’ve see that face before. You’re thinking about how to fit those Celtic players into the team out of position, so they look bad aren’t you boss?

Uralius
5 years ago

Caption: “Oi gaffer, if a Celtic player scores and there’s no hun to claim it, is it still a goal?”

Edouard
5 years ago

Caption: Do you want tonic or coke in that boss?

Honest hoops
5 years ago

Caption; think about it eck..Ronaldo is not in the Portugal squad so…gonna stop being childish…

Mike
5 years ago

Having coo’s dung spread on the fields today, tons and tons of it, but that cannot compare, cannot compare to the MSSM. The dung they pay so called journalists to write, that guff, there is no nutrient value in that, that is depressing stuff, level 5, working hard to come up with that shite.

Meanwhile Aberdeen Chairman, (Move along) Stewart Milne demands an SFA summit to discuss the unseen Masonic hand that rules disciplinary matters in the Scottish game, well DOH Stewart, wake up and smell the white gloves, he names 2/3 times that the Dandies have been left stupefied by decisions made in favour of the one club. If sheep can raise this only one club favouritism,then why can we not… do exactly the same, oh wait, the ear plugs are still in the root canal..

The Cha
5 years ago
Reply to  Mike

The answer is blowing in the wind.

Desmond and the Dekkers
5 years ago

Caption: we could call up Boydy – seems to have an answer for everything boss

Monti
5 years ago

Where’s the compliance officers report?

Mike
5 years ago

Something old, something new, titles stolen by the team in Bloo- ooh.

Uralius
5 years ago

A whole week with the fitness coaches, he’ll be injured before the Hibs game is over.

Monti
5 years ago
Reply to  Uralius

Mike Bassett & Eyore

The Cha
5 years ago
Reply to  Uralius

As long as it’s late in the game and we’re already a few goals up.

jimboh
5 years ago

CAPTION..
As EBT Eckie recalls his last decent shite, Faddy asks if it was anything like Eckies recently exhaled, from both orifices, Tonic Wine Bouquet.

5 years ago

In the red bull game Chris Sutton actually mentioned that he didn’t look right , like he was carrying extra weight. Leigh needs to get back to his fighting weight which is understandable when he hasn’t started many matches. Just think how deadly we will be when we have a fully fit griff back lean and mean with the confidence you get from playing regularly

The Cha
5 years ago
Reply to  Delbhoy

He gets in enough problems off the field without adding fighting.

Badgerbhoy
5 years ago

Advertising board caption: No Tax Matters

Uralius
5 years ago
Reply to  Badgerbhoy

Donneach he said he wanted to write one. I’m off to find it.

5 years ago

Bertie Auld 3 caps all before the lions era.
Never selected through the most successful period of a clubs history. Kirk Broadfoot 4 caps.
Enough said Fuck the SFA

Uralius
5 years ago

See above

5 years ago

Today lets remember Che a hero.
Hasta la Victoria Siempre. [Until Victory, Always]
Killed this day in 1967.
As he faced his executioner he said shoot coward shoot. After being wounded in battle and tied like a dog he wanted on his feet to face his executioner in the eye. As the bullets sprayed into his arms and body not killing him directly he bit on his wrist to stop him from squealing out in pain such was his bravery till the final shots ended his life.
You may kill the revouloutinary but never the revolution Bobby Sands MP.

Monti
5 years ago
Reply to  jimmybee

Jimmybee,
” He was a Rebel…up the Rebels “

5 years ago

“I know you’ve come to kill me. Shoot, coward, you are only going to kill a man” (CHE GUEVARA – A Revolutionary Life; Anderson J.L., Bantam Press 1997 p739).

Those were the last words of a revolutionary who more than any other epitomises the truism that ‘you may kill the dreamer but you can never kill the dream’. Che Guevara’s life was snuffed out by a semi-automatic rifle held at point blank range that riddled his already wounded body with bullets at approximately 1.10pm on October 9th, 1967.

Che had been shot twice in his leg and captured the previous day in La Higuera, Vallegrande, high in the hills of Bolivia. He was held captive in a schoolhouse and tied up like a dog. He was asked to sit in a chair to be executed but refused. He preferred to stand and stare his executioner in the eyes as he shot him. Apparently, the initial round of bullets entered his arms and legs forcing him to the ground whereupon he bit his own wrist to prevent himself squealing out with pain. The Soldier fired again and a bullet entered his thorax filling his lungs with blood and extinguishing his life. Che was only 39 years of age but he died as he lived, with great honour and courage. He had an unquenchable thirst for justice for the dispossessed and raged against poverty and obscene inequality throughout his life.

The detailed notes of one of the senior Bolivian army officers, Lieutenant Colonel Selich, are very instructive for anyone who wants to know who Che Guevara was and what he stood for. Trying to elicit information from Che about other guerrilla fighters not yet captured Selich said:
“I understand Benigno (one of Che’s comrades) is gravely wounded since the [September 26] La Higuera battle, where Coco and the others died. Can you tell me, Commandante, if he is still alive?”

“Colonel, I have a very bad memory, I don’t remember [and] don’t even know how to respond to your question”.

Selich then sarcastically asks:

“Are you Cuban or Argentine?” (Anderson J.L. p735)

Che was born in Argentina to parents with Irish connections but travelled across Latin America and witnessed himself the poverty, hunger and super exploitation of the poor and the peasants which seared into his heart a desire and determination to fight with the oppressed against the oppressors. He met Fidel Castro in Mexico in 1955 and joined his ‘July 26th Movement’ which was dedicated to the liberation of Cuba from the Jackboot brutality and authoritarianism of the Military leader Fulgencio Batista who ruled the island with the support of and in hoc to the United States of America. Che joined Fidel on the Granma boat from Mexico in 1956 to assist in the Cuban revolution. As a former medical school student he initially travelled as a medic but in the heat of battle he soon proved to be an exemplary soldier, guerrilla and leader. He played a pivotal role in the successful Cuban revolution and was hailed a co-leader alongside Fidel when they triumphantly entered Havana on 1ST January 1959 to begin the construction of a new, fairer, more equal and ultimately socialist Cuba.

Che was born in Argentina but fought with the Cubans and was now captured while fighting in Bolivia. Hence the sarcastic question from Lieutenant Colonel Selich. Che’s response epitomises the visionary he was and serves as a guide for all those who seek a better and fairer world:

“I am Cuban, Argentine, Bolivian, Peruvian, Ecuadorian, etc … You understand?”

(Selich) “What made you decide to operate in our country?”

(Che) “Can’t you see the state in which the peasants live? They are almost like savages, living in a state of poverty that depresses the heart, having only one room in which to sleep and cook and no clothing to wear, abandoned like animals…”

This conversation took place in the early hours of 9th October 1967 when Che knew for certain he would soon be executed. Despite his bullet wounds from the previous day’s battle and the fact he was staring death in the face he was still able and willing to articulate his socialist and humanist vision of a better and fairer world. Critics can pontificate from the comfort of their academic offices about the strategic weaknesses of Che’s attempt to export revolutionary struggle and attempt in Bolivia the type of struggle which was successful in Cuba. Sure we can reflect in leisure and perhaps agree that each country will follow its own path to liberation according to their traditions, culture, constitution, conditions and events. No two countries will ever have the same revolution. Similarities are inevitable but there are no guaranteed revolutionary tablets of stone. But such discussion is secondary on this day for today we remember and pay our respects to a revolutionary who became a legend.

The CIA and Bolivian army chiefs who celebrated when they assassinated the wounded and defenceless Che Guevera did not know that he would become even more powerful in death than life. His speeches, writings and spirit continue to inspire the young and oppressed across the world to ‘fight the power’ and rage against injustice.

Eleven years ago in 2007 a story emerged which epitomised the humanitarian and socialist vision of Che Guevera and justified his heroic sacrifice to the cause. Across the world the name Che Guevara is instantly recognised but who has heard of Mario Teran? It was he whom Guevera spoke his last words to for it was Mario Teran who shot and killed Che. This Bolivian army sergeant killed a hero of Cuba yet four decades later this same man’s son wrote to a Bolivian newspaper and thanked Cuba with all his heart for allowing his father the miracle of sight again after he had become blinded with cataracts and was denied the delight of seeing his grandchildren.

Ernesto Che Gevara

The socialist trained doctors of Cuba, financed by socialist Venezuela, operated on Mario Teran and restored his sight. What a triumph for the revolution Che helped lead and the cause and ideals he dedicated his adult life to.
Mr. Teran was treated under Operation Miracle, a Venezuelan funded medical programme staffed by Cuban doctors which offers free eye treatment to poor people across Latin America. How proud Che would have been of the doctors, the programme and the dignity of his beloved Cuba willing to set aside Mario Teran’s misdemeanor in pursuit of doing the right thing. The official newspaper of the Cuban Communist Party is called the Granma after the name of the boat which brought Che, Fidel and the other revolutionaries from Mexico to Cuba in 1956 to begin the Cuban revolution. That actual boat is on display in the Cuban Museum of Revolution in Havana.

“Four decades after Mario Teran attempted to destroy a dream and an idea, Che returns to win.

In 2018 socialist Cuba and Venezuela are still subjected to illegal and immoral trade sanctions and economic embargos by the Rogue Nation which is the U.S. But in spite of the barriers, they still display international human solidarity in a way unmatched by richer free market nations. Venezuela is in the midst of serious economic difficulties engineered by the U.S. to destabilize the country but still, they assist the victims of natural disasters in Indonesia. While Cuba in the face of U.S. aggression still manages to continue its incredible medical aid and international solidarity programmes.

Che Guevera died on this day 51 years ago but his spirit, lives on We salute you Commandante Che Guevera.

Broxburnbhoy
5 years ago

So did you sign over all your belongings to your wife Eck? Better hurry her majesty’s tax man is coming. Naw no yit!

Monti
5 years ago

Caption: Mcfadden ” Boss i just thought i’d let you know….Una has finished the ironing “.

Uralius
5 years ago

Eck thinks to himself, “how the hell do I keep her out of everyone’s hair now.”

Monti
5 years ago
Reply to  Uralius

Uralius,
That one creased me up….cough

Paul Mitchell
5 years ago

Captain.. McFadden “Boss the celtic bhoys are saying ure a bitter piece of ham”

Monti
5 years ago

Caption: Faddy – ” Gaffer, David Murray once said he’d spend a tenner for every fiver Celtic spent, was the CVA accepted then “?

jimboh
5 years ago

Seen it … Top Class…

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