Celtic can finally go to the top of the table today with a point against Livington at the Tony Macaroni Stadium. I have no idea why its called the Tony Macaroni stadium, and I’d be surprised if anyone does.

Hearts lost yesterday to Kilmarnock, which now means they have completely fallen apart, albeit it did take a bit longer than we probably thought.

Normal service will be resumed.

The headlines tomorrow will not be about a triumphant return to the clubs natural position, as no doubt at least one reporter will have heard one person in the crowd disrespecting the minutes silence which will be held to remember the 100th anniversary of the end of the war to end all wars.

Of course, it didn’t turn out to be the war that ended all wars, it was merely half time in the battle bewteen Victorias kids, and of course, it was Tommy in the trenches who had to go and sort it out.

Oh, and Fritz, Ivan and Jean-Paul as well. Hank turned up late, in 1917, as he would do in the second part of the conflict. However, he has promised to be especially early for the third one, when Doo Lally Trump falls out with someone.

It was the greatest tragedy of all, and today , prior to the game, there will be a minute to remember the fallen.

Everyone will have someone they can think of for a moment, everyone can fall silent in respect of what went on all those years ago.

Celtic had players involved who didn’t come home;

If you can think of no one else during that minute, think of these guys…

Tom Clifford Robt Craig Peter Johnstone Frank Kelly John McLaughlin Donnie McLeod Archie McMillan Leigh Roose Pat Slavin Willie Strang John Young Also the 1000s of Celtic supporters killed

Leave the politics out of it.

Back to the football, and we mentioned last week that Bill Leckie, the hack who complained that a sound and light show was just sound and lights, and at the time we said that only a couple of other hacks could claim to be of a similar standard to the Sun football reporter.

Leckie did this..

Whilst in a Leipzig Daily newspaper a German reporter  wrote this;

Along with Bill Leckie at the bottom of the pond, is Gordon Parks…

Celtic skipper Scott Brown is past his best and injury has allowed Hoops to ditch ponderous sideways passing – Gordon Parks

Here we go again…

What he really means is that Celtic now have the luxury of a couple of top class midfielders who can make each other better due to increased competition for places.

Surely ?

Maybe it’s coincidence, maybe not. But Scott Brown’s calf strain and absence in recent weeks has seen a Celtic side transformed from the difficult watch they’d been for most of the season. 

Everything all along was Browns fault ?

There is a notable difference, but one would tend to think that the sidieways stuff was merely Brown following instructions. Parks doesn’t seem to consider that those instructions may have been changed, as they weren;t working.

Its no surprise that the more simple of the scribes will look to Browns absence beng the reason for the resurgence, although regular diary readers will know the real cause.

Further weight to the diary angle was given when Olivier Ntcham signed a new four year deal on Friday, confirming that the player, who specifically stated he was here to work under Rodgers, is now convinced that the Irishman is here to stay, and there’ll be no more talk of joining Porto.

Moussa Dembele may well be thinking that he perhaps should have not acted with so much haste…

Thats the real story, a player who wanted away because he thought the manager was going, has now pledged four years to the club. A sure sign that things are back on track behind closed doors.

Ntcham said;

I want to say MERCI to everyone who helped me from the 1st Day to be where I am today… staff, teamates, family, friends… and celtic FANS

It also confirms, initially at least, that what we heard about investing in players we know may have some truth in it..

The manager is delighted, and he now has that headache over selection that all managers want.

“We want all the boys back, but this is what you want as a coach – the guys who have come into the team, Scott Sinclair looks back to his level, Ryan coming in has been like signing a new player, so it’s brilliant.

“But I don’t forget what guys have given me for two and a half years. Scott Brown is an amazing player, a big personality so it will be great when he gets back. Olivier Ntcham is a top operator, too.

“But what this shows is that the squad now, you can’t come off your game.

“And now what we’ve got is a bunch of players playing at a really high level.

“The guys behind that are going to have to work very hard to affect that, but we need them all. They’re setting the standard now, though, which is good.” 

In fact, he started gushing a bit with his praise, which is unusual for him. It just shows he’s happy..

I think you can be very proud watching the Scottish players, playing at the very highest level. For me, it’s not about jumping and smashing into tackles, it’s about blocking and intercepting.

“Blocking the lines of pass. Our rules are simple – if you give a good player time he’ll play, but let’s see how good he is when you get right up to him and put him under pressure.

“Guys like Callum, Ryan and Tom Rogic, players you would essentially say are No.10s, they showed they can do the dirty work.

“That’s what you have to do collectively. How they pressed the game they smothered the ball gave them no time and then had the quality to play.

“You see the level Ryan has gone to. He needed a moment and for me that moment came in the Hearts semi-final where he grew into becoming a Celtic player.

“He played with that personality, went into the game and affected it, he was efficient in the game.

“He has been a good player, but lots of good players have been at big clubs and it hasn’t worked out.

“He stuck with it, showed resilience, went out and got experience and his ability to learn and take on board instructions is great.

“For him to be playing as a No.8, an attacking midfield player and play at that level shows his quality.” 

Against Livingston today, Celtic just need to keep that momentum.

The plastic pitch means that Kristoffer Ajer may return alongside Dedryck Boyata, and there may be one or two others rested, but unless anyone rings him to say they are tired, the side should have a familiar look about it.

Soccer Souls website has Celtic lining up like this

I’d say Ajer for Benkovic, and its perhaps not the right game to introduce the new red strip.

Prediction ?

Well, plastic pitch, European hangover and so on, I’d say Celtic should win, but we’ll keep it down to 4-0.

You know, its obvious now…

Are there any other Celts who look like other personalities ?

Elsewhere, and its not only Hearts who appear to be falling apart. Their Glasgow cousins are up in arms again, this time about referee Willie Collum.

We hear that Collum is not playing the game with fellow lodge members, and no longer willing to give the Ibrox players the benefit of the doubt.

And thats upset them…

Collum then pulled out of the Aberdeen Hibernian game, no doubt due to the pressure from the club and media surrounding this statement.

We await the referees association defending one of their own…

Things are not going their way at Ibrox, with just one win in five games, and it looks very much like Steven Gerrard has lost the dressing room. After each defeat he “accepts the blame ” before going on to slate his players.

Another bad result today, and the pressure may become unbearable. From the er, bears..

Davie Provan in the Sun has started the ball rolling..

FOOL’S ERRAND

Steven Gerrard should QUIT Rangers while he’s ahead..the job is only going to damage his reputation, says Davie Provan

Though they never give up, and one of them had a constructive suggestion to move the club forward…

Anyone with £17m to spend on a right back and a forward may look for a little more than what Morelas and Tavernier offer…

but its nice to dream…

The conviction of James Torbett has allowed for a few more details of the mans begaviour to enter the public domain. There have been calls for Celtic to address the situation either by way of apology or by way of financial recompense.

Like the BBC didn’t when several of their employees were convicted of similar crimes.

The difference though is that Torbett didn’t work for Celtic, and surely any litigation for damages in the civil court should be aimed his way ?

There was no Diary yesterday, so we go back to Friday for this picture..

today… could this be where Boydy Boyd got his info ?