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Celtic Diary Friday September 13: Fitba’s Back..And With A Few Surprises

At last, proper football that people give a toss about returns tomorrow, and Celtic head down the motorway to Hamilton as the second phase of the season begins.

This one will run until the christmas break, when the hoops will head out to Dubai , a ritual that has seen the players recharge their batteries and return to claim the trophies for a couple of years now.

Celtic will be without Biton, Ajer, Simunovic and Johnston, so far, at least, so there may be a few surprises in the line up.

Fraser Forster has made the number one jersey his own, even if he spells it 67, and will continue in goal. chuckball expert Moritz Bauer should feature at right back, with Elhamed and Julien in the middle. Boligoli Boli will get the nod ahead of Greg Taylor.

Expect continuity in the middle, with Brown and MacGregor operating as a unit behind-and here we may see something a little different-Maryan shved and possibly even Elyanoussi.

Ryan christie picks himself- I think it’s in the terms and conditions of his contract-in the number ten role.

The Europa league campaign starts on Thursday in Rennes, and James Forrest will be a key player. If anyone is to be rested, it will be him. If anyone else is rested it will be Edoaurd, and surely now it’s time to give Leigh Griffiths a run out, in case he’s needed for Thursday as well.

 

Neil Lennon has spoken out about the rumours-long since debunked in the diary-that he had a bit of a to do with captain Scott Brown;

I don’t know where that’s come from at all. It’s complete nonsense, honestly. I can’t control the rumours.

All I can say is that I love him and, you know, we have a great relationship – a very strong bond with a huge amount of respect – and it goes back a long, long way. 

I trust him and he trusts me. It would take a lot for anything to come between that. 

Internet sweetie wives hear these stories, and it’s often very difficult to trace where they started. Common sense, however, usually discounts most of them.

You’re best sticking with us for tittle tattle. At least you know it’s made up.

 

Meanwhile, Scott Brown revealed gentle and patient way he explains how he’d like players to operate on the field when he disclosed the conversation between hinslef and Oddsone Edoaurd directly after kick off at Ibrox in the hoops last league outing..

“I turned around and said, ‘What the f*** are you doing, Odsonne?’.

“I said to start by pressing them up the park. I wanted the ball to come back first but my French is not what it used to be! 

The captain couldn;t hide his admiration for the Frenchman, and hinted that he may be around a while yet, depsite what the media thinks…

“You look at him and you look at Moussa Dembele, the two of them came here to show how good they were and the both of them turn up in big games.

“Odsonne has been a breath of fresh air. We all knew Moussa would leave eventually and he would have to step up but he has done it phenomenally well.

“He is also doing it for France Under-21s as well as Celtic. Hopefully he keeps doing that and that’s the test. He needs to be doing it week in week out. Moussa did it week in and week out and got a huge move. 

We want to make sure Odsonne does it week in and week out as well but that he stays with us.

“He’s very quiet, very chilled. He plays the same way. He’s relaxed on the ball. He never gets annoyed with anyone.

“He makes those runs and when it doesn’t come off he doesn’t throw up his arms and shout at everybody.

“That’s what makes him the fantastic striker he is.

“He’s happy as Larry if someone else scores. If he scores he looks kind of happy! I think he’s happy to be here! 

“Seriously, he speaks away as his English is getting better and he’s a good guy around the changing room even if he’s quiet and keeps himself to himself.” 

Edoaurd, as we’ve mentioned before, couldn’t speak any English when he came to Glasgow, which was later revealed to be something no one at Celtic actually thought to check.

Something I picked up on in that form Brown was that the team want to help edoaurd score goals, and if he does move on, like Dembele, thats how it is.

And that is a tremendous selling point to any young forward who wants to come to Celtic. The captain will instruct the team to help him make a name for himself.

That is a win win all round.

 

It looks like it won’t be long before Adidas announce that they will be taking over the shirt contract from piss poor New Balance. There’s a few concept kits floating around the internet, such as these..

Image

Image

based on a simple green and white hoops design, and who knows, some of us of a certain age may even secretly favour an away top designed along the lines of a seventies classic…

Image result for green and white adidas t shirt seventies

Following on from yesterdays Diary, and the controversy surrounding the banning of marches in Glasgow, the Orange Order have expressed disappointment they won;t be allowed to spit at any priests this weekend…

Subliminally, the Evening Times knew where to place the blame for the enforced laying down of drums and flutes…

Image

and they’re still calling them Republican marches, and not marches for unity…one wonders of any marches for independence will be banned, after all, nationalism is nationalism….

The council, whilst trying to do good, have opted for keeping the whole class in after school, instead of just those who caused all the bother, and in doing that, have just made things much more difficult for themselves.

Speaking fo those who make things more difficult for themselves, the club/company at ibrox have scored a treble of their own with three more awards..

 

 

Image

Things are looking up over there, and the Express, which used to be a newspaper, got firmly behind this latest surge of the feel good factor, which apparently started when Celtic beat them 2-0 at ibrox..

Why Rangers’ Celtic loss was ‘a good experience’ for Steven Gerrard’s side

Rangers squad and boss Steven Gerrard can take positives from Old Firm loss to Celtic insists George Edmundson.

I don;t know who George Edmundsen is, and I’d never heard of the hack who put this together either. His name is Lloyd Johnson, by the way. Make a note of it. He seems to have found exactly where his tongue needs to be to ensure a rise through the ranks of shame.

In fact, he’s earned recognition already with this piece, which has earned him the title of Etims

Knob of the Week

Rangers defender George Edmundson insists lesson have been learnt from their 2-0 loss to Celtic at Ibrox at the beginning of the September. 

Going in to the clash Celtic had lost their past two visits at Ibrox, but they got off to the better start when Odsonne Edouard opened the Hoops account just after the half-hour mark.

The game remained close until Celtic winger Jonny Hayes then found the back of the net in stoppage-time before Gers’ Jordan Jones was given his marching orders for a very late tackle on Celtic defender Moritz Bauer. 

Close ? Late tackle…a little selctive description there..

However, Edmundson insists Rangers have learnt their lesson from the clash.

It was a good experience, even though the result was not the best,” he said.

“But we have watched it back, we learn from it and we go again.

“The atmosphere was good. I feel like I know how big a club Rangers is. 

“But the atmosphere will be better next time – when we win!” 

Hoorah for the Empire !

The derby was the last game played before the international break and the victory gave the Hoops a three point advantage at the top of the Scottish Premiership over Rangers, who sit second in the table.

However, Edmundson can’t see Celtic going undefeated this season and he believes the Gers are ready to pounce on any slip up from their rivals.

“It’s still early days in the season and I’m sure Celtic will slip up at some point,” Edmundson added.

“I don’t think they are going to go the whole season unbeaten. 

It was a little hiccup, but there’s a long season with ups and downs to come.

“We didn’t feel we played our best but it’s early days and there’s a long way to go. There will be highs and lows along the way.” 

He sounds a bright lad. cheerful, optimistic and completely unaware of what he’s got himself into.

Yesterday, we had this…

 Image 

Monti September 12, 2019 at 1:10 pm · Edit · Reply →

Caption: ” Great chance for Morelos “….

” Hi guys, can i get the ball back please “ 

today…

Image

 

 

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Mike A
4 years ago

Caption: Hoy, Broony, stop horsing around.

4 years ago

CAPTION

Haw,lads! Do you like my new transport?

Seats four!

Southside Bhoy
4 years ago

Caption
“What’s its name? Its called The Dobbin”

TonyDtic
4 years ago

Caption – Squinty Dave turns his biggest piggy bank upside down but there’s f*** all coming out.

Bognorbhoy
4 years ago

Caption

A Trojan flogging a dead horse ?

Bognorbhoy
4 years ago
Reply to  Bognorbhoy

I think I backed that horse at fontwell park last Sunday 🙁

Whitearra
4 years ago

Caption : “Aw right, now I get it. When you said pony up, I thought …….never mind”.

John McDermott
4 years ago

The Express that used to be a newspaper lol
Caption. Sevco cant get the hang of this two horse race thingy!

Mike
4 years ago

Change the ON to ING and we may have found an amazing new top.

The Cha
4 years ago
Reply to  Mike

Agreed, those tax-dodging feckers would be more at home on the soo’side.

Patrick Street
4 years ago

The match commander at Ibrox devises a cunning plan to sneak up on the Celtic support to try to catch them singing “sectarian” songs.

Gash67
4 years ago

The titles “Deer Hunter” you moron

Mark67!
4 years ago

Caption – ‘Got him Stevie G, our new centre half for only 5.5 million over 6 years and the Chinese may make a punt afore ye go.’

Hoop hoop hooray
4 years ago

Caption
Can you see them noo?

Devoy45
4 years ago

Caption: Tesco turns to new supplier for its ‘beef’ ready meals!

Jez
4 years ago

Caption:

“Dave Kings latest appeal against Sports Direct thrown out of court after he starts flogging it! Animal rights groups horrified but the Scottish Sun claims that the horse was asking for it!”

SteveNaive
4 years ago

Griffiths on the plastic may not be the best idea if we need him at some stage versus Rennes.

alzyerpal
4 years ago

Caption : “You think that trying to flog a dead horse is stupid? For 2 years now, Jabba Traynor has been trying to flog a dead buffalo.”

Yoker Bhoy
4 years ago

It’s a good feeling to have the real football back again. Hamilton Accies, an out and out Houdini team of battlers and survivors who may not turn out to be pushovers tomorrow, have undergone a few changes in personnel since the end of last season. Seasoned campaigners Dougie Imrie and Ziggy Gordon no longer form part of their playing staff. Dougie’s now the Accies youth coach while Ziggy has gone down under to play in Tom Rogic’s previous team Central Coast Mariners. They’ve brought in veteran defender Brian Easton from St Johnstone and their new nº9, big old-fashioned style English centre forward George Oakley has found the net 3 times in 4 league games so far. Alan Stubbs’ boy Sam, also a centre back, has come in on loan from Middlesbrough with fellow scouser Aaron McGowan at RB being their most in-form player at the moment. Their new captain, veteran midfielder Darian MacKinnon, undoubtedly has the most unusual career story to tell. He spent nearly 3 years behind bars for assault as a young adult before going on to play for a host of junior sides including Dumbarton Harp, St Thomas’, St Patrick’s and Clydebank (where he scored a lot of goals as a forward) before joining Accies seven years ago at the age of 26. His style is very direct and combative so it’ll be interesting to see how he fares tomorrow as he tries to go toe to toe with Broonie. Also in their midfield, highly-rated teenager Lewis Smith is likely to feature. The Lanarkshire outfit have had a real mixed bag of results so far but against us they won’t be expecting to take anything so the pressure will be off meaning that they might well come out and have a real go. Our lads should be able to deal with this but there must be no slip-ups at the back.

We have a serious CB crisis at the moment with three top campaigners definitely ruled out (even if Ajer is nearly ready he shouldn’t be risked tomorrow). With young prospect Steven Welsh loaned out to Morton the only back up we have is Jack Hendry, who might make the bench if fit. Boli should start but maybe we’ll get a look at Greg Taylor coming off the bench in the second half. After his two international games I’d be tempted to rest McGregor and deploy Ryan Christie in a deeper role than usual but more box to box than DM, allowing Ntcham to play in a more advanced position. Shved has suffered a re-occurrence of an ankle issue picked up while on training with his international team so that’ll mean no rest for Jamesie Forrest on the right flank. With Mikey Johnston’s groin strain ruling him out for this game, the door will be open for exciting new loan signing Elyounoussi to maybe produce a few fireworks. If only he can recapture that old form which made him such a lethal attacking force at Molde and Basel! Eddy played two games (and did brilliantly) for the France u21s so should be rested. This would provide Griff and/or Bayo with valuable competitive minutes. I don’t expect to see a thrashing, just a competent comfortable win by two or three goals.

Forster

Bauer Elhamed Jullien Bolingoli

Brown Christie

Forrest Ntcham Elyounoussi

Griffiths

Subs: Gordon, Taylor, Hendry, McGregor, Hayes, Morgan, Bayo.

Prediction: Accies 0 Celts 3 (Griffiths, Forrest, Elyounoussi)

COYBIG

The Cha
4 years ago
Reply to  Yoker Bhoy

Great and informative post (not that Ralph doesn’t tell us anything, as I’m sure it was him that told us about the “bust up” between Lennon and Brown).

Is Shved the only backup to Forrest? If so then that’s one for the watching, especially as the former hasn’t had a great start injury wise.

Can’t we convert one of our many lefties to play on the right?

Speaking of which, Lennon was talking up Sinclair during the break, so hopefully we’ll see him feature.

Personally I’d start Bayo, as we need to find out if he’s the man to fill Eddy’s boots when the crying time comes around again.

It may be harsh on Griffiths but it’s the future of the team that counts.

Yoker Bhoy
4 years ago
Reply to  The Cha

Interesting points Cha and the right wing berth throws up an interesting conundrum. Shved is extremely talented, no question, but it seems that his entire career has been hampered by injury. Jamesie really has no serious contenders for his position but we want to avoid possible burn-out at all costs. Morgan has been tried out on the right flank in pre-season and early CL qualifying games but is clearly stronger on the other side. Even Ryan Christie had a go there and did ok but he would surely be more effective as a right-sided midfielder in a 4-4-2. I’ve no idea if Arzani is anywhere near ready to make a comeback but I won’t be holding my breath. As far as I know he can be equally effective on both wings. I don’t know if it would be a good idea to throw in young Afolabi so soon and tbh I’m not exactly sure of his most natural position. Like you I’d like to see Sinclair involved again and I hope wee Karamoko can make an impact playing down that right flank during the latter part of the season.

The Cha
4 years ago
Reply to  Yoker Bhoy

Arzani was due back about now provided he’s not had a relapse but, obviously having been out for a year, you’d imagine it’ll be a few weeks before he’s considered for the first team.

I’d forgotten about Dembele as well but think he’d just be an impact sub in low key games.

There’s also Connell, who made his debut in the pre-season gme against Rennes but hasn’t been seen since.

Yoker Bhoy
4 years ago
Reply to  The Cha

Connell is more of a DM Cha. I’d like to see him given a chance as well though.

The Cha
4 years ago
Reply to  Ralph Malph

After previously reporting that there had been. 😉

Gerry
4 years ago
Reply to  The Cha

I think it was Phil Mac who reported the bust up.

Mike
4 years ago

Brrriilliiiaant. ^

Yoker Bhoy
4 years ago
Reply to  Mike

Hope you’re well Mike. We’re expecting a really nasty storm later this afternoon but it might not be as bad as first feared. The bastard is I’ve got to go out to work this afternoon. Hope the bhoys produce the goods tomorrow.

Mike
4 years ago
Reply to  Yoker Bhoy

Tickety- Boo Yoker, The rain in Spain is such a crying shame. 😉

Puggy67
4 years ago

Caption: After sawing its head off and putting it in Ralph’s bed, Monti wins the caption competition.

Monti
4 years ago
Reply to  Puggy67

🙂

The Cha
4 years ago
Reply to  Puggy67

Giving him head according to Puggy.

Puggy67
4 years ago
Reply to  Puggy67

Giving him head.

Monti
4 years ago
Reply to  Puggy67

Weered,
I would never give anyone ‘ head’ 🙂

Monti
4 years ago
Reply to  Monti

Well, not since the last time 🙂

The Cha
4 years ago

Caption: George Edmundsen is interviewed by Lloyd Johnson.

George Lazenbhoy
4 years ago

Caption : Steve Gerrard refuses that the team are carrying morelos

Uralius
4 years ago

Caption: With 2 new signings having ties to Austria the Lennox town catering manager sources a rare treat for the team.

The Bahia Emerald
4 years ago

CAPTION: Countryside Alliance slam new Foxhunting rules as “Going too far”.

Buclot
4 years ago

caption “they told me it wasn’t the horse that died, just the stable that owned it!”

Monti
4 years ago

Caption: Hyde park rehearsal.

Monti
4 years ago

Caption: Charlie Saiz heads to Blackpool promenade for a ride.

Monti
4 years ago

Celtic 4-4-2

Forster

Bauer
Jullien
Brown
Bolingoli

Sinclair
McGregor
Christie
Elyounoussi

Griffiths
Bayo

portpower
4 years ago

Caption:
Ryan Jack`ll represent.

sevco burro a FC.

Patrick o Hara
4 years ago

Caption.
A horse ! A horse ! A bedsit for a horse?

Mike
4 years ago

Interesting team choices, good stuff. Such a pity that Sumunovic, Ajer and Bitton are injured, its like we are cursed with injuries at centre-back. I would like to see both strikers, Bayo get a start, but with Griffiths on the bench, purely in case one gets injured, even though Odsonne too would be rested. I would also like to see Sinclair get game time, a hungry to play player has all the ambition to do well. It will be up to Lenny to decide who gets the call, knowing how the players feel and whether they need rested. All the loan players will be hungry to play, why pay them not to play. Rennes will be a big test and we will be well motivated for that, but for me the biggest test will be the plastic pitch, to risk top players on that surface should be a no no, but we cannot afford to lose this game, or any game or else the moon howlers will be out in force, its a sign of how much pressure these young men are under, but nearly all of them relish that pressure, if they didn’t then they would not be at Celtic.

portpower
4 years ago

The AIK result shall be repeated away at New Douglas Park.

Devoy45
4 years ago

Great team choices bhoys. We need to win tomorrow but also with an eye to Thursday. Both matches on BT. With that and injuries in mind, at Hamilton:
Forstert
Bauer/Elhamed/Jullien/Boli
Ntcham/Mcgregor
Shved/Bayo/Sinclair
Griffiths
The bhoys 3-0
We need to sub to rest McGregor. Rest Christie. Get Taylor on as well. Wee Dembele? Sinclair must play, please

Devoy45
4 years ago

Forstert=Forster!

Puggy67
4 years ago

not daft on sports companies, people are so gullible paying £50 for a £1 top because of a logo, especially dislike Nike,second-world kid exploiters, got one of their infamous squinty sleeve tops as a gift and couldn’t return it a piece of utter crap, however I’ve always thought Adidas kit is good quality and looks the part too and is a company I don’t mind us being associated with.

portpower
4 years ago
Reply to  Puggy67

Adidas Rome`s(named in Aussieland) were always hand-me-downs.

Monti
4 years ago
Reply to  portpower

One of my bog brothers was & probably still is a wearer of Adidas Samba’s, he would actually wear them out on a Saturday night.
Denim jacket, Denim jeans & Adidas Samba’s???

Clueless fud 🙂

Monti
4 years ago
Reply to  Monti

big

Mike
4 years ago

Caption, Man invents a new game, its a cross between tossing the caber and buckaroo.

Mike
4 years ago

Its called Tossaroo. One our Aussie posters play… 😉

portpower
4 years ago

Caption:
Close Bros.lasagne.

Una
4 years ago

Caption Comp

Head over heels takes the national

Monti
4 years ago
Reply to  Una

Una, Do you prefer head or heels?

5TB
4 years ago

Caption

Another horse taken away, still in shock, stating it seen them coming.

R.St.Parsley
4 years ago

Caption:
Stevie G:’Nobody told me the ‘Rangers’ job involved flogging a dead horse’.

Jinkylarrson
4 years ago

Caption…am I allowed to March like this?

Puggy67
4 years ago

Inspired by the caption contest a bit of Friday afternoon sports trivia – Q.Who is the heaviest man ever to ride a Derby winner? A: Lester Piggot’s cell mate. If you’re over 40 you will be telling that tonight.

Owen Mullions
4 years ago

Caption:
Broony hands Morelos his fat ass.

Cartvale88
4 years ago

Caption
Monti shows his knowledge of football is as good as riding a horse.

Notice the whining coming from Ibrokes, now we have counter stories of trolls abusing Ricksen, the media following the instructions of Jabba

kevlar
4 years ago

i agree with your line up apart from 1 thing. i think taylor might get a game on the shity hamilton astroturf ahead on boligoli. given his experience of playing on it at kilmarnock

4 years ago

Caption
Michael mols carries his new wife over the threshold

sfa unfit for purpose
4 years ago

Several papers notably ‘The Scotsman’ running the story of Humza calling for a temporay ban on all marches.
But the headline is

humza yousaf calls for temporary ban on all Glasgow republican marches

Suiting the agenda ?

I also think this has as much to do with the fact the police are just not interested in arresting any loyalists , whether at their own marches or trying to stop republican marches.
With the way things are going with brexit and Boris i really believe we could see mass disorder throughout the uk . And I also believe police scotland are in no shape to handle minor disorder , never mind mass and organised.

sfa unfit for purpose
4 years ago

Caption
In the Renton countryside , a hidden blogger repositions the security horsecam.

jimmybee
4 years ago

Devoy glad to see you picked Sinclair.
Surely it’s time to give him some game time.
Our top scorer in the treble treble seasons yet hardly anyone selecting him.
I would make a few changes. But Lenny knows best.
Gordon
Bauer Jullien El Hamed Taylor
Brown McGregor
Morgan Christie Sinclair
Griff.

jimmybee
4 years ago

4_1 The bhoys

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