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Celtic Diary Thursday October 17: Going For 55

Happy Birthday to me, a grand old 54 today.

If I’d known I was going to live this long, I’d probably have taken a little bit more care of myself.

 

However, that means I’m in a race to get to 55 before that lot do, and given the healthy 54-0 lead , with just twelve months to go, one could safely say it’s a possibility.

 

Looks like Scott Sinclair isn’t going to hang around for that, though. Although Lennon fancies him as a player, the guys who write the cheques are determined to lower the wage bill, and the highly paid Sinclair is too proud to just sit back and take the money.

Will it allow for Victor Wanyama to return ?

That kind of depends on how the old heated driveway holds up in the bad weather.

Or, as we noted earlier in the week, is that position going to David Turnbull ?

Given that Wanyama’s wage will be considerably more than Celtic like to pay-or would be willing to pay for a loannee, that seems likely.

Meanwhile, Turnbull has been told not to do any sprinting, heavy lifting and if someone near him coughs, he’s to take a lemsip immediately and go to bed.

If he remains healthy until January, that’s one less thing for new Director of Operations Nick Hammond to worry about.

One name that won’t be on his list is Jack Harper, the Scot who plays in Spain at Getafe.

But at the moment he’s on loan at Alcorcon. (google them, I had to )

Whilst the newspapers declare he hasn’t ruled out a move to Scotland, from what he says it’s fairly certain he hasn;t ruled it in wither. In fact, it sounds like he hadn’t even considered it until he was asked.

“People in Spain don’t know how important both teams in Glasgow are.

“Both Celtic and Rangers are mythical clubs – 60,000 fans go to the games.

“My parents are Rangers fans, I am a little more neutral. I like to watch the derbies for the passion and intensity but I do not choose a side. 

“They had problems, went down to the fourth tier and Celtic won eight leagues in a row. Now with Steven Gerrard, everything is going better.

“The league is becoming more powerful. I don’t think about it now. I have 12 years left in my career and anything can happen.

“In general the Scottish Premiership is beautiful, it has mythical teams.” 

He’s just being polite, it’s clear he has no interest in coming to Scotland, and even less interest in the game here.

Hammond will also have to start looking for a couple of strikers. Whilst Edoaurd will probably be here for 9, he’s unlikely to be around for 10, especially if that heated driveway fails.

According to the Record, five clubs are already “circling “, which means that they had to stop counting as their hacks get all mixed up if they have to use two hands…

 

Scottish referees will not be officiating at the upcoming European championships, officially down to their inexperience of using VAR, the action replay video system that would, if introduced in Scotland, expose the real reason they aren’t going to the tournament, amd they won;t get any champions League games either.

For Scottish football, it’s another kick in the teeth as it’s reputation sinks even lower.

Then again, since the debacle of 2012 and the Rangers scandal, the beaks have kind of had it coming to them.

(The sun )

SCOTLAND’S top refs are set to be snubbed for major European and international games because we don’t have VAR.

It has been revealed that leading officials Willie Collum and Bobby Madden will be excluded from major Champions League and Europa League matches. 

SPFL chief Neil Doncaster has claimed Scotland will struggle to adopt VAR because of the cost involved and the lack of officials.

But former Fifa referee Charlie Richmond fears Scotland is becoming a backwater and must catch up with the rest of Europe.

The top flights in England, France, Germany, Italy and Spain are all using VAR this season.

There are also versions being used in Belgium, Holland, Portugal, Turkey, Greece, Switzerland, Poland and the Czech Republic.

Richmond said: “If we don’t get in line and start using the VAR system in Scotland, you won’t see our guys going abroad.

“That was evident when Bobby Madden went to do his Champions League match recently between Bayern Munich and Red Star Belgrade

“The VAR officials were flown in from Holland because it’s only Bobby and Willie Collum that are trained in VAR.

Collum, of course, doesn’t need VAR anyway, he’s got eyes in the back of his head.

It was the same when Willie covered Juventus against Bayer Leverkusen. The VAR officials came from Spain.

“We can’t send a full team of six Scottish officials to a Champions League game.

“So when it comes to the more important games our referees will miss out because Uefa will insist on a full team of six who work together.

“The Europa League brings in VAR from the last 32 onwards and I can’t see our guys getting matches.

“It’s the funding aspect. How are we going to pay for it?

“But you don’t need to go all singing, all dancing.

“Our major matches are covered live by the main television stations, so all you would need to do is put a couple of VAR officials in place in a van at the stadium.

“We should trial it at games like the Betfred Cup semi-finals and final and the Scottish Cup semi-finals and final, for example.

“Then we would see how it works and take it from there.” 

Everyone else in the world will be using it, but a Scottish referee-former referee-Charlie Richmond thinks its worth the SFA trialing it…that’s the mindset we’re dealing with.

 

As for funding, if the SFA had acted positively when the whiff of scandal first pervaded Ibrox, and dealt with it accordingly, then they may have found sponsorship and investment that is now no longer possible due to the cold shoulder.

Seriously, even if legally possible, and that’s debatable, quite simply, no one wants their name associated with such a toxic name such as King.

It’s not worth the risk, and it may even be wise for Celtic to reconsider their contract with Parks of Hamilton, who by association, are tainted by the toxic brand.

 

Scottish referees don’t want VAR -introducing it here would make the games about an hour longer as inept refereeing would lead to virtually every decision being replayed, and thus showing them up for what they are, which is bloody useless.

They will have to accept that their days of touring Europe and the world are over.

 

Karamoke Dembele, it seems , will choose to play for England rather than Scotland, a decision he’s expected to make soon, according to the press.

There’s little actual evidence he’s actually going to make this decision, and one wonders of it’s being made to ensure he gets the McGeady treatment from fans if he chooses to pursue an international career with England.

Although the confusion amongst the Ibrox support will be interesting to note, as that lot are usually quite happy to support their colonial masters.

 

Yesterday, we looked at this picture..

sfa unfit for purpose October 16, 2019 at 10:16 pm · Edit · Reply →

Would sir care for a ‘wafer thin mint’ 

Today…

Image

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Dziekanowski's nightclub child
4 years ago

Caption:

Ralph just makes the bus to the game

Bartly cole
4 years ago

Undercover cop receives late intel that tarrier carrier has six bottles of beer on board

Pat Higney
4 years ago

Caption: Mrs Orangina Williams attempts a rescue from the Croy Celtic bus in an attempt to get to her grandson Billy the forty third, who,indeed, became a Celtic fan as predicted.

4 years ago

Karamolo chooses to play for England

Born: 22 February 2003 (age 16 years), Lambeth, London

Shock horror!

TicToc
4 years ago
Reply to  Desimond

Desi, nae wonder there was shock and horror!
“Born: 22 February 2003 (age 16 years)….”
Who TF else dae ye know who was 16 when they were born?
😀
HH
Caption: ‘Ah ye canny throw yer granny aff a bus…..’

5TB
4 years ago

Caption

Gran theft auto?

Paddy Mo
4 years ago
Reply to  5TB

Winner!

tony carlin
4 years ago
Reply to  Paddy Mo

Agreed!

Bognorbhoy
4 years ago

Caption

That’s the reason ye canny shove yer granny aff a bus…

She always gets back on

4 years ago

I’ll get you there Di

BJF
4 years ago

Ralph alright if I just refer to you as kid from now on? Back to real football tomorrow, Celtic will reassert themselves. A Hearts supporting pal guaranteed me a result from them on Sunday, here’s hoping.
I’m amazed how the gullible south of the Border still let DUP wag England’s tail,they haven’t learned from the impact of the Curragh mutiny, Partition, the various power daring agreements, Ulster Workers strikes, etc. Good Friday Agreement showed if the UK Government decides it wants an outcome then DUP will have to fall into line, a veto for them paralyses the whole UK, not that is necessarily bad.

4 years ago
Reply to  BJF

BJF…DUP = DINOSAURS UNDER PRESSURE 🙂

alzyerpal
4 years ago

Caption

An inexperienced driver with the ‘Green Bus Co’ inadvertently makes a wrong turning and finds himself on the Broomloan Road

Bigdunno
4 years ago

Caption: Spider Gran, Spider Gran, climbs up buses cause she’s no got a van! (Remember the old tune..)

Monti
4 years ago

Ralph,
54?
I thought you were older than Mike.

Anyway, Happy Birthday m8!

4 years ago
Reply to  Monti

Monti…is that possible 😉

Mike
4 years ago
Reply to  Weered

WTF. 😉 Laurel and Hardy rides again.

Monti
4 years ago
Reply to  Mike

That’s another fine mess you’ve got me into….Weered ( Stanley )

4 years ago
Reply to  Mike

Monti… hey Olly fuck off ya fat bastard

TicToc
4 years ago
Reply to  Weered

For ALL of you, the film Stan and Ollie (I think is the correct title) is well worth watching. It’s more poignant than funny and shows how easy it is to go from top to bottom with just a wee change in technology and circumstances. Aye, well worth watching.

Monti
4 years ago
Reply to  Weered

Weered,
I thought it was…..

Monti
4 years ago

Scottish Referees?

GIRFUT!

Una
4 years ago

Caption

If your granny had a fanny she’d be on the bus!

Una
4 years ago

Caption

If your granny had a fany she’d be on the bus

Monti
4 years ago
Reply to  Una

Caption: Una hitches a ride to the Kyle files studios.

Stew
4 years ago

Re: Jack Harper, more correctly, Celtic are a Legendary club, “rangers” are a mythical entity.

4 years ago
Reply to  Stew

It was probably a myth-translation.

TicToc
4 years ago
Reply to  Stew

Fakkin’ brilliant Stew!
So good ah’ll say it again: Fakkin’ brilliant Stew!
There’s no shortage of vegetables on here if you fancy ‘cooking up’ wan ae yer namesakes.
On another note, watched Breaking Bad. (the series)
Now, (earlier) that was excellent; dropped into shit as they tried in vain to pretend they were relevant. Just like the tories, always seeking relevance and will lie through their teeth to achieve it. In the past, we all agreed that Thatcher was just a tory (venomous bitch) doing what tories do, but some clowns believed in Blair. I called that distinct bastard out from day 1. I was challenged to ‘modernise’, et cetera, but like Facebook, I saw them coming and refused to get close to, never mind join, either.
I’m getting a bit pissed now, saving Catalonia’s not easy……………
Good on the eTims, good on the guys who make it the best of all Tim sites.
Hail! Hail! Hic!

4 years ago

Caption: it seems that back of the bus mentality is alive and well 🙁

Mike
4 years ago

Certain words or Initials always affect my health, for example SFA always brings on reflux, that acidic feeling in your chest that makes you feel sick. Or referees, which always induces a simmering rage, when, like a kettle the steam comes out your spout. When its the “Rangers” its a mixture of all three. Consequently I try not to think about any of them, but that is very difficult, when you follow Scottish football. So its a deep breath and a “homm homm”, homm on the range where the deer and the antelope play, seldom is heard a disparaging word, and the Celtic keep winning, when they playyy. Instead of VAR the SFA could employ the BBC to watch over every game and make all the decisions, they do it anyway, highlighting any Celtic fouls, tackles, dreaming up any possible penalties. Google eyed Sutherland and the simmering Pimp Thomson, always ready with their stop, start play-mobile. The BBC oh hear comes that feeling of pain in the neck. Happy Birthday Ralph, you and Celtic Da. always provide such fun and laughter, today and everyday’s tonic..

Mike
4 years ago

Happy birthday, auld fella and many more of them, could Celtic Da bring out my pish stained nappy from the tumble dryer? Ta.

4 years ago

Happy Birthday,Ralph. Definitely hope you get to 55 before that lot-I know I did.

CAPTION

That’s not what I meant when I said to haud the bus fer me!!!

Cartvale88
4 years ago

Caption
Last bus your note Lazio game leaves

Frodshambhoy
4 years ago

Caption
Scott Sinclair in disguise tries desperately to get on the team bus

charlie
4 years ago

caption glasgow cooncil abolishes the pentioners bus pass

charlie
4 years ago
Bongo
4 years ago

Caption: queen determined to see the Celts play after being refused a lift from the Bamoral Celtic supporters bus.

BJF
4 years ago

Weered as ever, just in the middle of Pop goes N Ireland, think I caught a glimpse of a much younger me on a Civil Rights March.
What is it about Unionist minded folk that they are so intransigent, can’t smell the coffe , can’t cope with reality. If Sevco supporters put up their hands to say:” the old Glasgow Rangers has gone, we know that, but this Rangers International Football club is as close as we can get, plays in a stadium we know and in colours we love so that’s good enough for us, “most people would say fair enough( probably dream in under their breaths).
It is the denial of reality that ends up making it worse for them, no skin of our nose. A lot of money has been invested to challenge us, we have the income stream, all the indications are theirs is funded on the never never, there will be another price to pay me thinks. Anyway Ross County will be no pushover but the Celtic team can send a powerful message out about their Championship intentions tomorrow.

Patrick O Hara
4 years ago

Caption.
Cockney lady shows how to do a proper “Knees up Mother Brown.”

Mike A
4 years ago

Park’s bus driver breaks hard on hearing that the DUP are a modern caring party.

charlie
4 years ago

caption big arleen catches the last bus tae england before brexit

TicToc
4 years ago
Reply to  charlie

Fuckin’ belter Charlie! 🙂

4 years ago

Dembele was born in London

Pensionerbhoy
4 years ago

Ralph,

HAPPY BIRTHDAY.

I year from it all starting to come apart. I’ve got loads of hand-me-downs if you need them – been thoroughly washed and 30 year leak-free guarantee. However, it is not all pish :). Give great balance on the way hame on nights oot. mike will back me up – metaphorically speaking, in case you think we are more than two auld buddies 🙂 A bit like that 54 year old biddy is doing wae that bus.

H H

Mike
4 years ago
Reply to  Pensionerbhoy

WTF 😉 Laurel and Hardy have just morphed into the “Three Stooges”.

4 years ago
Reply to  Mike

Mike..more like the Marx brothers 🙁

Jimbo
4 years ago

HAPPY BIRTHDAY PAL! ALWAYS LOOK FORWRD TO READING THE DIARY… ALL THE BEST.

Binkabhoy
4 years ago

Caption: Parks of Hamilton see through Dave Kings disguise and give him the cold shoulder

PS: Happy birthday Ralph Malph!

BrianD
4 years ago

Caption: Extinction Rebellion receives boost with Queen Liz cameo appearance

SteveNaive
4 years ago

Happy Birthday Ralph. What presents did you get/ buy yourself ? I can recommend “ Celtic. 1945 -1970”. Cant remember the author but a great book. Puts many of your headlines in appreciating what we’ve got into perspective .

Mike
4 years ago
Reply to  SteveNaive

Steve, Tom Campbell wrote “Celtic 1945-1970.” A great read as you say.
Tom occasionally graced these pages as a Celtic author and historian. His tales about being on the Celtic supporters bus’s back then was brilliant. I hope that Tom is getting on well, we wish him all our best wish’s and good health. Tom Campbell, “one of oor ain.”

Monti
4 years ago
Reply to  Mike

” The Glory & the Dream ” was also excellent!

Monti
4 years ago
Reply to  Monti

Think it was Tom Campbell & Pat Woods?

TicToc
4 years ago
Reply to  Monti

The Gory and The Dram, Monti?
You can watch this unfold daily on the eTims’ Diary (if mods are rightly moderated) for just £25 per issue.
All proceeds to the Nationally accredited charity, TicToc, who will pass ALL of these proceeds onto the Catalan Socialist Party via Bulls’ Blood links in the Provence. Hic.
Hic Hic-up, up the ‘Ra! and all of Ca-ta-lon-ia!
HH

Yoker Bhoy
4 years ago

Congrats Ralph on reaching that fine age. May your second half century be just as happy and healthy as your first. 🙂

Puggy67
4 years ago

Caption: Newcastle woman decides she’d rather not have her confidence boosted.

Happy birthday Ralph.

sfa unfit for purpose
4 years ago
Reply to  Puggy67

Quality Puggy

How does that slimy drunk get off with sexual harassment……this country is fecked

SteveNaive
4 years ago

So it was Mike. Required reading for sure. His accounts of going to games, including the relegation game with Falkirk are excellent. Think it was in the superstore for a bit but maybe out of print now. I lent mine out alas.

sfa unfit for purpose
4 years ago

McGills tarrier toilet is passed as fit n proper

sfa unfit for purpose
4 years ago

ohh if your on a train or a bus and you see a good lookin woman, just go up and kiss her as that’s legal now

sfa unfit for purpose
4 years ago

Happy birthday Ralph

Best Celtic site and also best comments section .

Keep up the good work.

HH

4 years ago

Caption: The queen off to see the Celtic.

Devoy45
4 years ago

Tom Campbell? Tom once delivered one of his books to my front door in person. A real gentleman and scholar. He is/was out in Canada (Ottawa?) and had undergone major surgery. Give me an update someone if you can.
Ross County. Bhoys, we haven’t been scoring much or keeping clean sheets. I don’t think we need a player shake-up but maybe a change of tactics or formation. Would this work?
Forster
Elhamed/Ajer/Jullien/Boli
Forrest/Brown/Christie/McGregor
Edouard/Johnston
Answers on a postcard please. We’ve not been really impressive since the Huns. We need to recapture our earlier goal scoring form.I don’t usually look to Hearts to do us any favours but the Huns will have lots of tough away matches coming up, which they haven’t had so far. We need to take advantage of that.

4 years ago
Reply to  Devoy45

Devoy Ross County do we really need a back 4?
I would go 3 5 2
Forster
Ajer Jullien El Hamed
Forrest Brown Ntcham McGregor Hayes
Edouard Bayo
Let’s see us going forward more time to bring the thunder.

Devoy45
4 years ago

Sorry, I’d forgot that Christie is suspended for Saturday. I’d put Ntcham in then.

Desmond and The Dekkers
4 years ago

Happy Birthday!!

#goingfor55

sfa unfit for purpose
4 years ago

BBC Disclosure programme with Mark daly and Craig Williams credited have been investigating the Neely Peado and have spoken to one of his victims at the dead rangers. Boy states that rangers are lying about informing police about Neely. When this boy made his complaint to Police Scotland he was told no one had ever reported this guy before …..

4 years ago

Well done to the BBC and the guy who stood up.
No matter the football club get justice for all the victims of this sickening abuse.
Well done Mr Souness who sacked the cunt on the spot though should have phoned the police there and then to come and arrest the bastard.

TicToc
4 years ago
Reply to  jimmybee

Important (to me) that my response to ‘sfa’ and Jimmy (above) is posted. We’ve a power here for a limited time only.
HH

TicToc
4 years ago

sfa, “When this boy made his complaint to Police Scotland he was told no one had ever reported this guy before …..”

That “no one had ever reported this….” is a standard deflection tactic throughout the scum of the very worst of Capitalism and Freemasonry. Try to isolate you…..et cetera, make you feel ‘silly’. FUCK them. FUCK them all. TAL.
Jimmy, “No matter the football club get justice for all the victims of this sickening abuse.”, exactly Pal, no ifs nor buts, nail every one of the scumbags involved regardless.
NB It’s essential to UTILISE the internet to highlight ALL of the scum/elite use in their formidable armoury; it will soon be even more censored and eventually closed down to open thought. We NEED to move fast here and stay resolute.
TAL 2.
HH

4 years ago

Happy Birthday Ralph hope you’ve had a great day
HH

BJF
4 years ago

Walter Smith knew.

4 years ago

The back of the bus you cannae hing
You cannae hing you cannae hing on

4 years ago

The queen gets caught out not carrying money for bus fare.

TicToc
4 years ago

RALPH, hope you had a great birthday yesterday and, belatedly, I wish you Many Happy Returns.
Sort that fukkin’ moderation out and we’re back to the BEST Tim site bar none.
BTW, my Socialist side got the better of me yesterday and the day before and I tried valiantly to help all our Socialist friends in Catalonia by drinking all of their Bulls’ Blood produce.
In a nutshell I failed. This is not a first for me but nonetheless painful.
Hail! Hail! Ralph. Hail! Hail! Catalonia.
PS Any chance of contacting fans of Barca and associating two Socialist-leaning sites, viz, eTims and eBarca ?
Just a thought. James Connolly would’ve approved of this!
HH

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