Celtic Diary Tuesday January 22

The games are coming thick and fast, and tonight the oft postponed game in hand against Dundee Utd will finally take place at Celtic Park.

Interestingly, Johann Mjallby is handling the press conferences, and offering his opinions, presumably while Neil Lennon is involved on other business. Like knocking the shit out of Gary Hoopers agent.

Celtic will not have Fraser Forster again tonight, as he is suffering from a stiff neck, and no-one can reach it to put any Deep Heat on it. This means that Lukasz Zaluska will start for the third game in a row, and with Ambrose away gathering yellow cards in Africa, and Wilson out because of his, the defence will have to wear name badges so they know who each other are.

Adam Matthews and Kris Commons are also doubtful, whilst James Forrest has school in the morning.

Mjallby also spoke very highly of Tannadice trio Daly, Russell and Mackay- Steven, which is ominous, but not as ominous as his referall in an interview to Charlie Austin as “Charlie”…. as in “Charlie is a proven goalscorer”

SSN are reporting that Hooper has turned down a second contract, as it doesn’t put him on a par with the highest earners at the club, which just doesn’t sound right, unless of course, he is waiting for his new agent to start working for him.

If that was the real reason, then it would have been sorted by now, one way or the other. The way Lennon speaks of Hooper, and the way the manager values team spirit above all makes one think that something just isn’t right about any of this. I mean, its not as if he’s sitting round with his jacket on ready to leave, is it?

Oh, and Arsenal are about to make a bid for Victor Wanyama. SSN is a bundle of laughs this morning.

January is fast becoming the least favourite month of the year, despite the rumbustious celebrations the night it got here. Tomas Rogic may have his work permit, Rami Gershon might be fit enough to play before his loan expires, but so far its been a bit miserable from our point of view. Perhaps all the speculation is getting me down. But Scott Brown and Joe Ledley adding their voices to the  “we think he’ll stay” camp. Any kids reading this should look again at the last sentence,as it will help you to understand the importance of correct punctuation when writing.

What  worries me most is Forsters absence from the team, Lennons from the press conferences, and Manchester Utd needing a new goalkeeper…

Season ticket holders are about to get a package through their door which is cunningly described as a survey, and not in the least bit a marketing ploy. No doubt it will include questions such as “When is you car insurance due for renewal?”, “Have you ever taken out payment protection insurance ?” and “Which power company presently supplies you gas and electricity?”

Trivial stuff, such as questions about parking near the ground, facilities for children pre match and the ridiculous price of food in the stadium will probably not be covered. You know, the things that actually concern season book holders.

On a much more serious note, the Requiem Mass for Sean Fallon takes place tomorrow, at 10am at the Christ the King church in Kings Park. Afterwards, Sean will be taken to his final resting place at Phillipshill Cemetery in Westerfield Road,  East Kilbride. The thoughts of us all are with his family.

Georgios Samaras has appeared in a commercial for a well known shampoo. The Greek ad features the forward being injured, but recovering after he gets his hair washed. There is a link on Newsnow for anyone who wants to shake their head at it. But it does make you smile.

Goals from Paul George, Phillip Twardzik and Bahrudin Atajic were enough for Celtics under 20s to see off Motherwells Junior cloggers 3-1. Anthony Stokes and Rami Gershon got some game time in this one, and keep an eye out for the name Nick Walsh, the referee, who used more cards than Paul Daniels, and seems destined to get a Rangers game soon.

John Hartson scored three times for Celtic on October 20 2001, his eleventh appearance in the hoops, and his first goals. It was the start of a long love affair between the Welshman and Celtic fans, which ended only recently when he lied through his teeth about the Dens Park riots in his column for a downmarket tabloid.

Now, to a true legend. Paul McStay served the club for about a thousand years, and whats often forgotten is  the immense contribution he made to the club during some of our darkest days. His darkest day came in 1994. Why?