Celtic Diary Wednesday August 7

Still can’t shake the nerves for tonights game. Yet there is no reason to be nervous. Elfsborg were a clumsy one dimensional side who should cause no problems to Celtic, but its still one of those games that will give us a sigh of relief rather than a big cheer when its over. Thats if we get through, that is.

So far, in four competitive games, Celtic have won four, and conceded just one goal. and that shouldn’t have counted because our keeper wasn’t ready. The side never looked like losing any of those games, and are certainly a class above the opposition they have faced.

So why the nerves ?

Perhaps I’m looking too deeply, perhaps just trying to find something to moan about, but all doesn’t seem well at Celtic. Or maybe its just a bit of bad luck.

Both new signings, who may well have played tonight, are injured. With Hooper and Wanyama already away, it looks increasingly certain that Kelvin Wilson will be away as well. He’s homesick, Nottingham Forest want him back, and have upped their offer, and realistically, he can go. No big loss, and theres been a feeling for a few weeks he wanted out-I mentioned in the diary that I had a bad feeling about a couple of things he’d said long before it became an issue.

Theres a novelty, getting something right.

All it is, after considerable thought, is that a lot of whats going on wasn’t expected, and yet the evidence suggests it was.

Allow me to explain.

Rogic in for Wanyama, Balde in for Hooper, van Dijk for Wilson,  As well as Mouyokolo, for whatever reason. Add to that Derk Boerrigter to give extra pace and cover up front.

It looks like a plan, but it doesn’t seem to have quite worked. Maybe it is just bad luck.

Curiously, Rami Gershon, who didn’t really get a chance when he came in on loan last January , despite not doing badly, has been allowed to leave. With Wilson already showing signs his concentration is at best ropey, then he would have been ideal for tonight.

So, how do we play it to get that result, and guarantee another another eight European games before Christmas, either in the big cup or the wee cup ?

Well, Forster , obviously has to go in goals. He’s reliable and has started the season quite well. Ross County aside, he’s never looked uncomfortable, despite having Stan and Ollie in front of him most of the time.

One problem Celtic do have, is that arguably-its not really a debate, never mind an argument-our best two defenders are both right backs.

But they are both versatile, and though most of us would rather players played in their favoured positions, tonight I would play Adam Matthews at right back, and move Mikael Lustig to centre half, along with Charlie Mulgrew. Thats not playing Mulgrew just for the sake of playing him, but because he’s the best option. And he is more than useful in dead ball situations.

All three are comfortable in possession, calm and can move the ball forward quickly. With Emilio Izzaguerre rampaging up and down the left, its also important to have a left sided defender as cover.

Thats your back four. Kelvin Wilson has other things on his mind, and whilst its not the same as the Efe Ambrose just getting off a plane gamble, its still a gamble Lennon does not have to take.

In front of the two centre backs, Efe Ambrose should play the holding role. Under strict instructions to keep to his job.

Elfsborg spent a lot of the first leg kicking and tripping Samaras and Forrest, and a wee bit strength will be needed in the middle for the inevitable battle.

Scott Brown to the right of him, and Joe Ledley to the left. Both need to be on their game, and can contribute goals. The other option would be Beram Kayal, but he neither contributes to the score sheet or provides the strength of Ambrose, so he has to sit this one out.

Kris Commons and Gergios Samaras can do what they want, when they want to, and Anthony Stokes should continue as number one striker.

Commons and Samaras are key for Celtic at this level. They are not afraid to take people on, and can create space and chances both for other forwards and themselves, as well as runners arriving from midfield.

Watching Anthony Stokes against Ross County, it was plain to see his hunger. He just needs to relax a wee bit, not try so hard to do the right thing, and just play his natural game. The goals will come.

That leaves James Forrest in reserve to run at a tired defence if needed.

See, piece of piss this management lark.

Elfsborg 0, Celtic 3.

But I wouldn’t go to the bookies with that. However,  a wee first goal Commons in the first ten minutes might be a tidy investment….

By the way, if you do take this advice, and go to the bookies, its only fair to tell you that you will probably end up living alone in a flat above a shop before the end of the year.

Don’t forget, the game starts at a quarter to seven. thats 18:45, or 6:45 if your clock only goes up to twelve.

Its on BBC2  Scotland, and on Celtic TV for all subscribers.

Neil Lennon tweeted last night that the door is still open for negotiation with the Green Brigade, who should have plenty of time to sit down and sort things out with the club, especially now its the school holidays.

Look, I’m struggling to see why the club would want rid. All this stuff about being a potential embarrassment to the club doesn’t make any sense. The club gets a power of good publicity from the tifos, the singing and the atmosphere , to which the green brigade do contribute a lot. A hell of a lot.

But sometimes in life we all need to just take a step back, and realise that perhaps there are a few things we could do better. That goes for the club as well.

Its a bit like having two bickering kids fighting over who’s made a mess in the kitchen.

Just clean it up the pair of you, and give yourselves a break.

So, thats the team selection and the fans crisis sorted already today. I’m away to look into the Yemen crisis, the new strain of Bird flu, and see what I can do about that.

What I must confess, however, is that I cannot help Ally McCoist in his wee spat with Charles Green. Its all going to end in tears, and perhaps the next step for the troo bloo rainjers man is to form his own club and rent Ibrox from Green, or Whyte , or whoever actually does own it.

My guess is it will be state owned anyway before long as Her Majesty repossesses her spritual home in lieu of monies owed.

But Mccoist could form his own FC of Rangers type club, hell , he could even call it Real Rangers-or if they have trouble getting a licence, Provisional Rangers, and in between, of course, they could be Continuity Rangers.

Look .I’m only trying to help.

Anyway, in other news, a great  big lump of waste fat  was found yesterday in a London sewer.

But he still made it to the game last night.

Charles Green also took his seat in the directors box, with his new pals-though it looks like they were the only ones happy to see him.

I’m guessing he didn’t leave with any of those ladies on his arm.

Ach, enough of them, as hilarious as they are.

We’ve got a game tonight.

C’mon the Hoops.

Nadine Coyle was the little charmer who was pictured yesterday, and she has been to Celtic Park. I saw her years ago with a couple of the other dimunitive Girls Aloud.

Now, these pictures of young ladies may be fun to look at, and it is a chore selecting the right one, but its time to even the balance with one for the ladies.

He’s a lifelong Celtic fan, but  who is he, and what does he do?