So there I was , watching a fairly intriguing match on the telly, St. Mirren were competing for every ball, Celtic were giving as good as they got, and just before half time the good lady popped her head round the door and asked me to do the tatties and veg for the dinner as she was taking the dog out . So, with the scores at 0-0 and a good second half in prospect, I figured I could get this done during the break.

Lucky for me I got back in front of the screen just in time to see Kris Commons score the fourth, after Celtic presumably decided to raise the tempo, win the game and give me something else to moan about.

Neil Lennon wasn’t moaning though;

“I thought we were exceptional from start to finish and we could have been two-up but for the inside of the post,” the Hoops boss said, “and we felt at half-time that if we got one goal we’d go on to dominate the game and that’s exactly how it panned out.

“It was a magnificent team-performance and another clean sheet so I can’t ask any more of them and they’re doing the club really proud at the minute.

“I thought we played well in the first-half and James Forrest was a good outlet for us. Having him back and healthy makes a huge difference to the way we want to play. Adam Matthews and Charlie as well – we’ve missed those three over the last couple of months.”

Celtic did seem a lot better-more balanced-with Charlie Mulgrew back in the side. With Forrest and Stokes doing a bit of graft, it allowed commons freedom to roam, and apart from grabbing a couple himself, he made space for others to put their names on the scoresheet.

Lennon continued, citing the 17 goal Kris Commons as one of a number of candidates for Player of the Year;

“I’d say we’d have a few contenders,” he said. “As well as Kris, Virgil van Dijk and Efe Ambrose have also been exceptional and Scott Brown, who doesn’t always get the plaudits, has had a brilliant season, so we’ve got four or five in the mix.

“I know it’s a bit early for that but they’re playing at the top of their game just now.

“We had a chat with the players over the past couple of days and having the extra day from Wednesday to Sunday did them the world of good.

“But we went over the video of the Thistle game and the players took on board what we were asking of them, and when you’ve got James Forrest, who gives us that extra dimension, at his best, then we’re very exciting to watch.”

The hoops are now one of just five unbeaten teams in Europes top leagues, with Bayern Munich, Olympiakos , Sparta Prague and Steaua Bucharest the others. A remarkable achievement,and one that is being constantly overlooked by the media. Doesn’t matter who is and who isn’t in your league, its still a rarity to go unbeaten for anyone.

We did well yesterday, it was a good performance, and Lennon  has every reason to be pleased. Just a shame the momentum is being broken with a bit of a jolly abroad. Surely those needing a rest could have been rested, with the fringe players given a couple of games to show what they can do ?

Its beginning to look like we are about to say goodbye to Georgios Samaras. Although we probably all knew he was away, and various tales are emerging a shabby treatment from Peter Lawwell, he will be missed. Sort of. The big Greek galloot has given us plenty to cheer about, but it would probably be better for all concerned if he moved on. He’s not going to Turkey-never a popular place for Greeks anyway-and will instead stay in Scotland to sort out his future, according to the Record, which would explain the sightings of him at the airport… and his subsequent flight to London.

Australian newspaper The Age made a point of reporting that “young gun Tom Rogic was left warming the bench again ” during yesterdays game, and it looks like he will have to go out on loan, or even move on to get the game time he needs to book a place on the Aussie plane to Brazil.

Joe Ledley has indicated he wants to stay at Celtic, Adam Matthews says he thinks he will, and the man himself  is going to Turkey with the team. While he’s away, Peter Lawwell will speak to his representatives and try to thrash out a new deal.

“Joe’s representatives are coming up on Tuesday and, hopefully, we’ll get something resolved one way or another.” said Neil Lennon, which doesn’t actually sound that hopeful. ”

Japanese prospect Hiroki Yamada has signed a new deal with Jubilo Iwata, and Sunderland say they’ve had no contact from Celtic over Steven Fletcher.

Maurice Johnston has been seen drinking at the Bothwell Bridge, is he returning to Ibrox-or is he our new striker coach ? With him as a target, most peoples aim would certainly improve.

Channel 4s Alex Thomson is back on the scene. He has a few words to say about the institutional racism that is almost entirely unique to Glasgow and its media;

“” You can only hope that things will change if enough people point out the bleedin’ obvious: shiny new Glasgow, city of the Commonwealth Games, needs to take a long hard look at itself and try to come into the 21st century.

I refer to Glasgow’s bizarre blindness to racism, bigotry and all manner of criminal activity which would scarcely be tolerated in any other British city outside N Ireland.

Yet, in and around Glasgow it’s scarcely noticed. ”

Whoo hoo-go get em Alex !

” But like I say, if enough people call it out things can change.

Nobody around the West Coast seemed to think David Limond’s foul online racist bigotry and intimidation of a woman was odd, or wrong, or unusual. Still less, racist. ”

In fact it was clearly criminal and eventually Police Scotland were able to act when Channel 4 News gave them evidence they couldn’t refuse. And now one at least of the Ibrox Underclass is awaiting sentence for racially and religiously aggravated online intimidation. Yes – racially.

The victim here is not black, she’s of Irish descent. But racism is racism in fact, in reality, in law – however blind important sections of Glasgow remain to this reality.

So the racial element makes it obviously a landmark, groundbreaking prosecution.

So groundbreaking in fact that it was all but ignored by the Glasgow-dominated Scottish media. You really do have to wonder why? They’ll have another chance this week when Limond is sentenced in Ayr. Will they take it? “”

Excellent-he’s putting pressure on the media to shake off  their shameful shackles and tell it like it is.

“So quite rightly Police Scotland are on a roll here. They’ve successfully taken the law to online criminality. It’s a significant step. But there’s more to be done. A lot more. Right now, for instance, the police should be very interested in Celtic’s underclass doing much the same thing as Limond. I know for certain at least one key detective involved in the Limond case already has evidence.

Eh ? Celtics underclass ? Pray tell…

” Take, for example, the site known as the Huddleboard.

This purports to be a fans’ forum where people come and sound off from behind their keyboards in relative anonymity, brave men that they are – and they are mostly men it seems. Fair enough, passion and free speech and all that.

Except that those running this site either don’t seem to know or care that comment is one thing, crime is another.

Hot on the success of prosecuting Limond the excellent detectives of Police Scotland may well now be taking a close interest in Huddleboard and those who run it.

In reality Huddleboard is just another facet of the increasingly toxic public image of Celtic. The Seville days are ancient history. Like a bully with no natural competitors (though Rangers are on their way back), the Celtic of today is rightly gaining a reputation for the most consistently violent fans in the UK who attack stadiums as if we’re living in 1974. ”

Like this rogue, presumably.

” They are Scotland’s modern Millwall: an underclass of extreme politics and mindless violence – the same old toxic brew.

That’s the Celtic Underclass on tour ”

Right. Own up. Who let their dug pee against his car ?

So, whats he going on about ?

Well, over on the Huddleboard, a Celtic fans website where you can’t really take anything seriously, largely because it doesn’t take itself seriously ;

“”  so-called Celtic “supporters” openly threaten precisely the same journalist as Limond did. They threaten her with blatant physical and sexual assault for doing her job. It’s disgusting and laughably stupid – and yes guys – deleting any of it now is far far too late.

Even in the unlikely case of it being Rangers ‘fans’ on the stir, it is apparently being tolerated by the people moderating and running the site who bear responsibility in law. The details of the criminals engaged in this vile, inadequate idiocy will be known to those running the site. Their details are logged. And no, you can’t delete them either. Should they wish not to give such information to Police Scotland they will place themselves in an interesting position legally.

I have good reason to suppose the police may well soon require such information and rightly so.

Hiding behind having a server in the US is unlikely to hold up before a determined and professional police force. Hiding and huddling – not exactly heroic. I would advise the Huddleboard moderators to start moderating, publicly apologise for the criminality that has been published by fans and wipe this stuff from their output forever in future – though it may well be too late for that, legally speaking. ”

So, whats all the fuss about. Where are these threats, and what were they ?

Although it may have been upsetting for the lass, there are no actual threats here. Just a few opinions that are , granted, a little strong, but no threats.

But that hasn’t altered Thomsons tirade;

” Yet again, alongside Limond the obvious criminality on this site is startlingly clear to an outsider yet around Glasgow of course few even appear to notice.

But this is now. New Year. 21st Century. Post-Limond. Police aware. If Glasgow culture’s still stuck in early twentieth century tolerance of this filth, there are many outwith Clydeside who are not, and are calling time on you, here and now.

There are many well-moderated Scottish football sites run by grown-ups who can distinguish between a comment and a crime – The Scottish Football Monitor is one. ”

The Scottish Football Monitor-the magazine that recently assassinated the character of Jeannette Findlay ?

Alex Thomson has made a name for himself with some excellent reporting, often from areas around the world where he has put his life in danger.

Yet a couple of months in Scotland and he’s relegated himself to the standard and style of the idiots  that he spent so much time ridiculing while he was up here.

Something up there is toxic, and contagious, but its not the Celtic Underclass. Whatever that might be.

It may be that one or two posters have upset Miss Haggerty, the victim in this case, but surely thats between her and the police, and the posters ? If she has a complaint, then make it to the relevant authorities, if shes not happy about the outcome, then she could turn to her pals in the press.

I was going to complain when those on the Huddleboard said I had a boring voice, after they “reviewed ” one of our podcasts,  but when I tried to tell someone they would invariably fall asleep.

Miss Haggerty has every right to complain if she’s offended, but its not quite proportionate to refer to Celtic as “Scotlands Modern Millwall. ” . Not proportionate at all. Last night Thomson tweeted this;

alex thomson @alextomo

Isn’t it on the season book ?

Caption competition today.

What is going on here ?

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