Sad news today, as I hear my old pal shuggie, who suffers from dyslexia, has been arrested and charged with vandalising the Nou Camp.
Away fromall that nonsense, theres a game today. Its not on the telly, so anyone who wants to view this particular festival of sport will have to get along to the ground.
Celtic , wearing their traditional strip,
will face Motherwell, who will wear their away outfit;
These games are usually an engrossing tactivcal battle, Celtic playing their fast passing attacking style, and Motherwell kicking everything that moves, sometimes even catching the ball by mistake.
Still, manager Stuart McCall has spent a couple of years trying to iron out this sort of problem, and he’ll be hoping that theres no such nonsense today. In years gone by, Motherwell manager Jock Wallace, a former army sargeant major, would lead his players up and down sand dunes to get them fit, rather like they do in the Army, a move learned on the beaches near Dunkirk in 1940 when the British bulldog spirit led to a massive straightening of the front line by putting as much distance as they could between them and the advancing German Army.
McCall has modified it slightly, yet keeping to the Army tradition of bullying and intimidating anyone they can get away with.
Unless they get caught on camera.
With Inverness winning and Hamilton drawing yesterday, the pressure is on Celtic to close the gap at the top, and although many of us think the league is a foregone conclusion, thats not an idea shared by the other eleven teams in the league. The longer we are playing catch up, the harder it will get to pull it back.
Last seasons huge margin seems a long way away, but perhaps we should count ourselves fortunate. Look at Liverpool, they promised so much this year, yet were hammered ( see what I did there ? ) by West Ham yesterday, and manager Brendan Rodgers was forced to admit they have lost a lot of their bite this term.
Celtic however, and manager Ronny deila are ready for the visit of the Lanarkshire side, and the boss reckons that Motherwell will be motivated for this one. Yeah, motivated. You could call it that.
“If you see a team against Celtic they will be 50 to 100 per cent better than they were in the last game,” he said. “It’s like a cup final for them, and that’s why every game is difficult in Scotland.
“It doesn’t surprise me.I’ve been the underdog before and when you meet a big team you have nothing to lose and just go for it.
“It’s fantastic if you win those games, and I understand that it’s huge for the other clubs to meet Celtic, especially when they come to Celtic Park with the crowd and fans.
“There is a lot of motivation. But it’s at Celtic Park and we will do everything to have a good performance and win the game.
“You have to work in every match to get three points and we did that on Thursday night and that’s why we got a good result, and we will do the same on Sunday,” he continued.
“It’s all about attitude, motivation and being ready for every game. That culture has been here for many years of winning games in Europe and in the league at the same time, so the players are used to it.
“It’s a very important game on Sunday and we will do everything we can to win it. Motherwell is a game we have to take seriously and we have to do everything we can to win it.”
The Norwegian also explained he may make a few changes to the line up today, with a heavy schedule ahead;
“We have six or seven games now in three weeks so you have to see the full picture,” explained the Hoops boss. “You need to use your squad and that’s why we have a big one.
“We will have a very good team on Sunday but we will see how things go in training and how people are feeling before we decide who will play.”
Ah. Training. funny he should mention that.
Neil Lennon, mutually consented by the board when he questioned the clubs lack of investment once too often, actually, that should read, ” once, which was too often” has chucked in his tuppence worth after Ronny questioned the fitness level of the team he inherited;
“All you hear now is that you need to ban chips, tomato sauce, fizzy drinks. Yeah, because that makes them better players.
“It’s disrespectful when a new manager comes in and immediately says, ‘The players aren’t fit enough’.
“I didn’t monitor what players were eating in the canteen. You have a set diet and the food at Celtic was top class. See if I see a player happy and full of running, I just let him carry on.
“Psychologically, the player is happy so if he wants to have a Coca-Cola, let him have one. Some players carry weight because it suits them. It gives them a little bit more power.
“Gazza used to hold people off because he was a little bit heavier, with a change of pace. John Hartson was built like a brick outhouse but he scored loads of goals. He wasn’t the most athletic but was a brilliant footballer. He scored in big games in the Champions League. Everyone’s different.”
To be fair to him, anyone who saw Lennon still running around in Seville in those temperatures towards the end of extra time would agree with that, and I’d rather have John Hartson up front than any of our present lot, energy drinks or not, so although sports science is important, man management is even more so.
And it does help if you can play a bit.
However, thats not to say Lennon was justified in coming out and criticising Deila. We can do without that. He should have made his comments in private, on the car park after a few beers like the rest of us do.
Still, even if Lennon was felt he was right to say what he did, it comes nowhere near the naivety of Ronnys latest meanderings…
You see, theres a chance that Celtic could face the Second Rangers International , or whatever they are called this week, in the League Cup, and the hoops boss is looking forward to it.
“It would be fantastic if we can have an Old Firm game again.
“These are the big games and I think everyone is looking forward o them. It will be a tough match against Hearts but we’re looking forward to it.
“The League Cup is the first trophy I can win. I can assure you I’ll go out 100 per cent to win it.”
Perhaps he can be excused for this simply on the grounds that he has never been involved in one before. Of course, the 2012 death of Rangers means he never will be, but perpetuating the myth of eternal life is inexcusable for anyone associated with Celtic, and its another reason why when they go down this time, they’ll simply pop back up again, like that ugly wart you can never quite get rid of.
Of course, that was music to the ears of chunky funster Ally McCoist, who is still clinging on to the reins at Ibrox, and he burbled;
“I’d take an Old Firm final if you’re offering me it! But we’re not in a position to pick and choose who we might get should we beat Falkirk.
“Celtic are still the best team in the country by some considerable way. They are the team to beat. But are we better equipped to face them now?
You’d think he would know, being the manager and everything. So, Ally, are you better equipped ?
Oh come on, I haven’t got all fecking day. The games on at three.
Oh for fucks sake, I’ll ask someone else.
John Collins and Davie Moyes were battling for the ball in yesterdays picture, and today we have a picture of another battler for you to identify.
Paul hartley
Right, I’m really not happy now. I was willing to give Ronny time to impliment his plan even though the play so far has been poor but spouting that “Old Firm” crap is just too much. Someone take him aside and have a word before he alienates what’s left of our support.
Paul Hartley… HAIL HAIL
Really disappointed in Ronny’s comments.
Pretending they are alive is one thing. But actively longing to play them, whilst building up their significance is sickening.
The sad thing is many of our fans are desperate to play then too. As is Lawwell.
Struggle to recognise Celtic these days.
It’s about time Neil Lennon got himself a new job and shut up about the old one. He talks about being disrespectful, but how bad is his regular sniping at the club, players and now manager.
Move on Neil, we had to.
Morto , what nonsense are u talking ?
Good article funny
Have to disagree with Lennon’s comment,”Some people carry weight because it suits them, it gives them more power”.When people give this arguement, they always give an example of an extra ordinary player, never considering that had the player also been fitter ,he may have been even more extraordinary.
Deila’s position is that had these great players been fitter, then they could have been even greater.In other words , maybe they didn’t reach their MAXIMUM potential.
That’s all he’s asking, is that every player reaches his max .
I certainly have no problem with that.
As to “carrying weight”,weight comes in 2 forms ,fat or muscle.
The latter is good, the former is bad .Who had the more power, a heavy Hartson or big (the original) Balde?
So for the players who want “more power” , lose the fat and gain the muscle , otherwise it’s just an excuse for laziness.
( Whilst I agree with Deila on this point , I’m still reserving my judgement regarding his over-all managerial abilities).
The(old firm) ceased to exist following the liquidation of rfc
did it ever exists in the first place?
Deila was probably asked the usual loaded question and would’ve been damned if he denied the tribute act and damned if he didn’t…….by the hacks of course. Give the guy a break, TBH maybe he shouldn’t comment on any other side or potential cup draw but we all know the hacks’ agenda don’t we?.
Hey Neil Lennon it’s ok for you to say that being overweight and on an unsupervised diet that it did no harm to certain players but maybe we would have won in Seville if that would have been the case.
Was never a great Lennon fan as a player or manager…… But my God, I’d rather have him than this imposter Deila.
Any comment that appears in the MSM are slanted, you can criticise VVD or Delilah on comments appearing in the press. Just look at the Sunday Mail today telling Broony to leave The team ASAP.
I agree that young footballers should look after their health and diet, look at Ferdinand with his statement about a pike of chips pre match and David Moyes attitude.
So the first game against them must just be around the corner. Not long til the entire debacle is buried and it’s business as usual.
It’s been a blast. We came so close!
Paul hartley,our new manager?
Would rather have Jackie Mac.
Why not both of them. At least they know about the club and players etc.Unlike the clowns in charge at present. Still no long till the January sales when we really will hit another Jan/bray.
Deila has won five games out of 13, two of which were against Reykjavik and he’s all over the papers saying he’d love to meet Deadco in the League Cup. Pains me to say it but the way Celtic are playing these days they’d quite possibly beat us.
Deila never a Celtic manager in million years – he is bonkers! he has no idea and as bad they are at this rate they have a chance with a clueless manager running our club! I will not be back under him Maribor was it for me. Now we cant beat any team – draw is good…………..in Norway
bhoys the beer after another disappointing display! resonding to McCoist “we have a chance” just kills me as we always let themoff the hook! we should have done the years ago