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Celtic Diary Monday January 26: Its Going To Be One Of Those Weeks

Celtic consolidated their position at the top of the league with a hard fought 1-0 win over Ross County up in Dingwall. Kris Commons fired the ball towards goal when it took a deflection from a County player and looped over the goalkeeper.

A wins a win, an’ aw that.

To get an idea of what it was like up there on Saturday, have a look at this picture, from Ricky Finlayson on twitter, when he was five minutes from Dingwall;

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Sometimes the players just have to roll up their sleeves and dig in, sometimes the conditions won’t allow for silky football, but leagues are won and lost on days like Saturday, and although the game itself won’t be remembered by supporters, the result should be. It showed character and mental strength amongst the players, and it proved that the league won’t be won until its mathematically impossible for the hoops to be caught.

Which might be pointing out the obvious, but you get the point.

With aberdeen dropping points again, the lead is now three points and a game in hand, which , co-incidentally is the equivalent of the two wins over our nearest challengers this season.

Manager Ronny Deila was pleased enough with the days work;

 “We have the ball 70 per cent of the time in games now so it’s up to us to create and be even better in passing.

“It’s always important to get an early goal when you see a team sit so far back, but we did it in the second half and there is good morale and a good attitude in the boys and that’s why we won.

“We have put ourselves in a very good position now and everything is in our hands. It’s about our performances and if we keep on winning then the season is going to end with a championship. It’s up to us.” 

 The early goal was always going to be difficult, with the low sun in the players eyes-don’t underestimate how difficult this can make things. You can hardly make a good pass or have a shot on target if you can’t see what you’re aiming at. The pitch looked bumpy and uneven , to say the least, and as its one of the smaller playing surfaces in the league, it would have been a bit of a culture shock after the two artificial surfaces and Celtic Park that the players have enjoyed in the last few outings.

Deila agreed, but he appears to get a little mixed up in the last line. Maybe he’s just glad to get the game out of the way, and the points in the bag.

“The first 60 minutes was a good game and it’s hard to play against Ross County because they work hard and defend well and they were very deep as well.

“It’s a small pitch and it’s hard to break them down but we created chances and in the end it finished 1-0. If there was something I want us to do better, it’s to control the game more than we did in the last 20 minutes.

“We have a very good defence, though. It’s very strong while we have a good attack too, so we defend well as a team.” 

After the game, goalscorer and contract rebel-depending on who you believe-Kris Commons made a public appeal to sort out his future with the club, which is hanging in the balance amongst a batch of contradicting stories eminating from just about anyone with an interest.

Commons said;

If I was asking for the world I would think my future lay elsewhere but I don’t feel like I’m being greedy. I hope my contract situation can be sorted out before the end of the month but it’s not in my hands.

“Peter Lawwell, the board, they all have a part to play if they want me to stay for the next couple of years.

“I don’t want to leave, this is where I belong. I am comfortable here but everything has to be right for the club and myself.

“How close are we? I don’t know. It has been going on for so long. It is a little strange when you ask for a little bit and don’t get it.

“I don’t know what my gut feeling is. I never go by gut. It usually rumbles.

“My agent is speaking to them, they are speaking to me. They want me to stay, I want to stay but we can’t agree on something at the minute.”  

Ronny Deila countered;

 “Hopefully we can sort out Kris’ future. We will see. We have good communication so there is no problem there.

“It is just to get agreement about the contract. There are two different views just now but both of us want to solve it.” 

Does every picture tell a story ?

Commons obviously doesn’t feel secure at Celtic. That explains the revolver he wears at training.

Its been going on now since when Neil Lennon was manager. I think Kris maybe needs to take the hint here. although you get the feeling the club is up to something, as usual.

 The rub of the argument-if you can call it an argument when two sides don’t appear to be speaking to each other , is that Commons wants a two year deal. The club are offering a one year deal with an option to extend, based on appearances and so on.

 Commons has , like Anthony Stokes, got himself fitter, he has knuckled down and started to do what the manager asks,at least on the surface, and a two year deal, in this sense, seems reasonable enough.

 He’ll get it as well, but not because Celtic want to give it to him, but because theres a week left of the transfer window, and Celtic simply won’t be buying anyone else.

Not even Sean Maloney. He’s gone to Chicago Fire, in the Windy city , where he should be in his element.

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Though, as these exclusive pictures reveal, there was a problem with the medical;

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 Although , it has to be said, I’m not convinced we’ll lose any top players either.

 Its a bit like when my doctor told me not to drink any more. He didn’t tell me to drink any less either.

 For a variety of reasons, next Monday night will be welcome, as the window will then be closed, and we can get on with chasing the four trophies. Players -and supporters-will feel more settled, and that bloody League Cup semi final will be out of the way.

 Leigh Griffiths has finally been charged with singing in a pub, we’ve all seen the video, and if thats the police evidence then its going to be thrown out. Its unlikely, even if the striker was singing along with his pals, that any of them will come forward as witnesses for the prosecution. In fact, if I was Griffiths, each and every one of them would be lining up for the defence.

 Could this prosecution, at a time when its likely one or two more “offensive ditties ” will be sung at Hampden on Sunday, combined with the videoing of the Green Brigade during the Motherwell game, all be part of some police and government conspiracy to justify their spending on and commitment to the Offensive Behaviour act ?

 The behaviour of football supporters-and players-will be under the spotlight this week, and next week. What better to stoke the flames and pre empt a good old fashoined rammy on the streets of Glasgow next sunday when decent, law abiding citizens are on their way to the chapel, or their mother in laws, or taking their kids to the pictures ?

 Hampden, of course, is in a largely residential area, increasing the potential for someone to be “offensive “, and don’t be surprised if the numbers of arrests are equally divided between Celtic supporters and the other lot-because then they can call us both sides of the same coin.

 Seriously, I wish we’d drawn Aberdeen or Dundee United.

 Ever read that Stephen King book, Pet Sematary ? Its about a haunted wee bit of ground that brings the dead back to life, but the drawback is when they come back they are right nasty little characters, and the moral of the story is that the dead should be left where they are.

 Unfortunately, nit only has the corpse of Rangers been re-animated, they don’t seem to be aware that they are dead, and pointing it out to them usually upsets some, all or many of them, their apologists, and it seems those in positions of influence  as well.

 So, unless you spent yesterday face down on your back in bed sleeping off a hangover, you would have seen the advert placed in the Herald by some Celtic supporters which pointed out the obvious.

This is a new Rangers. The advert, somewhat long winded, but I guess at £3000 you’d want to put in as many words as you could as well, simply made the point that it was a new club operating out of Ibrox.

 Now, you might think £3000 is a lot of money to state the obvious, but its not actually about that. Its about, as far as I can see, embarrassing the media and the authorities to come out and say either that they think-and thus can prove-its a new club, or they don’t.

 Its about calling the authorities, and the media,  out for the last couple of years, which have seen a period of denial that only Thatchers government can match when they were individually asked if they knew a chap called Leon Brittain.

 Judging by the response on social media, its certainly done that.

 On the CQN site, theres an article which answers-fairly well-most of the criticisms levelled at the use of the advert.

 Most of which make sense, but I’m still unsure about the claim it won’t provoke violence as those inclined towards violence would be , er, inclined towards violence anyway.

 Well, thats alright then.

The thing is, as far as I see it, I-and quite a few others-see this game as a semi final against a team from the first division, Thats it. Fair enough, the media will try to play it up, they see it as a return of the Old Firm, but we can ignore that.

 And thats my point, we can ignore all of it-or at least try to.

For those who want the club to come out and say they are a new club, they already did.

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Simply repeating it ad nauseam kind of dulls the effect.

The advert has got people talking, it might even lead to the press finally admitting the truth, but since the majority of them never bothered with that in most of the stuff they write anyway, it seems a little optimistic.

 Personally, I think humour is the way forward. Casting my mind back to an afternoon in 2003, in the Broomloan stand, where i stood resplendent in my sombrero, it was interesting to note the amount of Rangers supporters who were laughing at the display of beachwear and accessories.

 We could, for instance, sing “Bring On The Rangers ” , though for it to work, we’d have to all join hands….

 I’ll be glad when the games over. If a new club in the “spirit of Rangers, you know the decent fans, had come to the fore, then I’d have welcomed the game. Hell, it could even be a stand against people taking our clubs for granted, and using them as their own source of wealth at our expense.

 But thats not what happened, and its not how the press saw it either, choosing instead to try to continue the status quo. In that sense, the advert has succeeded, exposing that and putting it firmly back in the public eye, prompting debate.

 One point on all this new club nonsense, why doesn’t an enterprising journalist simply ask if the players at Ibrox now are registered to the same club as the ones who were there pre liquidation ?

 Oh wait, i said enterprising journalist. This is Scotland.

 Lightening the mood, and still at the expense of the Ibrox club, its sad to see that Andy Goram has yet to conquer his dual personality problems;

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 We wish him all the best in his struggle.

But  its great to see that perennial bigots Harland and Wolff are coming into the 21st century. Note the second bottom line;

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 And , happily, there is some honesty still about;

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Oh, by the way, remember those t-shirts that Second Rangers printed to commemorate the League Cup semi final ? Those clever chaps in the marketing division at Celtic Park have decided to introduce a new Celtic strip for the day. again, we have the exclusive pictures;

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Right, who is playing, and when ?

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9 years ago

Just had a swatch at that “All Stars”team and have never heard of most of them.

Who the feck is Kiki Musampa?

Did they just get some jaikies oot the local model lodging house and gie them exotic sounding made up names?

I see one of them was called Paul Bosvelt. Or was that the after match entertainment?

Charlie Saiz
9 years ago

Arsenal v Celtic David O’Leary Testimonial 1986

Charlie Saiz
9 years ago
Reply to  Charlie Saiz

Christ it’s way earlier than that just clocked the strips..

Macca
9 years ago
Reply to  Charlie Saiz

Looks like it was way before that Charlie. Check out the kit.

andybhoy
9 years ago

Arsenal at Celtic Park in 78. Chicken George, He used to be a hun but he’s alright now Alfie and Willie Young. We got pumped 3-0.

holy sea
9 years ago
Reply to  andybhoy

Well done,Andybhoy.
Good to see you putting Charlie Saiz,right
again! lol

Charlie Saiz
9 years ago
Reply to  holy sea

That you trolling again ya fud?
Go check the timings of the post(s) and do as andy did by paying a wee bit more attention to the detail.

Meanwhile back to the upcoming game I think (I hope) Ronny rested Lustig,Stokes and Forrest for this game.
I’d be suprised if Henderson started in a game like this because I think the first objective of der hun will be to put a few heavy dunts in to level the playing field myself.

Pace will be the key to winning this as well as fitness and obviously talent because from what I have seen that mob are slow allover the pitch and not the fittest team in Scotland by any stretch of the imagination.

4-2-3-1
………………GORDON
.
..LUSTIG…DENAYER..VAN DIJK..IZZY

…………BROWN…..BITTON
.
…..COMMONS…..JOHANSEN……STOKES
.
……………..GRIFITHS

holy sea
9 years ago
Reply to  Charlie Saiz

Dear dear Charlie,can you not take a joke?
ya fud ?? Remember,we are ALL Tims together.Keep the fud for our real enemies
the Zombies from the dark side.I don’t troll.Also,remember,get a sense of humour,
as this is the tactic,we are using against Sevco.
Lastly,it’s nice to see you copied my team.Cheers m8.

Charlie Saiz
9 years ago
Reply to  holy sea

I was going to go with a 4-4-2 but then realised it’s pish and came back to my senses. 😉

Bawsman
9 years ago

I chipped in 50 notes to get the Ad out there.

My understanding was that the price was circa £1500. More than what was required was collected, the surplus went to Mary’s meals.

Liked the blog as usual, fair brightens up my lunch time, thanks.

holy sea
9 years ago
Reply to  Bawsman

Well done,Bawsman.
EBT Rae says,it will “provoke things”.Using these words,is an admission of guilt,that the truth hurts.The laptop loyal are also hurting,
as they can’t dispute the facts,of the ‘ Statement ‘.They have replied,like the Sun,showing their true colours,with Helicopter
Sunday II,as a banner headline,that has nothing to do with yesterday’s charity game.
Next Sunday’s game,gives Celtic the chance,to magnify their HURT,by 10 fold.

holy sea
9 years ago

It wasn’t pretty,and it got uglier when Scepovic came on.But 3 points is what matters,at this stage of the season.
We were crying out for a natural winger,to get in behind County.GMS anybody ? Why have we not got him in by now ? As a lesser-spotted Forrest
is not the answer.
We have now got a solid back 6 unit,who are playing well.The only change here is Lustig in for Matthews.
The front 4,who Ronny likes to see interchange,
do not have the right chemistry.This is where
GMS comes in.
But,for our first game against the new club,he has to go with on-form players.For me,it has to be Stokes,Commons,Johansen and Griffiths.

yarray
9 years ago
Reply to  holy sea

It was obvious how well Henderson can pass. Celtic need to play him in the middle so he has even more options. Choose between Brown and Biton as the holding midfielder. Biton takes too much time on the ball and Brown is surely one of the poorest passers on the team. Not to mention how poor a marksman he is.

holy sea
9 years ago
Reply to  yarray

Yarray,
Are you a Celtic fan ?
Broony is the heartbeat of our team,and you say drop him??
If you watch Celtic,we play 4-2-3-1,under Ronny.
The ‘2’ just now are Broony and Bitton.I am not
totally convinced with Bitton.But,he is dovetailing quite well with OUR captain.I like Henderson,his time will come,but not Sunday.

andybhoy
9 years ago
Reply to  holy sea

HS, Yarray is right about Brown, his passing is atrocious, but you are right about him as a must pick to give us the required dig and energy.Henderson is one of our own and the boy is going to be a good un and I would have no qualms about him playing on Sunday.

holy sea
9 years ago
Reply to  andybhoy

Andybhoy,
I also rate Henderson.But,I can’t see Deila changing his system to a 4-4-2.
If Bitton was not used,he would have went with Mulgrew,if he was fit,to play beside Broony.
The Deila mindset,means he will play both Broony and Bitton.As Stokes,is now fit,hoping Johansen makes it,I can see Deila picking this team,
Gordon
Lusting Denayer VVD Izzy
Bitton Broony
Commons Johanson Stokes
The Thumb

andybhoy
9 years ago
Reply to  andybhoy

HS. I would think you are spot on with that line up. I was just saying I would have no problem with Henderson playing if any of that line up was crocked.
By the way, I believe Forrest is fit and raring to go.

holy sea
9 years ago
Reply to  andybhoy

Andybhoy,
It’s always a great pleasure,to discuss,the merits or otherwise,of our great club,with you.I believe Tims should always stick together.I am awaiting 2 knee replacements,and work from home as a consequence.Too many cortisones,years ago,have eventually taken their toll.I still struggle to every home game.The banter on Etims is great,although some fail to see the funny side of it.
Thanks for letting me know about Forrest.On his day he can be a match winner.Hope he takes some part.
Hail Hail Andybhoy.
ps anymore of those naughty pics ? lol

andybhoy
9 years ago
Reply to  andybhoy

Cheers HS, I enjoy the craic with you as well.I had an op on my knee a few years ago and I have been told to let the other one run its course until I’m unable to stand the pain before they’ll do anything about it. I refuse to get it done privately.
Anyhow, I’m sure we’ll all be glad when this game is out of the way and we’re looking forward to the final in March, but our clubs history in this tournament leaves a lot to be desired, I just hope we aren’t going to screw up against the forces of darkness.
Two hot chicks with guns just for you HS.

https://encrypted-tbn3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTJruVDSGloa6oWj5_84C7YD9Fh7tBodGSaUgD_2fOXs6GWoWnc

holy sea
9 years ago
Reply to  andybhoy

Brilliant! I was waiting for the wife to go to work their,so I could get a good swatch at the 2 chicks.They didn’t disappoint. lol

yarray
9 years ago
Reply to  holy sea

i said play brown OR biton. having trouble reading?

holy sea
9 years ago
Reply to  yarray

Don’t be such a prat.I knew what you said.You would drop Broony ?
Do you not realise Ronny uses 2 holders.Brown and Bitton will play.
So who do we drop for Henderson ?
Take your pick from Stokes,Commons or Johansen ?
Give us your thoughts Einstein ?

m1kks
9 years ago

I thought it is interesting that on the team list it still states they were founded in 1872!

Gerry
9 years ago

Well if the “legneds” are claiming it’s the same team maybe they should consider paying their EBTs back. Simples.
The club should then pay back the 276 Creditors they have stiffed.

elcormaco
9 years ago

Ha, good spot m1kks – it does indeed. Wonder what creditors of liquidated first Rangers make of that. I m happy if they want to be called Rangers, culturally etc they share traits with the liquidated RFC – I wouldnt but you can’t account for taste.
However, they are a re formed or second Rangers, Rangers 2012 with the history broken in 2012 & re started. This seems to me to be an acceptable way of allowing them to feel connected to the old club while recognising that it is a new club, but of course this would require some humility and honesty from their fans in the media, Scottish football authorities and fan base, and that seems a hope too far. So eff em, Sevco it is. If they cant be honest why honour them with any respect?

Photo is aganist the Arse in 1978, must stop following the same people as Ralph on twitter!!

Game on Sat was pretty dull to watch, a terrible pitch that allowed little flowing football and a robust Ross County who – – rightly – werent going to allow us to kncok it around at will – ultimately its another good weekend – putting distance between us & Aberdeen, so the performance is of secondary importance on this occasion.

What odds some in Hampden will have watched us struggle on a poor pitch and thought to give the groundsmen there the nod to prepare a heavy, rutted pitch for the weekend – this will be the second gane after the Aberdeen / United semi final, I d be less than surprised to find us playing on a cut up mess of a pitch – a”great leveller” as they will have it. Cue big punts up the field, Centre forward elbows flying with no fouls and fights for second balls vs trying to move the ball around a glue pot.

elcormaco
9 years ago

lost comment!! Is it because I said “sevco”?

Charlie Saiz
9 years ago
Reply to  elcormaco

Itsha conshpishy Elcormarco

holy sea
9 years ago

comment lost in reply to Andybhoy.
I know how Pensionerbhoy feels now !

andybhoy
9 years ago

Lennon should be ashamed of himself.

BroxburnBhoy
9 years ago

Love the indignant response by several ex Huns about the newspaper ad. The very same people who accepted the EBTs and thus were part of the wonderful demise of the old Rangers. They gained an unfair advantage by use an illegal payment scheme designed to avoid tax so as to pay more money to attract better players. Now they talk of dignity! Please. Winning titles and cups based on this unfair financial advantage is cheating and the rest of Scottish football should be indignant. Also those ex celtic players helping to fuel the myth of the Old Firm ought to take a good look at themselves. This is the first time we will play the team currently at Ibrox, they were founded in 2012 and not 1872 ( that club were liquidated to avoid paying debt ), the 1872 club won titles and cups by leveraging a financial tax avoidance scheme to gain an unfair advantage and should be stripped of titles and cups during the period they were using this scheme. Dignity!!! Neither the dead club nor the new club have any. I would have much prefgered not to have to play this newco and avoid the “old Firm” myth being rolled out. Anyway we have to play them and I’d like the team to simply beat them and we can all move on.

AntonDeclan
9 years ago
Reply to  BroxburnBhoy

Spot on BroxburnBhoy, totally agree…….but as others elsewhere have said, let’s make this a fun day out in the stands, celebrating all things Celtic. Will be watching with interest…..on telly!

Hans Penalty
9 years ago

Right, for the cup semi final, how about holding a giant seance…..is there any billy out there??

Charlie Saiz
9 years ago

How’s about a new take on an old favourite?

Oh Hampden in the sun
Rangers died now heres another one
We ask wee Billy what is up
As we now play Sevco in the Diddy Cup

Davie Murray he fucked it you see
Trying to match the Celtic Fc
He couldny buy them all a Big Cup
With his EBT’s he really fucked up

We sing …
Oh Hampden in the Sun
Rangers died now here’s another one
We ask wee Billy what is up
As we now play Sevco in the Diddy Cup

Then Came Craigy to the RFC
Bought the whole sheebang for a Quid not three
When Craigy asked if he wanted more
Sir David wheelied oot the exit door

We sing…
Oh Hampden in the sun
Rangers died now theres another one
We ask wee Billy what is up
As we now play Sevco in the Diddy Cup

Liquidated with the Debts they cried
They couldn’t stop the process and simply died
Then came Charlie with his talk so big
Sure he made them tea and sold them a pig

We sing …
Oh Hampden in the sun
Rangers died now here’s another one
We ask wee Billy what is up
As we now play Sevco in the Diddy Cup

Now to make the Sevvies sick
Allys planting tatties on a fortune the prick
And Big Mike Ashley sure he’s on the ball
He’s making a mint whilst the share price falls

Wee sing..
Oh Hampden in the sun
Rangers died now here’s another one
We ask wee Billy what is up
As we now play Sevco in the Diddy Cup

andybhoy
9 years ago
Reply to  Charlie Saiz

Excellent Charlie and hopefully we score 7 just as we did against the old club that were Rangers.

Charlie Saiz
9 years ago
Reply to  andybhoy

Cheers andy indeed I am hoping we eclipse it myself wit it being a Diddy Cup game anything can happen. 😉

BroxburnBhoy
9 years ago

Brilliant!

BroxburnBhoy
9 years ago

I would love to see ex celtic legends and ex Celtic players condemn the illegal EBT scheme used by 1872 Rangers. Comment on the fact that arrogance and disregard for the rules led to the demise and blame Minty and his gang of yes men including bankers. Let’s hear their views on those things rather than criticizing Celtic supporters telling the truth.

Devoy45
9 years ago

Brilliant Hampden song! The first verse would be enough. Let’s sing!

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