Menu Close

Celtic Diary Sunday February 1: A Big Welcome To The New club

The historic first meeting between Scotlands biggest club and Scotlands newest one takes place at lunchtime today. After some creative marketing, the owners of the new club have managed to attract supporters of Celtics biggest rivals, the now defunct Rangers.

And its making me a little tense. One of my sons asked me for a concoction of pineapple, orange and cranberry juices this morning , and he got a punch.

The media have sold this game to the public as a restoration of that rivalry, and whilst anyone who understands the basic premise of running a business understands that it isn’t, it looks like people are getting caught up in the hype.

On paper, it all looks fairly straightforward. Celtic lead the Scottish Premier division, whilst The Rangers, as they are known, are struggling to keep pace at the top of the First. A comfortable win should be assured, perhaps by several clear goals.

Football matches aren’t played on paper, and in this case, the reality could be quite different.

If Celtic field their under fourteen team, that is. In that scenario, the Ibrox side might fancy a draw.

Most supporters would say that they never wanted this game to happen, but now that its actually here, I’m kind of regretting not being at Hampden. After nearly fifty years of games against them, sometimes as many as seven in a year, its not that I miss them, hell, no.

But I miss beating them.

Does that make any sense ?

The “Old Firm ” games, and the “uniqueness ” around them had largely lost its attraction in recent years. The stifling police presence helping to stifle the atmosphere, the poison which seemed to increase in direct proportion to the media hyoe often meant that the games themselves were drab affairs. Really, when was the last one that will be remembered for what happened on the field instead of what happened off it ?

However, no matter how much I try to take my mind off it, and try to play it down, I’m looking forward to putting them in their place.

I even tried to watch the news to take my mind off it, you know, to give me something else to think about it.

Like the story about the man from doncaster who was jailed for having sex with a pony.

Wow. How sick and depraved do you have to be to have sex with someone from Doncaster ?

Or the dance teacher who got four years for sleeping with two fifteen year old girls.

Bloody hell . A straight dance teacher.

Celtic manager Ronny Deila has remained fairly cool about the fixture all week, and keeping the heid will be all important out in what will be  a highly charged atmosphere. At least for the first four or five minutes until Celtic score.

‘I never think about losing, it’s all about winning,’ said Deila. ‘My family hates that about me because I think I’ll win every game we’re going to play — no matter who it’s against. You have to believe you’ll win. I can’t see myself losing on Sunday and that’s our target.

‘There will be more hurt and it will be more painful if we lose to Rangers — that goes for everybody at Celtic. But that’s why we love competing. You have ups and downs but it will be the best feeling in the world if we win. 

A statement that seems , on the surface, fairly bland and uninteresting, and that might even prompt fears that he doesn’t know what he’s going to face this afternoon.

However, I like to think thats because he’s seen through all the hyoe, and will instruct the players to just go out and do the job, like he does every week.

 Many years ago, I remember Jo Venglos playing the “unknown ” Lubomir Moravcik up front against the Old Rangers within a week or so of him joining the club, and I thought it was a mistake. In those days we didn’t have the benefit of the internet, and relied on the papers and the radio for our information. Sure, Moravcik had looked the part when he came, but this game, the nedia sadi, and I believed, would be too much for him.

 Of course, the man signed instead of the proven John Spencer cruised through the game, and showed us that hype really is just hype.

Celtic don’t concede goals very often, in fact they haven’t conceded since coming back from the Canaries. Celtic create chances by the bucketload, and we can assume that some of them will go in. Though I’ll be checking behind me to make sure that doesn’t come back and bite me in the arse.

 All we can hope is that the players  just keep the heid and play the game.

“I think it is important to win a match, but I think what is even more important is the manner in which you win.” 

Never more so than today do these words from Jock Stein have so much poignancy.

Not like yesterday, when I went out for a meal.

Embedded image permalink

Supporters all around the world are getting ready to watch the game, some of them are highly influential;

Embedded image permalink

The players are getting ready;

Embedded image permalink

And the police are prepared;

Embedded image permalink

Not everyone is being taken in by the hype, though.

Stay safe, enjoy the game and sing you hearts out.

I’ll be waiting for my 7-0 to finally happen.

One more thing;

Celtic , according to sources in the Netherlands, are about to sign winger Zakaria Bakkali from PSV Eindhoven, who is highly rated and eligible  to join Celtic now that Beram Kayakl has moved to Brighton, thus freeing up a space under the limited ridiculous first names rule. This story has been floating around the web for a few days, but doesn’t appear to have any real substance to it.

Which probably means it will happen.

That was the late , great Tommy burns yesterday , in a picture taken against Innsbruck.

Anyone know whats going on here ?

Embedded image permalink

 

 

0 0 votes
Article Rating
40 Comments
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Kris
9 years ago

Looking forward to this today. A good tent pegging of the tribute act is on the cairds

Monti
9 years ago

I think I’m going to be sick with excitement and anticipation.
I’ve felt like this since Monday…..
6-0

9 years ago

Is that a photograph of the pitch inspection at Ibrox a few weeks ago?

m1kks
9 years ago
Reply to  buffythecat

Arrgh I took too long , one finger typer lol.

Barnett Kielly
9 years ago

I cant take this lightly. I dont think they are anything other than the old establishment team they always have been (a bun by any other name is still a bun). I want to win this one more than any other match I can ever remember. Perhaps my memory is in worse shape than it has ever been I dont know.

Nothing but a convincing win can be accepted.

Ronny – I know you read this all the time so please listen to me. Please dont feck with the line-up – no Scepovic please, no wierdness of any kind.

Ronny ?? Ronny ??? Do you hear me ??? Rrrrrrrooooooooooonnnnnyyyy

R

m1kks
9 years ago

was that the hertz v huns pitch inspection. Hope for a good performance today, and stay safe to all the bhoys who will be there.

mattgallscot
9 years ago

Lots of people walking through a field with snow. I’ll take 1-0 we just can’t lose to the rotten mob it would be too much.

gerard
9 years ago

i want them to get pumped,to feel the pain,i remember the barren times when we were run badly under the kellys and the whites,let them feel the hurt! Get stuck into the pee—pel

stu67
9 years ago

Got my bet on at 15/1 for 4-0 to the Bhoys – Bring it on !!!!

9 years ago

A win, no matter how it comes about will be enough for me.
I’d love to absolutely destroy them of course, but I’ll be happy if they’re just put back in their box for another while yet.
Didn’t want this game to a happen for a good few years so that maybe the poison would have lessened enough to make it just another match. However, thanks to the good old MSM, the temperature has been raised to the max and the journalists who’ve stoked the flames are now just sitting back waiting for it to all spill over so that they can condemn the “old firm” fans once again.
Hopefully a trouble free victory for Celtic and a safe journey home for the fans.

9 years ago
Reply to  andy docherty

andy

“Didn’t want this game to a happen for a good few years so that maybe the poison would have lessened enough to make it just another match.”

I didn’t want it to happen ever – and it should never have happened. That Doncaster did not just hump a pony, he did us as well – 3 in a bed with Regan while the media voyeurs and a the mob ran the blue movies with Murray, Whyte and Green in the leading roles. The story was about a whore that got stripped naked and was left to die. It took a long time and to ease the pain a myth arose that she is still alive. Unfortunately, some of our fans are so addicted, they have sneaked into watch the sequel.

Hey, anybody know Spielberg’s number. I could be onto something here 🙂

7 minutes in. I hope it’s 7 already.

H H

CarllJungleBhoy
9 years ago

I’m more interested in the storyabout Neil Doncaster having sex with two teenage dancing ponies!

9 years ago

No doubt the SFA will find no cause for action, as the underage donkey brought it on himself …

CarllJungleBhoy
9 years ago

Let’s be realistic , if Bradford can score 4 at Stmmford Bridge and deservedly beat an almost full strengh Chelsea then anything’s possible, but I reckon an early Celtic goal to settle the nerves and it’s all over bar the (lots of bitter orange sectarian) shounting.

CarllJungleBhoy
9 years ago

Is that photo from just before the weather changed dramatically before the “Oh Hampden In The Sun” match? Could it be an omen?

9 years ago

Oi; Living in Doncaster I certainly resent your remarks about sex in the town or vicinity, apart from the wife I’ve never had any complaints about the said subject. We also have(or did have) the Wim The Tim CSC. plus Ed Miliband.
Hope to God that I am wrong, but I am really nervous about too many Celtic fans thinking that this is going to be a 6/7-0 pumpfest; other than Bro. Thompson and a terrible pitch everything seems to be in our favour, but don’t forget that thems will be wanting to prove something and their 12th man , the hun with a whistle, if true to form will be doing his bit. Here’s rooting/hoping for a win even if it’s only a 1 or 2 goals win. Hail. HAIL.

9 years ago

Ralph

“After nearly fifty years of games against them, sometimes as many as seven in a year, its not that I miss them, hell, no.

But I miss beating them.”

Even though I usually do :), I could not have put it better.

“Wow. How sick and depraved do you have to be to have sex with someone from Doncaster ?”

You think that is bad. What about the poor donkeys that have sex with Doncaster?

“Bloody hell . A straight dance teacher.”

I’ll have you know I never bent when I was dancing, even during the Gay Gordons – now there would be an interesting list.

The picture has me beaten and I will not do a Murray like yesterday via Google (see quiz answer) and gain an unfair advantage. Off the top of my empty head, I think it must be something that happened in America when a game was abandoned for a ridiculous reason like snow – perhaps a freak fall during a summer tour. Come on, Ralph, you watched the news for fantastic stories. I am relying on my due-a-service imagination. If I am way out, there are a hell of a lot of gay dockers in that crowd – bunnet positions?

Well it is off to the hibernation corner to rub my nuts for a couple of hours (see yesterdays comment). The length of my winter sleep will depend very much on whether the alarm goes off at approx. 3pm or whether I am in a state of alarm around the same time.

Who says you can’t cross your balls. I am in such a nervous state, I have managed to swap them round.

Here’s hoping!

H H

9 years ago

Posted first time. That is a very good sign.

H H

Monti
9 years ago

Would anyone like a…Hic….bowl?:-)

Doc
9 years ago

Game was a joke. I’ve seen better junior teams than sevco, maybe the worst team we’ll play this season (maybe Reykjavik). Brown, Commons and Van Dijk only players to get pass marks. Again, under Deila, we are unable to show the gulf between teams. Inter won’t exactlty be bricking it.

9 years ago
Reply to  Doc

We were never going to win by a barrowlooad – we’re not that kind of team.
As disciplined a performance as you’ll get.
A comfortable 2 – 0 win on an absolute joke of a pitch was good enough for me.
I think even the Ronnie doubters are beginning to turn – you’ll follow soon enough.

andybhoy
9 years ago
Reply to  andy docherty

What? because we beat an extremely piss poor lower division club.
I will admit Andy, that it was professional and what I expected from the game,though Thomson kept them in the game as much as he could.
What I would like to know is what the Scottish Police and Scottish government going to do about that vile scum.

Dan The Man
9 years ago
Reply to  andybhoy

I can remember Greenock Morton dump us out of this cup under NL . You can only beat what is put in front of you and we tied them up in their own half for the whole of the first half, scored two good goals then toyed with them in the second half. Complete control of the game.Biton was Ace! Brown scrapped and broke up their midfield and Commons had his moments inc a very good goal. Was Gordon on the park? IMHO there is a treble heading to CP this season under Deila .
So why all the Doom and Gloom S-;t. Even Big JH was suggesting he might have to start eating some Humble Pie live on TV.

I am Ronnie!!!

Doc
9 years ago
Reply to  andy docherty

The best thing about the game was that I watched it in the house and didn’t waste any money. I’ve wanted Ronnie to do well and always wanted him to succeed but I am starting to turn. We are far too ineffiecient with the ball, needlessly giving the ball away and are so wasteful in the final third and this is the norm. In the second half sometimes it looked like we were trying to catch them on the break? Relying on a header from the second smallest guy and a wonderstrike didn’t fill me with confidence or make it comfortable, it wasn’t as if their defence had to play a blinder to keep it respectable. We got a win but Inter won’t exactly be quaking in their boots.

Remembered Van Dijk’s miss from five yards, pass marks removed.

Charlie Saiz
9 years ago
charlie
9 years ago

dearie me even though they died the zombie followers get uglier and uglier they should be pitied

Jerseybhoy
9 years ago

Broony what a game. Captains performance. Had the Huns midfield in his back pocket all game.dissapointed we only got two but will take the win.Mon the hoops.

andybhoy
9 years ago

comment image

Look at these munters…. Bwwwaaaaaahahahahaha!!!

Doc
9 years ago
Reply to  andybhoy

Third row from the top, third from the right. Celebrity sevco fan, a young Leonard Nimoy?

andybhoy
9 years ago
Reply to  Doc

So it is pmsl.

andybhoy
9 years ago
Reply to  Doc

The guy 2 down at 7 o’clock from ‘Leonard’ looks like he’s having one hell of a shite.

9 years ago
Reply to  andybhoy

Aww, poor Sevconians. The pain must be unBEARable … *snort* *guffaw*

9 years ago

Spot on Jerseybhoy,great touch from Broony at the end,shirt to one young fan…boots to another.Only reason he kept his shorts on…yip Ian Black back pocket,fetal position.

Pitch was an absolute disgrace,DUMPDEN get your finger out SFA.

Gerry
9 years ago

The fist half was a bit like my cat playing with a defenceless mouse, slapping it about a bit but never delivering fatal blows. The cat then tends to get bored and saunter off to lick its baws, much the same seemed to happen to the bhoys.
Disgrace of a pitch, but that second half was horrible. Liked how Brown let them know who was boss, but his passing, even for a terrible pitch, was God awful.
Glad its out the way!

andybhoy
9 years ago
Reply to  Gerry

Just spat ma tea oot, brilliant analogy Gerry

9 years ago
Reply to  Gerry

Gerry

I just came out of my hibernation hole a couple of hours ago when my nuts ran out. I was in there as I was determined not to watch the game that-should-not-have-been as a personal protest (had no idea who would give a fuck but that’s me, generally regarded as off my fucking rocker anyway. I think it is just my age myself). But I gave in and watched the game after my wife said I would not be upset. How fucking wrong SHE was. As I reflect on it now I have the same vision of a cat and mouse as your good self. But I was so infuriatingly frustrated by the cat not killing the aged vermin that I took my annoyance out on our own cat. It is now licking its balls but I am not sure ours is suffering from quite the same type of “bore” as you mean in “boredom”. Mine is more of a penetrative type up the rear end of its Khyber Pass. Maybe I should have kept some nuts for it. I think it might need a couple of replacements. I am just glad I was rubbing mine during hibernation because there is no way the wife’s gonna touch them for a long time. It is her cat, you see.

In the end, it was as poor as the many games I watched in the past when there was a “big” cheating team at Ibrox. But at least the score seemed to temper the overall behaviour of the fans – a real blessing we all prayed for – and it showed the second league team up for what they are, cheap, nasty and playing professional football under false pretences. It was job done, I guess, but actually our wish list had only one request – a blue Armageddon. It also confirmed that Scottish football authorities are clue-minus given they accepted the handover of such an apology of a football pitch which was laid at a time it should not have been and when they knew that within a few months two crucial competitive games were to be played on it. It was an almighty dis(donc)aster. As for out team, I guess they will not need much training time this week, given their practice match today. However, a goodly number of our support paid to be entertained and they did not deliver. They can blame the pitch. They can claim it was too easy to be bothered (and in that sense it did achieve our goal even if more sedately than we would have wished). They can say it was about winning first and foremost. But what annoyed me was the sheer poor quality of much of our play. The consequence is the losing of confidence among fans as expressed by some fans. We needed to see an assured performance with goals and dominance that showed we are in a different league, have the quality to win the treble and at least have a chance of progressing in Europe. None of that happened and though we won emphatically and I am, like Ralph, always pleased to beat any team seeping out of Ibrox, I am not off to bed right now with a great deal of joy in my heart.

H H

Monti
9 years ago

I’m happy with the win, I feel Celtic would have scored more on a decent pitch.
Could Sevco not have got Sally to fork the pitch at half time, do a bit of weeding?

charlie
9 years ago

look up bonobo monkies and if you say that dont look like mc culloch you are not a truth teller COYBIG

SDBhoy67
9 years ago

Like a cat playing with a mouse!

andybhoy
9 years ago
Follow us on Twitter @ETimsNet