Probably the most important one so far. Win, and the treble is on. Very much on. Lose, and it isn’t.
Tell the truth, you only read the diary for it’s remarkable insight.
After last weeks stuttering draw with Inverness, Celtic supporters will be hoping the big Hampden pitch will be in tip top condition for the game, despite being used today for the other semi final.
The SFA,
Ronny Deila, now settled in as Celtic manager with what the americans would call a ninety per cent approval rate, is looking forward to it nonetheless.
“The pressure is massive because of the expectations that you have on yourself.
“We want to win the Treble and this game has to be won It will be a bad day for us if we don’t do it.
“But I am confident that we are up for the game. I can see in the eyes of the players that they are looking forward to the game and the atmosphere is very good.
“I am very confident that we are going to make a good performance and be hard to beat.
“ I say to my players ‘We are the best, we have the best team.’
“If we perform as good as we can then we have a very good chance to win.
“So I am not lying to the players, they know it themselves.
“The pressure is on us and that’s something we have to deal with at Celtic.
“We have to think of the performance every time — and we’ve been good with that for a long time.”
Does he have a plan ? Is there a way he goes about games like this, maybe to ease the pressure off the players ?
Scott Brown thinks he knows…
‘The wee Ronny Roar!’ laughs Celtic’s captain. ‘I laugh at him and enjoy it every time he goes up there. You hear the crowd getting going — and then you see the wee smile coming over his face and his left hand coming through.
‘It’s good how he bonds so well with the fans. They have taken a liking to him. He’s a nice man, a good man. A good manager as well — and that’s what you want at a club like this.’
Brown also remarked that the training, and the sports science, wasn’t too different from previous regimes.
Deila on Brown…
‘Scott Brown is someone I really admire,’ said Deila. ‘His determination and professionalism, his killer and winning instincts. That affects everybody.
‘He’s a funny boy as well and makes a good atmosphere for the group. People tell me he’s having his best season for a long time. That’s making me happy.’
Hang on, whats that movie where someone is consumed with jealousy when he feels left out ? Can’t remember the name, but the poster sticks in my mind….
But all is well at Celtic, thats obvious.
We just need that final push to get the two remaining trophies.
Deila also showed that he listens to what fans say, and shares our concerns about the way television is wrecking the game;
“It should not be TV that controls football – it should be the opposite.
“It should be about the supporters and the clubs so that they can make money by getting people into the stands because that is what we live for.
“I understand the economics of it are so important and then television takes over and take control.
“I don’t like that. It’s not the best for people who like football.
“If Saturday at 3pm is the best for Scotland then we should play more at that time.
“In Norway we had the best time which is 6pm on Sunday but now they are doing different times, In the end you don’t know when games are going on.
“It’s so hard to plan the weekend with the family and also get to the games.
“I would also rather play at 6 in the evening than 12 in the morning.
“I think football should be played at night because then you get a better atmosphere into the arena.”
Six o’clock at night probably wouldn’t work in Scotland, the fans might be in the ground, but if our own CSC is anything to go by, not many would see the game.
The pubs would love it, though. Police Scotland maybe not so much.
But then, they’re not that stuck on anything these days.
Er, am I reading that right ? Watch what you’ll say or you will go to prison ?
I’m not noted for eloquence of speech, and a while back I went to the library, and asked for a book on learning fucking spanish.
“There’s no need for that language, sir ” replied the librarian.
She was right. They all speak English over there.
Where have we seen that sort of control before from governments ?
Amazing. On the one hand theres the progressive policies of removing trident and reversing austerity, and then theres not being able to use the word orange in polite conversation.
It’s been a long time since I was offended by being called a fenian bassa. If ever.
Who thinks these things up, and why was he allowed out without adult supervision ?
Sectarian thinking can actually be progressive as well. and beneficial.
Look at the Glasgow Soap Company.
They only employ fans of Second Rangers, and have thus eliminated any problems they have with pilfering.
Oh, wait , there’s someone at the door.
In the twenty first century, we have to watch what we say. Mind you, there’s something more serious to deal with, and Holyrood are on the ball..
Back at the football, and Forward John “Trident ” Guidetti ( unwanted, useless and too expensive ,copyright Charlie Saiz ) has a new agent…
This from sports witness…
The Dutch press are starting to get a bit cheesed off with John Guidetti. Not so long they lapped up his flirting over a Feyenoord move and encouraged it all they could. Journalists were sent over to Glasgow to get quotes from Guidetti about wanting to sign for Feyenoord and the Swedish striker was happy to oblige, despite Celtic at that point still holding out serious hope of getting a deal done.
It was all a little disrespectful but the Dutch media have seen many stars exit their own Eredivisie and to feel a team was on the verge of what they regarded as a coup was something to be celebrated. It all fed off each other, the more the Dutch media asked Guidetti for positive quotes, the more he provided them and so the more they asked.
However, when it’s come to the financials, Feyenoord haven’t been able to please the Manchester City owned player on wages. SoccerNews quote Jan-Dirk Stouten as saying “Feyenoord has made him a very generous offer of about one million, but he demands a lot more money.”
And of course there’s an agent to blame… “He has recently started a new agent who has many dollar signs in his eyes.”
Guidetti can’t get out of it blame free. If he’s swapped agents to a new one who is pushing for big bucks then he’s done so for a reason, and it’s almost certainly not philanthropic. Celtic can sit back and watch the show but they’re not as keen on signing Guidetti as they once were either.
Can’t argue with any of that. We hear that he has asked for between 2 and 3 million pounds per year.
There was talk of the Swede joining Manchester united…
Though not much.
Memory lane again, weren’t things a lot simpler in those days ? Lisbon Lion, on twitter had me walking down that route again last night…
Speaking of yesteryear, do you recognise anyone in this picture ?
Dixie @ Jinky
Guidetti isn’t worth 20,000 a week, let alone 40,000 or 60,000. Does Celtic have piss tests? They should check him …
Jim Kerr in front of the goalie? Dixie back left?
Jinky and Dixie are the main two HH
Stuart McCall lookalike between Jinky and Jim Kerr ( as per Bhoris ) . A podgier than normal Alan Rough also ?
SM
When his body weight was more than his hair weight.
H H
Dixie, jinky and bobby Lennox
Dixie & Jinky (GECP) as said…..but what about Jack from On The Buses on front row, three in from right! Back row right, Paddy Considine ready for the set of Dead Man’s Shoes? I think I’m showing my age here!
Looking forward to tomorrow’s game, where a cup final v Falkirk awaits. Mine’s a treble! MonTheHoops.
Ralph
Amazing how Ronny’s rubbish statements have now become pearls of wisdom. I hope he is careful where he casts them. There are not a few “pigs” out there waiting to trap the eloquent when they use big words they hivnae heard afore. The message is, stay off the trains in Scotland. Start your journeys at Newcastle – but come armed. I know, I really should move but my feet are tied with apron strings – thick ones like Nora Battey’s stockings and the brush is quite sore.
Well, I see it is Falkirk we get in the final. What about Inverness? Nae chance and besides I am off to that neck of the highlands for part of my summer hols so I will see all the sheep I want then without a dose in May too. So, Ronny has favour to do for me.
Back to us. I just wish it was the summer so that that turnip (Asda charge more for swedes) Gidfirnout Spaghetti would join Jack Sparrow in his quest for hidden treasures. With some luck he merely be a ghost of times past at Celtic and wander the seven seas well away from Parkhead.
Good luck to the bhoys tomorrow. As Ronny says, we are the best and on the day should wipe the floor with any Scottish opposition. Unfortunately, on the day……..
Photo: Dixie, Jinky, Jim Kerr (My boys were once fans, that’s how)and Devina McCall. The goalie looks a bit Roughie-like and I think the guy second from the right at the back is Bobby Lennox’s waxwork form Madame Tussaud’s.
H H
Ralph
I guess the monitor doesn’t like being disturbed by the elderly on a Saturday.
H H
Henrik should have a word in Guidetti’s ear, the boy has talent but he needs to work on it, seems he believes his own press which is never a good thing.
Oh and Beardie McFud aka Stephen Pressley lookalike in top row ,far right. Mon the Hoops,
4 more victories from tomorrow , the league will be won and all eyes turn to the 30th May.
That’s the gym on the Titanic!!!!!!!!
Ach well that’s the treble goosed, with a big helping hand from the officials, but in all honesty I’ve been saying to my Celtic supporting mates for weeks that we have been terrible(20 minutes against KIllie apart)!and the way we are playing it would be no surprise if we blew the league.
Honest mistake by officials to halt the treble, they had 7/1 on thier bookies line for caley to win today so it was always going to be the correct outcome for them, when is this going to be investigated by an independant board, no 1st names as surnames please as they are all members of the big Boy Scouts…..so angry!!!
Always Celtic 1st”…..
Oh well…… Treble fucked…. HAIL! HAIL!
Mistake: hand ball prevents our second goal and a penalty to us.
Mistake:Watkins should have been sent off early.
We’d have won comfortably, but that’s when the Masons in Black intervene.
It should have been ten against ten not 13 against 10.
However, we haven’t been looking too good for several weeks now.
Please bhoys, let’s not limp over the finish line. Let’s kick some ass on the way to the league title.
Maybe we talked too much about the Treble but is it any wonder the former Rangers club won twice as many Trebles? Who helped them?
I like big Yogi but is that his idea of how to win a semi-final?
Ronnie, we are angry and disappointed.
they cheated our grandas they cheated our das and they cheated me now they are cheating our grandkids so whats new like ma auld da would have said fuck em on wards to ten in a row COYBIB
G sorry bout that the drink is taking affect dont let the cheats get you down
I refer you to tuesdays diary
thanks
they can cheat us its the only way they can beat us pity the fools
NL was robbed twice of trebles at Hampden.
Now Ronnie has joined the coincidence(s).
I think this handball decison today is worse he than peno stokes never got v Killie.
And Beatties robbery v Hearts.
Ronnie needs to be aware of the dark side of Scottish football, lest they think they can continue with it. He needs to be educated in the dark arts.
The whole refereeing performance was shameful and reminiscent of darker times. Maybe those times have never really left. The Treble is rare for Celtic for good reason.
C’mon the Double. Hail,hail.