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Celtic Diary Saturday May 16: Forrest Secures Immortality

Celtic drew 0-0 in Perth last night. Which sounds all very dull and end of seasony, but in fact it could easily have been, er, 1-1.

Both sides had chances, both sides put in a shift, and had the referee allowed the game to flow, it might have ended up a classic. Instead, Crawford Allen, I think, worked his way through the Old Boys Book of Scottish Refereeing with an indecisive and inconsistent performance.

The Evening times headline describes Celtic as “weary “, but thats a little harsh. again, there was evidence that the team were playing a slightly different way from usual, and practicing counter attacks.

One of which saw a slip in the Saints defence allow James Forrest to pounce on a bad pass back, storm towards and then past the keeper, before shooting wide of an empty net.

If you haven’t seen it yet, then you probably don’t have a telly or a computer.

The ball bobbled at the wrong moment, and it hit the forwards shin causing the slight change in trajectory. Not his fault, but he won’t be thinking that.

He then rolled over, lay face down in the grass and just stayed there…..

As far as we know, he’s still there.

Manager Ronny Deila was forgiving;

He was disappointed, of course. You can see the bounce-up, so what can you do? You could grow potatoes out there, that was how the pitch was. Strange things will happen on a surface like that and that was a strange thing.” 

Ronny tried to find the good in the match, but you could tell he wasn’t impressed;

“It was a game that a coach doesn’t like. It was too open and there were chances both ways all the time. In the end I think a draw was right but it was a miracle to be 0-0.

“There are things we have to work on. We can’t give away so much space between us and we were stretched at both ends so we have to be better but we produced a lot of chances and should have scored but today was the day where none of us could get the ball in the net.

“The two goalkeepers were great and Lukasz did very well so that’s very positive. 

“There were also a lot changes and that made us a little less organised than normal but there were a lot of positives. Kieran got his debut, Charlie is back and James Forrest was fresh on the right side so there are positive things we can take to the next game.”

It is a miracle that it was 0-0. It was a crazy game,Defensively, we were everywhere. It was too open for my taste.

“It was a very offensive team that we put out. We had Stuart [Armstrong] in the midfield, two real wingers and Kris [Commons] is also very offensive. 

 “They played very directly and we were stretched a lot in the defence. We didn’t push enough from behind and you get trouble.

“It was maybe fun to watch from the stand, but defensively, it wasn’t the best from us.” 

Well, I laughed. “Kris is very offensive…”

Maybe thats how he ended up like this…

 

Deila had made six changes for the game, handing rare starts to Lukasz Zaluska and  Efe Ambrose, whilst there was a full debut for Keiran Tierney at left back, who put in a disciplined shift, showing that he’s listening to what the boss wants. And it appears Ronny is happy with that;

“He is a very promising youngsterHe has been good in training for a long time. I wanted to give him a chance also for a long time, but he has been a little bit injured…

“Yes, he has (the ability to push Izaguirre). He is ready for this level. He shows that in training every day, and he has also played some good games for the Under-20s.”

 

There was a bit of shuffling elsewhere in the team, with Stefan Johansen, Virgil van dijk and Nir Bitton sitting this one out, and that allowed for Forrest and Mackay Steven to give us another glimpse of what may be a tactic if not for an entire away game in Europe, but possibly the latter stages.

With Jason Denaayer leaving the fray at half time, there was a return to action for Charlie Mulgrew, who partnered Efe Ambrose at the back, and between them they contrived to miss nearly every high ball that came into the box.

That half time change meant that the whole back five was, in fact, second choice, if you accept Lustig as the number one right back.

However, and more worryingly, those of us who are a little alarmed at the prospect of Ambrose and Mulgrew being our first choice centre back partnership next year may have a point.

Which might explain the “breaking news ” -regular diary readers will remember that this was muted a few weeks ago-that Celtic have been in talks with Deydrick Boyata, the Manchester city centre half who has been languishing on the sidelines at the Etihad.

Although Ronny Deila has admitted contact has been made, he played it down with the usual “we are talking to others 2 line” it looks like they are quite advanced in the negotiations, with Manchester city allowing the player to go on a free, but with a clause that gives them a chunk of any future fee.

Wonder if they’ll do that for Denaayer ?

Or will we have to blow all the income on buying him permanently ?

Meanwhile, Police Scotland kept a vigilant watch on supporters arriving at the game….

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Searching for beer….

Another example of what’s known as ” a complete waste of time and resources ” .

The supporters were fined.

Though there appears to have been a little relief.. when asked where the incident took place, one of those one the bus said;

there pulling us off at the castlecary cut off mate into the b&q car park

Yet had the bus stopped at a roadside bar and everyone, bar the driver, had scooped a few pints, that would have been okay.

Though there is good news. If your house gets broken into, your wife and daughter abused, and the dog is put in the deep fat fryer, then as long as the offender gets on a bus to the football, there’s a chance he might get caught.

Sometimes you wonder if the people who make the rules have ever been outside and had a look at the real world.

For instance, look at the St. johnstone Ultras last night, who were intent on causing bother..

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Looks like my jokes about Diana have found me a new fan, who has decided to follow me on twitter…

followers gained
HrmQueene
HRH Queen Elizabeth
@HrmQueene
followed: 2015-05-16
joined twitter: 2015-04-15
following: 1,971
followers: 1,190

She sent me this old picture of her husband out walking with some family friends a few years ago…

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Tommy johnson was the man in the picture yesterday. He scored the goal that won a title when he finally found the net against St. Mirren.

Reader Brendan found this quote yesterday, and it didn’t appear in the comments until this morning.

So without looking, who are the Observer newspaper, er, observing , back in the 1920s…

, there was congregated a a gang, thousands strong, including the dregs and scourings of a filthy slumdom, unwashed yahoos, jailbirds, night hawkes, won’t works, burroo barnacles and pavement pirates.
All, or nearly all, in the scarecrow stage of venomous Trampdom.
This ragged army of insanitary pests was lavishly provided with orange and blue remnants..

Quite poetic, if i may say so.

 

 

 

 

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Jamsie Molloy
8 years ago

The Huns, back in the early 1900’s A match between Celtic & Rangers (remember them)

Here’s the full piece:

On the terraces at the Dalmarnock end on Saturday was congregated a gang, thousands strong, including the dregs and scourings of filthy slumdom, unwashed yahoos, jailbrirds, night hawks, won’t works, buroo barnacles and pavement pirates. All of them in the scarecrow stage of verminous trampdom. This ragged army of insanitary pests was lavishly provided with orange and blue remnants and these were flaunted in challenge as the football tide flowed this way and that. Practically without cessation for 90 minutes or more the vagabond scum kept up a strident howl of the ‘Boyne water’ chorus. Nothing so designedly provoking, so maliciously insulting, or so bestially ignorant has ever been witnessed even in the wildest exhibitions of Glasgow Orange bigotry. Blatantly filthy language of the lowest criminal type assaulted and shocked ears of decent onlookers. There was no getting away from it, chanted as it was by thousands of voices in bedlamite yells. The stentorian use of filthy language is a crime against the law of the land. Policemen lined the track and listened to the hooligan uproar, yet nothing was done to stop it. The Scandal was renewed with increased violence on London Road after the match. Is it possible that the blue mob can do just about anything and get away with it? Prompt official steps were taken to suppress and prosecute the Green Brake Club lads (Celtic fans) who dared sing ‘Dear little Shamrock’ in Paisley Road. Yet thousands of foul-mouthed and blasphemous Orange ruffians are free to run amok in the East end of Glasgow! How do you account for it?’

(Glasgow Observer, 1st November 1924)

charlie
8 years ago
Reply to  Ralph Malph

verminous trampdom i like it i was looking for a replacement term for the huns and you found it for me thanks COYBIG

caltonlad
8 years ago

I believe they are the same ensemble described c 1970 by the late Ian Archer in the Herald as ” often an embarassment and sometimes a disgrace”. Yes the one and only, known to us today as “Scotland’s Shame”.

8 years ago
Reply to  caltonlad

I think it’s “a permanent embarrassment and occasional disgrace”

Stephen Traquair
8 years ago

How did I know the game would be poor ?
Coming to a street near you soon

John Mccloy in tasmania
8 years ago

Sounds like the s.f.a..hierarchy(apologies to Peter).

Brendan
8 years ago

Thanks for completing the job Jamsie

Jamsie Molloy
8 years ago
Reply to  Brendan

Cheers buddy.

Monti
8 years ago

Commons woeful again last night, another thing, is it just me or does his partner Lisa Hague need to calm down a bit?
I know the girl has a big personality n all, but dancing on tables with supporters?
Not what I want to see.

Commons hasn’t kicked a ball since he got his new contract.
As for Forrest attempt at goal…hit a bump blah blah..maybe so but if he took more care he would have scored.

TonyB
8 years ago

Plus ca change plus c’est la meme chose.

Monti
8 years ago
Reply to  TonyB

What the fuckez are you on aboutez? Lol

8 years ago

If Celtic were wining 5 – 0 or if Forrest had already scored a couple, we would have forgiven him his bobble shot.
It looks really bad, but it was just one of those things. Shouldn’t be a reason for fans to have a go at Forrest.

Monti
8 years ago
Reply to  andy docherty

I’m not having a go at Forrest Andy, I have supported him on here in the past.
I just think it was a shocking miss and anyone can fluff a shot.
I just want Celtic to win m8!

yarray
8 years ago

How can Deila play Commons in the middle behind the striker? He has bad feet. Very seldom able to control the ball first touch. One of the 2 Dundee kids should be there both have excellent feet and are much better passers. Hoped to be able to finish the season without seeing Mulgrew plodding around. He has 3 speeds, slow, slower and even slower. Ambrose and Mulgrew could end up being starting center halves next year. Be afraid, be very afraid! Nother sterling performance by Forrest. Matthews not far behind.

marko
8 years ago

Come on Ralph, don’t lower yourself to join the anti Commons bandwagon.Look, I admit Commons is not going to be a 100% of games player for us from now on-but he will be able to play a very important role,coming off the bench or starting depending on the game, circumstance…he can still turn a game with a flash of skill that is rare to find here, or anywhere to be honest-and he is happy here and seems to be very committed to the cause…usual here though ,people jump on a bandwagon without really looking at the whole picture…not sure if we were watching the same game I thought Mulgrew did well all considering but then again…guess it is “in ” to slag him off as well…as i have said here for a while thank the BIg Man , we here don’t pick the side!

Ralph malph
8 years ago
Reply to  marko

I wasn’t. I was laughing at the double meaning. Perhaps Kris tells Diana jokes.

marko
8 years ago
Reply to  Ralph malph

LOL

Doc
8 years ago

Thought we were very poor last night and St Johnstone were by far the better team. I would comment on the formation but whats the point at this stage, we’ve stumbled to the finish line with our system of underachievement and non-existent plan B.

Zaluska – 9 – MOTM, top class from the big guy, showed hes capable of filling in for Gordon, was well tested and certainly earned us the point.

Mattews – 5 – Poor defensively, didn’t link with Forest, typifies the lack of improvement from him since he arrived, guy beside me said that was his 100th game for us, treading water.

Ambrose – 7 – Had a bad slip, but put in a lot of quality headers and tackles, covered well for his team mates mistakes and didn’t go on his usual suicidal runs. Showed theres a player in there somewhere.

Denayer – 5 – Deservedly hooked at half time, their top chances came from guys he was marking, missed almost every header, most tackles, let the ball bounce and a liability at corners.

Tierney – 5 – Marking and positioning were shocking, Ambrose had to help him a few times, looked promising going forward. Good to see a young guy making his debut, not sure if hes even old enough to have a drink to celebrate.

Brown – 8 – Supported both defence and attack, good passing, tackling and marking, covered a lot of turf, always looking for space to give his teammates more options and really put in shift. Top player, no idea why some folk don’t see it.

Armstrong – 6 – Good in spells but needs to impose himself on the game more, was too inactive at times

Mackay-Steven – 6 – Looked as if his markers doubled up on him, tried too much on his own, ran when a pass would have been better and lost possession a lot. Both him and Armstrong settled well at first but haven’t got better, can’t wait to see them after pre season.

Commons – 6 – Another quiet game, had to resort to shooting from distance, looked frustrated at times.

Forrest – 5 – Retained possession like a sieve, passing, crossing and shooting all poor, beat his man but final ball let him down again. That miss. Needs more strings to his bow and show that he has more than just pace.

Griffiths – 6 – Had to pop from distance, severe lack of service, never stopped trying, quiet game but not really his fault.

Izaguirre – 6 – Offered a bit more when he came on, helped shore up the defence a bit, few bad passes and crosses.

Scepovic – 5 – Why? Moonlighting as the invisible man again. Deila’s Amido Balde.

Mulgrew – 6 – Made a few good tackles, played a lot better than Denayer, improved the defence, played very well considering how long he’s been out. Good to see him back.

Overall – ? – Game was meaningless, a good advert for letting the senior players go on holiday early and let fringe players and youngsters try to make their mark or get experience as a few folk have said on here.

Devoy45
8 years ago

Not so long in a website not far from here it was Scott Brown getting pelters for years, and before that Big Bobo and before Bobo The Maestro got it for passing backwards or sideways.Some of our fans are hard to satisfy.
Forrest lights up the pitch.
Brown? We can’t win without him.
Mulgrew is much needed and we missed his presence.
Commons can produce magic when nobody else can.
Bobo was superb and McStay was better than anybody else in Scotland at the time. The only thing us Tims can’t forgive is not giving all for the shirt: Viduka springs to mind but there are others.

deadhead67
8 years ago

Just who were we resting bitton and johansen for was to play for 2 of most evil countries on earth, thw whale murdering scandinavians, and the genocidal israelis

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