Gary Mackay Steven still gives the impression that every now and again he will stop still, pinch himself, and nod, just to remind himself that everything that’s happened to him since January is, in fact, real.
Which, knowing that, must have terrified a Celtic fan who was minding his own business in New York, who probably thought that when Mackay Steven chased him down the road, that he was looking for a second opinion.
‘I went to New York with Stuart Armstrong for a few days at the start of the break First day we were sitting in a coffee shop when a guy wearing a Celtic top walked past.
‘He didn’t see us so we thought it would be funny if we went outside. I ran and caught up with him and said in an American accent: ‘Oh my God, are you a Celtic fan?’
‘He turned around and was really surprised. He was shocked – but it was funny. It was a spur of the moment thing.
‘We’d sat for about a second after we’d seen him walk past then I chased him and tapped him on the shoulder. It was the worst American accent ever. He was delighted to see us and we got a picture taken with him. I think he was definitely Scottish and was out on holiday. But it’s worldwide. You see people in Celtic kits anywhere you go. It was nice.’
It’s New York, so whilst Mackay Steven got a great reaction, I’d advise Virgil van Dijk, Efe Ambrose and Deydrick Boyata not to copy his behaviour.
But Mackay Steven, who has not stopped grinning since he joined Celtic, is clearly enjoying life at the club;
He went home to Thurso during the break, and took time to reflect on the last six months. To be fair, there’s not a lot else to do in Thurso. It’s a lovely place, but the high spot of the week is when someone gets into trouble on the surf, which usually gathers a good crowd.
Mackay Steven even grins when he talks;
“I think things sunk in because I didn’t really get a minute before that. It was good how it happened. I was straight in to Celtic without really having a minute to think.
“There were games and when it got to the summer there was definitely time to reflect on where I am now and the stage on which I have to express myself.
“Going into next season we’ve got European games, the qualifiers aren’t far away and it’s a great feeling to know what we’ve got ahead of us and where I am.
“It was nice to see my family and speak to them about it because I hadn’t really caught up with any of my close family and friends since the move came about.”
In these days of over hyped and over paid young footballers, it’s also refreshing to see someone who hasn’t gone out and bought a Bentley and a couple or three girlfriends.
“It’s massively important for me to stay grounded. I don’t think I can change. I’ve been grounded since I started in football.
“I think it’s just a little bit you can give back to people by saying hello and posing for a picture. It’s part of the job and I enjoy that side of it.”
He could well turn out to be a star, and a vital player in Europe next season. But if that grin gets any wider the top of his head will fall off and roll off down the street.
So it’s not just the support who are happy and looking forward to the start of the season. Which has to be a good sign.
This, on the other hand, is not a good sign.
It’s also worth remembering, as the transfer window is open, that Mackay Steven and Armstrong were signed for this campaign, six months in advance. This allowed them to get settled at the club, so along with Deydrick Boyata in to replace Jason Denaayer, there’s nothing to grumble about on that front.
There’s still talk of Jelle Vossen joining, although his injury record means he may not be a permanent signing initially, perhaps the new policy, emergencies excepted, is to buy with a view to bedding in before we actually have a vacancy in the first team. Vosse’s new coach at Genk, Peter Maes, reckons the forward will stay where he is.
‘With Jelle, I have personally been in touch recently, I think there’s a good chance he will stay with us. He has plenty of blue Genk blood. After his honeymoon ends next Monday I expect him back here in training.’
He shouldn’t be too hopeful. The lad went to live in Middlesborough to get away from Genk. You really would have to hate where you live to move to Petro Chemical City.
Preparation and planning haven’t been to evident in the past, as the last day scrambles would evidence, but maybe it’s another part of the ongoing revolution in how things are done at Celtic Park.
With a settled squad in place, and media campaigns to oust a few key players having so far failed, then it’s time for another Celt to be linked with a move away. this time it’s James Forrrest, who has benefitted from getting a few games in injury free, and the easiest link for a lazy hack is…..
Bolton boss Neil Lennon plotting to raid old club Celtic for winger James Forrest
Neil Lennon wants Celtic winger James Forrest to spearhead Bolton’s push for the English Premiership next term.
The former Parkhead manager, who handed Forrest his debut five years ago, has short-listed the 23-year-old as he seeks to re-shape the Trotters’ squad into one capable of winning promotion a year from now.
Forrest only has one-year left on his contract but would still cost Wanderers a sizeable seven-figure sum if Lennon is to land him in this window.
Seven figure sum ?
And the rest….
Forrest has a big season ahead of him, and he has eighteen months on his contract, not twelve, so the next six months are very important to him, and if he stays injury free, then he is good enough to make sure that he gets a new deal.
Forrest and Mackay Steven as impact players away from home in Europe against tired defenders ?
You can see the plan, can’t you ?
The first of those European games takes place next month against Stjarnan, and it’s free on the season book. When Inter bet the Icelandic side 6-0 last season, 46,640 were in attendance. Maybe the big crowd put them off.
Just saying like, they might not be able to handle a big crowd. You know, the noise, the passion, the big crowd.
( Is that enough hints ? ) ( Should be, cheers, -Ronnie. )
With everything rosy in Celtic’s garden, it appears that despite employing extra horticultural staff, it’s not all going to plan at Ibrox as they prepare for a new European, sorry, Petrofac Cup campaign.
They are just a few weeks away from the start of their season, and yet no friendlies have been arranged. Still, you can’t expect Mark Warburton to remember everything. After all, Second Rangers are a bigger club than Brentford, and his inexperience at this level means he probably just forgot.
Is the job too big for him ?
Funnily enough, no one has thought to ask him.
Instead, we get stories about how Danny Wilson and his new partner in defence, rob Kiernan are going to help Second Rangers avoid becoming Third Rangers by securing promotion at only the second attempt.
Though, with shirt numbers costing extra money, there was still evidence that the cash flow problem hasn’t gone away.
Wilson looks ever so pleased, doesn’t he ? Yet if, as the headline below suggests, he has “dropped down to make a giant leap ” then his legs are probably aching.
Not as pleased as Mike Ashley, we hear. Dave King did meet up with him, according to the papers, although the spin is that it was to discuss onerous contracts and other such matters.
Wasn’t that supposed to be what the EGM was about? Are they asking us to believe the club went to the expense of a meeting to discuss this, but the main men went to the pub to talk about it instead ?
Phil MacGhiollabhan, who broke the story last week, claims it was in fact King trying to offload his shares.
I know who I believe.
Especially as this follows a previous attempt by the three bears to shift their own stock on Wall Street, when it became apparent that no London exchange would touch them;
That didn’t go too well either, as you can see, so things are probably a little tetchy down there just now.
I actually thought King had already quit, , but the headline was misleading;
Another caption competition today, which I have to include even though some of you may be shocked by the picture.
Either a caption, a comment or an explanation will suffice.
Frankly, I’m lost for words.
And by the way, this is not a selfie.
In fact, I don’t know what the fuck it is.
That’s a Crack in picture
…. WTF is that hanging around the Boys Gate?
He’s made a right arse of it this time. Hh
Ralph I think you are at it.That sure looks like a selfie , but who am I to judge. Each to their own as they say. Maybe if we have a really great season we will all want to follow your lead. HH Keep up the good work
two trophies and he still gets a bum rap.
Ronnie’s a cheeky chappie.
what’s that bit of sh*t between the legs??
Captain Bullshits Babies?
Desi
I hope that’s not crap.
H H
Deadhead67!
Ronnie D and GMS two cheeks of the same arse.In a good way of course.HH.
Ralph,
James and Adam Matthews for that matter have both been offered new deals. That was maybe 3 months ago. Both of them did not sign these deals however they are on the table. The club has employed a 15k a week wage cap to ALL players including the captain. The difference being higher appearance money for certain players
How do you know that?Inside info?From whom?
Good point Ralph about the early arrivals of GMS and Armstrong ( as I said this to my mates! ). I believe that they were being bought for this season and getting games last season obviously gets them settled in better.
I would like us to do more in the winter window with the English players as we did with Ledley, unless they have changed the rules down there.
Caption comment : Right said Fred show their support for the Celtic.
Going by the chubbiness of the cheeks and the rosy hue,I’d say it was a close up of Fat Sally the gardening correspondent.
He talks oot his erse as well.
Ralph
I knew you would end up making an arse of the Caption Competition that nobody ever wins. HH.
Ralph, I see you were back in Dunoon at the weekend. Do you know that on the 12th of. July there is a Celtic v rangers legends game on in the stadium? As you know there are alot more of them than us in Dunoon so any Celtic fans out there feel up for it come along and get our numbers up.
It’s £7 to get in pay at the gate.
McAvennie, bobby petta and others are playing.
It’s hopefully meant to be a fun family occasion .
Marry that girl: She’s a keeper!
tam,
i can assure you that its 100%
makes me wonder how we will attract the champions league striker we crave
Anyone else noticed just how much GMS looks like an old-fashioned ventriloquist’s dummy?
Ralph
I woke up in the North East gloom and my humour was not improved when that wee Scottish weather woman told me it would by a bright, warm, sunny day – aye, in fucking London again. I prefer to go by the rainfall in my empty wine bottle. Anyway, by 10am I was cheered up immensely by the news that Neil Lennon considered Forrest about the right standard for his Championship side – like Wilson up here – or the Royal Bolton Hospital . That kept me in the best of moods all day. Of course this evening when reading the Diary my spirits were lifted as always – usually from table to mouth via a glass – and the Garry Mackay Steven story had me floating on air. By the time I saw the “not a good sign” picture my head was doing a Mackay Steven grin and I had to use all my energy to keep it on my neck. Then I saw that the Forrest story was another SMSM exclusive and suddenly I was looking like cheery Shug in that other photo. It is not a good experience when cracking a boiled egg with dippy soldiers. You are apt to end up walking on eggshells with egg on your face.
Just a few other quickies.
1. DIRECT LINE headline. The story of a crook seeking insurances.
2. Dick Head story. I actually worked – well he was in London and I was in Glasgow – with a bloke called Richard Head. He was not the only Dick I worked with over the years. No doubt they all thought I was a prick.
3. CAREFUL! My dear wife has booked us for a holiday in Thurso later this year (True! Well, you go to Dunoon). She bought me a new pair of swimming trunks even though I can’t swim. Then you show me a picture of they fucking waves!!!! No wonder she is taking driving lessons.
4. CAREFUL! You know you speak of my neighbours when you mention Miserablebrough. The wind, rain and fog are bad enough up here without them launching a gas attack.
5. When that New York cop is finished with the African American fella, tell him to shoot those three characters from the rocky horror show. What do they look like in those away strips. Now I know why you were complaining about the new gear. Reminds me when they used to tart up my brown photy with paint.
6. CAPTION: “A Cheeky Chappy in the shit”!
Like you, I have to ask what’s it all about? Not even a good arse – not that I would know, being a prick.
H H
That’s a before-and-after picture of the back of Broonie’s napper at the tattoo studio, while he also enjoys a wee night-cap.