Menu Close

Celtic Diary Thursday October 8: To All Our International Players

Honest. it’s like sending the kids off to summer camp.

Well, if we had summer camps in this country, that’s how it would probably feel. When ours were little , we used to send them to granny and grandad in Dunoon for a week, but we were never able to sell up and move before they were due back.

Anyway, bearing in mind Celtic have several key players away fighting for their countries ( sorry, it’s Tory party conference week again and you just get all caught up in the excitement ) , and we’ve stumbled on a copy of the memo Ronny Deila gave them , along with their packed lunches to help ensure a safe return.

It simply reads…

That ought to do it.

And Scott Brown has been warned about his particularlry provocative staring. If he strains his eyes he won’t be able to see how bad the defenders are playing.

So, Brown, as is his wont before a big game, restricted himself to one of those Ho hup and At Em speeches, which won’t annoy the Poles at all.

All this is because Gordon Greer, who somehow is a Scotland player, put in a tackle on Robert Lewandowski, who I suppose we could refer to as nearly an ex-Celt, which would have landed you in court on monday morning had you done it in the street.

So Brown, playing the part of committed captain, said that Scotland would contest every ball , which really means “will kick everything in sight ” because we are not a bunch of girlies north of the border, despite a propensity to wear skirts.

 “That’s not the kind of people we are in Scotland.

“We are not going to let them have too much time on the ball and create chances and not tackle them.

“It’s football, it’s a man’s sport.” 

Until someone brushes into you and you fall over screaming.

“Is it music to our ears to hear them still talking about it? They are just trying to get the referee on their side.

“They are trying to make it all about Lewandowski, but, it’s a team game and, hopefully, our team is better than theirs on the day.” 

Strachans team has taken eleven points from eight games. I wouldn’t have thought “our ” team would be better than anyone elses on any given day.

There is still debate over whether or not to start Leigh Griffiths ahead of Steven Fletcher, or whoever else Strachan can dredge up from lower league English football, or whether David Marshall should get the nod ahead of Craig Gordon.

Griffiths is desperate to play -and score-for his country, and that’s an admirable trait.

“You always want to try to score as many goals as you can and play at the top level. 

“I scored a couple in the Champions League and then scored against Fenerbahce in the Europa League so my next aim is to try to score for Scotland.

“I’ve said before Scotland have good strikers and we’re all vying for that one jersey. We just need to be patient. Whoever it is who gets handed the No.9 jersey will deserve it and I’m no different.

“Steven Fletcher played really well against Georgia and led the line well against Germany so he’s probably the favourite for that jersey against Poland. But I’ll still do my best and hopefully change the manager’s mind.

“I’m a Scotland fan and always watched the games growing up. Representing your country is the highest accolade you can get and I’ve managed to do that on a few occasions but I’m hoping there is more to come.

“We haven’t been to a tournament since 1998 so it’s going to be a big ask. We need to go to Hampden and try to get a result against Poland while hoping Germany do us a favour against Ireland.

I like to see our players represent Scotland, and other nations. But it surely can’t do their confidence good when they are not picked in favour of non achievers from nowhere.

I hope they do well if picked, but as long as they get back without any injuries, i couldn’t really care less about anything else.

Speaking of Griffiths, this interesting stat appeared on twitter yesterday;

First 50 competitive starts for Celtic:

Leigh Griffiths – 39 goals

Gary Hooper – 28

Scott McDonald – 25

Henrik Larsson – 20

You could argue all day about the quality of opposition, or the team they played in, but 39 goals in 50 games is not bad by anyone’s standards.

The main thing about Griffiths, to my mind , at least, is that you always feel he will score. A feeling you get with very few strikers anywhere. Larsson gave you that, but no one since has come anywhere near it.

Griffiths is still learning. He will get even better.

It’s not just on the field, he has matured off it. Something manager Ronny Deila thinks should be taken on board by Anthony Stokes;

 

Well, no, I don’t think we should “shusshh ”

Stokes is the epitomy of the “could have been a contender ” cliche. He can score goals, he can support a main striker, and he is fairly creative.

But he also lacks the desire to step up a level. Or, at least he appears to.

Ronny seems to have given him a final warning…

“There are some of the same issues as Leigh.
 
“It’s about discipline and consistency in what he is doing. It’s never an issue of skill with Stokesy, it’s about getting the best out of himself. “Then we need discipline with him over time. It’s not an attitude problem, it’s a discipline thing he has to do over time.

“We need to see some improvement. It is tough competition, but he is still at the club. He is an alternative on the wings and as a striker.

“He trains, but he has to show he is better than the others.”  

There isn’t a great deal of enthusiasm in those words. Stokes needs to make his boss care about him. Otherwise, he’ll be plying his trade elsewhere.

And that would be a shame.

Maybe players don’t get the encouragement they used to get in the old days. With kids these days earning fortunes, then perhaps a novel and refreshing approach in helping  them to improve is required.

One Premier league club appears to have grasped the initiative;

Embedded image permalink

Well, I suppose it’s better than being pulled off at half time.

There’s been a little bit of controversy over the Peter Houston rant when his team, in his eyes-and everyone elses-were unfairly treated by the referee at Ibrox last weekend.

So, in order to remind everyone , and Houston, how things work, here’s a little excerpt from the current Scottish Referees exam, to help you understand.

Embedded image permalink

There’s an astonishing article appeared in the Record online, which should turn a few heads;

Never gonna happen:

Five of the most ridiculous ‘transfer’ stories EVER

Although, in all honesty, around eighty per cent of all transfer stories are nonsense. The other twenty per cent is made up.

first, there was this, from the Sun;

Which, of course was spectacularly wrong, both on Ledley and Boyd.

Then this little admission;

3). THE £80m DREAM TEAM

David Murray used to feed reporters a lot of nonsense. Remember the casino on top of the floating pitch, or whatever it was? But surely nothing can beat this belter. In 1996 Ibrox superscout Kenny Dalglish was going to be handed £80million to bring the world’s best players to Rangers. Names such as Patrick Kluivert, Marc Overmars, Jurgen Klinsmann, Paolo Maldini and Eric Cantona were just some of the superstars being touted in a piece of absolute fantasy. Honestly, the floating casino had more chance of getting off the ground. Quite literally. 

Of course, times have changed.

Now it’s James Traynor who feeds reporters a lot of nonsense.

One or two are starting to see through it. Jackson, Spiers, and so on, but the Evening Times duo of Lindsey and Jack need to have a look at themselves.

Yesterday we asked about a fotballer who tweeted that fifty years ago he couldn’t sleep.

It was Jim Craig, remembering the night before  his debut against Go Ahead Deventer.

He remembered the game…

It must have been difficult to watch; it was definitely hard to play in. I tried as hard as I could but everybody seemed to be off-song and lethargic, passes went astray and we only managed the one goal from Joe McBride in 12 minutes. At the end, what was left of the crowd gave us a booing and once we got in, I experienced – not personally but as a group -my first rollicking from the manager. It was what has become known as hair-drying stuff and he did not miss. It was a very chastened group of players who left the ground that night….and the fans waiting outside were not slow in expressing their disapproval too. It couldn’t always be like this in the first team, could it?

Something happened for the first time in that game.

What ?

And a caption competition as well !

For those of you who interpret body language, , can you tell me what these two are talking about ?

 

Embedded image permalink

 

 

 

 

 

0 0 votes
Article Rating
82 Comments
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Charlie Saiz
8 years ago

“Warby may well have a magic hat Mark but I can have a magic roll up and no cunt can moan about it when I do..”

Hooper was more effective than Griffiths in my opinion he took more chances with less efforts on goal.
He had the 4th highest strike ratio in Europe one Season behind Ronaldo Messi and Di Natalie.
Griffiths is doing well but he is spurning plenty too.

Monti
8 years ago

Griffiths has always been a good player, I liked him way back in his Livingston days.
Hooper was more clinical I feel but Griffiths is doing the business for us now, would be interesting to see him with a strike partner who was a target man type.

What’s happening with Carlton Cole?

8 years ago

It’s football, it’s a man’s sport.”

Until someone brushes into you and you fall over screaming.
———————————————–

Brilliant Ralph. 🙂

Dan
8 years ago

The European Cup winning defence played together for the first time.

It was the first European game I went to. My recollection is that they wore an Arsenal style shirt, but in red and amber, and there was one of their fans in the main stand behind us (we would have been in the old stand enclosure), wearing a full jokers outfit and blowing a bugle.

yestim
8 years ago
Reply to  Dan

I am of the opinion that Strachan will play Fletcher regardless of who is in form and Griffiths etc are there to make up the numbers or come on as subs. If you remember, he did not make many changes when managing us, he stuck by his preferred eleven unless there was injuries.

Monti
8 years ago
Reply to  yestim

Griffiths has to start, he is on fire just now.
The worst thing for Griffiths though was Fletcher scoring his annual goal at the weekend.
Fletcher is a good player, but the form striker is Griffiths.

Heaven forbid we play the two of them!

Monti
8 years ago

As much as I would like Scotland to qualify, I don’t really care if truth be told.
I don’t know why I feel this way about Scotland now, I wasn’t like that growing up

Does anyone else feel the same?

deadhead67
8 years ago
Reply to  Monti

NOT QUITE THE SAME HATE SCOTLAND ALWAYS WANT THEM PUMPED

bob
8 years ago
Reply to  deadhead67

Like yer missus you mean

Half_Fool
8 years ago
Reply to  deadhead67

Don’t darken our door again you fud.

bob
8 years ago
Reply to  Monti

That’s because you see yourself as British Zombie.

bgbhoy
8 years ago

its because the sfa have shafted us since they began!! why was the lisbon lions not the scottish national team in the 60’s? surley they would of at least got to quaters and semi finals??

Monti
8 years ago
Reply to  bgbhoy

bgbhoy,
You may be right, the way Celtic have been treated by this lot over the years will have had an effect on Celtic supporters.
I just don’t buy into all this ‘ Tartan Army ‘ shite.

‘ coming down the road’ what a lot of pish min!

bob
8 years ago
Reply to  Monti

Should you not be on the follow follow forum Zombie

Monti
8 years ago
Reply to  bob

Zombie ⚠

bgbhoy
8 years ago

nowadays the tartan army consists of followers of wee clubs..clubs like dunfermline and falkirk etc, there fans go to these away days because they dont get any trips with there own clubs abroad… same as fans of ross county, motherwell st mirren etc, its there fans chance to mix it with the big boys

deadhead67
8 years ago
Reply to  bgbhoy

AND SHOW THE WORLD THERE A BUNCH OF SKIRT WEARING RACIST BIGOTS

bob
8 years ago
Reply to  bgbhoy

Why do you have to support any team if you are Scottish you want your country to win at ANYTHING.

bgbhoy
8 years ago

i heard griff is to start

Andy
8 years ago

Caption: “Did Leigh sit on his tea cake, or is that?”

bgbhoy
8 years ago

although, i would rather scotland qualify at the expense of ireland!! would still want them to beat ireland even if though i dont get bothered by these games!!!

deadhead67
8 years ago
Reply to  bgbhoy

ARE YOU A HUN ,IRELAND THE REAL HOME OF CELTIC,COME ON PPOLAND

yestim
8 years ago
Reply to  deadhead67

Can you explain, where in Ireland is Glasgow??

San Miguel
8 years ago
Reply to  deadhead67

Quite possibly the most idiotic , moronic comment I ahve ever read on here.

yestim
8 years ago
Reply to  San Miguel

San Miguel

Hope you mean the hun comment and not the where is Glasgow one

bob
8 years ago
Reply to  deadhead67

Deadhead more like DICKhead with that comment

Monti
8 years ago
Reply to  bob

Zombie ⚠

deadhead67
8 years ago

Hope Fletcher plays,don,t like our players taking risks,for boring internationals,and using up energy that could be used when playing important games for us,COME ON POLAND STUFF THE TARAN ARMY RACIST BIGOTS IN SKIRTS

Dan the man
8 years ago
Reply to  deadhead67

Good to see you back Dead fhing , International week gives you the chance to recharge the batteries and gets you away from Ronnie bashing for a while. So many negatives in your comments on everything maybe my reference to batteries is wrong above as you need both a positive and a negative to get one to work ?

jrw
8 years ago

Monti

The answer to your question is yes. There is probably no one single answer, probably a combination of factors and in no particular order:

– the ending of the Home Internationals when beating England was always the aim and a possibility in those days;
– there were more top quality world class Scottish players around in the past – Baxter, Johnstone, Law, Bremner, Dalglish; whereas today a lot of the players are from the lower leagues in England, many of whom are unknown to Scottish support;
– strange team selections and even stranger manager appointments;
– the Champions League as the main focus for the top teams and an obsession with many fans;
– monkeying around with league fixtures to accommodate international week and the consequences risk that our own key players get injured in pointless games and then miss vital league or European games;
– too much live football on TV, often at ridiculous times;
– the SFA and its performance and attitudes over the years;
– the reduction of crowd capacity at Hampden;
– there is just so much personal nervous anxiety (and cash and commitment) that goes into following a football team –all of mine is used up following Celtic;
– getting older …

Monti
8 years ago
Reply to  jrw

jrw,
I think your post covers it m8!

bgbhoy
8 years ago

settle down dh67!!!!

Devoy45
8 years ago

For many generations, people of Irish descent aren’t able to feel Scottish or English because we were never welcome.That’s why it’s easier for me to support Celtic than Scotland. But, I can’t support Ireland over Scotland, only Ireland over anybody else other than Scotland. My family lived in Ireland for over 1000 years but I’m not Irish myself. When I go to Ireland I don’t feel Irish. Strange, eh?
However, because Celtic players play for Scotland I want them to do well. Losing doesn’t do anybody any good.

yestim
8 years ago
Reply to  Devoy45

Don’t see anything strange about it, if you are Scottish you should be supporting Scotland regardless of what Dickhead says.

iBhoy
8 years ago

Are we sure those stats on LG are accurate? Accoriding to this

http://www.soccerbase.com/players/player.sd?player_id=45956&season_id=145

he’s scored 37 goals in 48 starts plus 24 sub appearances.

Don’t know how many he scored as a sub but still pretty impressive.

Devoy45
8 years ago

Cheers, man.

Like many on this forum, I miss our weekly league matches. Loose ends. Potter, make a cup of tea, look at the fixture list. Check my emails, post a comment or two.

I’ve always supported Griffiths even when he wasn’t on the team sheet. I’ve watched him over the years with many teams and he’s scored wherever he’s been. Just hope to hell he isn’t injured. Whichever stats are right, they’re impressive. He could do the business for Scotland too.

Deila’s skating on thin ice in the striking department. I also believe Ciftci will come good but he needs match fitness. If Deila believes in 4-2-3-1 couldn’t we play Ciftci up front to get on the end of crosses and Forrest wide right and Griffiths wide left?

Rogic is on form in the centre. It would also be possible to play Forrest/Rogic/Johansen across the front three.

yestim
8 years ago
Reply to  Devoy45

I agree about missing the league games, a certain amount of apathy has surrounded the international games over the past few years, maybe because we have been shite. I blame Craig Brown’s (boring, boring Scotland) time as manager. The football we played under him would have torn the shirt off you and has only really picked up since WGS has taken over.

With regards our options upfront, I believe that RD thinks we are playing with three up front because we always play with two wingers

Charlie Saiz
8 years ago

I always watch Scotland have done since I was a wean in fact I had a Scotland top in the seventies with Dalglish and 7 on the back(which my maw spent a whole night sewing on..she ran out of white thread and did the H in Gold-“Yours is a special wan son”).
They alwyas frustrated the fuck out of me growing up toot many glorious failures and being mugged by mug teams well below our standard.
I don’t get the supporting Ireland bit any more than I get hunz following England?
I was born a Scot of Irish stock.
I hope Scotland progress but I fear yet again it will be a case of Close but no cigar’.

bgbhoy
8 years ago

forrest to start tonight,,biggest risk og getting an injury..been one of our best players this season IMO

sajfraser
8 years ago

I was a big follower of Scotland but have to say over the year less and less. I blame the Craig Brown as we were so boring. I r ember needing to beat Belgium over there and we started with 9 defenders on the park. I said never again. Still want us to win and beat Eire when we play them.would love to go to a tournament with Scotland again.

Funkyy
8 years ago

I cannae believe the negative attitude towards the Scotland team by quite a few posters here today. I have and will always support Scotland, and whether there is an Irish connection, a Celtic connection or a Maori connection has f all to do with it. Talk about narrow vision! This is a team that’s gonna represent the country..f*ck the SFA and their attitude, this is about Scotland, not a faction of the country, not an Irish part or a Celtic part ffs. I don’t know what kind of indoctrination some of you guys have had in your lives. I don’t know if I have Irish ancestors and I don’t mind either way…but I’ve supported Celtic for more than 50 years for football reasons, not for “connections” with any other race or group.
About injuries..that’s part and parcel of playing football…again a few selfish comments about the possibility of one of our palyers getting injured!! Commons got fekking injured opening a wardrobe…get a grip on yourselves. Instead of being so fekking negative, think about the fact that if we win and Ireland lose we will be in with a strong chance of the play off spot for a major tournament for the first time in bloody years. And this negativity comes from guys who moan like f*ck about no getting into the Champions!!!
I’m really surprised and pissed off by the attitude shown here today. I still believe we can get to Euro 2016, and I’ll keep believing it until it’s mathematically impossible.
Come on Scotland….and I hope Griffiths is on from the start!!

bob
8 years ago
Reply to  Funkyy

Well said that man

Monti
8 years ago
Reply to  bob

Zombie ⚠

bogbhoy
8 years ago
Reply to  Funkyy

Guess you can stop believing now. Brilliant result for Ireland and hopefully can get the automatic qualification spot on Sunday, even better to see scotland out 🙂

BondiBrian
8 years ago
Reply to  bogbhoy

‘even better to see scotland out :)’

Eh….Why?

bogbhoy
8 years ago
Reply to  bogbhoy

like broxburn says below – trying wearing the hoops to a scotland game. I cheer them on to get beat every game they play whether Ireland are in the group or not. Always hope the huns,norn ireland,scotland and england get beat. Full of bigoted fans. Great that scotland are out but a pity that norn ireland manky mob have qualified.

BondiBrian
8 years ago
Reply to  bogbhoy

bogboy….are you a toll FFS.

BondiBrian
8 years ago
Reply to  Funkyy

Well said.

Shame were oot but.

Monti
8 years ago
Reply to  BondiBrian

But what?

Monti
8 years ago
Reply to  Funkyy

Funkyy,
Calm down, it’s only a game for heavens sake.

Funkyy
8 years ago

“players”

jrw
8 years ago

Funky

I still support Scotland and want them to win and qualify again for a major tournament, it’s just that the fire isn’t burning as brightly as it once did. That said, on seeing that we have gone one down after 3 minutes my immediate reaction was FFS!

Monti
8 years ago

Matt Ritchie….GOOOAAAALLLL ☺

Funkyy
8 years ago

Somebody up there definitely disnae like us ffs!!!!!!!

Monti
8 years ago
Reply to  Funkyy

Funkyy,
That’s fitba m8!

Monti
8 years ago

Unlucky Scotland!
Congratulations Ireland!

Monti
8 years ago
Reply to  Monti

I don’t converse with fucking Huns….

BondiBrian
8 years ago
Reply to  Monti

“I don’t converse with fucking Huns”

Dear O dearie me.

Pure bile.

Monti
8 years ago
Reply to  BondiBrian

Bondagebrian,
Awwwww was big bad Monti bad to The deady bear?

8 years ago
Reply to  Monti

You are a troublemaker. Get lost.

8 years ago
Reply to  Jimthetim

That was to you BOB

Monti
8 years ago
Reply to  Jimthetim

Well said Jim the Tim! Begone Orc.

BroxburnBhoy
8 years ago

with an Irish family and being born in Scotland I have no problem supporting either and yet I’m inclined to support the Republic as my international team. I was in Japan for the World Cup and had a great time following the Republic with my hoops on! I wonder what would happen if I wore my hoops to a Scotland game? Don’t get me wrong some of the Irish guys gave me some shit about it as they were Liverpool or man it’d fans but they were the minority. Lots of hoops in the crowd. Anyway no decision to make now Come on the Republic!! The Boys in Green!

8 years ago

Devoy45 at 1.18 summed it up for me.

Iain
8 years ago

Typical Scotland – loose a goal last kick of the game. I won’t be crying on my pillow tonight because Scotland are out, but i used to support Scotland more than I do now. I remember seeing Brazil at hampden in the early seventies – Paulo Cesar could pass a ball! I think Griffiths is a real player and will improve. Maybe he can get thirty odd goals this season. Forrest injured will let Armstrong get a run. HH

Monti
8 years ago

Test.

Monti
8 years ago

Well done to Northern Ireland as well, first tournament since 1986!

8 years ago

I’m sick of wee Gordo not giving Griffiths a start. He was the same at Celtic, had his ‘favourites’. Fletcher scoring kind of weakened my argument.

bgbhoy
8 years ago

ralph…. any chance of this bobclown being banned from posting with use of words such as ‘mongo’ emabarrasing

Monti
8 years ago
Reply to  bgbhoy

bgbhoy,
This ‘ Bob ‘ troll is trolling me from the video Celts blog.

He is undead!

8 years ago
Reply to  bgbhoy

Yes it was the ‘mongo’ insult that did it for me. That is a disgraceful thing to say.

Monti
8 years ago

Notice Bondibrian doesn’t like my tone in ” not conversing with fucking Huns ” yet doesn’t feel the need to criticicise a poster calling a fellow poster ” A Mongo “?

Interesting.

Monti
8 years ago

Now that the dust has settled and Scotland’s exit sadly confirmed, one person in particular has came into my sights….Gordon Mcqueen.
Back in November at Hampden park, Aidan Mcgeady received disgraceful, racist and sectarian abuse from ‘ The Tartan Army ‘!

Gordon Mcqueen said ” he deserved it “?

Really?
GIRFUY YOU STUTTERING FUCK!

Monti
8 years ago

I think Celtic should honour the Republic of Ireland squad with a Marquee dinner at Celtic park IF we…ahem I mean they qualify.
Celtic and Ireland are inextricably linked, so I feel some sort of celebration would be in order.

Bgbhoy
8 years ago

Yeah I wonder if mcgeady made the right call opting to play for a team that actually gets to major finals. A football desicion. Nothing more

Monti
8 years ago
Reply to  Bgbhoy

Bgbhoy,
Absolutely.
Mcgeady is a fantastic player, having his battles with fitness and form at the moment but I would love to see him back at Celtic!

God bless you Aidan son!

Rab Wallace
8 years ago

All I can say is thank fuck that’s over , let’s get back to winning the league.
Scotland gave up the right to play international football when they voted against independence in my book.

Monti
8 years ago
Reply to  Rab Wallace

Alba go OOT
Erin go Bragh!

bob
8 years ago
Reply to  Monti

I would like to apologise for the comment earlier as it was not meant to come out like that!the zombie we are talking about is called Monti I usually call him Mongti for a bit of banter if I have gone to far with a recent post once again I apologise if i have offended anyone.

8 years ago
Reply to  bob

Apology accepted. Now get back on here are play nicely!

8 years ago
Reply to  Jimthetim

and*

Bgbhoy
8 years ago

He was going to come back but we wouldn’t pay the wage

Follow us on Twitter @ETimsNet