Celtic face Hamilton at Celtic Park tonight in a re-arranged fixture, hoping to transfer the recent away form to the home games.

Hamilton stopper Michael devlin says that even a win over the Hoops won’t erase the pain of losing to Annan in the cup

“The pain of that defeat will be there for a long time.

“It should be a motivation for everyone who played that day, myself included. 

Whilst it may be a little premature to laugh-Celtic will also find out who they face in the cup tonight, as East Kilbride and Lothin Thistle play their game. ( Or it might be tomorrow ) – theres nothing like facing a side who are feeling sorry for themselves when you need to put on a show and give everyone a smile on their face. If you can’t kick em when they’re down, when can you kick em ?

A good win tonight will make even the news that Steven Fletcher landed at Glasgow Airport last night a bit more bearable,

but don’t worry. I had a word with the taxi driver..

Hamilton have gone seven games without a win, and should they continue in that vein for much longer, dundee united will feel they have a chance of escaping the drop, although the Lanarkshire side still have a fourteen point lead over the Taysiders. More points than Paatelainens Pyro’s have accumulated all season, but you never know…

Keiran /tierney has recovered from his shoulder knock, but it would probably be wise to give him a few games off, as there is no need to risk further damage with Emilio Izaguirre a more than capable deputy.

With seven goals in the last two games, albeit it against what can be desribed as weaker opposition, then Celtic, and Leigh Griffiths in articular, can , and should, be intent on running up a score.

Rememebr that 7-0  i kept harping on about ?

I think a wee flutter might be in order, and not the kind of flutter we used to get when Efe ambrose was near the ball.

Aye.

7-0 Griffiths to score first and that should pay for my trip on saturday.

Its too early for new signing Erik Sviatchenko to make his debut, he needs a few weeks to get up to speed , but he will be paraded to the support. After all, he’s been paraded everywhere else.

On the catwalk, on the catwalk, I do my little thing, on the catwalk.

I’d better be careful here…he’s sent out a warning to anyone who reckons he’s soft;

“That would be a mistake. I will kill them.

“They should see me play some games because they would be surprised.

“I will never be angry with anyone, but when I go to the pitch, I will tackle and do things that you maybe wouldn’t think as you see me standing here.

“It’s not like I’m Ying and Yang or Jekyll and Hyde. 

As long as he doesn’t turn out to be one half of Laurel and Hardy I’m happy enough.

“I’m not that that special in that sense, but I like to be up to different things.

“My family means a lot to me and we discuss a lot of things just to be enlightened about things happening around the world, so I try to keep up.

“I think it’s good to have some brain activities.

“I will go and visit all the cultural things I can in Glasgow but sometimes I will also enjoy watching a movie or playing a game of FIFA even though it’s not that often

“I have respect for all guys who do other things. If they perform on the pitch, I don’t give a crap.

“If I’m performing, they will look at me the same way. ”

He then went on to mention that this isn’t a spur of the moment signing, Celtic had tried to sign him in the summer; 

“I heard about it in the summer first and then I talked to Ronny at the beginning of the week.

“He told me they tried in the summer, but they couldn’t connect the dots.

“I could imagine this step was good because the interest was for a long period and it was important to know the club, manager, everything, was settled and they knew who I was, rather than a quick deal.

“I’m a guy who thinks about things. Not too much, but it is has to be the right thing.

“I felt when I talked to Ronny on the phone there were some similarities to the way I wanted to play football and develop. We connected the dots.”

Of course, the media had to ask him if he views Celtic as a stepping stone to the EPL, as no doubt they’re hoping that if he is any good, and Deila has found another gem, then he won’t be here for too long; 

“I like to be in the present, not making plans too far ahead.

“I make plans maybe three months ahead, so I’m not thinking of Premier League at all.

“I want to be the best I can be at Celtic and whatever happens in the future happens.

In all seriousness, he sounds like a level headed intelligent guy. Possibly even leadership material, which is something we’ve been sadly lacking in. 

Here’s hoping…

One thing about the move, what you may call an unintended consequence, is that Manchester United will have be rather happy about it. They face Midtylland in the next round of the europa League, and Sviatchenko, of course was their main man.

We’ve done them a favour, yet they gave us Tyler Blackett and said he was a good player.

Another reason to dislike them, if you ask me.

As the month goes on, there will be a little panic amongst supporters if Celtic don’t get their business done quickly. Of course there are many factors to be considered when bringing in a player-or letting one go-and often thats not Celtic’s fault.

Anthony stokes officially went out to Hibernian yesterday;

If my theory is correct, we’ll be seeing his replacement very soon. The word is that Celtic are going to have quite a turnover of players this month, as Ronny gets his team ready for the European campaign next season, and if nothing else that should keep us interested.

Next in could be Rasmus Falk, who this morning told his club Odense that he will not be renewing his contract. My Danish isn’t brilliant, so you’ll have to bear with me on this translation, taken from the newspaper BT.

Rasmus Falk narrated through his agent, Mads Bach Lund that he does not want to be in the club when his contract with OB expires this summer.

And although it was not the answer, OB had hoped for, says sports director Jesper Hansen that despite everything is nice with a clear message.

“It’s nice to get a clarification. I would like to have had it a long time ago, but it’s nice that after all has come now. We have been operating since August and gave him a new opportunity around the New Year, and he signed off on, so it’s no great surprise. We have stretched us far, I think, but I have great respect for that Rasmus want something different, “says Jesper Hansen, who tried to get Rasmus Falk to be in OB until a foreign offer was too good to refuse. 

“We had hoped that we had extended by Rasmus and we knew that it was on borrowed time, for somewhere worthy of his talent and he’s even getting out and getting test himself in a bigger league. And it was the agenda that we had in OB – that he should be there until he felt he was ready for a new challenge abroad.It has been my approach to things all the way. But I have respect for that of course he should think about his football career and make the choices he feels is the right thing, “explains Jesper Hansen.

He says that it is the end to come with several improved offers in an attempt to get Rasmus Falk to extend the club, the 24-year-old midfielder has played in since 2005.

“Yes it is. We have had a long history of Rasmus and gave him an offer around the New Year, and that he chose to say no to it, and it will say that it has been over at Rasmus’ half, and it is so that he has announced today. We accept that, “explains Jesper Hansen. 

In the agent Mads Bach Lund message Rasmus Falk’s decision to leave OB by contract expired uttered player a desire to play this season to end in OB, but the club will now try to sell him and earn a bit of him in the winter transfer window, Jesper Hansen not say anything about. At least not until he has met with Falk.

BT has been in contact with Rasmus Falk agent Mads Bach Lund, who do not have more comments than those already announced, and he says that they will now spend the time to find out what will happen going forward.  

We should see movement on this very soon.

He has the same agent, and it appears, the same dance teacher as Stefan Johansen;

And then theres this…

which means;

– It is true that there is interest, but it’s there from elsewhere too, says “Moi” Monday morning.

He will not say anything about the clubs in question, or if he believes there will be a transition this winter.

– Time will tell. I relate to the contract I have, and I work hard to get in shape, says Molde player.

The Scottish Sun, which cited interest from Celtic first think to know that the price tag is at two million pounds – or slightly more than 25 million. 

Elyounoussi impressed greatly in the Europa League this fall and national team player was central when, among others, Celtic were sunk, and Molde took on as group winners. Now awaits the defending champion Sevilla in 16 final on for Ole Gunnar Solskjær crew.

Also in the Premier League was 21-year-old important for Molde. Norwegian Moroccans ended with 12 league goals in 25 games.

Well, sort of.

Interestingly, from the same paper, we have this;

Stefan Johansen avventer Celtic-fremtiden

Meaning the player “won’t guarantee his future at Celtic”…

Sort of.

Ronny can only try to get these players in. His reputation, and the enthusiasm he instills in players, as reported by Sviatchenko, should give him the advantage when it comes to closing this deal.

As for players leaving, if they’ve made their mind up, then thats that.

But you never know whats around the corner.

After all, events can conspire against you.

Celine Dion must be gutted, as must be the Eagles. Despite a tremendous effort this week, David Bowie is still going to be number one in the album charts.

Hang on, whats this ?

TRANSFER NEWS: Exit on the cards for Scott Brown 

PAUL Hurst says it’s now ‘common knowledge’ that Scott Brown and Jack Mackreth are available to other clubs, but insists nothing has yet been agreed for either to leave Blundell Park.

It’s from the Grimsby Telegraph, and refers to their Scott Brown. We should make a move for him. It would confuse Scottish sport hacks and cause all sorts of confusion for some of them. 

Well, probably all of them.

Anyone know who this is ?

By the way, the building arrant for the safe standing section at Celtic park was approved on January 7.

Heres my own idea, which i’ve already submitted to the club;