One of the noticeable features of doing a day to day diary is that sometimes you find yourself saying the same things at various points throughout the season.
One of the noticeable features of doing a day to day diary is that sometimes you find yourself saying the same things at various points throughout the season.
This season, its dawned on me just how many important games we have had already, and we’re not even into December yet.
There’s another two this week, a visit to Trondheim on Thursday for a must win game against Rosenberg, and a League cup final against Aberdeen at Hampden on Sunday.
Two wins ?
One keeps a lengthy European run possible when a few weeks ago we were looking at an early exit having come up against two really good sides, and the other stretches the Rodgers Trophy count to seven in a row, a couple of months after it looked unlikely he’d be hanging around after his tiff with the CEO.
You certainly can’t say its been a dull season, and its important to keep the current momentum going through December towards the winter break to allow the second half of the season to be just as entertaining.
Most of us concur that the second entity at Ibrox, combined with its minions throughout the media, the authorities and the establishment have banked their future on Celtic not securing an eighth successive title. This, and I tend to agree, is the season they throw whatever they can at us to derail the charge towards setting the history books right.
So, this week, especially with a cup final to come, expect a rash of stories that are designed to upset the balance at Celtic, both on and off the pitch.
The first concerns long time servant Mikael Lustig, who is part of the revamped defence that has proved difficult to breach of late.
Many put that down to the introduction of Benkovic and rebirth of Boyata, but Lustig is now working with two guys he doesn’t have to think about covering for, which means he can get on with his own job.
His contract is up for renewal, and according to the papers , he is in “crunch talks over his future “.
Not what you want on your mind at a crucial period for the club, but players are used to that sort of uncertainty.
However, the media aren’t concerned with that, they know that Lustig is the most recent of a long line of scapegoats every time someone scores against Celtic, and as a result, they will attempt to kindle a debate on whether or not he should get a new deal.
I’ll help everyone to decide.
He’s been loyal, dependable and has great charisma.
Give him a deal, and sign someone he can mentor.
There. Piece of piss this management lark.
The police have weighed in as well. Not over Lustig, although no doubt there was a meeting somewhere in the bowels of Police Scotland HQ to determine whether or not he should have been charged for wearing a policemans hat during a game, but over Celtic fans celebrating after beating “rangers ” in the opening league encounter between the two.
A report after the game has been released, and the papers have seized on it, blaming Celtic players for aggravating “rangers ” fans, and nearly causing a riot etc…
Celtic and Rangers face lap of honour crackdown as cop report claims Hoops’ joy sparked fan rammy
A police internal memo said there was ‘a clear link between actions of Celtic players and subsequent response of the Rangers fans’ after the Hoops 1-0 win in September.
As its unlikely the “rangers ” players will be doing any laps of honour after these games fpr obvious reasons, one tends to think this is aimed solely at Celtic fans, and interestingly, the article tries to link the lap of honour to the Janefield underpass crush before the game…
The superintendent’s memo to match day officers said: “I am firmly of the view that there is a clear link between the actions of the Celtic players (which immediately inflamed an already delicate situation) and subsequent response of the Rangers fans.”
The match, which Celtic won 1-0, was also marred by a terrifying crush before kick-off that resulted in five Hoops fans being injured near the Janefield Street entrance.
Which , as we know, the police were at least partly to blame for, they just haven’t got round to admitting it yet.
But this “memo ” may be a part of an agenda to combat the independent report which will be out next month.
The police superintendent, who wasn’t named, though its likely he had a surname for a first name, continued;
“Had I known about the Celtic team lap of honour, I would have suggested that the plan would be to release the Rangers fans first, if we had a Celtic win.
And no doubt when he’s on a crime scene he puts in his reports statements like
” Had I known there might be shoplifters around, I’d have told store staff to keep an eye out for them ”
He is also quoted as saying
As it was, as the Rangers fans had already been informed of the holdback, not many were actually making concerted efforts to leave so the timings to change the cordons etc round and deliver comms and messages were too tight.”
I’ve read that three times. I’ve no idea what he is saying. Though it does sound like he’s absolving the “rangers ” fans of any blame.
“Celtic team lap of honour was not helpful as Celtic fans did not leave. The team coming to the south-east corner was a clear flashpoint for the Rangers fans.
“Apparently in direct response to player behaviour, crowd surged forward down on to the platform and over the wheelchair users. Increased aggression towards police broke through holdback at vomitories.”
The use of “apparently ” here is important. It implies hearsay, as in he heard someone say it, and yet this is the crux of his argument. And therefore of the article.
He also uses the word ” vomitories ” in its correct context, which indicates that he got an Oxford English dictionary for his birthday, when he really wanted a new “rangers ” top, which of course weren’t available to buy at the time.
So, to sum up, somehow Celtic players are being blamed for “rangers ” fans injuring disabled supporters. Their own supporters.
Expect more of the same ahead of a report which is likely to criticise the police.
Expect more also of the “dream ” title race between the New Firm..
Keith Jackson, in his column today, is the first to mention it..
it seems reasonable to assume at this point that we have all just witnessed the beginning of a two-horse race towards the finish line.
Wait until next weekend, when the Ibrox side have the chance to go top with Celtic playing a cup final.. they won;t have their hands out of the air long enough to type anything…
Jacksons article compares the relative talents-and personalities-of Alfredo Morelas, the Colombian striker at Ibrox who is in a bit of form just now, and Leigh Griffiths, who has taken time out to work on his fitness.
On Morelas, who is at best a little moody..
But, much to his credit, this tempestuous 22-year-old has gone on to flourish under Gerrard’s wing. He is not just scoring goals, he is also bringing the best out of those around him. His workrate has improved immensely as well as his touch, appreciation and all round game.
In other words, Morelos is a far better striker now than the liability Gerrard thought he was inheriting.
On Griffiths…
It was around this time 12 months ago when he ( Brendan Rodgers ) suddenly demoted Griffiths to the role of Celtic’s third choice striker behind Moussa Dembele and Odsonne Edouard and at that moment the alarm bells ought to have been clattering between his ears.
Trouble is, what goes on in there is anyone’s guess.
Is he hinting at a mental illness, or am I just reading too much into that ?
The thought of two top class forwards facing our challengers in this imaginary two horse race terrifies them.
The thought if a stable defence for the rest of the campaign terrifies them.
So they will start to pick away at their minds, hoping to break their concentration.
The problem , of course, for them, is that we’re kind of used to it by now.
Sky sports showed us at the weekend that having secured the rights to Scottish football in a secret new deal that they have indeed upped their game..they have started to get teams names right, and are almost getting the scores right as well..
As we know, it was 3-0. But at least they got Motherwell and Aberdeen right.
You should always pay attention to detail.. as this gallant chap found out..
Mind you, they’ve been out in force of late..
Fair enough, if there is discrimination, call it out. It works both ways, doesnt it ?
Oh, wait..
Yesterday, we had this intriguing image..
Caption …
Hampden park Glasgow.
Best view in the house tickets sold out ….
today.. please explain this contraption