Menu Close

Celtic Diary Sunday March 3: That Was The Week That Was

We can all relax now.

Celtic overcame Hibernian yesterday to advance into the semi finals of the Scottish Cup, completing a week that may live long in the memory. Perhaps even as a pivotal week in the quest for ten in a row and a third consecutive treble.

The week the stars aligned ?

We’ll see.

What we did see yesterday was a Celtic team change tactics to counter an enthusiastic hibernian challenge which led to a comfortable victory, with James Forrest relishing his role as a central number ten, and Scott Brown dragging his team mates through the game in the way that Roy Aitken used to do.

Forrest scored the first goal, which showed he can combine quick feet with a powerful finish, and Brown made the tie safe when he powered through the defence to unleash a shot that had people in the stand holding their hands in front of their faces in case it came through the net.

Along with Nir Biton, Brown provided the muscle behind the hustle of the forwards, and for what was a makeshift team with a makeshift manager , it was a truly mature and professional performance.

After the game, Lennon paid tribute to , well, everyone..

“I am absolutely delighted, I got everything I wanted,” 

“I thought it was an outstanding performance from the team. We had total control, and I thought that was the best I’ve seen them play for a while.

“We had a brilliant mentality, it’s been a very difficult week for them all – physically and emotionally – so for them to go out and play they way they did, particularly in the second-half, speaks volumes for this group of players.” 

“I haven’t seen Celtic play like that Against Hibs for a while, especially at Easter Road. The manner of the goals was brilliant too, and I couldn’t have asked for more from the players.

“With Forrest and Brown scoring goals, it was like going back in time. They were with me when I was first here and nine years later, they’re still outstanding footballers at this club. For me, they’re two Celtic greats, and they’re still writing chapters in the time they have here.

“Today, I’ve moved Jamesy into a more central position because we weren’t affecting between the lines enough. We did that just about 10 minutes before half-time, and then John made a few tweaks tactically as well, just to give us better control of the game. The second-half was magnificent.

“I want the players to have a rest, mentally and physically, but it’s a great way to finish what’s been a difficult week for them. The players are all champing at the bit to play which is great for me.” 

Away from the public eye, Lennon is back where he feels he belongs. He’s had to make a few, er, adjustments tp his life outside the club, and won’t be bringing Gary Parker back to help him do whatever it was Parker helped him to do.

But there still may be a familiar face or two in his staff once the problems of his first spell are confined entirely to that spell.

For Lennon, the job is his to lose, and if it is, it won;t be lost on the pitch.

It could be argued that the first time around it was too early for him, however, this time, it could yet turn out to be a confirmation that last week all the stars were indeed in the right place, including the one that hovered over Leicester.

Speaking of Barry Ringers, James Forrest, who has a one hundred per cent scoring record since the change of management, told the papers about the phone call he received from the previous manager, a mere four fucking days after he’d last seen him.

He phoned me on Thursday night and for me he has been really good over the past couple of years,” 

“I will always remember what he did for me. It was good that he contacted me, he has put so much into the club over that time. But he has a new job now and we need to get on with ours too.” 

“It was pretty hectic. Everything happened within 24 hours,” 

“Previously I’d known managers to leave at the end of the season so it was different. The boys did well to cope with it on Wednesday.

“Everybody was here on Monday. We had heard wee rumours on the Monday night and Tuesday morning and then it happened. But I think maybe because of how well we have done over the past couple of years it was bigger than it might otherwise have been. Celtic being a massive club too it’s big news, his profile too.

“When I woke up on Tuesday it seemed as if everything had moved forward. On the way into training it was done. I had no inkling on the Monday. We had played on Sunday so the ones who played were in doing recovery.

“He must have been speaking to the boys out on the training pitch but all we heard were the wee rumours on the Monday. I have spoken to him since.

“I’m not sure if he has been phoning round all the guys. It’s been a bit mental, we’ve had a game and so have Leicester. Sometimes in football things can happen so fast. I think everyone would like to have said bye but it can’t always be like that.” 

Because it has been so good over the past couple of years and he [Rodgers] has done so well for me, the team and for Scottish football I was gutted. It was strange because we had two huge games in the league and the cup, two huge games in terms of our season.

“But I think the club handled it really well by getting the manager in so quick. We still have John Kennedy so we’ve kept everything the same and it’s been a case of trying to settle everyone down.” 

Maybe once it settles down everyone will think of how good it’s been,”

“We didn’t go into any of that too much. Things can change quickly in football.

“I think that’s a hard one. Once it settles down people will think it’s seven trophies out of seven.

“When he took over the club was kind of not in the best state and now it’s looking really good and positive.

“Maybe in time… but the games are coming thick and fast and we just need to concentrate on them. “When he was here it was always game at a time. It was always about what came next., not looking too far in front. That message stays the same, we have a lot to prepare for.”

There will be suspicions among the support that this, and other calls may be a form of tapping up, a sort of “ring you back in the summer ” type thing, but this from Forrest shows that they were kept in the dark and the then manager clearly had only his own interests at heart.

They won’t forget that if the phone rings and its a Leicester number.

More importantly, guys such as Tierney, Forrest and MacGregor want to be around for the next couple of years…for obvious reasons, and everything else can wait.

Mind you, judging by todays Irish Post, we may have to go trough all that trauma again if this guy is right..

 

The biggest talking point of the game yesterday will be the bottle throwing incident. Scott Sinclair was the target, and the sun seemed to have identified the perpetrator..

COMPLETE IDIOTS’ 

Rangers legend Ally McCoist blasts yob who hurled Buckfast bottle at Celtic’s Scott Sinclair

Sinclair was taken ( sic-he means taking a , but it is the Sun ) a corner when a missile missed him by inches before being later targeted by coins

RANGERS legend Ally McCoist has launched a blistering attack on the yob who hurled a Buckfast bottle at Celtic star Scott Sinclair.

The missile was launched at Sinclair during the second half of tonight’s Scottish Cup tie between the Hoops and Hibs at Easter Road.

From the picture used, there is even the implication the bottle was handed to the offender by a steward or police officer…

Image result for willie collum bottle

and then , when asked which of them passed him the bottle, they all looked the other way, like a puppy sitting next to a pile of ripped toilet paper..

Not one of them moved to find the culprit…

 

In a way, with the arrival of Lennon and the apparent smoothness of the transition on the pitch, we can now concentrate on other matters, such as stewarding and the safety of players and fans at games.

Something that has slipped under the radar of late is the report into the Janefield underpass crush, which was expected in December.

However, at Easter Road yesterday, the police helped to refresh our memory as to just how useless they are at crowd control..

Note how small the queues for entry are behind them.

Note the crush ..again.

From another angle..thanks the The Mire CSC on twitter…

Safety ?

Replying to 

Make you walk into a road that still has traffic coming through it. 6 ticket checks. Joke 

Well, no one is laughing.

Anyone else with experience of the this particular instance of crowd control should contact John Paul Taylor, as he is looking into it..

Caption competition from yesterday..

Una March 2, 2019 at 11:12 am · Edit · Reply →

Caption

Russian Oasis Fan

Is it my imagination
Or have I finally found something worth living for?
I was looking for some action
But all I found was Vodka and Caviar
You could wait for a lifetime
To spend your days in the sunshine
You might as well do the white line
‘Cause when it comes on top
You gotta make it happen!
You gotta make it happen!
You gotta make it happen!
You gotta make it happen!
Is it worth the aggravation
To find yourself a job when there’s nothing worth working for?
It’s a crazy situation
But all I need are Vodka and Caviar!
You could wait for a lifetime
To spend your days in the sunshine
You might as well do the white line
‘Cause when it comes on top
You gotta make it happen!
You gotta make it happen!
You gotta make it happen!
You gotta make it happen!
You gotta
You gotta
You gotta make it
You gotta
You gotta
You gotta make it
You gotta
You gotta
You gotta make it
You gotta
You gotta
You gotta make it

I have to confess that I’ve no idea about Oasis, my musical tastes centre around bands who make it necessary to buy a full album and not just one song to play on repeat that miore or less would cover their entire songbook, known as the UB40 effect, so i’ll take the word of others on this one.

One I did understand..

Puggy67 March 2, 2019 at 9:27 am · Edit · Reply →

Caption: New! From Ronco! Tired of the the taste of false promises? Then you need the Brendan Rodgers shit swallower. In stores for Christmas! T&C’s apply. 3 year garuntee subject to short-notice alteration. 

Today.. maybe he wasn’t about to fling it at a Celtic player, maybe the truth is out there..

Image result for hibs v celtic scottish cup

 

Later today, there’s a wee short story from Brian 53 on the site, one of those where you have to will the suspension of disbelief…online from 1pm. Worth a read, its quite layered.

0 0 votes
Article Rating
61 Comments
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Mike A
5 years ago

Looking at that group of stewards and police, how the hell are they supposed to catch anyone. Looking at their girth moving itself would be an issue.

Caption: Scottish Ref goes to great lengths to be welcomed in Coatbridge.

Before I get slagged by the ‘brig bhoys, it’s a lovely place. I worked there for 30 years. Some sentence eh?

Tom B
5 years ago
Reply to  Mike A

And uou were well loved by the bhoys and Ghirls of St Pats

charlienich
5 years ago

“Here, you left a mouthful when you threw it”

tony carlin
5 years ago

Buckie during a match, that explains Gollum and his “honest” mistakes!

Iancelt67
5 years ago

Caption
Can you put this in the fridge for me

Puggy67
5 years ago

Caption: Buckfast adversely affects your spelling. Guaranteed.

Puggy67
5 years ago

Caption: Edinburgh; a smile, a castle and a song. Well one out of three ain’t bad.

HoudiniBhoy
5 years ago

Caption:
John Beaton: Name me one person more equipped to lead Operation Stop The 10 than me?
Willie Collum: Here, hold my Buckfast.

Iancelt67
5 years ago

Caption
If Rodgers was still here it would’ve been a choice shiraz

Iancelt67
5 years ago

Caption
Someone’s got to sack rod steward

I give up

D'Fhinnein Mick
5 years ago

CAPTION

Haw lads,I’ve got an empty!!!

Iancelt67
5 years ago

Caption
And if one green bottle is thrown at Easter road there’ll be nine green bottles meant for me or you nine green bottles meant for me and you

I really give up

Alzyerpal
5 years ago

Caption: Thanks very much. I’ve had this since the Linfield game. It might come in handy again.

Rob O'Keeffe
5 years ago

Congratulations to Celtic for two excellent results against the Edinburgh Twosome.Everyone still at Parkhead has behaved professionally and said all the right things despite their real feelings.That guy at mighty Leicester stated he would like to return as manager in maybe 10 years so I take it he isn’t going to entice any of Our players away? After all,he can be trusted,can’t he?…..

Bognorbhoy
5 years ago

Caption

Could you recycle this please.

Translation

For fucks sake give it to some hibee with a better aim or at least drop it in front of the celtic support..

Iancelt67
5 years ago

Craving mikes pearls of wisdom where the fuck is he hope hope he hasn’t taken the Rodgers thing too hard . Where’s rebus as well ? Missing both intellects badly

BJF
5 years ago

Really pleased with two good results at difficult venues, refkectscwell in thecsquad, Brian, Kennedy and if course Lennon. He is more flexible, more pragmatic that his predecessor, good.Now we can draw breath before Aberdeen, hope this doesn’t lead to the players thinking too much about last week, I suspect Neil Lennon will focus them on Aberdeen. We are 8 points ahead at the beginning of March, two challenging matches maybe a couple that will be easier. If we are in the same position at the end of March job done.

BJF
5 years ago

Oops “ reflects really well on the squad Brown….

Bobby Murdoch’s Crumpled Up Chip Wrapper
5 years ago

Caption

I knew I should have gone for the full bottle! Here, Prentice (head of the dayglo Gestapo) do me favour and go get me another one!

Una
5 years ago

Caption

Tell Griffiths I’ll be reporting this to the compliance officer to cite a 3 game ban

Iancelt67
5 years ago

Caption
Look I know I’m a bottle short of a six pack. When’s half time anyway ?

Devoy45
5 years ago

Injury updates? Grateful for any information.
What injury and how long out…
Ralston
Boyata
Ntcham
Burke
Christie
McGregor
Rogic
Griff-return when(ish)
Why isn’t Bayo getting a game?
Many of you on this site have more and better sources than I have. I’m grateful for what you can tell me.
C’mon Lenny and The Celtic

Cartvale88
5 years ago

Caption
Now go and find the wan flung by the Green Brigade.

The journos again try and blacken Celtic fans by insinuation. Gollum really should go to Specsavers as he is stupid and blind when it comes to fouls against Celtic players.
Delighted Lenny has started so well, now for the treble. As for the wronged Brenda, he has some ego, he is a (true )Celtic supporter, just by up McGregor, Tierney, Forrest, Sinclair and Edouard, then he believes Celtic will be in the EPL.
Sold his soul to the Daily Ranker

Oztim
5 years ago

Re Breadbin Rodgered- it’s like your wife leaving you for a rich guy that looks like Quasimodo and when you take a step back and think about it, you’re actually glad he took her.

Celtic – A team like no other!

Iancelt67
5 years ago

Never a step away from drama. Spice of life. You hire a mercenary with patter that anyone would take after Ronny let’s be honest and I don’t care what anyone says trebles should be won by Celtic it’s almost a minimum requirement given the level of opposition so in my book we should be judged in Europe alone. Rodgers failed to make his mark here. Ok we qualified beat anderlecht and leipzig. That’s it for him. Fucking failure really. Can’t really take the invincible year away from him but that’s it . We now have a guy who got us to the last 16 in the best competition in the world with a shoestring budget . He brought van dijk wanyama and Forster. Dembele was Rodgers only success. Never in a million years would a lenno team lose to the red imps. Let’s rejoice in having our man back. He’s got balls and he really would die for Celtic. Dying for Leicester ? Ffs their own fans wouldn’t even do that. Shite club one aberration due to one man Ranieri.

SteveNaive
5 years ago

Cartvale, Hibs have already tried to deflect saying a bottle thrown from Celtic fans also. Still waiting on SFA action on missiles being thrown at Celts v Hunnites.

Iancelt67
5 years ago

Forgot the draws against citeh second one was academic first one was good. Great game. I’m remembering now getting hammered against Astana at their patch a bunch of goat herders . Don’t grieve too long about this joker. It is what it is

Cartvale88
5 years ago

Totally agree lance67

SteveNaive

I was being sarcastic, as the establishment try to blame Celtic supporters for everything, just look at the kettleing photos above from Leith

Honest hoops
5 years ago

Caption; okay okay….yes…so I bottled it…should have been a free kick for the tackle on Burke…

Cesar
5 years ago

People hide in numbers, while drink stokes the flames of bigotry and intolerance, to the bottle throwers, they care not who gets injured, because no-one can be absolutely certain that their intended target is the one that is the recipient. There is no place in football, whatever the team you support for bottle or coin throwers, none. Children attend games, are they to be injured by the thug’s who throw objects? When the new north stand had just been built, we began to sit beside supporters who were new to us, a great bunch of Celtic men. But one was a racist, he was soon called out and told to fuck off and don’t ever return. Strict Liability is the only solution, until football clubs take full responsibility for everything that goes on inside their stadiums, the unacceptable face of football will continue, it will come and come soon and we will all be the better for it. Celtic against racism and bigotry, take pride in why our fore-fathers started our great club, let’s remember its ethos and return to the moral high ground, let the bigots and the racists fester in their own poison.

Mike
5 years ago

I have had some fun, hiding in the shadows of one off my football all time hero’s names. I only wanted to highlight his name, to bring his name out so that we could never forget him, but how could we ever forget the Captain of the greatest ever Celtic team. His name is woven in our memories, knitted into our DNA. The man who lifted the “Big Cup”. We will never forget him Billy McNeil.
So I am returning to my own name, the one given to me by my parents when they found me under a cabbage, cabbages are green, my favourite colour, the colour of my team. COYBIG.

Iancelt67
5 years ago

Strict liability ? Thousands punished for one halfwit? No I’m in the security business. I think security at football matches is lax. Screening and bag searches are non existent. Throwing coins well that’s hard to vet. But if they up the ante with security then it wouldn’t happen so much. Need to pay the dollars for good security and it will be worth it. I know this.

Iancelt67
5 years ago

Also with good traffic cintrol and security focussed on ingress and egress at games you wouldn’t experience crushes . Police are jack of all trades they’re not really qualified for crowd control

5 years ago

Caption “Making Your Mind Up”

Monti
5 years ago

Fuck me that was some sesh last night in St.Vincents.
I can now see the screen 🙂

BJF
5 years ago

Couldn’t not watch Watford v Leicester, great 93 minute winner for Watford . When the teams were being announced there was a lot of booing and I realised it was the Watford fans reminding Rodgers of another support and club he shafted, almost like a serial killer st the end reflecting on the lives he had taken, no maybe that is taking it too far. I think Lenny will make a better fist of the Champions League qualifiers because he has come in, in advance, how’s that for confidence?

Mike
5 years ago

Oh Dear, Matt McGloan’s titter you not, twitter feed showing submarine Shammy diving.. again, the cheat with three feet, and he’s definitely no Jake the peg. Meanwhile the Pittodrie seats take off like Hun drones searching for blue sky, 200 damaged last time the hate fest arrived in Aberdeen, going for 55 takes on new meaning.
The beasts in the east.

Noel Skytrot
5 years ago

Good solid performance by the team yesterday at a venue we’ve struggled at in the past. Moving forward after a tumultuous week.

Monti
5 years ago

Oh dear Brendan, never mind eh, ‘ that’s football ‘.
Was gutted to see Watford grab a late winner…..cough.

Rob O'Keeffe
5 years ago

Up next Mr.Rodgers,Fulham,Burnley,Bournemouth,Huddersfield,oh the glamour,no wonder you bailed out……what was that song the Watford dj was playing?….. away and count your money….

Devoy45
5 years ago

Nobody has yet helped with my ‘injured’ enquiry (see above)
Iancelt67, Surely Scott Sinclair counts as one of Rodgers’ successes?
Chuffed with Lenny so far.

Iancelt67
5 years ago
Reply to  Devoy45

Devoy first year yeah Sinclair out of this world somewhere along the line he’s lost his mojo. I blame his wag for this sapping the energy. Who could blame him?

Puggy67
5 years ago

Caption: Evidence at a crime scene is contaminated as several Farqhaur McPlods look on.Not funny but accurate.

Mike
5 years ago

YOKER yer Tea’s oot, where are yea!

Tubbytubthumper
5 years ago

Caption: Fill me up, I have standard to keep up!

Mike
5 years ago

Might be a good idea to get Lenny to look at your’s then.

Here’s hoping anyway.

Mike
5 years ago
Reply to  Mike

Heh Heh. Hail Cesar. 😉

Puggy67
5 years ago

Caption: Take this and get the prints off it. Ignore the ones that belong to cheating, lying bastards. Their mine.

Yoker Bhoy
5 years ago

Ah’m doon wae the flu Mikey. Ah’m gonny take a coupla stiff whiskies tae sort it oot. Hope all’s well at your end mate. Good game yesterday btw, esp the 2nd half.

Mike
5 years ago
Reply to  Yoker Bhoy

Get well soon Yoker, I will keep your place warm for you, indeed it was, I really enjoyed it, two stoatin goals, from Jamsie and our new striker, Broony. All the best Yoker, take care mate, speak soon. 😉

Yoker Bhoy
5 years ago
Reply to  Mike

Cheers Mikey, looking forward to entertaining the sheep next weekend. All the best mate.

5 years ago

“He’s had to make a few, er, adjustments tp his life outside the club, and won’t be bringing Gary Parker back to help him do whatever it was Parker helped him to do.”

No explanation nor mild curiosity.

Peter will be pleased.

Mike
5 years ago
Reply to  The Cha

The Cha, I read someplace that Garry might have been the cause of the fall out at Hibs, but that is probably mince. My own view is this. The club takes the view that John Kennedy should be looked after and that is the way it should be. Despite everything said about John, he is one brave man according to the specialist that treated him twice for his career ending injury. “The bravest person that I have ever treated”. So credit where credit’s due, John Kennedy deserves his place as Assistant, lets face it, there can only be one assistant, he knows the club backwards but perhaps more than that is continuity of the team, training and tactics after Rodgers. Damien Duff just appointed they both keep that continuity, Lenny is in safe hands…

5 years ago
Reply to  Mike

Maybe but with Rodgers and Davies leaving then Lennon and Parker coming in covers this and leaves Kennedy to continue the excellent work he’s be doing.

I can’t shake the feeling that Lenny might be in the driver’s seat but he’s merely Lawwell’s chauffeur and the latter is comfortably ensconced back in his role as the “driving force”.

5 years ago
Reply to  The Cha

Indeed but I can’t see that he’s in a position of strength, as he can hardly claim to Lawwell that there’s a host of top clubs after him.

How fucked up would it be if Boyata ended up at Leicester? 🙁

Yoker Bhoy
5 years ago

Valencia supporters now copy Celtic with their smartphones lit up to sing one of their songs.

Mike
5 years ago
Reply to  Yoker Bhoy

Ah Yoker poker Brian Stoker, many’s the teams supporters that try to copy the Celtic support, inventive, creative and generous to a fault, the men and wummin that are faithful through and through, are the best of people. But cross them at your peril, as we have witnessed this past week. God Bless The Celtic. Sleep well my fiend.

Monti
5 years ago

That’s you ruled out then…..

BJF
5 years ago

I don’t think Billy McNeill, Kenny Dalgleish, Bobby Evans, Davy Hay, Charlie Nicolas should be grouped with our former manager in the manner of their leaving. Celtic paid comparatively poor wages in those days( God knows where the club’s money really went). In addition they had their careers frustrated by the biscuit tin mentality not only in terms of their own finances but also seeing the squad’s quality improved which must have been galling particularly for example for Ceasar ).I have also been thinking about another pint that Lenny might not push the players as hard as his predecessor. Rightly or wrongly Ronnie criticised the players fitness and diets and then his successor did the same about his regime by changing it. If the enhanced training creates more injuries could it also not lead to the greater fitness we have shown, typicall
look where we won from at Tynecastle, I think a delicate balance will be required.

Follow us on Twitter @ETimsNet