Ahead of todays New Old Firm game, a glance back at the media ths week will tell you that someone is running scared, and someone is completely focused.
We’ve seen former Ibrox employees, and a few from Celtic, dragged out to offer their overpriced tuppence worth in a bid to hype up a game which essentially is a shadow of what used to be the biggest in the domestic calendar.
All week we’ve heard how “rangers ” have the edge, despite ,er, no one quite explaining how a team that had no interest in their top players who wanted away has managed to get to that point, a team that contains not a single player who would make the Celtic squad, let alone vanquish any thoughts of ten in a row.
Thats how the media works, style over substance, headlines over stories.
Meanwhile, Neil Lennon has remained stolidly quiet, focusing instead o the game.
Even when it became obvious Celtic would be without at least five key men there was no word from Celtic, and perhaps the media storm was to try to provoke comment, when in fact none was needed.
There is no real challenge from Ibrox, as we have seen.
Today is just another three points, and another mature , professional performance will ensure that.
At Ibrox, they look forward to the big game, a chance to relive old memories of an entity long since confined to the annals of history, whilst at Celtic Park, history is being made.
Thats why I’m not overly fussed about the game today, I’ll be at work and will catch it on BBC sounds, just like any other bread and butter match.
Barkas, Frimpong, Duffy, Ajer, Jullien, Taylor, Brown MacGregor, Ntcham, Elyannoussi Ajeti will probably be the starting line up, and even the bench will have quality they can only dream of, so i wouldn;t worry too much.
And you can make money as well today.
Cheatin John is the referee, which means there is actually no need to watch the game, as we can tell you exactly how it will go.
Celtic will get a high volume of free kicks in the middle of the park, as the referee seeks to interrupt the rhythm of the game, players such as Brown and duffy will be booked early, though my guess is that Frimpong and Taylor will be booked first, to lessen their tackling on Kent and Hagi.
Of course, they will get a penalty, probably for handball against Barkas, and late in the game they will match the amount of bookings Celtic get, with a flurry of cards shown at their ball winners.
That way it all looks fairly balanced.
Where it is a little less predicatable is in the important bit…the score.
I’m going for 7-0.
Though it will probably be 2-1, as they will get a penalty.
Celtic are quicker, stronger and technically better in all parts of the park, so it’s difficult to see how “rangers “, who are at best a journeyman side well organised, can hope to win.
All we need is for our players to be as professional and determined as these guys…
Elsehwere, and Nicola Sturgeon has called for Sky TV to show the game free to prevent “Old firm ” fans travelling south to watch the game, although she didn;t come out and say it was “rangers 2 fans going to blackpool that was the problem.
The Lancashire pub, called the Gallant Pioneer backtracked this week and said no one would get in if they did come, although there was an extraordinary scene at Central station this morning near the 6.20 to the english coast…
Two Ibrox supporters did turn up, but couldn’t find the pub.
According to Slimshady on Twitter, Celtic will be using the new UEFA Covid rules to sign four players on a temporary loan to replace those who have to self isolate during the game…
That would be nice, and to be honest, the two defenders would probably still do a job today.
Even if they only came on for ten minutes at the end and made one tackle each…
Ryan Kent , the 20m rated winger, is looking forward to the game, though he knows it will be different….
Obviously it will be different with no stadium. The fans make this fixture and why it is one of the biggest matches in the world. Regardless, I expect the intensity to be there tomorrow
No stadium ?
He texted this statement to the media as he put his laptop into isolation when he heard it had a virus…
Right, despite reaching 55 today before they did, I’m off to work.
But before I go, I’d like to leave you with this message from our sponsors….
And of course, a caption competition.
Actually, we were impressed with the Eveing Times and their idea…
Celtic and Rangers fans! Send in your Old Firm selfies to win £150!
ARE you making the Old Firm extra special by decking out your house in Celtic or Rangers colours?
Are you dressing head-to-toe in green and white or will you be donning the colours of the Light Blues? We want to hear from you!
This Saturday’s Old Firm will be like no other as we watch from home so we want you to send us your best selfie – and one Celtic fan and a Rangers supporter will win £150 on us!
Simply fill in the form here
We will print the best on Monday where we will also announce the winner in the newspaper.
Terms and conditions:
Closing date for entries is Sunday, October 18 at 12 noon.
The winner will be the editor’s choice. The editor’s decision is final.
Prize is £150 for each winner. This competition is not open to Newsquest Scotland employees (or members of their immediate families).
Prizes cannot be transferred to another person.
Which gave me a better idea….
Why not dress up the house of a “rangers ” fan in Celtic colours…or paint white stripes on his lawn.
Any roofers out there ?
Or painters ?
By the way, the author absolves himself of all responsibility if anyone does go out and paint someones house a brighter shade of green.
So a caption competition it is….
Caption – And the orange order look on with a lump in their throats and beaton taking selfies with their hero’s as the bears quarrel as they look for the training-ball their team-mate moreless vainly denies swallowing afore their also hopeless quest of today’s search for 3 points. HH!
Happy birthday, enjoyed the upbeat diary, you on the uppers?
Caption: Rangers v Sevco
Shane Duffy, you teased us mercilessly until your arrival,
its your time, so lets all hear your hungry lion roar,
and if Cheatin Beatin gets in your path, well..
climb high and strong, then score.
GIRUThems, whoever they are and pretend to be.
Enjoy the game big nose!
HH
Canny enjoy that M8, getting beat is acceptable but that? is not acceptable, getting outfought and outplayed by a team from Poundland, that will always be unacceptable.
Lenny suggests that ‘ we cannot keep looking back to our past.’ Of course we all want to ‘look ahead’ to making ‘new history’ but if in the future we cannot make ‘new history’ then what is the alternative? There is no alternative, so all we can do is too ‘look back’ with fondness to our past and to remember ‘if you know your history’.
Duffy was terrible should’ve dealt with that second goal better. We are rubbish Lennon is a fuckhead get him out now!
newsflash, hes sh!t
Caption: The Waverley arrives at Dunoon.
Caption. I don’t believe it. You’ve been to the bookies again and put all your wages on rangers winning today. How am I meant to feed a family of five until you get paid again. You’re a blo*dy idiot. And definitely no s*x for you for the next month.
Nice dry day in Glasgow today.Perfect for Our style of football.Took a stroll in my Hoops to the shops for pizzas etc for the people who aren’t coming to mine for the game….got the usual shouts of Mon the Hoops and some nasty shouts and gestures,oh I was so offended,I wonder if Nil by Mouth would take up my case? To the guy who passed ,gestured 2 nil,I think and parked up,I would get those 4 tyres blown up.I recommend the Continuity guys.Anyway,time to open the first Guinness and wait for nobody to turn up to eat all the grub and guzzle the bevvy.C’mon the Good Guys.A one,a two,aye give us a few and we’re doin the Huns in bloo!
Gangham style
Caption
Sky pundits and media support get carried away at the dreamed of 55!
Come on u boys in green
3-1
Fans gather in remote location to watch illegal bear knuckle fight
Remember today Michael Fitzgerald,the hunger striker from the Rebel County Cork,who died 100 years ago today.United Ireland is getting nearer by the day.
Celtic team just in
Celtic: Barkas; Duffy, Welsh, Ajer;Laxalt, Frimpong, Brown, Ntcham, McGregor; Elyounoussi, Klimala. Subs: Bain, Taylor, Griffiths, Ajeti, Sorro, Turnbull, Rogic, Henderson, Ralston.
Good luck to the bhoys.
Fuckin intae them
celtic team in
Coybig
Celtic: Barkas; Duffy, Welsh, Ajer;Laxalt, Frimpong, Brown, Ntcham, McGregor; Elyounoussi, Klimala. Subs: Bain, Taylor, Griffiths, Ajeti, Sorro, Turnbull, Rogic, Henderson, Ralston. HH
Good luck to the Celts today!
” WE ARE OUT HERE FOR YOU, BE IN THERE FOR US “!
P.S. Or as Duncan would say, ” I’ve always been out here for you ” 🙂
Crap
You’re a sweepea una. And you’re right
Caption: A perra bears huvva rerr terr at Ayr furra Glesga ferr.
Shocking miss from Moi, Beatin still cheatin, any Hun player can stand in front of the ball and answer back, could McGregor get any oranger? To lose another goal to a set play FFS.
BP. 180-80. will ma heed explode watching that?
For those just listening on the radio , More or less slapped Scott Brown on the back of his head/ear ,obviously unseen by the officials
Poor probably the worst I have seen. The Buffalo running about thumping people or slapping them on the head, all fair in the world of Beathun.
Lenny has got this one wrong has to bring on another attacker as Elyanoussi pathetic.
We can win this one as the Huns are not great, we are not playing to our potential.
On balance of play we have had all the better chances.
Ajeti or Griffiths have to come on to work with Klimala
Caption:
1st Bear:”I take it you’re a Gers fan?”
2nd Bear:”Does a Hun shit in the woods? “
Fucking woeful first half, get your angry head on Celtic!
Go to a back four of Frimpong Ajer Duffy & Laxalt.
Get the fucking finger out
Lennon out
Lennon out. Fucking football retard
All the previous Celtic managers have not managed a shambles like today. Not one shot on goal, running about like headless chickens, let’s blame Covoid, let’s blame the world or maybe Lenny, if he is a Celtic supporter should have a look at himself and his mate JPK.
Brown is a shot bolt, there is no leadership just acceptance of a pathetic performance, as the games against St Johnstone, Dundee United and others have proven
This is BRUTAL.
Apart from Ajer , Laxalt ,McGregor and now Griff all the hoops players body language and application is dire .
Beale making Lenny look really really clueless and out of his depth .
Getting 24 hours notice of our teamsheet will generally help out in the tactics department
Would a good manager not adapt his formation tactics or personnel…..its possible to do any of these in 24 seconds nevermind 24 hours.
aye we jimmy has been picking our team for weeks
Really dire display by Celtic so far. Making “the rangers” look better than they are. Lennon does need to intervene prior to the last 15 minutes when it’s obvious the system and the players in the pitch were not working
I wanted to give him the benefit I really did but 3 games now against them and we have deserved all we get. Got lucky in the cup final because of the heroics of the keeper but now back to back defeats at celtic Park he has to go or 10 in a row is over
Back to the 90’s performance
Abysmal doesn’t do that performance justice, utterly unacceptable from the lot of them, lazy use of the ball, wayward passing & no fight, no shape & no quality.
A disgrace to the shirt & time up for a few of them!
We were lucky it wasn’t a heavier defeat, shambles!
We only troubled them twice in the whole game – Elyounoussi’s sitter after a lucky break of the ball and in the 2nd half when Griff did well to get past McGregor but left himself with too much of an angle. Apart from that we offered the square root of fck all up front and were never really in the game. The only positive I can take from this is that Laxalt looked fairly decent most of the time and could be a very important player for us as the season grinds on. Apart from that, absolutely dreadful. By far the worst show so far this season and there have already been some pretty dire ones up to now. A vast improvement required urgently.
NEIL FUCKINGG LENNON 0 New huns 2. (when I switched off, 88th minute)
Got what HE deserved not what we deserve.
In the year of THE TEN when we needed to get our noses in front and stay there we get another inexplicable starting 11 from Lennon, 5 subs, the last two leave even me short of comment, a piss-poor performance and they’ll call the season almost certainly. Bravo! NFL, now GTF!
You’ve screwed my mind, and I was one who wanted you in. NOT ANY MORE.
HH
FC not PLC (Lawwell’l be delighted, the cunnt!
PS I hope I’ve just temporarily ‘lost it’ just now, but on seeing the starting 11 I thought “Oh! Fukk”……..AGAIN!!
Lennon has destroyed an unvincible team. He has shown he doesnt have the beating of gerrard.
The goalie is a joke frimpong give me lustig any day. Mo give me sinclair any day its a disgrace so Duncan /Charlie whatever fuck off with your stats this team is a disgrace.
Got beat by an average team that had a game plan and every player contributed. We were a shambles, no plan/structure and started with our 4th best striker instead of Griff (should’ve been on at half time). Can’t blame Welsh, but him on the right and with Frimpong offering nothing our right side was totally ineffective. Ncham gave nothing as well. McHun never made a save.
Really gutted! We could’ve made a positive statement today.
Couldn’t agree more Frimpong very poor today, Ntcham once again anonymous, Moi very frustrating, but the amount of players missing(Forrest, Julien, Eddy, Christie, Bitton, Elhamed) meant it was always going to be a hard task, but would certainly have expected a lot more effort!!
We may laugh at their off-field situation, but they are laughing loudly at our on-field display.
Rangers v st Johnstone on a bad day out there with a terrible manager
See whomever has ruined this site with ‘improvements’, please note, it’s NOT “Waiting for Approval” en Englaise, it’s “Awaiting Approval”, now fukk off back to where you crawled out of and give us the unvarnished, untarnished eTims back, Fukkin Pronto.
The reply below (which partly ignited the above post) was my 1st post today. Of course it only matters to me, but by definition then, it matters. It has been altered slightly in the hope of avoiding ‘moderation’, something I’ve avoided all my life. :–)
NEIL FUXKINGS LENNON 0 New huns 2. (when I switched off, 88th minute)
Got what HE deserved, not what WE deserve.
In the year of THE TEN when we needed to get our noses in front and stay there we get another inexplicable starting 11 from Lennon, 5 subs, the last two leave even me short of comment, and 2 of the first 3 should’ve started. Then a piss-poor performance, quel surprise, and they’ll call the season almost certainly. Bravo! NFL, now GTF! You’re NOT up to managing Celtic FC (but yer mibbaes a’right for the PLC?)
You’ve screwed my mind, and I was one who wanted you in. NOT ANY MORE.
HH
FC not PLC (Lawwell’l be delighted, the cunnt! Keeps the new huns ‘relevant’?
PS I hope I’ve just temporarily ‘lost it’ just now, but on seeing the starting 11 I thought “Oh! Fukk”……..AGAIN!!” And we all witnessed what followed.
I see my own error above but I think the (intended) point is still clear.
I’ve now had two ‘proper’ comments dragged off “Awaiting for approval”.
Ralph, Desi et al, this site will go under when it was once the best Tim site by a mile, bar none.
Your shout of course.
a man who totally understands the real problems. Our team is sh!t and just got gubbed easily bu a bunch of huns. what about that.
Yerbozza, I’ve encouraged you most of the time on here. (need it or not)
I discerned there was more to you than a right-wing prick!
Rightly or Lefty, the point on eTims, to me is this: leave/allow argument/debate tae the pros. Fukkin hell sense has gone, like a hun, jumpin’ oota windae
Celtic FC is open to all, and all the better forf it, exept this: Glen Daly’s perpetual embarrassment of “The Celtic Song”
Let’s get this fuxking right; Ahm still beelin’ (boiling).
NFL HAS to be finished, his attempts at changeing today was worse than the abysmal starting line. FUKKIM, he’s done it thric too often and got ootae gaol twice.
Couldnae manage a hard-on.
Sickening but true.
PS Yerbozza, you often make sense. I’d say proffer it and acceot accolade.adulation equally.
PPS Ahll be aftae kip soon, cannae sit doon comfotibly, wrekked…..Byeeeeeee
Oh f*ck. I am off to hide behind the sofa. I may re-emerge in the spring or perhaps wait for global warming. A sun tan always cheers me up.
Terrible performance. Where is the heart and grit? I would be ashamed. Should have started Griff but otherwise, Lenny played the 11 I would have chosen in the formation I would have chosen. Consider though: Gerrard hasn’t had a Covid crisis yet and he will have. Like all managers out of Ibrox, Gerrard never gets criticised by the media or punished by the MIBs. A long run in the Europa League will also work against Newco with tiredness and injuries. To win the league, you have also to beat teams like Hibs, Aberdeen, Killie away. Our team hasn’t gelled yet but we will. Sevco has reached their peak but we haven’t. Edouard is a big star for us, especially against the Huns and he will return. We’ve played poorly often so far but still win. Let’s see where we are by Christmas, then panic if we have to. We can still win our 4th Treble in a row. Football bhoys on this site, I ask what do we need to do? Who plays where and when? I would go 4-3-2-1against Sevco in future but think 3-5-2 is ok against most teams. Our best:
Barkas
Elhamed//Duffy/Ajer
Forrest/Brown/McGregor/Taylor
Christie
Edouard/Griffiths
This will do and will be enough. If we don’t get 10 in a row, then I would like us to beaten over the season as we were today: no dodgy penalties, no 90th minute handball, etc. We were beaten fair and square by a team with more balls and desire. If they do this all season (38 games) then they will deserve to halt our ten in a row. But. We are champions, they are not.C’mon the Celtic.I am not a happy clapper with emerald specs on, just somebody who is 70 and supported Celtic all his life and…I know our history. We are down but far from out. Today’s shambles should serve as a boot up the arse for team, management and fans.I think this is as bad as it will get.
Lennon out.
Be hard pushed to get any worse!
all they have to do is bum us again at CP for 3 in a row. thats worse
Great comment Devoy
This group of players now look a beaten lot. Lenny is nit getting the best out of them and has to go.
We have had full strength teams against them he has failed.
Sevco didn’t come out of first gear.
If you think we can improve so can they. They have our measure under lennon.
Some things have become obvious Devoy45: The defense has been poor for a long time and only goalkeeping heroics have saved us in the past but Barkas doesn’t appear to have that ability, he’s good but nothing more than that; this was obviously a case of you get what you see – a team a number of whose players haven’t played serious competitive football for some time and/or have just recovered from injury, don’t really know each other and therefore haven’t jelled as a team. Gerrard predicted Celtic’s formation and was able to nullify the wings and Lennon didn’t appear to have any alternative. So the strikers had to come back to get into things (causing confusing in midfield) or accept being left stranded. This also happened the last time we played Rangers at CP and Frimpong was totally nullified. So far Gerrard (and his team) now that he has better players at his disposal is proving to be a more astute tactician and manager in general than Lennon (and his team). There are some serious questions now being asked and definitely 10IAR is looking a bit wobbly.
Predicted ? Gerrard knew because the Celtic team sheet was leaked to the media 24 hours in advance of the game. I do question why we would play partially fit players when we have fit reserves and they would have been hungry to play and show how good they are
Ok watched the game we offered nothing Duffy is fucking crap. And nowhere’s near the quality of Jullien we missed Bitton and obviously Eduord and christie. It shows the back. Up is nowhere near enough quality to do anything. Fucksake how can management not see Lyndon Dykes is better than Klimala or not sign quality players like McGinn. We are been led astray by a half witted coaching staff time to get angry again. Fucking hate the decision to put a loser like Lennon in as manager give me Stevie Clarke every day.
Okay we lost and there’s no signs of things getting better under our chump manager. He’s made made a mistake signing the Greek boy he’s mince up to now he may get better. That second goal was terrible
There’s not enough desire against an average rangers team who were made to look better than they are. Why the fuck we didn’t sign dykes who is miles ahead of Klimala is beyond me. It’s to early to relinquish the ten but for fucksake we were terrible and offered no threat against a weak team. They are rubbish. Lennon isn’t the man and I don’t know why we persevere with him. He’s here for the duration it’s not all lost only because they don’t know how to see it out.keep the faith Celtic fans we can do it
rubbish. Duffy a is a total donkey. Elyounoussi mince. Top goalscorer benched. lennon couldnae pick his own arse
Fairly missed Christie today, a lot more energy going forward when he’s on the pitch.
Caption
Orange Order Naval Division enjoy their teams victory over Celtic today!
The phrase “ya dancin bear” took on even more significance.
That was the worst I’ve ever seen Celtic play, home or away. That *rangers team was there for the taking yet there was no urgency, no fast movement, no penetrating passes and no SHOTS. We were so fekking bad we made them look good. Oh, and how many thousand pounds do they pick up each week for that effort? Getting beat is one thing…but that performance needs questions and answers.
” That rangers team was there for the taking ” how’s that then?
Where is the weakness in the hun side?
They are a decent, solid, organised side who know what they are doing, i see no weakness in them & more concerning is neither does Neil Lennon.
Well, who could have seen this coming……oh wait!.
The better organised, hungrier team won. It was 0-2 going on 0-5.
We can be happy, I think, with Welsh and Laxalt. The rest were very poor. The goalkeeper should have saved the first and I suspect that most of the rest CGAF judging by their lethargic, uncoordinated display. To what extent Lennon is to blame I don’t know but he doesn’t give the impression that he is the guy in charge. That’s Brown.
Useless idiots.
So…
Willing to hook up for 2 bob playing Ntcham wide right. The pitch looks nice by the way.
The bordello needs a new ranch foreman.
If you blame the keeper. Jog on.
Last man in defence sees all. Though we stand in an offside position in the same position.
Stonkered to hide that embarrassment.
Play as if you are training. There is 60000 empty seats there as a bench.
The physiologist near me papers are at the end of my boot.
Put me on.
.
Dare I say? It is to be said…
Oh the Celtic are fiert.
Supporters out!
We only got beat because there was no balloons on the pitch.