Three games into that difficult second season, three wins, ten goals shared throughout the team, ten good goals, so we’ve every right to have a little spring in our steps of late.
Everything, as they say, is coming up roses.
For us traditionalists, it’s good to see us playing football the Celtic way. and it’s good to see that the players seem to enjoy doing so, even those who start the game on the bench, and would be expected to grumble about a lack of game time.
Of course, there will be hiccups as the season progresses, and those who are not Celtic minded in the media, which is pretty much all of them, will sow the seeds of discontent where and when they can, but it seems it will have little effect.
They’ve tried to unsettle Josip Juranovic, who is enjoying his time at Celtic, and has said so. There will be others who are on the radars of other clubs as the transfer window draws to a close, but there are no signs or sounds of any problems with anyone expressing a desire to leave.
Of course, every player has his price, but one of the bonuses of signing players who want to be at the club, and doing that little bit extra checking on the player as well as his ability, is that we end up with players who want to be at the club, and for the right reasons.
The manager knows how to manage as well as how to coach, and is now putting his stamp on the club, as opposed to last season when he was merely making an imprint,
Gradually he’s changing the coaching set up, with one or two of his own arriving, which may see one or two leaving, and there are certainly a few rumours to that end doing the rounds,
The next rumour will undoubtedly concern the manager himself, as it would be foolish to assume that other clubs aren’t taking note of what he is doing, with Manchester United the obvious one to be linked once they dismiss Erik Ten Hag, who has a middle name which matches his expected points total for the season.
However, the manager seems as content here as the players, and has ridden the storm of initial doubts among the support and the media, and seems to know how to deal with both.
As he pulls things together and the players adapt further to playing how he wants, and he’s not nearly so rigid as we thought at first, with a very flexible approach on the pitch, even if it looks at first to be simple and straightforward.
So much so that Rory McKenzie of kilmarnock actually said prior to the game how his side would handle it….
“We will be set up to stop them playing, make fouls, slow it down then try to play when we get the ball. We donโt want it to be a free-flowing spectacle.”
A typical Derek McInnes approach, but one we can expect more of as the season progresses.
In the first game against Aberdeen, the Dons packed their penalty box, which ti an extent cut down on the chances created from the flanks because the players waiting for the cut back either couldn’t get the ball or couldn’t find a space for a shot. Despite going down to an early goal, the dons never altered that plan, and it was surprising, especially as in their second game they showed that they can attack, with four goals against St Mirren. Though, in fairness, most teams will probably score four against St Mirren.
Ross County went with the physical approach, but at least tried to score, and it might well prove to be one of the more important results as the season goes on. It will certainly be remembered as one of the tougher matches, and perhaps that’s what Derek McInnes was thinking would work for Kilmarnock yesterday.
But it didn’t, because they’re not very good, as , indeed, any team that hires Kyle Lafferty tends to be.
5-0 was the biggest win so far, and Celtic didn’t really have to move up a gear to get there. They just did what they are good at, although it does help when the players you have on the bench are as good as the ones who started the game.
Already some in the media are crying unfair, being abe to make five substitutions when you can call on five good players gives Celtic an advantage, with smaller clubs forced to use youngsters and anyone in the crowd who has a pair of boots with them.
You’ll notice that criticism will not be aimed anywhere else, even though the charge could equally be levelled across the river. Except their players aren’t quite as good as those at Celtic, but they do have quite a few at a similar level.
Let’s just enjoy it, it’s going to be a great season.
Elsewhere, and Neil Doncaster has been negotiating a new deal with Sky TV.
Well, perhaps not negotiating in the true sense of the word, as he gets his remit from the clubs, who seem to have little interest in trying to get as much money as they can from the TV company.
It may be the fear of ending upo with nothing, as they did when they went with Setanta a few years back that hangs over them , or it may be a genuine feeling that the game in Scotland isn’t worth much, but it certainly won;t improve if they don;t get someone who knows how to sell things on board to give the beleagured Doncaster a hand.
Whether you want to admit it or not, Scottish football had a side in a European final last year, and is one of only a dozen or so leagues who have champions that go automatically into the UCL group stages, which must surely be worth something when it comes down to striking a deal.
The problem may be that clubs don;t want their revenues cut by having too many games on tv, but when you notice the empty seats at Dingwall and Rugby Park, it doesn;t seem like there is too much demand locally for their product, and whether or not it’s on the telly won;t make a great deal of difference, although you do wonder why they don;t make more away tickets available when Celtic or even “rangers ” come to visit..
With alternative options, such as Amazon, Netflix and other streaming sites , worth at least approaching, or BT sports, who at least put together a show worth watching, it remains a little puzzling as to why Doncaster has been told just to talk to Sky.
I’ve been happy enough to catch games on the radio for the last year or so, although this yesterday has kind of put a stop to that.
Holy fuk pic.twitter.com/ekZuR6qo44
— marc cairney (@CairneyMarc) August 14, 2022
Effectively, the commentator is saying that the goalie flung Jota’s shot into the net, which presumably is what they will all be doing as the season goes on.
Whilst it shouldn’t bother us, this kind of downplaying when something genuinely worth applauding happens is partly why Scottish football doesn’t get a good deal.
The media is determined to promote the Old Firm myth as battle of equals, where each is concerned only with beating the other.
Sadly, they have convinced the rest of the world that’s all there is up here, and until something is done to show that there are several other clubs who could use a bit more support, locally and nationally, who could conceivably step up a level.
Which they can;t do without the money, which they oddly enough, don;t seem to be that keen on trying to get…..
Belter of a diary Ralph,its fucking gobsmacking how the haters play down the game in Scotland. Good honest media is almost non existent.
The same commentator on Sportsound referred to “rangers” as champions, a Freudian slip that lets you know exactly what their thinking is.
Pishful thinking and bollocks is their stock in trade.
” Scottish Cup champions “…..cough
For a change what happened to the rumour mill on here ,do you have any info on changes to Celtic Park and Barrowfield Training Ground
Isnt Barrowfield getting done up for youth and Ladies teams to use?
Now happening at Celtic Park regard Hotel…maybe when Lawwell returns…Hail Saint Peter!
I think the Barrowfield development has been approved but don’t think work has started.
What impressed most yesterday was the way we made that ridiculous excuse for a football pitch, not just the surface, but the less than generous dimensions seem that we were playing with oceans of space. Superb from the manager and the team.
Absolutely spot on Henke. But the new Ref just looks like another off the hun LRA conveyor belt.
BTW, I haven’t seen it mentioned on here but that filthy, stinking, DOB, Lafferty got away with kicking Jenz in the nuts as he fell to the ground, like he always did. This was within 3-4 minutes of kick-off. Big Jenz managed it well and got on with it but it MUST’VE been seen by the MIB and recorded. Of course if it’s against The Celtic none of that SMSM scum wants to know or, rather, wants to mention it.
But what a footballing performance as you said above.
HH
Immediately afterwards he kicked the ball directly at Jenz hitting him on the head, thankfully not causing injury and (only in Scotland) not being sanctioned for either offence.
Still, Celtic had the last laugh and his walk of shame, to the derision of Tims, when being subbed, must have been agony for him. ๐
That’s the way Cha, ‘always look on the bright side of life, de do, de do de do de do….
When yiu see what comes off the bench other teams must be podding in their boots. Had a laugh with Monas that Derek McInness didnโt cheerlead for Celtic, why would he? Only one managerโs opinion counts g for me Ange.I dintvwxntvhim praising other teams unless itโs to get inside their heads or blunt their aggression. Ralph you are doit in the media will try to unsettle us that other clubs are looking at Ange, it wonโt unsettle him. Ange is his own man. Jotta will go, Josip and Oโ Riley too when the time sndxoricexarectught, that is the way of things, not a problem.
I agree with you about Ange dintvwxntvhim other teams although I never saw Ralph doit in the media. But as for players leaving when the time sndxoricexarectaught? Well, that’s easier said than done!!!
PS Good to see the number of typos has rsdhtfed on this site. It was impossible to know what posters were twgxhing about sometimes!!!
Keke or jhobaes pissibly.
There fuxed it fur ye
That’s all Greek to me!
As in your โEurekaโ moment or just heap of Stifados.
Good to see you back ya lazy besom.
on the subject of selling the game I had the misfortune to catch some of the Dundee vs Arbroath game on the bbc on Friday evening. I commented to my wife that a local Derby, Friday evening. Glorious weather, Dens Park absolutely empty. Shocking.
Great display yesterday on a poor pitch. Despite the fact we are currently coasting domestically, we shouldnโt get carried away. Unless we bring in a quality defensive midfield player we will be badly exposed in the UCL.
We will cause some teams some problems with our pace and movement up front but ultimately, we need to be more robust defensively in Europe to pick up points and eye watering bonus payments.
The new debate over who should partner CCV in the centre of defence is likely to become increasingly interesting during the weeks to come. Moritz Jenz is evidently a lot more comfortable when playing the ball on the deck than Starfelt but which of the two will turn out to be more dependable defensively this season? Much will be revealed during the CL campaign when our defence is going to be seriously tested by top class opposition.
I honestly can’t remember the last time that we had so many strong options at our disposal to fill the CB positions with big Welshy coming on leaps and bounds to stake a claim as well. FFS, even an experienced campaigner like Julien is battling with the Bosun to be 5th choice! Seriously though, I feel Chris still has a lot of good football in his boots but it doesn’t look like it will happen for him here at Celtic. The sooner he finds a new club the better.
I like the look of Jenz so far, especially as he’s not played a lot of football recently and is still settling in.
The goal scoring is a bonus as well and Starry realises he needs to get in on that act as well to win back a starting place!
It might be unfair to wee ๐ Welshie but I’m happier with him as backup than primary.
Agree that Jullien’s time is up and hopefully something can be done to suit everyone in the next fortnight.
Mooy seems to be the new designated late midfield sub, despite even less recent football than Jenz, so McCarthy looks like another who’s surplus to requirements.
Its all looking good at the moment, albeit early days and much sterner tests await, starting in September.
Hopefully we can continue the good form in August and have plenty of time in training to continue evolving starting with the Huns, who we struggled against in the last couple of games.
This will be a better barometer of how far we’ve improved or whether it’ll be the back of the sofa for the Champions League!
Spot on with everything there Cha. The healthy competition for places is bringing out the best in several players with Greg Taylor a case in point. Like to see see Ralston get a bit more game time as well to keep him ticking over. Expecting to see at least one more important signing before the window closes and relishing Thursday’s CL draw.
Replied but in limbo, welcome back Etims ๐
Not to worry, should pop up in a week or two ๐
Thought you had moved on Ralphie, love the crap the journos are spouting, trying to big up the zombies. In relation to Doncaster and Sky, thatโs what you call forward planning, but as they say, things they are a changing. Believe that within the next five years there will be major changes in European football, either lead by UEFA or otherwise.
Celtic will be part of that as they add something on a European night, really believe the zombies are hanging about in the hope it will happen. Yesterday on a shxty pitch, playing a shxty team, with a shxty manager, Ange proved how you wring a cloth dry.
There are so many class acts in the team, that even Jota at times is not the best, at times though we need a hard man, Hopefully we find one.
I canโt help feeling that too many of us arenโt taking the Sevs seriously enough. Theyโve added good numbers to their squad and most of them have started decently. Most of the rest look to be just as crap as they were last year so putting teams to the sword is going to be very important this season. This Sunday at CP against Hearts will be very informative. Incidentally, weโre at Tannadice the following Sunday which means weโll have played three Sundays in a row – whatโs that about?
Agree, we struggled against them last couple of games, trying to play out from the back when they pressed us.
The upcoming game against them will show far we’ve improved or (hopefully not) not.
Both of us will win the vast majority of games against the other 10, so we need to drop the least points and come out on top in the head to heads.
Their upcoming games against PSV will be instructive, hopefully they’ll get beat but, if not, it looks like losing 2 of their best players hasn’t affected them too much.
The Hearts game has been moved to the Sunday as Hearts are playing in Europe on Thursday. The other 2 are away games and midday on Sunday seems to be Sky’s SPFL slot this season.
This is purgatory. ๐
We will find out exactly how good the sevs are when we play them. Iโm guessing they are not as good as the media paint them. Weโll see
BB, They are going to get a right royal humping when we play them even if they play twice as good as last week.
Alexandro Bernabeiโs Celtic career has got off to a bad start after he was arrested in the the early hours of Monday morning in Glasgow.
videocelts .com/2022/08/blogs/latest-news/alexandro-bernabei-rumours-are-confirmed/
What is it with the aftermath of Killie away? This after Boli’s own goali Covid capers a couple of years ago.
3rd post held up.
๐
There will be plenty of time to read it now that the ‘diary’ only appears on a weekly basis!
I admire your optimism! ๐ (Ony kiddin’ Ralph!)
5 subs is great for us and keeps a lot of fringe players like Forrest match fit for impact sub roles or minor game starts. It’s a disaster for most of the SPFL but do I care? No stuff them. I listen to Sportsound a lot and that mug on Sunday Rob McLean can’t stand us. Looks like he has a small smear of keich on his lip. There’s only one Jerry Sadowitz.
Will never forget mcleans famous commentary in the ucl qualifier against linfield” there’s been 16 mins played of the 90″. Hes an absolute gremlin of a bitter knut
First of all, welcome back Ralph..to the new monthly diary!! lol. Hope you’re well and raring to go. Last week, having ESPN here, I watched the*rangers Euro match…obviously hoping the Belgian team would beat them. Now, I have to say hand on heart, that was the worst football match I’ve seen for years..and I include any of Celtic’s games in the season where we blew the Ten. Both teams couldn’t put two passes together…I’ve never seen so many passes made to opponents instead of team-mates. And right on 45 minutes the Belgian player jumps to head the ball with his arm sticking out to the side like a scarecrow and gives away a penalty…probably the most welcome penalty that mob will ever get ‘cos if the whistle had gone at 0-0 there would have been a lot of booing and the second half would have been mighty interesting. They were sh1te and the final score flatters them.
My point is..if that’s the best that the huns can put on the field this season, then there’s a strong chance that Celtic will sweep clean this season. Meanwhile get your money on PSV beating them at Ibrox by at least 2 goals.
I watched the full PSV v Monaco game last week and wasnโt overly impressed with them. They seemed a fairly limited outfit on that showing and Monaco must be kicking themselves that they went out. Fingers crossed that what I saw from them was simply an off night and not their best.
They pumped Ajax 5-3 in the Amshterdam ArenA at the end of last month.
https://youtu.be/MI7NbEL4p34
Your eyesight no a bit dodgy at your age though?…..old hand
Monaco were better most of that game. Having watched that first half tonight, I donโt think I was wrong in saying that PSV are limited. Their left back is having a mare.
Bernabei charged with DUI. time to f,uck this guy off
I leave Santa a large malt and he tans it and fecks off on his sleigh will we cancel Xmas?
Not if its Ovaltine.
well hes no a celtic player so i dont give a flying. this santa guy sounds like a total hun c,unt. relative of yours?
Yes Saint Nicholas is one of a long line of protestant saints you total numbnut.
well he sounds like a total alchy, maybe hes a priest
same with cal mcgregor who got done in a far worse nock than the left back?
Good point, although McGregor was a largely unknown reserve player and Bernabei has been signed for up to ยฃ4m.
Not an auspicious start from the young man but with Taylor playing so well, hopefully he can knuckle down and be ready (League Cup at Dingwall?).
Cha, he was already fairly well established in the team when that happened.
Blimey, my old codger memory clearly failing me.
In February 2016, McGregor was stopped by the police and charged with drunk driving, having already been convicted and banned for speeding the previous year; he was later disqualified for a year.
I always thought that was the reason he was sent on loan, to help him knuckle down and concentrate on his football without distractions.
I also didn’t realise there were 2 different offences and hopefully Bernabei doesn’t think he’s still got another free hit!
Time flies as our years increaseโฆ unfortunately.
I know CalMac was talking about the fans but I’d prefer we avoid this salivating over Madrid or any other CL teams. The mentality that defeated Inter is the mentality that thinks ‘we are Celtic – who are you?’ too much fantasy football floating about. Get intae them.
Yeah, I’d prefer:
Pot 1 – Eintracht,/Ajax/Porto
Pot 2 – Leipzig/Seville/Spurs (its a short walk ๐ )
Pot 3 -Brugge/Marseille/Sporting/Donetsk
PSV are Pot 4 like ourselves and some of those Pot 3s will probably drop down to be replaced by Benfica, Red Star and Zagreb.
It’s still going to be very tough even with the most favourable draw like some of the above.
My default position is that we have a Europa League Knockout Qualifier against the Pot 3 side and anything extra is a bonus.
Limbo dancing again. ๐
Hibs v Huns
Tavpen on HT and then something strange, 2 Huns Red Carded, including stonewaller for Morelos despite Walker’s ‘”air-minded opinion” (his words) and last minute Hibs equaliser.
That will be Collum banned from Huns games again. ๐
Not watched it but will catch-up later on Sportscence, 7.30pm via BBC iPlayer. ๐
TBF Walker doesn’t call himself an airhead but that’s probably closer to the truth than fair-minded. ๐
Cha, I’ve watched highlights of main incidents and posted the following elsewhere. Just great for ‘them’ to suffer regardless of how and when!
If you only do one thing today, take the time to view all the main incidents from Easter Road in video. Poetic Justice. In my honest opinion Willie Collum is not necessarily biased towards any side but he IS a complete idiot.
1) Look at the dive from Colak (didnโt take him long to learn THAT part of the Ibrox โcraftโ) and Gollum not only falls for the cheating but books the Hibs defender too. (I think a last man โfoulโ demands a Yellow card in the laws of the game so maybe no choice there after initial mistake?
2) Boyleโs equaliser a very good โstrikersโ goal.
3) The new huns go in front. Aye, okay!
4) Lundstram in typical Ibrox fashion, if you canโt get the ball, kick the man. Straight red which Madden, Beaton & Co would never have given. Gollum was correct.
5) Morelos, what a piece of shit. Two goes at the Hibs man with arm/elbow. Straight Red all day long. Fits in at Ibrox and thatโs about his lot.
6) And then, oh thank you Karma, thank you Fate, Campbellโs sublime 90+3 GOAL!
From Reuters: โA severe outbreak of SARS*** in Edinburgh today first reported around 2.25 PM and expected to get much worse as it spreads across the city and reports saying Glasgow South-West, Lanark and Ayrshire all seriously affected too!โ
SARS*** Sick Angry Rangers Supporters
Nice one.
I expect the Beeb Bluenoses will skirt over the dodgy decisions given in favour of their heroes and instead focus on the total injustice of the decisions against them.
Knowing this is to know that they’re hurting, which is nice. ๐
Agreed Cha. That shower of media huns added to the ‘same flies different shoit’ fans and the old club new company, there isn’t a saving grace anywhere near them.
Their pain is just nectar to me!
Vinnie, I didnโt think Loonystrum was a red card, but just seeing his ugly visage is definitely worthy of a red and a quick execution with an axe. Hibs had a definite penalty stonewalled by Collum earlier in the first half for wrestling by Tavernierpen. Colak felt a loosening stitch in his Iโll made jersey and collapsed as if hit with an axe. Morelos normally gets away with these usual assaults, but alas for the fat turd, not today. They were shit today. I hope PSV absolutely embarrass them on Wednesday. By the way that lad Youan Hibs have on loan, quite impressed by him.
Now just smash the diets tomorrow Bhoys.
Henke, under Fenian Fitba’ Rules (that live inside ma heid), Lundstram has an automatic yellow card for takin’ that heid out in public and frightening the weans, so 1 red or 2 yellows, Gollum got it right. ๐ Just think how that shower in the media and at the game/watching on TV felt when Josh Campbell did THAT in the 93rd minute. Magic! Pure unadulterated Magic!
I could’ve watched it but decided not to. But I savoured the incidents I mentioned on Sky’s website. And I don’t have Sky since I binned it well over 20 years ago, and never again will.
COYBIG tomorrow!
Lest we forget last year’s Semi-Final when he fouled with impunity, should have been red-carded earlier days and didn’t even get a yellow!
I’m sure the scum in the media will be on the case to get it rescinded like the hypocrites they are.
Absolutely spot on!!
Why thank you Funkyy, hope you have a great day today and ‘your team’ wins by 5 (or more)! ๐
Morelos did what he usually does and gets away with…he swung round making sure his flailing arm “accidentally” caught the Hibs player in the neck/face/head, he didn’t mind where. Much like his kick from behind to Broonie’s privates while pretending to watch the ball in flight. He’s got away with this for as long as I can remember. Now, “coincidentally after *rangers criticism of referees last season, the refs are suddenly applying the rules of football to the *rangers (motto:- Aye Moaning). This is new territory for the privileged club who are not accustomed to a level playing field. As for the penalty??? WTF????
I think we’re a long way from a level playing field.
It might be less tilted to the Huns than a year ago but it would still outdo the old Easter Road slope.
With yesterday’s events preying on the ref’s mind expect some levelling up today. Here’s my red card/penalty predictions. Jota red 9/10 having been yellowed for his fourth goal celebration, giving his right boot to a kid after his fifth and playing the last ten mono-shod will give the whistler and open goal. Kyogo red 10/10, most Scottish males have an inherent distrust of politeness in other men, suspecting urine is being extracted. Expect no difference as he is yellowed for cordial greetings before kick off then flashed the red for respectfully explaining the ref’s misinterpretation of rule 54a. Broonie 10/10. No longer formally associated with the club he will receive a visit during the game from a local residents committee member concerning an anonymous complaint regarding brown bin day. Pen award Big Joe 9/10. After nutmegging 2 in the box the third guy will take a dive. Ralston 10/10. A football first as a player gives away a pen with a stare that had the potential to cause severe injury.
Superb stuff.
Ten Mono-shod Won the League, Tra-la-la-la
That turned out to be a lot trickier than expected but a very good 3 points in the end. We played some terrific stuff but just couldn’t quite get the end product we needed till so late on. Hearts were difficult opponents, especially 2nd half. AND, the half-witted, scummy new huns fans will be apoplectic at recent ‘refereeing’ and hopefully go on one of their tedious and dangerous marches against their own ‘brothers’ in the Lanarkshire Referees Association.
HaHaHa, ain’t huns dumb?
PS Mooy was brilliant when he came on, broke up some play and didn’t put a foot wrong. Ange knows what he’s doing alright.
Hail! Hail!
Tricky but the same old tactics, foul, block, foul again. And get away with it until it doesn’t matter. We get 5 in front of them it’s over.
Charlie, I think I’ve been desensitized to the dubious ‘tactics’ of both Scottish teams and the LRA over many, many years. I think Ange can see what’s happening and will come up with answers; in fact I think he already has. Winning the League last season was a helluva difficult thing to achieve and he re-shaped us into a formidable force.
We’re even better now although we could’ve made it harder for their keeper today. Anyway, onwards and upwards, in Ange we trust. I’m in for a wee op. tomorrow so I’ll say goodnight and I think I’ll sleep well after a very good w/end in Edinburgh then Glasgow.
COYBIG x 2? ๐
All the best for tomorrow.
Don’t worry TicToc, them brain transplants have come a long way now.
Only kidding, hope everything goes well and you’re in and out in time for the next Celtic match. All the best my man.