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Celtic Diary Thursday August 25: Happy To Be Stuck With Them ?

Remember when you were wee, and yer ma insisted that you took your wee brother with you when you went out with your pals ?

 

Or you couldn’t go ?

 

Or when, in later years, your wife insisted that you gave her a break and took the kids to a game …inclusing the one that technically wasn;t yours because you fund him outside a supermarket in a pram ?

 

 

That’s how it felt when “rangers ” joined Celtic in the UCL group stages with a win over PSV eindhoven last night.

 

 

Now, the eyes and minds  of our European colleagues will associate them with us, the same way as the landlord in Tully’s  ( motherwell )  used to tell me that the kids were climbing on the minibus roof again every time they trash a continental city.

 

 

Mind you, it’s not all bad, not if we get it into perspective.

 

They made a European final last year, and have come through the qualifiers this year, so perhaps they are a better side than we give them credit for.

 

Which means , if you follow the logic, that Celtic must be a better side than we think we are as well….

 

 

And by having two teams in the last 32, perhaps our league isn’t as bad as we are led to believe either, if you don’t count Aberdeen.

 

 

 

The draw is at 5pm tonight, and our expert Etims panel is scheduled to assess our chances in a podcast later this evening , and given that our neighbours have done well in europe over the last few months, we’ll also be asking ” how the fuck did that happen? ”

 

 

There is one thing though, we now know why Celtic have already priced up and sold their champions League tickets.

 

Wait until the Ibrox board announce their prices, as I suspect a little bit of PR on our behalf has been done quietly and effectively.

 

 

Elsewhere, and Paris St Germain youngster Edouard Michut looks set to join Sunderland instead of Celtic, which will leave us all disappointed.

 

Without at least one Frenchman moaning his bollocks off about something at Lennoxtown the place just won;t feel the same.

 

One or two replies yesterday indicated displeasure at the harsh assessment of chris Julliens contribution to the cause while he was here. My judgement isn;t based on his ability, he did alright when he could be bothered, it was the attitude and influence he had, including his foray into Dubai nightlife that added to the player Covid count during that ill-advised winter break.

 

 

But that’s all in the past, and in the past it must remain.

 

 

Looking ahead, and John Hartson has considered the affect of potential new winger Sead Haksabanovic on the squad….

 

 

“It’s more quality. And quality is better than quantity. He’s not just somebody to add to the group I think he’ll come in and test the likes of Abada and Forrest on that right-hand side. He’s a winger that can play across the front so he looks another that Ange can add to his existing quality.

“You don’t just want to bring in players that aren’t as good as the ones you’ve got for the sake of having numbers. Ange will bring him in with a view to using him, I’m sure about that.” 

 

Well, you’d like to think so…..

 

But what of club stalwart , the  highly decorated James Forrest ?

 

 

I actually thought with Forrest, one of the big reasons he signed a new deal is because he’s been a great player for Celtic over the years. He’s conducted himself properly, with some huge performances in Europe and he’s got medals coming out of his ears. I thought they gave him that new deal so they can get more for him in the transfer window if they had the opportunity to sell him. But obviously there’s been no talk of him going anywhere. But with Haksabanovic coming in, another quality player who can play on the wing, you do wonder [about Forrest]. You have to back the manager, he’s got a plan for him.”  

 

 

It does beg the question, did Forrest get his new deal in lieu of a testimonial, which he undoubtedly deserves, or does the manager value his experience as his debut UCL campaign gets underway ?

 

 

It’s more likely, given the sudden availablity of Haksabanovic, that there was no plan, and we’re just bringing in an extra forward who suddenly became available at the right price, so the manager decided to bring him in.

 

 

Now, from time to time we’ like to help anyone who has something to sell to find a customer, and if you know anyone who wants a flute….

 

 

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Yesterday, we had this….

 

 

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Desdamoaner 

 

 ” This is Kate Adie, Eindhoven, August 25, 2022 ” 

 

 

Today

 

 

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Kevin Whiting
1 year ago

Billy contemplated telling Willemina that his CL package is more than his winter energy bill .

Paul Cochrane
1 year ago

“History made as Scotland’s first VAR official takes his position for Rangers v Hibs.”

Spudscave
1 year ago

F**king Satnav

Sancheto
1 year ago

Caption – After being left out of TRFC UCL squad Alfredo is devastated to find that they have also cut his company car allowance.

calum
1 year ago

Cost cutting at Park’s of Hamilton has taken them to the edge once again…

Cesar
1 year ago

UEFA delegate explains draw procedure, if you are in pots 1, 2 or 3 tonight this is what it will look like to take a dump on Sevco from a great height.

Bognorbhoy
1 year ago

Caption
After buying chitty bang bang , Billy thinks” if this thing disnae fly I’ll fall further than the rangers in 2012″

Salad queen
1 year ago

Harrison Ford and a younger Ford!

SteveNaive
1 year ago

Driver of the Stoke CSC takes a lofty position over Chris Julien !

The Cha
1 year ago
Reply to  SteveNaive

Its pretty Hunnish behaviour to dump on one of your ex-players.

Yeah, the Dubai debacle was all down to Jullien. 🙁

Its such a shame that we had to put up with moaning Frenchies like Dembele and Edouard for so long.

If only, we’d never signed them and stuck to fine, upstanding Scottish players like Griffiths. 😉

John E Mitchell
1 year ago

Peter Lawwell has discovered how many players Celtic have bought…

desdamoaner
1 year ago

Jump START I said.

Una
1 year ago

Caption

Volkswagen driver couldn’t handle the emmisions

Bigdunno
1 year ago

Please stay Freddo, look, we will give you a new car from Parks. None of that Cinch rubbish!!!

Mcklintop
1 year ago

Thelma and Louise, the directors cut.

SteveNaive
1 year ago

“Ready when you are Mr De Mille”

Honest Hoops
1 year ago

Caption; it’s true then, we do have a bottomless hoard of cash for Ange to spend..

The Cha
1 year ago

Some background info on our new recruit.

Like Jota, Haksabanovic could settle and thrive at Celtic under Postecoglou

archive.ph/Yjis7

As far as I’m aware, all foreign Russia based players have been available for nigh on 6 months.

Looks a baller and even more competition in the Land of the Liel. 😉

Effarr
1 year ago

Voice from the distance ….. “haw William, it’s alright son, Colac has just scored.”

Owen Mullions
1 year ago
SFATHENADIROFCHIFTINESS
1 year ago

“ Fux sake I had tae use up the last of ma gas tae make it this high so Ah could get a bliddy phone signal and then Virgin says my Direc Debit bounced and noo ma mate his jist texted me tae tell me etims has just posted twaw days in a trot and Ah cannae even see it. How unlucky can a man get? Hope ma bet on PSV came up last night”.

TicToc
1 year ago

Real Madrid, RB Leipzig and Shaktar. I’m okay with that.
HH

Uibh fhaili
1 year ago

once the rock brakes were removed, this was the first car to go from 0-60 in 2 seconds

TicToc
1 year ago

From what I’ve read about him, I’m delighted we got Sead Haksabanovic, eventually.
He’s played every position from defensive mid to left wing and looks like one helluva signing. Utility players are ALWAYS terrific additions to a squad and getting him ‘on the cheap’ will piss the new huns off big-style.
Welcome to Paradise, Sead.
COYBIG.

Cesar
1 year ago

Was it just me or did anybody else’s erse start to slide off the sofa after pot 3 was drawn. I saw groups C and H and thought it’s got to be us. We should be going into our group with no fear.

henkesdreadlocks
1 year ago
Reply to  Cesar

Yeh, Group C was a scarey one. I was hoping the vermin were going into that one, in fact it was 50/50 for them and they ended up with A. Last time we played the European Champions in the groups was 2007 when we skelped AC.(Scott McDonald winner).
Bring on the Madridstas.

Cesar
1 year ago

Feel sorry for the Liverpool supporters. As if their season hasn’t gotten off to a bad enough start they now have to welcome Sevco and Ajax fans. Somebody down there must have broken a mirror.

henkesdreadlocks
1 year ago
Reply to  Cesar

I received a message as soon as the draw was made,from a friend who lives on the Wirral, simply saying ‘not those vile bastards’. Nuff said

Woof Charlie
1 year ago

It’s just the part in a horror movie when the zombie comes back to life, soon enough their own fans will drive a spade through their skull again. The glee in the media is obnoxious.

Woof Charlie
1 year ago

It’s just the part in a horror movie when the zombie comes back to life, soon enough their own fans will drive a spade through their skull again. The glee in the media is obnoxious.

Cartvale 88
1 year ago

Caption

Giovanni realises there is no way out!

In relation to what group u are in, it is the experience

Ianceltl67
1 year ago

Caption
Alfredo looks down as his dropped Ben and Jerry’s family size tub slips into oblivion

Funkyy
1 year ago

The power of the printed (lying) word as the Daily Rectum says PSV were “ripped apart” by *rangers “high press heroics”…….a total crock of sh1t. They got a flukey goal when the goalkeeper and a defender decided to f*ck aboot with the ball in the area…the defender fluffed it and *rangers got a tap in. Before that neither of the two teams looked like scoring and extra-time seemed a certainty. Both teams were crap..but why let the truth get in the way of your “loyal” readership’s dreams. The truth is the *rangers have staggered into the Champions League and they will be found out come the group matches.
Meanwhile in the real world Celtic have a decent chance of qualifying from our group. What a scalp it will be when we take points off Real in Glasgow. I really believe we can do it.

SteveNaive
1 year ago
Reply to  Funkyy

On the Klan, well said.
On us, on the mushrooms!!
Caught up in the rapture Funkyy.
Whilst many things are “possible “, they don’t happen because the likehood, when analysed, makes it so.
Not defeatist, just ( my) realism

Funkyy
1 year ago
Reply to  SteveNaive

Ah, if football was predictable we’d all be winning the pools every week. While what you say may very well be true, you have to factor in that football is littered with shock results that nobody in their right mind could have seen coming.
I recognize Madrid’s class of course…but they’re not unbeatable. There’s no credit in beating minnows…but a helluva lot if you beat Real Madrid.
COYBIG, give them hell.
PS:- How’d you know I like mushrooms?

The Cha
1 year ago
Reply to  SteveNaive

Are you just talking about our being 4th seed and therefore being seen as the weakest and expected to finish bottom?

Regarding our group, we couldn’t have asked for a harder top seed than Real but I’m not sure any of us have ambitions to compete to finish 1st just yet.

The other 2, Leipzig and Donetsk, look on the weaker side of Pot 2 & 3 teams, so that is to our advantage, whether that’s enough to level it to our Pot 4 status remains to be seen.

We obviously have recent history against Leipzig, after which they went on to finish 2nd to Bayern and get to Champs League Semi-Final but have notably gone backwards since, especially their European elimination last season. 😉

Donetsk have been a decent European team in the past, as we’ve found to our cost a couple of times, but as they’ve lost most foreign players and have only started playing domestically for the first time in 6 months.

On the other side, they have been nomads for the past 8 years, so will be more used to it than say, Kiev.

Personally, I was expecting Real, Liverpool and the toughest Pot 3, so I’m reasonably happy with the draw.

TicToc
1 year ago
Reply to  Funkyy

Funkyy, I’m with you on that and, as someone else said, we should go into this group without fear. “If you know the history”……shortly after we won The Big Cup we were invited to play Real Madrid at the Bernabeau in Di Stefano’s testimonial. RM have always been up their own arze and there was a suspicion they wanted to show us upstarts who was ‘really’ boss. Jimmy Johnstone ran amok and the Real fans ended up cheering him when he got the ball. We won 1-0. Whilst we’ve had our dark days, there’s always been the ‘fairy tale’ aspect at our club and we wont go far without ‘dreaming’ and believing.
Bring it on, I say. Steve N sees it a bit differently and that’s fine too!

PS I had my “brain transplant” on Monday, micro-surgery via my earhole 🙂 and I’m recovering reasonably well. Thanks for the good wishes from you and W/Charlie last w/end.

Woof Charlie
1 year ago
Reply to  TicToc

Glad your well, relatively speaking 😉

The Cha
1 year ago
Reply to  Woof Charlie

I didn’t realise you guys were related. 😉

All the best, TT, and I hope the earache and other sores clear up nicely.

TicToc
1 year ago
Reply to  The Cha

W/Charlie and Cha, cheers Bhoys.
Cha, of course we’re related, we’re ALL related, Celtic Family and all that! 🙂
Just saw we’ve got Real at CP in 1st CL group game.
BRING IT ON!
Hail! Hail!

The Cha
1 year ago
Reply to  TicToc

From the unreal on the Saturday to Real on the Tuesday.

TicToc
1 year ago
Reply to  The Cha

Nice way to put it, Cha!

Woof Charlie
1 year ago

Caption: Robby Neilson’s Aston Martin after a service by a referee.

TicToc
1 year ago

Hello there to one and all.
Here’s our CL group matches (I’ll forward the last 16 knock-out fixtures later!)
6 SEP Real Madrid CP at 20.00
14 SEP Shakhtar Away at 17.45
5 OCT RBL Away at 17.45
11 OCT RBL CP at 20.00
25 OCT Shakhtar CP at 20.00
2 NOV Real Madrid Away at 17.45

MabozzaRitchie
1 year ago

i guess everyone on here is proud that thier country has 2 teams in the CL

Owen Mullions
1 year ago
Reply to  MabozzaRitchie

Don’t the Huns aw waant tae be English though?

TicToc
1 year ago
Reply to  Owen Mullions

I don’t think that deluded, fukked up shower know what they want, except that they want to HATE it!

MabozzaRitchie
1 year ago
Reply to  Owen Mullions

aye but voting against wee jimmys referendumb and wanting us oot isnt hypocritical. i want them oot and understand the stupidity of leaving the uk. it would be funny if wee jimmy got her way and the following day vlad moved in

MabozzaRitchie
1 year ago
Reply to  MabozzaRitchie

it would be great to have the referendumb now. what kind of special mindset is going to vote to leave NATO right now. bwawwwhawww

Woof Charlie
1 year ago
Reply to  MabozzaRitchie

The same mindset that would slabber on about politics when our team has created a record away win. Something no team, no manager, has done in our unbroken history. But look at you.

Yoker Bhoy
1 year ago

Awww, settle down Dundee Utd ffs ;-). Can we PLEASE go for double figures in the second 45, I’ve never seen that before.

MabozzaRitchie
1 year ago

GIRFUY lorraine kelly. shes going down

Funkyy
1 year ago

9-0….let’s see the Scottish media talk that result down. Andy Walker did his best to not get excited using his speaking clock voice instead of his shrill excited one that he keeps for *rangers goals.
Celtic did the business today and could have even scored a few more.
The Daily Rectum raved about the dark side yesterday. Celtic just sent a message to the pretendies that “we never stop”.

TicToc
1 year ago

I was brickin’ it when Big Joe got that early head injury but thankfully he stayed on and hopefully he’s okay going forward. We NEED him! What TF Fletcher was thinking about going in with studs up I don’t know.

It was always gonna be tight at Tannadice today……… just so glad we got that last goal to see them off……..HaHaHaHAHaHaHa!

Yoker Bhoy
1 year ago

Agonisingly close to the ten but some scintillating stuff, especially during the later stages of the first half with amazing movement off the ball and lightning quick precision passing. A sorry state of affairs for United I know but for us this seems to be getting better all the time. Interesting to see what line-up Ange opts for against RC in the LC on Wed bearing in mind the two absolutely massive games to follow. Enjoy the ride!!

Woof Charlie
1 year ago

Thought Fletcher was unlucky to be booked the ball was spilled so there to be won. Abada’s first – Love Street ’85. Up to them but we will spank loads of teams this season so a Ross sacking would be rash. With ref decisions like Don Cor Masony yesterday let’s pump everybody with as many as possible.

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