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Celtic Diary Wednesday July 10

So, the next time you go into a dvd shop and ask for a copy of the 6-2 game, lets just hope the chap behind the bar isn’t called William.

Celtic continued filming their version of “Carry On Europe ” with another disjointed , lacklustre showing which ended with Gruether Furth recording a 6-2 win. Although the Celts played a little better in flashes, there was nothing to write home about in this performance.

Nikola Djurdic, the former Helsingborg man, grabbed a couple of goals in the first half, along with Kevin Kraus, whilst Georgios Samaras and Mikael Lustig replied for Celtic.

The second half saw pretty much anyone who had a pair of boots get a game, and the German side added to their tally almost at will.

Manager Neil Lennon sounds worried, but doesn’t want us to worry.

lennon gf

” My message to the fans is not to panic. If you see the team we finished with, we had Dylan McGeouch , Calum Waters and Liam Henderson,  and some of them were playing out of position. We had a patched up team so its not a major concern for me. Yes, there was a bof niavety, but for some it was their first away trip with us. I was really pleased with the first half and there was a lot of  good stuff. ”

Presumably he was watching the other 6-2 game. However, he continued;

” But we’ll be fine. My main concern is we’re picking up a lot of injuries. We’ve got Scott Brown, Joe Ledley, Adam Matthews and James Forrest who have hardly kicked a ball this trip. Charlie Mulgrew has now picked up a strain and we’re hoping Virgil van Dijk will be okay after coming off  as well. But Joe Ledley and Adam Matthews are struggling, and its debatable whether we’d want to throw them into a Champions League qualifier.

We’re stretched  and its taking its tol la bit. Its a slight concern because I don’t know what team i’m going to have available for Belfast ”

Er, not exactly re-assuring. Still, it could be worse. I mean, imagine if Greuther had gone through last season without winning a home game…how embarrassing would that be ?

 

 

Next season, lets just stay home and ask other teams to come and play us. At least we will have home advantage.

Obviously, a good pre season makes no difference to what will happen when the real stuff starts, as the Wembley cup proved a few years ago, but when the sun is shining like it has been this week, it would have been nice to have something to smile about.

Victor Wanyama, originally listed as playing, didn’t feature, which means either he hurt himself, or he’s away shortly.  Lennon had said pre match that he would feature if nothing had materialised re his move to Southampton. Gary Hooper didn’t feature either, but thats of less concern, as it allowed Anthony Stokes a run out.

Although it was just a friendly, and the result isn’t important, the Cliftonville game is getting closer, and nerves are beginning to jangle, if not among the players, then certainly among the support.

Well, me, anyway.

Theres a chance to put it right on Friday, against Union Berlin, who thrashed Dundee Utd a few days ago.

Well, someones going to do this before long, so I might as well.

badge2

Oh, wait. Look at that. It refused to crack. I’ll take that as an omen.

Charlie Austin has failed a medical at Hull. Steve Bruce says he has to go back to the drawing board. Apparently, the failure was due to an old shoulder injury. Which doesn’t seem to have affected his scoring rate at Swindon or Burnley.

Could he be the next signing ? Rumourmongers seem to think so, as the medical does appear to have been a little stringent, and the report a little harsh.. similar in a way to the John Hartson medicals at Tottenham, Charlton and Rangers. Hartson himself speculated in his book that the signing of  Tore Andre Flo for £13m may have had a bit to do with his Ibrox rejection…

And we all know how that turned out ! Ah, finally found something to smile about.

Kai Naismith , the bright young thing from Ibrox and its Murray Park conveyer belt-is it actually still called Murray Park ?Or did Charlies Green change its name to something else ? Like Barratt  Homes or something ?

Anyway, he’s away to Accrington Stanley, a football team , not a wrestler, in the North of England who play in the English fourth tier

Still, even without him, their adventure contnues.. This message came  from Brora Rangers, who clearly either have a master of parody in their ranks, or as is more likely , a master of some lodge ;

 

” The village of Brora, sparkling jewel by the wild North Sea, was a carnival today. The Glasgow Rangers team arrived a day or so ago and from all over, the loyal Rangers fans descended on our little village this afternoon. At 2.30, who could not be stirred emotionally by the sea of blue and white lining our streets? With beers in their hands and flags aloft, the clan of Gers lifted Brora from somnambulistic stupor to football frenzy. It has been many years since there has been such a party atmosphere here. Thousands of people smiling and laughing and singing. Perfect. In truth, the entire experience was somewhat surreal. But as we pinch ourselves this evening – yes it’s true – Rangers came to Brora and Andy Murray won Wimbledon.

To Mr. McCoist and his staff and to his young football team, there is no limit which ought to be placed upon the thanks which should be accorded to them by us Broras. You do your club and its traditions proud. To see players and management wandering through our streets, strolling on our hallowed golf course and playing football with the bairns on the miles and miles of golden beach is graceful and profoundly kind. Thank you.

I hope Brora and our Brora Rangers can persuade you to return soon. If Scottish football followed your example Glasgow Rangers, it would soon raise itself out of the embarrassing gutter in which it now wallows. The sooner you get back into the top flight and re-imbue Scotland with your laughter, professionalism, commitment and determination to win, the better for us all.

Brora will be sad when you bid us farewell.

After all of these years it was an honour for me personally to finally thank Ian Durrant for the support he gave me during my knee reconstruction. He is an inspiration. Sport in general, football in particular, is a giant family of fervent believers. Though we may see things differently, when the chips are down we pull together and support each other through thick and thin. Football has the power to transcend all differences and draw tears from the harshest eyes. So it was in Brora today where tears of joy and appreciation flowed for the visit of the Glasgow Rangers to play our Mighty Brora Rangers. The score is irrelevant. The warmth of welcome and the strength of grip that conjoined us as we shook hands are what counts. Goals are the spindrift of the tide of respect that spreads around Dudgeon Park (and Ibrox). A small part of Brora shall for ever be Glasgow Rangers.

Come back soon. ”

Where do you honestly start with that ?

“Strength of the grip that conjoined us  ” ?

” Tears of joy and appreciation ” ?

” If Scottish football followed your example.. it would soon raise itself out the the embarassing gutter in which it now  wallows ” ?

Nurse! He’s fallen out of bed again.

It didn’t really come as a surprise to learn that when Brora had their annual fundraiser back on June 21, they had former referee and part time bigot Jeff Winter as guest speaker. The Englishman stepped in at the last minute when organisers found out King William of Orange was actually dead.

Well, at least I found something to smile about.

 

Willie Wallace was talking about the Racing game in Montevideo yesterday, and today try to work out who made this interesting and possibly valid point.

”  Football was the greatest part of our lives, just like the boys from Brazil or Spain. They lived in poverty, like us, and thats where all the great players came from-the street. ”

 

 

 

 

 

 

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10 years ago

I can feel my toes curling up im my addidas sambas at that cringe worthy piece of pure bo##ocks written by another deluded manky sevco hun, maybe he came of the Murray park conveyor belt of arseholes and bigots..
Hail hail, GLASGOWS GREEN N WHITE+

jon littledick
10 years ago

Pass the sickbag, Alice! Hope we get them in the cup, Brora I mean, the other lot will be out in the prelims.

‘tol la bit’? Is that a Republican motto? 🙂

Quote of the day: Bertie Auld? Probably wrong – again! 🙁

Iain McAllister
10 years ago

Wee Jimmy Johnstone on the wing.
The only guid thing to come oot o’ Brora was big Roddy McDonald.

Una
10 years ago

Sounds like the author of that piece has been sucking on traynors succulent lamb bone,im sure that beach is infested
with crabs!!!!

10 years ago

That sounds like classic Pat Nevin!

willie tim 67
10 years ago

boke

Frank McGaaaaarvey
10 years ago

Ralph,

I refuse to believe that Brora piece is genuine. Admit it, you made that up for a laugh didn’t you?

A crisis at the ‘Tic? Probably in the rags it will be. Let’s make proper judgments on that next week eh?

Hamish
10 years ago

The quote is Pat Crerand’s.

10 years ago

Hamish you just beat me ,I think it is Pat Crerand as well. I wish they would all move to Brora, the west of Scotland would be a better place
HH

10 years ago

I wonder how he typed that sloppy blow job with his hands wrapped around Rangers arse …

10 years ago

oh the sevco ispish

MickeybhoyATL
10 years ago

Now that letter is a classic, had me in tears sitting eating lunch in my office….have to admit haven’t heard of Brora before and thank f**k for that

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