Celtic Diary Tuesday July 16

Probably the biggest difference between Celtic and any other club in the world, big club , that is, is the support. We have a support. They have fans.

At the moment the club needs our support. Well, not specifically the club, but a couple of people at the club.

Neil Lennon is a disappointed man.  He has discovered, nurtured and improved a team up to last sixteen Champions League level. He has stood by helpless as a lower English side waved its inflated wage in front of victor wanyama and his agent, and lo, the Kenyan hath departed. Suddenly, it seems as though all of his players are up for grabs, much to the delight of the parasites who make a living from writing about the game in Scotland.

Lennon is undoubtedly a magnificent man manager, he has just been kicked in the teeth, and further blows could be on the way. The Diary has criticised what may yet turn out to be a disastrous lack of foresight this transfer window, and a particularly woeful pre season tour.

But it may also turn out to be the opposite. After all, so far only one player who he would have preferred to have kept has gone. Two that he wanted have come in. Thats not bad, and although it will be hard for him, he has to love the ones he is with, and get the best out of the team tomorrow night in Belfast.

The other person who needs a break is forward Gary Hooper. The press gleefully link him with absolutely any other team they can. Gary, at 25, has an important decision to make, and indications are that he doesn’t know what to do. Cries from the support of Get Tae Feck could well help him decide. At the moment, he is still one of us. Lets treat him like that for now.

The “deadline ” for an answer to Norwichs latest bid was extended, apparently at Celtics request. QPR have allegedly upped  their bid from £5.5m to -well, your guess is as good as mine. Neither club has been attractive enough for Hooper to do a victor as yet. He hasn’t travelled to Belfast though, and Johann Mjallby has dodged questions on the last game for the club issue. The Swede says he’s injured, and we’ll have to go with that.

Put yourself in Hoopers  shoes, as the saying goes. He is happy at Celtic. All his pals are here. The only cloud on his horizon is international recognition, and he isn’t any more certain of getting that in the lower reaches of English football than he is at Celtic. Give him space.

Everyone has to focus on tomorrows game now, and whatever else can wait. ( Anyone else hear the Rocky theme in the background ? )

Incidentally, last words  on victor. Kenny Shiels, the former Kilmarnock boss, reckons Neil Lennon deserves a knighthood for swelling Celtics coffer by £12.5m with the sale of the Kenyan former Fenian. “When he had the ball in space, ” says the Ayrshire Guardiola, ” he didn’t know what to do with it. ”

Kenny is currently looking for work, because lets face it, the work won’t come looking for him.

Sao Paolo Celt, in yesterdays replies, drew attention to STVs Grant Russell, and the informative article on who gets what from the Wanyama money. Its another good read from the STV man, and a sure sign that if he keeps this sort of thing up, he’ll be out of a job soon.

wanyama money

Back to tomorrows game, and the Affiliation of CSCs has tweeted a warning, more common sense than anything else, for travelling fans not to wear their colours around town. Also, if you get to sit in the temporary seats ( waterworks end ), some kind of protective headware might be in order, as it backs on to a loyalist estate, and one or two stones may become airborne.

The PSNI have promised no trouble at the game from fans, but after the last Cliftonville trip, its not the fans we need to worry about. The Celtic club site also offers advice on the trip, which is basically telling us not to drink in the streets and not upset the locals.

At least this time the tv cameras will be there, as the game is on BBC2 Scotland. For viewers not in Scotland, its near the art channels in the 900s on Sky.

With a serious game coming up, and the draw for the next round on Friday, Lennon will have to be completely focussed this week, and according to the papers-I know, I know.. -he’s still looking for players.

He is, and apart from any statements made publicly, proof is there when you notice only nineteen players are in the UCL squad-three more can be added , which is oddly enough , how many players he says he needs…

Billy Sharp of Southampton is one. He has a decent scoring record, and has been practising his Lennon face in a bid to secure a move.

Then he paid tribute to captain Scott Brown

Georgios Samaras,

and finally, the king of kings

I like him already.

Former Barcelona man Javier Saviola has been offered a contract/ seen at Glasgow airport/ here on trial/ depending on who you believe. The Argentinian striker hasn’t put as much effort into his impressions, but is clearly in need of a move to Glasgow, if only to buy his poor wife a new outfit, and perhaps some chips.

On another note, thats when I knew my own children had been brought up correctly, when they all offered to forego Christmas presents and buy all those poor women on my computer some clothes.

So, whatever happens this week, whatever you hear or read. Remember who you support, remember why you support them, and above all get out there and support them.

Because it could be worse. A lot worse.

Usually at this point in the diary, there will be a little bit of jocular banter aimed at the  delusional fans, players, management and fraudsters dwelling over at Ibrox. but I think we can rise above that today, because we have other things to think of.

Those questions which keep us awake at night. For instance, earlier in todays drivel, I mentioned the art channels on Sky tv. Now, they  can only show boobies -and thats late at night. Yet Rangers Tv can show fannies all day. Its hardly fair.

Peter Somers was the player who said that Celtic Park was not the place for a footballer looking for a job.

Who-not a footballer-said ;

” Every time Celtic come out of the tunnel, I have a wee party in my heart. ”