Celtic will host Aberdeen in the fifth round of the Scottish Cup on the weekend of February 8 next year. The mouthwatering tie was pulled out of the hat yesterday amidst screams of anguish from Sky TVs David Tanner, and enormous sighs of relief from Second Rangers fans who didn’t fancy being lambs to the slaughter with a first ever visit to Celtic Park.
A disappointed Kenny Miller, who made the draw, muttered that someone had forgotten to heat the balls, as he realised his dream of a historic-and very probably one off-meeting between Glasgows biggest and most successful club and the new kids on the block with grandoise visions wasn’t going to happen just yet.
I think everyone would love to see it — media, fans, everyone,’ said the former Scotland striker. ‘And I’m sure the players would love to take part in that fixture again. ”
‘There is no doubt Scottish football would benefit from it. I think we need it. It would bring an attention back to our game that has been missing.
‘It would be great now if we could see it in the Final. That’s what I would like. Obviously, you wish everyone still in the competition all the best but I think everybody would like to see the Old Firm game at some point.
‘If it was the spectacle at the end of the season, it would be a fantastic thing for the game here.
Yes, it would be great to have the eyes of the world on the showpiece fixture.
Still, they might bring along a cheerleader or two;
The Aberdeen game promises to be a cracker, especially as the recent league game went to the wire. However, the new look all singing all dancing Celtic should prove to strong for the Dons, judging by sundays ruthless demolition of Hearts.
Danny McGrain reckons it was up there with the 5-0 win over St. mirren in 1986;
“The last time I can remember Celtic playing as well was when we beat St Mirren 5-0 at Love Street to win the league in 1986,”
Bit harsh to remind the Jambos of that day, which also wasn’t one of their best .
“Hearts were going to win the league that day, so we had no fear,” said McGrain. “We went out and played with a freedom. We played amazing football that day.
“We couldn’t afford to lose a goal at any stage in Paisley but I don’t think we were aware of that. If they’d scored one and Hearts had got one, they might have won it. But we just played like the players played on Sunday – no fear, just totally relaxed.
“So I would relate how we played at Tynecastle yesterday to that day against St Mirren. Theperformances were similar. Everybody played well against St Mirren back in ’86, everybody played well on Sunday.
“There were even goals from Scott Brown – him scoring two is unheard of. It was a magnificent performance. There’s not a word really to describe how we all felt, more so the manager, at full-time. It was probably going through his mind ‘This is what I’ve wanted’.
“But it’s OK reaching the top of the mountain once. We’ll be looking for that every week now, to do it again. We’ve shown we can do it. The players have now put the challenge up for themselves.
“When you play the way we did, it’s going to be hard to replicate that. After we beat St Mirren 5-0, I didn’t think we’d ever play that way again.
“But these players will get huge confidence from what they did on Sunday. Their next game is on Friday night against Motherwell, who just lost to Albion Rovers at the weekend, so they’ll be getting the sleeves rolled up knowing we’ve just scored seven goals against Hearts. They won’t want a doing.”
The legendary right back and now coach -no surprise we have three excellent right backs of our own now- also set out a challenge to the other sides left in the Cup;
“It’s our cup and we want to keep it,” said McGrain.
“Someone is going to have to take it off us. They will have to play very well to take it off us.
“The Scottish Cup was always special to me when I played as it’s the last game of the season. If you didn’t win it, and I lost a couple of finals, it was always a long, long summer. When you won it the summer just used to fly in and you went back to pre-season bouncing. But if you lost, it hung around your neck for a long time, even if you had won the league. The last game of the season is always the one you remembered and are remembered for. It wasn’t nice to lose it. We don’t want to see another team running around Celtic Park celebrating with the Scottish Cup.”
Hard words, from a hard man.
Celtic have also shifted the date of the Kilmarnock game from January 11 ( Saturday ) to January 29 ( Wednesday), which means that they don’t give a flying feck for those of us who now cannot take in the game due to work commitments, despite having already paid up front for a seat. And possibly even booked a flight or a train.
First came the contempt for the staff, with the refusal to even consider a living wage, and now its the turn of the fans to suffer so that everyone can have a wee break.
More than a club ?
Yes. Much more. A “corporate entity ” in fact. Which isn’t quite as catchy in the adverts.
Don’t be surprised if Brother Walfrid gets up and goes to sit somewhere else. And the bastards would probably search him, thinking he might have a flare under his robe.
Spartak Moscow fans have unveiled a banner which probably means that Aiden McGeady won’t be around much longer at the club. They seem to like him, and it does make you wonder why he’d want to come back to the sort of abuse he used to get in Scotland, both on and off the pitch.
The Record says Celtic have stepped up there interest in James Vaughan, of Huddersfield. Vaughan is apparently rated at £6m , so you know immediately theres no substance in this story.
Jordan Rhodes is at Blackburn.
Although to be fair to Lennon, all those towns up by the M65 are depressingly similar, and its easy to end up in the wrong one.
Rhodes is still on Lennons list, and we hear he is pretty much at the top of it.
Blackburn are in trouble, and maybe they could be talked into taking a bit less money than they paid for him. About £7m less it would have to be, to be fair. However, the old drunk who bombards us with this sort of thing maintains its Rhodes who Lennon wants…
From prospective Celts to a former Celt, who is doing alright for himself.
Thomas Gravesen, the man who spoiled the Etims rumour mills 100% record when he actually signed for Celtic, was in the news yesterday. He’s retired again. But not from football this time, from his second career, which was in investment.
Turns out he was rather better with his money than he was with a football, , and he’s now worth around £100m , has hooked up with the lass in the picture and is currently living the high life in Las Vegas , where he spends his time playing poker.
Good luck to him. Jammy Git.
Tonight we are going to record a podcast with John Paul Taylor, who is the supporters liason officer. If you have anything to ask him, especially about the bother in Amsterdam, then either stick it in the comments below, or send it to us on Twitter @etims.net .
If you have a question about the use of banners at Celtic Park, leave that until a later date, preferably when we have someone from the GB on to beat the drum for them. It wouldn’t be fair to discuss the matter without having their side represented.
The Amsterdam lads have an appeal coming up, and its important to find out where they are at with that. More importantly, to find out what happened over there and possibly even help them out in some small way if we can. The events of that day need to be clarified and addressed.
Anything else you want to mention is fair game though. Thats what he’s there for.
Celtic scored seven goals in one game in the Cup on Sunday, which is exactly what Johnny Campbell did back in 1892, against 5th Kirkcudbrightshire Rifle Volunteers, who never recovered from a 7-0 drubbing from Celtic, and were dissolved just a short while afterwards. ( They were really harsh on shite teams in those days. )
Actually, its a good job theres no chance of that happening to Hearts anytime soon.
Do you know what, in that context, a game against Second Rangers might not be such a bad idea after all.
Heres one for today. Why would we rather forget all about this team ? ( apart from the obvious reasons. )
MOTHERWELL:
McArthur, Grant, Ellis, Wales, Blair, McKenzie, Ogilvie, Bremner, Stewart, Stevenson, McCulloch.
-from 1937
Why did Celtic PLC just accept the LNS verdict? When will the club address this situation to its shareholders and customers?
Probably never, seeing as the majority of shareholders and customers agree with them. I believe the raison d’etre is; can you be quiet we’ve a victim role to play here.
The team that handed us our record defeat by any chance?
was this the team that gave Celtic their heaviest ever defeat ? 8-0 I believe.
Where did you get that Gravesen story from? You guys are worse than the MSM! 😉
Surely that cant be Elbows at the end of that teamlist???
Would have Jordan Rhodes up here in a flash but the price will have to be lowered considerably. £6m for James Vaughan??? Get yersel tae feck!
Great stirring words from Danny McGrain. Would expect nothing less from the man who has fought (and won) so many battles in his life.
Brother Walfrid has already left his seat. He is queuing up outside the superstore for the Christmas sales and to get 30% off his onesie and his name on the away top. Nevermind, he can read the feeshel Celtic annual while he waits to find out what Izzy likes for breakfast.
Sorry for hogging the posts but I think small spurts (ooh err missus) at a time are less susceptible to be lost in Cyberspace than one huge scoosh.
Like to know the clubs attitude to the police stopping service buses from moving after the games on the trongate,we sit on buses for up to 40 minutes people are missing rail connections
while the buses and other traffic are held up by a cop ,surely public transport should have priority
Sunday was a great display of how football should be played but it was against a pish poor inexperienced wee Huns so until i see several more displays ( not bothered aboot 7goals ) like that then im naw doing any back flips and high 5s just yet, good performance but stil plenty of room for improvement… Please santa can u bring Celtic a fekin striker that can actually strike for change..hail hail, KTF+
I need to cheer up – 7-0 and I ve still got issues – 7 goals and not one by a recoggnised striker. Commons played up there but his best position is as a no 10
So yes, Santa, please bring Celtic a goalscorer.
But the first half on Sunday was a thing of beauty, and some of the movement and passing was similar to St mirren way back when.
Great last podcast, until the surprise ending! I even got my question addressed! Add I m glad I m not alone on kayal, he is a headless chicken, no positional sense, takes too many touches on the ball then gives it away. Get rid now, we ve got all the evidence we need.
You guys ever thought of being a PLC board? You know, listening to your customers, taking their views on board, then cutting things off very abruptly – you re perfect!!
We talked for another 45 minutes!!…didnt realise it hadnt recorded until went to post it up on site..gutted..missed Ralphs Rant..complaining about the Magners “You can be Nbr 7” team sheet idea in club match program…like Ronnie Corbett in his wee chair telling a long winded joke!
Looks like Weasel Miller is giving the chap in the tie an under table hand job …
Just tickling his baws
sorry fellow celts fans but as long as there’s cheatin’ fae the scum bags @ humpden I DON’T INTEND TO RETURN TAE SCHITTISH FITBA’ EVEN IF WE ARE GUBBIN’ EVRYBUDY ELSE, THE ABERDEEN FANS VOICED THEIR CONCERNS WITH THEIR BANNER OUTSIDE HUMPDEN LAST WEEK ,IT IS HIGH TIME WE DID THE SAME, WE MUST RID SCHITTISCH FITBA’ OF ALL THE MASONIC ORANGE PRESBYTERIAN SCUM THAT RUNS THE GEMME IN SCHITTELAND NUFF SAID, AND FECK THE HUNZ TAE
Ralph
Apologised for being away for a while and explained it was not the site’s fault. Guess what? It’s GONE!!!! just had to be.
H H
HAVE MY PLANE TICKET + HOTEL BOOKED FOR THE KILLIE GAME 🙁
well, I always knew that there was a risk in booking early …
Now, will I go to Partick- Ross or Sevo- esat Fife (there will be goals & a red card) ?????
Brother Walfrid got up and left? The spirit is strong big man….do you believe in the message or the people that deliver the message. Belief, faith and conviction…2 out of 3 is ok. You can help with the third.