Celtic Diary Monday January 20

Chris Hughton has told Celtic that Robert Snodgrass is not for sale, causing a massive sigh of relief in the east end of Glasgow. And in Charlie Mulgrews living room.

“It’s news to me. But Snodgrass is an important player for us,” Hughton told The Mirror. And he mentioned it to the chair and the sideboard as well.

“He’s a team player and very much a focal point of what we do. So it’s fair to say he is simply not for sale.”

The player has also nailed his colours to the mast;

“It’s my home town and I stayed five seconds away from the stadium. I’m a Celtic fan. So many people have been texting me. There’s so much speculation, especially during the transfer window.

Then he was reminded that people were listening;

“All I can say is that for now I’m at Norwich and I have 18 months left on my contract. So I’m just focusing on doing as well as I possibly can for Norwich at this minute,”

Or , of course, that could just mean £6m and forty grand a week and I’m on the train.

I think we can safely say that if there is £6m available, then there are better ways to spend it than Robert Snodgrass, who is a decent enough player, but not really what is needed at Celtic just now.

You could get Jordan Rhodes for that.

Tom Rogic is away, as expected, and should line up against Sydney FC on Sunday. One wonders if he bought a return ticket when he left, and we can only wish him the best of luck. He never really got a chance, and its probably best for all concerned that he goes away to get some games under his belt.

Leigh Griffiths, who knows where the goal is , if he’s unaware of the barbers location, has started talking about the stories linking him with Celtic.

“I have heard the rumours. Celtic are a massive club and it would be an honour to go and play for them. They are playing in the Champions League every season and have a tremendous squad.

“But it is speculation and the man you need to ask is Neil Lennon if the rumours are true. But if Celtic came in with a big for me then it is definitely something I would consider.

“Until, or if that time comes, then I have to keep focused and stay in the Wolves team.”

Which seems to have got lost in the translation;

Georgios Samaras is still waiting for a contract offer from Celtic, according to the Scotsman, as several clubs wait in the wings to move in. His agent, Rodger Linse, said;

“I have not had an official meeting with Celtic regarding Georgios’ situation and therefore there hasn’t been any offer either. Georgios is very relaxed about the situation.”

Georgios is very relaxed about every situation, which is kind of the problem.

West Ham are the latest club to register an interest, which will cheer him up.

Meanwhile, the Greek forward has been working on his telekinetic powers;

An interesting stat emerges from the Herald. Kris Commons has now scored one more goal than Gary Hooper had at the same time last season. Lets try to keep this to ourselves, otherwise we’ll never get a striker in.

Bugger. Too late;

“He´s up to 19 now and for a guy who´s not a natural centre-forward, it´s a wonderful contribution to the season”, “He´s the consummate professional and is playing very well at the minute, and I think he´s really enjoying his football. He´s just really instrumental in the way we want to play.”

Neil Lennon speaking to the official website there. Actually, on that basis, theres still a chance we can keep it quiet.

Yesterdays Ewing Graham article may well have opened the gates to a new style of reporting on this years cash crisis at Ibrox.

First , Keith Jackson asks the question;

HERE?S a thing. You know those Rangers players involved in conceptual discussions about theoretical wage cuts last week? And who metaphorically booted the hypothetical idea into touch?

Well, here?s today?s reality.

Did you know they?re all being bussed to the Four-Star Carnoustie Hotel this morning? Where they?ll enjoy some fine dining for lunch, possibly at the hotel?s own AA Rosette-winning restaurant?

Rooms will then be provided in order that they can enjoy an afternoon nap, for those not getting treatments in the spa. All for an away trip to Forfar? ”

And he continues, you can almost see the keys on his laptop issuing steam…

” Or that, as he unwraps the chocolate on his fluffy cotton pillow this afternoon, manager Ally McCoist might pause to reflect on where it has all gone wrong.

Talk about mixed messages? Talk about champagne lifestyles and Irn-Bru budgets? Talk about hubris, arrogance and over-indulgence? Talk about sledgehammers and walnuts. The constant noise and confusion around Rangers is truly head-melting stuff. ”

Indeed. Perhaps thats how this happened to their fans;

Then he plants a seed of revolution in the players minds..

” These players may well feel treated like disposable window dressing when they are supposed to be the very heart of the club.

And here?s another thing. They were asked to ponder a 15 per cent cut over a period of 18 months, while also being told the club hopes to sign even more players in the summer.

Which means some of them might be volunteering to help finance their own replacements. ”

Funnily enough, there are rumours that Ally McCoist may be off to Sheffield Wednesday, and Barry Ferguson might be the next player manager of Blackpool.

£5m for Lee Wallace ? The memory of Souness lives on…

Michael Grant in the Herald wants to know;

If Rangers are not heading towards administration, why should players take a cut? 

In a better written and more incisive article, ( to be fair , I’ve had birthday cards that were better written than most of Jacksons articles ) Grant states;

” If they are properly advised, the players should have plenty of questions of their own the next time their representative, McCulloch, sits with Wallace. If the chief executive insists the club is not heading for administration why should their wages be slashed? What would pay cut achieve? If this board wants to take a chunk out of their take-home then what is their business plan? Do none of the directors have anything to contribute? ”

Suddenly, and only two years too late, there are the right kind of questions being asked. Will they actually be answered ?

Heres Ally McCoists thoughts..from the Sunday Post;

“i wasnt at the last board meeting but ive been told i’ll be invited to the next one to discuss football matters. im not a board member..id need to think about whether or not i want to hear everything. If it benefitted my relati onship with the players and the staff, then yes. But,as youre probably aware, in the current climate, sometimes some of the stuff i dont know suits me as well”

Some people are just born to lead.

Grants article is fine, but there is, oddly enough, no mention of McCoist in it. Whereas Jackson had a wee dig.

Theres still some way to go, but maybe the MSM are wakening up, and perhaps a genuine journalist will get to the bottom of it all.

Some might argue that there is too much time spent in the diary on the trials and tribulations of the clubs which have played at Ibrox, but there is a massive scandal here, which does reflect on Scottish football, and affects the environment Celtic are based in. So its important to keep an eye on it, especially on how the press report it.

And its funny as feck.

The old panini pic yesterday was from the 1997-98 season, when the hoops stopped the unthinkable ten in a row.

The picture was taken after Stewart Kerr had undergone major plastic surgery, leaving him looking like fellow keeper Gordon Marshall, and guaranteeing him a game every week.

Harald Brattbakk, as Steviebhoy pointed out, is also missing from the picture, but he didn’t join until December 1997.

Now, who is this, and why is today significant ?

Finally, poor old Davie Moyes is having it tough at Manchester Utd, after another defeat yesterday. Can the Diary make it clear to him that when the press remind him that Bobby Charlton is in the boardroom, they mean in a purely advisory capacity, as he’s getting on a bit now.