We’re getting to the end of the month now, as finally we can come off what is known as the January diet-which is when you’ve got no money left for food.
Celtic are over in Edinburgh today, with a lunchtime kick off against Hibernian, who have already taken points from Neil Lennons team this season.
Still unbeaten in the league, Lennon has started dreaming of doing the unthinkable-a complete season without recording a loss.
“It would probably be the best thing I’ve ever done.
“It’s almost an impossible thing to do. And we are just over the halfway mark so there is a long way to go. Just one bad day and that’s it. So it’s a real test to keep the lads fit, healthy and at their peak both mentally and physically.
“But we are enjoying that challenge. It’s a great incentive for the opposition AND us. It gives an extra edge to each game.”
Listening to the way Terry Butcher spoke yesterday, about how he wants to be the team that stops the run, backs this up, and despite those who talk and write about Scottish football preaching doom and gloom, there will be an extra edge to the games.
The last visit to Easter Road saw a very physical approach to the match from Hibs, not quite as bad as Motherwell, but certainly a decent impression, and Lennon is looking forward to a tough game again, despite his complaint last time round that Hibs were a bit lively;
“When do I ever complain? I like the physical side of the game, I was that type of player myself. But I just felt that some of the challenges were over the top.
“Terry’s Inverness team always had the impression of being physical but lately you’ve had the likes of Doran, McKay, the Shinnies, they added a bit of quality and flair to his team.
“Hibs also have players who can play. But we have good size and physicality if we need to mix things up. Our discipline is good though. Apart from the Anthony Stokes red card last week, our record has been exemplary over the years in domestic games.”
So, with all this talk about being determined to keep the run going, there seems little chance of the youngsters getting a run out, and apart from the suspended Anthony Stokes it’ll be the regulars that are out there today.
Or will we see Stefan Johansen, and maybe the terrors of Trabzonspor Amido Balde and Teemu Pukki given a shot at forming a partnership ?
For those who maybe think the kids can’t hack it, and to be honest, amongst the support there may not be that many, have a look at the success of Darnell Fisher, who has deputised at right back for Adam Matthews and Mikael Lustig. He’s come in, done the job and now has left everyone in no doubt that he can handle the top level domestically.
What about the others in that team who dominated the nations youth leagues ?
The kids who played Galatasaray showed they wouldn’t be fazed by a shot at the first team, and while we are all anxious to see a big name signing this month, would it really be so bad if we decided to promote from within ?
That includes Pukki and Balde, as well as the likes of Henderson and the others who have not gone out on loan. Freshening things up and creating competition for places -real competition , that is where if you don’t play to a certain standard you are out, – does not always have to involve spending money just for the sake of it.
In fact, we hear Lennon has already mentioned this to Lawwell;
Actually, you could argue that Scottish football has suffered because of the previous policy of bringing in foreign players and spending money abroad, and its only now that kids are not only getting a chance , but not running off down south into obscurity at the first available opportunity.
Anyway, Virgil van Dijk, the biggest on field success this season, has spoken of his partnership with former bomb scare Efe Ambrose, and how much fun he is having at Celtic;
“I’ve not experienced bonding with a partner this quickly in my career before.
“The first game I played for Celtic was with Steven Mouyokolo but after that everything went well with Efe. He’s a friend of mine now, on the pitch and off it.
“It’s all good. If you have a good bond with each other away from football it helps when you’re playing. I think you can see that.
“And we’re proud of the clean sheets – but the thing making me most proud is still being unbeaten in the league.
“I’ve never experienced this before. It’s new for me but I’m enjoying it.”
You can’t beat a relationship where clean sheets are the norm.
Theres been a bit of bad weather of late, and that might make the game even more interesting, but the signs for today are fairly good by Scottish winter standards;
SW Scotland, Lothian Borders
Forecast Summary
-
Today
Bright start in east but rain soon spreading to all parts from west, snow over hills and perhaps a little wet snow for highest roads. Strong to gale southerly winds. Turning showery, less windy later.
- Which means in front of the telly again for me. Actually, the fact its after ten oclock and a three hundred mile drive to Edinburgh, and i’m not even dressed yet kind of makes the decision for me.
Do we have a prediction for today ?
A narrow Celtic win would seem the best bet, but combined with the weather, the expected Hibs approach and the pressure of remaining unbeaten means that nothing is certain, and it should make for a cracking game.
It was Mike Conroy in the picture yesterday, the hero of the 1-0 cup final win against the now defunct Rangers. Conroy was thrown in at centre half, and against all odds-if you believed the pre match papers-turned in a man of the match performance against the then less fat Derek Johnstone, who was the best striker ever to play in the country, and was cruelly overlooked by the big European sides at the time.
Well, you had to look over him, because you certainly couldn’t see round him.
With hair like this, heres someone you’d have to do the opposite with. Who is he, and what does he do for a living these days ?
Davie Provan Celtic hero, now irritating media nyaff .
M Daly
10/10/10/10/10 – perfection!
H H
Davie Hair Bear Bunch Provan,the taker of the media shilling these days ie slag ra Cellic at every opportunity mob.
Uncle Tim in the extreme, shame, really liked him as a player
Davie Provan , one half of the Johnny Doyle/Davie Provan wing partnership.
Now talks shite for a living
Ralph
I will stay away from the youngsters – could probably have put that better – to avoid bursting a blood vessel. You could write a book on how bringing on our own youngsters is a strong argument confirmed in no small measure by your example of young Darnell. Tell me any outsider that has proved himself better other than the exceptions like Van Dijk. It really does begin to make Lennoxtown look like a waste.
Re the quiz, I would bet my pension – ok, but it is not exactly the Vegas Strip and I am not exactly a gambler – nobody sums up Davy the fuzz today better than M Daly. Great description.
H H
Picture quiz
Lady in Red starring A Raving Butcher!
H H
Meant say that for all his off field problems T. Watt still whacked in 2 goals yesterday. That is now 4 in 3 as far as i know since his return to Lierse and yet we are still “trying out” unknowns and has beens. A little bit of proper man management (look it up, Neil, it is the opposite of favourite) and Tony might just settle.
H H
I couldm’t agree more pensionerbhoy. You may be at an age when the vast majority of our team were homegrown. Along came Souness destroying that philosophy and leading to a new pressure of Celtic buying players in with the odd exception.
Promotion from within the club should ALWAYS be the first option with subsidised purchases of proven quality to aid the development of the young players.
I know that the game has moved on but we are in direct competition with one of the biggest and richest leagues in the world. Why try to compete in that way – sell ourselves as a league and club in which young players are given an opportunity with exciting attacking football played on a weekly basis. Lets start by seeing Henderson, Miller and Fraser of the coming weeks.
Watt should be here playing for his club (he will never have a better chance of playing for us as a striker as there is no competition there) It seemed to be a cop-out by Lennon to punt him on loan (although it may be the making of him – time will tell)
I don’t think Lenny did cop-out wae putting Watt out on loan. I think he was looking for a reaction fae the big man. Surely, it’s the test of talent if it can go elsewhere and reproduce. Calum McGregor is an example of that. I expect Atajic to do the same. IMO this looks like a time, a very rare time, when we promote four or five homegrowns into the team.
Pensionerbhoy,
Too much time on your hands,go and get a job.
By your posts,you maybe want Lenny’s job.
Lenny is doing fine, he is the best judge.
When the league is won by the end of March,the boys
will get their chance.
Enjoy the football, and stop moaning !!
holy sea
Thanks for the advice but I think I have done my fair share of graft working on averaging 70+ hours and, more often than not, 7 days a week. I continued to work beyond 65 and only retired because the funding for my work ran out and there were younger people in danger of losing their jobs. But hey, perhaps you feel that is not enough and you would be entitled to YOUR OPINION. Well personally, I think I have earned a wee rest and some leisure time now. However, just to keep you in the loop and away from any notion I laze about with loads of time on my hands, I do continue to keep occupied with a lot of voluntary work.
Can I just add, going back a bit, it was never the tradition on this site to slag people off because they had an opinion and having seen the effects of doing so on other sites, I would hope we can return to replying on here without making derogatory comments based on very little or no knowledge of the individual involved. That is the root cause of many of the divisions among our support nowadays. I can well remember when we could have heated debates and proper arguments but still remain committed to the club and respect other. I sounds as though you wish for a new style of support where the opinions of you and your ilk are sacrosanct. Occupied or idle, I can assure you I will continue to state my OWN opinions whether you find them to your liking or not. But thanks anyway for YOUR OPINION to which you are fully entitled.
H H
Pensionerbhoy,
No need for the life story.
Lenny needs you, to give him a hand,
to pick the team,as he is not doing a very
good job at it ?
Roger Daltrey?
Anybody else find Provan to be irritating as a player? Just memtioning Doug Rougvie and he turned magician. He made himself disappear. Pity he has lost that talent nowadays.
Leo Sayer in a fitba strip? Naw it’s Davie Provan ex Celtic winger.
I did actually recognise Proven in this one – IS this the first I have ever managed to get right….!
Michael Jackson before his face nelted.
aye the bold Davy Provan aka integral part of the hair bear bunch!!! A great winger now a bit of a nyaff with microphone. Can’t agree he disappeared whenever Doug Rougie appeared in fact distinctly recall that he absolutely murdered Rougvie on numerous occasions against a great Aberdeen team more likely that once he got past Rougvie, Miller and Mcleish were waiting to nick the ball off his toes.
Is that uncle Peter from the smell of reeves and mortimer
Davie Provan, a great winger in his day, now a total whinger about everything to do with Celtic.