Neil Lennon is going to be a busy man over the next couple of days.

First, he wants to have a chat with Lierse boss Stanley Menzo over emerging stories that he slapped on loan striker Tony Watt. Stories that have emerged mostly from Tony Watt.

Watt said: “I held out my hand without looking – as he usually does to me – and he gave me a slap on the face. I said ‘what is this?’ and he told me to look at him when I shook his hand.”

There is no substance to a related story which claims that Watt was then told to stand on the naughty step, but its obvious the forward isn’t enjoying his time in Belguim, as his twitter account would suggest. You just feel that he needs a mentor, or some sort of care worker probably, to help him with what is fast becoming a difficult period for him as he enters adulthood.

The Daily Record claims that Dutch forward-I think he’s a forward, I’ve only seen him briefly-Derk Boerrigter is demanding showdown talks with his boss.

Celtic star Derk Boerrigter plans to hold showdown talks with Neil Lennon unless he is restored to starting line-up

Which , as usual isn’t what he said at all.

“Celtic’s current tactics don’t work to my advantage.

“The manager has asked me if I can eventually play on the left side of midfield in a Gareth Bale-type role and I like the sound of that. In recent weeks the team has been winning virtually every time and I have been a regular substitute.

“But it is my intention to get into the starting line-up in the foreseeable future. If that doesn’t happen I will have to go and knock on the manager’s door and we will need to talk.

“I have not come over here to sit on the bench. When I made my debut everyone, including the manager, raved about me. Sadly I’ve not got to play many games. I don’t agree with those who say I am not cut out for the physical football they play over here.

“I spent three years in the Dutch second division and that demands other skills beside technical and tactical ability.

“I can draw confidence from having played in the Champions League. No manager would pick a player to face AC Milan or Barcelona if he didn’t believe in him.

“It has been bitter for me to have my season overshadowed by my ankle injury. But once I am fully fit and back to my old level I know for sure that I can play an important role for Celtic.

“Remaining unbeaten this season would be a matter of prestige above all but they put a lot of worth on statistics and records in Scotland.

“We could still set a new best-ever tally if we don’t drop any more points. But even though things may look easy for us, that is really not the case.”

“Nobody gives Celtic any gifts. Every single opponent in the Scottish league plays against us with foam coming from their mouths.

“The tackles players make over here are much tougher than the ones you get in the Eredivisie. Refs let far more go in British football.

“Matches in Scotland are less well balanced than those back home. At Ajax I could calmly pass the ball around at times. But when I receive it here I have to get the action going. People expect you to go forward all the time and to keep going for 90 minutes.

“Celtic’s training sessions are very tough, even on the eve of matches. I have had to get used to the intensity.

“Unfortunately it hasn’t gone as I had hoped. I have been suffering with my left ankle for the past half year, as a consequence of an injury I got while with Ajax. It’s now a matter of getting fully fit once again.”

Think I might have found the exception. It’s a pity, because from what I’ve seen of Boerrigter, there is a good player in there somewhere.

Perhaps if the clubs doctors ask him to say “aaahhh” they could have a look for him.

I must have missed the bit where he demanded a start every week. He does sound  disappointed that things haven’t worked out, but hasn’t given up hope of playing for the first team, in a role that Lennon seems to have earmarked for him. The article is just another example of piss poor reporting to try to create a situation out of nothing. Boerrigter might decide he’s had enough when the season ends. Its not like he’s a major player, though, so its hardly time to panic.

And at least it would free up his wage to spend on someone else, not to mention lowering the clubs insurance premium, already at a record high with James Forrest and Beram Kayal still under contract. Remember the day they signed new contracts ?

The Sydney Morning Herald has a wee opinion piece on Tom Rogic, and it seems the player is not living up to all the hype after all, according to journalist Michael Lynch;

” It can’t be easy being charged with the responsibility of being your nation’s saviour, especially when you are not long out of your teens.

Its a burden borne for the past few years by on-loan Melbourne Victory midfielder Tom Rogic, and it seems to be weighing rather more than he can bear.

The hype around Rogic for the past couple of years has been enormous.

But on the evidence of his form since his arrival back in the A-League in January, the hype has been misplaced. ”

The problem, it seems , is that Australia is desperate for a hero, and in the land where Rupert Murdoch made his name, the hype cannot be unexpected. Lynch continues;

” On what we have seen so far in his half a dozen games in navy blue, Rogic is a long way from being the player everyone in the country wants him to be; the player many believed, before his return, that he had already become.”

With his silky skills, his languid movement and his size and scope, Rogic, who moved to Scottish giants Celtic just over a year ago, seemed the obvious candidate.

He had, at times, dazzled in his 24 appearances for Central Coast, and also impressed in cameo displays as a substitute for the Socceroos.

But the reality is that the progress everyone expected and desired does not seem to have been made.

A player of Rogic’s quality should, after nearly two months in the A-League, be making a bigger impression than he has.

The 21-year-old has yet to dominate proceedings in the manner his admirers would have hoped, and he struggles to finish games. He has not scored a goal, nor contributed many assists.

There is no doubt he has a terrific touch, but there has been little end product.

When he gets on the ball, he often takes too many touches. When he loses possession, he does not always track back to help the defence – a trait, it must be acknowledged, many of Victory’s other forward players have shared this season. ”

I think the mystery of why he had so few starts at Celtic has just been solved. As good as he is-or as potentially as good as he is, he isn’t doing what the manager wants him to do.  

He has also been rather injury prone and struggles for fitness, all factors which have impeded his progress and will be of concern to national team coach Ange Postecoglou.

Looks like they’ll be sending him back soon. 

Lynch :

” In fact, there are some Victory fans not only wondering what all the fuss is about, but whether or not the club should have signed him in the first place on a loan deal.

Not because he doesn’t have talent, but because the logic of the deal was more about Rogic than Victory.

There was little likelihood he would stay beyond the period of his loan, so there would be no long-term benefit for Victory, and his presence there was chiefly for Rogic to play regular first-team football and gain fitness before the World Cup. ”

Actually, this is starting to sound a little sinister….. 

When he left the Mariners last January, it didn’t stop Graham Arnold’s team from getting on with the job: three months later they had won their first A-League championship without him in the team.

And far from decrying Celtic and the Scottish Premier League, perhaps there should be a pause for reflection. Rogic has been in Glasgow for a year and had not established himself as a first-team player. When Mark Viduka went to the Glasgow giants, he overcame a shaky start to quickly become a top player in the league and a prolific goalscorer.

Scott McDonald, a forward who often attracts more criticism than is warranted in this country, went to Celtic and was a regular first-team player and regular scorer, netting against the likes of Manchester United in Champions League ties.
Have we been sold a dud ? Purely on the recommendation of others ? Surely not ? Celtic did take the lad on trial, but the signing was a little hasty…. 

The article concludes that Rogic has a chance to prove the doubters wrong. Melbourne face Yokohama Mariners in a Champions League game on Tuesday night, and calls on him to do just that.

“Sportal ” preview the game;

If Rogic starts on Tuesday, he’s due a performance. The playmaker, on loan from Celtic, was signed by Victory to provide him with playing team ahead of the World Cup and to assist in the club’s ACL campaign. Last week at home to Jeonbuk he struggled to make an impact on the game and was withdrawn with 17 minutes remaining. If the hosts are to see enough of the ball in advanced areas to win the game, the former Central Coast man must be on song.

Actually, I think the lad needs to come back to Glasgow and undergo a proper apprenticeship. Theres far too much pressure on him over there. A loan to a Scottish side would have been better. Give him chance to relax and develop.

The full Herald article is available here, and its a good read for anyone who likes thought provoking , intelligent sports journalism.

Tom Rogic

Having said that, I probably don’t need to remind you its not the Glasgow Herald.

Whats happening elsewhere ?

Well, David Moyes and Oscar Pistorious have both realised they will never fill Alex Fergusons shoes.

But the real news is that new club Second Rangers have achieved a historic first appearance in a national semi final. No third tier side has done this since Gretna, who shortly afterwards went into liquidation.

Rangers, though, have bucked the trend, achieving the feat after liquidation, which is unlikely to be matched by anyone else, especially outwith Scotland , where the press tend to deal a lot more in facts.

But, thats not to take anything away from them. They have had a wee bit of luck with the draw, avoiding the big teams, and now have essentially a home tie against Dundee Utd, the first time they have met a Premier League team this season.

Controversy reigns about the venue, but as that was decided weeks ago, critics have been quick to declare that complaints should have been made at the time it was announced, but its hardly fair to blame Dundee Utd for waiting to see if Ally McCoists limited side would actually make it this far-and , of course, United would have been accused of trouble making if they hadn’t waited until their place was confirmed.

There is also some concern over the split in ticket allocation, United will get just 13,000. Although there is a rumour they will get more if they sell them.

This story is deflecting from the real issue at Ibrox.

Dave King, the latest in a long line of saviours, has been to Ibrox, met the board, and disappeared back to South Africa, in much the same way as anyone else who gets to chat with the current custodians.

The club doesn’t appear to have a saviour, and its a shame.

So, here at Etims we have decided to help the stricken Second Rangers, having come up with a new possible buyer.

Me.

Instead of giving King, or anyone else for that matter, their season book money, the fans should give it to me. I’ll hang on to it for a while-after deducting reasonable expenses, and use it to buy the club. Then, I’ll give it back to them. Free of charge, after deducting reasonable expenses.

Other funds can be raised through a massive telethon type appeal.

For instance, I will start a Cross Bears Challenge. Disgruntled fans can record their gripe on a premium phone line, and in a few months I’ll pick the best one and award him a seat on the board.

We could also have a Penalty Shit Out.

Fans could ring another premium number , on a weekly basis , to guess what time the referee awards a penalty to the Light Blues, and again, the prize is a seat on the board.

The Ibrox caterers could get in on the act, if you buy a pie, or a bovril, a random fan could be picked out and given the correct change, which would encourage merchandising sales during the game.

See, all it requires is a little thought.

And although I’ll make a fortune, at least they’ll get their club back.

Thats probably the best offer they’ll get, to be honest.

That was a genuine letter reproduced yesterday, which appears in Lennons most recent autobiography.

Thankfully, he didn’t take them up on their offer, but he’s assured a place in their hearts nonetheless.

Oh, by the way, police Scotland want to interview an unnamed Rangers player about a criminal act that took place in Hamilton last night. The player has denied the allegations, saying he was on the pitch playing for the club at the time.

Video evidence is thought to be inconclusive.

Today, can you name the three players at the front of this picture?