The bit in the title we’ll get to later, but we’ll start with good news, which makes a nice change.
Mikael Lustig, who appeared as a substitute against Inverness, is ready to pick up where he left off before he underwent surgery on his hip. In fact, not only that, he wants to extend his stay in Glasgow;
“I absolutely want to stay longer,” said the 27-year-old. “I really enjoy it here. We have talked a little bit, Celtic want me to stay and I’m happy to stay, so we will see what happens.
“We always speak to each other, but I was focused on getting back to full fitness after the operation before we starting talking about a new contract. But both parties are really positive about it.
“Celtic has been good for me as a player. I was probably in the best form of my career this season before I had to have the hip surgery. I felt in good shape and my football was really good, so I think Celtic have made me a better player.”
The Swedish defender wants to make amends for last seasons poor showing in the Champions League, and can’t wait to get started;
It’s a really big achievement to reach the group stage,” added Lustig. “It’s getting harder and harder every year with the qualifiers coming so early in the season, but hopefully we can do it again.
“If you look at this season, in our first group game away to AC Milan we created a lot of chances, played really well going forward and had the opportunity to leave the San Siro with three points. But we let in poor goals to lose it and that was the story of the campaign.
“The previous year, when we reached the last 16 of the Champions League, we didn’t create as many opportunities in games but scored goals when we did. It’s those small things that make the difference. We need to improve defensively but I think we can be better in the Champions League next season.
“It’s strange that a team which recently reached the last 16 has to play three qualifying rounds, starting in mid July, but those are the rules and we just need to get on with it. It’s getting harder for teams from the smaller countries to qualify, but the best teams are going to get there and I think we showed in the last two years that we are meant to be there.”
He also seems to be playing it canny about his return from injury, fully aware of the dangers of rushing back, but also working hard on his fitness;
“I feel as if I’ve just gone through four months of pre-season after the surgery,” he said. “I still need to work on my hips and do certain exercises every week. I’ll keep doing these over the vacation and hopefully I’ll be perfect for pre-season.
“It’s nice to be back and feeling part of the team again. It was the longest I’ve been out of action in my career – before this it was just three weeks. It has been tough but I always knew I needed an operation, so I was mentally prepared for it all. After Euro 2012 with Sweden, we started talking about an op on my right hip. I kept playing as long as I could. When I went in for the surgery, I ended up having both hips done. The right side needed it most, but it’s better to do both at the same time, or I might need another spell out in the future to get the left done.
“I still feel it sore in some positions but I’ve been told it might take up to eight months before it is fully ready. But in training, I don’t even think about it and that’s a good sign. I know I need to be a little bit smart about it, in case I put too much strain on things. It’s been up and down, but now everything should be okay.”
Its nice to start with good news.
Lustig is a great player, and forms an essential part of a defence that could, if it stays together, be the bedrock of a more than decent run in Europe.
Kris Commons, yesterday, outlined his desire to stay, tinged with a wee bit of worry about the lack of a new contract offer, and reading the comments made by Celtic daft Robert Snodgrass won’t make him feel any more comfortable.
Snodgrass, who is plainly alarmed at the prospect of playing in the English championship with current club Norwich, says he wants Neil Lennon to stay at Celtic and win the treble;
‘The Celtic lads have great things to say about him so if that is what he is wanting (work in England) then good luck to him.
‘But (with) the manager in charge now, even though we are not getting results, we are playing well in certain spells.
‘It will be interesting to see who does get the job. I’m sure Neil Adams will put his name in the hat and push his own claim.
‘I will let the powers-that-be upstairs decide that.
‘But I’m a Celtic fan so I would like to see him trying to do better in the Champions League (group) stage and try to get the treble.’
‘There is always going to be lots of talk. Celtic are a massive club but I have a job to do for Norwich and I will focus every bit of my effort trying to keep Norwich in the league.
‘We have had very tough games over the last few weeks and it doesn’t get any easier with Chelsea and Arsenal coming up.
‘But I am relishing the challenge and hopefully we can do it.
‘You must be doing something right if you are being linked with a club like Celtic.
‘But I have another year left at Norwich and I will give everything I have got in my body for that club because they have been terrific with me.
‘They gave me my chance to play in the Premier League so I will honour that.’
Reading between the lines, that sounds like a thinly veiled ” Give me a ring, Neil, and stay away from Norwich, its shite. “
“My mum was at the game on Saturday and she was saying to me that if I got on the pitch I was to try to get away from that unlucky number as best I could,” he said.
“I’m not that superstitious, but 13 seems to be everybody’s unlucky number.
“I was just glad to get off it and even more so just to be able to help the lads go and seal the win.
“The fact I had not scored for such a long time did play on my mind a wee bit.
“Unless Ronan Murray scores a double hat-trick against Oldham it means I am top scorer and that’s something I’m very proud of.”
Then theres Dylan McGeouch, Tom Rogic and James Forrest to consider, all of whom have the potential to make a go of it at Celtic.
Tough decisions ahead for the boss, but its certainly a happier problem than in days gone by, when perhaps the choice was whether to lead with Wayne Biggins or Tony Cascarino, or heaven help us, both.
Sometimes , we have to be thankful for what we have, and something that we have at the moment is a fixture list that doesn’t include a team from Ibrox, in whatever form, because after a reminder of what the old club used to bring to the party the other night, supporters are deciding they really don’t want them back in any shape or form.
The media, desperate to have their pals back, won’t report this, or even question it. As ever , where the blue side of Glasgow is concerned, they just ignore it.
The problem lies in identifying the root of the problem, or even acknowledging it. The MSM refuse to do this, because they still see it as an “Old Firm ” problem, and the Record dragged up Frank McGarvey, who should have known better, to reminisce about the 1980 cup final, when disgruntled fans of Old Rangers decided they didn’t want to see a lap of honour by a victorious Celtic team, and invaded the pitch, or , as it was reported at the time, they didn’t.
This time, the paper wants to blame it on drink.
“That 1980 cup final that got alcohol banned in the first place seems like yesterday to me.”, said Frank
“The funny thing is I never saw a hint of trouble. We were already inside the dressing room celebrating our 1-0 win when it kicked off and we had no idea anything was going on.
“It wasn’t until later that night that we saw it on TV.
“To be honest we had a laugh at it as it was such a ridiculous sight with police horses riding on to the pitch trying to keep the fans apart. We couldn’t believe it. I thought I was watching a Western movie on the telly not the news.
“If you asked me if I thought we’d have come a lot further than this in the 34 since then my honest answer is no.”
The article, written by Euan MacLean, ( Euan is a Gaelic word, meaning “bloody liar ” ) added;
” But seeing seats ripped up and smoke bombs and flares set off amid a foul atmosphere of hatred and sectarian chanting at Celtic Park on Monday is an alarming reminder the cancer that blights the Old Firm rivalry remains alive and well. ”
One Celtic fan lets off a flare. This allows the press to trumpet claims such as the above. There was only ever one cancer in Scottish football. The tumour was removed two years ago, but because the host didn’t take enough care, the malignancy has returned.
McGarvey said: “The hatred hasn’t changed and I don’t think it will in the next 100 years.
“The government and police can only do so much because when people get drunk and encounter people they don’t like there will always be conflict.
Yes, drink causes problems, but its merely enhances whatever mood is already in place.
“It’s a social problem that Glasgow has had for a long time and it will continue to be an issue for many years to come.
“Glasgow is certainly a quieter place with Rangers out of the top flight but that’s part of the reason why this youth game has attracted the problems it has in the last couple years.
He nearly hits the nail on the head. For Celtic, its a youth game. For Rangers-or whatever they are called this week-its a chance to air their hatred of all things Irish, catholic or financially solvent.
“When the teams played four times a season the fans were able to get it out of their system every few months.
“I also think the internet has a lot to do with it because it has given fans a platform to wind each other up more than ever, so the tension keeps building.
“All the authorities can do is try to keep a lid on things but it will always erupt at times. Of course it should never happen, especially at a kids game, and hopefully the culprits will be rooted out and banned by their club.
“But I’m afraid the root cause motivating people to behave like this won’t be fixed any time soon.”
The root cause is the hatred and intolerance behind a section of the support that clings to whichever entity springs from Ibrox. Until it is forced , not only from football, but from society, it will continue to fester, in pubs, in homes on forums, and explode onto the scene every time there is an opportunity for it to air its perverse and outdated opinions. Actually, outdated is the wrong word in a sense. Bigotry and intolerance has never been acceptable, but the tolerance of intolerance is the biggest crime of all.
Its time for Celtic PLC to publicly drop the Old Firm nonsense. Shareholders cannot be happy to be associated with the Old Firm tag.
First, there is the obvious connection with sectarianism, allowing Celtic to be portrayed as Heads to their Tails.
Second, it also associates us with the biggest sporting crime in history, and if there is even the slightest chance of us being tarred with that brush, it should be snuffed out now. What Rangers did to the credibilty of sport in Scotland almost killed it.
We cannot distance ourselves far enough from them.
So, a short statement, which I have helpfully prepared for someone to read out , on behalf of Celtic, its supporters, and its shareholders;
” We would respectfully request that all references to the term “Old Firm ” are no longer used in connection with Celtic. One of the two clubs connected with that term has , after years of controversial financial dealings, gone into liquidation and as a result, no longer competes in Scottish football. A new club, correctly or incorrectly, has hijacked the liquidated brand, and, as we have no commercial or historical ties, we do not wish to be associated with them.
However, we would like to take this opportunity to wish the new club all the best for the future. ”
Even Walter Smith wished the new club success. It would be churlish of us not to do the same.
Actually, someone should ask Peter why we haven’t done that. What time are the buses to Glasgow ? In June , when I’ve got some time off.
And now, an appeal from the club;
Hello,
Can you give us a couple of hours of your time on Sunday morning, May 11?
We need Celtic FC Foundation badge sellers.
Details here: http://www.celticfc.net/news/5769
I’ll be in Jersey that day, so someone will have to stand in for me. If you can help, get in touch with them.
The last time i signed up to sell badges-not for Celtic- went badly for me. You should have seen some of the other guys who were involved. Decidedly dodgy.
Speaking of decidedly dodgy,
Ally McCoist , manager of whatevers left of Rangers, had to face some rather tricky questions from the press over the enormous financial hole revealed after someone finally had the guts to get a statement printed when they drew some money out of the bank account at Ibrox.
He claimed he was “staggered” by the level of losses, but said it wasn’t down to his spending on players.
Well, not all of it was. He’s made a few bob himself.
Anyway, for those worried he might soon find himself out of a job, there was reassurance today;
Ally McCoist: I’ll work with a director of football
at Rangers – but I’ll still call the shots
Which , where the future well being of that club is concerned , is fantastic news.
Which is where we came in.
Good news.
( Structure ? Aye, right )
Ian young was the man in the picture yesterday, who , in the early sixties , was the right back at Celtic Park, until UEFA introduced regulations limiting the size of a players head. Gary Caldwell also fell foul of this rule, being forced to move to the EPL, where the average head size is much bigger.
Right, you’ll know the famous strip, but who is wearing it ?
Quick update. agent Scotland on twitter is saying a £3.5m deal has been agreed to bring Snodgrass to Celtic.
Is it Malky Mackay? And why is Willie Miller in goals pulling snotters out Malky’s nose when he should be referreeing???
Its absolutely staggering the drivel that McCoist comes out with.
He surely cant be that stupid to not know how the finances are going.
Either that or he is a lot smarter by taking the money, keeping neutral in the boardroom shenanagins and deflecting all blame off of himself.
How can you call a guy stupid when he has kept an £850k a year gig (plus £1 Million in shares)no matter who is in charge.
He’s a lying sleekit wee shitebag but you gotta hand it to him for hanging tough to that paycheque.
Didier Agathe
I’ll be right wan day.
Irish, ‘catholic’ or financially solvent.
Catholic – capital C and don’t you forget it.
Spider man Gerry mcewan ya bass fae sabang
It isnae me,i was injured for that game…Gerry Maknee!!
Is that Hugh Sproat in goal?
Loved Sally s comment regarding the wage turnover ratio being the envy of most clubs. Failed to link it with the fact that they are paying 10 times more than everyone else in their league. And obviously missed his own salary. Got to thank them for extending the panto season though.
Tony cascarino?
No idea, but judging from the URL, someone from Queen’s Park …
Is it Lisbon Lion Stevie Chalmers son Paul….who never quite made it with the hoops.
Ralph,
Should all fans unite,through ETims and other fanzines,supporter organisations,to put pressure on Lawwell and the board, to BAN Zombie Scum from Celtic Park ?
What do you think,Ralph ?
Don’t know about Ralph but I’m with you on this one.hh
Don’t know the guy in the strip but the guy facing the camera is Slim Pickens or looking at him not so slim, who appeared in many westerns. That’s one of the dodgy guys by the way. Sorry folks, I love cowboy films.
HH
Its been said before-ish: any chance of organising an on line poll asking the questions re having any part ( word it as you like ) but the gst is…do we want to meet the huns/ SEVCO/The Rangers blah blah de blah in the future, or be part of the ‘old firm? ‘???
Surely a concerted effort by the internet Bampots can push the issue into the MSM ??????.
Me?..its a resounding naw & naw.
Over to you E Tims.
HAIL HAIL N aw that !!
It’s a job for the Survey Monkey.
The “No more guilt by association” banner should be unfurled and applauded at every game.
Don’t think there’s much chance of PL reading out your prepared statement though.
This is the guy who rejected a Celtic Trust resolution a couple of AGM’s ago to end any joint sponsorship with the monkey.
Nothing positive can be taken by our club by having any connection to sevco. They drag us down with their bile while hitching a lift on our good name.
If we cannot command good enough sponsorship deals as a stand alone club then someone is not doing their job or we are not as big a club as we think we are.
No more “O** F*** Celtic!
Think it’s Malky McKay