Lassana Diara decided he’d had enough of being told that he’d travelled to Glasgow and signed for Celtic-yesterday it was rumoured he’d put pen to paper on a six month deal with the hoops, and issued this tweet last night;
for several days I hear a lot of stories about me just to make things clear i didnt travel nowhere much less sign for any team good evening.
Hmmm. Didn’t travel nowhere, so he must have travelled somewhere, Glasgow is somewhere, by the same logic he must have signed for someone…
Just a little glimpse into the minds of a Scottish sports reporter there.
Actually, Diarra’s fate at Celtic was sealed when Ronny Deila was heard to mumble ;
Stå på, er at en jævla cola han drikker ?
No Diarra, then. The club denied it last night as well, realising the potential for jokes around a midfield of Brown and Diarra was not the direction it wanted to head in.
Worryingly, though, there is no denial of a return to the club for Rafael Scheidt.
The draw for the fourth round of the Scottish cup was made yesterday, with former Celt Darren O’Dea helping Campbll Ogilvie to arrange his balls. O’Dea looked uncomfortable in front of the cameras, which was clearly nothing to do with having to wear a poppy, and showed remarkable restraint as he decided not to become a Celtic legend by telling Ogilvie that his club was dead.
In a repeat of the League cup, Celtic face Hearts at Tynecastle, which means all of us who miss our trips to Tynecastle will emerge satisfied, and theres no reason to bemoan their absence from the Premier league this season.
Heres a thought.
Hearts endured a season in the Premier league during their recent financial turmoil, and were, of course, relegated.
I wonder how far the New Rangers side would have fallen had they started their existence in the top flight. Indeed, would their “journey ” have been so enjoyable for them….
They seem determined to get the most out of the upcoming game with Celtic, though. Even though its three months away. Celtic manager Ronny Deila brushed the tie aside though, and gave a proper perspective on it;
“We need to beat Rangers to win the League Cup and that’s what we are aiming for. But before them we have 10 to 15 tough games.
“I’ve heard there will be three months of hype – but it’s important to win some games before then as well. We have to keep focused on that,”
That quote was taken from an article in the Evening Herald by Joe McHugh, who pulls no punches in defining the new club. Well worth a read if you haven’t seen it. Herald article
Then compare that with this, from Chris Clements of the Daily Record, taken from his scoop that the BBC have not yet commited to showing the Glasgow derby semi final;
Last time the rivals met in 2012, Celtic ran out 3-0 winners while Rangers fought to stave off financial meltdown off the pitch.
The Ibrox club were later relegated from the Premiership to League Two after plunging into liquidation.
Heres Chris, in a picture taken for his twitter profile
After his claim above that Rangers emerged from liquidation, he’s about to try to walk on water. Which, coincidentally, is something else that cannot be done.
Unless you fancy being nailed to a tree.
There is , of course, no suggestion that any Daily Record hack should be nailed to a tree. That only happens to nice people who suggest that everyone should be nice to each other and help each other out. for the general good of mankind.
Which rules out any hack, not just those from the Record.
The first of those games I Deila mentioned ( it seems like so long ago ) is on Thursday.
Celtic face Astra Guirgi in the Europa League, and the good news is Aleksandr Tonev is available for the game now that his appeal has been registered. Tonev was found guilty of racial abuse when an Aberdeen player said he’d been abused and the new SFA judicial system , pioneered by Joef Stalin in the thirties, ruled in favour of the complainant.
Actually , its unfair to compare the SFA with Stalins communist regime. At least uncle Joe used to go to the effort of falsifying evidence.
The SFA couldn’t even be arsed doing that.
Have a look at this picture.
Its the only one of the two players doing the rounds. Despite all the tv cameras, all the press photographers, and thousands of mobile phones in the stadium, no-one has managed to capture any footage or stills of any confrontation between the two.
Derek McInnes, Aberdeen manager, and therefore someone with a vested interest, has given his thoughts on the sentence handed down to Tonev;
“It says everything about Shay and he deserves to be commended. He is not an excitable boy, he is very grounded and popular in the dressing room.
“We’re pleased he’s been vindicated and the right decision has been made. He’s kept his head down and there has been no drama.
I don’t suppose that theres any chance he could reveal the evidence upon which Tonev was convicted ? Or perhaps name the witnesses who supported the Dons players version of events ?
After all, if the crime of racism has been committed, then Tonev has no future at Celtic.
The same goes for the SFA. They should give Celtic the case files, incuding any statements, that persuaded them of Tonevs guilt. That way, Celtic can conduct their own disciplinary investigation.
Except, their silence on the matter, and MacInnes desire to put an end to the issue, suggest that there is no evidence.
Maybe the appeal should be shown live on the internet.
In the interest of transparency and clarity. because after all, theres a players livelihood and career at stake here.
Even Stalin used to televise his trials.
Campbell Ogilvie, the SFA president ( no, I can’t figure out how , either ) claims the system is working.
“We believe the system works – and we did a survey of all members in the summer.
“Virtually every member that replied made it clear that they were happy with it.
What about those who didn’t reply, or those that were unhappy ?
“The system itself, while we’ll fine tune it from year to year, we’re happy with.
“I can’t remember specifically which members replied. But there was nobody who objected, I don’t think.
So, in reality , he doesn’t know who replied and doesn’t think anyone “objected “
“If someone felt strongly enough they would have complained.
Like they used to do with Stalin.
“If someone was not happy, they had the opportunity to come back and express that opinion.
“From cases throughout the year, the feedback from managers and players is that they’re not unhappy with the system.”
I don’t suppose theres any chance he could explain exactly how this “system ” works ?
Back to Thursday game, and a win in Romania could see Celtic qualify for the last 32 of the tournament with a couple of games to spare. Whilst supporters know that its sometimes unwise to get ahead of ourselves , Astra are out of the competition, and will not have the same heart they did in Glasgow.
Deilas one up front tactic is also more suited to geting a result away from home, especially as Astra like to sit back and hit on the counter attack. Like the boxer who starts the bout as champion, theres no need to push for the killer punch.
Instead, simply wait for the chance to deliver the knockout blow, but keeping your guard up at all times.
A glance at the table shows that if Celtic and Red Bull win their games, then the hoops are through, and also put the hoops in pole position to win the group, which will mean we avoid the teams dropping down from the UCL.
P PT
Celtic 3 7
Red Bull Salzburg 3 7
Dinamo Zagreb 3 3
Astra Guirgui 3 0
Although we still have a tricky tie in Zagreb to come, a Red Bull on Thursday win would eliminate them, and make the trip to Croatia a little less hazardous.
( Note, Astra are not mathematically out, they could theoretically win their last three games, and get nine points. But its impossible for the other teams to all lose their remaining games. And Astra aren’t very good, anyway. )
In the knockout stages, anything can happen, and with John Guidetti looking like he’ll score every time he takes the field, theres no doubt it will be a different Celtic who contest European games after Christmas.
Guidetti has been called up to the Swedish national squad , after his blistering start to his Celtic career. All of which must seem surreal to the man who just a few months ago was ringing his pals at Feyenoord begging for a move back to the Netherlands.
Hopefully, he’ll heed the words of another well known and succesful Swedish striker.
Is it worth mentioning that Neil Lennon has told the Record he hasn’t ruled out coming back to Celtic one day ?
Neil Lennon on Celtic: It’s like seeing your ex with someone new
.. I can’t bring myself to look
“I have not watched Celtic much, if at all, and I’ll tell you why – it’s like seeing somebody else with your ex-missus.
“When you’ve loved something so much for 14 years that has been such a big part of your life, well, y’know.
“But you’ve got to let go and Ronny Deila has to come in and do things his own way.
“I wish him every success in doing that because I want the club to succeed.”
Lennon was on Radio Clyde, where he managed to raise the average IQ of the panel several points, but in reality didn’t say anything he hasn’t already said elsewhere, and more or less said nice things about the club.
That’ll never catch on.
Especially at Radio Clyde.
Lennon has earned his place in Celtics history books. He has, as they say, done his time in the trenches.
Lets leave it at that.
Ronny Deila has had a difficult time of it so far. He’s growing into the job.
Whilst the Diary has not been one hundred per cent behind some of his methods, the initial desire to see him removed has all but vanished. Replaced, instead by a curiosity to see how things actually pan out, helped in no small measure by the fire added to the team by John Guidetti, and the solidity of Craig Gordon, and the growing feeling-I’m not kidding-that there is a season to remember starting to take shape.
Wheres that hypocrisy meter gone ?
Ralph I think you are getting a wee bit ahead of yourself as far as Europa is concerned, we have a difficult game on Thursday and if we do not get a result and the other result does not go our way we could end up in a very difficult situation as both those teams are capable of beating us.
I hope all goes right for us, but I am a wee bit worried. HH
Pity Diarra won’t be joining us.To play Ronnies high-pressing
game,requires 3 mobile midfielders.He would have slotted in nicely,beside Brown and Johansen.Mulgrew’s lack of pace,
means he does not fit into this system.
Great article by Joe McHugh in the Herald ie,Joe is always honest and say’s it as it is.
I agree with your observation on Mulgrew Holy he is too slow to play the pressing game he wants us to play but at the same time when we revert to a 4-5-1 in Europe with 2 holding Midfielders and on pushing I think Brown and Mulgrew are more than capable of slotting in there behind Johansen or Commons in the Advanced role as it is more about counter attacking football especially in away ties in Europe.
It worked for Strachan and Scotland.
I think Scepovic is the Ideal target man in Europe he holds the ball up well and is capable of bringing others into play.
I’d go with this against Astra:
4-2-3-1
……………Gordon
..Lustig..Denayer..Van.Dijk..Izaguirre
………Brown…….Mulgrew
..McGregor….Johansen….Stokes
…………..Scepovic
I agree,Charlie.
Europe is a more technical game.Where the tactics,of playing 2 sitters,especially away,should always be employed.As you say,
Mulgrew plays this role well,for both Celtic and Scotland.He has a good understanding with Broonie,and his precise left foot passing over the top,has opposing defences turning.
Good article.
I hope we get a result on Thursday. It’s incredible the grief our management/board take when things get sticky. I ain’t no apologist for the board or any manager but I sometimes think our own take pleasure in sticking the boot in when the road gets rocky.
Living wage, call the huns for what they are, look after our own and give the media establishment a middle finger.
Keep the Faith
loads of fans still think RD is a useless twat, that pirate pete should sack A S A P
The pot calls the kettle black …
The one wide player who appears to be developing his game is Mubarak Wakaso. His performance over 60 minutes was the best on display on Saturday and his tracking back was effective and consistent; he should be the alternative to Stokes on the left side of the three man forward midfield as displayed.
He has power and appears to have good game intelligence.
It’s Wakaso Mubarak.
I agree Charles, McGregor is my other worry from Charlie’s team but don’t know who could do a better job. Also not a fan of Wakaso on the right keeping Stokes where he is so those wide positions are where we are weakest, strong spine to the team though.
Hi Gerry,
Reasoning behind putting McGregor on the right is like you poined out Wakaso is weaker on that side for me too whereas McGregor seems to be getting to grips with it now.
Both Stokes and McGregor are prepared to track back and work hard which should also allow Johansen more time to concentrate on his game in the spot behind Scepovic.
There’s goals in all the front 4 players as well as graft and stamina to keep it up for the majority of the game.
McGregors done well so far in Europe for me and has bagged a few goals on his travels.
No club objects to the SFA for the same reason no kulak objected to the NKVD: Because they know what is good for them.
Diarra does not fit in with the boards business model, he is too old, give the feel good factor to the Ipox as they really think they are SPL material, they will be exposed as Fat Sally’s lazy army come the end of the game, can we please tear them a new one!!
Hail,Hail
Well , that’s wee Gordon Strachan at it now as well. I just wish Celtic could get tae fuck out of this miserable region of a diddy country.
Totally fed up with all this shite.
Good article, looking forward to the game thursday. It’s still early days for ronny. For once if johansen is playing thursday night. I’d like for him to concentrate and improve his passing to his team mates. His possession and passing was shocking in the three previous games. Delias signings look good so far. But I’d like for us to buy a good young steady centre half in January.
Would be tempted to start Griffiths on Thursday
Good points about the Tonev case. Shows you the state of Scotland’s football “reporters” when they don’t really run with this story. As you pointed out it’d a big deal with a players livelihood and reputation at stake. The press are truly supine.
Jesus Christ a journalist telling the truth for once, you could have knocked me down with a feather, respect. I agree Mulgrews lack of pace means he will never be a midfielder, centre half is his best position for me.