Celtic Diary Wednesday March 18: Another Big Step

Celtic face Dundee United tonight in the Scottish Cup. Little is known about the Tayside team, but you can guarantee they will play the fast flowing attacking game that is assiciated with their great side of the eighties.

Even the Sun editor would question the accuracy of that statement.

Tonights replay is the fifth meeting of the sides this season, and the third in just a couple of weeks, so I think we know what to expect.

If a tree falls in a forest and everyone sees it, will Jackie MacNamara ask for another look at it ?

The Dundee United boss, earning a reputation as the laughing boy of Scottish football, wants to see a bit of consistency from tonights referee, Calum Murray. Presumably that means he wants at least one of his players to be dismissed, to continue the recent pattern.

 “It’s imperative everyone stays disciplined and on the park. We need to use our energy to cause them problems.

“Consistency with decisions is all you look for. No one is looking for any favours or something which isn’t there.”

An early goal will put their gas at a peep. It’s going to be difficult for MacNamara to raise his players spirits for the game-come to think of it, it’s difficult for MacNamara to raise anybodys spirit for anything -so the quicker Celts establish a lead, the harder it will hit their morale.

Its been a while since the hoops scored quickly, and it’s a habit that would be welcome tonight if it were to return.

Theres no Stefan Johansen, which means that Kris Commons will start, and if a penalty is awarded, at least we can be reasonably confident that he won’t miss. He’s been talking about that in the press, on the back of James Forrest and John guidetti arguing over who got to take the one in the League cup final, something, which in retrospect, should have been sorted by Scott Brown, who is in charge on the field. Now that i mention it, maybe Brown could have taken it himself, and then celebrated by sitting down with his back to the post, which would have been a mature and sensible response to the recent criticism of his antics.

Commons said;

 “It probably put a little dampener on the way we won. The manager bases a lot on team spirit and team bonding.

“We are meant to have this good unit as a team and not individuals but clearly at the end of the game it looked as though people were doing things on an individual basis.

“I don’t think any player – and I don’t care how big you are – should show a strop on a football field. You should never do that. You don’t want to see that.

“I don’t think it has ever happened before at Celtic. It’s the sort of thing you see on The Footballing Years on Sky. It was a Di Canio-Lampard moment.

“I can understand from John’s point of view because he has taken a few penalties and scored.

“He has not been on the score sheet a lot of late. He’s a striker and he wants to get goals, desperate to score. 

“But they were not great scenes – probably just an eagerness to score and win. I would be nice if I was on the pitch next time.

“No, we’ve had a little chat about it. Craig Gordon is in with a shout now. We’re going to do some bingo to sort it out!”

Commons went from being the authority on players behaviour to firing the first salvo in the upcoming “sixteen team SPL ” debate.

Oh, it’s coming. Second Rangers may have gained a credible draw against Alloa last night, but their chances of gaining promotion via the play offs are diminishing with every game, and the powers that be need to get them in the top division one way or another, so that the game can regain its credibility , get some sponsors and pretend nothing happened.

 Commons said;

 “Do I want to see them back up? Yes, because the games with Rangers are the best.

“They draw the best crowds, a large TV audience for people around the world.

“It makes people want to get out of bed in the middle of the night in Australia. 

A stomach upset makes people get out of bed in the middle of the night, and oddly enough, theres a sickening feeling in mine right now at the thought of playing them again on a regular basis.

“My mates down south don’t know much about Scottish football but want to see that one. I love playing in them.

“There are a lot of fans who are on the fence whether it’s right or wrong but I love them.” 

Fair enough. but he wasn’t around when the old club existed, not for long , anyway, so his memories of the old Ibrox entity will be somewhat different from ours. Take it from those who know, Kris, we don’t want to go through all that again.

Despite Celtic gunning for a treble, and a crucial replay taking place tonight against a team who might be fired up for revenge, after two controversial games between the sides in quick succession, for some reason, Commons was asked about how the tribute act are performing on the smaller stage;

“I have played in the Championship in England with teams trying to get back up and it’s not easy.

“Not only does it affect the players, the manager, coaches and the fans, it’s a city thing. It’s a massive thing.

“It’s difficult to have the wind knocked out of your sails and become a very confident bunch of lads to get promotion.

“When you have a team that’s full of confidence and winning it’s natural.

“When you are struggling – as Rangers are – that’s when you need to call on experience and that’s what they have tried to with Stuart McCall.” 

 McCall ? You’d have thought that they’d have taken on a manager who knows how to win at Ibrox.

Without Johansen, celtic won’t have the same energy from middle to front, and this might prove costly. We worried about facing United without van Dijk, but the absence of the Norwegian is more significant. Commons is a more than decent replacement, but he’s a different type of player. Thankfully, Anthony Stokes, who is a grafter, has recovered some form, and along with Commons, perhaps it should be the energetic Liam henderson who completes the line up behind Leigh Griffiths.

 And thats another thing, Griffiths isn’t getting any change out of the big Pole, Jaroslow Fojut, who may be the next player to nip down the motorway on a house hunting trip to Glasgow. Celtic nearly signed him before, and only injury prevented him being a Celtic player then.

 Do we stick with Griffiths, or go with John Guidetti ?

 Griffiths is hungrier, will work harder, and is a better finisher, while Guidetti is often the rock upon which the move flounders, so the Scot deserves to start, though he might want to be more aware of the Pole, and try to drag him out of position more, thus freeing up space for Commons to pounce.

 Gordon, Ambrose, van Dijk, Denaayer, Izaguirre, Brown, Bitton, Stokes, Commons, Henderson, Griffiths.

 But this game, perhaps more than the previous two, will possibly be settled by those who come on later, such as James Forrest, or even Guidetti.

 Or maybe we will surprise them by going with Tonev, Wakaso and Boerrigter.

United will have Nadir Ciftci back, and along with Calum butcher and Ryan McGowan, Celts should not expect an easy ride. MacNamara is right, the refs do need to be consistent, but not in the way he meant it.

The game isn’t on tv, champions League football has put paid to that, so if you want to see it, go along and watch it. I’ve a feeling the players might need the support.

Elsewhere, the title of World’s Bravest And Most Confused Man was sewn up at Ibrox last night.

 In a genuine WTF moment, this guy donned a gree and white outfit, looked in the mirror, and reckoned he was looking good for a trip to a place where green and white are virtually outlawed, for a number of reasons.

 I hope he got back to his cell safely.

Another moment from that game needs preserving, as it is genuine;ly one of the funniest things i’ve ever seen at a football match.

Perhaps it’s a sign they have finally realised their place in the grand scheme of things…

Same old Alloa…

(if doesnt work try copying link below)

vine.co/v/OVplYzra5vb

Anyone else think that the previously loud new New Rangers board have gone a little quiet of late ?

Could this be why ? Phil McGhiollabhan has his contacts, and this is worth a read, for those who like to gloat. Which is pretty much all of us.

Actually, maybe this sixteen team league isn’t a bad idea. We’d enjoy them struggling to avoid going straight back down again.

The Sound Of Silence

Anyone who thinks that Celtic fans are wrong if they suggest an agenda in the MSM should have a look at the cover of the Sun last Saturday, which seems to be a little confused as to which is the bigger story. The wife beating former Rangers star, or the Celt who went out for a beer a week or so ago.

Although it could be argued that the paper is in bad taste to mention Ricksen at all, given his current situation.

The Sun doesn’t get mentioned in the diary very often, because it’s not really a newspaper, and cannot be taken seriously.

And considering the guff that gets printed elsewhere, thats a hell of an achievement.

Who is scoring here, and when ?