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Celtic Diary Sunday April 26: Summer Shopping List Revealed

Thats’ the Sky sports gone. When I cancelled it last month they screwed another month out of me due to the contract i appear to be on, so today will be the first day when I have to seek alternative ways to catch the game.

Do I head to a bar ? Do I look for one of these ?

From what I hear loads of people gather by them to watch the game, for free, but I’m no expert on technology and can’t see how that works.

I’ll think of something.

Aberdeens 2-1 win over Inverness yesterday, a game which would have made me feel better if both teams had lost, means that Celtic won’t win the league next Friday at home to Dundee. a bit of a disappointment as we’ve already made plans to travel, and now it will just be a routine long day at an awkward time.

It does add a bit of bite to the Pittodrie clash a week later, though.

Who’d have thought it, a title decider in May against our closest opposition, who deserve a lot of credit for clinging on in there ?

Well, not quite a decider, but it could get very nervy if we don’t win that one.

Or the one today, come to think of it.

Armageddon indeed.

Celtic may not be playing well at the moment, but Dundee Utd have completely fell apart.

Fortunately.

The hoops seem to have lost their way a bit, and manager Ronny Deila has returned to the uncertainty that he showed earlier in the season. He’s proved he’s not a diddy, but he’s only a couple of defeats away from , well, having some serious questions asked of him.

You could argue that the players are tired, or that we’re having a bit of bad luck in front of goal, but the problem with playing teams four times in a season means that they quickly learn how to play against you, and Ronny’ rigidity is starting to backfire.

Inverness showed that Celtic are uncomfortable against a strong , pressing game. It’s a kind of flattery that others are copying the style, but it’s extremely frustrating when they are doing it at least as well as we are.

Suddenly, the squad is looking a little thin, where a few months ago we seemed to have an abundance of riches, with all the players desperate to get a start and hungry to do well.

Now they appear to be going through the motions.

The decision to loan Liam Henderson out may have bitten Deila in the arse. The youngster could always be relied on to add something to the side when he played, and although Armstrong and Mackay Steven have added to it, it’s a very tired looking Stefan Johansen and Kris Commons who are being counted on to win matches.

It needs to be freshened up, not quite to the extent of giving Wakaso or Tonev a start, but maybe leaving johansen and Commons out for a bit.

Hell, I’d even not object to Calum MacGregor being given a chance to recapture his early season promise.

The biggest problem remains up front. One striker isn’t working domestically. The other sides just crowd him out.

Thats why we have a number of people scoring, but can’t rely on a forward who can get us out of a hole when it’s needed.

So we should double the threat up front.

And not with Guidetti. He’s not interested in staying, so we need to give the next in line a shot.

Today, I’d like to see a surprise or two.  ( Not that I’ll see it )

4-4-2

Gordon, Matthews, Denaayer, van Dijk, Izaguirre, Brown, Bitton, Armstrong, Mackay Steven, Griffiths, Scepovic.

By the time Dundee United realise whats going on, and adjusted, they’ll be down and out.

The papers have been running with a story that Celtic could be interested in bringing Rafael van der Vaart to Glasgow, a rumour so ridiculous that it didn’t even get into the Etims Rumour Mill.

There was one we left out though, as we thought it a bit , well, unlikely.

But if the MSM are going to try to out rumour the rumour mill, it’s only fair we should fight back.

Ready ?

You might not like it…

Craig Mackail Smith.

Steve Claridge posted a scouting report on 23 September 2008 on Mackail-Smith he described him as “a rampaging Nordic Viking with his long blond hair”,[8] and he was impressed by the way he would pick up the ball and run at defenders, attacking at every opportunity in what Claridge described as a positive way. Mackail Smith managed to rack up 35 goals for the club during the 2010–11 season. The 35 goals that he scored during that season made him the most prolific scorer in England for the season and also bagged him the coveted prize of Football League One Player of the Year Award.[9][10] 

Then there’s the music hall trio of Banggaard, Groggard and Odegaard….

Banggaard is a six foot five defender at Midtyjlland, currently working his way through the ranks of the Danish youth set up. He looks strong in the air.

 

Groggard is a left back, and broke into the Norwegian team last year. I think the idea here would to confuse the opposition by putting him in the same team as Gary Mackay Steven;

The pair of them would grin their way past defenders.

And we already know about Odegaard.

Add Adam Rooney and Ryan Jack to that, and theres your shopping list for the summer.

Etims; Written by gobshites , believed by fools.

Most of the time, anyway.

By the way, the latest podcast is up, after the new system got a trial run on Thursday. So you can listen to us talk shite as well as read it.

 

Elsewhere yesterday, there were disturbing scenes at Ibrox as one supporter looked for volunteers to indulge in unhygienic sexual behaviour.

<br/><a href="http://oi60.tinypic.com/334t6oj.jpg" target="_blank">View Raw Image</a>

Got five minutes ? Watch this display from one of Scotlands finest referees;

Italy v slovakia U21

Can you name the man in the middle ?

Lou Macari was the youngster watching his heroes from the sidelines in yesterdays picture. Which was probably the first time no-one actually got it right.

I’m going for an unprecedented two in a row today, as we play ….

Image result for what happens next

 

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8 years ago

Not got a clue but I am first HH common the hoops

Whoriskey
8 years ago

That ref looks like he enjoys being the story rather than the game. I do hope we have a pissed off team today who realise they have to score a barrowload to offset any “honest mistakes” by the cheating brotherhood of bastard referees and we finally get a 7-0 in honour of Ralph..

Charlie Saiz
8 years ago

4-4-2?
Christ no 2 steps forward 10 steps back Ralph…back to the 1970’s when it worked.
I we were to change Formation (not that I think we need to) then I would opt for a 3-5-2 or a 3-4-3
Things is in most games we are normally playing with 2 at the back with either Brown or Bitton covering the counter.
You could easily go ..
.
Gordon
Ambrose Virgil Denaayer
Matthews Brown Bitton Armstrong Izzy
Johansen/Commons
Griffiths/Guidetti

Or alternatively:
Gordon
Denaayer Virgil Ambrose
Forrest Brown Bitton GM-S
Commons Griffiths Johansen

My Shopping list would be:
CB Matt Mills Bolton – Send Stokes in the opposite Direction.
Big Solid no nonsense Defender who is also a danger on set pieces in the other box.
FB/WB Fabian JohnsOn Borussia Munchen 27 yrs old
Experienced US International Fast two footed and skillful player in attack and in defence.Can play both FB positions and also as a winger when needed.Cost roughly £3m.
CF Rudy Gestede Blackburn Rovers 26 Yrs old
Big target man great in the air strong on the ground exactly what we need and have been missing for years now.
Could fetch around £6m mark but I think 2 Seasons in Europe with us we could comfortably double that.
He’s on just over 20k a week at Rovers I gather.
Or Go back in For Alfred Finnbogason see if Moyes will do us a favour.
His career has stalled in Spain Injuries have been partly the cause but he was never first choice when he arrived under the previous boss.
Form is temporary as they say and he is proven goalscorer who can and has played the 4-2-3-1 System successfully.
I think £5m and he would be ours.
And worth every penny.

PR
8 years ago

Is that Clyde’s late equalizer in the 1955 Scottish Cup Final direct from corner kick?

Charlie Saiz
8 years ago

Ps Ralph If your looking for a good stream to go wading in that’s free of Crickets try Cricfree.sx/Channel1 😉

charlie
8 years ago

i wonder which of the specimens are her arse bandits deary me it disnae bear thinking about i think ime gonny be sick

8 years ago

I heard that after the ICT semi, the scum were celebrating and letting off fireworks in my neighbourhood. Obviously they have nothing to worry about themselves!!!

ewanbhoy
8 years ago

It’s a funny one now next Friday with the game against Dundee, as long as we win today, then a win next week could win us the league but we won’t know until the day after when Aberdeen play their game as if they don’t win it we will be champions

Wee Bertie
8 years ago

First Cup final I saw on TV. 1955 Clyde scored direct from corner. I think Archie Roberson scored it with 2 minutes to go.

Vinnie.
8 years ago
Reply to  Wee Bertie

Hello “Wee Bertie”,
Is it possible that your surname is Auld.
The Maestro with the ball and also gave as he good as they ever tried (but mostly failed) to get him with ?
A REAL LISBON LION, loved you then, love you still.
Vinnie.
HH

Vinnie.
8 years ago
Reply to  Vinnie.

Sorry, typos.
Please ignore “he” in 2nd line of comment.
Great 2nd half yesterday. Did Leigh actually score 4 ?
He certainly got the ball over the line 4 times.
Note how our Captain was booked within half an hour ?
Note how easily the penalty was given, (not even a penalty), didn’t matter, but it helps with ‘statistics’ if/when we question things. ‘Lest we forget’
HH

tom campbell
8 years ago

Yes, Scottish Cup final of 1955, first to be televised live and described by BBC commentators as “the worst in living memory”. John Bonnar, the hero of the Coronation Cup final two years earlier, fumbled Archie Robertson’s corner into the net to gift Clyde an equaliser with two minutes left.

8 years ago
Reply to  tom campbell

tc

I am in awe. Either that or I am senile. Probably the latter. It is my boy-time (I hope that gets past the moderator) but cannot remember it at all. The only thing I can think is my da would not have taken me to Hampden then because the crowds were enormous and Hampden not the safest. I was a delicate wee thing, you see, and needed weaned into the big men’s game. Well done!

H H

8 years ago
Reply to  pensionerbhoy

Sh**. Just realised I was into my teens then (I can’t even count now). Still can’t remember it. I was exiled – well, that’s what I am calling it – in the south for a while at that time so I am using that as my excuse.

H H

8 years ago

Ralph

I think if we are all honest with each other, in spite of previous victories, we all saw today’s game against Dundee Utd. as the potential banana skin that could perhaps see us heading for the title with a very cold sweat on or even worse, losing it with a skint arse. So, the hoped and prayed for win today bears far more significance than at first glance. I believe it is today’s result more than beating Aberdeen that confirms the league title for Celtic and though the envelope is not firmly sealed, the contents are safely tucked away inside. Dundee Utd. have, on the whole, been pretty easy meat over the last few years and Celtic teams on their day have been pretty much assured a win against them. But for me, there has still been that pesky butterfly fluttering around my stomach every time we come to play them, especially at Tannadice. It is twice a flutterbugging when there is something at stake like today. Both teams have been on a bit of a slide which meant there were no guarantees. Celtic may have had the advantage in that they have beaten D.U. fairly easily over the even well outplayed them in the game we lost. It may be that when two both teams are off colour the stronger should still come out on top. But today, D.U. were a potential angry beast with revenge snorting fire from their nostrils. That in itself could have been problematic given the guaranteed dodginess of Collum decisions. But added to that could have been the nervousness of a Celtic team that had recently seen the treble snatched from them. For me, today was a big, big win and one that will allow me to rest easily and enjoy the run in without carry plasters about for my bum. Mind you, what would put a nice dod of icing on the cake would be winning the league next Friday so that we can go to Aberdeen in a nice relaxed frame of mind and play to our full potential and “tank” the men-sheep so that you get your 7-0 before the season ends. I am not sure how we won today but as Alan Sneddon kept commenting about some of the inexplicable Celtic defensive play today, it does not matter how you clear your lines as long as you actually clear them.

I hope you managed to find a suitable source for the game, Ralph. Mine often look like a puddle of piss rather than clear crystal burns. As for that blue photo you published, I nearly contracted gonorrhoea just thinking about it. Thankfully I simply gave a clap instead.

I know you have to fill the Diary and far be it from me to criticise your excellent content but this transfer nonsense gets so out of hand I have to lock the shotgun away for the good of the wife’s health. I cannot make up my mind whether that Odegaard is a little boy blue or you made a mistake a pasted a player from a Norwegian women’s team. Either way, I agree. He will stand up to the elbows of Scottish fitba jist fine. However, Ronny may be thinking ahead to the perfect rotation for James Forrest.

In spite of my youthful elderliness, the photy of the bhoys game has been beat. If I had to put my pension on anything so far it would be PR’s and Wee Bertie’s answer. Don’t worry, you wont have to have a collection. My pension is far from the big bets category.

H H

8 years ago

Ralph

Dundee Utd. not the only ones that lost today. I lost about 500 words.

H H

Vinnie.
8 years ago
Reply to  pensionerbhoy

So, er PB, if you “lost about 500 words” that would have helped some of us to stay awake. You’re not uninteresting but you do elongate.
Your intent is clear and articulate.
But, I remember when they could even ‘condense’ milk.
Hope that’s clear and inoffensive.
HH
PS Nice to enjoy songs yesterday, likt TB from the OB and, a favourite of mine, Sean South.
HH
COYBIG

Charlie Saiz
8 years ago

4-2-3-1 worked fine today just the performance of some of the players in the first half that was worrying.
Second half much more like it.
Their keeper kept the scoreline down with 2 World Class stops.

SDBhoy67
8 years ago

VipBox.com shows every game at any given time.

Vinnie.
8 years ago

Hello there Ralph Malph,
(always makes me think of a big ol’ dog “Ralph”,…..”Malph”
Say it quickly and from the throat……..

It’s, yet, another terriffic, post today, with great info/probabilities.
However, I have a concern : When I ‘continue’ to read your fantastic posts I get the option “follow”
When I opt to continue (a 2nd post), it becomes follow x 2,………..see my point ?
HH

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