Yesterday, i took a trip to the doctors and asked him to examine a rather angry looking red and green furry scab that had been in my belly button for a week or two, and when he explained it was a bit of tomato skin, I began to wonder why I, and one or two others on our bus, had not been sent the controversial letter from Celtic Park;
At first, it was thought to be a hoax, and frankly, i’d be surprised if it wasn’t, or at the very least a joke being played on one supporter by another, maybe even with the help of John Paul Taylor, who does have a sense of humour.
John Paul then tweeted this;
“I can exclusively reveal its genuine, dispatched at the request of incumbents within the locale,”
Then he deleted it. since then it’s all got rather silly, as in these days it doesn’t take long for news to travel…
Celtic remind fans to wash
After complaints emerged regarding the foul atmosphere at Parkhead, the club moved to demand that their supporters bathe before attending games
Fan’s body odour causes stink at Scottish football club Celtic
And over at Ibrox….
King says It will Take Five Years of Maximum Effort to
Reach Hygiene Standards Of Celtic Suppport
The Daily Mirror even ran a poll, which asked if Celtic fans did actually smell worse than other fans. And it looks like their entire readership has voted, with the ayes leading by the narrowest of margins, 1-0.
It’s all very silly. I’m sure that no Celtic supporters would be abandoned by others for this reason, and made to sit by themselves.
Anyway, there’s a game tonight.
Celtic face ajax in the Europa League opener in amsterdam, and as usual, the press are right behind the scottish champions, and perennial sole European campaigner.
The Record..
Sports Hotline: It’s a horror show at Parkhead
say some Celtic supporters as boss Ronny Deila comes under fire
The Scotsman;
Ronny Deila: Sack me if Celtic don’t win the title
and again..
Frank De Boer: Ajax still favourites against Celtic
and the Daily Mail;
Celtic will win the Scottish Premiership… I deserve to be sacked if we don’t, insists Ronny Deila ahead of Ajax clash
So let’s not bother with any of that, and see how the dutch press are looking at the game.
Algemeen Dagblad: Celtic fans receive letter because of the stench.
Oh, for fucks sake.
The Record’s Gregor Kyle did make a promising start to his article ahead of the game;
Celtic step into the Amsterdam ArenA tonight with the upper hand over Frank de Boer’s Ajax.
The Hoops have faced the Dutch giants eight times but have won four, lost three and drawn one.
Now they come up against the Amsterdam outfit for the ninth time in their opening Europa League Group A fixture.
but a quick call from the office changed the tone…
Ronny Deila’s side is under pressure having being knocked out of the Champions League and fallen five points behind Aberdeen in the title race.
The best we could hope for was on the official SPFL website, who led the cheers…
Celtic begin their Europa League Group A campaign this evening when they play Ajax in the Amsterdam ArenA, live on BT Sport at 6.00pm.
Ronny Deila’s side trained under the closed roof on Wednesday and the Norwegian is hopeful his side can bounce back from Saturday’s 2-1 defeat to Aberdeen at Pittodrie.
” Hopeful . ”
Not working with the players, not instilling confidence in them, not ironing out the lapses in concentration. Just “hopeful “
So, it looks like we’ll have to rely on our own thoughts.
Which is probably a good thing.
Gordon, Lustig, Ambrose, Simunovic. Izaguirre, Brown, Biton, Armstrong, Johansen, Forrest, Griffiths.
As opposed to the Etims twitter, which favoured;
Team for tomorrow: Gordon Lustig, Jings, Crivvens, Helpmaboab Bitton & Brown Forrest, Johansen, Commons Griffiths.
I’ve gone for Ambrose because of his experience, strength and pace. Someone else is a big fan;
And Simunovic ? This guy looks mean. Maybe a fiver on the first booking ?
As opposed to this guy, who just looks pissed off
And this guy, who seems to have already allowed his chin to drop just looking round the ground;
Tactics ?
Time to shut some people up.
Scott Brown spoke to the press about the “ongoing crisis ” at Celtic Park.
“I’ve heard the word crisis used but listen I had Tony Mowbray as a manager – THAT was a crisis.”
He’s got a point. If ever a picture was made for a caption competition….
“We’re playing well now but back then we weren’t playing any football whatsoever and the crowds were down to 15,000-20,000. That was an extremely hard situation but this isn’t even close to that.
“This is one defeat. It’s not an issue. Teams lose, it’s about how you come back physically and mentally. We’ve got to keep ourselves and the fans going.
“I’ve had a lot of highs and lows here. It doesn’t matter where you are, you can’t keep on having highs all the time. You’re going to have one or two lows – but it’s about how you bounce back as a team and individually.
“I regard myself as mentally very tough and hopefully everyone else is as well.
“We’ve won four titles in a row and we didn’t achieve that by becoming depressed for the rest of the season after one defeat. We are very strong mentally and can come back from these setbacks.
We need a big performance from everyone tonight. Thats all.
Celtic have had two famous wins in Amsterdam. Another one would be grandy and dandy, but its not the end of the world if we get beat. All I want to see is a much improved effort on the park.
The mention of Tony Mowbray is curious.
And it may go some way to explaining the dip in form and confidence.
We know that during his time at the club, Mowbray refused all advice on how to deal with the press. as a result, when things started going awry, his “I’m an honest guy ” approach didn’t work, and he was heavily criticised. In the same way that an ineffective ally McCoist wasn’t.
Lawwell is on record as saying ( I heard him say it ) that the playerd were reading the papers, and began to think that Mowbray was a bad manager, and the malaise quickly spread through the club.
So if ronny is spending all his time defending himself from criticism, and shooting down rumours of his dismissal , then players reading it may actually begin to fell a little insecure.
So, from now on, i’d like all official statements from the club to read
“Fuck off “
Now then, there was a meeting with New Balance over the kit issues on tuesday, which I was going to attend, but certain family events forced a diversion to Dunoon.
I don’t have any further information, but cannot help wondering if this lady is anything to do with New Balance, or if they are aware of the new use for their products;
If she is a representative of the company, which it has to be said, is extremely unlikely, if there are any issues she would like to discuss, or any opinions she feels she might wish to take on board, she can pop round and see me.
When the wifes out.
Quick word about a former player. Celtic supporters own forgotten man , both during his time at Celtic and now down at Brighton, where he’s doing very well, Beram Kayal retweeted this last night;
@page_dave @beramangela Ridiculously good signing. Madness. What were Celtic thinking? Outstanding player
Armstrong’s not there Ralph, injured.
That screenshot is not coming through on my computer or phone.
Me too
Caption: Griffiths to Thomson ” I don’t have BO, smell fir yersel ”
Thomson ” that’s enough, put your arm down or I’ll tell the referee supervisor you were singing the Skacel song”
Good one Monti !
The investment in the team distraction should be put on hold until January, as we can’t spend any money even if we wanted to. Last season I said give Ronnie the January window to see what he does, he brought in a breath of fresh air in Zig and Zag, and had us playing ever more attractive and winning football.
I also wanted us to sort out our defence in January ahead of the CL qualifiers in July and want that again this year as it contributed to our failure against Malmo. So I will wait with baited breath.
Until then come on the bhoys, come on the players, I support all of you and the manager and coaches as you’re all I’ve got for the next four months. Give your best and I can’t ask any more.
I think it’s time Bailly got a turn in goal, let’s see what he can do, maybe he even comes off his line?
me three
that lass can roll under my arm pits any time she likes
Rab,
That lass is only 13!
best stick to the roll on then I will be a 105 by the time she’s 18
Dear Sir,
Can I please have a refund of my monthly contribution to your Blog? This was £50 poorly spent.
Armstrong is not in the travelling party…yet he’s in your team…Tut Tut…
No mention of Commons…Tut Tut.
Forrest IS in your team…Tut fecking Tut.
Tempting us with sexual thoughts of screen shots which can’t be opened…Tit Tit.
Showing the photo of me,all alone, at CP which you promised you’d never show…Tip top.
All in all today’s offering is extremely poor and,like Ronny, I’m not a happy chappy.
Gie’s ma money back.
Armstrong is making his own way. We may have spotted the hygiene problem…
That observation is no tae be sniffed at.
Well done.
I’d have Forrest in the side before GMS every day of the week.
I’d have ME in the team before these two…every day of the week.
Davie Provan?
Thomson to Griffiths: Naw. That thumb business of yours is not on. But you could try this one – It’s # 437 in The Official
Book of Masonic Handshakes.
I can’t help it I seam to have got very negative of late but what I can’t understand is why a celtic fan would buy the record a number of years ago they printed a picture of wee Fergus and a well known dictator inferring Fergus was the dictator they very quickly withdrew that issue I have never bought it since and I never will so all you celtic fans who moan about the record and still buy it just shut it and take it if you don’t like don’t buy hit them wear it hurts
hear hear Drewster.
their business model relies on winding up the celts and getting them talking, and fluffing up the huns to try to get them breathing.
simply ignore the record. and it will eventually go away.
Their sales are down to c183k per day. Someone said elsewhere yesterday that at this rate of decline they will be gone in 7 years. Their anti Celtic bias seems to have backfired. Hell mend them.
Whit’s fur ye wulny go by ye son..as my wee maw used to say.
Fuck them.
Grifiths: Aye that’s ma bairns behind the goals there
Thomson: Woh there son. All of them?
I can confirm that Charlie Saiz, is Peter Lawwell.
Ask him any question you like about Celtic and he will put the positive spin on it.
Morning Charlie…I mean Peter.
Any mer of your shite BO Bhoy it will be more than just a letter ye get in the post.
A viable deodorant 😉
FYI/FYA Live webcam from Dam Square … Camera position changes every 15 seconds automatically, but you can swtich to diffeent camera views – see choice belew screen. Just in case any Romeo’s (police thugs in plain-clothes) turn up, it might be useful if somebody/anybody could keep an eye on this.
https://webcam.nl/amsterdam/
I thought I’d keep a wee eye on it Carl…
First thing I saw was….Bottles flying around in a square…
Aw naw I thought…
Looked again…
It wiz feckin’ pigeons.
Sorry
Mon the Hoops…( or the Limes tonight if you wish)…
I saw aggressive looking bubbles too.
This letter to fans, is this what people mean when they say there has been something fishy around Celtic this season?
sorry.
tonight is important, do we show we can defend and are learning lessons, or are we spiritless and horsed again?
c mon the Hoops (in those awful lime green shirts)
Flourescent…. I quite like that strip.
Anyway, If your looking for an omen, then the green pinstripe has to be worn just as it was in 82 when Charlie and Chicken George did the biz.
Let’s face it folks, when you’ve been pishing yourself laughing at your rivals for the last 3 and a half years, it takes more than a quick shower to get rid of the smell!
I am going to write back to the body odor letter:
Dear XXX
I have to inform you that some complete arsehole has managed to get your letterhead and is writing offensive letters to your customers.
my super funny post vanished – well at least I thought it was funny
I know a fellow tim who once got circumcised on route to paradise for strictly hygienic reasons
Ok Here it is again, my reply to the smell memo
Dear XXXX
I have to warn you that some complete arsehole has got a hold of your letterhead and is writing obnoxious letters to your customers.
On the webcam I think I’ve seen Dunderheid 67 out with his burd, he’s the guy with the blow up doll.
Nice one Andy…
Nah, he’s the blow up doll…
THAT blow up doll has been everywhere, man! LOL
Caption:
Griff- Am tellin ye, the fan dan will be way better our in the Dam…
MIB- Naw, Naw, no for me sonny – I’ll be gettiing ma goat oan for free it th’ lodge efter a make sure yous lose this gem.
While, obviously, I’ll be delighted if we win, I think a good performance is what we want more than anything…..a 90 minute effort that will restore a bit of pride and belief.
Personally I think it´ll be a draw (2-2). But I just want to see all of the players turn on a bit of form and shut the media up.
COYBIG
WoooHoooo!!!
Worriers, come out to plaaaay!
Worriers, come out to plaaaay!
That means you Monti!! lol
As for the correct score…this week’s Lotto numbers are….
Well done Bhoys!!!!! We got a performance at last.
Happy with the result but Ajax were there for the taking.
Told you all that Molde are no mugs.
We got a performance in the first half, second half we reverted to type and kept giving the ball away.
I think we would have won if we kept eleven on the park.
Deila got it right tonight, but our passing is far too slow and erratic.
Qarabag 1-0 up at White Heart Lane after 5 mins
Great result in Ámsterdam and hopefully it will give us a bit of a lift. Ronny said before the match he would be happy with a good show irrespective of the result, but what we got I think was much better. We got a result irrespective of the show. We weren’t good but hopefully it can spur the bhoys on. Every cloud. HH
I know it’s a cliché but would have taken that result all day. But after leading in so much of the game was a tiny wee bit disappointed.
Good result group is wide open
Gary Macky Grinner would not be out of my team. He was born to go forwards. Feed him and he will cause chaos in any defence and will be a provider for L.G. Rid J.F. And Efe. Izzy
needs help big time, joe needs at least a month off for sphycreatic treatment,headless chicken syndrome!. Need to get real Ronnie, they see us coming now, read us like a book. Hh
LoL
I had to stream the game tonight, but if you watched it on BT can anyone check on the referees hand signal to see if it was a direct free kick. Can’t see how Commons could have deliberately handled from that angle. Also on the sending off, the tackle on Broonie at 87 minutes approx, I say approx because the ankle arrived about 2 weeks after broonie passed the ball was the worst of the night. I live for the day we get a fair deal on Europe
All hand ball offences are direct free kicks.
I should have said all outfield players handball offences are direct free kicks, if a goalkeeper handles an intentional pass back it is indirect.
Thanks Andy, I did not know that this had changed
Never has changed, apart from the pass back, but hand ball has always been a direct free kick for many many decades.
Sorry not ankle, meant tackle, can anyone tell me how to turn off this fucking spelling correcter
That feels like a defeat!
Thought Deila got his tactics bang on and all was going well.
Izaguirre is a fud and he should have been subbed earlier.
We still have a tendency to give the ball away as often as possible.
Overall there was a better shape to us tonight, especially first half. as for the second Ajax goal, there is a big problem called Craig Gordon.
I’ll take a draw but we need to be more confident in possession.
Better but still not good enough!
No protection from our defence.
Some of these guys need to learn how to jump.
The delivery of the ball in was very good,just as big Sutton said.
From 4-5-1 to 5-4-1, play football The Glasgow Celtic Way.
Then we can rejoice in glorious defeat just like the good old days.
Ronnys away record in Europe so far..
11 Games
2 wins
5 Draws
4 Defeats
That was a better showing tonight, Kris Commons was instrumental in almost everything positive going forward tonight. I thought the defence played better and the big Croat looks as if he COULD be a good signing. What was Izzy thinking about, already on a yellow, saying that we’d been playing with 10 men before that as once again James Forrest was like “a rabbit in headlights”. Yestim I agree the tackle on Broony was a shocker right in front of the ref and Biton got one too and no sign of any cards appearing!!
Meant to add, spot on andybhoy you would have thought one of the defenders would have got their head on the cross.
Well, bottom line, it was an improvement from before…..not perfect, but considering that you usually have to haul yourself out of a bad run over a few games, it’s a start….and the 5-0 humiliation was nowhere to be seen. We all would have considered an away draw a good start on the road to recovery and in the section.
Just to show that I’m not deliriously happy and kidding myself on that “we´re back”, I agree there are things that need tightened up, especially giving the ball away when really it could be avoided. On the same theme, almost every kick out from Gordon went to an opposition player, so he could try to improve his distribution. Surprisingly, big Efe headed a good few dangerous balls out of the penalty box today, so he didn’t cause me palpitations. Izzy was good….but ruined it by getting sent off..at 2-1 we weren’t coasting, but we looked good for the 3 points. This will give the team some much needed confidence and hopefully we’ll kick on from here on a run of form.
HH
I thought Izzy actually had a good game in defence I counted 3 excellent clearing headers big Bobo would have been proud of.
Only criticism is he seems to have developed a mean streak off the back of the World Cup and a wee bit of the Central American fire in the belly now.
He should have been hooked but as Ronny pointed out others were feeling the effects of the match and were looking a bit jaded.
Big plus for me was Bitton and Brown who had their shit together and also Commons as he got into it though he looked well off the pace early doors and slower than a wet weekend on The Holy Island.
Biggest disappointment was Johansen he looks like a man for the off to me beginning to wonder if he is the fly in the ointment?
Last thing one man who get’s shite no matter big Efe yep looked a bit uneasy first 5-10 minutes but looked very comfortable thereafter.
Commanded his area and put himself about so fair play to him.
I think the guy get’s way too much stick he’s probably had 10 shite games in over 140 for Celtic.
Time folk got aff his case methinks.
Judge a team by how it responds to a poor showing.
Tonight they responded and hopefully they kick on now.
Good result could have been better but most would have took a point before a ball was kicked so well done Ronny and the Bhoys.
Izzy gets a bit hot headed but i’d rather have a guy that needs calmed down than a guy that needs talked up.
Efe done really well, even when the midfield abandoned him and left him facing two on one.
Would have taken that score before kick off as I feared a tanking but I was shocked at how poor Ajax looked, feels more like two points dropped rather than a point gained.
Agree with all of that Doc.
Efe can defend very well at times just needs to stop cutting inside and he’s fine.
Peter Saiz,
A decent result last night from the team and when the team sheet was read out I thought Deila got it right.
This for me has to be Izaguirre’s last season, a liability in Europe now.
The biggest disappointment apart from Izaguirre was our inability to keep hold of the ball, Bitton and Johansen need to shift their feet better and quicker.
Johansen as and Forrest anonymous!
Ronny got it right last night.
Johansen needs left out on Sunday.
I agree in fact I sent a Memo to Ronny this morn..
Oh shit ignore that machines playing up.
Rogic should start or even McGregor on the left as he puts a shift in too and can be effective on the attack.
Fighting spirit. That’s what we want.
Molde result could put the cat amongst the ointment.
Mon the Hops. Mingers N aw.
I’ve heard of the cats being among the pigeons, but ointment?
I have a strange vision in my mind with that one.
Well done bhoys. A good result. I didn’t see us getting a point in Amsterdam. It was gallus not glitter, but that is also the Celtic way. Ronny got it right and the bhoys played with passion. Forrest should always play on the right so why not Commons always on the left? Last year we played from the back so why all the long balls from Gordon? We don’t have the height there to win any of them (Commons/Johansen/Forrest/Griffiths)
We could have won. This group will be very interesting. We got eight points last year and went through. This year,I think we can win all our home games.
I’m thankful to Mr De Boer (he’s got a face that looks like it’s launched a right few ships) didn’t play Milik from the start as he proved when he came on he’s a bit of a handful and was capable of ragdolling our defence. Forrest was ineffective up to a point, as the guy he was up against was a match for his pace. If I was the manager, I would have varied it a bit swapping Forrest and Commons as Dijk didn’t look the most mobile.
Charlie, your’e right about Johansen.
As for the group, Molde are more of a worry than a very inexperienced and lightweight Ajax.
Andybhoy,
Celtic’s biggest threat is ourselves mate, the rabbit in headlights passing, shooting ourselves in the foot and the inability by any of the defence to take command at cross balls.
Once we have four defenders across the back who can run, jump, tackle and pass the ball accurately out of defence we might get somewhere.
While I have always rated Craig Gordon highly, I feel Bailly should be given a chance.
Gordon is not making the right decisions just now, the second Ajax goal should have been his!
Monti
I have watched the goal over and over again and yes Gordon is at fault, but watch the Celtic players, Boyata halfheartedly jumps approx 2″ (inches) and the rest ball watch while Ajax have 2 players attempting to get a touch on the ball.
Simply pish poor defending and they need to eradicate these mistakes pronto.
Monti,
Agreed we give the ball away far to often, we were one up and in control, then started to look very nervous until they scored the equaliser. This seems to happen almost every week with us.
How do you guys rate Simunovic last night? What will be our best back four? I still rate Ambrose and Izzy. For me:
Lustig/Ambrose/Simunovic/Izzy
We need to establish a unit that can work together by staying togeether.
A few on this site were all for Fenerbahce to win the group. Losing three goals at home is not a good sign. I think Ajax will win the group with us second but I might have undersold Molde. Regardless, we will go through. Last night I think everyone gave 100% and only good will come of that.
Dundee Sunday:
Gordon
Lustig/Ambrose/Simunovic/Izzy
Brown/Bitton
Forrest/Commons/Mackay-Steven
Griffiths
Let’s get back to winning ways.
I think he played well enough considering the magnitude of the game and it being his first.
My back 4 would be the same I’m not convinced by Boyata yet though he may come good I can see big O’Connell coming back and taking his slot next Season.
That Fenerbahce result was probably the worst outcome in terms of how this group will pan out. I fully expect a different performance from them in Paradise. Although, if the Park is packed and bouncing, then we know what that can do for our team and the negative effect it can have on our opponents.
Devoy
I didn’t see anything from Ajax last night that would make me think they would win the group. I believe that with a bit of confidence, they were there for the taking. I saw highlights last night of Fernabache and again not much to indicate they are a better quality than us. Molde could be the real threat, 3-1 away form home is a good result for any team in Europe