We’ll get to the title story in a while, but for now….

Football returns on Saturday, Celtic hosting Kilmarnock as the club looks to get a bit of much needed practice in before Ajax of Amsterdam come back to Glasgow on Thursday.

That could mean that a few players are rested, because they have been away on international duty, although the rest of them have had more than a decent break and so should be ready to stake a claim for the Europa game.

There are signs that Carlton Cole, who joined the club when it became apparent no-one else wanted him, could make his debutfor the first team after taking part in a 4-1 win over Livingston in a bounce game at Lennoxtown.

I have no idea what a bounce game is, but it looks like they’re having fun;

Which may be down to what appears like a serious  amount of vodka consumption.

Cole didn’t score in the game, showing that he has everything it takes to be a Celtic forward, but he says he’s ready for action;

“I needed that game last week because it has been so long since I’ve played,  Just being out there among the lads was great. It didn’t go the way I dreamed about it but it was a start.

“When it’s a start you’ve just got to take what you can. I worked hard, tried to influence it as much as I could, and that will come with more match sharpness and games. 

“I was supposed to only play 45 minutes but with the person I am, if I feel like I can do a bit more, I’ll do it.

“I asked the manager if I could do an extra 15 and they all know where I’m at but I’ve got to control that to make sure I don’t get injured again. It’s a fine line.” 

The manager didn’t want him to do an hour , in case he hurt himself.

Shouldn’t someone check little things like this before a player is signed ?

Leigh Griffiths apart, you couldn’t make a decent forward out of  our strikers if you cut them all up and glued the best bits of each together.

Though the Frankensteins monster would probably be quicker, and last a bit longer before collapsing.

And give better interviews.

Instead of looking at those who may have their best days behind him, perhaps Saturday is a good time to give those with a future a shot.

Aiden Nesbitt, who has been excelling in the development squad has been praised by manager Ronny Deila, although perhaps a little too much;

“Aidan Nesbitt is one of the most talented players in Europe. 

“He was named in the team of the tournament (of the European Under-17 Football Championship in Malta last summer).

“We need to get them ready but it’s hard when you can never make a mistake. That’s a challenge but we’re getting there and KT is getting his chances.”  

KT, of course, is Keiran Tierney, the young left back who has broken through to the first team, but now needs to be nurtured properly, to ensure he fulfills his potential.

Nesbitt should get a shot, he’ll be encouraged by Tierney’s success, and it will also waken up one or two of the players who may feel that they are in a comfort zone.

Scott Brown is back in training, and could feature, but with Brown it’s probably more important he’s kept fresh for the Ajax game, and with Mikael Lustig, Tom Rogic, Stefan Johansen and Efe ambrose all featuring for their respective countries this week, a wee break wouldn’t do them any harm.

Especially Ambrose, who seems rather pleased with his goal and $20,000 bonus.

One can only wonder if the confidence the Nigerian players, fans and management have in him makes a difference to his performance…

The old chestnut about an upgrade at Celtic Park has come back into cyberspace.

When Dermot Desmond told Martin o’Neill to build him a team for the English Premiership, there were plans submitted to the Fire Brigade looking for safety approval, i know this because someone told me, and he knew someone in the Fire Brigade.

However, when it became clear that a club with 85,000 ( alright, maybe less, but the novelty value would have seen huge crowds. ) paying fans was never going to be accepted down south, as it would mean one of those currently on the gravy train would have to drop out, plans were shelved and Celtic stopped spending decent money on players.

 The claim is that the ground will have the new three tier stand in place by 2022, and the idea is it would become a five star stadium and host European finals and such like.

 Seems like a lot of effort for an occasional final, but perhaps there is something in this…

No, stop laughing.

We have heard various claims that the new entity at Ibrox, or even the next one, have made enquiries about playing out of Hampden while their ground is refurbished. Estimates put the cost of repairs to Ibrox at anything from £9m to £19m and beyond.

We know that Dave King and his mery men do not have that kind of money, nor do they have access to it, save through another share isue that even the gullibillies won’t fall for again.

 If you also consider that Ibrox may be returned to liquidators BDO after the court case which alleges that the asset sale of Whyte’s Rangers to Charles Greens Sevco, then maybe we will get a new stadium, and the Govan area will get a new Tesco.

Or a bus depot;

Tomorrow sees the Celtic AGM, and issues such as the Living Wage will be on the agenda again. It’s worth sticking with. Peter Lawwell reckons it would put £500,000 a year on the wage bill, or as it’s known colloqiually, a “Derk ”

When you onsider the money wasted on the playing side, that amount is nothing.

And we could make it even more affordable by sacking the clown who brings these players to the clubs attention as well.

Also on the agenda will be the re election of Lord Livingston of Parkhead. As you are aware, he’s the one who voted for the tax credit cuts, and whilst there is a school of thought that says Celtic is open to everyone, it still rankles that someone who on the one hand represents a club which is doing a foodbank collection on Saturday has an opportunity to do something about it in Parliament, but instead votes o heap further misery on those least able to defend themselves.

He may bring business acumen to the board, but that’s probably why the wages are so low for the match day staff, and maybe why they have zero hours contracts.

There was further controversy when it was revealed that Iain Bankier, the chairman , met with David Cameron when the Prime minister needed all the help he could get to avoid going down in history as the man who oversaw the break up of the Union.

So what ?

If Bankier wants to vote no, thats fine.

Celtic wasn’t formed to further the cause of an independent Scotland. So there’s no conflict of conscience.

But it was formed to help feed the poor.

And we are still doing it;

Whats also gratifying is that this time the club themselves are sticking to their word and getting right behind it;

A FOODBANK collection organised by the Green Brigade will take place at Celtic Park this Saturday, November 21 ahead of Celtic’s game against Kilmarnock (KO: 3pm)

There are four collection points outside the stadium, near the four corners of the stadium, and fans are asked to support this collection.

The most-wanted items are: sugar, UHT milk, UHT juice, toilet roll, tinned fish, tinned fruit, tinned custard/rice, tinned meat, biscuits, baby food, nappies/wipes, toiletries, soap, toothpaste. Cash donations are also welcome. 

Fans, of course , are the lifeblood of the game.

These days they may be referred to as customers, or clients even, but it seems that one section of society, the police, use a different word when describing the fans, and treat them accordingly.

From David Jamieson at commonspace .scot comes a tale which is becoming a little too familiar these days;

I will fucking ruin your life”

– football fans’ recording of alleged police abuse revealed

FOOTBALL fans have recorded what they allege is an incident of verbal abuse from a police officer following a Celtic football game.

Young Celtic fans allege that they were stopped on Glasgow’s High Street at 10:45pm on 18 September 2015 following the Celtic vs Malmo game by two Police Scotland officers accompanied by Swedish officers.

In the recording a voice, alleged by the fans to be one of two football intelligence officers who stopped them heading into Glasgow city centre, is heard to say several abusive statements including: “Don’t fuck me about. I will fucking ruin your life. Now get to fuck.”

Jeanette Findlay, a campaigner speaking on behalf of Fans Against Criminalisation, told CommonSpace: “We have been saying for some considerable time that the Offensive Behaviour Act is poisoning the relationship between the Police Service of Scotland and football fans, especially younger fans. 

“This is yet another shocking example, the third in as many weeks, of the atrocious attitude within the police force to young fans and the way they feel they can abuse them and their civil liberties with impunity.” 

The full article, complete with audio of the conversation, is here;

Commonspace article

Commonspace have given a recording of the “conversation ” to the Police, who have yet to comment.

Though I’m sure they have identified the officer and are currently initiating disciplinary proceedings.

But all that may have to wait until they’ve been round to see the fellow and taken a statement.

It’s also alleged that the officer, upon discovering he had been recorded, demanded the password to the phone so he could , er, help it to fall down the stairs.

The police may feel that they are operating under unusual pressure, they may feel that they are over worked and underpaid , or more at risk these days, but to take it out on kids going to the football ?

Certainly Greater Manchester police have lowered their entrance standards over the last few years to allow for more , er equal opportunites, -thats why you see more wee fat dumpy coppers-but it seems that Police Scotland have not only lowered theirs, but completely left out the bit about having a suitable temperament.

The problem is that tensions simmer, and a major incident may only be just around the corner.

Especially if police insist on taking suspects around the corner to talk to them.

Meanwhile, more disturbing footage has emerged as its revealed how the police engage the evenings entertainment down at the lodge…

Oh ho, theres a knock at the door…

Speaking of distubing images, sometimes people really should check their photographs before releasing them onto the interweb;

There are no  in thpenises in the picture.

It’s the chuckle brothers, but i suppose it’s an easy mistake to make.

Don’t forget , if you are looking for something to do tonight, there’s the Admiral Bar;

As you are aware, cancer is something which has played a major part in my life over the last year or so, and i was delighted to see that research scientists have grown human vocal chords in a petri dish. all of this helps towards finding a cure and early indications are that the results speak for themselves.

I’m here all week, etc.

The picture yesterday was of the triumphant squad form the Daily Express five a sides tournament, broadcast one Wednesday evening back in the eighties which arguably made the rest of Britain  notice one Charlie Nicholas, who scored the winner in the final against Southampton.

The Celtic wiki takes us back to 1981;

On November 25th a relatively young and inexperienced Parkhead squad – managed by youth team coach Jim Lumsden – took part in this once popular annual competition. The Bhoys squad was made up of Peter Latchford, Willie McStay, Charlie Nicholas, Danny Crainie, Willie Garner and John Weir.

Unlike most of their rivals for the trophy the Hoops squad was short on first team experience and only the up and coming Nicholas was at that stage a regular first team member, although keeper Latchford had plenty of big team experience. On their march to the final Celtic defeated Watford 3-0 and then aManchester United side featuring Lou Macari plus big money buys Ray Wilkins and Bryan Robson were brushed aside in a 2-0 victory. 

A talented Ipswich side could not find a way of stopping the youthful Hoops who sealed their place in the final with a 3-1 win. A vastly experienced Southampton waited in the final and the south coast club were able to call upon veteran World Cup winner Alan Ball and twice European Player of the Year, Kevin Keegan. 

So far though the talent that had really shone out during the tournament – which would be aired throughout the UK on the BBC’s midweek ‘Sportsnight’ show – belonged to that of the young Nicholas whose confidence and ability made everyone sit up and take notice of a very real talent. It was only right then that the Bhoys’ striker should score the only goal of the final – his fourth of the tournament – to claim the trophy for the Celts. 

Hah.

Southampton!

You can take our Forsters , Wanyamas and our van Dijks, but you’ll never take our Daily Express five a side cup.

Earlier this week we showed a picture of a Celt as a kid.

Here’s another;

Who might it be ?