Some of you really need to rememeber that the diary doesn’t take itself seriously, and therefore neither should you. Still, yesterdays effort got everyone talking about the football again, which was sort of the point.

Mnd you , if the stories we are hearing are true-and there’s always a first time-Brendan Rodgers could well pull off the signing of two players from one of europes top footballing nations in Joe Allen and Hal Robson Kanu of Wales. He may also make a player out of Nadir Ciftci.

Then who’ll be Knob of the Week ?

The Joe Allan story grew a little more when it emerged that Brendan has held talks with him in France during the Euros, and there is talk of a one year loan deal with a view to signing for nothing when his contract is up next summer, but if truth be told, the Welsh success over Belguim last night has made their side a little more high profile, and it won’t just be us who are interested in the players.

Their star man, Gareth Bale, has point blank refused to even consider Glasgow because he as in Buchanan Bus Station once, and some drunks were laughing at his haircut. It really upset him, and he’s never been back north since.

Even though I’ve apologised dozens of times.

Wales , of course, are now in the semi finals of the European Nations championship, a credit to the players, the management and everyone at the Welsh FA.

Perhaps the next time the beaks at Hampden go on one of their fact finding missions, a trip to Cardiff wouldn’t go amiss. What they have done with limited resources is phenomenal, and they all deserve tremendous praise.

Except for the guy who suggested Joe Ledley should grow a beard.

He’s obviously an idiot.

Back at the ranch, and it looks like Stefan Johansen will be waving goodbye, as Galatasaray look set to “test Celtics resolve ” with a £3m bid.

With interest fo Germany as well, it seems the all action midfielder-well, he was the season before last-has asked his agent to fnd him a club, and the only delay is the Norwegian wants to make sure Ronny Deila has found another job in case the two end up crossing paths again further down the line.

In the latter days of Ronny’s reign, the two became estranged, even to the point where Stefan would hide from his boss if the two were in the same restaurant. Like he would on the pitch, really.

With worries over the central defence, another name has been thrown into the hat by the media, and its that of Steven Caulker, who has played for England-once-and even scored for England-once.

He’s not been having a great time of it lately since QPR loaned him out to Southampton and then Liverpool, and he has previously worked with Brendan at Swansea, like everyone else it seems, and there may be more to this link than you think.

The player rose to the top, and then sunk back down again. Maybe the manager feels he can build him back up again…

Hold on…now there is some good news today on the signing front…

Scotland striker Steven Fletcher signs four-year deal with Sheffield Wednesday

So, how are the players getting on in Slovenia?

We could consult this, the imaginatively titled…

Celtic TV Slovenia Diary: Bhoys are working hard

Well, lets hope they are putting more effort in than whoever thought up the title for the official websites puff piece.

However, we encourage anyone who fancies a crack at writing a diary, as it allows one  to look back in our dotage and see what we were thinking.

To help the guys-and lassies-at Celtic TV, I’ve jazzed theirs up a bit.

GOOD afternoon from a much cooler Slovenia today. A storm lit up the sky as we were driving back from Celje last night and it has given us a welcome break from the searing temperatures we’ve had since arriving. 

The Bhoys were in for a recovery session in the pool this morning, but training is outside this afternoon so I’m sure they will appreciate a slightly cooler session! 

Talking of training, the sessions have looked brilliant. Brendan, Chris, Glen, John and Stevie have had the team working hard. There is a lot of sprinting, and a lot of high-intensity work. 

And when I spoke to the gaffer, he told me he was delighted with how the Bhoys are working. There is footage of these training sessions on Celtic TV and it’s well worth a look if you want an insight into what the team are up to out here. 

Happy to help.

but I can’t do anything about this bit…

A different starting XI for each half meant the management team (and us) got to see almost everyone out here in action. It’s nice to see players like Hendo (Liam Henderson) and Nads (Nadir Ciftci) back in action for the Hoops. 

I caught up with Nads after the game and he was delighted happy to back and scoring, 

The piece was written by Summer Harl, the channels cheerful chick, and perhaps a little bit of blue lining-maybe just get a pal to read it-afterwards would have prevented the image of anyone running after Nads , especially if they are going to use the word “scoring ” on the same line.

Still, at least Scott Brown and Scott Allan are, er, comfortable in each others company…

I asked Broony how he was finding rooming with Scotty in an interview I got with him for Celtic TV and he was happy he had found someone ‘with the same amount of energy as him!’ Good luck to their neighbours.

I guess we all get a little carried away in the heat.

Back home, and its that time of year again, a period which seems to get longer and longer every year, where peepil can express their joy in belonging to possibly the only organisation in the world still allowed to publicly express its hatred for another section of society.

No, not that one.

This one.

It isn’t going to be banned anytime soon, but it will diminish over time. A bit like their club did.

Soon, there will only be one or two sticking with it..

Welcome to the 21st Century. When they get here, of course.

Joey Barton, one of many signings made by Mark Warburton to push for the Premier league title, their 55th in juts four years, hasn’t been able to go to the USA with the rest of his team mates, but fair play to him, he’s having a party at his flat when they get back, and has certinly put some effort into it.

Thing is, there is a feelgood facotr over at Ibrox, encouraged by media professionals and part time amateurs  , such as “rangers ” blogger and Clyde manager Barry Ferguson..

A LOT of people see Celtic’s signing of Moussa Dembele as a statement of intent by new manager Brendan Rodgers.

But my message to Rangers fans is not to be worried as Mark Warburton has also added key ingredients to his team.

Celtic are favourites to win a sixth title in a row but I don’t think there is much of a gap between the two.

I know a lot has been made of the Dembele signing – and the calibre of Celtic’s reported targets – but I’m not too concerned.

Let’s be honest, what some people are doing is looking at the age of some of the Rangers recruits and questioning them.

But Warburton has got a good mixture and I’m convinced Rangers can be serious challengers for the Scottish Premiership title.

Its a strange world we live in. 

The managers of Celtic and “rangers ” have both been linked with the vacant England managers job, after vacant England manager Roy Hodgson quit.

Rodgers said, when asked by the world’s media, before the Celje game;

“I haven’t put a foot wrong here! Brilliant. It shows you what the world of football is now, the gossip and speculation that goes on,’ 

“I’ve just landed my dream job. The team I’ve supported all my life. I haven’t even walked out for my first game. 

“Imagine me as a Celtic supporter having walked out on the job at Parkhead!

“Is it flattering? It’s football. There are very few professions where one minute you’re up, then down, then up again — that’s just how it goes.

“If people think I can do jobs at a high level, then that’s fine.

“But I’m busy here, worrying about what I have to do here.

“I’ll be at Celtic, that’s for sure.”

Warburton said, when asked by James Traynor of Level 5 PR-which stands for Promoting “rangers ” , the five signifies how long the club intends to be in business, said;

Oh, wait, Traynor hasn’t written his reply yet.

Now then, Brendan Rodgers came in for a bit of criticism for wearing a blue top in training the other day- a wound that for some fans may take a long time to heal ( me) , but this one, worn by new siging Moussa Dembele is a cracker, and if there has been no decision on the away top as yet, then this picture should be thrust under the noses of the decision makers and kept there until they say yes.

Though whats with the different coloured boots?

Please, please tell me we haven’t signed a player who is too stupid to know which boot goes on which foot.

Caption competition time, and yesterday, this picture , which we thought was an  airplane early detection system from long , long ago

actually turned out to be….

Bob Cobb July 1, 2016 at 9:20 am · Edit · Reply →