Celtic Diary Tuesday July 5: Daily Record At It Again

The Daiy Record isn’t on sale in Austria. Perhaps its just as well.

Michael Gannon, incredibly one of their better hacks, has been following the celtic support as they follow their team in Slovenia. except they were in Austria, which he does point out in the text, so maybe he’ll blame the headline writer for this one;

Celtic in Slovenia: Crowd barely had a tooth between them and were more blootered than a Coatbridge barbecue 

The ignorance of the archetypal Brit abroad continued in the text, as Gannon made a surprising late bid to replace Nigel Farage as head of UKIP.

To top it off there was the most Austrian man ever on the pitch with a microphone.

The guy’s voice could split you in half and it’s rare to see someone so enthusiastic without the need for some illegal stimulants. 

The crowd of boozing locals were looking at us like we’d crash landed from Mars.

There was barely a tooth between them and most were more blootered than a Coatbridge barbecue. And that was just the women.

Thankfully we escaped before things turned really ugly and got back to the sanctuary of sleepy Slovenia.

When in Europe, Celtic fans tend to make friends, to mix with the locals and generally have a good time. Those locals may actually be quite happy to have the Celtic support around, spending money , keeping the town in the public eye.

 Its all good public relations, for the club and the town.

Until someone comes along and upsets those locals. A reporter who is trying too hard to be funny at the expense of good spirited locals who are simply enjoying themselves, and adopting a condescending attitude which is completely out of place with what should be a relaxing and enjoyable working break for the players, and a great wee summer trip for the fans.

Celtic, of course, already suffer from a piss poor PR division, and we don’t need a newspaper-which might not end up in the local shops, but is certainly on line- sending a reporter who is going to act the , well, you know the word I was going to use, so someone should haul him in and send him home.

I’ll pay for the plane if I can choose where he gets off.

Transfer news, well speculation next.

Kris Commons, who has been known to throw the odd tantrum when things don’t go his way, is not overly keen on a move , loan or otherwise, to Hibernian.

He wants to stay with Celtic, and fight for a place.

The manager said;

‘For Kris, or any player, they have to be able to play how I want to work  They have to be able to run. They have to be able to press. They have to be aggressive. ‘Celtic are used to having the ball, of course, but you have to get the ball back. ‘The possibility is open to every player. But at this moment in time Kris is just worrying about getting fit. And then we will see where he is at.’

Well, thats that then.

Efe Ambrose could be another out the door, although reports from Germany are suggesting that Leverkusen haven’t made a bid for him at all, the German club presumably embarrassed the story has got out.

Espanyol , described as “big spenders ” by reporters who can’t be arsed finding anything else out about them have supposedly put in a bid of £6m for Nir Biton, and Celtic have supposedly turned it down, holding out for at least £2m more. Biton is taking his time to think over the move, and then he will pass the offer to the closest person on his left, after doing a neat wee pirouette in the centre of the room.

Biton isn’t of the right mentality for Rodger’s agressive style. He’ll be away, and its just a matter of getting as much money as we can for him.

As for players coming in, there should be word by Wednesday, ahead of the game against Olimpija Ljubljana.

Who could it be ?

Word is that its a centre half, and that would make sense as we haven’t really got any.

Wednesday could be tricky, come to think of it..

Do we watch the current Celtic players , in their game ?

Or the next crop, in their game against Portugal ?

Although the chances of getting Scott Allan this season seem to be fading, with Liverpool demanding £14m for the player, who is in the last year of his contract.

Its a bit of a gamble from the club, as the player could decide to sit out the last twelve months of his contract and simply sign up with whoever he wants on a pre contract in January.

Wee game of poker going on, methinks….

Much has been made of Kristoffer Ajer continuing his studies in Scotland, but he’s not the only one thinking of life after football…

Midfielder and heir to the position curently occupied by Nir Biton , Stuart Armstrong, is working toward a law degree;

“I had an exam in the summer and I get the results on July 15, so fingers crossed. It’s right in the middle of the Champions League qualifiers so it will be an interesting week.

“I probably should have done a bit more studying but I was on holiday and crammed in a bit.

“I’m now going into my final year but I don’t think I will get a chance to do practical stuff. It’s a busy schedule here at Celtic.

“I’ll do next year, finish in June and then keep it in the back pocket.”

He’s up for the fight for a place in the team;

“I learned a lot last season and will hopefully build on that now.

“What have I learned? I’ll keep that to myself. The season was up and down. I had a very good start then had a bad injury with my back.

“It was a stress reaction to the bone on my back. The only treatment was rest and that was frustrating.

“I wasn’t quite right when I came back. That interrupted what had been a good season. It was frustrating and I never really got any consistency back after that.

“I was in and out of the team but it was nice to finish with a goal against Motherwell.

“It was a nice way to end the season, playing the way I know I can. That’s the way I want to go into this campaign.

“You actually learn more when things aren’t going so well. It’s nice to win but when you aren’t playing or are sitting on the bench, you have to re-evaluate what you need to do to get back into the team. You have to find new ways to react and develop your game.”

“It has been tough at times with so many players in that area. Last season you knew that if you put in a bad performance you would be out of the team.

“It’s difficult but that’s what happens at a big club and you need to manage that.

“There are an awful lot of circumstances to take into consideration but competition is healthy.

“My versatility has maybe been a hindrance to me in the past when I have been asked to play somewhere else.

“Sometimes it can be a bit frustrating but if the manager thinks I can do a job on the left, I will do that.

“But it is also good when the manager sees you can play in different positions – left, right or in the middle. It’s for the team ultimately and I’ll do whatever I can to help.

“Personally, I see my best position as attacking midfield with a bit of freedom.” 

So do most of the support.

The standing section, the first of its kind in Britain, is nearly ready…

I’m all for it, as long as I don’t have to sit behind them.

The fallout after the Scottish cup final disorder continued and four more men have been arrested, this from the BBC;

Immediately after the final whistle, thousands of Hibs fans invaded the pitch to celebrate their team’s first Scottish Cup win since 1902.

Some Rangers players were allegedly assaulted and clashes broke out after some Rangers fans entered the pitch.

Det Supt Kenny Graham, who is leading the investigation, said: “This investigation is extensive and involves a significant number of people.

“My officers remain committed to identifying and arresting those involved in the violence and disorder that occurred on 21 May.

“As our investigation progresses, there will be further arrests and continued police action to track down those responsible.”

The detective added: “I would ask if anyone has any information or knowledge about people involved or for anyone with information, including footage or images, to contact us.”

Thats thirty eight arrests now, with rather a large proportion residing in the West of Scotland…despite Hibs fans having been the “invaders…

Speaking of Ibrox, there is talk that they may be forced to use Hampden as three of their stands aren’t fit for human habitation, or something, i forget the exact term, and one wonders of this is going to be the next example of nepotism with the SFA.

Surely any rent should be paid up front, as they have a bit of form for forgetting to put the cheques in the post… or at the very least they should pay any outstanding fines before Queens Park are put in the awkward psotion of having to go to the SFA to get their money.

Ah, the SFA, Resolution 12- whats happening there ?

I’ll do a wee bit digging today and find out where we’re up to.

An appeal now…

If you have any information, anything at all, no matter how insignificant you think it may be, let the police know.

On to the caption competition from yesterday,

Another clear winner…..