{"id":10182,"date":"2016-10-28T09:57:30","date_gmt":"2016-10-28T08:57:30","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/etims.net\/?p=10182"},"modified":"2016-10-28T09:57:30","modified_gmt":"2016-10-28T08:57:30","slug":"celtic-diary-friday-october-28-brown-back-for-scotland","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/etims.net\/?p=10182","title":{"rendered":"Celtic Diary Friday October 28: Brown Back For Scotland"},"content":{"rendered":"

This week, manager Brendan Rodgers gave Scott Brown a couple of days off and laughingly told him not to do anything stupid like he did on a previous break, and that under no circumstances did he want to wake up to newspaper headlines featuring his captain and any tales of drunken behaviour.<\/p>\n

Scott Brown ready to make sensational Scotland comeback in Wembley crunch<\/h1>\n

How much exactly did he have to drink ?<\/p>\n

Brown has rediscovered his form of late, and perhaps now feels that he can resume international football whilst continuing to perform at club level.<\/p>\n

More likely, he just fancies playing at the new Wembley in what will be a big game.<\/p>\n

Apparently, he’s been texting Scotland boss Gordon Strachan this week, and someone found a phone on a bus which we suspect may belong to the Celtic captain, and so from that we can explain how it happened.<\/p>\n

–Hear you had a wean????\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0<\/span> \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Aye. Got A pay off. lol \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Day off. ducking autocorrect pmsl \u00a0fancy a pint and a kebab?\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Naw. Watching Walking Dead. Losing 1-0 at Ibrox.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0Fuck that shite. Whagwa?\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Playing England next month. You up for it?<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0 Where?\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Wembley. \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0Wheres that ?\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

London. its on a week night so you’ll have to book it off. \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 <\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0<\/span> \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Aye. Pisser. I’ll tell him I’ve had another wean. LOL. \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Ah fuck. Huns have equalised. \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

For Scotland and Strachan, having Brown in the side is a bonus, but there are doubts about his ability to perform at international as he has never played in the English first division.<\/p>\n

He could have, however, at least according to Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers have played for him at Liverpool,<\/p>\n

Scott Brown, if I look at my Liverpool team that nearly won the title, would definitely have been in it. There is no doubt about that,\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s the level that the guy is at as a player and as a captain \u2013 you want him in your team and on your side.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s someone I\u2019ve been so impressed with since I first met him earlier on in the season. He\u2019s really devoted himself to how I\u2019ve wanted the team to operate on the field and off it.\u201d\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

Well, he wasn’t, and I don’t recall any talk of him going to Liverpool.<\/p>\n

Of course, Rodgers is merely stating the value of Brown to the current Celtic side, and there is a feeling that for probably the first time since McNeill and Stein, we have a genuinely working relationship between manager and captain.<\/p>\n

Alright, maybe not as far back as that, but these two do seem to be close.<\/p>\n

Rodgers must have been in a good mood yesterday, as he also waxed lyrical about almost-forgotten man Stuart Arnstrong, whose career at Celtic has stuttered a wee bit.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe has played a lot of his time here on the left side, which I can understand why maybe managers would play him there, because he is very diligent and works well and he has an eye for goal,\u201d<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cBut we spoke to him a lot in pre-season in terms of his position and where he felt most comfortable, and at that time it was maybe difficult for him to get a game in his preferred position.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cBut what he has done, each day from that, he has looked to improve and understand the tactical element of playing on the inside. <\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

He\u2019s got a wonderful intelligence. He\u2019s a good footballer, Stuart, and he\u2019s improving tactically all the time. <\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cTechnically he is strong, his finish on Wednesday night I see in training every day. He has a wonderful strike in him, different types of finishes. <\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cPhysically he is very good. Our first goal came from his ability to press the ball very quickly, and his goal, he spotted the space and showed great speed.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/em>

\n<\/p>\n

\u201cHe has come into one of the biggest clubs in the world and it sometimes takes that little bit of time to find your feet,\u201d <\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u201cBut he has definitely found his feet, he is a player I really enjoy working with, he is super-bright and thinks about the game and his role in the team.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cHe is starting to flourish now and it\u2019s down to him, getting the confidence to play the role, understand his job. Anywhere centrally where he can use his power and pace to break forward, that\u2019s his best position.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

Hopefully over the coming years you will really see the best of him. <\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cIf he keeps improving and showing those levels, there is absolutely no question he is a player that can feature for his national team.\u201d<\/span><\/em>

\n<\/p>\n

It does seem rather basic to play players where they want to play, but surprisingly its all too common that they feature in other roles just to get them on the park. In general, its surely better to have a happy player in his preferred role than an unhappy player in a role he cannot do justice to ?<\/p>\n

It doesn’t always work, for instance Dorus de Vries still wants to play in goal, but on the whole, the reason a player is recruited by Celtic is because he has done well in a particular role, and it would make sense to keep him in that role.<\/p>\n

The exception that did work was Didier Agathe, bought for \u00a350,000 when he was playing up front for Hibernian, and converted to a wing back by Martin O’Neill.<\/p>\n

The praise for Armstrong also shows other fringe players that they are still in the managers thinking, and that hard work on the training ground will pay off.<\/p>\n

The manager has never shirked from dropping a player if they don’t perform, and has shown the reserves-for want of a better word-that they have to be ready when called upon.<\/p>\n

And the manager praised them for being ready,<\/p>\n

\u201cThe players that are not playing so regularly are not down,\u201d <\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u201cThey obviously want to play football but they go into every training session giving their maximum and that means the tempo and quality of our training is at high level.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cSo it allows them to go into a game at a difficult venue and help get a great result. It probably demonstrates the trust in the squad I have here. <\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cIt reinforces the professionalism. Because it\u2019s very easy to look after the ones that are playing but our job here as coaches and management is to ensure the players are not featuring so much fell very much part of it. That allows them to be motivated and committed to what we want to achieve this year.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cIf they are not working hard, not looking after their diet, not preparing themselves well, then you can\u2019t go into that game and make that many changes and play with that level of intensity. So it\u2019s a huge credit to them and how they are looking after themselves and resting and recovering and training.\u201d<\/span><\/em>

<\/p>\n

Eight changes was a lot, but the players did rise to the challenge, and prevented an upset. Lets be honest, during the game I couldn;t have been the only one nervously remembering the eight changes made by Martin O’Neill ahead of a cup game against Inverness…<\/p>\n

With the excetion of Partick, Celtic have now faced everyone in the league and we are already into the second round of matches. Two wins out of two against Ross County, and hopefully this weekend it will be two out of two against the side most experts expected to run Celtic a little closer for the title than they did last year.<\/p>\n

Last year, Aberdeen were consistent against the other sides in the league, but this time round, they have struggled to get going.<\/p>\n

Then again, this is Celtic’s strongest ever start in the top flight, a feat shared by “rangers “, although to be fair its also the Ibrox clubs first.<\/p>\n

Derek McInnes, who loves a good moan, spoke ahead of the upcoming Pittodrie clash…<\/p>\n

\u201cI think it is understandable that people believe Celtic will win the league,\u201d<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cI do feel that it is up to us and others to do all we can to make sure that isn\u2019t the case though. <\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cOnly a fool would say Celtic aren\u2019t going to win the league the way they have started the season but we all have responsibilities to make sure it is not too comfortable for them either.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cThey have little bits of doubt throughout the season and there is no better time than when you play them yourself. You can leave your mark on them and do damage to them by winning the game.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cThat is our intention for Saturday. I think that helped us stay with Celtic last season. I don\u2019t think they won the league until three games to go and us beating them twice here was a big part in that.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cYou look at leagues all over Europe and normally by Christmas there are one or two dominant teams who are stretching away from everybody else. That is how it is in most countries but for us to try and stay with Celtic it is going to be difficult.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cI have always said Celtic will need to have a poorer season by their standards for others to get close to them. They actually have improved and that makes the challenge more difficult but I don\u2019t think we should just roll over either.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cWe have a bit of pride in ourselves and we want to give them something to think about. The only time we can really do that is when we play them and hopefully we can do that on Saturday.\u201d<\/span><\/em>

<\/p>\n

He went on to largely talk about Celtic, which was either a sign he was very canny, and allowing his own players to just focus on the game, or it was just Derek being Derek and having a whinge;<\/p>\n

\u201cTheir attacking threat is definitely stronger but Toure\u2019s arrival has certainly helped them defensively. <\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

Denayer and Van Dijk were probably the best defensive pairing the SPL has had for a long time but they maybe never had the firepower at the time. <\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cLast year they were so reliant on Leigh Griffiths but now Sinclair looks like he can score 25 goals in the league this season. Dembele will score something like that as well and maybe more and Griffiths is still capable of that so you are probably talking between three players potentially 70 goals.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cIt doesn\u2019t sound too far-fetched and that is a lot to \u2028stop and I do think with Toure being there at centre-back it helps whoever he plays with be more solid.\u201d<\/span><\/em>

<\/p>\n

The tone of that article suggests that he is expecting to concede the \u00a0seventy goals , and presumably he was just getting his excuses in for that eventuality.<\/p>\n

The general bonhomie and feelgood factor was shared by police chief inspector Murray Main, who dropped his other last name , Creditor, when he found out there were hundreds of that name on court listings everywhere.<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u201cThe overwhelming majority of fans come to matches with their friends and family to enjoy the fixture, and they want to do so in a safe and secure environment.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cHowever, let me be clear that police and both clubs will deal with any anti-social behaviour in any form, and I can assure you that anyone who chooses to act in such an unwanted manner will be dealt with quickly and robustly.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cYou could be arrested and potentially appear in court. You could also be banned from future matches.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u201cI also want to remind fans that they should not drink alcohol in the street, in the stadium, or when travelling to and from the game.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cThose who attend the ground drunk will not be permitted entry into the stadium and may well be arrested.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cThe city centre is expected to be busier than usual with pay day weekend and those out for Halloween, so please bear this in mind when you are making your way through the centre of the city and act responsibly.\u201d \u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

He’s a bundle of laughs, isn’t he ?<\/p>\n

\"Chief<\/p>\n

Like most policemen, he probably spent his childhood pulling the wings of butterflies, the legs off spiders and the end off his willy.<\/p>\n

Though he did used to be in comedy, but the show he was involved in was a one joke series based around multiple predicatable characters, so he joined the police where even less humour was needed to be a success.<\/p>\n

\"Image<\/p>\n

At least, I think its the same guy.<\/p>\n

\n

Away from all that, and the big news yesterday surrounded Joey Barton, who was yet again suspended by “rangers ” \u00a0after talks with Mark Warburton seemingly broke down.<\/p>\n

No one commented afterwards, so as far as we can see, Level 5PR are just another company who have been told the cheque is in the post.<\/p>\n

A wee bit of good news, and Celtic’s return match with<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

will be shown free to all on BT’s Sport showcase.<\/p>\n

Four Four Two magazine has compiled a list of footballs Greatest teams, and Celtic 1965-74 come in at number fourteen, which is no mean feat considering it features international sides as well.<\/p>\n

four-four-two<\/a><\/p>\n

The wee write up it gives the side is quite good as well…<\/p>\n

It’s Friday again, and the weeks as well as the days appear to be getting shorter as we hurtle towards the festive season.<\/p>\n

For Etims Knob of the Week judges, though, its been a long week, as with every passing day someone, somewhere has thrown his hat into the ring to claim the coveted title.<\/p>\n

Speaking of hats, magic or otherwise, and one contender is Mark Warburton, for his comments about the gap between Celtic and “rangers ” , after his club were beaten on sunday in what he called a “nip and tuck ” game at Hampden.<\/p>\n

But even that wasn’t enough…<\/p>\n

Then there was the fellow who implied that Scott Brown was on drugs, simply because he was fitter than the “rangers ” players…<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

But even that wasn’t enough…<\/p>\n

Not when Josh Windass gets near a reporter….<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\n

Windass, formerly of Accrington Stanley, which is a non league football team and not a phone book listng for a northern English plumber has never played in senior league football before this season, and obviously doesn;’know how the points system works, as down at Accrington the games used to go on until the players mothers called them in for tea.<\/p>\n

But that still doesn’t excuse quite possibly the funniest article I’ve ever read about football<\/p>\n

So, josh Windass, take a bow, because against possibly the stiffest competition in the history of the award-well over a hundred years as we bought the history of another award- , because you should be a very proud man this morning.<\/p>\n

Etims Knob Of The Week.<\/span><\/h2>\n

\"Image<\/p>\n

Seems happy enough about it.<\/p>\n

Caption yesterday….<\/p>\n

\"Kodak<\/p>\n

And in this bit he says the gap is closing… \u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

Today….<\/p>\n

\"Image<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

This week, manager Brendan Rodgers gave Scott Brown a couple of days off and laughingly told him not to do anything stupid like he did…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":10184,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/etims.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/10\/scott-brown-brendan-rodgers-laughing-and-falling_3772733.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p2J7If-2Ee","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/etims.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10182"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/etims.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/etims.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/etims.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/7"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/etims.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=10182"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/etims.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10182\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":10185,"href":"https:\/\/etims.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10182\/revisions\/10185"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/etims.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/10184"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/etims.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=10182"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/etims.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=10182"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/etims.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=10182"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}