{"id":11278,"date":"2017-05-18T08:27:30","date_gmt":"2017-05-18T07:27:30","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/etims.net\/?p=11278"},"modified":"2017-05-18T08:27:30","modified_gmt":"2017-05-18T07:27:30","slug":"celtic-diary-thursday-may-18-partick-pedro-and-taking-the-p","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/etims.net\/?p=11278","title":{"rendered":"Celtic Diary Thursday May 18: Partick, Pedro and Taking The P"},"content":{"rendered":"

Celtic make the short trip across the city tonight to play Partick Thistle, and whilst the game is merely a chance to keep everyone on their toes ahead of the cup final, its worth noting that the side are just one goal short of the 100 league goal figure, three points shy of the clubs best ever total and Partick are one of the few sides to have taken points off the hoops this season.<\/p>\n

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Any chance of the Celts taking it easy ?<\/p>\n

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Thistle manager Alan Archibald gave the now obligatory statement about not being overly concerned about stopping the unbeaten Celtic run…<\/p>\n

“It would be a massive three points. We just want to sign off with three points in one or two of our last games.<\/em><\/p>\n

“We have got in the top six and not won a game and that has been hugely frustrating, so it is more about our pride.<\/em><\/p>\n

“We are not really interested in stopping Celtic in terms of that [unbeaten domestic run], it is more about three points and giving our fans something to cheer about for the end of the season.”\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

No wonder no one has beaten Celtic this season. Every time a manager is asked they always say they aren’t thinking about being the first to beat the six times champions.<\/p>\n

One would think that as a motivational tool the desire to be the first would be at the front of any team talk.<\/p>\n

I remember as a young man being delighted once when a young maiden said I was to be first, a feeling shattered when another fellow said “thats not fair, you were first last night ”<\/p>\n

Much to the disappointment of Diary readers, I’m here all week.<\/p>\n

Keiran Tierney added a wee bit of praise for Partick,<\/p>\n

“They are one of the teams that try to play, they play from the back and they have some good players so it will be a tough game.<\/em><\/p>\n

“They deserve their top-six finish and the last time we played them the gaffer said they were one of the better teams in the league.”\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

So, will it be a full strength side ?<\/p>\n

Well, Scott Brown is back from his suspension\/holiday\/week on the piss , so he will start.<\/p>\n

After that, it probably depends on what sort of mood Brendan Rodgers is in when he picks up his pen and pad to list the team.<\/p>\n

Liam Henderson was mentioned after the game at Aberdeen as one who needed to get a run out, so there’s a chance Stuart Armstrong won’t feature.<\/p>\n

Christian Gamboa could also get a start, whilst the need for a farewell appearance from Emilio Izaguirre has been removed with the popular and capable honduran adding another year to his contract.<\/p>\n

Kris Commons ?<\/p>\n

If he is going to say tatty bye before he makes the short trip to join the Lennon Lions , then its more likely to be against Hearts on Sunday.<\/p>\n

Moussa Dembele is back in training, but won;t feature, which means Leigh Griffiths has two games to make sure that the young Frenchman isnt considered for the final no matter how fit he is.<\/p>\n

If you are heading to the bookies, then Griffiths is a good bet to score first.<\/p>\n

And second, and probably third.<\/p>\n

With the Celts racking up plenty of goals since the split, tonights game should be no different.<\/p>\n

Do 4-1, 5-1 and 6-1 to cover your bet.<\/p>\n

But don’t come complaining to me when it finishes 1-0.<\/p>\n

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As the league stutters to a close after an entertaining and thoroughly enjoyable campaign, the spotlight fell on Pedro Caixinha and his “rangers ” side, who faced aberdeen at Ibrox last night.<\/p>\n

Whilst the game had no bearing on how the table will finish, except in Pedro’s little fantasy league, where only the last six or seven games count, and he can buy players, build new stands and enjoy a credit line from the bank, the pressure was on the Portuguese Pep to back up his claim that Aberdeen were a side on the way down.<\/p>\n

The dons duly won 2-1, their first win against “rangers ” in two attempts at the ground the club ought from Rangers for a knock down price-mainly because thats the only thing that can be done with the place, for safety reasons- which confused the portion of the support the new club inherited from the now defunct previous entity.<\/p>\n

You see, they thought they were unbeaten in twenty six years and considerably more games than that, which is another example of them trying to cling to a history that ended somewhat abruptly in 2012.<\/p>\n

When they struggle with the basics, its not entirely surprising they struggle with more complex issues, such as running a successful football club.<\/p>\n

Still, its all new to them, and they will probably get better at it.<\/p>\n

Caixinha, however, appears to have lost the plot, more or less in the same way that his predecessor Mark Warburton did..<\/p>\n

It all started the last time the two met, when Aberdeen boss Derek McInnes didn’t invite his ibrox counterpart into his office for a drink.<\/p>\n

Pedro explains..sort of..<\/p>\n

\u201cI was just saluting him and saying I didn\u2019t understand the reason why he invited me to be received in his office and didn\u2019t show up at the previous match.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cSo I said that if you didn\u2019t show up in the previous match, you are definitely not welcome to come to my office.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cIt is a question of respect. If I am not being respected then, please, don\u2019t show up.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cIf he didn\u2019t show up and I waited more than 15 minutes, what do you call that? What do you call that?<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cI am a guy who came here to do my job. I know I am maybe the only foreigner but I have already passed through this situation in Mexico so I am used to it.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cBut I am here to win and here to defend this club.\u201d\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cNo, Rangers need to feel very proud. Because this is a club that has travelled all the way from the bottom to the Europa League.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cThey should be proud of what they have done along these five years.\u201d\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

Absolutely right. Its the previous 140 or so they should be embarrassed about.<\/p>\n

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And in the past, they must remain…<\/p>\n

Though the future does look a little better for them, as West Belfast Tim spotted when he spotted Martin Waghorn modelling next seasons away kit..<\/p>\n

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The comedy at Ibrox was summed up magnificently by a wistful tweeter..<\/p>\n

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Short Term Loan<\/strong>\u200f\u00a0<\/span><\/span>@havingamedical<\/b><\/span><\/a><\/p>\n
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