{"id":12418,"date":"2018-01-22T08:07:05","date_gmt":"2018-01-22T08:07:05","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/etims.net\/?p=12418"},"modified":"2018-01-22T08:07:05","modified_gmt":"2018-01-22T08:07:05","slug":"celtic-diary-monday-january-22-cup-draw-goes-awry","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/etims.net\/?p=12418","title":{"rendered":"Celtic Diary Monday January 22; Cup Draw Goes Awry"},"content":{"rendered":"

Celtic will face Partick Thistle in the last sixteen of the Scottish cup.<\/p>\n

There were further accusations of ineptness aimed at the SFA after the draw not only handed Celtic a home tie, but should “rangers ” progress against Fraserburgh, they will have another away tie, their second in as many decades, as they will travel to Ayr.<\/p>\n

We live in strange times.<\/p>\n

Celtic will also face Partick on Wednesday, in the league, this time at Firhill, which is never an easy night out. The following Tuesday it’s Hearts at Celtic Park, part of the SPFL campaign to make Celtic face their closest rivals during the midweek, to discourage the non Glasgow based support from attending.<\/p>\n

There will be two games a week for a while yet, and we have to hope the players are up for it.<\/p>\n

As ever, the media are trying to sell them…Scott Sinclair will be relieved he hasn’t been forgotten by the hacks.. well, he won’t be when they see this, from the Transfer Tavern, which sometimes gets the date right.<\/p>\n

The Newcastle United fans in the Transfer Tavern are praying that the club invests some money this January because otherwise a relegation battle will commence. While Newcastle are currently safe, one or two injuries could see them slip back into the bottom three. Indeed, Rafa Benitez is most concerned by the lack of attacking options he has available to him.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

This is why he should make a swoop for Celtic star Scott Sinclair. Sinclair has resurrected his career since moving north of the border and he has impressed in green and white. The former Swansea City and Aston Villa man was the second top scorer in the Scottish Premiership last season, netting 21 goals for the Bhoys.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

That will do his confidence good. Part of the reason for his dip in form is that there has been no speculation about a move back south.<\/p>\n

In the meantime, could there be something in this.. ?<\/p>\n

Scottish Premiership leaders Glasgow Celtic are said to have an eye on a former Crystal Palace academy star who is now plying his trade in the seventh tier of English football, according to\u00a0The Independent<\/strong><\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n

Reise Allassani, now plying his trade for Dulwich Hamlet in the Bostik Premier League, three levels below League 2, was once seen as one of the hottest properties in English football \u2013 and reportedly is of interest to the Hoops.<\/em><\/p>\n

Having dominated the younger age levels while coming through the ranks at Selhurst Park, the powerful forward was called up to represent England at under-16 and under-17 level, where his teammates included the likes of Alex Iwobo, Joe Gomez and Ruben Loftus-Cheek.<\/em><\/p>\n

It appeared as though it was going to be just a matter of time before Allassani broke through at Crystal Palace. He was put on a lucrative professional deal to tie him to the club, but persistent and regular injuries set him back.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u00a0The reported Celtic target recovered from that low time to be on the fringes of a deal at Sheffield Wednesday in the Championship after impressing in a trial, but as he was closing in on agreeing a contract he tore his ACL which put him out of the game for a year.<\/em><\/div>\n

That sent the 22-year-old into non-league with Dulwich Hamlet, where he has 17 goals in just 16 matches this season. He has learned the physicality of football away from the top flight which is something that has helped his game immensely.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

Dulwich Hamlet is a football cub, and not a detective character from an episode of Miss Marple.<\/p>\n

As well as his scoring record, Celtic are believed to like the balance Allassani has, as well as a devastating turn of pace, not to mention his resilience and eye for the back of the net.<\/em><\/p>\n

Brendan Rodgers and his Bhoys scouting team have worked hard to spot the man, who was heading towards being another on the ever increasing list of players released by academies never to be seen in the professional game again.<\/em><\/p>\n

Worked hard to spot him ?<\/p>\n

\"Image<\/p>\n

There’s only him and the scout there.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Bad news for Tom Rogic, he’s going to be out for a couple of months after suffering a setback with his knee injury. That leaves the door open for Stuart Armstrong to …oh hang on, he’s out as well. Still, Patrick roberts will be back soon…maybe.<\/p>\n

Calum MacGregor , who keeps things simple, will fill the number ten role, but he lacks that extra creativity needed to play amongst the front line.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The bigger picture needs to be addressed here…why so many injuries ?<\/p>\n

Is it the training pitches ? Is it the training methods ?<\/p>\n

Are the ground staff up to it ?<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

The strains and pulls that seem to be endemic at Lennoxtown need to be investigated, there are too many too often for it just to be coincidence.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hey, if we need a new striker….<\/p>\n

RANGERS will demand a fee of around \u00a310million before they consider doing a deal for striker Alfredo Morelos.<\/em><\/p>\n

The Colombian was a \u00a31million recruit in the summer as Pedro Caixinha brought him to Ibrox on a three-year deal from HJK Helsinki.<\/em><\/p>\n

Morelos is top of the\u00a0Premiership<\/a>\u00a0scoring charts with ten league goals to his credit and is in front of the likes of\u00a0Moussa Dembele<\/a>, Leigh Griffiths and Scott Sinclair in the rankings ahead of the return to top flight action in midweek.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u00a0A number of Championship clubs have been tracking the 21-year-old\u2019s progress this term but\u00a0Rangers<\/a>\u00a0won\u2019t entertain any offer that doesn\u2019t meet their valuation of one of their most important players.\u00a0<\/em><\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
Ten million ? Well, I suppose they could ask…<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
The article appeared in the Evening Times, and was written by Chris “Union ” Jack.<\/div>\n
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\"Image<\/div>\n
It keeps the hordes happy, I guess.<\/div>\n
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<\/div>\n
As for keeping Celtic fans happy, thats a different matter. With a deal agreed-and therefore more or less done-for John McGinn, it was no surprise to see him do his best Young Scott Brown impression yesterday during the Edinburgh derby cup game..<\/div>\n
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\"Image<\/div>\n
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\u00a0Some would argue that his very appearance in that game negates any story of his move to Celtic.<\/div>\n
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Then again, its not like he did anything while he was out there….<\/div>\n
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Yesterdays picture…<\/div>\n
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\n
Monti<\/cite><\/span>\u00a0January 21, 2018<\/abbr>\u00a0at\u00a010:42 am<\/abbr><\/span>\u00a0\u00b7\u00a0Edit<\/span><\/a>\u00a0\u00b7\u00a0Reply<\/a>\u00a0\u2192<\/div>\n
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Caption: Herrera- \u201d Mr.Stein, do you not have a tie pin to keep your tie from blowing about\u201d?<\/em><\/p>\n

Jock \u2013 \u201d Don\u2019t you worry about that, this tie is going to be controlled from start to finish \u201c\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

The picture reminded me, for some reason of the tv show “Cracker “, where in one episode Robbie Coltrane keeps saying “Celtic ”\u00a0 “Celtic ” to a psychotic Robert Carlyle.<\/p>\n

But thats me, I suppose.<\/p>\n

Today…<\/p>\n

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

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And he has quickly become an integral part of the\u00a0Light Blues<\/a>\u00a0side in recent months as he has netted 12\u00a0times in 25 appearances.<\/em><\/p>\n