{"id":13807,"date":"2019-01-07T10:47:45","date_gmt":"2019-01-07T10:47:45","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/etims.net\/?p=13807"},"modified":"2019-01-07T10:47:45","modified_gmt":"2019-01-07T10:47:45","slug":"celtic-diary-monday-january-7-the-downright-stupid-season","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/etims.net\/?p=13807","title":{"rendered":"Celtic Diary Monday January 7: The Downright Stupid Season"},"content":{"rendered":"

The silly season is a term applied to the news vacuum that surrounds what is known as a quiet news period, which considering the transfer window is open, its a little surprising that the current news output has become more of a downright stupid season.<\/p>\n

The main story just now is the John Beaton nonsense.<\/p>\n

A story which appeared on the Press Association wire, with no verification, no direct quotes and thus presumably no substance, has grown arms and legs and like most lies is winging its way around the world , leaving the truth stumbling around trying to find its shoes.<\/p>\n

Its how the media works.<\/p>\n

The narrative today is not whether or not its actually true, but how shocking it is…<\/p>\n

There are several articles sympathetic to the referees, others wonder if they should go on strike, and there are even some who wonder if its worth being a referee at all, taking the line that without them we’d have no game to watch.<\/p>\n

All based on one PA puff piece, which still lacks a single piece of verification.<\/p>\n

Its escalating, as there are now retaliatory threats, and this time, there is a direct quote from the victim..<\/p>\n

Chris Sutton death threat shock as Celtic legend to meet cops over chilling message<\/h1>\n
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It’s understood police are treating the sinister message sent to The Daily Record columnist seriously.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

Sutton said;<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t want to go into any detail as this is a private matter and it is now in the hands of the police.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cSuffice to say, I have seen what\u2019s been sent and it wasn\u2019t a particularly pleasant thing to receive.\u201d\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

We can therefore deduce that he has received some sort of threat, as he’s told us he has.<\/p>\n

Compare and contrast that with the Beaton fiasco, and note also that Beaton has not confirmed the threat, and there is still, days later, no actual evidence or confirmation of it.<\/p>\n

Though , as Keith Jackson slipped into his article today, those abusive texts have morphed into death threats<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

But there are more and more instances of Beatons\u00a0 perceived bias coming to light..<\/p>\n

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\"\"budgie tweets<\/strong>\u200f\u00a0<\/span><\/span>@ourbrian<\/b><\/span><\/a>\u00a017h<\/span>17 hours ago<\/a><\/small><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n
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Q Slippy G made a statement bout Celtics winning goal at Celtic Park.<\/em><\/p>\n

He stated the 4th official was shouting for a foul in lead up.<\/em><\/p>\n

I thought it was referee & his 2 assistants that made decisions. What is 4th official there for ? I thought it was to monitor technical areas\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

As Boxer T<\/em> spotted, look who the fourth official was..<\/p>\n

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But\u00a0 whats most important here is that the\u00a0 the irresponsible reportage, from Andy Newport of the Press Association, has led to what appears to be a credible threat to a journalist.<\/p>\n

All because a cheat has been caught cheating, and there are several more examples of it leaping back into the spotlight.<\/p>\n

I wonder if that had occurred to him when he put his unsubstantiated claims on the wire…<\/p>\n

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Elsewhere, and it looks like we can welcome Timothy Weah to Celtic..<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

his contract has been extended at Paris St Germain, and that seems to have been part of the reason for the hold up. There is some confusion as to whether or not its a six or eighteen month loan, but he’ll be here to push for eight in a row, and at the moment thats the main thing.<\/p>\n

He joins Oliver Burke, on loan from West Bromwich Albion, who will be here for six months to strengthen an attacking line that had become rather lightweight of late.<\/p>\n

Burke can’t get a game for west Brom, he used to have the twitter address of Oliverburke55,\u00a0\u00a0<\/em>which hinted at an affection for a club no longer with us, but if you go on to you tube you’ll see him score a goal for Liepzig against “rangers ” and the first thing you will notice is how bloody quick he is.<\/p>\n

Actually, its here.. from this time last year as the Germans crushed “rangers” 4-0 in a friendly<\/p>\n

watch<\/a><\/p>\n

He won’t be the first player to don the hoops with a leaning towards our former rivals, and he won’t be the last. but he might be the one that makes a difference from now until May, and he should be given every bit of support to do that.<\/p>\n

Burke is only 21, and few of us were aware of that. He’s been around a bit and despite initial misgivings, has more than enough potential to make a mark at Celtic.<\/p>\n

Another who may be on the way is Honduran Alberth ellis, a versatile forward at Houston Dynamo. Thats Houston, Texas, not Houston Renfrewshire, where all the space rockets live.<\/p>\n

\u00a36m is the offer Celtic have apparently made, depending on who you believe, and the player wants to come.<\/p>\n

Stephen McGowan of the Daily Mail has said he isn’t coming , whilst those trusty ranch hands who send us emails, texts and whats app messages reckon he is.<\/p>\n

He certainly looks the part, but we’ll wait and see.<\/p>\n

There’s little sign of any incoming defenders though, but its only January 7, and despite rumblings that Peter and Brendan are rolling up bits of paper in the canteen and throwing them at each other, it appears that they have decided to be professional about things and get on with the job, and the word is still that its going to be a great transfer window, despite a few early teething problems.<\/p>\n

We’ll see.<\/p>\n

There is one rumour that appears to be a bit of a Murray ( no legs )<\/p>\n

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Craig Caffrey<\/strong>\u200f\u00a0<\/span><\/span>@craigcaffrey7<\/b><\/span><\/a><\/p>\n
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