Celtic travel to Tynecastle tonight with another opportunity to put a little daylight between themselves and the chasing pack. Hearts, probably the only team who can’t go top if we lose, have the second best defensive record in the league at the moment, behind \u00a0Celtic, and with neither team scoring for fun, then a low scoring game is on the cards.<\/p>\n
Celtic , though, judging by the twitter missives, have circled the wagons and might just come out fighting. Incredibly, with Christmas just around the corner, only one point separates the top five teams in the league table, making it the most competitive league in Europe. Armageddon is taking a while to surface.<\/p>\n
Neil Lennon spoke to the press yesterday, and said:<\/p>\n
“If the support are unhappy with what they see and voice their displeasure then we’ll review the situation. But that comes with results. We are not happy with our league form but we are progressing. We are still in all four competitions and are top of the league, albeit not playing as consistently as I’dlike in the league. We have a really good game to get our teeth into tomorrow (he means tonight, but was speaking yesterday. At least, I hope so.) so we just need a wee bit of patience.<\/p>\n
However, that is something you don’t always get at big clubs and I understand that. Fans are allowed to voice their displeasure but at times I am allowed to voice mine as well.” He was referring here to his frank and full discussion with a supporter or two at the Inverness game.<\/p>\n
He continued;<\/p>\n
“do I regret it? Of course. I think the guy who was in the photograph (see headline pic) \u00a0was not the main protaganist of it all. He was trying to defuse the situation so i apologise to him if he’s had a bad couple of days. This is not something i want to do, but if its unjustified I will voice my opinion. I wasn’t getting any stick personally , it was directed towards the team, but I was defending them as they had given me everything.”<\/p>\n
Except three points and a decent performance.<\/p>\n
The spat is getting way more publicity than it deserves, so yesterday Anthony Stokes, the striker who has been injured for what seems like years, went to the funeral of an IRA man over in the old country, and thankfully the Daily Record have him on the front page, which cunningly deflects from the Lennon fan row story. Twin goalkeeper Andy Goram, an expect in Scottish-Irish relations hasn’t commented yet, but probably will.<\/p>\n
Back to tonights game, and Charlie Mulgrew has a virus, and Paddy Mccourt banged his leg against the bench on saturday, when he fell off surprised that he was getting game time, so bth are doubtful for Celtic. Kelvin wilson should be fit, but Emilio Izzagurre will have to wait until Saturday for his return.<\/p>\n
Hearts will have the wonderfully named Kevin McHattie on standby, as Jamie Hamill has a dodgy knee.<\/p>\n
Celtic have joined forces with website YouTube-yes, its a website, not what Lennon shouted to a fan- to launch the official Celtic FC channel, where footage of old games, training sessions and other related stuff can be viewed. There are some rarieties on there, and it looks promising.<\/p>\n
Gergios Samaras said;<\/p>\n
“Theres so much great Celtic content-exciting matches, great goals, me falling on my arse.”<\/p>\n
Well, he didn’t say \u00a0the last bit, but there will be some of that. Its happened often enough.<\/p>\n
David Murray, the man who sent his beloved Rangers to an early grave, has issued a statement via his lawyers. Scotlands best businessman wants to know why all the information relating to his tax affairs became public. He wants the police to investigate and make arrests if wrongdoings have been committed in making the documents public, citing a breach of privacy. Interestingly, he isn’t going to sue anyone for wrong information, just wants the tell tale titties to be arrested, tried and presumably hung by the neck until such time as they are dead.<\/p>\n
From that we can gather that its true he took \u00a36m or so from his club via the EBT scheme, and when you consider the vilification of comedian Jimmy Carr for a similar avoidance scam, sorry, scheme, then its surprising that the press haven’t been on Murrays case a wee bit more.<\/p>\n
Actually, its not surprising at all. Especially with Anthony Stokes going to a funeral and Neil Lennon shouting at someone.<\/p>\n
Chuckles Green may have been quiet recently , but he’s been busy looking up old friends and making new ones. Greenock based bus tycoon , I can’t remember his name, but he’s done time for tax evasion. I did try to google it, but when I put in big bus tycoons something completely different came up. I’m not very good with computers.<\/p>\n
Green has maintained his line that Rangers will not compete in the SPL in its present form, and curiously the shouts of armageddon are still being heard on the eve of another meeting about reconstructing Scottish football before it all falls apart.<\/p>\n
The authorities in Scotland are beyond parody. Crowds are up, the league is fascinating and everyone is having a great time. Time for change then, because Rangers are not involved. Anyone else think its more fun because they are not involved? The answer, of course, is in the question.<\/p>\n
Speaking of questions, Paul McStays wee brother was indeed called Raymond, and most people got that right. Several sets of brothers have played in the green and white, but brothers playing opposite in what used to be called Old Firm games were much rarer. Thats because if someone in your family goes bad, they are usually sent to prison or to a relative in a distant farming community. The one this family sent to play for Rangers must have been doing more than pulling the legs off \u00a0spiders. Who were the \u00a0brothers playing opposite each other in this fixture \u00a0just a few decades ago?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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