{"id":15286,"date":"2020-02-24T08:58:40","date_gmt":"2020-02-24T08:58:40","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/etims.net\/?p=15286"},"modified":"2020-02-24T08:58:40","modified_gmt":"2020-02-24T08:58:40","slug":"celtic-diary-monday-february-24-spring-is-in-the-air","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/etims.net\/?p=15286","title":{"rendered":"Celtic Diary Monday February 24: Spring Is In The Air"},"content":{"rendered":"

The relentless charge to nine in a row continued yesterday as Celtic overcame an early shock at home to Kilmarnock to pull together and complete a 3-1 win.<\/p>\n

Eamon Brophy drew a penalty from Jozo Simunovic and converted the kick to give the Ayrshire side an early lead, but Kris Ajer, Oddsone Edoaurd and Leigh Griffiths put away three of the numerous chances created by the hoops to move 12 points clear with not many games to go.<\/p>\n

Reluctantly, the BBC put up the league table…<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Image\"<\/p>\n

And asked their elite team of pundits to comment…<\/p>\n

\"Image\"<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Meanwhile, Celtic fans exiting the stadium and pubs yesterday had a certain spring in their step…<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Image<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

After the match, Neil Lennon, pictured above, had this to say…<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Image<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Then he spoke to the media..<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t want to talk about titles. I just want to talk about the game.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cThe title is a million miles away as far as we are concerned. We just want to concentrate on our affairs.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cSince the turn of the year we have been magnificent.\u00a0The fact we have won 10 domestic games says my team is very good.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t want to keep going on about mentality and stuff, but we have some outstanding footballers.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cThere was a lot of good football and the guys deserve a lot of credit.\u201d\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

He’s good, isn’t he ?<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Image\"<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

So, he talked about the game…<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u201cThe performance and the reaction to going a goal down pleased me most.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cI felt the first shouldn\u2019t have counted as Brophy was offside when he got the ball.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m delighted with them. Delighted with the quality and desire to get the ball back at times.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cI think this team is capable of creating good chances and has good belief in itself. There was a long way to go in the game and in the half, even, and I was absolutely thrilled to go in 2-1 up after the way we played in the last half-hour of the half.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cIn the second half, we were outstanding and I think some of our football was simply irresistible at times.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cKilmarnock are a good side and a difficult nut to crack, but we played very well, first of all from a sense of injustice from losing the goal.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cThere was real controlled aggression after that.\u201d\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

It does kind of look like Celtic are now in the home straight for the ninth successive title, an achievement that cannot be underestimated despite what the media will tell you.<\/p>\n

A level of consistency that has been attained despite having to pay all the tax on players wages, and at no time did the club die, rise or have endless banners telling us that we will come again.<\/p>\n

But wait…surely the SFA will do whatever it takes to stop this potentially historic moment from embedding itself in our memories ?<\/p>\n

After all, they have put so much hard work into it so far, with blind eyes , deaf ears and, er, refreshing ideas on the rules of the game, both on and off the park…so they must have something up their sleeves…<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

My theory ?<\/p>\n

My theory occurred to me yesterday when I saw this…<\/p>\n

\"An<\/p>\n

The BBC reported…<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Inter Milan’s home game against Sampdoria is among four Serie A fixtures on Sunday postponed over fears of the spread of coronavirus.<\/em><\/p>\n

The suspension was announced by Italian prime minister Giuseppe Conte at a news conference on Saturday.<\/em><\/p>\n

“Minister of Sport [Vincenzo] Spadafora intends to suspend all sporting events planned for Sunday in the Veneto and Lombardy regions,” Conte said.<\/em><\/p>\n

Torino v Parma, Verona v Cagliari and Atalanta v Sassuolo are also suspended.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

In a statement, European football’s governing body Uefa said it is “in touch with Inter and with local authorities on the matter and there is no further comment to be made at this stage”.<\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Even as I write this, the SFA will be in touch with Campbell Ogilvie, who has connections with UEFA, and no doubt they will be seeking a nod and a handshake that it will be okay to suspend all the Scottish league games until the threat of illness disappears.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Events years ago proved we weren’t paranoid enough, and as I draw the curtains in the living room to avoid anyone at the SFA looking over my shoulder and thinking ..<\/p>\n

\"Image<\/p>\n

don’t be at all surprised if thats this weeks big story.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Then again, there’s already a story in the pipeline.<\/p>\n

Alex Thomson may have a point, but he really should have widened his investigation and not used the Celtic support to sensationalise what is a sensitive and ongoing police investigation…<\/p>\n

Above\u00a0 a picture of Celtic Park, he tweeted last week ….<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n
\n
alex thomson<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n
<\/div>\n

✔<\/b><\/span><\/span>@alextomo<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
<\/div>\n

Famous for its noise. Now infamous for its silence. Is Scottish football dealing with its past paedophile rings generally? Is Celtic FC particularly? Special investigation with new evidence now being edited for @<\/span>Channel4News<\/span><\/a><\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

Silence, presumably if you don’t count a number of statements from the club indicating that they are dealing with it, maybe not to everyone’s liking, but they are certainly not being silent on the issue…<\/p>\n

Such as this, from a statement in November 2018..<\/p>\n

Allegations regarding abuse at Celtic Boys\u2019 Club first emerged in the 1990s. Although Celtic Football Club is an entirely separate organisation, we have always taken these allegations extremely seriously because of our historic contacts with Celtic Boys\u2019 Club. All investigations by the police and other inquiries were given our full support. We encouraged any individuals involved to report all information to the police so that matters could be investigated fully. Celtic Football Club continues to encourage any victim of abuse to report these crimes to the police.<\/em><\/p>\n

After the allegations became known in the 1990s, Celtic Football Club took steps to develop a new code of conduct and procedures to protect young people. Since then, Celtic Football Club has been at the leading edge of putting welfare and safeguarding protections in place for our young people. We were the first club in Scotland to appoint a safeguarding officer, developing policies for the protection of young people and monitoring and reviewing our procedures to ensure they continue to reflect best practice.<\/em><\/p>\n

The abuse of children is an issue affecting many areas of society, including a large number of football clubs, sports clubs, youth organisations, educational institutions and religious bodies across Britain.\u00a0Celtic Football Club strongly believes that children and young people involved in football have the right to protection from all forms of harm and abuse and is committed to ensuring this and to promoting their wellbeing through continued cooperation with our children and young people, parents and carers and the relevant authorities.\u00a0\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Whilst acknowledging the abuse, and having sympathy for the victims, the club now needs to go one step further and if there is to be silence publicly, let that be because they are offering support, both financially and therapeutically, to those who have been affected, without the need for further public redress, as that cannot possibly be in the interests of the well being of those affected.<\/p>\n

Maybe Thomson should have thought of that , but then again if he had, that would have nade him unique amongst a hungry media desperate to score points on what is an issue that needs to be dealt with sensitively.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Thomson said, but not to me;<\/p>\n

As regard our items, only one is about Celtic FC.<\/em><\/p>\n

Celtic\u2019s problem is on a bigger scale than any other club, any way you look. The club is also fighting tooth and nail to avoid its plain moral – and legal – responsibility – as I\u2019ll reveal.<\/em><\/p>\n

Celtic fans need first to accept this obvious fact: CBC was part of CFC .<\/em><\/p>\n

I sense you too have difficulty facing that truth. Once fans and the club do that, it follows that in a post-Weinstein and post-Man City world, Celtic\u2019s current stance and silence is repugnant<\/em><\/p>\n

Does that sound to you like he’s searching for a scapegoat to blame for an endemic historical problem ?<\/p>\n

Maybe i’m paranoid, maybe I’m wearing green tinted glasses, but the issue is much wider than Celtic Boys club, as abhorrent as those crimes were, as devastating as the effects on the victims were, and it seems like the club is being made out to be some sort of ringleader.<\/p>\n

In fact, it was those who perpetrated the abuse who built up a network of abuse, but they don’t have the money to compensate for the damage caused, and so the organisation that employed them is faced with the blame.<\/p>\n

We may also be on the point of spotting why the BBC aren’t particularly bothered about this line of enquiry…or, indeed, those at Westminster…\u00a0<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

That’s not to absolve Celtic of any blame, and they do have a moral if not legal obligation here, but I’d rather they went about it sensitively and out of the public eye.<\/p>\n

That way, we really would have a club like no other.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Speaking of clubs-or companies-like no other, there’s now a total collapse underway over at fledgling new club “rangers “, who haven’t quite got the hang of what it takes to be a successful sporting entity.<\/p>\n

Despite masive investment in their early years, and an admirable climb from their historic entry into senior football, which included at least one minor trophy and a couple of divisional titles, the leap to the top of the tree has thus far eluded them.<\/p>\n

Bringing in a rookie former under 18 coach as manager from now European champions Liverpool, who are also odds on to lift the English title since their protege left tells its own story, with Gerrard himself this week admitting he isn’t ready for the top\u00a0 Liverpool job quite yet.<\/p>\n

The new club is on the brink of collapse both on and off the field, and we hear that one man has already deleted his email account and cancelled his phone contract in order to get a new number…<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Image\"<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Gerrards days are numbered, his abject failure in nearly two years to build a side capable of sustaining a challenge for major honours has been noted and commented on by those rabid supporters that were even prepared to overlook his catholicism , so keen were they to stop Celtic..or anyone else…from domination.<\/p>\n

This is a crowd who once wore bread wrappers on their heads becuase they thought a man called Warburton would be their saviour.<\/p>\n

For a crowd so used to proclaiming the coming of a Messiah, they’re not very good at spotting the fakes.<\/p>\n

Then again, the media haven’t exactly fed them on a diet\u00a0 of reality.<\/p>\n

This week, the man who has never won a league title, either as player or manager, enters a decisive phase of his managerial career.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Should he exit the Europa League at the hands of a far superior Braga side who took their foot off the pedal at ibrox, and then couldn’t find it again afterwards, and exit the Scottish cup at a Tynecastle where the home side recorded one of very few wins this season against Gerrards side, then not only his “rangers ” career, but his entire managerial career could be over.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Already\u00a0 the signs are there that he can’t cope.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He has thrown so many players under the bus after a recent run of piss poor results that the vehicle can’t get out of the car park now due to being about four feet taller.<\/p>\n

It’s almost all over for him, and the new entity will no doubt go the way of the old one.<\/p>\n

Financial trouble is nothing new south of the river and for all the claims that its nonsense, try to buy a new top-this season’s -from the club store.<\/p>\n

That alone tells its own story.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

I couldnlt care less whether they survive or crash again, and neither should anyone else in Scottish football. With no sponsor now for the Cup as well as the league, and tv deals struck with firms such as Premier sports, where viewing figures number only in the dozens , shows that those in charge don;lt know what they are doing either.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Or of course, perhaps they were just blinded by their desire to keep Rangers alive, despite the diagnosis offered by anyone who looked at the carcass….<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

In the meantime, I’m off to work, and trust me on one more thing…<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

This coronavirus lark has led to a bit of panic buying. all sorts of tinned goods, toilet paper and other essentials are flying off the shelf.<\/p>\n

That’s one thing, and I refuse to be drawn into the brouhaha.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

However, on a serious note, perhaps we should stock up on something, as it will become scarce if things carry on the way they’re going….<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Image<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

On Friday, we had this…<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Image\"<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\n
Rob O’Keeffe<\/em><\/div>\n