{"id":15293,"date":"2020-02-26T09:01:50","date_gmt":"2020-02-26T09:01:50","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/etims.net\/?p=15293"},"modified":"2020-02-26T09:01:50","modified_gmt":"2020-02-26T09:01:50","slug":"celtic-diary-wednesday-february-26-meltdown-imminent","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/etims.net\/?p=15293","title":{"rendered":"Celtic Diary Wednesday February 26: Meltdown Imminent"},"content":{"rendered":"

European football returns tomorrow to the city of lights, and Celtic can be reasonably confident of making it through to a second post Christmas\u00a0 knockout round for the first time since the heady days of Martin O’Neill.<\/p>\n

Of course, heady days are now banned at training sessions for kids as it has been linked to brain damage in footballers in later life.<\/p>\n

Actually, studies have revealed that the problem may be more serious than first thought, after academics watched Charlie Nicholas offering his opinions on Sky TV.<\/p>\n

Copenhagen are in town and with Celtic having held on for a draw over in Denmark, and pleased the locals so much that city police were seen waving tear stained hankies and wishing fond farewells at the airport on Friday morning.<\/p>\n

It’s good to make friends, but i still think we should turn the hot water in the away dressing room off, and maybe pop a toaster or two into the bath.<\/p>\n

We might need all the help we can get.<\/p>\n

Scott Brown is doubtful and the team does rather rely on his leadership if not silky skills.<\/p>\n

Calum MacGregor still hasn;t finished laughing at reports linking him with Leicester city and may require rib surgery.<\/p>\n

James Forrest has a calf strain but should be okay.<\/p>\n

Leigh Griffiths has a niggling injury but won’t say anything in case he’s misheard and ends up on a charge of racism.<\/p>\n

Jozo Simunovic and\u00a0 Nir Biton aren’t injured yet, but there’s still that difficult journey to the ground to negotiate.<\/p>\n

Ryan Christie is suspended, again, his total of games missed suspensions now edging closer to his total of goals scored.<\/p>\n

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Fingers crossed for tomorrow, it might be a little more exciting than we’d like.<\/p>\n

That sort of thing can happen.<\/p>\n

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All in all, there should be enough in the squad to handle the occasion, and the simple fact is that if Fraser Forster plays like Fraser Forster can, then Celtic will be in the draw on Friday morning.<\/p>\n

Speaking of the big man, he’s apparently said he’ll take a pay cut to join Celtic on a permanent deal, which is admirable.<\/p>\n

Wait till Peter tells him exactly how much that pay cut will be…<\/p>\n

We’re more likely to invest in Fraser’s pal.<\/p>\n

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there’s been some amusing tittle tattle emerging from the other side of the river as the Ibrox support look for excuses to explain their sudden collapse on the pitch.<\/p>\n

Whilst it’s clear something is wrong, and we are aware of some kind of breakdown between management and staff, it’s probably fair to say that most of what follows is completely made up, but quite funny.<\/p>\n

And we should know about making things up…<\/p>\n

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First, the most ridiculous…<\/p>\n

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Then there’s this..<\/p>\n

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Which is only slightly more credible.<\/p>\n

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This sounds more likely….<\/p>\n

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Whats more likely is that tonight, when they play Sporting Braga in Portugal, there may be cause to move this oversized fan ….not that sort….to Govan to cope with the all the shit thats about to hit…<\/p>\n

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Pundit Michael Stewart is back on the BBC.<\/p>\n

If selected, when available, if fit etc…<\/p>\n

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Look at the headline in the Evening times…<\/p>\n

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Michael Stewart\u2019s BBC suspension lifted after Jim Traynor Rangers rant<\/h1>\n

Michael Stewart\u2019s indefinite BBC hiatus has been ended after the broadcaster revealed he had agreed to adhere to their code of conduct.<\/em><\/p>\n

Am I the only one who sees that as a narrative that he’s been forgiven for doing something wrong ?<\/p>\n

A spokesperson for the Beeb said: \u201cFollowing Sportsound on Monday, February 3 we have clearly explained the BBC editorial guidelines around fairness and accuracy to Michael Stewart.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cWe expect our pundits to be forthright, but fair. Michael agrees with this. On that basis, Michael is now available for selection for Sportscene and Sportsound.\u201d\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

I thought he was perfectly forthright and fair.<\/p>\n

The code of conduct is, of course, complete bollocks. All this about Traynor not being there to defend himself falls apart upon comparison with other pundits giving their opinions on other people.<\/p>\n

It’s just that it happens to be Tubby tum tum that they’ve offended this time, and one has to wonder about the speed Stewart was initially dealt with, and who might have had a story about them in the papers that they’d rather not read….<\/p>\n

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Stewart\u00a0 did nothing wrong, of course, but point out that the Fat Controller has too much control, and despite claims that “rangers ” wanted to sack him, they actually can’t, as he doesn’t work directly for them.<\/p>\n

He’s merely a consultant, but a consultant with an enormous black book that prevents the Ibrox side…and possibly even other clubs….from removing him from the scene.<\/p>\n

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Which, as we discussed yeatsterday, might also explain the remarkable climbdown by Celtic once they’d tried to defend their brand.<\/p>\n

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The Scottish sun showed their investigative prowess yesterday, when there was a change of name at the old Murray Park.<\/p>\n

Again.<\/p>\n

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And then…<\/p>\n

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The Sun said:<\/p>\n

PITCH PUZZLE\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Rangers mystery as name of kit suppliers Hummel disappears from name of training centre<\/h1>\n

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It’s not really a mystery. Hummel ditched the Ibrox club\/company last week in an under-reported statement.<\/p>\n

Not a mystery at all.<\/p>\n

And it’s not fucking Rangers either.<\/p>\n

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All of that adds up to a meltdown on the way over there, just as there seems to be a star gaining ascendency in the east.<\/p>\n

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Yesterday, we had this…<\/p>\n

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Two runners up,\u00a0 of equal quality…<\/p>\n

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Charlie Saiz<\/em><\/div>\n