{"id":18213,"date":"2023-02-09T07:51:29","date_gmt":"2023-02-09T07:51:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/etims.net\/?p=18213"},"modified":"2023-02-09T07:51:29","modified_gmt":"2023-02-09T07:51:29","slug":"celtic-diary-thursday-february-9-the-price-we-pay","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/etims.net\/?p=18213","title":{"rendered":"Celtic Diary Thursday February 9: The Price We Pay"},"content":{"rendered":"

Celtic manager Ange Postecoglou is expected to make a statement about his future later. We’ve been handed the draft.<\/p>\n

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” Leeds ? Isn’t that what you put on your dog ? Don’t talk shite, mate. ”\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

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I’m not even going to repeat the oft quoted mantra about him inevitably leaving for the EPL one day. Instead, I’m going to repeat my own view, which is that he wants to build his own team, and manage the first Asian team to win the European Cup.<\/p>\n

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A project he has already started and his own single minded determination will see that through.<\/p>\n

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That project took another step yesterday when want away striker Georgios Giakoumakis finally got his move. The ambitious Greek has signed for Atlanta United in the USA, for reasons best known to himself.<\/p>\n

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We got him cheap, for whatever reason, and he did well while he was here, scoring 26 goals in 52 matches, mostly from the bench against tired defences.<\/p>\n

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That might sound harsh, and the one up front strategy means he rarley got the chance to play alongside Kyogo Fuhruhashi, which may well have been a devastating frontline, but their inclusion would have excluded either Jota or Maeda, both of whom contribute much more to the team.<\/p>\n

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What was also telling was his instagram farewell….<\/p>\n

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“Well, that difficult time has arrived!\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

“It was an incredible journey! I loved and was loved by the incomparable, amazing Celtic fans!<\/em><\/p>\n

“Thank you very much! You will forever be in my heart and mind!<\/em><\/p>\n

“I will be forever grateful to you! Goodbye\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

Your GG\u00a0\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

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No mention of the manager or his team mates……<\/p>\n

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We wish him well.<\/p>\n

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Celtic face St mirren in the Cup this weekend, and somewhat ludicrously, the game is one of only two which will use the controversial VAR system.<\/p>\n

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Gavin Berry in the Record explains…..<\/p>\n

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VAR will be in operation at just two of the four Scottish Cup ties involving host Premiership clubs this weekend after Dundee United and Livingston failed to stump up the cash for the technology.<\/em><\/p>\n

Celtic<\/a>\u00a0and holders\u00a0Rangers<\/a>\u00a0will both have\u00a0VAR<\/a>\u00a0at their respective last-16 ties against St Mirren and\u00a0Partick Thistle.<\/a>\u00a0However, it will not be operational at any of the other eight fixtures taking place. The technical infrastructure isn\u2019t in place at lower league grounds and the cost is prohibitive to install it for a one-off tie.<\/em><\/p>\n

But it IS in place at both Tannadice \u2013 where the Tangerines take on Kilmarnock in an all-Premiership clash \u2013 and the Tony<\/em>
\nMacaroni Arena where Livi take on Inverness. But the clubs involved have opted against using VAR for those fixtures with the cost around \u00a310,000 which it is left to the clubs to agree on how to foot that bill. VAR was introduced in October with the \u00a31million-plus fee per season shared around the clubs to cover Premiership matches. The SFA cover the costs of the technology for Viaplay Cup and Scottish Cup semi-finals and final at Hampden.\u00a0\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

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\"Whoa<\/p>\n

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We’re paying them to cheat us ?<\/p>\n

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Helpfully, I’ve prepared a statement for Celtic to give to the SFA.<\/p>\n

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\"Hey,<\/p>\n

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I can understand our neighbours over the river paying for it, in fact they’ve probably registered it as a player, but one has to ask of the Celtic board …<\/p>\n

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\"YARN<\/p>\n

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We might as well offer to make the Cup a handicap event, giving the opposition a couple of goals head start.<\/p>\n

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Sometimes I genuinely wonder if those who run our club hold a monthly meeting during which they think up ways to piss me off.<\/p>\n

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\"Yes<\/p>\n

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Well, you can tell them it’s working.<\/p>\n

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Anyway, when i’m pissed off i always find it cheers me to laugh at those less fortunate than myself, and today is no different…<\/p>\n

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GrandOLTeam<\/span><\/span><\/em><\/div>\n
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@JBLuvsCeltic<\/span><\/em><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\u00b7<\/span><\/em><\/div>\n