{"id":2123,"date":"2013-02-26T10:46:03","date_gmt":"2013-02-26T10:46:03","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/etims.net\/?p=2123"},"modified":"2013-02-28T09:36:19","modified_gmt":"2013-02-28T09:36:19","slug":"celtic-diary-tuesday-february-26","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/etims.net\/?p=2123","title":{"rendered":"Celtic Diary Tuesday February 26"},"content":{"rendered":"

The substitution of Efe Ambrose just a few minutes before half time against Dundee has set tongues wagging and speculators speculating.<\/p>\n

Whilst manager Neil Lennon claimed it was due to fatigue, (presumably he was tired of Ambrose ignoring pre-match instructions) several papers, admittedly Mersey based have seen this as a sign he is out of favour at Celtic, and will be joining Liverpool in the summer, for \u00a36m. \u00a0The management team (pictured above) , are not thought to be taking it seriously<\/p>\n

Ambrose could well end up surplus to requirements, but its too soon to mention bids at this stage, as an Irish sports paper has.<\/p>\n

The manager is already looking ahead to the summer , for differing \u00a0reasons. Celtics Champions League campaign , this year featuring three qualifiers, will start in July, and with a lot of players going to be on international duty in June, he fears that some of them will be “burnt out” before the season gets underway.<\/p>\n

This means that a few fringe players will get a chance to impress as the season comes to an end, but Lennon won’t be standing still a he looks to make sure that the club is back in the group stages next year.<\/p>\n

His policy of buying young and selling on works to an extent, but recently he emphasised the importance of having a core of “Celtic minded ” players to help the new ones along, and retain some sort of stability. Brown, Ledley, Mulgrew Samaras and perhaps Commons seem to be his chosen few, although the new offers made to Rogne and McCourt suggest they have a future at the club. Even if Rogne has turned down the first offer.<\/p>\n

The game at Dundee saw Celtic face an ex keeper in Rab Douglas, and one or two sources, though not our regular drunk, suggest that tomorrow we will face a next keeper in Darren Randolph. Although the sensible money would be on him only joining if Forster heads south. Craig Gordon, now helping out with the training at Dumbarton, is too far gone with his dodgy knees to be expected to sign up, and unhappily for him, may not actually play again at a high level.<\/p>\n

If Ambrose is to be away, then Rami Gershon may soon find his loan deal being made permanent, and fellow new boy-who does look the part-Tom Rogic may be a ready made replacement for Victor Wanyama should he leave. Its difficult to see Beram Kayal hanging around for much longer, and the Miku experiment may well also be judged a failure, but Samaras, Watt, \u00a0Stokes and Lassad will get a chance to fill any gap left by Gary Hooper. Unless we get some one else in.<\/p>\n

But, like in the papers, its all ifs, buts and maybes.<\/p>\n

When Lennon was a player at Celtic, he said, more than once, that those who pledge a big part of their career to Celtic should be rewarded handsomely financially, and this may be the key to future contracts , with in built loyalty clauses, which of course , will give us a chance to attend farewell matches…<\/p>\n

One match that might be easier than previously thought to attend is the away leg in Turin. Juves official website has announced that tickets for the game are now on general sale.<\/p>\n

Don’t worry about being in with the away fans, they’ll probably change sides halfway through. (Stereotypical Italian joke inserted purely to raise a cheap laugh.)<\/p>\n

Speaking of laughter, the mystery of Rangers community singing has been solved . Billy McBiggot of Larkhall, who occasionally gets in touch, sent us this summary of events;\"rangers<\/a><\/p>\n

I think, deep down, we all knew it was something like that.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, Sevco Rangers boss Ally McCoist, who didn’t hear any songs, either on Saturday or in the previous year of his clubs existence, reckons a “safe “songsheet should be given to his clubs fans in order to leave them in no doubt what they can and cannot sing;<\/p>\n

“If that eradicates the problem, than I am all for it, absolutely all for it.” He said , desperate to avoid having to actually say anything that might upset his new club followers. Sevco have attracted a lot of followers of the old Rangers, mainly due to \u00a0the closing down of the old German Natioanal Socialist Workers Party, after an unsuccessful European campaign, and the reluctance of the Ku Klux Klan to have such extreme bigots in their ranks.<\/p>\n

McCoist continued;<\/p>\n

“It might seem like a drastic measure but if it helps…. I’d encourage it.” He then called the songs “unacceptable,” adding that “there is no place for them in a modern society”, in the part of the speech which was obviously scripted.<\/p>\n

The new club relies heavily on pandering to the supporters er, traditions, and with Chuckles Green travelling the world and playing to the gallery, its no surprise the stench of the old club is clinging to the new one.<\/p>\n

Instead of telling them to stop it, and threatening bans and prosecutions, Mccoist reckons a Janet and John book is a good idea. Absolutely frightening.<\/p>\n

Most papers claim they won’t be punished as a club for the singing, which is no surprise, but there may well be a few charges brought.<\/p>\n

One person who has emerged with a wee bit credibility is Rangers supporters chief John MacMillan, who wants bans and stiffer penalties, meaning \u00a0he won’t be able to open his own mail for a while, but fair play to him. At least he is trying.<\/p>\n

Sorry to go on about them at such a length, but with the Dual contracts issue due to be sorted this week, it may be worth keeping an eye out for the reactions, and an ear open for the implosion.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, the new Celtic scratchcard is on sale, promising a top prize of \u00a312,500 to celebrate 125 years of the club, as someone obviously put the comma in the wrong place on the original template.<\/p>\n

Which reminds me, hows that million pound crossbar challenge doing over at Ibrox….?<\/p>\n

The next top four scorers in the Premier league are Henrik Larsson, Derek Riordan, Scott MacDonald and John Hartson. All of whom played for Celtic, as indeed did the next one in the list, Kenny Miller. The latter also tops the charts for most misses when it would have been far, far easier to score list.<\/p>\n

Still with the SPL, Celtic look to wrap the league up early this year. SPL only, whats the earliest the club has done it before, games to spare wise?<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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