{"id":3441,"date":"2013-08-27T11:05:40","date_gmt":"2013-08-27T10:05:40","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/etims.net\/?p=3441"},"modified":"2013-08-27T11:05:40","modified_gmt":"2013-08-27T10:05:40","slug":"celtic-diary-tuesday-august-27","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/etims.net\/?p=3441","title":{"rendered":"Celtic Diary Tuesday August 27"},"content":{"rendered":"

Lets get the negative stuff out of the way first. \u00a0Theres a big game coming up, so , as usual, half the team are getting sold, the other half are injured and its all the fault of the management and the board. Oh, and we haven’t signed anyone because the club is crap, the league is crap and its always bloody raining.<\/p>\n

See, I’ve just saved you five bob or whatever it costs to buy a newspaper.<\/p>\n

Fraser Forster is the subject of an ” undisclosed ” bid from Benfica, who haven’t got any money, and presumably haven’t seen him lately.<\/p>\n

Despite the fact that the manager has said no more key players are leaving, the press won’t let up. They seem to be trawling the web for the remotest links and splashing them all over the back page. Forster himself was reminded a month or so ago he has gone from Newcastle reserve to England squad member within his time at Celtic.<\/p>\n

Many years ago, Scotland had qualified for the finals of a major tournament before England had, and I was terrified then that the English would fail to go through, meaning the full attention of their press would be focussed on the Scots.<\/p>\n

Theres a similar scenario in Scotland just now. With only one big club around, the press have to find as many stories as they can about them, to try to maintain interest in the game.<\/p>\n

There used to be another big club, but it died, and the papers don’t seem to be to bothered about an inquest.<\/p>\n

Alfred Finnbogasson keeps scoring goals, and the hesitancy of the Celtic board in paying what his club Heerenveen want will backfire spectacularly should Celtic fail to overcome Shakter Karagandy tomorrow night. With Teemu Pukkis club Schalke playing hardball as well, it seems that Lawwells stubbornness could cost the club millions in lost UCL revenue, and whilst we all figured we should have enough in the tank to beat the Khazaks, it turns out it wasn’t about the fuel, but the chassis which needed looking after.<\/p>\n

Lawwell himself , to stave off criticism, has simply rang Dudu Dahan and asked him if he knows anyone who wants a game of football.<\/p>\n

\"Nir<\/p>\n

The agent sent back this picture of 6 foot five defensive midfielder Nir Biton, which set the old pulse racing. He is a former team mate of Efe Ambrose at Ashdod;<\/p>\n

\u201cOf course I would be interested in a move to a big European\u00a0club<\/a>\u00a0like Celtic.<\/p>\n

\u201cI know a bit about them because my friend Efe Ambrose moved there last year.<\/p>\n

\u201cI have spoken to him quite a few times and he has told me that Celtic is a very good club and Scotland is a great place.<\/p>\n

\u201cI know how big a club they are and it is flattering to be linked with a club like Celtic.\u201d<\/p>\n

Other than that, its either Billy Sharp or Kevin Doyle.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The six UCL games have clearly taken it out of the players. They look tired, probably because they are tired, and need inspiration, they need to be running on pure adrenaline tomorrow, which is where the crowd must play its part.<\/p>\n

However, Shakhter midfielder Roger Canas is quite confident;<\/p>\n

\u201cAfter the draw Celtic were favourites to reach the next round.<\/p>\n

\u201cNow the picture has changed and I think it\u2019s 70-30 in our favour.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur aim is to score one goal in Glasgow and put huge pressure on Celtic.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt would be an enormous error to play an ultra-defensive style because we would concede the ball to Celtic which is very dangerous.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis Shakhter team has a lot of courage and we are so close to our dream.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are obliged to prove the match in Karagandy wasn\u2019t lucky. We have to show why we managed to win 2-0. We plan to go without fear. This is the most important match in our history, we cannot fail.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe know it\u2019ll be a tough match and more difficult than the first. The atmosphere will be intense against us and that will be the main obstacle.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe key is to avoid nerves and stay calm for 90 minutes. Celtic will attack us at the start but we need to handle that situation.<\/p>\n

\u201cTwo goals are important in Europe, it\u2019s a good advantage to have. But the tie isn\u2019t decided just yet.<\/p>\n

\u201cCeltic need goals and we have to defend against that. Every minute that passes at 0-0 will bring us closer to qualification.<\/p>\n

\u201cCeltic have all the history in Europe. We are unknown. But after Wednesday night all of Europe will know about Shakhter Karagandy.\u201d<\/p>\n

One of our midfielders, the fragile Beram Kayal will miss the game after he was hurt against Inverness, he tweeted;<\/p>\n

“MRI has been done. Need to be out for two weeks unfortunately.”<\/p>\n

Another one of our midfielders, Joe Ledley, gave possibly the most honest appraisal of how things stand;<\/p>\n

\u201cI still think we have a fantastic squad here.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe have brought in some good players and have kept a lot from last season.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere have been only two or three changes.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere are definitely no excuses. We played games without Gary last season, including winning against Barcelona.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe had other wins without Victor and the same without Kelvin. So there are no excuses.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe just need to go out and perform. It\u2019s going to be difficult to get the win we need but we are positive.\u201d<\/p>\n

If you can sort of hum the theme from “Rocky ” while you read that, its even more effective.<\/p>\n

There is good news for the Khazaks though, as the Daily Record claims that at the Radisson Blu hotel, where they are staying, lamb is on the menu and they won’t have to slaughter one before the game. Animal rights campaigners, claimed the Records Keith MacLoed , were outraged at the killing in Astana, but presumably they’ll be much happier it was killed humanely over here.<\/p>\n

The lamb itself was unavailable for comment.<\/p>\n

Its also worth mentioning that any interference with the Khazaks sleeping habits whilst they stay at that hotel is completely unacceptable and the sort of behaviour that should not be associated with Celtic or its supporters.<\/p>\n

But if anyone needs a lift give me a shout.<\/p>\n

We are probably all a little nervous ahead of the game. Actually we are a lot nervous before the game.<\/p>\n

The combination of a high speed game and an excited crowd may prove too much for the Khazaks. The thing is , we have to make sure it is.<\/p>\n

Wayne slob from the Harry Enfield show, Ivor Biggun, who had a novelty record about winking, called the winkers song, and the noise made by those who are asleep in cartoons led us to Wayne Biggins, who joined Celtic after a free scoring time at Stoke. I’d seen him down here, and was convinced he was a better bet than Gordon Durie, who had just signed for Rangers at the time. And his debut at Airdrie proved that I know nothing about football whatsoever.<\/p>\n

Today, mull over this one;<\/p>\n

\"\"\u00a0\"\"\u00a0\"\"<\/p>\n

And while you are doing that, drift off \u00a0into the past with this squad, which will form the Celtic XI in Stilian Petrovs charity game next month;<\/p>\n

Tom Boyd
\nMomo Sylla
\nTosh McKinlay
\nJackie McNamara
\nJoos Valgaeren
\nBobo Balde
\nHenrik Larsson
\nMorten Wieghorst
\nChris Sutton
\nPierre Van Hooijdonk
\nJorge Cadete
\nTommy Johnson
\nBrian McClair
\nBobby Petta
\nMartin Compston
\nDidier Agathe
\nNeil Lennon
\nRab Douglas
\nStevie Graham
\nWarren Brown
\nLubo Moravcik
\nJohan Mjallby<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

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

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