{"id":3783,"date":"2013-10-18T10:47:48","date_gmt":"2013-10-18T09:47:48","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/etims.net\/?p=3783"},"modified":"2013-10-24T12:24:27","modified_gmt":"2013-10-24T11:24:27","slug":"celtic-diary-friday-october-18","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/etims.net\/?p=3783","title":{"rendered":"Celtic Diary Friday October 18"},"content":{"rendered":"

Having added another year on to my running total yesterday, my wife and sons decided that they would take me out for an All you Can Eat Chinese dinner, and the usual three hour session was cut short when I humourously arranged the lime jelly, the orange jelly and the vanilla ice cream on my plate and sang about the rangers dying.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

She had the tantrum, yet I’m the embarrassment ?<\/p>\n

She then suggested we re live our younger days by moving on to a club and “doing line after line ”<\/p>\n

Sod that. I hate conga dancing.<\/p>\n

We don’t go out together very often.<\/p>\n

Although there was a surprise for me when I got back-she did get me a stripper !<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Speaking of embarrassment, poor Roy Hodgson. The England manager is caught up in a second race storm this morning after he was heard to describe Kyle Walker as a white back.<\/p>\n

Scott Brown, Celtics captain, will be banned from the next three Champions League game. His naive and petulant we kick-which looked fairly innocent at the time, has caused shock and horror throughout the football world, causing UEFA to release this statement.<\/p>\n

“UEFA’s Control and Disciplinary Committee has suspended Celtic FC’s\u00a0Scott Brown\u00a0for the next three UEFA competition matches for which he would otherwise be eligible following his dismissal in the UEFA Champions League matchday two fixture against FC Barcelona in\u00a0Glasgow.”<\/p>\n

US president Barrack Obama has spoken of the callous and brutal attack and has offered the protection of his not inconsiderable armed forces should any team who has to face Brown feel that they need it. Especially if they have got any oil.<\/p>\n

Browns punishment is only according to the rules, but three games does seem a bit over the top-not as over the top as Neymars reaction-but over the top nonetheless. Celtic will appeal the decision, and the club have asked if anyone has a “Fuck Uefa ” t-shirt they can borrow.<\/p>\n

An appeal, though, could backfire, as a UEFA spokesman outlined;<\/p>\n

“If a club decides to appeal then the decision can be to reduce the punishment, keep it the same or even increase it,” he said.<\/p>\n

“The disciplinary panel have looked at the incident and decided that it should be bracketed as assault.<\/p>\n

“The sanction for that begins with a minimum of a three-game ban.”<\/p>\n

Celtics statement was short and to the point;<\/p>\n

“Celtic can confirm that they have received notification from Uefa of the sanction. The club finds this to be excessive and they will be appealing against the decision.”<\/p>\n

The words “the bastards ” were removed from the missive on the advice of the legal people.<\/p>\n

So, what now ?<\/p>\n

With the game against Hibernian in Edinburgh tomorrow comes a chance to try a couple of new ideas. James Forrest , when we checked this morning, is still fit, Joe Ledley is back in training, and Teemu Pukki is still adjusting to life in Scotland. It appears the game here has taken him a little by surprise;<\/p>\n

“People told me it wasn’t a good league but it is a good league.<\/p>\n

“It is not like the Bundesliga but it’s not so far away.<\/p>\n

“But I need a little bit more time to get into Scottish football and to get to know the guys here and for them to get to know me.<\/p>\n

“It always takes time when you go somewhere new but with time it will be good for me.<\/p>\n

“I hope I can do well on Saturday.”<\/p>\n

In that case, leave him out of the Ajax game, and stick with the lads who know each other. ~And perhaps arrange a game of bingo or something a couple of nights a week to bring everyone together.<\/p>\n

Big Amido Balde should be given a run out at Easter Road, as should Nir Bitton. With Beram Kayal lacking the discipline,and some might argue, the heart, then he will have to sit this one out. Though if he does play, he needs to up his game.<\/p>\n

Team for tomorrow ? ( 3-4 -1-2 )<\/p>\n

Forster<\/p>\n

Ambrose van Dijk Mulgrew<\/p>\n

Forrest \u00a0Bitton, Brown, Samaras<\/p>\n

Commons<\/p>\n

Stokes , Balde.<\/p>\n

It might also be an idea for Fraser Forster to kick the ball out to someone other than Samaras every now and again. That could \u00a0even explain why Boerrigter is looking \u00a0a little lonely on the few occasions he has played.<\/p>\n

Incidentally, word is that the big Greek hasn’t had his hair cut, and that the picture in the diary yesterday was a photoshop. So he should still be on form.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Hibernian manager Pat Fenlon is woried about the problems that Irish international Anthony Stokes will cause his team, which goes some way to explaining why his own side have struggled a bit this year;<\/p>\n

\u201cAnthony is a street footballer. His game is different, he is not methodical and to have that in your team is a great asset.<\/p>\n

\u201cDefensively he is difficult to tie down because he does things off the cuff.<\/p>\n

\u201cI just hope he doesn\u2019t get the chance to show what he\u2019s got against us this weekend.\u201d<\/p>\n

Tongue in cheek, Fenlon added: \u201cIt was brilliant to see him back for Ireland over the weekend but I was hoping he\u2019d pick up an injury and be ruled out for Saturday.\u201d<\/p>\n

Someone who is celebrating his birthday today is Lee Tomlin, of Peterborough, and he has spoken of that day at the end of the transfer window when he heard that Celtic were in for him…..<\/p>\n

\n
\u201cI woke up that Saturday morning and as usual I couldn\u2019t wait for the game.\u201cBut then my phone rang and I was told that Celtic had bid \u00a31.2 million for me. I rang the Gaffer straight away, but he hadn\u2019t heard anything about it so I got into the car and started driving to the game.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut all I could think of on the way was what the move would do for me and my family. It was a move that would change everyone\u2019s life. It was all I could think about as this was a team I\u2019d supported as a boy and when I got to the ground I had a meeting with the Gaffer.<\/p>\n

\u201cI told him I couldn\u2019t think straight because of what was going on, but he straight away told me to forget it as the bids weren\u2019t big enough and that I wouldn\u2019t be going anywhere.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat was hard to take, but I said I\u2019d play as usually when I step on a football pitch I can forget about anything. This was different though and I was pulled off at half-time.<\/p>\n

\u201cI could understand why as I wasn\u2019t playing the best, but even sitting in the stand I was hearing stuff about the bids increasing to \u00a31.6 million and then \u00a32.1 million and I thought that was great money for the club considering I only cost them \u00a3150,000.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis was something I\u2019d dreamt of and I just thought the manager was being horrible towards me. We had a big row and I told the manager I\u2019d never play for him again.<\/p>\n

\u201cOne of my problems was people telling me I was better than other players. I\u2019d seen Mclean go, Mackail-Smith go, Boydy go and then Gayley went and he\u2019d only been at the club six months.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut then I started to think that if Gayley could get a move after such a short time at the club, there was still time for me to get where I want to be.<\/p>\n

\u201cOn the Monday morning I turned up for training and apologised to the manager. He knew I\u2019d said stuff in the heat of the moment so there was no problem with us.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt wasn\u2019t going to do my career any good by refusing to play anyway. It took me a good couple of months to get over it, but I want to help the club get back into the Championship.<\/p>\n

\u201cI still have dreams to play in the Premier League, I\u2019d love to play internationally, I\u2019d love to play in a World Cup.\u201d<\/p>\n

Tomlin has missed the last four Posh matches with an ankle injury. He could return to action in Tuesday\u2019s (October 22) League One clash with Sheffield United at London Road.<\/p>\n

Ferguson described Tomlin today (October 18) as the \u2018best player in League One.\u201d<\/p>\n

The supporters comments after that article are divided , but not on his ability. They seem to rate him highly, and although it might cost a bit of money, I think he will end up at Celtic. He’s a playmaker, something we don’t have, and he has a wee bit determination about him as well. Keep an eye on him, it seems certain Lennon will.<\/p>\n

Lee Wallace might yet find his dossier on Ajax being used by Celtic manager Neil Lennon as the ginger Guardiola plots the downfall of the Dutch side;<\/p>\n

He told a press conference yesterday;<\/p>\n

\u201cI might give him a ring,” but he didn’t ask anyone for the Second Rangers defenders number.<\/p>\n

Celtic have given their whole hearted support to Show Racism the Red Card as the fortnight of action begins for the group who want to remove racism from the sport. Captain Scott Brown, who will have a lot of time on his hands during that period, said;<\/p>\n

\u201cCeltic has been a club open to all since its formation in 1888. At all times we aim to promote tolerance, inclusion and diversity and once again we are delighted to support this year\u2019s Show Racism the Red Card campaign.\u201d<\/p>\n

It’ll be nice for him to see the red card pointed away from him for a change.<\/p>\n

Another charity which deserves the whole hearted support of the club is highlighted elsewhere on the site. When Partick host Celtic this month, fans will be able to contribute to the foodbank that has been set up in Maryhill before, during and after the game.<\/p>\n

As we discussed on the podcast last night, the very existence of these modern day soup kitchens is not something even the most sepia toned nostalgist wants to see back, and first and foremost, fans are asked to help out where they can.<\/p>\n

Celtic, the club, were formed to help the poor, and to provide food for the tables of those for whom circumstances , more than often outwith their control, and during these hard times-whoever we choose to blame for them- the club should do a little more to help out.<\/p>\n

Along with paying people a living wage and removing the zero hours contracts.<\/p>\n

That , to me, and i would wager a lot of other Celtic fans, is what we are there for.<\/p>\n

The French call it a “raison d’etre “-literally a reason to be, and that, whether or not the suits in the boardroom like it or not, is ours. If any of the Green Brigade read this, may i suggest a banner to that effect ? And I promise not to moan about your drummer again, who I have always liked and would allow him to take my daughter out for a pint any time. If I had one.<\/p>\n

With all this talk of zero hours and living wages, its interesting to note that Peter Lawwell earned a whopping ( told you, I’m auditioning for the tabloid MSM-later on i’m getting my IQ cut ) \u00a3999,000 last year.<\/p>\n

I’ve done a time and motion study on the chap, and am struggling to find value for money here. where is the increased revenue from merchandise ? where is the increase in season book money-granted he reduced the prices in an effort to sell more, and where are the lucrative sponsorship and television deals ?<\/p>\n

Perhaps I’m wrong, but I don’t see what we’re getting for our money.<\/p>\n

Revenue and profits are up, but thats down to UCL participation and the sale of players, none of which he has had a particularly influential input with. In fact, his penny pinching on signings may well point to a dtrimental effect on the team…<\/p>\n

Sean Fallon, club legend and liar ? Surely not ? Yet when he signed for Celtic, he told the club he was 21, five years less than his actual age. His reason ? He didn’t want them thinking he was too old.<\/p>\n

Witty replies if you can today, its a spot the difference..<\/p>\n

\"senator\"<\/a>\u00a0\"lawwell<\/a><\/p>\n

Its Friday, and as usual on a Friday, theres a wee rumour to pass on.<\/p>\n

David Longmuir, the man who knew exactly how Rangers fans felt when their club died, largely because he lived with a lot of them, without actually being one himself, will realise a lifelong ambition of his , er, family, when he becomes the latest CEO to have a couple of weeks in the Ibrox hot seat…<\/p>\n

So a drunk man told us..<\/p>\n<\/article>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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