Apologies for the non-appearance of the diary yesterday, as I had to pop down to Gatwick airport to pick up my sons girlfriend. To avoid controversy, I took him with me.<\/p>\n
That meant spending a day on the M25 motorway, the ring road which surrounds London where cars circle hoping for a gap in the traffic so they can enter the capital.<\/p>\n
Then, it was off to Chester to drop another son off at his flat, so it was near midnight before I settled down with a bag of wine gums-I’m still off the drink, at least until the trial-to watch the game.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
I managed to avoid the result all day, which unfortunately for the purpose of writing the diary consisted of no hilarious misunderstandings where the score was leaked, although the vicar did pop round for tea and ended up being locked in an upstairs wardrobe.<\/p>\n
I think she collects them.<\/p>\n
The game was not unlike a champions league game-hear me out-as Partick looked more composed on the ball, and settled into a passing game quicker than the hoops. They were also immediately behind the ball when they lost possession, but the biggest surprise of all was when Celtic scored from a corner, with Georgios Samaras heading Celtic into the lead before the break.<\/p>\n
In the second half , Partick grabbed an equaliser after the Celtic defence switched off for a bit, and it was left to substitute Amido Balde to grab a winner after he got tired of waiting for samaras to pass to him-if you watch the game again, you’ll notice that Samaras doesn’t seem to notice him at all-and simply ran straight at the firhill defence and slotted the ball past keeper Scott Fox, who had put in a decent shift up until then.<\/p>\n
Fraser Forster was forced into a couple of good saves, which made the game even more like a European match, and Efe Ambrose threatened to win the award for Particks man of the match, as he reverted to his bombscare style of defending, but other than that, it was three points and another step towards ten in a row.<\/p>\n
A knee injury to Samaras-he seemed to cut himself on a blade of grass-and a concussion to Emilio Izzaguerre gave cause for concern, but both should be okay for Amsterdam, while Mikael Lustig has turned of \u00a0his i-pod and put his hip hop on hold.<\/p>\n
Which doesn’t make a lot of sense, but I’m sure thats what they said.<\/p>\n
Amido Balde winner made most of the headlines, with Neil Lennon delighted that one of his strikers has finally found the net;<\/p>\n
“We know what we have got with Amido. He knows and we know that he is here for the long haul and we are going to try to polish off the rough edges that he has.<\/p>\n
“We think he has got great attributes and we saw that today.<\/p>\n
“He has been very patient. He understands where he is within the squad and he will be a good player for Celtic.<\/p>\n
“I have maintained that as the season progresses we will see more of Amido.<\/p>\n
“He hasn’t got frustrated, he is listening and trying to learn and you can see he brings a different dimension to the team.<\/p>\n
“When things get a bit physical, he is a great option to have and I thought his goal was terrific.<\/p>\n
“It was a good game, a good test for us. In spells we weren’t at our best but it was a great win.<\/p>\n
“We should have been home and hosed at half-time, we had three really great chances on top of the goal we scored.”<\/p>\n
Virgil van Dijk was partcularly pleased. In his rush to congatulate the big striker, he clubbed Emilio Izzaguerre, which led to the Honduran being stretchered off. Poor Izzy, who was already struggling after an accidental kick to the head, didn’t know where he was. When somebody told him he was in Maryhill, it only added to his discomfort.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Summing the game up, Lennon added;<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was a good game, a really good test.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn spells I didn\u2019t think we were at our best, which is probably understandable after European exertions in midweek. But it was a great win.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe should have been home and hosed at half-time \u2013 we had three great chances on top of the goal we scored.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut we dug out a fantastic win in difficult conditions against a very good side.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe never expected it to be a stroll. Thistle\u2019s results haven\u2019t gone their way at home but in the last two games they played well against Hibs and Inverness.<\/p>\n
\u201cAt 1-0 the game was still there for either team but we came away with the three points under
\ndifficult circumstances.<\/p>\n
\u201cI couldn\u2019t be happier we kept this good run going.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is a great position to be in and the players are focused on these games.<\/p>\n
\u201cI didn\u2019t think we were at our best and a couple of players looked a little bit off colour.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou always want to use the squad a bit more but when we have made major changes it has backfired at times. We have been mindful of that but with Dundee United and then Ajax, which is a crucial game in our season, we will make changes for next week which may be enforced anyway.<\/p>\n
\u201cJames Forrest, Charlie Mulgrew and Derk Boerrigter are all training this week and they will add to the reinforcements.\u201d<\/p>\n
Elsewhere, Lennon has had to deal with stories about a couple of his players leaving. Goalkeeper Fraser Forster is currently house hunting in altrincham, which is to be expected, but now it seems Cardiff are after James Forrest;<\/p>\n
Lennon said;<\/p>\n
\u201cIt wouldn\u2019t be a surprise if other clubs were looking at James because he is a brilliant player.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut he signed a long-term contract 18 months ago. We are months and months away from the window \u2013 he is not for sale.<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t know if people are trying to unsettle players here.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s as if everyone wants me to sell a player every month \u2013 people talked about Virgil van Dijk, Scott Brown, Fraser Forster and now James. These players are not going anywhere.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are in a very stable position as a club and that is something which is a rarity in this day and age.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe players are happy, vibrant and we have a lot to look forward to. We are on a great run domestically and we\u2019re in a hell of a group in the Champions League where we have competed brilliantly in all three games.\u201d<\/p>\n
That might not stop Joe Ledley leaving on a Bosman, although that does seem a little strange as the Welshman has been nothing but hapy at Celtic, but another player , Kris Commons is already being spoken of it terms of a coaching role at the club;<\/p>\n
\u201cKris is a player I would like to keep around for quite a while if I could,\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd maybe with a view to staying on here afterwards as well.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn maybe a coaching capacity, again that is something I would sit down and discuss with him because he has got the talent for it and he has certainly got the personality as well.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think it is important we keep players on here who understand the club. We could certainly contemplate that.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe is comfortable here. He loves it and his family are settled here. He has played really well the last couple of seasons, he has been fantastic for us.\u201d<\/p>\n
Despite all the stories, the speculation and the downright untruths, it isn’t a given that there will be a mass exodus in January, even if it looks that way at times.<\/p>\n
Gary Hooper, who moved to Norwich to further his England chances, is a prime example of a big money move backfiring careerwise, and while we still wish him luck down there, its looking unlikely he’s going to have any. Still, at least he got his capital letters back, which should please him.<\/p>\n
In fact, its surely no coincidence that he sat next to Kris Commons at the Ajax game, and now Commons could be staying with Celtic for not only the rest of his playing career, but some time beyond that as well..<\/p>\n
Yesterdays Mail on Sunday carried the picture of a couple of soldiers saluting in the style of Nazis from the Second World War-the one the Mail wasn’t too sure who’s side to be on;<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Which caused outrage in the home counties.<\/p>\n
The Scotsman picked up on it today..<\/p>\n
TWO British army soldiers have been photographed standing in front of the Union flag making apparent Nazi-style salutes.<\/b><\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
The pair are dressed in camouflage fatigues in the image, published yesterday in a Sunday paper.<\/p>\n
Their gesture could also be an apparent show of solidarity with Northern Irish Loyalists, although Unionist MPs dismissed this suggestion.<\/p>\n
The Union flag is inscribed with the words \u201cInvicta Loyal\u201d, the name of a Kent-based Glasgow Rangers supporters club, and below it hangs the flag of Northern Ireland.<\/p>\n
There is a suggestion the soldiers may be making a \u201cRed Hand of Ulster\u201d salute.<\/p>\n
But Democratic Unionist MP Sammy Wilson said: \u201cThis is not a salute made by marching bands [in Northern Ireland].<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is not clear what the context is but I do not think it can be explained away as some type of Red Hand of Ulster salute.\u201d<\/p>\n
Jeffrey Donaldson MP, of the Democratic Unionist Party, added: \u201cAnyone who would imitate a Nazi salute in front of the Union flag, or when wearing the uniform dishonours these flags and the British Army.<\/p>\n
\u201cAny symbolism associated with fascism has no place in the Unionist tradition or any regiment of the British Army.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Ministry of Defence (MoD) confirmed the men were serving soldiers when the photo was taken, reportedly at an army base in Afghanistan.<\/p>\n
The MoD said the image is at least three and a half years old and has been circulating on online forums, the incident has been investigated and \u201cadministrative action\u201d was taken at the time, in which the soldiers were dealt with by their chain of command. It is not known if they were dismissed.<\/p>\n
The Mail may not be everyones cup of tea, but when they get their teeth into something, they don’t let go.<\/p>\n
Just ask the killers of Stephen Lawrence…..<\/p>\n
Its difficult to explain, or even imagine, the damage and hurt that will be felt in parts of England when they see this photograph, and I don’t think we’ve heard or seen the last of it.<\/p>\n
We’ve had a sneak preview of the front page for next week…<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Seriously, if I was involved with the Scottish MSM this week, I’d be running with this story. Otherwise, the Mail is going to make them look incredibly inept and perhaps even compliant.<\/p>\n
One does wonder sometimes if the MSM are advised not to follow up on certain leads, despite all the evidence that there might be a story there somewhere…<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
In other news, the ” big storm ” has caused several homes to be without power throughout the country, and there are also worries that some people may lose their homes.<\/p>\n
The storm, known as “The Coalition “, had battered parts of the south east overnight, but has now been downgraded in status to “Scottish Summer ”<\/p>\n
Saturdays diary asked for the odd one out between Celtic, Dundee Utd , Kilmarnock and Aberdeen, and surprisingly, no-one noticed that only Aberdeen doesn’t begin and end with the same letter.<\/p>\n
With questions like that, I’m thinking of starting a screen repair service.<\/p>\n
Whats going on here ?<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Incidentally, thanks to everyone for their comments regarding the recent remarks on another website. Honestly, those remarks didn’t bother me. At least it means they cared enough to say something, now, complete indifference would have been different….<\/p>\n
Hello…. ? Is anybody there ? Hello……?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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