Celtic stayed eleven points clear t the top of the league with a 1-0 win over (insert name of opponents ).<\/p>\n
Celtic look tired\/ were flat\/missed Rangers \u00a0as they went through the motions and \u00a0showed they needed a break\/new players\/ fresh ideas\/Rangers.<\/p>\n
Joe Ledley scored the goal that clinched the points though ( insert name again ) were unlucky not to get a share of the points after a late rally\/ shot cleared off the line\/penalty claim turned down.<\/p>\n
There, you don’t need a paper this morning.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
So, go to the football instead. They should put me in charge of marketing.<\/p>\n
Its not the players who need a break, its the support. Perhaps we should all go to Turkey and the team should stay in Glasgow.<\/p>\n
The press, having failed in their initial campaign to admit the new club Second Rangers into the top level, are beginning to turn the screw with their latest initiative and it looks like some Celtic fans are starting to agree with them.<\/p>\n
According to the MSM, Celtic are out of Europe, losing what players we have and replacing them from the bargain basement at the same time as \u00a0fans are turning their back on the club in droves because there is no competition in this country.<\/p>\n
Despite last year telling us that the relative success in Europe was down to being able to take it easy domestically, and our shrewd policy of developing relatively unknown footballers. \u00a0It now seems that it is, in fact , that lack of competition and poor signings are the first signs of our demise, \u00a0and before long we’ll be playing one game in Europe before elimination and the league matches will be played in front of no more than 20,000.<\/p>\n
The MSM will say whatever they believe they have to to get their favourites back into the Premier league. For whatever reason, those who cheated must be absolved and allowed back, because apparently, we need them back for our own survival.<\/p>\n
They’ve stopped short of telling us we should let them cheat again, though unless they do , they have no chance of providing the mythical necessary challenge. The best chance of a sustained challenge will be from one of the three or four teams below improving, and keeping their players.<\/p>\n
Its kind of tiring reading-and writing-about the new club, but with costs about to be slashed to keep them trading long enough to skank a few more quid out of the fans, those same fans need to be deflected from the truth, and you can bet the MSM will do their part.<\/p>\n
So, back to the good guys.<\/p>\n
After the win over Partick, we should all be pleased. Into the New Year unbeaten, a side that can be exhilarating to watch ( twice ) and a couple of trophies there for the taking, but there are rumblings afoot.<\/p>\n
The club, despite giving out free tickets and transport to yesterdays game, is facing a bit of a PR crisis. The knee jerk reaction when banning the ultra group the Green Brigade has backfired, largely because they were all innocent of the crimes they were accused of. Theres no playing this down. It was a shameful move by the club. Although the GB can be accused of having a bloated sense of their own importance, that may be largely down to their vocality, at least they are complaining. Most individuals would just sigh and stay away from the football. ( football here is a sort of loose description of the product on show. )<\/p>\n
Fortunately for Peter Lawwell and his lackeys, there was something even more shameful for them to take away attention from this, when they blocked calls to pay a living wage to employees at Celtic Park, showing that they really have lost all pretence at having the clubs ethos at heart. This is the bit that stings. This is what will turn people away. Celtic is a different club, because the supporters are different. If we become just another money making machine, crowds will drop, and those who don’t return will not be replaced.<\/p>\n
Celtic supporters are the club. And we are a wee bit different from other fans, even if our club wants to be something it isn’t.we won’t allow that. Too many clubs have lost their identities already pursuing the TV pound. I’d rather we didn’t go down that path.<\/p>\n
And then theres the treatment of fans by the stewards and police at the ground. Whichever way you look at it, its a little over the top. The standard of football-or the style of football on show at Celtic just now means that supporters don’t need much of an excuse not to turn up.<\/p>\n
But some kind of statement does have to be made, if only to make the PLC aware that they cannot take the support for granted, so for this New Year, lets see everyone hold their hands up, and admit where they have gone wrong, before all getting together to put things right.<\/p>\n
Its not rocket science. We’re better together. ( Hang on, am I getting my blogs mixed up ? )<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, the transfer window is open. Its January, which is also the time of year for the big sales, with massive , knockdown prices everywhere. Though you do need to be careful.<\/p>\n
We bought a new telly from Currys about six weeks ago. It cost \u00a3529. The same telly was advertised in the sales, on tv, at \u00a3400 off. You’d think that would make it \u00a3129. Er, no. Because back in July, for a week, it was on sale for \u00a3999. so the \u00a3400 off brings it down to \u00a3599, \u00a370 more than I paid for it when it wasn’t on sale.<\/p>\n
So, be careful out there. and the same goes for the club. Don’t buy someone just for the sake of it, because of the limited time available to do these deals. If there isn’t a proven striker\/creative midfielder out there, then forget about it, and promote from within.<\/p>\n
The first big deal south of the border has already gone through, with Howard Webb joining Tottenham from Manchester Utd yesterday.<\/p>\n
But we can be optimistic for the moment. Leigh Griffiths might well be about to bring his haircut back up north with him, and theres always Kevin Doyle. And theres still a chance of Alfred Finnbogasson, although Aiden McGeady has read what one or two of us on here have said about him, and is now talking to Everton. I may have misunderstood the meaning of optimism here.<\/p>\n
Joe Ledley wants to stay, and so does Georgios Samaras, which has dismayed the board because it means they will have to offer them more money, and a signing on bonus. And only Peter gets bonuses at Celtic.<\/p>\n
Neither player could be reasonably asked to accept a drop in earnings, not after their on field performances helped to swell the bank account in two champions league campaigns. Yet the word on the streets is that Lawwell is going to try to do just that.<\/p>\n
There have been one or two worrying reports that it is Lawwell who is pulling the strings, not only in the boardroom , but on the pitch. Maybe there is a reason for Lennon not playing his charges in such a way to bring in the crowds….<\/p>\n
On Ledley, Lennon said;<\/p>\n
\u201cI want Joe to stay. He has shown great mental strength because it must be very unsettling for him as it will be for Georgios Samaras as well.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe has intimated that he would like to stay and we are hoping we can speak to his representatives this week and get it finalised.<\/p>\n
\u201cI have spoken with Joe over a number of weeks but the talks certainly haven\u2019t affected his performance levels.<\/p>\n
\u201cI thought he was our best player yesterday by a considerable margin.\u201d<\/p>\n
He was less optimistic about Samaras;<\/p>\n
” Again, we need to speak to his\u00a0 representatives and see how the land lies,\u2019 said Lennon. \u2018At the minute, he\u2019s unsettled and a little bit\u00a0 insecure about things. We need to try to get him happy again.<\/p>\n
\u2018I think he\u2019d like to stay but whether we can strike a deal or not is another thing. There has been no interest from any clubs expressed to us but maybe there has been to his\u00a0 representatives. As far as I\u2019m aware, there has been some interest from other clubs.\u2019<\/p>\n
Atletico Madrid have joined Hull in the chase for the Greek forward. Even though Lawwell has made his mind up he’s selling him to Hull.<\/p>\n
And Lennon reminded us his team are tired;<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"http:\/\/images.intellitxt.com\/ast\/adTypes\/icon1.png\")
<\/a>\u00a0but I and the supporters expect better.<\/p>\n![\"Macari,](\"http:\/\/www.celticprogrammesonline.com\/programme%20covers\/freindlies\/usacelts\/3celtswee.jpg\")
\u00a0![\"Macari,](\"http:\/\/www.celticprogrammesonline.com\/programme%20covers\/freindlies\/usacelts\/3celts2wee.jpg\")
\u00a0![\"Jimmy](\"http:\/\/www.celticprogrammesonline.com\/programme%20covers\/freindlies\/usacelts\/jimandgeorgewee.jpg\")
<\/p>\n