A distraught Neil Lennon last night was forced to consider the prospect of facing in form ( though not as in form as Celtic ) Aberdeen without winger James Forrest. \u00a0That means Celtic are down to just seven or eight forwards to choose from, although Leigh Griffiths isn’t match fit either.He’s getting there ,though<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Adam Matthews is touch and go, whilst Mikael Lustig, Beram Kayal and Steven Mouyokolo won’t make it. The latter two never actually do.<\/p>\n
With Anthony Stokes the only forward in Celtics history to make the front line less effective-no matter who he’s paired with-its time for a wee bit of boldness up front. If Griffiths manages to pass a fitness test, then he should start, alongside Pukki, with Kris Commons in a free role behind.<\/p>\n
If Griffiths doesn’t make it, then Amido Balde should be given a start. If nothing else it willmake the game exciting.<\/p>\n
With Scott Brown, Stefan Johansen and Charlie Mulgrew completing the midfield, the usual defence can line up-Fisher included, he deserves it, and to give Aberdeen a chance, we could put Gary Parker in goal. Its about time he came off the bench and did something.<\/p>\n
Aberdeen , incredibly , haven’t won at Celtic Park since 2008, and that , even more surprisingly was against Celtic. Their boss Derek McInnes reckons they have a chance of getting a result today, and would even be pleased with the draw.<\/p>\n
Celtics manager Neil Lennon took time out to ponder his image in the national press, which has been carefully cultivated to show him as a horrible wee thug who gets everything he deserved. The last straw for Lennon was an article by Graeme Spiers, who used to be quite good at this writing lark, but has sort of fell apart recently, perhaps because Scottish football needs a strong Rangers to write about. Not that any of them ever wrote anything about that club that wasn’t spoon fed to them while they had their heads firmly lodged up previous owner David Murrays arse , that is. This was actually first noticed when Murray yawned, and a journalist spotted James Traynor looking out at him.<\/p>\n
Of course, with Murray now in hiding, journalists have resorted to another pose.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Anyway, back to the gaffer. He said;<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was said, \u2018He attracts trouble\u2019. I don\u2019t. I don\u2019t go looking for it, that\u2019s for sure.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis \u2018streetfighter\u2019 thing \u2013 I can stand up for myself but I don\u2019t go looking for it. I don\u2019t fight in the streets. I don\u2019t go around pubs looking for trouble. This portrayal is wrong. And I want it stopped because it\u2019s not doing me any favours.<\/p>\n
\u201cI look at some of the comments made by some \u2013 not journalists \u2013 and they say, \u2018He was a thug on the pitch\u2019.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut I wasn\u2019t a thug. Look at my disciplinary record, look at my games, I never elbowed anyone, never two-footed anyone, never cheated in a game.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo this thug persona is nonsense. It makes me angry. I don\u2019t know where it\u2019s come from. But people believe what they want to believe and they don\u2019t look at the facts. The facts are I wasn\u2019t anywhere near being that type of person on the pitch at all.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThis has sort of come out of leftfield and again I\u2019m trying to put my finger on why. I\u2019m at a neutral game. I\u2019ve been to loads of games, even the week before I was at Motherwell-Aberdeen.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s this portrayal of who people think I am. People try to portray me as arrogant. But I don\u2019t think I\u2019m arrogant at all.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey say I\u2019m confrontational when I\u2019m standing up for myself. Yes, I can be. But you would expect somebody in my position to do that, just like every other manager in Celtic\u2019s football history has done the same.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou get the abuse now and again and that\u2019s fine. There\u2019s not much you can do about that.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut certainly in terms of the coin-throwing, it was alarming. I was sitting next to two of my staff and I\u2019m thinking we\u2019d better go. If we weren\u2019t going to get hit then someone else was.\u201d<\/p>\n
He did raise a point about sectarianism though, which is notable;<\/p>\n
\u201cMy troubles in Northern Ireland didn\u2019t start until after I signed for Celtic. And certainly I had no things happen to me off the field in 14 years playing in England.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo, again, that\u2019s the association with being at Celtic. There\u2019s no question, you can\u2019t bury your head in the sands. Over the years there has been a huge sectarian element to what went on.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m not saying last week was sectarian. It wasn\u2019t. I don\u2019t recall any sectarian abuse being aimed at me.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut I\u2019m not putting up with people, commentators on the radio, saying, \u2018He can stand up for himself\u2019..<\/p>\n
\u201cI certainly can but can they? They are not walking in my shoes. They are portraying me to be something I\u2019m not.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m not a streetfighter. It\u2019s hard to undo that but I\u2019ve tried. For over a year I\u2019ve been staying away from flashpoints and controversy.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt doesn\u2019t work so I\u2019m not going to bother. I\u2019ll still go to neutral games. This won\u2019t put me off. I\u2019ll deal with it because I love the job.\u201d<\/p>\n
and heres the picture that accompanied the article in the Record;<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"http:\/\/i2.dailyrecord.co.uk\/incoming\/article3123585.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s615\/Neil-Lennon-3123585.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
Heres the one they wanted to use;<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Remember that incident, when a disabled fan asked him for his autograph ?<\/p>\n
Anyway, the press have acted disgracefully towards Lennon since he came to Scotland, and those who are guilty know exactly who they are, and why they have done it.<\/p>\n
Heres a picture you never see in the press, though;<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Which sort of makes the point.<\/p>\n
Actually, thats a pose that sleekit man of the peepil ally McCoist is getting a bit more familiar with, this week it was the people who run football who were the object of his burblings, when he moaned that Ibrox didn’t get the League Cup final. Celtic CEO Peter Lawwell had this to say;<\/p>\n
\u201cCeltic Park is the pre-eminent stadium in Scotland. It\u2019s the biggest and the best.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was asked if I\u2019d have bet on it and of course I would because it\u2019s the biggest and it\u2019s the best.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf you bet on the biggest and the best then you will always win. There is nothing else to it.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf it was impossible to have it here then it should have gone to Ibrox but this would have been first choice, I\u2019d have thought.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe can configure it in a way that we can make it a real show.<\/p>\n
\u201cPeople have to see things for what they are and have to trust those running the game to do the right thing. It\u2019s totally unhelpful to suggest otherwise. It just fuels the wrong type of speculation.”<\/p>\n
Its good to see Lawwell speaking directly to the press, and adopting a straightforward manner. Some have accused him of grandstanding in the past, to score cheap points, but when he comes out and tells it like it is, theres no disputing that he speaks well, and tells it like it is.<\/p>\n
The interim financial report for Celtic was released yesterday, and the club appears to be doing well. Before todays game, supporters can have their photographs taken with a copy of the report, and there will be a chance to win a signed and framed special numbered edition print as well.<\/p>\n
Here it is !<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
CELTIC plc have released the interim report for the six months to December 31, 2013.<\/p>\n
Operational Highlights
\n\u2022 Progression to group stages of the Champions League.
\n\u2022 Currently unbeaten in the SPFL Premiership and top of the league.
\n\u2022 Breaking long standing record for number of consecutive clean sheets.
\n\u2022 Academy continues to be successful; over 70 internationalists at Under 21 level and below.
\n\u2022 Multi-million pound investment in the area around Celtic Park, benefiting supporters and the local community.
\n\u2022 Launch of the Kerrydale Bar, Caf\u00e9 1888 and new family stand.
\n\u2022 Installation of a full stadium Wi-Fi network with accompanying matchday application.<\/p>\n
Financial Highlights
\n\u2022 Revenue decreased by 11% to \u00a344.8m (2012: \u00a350.1m).
\n\u2022 Operating expenses decreased by 7% to \u00a334.3m (2012: \u00a337.0m).
\n\u2022 Profit from trading before asset transaction and exceptional operating expenses of \u00a310.5m (2012: \u00a313.1m).
\n\u2022 Exceptional costs of \u00a32.3m (2012: nil).
\n\u2022 Profit on disposal of intangible assets \u00a316.5m (2012: \u00a35.2m).
\n\u2022 Profit before taxation of \u00a321.3m (2012:\u00a3 14.9m).<\/b>
\n\u2022 Period end net cash at bank of \u00a35.7m (2012: \u00a30.1m net bank debt).
\n\u2022 Investment in football personnel of \u00a35.0m (2012: \u00a34.7m).
\n\u2022 16 home fixtures (2012: 19).<\/p>\n
And heres what we spend the money on.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Actually, you’d think theres a wee bit of room to manoeuvre on the living wage now….<\/p>\n
Lawwell spoke about the money side of things.<\/p>\n
\u2018Neil will have substantial funds to spend in the summer,\u2019 said Lawwell.<\/p>\n
\u2018We\u2019re in arguably the best financial state we\u2019ve ever been in but it makes no sense to keep the money in the bank. We want to invest in the club by investing in good footballers that create value for the club.<\/p>\n
![\"Positive](\"http:\/\/i.dailymail.co.uk\/i\/pix\/2014\/02\/08\/article-2554412-0D8735B5000005DC-953_634x415.jpg\")
<\/div>\n<\/div>\nHis colleague looks a little surprised.<\/p>\n
Celtic can buy a \u00a36-8m player if the value is there.<\/p>\n
\u2018We would not buy a 29-year-old at \u00a38m on a four-year contract at \u00a340,000 a week because that is dead money. But if there\u2019s value in signing an \u00a38m player we will look at it.\u2019<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u2018If there was any disappointment in January it was that we wanted to get as many players in as we could, to embed them and have them settled for the qualifiers. But it was very difficult and it\u2019s getting more and more difficult, especially in January.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u2018We made a few bids, and we felt we were in a good position to get players, but if clubs don\u2019t want to sell then there\u2019s nothing you can do. ”<\/p>\n
Strange that, some clubs don’t actually want to sell their players as soon as somebody shows an interest.<\/p>\n