{"id":4902,"date":"2014-04-28T10:03:52","date_gmt":"2014-04-28T09:03:52","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/etims.net\/?p=4902"},"modified":"2014-04-28T10:03:52","modified_gmt":"2014-04-28T09:03:52","slug":"celtic-diary-monday-april-28-celtic-6-inverness-0","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/etims.net\/?p=4902","title":{"rendered":"Celtic Diary Monday April 28: Celtic 6, Inverness 0"},"content":{"rendered":"

Celtic put on a show yesterday, crushing John Hughes’ Inverness by six clear goals when it could have been more. Many more.<\/p>\n

Don’t take my word for it. Look at the official twitter line of the Highland club;<\/p>\n

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Well, at least they could laugh about it.<\/p>\n

The reborn Anthony Stokes bagged a hat trick, with Leigh Griffiths, Efe Ambrose and Teemu Pukki completing the rout, and its no wonder Neil Lennon was happy, especially with Anthony Stokes, who isn’t the bad boy now we’ve got Leigh Griffiths. Perhaps if we sign another nutcase, then Griffiths can kick in properly. Has Eric Cantona definitely retired ?<\/p>\n

Lennon said;<\/p>\n

\u201cFor a long time now he has been playing well. Now he\u2019s getting the goals that his all-round play is deserving.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s his 19th of the season. More or less every season he\u2019s been here he\u2019s reached 20 goals so he\u2019s been a very important player since I came in the door. And he\u2019s improving all the time.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe has a good relationship now with Kris Commons and Griffiths and that augers well for the future.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s had a very good season. His form dropped a bit round about October, November but since January he\u2019s played very well again. It\u2019s probably the best I have seen from him in my time here and he is far more consistent.<\/p>\n

\u201cI have no idea why it\u2019s all starting to click. It might just be maturity. It might be the arrival of Griffiths has kicked him on again after Gary Hooper left. I\u2019m just delighted with the way he\u2019s playing.\u201d<\/p>\n

Stokes himself added;<\/p>\n

\u201cMy form has been solid the last few weeks. The boys are creating opportunities and I just want to keep it up until the end of the season.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m confident I\u2019ll hit 20 now after today.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve no idea what\u2019s changed. I was playing well in games but the ball just wasn\u2019t breaking to me at times. I went on a bad run of maybe 12 games, possibly more, where I didn\u2019t score but I felt the performances were there.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s just confidence as well. As a striker that plays a big part. If the ball breaks to you if you\u2019re in good form it tends to hit the back of the net.\u201d<\/p>\n

And he’s thoroughly enjoying working with Griffiths, not least because it means he can carry on beating up Elvis impersonators in peace. ( Admit it, they deserve it, the great man has been dead for nearly forty years, can we let him rest in peace now ? )<\/p>\n

\u201cLeigh is a very clever player. He makes great runs and that\u2019s another goal for him today. He\u2019s been outstanding since he came in.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t want to be putting any pressure on Griffs but I\u2019m sure given a full season here and settling down he\u2019ll be absolutely fine.\u201d<\/p>\n

John Hughes , between gritted teeth, said;<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m bitterly disappointed. We worked hard on how we would set up but then lost the first goal from a set-piece.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut you also have to give credit where it\u2019s due. Celtic are miles ahead of anyone else in Scottish football and have an abundance of attacking talent. Neil has done a tremendous job.\u201d<\/p>\n

But not good enough to win the Manager of the Year award, that went to Derek McInnes of Aberdeen, presumably because his team beat Celtic twice.<\/p>\n

Kris Commons got the player of the year award, which was no real surprise, he’s in the form of his life. Or to give it the full title, the “Cheque Centre Player of the Year ”<\/p>\n

Anyone else find it a little distasteful that high interest loan companies are allowed to be associated with the game ? Or is it just me ? Companies such as this one, who prey on those unable to obtain a bank account, leave a bad taste in the mouth, and frankly, should not be encouraged to advertise at all, let alone have such a degree of prominence.<\/p>\n

Once again, we see Sevco Rangers given all the help they need by the authorities, as it will save them two quid ringing directory enquiries to get the number.<\/p>\n

Anyway, back to Commons, who has had a brilliant season, and thoroughly merits the award;<\/p>\n

\u2018I\u2019m delighted to have won it and it reflects well not just on me but on the entire club,\u2019 he said.<\/p>\n

H<\/a>e was even more delighted to find out that McInnes, and Dundee Utds Andrew Robertson, the Young Player of the Year, were also shortarses, so he didn’t look stupid in the photgraphs;<\/p>\n

\"Winners:<\/p>\n

Craig Gordon, speaking on Sportscene last night, admitted he was surprised that Neil Lennon didn’t win it, but with new rules meaning the trophy goes to the team with the best record against Celtic, he can hardly have any complaints. But was Gordons statement more of a “I’m still without a club and you need a goalie ” than a genuine feeling.<\/p>\n

Pat Nevin, his co-summariser, offered his opinions, which, as usual aren’t worth repeating, but when asked if Lennon could move to Norwich, Nevin, possibly the least talented pundit in the Scottish media-which is some achievement-said that he didn’t think Lennon would move if Norwich were relegated.<\/p>\n

Because obviously Norwich in the English Premiership is a far better bet than Celtic in the Champions League….<\/p>\n

If the BBC are serious about covering Scottish football, at least get someone in who likes it.<\/p>\n

On a possible move to Norwich, Lennon said;<\/p>\n

“It is just speculation, and I don’t know anything about that.<\/p>\n

“It will rumble on. We have had it before, and I am sure we will have it again.”<\/p>\n

However, I’m a little concerned that despite repeatedly saying \u00a0he’s not interested Lennon is leaving the door open. Thats because just a few weeks ago, the press collared Johan Mjallby and asked him about leaving, which he flatly denied.<\/p>\n

Whats that about smoke and fire ?<\/p>\n

But Norwich ? He’d have to be crackers.<\/p>\n

Yesterday, the Green Brigade offered up a banner reminding Leigh Griffiths of his duties as a Celtic player. Griffiths has been charged with singing a racist song while out on the beer with his pals prior to a Hibs -Hearts game. Since then, Griffiths has said that he was unaware of the much higher profile of being a Celtic player, and now realises what is involved.<\/p>\n

He hasn’t said sorry publicly, or said he won’t do it again, because such a move would be an admission of guilt, something that his lawyer would have advised him against with an investigation taking place. So , we are none the wiser as to whether or not he was guilty.<\/p>\n

The word on the streets is that he shouted “Rudi Skacel ” and then sat down, allowing his pals to complete the song.<\/p>\n

So, we would guess that if he’s guilty, then nearly everyone in the bar that day will be in court with him.<\/p>\n

Anyway, the banner<\/p>\n

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Sorry, my bad. Wrong one.<\/p>\n

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A quote from Willie Maley, and its a good and valid point. However, so is the other banner, in which a pot is depicted calling a kettle black.<\/p>\n

The Green Brigade are not perfect, but they do add a little bit to the atmosphere when they’re not off in a huff about something or other. As a stand alone banner, its great, in fact, its the sort of quote that should be hung up over the pitch side exit in \u00a0the tunnel, or in the dressing room.<\/p>\n

Supporters, howeverm should not aim banners at players who are taking the field at the start of a game. \u00a0Theres a clue in the word “supporter ”<\/p>\n

At the ground, we support the players. If you want to criticise them, or offer them advice on how to conduct themselves in public, then there are plenty of forums and pubs to do that in.<\/p>\n

Then again, there are accusations that the Green Brigade were involved in the theft of a drum from a fifteen year old boy. again , though, there is little proof other than this twitter line;<\/p>\n

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    Craig Fraser<\/strong>\u00a0\u200f@CraigFraser98\u00a0<\/a>\u00a014h<\/a><\/small><\/div>\n

    @Bazlightyear88<\/a> they nicked the drum and drum sticks<\/p>\n

    \u00a0View conversation<\/a><\/p>\n