The bit in the title we’ll get to later, but we’ll start with good news, which makes a nice change.<\/p>\n
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Mikael Lustig, who appeared as a substitute against Inverness, is ready to pick up where he left off before he underwent surgery on his hip. In fact, not only that, he wants to extend his stay in Glasgow;<\/p>\n
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\u201cI absolutely want to stay longer,\u201d said the 27-year-old. \u201cI really enjoy it here. We have talked a little bit, Celtic want me to stay and I\u2019m happy to stay, so we will see what happens.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe always speak to each other, but I was focused on getting back to full fitness after the operation before we starting talking about a new\u00a0contract<\/span><\/a>. But both parties are really positive about it.<\/p>\n \u201cCeltic has been good for me as a player. I was probably in the best form of my career this season before I had to have the hip surgery. I felt in good shape and my football was really good, so I think Celtic have made me a better player.\u201d<\/p>\n The Swedish defender wants to make amends for last seasons poor showing in the Champions League, and can’t wait to get started;<\/p>\n It\u2019s a really big achievement to reach the group stage,\u201d added Lustig. \u201cIt\u2019s getting harder and harder every year with the qualifiers coming so early in the season, but hopefully we can do it again.<\/p>\n \u201cIf you look at this season, in our first group game away to AC Milan we created a lot of chances, played really well going forward and had the opportunity to leave the San Siro with three points. But we let in poor goals to lose it and that was the story of the campaign.<\/p>\n \u201cThe previous year, when we reached the last 16 of the Champions League, we didn\u2019t create as many opportunities in games but scored goals when we did. It\u2019s those small things that make the difference. We need to improve defensively but I think we can be better in the Champions League next season.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s strange that a team which recently reached the last 16 has to play three qualifying rounds, starting in mid July, but those are the rules and we just need to get on with it. It\u2019s getting harder for teams from the smaller countries to qualify, but the best teams are going to get there and I think we showed in the last two years that we are meant to be there.\u201d<\/p>\n He also seems to be playing it canny about his return from injury, fully aware of the dangers of rushing back, but also working hard on his fitness;<\/p>\n \u201cI feel as if I\u2019ve just gone through four months of pre-season after the surgery,\u201d he said. \u201cI still need to work on my hips and do certain exercises every week. I\u2019ll keep doing these over the vacation and hopefully I\u2019ll be perfect for pre-season.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s nice to be back and feeling part of the team again. It was the longest I\u2019ve been out of action in my career \u2013 before this it was just three weeks. It has been tough but I always knew I needed an operation, so I was mentally prepared for it all. After Euro 2012 with Sweden, we started talking about an op on my right hip. I kept playing as long as I could. When I went in for the surgery, I ended up having both hips done. The right side needed it most, but it\u2019s better to do both at the same time, or I might need another spell out in the future to get the left done.<\/p>\n \u201cI still feel it sore in some positions but I\u2019ve been told it might take up to eight months before it is fully ready. But in training, I don\u2019t even think about it and that\u2019s a good sign. I know I need to be a little bit smart about it, in case I put too much strain on things. It\u2019s been up and down, but now everything should be okay.\u201d<\/p>\n Its nice to start with good news.<\/p>\n Lustig is a great player, and forms an essential part of a defence that could, if it stays together, be the bedrock of a more than decent run in Europe.<\/p>\n Kris Commons, yesterday, outlined his desire to stay, tinged with a wee bit of worry about the lack of a new contract offer, and reading the comments made by Celtic daft Robert Snodgrass won’t make him feel any more comfortable.<\/p>\n Snodgrass, who is plainly alarmed at the prospect of playing in the English championship with current club Norwich, says he wants Neil Lennon to stay at Celtic and win the treble;<\/p>\n <\/p>\n ‘The Celtic lads have great things to say about him so if that is what he is wanting (work in England) then good luck to him.<\/p>\n ‘But (with) the manager in charge now, even though we are not getting results, we are playing well in certain spells.<\/p>\n ‘It will be interesting to see who does get the job. I’m sure Neil Adams will put his name in the hat and push his own claim.<\/p>\n ‘I will let the powers-that-be upstairs decide that.<\/p>\n ‘But I’m a Celtic fan so I would like to see him trying to do better in the Champions League (group) stage and try to get the treble.’<\/p>\n ‘There is always going to be lots of talk. Celtic are a massive club but I have a job to do for Norwich and I will focus every bit of my effort trying to keep Norwich in the league.<\/p>\n ‘We have had very tough games over the last few weeks and it doesn’t get any easier with Chelsea and Arsenal coming up.<\/p>\n ‘But I am relishing the challenge and hopefully we can do it.<\/p>\n ‘You must be doing something right if you are being linked with a club like Celtic.<\/p>\n ‘But I have another year left at Norwich and I will give everything I have got in my body for that club because they have been terrific with me.<\/p>\n ‘They gave me my chance to play in the Premier League so I will honour that.’<\/p>\n R<\/a>eading between the lines, that sounds like a thinly veiled ” Give me a ring, Neil, and stay away from Norwich, its shite. “<\/div>\n “My mum was at the game on Saturday and she was saying to me that if I got on the pitch I was to try to get away from that unlucky number as best I could,” he said.<\/p>\n “I’m not that superstitious, but 13 seems to be everybody’s unlucky number.<\/p>\n “I was just glad to get off it and even more so just to be able to help the lads go and seal the win.<\/p>\n “The fact I had not scored for such a long time did play on my mind a wee bit.<\/p>\n “Unless Ronan Murray scores a double hat-trick against Oldham it means I am top scorer and that’s something I’m very proud of.”<\/p>\n Then theres Dylan McGeouch, Tom Rogic and James Forrest to consider, all of whom have the potential to make a go of it at Celtic.<\/p>\n Tough decisions ahead for the boss, but its certainly a happier problem than in days gone by, when perhaps the choice was whether to lead with Wayne Biggins or Tony Cascarino, or heaven help us, both.<\/p>\n Sometimes , we have to be thankful for what we have, and something that we have at the moment is a fixture list that doesn’t include a team from Ibrox, in whatever form, because after a reminder of what the old club used to bring to the party the other night, supporters are deciding they really don’t want them back in any shape or form.<\/p>\n The media, desperate to have their pals back, won’t report this, or even question it. As ever , where the blue side of Glasgow is concerned, they just ignore it.<\/p>\n The problem lies in identifying the root of the problem, or even acknowledging it. The MSM refuse to do this, because they still see it as an “Old Firm ” problem, and the Record dragged up Frank McGarvey, who should have known better, to reminisce about the 1980 cup final, when disgruntled fans of Old Rangers decided they didn’t want to see a lap of honour by a victorious Celtic team, and invaded the pitch, or , as it was reported at the time, they didn’t.<\/p>\n This time, the paper wants to blame it on drink.<\/p>\n \u201cThat 1980 cup final that got alcohol banned in the first place seems like yesterday to me.”, said Frank<\/p>\n \u201cThe funny thing is I never saw a hint of trouble. We were already inside the dressing room celebrating our 1-0 win when it kicked off and we had no idea anything was going on.<\/p>\n \u201cIt wasn\u2019t until later that night that we saw it on TV.<\/p>\n \u201cTo be honest we had a laugh at it as it was such a ridiculous sight with police horses riding on to the pitch trying to keep the fans apart. We couldn\u2019t believe it. I thought I was watching a Western movie on the telly not the news.<\/p>\n \u201cIf you asked me if I thought we\u2019d have come a lot further than this in the 34 since then my honest answer is no.\u201d<\/p>\n The article, written by Euan MacLean, ( Euan is a Gaelic word, meaning “bloody liar ” ) added;<\/p>\n ” \u00a0But seeing seats ripped up and smoke bombs and flares set off amid a foul atmosphere of hatred and sectarian chanting at Celtic Park on Monday is an alarming reminder the cancer that blights the Old Firm rivalry remains alive and well. ”<\/p>\n One Celtic fan lets off a flare. This allows the press to trumpet claims such as the above. There was only ever one cancer in Scottish football. The tumour was removed two years ago, but because the host didn’t take enough care, the malignancy \u00a0has returned.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n McGarvey said: \u201cThe hatred hasn\u2019t changed and I don\u2019t think it will in the next 100 years.<\/p>\n \u201cThe government and police can only do so much because when people get drunk and encounter people they don\u2019t like there will always be conflict.<\/p>\n Yes, drink causes problems, but its merely enhances whatever mood is already in place.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s a social problem that Glasgow has had for a long time and it will continue to be an issue for many years to come.<\/p>\n \u201cGlasgow is certainly a quieter place with Rangers out of the top flight but that\u2019s part of the reason why this youth game has attracted the problems it has in the last couple years.<\/p>\n He nearly hits the nail on the head. For Celtic, its a youth game. For Rangers-or whatever they are called this week-its a chance to air their hatred of all things Irish, catholic \u00a0or financially solvent.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWhen the teams played four times a season the fans were able to get it out of their system every few months.<\/p>\n \u201cI also think the internet has a lot to do with it because it has given fans a platform to wind each other up more than ever, so the tension keeps building.<\/p>\n \u201cAll the authorities can do is try to keep a lid on things but it will always erupt at times. Of course it should never happen, especially at a kids game, and hopefully the culprits will be rooted out and banned by their club.<\/p>\n \u201cBut I\u2019m afraid the root cause motivating people to behave like \u2028this won\u2019t be fixed any time soon.\u201d<\/p>\n The root cause is the hatred and intolerance behind a section of the support that clings to whichever entity springs from Ibrox. Until it is forced , not only from football, but from society, it will continue to fester, in pubs, in homes on forums, and explode onto the scene every time there is an opportunity for it to air its perverse and outdated opinions. Actually, outdated is the wrong word in a sense. Bigotry and intolerance has never been acceptable, but the tolerance of intolerance is the biggest crime of all.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n Its time for Celtic PLC to publicly drop the Old Firm nonsense. Shareholders cannot be happy to be associated with the Old Firm tag.<\/p>\n First, there is the obvious connection with \u00a0sectarianism, allowing Celtic to be portrayed as Heads to their Tails.<\/p>\n Second, it also associates us with the biggest sporting crime in history, and if there is even the slightest chance of us being tarred with that brush, it should be snuffed out now. What Rangers did to the credibilty of sport in Scotland almost killed it.<\/p>\n We cannot distance ourselves far enough from them.<\/p>\n So, a short statement, which I have helpfully prepared for someone to read out , on behalf of Celtic, its supporters, and its shareholders;<\/p>\n ” We would respectfully request that all references to the term “Old Firm ” are no longer used in connection with Celtic. One of the two clubs connected with that term has , after years of controversial financial dealings, gone into liquidation and as a result, no longer competes in Scottish football. A new club, correctly or incorrectly, has hijacked the liquidated brand, \u00a0and, as we have no commercial or historical ties, \u00a0we do not wish to be associated with them.<\/p>\n However, we would like to take this opportunity to wish the new club all the best for the future. ”<\/p>\n Even Walter Smith wished the new club success. It would be churlish of us not to do the same.<\/p>\n Actually, someone should ask Peter why we haven’t done that. What time are the buses to Glasgow ? In June , when I’ve got some time off.<\/p>\n And now, an appeal from the club;<\/p>\n\u00a0\u00a0‘If the worst comes to the worst and you look back with any regret, or if you could have done more, then I won’t be able to live with myself.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\u00a0Another “Ring ” Lennon might be interested in is Alexander Ring ( See what I did there ? Anyone would think there was some structure to this nonsense ) , a Finnish midfielder who plays with Kaiserslautern in Germany. According to his \u00a0agent, Tuomas Talvitie, Celtic have been watching him for over a year. But he added;<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\u201cWe are a long way from reaching a conclusion.\u201d<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\u00a0Ring says he wants to join up at Celtic with Finnish pal Teemu Pukki, which prompted an embarrassed cough or two in the room.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\u00a0Before making any moves for any other midfielders, Lennon will have to ask himself if they are any better than the likes of Liam Henderson, who has made a promising start to his first team career, or even Calum MacGregor, who is currently top scorer with Notts County, having found the net fourteen times, despite spending a chunk of the time on the bench.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\u00a0He’s delighted with his achievement, but unhappy I left out the second L in his name;<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n
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