{"id":5709,"date":"2014-09-25T11:59:52","date_gmt":"2014-09-25T10:59:52","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/etims.net\/?p=5709"},"modified":"2014-09-25T11:59:52","modified_gmt":"2014-09-25T10:59:52","slug":"celtic-diary-thursday-september-25-treble-still-on","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/etims.net\/?p=5709","title":{"rendered":"Celtic Diary Thursday September 25: Treble Still On !"},"content":{"rendered":"

A mix up over kick off times meant I didn’t get home until the first goal had just gone in last night, tempting me to just leave the room and sit in the garden until the game was over, which would have ensured victory, but curiousity got the better of me, and even though i stayed to watch, Celtic swept Hearts aside 3-0 to book a place in the quarter finals of the League Cup.<\/p>\n

After a period of uncertainty where Hearts held the upper hand, John Guidetti opened the scoring on twenty four minutes, but Celtic were fortunate to hold the lead until half time after a superb Anthony Stokes pass split the defence only for him to realise it was his own defence he had split and Hearts Jamie Walker beat Craig Gordon with his shot, only to see it cannon of the bar.<\/p>\n

In the second half, Hearts were awarded a penalty after referee Willie Collum saw Virgil van Dijk swing a leg at a Hearts forward, and then as he writhed on the ground in agony, the Dutch defender pulled out a pistol and shot him neatly between the eyes.<\/p>\n

Well, thats how Collum saw it. Everyone else saw an innocuous clash between the two players, and lets face it, Collum doesn’t actually need to see an incident to decide if its a penalty, and Hearts Osman Sow -thats his name, honest-lined up against Gordon to take the kick.<\/p>\n

The Indian government, having recently placed a satellite around Mars have been in touch, demanding compensation as the ball skelped one of the aeriels on the side of their multi million pound craft.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

The camera dwelt on his face for a moment or two afterwards…<\/p>\n

\"the<\/a><\/p>\n

Sorry, I meant;<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Minutes later, Kris Commons scored from the spot as Hearts fell apart, and when their defender Eckersley chested the ball back to keeper Neil Alexander before he was ready, the scoring was complete.<\/p>\n

Hearts boss Robbie Nielsen described the goals;<\/p>\n

” The first one was a mistake, the second one was a mistake, and the third one was a mistake. ”<\/p>\n

We were spared the expletives he would have used in the dressing room, as live on tv, that would have been a mistake.<\/p>\n

Like my own mistake this morning. The kids had been feeding our goldfish polystyrene. Took me ages to flush him down the toilet.<\/p>\n

Celtic manager Ronny Deila was pleased, after all, his side have progressed further in the competition than Neil Lennons charges did last year, and that means that his bid for the treble has lasted longer than the Irishmans attempt.<\/p>\n

The boss described it as a complete performance….<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was a very good performance and what has delighted me over the last two games is a team who works really hard together,\u201d he said.<\/em><\/p>\n

“We did that for 90 minutes on Sunday as well but what we didn\u2019t do on Sunday is open Motherwell up in the first half, as we played too slow, not forward enough and had too few penetrating runs. Last night we were much better.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cIn the first half we had six very good chances against a good team with good confidence. I was very pleased with the performance. I feel we look much stronger now and complete.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cYou have to look behind the result. When you get so many chances you deserve to win and we did that comfortably in the end.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cIf they had scored their penalty, I still feel we would have won the game. The team was 100 per cent switched on and that\u2019s what we want in every game now.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cWe have got Thistle and that\u2019s a difficult match but it\u2019s good that it\u2019s at home. We love to play in front of our fans and you saw last night that the players enjoy expressing themselves in front of them.”\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

\u00a0Well, I wouldn’t have gone that far, but the game, and his comments should improve morale amongst the players.<\/p>\n

\u00a0He reserved a special mention for goalscorer John Guidetti, who had a good game, and did give the impression that once he’s up to speed, he will be more than useful in front of goal..<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s a fantastic personality and he\u2019s really looking forward to playing here which was one of the reasons why we bought him here \u2013 he\u2019s a big talent,\u201d he said.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s important to remember that he hadn\u2019t played first-team football for two years so these are the first two matches he has started. His energy is unbelievable but he has much more to go to reach his potential.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cWe saw in Holland when he had a long season with games. He scored around 23 goals in 26 matches. We have big expectations for him.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cIf he can do that in Holland, he can do it in Scotland, that I am sure of. But we have a lot of competition in that role as well.\u201d\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

Guidetti himself was delighted to get off the mark, especially as it is his fathers birthday, and it saved him a trip to the garage on London road to get a card;<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was fantastic to get my first goal for Celtic, not least because it is my dad\u2019s birthday in the morning.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cHe is here to watch me as always. He has been a big supporter of me throughout my career and I have been lucky enough to be surrounded by a lot of good family and friends.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cI was trying to get dad tickets for Paolo Nutini\u2019s concert next month as a present but it is sold out.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cPaolo is a big Celtic fan so maybe he can sort me out. I\u2019m following him on Twitter but he hasn\u2019t given me a follow back yet.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

In his comments, Deila made no mention of changing the system to play with two strikers, which is a little depressing.<\/p>\n

But there may be no need. Anthony Stokes and Emilio Izaguerre were outstanding together down the left, if you ignore the fact that they left the defence open to counter attack, and that partnership should be encouraged. In fact, Emilio nearly scored one one of his raids, which hasn’t happened for a number of years.<\/p>\n

Scott Brown was his usual industrious self, and Stefan Johansen had his best game of the season so far.<\/p>\n

Maybe the managers persistence will pay off, maybe his system will work.<\/p>\n

Or maybe Hearts were just unlucky.<\/p>\n

Overall , there did seem to be a fragility to Celtic that has not been there in previous years, a sense almost that the players have broken glass underneath their boots, which makes them seem more worried about doing something wrong, than confident enough to try to do something right.<\/p>\n

Anyway, its a win, and thats the important thing. If the team keeps winning , the rest should fall into place.<\/p>\n

The nightmare scenario of drawing Second Rangers in the competition was avoided, as those doing the draw thought that the two warm balls meant two home teams, and not the two fated to meet to raise money for the still skint Ibrox club.<\/p>\n

Celtic host Partick next, Aberdeen face Hamilton, while the two lower league sides, Hibernian and Second Rangers face Dundee Utd and St. Johnstone respectively.<\/p>\n

Elsewhere, there has been one of those behind closed doors meetings at Ibrox again, there is hardly any news of what it is about, but a drunk fellow took a photgraph of proceedings through a window, and it seems to show manager Ally McCoist in the dock for something or other.<\/p>\n

\"Embedded<\/p>\n

Had a rough morning myself today, half a dozen police-not the most competent these days- at the door. Theres been a major crime in the area, and they were looking for leads.<\/p>\n

Which, as I told them, is bloody miles away near Bradford.<\/p>\n

Ian Young was the former full back in the picture yesterday, which seemed to ignite a few good memories amongst the replies to the diary.<\/p>\n

Memories…<\/p>\n

Anyone know who this fresh faced young fellow is, he would go on to help provide a generation with one of its greatest memories, after participating in one of the worst.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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