{"id":6137,"date":"2014-12-09T10:06:07","date_gmt":"2014-12-09T10:06:07","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/etims.net\/?p=6137"},"modified":"2014-12-09T10:06:07","modified_gmt":"2014-12-09T10:06:07","slug":"celtic-diary-tuesday-december-9-a-month-without-a-trip","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/etims.net\/?p=6137","title":{"rendered":"Celtic Diary Tuesday December 9: A Month Without a Trip ?"},"content":{"rendered":"

At our monthly Lennon \u00a0CSC meeting last night, which is where we plan our visits to Celtic Park, it became apparent that after the December 27 match, theres not a viable trip for us until February 22.<\/p>\n

Its a good job Celtic don’t need the money from matchdays.<\/p>\n

Theres December….<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\"Celtic\"<\/td>\n\"St<\/td>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
St Mirren (H)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Sun, 14th Dec 13:00<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Scottish Premiership<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\"Dundee<\/td>\n\"Celtic\"<\/td>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Dundee United (A)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Sun, 21st Dec 12:15<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Scottish Premiership<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\"Celtic\"<\/td>\n\"Ross<\/td>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Ross County (H)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Sat, 27th Dec 15:00<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Scottish Premiership<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

 <\/p>\n

Which is two games, one the difficult after Christmas “listen hen I’m nipping out for some fags are you needing anything” game against Ross County, but after that theres nothing we can do until February.<\/p>\n

January has these games…<\/p>\n

January 2015<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Partick<\/td>\n\"Celtic\"<\/td>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Partick Thistle (A)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Thu, 1st Jan 17:30<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Scottish Premiership<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\"Kilmarnock\"<\/td>\n\"Celtic\"<\/td>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Kilmarnock (A)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Mon, 5th Jan 20:00<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Scottish Premiership<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\"Celtic\"<\/td>\n\"St<\/td>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
St Johnstone (H)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
P:P<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Scottish Premiership<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\"Hamilton\"<\/td>\n\"Celtic\"<\/td>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Hamilton (A)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Sat, 17th Jan 15:00<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Scottish Premiership<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\"Celtic\"<\/td>\n\"Motherwell\"<\/td>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Motherwell (H)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Wed, 21st Jan 19:45<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Scottish Premiership<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\"Ross<\/td>\n\"Celtic\"<\/td>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Ross County (A)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Sat, 24th Jan 15:00<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Scottish Premiership<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

 <\/p>\n

Granted , two home games, but both in midweek, making it a day off work for all of us if we make the run, not really something that anyone fancies after the spending excesses of the festive period. Then theres \u00a0the St. Johnstone game, cancelled so the players can get a break, which of course will be rescheduled for midweek as well. Which leaves us with \u00a0February;<\/p>\n

February 2015<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Celtic\"<\/td>\n\"Rangers\"<\/td>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Rangers (N)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Sun, 1st Feb 13:30<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
League Cup<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\"St<\/td>\n\"Celtic\"<\/td>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
St Johnstone (A)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Sat, 14th Feb 15:00<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Scottish Premiership<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\"Celtic\"<\/td>\n\"Hamilton\"<\/td>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Hamilton (H)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Sun, 22nd Feb TBC<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Scottish Premiership<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

And we don’t even know what time that one is yet, so we can’t book the trains in advance, which would save us about seventy quid each on the fares.<\/p>\n

Tell me again how much value a season book is ?<\/p>\n

The game against Rangers may prove difficult to get tickets for, with a limited amount available, but to be honest, I’m not that keen on participating in the medias attempt to erase history and carry on as though nothings happened where the Ibrox club are concerned.<\/p>\n

Although one or two of their support are not confident it’ll be much of a contest;<\/p>\n

\"Embedded<\/p>\n

And anyway, the SFA might be prepared to take them at face value that they will finish their commitments this season, but I’m not shelling out for a ticket to a show where one of the acts might not turn up. They are struggling to pay Decembers wages, according to some sources.<\/p>\n

Speaking of that semi final, the word in the paper this morning is that there may be a sponsor available, who is willing to put \u00a350,000 on the table to attach its name to the remaining three games in the League Cup. The Record called it a ;<\/p>\n

… timely boost to\u00a0<\/span>SPFL<\/a>\u00a0chief executive Neil Doncaster who just last week was lampooned by sporting mogul Barry Hearn for his failure to tie up a commercial partner for Scotland\u2019s professional league.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

\u00a350,000 ? I would have loved to have gone to school with whoever negotiated that deal for the SPFL. I’d have had his dinner money every day.<\/p>\n

Its pathetic. These guys, Doncaster especially, are paid a fortune to sell the game to sponsors, and this is the best they can do ? How much is he getting paid to do this ?<\/p>\n

\"Embedded<\/p>\n

Thats his stern negotiating face, presumably.<\/p>\n

And heres his tough dea \u00a0l clinching face..<\/p>\n

\"Embedded<\/p>\n

and here he is using his wit, charm and personality to get the best possible deal for Scotttish football<\/p>\n

\"Embedded<\/p>\n

He reminds me of someone.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Tell you what, I’ll be at the game on sunday, so if everyone gives me \u00a32, we’ll outbid them and call it the ” Sack Regan and Doncaster ” Cup.<\/p>\n

Thats how pitiful this sponsorship deal really is. \u00a0And its all around re-inventing the Old Firm brand.<\/p>\n

Whoever sponsors this game should be boycotted.<\/p>\n

Simple.<\/p>\n

Make it clear that none of us will buy into their product as they have bought into and exploited the myth that surrounds the Ibrox scandal, and as such, are trying to re-write the facts.<\/p>\n

Right, thats the cheerful stuff done.<\/p>\n

Want \u00a0a wee chuckle ?<\/p>\n

This time of the year there is that frustrating custom where we spend a few quid on a box of Christmas cards, fill them in and drive around putting them through friends and neighbours doors at four in the morning. That way, of course, you don’t have to speak to them, and you avoid those awkward moments when you try to remember their names, and hope they really are called Mr and Mrs number 42.<\/p>\n

Anyway, inevitably someone you had completely forgotten about will send you a card, meaning you need to go out and get another box, and so the process goes on.<\/p>\n

Over at FollowFollow, a website dedicated to the memory of former Glasgow rivals Rangers, they have brought out their festive selection.<\/p>\n

Maybe a couple of club legends ? Perhaps a message of peace and goodwill to all ? Or maybe even a featured charity ?<\/p>\n

Er, no.<\/p>\n

They have two to choose from….<\/p>\n

The first design is our famous classic which punters clamour for every featuring Santa delivering a very special present at Parkhead.<\/span><\/em>

The second design is a subtle (!) dig at our local rivals and their unhealthy interest in all things Rangers.\u00a0<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

I guess that makes me obsessed , then.<\/p>\n

More to be pitied than scorned, I guess, as we see yet another desperate attempt to pretend they are relevant.<\/p>\n

By the way, its a fiver for the pair. Or each. Or something. you could have bought the club for that, and still had enough left over for a pie and a pint.<\/p>\n

We at Etims don’t do Christmas cards and such like, but if we did we would celebrate what is good about our club, not encourage a perception about another, former rival.<\/p>\n

Or, of course, we could just slap Merry christmas across this picture.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Lest They Forget.<\/p>\n

Right. Back to the football.<\/p>\n

Sergio Aguero , who has single handedly made Manchester Citys season bearable if not blisteringly successful for their fans could be out for six months. Reports suggest that they may turn to John Guidetti as a replacement.<\/p>\n

Sure they will. With the press realising that he’s actually with Celtic for a full year, they’ve decided the only team they can reallistically link him with in January is the one he’s on loan from.<\/p>\n

Virgil van Dijk is now off to Tottenham, who will leapfrog Arsenal and everyone else. Which might come as a surprise to him.<\/p>\n

And to Tottenham.<\/p>\n

Anthony Stokes may well go to Cardiff, which would mean he;’d have kept Jo inge Berget-I think thats his name-out of two teams this season, as the norwegian is heading back to Wales after failing to make his mark in Glasgow.<\/p>\n

Teemu Pukki is “open ” to a permanent move to Brondby, which is probably best for all concerned. Shame, I always thought that there was a player there, but I don’t think the Finn was so sure.<\/p>\n

Theres no doubt we will see a bit of a clear out in January. Whether or not we will get some quality in is another question. The squad is too big, the potential for unrest amongst fringe players too great.<\/p>\n

If we are to back Deilas vision, and it seems most of us are beginning to be optimistic if not confident of success long term, then we might as well start as we mean to carry on and give him what he needs to get it done.<\/p>\n

His own way. He’s proved he can handle the criticism, and stuck to his guns throughout. He might not look it, but he’s a lot tougher than perhaps we first thought, and there is a rod of steel where his spine should be.<\/p>\n

Coach John Kennedy has been observing the boss from probably closer than anyone, and he thinks that Ronny has now accepted that every game has to be won at Celtic.<\/p>\n

\u2018Winning is the big thing at Celtic, \u2018If you go two matches without winning all of a sudden the question marks come out – but that\u2019s the nature of the beast and that will never change.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u2018When you are the manager or a player, you just have to have the mentality to deal with that and that\u2019s something he knows about now. He\u2019s well aware that when we don\u2019t play well just make sure you still win the match.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u2018Performance-wise, you want to win with style – but when that style doesn\u2019t come across in a specific game just make sure you win it and move on.\u2019\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

\u00a0Dinamo Zagreb are next up on Thursday, and it looks like a few fringe players will get a start. Probably not the game to punt a few quid on to make some Christmas spending money.<\/p>\n

Christmas.<\/p>\n

Heres a letter i found in my sons room the toher day;<\/p>\n

\"Embedded<\/p>\n

\u00a0Its just not the same anymore.<\/p>\n

\n

Another caption competition today, what are these two talking about ?<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\n

<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\n

<\/p>\n

<\/span>
\n<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

At our monthly Lennon \u00a0CSC meeting last night, which is where we plan our visits to Celtic Park, it became apparent that after the December…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":6138,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/etims.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/12\/no-football.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p2J7If-1AZ","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/etims.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6137"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/etims.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/etims.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/etims.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/7"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/etims.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=6137"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/etims.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6137\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6139,"href":"https:\/\/etims.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6137\/revisions\/6139"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/etims.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/6138"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/etims.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=6137"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/etims.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=6137"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/etims.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=6137"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}