{"id":8192,"date":"2015-11-25T10:34:43","date_gmt":"2015-11-25T10:34:43","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/etims.net\/?p=8192"},"modified":"2015-11-25T10:34:43","modified_gmt":"2015-11-25T10:34:43","slug":"celtic-diary-wednesday-november-25-the-solution-to-all-our-woes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/etims.net\/?p=8192","title":{"rendered":"Celtic Diary Wednesday November 25: The Solution To All Our Woes ?"},"content":{"rendered":"

And I’ll bet none of you even considered it.<\/p>\n

I know I didn’t. but when you think about it, there might be something in it.<\/p>\n

\"Embedded<\/p>\n

No, not Andy Murray, although he can play a sound, defensive game, but the bold Charlie Mulgrew.<\/p>\n

During a Q and A on twitter, the Scotland international said;<\/p>\n

\n
Celtic Football Club<\/span>\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n
<\/div>\n

\u2714<\/b><\/span>@celticfc<\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\n

.@<\/span>pmcglink<\/span><\/a> I’m available for Ajax on Thursday<\/em><\/p>\n

5:47 PM – 24 Nov 2015<\/a>\u00a0 \u00a0<\/time><\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
Alright, he probably meant he was available for Celtic against Ajax, but given the tendency for our players to panic when the other team has the ball, or indeed when they haven’t, perhaps what we really needed all along was…\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\"Embedded<\/p>\n

This t shirt exists, and might become very popular should my theory actually have any substance ( hah, substance. did \u00a0you see what I did there ? ) might become a best seller. You can get one from the Mire CSC Merch on twitter.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

In fact, if he plays, and brings a wee bit of calmness and maturity to the side, and at the same time helps to organise a defence which appears to have adopted the “wan o’ youze gauny get that ” method of securing the back line, even if it’s from the holding midfield position, then we might just have found another line of revenue for the club.<\/p>\n

We could get scarves and t shirts with “Am Ur Charlie ” printed on them.<\/p>\n

Let me know when a marketing strategist position becomes available at Celtic. I’ll raise enough money to sign Messi, Ronaldo and , for a laugh, that Waghorn bloke who’ll be on the move in January.<\/p>\n

Of course, all of this depends on Celtic getting a result against Ajax, and despite all the doom and gloom \u00a0amongst the support, no matter how you look at it, we are still playing at home, we should still have massive support, and we still have a side, that on it’s day , is capable of scoring goals.<\/p>\n

Alright, so we have a team that is capable of conceding them as well, and may be a little light on confidence, but thats where we come in.<\/p>\n

No booing, no screaming, no “you’re a fucking idiot ” every time something goes wrong, A little support is needed instead.<\/p>\n

Cast your mind back to the Celtic- Juventus game of a few years ago-well, its about thirteen years ago, but I’ve never been very good where time is concerned, as anyone waiting on me to turn up anywhere will vouch for- and that free kick from Del Piero that opened the scoring early in the game.<\/p>\n

Sure there was a wee second or two of silence, with the odd “oh for fucks sake ” or \u00a0“we’re in the shit here ” but gradually the air filled with a chant of Celtic, Celtic, Celtic, which by the time the hoops restarted the game, had reached a crescendo.<\/p>\n

And lo, there was probably the most inspired performance of recent years which led to a 4-3 win.<\/p>\n

We still exited the tournament, but what a game….<\/p>\n

The footballing version of the chicken and egg question is who should inspire who ?<\/p>\n

Is it up to the players to get the fans going, or is it up to the fans to get the players going.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

In football, it’s not so easy, but again, looking back, remember that blistering start against Liverpool, when Henrik Larsson came back after injury and scored early on ?<\/p>\n

The noise from the crowd as Celtic surged forward and won the corner, the noise after he scored ?<\/p>\n

Or the noise when Shunsuke Nakamura whipped in his second free kick that ensured Edwin van der Saar would be immortalised in any future video about free kicks, with nine minutes left to go, and a penalty save as well ?<\/p>\n

With that kind of support, even the greatest side will buckle.<\/p>\n

And Ajax are not a great side.<\/p>\n

The support must do their bit, and consequently the players must do theirs.<\/p>\n

We need the wingers flying at players, we need the ball in and around the penalty box as often as possible, although it might help to have a couple of players on the end of it.<\/p>\n

For that reason, I’d be looking at two forwards in this game. It’ll surprise Ajax, and it will surprise you when i suggest that Anthony Stokes should be the man supporting Leigh Griffiths.<\/p>\n

Ciftci is a diddy, and Cole is , well, like every other forward we’ve bought in from outside Scotland, unfit.<\/p>\n

Stokes is perhaps a last resort, but then again, we are in the last chance saloon.<\/p>\n

And we really have nothing to lose.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The political situation developing in Turkey, where a Russian jet was shot down in retaliation for the bombing of ISIS oil tankers owned by the Turkish presidents son\u00a0 (look I’m way ahead of the media on this one ) \u00a0means that there is a slim chance that the game against Fenerbache will be called off. That means we will be awarded a 3-0 win, and we haven’t had one yet this year, so all we have to do is beat Ajax.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Alright, maybe i am, so lets just concentrate on beating Ajax.<\/p>\n

Speaking of the situation in Turkey, now that they’ve shot down a Russian plane, it will be interesting to see how they get on in Level 2, where they have to fight off a ground invasion supported by helicopters and naval bombardment.<\/p>\n

Should we be worried ?<\/p>\n

I am.<\/p>\n

What if there’s no Turkey for Christmas ?<\/p>\n

The debate around Celtic facing Dundee in the United States, presumably inspired by the same people who wanted to build helicopter landing pads and hotels and casinos and , oh you know the things, took another twist yesterday when the city of Philadelphia, home of the Rocky Balboa franchise, offered to host the game.<\/p>\n

\"Embedded<\/p>\n

I’m warming to the idea. Going to Philadelphia in that quaint old stadium with no roof will take me back to my younger days, standing on the terraces of Cappielow….<\/p>\n

Look, it’s even got the explosions I dearly remember from Saturday nights in Greenock;<\/p>\n

\"Main<\/p>\n

An Eagles insider told\u00a0SunSport: \u201cWe are aware of this and are in negotiations for hosting this game.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cWe anticipate having a final agreement soon.\u201d \u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

This in depth report from the Sun, adds that;<\/p>\n

A Fifa spokesman said: \u201cIn accordance with the Fifa Regulations Governing International Matches, any such match could only be played if approved by the member associations and confederations concerned.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cFurther, according to art. 82.4 of the Fifa statutes, Fifa may take in any case a final decision.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

A Uefa spokesman said: \u201cThis is a matter for the national associations concerned and for Fifa.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cBut clubs cannot simply choose which country they want to play in.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cThere are rules in place and procedures which need to be respected.\u201d \u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

As usual, their sources are impeccable, spokesmen and insiders, at least at Etims we have the grace to admit we make things up, but there is something everyone has missed about this debate, something that is of paramount importance.<\/p>\n

Something, to be honest, we should have thought of years ago.<\/p>\n

It’s got people talking about our game again, and in a good way.<\/p>\n

Even Sky sports made a mention of the possibility of Celtic and Dundee playing in the USA, although perhaps it also shows how little they are really interested in our game, something which should be brought up the next time contracts are renewed, or not renewed , as the case may be.<\/p>\n

\"Embedded<\/p>\n

The simple fact that there is a Philadelphia Supporters club is an indicator of a massive market over there, and as a delegate from the North American Supporters Association explained at a recent meeting at Celtic Park, there is a massive demand for genuine Celtic football club merchandise already.<\/p>\n

Surely the natural step is to at least investigate it ?<\/p>\n

For the moment though, it’s nice to see people talking positively about the game, and it makes sense to look into every possible revenue stream. who knows, maybe clubs could link up with clubs over there to swap players, and so on. That would generate interest, and even if\u00a0the idea\u00a0falls flat on it’s face, at least we would have tried.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Away from all that, and it’s time to laugh at those less well off than us, and we again salute James Doleman for his accurate and informative report on the first of many-so many when he asked where he should sit, he was told that there was no room left in the Rangers End-court cases featuring the new entity down ibrox way.<\/p>\n

The full report is here.. and worth a read because it explains exactly what happens, and what it means, a concept \u00a0that the MSM in Scotland have yet to fully understand. Well worth a read for anyone confused by events at ibrox.<\/p>\n

James Doleman Reports..<\/a><\/p>\n

Fair play to James for that, it must have been difficult to concentrate. We hear that someone in the courtroom has an app on his phone that mimics a police siren, and when it went off, everyone representing Rangers and the SFA ran like fuck towards the door.<\/p>\n

It gives a glimpse into the mindset at the SFA, and at Ibrox, as light begins to shine on their acts and thoughts of the last twenty years or so.<\/p>\n

The SFA especially, given their urgency to “end all this uncertainty ” because of the damage it’s doing to “Rangers and the rest of Scottish football ”<\/p>\n

Of course, no-one in the media will ask anyone at the SFA exactly what they mean by that.<\/p>\n

And no-one in the media is asking why no-one is asking that .<\/p>\n

But then, as they all have each others heads up each others arses, like some sort of warped daisy chain, it’s no real surprise.<\/p>\n

Who knows what a real journalist would uncover when he starts digging?<\/p>\n

Actually, i think we’ve all got a pretty good idea.<\/p>\n

As far as I’m concerned, the SFA just lined themselves up alongside a man who could be in jail over Christmas for breaching a contempt of court order that he is under a suspended sentence for .<\/p>\n

Thats without his other convictions taken into account, and if it’s true that you know a man by the company he keeps…<\/p>\n

( Or the club , I’m not sure of anything anymore )<\/p>\n

With so many appearances in front of the bench due to take place, we are only going to mention them, firstly, when they have happened, and secondly, from a completely neutral point of view, as by laying out the facts as they are coming to light \u00a0is the only way to show the world what a cheating bunch of thieving fly by night bastards that lot really are.<\/p>\n

They’ve an AGM on Friday, the Annual Grasping Meeting, where they grasp at anyone who shows any inclination to chuck money towards them.<\/p>\n

We asked a financial analyst firstly, to help us spell analyst , and then to give his thoughts on what would happen to any money invested in Ibrox…<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Fianlly, another missing words question….<\/p>\n

What are \u00a0the missing words in this headline ?<\/p>\n

Ladbrokes chiefs scolded by ****** ******* at shareholder<\/h1>\n

meeting<\/h1>\n

Two clues…<\/p>\n

the asterisks correspond to the letters in the words,<\/p>\n

and,<\/p>\n

presumably the golf was cancelled that day.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

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

And I’ll bet none of you even considered it. I know I didn’t. but when you think about it, there might be something in it.…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":8194,"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\/2015\/11\/Theres-ALWAYS-a-Solution-to-Your-Problem.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p2J7If-288","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/etims.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8192"}],"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=8192"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/etims.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8192\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":8195,"href":"https:\/\/etims.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8192\/revisions\/8195"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/etims.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/8194"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/etims.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=8192"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/etims.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=8192"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/etims.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=8192"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}