{"id":8686,"date":"2016-02-26T11:26:29","date_gmt":"2016-02-26T11:26:29","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/etims.net\/?p=8686"},"modified":"2016-02-26T11:26:29","modified_gmt":"2016-02-26T11:26:29","slug":"celtic-diary-friday-february-26-plastic-pitch-peril-solved","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/etims.net\/?p=8686","title":{"rendered":"Celtic Diary Friday February 26: Plastic Pitch Peril Solved"},"content":{"rendered":"

Celtic face Hamilton tonight, after manager Ronny Deila begged the SPFL for more games against the Lanarkshire side, due to it being the last time no-one moaned at him about the results, tactics, or team line up.<\/p>\n

Celts, of course, won 8-1 in the last encounter, giving the support an idea of what it’s like when things go to plan. It didn’t last long.<\/p>\n

Any chance of a repeat tonight ?<\/p>\n

Its unlikely, but a win shouldn’t be beyond the hoops, and as that would put celtic nine points clear at the top of the league, and deliver a massive psychological blow to Aberdeen, then thats all we should ask.<\/p>\n

Saidy Janko returns to the squad, James forrest has been left out, giving him a chance to get his head together, and Carlton Cole is injured, along with Jozo Simunovic. Ach, they’ll be company for each other.<\/p>\n

So Ronny says, but we’ll get confirmation later when Peter releases the team sheet.<\/p>\n

Gary Mackay Steven is a little worried that Hamilton might be out for revenge.<\/p>\n

\u201cSince that defeat they have gone on a pretty decent run, Before that game we knew they were a good side and are more than capable of putting results together so it was pleasing to get that result, but I think it\u2019ll be a different scenario and they will be right up for this one so we\u2019ll need to be right at it too.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cWe scored early and created a lot of chances early on and managed to take them all, which was pleasing. It was five-nil at half-time and it was one of those nights where every chance we got seemed to go in, which was great for us.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cIt was a good night but Hamilton are not an easy team to play, especially at their place so it\u2019ll be a tough game on Friday.\u201d\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

We really need to stop showing so much respect to other teams. Sometimes the way the players approach games makes me believe that they believe the nonsense they spout.<\/p>\n

It’ll be that plastic pitch which could be a leveller, so the guys need to be careful of injury as well. Mikael Lustig showed us the new away top, specially designed for such an occasion.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Deila though, will play it safe, ensuring that the players have special footwear designed for plastic pitches.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Speaking of plastic pitches, Mark Warburton, manager of First Division Second Rangers, had a pop at Ronny, after the Celtic manager said he was a clueless tosser who didn’t have the faintest idea what he was on about.<\/p>\n

Or something like that, I’m paraphrasing here.<\/p>\n

Actually, that might have been me.<\/p>\n

But Ronny has upset the Govan Guardiola, who responded the same way he usually does, with dignity.<\/p>\n

\u00a0“If Ronny did say that then I think that’s disrespectful because you are entitled to your own opinion.<\/em><\/p>\n

“I think the one line for me that jumped out from that interview is number one, there’s a good grass pitch and number two there’s a good artificial pitch.<\/em><\/p>\n

“If you’re happy to accept second best then go for the artificial pitch, if you want to set the higher standards then you go for the best quality of grass pitch. That for me was the one sentence that summed it up.”\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

So it’s “disrespectful ” to offer your own opinion, unless it’s his opinion.<\/p>\n

I think I know what the fabled magic hat looks like, complete with nasal attachments<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Back at the ranch, and the absence of Carlton cole from the team has prompted questions from the press, especially as the forward has been linked to a move to China. When this was mentioned to Deila, he said it was news to him.<\/p>\n

No shit.<\/p>\n

Why would any player bother letting Deila know about his future plans or ambitions?<\/p>\n

It became obvious when Nadir Ciftci and Aiden Nesbitt went out on loan the day after the Partick game that Deila has little or no control over the staff.<\/p>\n

And its this that may ultimately see him exit Celtic Park, having failed to stamp his authority.<\/p>\n

Tonight we can expect Gordon, Lustig, Sviatchenko Boyata Tierney Brown , Biton, Armstrong, Johansen Mackay Steven and Griffiths.<\/p>\n

Allan , Christie and Roberts may make an appearance, but not until late on.<\/p>\n

I suppose we should get the league won before experimenting with flair and excitement.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Looking forward, and the tickets for the Morton game are on sale.<\/p>\n

THE Bhoys are back on the cup trail on Sunday, March 6, as Morton visit Paradise in the quarter finals of the Scottish Cup.<\/em><\/p>\n

It\u2019s a 12 noon kick-off and you can be there with tickets are available now for both Season Ticket Holders and through General Sale. Tickets for this cup tie are priced from \u00a315 adults and from \u00a35 concessions (65+\/under16).<\/em><\/p>\n

The Hoops have lifted the Scottish Cup a record 36 times and are enjoying a good cup run again this year having successfully disposed of Stranraer and East Kilbride in previous rounds.<\/em><\/p>\n

The Celts will again be strong favourites for this tie and with your support they can make it safely into the semi-finals.<\/em><\/p>\n

Season Ticket Holders –\u00a0<\/strong>Season Tickets holders have until 5pm on\u00a0Monday, February 29 to purchase their regular seat and activate their season ticket for the match. Tickets can be purchased online, by calling 0871 226 1888* or by visiting the Celtic Ticket Office. Booking fees apply online\/via booking line.<\/em><\/p>\n

Home Cup Ticket Scheme Members \u2013\u00a0<\/strong>Payment for tickets through the Home Cup Ticket Scheme will be taken on Monday, February 29.<\/em><\/p>\n

Important Information –\u00a0<\/strong>For this tie, Areas 115 to Areas 118 have been allocated to away supporters and as a result these areas will not be available to Season Ticket Holders. Home Cup Ticket Scheme members have been relocated and match tickets will be sent out. Season Ticket Holders in this areas should visit the Ticket Office or call Customer Services on 0141 230 1967 to purchase their ticket.<\/em><\/p>\n

General Sale –\u00a0<\/strong>Tickets for Celtic v Morton are also on general sale price from \u00a315 adults and from \u00a35 concessions (65+\/under16). These tickets can be purchased online, by calling 0871 226 1888* or by visiting the Celtic Ticket Office. Booking fees apply online\/via booking line.<\/em><\/p>\n

Please note that our print at home facility will not be available until after 5pm on\u00a0Monday, February 29.<\/em><\/p>\n

12 noon on a Sunday.<\/p>\n

There is not expected to be a capacity crowd, and to be honest, if this trend continues, it won’t be long before the club will be ringing fans to ask what time they can make it before deciding on what time to kick off.<\/p>\n

It’s not entirely the clubs fault, and the SFA deserve a chunk of the blame as they don’t exactly sell the tournament, but then again, they don’t exactly sell anything.<\/p>\n

They could make it more interesting by making all the cup games a sort of handicap event.<\/p>\n

For instance, we could have Willie Collum as referee, with Stephen Muir, Bobby Madden and the boy Dallas on the lines.<\/p>\n

Or , maybe they could bring back an old friend…<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

That should even it up a bit, and Celtic could perhaps make it more of a competition by hitting all the corner kicks either too hard or too soft.<\/p>\n

Oh, hang on, we do that anyway.<\/p>\n

Nothing is certain in the cup, and to be honest, it presents a great and affordable opportunity to take the kids along for a day out. Especially if they have been misbehaving all week.<\/p>\n

That’ll put a stop to it, if you threaten to make them go again.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Elsewhere, drunken wife beater Paul Gascoigne found a few people prepared to pay to listen to his “memories “, although we hear it turned out he was asking them to remind him what happened during his playing days, and the whole thing ended up in a bit of a bigot fest, which is unsurprising.<\/p>\n

And you know what, who cares ?<\/p>\n

Every now and then now that the clubs gone, there will be events like this, but as the years go by, there will be less and less attending them.<\/p>\n

And at least it kept them off the streets.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

We hear that the next generation of the peepil is a little confused as to who to support now their old club is dead… especially as they are determined not to continue bailing out Scottish clubs..<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Todays picture for you to offer up words of wisdom on ……<\/p>\n

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 <\/p>\n

And no, its not the Lennon CSC in the London road Tavern sorting out the season books.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Celtic face Hamilton tonight, after manager Ronny Deila begged the SPFL for more games against the Lanarkshire side, due to it being the last time…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":8687,"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\/2016\/02\/loftus_road.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p2J7If-2g6","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/etims.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8686"}],"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=8686"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/etims.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8686\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":8688,"href":"https:\/\/etims.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8686\/revisions\/8688"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/etims.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/8687"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/etims.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=8686"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/etims.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=8686"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/etims.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=8686"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}