{"id":9289,"date":"2016-06-24T09:24:50","date_gmt":"2016-06-24T08:24:50","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/etims.net\/?p=9289"},"modified":"2016-06-24T09:24:50","modified_gmt":"2016-06-24T08:24:50","slug":"celtic-diary-friday-june-24-out-of-europe-already","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/etims.net\/?p=9289","title":{"rendered":"Celtic Diary Friday June 24: Out Of Europe Already!"},"content":{"rendered":"

Brendan Rodgers must go. He’s overseen a European exit which makes Ronny Deila look positively adept at continental success. Yeah, I’m a bit miserable this morning, so don’t expect to be spraying coffee over your monitor while you read this.<\/p>\n

Stoke on Trent voted overwhelmingly to leave Europe, which proves that I am surrounded by idiots after all. The lad moves over to Dublin on Saturday, and I might just hide in one of his suitcases.<\/p>\n

Referenda are simply proof that most people should not be allowed to decide on anything more important than which shoe to put on first.<\/p>\n

But away from all that, there’s news from Celtic, and Charlie Mulgrew has signed a new deal, or at least agreed one, that will keep him at the club until his kids are old enough to look after themselves.<\/p>\n

Does that mean the new boss has no faith in the centre backs already at the club ?<\/p>\n

Or does he value the idea of having a Celtic man around ?<\/p>\n

Do West Brom value the idea of having a Celtic man around ? The Birmingham Mail seems to think not, but stories are circulating they may hijack the bid.<\/p>\n

There were also worries that after the strict regime under Deila, the players got a bit of a shock when it turned out Rodgers was a little more militaristic than first thought.<\/p>\n

\"Evening<\/p>\n

The boss did take time out to sing the praises of Keiran Tierney, and tipped the lad for the top;<\/p>\n

\u201cI saw in the first two days I was in charge that Kieran Tierney will be a top player.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s a 19-year-old kid and probably before the start of last season no-one would have heard of him.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cBut I can tell you that I know from my experience of working in England in the middle section and at the top end of the league, that this kid will be a top player. For sure. Absolutely 100 per cent he will be.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cHaving worked with young players \u2013 and lots of them \u2013 and seen them grow and develop into top stars, there\u2019s no question about that.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cWhat stood out about him? Just about everything. His attitude and he\u2019s quicker than what I thought. I had only seen him on the telly in highlights and clips but when you see him close up, he\u2019s a super athlete. He\u2019s strong, quick, balanced, aggressive, has a wonderful left foot and will get better.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cOf course, he still has bits where he could improve but he defends well, he\u2019s hard to beat, he wants to go forward, he\u2019s a good size and he has personality.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

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

But then, he started to babble, in a way that was a little reminiscent of his predecessor..<\/p>\n

\u201cI have to say, from being in England for so long and working in the Premier League, I grew up seeing top Scottish players. I looked at\u00a0Allan Johnston<\/a>\u00a0the other night, he would probably never remember it but I recall being at Manchester United as a young player when he was there. He was 13 and now he\u2019s like me, old and starting to lose the hair a wee bit.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cBut I was at Liverpool and down through the years they have had a wonderful tradition of Scottish players, so the talent is there.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cSocially things have changed now as well and things are different because of that. But there is no doubt the country has talent, it is just about honing it and making it work.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cYou have an outstanding national team manager in\u00a0Gordon Strachan<\/a>, who can develop the players he has coached with Mark McGhee. These are guys who will give youngsters every chance to develop. Kieran is the perfect example of that, but I look at the other guys as well.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cSome of the young kids here in the training sessions, with the intensity and tempo, dealt with it really well.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cThat was two training sessions I put on at the very top level of the game. So it is still very early and it\u2019s not all about the talent.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cYou also need to have to have the personality to succeed. That will help determine whether your talent is wasted or not.\u201d\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

The draw for the first round of the new look Challenge cup, \u00a0sponsored by Irn Bru, the badly spelt hangover cure, took place yesterday.<\/p>\n

Celtic under 20 will host Annan Athletic, which is a game that should generate a lot of interest, and the youngsters deserve support as they try to show they are ready for the next level. If it pays off, there will be dividends for club and player, so here’s to a good run in the competition.<\/p>\n

The BBC explain how it works, although I don’t believe them.<\/p>\n

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The first round ties of the newly-revamped Challenge Cup are scheduled for 2\/3 August.<\/em><\/p>\n

The 14 winners will be joined by East Fife, Elgin City and eight clubs from last season’s League One in the next round, with Championship clubs entering at the next phase.<\/em><\/p>\n

Crusaders and Linfield from Northern Ireland and Welsh Premier League sides Bala Town and The New Saints enter at the last 16 stage.<\/em><\/p>\n

Rangers won the cup last season but will not be in the competition this time following their promotion to the top flight.<\/em><\/p>\n

First round draw<\/b><\/em><\/p>\n

North Section<\/b><\/em><\/p>\n

Cove Rangers v Dundee U20<\/em><\/p>\n

East Stirlingshire v Montrose<\/em><\/p>\n

Formatine United v Aberdeen U20<\/em><\/p>\n

Inverness Caledonian Thistle U20 v Arbroath<\/em><\/p>\n

Ross County U20 v Brora Rangers<\/em><\/p>\n

Stirling Albion v Hearts U20<\/em><\/p>\n

St Johnstone U20 v Turriff United<\/em><\/p>\n

South Section<\/b><\/em><\/p>\n

Berwick Rangers v Spartans<\/em><\/p>\n

Celtic U20 v Annan Athletic<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Clyde v Partick Thistle U20<\/em><\/p>\n

Cumbernauld Colts v Hamilton Academical U20<\/em><\/p>\n

Motherwell U20 v Edinburgh City<\/em><\/p>\n

Queen’s Park v Kilmarnock U20<\/em><\/p>\n

Rangers U20 v Stirling University<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n