{"id":9303,"date":"2016-06-26T08:28:02","date_gmt":"2016-06-26T07:28:02","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/etims.net\/?p=9303"},"modified":"2016-06-26T08:28:02","modified_gmt":"2016-06-26T07:28:02","slug":"celtic-diary-sunday-june-26-a-genuine-threat-from-over-the-river","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/etims.net\/?p=9303","title":{"rendered":"Celtic Diary Sunday June 26: A Genuine Threat From Over The River ?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Apologies for yesterdays diary not appearing. That’s because I didn’t write one. Instead, i took my eldest down to Holyhead, where he was off to start his new life in Dublin, along with a packet of Halls Mentho Lyptus he took off my dashboard when I wasn’t looking. The bastard.<\/p>\n

The wife, his brothers and I spent last night changing all our phone numbers, and contacted the local paper, as we \u00a0now have a room for rent.<\/p>\n

Well, a couch , anyway, as he didn’t really live here as such.<\/p>\n

Then myself, an Irishman and an Englishman went out for a beer, but the Englishman didn’t like the pub so we all had to leave.<\/p>\n

Shall we do the transfer gossip first ?<\/p>\n

Might as well.<\/p>\n

Shane Duffy is the latest defender to be lonked with a move to Celtic. With just a year left on his Blackburn deal, there’s speculation he might cut his losses and move north to plug the gap created by the absence of Dedryck Boyata and Jozo Simunovic, who aren’t going to be fit for a while.<\/p>\n

Actually, its more reasonable to suggest he would come north to plug the gap created by Boyata and Simunovic when they are playing.<\/p>\n

Kolo Toure could be another, and to be honest, its more likely to be the 35 year old free agent who plugs any gaps in the short term, largely because of his experience and the fact that he’s a 35 year old free agent.<\/p>\n

Word at Lennoxtown is that a fully fit and functioning Simunovic is a far , far better bet than any of the other names mentioned, but he does seem to have been out for a long time over what appeared to be a minor injury, although there are no reports of him having injured it in a squash game with a team mate.<\/p>\n

On that basis, toure looks more likely, but bearing in mind there is a lack of quality cover, perhaps duffy could be the one.<\/p>\n

Or maybe both, or maybe none.<\/p>\n

Whereas the papers will trumpet the stories in the hope of an exclusive, we’re a little more honest here and will admit we haven’t got a clue.<\/p>\n

Anyone else leaving ?<\/p>\n

The odds are shortening on Charlie Mulgrew not hanging around. He’s chewing over the two year deal he’s been offered, and that can only make it awkward to sign, and lets be honest, no one at Celtic is going to be in any hurry to pick up the saliva stained document if he does.<\/p>\n

And James Forrest, the marmite winger who had the offer of a contract pulled when he wanted to think about it a few months ago ?<\/p>\n

Well, it depends on how you interpret the words of the new manager, which are…<\/p>\n

\u201cI do see a future for him, very much so. He is one I am looking forward to analysing.<\/em><\/span>
\n<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cHe has obviously had a run of injuries and maybe some that have held him back but he is a big talent.<\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t know him well enough yet but I know he has talent. From the few days I\u2019ve worked with him, he looks fit and fresh. Hopefully the way I work will suit his aggressive style.<\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYou have to be able to defend but you also have to be able to attack and he has great attacking ability \u2013 so let\u2019s hope he can stay clear of injury and recapture his best form.<\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI have spoken to him about his\u2028 situation, absolutely, but I\u2019m quite relaxed about it. The kid has until December, that\u2019s his contract. By that time he\u2019ll have a good way of looking at it.<\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cLike with every player, though, we want players who want to play for Celtic, who want to be here.<\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cIf they don\u2019t want to be at the club, that\u2019s absolutely fine.<\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a huge club, one of the biggest in the world, playing in a great league, and the chance to come and play every other week at Celtic Park is a wonderful\u2028opportunity for any player. I hope James, over the next six months, sees his future at the club.<\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s a talent, he has gone off the radar over the past couple of years from where he was at.<\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cBut I hope over the next six months he can get back on track and see Celtic as the club for him.\u201d\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

Now, if I was looking at that through the players eyes, I’d find those words very encouraging, and as footballers know that they are playing for their next contract pretty much week in week out anyway, all he has to do is show what he can do, because he is a player who merely needs to get back on track, avoid injury and get rid of that ridiculous girly haircut.<\/p>\n

The last contract fiasco won’t have done his confidence any good, but as Rodgers says, he wants players who want to play for Celtic, and Forrest certainly falls into that category.<\/p>\n

Oh, falls, yeah, he could maybe try and stop doing that as well.<\/p>\n

A clean sheet for all.<\/p>\n

It’s the only way forward.<\/p>\n

So, if Forrest picks up the papers this morning, he should feel encouraged , right ?<\/p>\n

Well, sort of.<\/p>\n

Gordon Waddell, in the Sunday \u00a0Mail;<\/p>\n

You’ve six months to save your Celtic career, Brendan Rodgers tells James Forrest<\/span>
\n<\/span><\/h2>\n

<\/h2>\n

And you just know he delted the word “warns ” at least half a dozen times before settling on the use of “tells ” .<\/p>\n

Oh, scratch that. Like a Mail hack ponders over semantics.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Whereas Moira Gordon, of the Scotsman, using the same quote from Rodgers, went with;<\/p>\n

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

Brendan Rodgers hopes James Forrest stays with Celtic<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/h2>\n

Which I’d say appears to be closer to the truth.<\/p>\n

One definitely staying is Keiran Tierney, who has just signed a five year deal. With Celtic , just to clarify, after he was touted remorselessly around English clubs by the Scottish media.<\/p>\n

But, as we knew already, he just didn’t want to go. And thats the attitude that just cannot be bought. It has to be in the heart, and Tierney certainly knows whats in his heart.<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u201cThey are huge clubs and it\u2019s the Premier League so of course you take a bit of pride in that.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cBut I never thought about leaving at all.\u00a0You think about the interest but it never crossed my mind to leave.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m delighted to be here and sign that new contract.\u00a0The negotiations didn\u2019t take too long at all.\u201d \u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m delighted to be here and sign that new contract. The manager spoke to me after the first training session and told me he wanted to tie me up here.<\/em><\/p>\n

“He told me this is the best place for me to be. And with him managing the club now I\u2019m delighted to be here.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cThe negotiations didn\u2019t take too long at all. Basically they only started once the new manager came in which was just four days.<\/em><\/p>\n

“To get it done that quickly is brilliant. You don\u2019t want to be training for four weeks and talks going on. So to have it sorted this fast is great.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cWhen I first saw him being linked with the job I wasn\u2019t sure what to think. It seemed there was a different favourite for it every day.<\/em><\/p>\n

“But when he got it I was delighted as he\u2019s known for liking youngsters, bringing them on and playing good football. The whole team is delighted he\u2019s here.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cHearing his backing for you gives you confidence, knowing he likes you already. You just have to try to keep that up.<\/em><\/p>\n

“When the season comes hopefully I\u2019ve done enough for him to pick me. Everybody always raves about the football played under him and how good he is at developing youngsters so I just hope that happens for me.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

As many a Celtic legend will tell you, the negotiations primarily \u00a0consisted of the player asking if anyone had a pen….<\/p>\n

Another signing which perhaps didn’t catch the eye was the recruitment of John McGlynn, the former Hearts boss , to help with the coaching.<\/p>\n

\"91770-john-mcglynn-former-hearts-coach-wins-the-prize\"<\/p>\n

Well, if he fails, or does or says something stupid, there’ll be a picture of him with another award on these pages…<\/p>\n

Thats a little harsh, as McGlynn comes with an impressive record. Well, for a Hearts boss, that is.<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u201cJohn has been a manager before. I came across him when Liverpool played Hearts in the Europa League and was very impressed. He\u2019s a good guy with good knowledge of the game.<\/em>\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019ll get to see over the coming weeks how I work, but he\u2019s a coach and he knows football. He\u2019s someone I\u2019ll look at specifically to do that. He knows opponents; he knows Hearts well for a start!<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cJohn is looking forward to that position and it will be great for him. He\u2019ll have a handle on Scottish football.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\u00a0<\/em><\/div>\n
\u201cI always look to have a technical analyst who will watch opponents. I always look within the club to see who is there and the I bring my people in with me. We have that, along with John McGlynn.\u201d\u00a0<\/em><\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
Someone to watch and assess the opposition ? In the flesh ? That’ll never catch on.<\/div>\n
Hey-he might even spot a player or two, in the old fashioned way.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
If this appointment works out, we may look back at it as one of the most significant in years.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
All in all, despite the lack of transfer activity, the foundations for a successful and enjoyable season appear to be more or less in place. The lack of activity over new faces is simply because the level of player that would improve the squad is tied up in international \u00a0action \u00a0at the moment, as the dullest tournament since King Arthurs knights forgot to bring their horses continues to drag on.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
From the other side of Glasgow, news reaches us that newcomers “rangers ” are throwing what little money they have in \u00a0a somewhat irresponsible and extremely unlikely bid to win their first major Scottish title.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
Which in turn, would bring in Champions League money, and thus cement their position as a leading club and principal opponents to Celtic.<\/div>\n
Well, when I say splashing money about, they’re actually just re arranging it.<\/div>\n
As this, from Hail Hail on twitter shows…<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
\"\"<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
\"\"<\/div>\n
Which means they have still got a few quid to bring in their own blue chip signing, which may even be a sensational trumping of Celtic by acquiring Hal Robson Kanu, in a deal to rival the one where Brazilian forward Robinho turned up in Manchester to find out his agent had stood over him, legs akimbo, after taking a packet of laxatives.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
Despite the laughter from the east of the city, and the rest of Scotland , come to thimk of it, the “rangers ” are taking their first season in amongst the big boys sriously, with the arrival of Barton, hill and now Kranjcar.<\/div>\n
And if they can find the compensation to pay Acrrington Stanley then we might all have been wrong about them, and perhaps they will make top six after all.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
Gordon Smith, in the Sunday Post sends out a chilling warning to Celtic supporters everywhere…<\/div>\n
\n

WHAT a difference there has been between the respective transfer activity of Rangers and Celtic this summer.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

The signing of Matt Gilks on a two-year deal on Friday made it seven new faces for Mark Warburton \u2013 with Nico Kranjcar, Joey Barton, Clint Hill, Jordan Rossiter, Matt Crooks<\/strong> and Josh Windass joining the Scotland squad keeper.<\/em><\/p>\n

Across the other side of Glasgow, meanwhile, Brendan Rodgers has been keeping his powder dry.<\/em><\/p>\n

That has surprised many. \u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

Crooks at Ibrox ? That hasn’t surprised anyone. Oh wait, he means its surprised many that Rodgers has kept his powder dry, a favoured term by Ibrox apologists. It shouldn’t surprise anyone who understands football…which kind of rules out Smith.<\/p>\n

\n

\n

\n<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
Theres a picture of the reputed new away kit doing the rounds at the moment…<\/div>\n
\"\"<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n

which is exactly the one voted for at a kit meeting I went to a while back.<\/p>\n

The picture, however , is fake, but it would be a belter, and with the name Ibrahimovic on the back, a big seller.<\/p>\n

Something we’d all like to see , and there’s nothing to stop us doing it, I suppose.<\/p>\n

Like the editor of a Cork newspaper who managed to fulfill a wee dream of his, one suspects…<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Speaking of politics, get your money on Liam Fox as next prime minister. He’s been saying all the things the party chairman would tell a hand picked prospective \u00a0PM to say, especially as Theresa May would split the party within a month, and Boris Johnson within an hour.<\/p>\n

A catholic Britsh PM ? We do indeed live in strange times.<\/p>\n

Theres no rule against it, the 1701 Act Of Settlement deals with the accession to the throne, but I suppose they’ll have one when one good enough comes along, an idea that sounds sort of vaguely familiar when it comes to employing catholics to do a job.<\/p>\n

And theres something a little familiar \u00a0about this picture, which I’m sure you can explain, in your own witty and informative style.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

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