{"id":9539,"date":"2016-08-10T08:54:09","date_gmt":"2016-08-10T07:54:09","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/etims.net\/?p=9539"},"modified":"2016-08-10T08:54:09","modified_gmt":"2016-08-10T07:54:09","slug":"celtic-diary-wednesday-august-10-and-now-to-the-league-cup","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/etims.net\/?p=9539","title":{"rendered":"Celtic Diary Wednesday August 10: And Now To The League Cup…"},"content":{"rendered":"

Or the DropDeadFred cup, or whatever its called.<\/p>\n

Gambling plays a disproportionate part in the sponsorship of Scottish football, including at our own club. Yet nowhere does it point out , in any if the adverts, that gambling will inevitably lead to the break up of your marriage and endless phone calls to guys who rent out flats above shops.<\/p>\n

Just saying.<\/p>\n

Ahead of tonights last sixteen clash with motherwell, Celtic were bouyed-or should that be bhouyed-by the news that Tom rogic has signed a new three year deal. James Forrest needs to be quick with his, otherwise, with the amount of signing being done of late, there’ll be no pens left with ink in them around the ground.<\/p>\n

Thats why Paddy McNair is off to Sunderland. When he came up for talks, no-one could find a pen and thats why the deal didn’t go through. You won’t read that anywhere else, by the way, for somewhat obvious reasons.<\/p>\n

Rogic, the only Australian I’ve ever heard of with no previous convictions, is a quiet laid back guy, causing many to doubt he is indeed Australian, and could now go on to fulfill his potential. He’s highly rated down under,<\/p>\n

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and seems the natural successor to Kris Commons in the number ten role, if , of course, Rodgers decides he wants a number ten.<\/p>\n

Rogic was pleased to sign up for another three years…<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a great show of faith by the club in me.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m happy here and happy to commit my future to the club that I\u2019m proud of.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cThe manager has had a very positive impact on the club so far and I\u2019m sure we will continue to build on that.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cTo have my future sorted and know that I\u2019m going to be working with the manager for the coming seasons is great.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cThe manager had a say in me re-signing and he has played a big role in me deciding to stay here. You can tell he\u2019s a top-class manager.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cI know that, under him, I can develop and progress.\u201d<\/span><\/em>
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Whilst the writing was on the contract for Rogic, its becoming apparent its on the wall for Commons, who was excluded from the squad sent to UEFA for next weeks showdown with the Hapoel Beer Company, and as a space for a “wildcard ” signing has been left, it appears the playmaker has been left out largely to accomodate, er, no-one yet, but someone might come in, which will hardly make him feel good about his situation.<\/p>\n

Wherever he goes, we wish him luck.<\/p>\n

Oh, while we’re on about finding new clubs, good luck too, to Carlton Cole…<\/p>\n

Former\u00a0<\/span>West Ham<\/a>\u00a0United and Celtic striker\u00a0<\/span>Carlton Cole<\/a>\u00a0is set to continue his career in the US third tier.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

The 32-year-old ex-England international, who was released by Celtic in June after spending eight months at Parkhead, has joined\u00a0USL<\/a>\u00a0side Sacramento Republic FC on a deal for the remainder of the 2016 campaign and will begin training with his new club from 16 August.<\/em><\/p>\n

Speaking to Republic FC\u2019s official website<\/a>, head coach Paul Buckle said: \u201cCole needs no introduction. In terms in what he has does in the game, he has played at the highest level throughout his career and it shows he is a top player and very good professional.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cWhen he became available, we realized the good he can bring, his invaluable experience and that he can score goals.\u201d\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

And good luck to the head coach as well, if thats what he thinks he’s getting with Cole…<\/p>\n

There might be a new deal in the pipeline-a silly place to leave it-for Eoghan O’Connell, the defender who has taken the bull by the horns after finally being offered a shot in the first team. his current deal is up at the end of the season, and whilst he still has a bit to do to displace Simunovic Boyata or Svaitchenko from the team, ( maybe just tripping them up as they get off the bus would do it ) , there is undoubted promise there, and certainly it can be said his emergence has removed the panic that had set in when we all thought we had no cover at the back.<\/p>\n

John Kennedy spoke to the media, in that charming and carefree way he has;<\/p>\n

\u201cTo be fair it\u2019s (his contract) something we\u2019re well aware of, Last season was tough on Eoghan because he hardly played any football. But he\u2019s come back and has been looking strong.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cSo I\u2019m pretty sure we\u2019ll look at that soon and that the club will sit down with him and his representatives and we\u2019ll see what the outcome is. But he\u2019s put himself in a good position with his performances and that\u2019s all we can ask.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s getting to an age where it\u2019s make or break for him in terms of first team at Celtic and you don\u2019t often get the long-term contract.<\/em><\/p>\n

“Kieran Tierney has come in and got one after doing the business and Eoghan is still to get to that stage. It\u2019s still early stages for him but he\u2019s certainly done himself a lot of favours in terms of the way he\u2019s played and performed.\u201d\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

“It\u2019s been a big opportunity for him to go and play and he\u2019s certainly taken that. He\u2019s done very well so far this season.<\/em><\/p>\n

“This is a boy who came through our Academy at 16, I\u2019ve worked with him a long time and know him inside out.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cHe had a couple of loans spells last season which didn\u2019t quite work out because of injury more than anything else.<\/em><\/p>\n

“But he\u2019s come in and had a good pre-season and done very well in the games. It\u2019s now about keeping his feet on the ground and working hard.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cTo be fair, he\u2019s a great boy, a great lad to work with. Last season he knew himself there was nothing he could really do about the injuries he got.<\/em><\/p>\n

“He went down south and had a problem and then went to Ireland and had another injury which was just unlucky.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cBut he\u2019s had a solid run in terms of training \u2013 I don\u2019t think he\u2019s missed a session \u2013 and the manager is showing faith in him. Eoghan is rewarding him with his performances.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

O’Connell himself is quite pleased with the way things have turned out… and how he has fitted comfortably into the back four, with his style of play<\/p>\n

\u201cWe have always been brought up at Celtic to be comfortable on the ball and take it from the back, I have had that since I was young \u2013 I used to play in midfield until I was 15 and maybe that had something to do with it \u2013 but it\u2019s something I enjoy, taking the ball under pressure and taking it out from the back.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cThat is the way we play here; open and attacking football. I think you need to be able to deal with the ball.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t think you have to punt the ball. We have been taught at Celtic to play the most expansive football we can, as that is the style. When I first signed for the club, perhaps one of the strongest parts of my games was to play the game.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cI didn\u2019t really expect this. I have played a few games but it was always one-in, one-out kind of a thing. I have never really had a run. It is difficult to plant a seed in people\u2019s heads, that you are ready to play, if you are only playing one game.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cI have got this little run now and I\u2019m hoping to prove to people that I am ready and good enough to play here.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

Good luck to him. I think the last central defender we had come through the ranks was Stephen MacManus, who wasn’t that bad. Unless he had to head the ball. Or kick it.<\/p>\n

On to tonights game, and the pressure is on to keep going for as many trophies as we can, after the disappointment of the International Champions Cup, which turned out to be shite.<\/p>\n

Celtic play host to Motherwell, and if you want to watch it on telly, make sure the kids aren’t in the room.<\/p>\n

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Keith Lasley, seen above in a rare moment when he kicks a ball instead of a player, will be out to stamp his authority, and feet, on Celtics midfield, and its never pretty to watch.<\/p>\n

Celtic will be without Leigh Griffiths but will be hoping for a repeat of the result at the end of last season, the seven goal thriller which was achieved without him, and joining him on the sidelines are Stefan Johansen and Efe Ambrose-who incidentally will be away very soon-his agent is currently showing videos of Kolo Toure to interested clubs and hoping no-one spots the difference.<\/p>\n

So, how about a wee change and a rest for a few tonight ?<\/p>\n

Er, no. They can have a rest at the weekend. Lets keep the impetus going in as far as we can<\/p>\n

Gordon, Lustig, Toure, O’Connell, Tierney, Forrest, Brown , Armstrong, MacGregor, Dembele, Ciftci.<\/p>\n

Depending on how the game goes, changes can be made if someone is feeling a bit tired, or there is the need to protect someone from Lasley.<\/p>\n

After all, and it may be a bit early to say it, but you can’t have a treble without a League Cup. and the good news is that it will count this year, as “rangers ” are in the league. Or something.<\/p>\n

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Meanwhile, the aftermath of sundays game continues to rumble on.<\/p>\n

Jamie Walker, the spinning Hearts midfielder, has been offered a two match ban for simulation-something that surely should be offered to a football club playing out of Ibrox if any measure of consistency is to be applied and upheld- and it appears that the club are going to turn it down.<\/p>\n

Their manager, Robbie Neilsen, explained..<\/p>\n

\u201cI have watched the incident back several times, Jamie told us he felt contact. He got himself out the way of a leg that is coming through. From our perspective, we believe that any contact in the box is a penalty. I believe from the footage which we have seen there is slight contact. You look at the camera from every angle and there is no indication there was no contact \u2013 other than people saying there is no contact.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/em>

Okay, in the interests of fair play, lets look at the incident again…<\/p>\n

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Yeah, tough one to call, that.<\/p>\n

Finally, congratulatons to the lads who brought back the first trophy of the season last night… this report from the official website, which in fairness does a better job of the twitter announcement.. the same picture was actually the leader for the story on the website, and I’m quite sure those in charge will take the appropriate steps when they find the guilty party..<\/p>\n

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Celtic Football Club<\/strong>\u00a0\u200f@<\/s>celticfc<\/b><\/span>\u00a0<\/a>\u00a011h<\/span>11 hours ago<\/span><\/a><\/small><\/div>\n
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Johnston strike seals Jock Stein Friendship Cup win for Celtic:<\/em> http:\/\/www.<\/span>celticfc.net\/news\/11046<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/a> (MD)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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