{"id":9962,"date":"2016-09-25T08:48:28","date_gmt":"2016-09-25T07:48:28","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/etims.net\/?p=9962"},"modified":"2016-09-25T08:48:28","modified_gmt":"2016-09-25T07:48:28","slug":"celtic-diary-sunday-september-25-poetry-in-motion","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/etims.net\/?p=9962","title":{"rendered":"Celtic Diary Sunday September 25: Poetry In Motion"},"content":{"rendered":"

Celtic racked up their biggest win of the season so far with a 6-1 demolition of Kilmarnock, despite Dorus de Vries turning the game into a handicap event after he watched a speculative long range shot sail over his head to open the days scoring.<\/p>\n

With a more difficult game \u00a0aheadon \u00a0Wednesday, manager Brendan Rodgers decided to call a halt to the de Vries experiment, and replaced him with Craig Gordon for the second half, to allow the defenders some much needed practice playing with a goalkeeper.<\/p>\n

\"Image<\/p>\n

The Kilmarnock goal has been hailed as a wonderful strike, which it was, in that it was on target. By merely getting the shot on target, Souleyman Coulibayli had exploited the keepers main weakness, and as it floated goalwards. many conversations took place around the stadium to this effect, in real time, by the way…<\/p>\n

Fan ” Thats going in ”<\/p>\n

Fan 2 ” Nah, keepers watching it all the way ”<\/p>\n

Fan ” Are you watching Strictly come Dancing tonight ? ”<\/p>\n

Fan 2 ” no, whats that all about ? ”<\/p>\n

Fan ” Its where celebrities get paired off with professional dancers and learn to dance. Its quite good. Then every week the one who’s made an arse of it gets voted off by the viewers. ”<\/p>\n

Fan 2 ” Oh, you mean like that Simon Cowell thing, the x factor ”<\/p>\n

Fan \u00a0“Yes, thats right, only you should see the gear the lassies wear, all posh dresses and that<\/p>\n

Fan 2 \u00a0 “I’ll have a look, what times—-oh how the fuck did he let that one go in ? ”<\/p>\n

\"Dorus\"Dorus\"Dorus<\/p>\n

For a keeper of De Vries’s experience and ability, his tome between the sticks at Celtic has been nothing short of a disaster. So much so, that one is tempted to think he has a genuine problem, as yet undetected , with his eyesight or motor communication skills.<\/p>\n

He’s getting on a bit, and for most of us, deteriorating bodies are the norm. My eyesight, without glasses, is so poor that I can no longer play snooker or darts with the old specs, and driving without them is an adventure.<\/p>\n

In that respect, I’ll give him the benefit of the doubt, and suggest that there is an underlying problem that has come to light during the last few games.<\/p>\n

That way, he can retire with dignity.<\/p>\n

But, enough about de Vries, because even that goal cannot take away from what was Celtic’s best performance of the season so far.<\/p>\n

In the past, placing nine \u00a0men behind the ball has frustrated Celtic, and sometimes the tactic has seen teams leave Glasgow with a point in their pockets.<\/p>\n

Not any more.<\/p>\n

The movement, the commitment and the desire of this team is overwhelming at times, such as yesterday, and it was no surprise that in the time it took me to smoke a fag in disgust at De Vries, Moussa Dembele had scored twice to put the earth back on its normal rotation.<\/p>\n

In the past, that would not have happened, and not just because Dembele only joined in the summer, but because the spirit wasn’t there.<\/p>\n

It wouldn;t be unfair to say that any one of the outfield players had a strong case to be nominated man of the match, as most of them performed probably as well as they ever have, though there was one touch of class that was above and beyond the call of duty.<\/p>\n

Scott Sinclair, if he scored today, would become the first Celtic player to score in each of the opening six matches of a league campaign.<\/p>\n

Celtic got a penalty…<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Sinclair agreed it was a touch of class..<\/p>\n

Scott Sinclair<\/strong>\u00a0\u200f@<\/s>Scotty_Sinclair<\/b><\/span>\u00a0<\/a>\u00a011h<\/span>11 hours ago<\/span><\/a><\/small><\/em><\/div>\n
\n

1\/2 Great result today a touch of class from @<\/s>Leighgriff09<\/b><\/a> in giving me the pen allowing me to break the record it just goes to show how\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

Scott Sinclair<\/strong>\u00a0\u200f@<\/s>Scotty_Sinclair<\/b><\/span>\u00a0<\/a>\u00a011h<\/span>11 hours ago<\/span><\/a><\/small><\/em><\/div>\n
\n

2\/2 Good the team spirit and togetherness in the squad, thanks to all the fans, roll on Wednesday! #<\/s>teamworkmakesthedreamwork<\/b><\/a> #<\/s>celticfc<\/b><\/a><\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n
Temawork is one thing, but to have the opposition join in when you are celebrating another great goal is something quite different..<\/div>\n
\"\"<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
Looking ahead to Wednesdays game, Manchester City may have all the big names on the big wages, but those reoutations mean very little when they come to Celtic Park.<\/div>\n
\u00a0Barcelona respected Celtic, and rested players and knew they would have to be at the top of their game to make sure of a win. They were, and won more convincingly due to the heart going out of the Celtic players.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
\u00a0Manchester City will not have the same level of respect for the team, and will not know what hit them once the crowd gets going, despite the fact that manager Pep Guardiola knows all about it from his Barcelona days.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
I wouldn’t say I’m confident of a win, but I’m certainly optimistic.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
Brendan Rodgers has revealed that he could have gone to Manchester city a few years ago, before he took the Swansea job…<\/div>\n
\n

\u201cI know the people well there. I was approached when Roberto Mancini was there, after the first season, to go in and be a No 2 and at that time I was out of work.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cI met them at City\u2019s ground and then I was invited to Milan to speak there with them. I wanted to be a manager of course but at that time there weren\u2019t a lot of possibilities.<\/em><\/p>\n


\n<\/span><\/span><\/em>\u201cThey thought because I had worked at Chelsea with big players that I could maybe come in and make an impact there but after the chats and talks I was offered the job at Swansea, so I went back into be the No 1 again.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cThat was the best thing for me but I got to know about City then and I have got to say I am big admirer of them because everything they talked about then, they were developing. I was shown plans of the training facilities they were going to build and the mini stadiums, how they were going to try and roll it out throughout the world.<\/em><\/p>\n

Seems like the players at Man City have the best of everything, except that one thing all teams need.\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
Support.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
I read somewhere that Manchester City have returned 500 tickets for Wednesdays game, which is astonishing , if true. They only get around 2,000 or so. I’m aware that the team has lost a lot of their hard core fans since they arguably lost their identity, but you would have thought most fans would want to see their team at Celtic Park, even if its just to sample the fabled atmosphere.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
Money has destroyed that club, which used to be a proper peoples club for the city of Manchester, and now its become just like its near neighbour, Manchester Utd Co.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
Football without fans is nothing, and theres a warning for us all there about the dangers of having everything you wish for.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
Mancehster City’s veteran full back , the Argentinian Pablo Zabaleta, isn’t taking the game lightly, although there is a feeling he’s merely paying lip service here;<\/div>\n
\n

\u201cPeople are saying that Celtic are the weakest team of the group but, believe me, this game is going to be really hard because they\u2019re a very strong side when they play at home,\u201d\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cThe atmosphere there is always incredible. I\u2019ve never had an opportunity to play at Celtic Park but I\u2019m really looking forward to it.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve heard from many players who have played there and they say it\u2019s fantastic.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve seen many of their games in the Champions League on TV and also in the Scottish League and I know it\u2019s true.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cThey\u2019ve been playing in this competition for a lot of years so we know what the Champions League means for them as well as what it means for us.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cSome people think that this group is only about City and Barca, but that is not the case.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cOf course Barcelona is one of the greatest teams ever to have played in this competition and they are in the same group as us, but we cannot forget the other two.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cWe have a lot of respect for Borussia Monchengladbach and we certainly have to respect Celtic as well.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s going to be very tough. We need to prepare well for all the games and make sure we can play in our best style of play because, of course, then we will have more chance to win.\u201d \u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

I’ve a feeling that he probably says something similar before most games.<\/p>\n

\n

Another ex Celt working in the media, Davie Provan , has commented \u00a0the lack of criticism offered by ex-Rangers players toward the shennanigans at Ibrox which involved setting up a new club and pretending it was the old one;<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t think there is any doubt that is true,\u201d <\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cYou would have to ask them why this is. Maybe there is an unknown code they subscribe to but it\u2019s almost a given that former Rangers players won\u2019t slag off Rangers.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cWhen David Murray was taking the club deeper into debt, you still had not one of them sounding the alarm bell even when Hugh Adam sounded the claxon. It was still, \u2018That\u2019s Sir David, steady as you go.’\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

This follows the now legendary attack on Derek Johnstone by Chris Sutton, where Sutton accused Johnstone of being a “rangers cheerleader “<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
Of course, Johnstone went into denial mode, his high pitched whine sounding exactly like a teenage girl who had just been told she can;t go out looking like that by her dad.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
Johnstone, of course, is old enough to make his own decisions about what he wears.<\/div>\n
\"\"<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
I would also like to apologise to those who went to Malones last night for my non appearance. Due to the dodgy leg I’ve got, and various painkillers\/nerveblockers not really working, the Doc has given me Tramadol, which has the effect of making me fairly hyper but the downside is the downside, as I tend to fall asleep when I sit down.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
\u00a0And when i’m in a bar, its usually whoever I’m talking to that falls asleep.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
But I promise I’ll make the next one, as long as its after November 7, which is when the spinal team at the hospital have scheduled me in to practice their skills with a knife.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
Elsewhere today, “rangers ” face Aberdeen at Pittodrie, and a defeat will leave them languishing in the bottom half of the table…<\/div>\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<\/colgroup>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Scottish Premiership 2016\/17<\/caption>\n
#<\/th>\nTeam<\/th>\nPl<\/th>\nW<\/th>\nD<\/th>\nL<\/th>\nF<\/th>\nA<\/th>\nGD<\/th>\nPts<\/th>\nLast 6<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
1<\/td>\nCeltic<\/a><\/td>\n6<\/td>\n5<\/td>\n1<\/td>\n0<\/td>\n23<\/td>\n8<\/td>\n15<\/td>\n16<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2<\/td>\nHearts<\/a><\/td>\n7<\/td>\n3<\/td>\n2<\/td>\n2<\/td>\n11<\/td>\n6<\/td>\n5<\/td>\n11<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
3<\/td>\nSt Johnstone<\/a><\/td>\n6<\/td>\n3<\/td>\n1<\/td>\n2<\/td>\n8<\/td>\n7<\/td>\n1<\/td>\n10<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
4<\/td>\nMotherwell<\/a><\/td>\n7<\/td>\n2<\/td>\n3<\/td>\n2<\/td>\n10<\/td>\n9<\/td>\n1<\/td>\n9<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
5<\/td>\nAberdeen<\/a><\/td>\n6<\/td>\n2<\/td>\n3<\/td>\n1<\/td>\n7<\/td>\n7<\/td>\n0<\/td>\n9<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
6<\/td>\nRoss County<\/a><\/td>\n7<\/td>\n2<\/td>\n3<\/td>\n2<\/td>\n7<\/td>\n7<\/td>\n0<\/td>\n9<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
7<\/td>\nRangers<\/a><\/td>\n6<\/td>\n2<\/td>\n3<\/td>\n1<\/td>\n7<\/td>\n9<\/td>\n-2<\/td>\n9<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
8<\/td>\nInverness CT<\/a><\/td>\n7<\/td>\n2<\/td>\n2<\/td>\n3<\/td>\n11<\/td>\n15<\/td>\n-4<\/td>\n8<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
9<\/td>\nDundee<\/a><\/td>\n7<\/td>\n1<\/td>\n3<\/td>\n3<\/td>\n8<\/td>\n11<\/td>\n-3<\/td>\n6<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
10<\/td>\nKilmarnock<\/a><\/td>\n7<\/td>\n1<\/td>\n3<\/td>\n3<\/td>\n8<\/td>\n15<\/td>\n-7<\/td>\n6<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
11<\/td>\nPartick Thistle<\/a><\/td>\n6<\/td>\n1<\/td>\n2<\/td>\n3<\/td>\n7<\/td>\n9<\/td>\n-2<\/td>\n5<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
12<\/td>\nHamilton Academical<\/a><\/td>\n6<\/td>\n1<\/td>\n2<\/td>\n3<\/td>\n7<\/td>\n11<\/td>\n-4<\/td>\n5<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n