{"id":9969,"date":"2016-09-26T09:58:47","date_gmt":"2016-09-26T08:58:47","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/etims.net\/?p=9969"},"modified":"2016-09-26T09:58:47","modified_gmt":"2016-09-26T08:58:47","slug":"celtic-diary-monday-september-26-stark-warning-to-be-taken-seriously","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/etims.net\/?p=9969","title":{"rendered":"Celtic Diary Monday September 26: Stark Warning To Be Taken Seriously"},"content":{"rendered":"

Ahead of the clash on Wednesday with Manchester City, the former club of the people now rich mans plaything, there was a stark warning from Leon Britton…<\/p>\n

( No, I don’t know either)<\/p>\n

Warning for Celtic as Leon Britton says Manchester City<\/h1>\n

are the best team he’s ever faced.<\/h1>\n

Well, thats that then. We might as well chuck it.<\/p>\n

Britton, who plays for Swansea, is a midfielder who has worked under Brendan Rodgers, and somehow, the Daily Record , has got an exclusive where Britton says he is going to text his former boss to point out just how good Manchester City are.<\/p>\n

Well, Rodgers might not have noticed.<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u201cIn terms of the passing, I don\u2019t think I\u2019ve played against a team in the\u00a0Premier League<\/a>who keep the ball as well they do with the rotation and the movement.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cLook at the keeper. He<\/em>\u2019s an extra player. He drops his shoulder and beats a man.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

Well, bugger I down dead. Our keeper just drops the ball. When he gets anywhere near it, that is.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou think you have them pressed in and there was one instance in the first-half when we did it and he just clipped a ball over all of our heads to Kevin De Bruyne on the halfway line and he was the free man.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cThings like that make it so tough for any team that faces them.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cThey are the best I have faced in the Premier League.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cYou know they will take risks because that is the nature of the way they play, they want to pass it.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

When you consider that the EPL contains teams such as Stoke, Hull, Watford and Bournemouth its clear Manchester City are a force to be reckoned with.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo you try and nick it, but when they get the other side of you, the job is chase back 50 or 60 yards.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cYou either press and try to take it off them or you drop deep and park the bus, as they say.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cWe played them twice in four days and they made 10 changes for the second game, going back to the first 11 if you like.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cI thought first-half we did okay and frustrated them pretty well, but it\u2019s very difficult to stop them.\u201d\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

Bastards. you get the ball and then they try to get it back off you. Who’d have thought it ?<\/p>\n

Britton obviously didn;t enjoy his recent tussles with Manchester City, but it makes me wonder how the Record managed to find him at such short notice.<\/p>\n

Perhaps he’s a close friend of the Celtic manager..<\/p>\n

\u201cI text Brendan now and again. When he got the job at Celtic, I texted him and he did the same when I played my 500th game for Swansea.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s not regular contact, but if they do well, I\u2019ll drop a text.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cI might send him one on Monday saying Good Luck. He might need it.\u201d\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

Ach, who cares.<\/p>\n

Celtic haven’t done too badly against English sides in the past, and there are similarities between the all conquering Manchester City of this season, and the all conquering Leeds United of another era. And we all know what happened there.<\/p>\n

In fact, had there been no more England-Scotland European ties after Shunsuke Nakamura secured a 1-0 win over Manchester United, the Scots would have been 11-9 ahead in wins. The balance has become \u00a0slightly skewed since due to the influx of Sky money to the English league, with no Scots side recording even a win since.<\/p>\n

Thats about to change…<\/p>\n

If Celtic make the mistake of reading how much the Manchester City team cost, which is, of course, how teams apear to be judged these days, then no words of encouragement will help. Under no cirumstances should Celtic show them as much respect as they showed Barcelona. From the off, the hoops need to “Get Intae Them. ” This should make a mockery of the so called gulf between the two sides due to their relative costs.<\/p>\n

Whilst its obvious that better players go for more money, the inflated prices paid by City for some of their players is ludicrous, and largely due to the fact that other clubs have noticed they are fairly footloose with their chequebook.<\/p>\n

What is in store for them when their owners find a new toy to play with is unclear, and whether or not they are strictly adhering to the rules of financial fair play is another matter, but the one thing we have that they do not is a team spirit.<\/p>\n

No egos, no one is here for the money.<\/p>\n

And when the crowd gets behind them on Wednesday, those Celtic players will feel worth every bit as much as their opponents are supposed to be. Value as a football player is measured by the supporters, not by the guy writing their wage cheque.<\/p>\n

The game on Wednesday is important if Celtic want to restore their name on the continent, and important for our chances of European football after Christmas. The key will be in passion, both on the pitch and off it.<\/p>\n

City boss Pep Guardiola, who lets face it isn’t there because he grew up as a Manchester City fan, began the war of words…<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are still far away from where we want to be, We are here to get better. You always have to keep going. It never ends in football.\u201d<\/span><\/em>

By full time on Wednesday, lets hope he wants to be as far away from Celtic Park as he possibly can be.<\/p>\n

\n

Back home, and Celtics win over Kilmarnock has pushed the side so far ahead at the top of the league that the title is all but won already. With 23 goals in the six games so far, there is no reason why the players can;t go on and add to the records already set, such as Demebeles first hat trick by a Celt in nearly forty years against any of the teams playing out of Ibrox, and Scott Sinclairs own six in a row.<\/p>\n

Just over half way through the first round of matches, the league table has taken on the shape we pretty much expected it to, though the season has been more entertaining than predictable.<\/p>\n

\n
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
<\/th>\nTEAM<\/th>\nP<\/th>\n<\/th>\nW<\/th>\nD<\/th>\nL<\/th>\nF<\/th>\nA<\/th>\n<\/th>\nW<\/th>\nD<\/th>\nL<\/th>\nF<\/th>\nA<\/th>\n<\/th>\nGD<\/th>\nPTS<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
1<\/td>\n<\/td>\nCeltic<\/a><\/td>\n6<\/td>\n<\/td>\n3<\/td>\n0<\/td>\n0<\/td>\n15<\/td>\n3<\/td>\n<\/td>\n2<\/td>\n1<\/td>\n0<\/td>\n8<\/td>\n5<\/td>\n<\/td>\n15<\/td>\n16<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2<\/td>\n\"Up\"<\/td>\nAberdeen<\/a><\/td>\n7<\/td>\n<\/td>\n2<\/td>\n2<\/td>\n0<\/td>\n5<\/td>\n3<\/td>\n<\/td>\n1<\/td>\n1<\/td>\n1<\/td>\n4<\/td>\n5<\/td>\n<\/td>\n1<\/td>\n12<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
3<\/td>\n\"Down\"<\/td>\nHearts<\/a><\/td>\n7<\/td>\n<\/td>\n2<\/td>\n1<\/td>\n1<\/td>\n9<\/td>\n4<\/td>\n<\/td>\n1<\/td>\n1<\/td>\n1<\/td>\n2<\/td>\n2<\/td>\n<\/td>\n5<\/td>\n11<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
4<\/td>\n\"Down\"<\/td>\nSt Johnstone<\/a><\/td>\n7<\/td>\n<\/td>\n1<\/td>\n1<\/td>\n1<\/td>\n3<\/td>\n4<\/td>\n<\/td>\n2<\/td>\n1<\/td>\n1<\/td>\n6<\/td>\n4<\/td>\n<\/td>\n1<\/td>\n11<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
5<\/td>\n\"Down\"<\/td>\nMotherwell<\/a><\/td>\n7<\/td>\n<\/td>\n1<\/td>\n1<\/td>\n1<\/td>\n5<\/td>\n4<\/td>\n<\/td>\n1<\/td>\n2<\/td>\n1<\/td>\n5<\/td>\n5<\/td>\n<\/td>\n1<\/td>\n9<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
6<\/td>\n<\/td>\nRoss County<\/a><\/td>\n7<\/td>\n<\/td>\n1<\/td>\n1<\/td>\n1<\/td>\n4<\/td>\n4<\/td>\n<\/td>\n1<\/td>\n2<\/td>\n1<\/td>\n3<\/td>\n3<\/td>\n<\/td>\n0<\/td>\n9<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
7<\/td>\n<\/td>\nRangers<\/a><\/td>\n7<\/td>\n<\/td>\n1<\/td>\n2<\/td>\n0<\/td>\n3<\/td>\n2<\/td>\n<\/td>\n1<\/td>\n1<\/td>\n2<\/td>\n5<\/td>\n9<\/td>\n<\/td>\n-3<\/td>\n9<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
8<\/td>\n<\/td>\nInverness CT<\/a><\/td>\n7<\/td>\n<\/td>\n2<\/td>\n1<\/td>\n1<\/td>\n9<\/td>\n7<\/td>\n<\/td>\n0<\/td>\n1<\/td>\n2<\/td>\n2<\/td>\n8<\/td>\n<\/td>\n-4<\/td>\n8<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
9<\/td>\n<\/td>\nDundee<\/a><\/td>\n7<\/td>\n<\/td>\n0<\/td>\n2<\/td>\n2<\/td>\n4<\/td>\n7<\/td>\n<\/td>\n1<\/td>\n1<\/td>\n1<\/td>\n4<\/td>\n4<\/td>\n<\/td>\n-3<\/td>\n6<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
10<\/td>\n\"Up\"<\/td>\nHamilton Accies<\/a><\/td>\n7<\/td>\n<\/td>\n1<\/td>\n1<\/td>\n1<\/td>\n3<\/td>\n3<\/td>\n<\/td>\n0<\/td>\n2<\/td>\n2<\/td>\n5<\/td>\n9<\/td>\n<\/td>\n-4<\/td>\n6<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
11<\/td>\n\"Down\"<\/td>\nKilmarnock<\/a><\/td>\n7<\/td>\n<\/td>\n0<\/td>\n2<\/td>\n1<\/td>\n4<\/td>\n5<\/td>\n<\/td>\n1<\/td>\n1<\/td>\n2<\/td>\n4<\/td>\n10<\/td>\n<\/td>\n-7<\/td>\n6<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
12<\/td>\n\"Down\"<\/td>\nPartick Thistle<\/a><\/td>\n6<\/td>\n<\/td>\n1<\/td>\n1<\/td>\n2<\/td>\n4<\/td>\n5<\/td>\n<\/td>\n0<\/td>\n1<\/td>\n1<\/td>\n3<\/td>\n4<\/td>\n<\/td>\n-2<\/td>\n5<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Updated 25\/09\/2016 at 16:54<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\n
A four point lead-going on seven-this early is a great achievement, with only two points dropped up at Inverness spoiling an otherwise perfect start.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
The main three challengers occupy the next three spots, after the early fixtures had all of these teams playing each other, and although the gaop down to the rest doesn;t look that much at the moment, by the time the return games are being played, those four will be way out in front. In a little mini league of their own.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
The challenge from newly promoted and newly formed “rangers ” has so far failed to materialise, despite several warnings in the press about the “rangers “… “coming”, it appears they have missed a connecting train somewhere, so we’ll all have to wait a little longer for any serious threat from Ibrox.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
All of which seems to be wearing down the current boss Mark Warburton, who isn;t finding life in the top league quite as easy as he thoguht he would.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
Top level football management, or even being in charge of “rangers “, can be quite a heavy cross to bear, and the strain is showing on the likeable former city trader-though there is remarkably little evidence of his city based career.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
Take a look at this photo of him, taken in the summer before his debut season in top flight football began…<\/div>\n
\"Image<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
Now, just six weeks or so into the season, he has a tired and careworn \u00a0look about him.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
\"Image<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
Games like yesterdays 2-1 defeat against Aberdeen, the winner scored in the fifth minute of time added on to help “rangers ” clearly upset him, as he dropped a dignified word or two into the ear of the referee, questioning why a free kick was awarded for a tackle from behind-or the side, I wasn’t watching to be honest, I only saw the replay, and then couldn’t stop laughing long enough to try to form a decision on it-in accordance with the new rules.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
\u00a0His little temper tantrum may see him banned from the touchline, as interfering with or attempting to intimidate referees is frowned on in Scotland, unless it takes place before or after the game in the Lodge.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
Remember this ?<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
\"Image<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
Neil Lennon got a six match ban following his verbal attack on referee Euan Norris, so surely we can expect a bit of consistency where this attack is concerned ?<\/div>\n
\"Image<\/div>\n
I , for , one, expect Neil Lennon to receive another six match ban for this outburst.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
Clearly Warburton is loding the plot, and is in the middle of some sort of breakdown. At the moment he seenms ready to fly off the handle the minute things go against him, almost as if he really thought he could cut it at this level. The press seemed to think he could, and printed stories to that effect on a daily basis, whereas in reality he truly would have needed a magic hat to turn his collection of has beens, never beens and Joey Barton ointo the top team in Scotland.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
They are currently seventh, and have yet to play away games at Tynecastle and the Tulloch stadium.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
Expect a few stories about league reconstruction very, very soon….<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
The recent spell of publicity doesn’t seem to have helped sales of the book “No nonsense “, written by Michael Calvin, who to be fair has written a couple of more than decent football tomes before, with help from Joey Barton.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
The book has already been discounted..<\/div>\n
\"\"<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
ironic really, because so have the players claim to become the best in Scotland, discover a cure for cancer and instigate peace in the middle east. Though there is a chance he could still manage the latter two.<\/div>\n
Are the supporters beginning to see through the shype ?<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
Doesn’t look like it…<\/div>\n
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