World In Motion…. Or Going Through The Motions?

I have no particular like for the men from the well. Stems back to when that wee naff Dougie Arnott used to wear their horrible kit and they would come to the old CP and turn us over often. Hated Steve Kirk, Colin O’Neill as well and their manager at that time, one half of the brothers grim, made them easy to hate just like it is easy today to hate the greeting faced loon Jim Jeffries.

I lurve geeing them a doing and a wet Sunday night on their patch under the good doctor, a 7-1 tanning with Henke in full flight still ranks as a top memory. Also Lubo in MON 1st season scoring a free kick against the flying p*g one midweek to ensure that the title could be won at home and last season’s 5-0 demolition again under the floodlights at CP ranks as a highlight of last year.

Nothing is better than sending that club and their nasty band of followers homeward after a gubbing. Even though black Sunday was bad it was made worse that fact it was them and I know how they would have enjoyed it. Had a ticket for the home end that day and didn’t go just because I knew how much they would have enjoyed it. Mind you black Sunday could have been worse, could have been Hertz.

Saturday ranks as a satisfying, while confirming that Scott McDonald is the new Dougie Arnott, as we won while going through the motions. We won at a canter and if it wasn’t for some players sleeping it would have been more comfortable and the stadium would have only had around 5 folk left in it at the final whistle.

Now performances like Saturday, a few weeks back would have been followed with mumping and moaning from the home support. The atmosphere on Saturday while being quite schtum for the most part, another effect of a CL hangover, there was almost a realisation that Celtic were going to give that type of performance and we were wiling to accept it as we knew the team had more in the locker. The difference between now and the start of the season is that we know the team can reach heights that are unexpected and the fare served up in a take away dish on Saturday is a means to an end.

While maybe CP wasn’t buzzing on Saturday while watching the game, in the concourses and kludges the place was alive. Since the smoking ban the kludges at CP now resemble a 1920’s American illegal drinking, smoking and gambling den. Now while I find it unreal that guys can sneak in carry oots and that by the end of half time the kludgie resembles a publicpark in coatbrig, the craic is great.

All stories aboot how they are getting to Lisboa, who they will rob to get to Lisboa and what fatal illnesses they will fake to get time off work. The game gets a mention to and it is usually a guid place to gauge how the keyboard commando’s will call the game in the following days.

Main gripe seemed to be aboot the lack of changes in the squad. Squad rotation, changing this one and that one geeing Rioirdon a run and Pearo. I’m not a fan of squad rotation; I think the inconsistency shown by Liverpool is testimony on how not to do it. While Rafa has won them the CL he has proved that sometimes he canny pick his nose and that his calling of team selection and tactics for certain games is way off the mark.

Now his excuse for doing this is that big clubs play around 65 games a season and no player can play all of those games. Granted ill gie him that wan, but its only October. Professional footballers with their pampered lifestyles, dieticians, physios on call 24 hours a day at the end of their 3G mobies surely bloody surely they are fit enough to play two games a week at the moment?

Changes, slight changes mind you, can be made to formations and tactics and some players suit some systems while others don’t. If a team is playing well though then there is no need for a major overhaul slight tinkering yes but only in fringe areas and only if the guys coming in are as guid as the wan’s their replacing.

Now Pearo, does well when he comes off the bench. It’s obvious he is liked at CP due to his commitment and character. But at the moment would he get a game before Lenny, Sno And Gravesan? Would he be able to replace Shaun on the left handside or Naka on the right? The answer is no and for guys questioning his comments aboot maybe moving to pastures new maybe have to look at the bigger picture.

It could just be that Pearo’s time at CP has come and gone. He has had his shot and now unfortunately for him and what happens at BIG clubs is that better players now are ahead of him. Would Pearo from the start weakened or strengthened the team on Saturday? He maybe would have given us more energy but what would big Evander think aboot getting rested? The big fellow is bound to be buzzing at the moment.

Another thing Pearo needs to worry about is the fact that the men in the know say the next big things to come from Barrowfield are 2 central midfielders in Charlie Grant and Simon Ferry. Now if the rumours are to be believed that these two will be featuring before the end of the season. Where does that leave the 21st century Burns? An old timer compared to these young pups, replaced by a 19-year-old rookie for the last few games and generally feeling his career is going nowhere. This is no reflection on his ability, he will do a guid job wherever he goes it’s just at the moment we have an embarrassment of riches in his area.

It was no surprise to me that GS made the brought on Jaro and Pearo . He has to keep them happy as they seem to be the ones he trusts to come in when needed, oh and the fact he paid money for Jaro tips that in his favour. My only surprise was that he didn’t do it sooner as the legs were going in some players. But again Jaro lackadaisical style caused their goal, didnae track the runner, and once again Rioirdon seems to have paid for an embarrassment of riches in his place of work.

On Saturday oor 3 gallus creative stalwarts all got a run, with Naka selling a well player a dummy that caused him to pay to get back in and was worth my bus fare alone, Shaun out of sorts looking a little perplexed and maybe trying too hard but still should be signed asap and oor Aiden getting a wee run oot to show of his new flock of seagulls style hairdo.

Thing is, it’s a long season. All players will be used at certain times but it’s whether they have the attitude and keep themselves match sharp to wait for their opportunities is a different story. A big squad needs some good man management especially when all that are getting skelves on their bahookies will do a job elsewhere.

1st round of games over and we are 8 points clear. If there is one thing history has told me it means nano at this moment in time, as we don’t know what is round the corner. But our position the now is a hell of a long way from the shambles of the pre-season world tour. Biggest difference is we believe in the team, something a lot thought went with MON and the big earners.

A word aboot the guys at channel 67 who are making me miss my pre match pint in the London Road Tav with their excellent montages of Celtic greats. The trailer for the forth coming Jimmy Johnstone DVD made my hairs stand on end and the tribute to Johnny Doyle again was fantastic and tastefully done.

I will never tire of seeing Doyle scoring against Madrid- celebrations in those days were off guys who loved running to the jungle as they knew if they weren’t on the park they would have been in there, merry on tennents super dancing aboot with their mates- and crossing the ball smacking the ref in the coupon. Again another Celtic legend I never saw but I know all about.

As the trailer says “Where Legends are born and remembered”

Hail Hail