The LOTW Diary- Thursday
O’Dea is the new Kennedy.
News that Darren O’Dea signed a new deal wie the hoops on the back of the recently capture of another Irishman in Cillian Sheridan shows were oor future lies. Both youngsters have made their debut this season and both have shown enough to merit new deals.
More so O’Dea’s whose rise to prominence reminds us of another centre back that he could be partnering next season. John Kennedy and O’Dea both basically made their names wie big performances on the biggest stage of the lot.
Both had impressed domestically but it was the Nou Camp and the San Siro where both had the support slavering over them. Both became great white hopes to carry the torch of possibly becoming great centre backs as permitting of oor history.
A massive weight on young shoulders one, which we will need to afford both players time to make their mistakes and learn from them if they are to fulfil promise. Luck has dealt them differently though.
The assault on Kennedy playing in a meaningless international robbed him of years playing experience, which big Mick has benefited from. O’Dea benefited also from an injury suffered by a colleague. Scott Cuthbert was ahead of O’Dea in the pecking order when injury robbed him of the chance to play against St Mirren in the CIS cup a game, which O’Dea made his debut.
We need to hope O’Dea’s luck holds oot and fate keeps dealing him winning hands while lady luck shines on JFK.
The Future Of Elvis
Now when next season rolls into toon, a full compliment of young centre halves could be fit and raring to go. Big Mick has established himself as a stick on starter due to his willingness to learn and play through the pain barrier, sometimes to the detriment to the team right enough.
Gary Caldwell, Micks partner in crime at the start of this champion year, had just started to win over the doubters when the cursed injury jinx struck and saw him suffer for the fact that he had played wie that injury for a few games due to the returning Bobo Bombscare breathing doon his neck.
In came the aforementioned O’Dea, in front of the aforementioned Scott Cuthbert and then we have the returning John Kennedy. So where does that leave Bobo and Elvis?
Bobo, I’m already talking aboot in past tense. His unreliability means the £28,000 a week is sheer folly of an expense and could be used on two new players in oor current financial climate. Elvis. Well he was bought as experienced cover due to Bobo’s injury but when all in sundry are fit and the fact that O’Dea has stepped up to the plate wie aplomb his future needs to be questioned.
The big man has split the support as wide as seeebbbboooo split open his napper on Sunday. While most think he has went aboot his business professionally others see him as the spawn of Chewbacca and to blame for the worst r*ngers team in history getting a result on Sunday.
Now, he had nothing to do with oor inept performance or the goal we lost on Sunday but I think most would agree that in the CL next season he will get roasted. Long term he should be a bit part player next season along wie Lenny. Experience on the bench to be wheeled oot every so often. But Elvis is different from Lenny.
Do we really need his experience at the back? I mean big Mick has two full seasons under his belt and has more CL experience than Elvis. Caldwell and O’Dea have more CL experience than Elvis. Scottish league, Caldwell is a veteran with even more seasons under his belt than Mick, he was also the Hibs captain. O’Dea has 16 games under his belt with more to come towards the end of the season and the return of Kennedy before the seasons oot will see him get decent and needed airtime.
So do we need Elvis?
The Bitterest Pill
Now, while don’t like seeing Scots fans causing bother or being involved in bother abroad and I have 1st hand experience of Spanish, Italian and Portugese ,ahem, crowd control last nights re-enactment of the battle at helms deep in the Basque country have left me feeling not the slightest bit sorry for them.
Last week, we were in Milan and the chaos outside and getting into the ground I have already described. The section I ended up in was not segregated and Milan fans were a matter of yards from us. There was no hint of trouble, the banter was fierce but friendly and we were all pals at the final whistle. I mean you don’t turn up to someone’s home for a party get steaming and pee on their carpet do you?
So the heidie of the brox security team to flag up lack of segregation as the problem for their latest woes in a long line of woes in Europe over the last few years is laughable.
Maybe he should try and look at the behaviour of his own. Wonder if they turned up to someone’s home for a party, abused the hosts religious beliefs and sang songs aboot being up to their knees in the hosts blood and how they hate the hosts religious leader and expected to be still around for the buffet?
And they wonder why it always happens to them?
After their behaviour at CP on Sunday, as in the review of the game, I hope the Spanish Polis went to town on them. Aboot time they learned a bit of respect and dignity. But is it any coincidence that their behaviour is degenerating since the return of r*ngers men to take control of the team?
Title Party Cancelled
On to the new Brockville this Sunday wie hopefully a run oot for a few fresh legs, like Riordan are you reading this GS?, and O’Dea giving Mick a well deserved rest. Hopefully we may have seen the last of KM in a starting berth wie maybe the beats and magic the chance to strike up an understanding. See I’m already accepting that JVOH is injured.
Anyway I have decided not to take up the offer of a ticket in the Graham Tiso tent behind the goals. Would have took the risk mingling wie the fawkirk “fans” who canny afford bus fare if we could have wrapped up the championship but sense and ma dignity have prevailed since we canny win the league.
Tanadeechie after the uninteresting internationals it looks like. Time to perfect ma Dundee accent then.
Jinky
Tuesday was the 1st anniversary of the wee man’s death. There was no announcement from the club of any sort of lasting tribute to the wee man. Surely it would have been fitting to announce anything they have planned then.
Naming Lennoxtown after the wee man is what I’m after.
Jimmy Johnstone RIP.
FORZA THE HOOPS
News that Darren O’Dea signed a new deal wie the hoops on the back of the recently capture of another Irishman in Cillian Sheridan shows were oor future lies. Both youngsters have made their debut this season and both have shown enough to merit new deals.
More so O’Dea’s whose rise to prominence reminds us of another centre back that he could be partnering next season. John Kennedy and O’Dea both basically made their names wie big performances on the biggest stage of the lot.
Both had impressed domestically but it was the Nou Camp and the San Siro where both had the support slavering over them. Both became great white hopes to carry the torch of possibly becoming great centre backs as permitting of oor history.
A massive weight on young shoulders one, which we will need to afford both players time to make their mistakes and learn from them if they are to fulfil promise. Luck has dealt them differently though.
The assault on Kennedy playing in a meaningless international robbed him of years playing experience, which big Mick has benefited from. O’Dea benefited also from an injury suffered by a colleague. Scott Cuthbert was ahead of O’Dea in the pecking order when injury robbed him of the chance to play against St Mirren in the CIS cup a game, which O’Dea made his debut.
We need to hope O’Dea’s luck holds oot and fate keeps dealing him winning hands while lady luck shines on JFK.
The Future Of Elvis
Now when next season rolls into toon, a full compliment of young centre halves could be fit and raring to go. Big Mick has established himself as a stick on starter due to his willingness to learn and play through the pain barrier, sometimes to the detriment to the team right enough.
Gary Caldwell, Micks partner in crime at the start of this champion year, had just started to win over the doubters when the cursed injury jinx struck and saw him suffer for the fact that he had played wie that injury for a few games due to the returning Bobo Bombscare breathing doon his neck.
In came the aforementioned O’Dea, in front of the aforementioned Scott Cuthbert and then we have the returning John Kennedy. So where does that leave Bobo and Elvis?
Bobo, I’m already talking aboot in past tense. His unreliability means the £28,000 a week is sheer folly of an expense and could be used on two new players in oor current financial climate. Elvis. Well he was bought as experienced cover due to Bobo’s injury but when all in sundry are fit and the fact that O’Dea has stepped up to the plate wie aplomb his future needs to be questioned.
The big man has split the support as wide as seeebbbboooo split open his napper on Sunday. While most think he has went aboot his business professionally others see him as the spawn of Chewbacca and to blame for the worst r*ngers team in history getting a result on Sunday.
Now, he had nothing to do with oor inept performance or the goal we lost on Sunday but I think most would agree that in the CL next season he will get roasted. Long term he should be a bit part player next season along wie Lenny. Experience on the bench to be wheeled oot every so often. But Elvis is different from Lenny.
Do we really need his experience at the back? I mean big Mick has two full seasons under his belt and has more CL experience than Elvis. Caldwell and O’Dea have more CL experience than Elvis. Scottish league, Caldwell is a veteran with even more seasons under his belt than Mick, he was also the Hibs captain. O’Dea has 16 games under his belt with more to come towards the end of the season and the return of Kennedy before the seasons oot will see him get decent and needed airtime.
So do we need Elvis?
The Bitterest Pill
Now, while don’t like seeing Scots fans causing bother or being involved in bother abroad and I have 1st hand experience of Spanish, Italian and Portugese ,ahem, crowd control last nights re-enactment of the battle at helms deep in the Basque country have left me feeling not the slightest bit sorry for them.
Last week, we were in Milan and the chaos outside and getting into the ground I have already described. The section I ended up in was not segregated and Milan fans were a matter of yards from us. There was no hint of trouble, the banter was fierce but friendly and we were all pals at the final whistle. I mean you don’t turn up to someone’s home for a party get steaming and pee on their carpet do you?
So the heidie of the brox security team to flag up lack of segregation as the problem for their latest woes in a long line of woes in Europe over the last few years is laughable.
Maybe he should try and look at the behaviour of his own. Wonder if they turned up to someone’s home for a party, abused the hosts religious beliefs and sang songs aboot being up to their knees in the hosts blood and how they hate the hosts religious leader and expected to be still around for the buffet?
And they wonder why it always happens to them?
After their behaviour at CP on Sunday, as in the review of the game, I hope the Spanish Polis went to town on them. Aboot time they learned a bit of respect and dignity. But is it any coincidence that their behaviour is degenerating since the return of r*ngers men to take control of the team?
Title Party Cancelled
On to the new Brockville this Sunday wie hopefully a run oot for a few fresh legs, like Riordan are you reading this GS?, and O’Dea giving Mick a well deserved rest. Hopefully we may have seen the last of KM in a starting berth wie maybe the beats and magic the chance to strike up an understanding. See I’m already accepting that JVOH is injured.
Anyway I have decided not to take up the offer of a ticket in the Graham Tiso tent behind the goals. Would have took the risk mingling wie the fawkirk “fans” who canny afford bus fare if we could have wrapped up the championship but sense and ma dignity have prevailed since we canny win the league.
Tanadeechie after the uninteresting internationals it looks like. Time to perfect ma Dundee accent then.
Jinky
Tuesday was the 1st anniversary of the wee man’s death. There was no announcement from the club of any sort of lasting tribute to the wee man. Surely it would have been fitting to announce anything they have planned then.
Naming Lennoxtown after the wee man is what I’m after.
Jimmy Johnstone RIP.
FORZA THE HOOPS
posted by Keving at Thursday, March 15, 2007
13 Comments:
It's been so long since JFK in the NouCamp,
so long ago that maybe expectation over the performance that night has been built up so much that he might have a hard time living up to it.
Personally I would be surprised to see him back as first pick considering what he been thru, the time he's lost, and who we've got today.
Remember Marshall's performance as well ? And he didn't live up to the expectation.
I read recently (might have been George Connolly in a rare interview) that sometimes youngsters are pitched into the fray & play blinders. Later they can't do the same 'cos they would never dream of trying the same stuff (more aware of the consequences or just get the instinctive stuff trained out of them).
Hope I'm wrong and JFK goes on to be better that Mick, D'OD, Caldwell et al, a legend even, but I'm not so sure.
Elvis? Keep him & let Bobo go to Aston Celtic, for nothing - pay the taxi even.
HUns? Deserve a ban on their behavior in Israel alone - never mind all the rest.
There must be a hellava hefty dossier in Nyon labelled "RFC - Permanent Embarrassment and Occasional Disgrace". Time to act to it, Mr Platini.
And, erm, Title Party "Postponed" - shurely ?
Gravesen is fit for Falkirk but Paul Telfer and JVoH have `short term injuries`.
Bobo Balde was the only other player mentioned.
This is a game worth winning, I`m sure the Bhoys will go for it! Kenny Miller should learn to only use his pace to hurt teams and not to hurt him. Less effort more action!
I saw a post on CQN a day or two ago and it was suggested that Aberdeen fans going to I*r*x will be dressing as fits St Patrick`s day. That would be fun but such provocation of Rangers fans (eg wearing anything green or sporting a giant Guinness hat)would be completely out of order. :-)
Yes, we should go for it, especially since internationals means 2 weeks before the next Tic game (how many of ours will come back limping ?).
We should be able to blow Gow & Co away - even if the SFA are recinding reds to get them up to full strength (paranoid, me ?).
I would have Lenny on the bench and the rest will take care of itself.
Should be good fun at Ipox tomorrow, will their "high" of last WE finally sink to a big "low" after two important humpings?
Of course the wee Ned will be back (in time to get injured for international week), Hopalong Prso and his faithful Sebo will be doing their bit, so you never know - a draw, mibees?
Ha, Ha - love it when they're under pressure, and they are!
:o)
Don't think RFC will get banned from Europe next year, a wee fine & maybe told to play their home games behind closed doors? No TV money in that case, I reckon (could be wrong, though).
Ha, Ha - love it anyway
:o)
Still 9 points to the title, with 83 the current target. Eight games to go, still some work to be done!
Come on the Bhoys at Falkirk, this is a biggy! I`ll be nevously listening to the radio as usual, I hope David Begg is doing the League cup final. :-)The wee sowel.
Very suspicious indeed, :-)
Or is being contradictory part of the human condition. It`ll be bad enough playing an Up for it Falkirk without dodgy weather too but the Bhoys will handle it!
Happy St Patrick`s day. As happy as you can be in cloudy mid March!
I didn`t see that banner at half time the middle of it reached about 4 seats to my left. I`m always dubious about being underneath these banners because I remember one that was rather smelly! :-)
It can look very colourful though.
The Rangers fans` habit of displaying the Union flag can be a trigger to provoke reaction.
If you were Spanish with what would you associate young men with Union flags?
Eh, drinking, violence, agression? (Tick the boxes)
Couldn't believe the Ipox score when I checked it last night.
Not that that result matters to us but I immediately felt bad about next season.
It's going to be 2 teams in front with the rest so far behind, it's depressing.
At least for a while recently there was some interest as Hearts, Hibs and Aberdeen gave some semblance of a challenge.
But Aberdeen yesterday - well, words fail me. Hearts have self destructed and Hibs have virtually sold their team.
The league next year will be down to the 4 games between them and us - why not play them all at the start of the season and save us a lot of bother.
Anyway, C'mon Celtic, give a good show today !
We have to wait until the 31st of the month to ease this misery. Just like Falkirk today, we will have the benefit of negative stats. It`ll be a massive game for the Bhoys!!!!
I had a bad feeling about the game today as soon as I saw the lineup included Miller, Beattie, Lennon.
JVoH crocked again, what is this?
Worrying thing today is that Gow made Elvis look mince.
As for Jiri and TG...
Taxi-drivers must be rubbing their hands...
No panic button yet, but typical Celtic to put us all thru the wringer when we should be laughing.
Well said, being put through the wringer is about right!
O`Dea, Sno and McGeady should have started!
Please can JVoH be ready to play again, soon!
Evening all
Firstly, today just about summed up my season with Celtic. No pattern, devoid of ideas, relying upon Naka or McGeady to ‘dae something’ and dig us out of one very deep hole.
Yep we could have had a few pens, did you fancy any of our line up to score it?
No what really worries me is this.
This season WGS, has signed a whole team of players who are not guaranteed a start or generally able to make a start in a Hooped Jersey at the weekend.
Brown, Pierre-Doumbe, Elvis, Caldwell, Jiri, TG, Hartley, Sno, Riorden, Miller and dare I say it JVOH (as he is always injured) are 11 players signed this season and none you would be surprised at being dropped from the starting XI or even making the bench. To anyone who says that this squad is better than before, I ask how? Only Naylor is a certain start each week and that is due to no one else having a left foot (although I have to say, I quite like my fellow Midlander)
To be fair Brown and PD have not had a look in at the first team and many of those I have mentioned may go on to great things in the future, but as things stand, none have managed to pencil in their names alongside Naka, Artur and Mick as certain starts.
After 20 months of ‘Fitter, Faster, stronger’ our team is lightweight, with no discernable pace (apart from Beatts – if only he can keep his feet). We cannot finish teams off and the amount of games that we have played well in this season, I can count on one hand.
Why have we signed Elvis? Yes it was nice to stick one over the Jambos but how is he going to improve our team/squad? He and Hartley were not good enough to take Hearts into the UEFA cup, so how are they good enough for us. My brother and I had arguments over Xmas over their signings as I felt it was like Dion last year a wasted signing. He is not going to be a long term addition to the team, has no pace, cup-tied and will stifle the development of O’Dea. Now not in my wildest dreams did I think O’Dea would play as well as he did against Milan, but I thought if he was going to have to play against them as we knew when Bobo broke his leg, then we should have at least persevered with him to give him more experience.
Why sign Hartley as he is plays in more or less the same position as TG? Miller I gave my opinions on that piece of business when the signing was announced in January 2006. My opinions on his worth have not changed. To think we ‘may’ get £1m for him this summer as adequate compensation for what we might have got for having a striker that can score against Milan – is just laughable.
I have been really quiet for a while, to be honest although I read CQN every day as it’s the only thing I can read at work in my lunch break (IT Nazis again), the views expressed on there are just so far away from my own. We have had no discernable pattern in our play since WGS arrived. It’s just like watching Cov City with WGS at the helm again in the late nineties. For Naka read Chippo. Great to watch but ultimately lightweight and easy to bully.
Indeed the only bit of play that is constant with Celtic is the guarantee that whenever we kick off, the ball will be passed back to our RB immediately to be pumped forward. It’s as predictable as the Graham ‘turnip’ Taylor tactic of kicking the ball straight out near the opposition penalty box to gain an immediate territorial advantage.
Going back to your article – The James Johnstone Football Academy has a nice ring to it. What really gets my goat after a ‘dry’ (long story!!!) St. Paddy’s weekend, after Ireland throwing away the 6 Nations (sorry as an ex-egg chaser, I really get into the ‘protestant’ game) is letting TFOD off the hook. We really had a chance to bury them last week and yet again we haven’t and today has given them a belief that will make them stronger next season. Why are we incapable of killing them off as a Club?
All the best anyway
Baldy brillant as usual..yesterday was no suprises as , it has been coming for months.
Will answer in full laters....but don't get to doon aboot being an egg chaser i was really into the six nations this year...
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