I should have guessed when oor supporter’s bus was half full. I should have really guessed when walking up to ma turnstile there was bhoys selling tickets. When taking ma seat I should have really guessed due to the swathes of empty seats roond aboot me. What should have put the tin lid on it was the “Jungle Bhoys” display failing due to the number of empty seats in the top tier which, while meant to spell champs looked mair like chumps or nothing resembling a word.
It was going to be a damp squib and team two played their part and went along wie the apathy.
Celtic were like a guy who organises a party at his hoose, starts drinking at 2 in the afternoon, faws asleep by 10pm then awakes the following morning to find his vile neighbour has slept wie his wife and urinated on his living room shag pile.
For us to be comprehensively beaten by a team as bad as Fc Kanus of Midlothian- who are the worse Hearts team in the last two seasons- is not on. They are technically inept- Kingston apart- but highlighted oor failings so easily. We played for a 5 minute spell, but when the Dougal inspired penalty was scored the team, well, we couldnae give an arctic monkeys aboot getting themselves back in the game. When I read oor managers comments afterwards I shocked. Maybe he had been oot on the lash before the interview his team looked like they had been on the lash all week.
So is there any wonder there is apathy? Is it any wonder there has been vast empty spaces at CP all season, reducing revenue and diluting the already poor atmosphere. The poor atmosphere, which causes the DJ to try and get the party started by playing the most terrible of songs. Well, he can’t let the fans or the consumers start a song cause we wouldn’t. The songs played at a deafening volume give the impression of atmosphere but having a look round at people leaving in droves before the cup had went past and the body language of the players it was more Russ Abbot wie Bella Emburg rather than a Hugh Hefner pool party.
Maybe it, just like the team, lacks spontaneity. I mean the players look like they enjoyed last week more than this week. In fact they looked like they couldnae get of the park quick enough and the lap of honour looked forced. I think, Lenny apart, they all would have went straight up the tunnel rather than walk roond the park uninterested. I found maself hoping that if we are celebrating after the Scottish Cup final that it was better and the feeling that the players are so detached from the fans is not so overwhelming.
It was when I watching the fans leaving, listening to a DJ trying too hard, seeing the players uninterested I thought I had come to the end of ma season ticket days, why bother was ma thought. It’s changed it’s no longer not as guid as it used to be we are now a mirror image of a big club glory hunter support which I detest. But in the end it’s down to entertainment.
CP would have been jumping if we had been entertained all season.
Terry Christen, the zippy look-a-like Manc motormouth, said on Talksport on Saturday something I agreed whole-heartedly wie. Now I never thought I would agree wie him.
He said, “Awards and trophies are forgotten about by July and August but you never forget if you have been entertained”
Maybe that’s not the exact words but the sentiment is there. Strange thing is team 2 will probably be forgotten aboot by the end of May.
Could this be a black Friday in the future of oor club? Has the white elephant that is, or was, Murray Park came back and shoved a tusk right up oor arse by producing a team of all conquering Brazilian esq baw players wie added giud auld thuggery thrown in? Or was it a case of men against boys in this early stage of the player’s future development?
The former is more likely wie the most glaring fact oor “golden generation” that dominated the yoof game in Scotland has moved on to the reserves, securing another league title, and 1st team and the team now trying to take the mantel are not up to the job, yet.
Now, I don’t get to under 19 games or reserve games. I’m no longer a signed up member of the weekly Pravda bulletin and I have missed, due to his work commitments, though read his match report from last night and you will see the soul of a heartbroken man, Celticblog- link on the side of the page- husnae been able to keep me abreast wie the season. So I’m restricted to reports from the offisal sites, which sometimes are typed through green tinted specs.
Yesterday, I bought ma 1st Pravda of the year. Wanted to see how the league win was reported and I wanted to see the preview of last nights game. Peter the pointer was interviewed regarding the yoof cup final as he played and one won and the Celtic under 19 manager used a teabag analogy to describe the task ahead for his bhoys.. He said you don’t know how good a teabag is until you put it in hot water.
Well I will use a Peter Kay analogy to surmise the outcome. R*ngers were the hobnobs of tea dunking biscuits when faced wie the hot water and the young hoops well were Lidils rich tea and disintegrated at the 1st sign of the boiling cup.
The hoops coaching staff wanted to see if the bhoys had the mental strength to play for the hoops and some were left found wanting. From the reports I read r*ngers were the more physical, mature side and the young hoops struggled to stand up against this.
Yes, early goals make a difference in the outcome of games but as some of the bhoys wake up this morning, bodies aching and probably feeling doon some will be envisaging careers wie Ross County, Stenhousemuir and Sligo Rovers after such a failure in a high profile match.
Right, the league disnny lie and one win apiece in the league, heid to heid, and level on points going into the final game maybe is a better indicator of both teams. The damage last night collapse could cause for this group could be untold. Then again it could prove to be fluke and the bhoys will grow and mature as from what I have read they are a very young side and one in fact I didnae recognise any names apart from Sheridan, Caddis and Millar.
Thing is from what I have seen from oor main rivals recently at 1st team level the anti fitbaw is alive and well and the young bhoys will need to get used to the thug in fitbaw boots approach. Make no mistake last night and the way we go aboot recovering from it is a test to the yoof program at CP.
Oh a wee aside, as they across the road celebrate their any port in a storm victory have a wee look at their team sheet, remember the names that are being lauded today and see how many are aboot in five years time.
I’m willing to bet more from the Hoops team will still be at CP plying their trade.
So it’s a case of the King is dead, long live the King. Biggest question is who are the bigoted bods who frequent the darkest corners of Scotland going to abuse now? Who is going to take the mantel of the most hated Hooped player?
Well, having a think aboot it there is only one player that will relish that mantel. One player who I hated before he came to us. Step forward oor Zico, oor Paul Hartley the bearded midfielder who will love the task of filling Lenny’s size 10’s.
Hartley was always a wee nark wie Hearts. The heartbeat of a foreign team in the Scottish league. He was a mouth, an annoyance a pain in the arse and had the type of face you wouldnae get tired off smacking wie a big kipper. Wie Lenny moving to top of his retirement fund elsewhere it gives oor Zico the perfect platform to return to that player. The player we paid over a million for.
Also the fact the Lenny is leaving means other characters in the dressing room will know get the chance to shine. Others who felt in awe of the fact that Lenny was one of the old guard will now maybe feel more comfortable speaking oot, encouraging and joking. In fact I feel it’s a perfect time for the last of the old guard to leave.
The club has a feel guid factor, which must be a joy to play in. the squad seems to have a bit of spirit and character where players feel comfortable. While Lenny is a part of that he surely now realises that nothing lasts forever.
It’s been the correct decision by him. It’s been a decision influenced by a wee talk wie the manager where the prospect of him waving the bhoys away to do battle was the option on the table. The old warehouse would have been dusted doon for Lenny type games then put back into storage. Fact is I thought that would have happened this year.
It’s no surprise that Lenny’s best performances have came in Lenny type games while his other forgettable performances have came in games when his type of player wouldnae have been able to influence proceedings anyway. He excelled in tight games while expansive free flowing games his limitations were shown up.
He knows it’s time. He knows that the game has changed and a bit like Kenao last year it’s a young mans game.
We have a lot to thank Lenny for. A general for two managers, one who would have let him marry his daughters and another when looking for an allie in a dark time saw a bit of himself in the ginger from Lurgan. He was part of the team that took Celtic to heights not seen for a generation. For that he will always be remembered. He also was a character whose impetuous temper made you cringe at times.
5 titles, 2 as captain mean that he has lived his dream to the full. Something all of us wanted to do.
It was like a yoof club meeting of the best young players in the world last night. They didnae disappoint either. What was mair pleasing, is that of them on show only Kaka done any damage to us. We shackled Rooney and Naylor shackled Ronaldo. But Kaka was a different kettle of fish.
Accusations can be levelled that Man Yoo and AC never stepped up to the plate against us, well every season they enter CL wie thoughts of winning the thing, while we enter the thing dreaming of away victories and qualification for the last 16.
But then that does us an injustice. While we hung on against Man Yoo at home only for them to be Naka’d against Milan we did hold oor own withoot ever looking like winning the tie. We competed against two semi finalists and potential winners. That’s all we could ask for. We can all dream that one day we will add the quality to maybe get a result.
Kaka’s goal against us was like watching perpetual motion. I have never seen a player move as fast, as gracefully and in such control of the ball as that night in Milan. In fact, it was a joy to go oot to such a goal. Rooney overshadowed him last night but then Rooney is the only player who is as close to the real deal as Kaka.
While both of those players are way oot of oor league, in terms of buying them, the chances of us producing player’s wie a potential to compete at the higher level is increasing. Whether we will see these players fully develop is another question.
Tommy Burns yesterday berated the fact that players he has produced have left for nothing. Liam Miller and Shaun Maloney were the main gripes of his irk. Burns having seen these leads blossom into 1st team regulars saw their heids turned by lucre or by a wage structure unwilling to accommodate demands.
While one, has now found solace in the North East after chasing a boyhood dream that was doomed from the start and the other is still unproven. The lure of the south looms large over us and players bought and reared will always pick up interest from over the border.
The CL is the only place to be seen and we will find that to oor cost. Burns rates Aiden McGeady as the best he has seen. Could go on to anything if he keeps on progressing at the rate he is. Thing is with Aiden how long will Aiden be occupied with maybe qualifying for the last 16 or even only the main group stage every year, if we are lucky, or visiting empty hell holes week in week out?
His heid could be turned not maybe to a move to one of the big four but a middle order EPL club for a season or two to get noticed. He would get handsomely paid for that option. Then again while he was playing for a league title, Shaun and Stan were playing a meaningless match which didnae matter to anyone outside Pompey or Birmingham.
We have blooded youngsters this season at the highest stage. They now have a taste and maybe life back on the bench or the reserve will not occupy some. O’Dea will have strong competition for a regular starting berth but one I feel he can cope wie. Also the return of Kennedy while being heralded as the return of the new ceaser, wrongly in my opinion at this moment in time as the lad still has months of hard work to do.
Tommy Burns said that Celtic have only been a buying club in the last 10 years. Before that modest signings from the SPL was the norm wie replacements found from the youths. A pattern, which I have noticing developing again over the last two seasons. This is the 1st phase of Celtic following the model of the Dutch clubs like PSV and Ajax. We are aiming for the hybrid of the two.
PSV plunder far-reaching corners of the globe for gems and also the lower reaches of the Dutch league get a few seasons from them then move them on at profit. Ajax rear them, take them as far as they can go then sell for profit once the players heid has been turned.
Both teams are constantly changing, nothing lasts forever. Something I think us at Celtic will need to get used to. Forza The Champions.
Phone call at 4.30pm yesterday. My neighbour, Johnny an ok Hearts fan, had a spare ticket for Ocean Colour Scene at the Albert Halls and wondered if I would go. Now, not one to knock back a freebie I said ok, I mean, Mrs G was going so I was spending the night in front of Hoops TV feeling sorry for maself over ma hangover.
Meet Johnny in a chain pub whom colours are Dublin blue. It was the back of five and when I walked in the place was mobbed. Guys suited and booted, others obviously been oot all day and folk going to a rare concert in the toon. But one thing struck me. The majority were all Tims. The title parrtttyyyy was alive and well.
Handshakes, hugs and laughs were the order of the day. Stirling, despite having three of the largest supporters buses hailing from the area and 10 in a 15-mile radius, disnny have the reputation as a Tim friendly place but last night it was an extended Tim party. Every conversation was aboot a vintage free kick that summed up a far from vintage season. Bottom-line was the way we have won it has meant the precession since November while being boring has been worth the wait due to winning it in the last minute.
The way we won it has seemingly given it added meaning. An edge that had been missing for the last few weeks. It’s almost as if the mumps and moans have disappeared and the free kick has given the whole place a massive boost. A massive belief in the team’s ability once more. Ma mate said that wie that goal instead of giving the orcs a wee boost we probably won the league again next year such is the feel good factor generated.
So a six pinter on a school night and another celebration. Tonight sees two teams we have pushed this season in the semi final of the Champs League. Another reason to look back and smile. But ma phone is switched off. A wee night of quiet reflection and smug satisfaction is in order…… Forza The Champions
That just summed up oor season. A guid first half coupled by a dodgy second and won wie a last minute bit of genius. It was a fitting end to the longest title precession in history. One, which captured the essence of “Team 2”, bottled it and sprayed it on like a cheap aftershave to all the rest of the SPL.
And it was magic.
As the Killie hoards sang, ”we’re only here for a party” again gloating in oor shortcomings, the wee genius, again, stepped up and done what he does. A free kick that wrong footed EVERYBODY in Scotland never mind Rugby Park. I must admit I went mental. Mrs G was embarrassed at ma reaction so was Faither G. The boy next door who had come oot to wash his car in his r*ngers top when Killie equalised went back indoors, tail firmly between his legs.
When we look back on this season two Naka moments will live long in the memory. Yesterday and that glorious night against Man Yoo. When we look back on the season we will need to remember that doing the double dunter unbeaten home and away against the SPL. We will be impressed by the fact that we came back after the CL games and never crumbled. That’s when this team earned it’s right to be called champions. Not over the last few weeks.
Yesterday was not a day for grumbles…but I have two. GS acting like a politician trying to be loved wie his kiddie snatching routine, wee man yer team does the talking for you stop trying too hard to be loved and also his strange sub of Gravesan for McGeady. But two in a row makes up for that.
The celebrations were magical; the feeling I got was of immense pride and also a little embarrassment that I have maybe been hard on the players over the last few weeks. A lot to build on but also yesterday performance proved a lot of work still to do.
But geniuses win games. And we are lucky that we are in the financial position that we can buy geniuses. The embers are there that we are maybe just starting to produce them and it’s up to oor man to ensure that they fufill that promise.
Since the hoops have forgotten the basics of the game last night at ma fives I found the answer. It’s the future. 3-a-side Wembley. A game where passing, moving and creative individuality are required. Instead of the management giving the players a few days off they should have been in playing this innovative coaching break through.
Tiring though, and I remember the days when we used to play that all day. This morning all the bones in ma body are aching and I’m cursing the rouse that is lazyitis and working back shift, which caused us to have seven bodies.
Few days off to recharge the ginger in charge has given the team. Chance to take the pressure off and for them not to think too much aboot winning the league as the lack of character may make them soil their pants. but again GS points oot a few home truths to us doubters.
Yes, it is a marathon and the players are feeling the pressure a bit. A look around Europe and also a wee look at the last 16 of the CL and all teams who where there and healthy leads have struggled since those round of games. Inter, Psv and Lyon all had their title won by Xmas all have went through the motions since then. So much so that Psv has had a few hefty defeats and Lyon are being praised in the French press for character while not playing well. Inter always had the buffer zone of their strongest challengers being handicapped at the start of the season.
One country where the titles are still in the air is England. The EPL have seen Man Utd and Chelski trade blow for blow and produce high-class performances along the way. This week I saw two teams take on two relegation fodder teams and win wie performances that could be classed as below their usual standard. Did I hear bleating from their fans?
The league below Sunderland has been producing performances for oor Keano. An undefeated run since the turn of the year has meant if results go there way they get promoted tomorrow. The only teams that are firing on all cylinders at this stage are teams that still have the work to do.
I’m willing to accept that. But I’m not willing to accept is the fact that the team needs freshened up, the gameplan needs to be looked at and also the manager has to accept that some of his ideas huvnae worked. Unlike in days gone by we now have the players to freshen things up and think oot the box. Maybe once the finishing line has been crossed then this will happen. I’m proud of what the team has achieved just frustrated that we haven’t hammered home the fact we are the best team in Scotland.
Since r*ngers goal at CP the team has visibly deflated. The high of running AC so close disappeared in one fluky moment. Doubts crept in. the players maybe started feeling the niggles and the heavy legs. I expect another scramble on Sunday. I want a Brazil 1970 performance. But I will be comfortable if we win ugly.
I will also be comfortable not being there. I have had no pressure this week at all trying to get a ticket and fretting aboot coming up wie plums. Had no stress yesterday trying to phone one wee wiman at the ticket office for one of the 800 tickets. One thing I found laughable was the fact that 21,000 calls were made for those tickets I wonder how many have been to an away game this season?
Site cohort seven got tickets from the hotline. I’m chuffed for him. He has been to his fair share of away games. Me, I would be embarrassed to take the tickets I have been offered. You see I’m a believer that you reap what you sow in this life. I’ve only been to two domestic away games and have never taken a ticket this season when they have in plentiful supply.
So do I deserve to get a ticket? Nah, probably not but I’m fine wie that. I have the bunting looked oot a bottle of moet chilling and the beer for the other bhoys who are coming round bought. Thing is, due to ma experiences at the two away games i have been at, I suspect if another below par performance is forthcoming the atmosphere in ma hoose will be a lot better than in the Moffat or Chadwick Stands.
Maybe it’s nerves. Maybe it wis the cheese I had at 8 o’clock last night. But whatever it was I had a strange dream. Rugby Park was the venue and we HAD won the league. GS was doing an interview and he had a go at the support. I think he did. There were no faces, it was bit like CCTV footage wie flesh coloured blobs round folk’s faces, but only voices. It was all a bit Life On Mars. Was it real, was it a coma, did he kill himself?
So from 2 o’clock this morning ma mind has been racing wie thoughts that maybe we are being too hard on the man in charge. Maybe ma subconscious is pulling me back from hunnish thinking by slagging a manager who is winning things and taking us to far of lands never reached before. Maybe I shoulnae have listened to Radio Snide’s phone in.
I usually abstain from Scottish Fitbaw phone ins. We know the script one is pro ger the other a joke wie two clowns who readily admit to knowing sod all aboot the game. Talksport is ma beef but wie Ian Wright now on drivetime, one guy who really annoys me, then alternative listening is the name of the game.
We were getting it in the neck from the panel regarding oor criticism of players and the manager. Stats were trotted oot but no in-depth look at the performances or reasoning behind decisions was forthcoming. Then this morning in the Herald Darryl Bentfoot trots out some lackie who deals wie psychobabble and fires a numpties observation that GS problem is he never played for us, he is not catholic or Irish.
Whit a load of tosh, for the majority. Sorry to say that some in the support have that view but it is not one shared by the majority. I really couldnae care that GS is not any of the above. I’m not catholic or Irish either does that mean I’m not accepted at CP either? Fact is we are questioning his decision making due to the fact the team is looking jaded and we feel he has players wie skills to pay the bills in the locker to freshen things up.
What is annoying me more is we are given the meeja a perfect platform to promote their Celtic in crisis agenda. A platform to show us the fans in a bad light and it will only get worse if GS leaves. The meeja reaction to that happening is not worth thinking aboot. They won’t question the culture side of thing that GS has mentioned a few times in interviews. We will get the blame and rightly so, as we will be as guilty as the ned who abused oor manager in the street.
I’m hoping the winning of the league changes the attitude and feeling of the support that has made the last few weeks quite sickening. Maybe when it’s all over some will look in the mirror and realise they didnae like what was staring back at them.
As usual wie these games the clamour for tickets gets to an almost frantic stage and all look for a scapegoat if they don’t receive them. It’s usually the ticket office, the fat cats or some dodgy feck at the affiliation or the association that gets in the neck.
This week the Killie chairman is that scapegoat. He has come oot and said they won’t give up any home areas to accommodate extra Hoops fans, even though they could make a shite load of cash from it. Looking after his own is his party line after implying they received complaints from Killie fans in the 2002/03 season when there was some trouble on the last day of the season.
Yes, there was a bit of friction mainly because the Kilmarnock fans celebrated oor rivals winning the league and a certain player received a right hook for singing a now banned song going up the tunnel. But that’s fitbaw. Fans are desperate enough to see their team will go in areas not for them.
The Killie chairman seems to have forgot we won the league there the following season withoot any bother. Maybe that says we are bad losers or the Killie fans that sensed blood the season before just decided to stay away and watch in their hovels.
I suspect a bit of both. Mind you the season before was an emotional week for all linked wie the hoops. The sun of Seville to the realisation at Rugby Park that we were going to win nothing was a comedoon that took the whole summer to get over. The men in white coats who produce papers on the state of the human mind hit the nail on the heid when they came up wie post-season depression. Never been so low for months as I was after that week.
Thing is I actually quite back up the chairmen view wie regards not moving his own fans. It’s a very noble view and one in this day and age of greed should be applauded. He could have quite easily moved guys who have paid hunners of pounds for years for a quick £23.00. But he hasn’t. He hasn’t reduced himself to the age-old Celtic-bashing trick of fleecing their fans for a quick buck like some low life chairmen would have done. Remember Motherwell?
The point is Celtic get 8000 tickets for Rugby Park already. The largest, I think, away allocation we get in the SPL. Anytime we play there you can buy a ticket over the counter at the ticket office and there are always empty spaces in the away end. In fact as a support we really treat Rugby Park wie disdain. So really oor allocation for the game is large enough to accommodate all who go regular to away games, some who attend when they can and others who should be as embarrassed as the England cricket team by attending the game cause we can win the league.
There must be something up, when in the middle of a contested semi final, which you haven’t got in the bag yet, yer thinking aboot no going to the replay due to the fair being served up in front of you. We could win the league this week and again the fact that I’m ticketless is not bothering me one bit.
I’ll get the lads round, a few cans and watch it on the telly. Been to Rugby Park before when the title was won, the game was terrible and we limped to 1-0 victory while hanging on for dear life. Somehow I canny see Sunday being any different but at the moment I can picture another disappointment on the horizon.
The faw oot from the Kennygate incident continues wie numerous players and ex foes sticking their collective oar in to back oor esteemed or lame duck leader. Lenny, Mick, Naylor, Caldwell and Big Feck have all stuck their neeb in and gave their tuppance worth.
While I fully expect the players to back their manager, especially the ones that have as the manager has shown all loyalty and gave some the chance in the big time. Some should really pit their heids back below the parapet and ride oot the storm. Some views are as welcome as a Royal Navy interview in the Harry Hun.
Lenny has been identified, as the crux of all oor woes and him again coming oot and having a go at the support will only hasten calls for his departure. On the field he is rapidly losing the plot as the constant bickering wie team-mates on Saturday proved. When something went wrong he would berate the perceived offender, the perceived offender would answer him back pointing oot his failings wie gusto.
Gary Caldwell should really not have spoke to the press backing up GS. He is being hung oot to dry by the manager who won’t admit he has signed a haddy in the lesser-spotted Doumbe. The managers’ actions speak louder than words in that fact. Caldwell’s recent performance was worse than Adam Virgo’s last season at right back in the CIS semi final. Again he should have kept his mouth shut and not abused the hands that feed him.
But we are fickle and we are maybe overreacting to the current situation. I would have expected in a situation the players find themselves in that the fans backing would be crucial. Having had 1st hand experience of the nastiness seeping through the support one bad pass from any of the beraters will be met on Sunday with buckfast fuelled rath. These players now have blown any chance of sympathy or a second chance.
At noon on Saturday we were stuck on the M80 just at Denny. Had moved 2 miles in an hour and serious consideration was being given to turning back at the 1st opportunity. The growls on the bus were made worse by a wee look across the carriage way and the “tarmen” bedecked in orange and blue were as busy enjoying the sun rather than working.
Half time was the rosiest time of arrival at the point of getting to the soothside, as the thought of going over Prospecthill Road and through Rutherglen did not fill us wie hope and joy. But oor bus driver in his rather fetching racing red shirt and porno tash done a grand joab and we were parked up on the ash park just as the teams ran oot.
After 90 mins I really wished he hudnae bothered.
Oor walk to Hampden was untempered by the lack of crowds. In fact the old stadium looks quite impressive in the sun an illusion that soon disappears on entry. Will only take tickets for the main stand and the North Stand, if I have the choice, as the view from behind the goals is terrible. Those attending the UEFA cup final while being impressed by the look of the stadium will be disappointed by the view from their seats.
Still row LL was found and I was seated and comfy by the time big JVOH sold their goalie a dozzie right level wie me and was brought doon for a stonewall penalty. Canny believe the ho-ha that has been created over it. It was a stone waller and the inept ref, again, had no option bar to give it. Us on easy street? Nae chance.
We let them back into the proceedings and their merry band of colourful fans decided to gie us their full repartee of 1st division provisional club songs. We decided to gie them a goal to celebrate in return. The mood changed in the hoops support and the in fighting, bitching and abuse started. Looking over at the merry band of Saintees I wished we were more like them, not spoiled by success but more importantly proud of their teams efforts and enjoying their day in the sun.
As Celtic struggling to get to gripes wie the basics of fitbaw, ye pass and move, ye use space and stretch inferior opponents the fans decided it was a guid time to turn on each other. I was in the middle and behind me was a happy clapper see no evil brigade and in front this is shite brigade. The verbal sparring was entertaining but left a bad taste in ma mouth.
Whoever shouted loudest won the arguments and decent points by both sides were missed. In the end the sparring got personnel as usually happens in these things. What put the tin lid on it was that sub. As the boos reached a crescendo then continued when Miller came on I thought one of the happy clapper brigade was going take a coronary. How he could defend a substitution, which reeked of a manager trying to prove a point, of a manager being stubborn and a decision that weakened the team is beyond me.
Again the saintees sang and danced they smelled an equaliser and I was trying to work oot how to sell another £40 quid fork oot to ma wife for the replay. Started thinking that I could pit up wie Ian McCall for 90 mins sitting on ma couch. But at the end of the day I will be looking oot ma cup final shorts and shirts while the saintees will be attending a gala or a tractor show.
It was their day at the final whistle their players went over to them. All had stayed. The Celtic end had emptied and the players who bovvered to applaud us that stayed were few and far between. Those it did applaud us were meet wie in difference and no reaction. Maybe those that disappeared up the tunnel got it right. Maybe they were embarrassed. But does the modern day player get embarrassed picking up obscene amounts of money and producing the form they have in recent weeks?
Probably not.
While the saints fans will remember their day, when in typical Scottish fashion they celebrated a gallant defeat we done the typical Celtic thing and moaned aboot a victory. Another semi final that won’t be remembered fondly.
Oweny Coyle, the famous fighting skinny Scotsman who played for Ireland and never played for the hoops, made me feel auld the other day. When asked in this up for the cup week his memories of Celtic in their favourite competition, instead of naming the 69-cup final or the centenary cup final he conjured up a moment when he was a terror of Dundee.
They’re a goal up wie a minute left at CP in the rain. Then bang, bang, Van Hoojdonk and Thom, 2-1 the hoops and United oot the cup. I remember that day fondly. The temporary stand in the half built arena that was CP was in a state close to collapse when the atomic bomb Thom scored. What made me feel sad was the fact that it was 11 YEARS AGO.
When I pulled on the bumblebee top for the five sides last night the joy that I still fitted into it was tempered by the fact it’s 11 years old and I’m still wearing it. At least it’s not as bad as the peoples away top I wore last week, you know the one? The one that looks like someone spewed over the shoulder. Really must start updating ma five a side gear. In fact maybe I could sell ma retro collection on E-Bay?
Anyway being reminded it was 11 years ago put ma Renton Stlyee rant last Saturday after the game into perspective and also put it right back into it’s box. I was asked if I would rather have Tommy Burns back in charge and I replied fuelled by tennents “yes”.
But it seems like yesterday we had the 3 amigos not 11 years ago. A lot of water has passed under the bridge since then and fitbaw has changed since that fateful night at ipox when Di Canio throw his rattle oot the pram and Burns succumbed to the Bairns in a Scottish Cup Semi. A fact that made me quest for a Celtic fitbawing utopia performance this weekend as possibly sheer folly. We can lose to lower league clubs in cup-ties as we have found to oor cost over the last few seasons.
Thing is in the majority of defeats to lower league sides I don’t think there has been anyone time where we huvnae deserved to go oot. Digger Barnes 4-2-2-2 systems was undone against ICT, MON leg weary team struggled to compete and create wie Jamie Smith and Davie Fernandez in the highlands, Dui Wei and Keane also failed to swim the Clyde. That night at ipox Tommy Burn’s fitbaw utopia collapsed all around him as his majestic creative mavericks chucked in the towel. Even when we have won against lower league opposition in the cups it has been humdrum affairs. Remember a particular drab Saturday night affair against Ayr Utd a few years ago.
The folly of the early start for the Tv dirty cash means the atmosphere will be terrible in the bowl of Hampden. Some will be hungover, others sober when usually well oiled and others just narked at the early kick off and the narkie enducing performances of late. It upsets ma routine anyway.
Strange kick off times, games not played on the same day and dwindling attendances mean that maybe the Scottish Cup disnny hold the sway it once did. For us older ones it will always have a special place in oor hearts as Celtic legends have been born in cup finals in the sun. for us that turn up tomorrow we will hope for a classic Celtic cup performance.
Must have been like the trenches in the 1st world war for the hoops players and management over the last few weeks. A constant bombardment of abuse from meeja, fans, keyboard hardmen and phone in love jockeys. The staff at CP must feel shell shocked and wondering when it will be safe to make their advance across the green fields of France for the final assault.
Unlike the 1st world war oor two general have popped their heids into the line of fire to take umbridge wie the bullets being fired and also to snipe back at questions being asked of their leadership. It was a two-pronged ginger attack as Lenny and GS came oot fighting.
The Evening times was GS vehicle of choice as he defended the tactics of his midfield formation against Dundee Hibs and the Well. Said he thinks when we play against a 5-man midfield we leave to many gaps that world-class players like Barry Robson can exploit. It’s Barry Robson and how many world class players have Motherwell got? Should an extra man make any difference? Is Gs showing a little lack of faith in the ability of his troops and mair worryingly his own signings.
He also defended his decision to drop Tommy G from the team adding that the boo bhoys were shouting for him to be dropped when he was running around like a 3 year old on blue smarties and tizer.
It disnny look guid for the gravedigger. Feel him and his bulging packet will be off doon the promised premiership no mans land after a frustrating season in the hoops. Not following instructions seems to be the just of GS’s beef wie the baldy Dane. Maybe we should try a 5-man midfield wie the gravedigger as the most advanced before making rash decisions. The gravedigger is a creator, a conductor of the creative in the middle of the park. A free role could be the answer for the problem that is Tommy G.
If he fails to shine there then I’ll drive him to Sunderland.
Lenny came oot defending his bottle throwing incident wie the tube in the main stand. Lenny quoted stats unbeaten at home in 18 months, unbeaten in 28 league games and he berates the fans for expecting champagne fitbaw every week wie an inexperienced side. He also stated he won’t be the auld fart hanging around waving the bhoys of on adventures while he picks up his wages. Slight go at Boyd and Lambert maybe?
Thing is if he gets offered another deal then that’s exactly the type of situation he will find himself in. The CIS cup playing veteran showing the young un’s and fringe bodies his medals while going on aboot the guid auld days when St Martin was his general and he widnae force the bhoys over the top and paid them handsomely.
Whether you agree or disagree wie what has been said both have shown character by speaking oot. I have been their biggest critic over the last few weeks but the baws and honesty both have shown in a measured and an articulate way has impressed me. Shown a bit of character…must be a ginger thing.
Now that us mere mortals are no longer invited to the arena of the Champions League the lure of the games has waned. Last week if it wisnny for the polis, quite rightly, geing the Man who fans a doing when they strayed into no-mans land, look if yer in that area then yer “game” for a baton across the heid, then the games last week would have passed of withoot any stirring.
But after ma self imposed exile last nights game at the Trafford ball park made me have faith in the set of the most corrupt competition in Europe. It was that guid i thought I had snorted a line of Keith Richards dad. It also served as a reminder to the hoops how far we have to go both on and off the park.
Peter Lawell has stated that it is his aim to make Celtic the biggest club in Ireland. Last seasons signing of an aging Roy Keane was the 1st step in raising oor profile, still don’t think now it was for fitbaw reasons, and I fully expect we will sign another big Irish star soon.
This will be futile cause if Man who keep on putting on performances like that then we have no chance of over taking them as the number one team in Ireland. Saying that right enough because of Sky’s coverage of the premiership we have no chance of even over taking Arsenal or Liverpool.
Man who last night gave a performance that set pulses racing. They have been doing it for years in Europe and also they entertain in the EPL. Sky’s packaging of their product means that even the most boring games are deemed as entertainment. Kids from Kerry to Derry will this morning be Giggs, Smith, Rooney and Ronaldo.
If the hoops want to lose the tag of every Irishman’s favourite second team then they have to entertain. We have to be entertaining on the biggest stage of all where the packing and profile is best. We have done it this year. The Nakaing of Man Utd would have done more for oor profile than the signing of Keane and oor gallant performance against Milan will have made youngsters take notice. Still canny see many Seamus Nakamura’s kicking around yet though.
While setanta coverage is improving, lot of money being spent on it and improving it’s profile, it’s place where Handels priest heralds the teams that we have to perform to turn young heids. Beating Man U and such every now and then isny guid enough. We have to be doing it regular. We have to prove this season isny a one off and ensure we are back in the mix next year.
We can’t have another Bratislava cause if we do then we can get hit wie the small team jibs from meeja and those wie the passing interest we are trying to snare. We are trying to snare consumers and they are a fickle beast whom only want success.
Thing is do the board think we have the plan and the man in place to snare these consumers?
After the weekends shambolic display, I decided to spend the bank holiday weekend away from fitbaw all together. So I watched r*ngers. Oh dear. If I wanted cheered up that done the trick. There is always someone worse of than yerself and the fare on show in Paisley was poor.
I’m really scunnered wie the hoops at the moment. So I decided that I would created a wee howf for maeself in the hut, a wee radio to listen to talksport- though in ma self imposed ban on all things fitbaw XFM was ma listening choice-, a cool box for some tennents and enough space for a deck chair. I even hovered the thing and have decided to gie it a wee lick of paint and do ma garden up when the season finished. Nae world cup to divert ma attention ye see, need to get ma time well spent.
Hopefully GS and the players done the same thing. A change is as guid as a rest and a few days withoot thinking aboot pressure, tired legs etc may have done the bhoys guid. Then again pressure is part of the joab and the excuse that the players are inexperienced at facing it disnny wash.
From the team on Saturday, Lenny, Arfur- who is looking, ahem, oot of shape, Magic, McGeady, and Naka all won the league last year wie the hoops. JVOH won a few titles wie the faltering PSV- and we thought we were in trouble- Lee Naylor won promotion in a high pressure play off final and Elvis, Caldwell, Riordan and Hartley can hardly be classed as wet behind the ears.
All 11 or 12 used had experience of high-pressure situations. O’Dea, who I never mentioned, has won titles wie the reserves and has handled the high-octane noise of the Milan tifosi. He has also looked oor most assured defender in recent weeks, which playing alongside a seasoned pro is no mean feat. Mind you the season pro is looking as shaky as an Iranian press conference.
Lack of character has been mentioned wie GS casting up Petrov and Hartson and also GS casting up the fact that he hadn’t planned to be withoot these players or Maloney at this stage of the season. GS is casting his own rod here by admitting in ma book that he husnae replaced these players and Maloney apart he has had 2 transfer windaes to do it.
Character is a buzzword for the wee man. He said JVOH had a presence on and off the park. I’m sure the big fellow has wowed the physios and club doctors then when his unmistakeable Dutch wit. Tommy G was another character that now spends his days entertaining the crowd behind the goals like some warm up act for a Blackpool miners welfare.
The main reason, for me, that Lenny still plays is because he is a character though that has been waning in recent weeks. He is looking most exasperated wie those around him. Like us he just wants this the longest title run in history- almost as long as the fight in the Quiet Man- to finish. Like us all I bet he is hoping that winning the league and hopefully a cup final will lift the club and make his final days enjoyable.
So what members of the young team could be characters? Big Mick is one, a strong level heided intelligent young man who come across in the mould of ceaser. Gary Caldwell again seems to be a meeja magnet when asking for a quote or an interview and surely the rumours of Deeks off field behaviour mean that he must be a character. Bundle of energy Naka eh? Mind you Deeks one man crusade against bigotry has to be applauded. If that had happened 20 years ago son yer starting place widnae be in doubt from one week to the next.
But I thought the wise ginger one once said that players win games not tactics. Does this mean he has changed his view and it is now characters that win games not players?
Surely it helps if yer characters are actually playing though?
Like Renton in Trainspotting i vented ma spleen, fuelled by Tennents, yesterday on the way home on the bus. Just as, when ask to survey the countryside Rents went into a rant aboot oor country being the lowest of the low the scummist of the scum, i went of on one regarding the state of play at CP.
I berated GS for his failure to deliver the promised vision, the fact that oor last performance was Benfica and that the team lacks quality. I ended wie the line
"It won't improve until wee ginge has left"
Too which a wag replied which one?. Both i replied.
It's a fair statement and one which i have to blame the London Road Tav for as they fed me beer. But it's one i'm going to stand by as anyone who attended CP yesterday or saw the game will agree it was even worse than last week. That bad i expected wee Luigi to be on the touchline telling Brian O'Neill that he was a centre forward.
Turgid sh*te was how i describe it at half time. Nae shots, nae creativity, nae pace and at half time i thought nae hope. The atmosphere was one on a knife edge and if Motherwell had scored it would have turned nasty and i would have expected car park protests and mars bar throwing.
It was that bad, Faither G, again, taking advantage or a freebie as the guy would rather play golf than watch his team, left 10 mins before the end to partake in his filthy nicotine habit. "Knew i widnae miss anything" was his excuse. "How have you pit up wie that aw season?" he asked and one i couldnae really answer except for "Blind Faith"
Got me thinking, CP has not been full very often this season. You would expect a Championship winning team to have us singing from the roof tops. No not GS's team 2. A lack of tempo is the main downfall. It starts from the 1st whistle and allows teams to get comfy wie their surroundings. They don't fear CP anymair. Teams as poor as the well can go aboot their business easily.
The lack of tempo steams even to the baw balls. Have we the lazist baw balls in the league? They sit on their wee ikea plastic seats and watch the baw run oot of play and into the camera pit. It takes them an age to get it back and when they do they half hearted roll it to the player? Every heard of multi baw?
If it's oor by kick, then Arfur takes an age as well. He then hoofs it naebody when a short baw to one of the CB's or full backs is an option. He must get told to hoof it long.
Yesterday, as Ian pointed oot last week, Hartley sits behind Lenny. Both sit that deep that we almost play wie a back 6. They sit deep and oor CB sit deeper thus allowing teams to come on top of us. If Hartley continues this form then we have been sold a dud. Same as Elvis. How many times did he commit the same foul? The folly of signing players who shine in medicore SPL teams is there for all to see again.
If GS see's Hartley as a deep lying midfielder, then so be it. But he has to play an attack minded player alongside him not Neil Lenny. As i have said both sit so deep the gap between them and the wingers and forwards is as wide as the clyde.
Again they must be getting told to do this or Hartley would have been hooked for not following managers instructions. Arfur must get told to look for the long baw to JVOH, again i'm begining to question is he really any guid and i'm longing for BBJ again.
I said things won't improve until GS leaves, maybe i'm being a bit OTT. Performances can improve from players but i'm wondering really wondering if GS can improve his performances. I'm looking for out the box thinking from him when things are not going well. Yesterday after saying Riordan was not a centre forward he bows to the public view and plays him as a centre forward. Could you see a Jose or Ferguson doing that?
No me either. Hell i couldnae see PLG doing that.
Right, i will celebrate winning the league wie ma usual gusto. If we do the double i will thank the wee man. He has got the right to build a team 3 due to being successful but nagging doubts remain over his signings, tactics and ability to get us into the CL last 16 on a regular basis. I'm not calling for him to be sacked, no sir we are not Hearts. I just think maybe two years is enough and for us to make real progress maybe an out the box appointment is needed.
GS could win the league next year nae probs. He could win another double as he has proved he has got the ability to do that. So could Wally the cardie. He has proved in the past that he has the ability to win the Scottish League. But ask any r*ngers fan if wally could take them to the PSV level, which we are aiming for as well, they will say no.
Ask me if GS could take us to that level i would say no. I'm willing to say PLG could have took us and them to that level given time. Before MON we went for Hiddink. I still say if Hiddink would have came then we would have been in the last 16 of the CL long before this season. In fact we would be regulars.
I know it's all if's and buts but i think that would have happened.
I type this hoping deep doon that ma views are wrong. That while i will fully support GS as long as he is the manager he has brung us success this season using limited resources, but more than any other team in the spl, and maybe he got the best oot of average players who are now proving to be average players. Thats a great trick.
Thing is Celtic have always entertained and i'm wondering why the other Ginger in the dug oot husnae reminded him of that.
In this week where any blogger worth his salt would struggle to write new things aboot hoops that already husnae been said. Right we play the well, we need a victory, and we want changes coz the team have been playing ten palefull oh pesh and it’s getting us jittery.
We have discussed it here. We have discussed it there. We have discussed it every bloody where.
Two comments from two LOTW stalwarts got me thinking and after a week reading the rubbish being spouted on other blogs, sites and message boards the question needs answered.
Do we only care now if we win?
The famous song, sung wie gusto all over the land for years, in time of trouble and joy had the infamous line “We don’t care if we win, lose or draw” nowadays the post MON generation only seem to care aboot winning. Even some pre MON seem to have their heids turned by the winning being the be all and end all.
Maybe years of watching oor less illustrious neighbours winning all in-sundry and them basing their history and heritage of being the most successful fitbaw club in the world has meant some only want to catch them up.
For me this is forgetting what Celtic is aboot. Celtic has a heritage, ethos and style, which is unique in world fitbaw. Something that seems to have been missed.
Every so often this week I have seen posts that back ma view of why I have doubts aboot oor manager. Let me make this clear while I fully support oor manager and the players it seems the questioning of them gets meet wie the success card.
13 clear, last 16 of CL and semi final of Scottish Cup. The players and management have delivered so we are told. Any other debate and yer not a Celtic man. It has been mentioned that we as a support are greeting faced buggers.
True, how many websites churning oot views are there aboot the hoops. Every blog thinks it's opinion should be heard. I shamelessly admit this blog was created solely to see if anyone shared the views of me. Certain other sites didnae meet ma expectations and any views outwith the party line were not tolerated and the abuse was personal. I wanted an alternative so LOTW was born.
This is not the fault of the blog creators. The Celtic support has always been split, fractioned and at each other throats. Look at when we were trying to sack the board, look at the fact we have an affiliation and association of supporter clubs, look at how many fanzines we have. How many supporters club do you know that have formed through bickering and fighting out of others?
It’s because we care aboot oor club. Maybe the motives are different but we all just want what is best for the club. That’s oor goal.
The Internet has been guid for the Celtic support, we all canny get enough of it, but it also gives a false impression. The reason being, I’m typing this and most that read it won’t know me if I went past them in the street. We don’t know the majority of people we speak wie and some of these fans could charlatans on the wind up.
Only face-to-face can we get a true impression of how the support is feeling. Not from message boards or phone ins. Saturday, as the support was getting frustrated and tension was rising the overwhelming feeling was we wanted the baw on the deck and attacking fitbaw. We wanted a performance befitting the wearing o the hoops.
Something we huvnae been getting.
Yes, if us following the Celtic ethos means we lose games, drop points here and there so be it. That’s fitbaw the best teams sometimes don’t always win. If on Saturday the result had been the same but we had played well we widnae have got the reaction we have over the last few weeks.
Against r*ngers oor 1st half performance made defeat a bit easier to take as we knew that we had outplayed playing Celtic fitbaw. Fawkirk nae performance.
On Saturday we just want to see a performance of fitbaw we were promised by the management and also that is in keeping wie the Celtic way. If after 90 mins we come oot after a performance that meets those criteria then we won’t care if we have won, lost or drawn.
It’s up to the manager to have the baws to take that criteria and make sure it happens.
The LOTW Diary- Who The Feck Is Jerry Fox? United 1 Hoops 1
Why did no one pick up on ma faux pas? Why did no one notice that Jerry Fox was meant to be Jerry Kerr? When we turned into Sandeman Street on Saturday ma fear that I had made a boob was realised. Amateur, fecking amateur. Bit like ma team. But if there is a Jerry Fox do you think he is a centre forward or a midfielder if so call GS at CP.
Saturday brought back memories of MON’s last season, black Sunday and worse of all Liam’s and Luigi’s teams. It was up there wie the 3-0 defeat to the Harry Rags at Hampden in TB’s first season and in that season we were so woeful it is the worst season I ever watched the hoops.
It was like watching two pub teams on Saturday. The baw was black and blue due to being booted as hard as it could up and doon the park. It was sore as every second touch was a tackle. A team that has had a fare few bob spent on it, in domestic terms, and the highest wage bill in Scotland surely should have a clue how to win and game and how to play fitbaw?
Lacked ideas, lacked guile, lacked pace. Lacked leadership and lack a big doze of baws. Get the baw doon and play no just lump it the way yer facing. Panic on the streets of London once sang the Moz. Panic on the park at Tanideechie every time a hoop player got the ball. Hoof it went as far away from the player as possible.
GS said he was satisfied wie the effort. Correct I was thinking before the equaliser, which the wee feck celebrated right in front of me in the howf that is the fair play stand, that it was perspiration over inspiration. Off the park the manager lacked ideas and baws to change it.
Is he happy that Tommy G is doing his comedy act in front of the hoops support instead of on the park trying to wrestle back midfield dominance from Fawkirk and ICT rejects? Is he happy that a team lacking so much in the creativity stakes can afford to leave a creative player on the bench? Is he happy that oor midfield is so far oaf the pace that we never win the second baw EVER?
5 minutes into the second half JJPD was sent to get warmed up. From ma seat in the fair play stand, Caldwell was struggling in front of me. He was blowing oot his arse, which is no surprise after 4 months oot. As JJPD was sent roond in front of the support to do his thing the fear in his face was clear to see. Is this the reason he didnae come on?
Deek and Cillian also done a warm up but wie 10 minutes left they stopped. They knew GS widnae turn to them to try and threaten a United back line being marshalled by Lee bloody Wilkie and being made to look guid by oor attackers. The bottom-line is on and of the park it was disgraceful. Long-term questions are no being posed and there are no many answers.
Have we sunk that low that we now struggle to over come honest graft? Have oor ambitions that much that players that shine in fellow SPL teams are what we are striving for? After initial impressions guys like Elvis, Caldwell, Wilson- recently- and even Hartley are not guid enough. They won’t take the team forward. If McDonald is an indicator of the future then days like Saturday will become ten a penny.
We have been sold a doozie. Team 2 has regressed by team 1. The fitter, faster, stronger team promised by the management team has failed to materialise. In court they would be sent down for perjury. Rumours of a move to Eastland’s or the northeast would be most welcomed if true if a lot of the murmurings heard on Saturday are reflective.
Oor support was not a nice place to be on Saturday. Frustrations are starting to boil over. The supporters are bickering and on Saturday violence was nearly upon us. Fans are not listening to shouts; they automatically think players are being berated. They bhoy in the same row as me was shouting at Aiden to stay wide give the game a bit of width.
There was no yer shite McGeady or anything. Two rows behind a group of bevvied up young un’s to umbridge at this perceived abuse and abused the so-called abuser. When the so called abuser tried to argue his point backed up I may add by the majority round aboot the young un’s torrent of abuse to all was well oot of order.
Guys you were shouting aboot supporting yer team, not being a Celtic fan etc but yer behaviour and subsequent behaviour afterwards, constantly singing of Aidens name to wind up the so-called abuser was un-Celtic like. But that’s a product of what is happening on the park.
We have developed a siege mentality to certain players. Some players are martyrs whom can’t be questioned. I understand Aiden gets abuse and he does need encourages, he was oor only creative output on Saturday, but give it guys who are abusing players not pointing oot the fact the GS tactics stop us getting any width whatsoever.
We are frustrated. Black Sunday is still too fresh. Bottom-line is this blip has been coming as players and management failings mean we were getting away wie it for months. At least the r*ngers are sh*te though, eh?
