The Lotw Diary Celtic 2 Sheepies 1

One thirty on Saturday, we are standing in the boozer waiting on the late supporters bus. The reason the bus is late, is due to the fact oot of 24 season ticket holders and 35 members, there is only SEVEN of us waiting to go to the game. We sent oor 33 seater back to the depot and were awaiting a smaller mode of transport.

Talk was off in all seriousness going to Airdrie to watch the Albion, hopefully condemning the nice beastie boys to life in the 2nd division. The younger ones thought this was a great idea, us, older, maybe wiser but ones who had the unfortunate pleasure of going to the old Broomfield were thinking slightly different.

Decision was takening to go to CP, if the game was pants then pub at half time. We would go in but the mood was after last week’s no-show why should we show up. Right, Lenny’s last game at CP but the only reason most decided to go to game was the fact that we were told he wisnny playing. We thought the changes would be rung wie a new broom in charge for a game.

As the bus neared CP, the news that there had been a dramatic u-turn and Lenny was playing filtered through. Now, who exactly run’s the team? The fact of the matter is Lenny wisnny playing; the board sold the game as Lenny’s farewell and due to this told the management to play him. Now, wie rumours abound that players are being bought for potentially brand exploiting and not fitbaw ability this decision, not taking by the fitbaw side, but by the financial side makes you, again, question the backbone of oor management.

The board say all the time that GS, never complains and is an esteemed man. Nae wonder it seems he panders to their every wim.

Anyway, the team list was read oot and the feeling of interested in the game faded. Kenny Miller wie JVOH. Rioirdon for McGeady. Nae rest for Naka, JJPD getting another chance to impress, JFK returning to his rightful place instead of Elvis and Lee Naylor getting the chance again to re-gain early season promise. Nae exciting changes. The usual suspects getting a wee run oot.

Now, I have heard it was a guid game. I only saw one half. In the one half that I saw nothing was different. Maybe a bit more energy was shown but the slow pace, lack of creativity and lack of edge was plain to see. I’m probably just scunnered right enough. It’s taking me longer to forgive these players for last week and the general apathy that has meet this season has caught me like a North Sea fisherman catching illegal cod.

The guid oot the 1st half was this. Oor Zico, became the Zico like Paul Hartley last seen annoying the living daylights oot of me in a maroon jersey. His lung bursting runs into the box and creativity were what we paid guid money for. His set up play for the second goal- saw it on setanta- was great and it was nice to see him finally look like a player.

JJPD made a mockery of ma Mo Camara comparison. Composed on the ball, pacy and sure of his own ability the bhoy looks like he could do a job for us. He is a better option than Caldwell- who will return at RB for the Cup Final- and also could be decent back up at RB for Wilson. In fact, he may make that spot his own if Willo’s loss of form continues at the start of next season. Will he get a contract though?

JVOH showed again he is a goalscorer who will frustrate and please with equal measure. He spent the 1st half making Russell Anderson look like a player but scored a poachers goal. Making Russell Anderson look like a player is worrying as oor manager has a tendency to buy players who play well against us- see Elvis and Hartley- no matter how often we bleat that they are coo’s.

I left at half time. Went to the pub to find the pub jumping wie other like-minded fans. Most I spoke to all the felt the same as me. While glad for the league, the performances of the players recently have made us think they are unworthy of oor effort in supporting them. That will change of course. The week of the cup final will see us remember the guid things they have achieved this season. Mind you, a wee victory against a struggling Hibs side coupled by another improved performance will do that as well.

And also a wee look at the results yesterday, wie them getting beat, Man Utd losing and Liverpool drawing wie a relegated shows that end of season apathy is just not a Celtic trait.

Forza The Hoops