Lotw Diary- Shakter and Jambos

Boik. Boik. Sick. Biok or Boak.

As the first Jack Frost of winter grips Ecosse you meet a blogger who is in the grip of self inflicted illness- new improved blogger, 2 days on the wagon- and the start of the dreaded “man flu”. These two aliments mean that a report on the game against the Sheep would consist of, BLANK, BLANK, Broony, Jirijaro, did i really see JVOH put in a shift and did i really hear someone shouting “Bruno” at him or was that me?

So i have decided that a match report is not on. “Amateur!” i hear you all cry. To true, i reply, to true. But hopefully a full weeks diary will change yer minds.

But that was then and this is now. Can’t change the past only can ensure it disnny happen again. Starting wie Wednesday night against the Shakter of Donetsk. A game that a 3-0 victory would mean we are through. A 2-0 nothing victory means we canny get a humping in Milan, any other sort of victory means we would need to better or match Shakter’s result when Benfica play them.

Something i don’t fancy. Lets give oorselves the chance by winning 3-0. So what’s happening in the build up? Still a lot of falloot regarding Saturdays game.

26/11/2007- The Scotsman Celtic Fc - Mark Brown and the "Holy Goalie"

Lotw Comment- Think it was a surprise to all of us that the "Holy Goalie" didnae line up on Saturday. A fungal infection picked up in Poland makes him a doubt for Wednesday, but reports seem to suggest that he will make it. Not that i would have a problem wie Mark Brown playing. He looked comfortable on Saturday, particularly wie the ball at his feet, but the "Holy Goalie" he is not.

26/11/2007-Football 365 - Brown gives Aiden the biggie.

Lotw Comment- While i thought Scott Brown was MOTM on Saturday by a country mile, he decides that it's time to lump pressure on Aiden by saying "For the last month I don't think anyone has managed to get close to him," and i think no one got near Scott Broon on Saturday as he must have overdosed on blue smarties. Make no mistake we need both these young bucks to turn up on Wednesday night.

26/11/2007 Sky Sports - Trouble in Donetsk???

Lotw Comment- Unsure what to make of this story. So their wee Mexican, who came on as a sub against us the last time oot, has had a rift wie their coach. Their coach who can still call on Brando and Lucarelli surely won't be losing sleep over this will he?

27/11/2007-Setanta and Sporting Life - Donetsk come oot fighting.

Lotw Comment- After trouble in the camp, ahem, the Donetsk players and board have come oot, like nearly all Eastern European teams do, and fired broadsides at the Hoops. It's all a bit Rocky IV, except the Ukrainians dinny have an Apollo Creed to kill in a warm up bout. So we have their defender Llsinho who was first wie this “We are a lot better than them but we have to prove it on the pitch. It is evident that our midfielders and attackers are better than theirs."

Then Sergiy Palkin, Donetsk's SSM but only not as guid or as sharp, states that "Lucescu is an experienced specialist and I am sure that he is able to find ways and means to mobilise the team before the match." and that "All football aficionados in Ukraine are looking forward to seeing this clash." after Scotland putting oot the Ukraine in Euro 2008.

I'm in no doubts that Donetsk are a quality team. They have splashed the cash and should be expecting to walk the walk wie the big boys after Christmas. While them getting a result is not beyond them a lot depends on the Hoops team that turns up. We will have to be at oor best make no mistake but if we want to progress, like the Benfica game, we have to win these games against team of a similar stature and wie the same ambitions.

But we surely can take hope in the fact that Eastern European teams don't travel well? Clutching at straws......maybe

27/11/2007- BBC - Oor Gordon

Lotw Comment- The three Champions League games have seen the Hoops ride oot the early period and feel their way into proceedings. In the last two home games we have improved in the second half after getting the measure of oor opponents. So it's no surprise that oor manager says "We need to play common-sense football, not give the other team an advantage right away, let the game flow."

The common sense approach means no daft stuff at the back and keep the game scrappy until we can get oor foot on the ball. Use set plays to oor advantage as Donetsk, like us and Spartak before them, are dodgy at the back. I have a feeling we are in for a classic Champions League night at CP. We need a victory and any sort of victory will do.

28/11/2007- Setanta - John Kennedy

Lotw Comment- The man who ended oor "common sense" approach, that oor manager craved, wie a limited centre back error, the type limited centre backs do at CL level, hopefully husnae been dealt a hammer blow. He has been improving in games, i thought against Benfica he was excellent, but another spell on the sidelines means that this fan will need to put up wie a team that puts you through the ringer and his replacement always being one step away from a limited centre back error.

28/11/2007 - Uefa Report,Uefa Stats Uefa Overview

Lotw Comment- "The players showed so much heart and never gave up". Granted. The words of oor manager ring true and those who leave early must not believe in the heart of this team.

"I am very upset about the result. But I was right when I said Celtic were a lucky team." These are the words of a beaten man but ones i canny really disagree wie. Well, i can, you make your own luck and if yer team hadnae been playing for a draw and retreated so far into their shell in the last five minutes they were almost at the Kingston Bridge, oh, and hudnae went doon as easily as a trap door at every opportunity then you might have got a result.

They maybe have the better team. Yes, but for him to say they were a better team in a poor game, when we had 60% possession and were the only team trying to win is taking it a bit far. Then to cast up matchday one is clutching at straws.

Oh and JiriJaro man of the match? Who rigged the voting? Ant and Dec?

30/11/2007- The Guardian- Deep Fried Mars Bar And A Bottle o' Ginger, Massimo?

Lotw Comment- "Lunch is lasagna, eggs, beans, meat drowned in strange sauces. I don't know how they do it. Certainly, I will never be used to cannelloni or fried fish pre-match," If he thinks that is bad, wait until he steps oot at Tynecastle tomorrow.....

30/11/2007- Setanta- Celtic hold no fear for the Jambos.

Lotw Comment- I remember at the start of last season I hated the Hearts manager. His weasel looking coupon, beady eyes and OTT celebration after a defeat at Tynecastle made me feel no sympathy when he was sacked. I have no such feelings for their current incumbent. I remember him as a player, a decent full back whom done the job, in the way decent full backs do the job.

But i hope he gets gubbed tomorrow as we avenge their, deserved, victory over us in the diddy cup. Oh and their fans are vile.

30/11/2007- Sky Sports- JiriJaro stays......for now.....

Lotw Comment- "At least until January I am staying here." The bigman disnny make things easy for himself. From a poor first season to the Moscow files, he just seems to split the support. I think he is a player. Not everyones cup of tea mind you but a player who has ability.

Tomorrow sees him return to the scene of one of his worst performances in a Hoops jersey when early last season he looked like a little boy lost. His midfield partners tomorrow will include Aiden, Massimo, Broony and possibly Sno......should we really be worried that none of them apart from Broony can tackle a fish supper?

30/11/2007-Setanta Celtic Fc - Gordon on January, Tomorrow and Elvis.

Lotw Comment- Tomorrow, we are going to line up for the toughest away fixture ootside "the pox" wie either, four centre backs in the backline- MON will be nodding his approval in Brimingham- or 3 centre backs and a right footed centre midfielder at left back or 3 centre backs and a rookie.

We really need to hope a couple of full backs are on that shopping list.

"They are strong, physical and have good ability as well (Hearts), so it’s going to be a hard game. But we are on a good run of form ourselves at the moment.” We are on guid run of form, but tomorrow we face a team who basically will relish facing the lightweight, makeshift and ham fisted 11 that will take the field. We also face a team that recently got the measure of us. We also have just played in the Champions League......everything is lined up for a comfortable 90mins then...

“And just having Pres’ back in the squad recently has made us more professional,” So, the squad was a ramshackle mess before the return of the "Pres". The running joke that big Elvis is the teachers pet continues......

Mair tomorrow....

Forza