Lotw Diary....

I have watched and listened to the Press Conference that was given at Lennoxtown today. I then saw the pictures from the training session this morning. I said yesterday, in the comment section, that the game should not go ahead. The correct decision has been taken.

While some may question Celtic actions, the fact of the matter is it should not have taken a request from Celtic, at this late stage for the game to be postponed. The beaks that run oor game really are a JOKE.

The whole SPL card should be cancelled. It should have been cancelled on Saturday or at least yesterday.

Celtic’s part in this? I think GS summed it up wie his opening gambit that “them upstairs” had made the decision to play the game initially. Them upstairs are only interested in Tv money, profit and revenue.

It was the fitba’ people that have got this game called off. For me Mick’s statement backs this up…“Having met this morning as a group for the first time since Phil's death, the Celtic team, management and backroom staff feel very strongly that our match on Wednesday should be postponed as a mark of our sincere respect for Phil O'Donnell, a great player and a great man.“A number of our squad have very close connections to Phil's family and feel it would be inappropriate to proceed with this match at such a time, following such a tragic event."

Anybody that questions oor motives for the postponement should really crawl back under the stone they came from. They are lowlife scum who really shouldnae be breathing the same air as decent people.

Football husnae come into this decision. Being decent caring human beings has. For once the soul of football has won over the money and greed…..

Just a shame it has took tragic circumstances for it to be so…..

Forza

Phil - RIP

God Bless to Phil and his family

You'll never walk alone

Lotw Diary

I hope all the other LOTWites are as confused as me. I mean, what bloody day is this? Feels, like a Monday, cause I have returned to work, boooo, but it’s a crunchie Friday, as today is diary day, Press conference day and after work pintage day if that’s yer bag....

One things is as sure as night follows day, the lead up to the January transfer windae makes the meeja lackies joabs ahelluva lot easier to make up pesh, while having 5 hour lunches at the nearest hostelries and having deadlines to meet.

So, there “insider”- guys they meet in the bog- sources make interesting back page reading or guid arsewiping material if yer desperate. The only FACT is that the Brazilian Kung Fu kick master and seal clubber Coelho is arriving sometime in January for “talks”. I think he is arriving to see if he fancies the Scottish weather and take in a few games only to decide that Scotland and Brazilians don’t go.

This FACT is backed up by the other rumour that we have meet Seville’s valuation for Andreas Hinkel. His move to Dortmund has stalled cause of this and his Spanish agent says "He'd rather be in Nervion,".......is that near Newton Mearns the Diary asks? UPDATE- Sounds like it's close to Ross Hall.......

At least we are looking to bolster the “problem” area. Another problem area is in the CB and the returning messiah Bobo has issued an ultimatum after his Cannavaro type performance at Tannadeechie, which left GS looking stupid, blogger looking mair stupid than usual- still stand by that MICK IS THE BEST CB AT THE CLUB- and thousands of bar-room bawbags saying “ah telt ye!”

The BIGMAN states, well he never stated anything it’s all hearsay, pure and simple, geddit?, that he wishes to play for the Hoops receiving handsome rewards for the last 18 months of his contract before going back home to France to become Perry Mason.

Oor manager says “"Bobo had the opportunity to go elsewhere in the summer and he decided to stay here. "It is him who decides his future and it's the same with the rest of the players." So, can we take it that the big fellow will go to the ACN wie the promise that he will get a starting 11 place back from Elvis when he returns? Nah, taxi to the Brum for the big fellow me thinks...

The players have been quite rightly praised for their performance at Tannadeechie. The performance against Hibs was one of a lifeless corpse, in Dundee signs that the drugs were working along wie the life support were there for all to see.

"We spelled out before the game where we are and what we have to do to retain the Championship. I felt we did that today and we were allowed to get on with the job up front as there were no mistakes at the back.” said oor Gordon afterwards...I’m sure the message was “Win EVERY GAME from now to the end of the season...” but, I’m glad there was a response from the players.

There was also a response from the fans. The backing was tremendous and tomorrow the worry is that the Parkheid bowl is empty and no early goal could make the native consumer restless. Canny see the 30,000 that bother to turn up being as vocal as the 5,000 at Tannadeechie....

The return of the Holy Goalie could spark life into the consumer. This man is an icon and a hero. A match winner and also a presence that unfortunately for the competent Mark Brown cast a cold shadow over him. A shadow that will end Browns Celtic career. He is a decent goalie but decent goalies are ten a penny, you get them playing conference, junior and amateur fitba up and doon the land.

Any goalie that follows the Holy one, will need to have that character that Arfur emits. His gloves will be larger to fill than Naka boots...that’s for sure.

The return of important players, I feel the loss of Naka is now biting like the North wind, could make up for the lack of atmosphere. The players seem to understand the importance of 100% effort...Big JVOH say’s

"Sometimes you don’t feel the best so you have to try harder and sometimes you feel good and you hope to be important to the team.” Jan knows the importance of 100% effort this was something that was levelled at him a few weeks back. That he was as lazy as junkie dole bum on Incapacity benefit wearing a lacasote trackie. His performances have improved but....still the feeling that he is lacking the Chris Suttyness or the BBJness will mean we that he is unfavourably compared to masters at their art...

Three goals in three games, a decent performance in the middle against Hibs and hopefully a turkey shoot tomorrow, will help the bigman ensure his hammies are not going to go ping again. Has he turned the corner.....blogger remains to be convinced....still seems a shadow of the player he was when he first joined but his goal record is not too shabby...maybe we are spoiled......

So, if you want to lose money the diary says 3-0 hoops Jan first goal.....

Finally, to end to let youse away for alcohol....some other bits...

Talking aboot bits Jan says aboot Bobo “He’s such a physical personality.” so does that mean that it is not only Elvis that is sorry to see him returning BUT Aiden can no longer be the longest in the shower?

And.......Chris MaGuire.....of "I'll take out that wee p**** Barry Ferguson and that d*** Hutton. Haha."....” fame, we salute you. You win this weeks Arfur award for HONESTY.....

Forza.

View From The Wing- Dundee Utd 0 Celtic 2

Dundee Utd goalie needs a hair cut.....

The fans have spoken. The messiah has returned. The prophet of Bobo Balde, the prodigal son- not the proddie son, no, no, no- bounded into Tanadeechie like a returning disposed President after a bloodless coupe to speak to his masses. The masses, chanted, sung that he was going to get his opponents and done a dance in his honor….

So what did he bring? Like an African Santa he brought a clean sheet. He also won the high aimless baws that have been causing oor defense problems for weeks, months even years the big shrek like figure won them all. He made oor captain look mair composed and also he was an improvement on Elvis, which itself widnae be too difficult. The fans were looking for a hero, in a team devoid of heroes but have effort, and the big man was it….

A harsher look at the whole situation and the bigger picture is that for all Dundee Utd’s purpose and effort, they were impressive in spells in the first half- Hunt and Robson….but I’m noo going doon that route of saying that they are GUID ENOUGH to play for Celtic….we have too many of those TYPE of players…. - they never trouble the shaky looking and midget, hobbit sized Mark Broon in the Celtic goal. The baws and the chances they created SHOULD be handled by a SPL defense.

Wie the ANC coming up, the return of the Bobo will be short lived….the pecking order will be at the barrels arse wie GS having to return to the struggling Elvis or the seemingly un-fancied partnership of O’Dea and McManus. That’s unless he signs a CB after the hootenanny bells…which is a MUST but the rumors of a budget busting move for an Everton reserve to bolster an area that disnny need bolstered MUST set alarm bells ringing in the ears of anti-Strachanites…

Maybe the Faddy area does need bolstered. Yesterday, Aiden being oor only creative output in a wide area was easily combatable for a tactically savvied lackey like Levein. His moans, that his long baw punt into the box tactics were blown oot the water when Balde was named on the team sheet, shows the lack of fore thinking and creativity, which will get him the Scotland joab, and his players inability to keep the BEST PLAYER IN SCOTLAND quiet also made his day uncomfortable. Oh, and playing LEE WILKIE…..

There is something aboot St.Stephan day away games. The atmosphere under the darkened sky, which was illuminated by the subbuetto like floodlights shining in what must be the WORST example of a stadium built on the cheap in the SPL, seats too tight, poor views, access in and oot not very guid and facilities that Fagan from Oliver Twist widnae keep his street urchins in, make Tanadeechie an arena that crackles and bring oot the best both on and off the park….it’s an old skool stadium, which is met wie old skool style fan backing….

The game lived up to the expectations. It was a blood and snotter fast paced affair wie both teams showing effort over ability in the first half. The pig’s bladder was booted, the tackles were whole hearted and the directness from players from both teams made the game interesting rather than one for the purist.

It was plain to see from the early exchanges that if Celtic were going to drop points it wisnny going to be due to lack of effort from the midfield. Hartley- who had his best game in a few weeks- the aforementioned Aiden, Broony and Jiri- in the first half anyway, was replaced wie a Eastern European charlatan at half time who didnae fancy it- were all buzzing. They were helped by the tireless running of Skippy and also the honesty of the full backs, well Naylor and a center back playing full back.

Broony, continue to infuriate wie his rough edges. The feeling that he should be scoring more goals and getting in the box mair often…is tempered by the energy and buzzbombness, which can take oor team 50 yards up the field, only to be broken-down by the wrong pass- he really should have a word wie Aiden- makes the criticism that he receives seem a bit harsh.

While all the hoops will have better technical games, I thought over the 90mins we deserved to win. We showed the right attitude, an attitude after oor worst run of results since Macari WAS needed…yes oor limitations were still on show- see the Faddy the QUESTION- but in this MUST win period, one doon, three victories to go…. we needed a victory at all cost.

JVOH, scored an important goal, a fair heider and Mick scored once again wie his family jewels. The first goal came at a time when we had seemed to have huffed oor selves oot of the game, the game had deteriorated into a scrappy affair suiting the tangerine meanies…. but after the first goal there was only going to be one winner…. such was the confidence that was seeping from the stands due to presence of the Bobo that we never thought we would lose a goal.

Before the end of the game, the “oles” had started and the hoops had contrived to hit the post after what seemed like 150 passes, every touch Bobo got was greeted wie cheers that would have made GS realize WHAT the fans thought of his decision to bring back the big man- it was hard not to think of Elvis sitting in the stand gaining a massive inferiority complex at this…OR…when Skippy went doon after a clumsy challenged the chorus for Deek was probably heard in Inversenkie but whether it reached the gray matter between oor managers ears is another question- and the hoops comfortable saw the game oot wie the blonde haired Donati getting as chance to pass the ball side wards very often…..

One mute point, which was as black as the sky was the realization that THE BEST PLAYER IN SCOTLAND will be missing for the MUST WIN Glesga Derby…so will the manager drop him for Saturdays game against a physical Gretna side, whose style of play will resemble the orcs and go wie the team he fancies for a few days later or will he, WE KNOW HE WILL, leave it to chance and go in against the forces of evil wie Jiri and Broony as oor wide men, thus making us as blunt as an infants knife…

Then again he may surprise us and with hold all calls from Burnley, Crystal Palace and listen to the vocal traveling support…but a manager listening to fans…nah, never catch on….

Forza

Lotw Diary- Merry Xmas...

Before all LOTWers go and indulge in the time honoured Scottish tradition to over indulge...a wee festive message wishing you the regular posters, sometime posters, lurkers and fellow bloggers, a Merry Christmas.....a BIG THANK YOU for making this blog what it is....i don't really know what it is but a big THANK YOU anyway.....

Forza

View From The Wing- Celtic 1 Hibs 1

Bring on the Barca.....do we really need to think aboot that?

Was just thinking on the way oot of the ground, that it wisnny like this in the bad auld days. Yes, we would be mumping and moaning but, the difference is, that we would have FULLY BACKED the team to get the equalizer, we would have been thankful for the equalizer- as in the bad auld days a Hibs winner would have booted us in the baws.

At least the bus journey home was like the auld days. Shite performance but the banter, the spirit and the singing- some of those wrong songs, I must admit- was a blast from the past. The FACT that we maybe just watched the league slip from oor grasp….always said we would be masters of oor ain doonfall…..6 points oot of 15 is Macari and Bradyesq….was a burning show of defiance in the “hardcore” who are busy planning their trip to Tannadeechie.

At least away from home the team might get some backing. Today, when Hibs scored the team became soulless, gutless beast wie players unwilling to take the chance and want the baw. The reason. The unforgiving pit that is CP these days sucked the life from the players. They knew that any misplaced pass would be pounced upon…..any tackle not won would be berated……any taking of risks and failing would be screamed at…..in fact, nuthin bar beating 10 men rounding the goalie and scoring would do….

Not that the players were faultless.

The use of the long baw as no one was showing for the baw in the middle is a bugbear that has been happening for weeks. We play the baw slowly along the back, the midfield turn their back and one of the full backs, usually Caldwell, boots it forward towards JVOH- who had a decent game- to try and flick or hold it up.

We had no inventiveness, no creativity and no guts. Effort as usual but TOO MANY players were looking for someone else to do it. Aiden, Skippy, JVOH and Broony all tried to make things happen. But if they don’t play…………..THERE IS NO PLAN B.

Plan A involves decent baws getting put into the box. Well, I canny remember the last time we put a decent baw into the box. They are all hung up high, are to long or are booted oot the park.

Today, I struggled to work oot where Paul Hartley was meant to be playing. Defensive or attack-minded? He didnae have a clue either. Massimo had one of those days when you wonder HOW DID HE EVER SIGN FOR MILAN……and again we ponder why is Scott Broon oot wide right?

The subs again today…..Jiri for Donati…Jiri to CM???? Has he played there since Killie the first game of last season? Deek for Elvis…again Hartley to left back, why not just revert to a 3-4-3 and Deek getting 15 mins to impress or in REAL TERMS the manager hanging his arse oot to dry….

Today, for the first time since MON last season, I reckon I saw a spent team. A team that has nuthin more to give…team 3’s coffin lid is nearly nailed doon…last week was the fatal blow, today….losing the first goal was the doctors discussing whether or not to switch of the life support….JAN 2????…..WHO KNOWS?

Walking from the ground, apart from wishing some peepil would crawl back to wherever they were on Saturday afternoons 3 seasons ago…I was thinking WHY didnae we bury them? Not Hibs, r*ngers. A major spend in the summer would have finished them off. Instead I’m now wishing that the transfer windae was in November and not Jan. It’s two months too late.

What kind of spend would GS get anyway? Another WAFFA cup spend, another spend that means shopping from the Aberdeen’s, Hibs, Hearts and Motherwell’s of this world. Then if GS got a major spend would we see more failed big money signings as his record wie those is looking poor now.

While GS will get this in the neck, scratch the surface and you will see a lack of ambition from the suits. A manager who husnae sorted defensive failings in 3 seasons, his ability to buy players and play them oot of positions and be hit or miss wie his transfer budget coupled wie the boards tightness in appointing a cheap limited option then giving him the remit of cutting cost while spending next to nuthin are ingredients that even Jamie Oliver couldnae conjure up into a 5 star meal.

It’s a wonder this run husnae happened sooner. It’s been in the post for 18 months…WE COULD ALL SEE IT COMING..we just didnae want to admit it. The problem is now oor rivals will take advantage.

So, where do we go from here? Sacking the manager is not an option. The suits will not sack their puppet and to tell you the truth it’s not the way I would go either for two reasons. First reason is that for the money the board give to the fitba operation we widnae get anyone better than the current incumbent and two sacking a manager that has won us the league twice, two cups and twice into the last 16, would cast us up for ridicule in the fitba world.

We need to get back to basics. Back to winning games. The board need to back the manger wie HARD CASH as soon as the bell tolls to single the end of hootenannie. We can’t let this injury situation arise again and not be prepared like the guid boy scouts we should have been.

We need to get back to supporting the bhoys. It is not as if they don’t give us the effort.
Sometimes being honest and giving yer all is not guid enough. But it’s all we can ask when those sailing the ship are steering us blindly towards the rocks……

I canny wait for Wednesday and Tannadeechie……the guid auld days are back!!!!!



Forza

Lotw Diary

The festive season is in full flow, drinking, merriment, tomfoolery and the chance to get some blackmail material on yer boss at the xmas party. Next time he pulls me up aboot ma “net” time, i will remind him aboot Janine the skill seeker.......see the pluses of being sober....

While oor defence has resembled a drunken office party, trawling round the trendy wine bars of the toon centre, UEFA decided that they would combine their xmas jolly wie the Champions League and WAFFA cup draws.....so at this point all here at LOTW would like to say C’mon the Tifilli- which is Greek for The Shamrocks.....proddie schools ye canny beat them, eh Duffield?

So, we all wanted Madrid, but the man from UEFA- David Taylor ex SFA munkie- said no, no and a further no. Here, "have Barca yah taigs” i’m sure I heard him comment on Five live. Joking there obviously.

When the name crackled through the airwaves, I was disappointed. Four times we have played them since 2004. The Cules of Catalonia will be calling Scotland their holiday home they have been here that often. Of course the suits, in the bunker underneath the main stand counting the shillings will be pleased. It only took them an hour and a half to put ticket information on the website.... and I’m sure the chance to shift the annoying half Celtic and Barca scarf’s, that have been gather dust in the bowls of the Celtic Superstore.

“We know Juan Laporta, we know his team well and I think in terms of the clubs there is a real simpatico between the supporters through the ethos and foundation of the clubs" says the SSM. A simpatico between the supporters. Hopefully that means that the Barca fans will not go as we will only get 4,500 tickets and we will need double that. A simpatico, hopefully that is still in place after the visiting orcs peshed EVERYWHERE and generally were a disgrace to Scotland much like the Proclaimers.

Interesting that the SSM mentions both clubs ethos. That widnae be the same ethos that “New Celtic” are trying to distance themselves from? At least Laporta uses the ethos for political and monetary gain.

After the initial ohnoagain-ness wore off, a feeling that I have had a few times this season, the FACT that Messi, Xavi, the bucktooth genius, Terry Henry and Eto will be gracing CB on a cauld Feb night disnny half fill you wie a warm glow and FEAR. But, lets look at the stats....

Played 4 in the naughties and UNBEATEN three times. A win and two draws- both in the Camp Nou. They are the only team we have witnessed breaching the mythical Fortress Parkheid. So can we do it?

“It is realistic,” he said. “It can be done because we’ve shown that when we are at our best, we can beat anybody. He also said we want to beat them – we really want to beat Barcelona.” So do we all Gordon..... But realistically all we are aiming for is giving them a game at least showing that we want to win the game. I don’t want to turn up and just sit there and take a pounding knowing that resistance is futile..... I want to get right into them. Give oorselves a chance of at least saying WE HAD A GO.

I.e. I don’t want the Wattienaccio or the Anti-fitba..I WANT MESSI RAVING ABOOT THE HOOPS... saying, “That’s how to play the game, I will move there next season” in the tone of a dwarf Argentinean...

But, all this is in the future. It’s the spectre of xmas present that is causing the most worry. 5 points from the last 12, coupled wie, statistically speaking, GS worst start as Celtic manager, add to the mix, a resurgent but limited ability orc threat and the final concoction to the Molotov cocktail the MIB’s gaining brownie points wie lodge masters up and doon the country, week in and week oot…means that tomorrow is a MUST WIN.

In fact EVERY GAME between now and the Scottish Cup tie wie the Beanos is a MUST WIN. Nae mair slip ups. Performances must improve and wins must be ground oot or spectacular 3,4 or 5 goal victories must be delivered.

Wie us having no injury worries for tomorrow, apart from the long-term casualties, whom wie every passing week get more and more missed. Oor manager says, "When you are playing with four centre backs and you have a young winger playing at left-back, you know that all is not comfortable back there."..Not half and he goes on to say "We need to cut out the silly mistakes because if you look at some of the goals we have let in away from home this season, they are silly mistakes."

Thing is tomorrow, once again, we will have 3 CB’s and 1 Left Winger playing at LB. We have been quite steady at the back at home this season, the week Hibs have mean that tomorrow could be quite comfortable as well.

When Hibs come to visit, it was always wie the expectation that we would get a right guid game, as the game at Easter Road in the early part of this season proved. They like to play Fitba the correct way. Tomorrow, I would expect them to be no different but…..if we SCORE FIRST….I canny see anything less than a comfortable win to set us up for the trip to Tannadichie on Hangover, eh, Boxing Day…..

One thing, I think we can always rely on is the player’s attitudes, maybe they stink playing wise at times but, as I have said before THEY DON’T LACK EFFORT. Wee Skippy says “We haven’t had the best of times in the league over the last few weeks, so it’s important to try and get a win and we really want to win the SPL."

So do we Skippy so do we……..

Forza

Naw, It's Awe Pish: We Just Made It Up! - Update 13,14,15, 16 & 17

Rubbish rumours, the papers, the fans and the pish take merchants are peddling..

Number 13-Andreas Hinkel

Rating: 8 oot of 10. This would get a higher it might happen rating but oor cack-handed attempted to get him on loan, instead of splashing the cash. But.....his quote "I have told the club that I'd like to move and, of course, Celtic would be perfect for me." is heartening but could only mean in REAL speak "please add a couple of mair grand onto ma wages and i will consider going to the delights of the senkie and Paisley....." Expect him to be plying his wears in Germany.....

Number 14- Bernard Mendy

Rating 1 oot of 10. Oot of contract oot of favour wie the hapless PLG and a bosman. I can see the SSM slavering at the prospect of doing this bit of business. Sure he fits within the wage structure, he has ticked the box that Bolton and Fulham are interested- he did play for Bolton- and most importantly, rumours that he is not that guid fits in wie GS other purchases in this area. Expect him to be pictured wie a green and white scarf very soon.....

Number 15-Philip Senderos

Rating 8 oot of 10. Nae substance in this rumour, this was peddled by Charlie Nicholas who stated that he would be a guid signing.....one reason why he won't be in the Hoops. The other.....Arsenal fans still rate him while others say he is the new Pascal Cygan, which is not a guid thing...

Number 16-Barry Robson

Rating 4 oot of 10- The best midfielder in Scotland according to Craig Levein. Just what we need, another midfielder in a purple patch of form from an SPL club...the way forward.....???

Number 17- Andrew Driver- from the STV News...

Rating 4 oot of 10- STV News understands that Celtic and r*ngers are circling....me? See Barry Robson.....

Forza

View From The Wing- Caley 3 Celtic 2

Gordon, shudders as the ghost of Jim Jeffries passes through his body

It was like an episode of "Life on Mars". For 10 minutes, i thought i had been knocked doon by a Ford Cortina and transported back to the early nineties...big Mick had become the bastard offspring of McGuigan, McNally, Whtye and Cascarino- he did play CB for Brady a few times-and oor goalie had morphed into the hybrid of Muggleton and Marshall...oh stuff it and Kerr.

Since the begining of time, well ma time, i canny remember us NOT having bombscares at the back..it's as traditional as the Hoops, as turkey at xmas and yer wife not talking to you after a two day bender when you forget where you live. Even MON big CB's had bombscare moments....and one of them is still hanging around wie 30,000 reason why he canny come back into the side.

Those seem to view Bobo Blade wie selective memory, which comes wie nostalgia. The Lisboa Lions are the same, people forget that they had bad games...but Bobo has all of a sudden become Maldini, Baresi or suchlike if you listen to the bar-room boozers bawbags and phone in tubes. The seem to forget that the big fellow is ponderous on the baw and rash in the tackle. He is an easy option to cure the ills of away games. Canny keep a clean sheet? "Just bring back Bobo that wee Ginja husnae got a clue" they bleat.....wonder if they remember Bratislava and Motherwell..THE two games when GS decided he didnae fancy him.....

Over the last 14 months, they only constant in the run has been Mick. He has been the only EVER present. GS perferred partnership, the partnership that gained oor last clean sheet, is Mick and Caldwell. For what i can remember this partnership has only played a handful of times since THAT game at Westfield...this partnership is limited but honest..but IMO the fact that, this season esp, the constant chopping and changing of the defence has not help matters...BUT THE SCHOOL BHOY ERRORS yesterday must rank as the worst on this run....

I like Mick, he is honest, reads the game well- near post reading of the game is fantastic- but he is a typical Scottish limited ability CB who will make mistakes. Apart from Donestk and yesterday has he had many howlers? I don't think he has and the people shouting for him to be dropped should really get a grip and look at the bigger picture...which is Mick is the best CB at the club and will remain the best CB at the club as the money we have to spend won't get any better unless oor scouts come up trumps and find the new "Kaiser" in Outer Mongolia.

But, comedy errors and a goalie who has been dodgy over the last few weeks, c'mon, the pen should have been saved and also their second goal, werent the only cause of the defeat. We will start wie the MIB, Alan Freeland. He changed the game by awarding the penalty before half time.

Elvis, was caught wie a simple baw over the top and decided to let it run to the dodgy goalie. He used the well worn tactic of putting himself between the man and the baw. A tactic he has used to great effect, and wie NO punishment, in a blue, sky blue, orange and marroon....So how come oor Elivs gets punished for it in a green and white jersey....paranoid moi?.....and how come he wisnny sent off if it was a foul?

Mr Freeland and his other MIB's decided then to chop off an onside goal, it was close, when the senkie had brought the game back to 2-2. A goal that would HAVE changed the course of the game. That brings us to the other incidents, which brings Mr Freelands incompitence and inconsistancy that pollutes oor game.

Two weeks ago panto-villian Gary Caldwell was punished for a push in the box, right so IMO, against the jam farts. On Sunday TWICE JVOH was pushed in the back while trying to get his Dutch noggin on the end of crossses. Again, if it is a pen one week...it's surely one the next...you would think? Nae, not according to Mr Freeland and would i be wrong to mention the green and white jerseys again?

Also, to balance ma paranoia up, i didnae think the senkie boy should have got sent off. ALL I ASK FOR IS CONSIsTANCY......but not consistant shite.

But....we were masters of oor own downfall. 2-0 up to 3-2 doon. Last 20 odd minutes against 10 men. Humilation in the Highlands....hell, yeah. Thing is, the nature of this collaspe didnae suprise me one little bit. From brutal in Bratislava to calamitis in Clyde, via all sort of shockers and, maybe worse of all, rank against r*ngers, nae back bone or liftupability in his teams is as common as lastminutewinability....UNPREDICTABLE can sum up GS reign.

For the last 20 minutes against senkie, we werent cute enough to cut them open. We didnae have the streetwise-ness to drag the senkie defence all over the place. Oor tactics, the tactics managers develop when the seige mentality of a Coventry or a Southampton, a menatlity bourne through working wie inferiour players who are playing against better players, something that in Scotland we dinny have to worry aboot, of the long baw is NEVER going to work for long spells against teams as honest as the senkie.

We ended up that ragged that oor formation, sort of resembled a Sunday pub team. It was a 3-0-7 in the last period, we NEVER picked up ANY second baw that oor aimless punts into the box forced clearances from. The long baw..the Hail Mary....can be used when you are DESPERATE....but not when there is a long period of the game left. Last 5 minutes yes, last 25 minutes nah, we should be BETTER than that.

We canny fault the senkie or the result. Yes, we had a few chances and the MIB's are getting a warm welcome in their pubs, clubs, lodges, workplaces and SFA corridors this week but make nae mistake...this result was OOR doing....we canny deny the senkie their GREATEST EVER result against us....and one of most embarrassing.

Not that it stops oor manager saying differently."We had all the possession, all the chances and all the decisions going against us," "We feel a bit hard done by. They took their chances, but we should have won that game quite easily." he said wieoot any hint of embarressment or feeling like Jim Jeffries being visited wie the ghost of Christmas past and screaming "Bah Humbug" at orphaned weans.

Is it any wonder that some Celtic fans, wonder what he is on at times? If the signing of Adam Virgo wisnny enough to convince that he lost the plot, his meanderings and meeja dealings really do leave us feeling like dragging him to watch the re-runs on Celtic Tv and playing keepie uppy wie his crown jewels while screaming "Guid professionals, right guid players...are ye watching this....are ye asking santa for new fullbacks, a centreback, a decent goalie....a plan B....a taxi for Elvis....."

We should tie him to a chair like that scene in the Clockwork Orange and make him watch re-runs of the terrible performances of this season....then drag him oot to face the press and make him just tell the truth...."We have been poor in a lot of games...."

It canny be that difficult to admit that, surely?


Forza

Lotw Diary

Nooo, the bench again boss.....

We canny lie. After a week of festive hilarity, gloating and the stuffing of turkeys earlier than usual, the last place we wanted to be going is Inversenkie....a place we have never played well, got results right enough, in dramatic last minute circumstance. Wish i could say that tomorrow we were going to win comfortable, easily..but...i canny, in fact, the FEAR of another 2 or 3 points dropped is very real...real enough to worry that the impetuses will shift the the evil over the Clyde.

So what is the gossip, the craic and the views.....

Day off for the tired bhoys

"The pressure of non-stop matches gets to everybody in the end. It's a lot for players and coaches to take in. There's a mental stress involved for the players." said oor wee ginja ninja. So does giving players the day's off to go oot on the swally, Wednesday is grab a grannie or trannie night in Karbon, allegedly, while last week he was berating the fact that he couldnae spend time on the training field at the luxurious Lennoxtoon wie the Bhoys make sense?

No, don't get it either....but he's the boss, he knows his players and their "right guid wans" according to the boss.

GS would like to be seven points clear

“I’d like to be seven points clear but we dropped two last week and we have to deal with that which we’ve done already and I think we dealt with it very, very well during the week.” The facade that we pushed the ghosts of the failure against St Mirren away, wie a 4-0 victory against Fawkirk is being peddled very hard by the Celtic PR machine.

As anyone will tell you who saw both games the only difference was that oor quality, the first names on the team sheet, the Aiden, the Skippy and the Broony, all had guid games. They don't play we don't have a plan B or C. Add to that the return of Donati against Fawkirk, which seemed to give us a mair creative edge.

While his performances have been hit or miss, which can be mockney rhyming slang for pish and that could sum up some of Massimos games...the stat is, in the last two games Massimo has started Celtic have scored 7 goals. If you add the Donestk game into that, he came on after 16 minutes and was Colin Nish but scored the winner, oor Italian Tommy Gravesan- soon to the returned Tommy G if the Daily Ragger is to be believed- when he has been involved the team has scored 9 goals.

Would he fancy Inversenkie in December? Would he take one look at the delights of the Kessoch Brig, the lumbering giants that ICT employ and decide that he would rather be shopping in Milan wie, i'm sure, his guid looking burd?

If he starts would he go the sameway as the Grav and Jiri faired on their first visit to the senkie-i.e sh*te?

The physical presence that the Senkie have and the FACT they are an in-form team means that the managers mithering that “They make it hard for us - sometimes we make it hard for ourselves - but I’d like to give them a bit more respect than that" rings as true as the bell tolls wherever yer nearest bell tolls.

Not, going to second guess the manager...but i am..it's a blog and a blogger is meant to give the impression that he knows what he is talking aboot. Injuries to Elvis and Ryan Conroy mean that, what i thought would be the GS plan, revert to the bigger physical back four wie O'Dea coming in at LB and Jiri returning to the left handside in place of Massimo, may not happen now. I would go on to say if that does happen then the managers take that "we make it hard for oorselves" very, very true.

We can guess one thing though, Deek will be an unused sub and Evander, despite bleating like a typical egotistical Dutchman- yer twenty big stuff and yer no playing for Den Hagg or Fc Twente...yer playing for the SELLLLICK, learning yer trade, yer a lucky man.....- will need to be wrapped up like a Eskimo fishing in Alaska sitting next to Deek on the bench.....at least he will have a chance to get on..even if it is on the right wing...

Forza

Naw, It's Awe Pish: We Just Made It Up

Rubbish rumours, the papers, the fans and the pish take merchants are peddling...

The ratings system is as follows- 1 for a good chance the story or rumour will happen to 10 for away and slide doon a moonbeam ya rage, that will never happen.

number 1: Nakashuanskie- From the Daily Mail and again.

Rating: 2 oot of 10. Good chance of this happening, as the rumours of a unhappy Naka- wanting his son to go to school i Japan- and Shaun have been abound for a while and despite wee Shaunies agent being a complete hideous beast of a man it looks like he will return.

Number 2: Jerome "Johnny" Rothen swap for Bobo Balde- From Oor Paris Mole

Rating: 5 oot of 10. Well, that is according to oor source. Left sided midfielder unhappy at a misfiring PSG and wishes another crack at the Champions League. May have to settle for the UEFA cup though.Bobo the other way? PSG are shite in defence and Karl Svensson is not available so it could be a goer.

Number 3: Colin Nish-Randelstown CSC

Rating: 8 oot of 10. C’mon, i know Bruno Hefflelump is always injured but this guys name could be mockney ryming slang....”I’m going for a Colin Nish, get me a pint”...but the guy is really Colin Nish.

Number 4: Marcello Gallardo- Ronnie Corbett’s love child via French Papers then E-mail

Rating: 7 oot of 10. Ronnie says- “ 31 year Argentenian midfielder. Had a spell at Monaco (I think)...always thought he was a quality player when he played in the 98 world cup.”

Number 5: Steven Fletcher- Kaney via SMS via his da' who was talking to Gary Caldwell's da'...also in the daily ragger today

Rating 3 oot of 10. Kaney says- " we wanted the King o' King's but it looks like we will get another Hibee. My Da' was talking to Caldwell's Da' and he said he will be at CP next week and is Celtic daft."

Number 6: Kyle Lafferty- Sunday Life.

Rating: 6 oot of 10. Another Celtic linked wie big striker story....don’t think there is much in this, to tell you the truth. Guy burst on the scene last year and has done nothing really since. Money they will be asking will mean this won’t happen. But what do I know, so expect to see him in the Hoops.....

Number 7: George Elokobi -Sky via Vital Colchester

Rating 2 oot of 10. So why do I reckon this will happen? Two words. Adam Virgo. Oor manager has been known to plunder the fizzy pop league for the next big thing and the FACT that this boy is a left back means i'm putting two and two together and getting five.

Number 8: Benni McCarthy-Daily Express via Tribal Fitba'

Rating 8 oot of 10- Would GS put up wie a player that has fallen oot wie his current manager due to the fact he is lazy and unfit? Also his wages and temperament mean that he is a stick on to go to the h*ns....they buy all the egotistical big heided bawbags....

Number 9: Grzegorz Szamotulski- The Daily Mail

Rating 3 oot of 10- Oor managers habit of buying players for positions we dinny need cover and also the fact that the guy is oot of contract means Mark Brown could be packing his bags by the 1st January. Which would be a shame as i think he is an able deputy and a future numero uno when the holy goalie leaves.

Number 10: Matt Taylor- The Sun via Ronnie Corbetts love childs e-mail.

Rating 5 oot of 10- Out of favour full back, we have no full backs, Sun lackie puts two and two together and comes up wie lazy journalism.....

Number 11: Michael Hart-Setanta Sports

Rating 3 oot of 10- Aberdeen right back linked, wie the fat orange umpa lumpa stating that “Well if anybody gets an offer like that, you can’t talk them out of it" all while denying there is an offer and warning that he won't get a game....hopefully he might talk him oot of it...Mr Hart husnae been exactly Mark Wilson impressive, or even Jocky Wilson impressive when i have seen him....

Number 12: James "Law" "Kenny" McFadden-Talkin Soccer from the times

Rating 10 oot of 10- The new sensation of Scottish fitbaw, the only sensation of Scottish fitba to tell the truth that flatters to deceive. I don't even think it is worth talking aboot this wan, as big feck will pay a kings ransom to take him to relegation bound Birmingham...

Any rumours from the guy doon the boozer, a taxi driver, a cousins auntie who cleans so and so bog?

e-mail nawitsawepish@live.co.uk -It is a real e-mail addy.....

Lotw Diary.

So, was there a side order of garlic bread to go wie the ipox order from Dominos Pizza after their game last night? I’m sure the Coca Cola was flowing, Charlie the Honey Monster munching the fries and Da Da Darcheville going for a slice of a cheese and tomato and missing his mouth from three yards. Rumours that Barry 8 oot of 10 Ferguson was posted missing from the festivities celebrating the snatching WAFFA cup qualification from the jaws of last 16 qualification are unconfirmed......

Not, one to gloat, well, but after 3 games we were oot and qualification, a knighthood and the freedom of Govan was guaranteed for Wallie, Ally and Kenny. For them to let us become the most successful Scottish team in CL history is very dignified of them....

I’m sure the Green Brigade are busily coming up wie ideas for January 2nd in which their banners will include mentions of the European Cup, Big Jock and something French.... Allez Lyon, Viva La France and Peppe Le Pew...

So what aboot he Hoops then?

The holy goalie is leaving.... Holy Goalie might be staying.... Holy Goalie to Lannndan

Oh, Arfur Bourc the Holy Goalie, he might not be so holy when he leaves, if he leaves. He might leave sooner if he goes ootside CP and looks at the unoffissial merchandise Holy Goalie scarf’s, which have the wrong words to his song on them. What do we expect for a fiver right enough? Will need to ask why the say he hates r*ngers and not he hates the h*ns? Is having the word h*n on yer scarf now offensive? Don’t answer that....

Anyway, this story started of wie this quote” I have decided I am going to leave Celtic in the summer. "Celtic want more than £10million for me but I think it is too much..” It then moved on to this after the correct translation was reported.. "For the last month-and-a-half, we have been talking about signing a new contract," and "The price of £10m (Celtic's market valuation) is cosmic money but I know people in Great Britain expect to pay more than any other countries in Europe."

He mentions using the Webster law, which unlike Murphy’s Law is bitter and involves periods of inactivity, injury and ugliness. As the Tory Mail points oot, on the link above, Arfur has his dates wrong as he only signed on loan initially and the SSM has him over a barrel regarding Webster’s Law, which is still as murky as the Clyde, in the legal respect as far as i’m aware.

So, what does this blogger make of it all?

Think we all know that a goalie like Arfur will be in demand and none of us will be daft enough to think that he will prolong his already legendary status if 1) a massive bid- yes, £10million please- and 2) a club that takes Arfur’s fancy comes along. A club that will take Arfur’s fancy is not a Tottenham or a Villa.

It will be a Man Utd, Barcelona- dodgy goalie at the mo- or an AC Milan- Coco the clown will sulk back to Brazil and Arfur has been impressive, twice, against them or the dark horses and who I would term as favourites to make the 1st bid Arsenal.

Jens Lehman will be offski in January and surely Arsene canny see Almunia as the long-term future of his up and coming golden generation. Arsene did sign the “New Boruc” in Fabanski last season, a goalie that coaches at Legia rated higher than the Holy Goalie, but he has failed to make the step up.

A swap deal plus cash, I think, would be of interest to the tracksuits and the sharp suits at CP. Wie Mark Brown deciding that palming the baw across goal is a necessary evil, must be a Scottish goalie thing as “Scotland’s number one” done it last night..Mawhhhaaaa, signing a younger version of Arfur, who was rumoured to be on oor radar anyway, would appeal to the coaches and the moneymen would be thankful that we would retain the links wie Poland.

I can’t see Arfur signing a new deal until the late summer at the earliest. Wie the Euro 2008 and the latter stages of the CL coming up his stock could rise even more- yes, £12million please...- so, Arfur is quite right to become the chief executive of the Holy Goalie and wait and see what gets landed on the table.
If he does sign an improved contract wie the Hoops then I would expect a Stan P situation to arise. But it’s all if and but’s and I fully expect more press shite before the season is oot.

Oooooohhhhhh.. I’m all Holy Goalied oot, so lets look to the future, after that fat bloke in the red suit has broke into yer hoose, ate yer food and drunk yer wine….yes, I’m looking even further than Inversenkie….

Mick wants the Real deal....

So Mick wants Madrid. He says “I think everybody would say Madrid because we never been there before. We’ve played a lot of the best teams in Europe apart from Madrid.” Quite right to, if we are going to be Scotland’s only representatives in the competition it’s only fair that we get a tie befitting of the most successful Scottish team EVER in CL history.

Also from a purely selfish point of view, we, as now CL mainstays and luminaries, in wie the big boys on a yearly basis, soon to be the establishment club and the quintessential Irish / Scottish club, respected the world over…we have seen them come and go….except Madrid…

Right, Madrid could end the Fortress Parkheid bubble, which has wobbled and will go sooner rather than later but so what….Munich celebrated a draw at CP, Milan and Donestk would have loved a draw at CP…we have many memories and losing to the all stars of Madrid is not exactly Bratislava-esq.

Personally, a wee trip to Spain would do me. Madrid, Barca, two cities I huvnae been too, and Seville the scene of the hottest day of ma Celtic supporting life. A strange part of me wishes a trip doon sooth, maybe a wee pint of shandie in the Chelski village would be something to tell the family aboot…

Forza

View From The Wing- Celtic 4 Falkirk 0

Cauld winter night, no many bodies to warm the cockles, a few, well the majority of season ticket holders / fans / consumers- attendance 32,000, that’s only an approx, lost count after eight- decided a night in watching Liverpool or Eastenders was better than watching the Hoops against the fearless Fawkirk.

But it’s nice to know that we still hold sway in Europe or, at least, wie a 6 Lyon fans that decided to make the pilgrimage to CP or were just at the wind up for their visit to Govan. Resplended in offessial scarf’s purchased from the shop- to keep the PLC happy-; they were the main attraction in the LRT before the game. One, who looked like Cliff Richard trying to dress like an ultra, was wired for sound, and while the Lyon fans are not renowned for their passion he could sink pints of Guinness not seen this side of Cork.

So in respect for them it’s only fair that we give them an Allez Lyon...

Lets start wie stubborn management. The heid steward, who patrols the area around 413, really needs a bloody reality check and brought doon a few pegs. His “management” style of swearing at his minimum wage charges telling them to “Get fecking over there”, “Fecking, follow me you!” and “Get in those fecking bogs and bring me oot the smokers” is way oot of order. He was like Hitler in a fluorescent jacket and a stupid cap. Then his customer service manner is something to behold...

If I was one of the bhoys who were caught smoking last night, - right, they shouldnae have been smoking in the bog but...surely a warning and a wee on yer way is all that is required, is it worth the hassle for £6.00 odds an hour for the abuse, which this boys attitude deserves, right enough- I would have been marching the lard-arsed right round to the SSM and telling him to sack the f*cker on the spot.

The guilty Bhoys, got their season books, very gleefully, taken from them- I thought since they paid for them only a club official, i.e. the SSM could take it from them? - then escorted from the stadium by the rozzers.

I know Celtic officials scour the net and the message boards, so a wee note, if yer reading this hiya!!!! No, this steward is going to cause a riot one day soon. Get it sorted.

So lets continue wie stubborn management. On Saturday the manager was saved by a wee blond heided talent wie an instinct to score goals and guid ones at that. Last night, the manager repaid him wie what must have been like a slap across his coupon wie a big wet kipper when Evander Sno was fielded as a right-winger, wie the misconception that any player wie dreadlocks his the gene of Regi Blinker.

The manager made it quite clear last night, if he hadn’t before, that Deek Riordon disnny have a future at CP and his actions say a lot aboot his man management still or lack of one. His treatment of some players if they are not part of the favoured gym loving fitness freaks lacks taste and respect.

A game, which we were winning at a canter against 10 men, was the perfect opportunity to take off some of the main players and one who is struggling. This was also an opportunity for players, who are staying and the manager says he wishes to keep getting game time. Once again GS words are hypocritical when levelled against his actions.

But, enough of management lets marvel over a bumper Celtic performance. Well, not really lets marvel that oor MAIN players improved from Saturday’s slog-fest and that oor, fabled and lauded, “quality” players got us through what was a strange night.

It was a game that could have ended up 8-2. We created chances but we were ponderous by trying to score the perfect goal. Fawkirk, played better than St Mirren and apart from two goal line clearances from Caldwell and Conroy- one that he handled away but.... Fawkirk had a similar incident waved away by the MIB...so nae-bleating bairns...- when we were only 1-0 up that could have changed the game. Still reckon that we would have won the game but you never know.

We started the game at a blistering pace, wie Donati and Aiden the main contenders for being the biggest threat. While the Italian still drops oot of the game for long spells, during these spells fawkirk got a grip of the midfield, when he is on the his forward thinking is invaluable.

Ok, sometimes he picks the wrong pass, sometimes he misplaces his pass and other times he kills the baw persons wie his forward thinking but last night when we controlled the game, first 10, last 15 of first half then the whole of the second, Donati was on the ball, playing baw’s quickly from the middle and the ponderous nature of oor midfield performance on Saturday was banished like bhoys smoking in the bogs.

Aiden decided that the Fawkirk full backs, were going to get roasted like a China White wannabe WAG. Aiden wisnny the first to have a go at them, that privilege went to Skippy, who toasted the full back and won a ball, he had no right to be first to and a pen that KennyMline decided to protest aboot. A protest that produced a comic moment when he tried to show the MIB that he tackled Skippy oot side the box only to realise that the tackle creator that he created was inside.

After that moment the full backs and Fawkirk defence was fair game to ridicule. Like all decent pro’s they kept to thier task but the stats show Aiden walking away wie the match baw and the Fawkirk defenders probably phoning the Samaritans. Not that they did a bad joab. Aiden, I thought didnae have his best game, creative wise, but managed to take 100% of his chances.

Two one on one’s, the first one after, a poor first touch, showed gallusness wie a toe poke past the on-rushing Krull and his second one on one after a lung bursting run from the edge of the Celtic pen box, collecting the baw 35 yards from goal then slotting past the goalie. The second was impressive as he had space and time to fluff his lines but he showed composure and maturity.

The meat in the sandwich, was a now typical Aiden cut in from wide, twinkle toe across the box before shooting into the net. This season Aiden has added the cut inside and shot to his game to decent effect. I’m never going to complain aboot anyone having a go at goal, something Big Sno should learn. Get it banged bhoys.... it won’t go in if you don’t belt it.

Last night saw another one of oor managers many idiosyncrasies. Paul Caddis, who had been on the bench for what seemed like eon’s, only to be over looked for Ryan Conroy to be called into action before him.

Conroy, despite a sheepish start, went on to have a decent game. Anytime he was left exposed and one on one wie the impressive and bemusing Muntinho- bemusing as having seen a bit of this langer, it’s funny that he has seemed to have come over all Alan Gow and found his form going into the final months of his contract- he won the majority of duels, looked guid in the tackle and on the baw, plus showed the difference of having a natural wide left hand sided player- he has played wide left in the midfield for Scotland- in the team.

The guid thing was that he didnae seem to be effected by the baw that is know known as “The Caldwell” which, generally is a hump to no one that all oor other fill in full backs have been cursed wie.

If we never see the lad again he can be pleased wie his first team outing.

So, pleased wie the workrate, energy and some of the fitbaw we played. It told us nuthin that we didnae know already, that oor “star” men, if they turn up then we have an extra bit of quality to balance up the ordinary that we have. But that’s why guys like McGeady, Skippy, Broony and Hartley are first names doon on the team sheet. Can Donati maybe now get added to that list? Only if we learn the CB’s to give him the baw and play through him, starting wie Inversenkie on Sunday….

Right, 9 minutes worth of highlights here and an interview wie Gordon Strachan

Forza

Lotw Diary.

Now, i know we were bad on Saturday but did we really lose 51-1 as Newsnow states- doon the bottom, last article before the earlier news banner. Monday's are bad enough, wieoot thinking that you missed 49 goals and you were sober as a judge. Monday's are also bad enough when you are dealing wie the ticket office who like making purchasing tickets as difficult as possible?

Why have Celtic not told Ticketmaster that tickets for Dundee Utd away are on sale and how come Ticketmaster don't recognise the group's, which Celtic ask you to be part off, but they only reconise individual numbers then....will only allow you to buy a ticket for yerself cause they don't recognise the group? Don't they want us at games? No don't answer that......

Gordon wants Deek to stay....???

"He will not be made available here. He will not be forced out of the door. "We want him here and he doesn't have to go anywhere." say's oor Gordon, of the man that caused the biggest roar of the day when his slight frame arrived on the snow swept field. His goal and his GIRUY celebration caused much amusement in LOTW towers. Again, oor manager says one thing while his actions do the exact opposite. It's simple Gordon, play him and he will stay..whether he is the answer to oor poor form...well....that's another question....

Magic to retire.......

What? He husnae already.......the only Pole in Scotland not in employment see's the US of A and the weak dollar as the perfect retirement home. This not a slight on the MLS, before D from the Dcentres comes on and gives me a big American Irish boot up the arse, it's a slight on Magic who see's LA a better option to do nuthin than Lennoxtown......another what could have been slips oot the door,maybe.....

Killen begs for a chance.....

Well, not really begs but takes the good old pro line “Being on the bench is hard and you have to keep yourself prepared, both mentally and physically and I just have to keep myself ready so that when I am called upon I can do my best for the team.” He, like the rest of us, must be looking at the struggling JVOH and saying "I can get on the end of those Gary Caldwell's hoofs up the park". His last start was against Benfica and before that a decent performance against Gretna, on a day decent performances were as rare as a quick forward pass from oor back four....

Gordon rings the changes...

As predictable as night following day oor manager decides to, maybe, tinker wie the team, probably bring back the Italian enigma Donati, to look moody, sullen and uninterested, he might also test Caddis against a team, that always plays well against us and are in a great vein of form. For me Saturday was the time to make the changes not tomorrow night. He says “And our quality wasn’t good enough in the last quarter of the field and that can happen" so can we expect Deek and Killen to start?.....as long as if Lapaty plays we don't give him the time and place to dictate play...it's quite embarrassing watching an 138 year old boss the game and the 140 year old Andy Millen has already done that this week.....

Forza

View From The Wing- Celtic 1 St Mirren 1

St Mirrens flukey only shot on target goal and Riordon scores his farwell goal, maybe...

This was always going to be a slightly negative post. There was a few things bugging this blogger and conversations, at the game, in the pub and on the bus, then a 90 mins to forget, another 90 mins to add to the long list of 90 mins to forget, sort of summed up the confused nature of the beast that is the Celtic support.

It started of wie the question "Who do you think GS will buy in Jan?" and the answer "If the board had any sense they would not give him a penny, to ensure he b*ggers off back to Match of the day 2, in the summer". When asked why he thought this after 2 championships, 2 last 16's and 2 cups, the answer was "After Bratislava, then Motherwell he said he would sort the problems, he said he would be exciting score goals be entertaining, 3 years on we still have the same problems, he has proved he canny sort them"

"Look around, empty seats, apathy, the bubbles burst and nae one is interested"

After the 90 mins it was difficult to argue. The mood was as dark as the East End sky. Supporting yer team shouldnae be a chore. It shouldnae feel like a chore but..when you see yer season slipping back into the mediocre that has characterised the last 2 seasons , the same mistakes being made again and again, then the chore factor comes into it. When you hear blokes discussing not going to the forthcoming games as they canny be bothered then you know yer in trouble.

The lowest attendance for sometime, in the league, shows it's not working. We have the chance to go 4 in front, right, St Mirren are not a big draw, but under 40,000, and that's being generous, turn up. The board will be noticing this. No matter the season book sales, nae one buying pies, bovrils or overpriced sh*tty pizzas will have the PLC wondering why the consumers are not turning up to follow their chosen pied piper.

So why? Fact is over the last few weeks we have seen performances creep back to the end of last season level. Injuries, maybe have played the part but....there is failings massive failings that simple management should sort are proving to show short comings in oor manager.

It was summed up today by three decisions. One, naming virtually the same team as last week and midweek when the performances were sair to watch. Two, his subs. Bringing on Sno, who had a decent game, and shoving the struggling Broony oot wide, then bringing on Deek, great goal, to put oot wide right and moving Hartley to left back where he cost us the goal beggared belief.

Ok, he could say his subs worked. The fact that we were playing a team that was humped 5-1 last week, meant that they were never going to come oot and attack. The fact, that JiriJaro lasted to half time, then seven minutes of the second half to be replaced by a defensive midfielder instead of a more direct pacey player, again was bemusing. We only had one creative outlet the whole game, who got crowded oot. This was not sorted until it was too late.

Three, the fact that there is no plan b. Withoot any natural full backs, he expects two centre halves to be overlapping full backs. He expects, Jiri, to become a direct left hand sided midfielder. His ridgid 4-4-2 formation is right from the dark ages of the British coaching manual.

Now, while the players are not entirely blameless for today or last weeks showing, one thing they don't lack is effort. Yes, today, and last week they had effort, they are honest but lack quality. The manager has hung some of them oot to dry by conistantly playing them oot of position. Thing is, these players have kept the manager from getting it really tight due to the fact that they are honest professionals who have fight and spirit.

I will not abuse any player in the Hoops that gives me effort. Yes, some should not be wearing the Hoops as they are really not guid enough but the effort is there and if the manager is responsible for that then he deserves credit.

Off today's team, being honest here, which ones if they left in January would we really miss? Tell you this only McManus, Hartley, Brown- if the buzzbomb goalscoring midfielder returns, where has that player went and why is it any player we sign suddenly becomes a different player from what we signed? manager, tactics?- McGeady and McDonald- O'Dea and the goalie are left oot because he husnae really had a chance- would be spared in the cull.

So that leaves, Elvis, Caldwell, Jiri, Sno, Deek, Killen and Hesslelink could leave wieoot much wailing of the fact that they are gone. Add to them the benchwarmers Zurawaski and Balde. Young Caddis must also be wondering tonight if he has a future at CP if he canny get a game against St Mirren at home.

The meeja, tonight, on the way home took Celtic fans to task for saying the managers position is shaky. Ok, it's not shaky, we are not Real Madird who can sack managers after winning leagues, but...if this season develops the same way the performances of last did we won't win three in row. Falkirk will be looking forward to playing us and the h*ns, who have won the last three, two at a canter as we have rolled over and died, against us, will relish booting us of the park.

Tonight, is a night, when the doubts we had since the start of the season have resurfaced. The fact that we maybe doubted that oor manager could handle a challenge. We have dropped points before at home against smaller teams but this time it's different....it's closer, every point is a prisoner.

I'm still confident that we will come through. For all ma moanings, i trust the players. We are better than most of the SPL and when we do click then we can be interesting to watch. If oor manager gets it right in Jan then we should have nuthin to worry aboot. His record makes us doubt this. It could be hit or miss.

Guid thing is we have the chance to get back in the saddle and winning ways quickly on Tuesday.I'm looking forward to it...i don't see supporting ma team as a i chore...and for all ma doubts the manager and players will get ma backing.

Forza

Lotw Diary- Ac Milan and St Mirren

Sunday 2nd December

This weekend has had a sense of irony for Lotw. Take today. Christmas shopping wie MrsG, when standing in the middle of the chaos that is a shopping centre, which resembles the beginning of "Saving Private Ryan" , the music booming from the PA is not Uncle Noddy and the boys bellowing "It's Christttttttmasssss" but Uncle Lou Reed singing an ode to heroin addiction aboot it being "A Perfect Day"

It would have been perfect day, if i was anywhere else and if the Hoops hudnae dropped two points to an ironic last minute pen the day before. But hey ho, we have a massive week coming up, wie Milan on Tuesday then, jings crivvens help ma boab, a home game after a CL game. The SPL must be pissed off aboot that. Bet they are lobbing FIFA to get the World Club Championship cancelled.

So lets begin, at the beginning.....

Setanta - Gs musings after the Hearts game.

Lotw Comment- Along wie this reporter watching a completely different game from the rest of us, GS joins the band of different game watchers wie this “They put good work in and controlled the game." I agree wie the good effort bit but saying we controlled the game is a bit of a mis-truth. We only controlled the second half, wee man.

On the lack of subs, which some say cost us he says ”But we got through, and we had chances after that and I thought, well that’s fine, I see no real problems, so we’ll just keep playing the way we are playing.” and at least he acknowledges that slack play cost us the points wie this “The goal comes out the blue, well from us having three against one in the middle of the park, giving the ball away and they score.

So us giving the baw away couldnae have come from tiredness then?

Sky Sports- Darren O'Dea the new McGrain

Lotw Comment- Well, if Roberto Hooton is the new Cafu, then oor centre back come full back can be Scotland's greatest ever full back. He started off badly, wie Kingston selling a nutmeg then a dummy, which caused him to pay to get back in but came onto a game." I have had a rough week, I've been quite ill," How come i have this feeling that this week could be rougher than last for him and also his three centre half buddies in the San Siro?

The Scotsman - Massimo is not going to kill Rino...

Lotw Comment- "In this situation if we need a draw and they need a draw, if I don't kill Gattuso....," says oor moody and infuriating Italian "regista". I understand what he means, play softly, softly offer them a bribe in the car par beforehand etc.....but i would rather he halves Rino in two after Gary Caldwells screamer has put us 3-0 up.....

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Monday 3rd December

Start of another week. It's cauld and wet. The hoops are flying oot, to a cauld and wet Milan today along wie the start of a travelling army, which will number around 6000, which is around the same number of tickets Milan have sold. So what is happening today....

The Times- Spiers says GS is a nark.

Lotw Comment- You would think Graham Spiers, or corduroy boy as he is known in the fourth estate, would have better things to write aboot, like slagging oor nee'bours, than to tell us something we didnae know aboot oor manager. Yes, he is a nark, so get over it. This makes interesting reading though... "Strachan is trying to cut down some of the media chores he must do as an O*d F*rm manager, on account of the fact that he doesn’t like too many of the journalists he is forced to deal with."

We don't like reading what many of the journalists write as well....so can we cut doon on oor web time?

The Herald- Zico on Milan.

Lotw Comment- "We are going into the game with a lot of confidence from Donetsk in midweek. It was a point today, we didn't lose the game, so I think Milan comes at a great time." Unsure if we can take any confidence from draw against Hearts, it's not as if Hearts are full of World Cup and Champ League winners, maybe a few have Kanus Gala winners medals 2004 for the best float..,and oor performance against Donestk wisnny exactly one to tell the grankids aboot..... but it's nice to hear the camp is in good spirits for the trip.

BBC- Oh, Arfur Boruc, the holy goalie wie the sair knee....

Lotw Comment- So, it looks like the days of a couple of pills and injections are long gone. I remember in the guid ole days, a few staples, a paracetamol and a swig from the hip flask would have been enough for the players to play on wie a broken leg and ensure cripple dome by they were 35. Make no mistake, the big man will be a big loss if he faces a spell on the sidelines. But hey we have Elvis back..."great personality" according to oor manager.

Setatnta- Lets all laugh at Dida...

Lotw Comment- Must admit, i had forgotten all aboot the "incident" before i read this. So I'm sure the Celtic fans will give Coco the Clown a big round of applause for his part in, us, getting let off lightly for oor one man pitch invasion. Oh, and the fact that it's kafflick conspiracy in UEFA backed by the Vatican....

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Wednesday 5th December

So, here we go to 2 in a row. First Scottish team to have dinner wie the big boys at the big boys table two seasons running. You would think we would be shouting from the rooftops except were not. Some are allowing the below par performance to play on their minds- stop pointing fingers at blogger- and the meeja are saying "jammie barstewards, had to rely on Benfica etc last time they won away Bruce Forsyth had hair...." I mean, this morning on Radio Tuecther said we scrapped through, Sky had us being lucky and Talksport- to wind up Brazil- focused on oor poor away record, a record so poor that it's being compared to the Spice Girls comeback record.

So what does the world make of it all....in the words of Julian Cope, the world can shut it's mouth and a big C'MON the Lyon before i go any further.....

Uefa Overview Celtic V Milan, Celtic Fc

Lotw Comment- “I think the next level for us is to be a force away in Europe. I need to find that out and do something about that. “We have to get better whether it’s at home or away. There's one or two negatives I’m desperate to sort out.” Oor manager sums up what we are feeling and what we want to see happen. The fact that he highlights or domestic and European away form surely means we will see defensive anti-fitbawers arrive by the 31st Januray?

Hartley- Bring On Europe

Lotw Comment- ”We know we can play better but we were up against a very good team and results went our way so we’re happy. Again, as well as being honest this Celtic team seem to have a dose of reality. Annoying thing is that fact that we failed to win away again means the press have a stick to beat us wie....but who cares, when the draw is made on the 18.12.07 who do we want? Always fancied North London maeself....

Hesslelink wants time to grow...

Lotw Comment- One stat that was banded aboot last night was that the big man husnae scored a Champs League goal for us since he robbed Rio of his dignity at Old Trafford many moons ago. The big man was bought as a big hitter wie CL experiance help this, as he rightly points oot, young side. Must admit the jury is out and some might say a arrival of another striker in Januaray to partner Skippy is a must...me? I think his lack of goals at the highest level wie us is more to do wie us than him...

View From The Wing Milan 1 Celtic 0, Interviews and the Goals

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Thursday 6th December

"I should be so lucky, lucky, lucky, lucky, I should be so lucky in luuuuvvvvvvvvvveeeeee" sang a midget from Oz, who once wore a curtain in the name of pop. Judging by the reactions to oor historic qualification from the "group of death" the Celtic should be renamed they Lucky Taigs Fae The East. Oor manager maybe will need to change the words of the song to "I should be so lucky, lucky, lucky, I should be so lucky to get two bob for a full back, a centre half and a striker". But the Ginja Ninja knew the ropes when he took the joab. His joab description said "Spend oor UEFA cup budget and make sure you plunder Hibs every season..." and isnny he doing it well.....

Today's notes of interest....

View From The Terrace- Red Star v Partizan

The Funniest Post EVER on LOTW....Must read before you die.....

Chick Young Talks Pish

Lotw Comment- "If the San Siro is football's greatest theatre then this was the season of farce." say's oor Chico and while he say's the game wisnny fixed he mentions "but it did strike me that the finger of suspicion was pointed at poor Bruce Grobbelaar for much less" It's this kind of po-faced hurting type waffle that makes me wish that Milan had gifted us an equaliser and makes me say.....C'MON THE LYON.....

Celtic, will make money by qualifying for the last 16 of the Champs League

Lotw Comment- This is a confusing piece. The jist of it is, we will make some dosh...and the manager won't see a lot of it. News just in...LOTW resident accountant- Baldy- says we will make 12 million. UPDATE.....he now says £14million

A scandalous decision which damages integrity of football

Lotw Comment- The former drummer of "The Commotions" talks sense, that only a meeja lackie based doon sooth could spout. He makes an interesting point wie this quote "We understand the importance of the game, particularly for Rangers with their European aspirations," said Gretna's manager, David Irons- who agreed to the postponement.

Yes, this man is Gretna's manager. He should be wanting to play r*ngers at this time. So what's his beef then? Think we can all guess and i'm sure you will all join wie me in thanks that Gretna are going doon faster than a Brookes Mileson 20 deck.

Tribute To Steve McLaren

Lotw Comment- Since today's musings have had a muso feel, a wee song to finish from ma friend at Footblog. From Kylie to Rhianna in a couple of hundred words....you don't get this rubbish anywhere else....

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Friday 7th December

Thank, Crunchie it's Friday. Never liked Crunchie, that wee Kevin McAllister fellow. For me, he always epitomised a Fawkirk fan. A h*n wieoot the bus fare. Today has been a normal Friday, looking forward to the Hoops tomorrow at 3pm, slagging the h*ns by asking who they are playing at the weekend, calling members of ma bus to ensure enough bums to pay the bus tomorrow, phoning Parkheid to get told there is no Inversenkie tickets and wondering, this is the biggie, will Carlise beat Northampton...for ma fixed odds, or ma weekly donation to the bookies retirement fund as MrsG calls it.....

Shauny..wont you come on home.....

Lotw Comment- So wee short arse can come home if he drops £4,000 a week or £200,000 a year. What's that amount between friends Shaun? I mean, you will get mair appearance money at the Hoops...

The managers comments on St Mirren

Lotw Comment- “Our record after European games has been phenomenal,” states oor manager correctly. Just a pity oor performances huvnae been up to much after European games. Tomorrow, i expect another uninspired performance. Not, that i'm moaning it's just the normal reaction after the succulent lamb served in Europe compared to the deep fried nonsense that Scotland serves up.

Also as oor manager correctly states, we are a playing a team that was embarrassed last week. Nae danger will they lose five again. I predict a stuffy 2 goal win for the hoops to put us four clear. Injuries to Skippy and Broony make me think oor Massimo will score tomorrow....that's another donation to the bookie then....

Naw, It's awe pish: we just made it up.....been updated wie this weeks rumours

mair tomorrow...maybe

Forza