CELTIC HEAVIES ON THE ROAD AGAIN

The road is long, with many a winding turn, that leads us to who knows where, who knows where…well lets hope its not the Europa League qualifiers thats where not…

So just like the Hollies crooned, Neil Lennon is our brother and like all family members I trust him wholeheartedly. Forget all that Celtic Globetrotters nonsense in the US of A, this is the real deal and tonight we will see the beginning of the Celtic revolution. Or will we?

I’m praying this game hasn’t come too early for the bhoys because lets be honest I doubt the starting eleven tonight will have even all played together at once pre-season! How much this will affect proceedings time will tell but I have a nagging feeling it was a mistake to not have tonights team or as close as possible to tonights team take the field against the evil geniuses Lincoln City at the weekend. Will we really see Gary Hooper climb out of a green & white phone box with a number 88 on his cape for his Celtic debut? I doubt it. It’s more the defence I’m worried about anyway to be completely honest with you. Mulgrew and Du Ri seem to be favorites to start in the full-back rolls in their first competitive game for the Hoops and a likely partnership of Hooiveld and Rogne or Loovens in the middle. With the new bhoys unproven at full back and the centre not exactly a brick wall this has me slightly worried and really wanting to smack Sol Campbell square in the gub. Never even kept us in the loop since he had his tour of Paradise…enjoy the grayness of Newcastle ya bawbag.

Like I say though in Lennon I trust and it wouldn’t really matter who the manager was this game was always going to come too early for the club really. It’s impossible to get all the players in that you want in such a short period of time and the big names are always more protracted in their dealings as they fish out the best offer. This I don’t mind but for the likes of Campbell to show such disrespect is uncalled for, I now wish him only bad things for this coming season. Likewise it would have been better to have Bellamy in the team now rather than later but thats the way it goes. Yes Diary/Lord of the Wing I’m still whistling that tune on my penny whistle. We shall see my friend we shall see.

There is also the Hinkel/McGeady debate of should they or shouldn’t they play. As two of our more consistent performers and arguably better players many would like to see them in the side no matter the repercussions. I have to say though if it meant losing out on in the region of £10 or £12 million in combined transfer fee’s because they were cup-tied then I have to admit I would leave them out. Am I the only Celtic fan that thinks Herr Hinkel isn’t the player he’s made out to be? Time will tell if Cha Du Ri will be an able replacement but I doubt he was purchased as back up. Meanwhile Braga are a club the press are telling us are in some turmoil and upheaval which is code for they’re really gawna stick the knives into Lennon if we fall at the first hurdle like a Shetland Pony at the Grand National. Lets not forget Braga had one of the best home records in Europe last season and any result that still leaves us with a fighting chance at Celtic Park will do me. The atmosphere in Paradise will be there to carry us through in the return leg I have no doubt about that.

Unfortunately for me I’ll be in work tonight on the dreaded backshift, relying on twitter (in the one tiny corner where you can pick up Edge for 12 seconds) or text messages (that always end up being an incoming text alert that makes your heart flutter only for it to be from somebody wanting to tell you about anything else other than fitba) for updates as I prowl the factory floor like a madman while trying to do a good impression of a dedicated employee. Can’t even get a radio reception in the place, its like being in Airdrie or some other backward hell hole where technology is scoffed at as a fantastical idea portrayed by the Jetsons.

I can tell that none of you could care less about me though and neither you should for tonight is about one team and one man with ginger hair in the image of God himself. Step forward Neil Lennon its time to light the fuse on the new season.

His welfare is of my concern, no burden is he to bear, we’ll get there…is how the song goes and all being right in the world we will. Just don’t panic!!!

Harper