The Diary is pondering why after 300 years we have sent another criminal, in Christen Nade, to Austrailia. I blame Harold Bishop.
When John Clark is setting out the kit and the kit was stored in a Acme Box marked ‘Ill-Prepared’ and delivered by Wile E. Coyote then we, really, shouldn’t be surprised at the outcome. The whole Braga episode is summed up by the farce that is Aiden McGeady.
“He was complaining of a recurring back injury” moaned Lennon about or non-appearing made of glass winger not letting on that the injury was brought on by constant nagging by his agent and our CEO.
The Diary was accused, by some, of being snide and pessimistic in my worries about the tie against Braga. It gives me no pleasure that my fear of the unknown turned out to be the already known. The Diary wishes he could still drink that concoction of Special Brew, vinegar and bleach, which blots out days and reality.
The headlines that greeted the sides return from Braga were entirely predictable. The false hope was built by those with poisoned pens and agenda powered laptops . “Braga hand Neil Lennon’s Celtic a crushing Champions League defeat“, “Celtic, a team that travels in Europe with all the conviction of a fraudster with a fake ID” and off, course the usual “Celtic’s new boys failed to impress“.
People need to ask themselves why these “new boys” ended up at Celtic, and more strikingly, in Scotland. Maybe it’s because on the bigger platform and in the grand scheme of all things top class football they are distinctly average and non-descript.
“Some people may think this tie is over, but we don’t” Lennon, sort of whispered at the end of the game, like a man who had spent two days drinking a concoction of Special Brew, vinegar and bleach.
The Diary believes Lennon. Braga are exactly the same as us. A decent Europa League level side with all the insecurities that comes with being in the peat bog of middle Europe.
They are quite capable of Celtic-esq collapses and they are quite capable, like we will be, of quality results. An early goal and the insecurities and limitations will rush through their minds like hyperactive endorphins faced with a base jump.
“It’s impossible not to ignore many elements of Celtic’s display in Portugal which will have set alarm bells ringing in the minds of many supporters” claimed one newspaper while The Diary feels that if that type of performance came as a surprise then that constant beeping you can hear is your smoke alarm going off. I would call the fire brigade.
Lennon is building a team. “How we gave those last two goals away was a joke” claimed Glenn Loovens while “poorest Parkhead No1 since 2000” blamed “something happened with the Jabulani ball” and not his positioning. These are protestations of players who are looking at the dressing room door scared of who is going to walk through it.
Jos Hooiveld has grasped this. “I’m not in the position within the group yet where I can go into the dressing room and grab people by the throat” threatened the Dutchman.
If he maybe starts this he will be in for the long haul. Throttling the duds maybe cheaper option in the long run.
Final plug for the competition to win £150 worth of credit to spend on classic Celtic gear at Classic Football Shirts.
You have until midnight Tuesday.
This is tosh and drivel put together like some kind of ersatz Hugh McIlvenny. You’re trying too hard son.
The ”new” Celtic team is, to quote a phrase that is over used so i dont see why I shouldn’t use it too, ”a work in progress”
Oh yeah of little faith. NLs team will prove the doubters and sceptics very wrong indeed.
The difference is that we now have a team of triers, not all the most skilful or best players that you’ll ever see but all you have to do is look at the likes of Juarez, Ki, Hooper and Ledley allied to the likes of Forrest and Rogne to see that there is skill in abundance in the team.
There is no doubt however that there are crucial gaps in the fabric of NLs and every true Celtic fan’s universe and these lay in the seriously underprovided for central defence, left back and goal keeper positions. Major surgery is required here and I’m sure that’s where our Neil will be concentrating his efforts.
Whether its Champions League or Europa Cup next year the most important thing is that Neil and the team bring back the heart and solidarity to the team and the fear and trepidation to all visitors to Celtic park
Would rather try to hard than not at all, son. Plus did you get fed up being Marty McFly who spoke a lot of sense last week? Anyway, I think I did say in the ersatz article that I fully backed Lennon and believe we can over turn Braga.
Plus, I do allude that I fully understand that it’s work in progress.
after looking at some of the prices on that classic football shirts website i think £150 might just about get you a jersey there !!!!!!
A nice 1982 home top Simon.
Said it before and i’ll say it again. If you go shopping in the Championship or lower then all you are doing is building a squad of players who can only compete at that level, which the SPL is. We WILL WIN the SPL at a canter that i have no doubt. Unfortunately the fear factor at Celtic park left with Henrik, Sutton and Hartson. The only teams who will fear coming to Celtic Park in the foreseeable future with our current squad will be the SPL teams.
@ Gerard we might need to question the quality that the other teams bring in a few months. Cam people not see the league is fecked?
Glad you highlighted big Jos. I reckon we should stick with him and Rogne for at least a few games. Looks like a nice good cop/bad cop partnership, with Jos dishing out the kicks.
First game of the season tomorrow night, and I can’t fecking wait!
@ pujol The Emirates proved that though rocky Jos and oor Tam are the best we have.
Re: Fear factor, agree with most of what’s been said. Would just add that the NL team must TRANSFER the fear and trepidation from the home team and support TO all visitors coming to Paradise.
That could very well start with the THUNDER tonight.
C’mon the Bhoys!
@ sixteaseven for too long now we have allowed teams to get settled and comfy. Let’s make them feel like they are trying to sleep on a bed of nails.
Score prediction..
Feel we will score four tonight. But, and this pains me to say this, if we score the four required we will unfortunately concede 2 or 3.
Celtic 4 Braga 3.
But heh – What the feck dae a ken. Monhoops.
Just about to leave for the game. Fecked if I can pick the starting 11 and why do I think Sammy would make a great impact sub?
Enjoy.