The evidence is clear: we’ve got our Celtic back. The football on Saturday was better than at any point this season. Four goals scored told only part of the story. Odsonne Edouard alone hit the post three times, while Callum McGregor struck the crossbar and Scott Sinclair hit the post with the keeper out of his goal.
Faculties that were so elusive a few weeks ago, like passing and movement, were a joy. Tom Rogic deserved his Man of the Match award, while Odsonne is back looking ominously difficult to play. The loss of Scott Brown to injury was a worry, while his replacement, Scott Sinclair continues to struggle to recapture past form. If you were within a mile of Celtic Park, you may also have heard me when Mikael Lustig was out-muscled for Hibs second goal.
Hibs looked a shadow of the team we expected in the first half. Anyone who comes to Celtic Park with more lofty intentions than simply defending their 18-yard box had better be on form. They objectively improved in the second half, but that would have been different if the woodwork did not come to their rescue so often.
I’m not going to tell you I’m confident about Leipzig, but I am looking forward to Murrayfield on Sunday. We look ready to defend our treble.
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REBUS67
Rino Gaetano.
A regular on a tv thing showing musical things from the Archives.
He’s a bit Marmite -people seem to love him or loathe him.Often described as being ahead of his time.
Good afternoon CQN from a dry but chilli Garngad
Back from the Big Apple yesterday and slept for 14 hours, the longest I have ever slept and I’m still Kerry Packered.
What a place, will definitely go back in the future.
Watched the game in Manhattan csc in Jack Dempseys and it was packed, it should have been about 5 or 6 .
There could also have been 3 or 4 MOTM as well.
Hail Hail
D. :)
JIMTHETIM53-
Purely for the purpose of information there are no longer any annual increments in the civil service payscales (well certainly not in my particular department). In the last 8 years my own pay has risen by less than 8% in total. The only time anyone’s wage changes with any significance is on promotion. However, for many of my colleagues who’ve been in a few years (and so are still on the ‘old’ terms and conditions) promotion generally means a pay increase of 7½% but countered by a loss of 2 days annual leave (and other changes such as sick leave entitlement etc). No wonder folk decide to semi-retire ;-)
I defer to your more up to date knowledge. That was the case when I joined. But I know what you are talking about in terms of wage rises since the financial crash of 2008. Either nothing or next to nothing. We actually took a pay cut in real terms. They even stopped a bonus scheme which paid about £1k if you managed an A grade in your annual assessment. I used to always get a B. When the bonus scheme stopped, I got As for the next 3 years.
Murdoch Auld and Hay,
From experience, try to stay positive, keep your family and friends close and allow them to help you in whatever way they can.
Best wishes,
Eurochamps67
PMcG hinting on his blog today that Celtic have asked Leicester about a deal to sign Benkovic on permanent transfer for Boyata and cash (assume in January as Dedryck is a free agent in the summer).
G67- sounds good, but Benkovic will be on big money. HH
MAH stay strong mhate YNWA
Transfer Window Scottish Style Guide – thought I’d lost this but found it, a living document belonging to old Rainjurz ( to be edited for January )
(1) Sevco FC do not ‘buy’ or ‘sign’ players. They ‘swoop’ for players. The extraordinary nature of these swoops must be emphasised at all times by preceding the word “swoop” with at least one of the following choices – ‘sensational’ ‘stunning’ ‘exciting’ ‘audacious’ or ‘ambitious’.
(2)Celtic FC do not ‘buy’ or ‘sign’ players. They ‘finally complete’ deals. The hugely dull nature of this event should be emphasised at all times by using at least one of the following terms – ‘protracted’ ‘long-running’ and ‘drawn out affair’.
(3)Any overseas transfer target of Sevco FC is, without fail, also ‘being pursued by a host of Europe’s top clubs’
(4) Sevco FC must then be referred to as ‘battling it out for the signature’ of this ‘hot property’ and ‘wanted man’.
(5)The exact identity of these elite club’s will be selected on a random basis but must contain at least one of the current top 4 sides in Italy, Germany and Spain. One of these may be substituted by Lyon but no other French club.
(6)If the said player signs for Rangers FC then the club have ‘pulled off a sensational coup’. To avoid unnecessary confusion under no circumstances should the player be asked why he turned down these previously reported top clubs? Instead the player will ‘modestly refuse to comment on the speculation’.
(7)Any overseas player purchased by Rangers FC under the age of 21 years is a ‘wonder kid’.
(8) Any overseas player purchased by Celtic FC under the age of 21 years is an ‘unknown youngster’.
(9)In recognition of the club’s international stature it is appropriate that the transfer fees received and paid by Rangers FC should initially be quoted in Euros. After this initial use the term of currency quoted should be dropped and thereafter, whenever possible, the figure referred to only by approximate amount.
(10)Should Sevco FC obtain a Scottish player from a domestic rival then this story must be accompanied by a double page spread praising the club’s willingness to invest in home-grown talent and how this is of the benefit to the national side and indeed the country as a whole.*
(11)Should Celtic FC purchase a Scottish player from a domestic rival then this story must be accompanied by a double page spread condemning the club’s willingness to raid rivals of home-grown talent and how this is to the detriment of the national side and indeed the country as a whole.
(12)Any player linked with Rangers FC who has not made a strongly worded denial of the said move should be referred to issuing ‘a come and get me plea’
(13)Clubs unwilling to lower their asking price to meet the perfectly acceptable bid placed by Rangers FC must be strongly condemned. All stories of this nature must include the words/terms ‘staggering asking price’ ‘inflated fee’ ‘outrageous demands’ and ‘holding to ransom’. The player involved in this deal must be referred to as ‘the want away star’ and it is imperative that any story fully informs the reader how the immoral stance of the selling club could ‘jeopardise a dream move to Ibrox’ for a player ‘whose heart is set on a switch to Glasgow’.
(14)Clubs unwilling to up their bid to meet the perfectly reasonable fee placed on a player by Sevco FC must be strongly condemned. All stories of this nature must include the words/terms ‘insulting’ ‘laughably derisory bid’ ‘on the cheap’ ‘deliberate attempt to unsettle’ and ‘outrageously low offer’.
(15)The signing of an overseas player by Sevco FC must be accompanied by a two page spread stating how they will become as good as their nation’s most famous footballer. Mark Hateley is willing to contribute to any article.
(16)The signing of an overseas player by Celtic FC must be accompanied by a two page spread questioning whether they are good enough for the SPL. Gordon Smith is willing to contribute to this article.
(17)If Sevco FC sign a player who has at any point of their career – been watched by any member of the Celtic Park staff (including Superstore employees, programme sellers and outsourced catering workers) then they will have ‘sensationally snatched’ the said player ‘ from under the nose of the Parkhead club’.
(18) If Celtic FC signs a player who we previously linked with Sevco FC then it will be because ‘After initial tentative interest Sevco decided to pull out of the chase’ thus ‘leaving the road clear for Celtic’. The player in question ‘..represented poor value for money..’ and ‘was no better than the players already available to the Sevco boss’.
(19)The fact that Dave King is a billyionaire are integral elements of any Sevco transfer story and failure to recognise this will see copy spiked.
(20) As in previous years our colleagues at the Sunday Mail will again be organising ‘Operation Celtic Manager out ‘ which is as usual planned for the first weekend in February. Our duty is to ensure quality follow-up coverage. While details of the current operation are being finalised you are advised to familiarise yourself with Glasgow City Council’s Draft Regeneration Project for Govan and NASA’s proposed manned mission to Mars.
(21) ‘Gers’ when trying to scrape every last halfpenny that Douglas Park can lend shall be reported as ‘Gers playing hard ball’
(22) Whilst calculating the cost and best time to make a deal and strike a deal, Celtic will be reported as ‘dithering’
(23) ‘Gers’ on receiving a flat knockback with an inferior offer, will be congratulated for not breaking their strictly staunch wages cap.
(24) Celtic sign players on a free transfer
(25) “Gers” snare £3 million pound rated strikers via the Bosman rule
(26) Any Gers players moved on will have lost interest in playing football after fulfilling their lifetime ambition.
(27) When referring to the former Sevco the “warchest” shouldn’t drop below Jim Traynor’s lifelong supportering guesstimate of £12,000, 000 net.
Hail Hail
has more or less not been cited by the compliance officer for diving as per the killie player last week , thought as much.
brilliant bsr
This new BSR poster blokey seems to talk an inordinate amount of sense.
Mibbee he might consider babysitting the Saturday night moonhowlers?
????
Jamesgang
CQN Moonhowling ?
Eleven posts on a Monday morning between 9.00am and the new article following an excellent win?
Wonder Why CSC
Gary 67
I like the look of Benkovic but ` …. on permanent transfer for Boyata and cash…` would suggest Benkovic is a better player than Boyata. Why would an EPL club do a deal where they get the lesser player?
JJ
Sounds like a level 5 attempt to unsettle both players!
Phil has been about as accurate as a paper dart in a hurricane for a while
JJ
Shssss!??
BSR
It saddens me to see such little traffic
HH jg
Greetings from Broxden services. I hear on the radio that Ian Durrant has been verbally abusing his Holiness the Pope at a recent zombie legneds bash.
They just can’t help themselves
Pog- a 51 year old,with a family, coming out with guff like that,embarrassing, BBC Scotland has a piece on it 6.30,Jabba will be having kittens
Not surprised coming from his ilk.Simpson didn’t hit him hard enough.
BOURNESOUPRECIPE
A modern transfer wind classic gold you didnae lose it:))
HH
*windae
Re Durrant and his ilk. the veneer peels off when they think they are with their own.
I cannot imagine a gathering of former players of any other club behaving in such a manner.
I have read on here that this person was a “nice guy”.
The mask slips eventually.
Hot Smoked
A player having a higher fee doesn’t necessarily mean he is a better player, age and time left on contract are big factors. HH
JINKYREDSTAR @ 5.47
He’s side tracked by ‘ Seethen Gerrard’s Rainjurz!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ‘
Let’s see now. Brendan is off to Leicester, where he will be re-acquainted with Benkovic who is going back in January. That’s unless he goes to Newcastle instead. And Scott Brown is off to Australia. Yes, I think we can pretty safely say Celtic are back!
Moving the ball so much quicker now. Much better off-the-ball movement. Forrest back to his direct best, Rogic gliding forward at ease, McGregor thriving with the extra options and Edouard looking like scoring every time he gets the ball. Still a few worries at the back, but overall so much better.
The Huns at Radio Shortbread, will try and ‘rehabilitate Durrant…..’some of my best friends are kaffliks….’ coming to a radio near you soon…
Daily Record sacrifices and deflects ex Rainjurz player, for the Suns Sevco Lafferty.
MuchBiggerShame CSC
MAH….
Sad to read about your condition and good to see you posting positively. My thoughts and prayers…
THOMTHETHIM FOR OSCAR OK @ 2:35 PM,
BOURNESOUPRECIPE @ 3:15 PM,
As I hope you ghuys know I have great regard for your opinions and enjoy your comments but…
…the summer transfer window is shut. The business is finished, we can now look back with 20/20 hindsight and say Brendan Rodgers was not backed.
This is not speculation… it is fact…
Brendan said so himself. If we are not going to take his word for it, and I think we should. We only need to look at the players we bought and sold.
Brendan said at the beginning of the window he was not looking for major upheaval but he wanted to bring in some quality – 3 to 4 players.
We brought in one player that fits that description – Odsonne Edouard.
We needed those players and they weren’t bought. Where’s the speculation? There is none. It’s fact.
Another fact that might interest you…
Since Rangers died we’ve had six very lucrative seasons with three managers do you how the transfers average out…
Lenny 1
Lenny 2
Ronny 1
Ronny 2
Brendan 1
Brendan 2
Transfers out value twice as much as transfers in that’s how it pans out. Maybe a slight change in the ratio season by season but for six seasons now we’ve brought in £10 pounds for every fiver we’ve spent.
So, if Brendan’s transfers out are twice the value of his transfers in… in line with his predecessors… he hasn’t been backed. No speculation necessary.
Hail Hail
Big Judith back in black…?
Michael Stewart and Tom English, toe to toe on Shortbread….
Michael Stewart getting tore into Tom English on shortbread !!
Durrant?
Biggest surprise is that it was reported!
Huns is huns is huns….perfectly acceptable to Scottish “government”
Annd in keeping with recent months shortbread have no football coverage on a Monday following a weekend when the bhoys do well – their head of sport is really really hurting and they still don’t even talk to them. How emancipated must these people’s self esteem be?
Gaun the Michael !!!
‘Emaciated’
TOMTHETIM:
That mask was designed to slip.
DD…
Wee song for you.?
https://youtu.be/xWwtMrDX2o8