This week FootyMad's match preview focuses on the game between Celtic and St. Johnstone at 15:00 on Saturday, 20th March 2010 in the Scottish Premier.

Celtic have to keep winning to stand a chance of winning the league but you have to get the balance of work, rest and play right.

Who’s Next For An Opinion?

Since Robbie Keane put pen to paper on his loan deal from Spurs to Celtic all the media have done is try their level best to scunner the player with incessant questions about his long term future.

At every opportunity they’ve put a mic in front of him, then followed up with the ‘will you still be at Celtic next season?’ question.

After scoring a hat-trick at Kilmarnock last week, Keane had to cut short his post match interview when the same question was asked.

Only this week we’ve had Spurs assistant Joe Jordan, telling us Robbie will return to North London, then his gaffer at White Hart Lane, Harry The Fox told us that the player will be going back down south.

So, why does the media insist in asking the same question, over and over again?

Basically, they know what a major coup for Celtic signing Robbie Keane on a longer deal would be, so to try and circumvent that they’ve decided the best course of action is to piss the player off.

That way he’ll think twice about extending his stay.

And so far they’re winning…..

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This week preview looks at the Celtic and St. Johnstone game. This kicks-off at 15:00 on Saturday, 20th March 2010.

This week FootyMad's match preview focuses on the game between Celtic and St. Johnstone at 15:00 on Saturday, 20th March 2010 in the Scottish Premier.

While most of us count the cost of Cheltenham Week, the SFA are looking at ways of fudging their financial responsibility to players injured on pointless international duty.

 

"We feel that we have an obligation to support him any way we can." trumpeted head honcho and full time Hun, Gordon Smith, of the proposed benefit game for John Kennedy, which may or may not take place on the 16th May and involve Celtic and the a Scottish National select.

 

Though the SFA have compensated us for wages lost, I feel that Ioan Ganea should be in the dock facing a civil lawsuit and that the SFA should be paying the costs of this lawsuit. His Romanian thug arse should be getting hung out to dry.

 

The other week, John was at a local primary School in my neck of the woods. He was there with the Scottish Cup and promoting the Active Nation Program. It was such a shame to see such a fit looking young man, blessed with a bucket full of heart, determination and a fair bit of skill being reduced to PR appearances.

 

If there was any justice in the world Ioan Ganea would be living in a cardboard box in Bucharest, eating dead rats and dog shit.

 

Talking off justice....Celtic have announced a statue to Big Jock will be erected this year. It's 25 years since the Big Man's passing and no matter the unfounded and downright scandalous campaign peddled by the lowlifes from the other end of the city who don't have anyone in their undignified history to match the Great Man, it's long overdue.

 

"He was a man of immense stature" assumed Dr John Reid in one of the few occasions that he is let out to speak and only then, he is only let out to speak in non-important situations, you know, the ones he can't make a tit of himself at as he is a right Holy Willie.

 

"The board feel it is important that Jock now takes his rightful place at the gates of Celtic Park." he beamed ignoring that their is no gates of Celtic Pak, though they are celebrated in song.

 

I hope Big Jock's statue is scary enough so that when guys who are not fit to wear the jersey turn up it frightens the shite out of them and they run back down the London Road.

 

Handy Andy Hinkel is looking forward to this weekends game against the Top Six Chasing Saintees. Most of us are looking with great interest at what the turnstile clickly, click, click count will be.

 

"I'm looking forward to getting back to Celtic Park because we can play proper football, combination football, because the pitch is better." he laughed while snorting mephedrone.

 

Proper football, combination football. It's all a myth a tell you. I'm sure tomorrow we will see the manager and others mention home comforts in the bah humbug, boooorrrrrrring press conference.

 

I was going to mention Les Ferdinands comments about Robbie Keane. But I'm all Keane'd out and the views of a helicopter owning, helicopter piloting, race car company owner, ex-bedder of 1990's hubba hubba Word presenter Dani Behr, face hit with a shovel who copied Will Smiths Fresh Prince hairstyle are frankly shit and useless.

 

He Tom Cruised about Robbie "Living the dream." Pass the sick bag.

 

Have I guffawed at Chelsea yet? GUFFAW!

 

To end. Lucky Big Eck is being offered a new contract by the mega rich owners of Birmingham City despite him playing Barry Back Pass every week. He said: "I'll get my advisors to meet with them and let them thrash it out."

 

I thought any deal that didn't contain the numbers 4 and 5 and the letter P would be a good deal for him.

 

Laters 

Wednesday 17th March

It's All Robbie 

It is media feeding frenzy. It's like a boar, which is bleeding, has been dropped into the piranha infested Amazon River. It's a circus.

Everyone wants to talk about Bob Keane. Ok, he is the biggest 'star' to grace the SPL since Craig Bellamy and, at a push, failed WWF star Thomas Gravesan but when Keanes wife becomes quote worthy we have reached breaking point.

"People may criticise his decision to go and play for Celtic but this really ticked a box for him." said model Claudine of a deal that sees the striker not lose any of his wages, which off course ensured the box was ticked.

In a desperate attempt to stave of the threat of a move to Sunderland or worse still a stay in Glasgow meaning that she would need to move, Claudine then attempted to become Robbie's agent by boasted: "Would I like to see him play for a team like LA Galaxy? Yes, I would love that." she dreamed.

"I think Robbie's arrival is a great thing" droned Morten Rasmussen. "He's a top-class player and it is always nice to play with someone who is that good," he bored further to the Celtic View via the official site. I often wonder if the Celtic PR really want people to buy the View giving out bland snippets like that.

I would buy it if Morten said: "That bastard Keane is keeping me out the team and I want to rip his head off and shove it right up Samaras arse, who, by the way, is a lazy cuntmuppet." The bit's they use to publicise it mean that I would think twice of reading it if someone left it in my works toilet.

On a role now. That fat Aussie with the large arse and the large ego has been moaning again. He really is looking back in anger and feeling ever so bitter.

“Would Robbie Keane have come through the door if I’d not left? That’s the question,” I think the money they got for me obviously helped that deal go through. It certainly made sure I was forgotten about very quickly.” he moaned while sucking a lemon.

Yes, we have forgotten about you as we are now watching a decent striker, one who takes one for the team and is not just me, me fucking me. He is also fit unlike you and doesn't have a first touch so heavy that weightwatchers refused to allow it to take part in it's classes.

Skippy's good work is being forgotten. He was great in his first season but his constant moaning, sniping and fuckwittery means that when I think of him now I just see that wee cunt with Butcher on Black Sunday.

That's enough I think. Some links to end with.

Unrating The Game: Killie

Match Report: Killie

Tuesday 16th March

Ras not dirty but O'Dea is a fighter

With the enigmatic Video Review panel getting ready to sit down at the end of the week to dish out a two match ban to Morten Rassmussen, today, or yesterday, saw the start of Operation Let's Not Ban A Good Guy.

Thomas Rogne, the Norwegian Zac Eflon, spoke about Ras: "he's a very nice good guy-a nice guy.I don't think you can say it was typical of him. He's not a dirty player at all." he pleaded giving the time honoured excuse that no team mate is that type of player.

Now, I'm not saying that Morten is not nice to cats, doesn't help old ladies over the road or call his Mother every night before bed. He may also give money to charity. But...he plays in a sport that has an element of physicality. He has came with the reputation of being 'robust' in his impressive striking play.

Being a nice guy doesn't mean that he won't react to severe provocation. Like being subjected to possible leg breaking challenge a few minutes before, which went unpunished could make us all see red. Add into that the running fued he was having with Fraser Wright who was quite clearly wanting to swap jerseys at every available opportunity.

There is a difference to being dirty and seeing red mist. Lee McCulloch is a dirty player. We have hours of footage of him being a thug on the pitch. I'm sure when/if he seriously injures someone you will get the 'he's not that type of player' line trotted out when evidence proves that to make up for lack of ability he will boot, kick, mane and injure. He is exactly that type of player.

The Video Panel may prove that Morten saw red mist. Like Thomas say's it doesn't mean he is a 'dirty player'. There is no evidence of this and there will be no substance to the witch-hunt and labelling that will happen if he is found guilty. 

We are lovers not fighters.

"Darren should not want to fight the world all the time" mumbled the weary Wearsider about the improving Darren O'Dea and inadvertently mentioned Darren's greatest moment as a Celtic player, which unfortunately for us was in a night club and not on the pitch.

"He wants to play the game at 100 miles an hour and be agressive all the time" Mowbray said, flicking through the Yellow Pages looking for anger management courses. "You can't spend 90 minutes going around kicking everyball and every centre-forward that's about."

While the rest of us wonder what is up with that and the Video Review panel take note for a later date. 

Final word for today must go to the ho-ha regarding Tam Cowan. A source was quoted as saying: "Everyone was gobsmacked at what Tam Cowan had said. No-one laughed. It wasn't even funny."

Tam Cowan. Not being funny. Where's the news in that?

Till tomorrow.       

Mondays 15th March

Every Little Helps 

So, the 'Tesco Season' continues.

The Inactive Nation Hot Balls Draw took place this morning 'live' on Murdoch vision. Not happy with giving the Forces Of Evil, approx, £320,000 in Tv Money this season from the competition, they gave them the easier passage to the final if they can find a MIB to ensure they win their replay against DuNT.

Of course, that is if Hibs beat Ross County. All those who watched the 'highlights' on Saturday night will confirm that this not a gimmie and if the fickle finger of fate had been pointing the Highlanders way then they would have been a lonesome ball in todays draw. 

There was 6 ex-Celtic players on the field at Easter Road on Saturday. The most impressive one was a surprise too. Go on, name them.

Whether Rasputin will see the confines of Hampden remains to be seen. As expected he has been called before the enigmatic SFA Review Panel after his elbow connected with Frazer Wright's cheek bone. The 'victim' wasn't long in highlighting the fact.

"He swung an elbow at me" shouted Wright at passing media types after the game. "I wasn't happy about it at the time." which begs the question what sensible person would be happy about getting an elbow in the puss after a simple game of shirt tugging?

"If he's meant to do it, it's not very nice" he countinued not empasising whether it was Rasputin or Tom Clancy- who is also up in front of the panel for his attempted leg breaking stamp on Rasputin- who was not very nice.

Not knowing when to quit he moaned "I think if it was one of us who'd done the same thing it would be picked up." while forgetting he once 'slapped' Nakamura in a game, which wasn't picked up and probably not knowingly dropping his team-mate in it.

This episode does nothing to dispel the feeling that the media peddle what goes on the Review Panel agenda. I'm sure we can all list numerous incidents, all involving those of a Hunnish nature, that the Review Panel should have been looking at.

Lafferty against ZZ and Weir on McDonald in the first derby game this season spring to mind.

Talking of short, round, Aussies Skippy has been opening his mouth and letting his belly rumble. "No disrespect, but who are they? he say's of Celtic's January signings. I for one had heard of Robbie Keane and his description of the new players was levelled when his fat arse waddled through the door along with the likes of Robson and Caldwell who he terms 'better players'.

Robson and McDonald both scored on Saturday and will still be trundling round the English 2nd Division (old money) next season but if you want to see a 'better player' in action then find the highlights of Bolton v Wigan.

It's comedy gold.

Friend of the blog, Video Celt, has done sterling work this weekend covering Emirates 7's. His previous job of being Derek Whytes Fake Bake Rep has paid healthy dividends. This caught my eye:

"The Celtic Legends will need to be on their best behaviour against the UAE side after R*ngers had Derek Ferguson and Gordon Durie sent off against the UAE for swearing at the local referee."

Have we discovered the reason why R*ngers have not won a game in Europe in 2 seasons? Pesky foreign referees?

If only we had such officals in Scotland and not ones who give non-existent penalties, that keeps them in the cup and fail to send off thugs in blue.

Every little helps, I suppose.

Let me start by saying if we don’t win the league this year it will be because we have not been good enough to amass enough points to do so, there has been big changes in personnel and the team has not performed as well as we would have hoped they would, there has been other issues like injuries, but I would also say that we certainly have not been playing on a level playing field, and that is down mostly to bad refereeing decisions, these decisions appear to only be a problem for Celtic, they are not a problem for the SPL or the SFA, and they certainly are not a problem for the lap top loyal masquerading as the media, and none more so than Scotland’s Partner in Shame the Daily Record and in particular Keith Jackson and Tam Cowan, where do we start with these two eejits?

We’ll start with Tam Cowan, one of the columnists from the Record and a BBC presenter, while attending a Masonic function in Kilwinning (no surprises there then) he abused a Roman Catholic Priest, Father Gerry Mc Ghee by first of all stating I hope your team (Celtic) get hammered (apparently he actually said F*****d) in the match at Ibrox against Rangers, when Fr Mc Ghee tried to make light of the remark by saying he was the biggest Rangers fan in town, the despicable Cowan replied by saying “ You’re the biggest f****d paedophile in town, it’s well seen this cretin makes these remarks in the company of like minded bigots, no one outside of these peoples own poisoned world would pay any attention to what he had to say, lets hope that Kilwinning’s finest will investigate these allegations and take the appropriate action., I would also encourage you all to contact both the Record and the BBC and formally complain.
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That takes us to Keith Jackson who claims to be a sports writer, he wrote an article in the Record attributed to mark Hateley, you remember him, he played for the same Italian reserve team as Butch Wilkins. Well in this article he says that Tony Mowbray has had a catastrophic first season at Celtic, but the worst thing he has done is to wind up the man with no name “Walter” he claims that Walter has steam coming out of his ears because of the “stream of insults and excuses spewing out of Celtic Park” he claims that we have blamed the refs, we have blamed the SFA, we have blamed the pitches, in fact we have blamed everybody but ourselves for our team performing so hopelessly since big Tony took charge.

This article goes on to attack Celtic FC in a manner that you would not expect from an ex player. He says that Celtic have thrown accusations around on a weekly basis to cover our own shortcomings, that we have attempted to blacken the reputation of the entire Scottish game, but only succeeded in making a mockery of ourselves, but by far the worst part of the article states “ They were right about one thing. There is indeed something rotten in the state of the SPL – and it’s festering away in Glasgow’s East End ”.

I don’t believe for one minute that this article was dictated by Hateley, when asked if it was done by a ghostwriter he said, No he’s still alive. This article smacks of the journalistic anti-Celtic drivel that we have come to expect from Keith Jackson, just like the one about Tony telling Scott Brown that he had no future at Celtic, no future, two weeks later he is named as Celtic captain, that’s what’s called a journalist having his finger on the pulse.

I don’t really know why Celtic haven’t taken this mug to task over this article, maybe it’s to do with the sponsor money we receive from the Record, or maybe they have contacted the editor in private to voice their concerns, but I know one thing, the Celtic fans must not let this clown continue to attack our great club at every opportunity.

If there is any Celtic fan out there that still buys this rag, please STOP NOW; the best way to hurt these people is by denying them your hard earned cash. I have refused to buy this rag since their sensationalising headline of “Thugs and Thieves” about the Celtic players Christmas party in Newcastle, when they accused three Celtic players of stealing a camera. The war against this anti-Celtic publication and it’s reporters must be stepped up, it must be another campaign that receives the total support of all Celtic fans, deny them your money, deny them your support, but most of all send them the message that we will not stand by idly and watch them attack our great club at every turn, every attack on our club is an attack on each and everyone of us, and as in the past we shall prevail and overcome.

Remember there is an open meeting in Celtic’s spiritual home of St Mary’s on Saturday morning at 11am, hopefully a good turn out can debate several serious issues including one I would support, a selective bhoycott of one or more grounds next season

Hail Hail,

Keep the Faith.

Tally-ho old beans and welcome to another Friday supplement from the Tims at ETeams. This is an incredible run of three-in-a-row for getting the...

Skippy Still Moaning..

And he doesn’t even play for us anymore!

Not content at getting a fresh start after played for his boyhood heroes, Scott McDonald has to keep nagging on about Mogga.

Why?

It didn’t get him far while he was at Celtic Park, so why does he keep bashing his gums about Tony Mowbray.

You would think he’d be more interested in kick-starting his Middlesbro career!

Maybe it’s because he’s a McDonald thing……

You see, there is ‘another’ McDonald that seems hell bent in putting the boot into the Hoops…….Dougie.

Remember him, the same Dougie that sent-off Aiden at Easter Road, Broonie at the Hunnery, let Madjik Boogera kick ten shades of shite out of Robbie Keane,  and managed to ‘award’ the MM TWO soft penalties against Dundee United.

The two of them should get together and go on the circuit, in fact, maybe they could get Tam Cowan to join them, after all those three seem to be cut from the same cloth!

PS. Notice the stories coming out of Celtic Park have stopped…..now there’s a coincidence!

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If Carlsberg did weekends they should contact Sean Sweeney.How would a lads weekend in Dubai, reuniting with an old pal, playing for Celtic, beating Liverpool, Manchester United and Chelsea, being a team-mate to some of your idols, sharing a pitch with Baresi and di Canio and coming home with a winners medal and memories to bore your best mates with for years to come sound?Twenty years on from being linked with Celtic as an emerging centre-half at Clydebank Sweeney finally got to realise his dream at the first Emirates 7's event in Dubai.Four days that will live with him forever.Those that have played for Celtic are members of a very exclusive and elusive group but although Sweeney's relationship with the club had never developed beyond that of supporter he was welcomed into the huddle from the moment he arrived at Glasgow Airport for the lunchtime flight to Dubai."I have to say that I'm really grateful to all the players who welcomed me straight away and who couldn't have done any more for me," Sweeney admitted."I've been a mate of Derek (Whyte) since we were teenagers but the other players were fantastic with me. I've met or played against most of them at some stage but it's still a bit daunting to be amongst them knowing that I was to spend a few days as a Celtic player."I know Gerry Britton quite well from playing at Livingston at the same time but I was slightly apprehensive about mixing with the players but everyone was really welcoming to me. They made the trip for me."The only awkwardness was in my mind, I've got a season-ticket and go with my son every other week, in my mind I was wondering 'is this going to be awkward?' because I really shouldn't be there."It should be a former player but all that was quickly put to ease although before the first game I was very nervous, it was a different sort of nerves to when I was playing but it was still nervy playing for Celtic."The lads were all very professional, they went about things seriously and weren't there for a jolly, obviously they enjoyed themselves but they take pride in themselves and the club and that was very obvious."It could have been an outrageous wind up from Whyte to his old mate but when Sweeney got wind of the opportunity he wasn't going to let it pass him by."A few players had pulled out of the trip a couple of weeks ago when Derek first mentioned the event to me, Sweeney added. "He asked if I fancied it and if I was fit, I wasn't going to turn that chance down."I've not been involved in football for a few years but I play fives regularly, I got my head down and stepped things up so that I would be ready."Nothing could really prepare me for the first match though, it was in at the deep end against AC Milan, di Canio and all, and before we knew where we were it was 3-0 to Milan at half-time."The Milan dressing room was next to ours, they were buzzing about and were in the same hotel as us."Di Canio was a hero for me then I saw him with Barsei walking past I really took notice."I tried to blank out the names when I was playing but I couldn't do that with di Canio, he was amazing running riot in every game."He's as fit as a fiddle, he's top class and was scoring great goals in every game."When I got out on the park I was fine, I got stronger with each game and it was only eight minutes each way, once I got started I really enjoyed it."In typical Celtic style the team bounced back from losing the opener to Milan to go on to beat Chelsea and Manchester United 3-0 to end day one in good spirits.Saturday morning kicked-off the knock out stage of the competition with Celtic beating the UAE World Cup 90 side then Liverpool to reach the final and another date with di Canio and Milan again."The biggest memory for me was winning the tournament closely followed by standing in the tunnel going out for my first game," Sweeney added."The final was beyond belief, I thought we'd end up with a medal or something for our efforts. After losing the first game 3-0 I'd have settled for that but to win the competition was beyond belief. That made the weekend."It brought out the kid in me. The support that we had from the Dubai Hoops was great and I've came home with a lifetime of memories."I've been emailing friends and sending pictures to lots of folk. It's something that I'll remember for ever and I hope my mates can put up with me talking about it for a while yet!Coming Soon: Part 2, Almost a Celt under Lou Macari
Spanish property

Rasmussen is content to take his time to shine

One poor appointment can turn on you quickly in the fish bowl of Glasgow. A poor season seems like a lifetime of underachievement in the SPL and no wins against...

Celtic's youth side will make their first appearance of the season at Celtic Park against Livingston on Wednesday March 31.

The game kick's off at 7pm and will be played to a finish with the winners meeting St Mirren or Rangers in the Hampden final of the SFA Youth Cup.

To reach this stage of the competition Stevie Frail's side have defeated Threave Rovers and Brora Rangers before the memorable 5-4 win over Dundee United at Tannadice.

On Saturday Celtic travel to face St Johnstone at St Andrews with a 12 noon kick-off.

On top of rattling off three second-half easy-finish goals to progress Celtic into the Semi-Finals of the Scottish Cup, Robbie Keane also displayed a few flights of skill, one of which made Soccer AM’s Showboat clip reel this last week:

(you can see his clever flick to himself around 0:45)

(Of course, 101 Great Goals has the tip for the video)

–

Also on Soccer AM, there’s also an interview with John Barnes, talking about Sir Bobby Robson… if you’d want to see that.

When did we last have such a busy transfer window? All started with the announcement of Ki Sung Yueng early in the season. Most of us thought that this would probably be all we were going to get as we are not known for spending in the January window, if spending at all.

We have all been aware of our most two pressing problems this season have been defence and attack, so it is nice to see that Tony has been aware of it also. Defenders Jos Hooiveld and Thomas Rogne were then brought in, Jos looking to go right into the first team with Thomas marked as one for the future. The Danish penalty box striker Morten Rasmussen was next to appear and as we have seen he does what it says on the tin, score.

One could argue that we would have been happy with just that but Tony kept dropping hints that he wasn’t finished as yet. The press as usual were linking us with anyone who had ever kicked a football so it was quite difficult to see who would be coming next, if anyone.

Today has been quite hectic with a defender and three attackers. Dutch left back Edson Braafheid joining from Bayern Munich, striker Diomansy Kamara joining from Portsmouth, Paul Slane joining from Motherwell and the Pièce de résistance Robbie Keane from Tottenham Hotspur.

That’s a total of Eight players, which is beyond any of our wildest dreams for this window. Way to go Celtic.

Ki Sung Yueng is a South Korean international who was voted Asian Young Footballer of the Year 2009.

Jos Hooiveld, Finnish defender of the Year: 2007, 2008 and Swedish Player of the Year: 2009.

Thomas Rogne quoted as being “the best young talent to come out of Norway in the past ten years” I don’t know if this is an omen but he has been given the number 25 shirt, previously worn by club legends Shunsuke Nakamura and Lubomir Moravcik.

Morten Rasmussen, Danish International.

Edson Braafheid, Dutch International.

Diomansy Kamara, Senegal International.

Paul Slane, future prospect.

Robbie Keane, Republic of Ireland International.

Not a bad bit of shopping if I don’t say so myself.

Hail, Hail.

Serenity

… for all good men to come to the aid of the party When the going gets tough – the tough...

I was at the hospital on Wednesday evening and was not expecting to get to Celtic Park...

Well Paddy McCourt has finally came out of the shadows that was the reserve side and burst onto the First team scene with his brilliant display against Falkirk in the League Cup third round on Wednesday night, and then today against St. Mirren in Paisley. He scored two brilliant solo goals proving to those who [...]