News that our prolific striker Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink has aggravated his hamstring during Saturday’s draw in Embra, will leave boss Ghordon Strachan with Scott McDonald as his only fully fit striker for this weekend’s game against Aberdeen.

Skippy Celebrates!

Whether the Dutchman or Greek striker Georgios Samaras recover in time for the match remains to be seen. The latter is still nursing a knock he took against Falkirk last Wednesday.

And with Shaun Maloney not yet match fit, even though he made the bench at Swinecastle, the decision to loan out Cillian Sheridan to Murderwell will come into question again.

Injuries before the January transfer window left us with the young Irishman as Ghord’s only option to partnering Skippy. In fact the bhoy done so well, he would have been in contention for a starting place when Jan and Sammy returned.

So why let him go on loan, when there was the possibility of the same injuries happening again?

As the title run-in gathers pace, hopefully this decision won’t prove too costly…..

When you subscribe to any service as a customer, you expect to be treated fairly. It doesn’t matter what the service is either.

Bottom line is, we are the customers.

So what makes Setanta any different from say….Sky?

I’ll tell you what.

Scott Booth.

Scott Booth On Setanta

For months, no, years in fact, this clown has slagged Celtic off in the games he’s commented on, as if his life depended on the demise of the Hoops.

Game after game, he slavers his bias drivel, and yesterday was no exception.

From the very first minute when big Jan put Celtic ahead, he praised Hearts at every opportunity, and slated the Celts in the very next breath.

(I’m sure he wears a Hun top underneath whatever clothing he has on whilst slagging off the Hoops.)

Is It Just Us?

Surely someone at Setanta must listen to this creep at some point. He must be accountable to someone at the Broadcasting company.

If not, then it’s time you and I called for his head.

It’s bad enough having the BBC and STV kicking us at every turn without actually subcribing to the source.

Get Booth out, NOW!

It must be a dawdle being a journo when you want to put the boot into Celtic. Win, lose or draw, just phone up Frank McGarvey (that’s if he doesn’t call you first) and he’ll happily provide an opinion that should make the headlines – for all the wrong reasons.

Frank's New Gear

Only a day after our two misfiring strikers, Samaras and Vennegoor of Hesselink, find the net and Frank wants big Jan out the door.

Obviously still bitter about how his own career ended at Celtic Park, McGarvey, like his old striking partner Charlies Nicholas, are delighted in taking the forty pieces of silver to slag off the Hoops.

I never thought I’d say this, but they both should take a leaf out of fat DJ’s book. No matter how bad the Manky Mob are he sticks up for them at every turn.

Blind faith? maybe. Ignorance, certainly, but always he’ll back them. And still get his money.

PS. Frank, your cheque’s in the post. Courtesy of XYZ media!

PPS. It’s funny how ex-Celts turn sour but ex-Huns circle the wagons. Strange, I thought once a Tim always a Tim. Obviously not.

Following all the media hype over the last few days in the papers and pre-match today on the radio about “Boozegate” and in particular about “The Booze Brothers” it was great to see The Bhoys putting all that shit to the back of their minds and come storming out of the traps at 3pm in search of another crucial league win.

Today’s visitors, the Rankers “bouncy bouncy match” friends travelled the short journey along the M74 from Hamilton but were met at Paradise with a “Celtic Whirlwind” that right from kick-off only had ideas of attacking and securing all Three Points to go Six clear at the top of the league.

With The Bhoys being prompted from midfield by the very forward thinking Marc Crosas and Aiden McGeady hungry for the ball at all times the only shock was that it took us all of five minutes to take the lead. When the goal did arrive it was a great finish by “Big Sammy” which he celebrated in style by running to the bench & hugging his struggling striking partner “Big Jan”.

A second goal followed shortly with Aiden McGeady showing great composure to slot the ball past the Accies keeper after a fantastic defence splitting pass from Naka. Another goal by “Sammy” in the second half was followed by a fourth from “Big Jan” which he celebrated as if it was a “cup final winner”.

It also had to said so did the rest of his team mates showing the fantastic spirit within The Hoops camp and all The Faithful in the stands sang “Big Jans” name aloud.  So a 4-0 win and another Three Points and One Match less to play in our search for The SPL Title.

We Shall Not…We Shall Not Be Moved…Not by the Hearts, the Hibs or the Rankers…We Shall Not Be Moved !!!!!

Hail Hail … FRP … 4th April 2009

Although The Hoops do have the option to take up an option on his current contract for another year,  Jan himself has said that there are no talks ongoing at present, and he will wait to see what happens at the end of the season before discussing the matter any further.

The obvious reasons for much debate about this by The Faithful is quite simply that here we have a striker who has not scored in several months although in fairness to “Big Jan” much of that time has been spent on the treatment table recovering from injury.

But as you all know, a striker who isn’t scoring goals is always going to under pressure from the Laptop Loyal here in Scotland…..unless of course you are Boydichenko and then you get away with whatever you want.

Give big Jan, Another Year?

I personally think we should take up the years option on “Big Jan” and get him fully fit during pre-season. Thus allowing us the option to re-visit contract talks before the January window.

In the meantime I am sure the Big Man will come good and bang a few goals in  for The Hoops during our run of matches to being SPL Champions again.

Hail Hail … FRP … 19th March 2009

What a difference a week makes! As we took to the field last Saturday afternoon, we were three points behind the Manky Mob in the SPL title race and ten goals worse off.

Then at three o’clock, enter St Mirren.

A team who we’ve struggled against us at Celtic Park, a team who always look to blame the officials for any defeat in Paradise, (remember the first game of the season), a team who were going well under Gus The Pus.

But that all changed. Naka blasted an early goal, then one of the Saints defenders took out Skippy as he was about to score, was sent packing, and the rest as they say is history.

Seven goals later and we’re back level at the top of the SPL.

Now if Carlsberg do Wednesday’s then, the 4th March 2009 was one of them!

As the Hoops disposed of Killie down at Rugby Park, (well named, goes with Killie’s tactics) the unthinkable was happening over at Poundland.

Naka, The Saints Destroyer

That stalwart of the Hun, Big Tel was masterminding a cunning plan to defeat his much loved Rankers. His plan? Just watch Boyd and Co. play pish and then hit them with a sucker punch right at the end. Baldrick would have been proud!

So, here we are Saturday 7th March 2009, three points clear at the top of the SPL and off to Paisley to play of St Mirren’s new pitch.

The team should be roughly the same that won at Kilmarnock with big Jan possibly replacing Sammy, who still looks out of sorts. But you never know with WGS.

He might bring back Paul Hartley or throw in Glenn Loovens.

Either way we’ll have a different match this week, the pitch is tighter and they’ll try to close us down quickly.

None of that will matter if the Bhoys continue the form of the past few weeks.

See you in the semis Celtic!

Motherwell 1 Celtic 1

With only nine minutes remaining, Celtic led 1-0 thanks to a Scott McDonald goal and were in control of the match.

Then a ball is played outside the box to Clarkson, facing his own goal. Glenn Loovens decides he needs to win the ball and commits an innocuous foul.

Mudderwell take a short free-kick to a player standing in an offside position. Well he was offside to everyone but the linesman, who allowed play to carry on. The crossed ball bobbled about until Quinn shot into the bottom corner for an equaliser.

Unlucky?

Yes, but that only tells half the story.

Celtic wasted chance after chance before Skippy ”sclaffed’ a shot over Smith in the ‘well goal to give us a lead with half an hour to go.

Skippy and Jan were the main culprits. (The latter heading over from eight yards out.)   In keeping with last week’s debacle, Skippy misses on three minutes when it was easier to score.

If he puts it away, we’ve a different game altogether. (Like last week) But he didn’t and tonight we’re sitting behind the Huns in second place, and it all boils down to taking chances.

Celtic did play somwe good stuff on a disgrace of a pitch, we just didn’t finish the job.

Footnote:

Not to put a fine point on it but the referee, Iain Brines had another howler. Same old, same old there then.

Will the Holy Goalie start the game? Yes, without a doubt, unless he’s abducted by aliens, or the media, through the night.

Will new signing Willo Flood make his Hoops debut? Maybe. A lot could depend on Shaun being fit to start.

Will Naka resume his torment of Scottish defences? Well, the derby games haven’t always been Naka’s best, but this one will be his last before he returns to his homeland in the summer.

A typical Naka free-kick in the Huns onion bag would be a great send off for the Japanese maestro.

And last but not least. Who will partner the moaning faced Aussie, Skippy?

Big Jan seems to be favourite. The Dutchman can unsettle any defence and in games like this he is the man to put the Hun to the sword.

Remember his last minute header in the 2-1 game at Celtic Park last season????

So there we have it. Lots of questions, no answers! Must be an Auld Firm weekend!