Dead Rats, Man-Management And Bertie Auld Wants Entertained.

International weeks are as boring as a debate between John McCain and Barrack Obama. It makes you want to drink yer weight in Skullsplitter then go shooting pheasants wie a shotgun while shouting 'FREEDOM'. It also makes you wonder why an Ayrshire Authority would invest £15m in Icelandic Banks and how often The Mint will belt on about the minority.

Dead Rats And Letterboxes. 

News reaches us from the Barrhead News that Mike McCurry, the esteemed M.I.B, is planing to move from the toon. After years off, supposed, Novo type abuse- dead rats through letter boxes and smashed windows- he has put his 'plush' hoose up for sale. A Barrhead Insider, probably wee Aggie who was collecting her pension, said

“I heard last week that he is selling up because he is not popular with certain people in the town. I know that his windows have been smashed on a few occasions and he’s had quite a tough time over the years.”

..... So, he is not Simply The Best then. The inventor of the offside own goal surpassed himself this weekend when he awarded Hibs a penalty and sent off Celtic, Dundee Utd and Wolves reject Charlie Mulgrew in the process while missing that Steven Fletcher was at least 7 yards offside.

Still, wie stories aboot Novo, McGregor and now McCurry appearing this week it's hard not to smell a dead rat through a letterbox.

The Manager Has Been Great.

This has been the mantra coming from Celtic new bhoys this week. First up the impressive Marc Crosas has been talking about his conversion from a right-handed sided midfield player in a 4-3-3 to a defensive midfielder in a 4-4-2.....

"I am enjoying my role in front of the defence. At Barcelona we played 4-3-3 and I was on the right side of the central midfield area. With three central midfielders, one of the players has to be defensive all the time. With Celtic's 4-2 formation, two central players can take turns to make forward runs. So far, the manager has asked me to play in front of the defence mostly and that's good because I see the whole game ahead of me. I can take possession and make passes. I'm enjoying it. The manager has been great with me. He spoke to me about my performances. He has just said that he wants me to keep it up."

...he said while the rest of us were wondering why the manager once again buys a player and tries to change his style.

Next up was Glenn Loovens. The affable Dutchman did his best Sheve McLaren impression when he said..

"Mick and Gary are top players and it won't be easy to break up that partnership. But I've signed for four years at Celtic, that's a long time. The manager has been good with me, and I know what I have to do."

It's good that he say's that he is here for the long haul. His performance against Aberdeen was poor and then Mick McManus has decided to find a bit of form over the last 2 games. Also, Gary Caldwell can't be dropped as he is ghod.

Both say the managers, man-management has been good wie them. I suspect Chris Sutton, Alan Thompson, Bobo Balde, Charlie Mulgrew, David Marshall and Deek Riordon (Leithbawbagerus) would disagree.

Bertie Has A Book To Promote

Bertie Auld has a new book to promote, which means he has to come oot wie a soundbite. This is something Lisbon Lion legends seem guid at doing. Bertie and Tommy Gemmell seem to be the main rent a quotes blawhards when the auldtimers are asked to comment. Still it looks like Bertie agrees that we are oot the Big Cup....

"The UEFA Cup is more likely but the important thing is that Gordon Strachan and the players are still getting that experience of playing at a higher level, rather than just playing in the SPL. It's definitely not a consolation prize. The most important thing is learning and achieving something."

....which I agree wie. Playing UEFA Vase fitba' after Christmas is the least we require. We could have a decent wee run, draw dependant. But.....for the first time in eon's the UEFA Vase knockoot stages could be quite strong.

After agreeing wie Bertie he then goes and talks Boomsung.

"What we need now is entertainment, as well as winning trophies. We are just short of that a little bit. It's important that Gordon gets money to bring in an entertainer. We need that lift, someone who is going to change games, rather than just win games."

We need an entertainer in a team that contains Aiden McGeady, Shaun Maloney and Nakamura?

A Bhoy Called Bertie is oot now and I'm sure it might be worth a read or worth getting put on yer Santa list.

The World According to Peter McGuire Martin

I wouldnae usually gie Celtic Tv reject Peter the time of day. But he said something interesting today....

"In the next window, they should bid for James McArthur, Jamie McCarthy and Steven Fletcher. These three players are the best emerging talents in our game and may well go on to provide the spark the fans and Bertie crave. I have been told there's no way Celtic can throw millions of pounds at big-name players. Point taken. But with that in mind, take a leaf out of Jock Stein's book; sign the best young talent sitting right under your nose. I am led to believe wheels are already in motion."

....after watching James McCarthy on Saturday he didnae impress but the ROI coaches canny all be wrong. James McArthur I don't know much aboot and Steven Fletcher is IMO over-rated. But is this the road Celtic should be going doon? Would these guys entertain us like watching Robbie Williams exploding due to excess body fat would?

That's it over. Let's hope for a Scotland victory and Barty Crouch to score a goal for England.

Forza