"When The Belfast Child Sings Again"

The Sharp Suited Man has spoken.

Celtic have not made enquires or bid for any one of the 101 players they have been linked wie. We have made only 2 bids and 1 of them was accepted. I think we can take it as read that the other bid was for Kyle Haffwittery, which was deemed too low for the Norn Iron Peter Crouch.

The man in the suit talks aboot targets and talks on-going while his actions (and the admitting of deals that he has rubberstamped by making a bids) show us not getting any big c'mons, like the type of c'mons that Big Bertha fae doon the road gies you at chucking oot time when she is looking for a lumber, but the strokey chinny chin chin and comeback after the Euros type reply.

Would rather we brought in quality than pesh oor budget up against the wa' on 2nd rate shit. We need awe killer and nae filler. We need to list oor targets and if we dinny get them then so be it. No, going to Cardiff, Motherwell, Colchester, Bolton for a "ochhewilldae" type signing.

The question remains, are the players we are being linked wie any better than we have? Yes, they play for Champs League clubs but is Martin Stranzl (for example) any better than Mick McManus, Darren O'Dea or Gary Caldwell?

Still wie nae white smoke, or even grey smoke, wafting from Parkheads gates means that the powers at be should be worried over a pre-season that they will be fools to take.

A Celtic XI are going to be playing Glentoran (unconfirmed) on the 23rd July. It will be the first time that Celtic have visited Belfast since 1984 when we played Cliftonville at Solitude. Judging by the photies there was a nice crowd oot that day!!!!!

A lot has changed since the dark days of the Belfast of the 70's and 80's. The city is under going a massive regeneration and a city I had a lovely weekend in only last year. I went over just after the yearly "Orangefest" (what Belfast Tourist Board call the parade) festival. Went over for MrsLOTW birthday, which is on the 12th July, so we went the weekend after as the festival held no interest to us. Strange that.

The city is vibrant and alive. The past is getting left behind in the City Centre. We had a great few nights in Robinsons Bar on Great Victoria Street, just up from Sandy Row and across from the Europa hotel, which was the most bombed hotel in Europe at one point. Still we were asked the question whenever oor accent was heard..

"You'll be here for the parades then......"

It wisnny until you left the City Centre that you saw what effect the cultural "Orangefest" had on the different areas of Belfast. West Belfast is probably the maist (in)famous area wie the Shankhill and the Falls running side by side. I had never really heard of East Belfast. Knew George Best was born there but that was it. Still after driving past East Belfast I knew where their loyalties lie.

On the drive to Stormount you pass East Belfast. It was a sea of Red, White and Blue wie mair flags than the Russian Navy and it looked like there had been an explosion in a bunting factory. Right on the edge of this sat Glentorans ramshackle looking Ovel ground.

It is there that a Celtic XI will run oot as the embers of the marching season still burn hot enough for the eejits that attach themselves to their respective causes to see this as a chance for a flash point and an incident.

Now, as I don't live in Belfast I canny comment but.....the view of the majority of Belfast based Tims is this game should not go ahead. The main point seems to be that tensions will still be high and sending a young Celtic team coupled wie a few thousand (maybe, a lot seem to be giving it a miss) Belfast Tims (who only want to see there team in their ain country) into a Loyalist area seems like giving a one-legged man a red rag in a pen full of bulls.

Add to that the noises coming from some that Paddy McCourts international career is over after only 1 cap means it looks like Celtic are as welcome as a Polling Clerk chapping Robert Mugabes front door.

I often wonder who picks these games? A few season back we decided to play Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. This gave them (Chelsea) to prove their "Blues Brothers" tag (a tag polished and celebrated at last pre-season shitfest at Ibrox) by bricking, pool balling and bottling anything in Green and White.

After the shit staned fall oot from The Huns in Manchester make now mistake there are thousands waiting on us to be involved in an incident. In fact, i'm sure they will be some that see this game as  a chance to cause something that will make us look bad.

Lets hope this game is not confirmed.

Forza