Best wishes firstly, to my followers and avid readers – all three of you helped immensely in my first venture into blogging which mainly focused on football, and primarily Celtic Football Club.
This will be partly a tongue in cheek post on what our Bhoys should be striving towards in 2012 to help retain the title, but with the added twist of real journalistic nuance and semi-knowledgeable comment. This will also come as a surprise compared to the usual fayre which is dished out on this hallowed portal…..
First up, a tip for the new Swede in town – right-back Mikael Lustig should cut those wavy brunette locks. Only Sammy can get away with sporting such delicate, beautiful and flowing hair and he does remind me of the distinguished courtier-poet Sir Thomas Wyatt of Henry VIII’s reign with the combination of his intriguing facial mouser.
He needs to integrate himself with the team psyche as early as possible like such players as Adam Matthews & Victor Wanyama have done since joining. Listen to the history from fans & stalwarts alike and marvel in the club’s stature, whilst realising you are representing not just a football team & business – but a community.
Talking of the Kenyan King, Victor Wanyama hopefully sticks to his word and dismisses any talk of wanting out of Celtic Park by committing his long-term future to the club. My personal player of the season so far has been nothing short of spectacular in defensive and midfield roles, with a combination of furious combative hustling and a vision and understanding of the game which defies some belief given his tentative twenty years.
I honestly believe he only just gave the ball away for the first time at East End Park on Sunday – and that was gifted to the Dunfermline net. Comparisons to midfield legends such as Patrick Viera and Didier Deschamps have of course magnified the spotlight shone on Slick Vic by other teams and hopefully he can ignore the press pack rumours and pushy agents to carve out a successful and trophy laden Celtic career.
Further to former Celt, Aiden McGeady’s comments this week, I am in full agreement that James Forrest can & will become the Parkhead sides most effective weapon in the coming years. A major part of Celtic’s title race revival has been the direct running of the pacey young Scot who has chipped in with seven goals and six further assists – Since the departure of McGeady to the Russian League cracks Spartak Moscow, the Bhoys have not had such an explosive talent on their hands.
My advice to our number forty-nine, would be to stay grounded and not to let the headlines or plaudits boost his ego too much – we don’t want a Fleckaldinho type situation on our hands. Thebhoymcclay’s talent scouts at Lennoxtown often wax lyrical about young Forrest when it comes to end of training shooting practice – a bomb of a right peg which Zaluska & Forster combined, would struggle to stop.
Scott Brown - Keep up the intense Skittle-fuelled performances on the pitch. Combine with a dash of crazy staring pupils and a pinch of \o/ wherever applicable, and come season end you will surely be a title winning captain!
Charlie Mulgrew - If you see Michelle Mone, run!
Kris Commons - Dust down Terry McDermott’s old “Social Convener” overcoat – you are the class clown of 2012 – as by the looks of it, your footballing opportunities at Celtic are over.
Mo Bangura - If you are still here by the time I have written this sentence, I’d firstly like to congratulate you & secondly advise you to treat every game like a bounce game.
Another player whose career we don’t want to grind to a halt again is Georgios Samaras – the Greek has been playing as consistently well for the Hoops during this recent run than at any other point during his few years in Scotland.
No matter how he or any of the team are playing at any point during a league season, you can always rely on Samaras to give his all to the cause and never hide in the shadows of players & opposing defenders. When self-confidence is low though, touches & passes go awry and the fans have an easy scapegoat again – But in the last month I have witnessed a change of some magnitude from the Celtic faithful towards the giant forward (the Kyle Bartley molligation on the 28th endeared a few more to #TeamSamaras), with a belief that he can be a part of Neil Lennon’s jigsaw. This belief and appreciation is now two way and I would ask Georgios & the fans to Keep the Faith with each other this coming year – and avoid a Greek Tragedy come May.
P.S. Don’t take any notice of that Swedish boys barnet – its not a patch on yours….& you’re worth it!
