Well with the World Cup almost out of the way, its now back to the preparations for the domestic season. The Bhoys were well represented at the recent Cuppa de Mundial in Germany. "Magic" didn't get to show his mercurial skills, but "Artur" did put in some very good shows for the disappointing Polish side that so much was expected of. Then there was that man that we have all come to love HENRIK. He was a sensation in the last Group B game, with a last gasp goal to earn a point for Sweden against the Sassanachs. Our hearts went out for him in the next round against the host nation, when he blazed a penalty well over the bar, and so sending the Swedes home early.
It was a very strange tournament, with good games few and far between. It's probably because we (Celts-Irish, Scots and Welsh) are not there. The Brazilians seemed to be stuttering along. The French came alive against the Brazilians. The English bored the beejaysus off everyone. Sven said "we are getting better as the tournament goes on before crashing out against Portugal.
On the domestic front, the Celts unfurl the Championship flag with the visit of Kilmarnock on July 29th followed by a trip to Hearts on August 6th. That Hearts game will see former Celt' Stan Varga and former Gers' favourite Neil McCann line out for the home side. Also the new management team of Mikhailichenko and Kuznetsov might even get a chance to pick the home team!!
With all the comings and goings at Celtic Park this summer, the conveyor belt has been very busy. Gone from the Bhoys are the elder statesmen, RK, "BIG JOHN", DD and Stan Varga also young Stan could be on his way if we are to believe all the speculation. New faces to enter Paradise are former Hibs duo Derek Riordan and Gary Caldwell. Ex- Ger Kenny Miller and Jiri Jarosik arrive from Chelsea. Another noticeable arrival is Evander (after the boxer Holyfield) Sno from Feyenoord. Remember the last player we signed from that Dutch outfit!!!!!!
The signing of Kenny Miller from Wolves was an interesting one. He has become the first player, since that famous (or infamous) signing of Mo Johnstone, to go from one side of Glasgow to the other. It provoked anger and outrage from across the blue half of Glasgow. Season tickets were torn to shreds. Jerseys were ripped to pieces. Fans with his name tattooed onto their person, from his time with the "huns", were in a terrible dilemma. Let's hope that the attention that surrounded the transfer with live up to the expectation of the player!!
Last season was a great one for Gordon Strachan. In his first season, as the boss, we won the CIS Cup and romped home with loads to spare in the SPL, from the ‘jambos'. The Scottish Cup and Champions League competitions proved to be disasterous. The "mighty" Clyde and the slightly bigger Artmedia Bratislava saw to our downfall in those competitions.
It was also nice to see our arch rivals battle it out for the ‘coveted' runners-up spot and a place in the Champions League. Poor old teddy-bears, somebody had eaten all their cake. Its always nice to see our ‘neighbours' drawing a blank. They have a new manager in Le Guen and that should be very interesting.
Last season was a sad one, with the loss of the "greatest ever Celt", Jimmy ‘jinky' Johnstone. Jimmy was a footballing genius, a fan and an idol and a cult figure among the Celtic faithful. Words could not describe this man. He was gifted. Shortly after his untimely death a CD was released in his honour. It was recorded shortly before his death with Jim Kerr and Simple Minds and Shane McGowan. The song ‘Dirty Old Town' was a hit and went to No.1 in Scotland and No.28 in the UK charts. All the proceeds from the CD went to Motor Neurone Disease, from which Jimmy suffered.
The new season begins with great expectations. JJ talks from Rugby Park about being penniless. Hearts will be a big test again this year, as will our city rivals. Maurice Malpas takes the reigns at Motherwell. We are looking good yet again. Let's hope Stan continues as a Celt. He came as a teenager and is now regarded as one of our own.
Let's hope come May that we can do justice for the "Lisbon Lions". May 2007 will be the 40th anniversary of that famous night. It got a little scary last season when the other lot got to the quarter-finals. We'll keep the green flag flying high. Hail Hail!!!