Today, the press conferences. The calm before the storm. The two leaders, in front of the hacks, with one last chance to speak over their heads to the fans. A chance to raise spirits and morale, a chance to inspire calm. A chance to project strength one last time before tomorrow. The Celtic boss sat and gave a coherent, measured display, a man relaxed. A man in total control. The same could not be… Source ..read more

“Everybody has a plan,” Mike Tyson once said, “until they get punched in the mouth.” It is one of the most well-known quotes in sport, and although it is clunky and sounds rather unsophisticated, it really isn’t. It’s brilliantly observed, and extremely shrewd. Tyson was a master of psychological warfare. He could break another boxer in the stare-out before a punch had even been thrown. Source ..read more

The greatest honour, the greatest achievement, that could be bestowed on a Roman leader, short of ascending to the consulship, was to be afforded the honour of a Triumph. It was such a privilege that generals who did not get one when they thought they deserved it would refuse to re-enter the city, and sit outside it with their legions, sometimes for many years. Because Rome did not permit… Source ..read more

There only thing less surprising than Brendan Rodgers not making the shortlist for the sportswriters manager of the year award was that the Belgian Waffler did. When the initial, PFA Manager Of The Year nominees were named I sort of understood the names that were on it; I’m not saying I totally agreed with them, but I got it to an extent … the whole idea of these awards is devalued anyway… Source ..read more

Yesterday, I heard a very strong rumour that Liam Kelly, of Motherwell, has already spoken to Brendan Rodgers with a view to joining Celtic. Last night, Stephen McGowan of The Daily Mail broke the story, which was already being discussed on several Celtic fan forums. His was definitely not the exclusive he claims. I suspect there’s something in this one. McGowan says he’s available on a free. Source ..read more

There are few so irresponsible as those who are truly desperate, and let’s be blunt about this; Ibrox’s fans, players, coaches and directors do not need any excuse to act in an irresponsible fashion, even in the best of circumstances. Facing a Celtic league decider at Parkhead, in front of nothing but a partisan home support, certainly doesn’t qualify for that. In the days after the Ibrox draw… Source ..read more

Reports tonight have suggested that there is a new name in the frame for Celtic’s vacant under 18 manager’s job; Adam Ashgar, the under 21 boss at Southampton. His CV is impressive. Highly so. He is the sort of high-ranking, high-calibre candidate that we should be going for. There is nothing “old pals act” about this, this is a quality individual. The reports strongly suggest that Rodgers has… Source ..read more

As a fan looking forward to a big game, all you really want to know is that people at your club are focussed on the job at hand and working hard behind the scenes. There is no question that this describes Celtic, right now, to a T. Brendan Rodgers has sat in front of the club’s in-house media team, and they put up their work this morning. It is worth watching. I’m putting a link at the bottom. Source ..read more

Keith Jackson. Writing in the paper today. Forcing himself onto this blog. Didn’t we go over this yesterday? Or am I so disoriented that I’m getting my days wrong? This is Tuesday, right? So why is this geezer penning another piece with his name slapped all over the headline as if he’s a Pulitzer Prize winning journalist and not just a desperate hack? His piece yesterday avoided the full-scale… Source ..read more

One of the iconic moments in the fantastic, Academy Award winning movie Patton, comes when the titular general has vanquished his enemy in his first North African battle; standing on a high pass overlooking the battlefield, he triumphantly shouts: “Rommell, you magnificent bastard! I READ YOUR BOOK!” It’s a piece of Hollywood hokum; if he read a German general’s book about armoured warfare it… Source ..read more