The Monday Morning View from the Gutter
What a great weekend! First off Walter Smith decides (quite correctly) that his rectum is now full and he requires to alleviate the pressure by ejecting some hacks from his colon. Such were the cries of tactical genius etc after last weeks impressive defeat of Lyon that Walters anus was full. No worries to Wattie however, one display of his usual tactical ineptness and half the Journos floated away on the enema-like effects of Watties latest debacle.
Apart from the fact that he went for only one striker at home against the impressive Hibs, God only knows why he played three defensive midfielders and a player that is never a lone striker in a month of Sunday’s is beyond me. Well done Walter.
It was good to hear DJ and Dawwll keeping the troops positive with their "we don’t know what happens in training, Cousin may not have performed well" responses to people who challenged his team selection and ‘strategy’. It’s made all the more incredulous when the excuses are topped off with cries of "bad day at the office".
I have never noted Strachan being afforded such courtesy.
Fast forward through all the perma rage to Sunday afternoon, Fri Park and a clearly jaded Celtic side get more than a run for their money from an well-organised and hungry Gretna side. Lets make no bones about it, Gretna never deserved to lose this match and if they can continue to raise their game like this again they may not be doomed to relegation after all.
The stage was set for the dreaded anti climax of not managing to capitalise on Ranger’s inept performance and Celtic were sticking true to that script until late in the game when Chris Killen decided to get his first goal for the club. 1-1 wouldn’t have been a bad result. Taking a one-point lead to Ibrox would have been forgivable after the exploits of midweek. Scott McDonald had other ideas.
This is the player who stated on Wednesday night that his winner against Milan should exorcise the demons of Black Sunday from his soul and how apt it was that he finally put things behind him in the ground that he made history in two and a half years ago.
Many fans were upset with Celtic’s apparent lack of ambition in the signing of McDonald, wanting to see a big name signing as opposed to a diminutive Australian who had played for a lesser club, but I was always impressed with McDonalds style of play.
His ability to go toe to toe with Central defenders twice his size and usually come out on top were good omens oft his ability. The fact that he was the third top scorer last season signified that he knew the way to the back of the net.
So this morning after scoring the winner yesterday he stands proudly at the top of the scorers charts alongside JVOH, and deservedly so after scoring five goals in a week that saw Celtic snatch two victories in the dying minutes. The very fact that it was Skippy who scored both those winners puts to bed any nonsense that he does not have a big game pedigree!
It truly is a pleasure to have a player like Skippy in the squad, I am glad that this is one signature that we managed to secure.
Have a great season Scott, all is forgiven. You are one of us now!
Yours in Celtic
Clydebuilt