Pendrey

The fool also mentions that we are weakest in the midfield and tosses up some Italian no-user as an alternative. I’ve got, at last count 9-10 central midfielders (and Donati, see Italian no-user). Give me strength.

So I might be breaking my own rules almost right away LOL, because I can’t accept the former Wolves man at the top level. LOL.

Click to enlarge.

Second friendly must have been a Pendrey special, because it’s home to Rochdale for God’s sake. Might as well just have a kickaround in the park.

The following first eleven take the park, with Hartley out and Crosas in.

Boruc; Hinkel, Caldwell, McManus, Naylor; Naka, Broon, Crosas, McGeady; Mcdonald, JVOH

And we belt them 6-0 playing a standard 4-4-2. Goals from JVOH (2), Naka, Mick, Samaras, Skippy and an OG complete the rout.

These games are useless to try and analyse, everybody got 7s I think, so that should keep morale up until I give Nails his marching orders.

Just peaked at the regular season fixtures – ManU at Celtic Park to start the season. Happy Days!

Interesting that despite the much vaunted Academy and Youth set-up at Lennoxtown, the number of coaches for the first team is less than optimal to actually get anything resembling 5-star, never mind 7-star training running.

That said I’ve asked Daniel Fergus McGrain to come and join me in the first team, and taken him off youth team duties. I’ve got a bad feeling about the conveyor belt of young players at Celtic, but that’s the topic for another post.

Tactics are still a few weeks away to really hone them, so I’ve gone into my first friendly match with a basic 4-4-2 Strachan copycat effort. No thought on anything other than picked the “pick-itself” mob that currently turns out for Celtic.

Off to Hillsborough then where I should at least have a decent run with the following first eleven.
Boruc; Hinkel, Caldwell, McManus, Naylor; Naka, Broon, Hartley, McGeady; Mcdonald, JVOH

Eleven subs so everybody else will get a game, including wee ratface Mark Brown unfortunately. I’m hoping he gets sick of the bench and moves on, LOL.

Unfortunately things didn’t quite go to plan, as Scott Broon had another one of those “moments” and got sent off early doors for chopping some Wednesday guy in half. Skippy off, Robson on and we coasted after that.

O’Dea, Robson and Maloney all scored second half goals, mainly from deadballs and crosses. Hmmm. Might see how the second team goes in a friendly game against the first before the season starts actually.

Well that’s me back in the game lads.  Who better than Alan Thompson to take the reins at Celtic.  Celtic legend and Hunskelper.  And English.  Mind you he’s not the only new manager in the 9.2 database.  Seems that Keano and Ince have also been given the chop before the season starts.

And Sunderland have opted for Glenda Hoddle, while Rovers have picked up the under-rated Stevie Coppell.  At least Wee Gordon won’t be an instant oponent.

I’ll take a flying guess that Sunderland might struggle this year, although they looked to be about as cashed up as anybody.

First order of business for Thommo was to get some scouts on board.  Celtic’s much vaunted “European” scouting system seems to consist of Ray Clarke and a couple of other jokers.  I’ve put some feelers out and set my criteria for 15 and 15 for analysing player ability and potential.

And Bob’s your uncle, a round of Irn Bru trebles to new men: Ian Salter from Charlton, Terry John from Man Citeh, David Hamilton from Derby and Steve Martin (!) from Portsmouth.  I’ve set them East European and German general player identification tasks – as by January I might need a few.

As it is the rumour mill is flying thick and fast with all the loadsamoney EPL teams.  Already confirmed are Zhirkov and Gapo into Man Citeh, Srna into Spurs and Shevvie back to AC Milan.  I’m being linked in the press with Chinedu Obasi from Hoffenheim (too good) and Jimmy Bullard (too expensive and as we now know, too injury prone!). 

In contrast, Ryan Conroy has agreed to join Queen of the South on loan for 6 months.  At least they’ll pay the 100% whack for the boy.  Not sure I’m going to enjoy being the poorest team in the league.

Anyway, the media are predicting 13th for me and I’ve asked Pendrey for his views on our current squad.  We’ll see what the Brummie Botherer has to say shortly…

Quick update kids, Dr John Reid tells me he’s fully supporting this new English adventure.

And he’ll pay me eighteen and a half thousand pounds a week to get thrashed off Fat Sam and his ilk. Good stuff, I’ve chucked the day job, working in me jammies has always been a dream.

I might enjoy this.

Managing: Celtic

Date: July 17, 2008

Status: Pre-Season Jitters

So farewell Gordon Strachan, moany-faced wee ginger genius. Farewell Rugby Park, Tannadice and the windswept Tulloch Cally Stadium in Inverness.

It’s hello to the bright lights of the EPL and the megabucks that go with it.

Dermot Desmond convinced the SKY money gods to let Celtic into the Premier League, and as everybody knows, we’ve been saying it for years, give us a chance with that TV money and you’ll see who the biggest club in Britain really is.

So sadly, it’s back to the Championship with Stoke and off to the SPL with Swansea. The English have been telling us for years that the SPL is the Euro-Disney League, let’s see how the Taffies get on up north.

Whats new? Celtic supporters will be paying an extra 4 quid a week to watch them get humped off Liverpool, but all existing players come with the team. I’ll be keeping a light touch on the managerial tiller to see if the current crop are good enough to compete in the EPL, no Pog or other “wonderkids” like Daryl on FM09, just the same old blokes who won 3 SPL titles on the trot and two last 16s in the CL. The thing is, there’ll be no CL money this year, or magic nights at Paradise to keep the punters happy.

I’m assuming Pendrey and the rest of the coaching staff will stick around, will be interesting to see where wee Gordon pops up during the season won’t it?

More than that, wonder if I’ll make it past Christmas…

Next Up: Return of the Prodigal