SENTINELCELTS

This break we are going through feels unnatural, due to only really getting started ourselves for various reasons, so having finally got under way to halt proceedings with so little game time under the belt only adds to the sense of disruption that many are feeling.
The longer than usual transfer window probably means that incredibly we wont feel like we have settled down with the finished squad to really begin the retention of our title for another 5 weeks or so. With a derby game and the closing window, the first week of October promises to be a big one for Tims everywhere, and when its dust has settled much will be said of our credentials.
 
Until then the footballing department should be focusing on a style of play plus integrating any new signings asap, with the intention of going on an unbeaten run, and then extending that run past derby day, something which would inject some much needed belief into a fanbase reeling from our stuttering start to the ten and almost shocking Champions League exit defeat.
This will be the gaffers biggest test yet and time on the training ground should be used to the fullest extent of his and his coaching team’s ability, that’s how much it will take to come out successful this year, all they’ve got, and no one should be under any illusion that isn’t the case.
The fans also need to become used to looking up the table, admittedly an unaccustomed sight, but for once shows that even though we would be level on points if we win our games in hand, a very distinct possibility, we aren’t taking the three points in those games for granted.
Perhaps that’s sensible, but it’s also a sign we aren’t a very good team at the moment.
Please don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.
 
This break could well see departures to offset the incomings, but as we will endeavour to only deal with transfers if and when they happen, this means real football news is thin on the ground.
But I admit was surprised with the sites lack of debate surrounding two recent events that made their way into the main stream media recently.
 
For starters the Duff & Phelps duo getting cleared of all charges and having their human rights breached by Police Scotland should result in heads rolling, but will instead most likely result in knuckle shuffling. The Prosecution has not received all documents from the fuzz surprise surprise, it was a case brought by malice and a wish to see somebody cop it (pardon the pun) for a football club being unwilling to accept the results and backlash of balancing the books.
The entire fiasco is expected to cost the tax payer, you, approximately 100 million smackeroonies, a shocking figure.
In a normal functioning democratic society these two would be lucky not to see a cell, up north this almost guarantees them free pints and access to the members lounge.
If you ever needed a harsh reminder that the game up north is bent, has sinister elements involved, and is as far from the beautiful game we fell in love with as one could find, then this tale is that example. It stinks to the high heavens, and crooked cops doesn’t begin to cover it.
Look out for Hollyrod to convene an urgent inquiry, if not why not? Draw your own conclusion.
 
https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-glasgow-west-53930935
 
However KT’s videocast with Si Ferry and its insights became overlooked (rightfully) in the midweek build up and fall out, but that’s not to say there’s zero of interest in there.
Firstly, the lad himself. Kieran looked happy!
He looks like he is enjoying himself, bit of a spring in the step, and his easy going kid off the street style was back with a flourish.
Im delighted for him, truly I am. The last couple years of Kieran at Celtic were very different than the first couple years I think its fair to say, when he went from Paddy Roberts idol who laid his shirt infront of the Green Brigade, to a jaded limping shell of a great left back.
Well here finally we have it straight from the horse mouth what happened and why, another rarity in todays online world that see’s rumour fill empty space, usually the juicer the gossip the easier the fit for some reason.
 
Please have a listen yourself, around the hour mark is very interesting for a while, but for me some of it is very revealing of our mindset even if that wasnt intended.
When KT was moving, the overwhelming story was its for the money. 70k a week sets the next few generations of the family up plus he wants to test himself etc etc and we went along with that, no problem.
At least all of us bar one, YOU ASSHOLE , and Im glad they didnt receive the media coverage they probably craved at the time. (painting judas on his house)
 
But as we hear straight from the horse’s mouth, he couldn’t properly recuperate whilst at the club, for various reasons. He clearly admits he wanted to play, and was prepared to take two injections per game to play one game a week with struggling in between, and also admits that once he was going to call out he was persuaded to give it a go.
We hear that under two different managers injections were the norm, and he had been diagnosed with Pubis whatever its name is. A very serious injury that had Johnny Hayes saying stop doing what you are doing and ditto big Tam Rogic, although one wonders just how he can give injury advice with a straight face. Ok that may be the wrong way of looking at it seeing he has suffered his fair share but still, his telling a non sicknote to become a sick note,,errr, excuse me if I feel its for a bit of company. Oh and all the best at your next holiday camp.
 
Please listen for yourself but in my humble opinion no one outside the bhoy walks away from that episode well now we have the inside track.
The management,, anyone professional minded reading that must gasp, successive managers not prepared to take the time to ensure the time required for the injury to heal, which would have resulted in a world class on his day left back?
Why is that?
Is it such a pressure cauldron that you must risk the cream of our youths career?
The transgression by Lenny and Scot could be explained away by the fact Kieran had been opting to play sometimes, and they thought they would chose once please, so I can see where they are coming from.
But an employee phoning you from his bed saying Im so bad I cant make it out, and you cajole him to play?
 
A friend of mine was recently explaining that they believe Lenny needs protection from Glasgow Celtic. That he will step up above and beyond when he shouldn’t, That he just cant say no, the love of the club runs too deep and he see’s the service as an honour.
On one hand Lenny is right, it is an honour to give service to the famous Glasgow Celtic, but on the other hand the mate, who posts here, is also very correct in that Lenny must be protected from giving too much, burning himself out or maybe accepting the position as lightening rod for the club we all love.
 
After that interview I see a young left back that also needed protection from our club. Serious questions should be asked, but they wont be and the protagonists are odds on to move away after 10.
Could no one have stepped up and said give him the rest?
Two managers failed him in that respect but so did the CEO who must have asked questions, after all this was his diamond in the rough who has steadily declined and more often than not visibly limps through games? Could stats not have shown how short his run bursts are, or maybe how little km’s overall he amassed? The sports science was ignored it seems, and the lads future wellbeing for the short term, all because the kid himself wanted to play?
And then on top of all this, you throw in the pressure of the ten (shown by the graffiti), the plastic pitches, the hammer throwers, and the bent refs.
 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i_Ibl92_FoA
 
In deciding to go to Arsenal and perhaps the English Premier League in general, the young man would have been aware he was going to a much much more professional setup, one that would give him the time needed.
Why?
Protecting their asset of course.
Up in the East end this kid had came from one year contracts to the next big thing and was willing to lay it all on the line, probably the biggest selling jersey and merchandise, yet he had cost zilch so was always going to bring in big profit.
We didnt want to protect him, we wanted to display and move on, and it worked.
 
By moving to North London the bhoy may well have taken his biggest step so far but he also took his most important. By moving to Arsenal, Kieran Tierney ensured that Kieran Teirney would receive protection, from things such as permanently playing whilst injured, and they will takes whatever steps necessary firstly to rehabilitate, rejuvenate, and reignite their left back who looks a snip at 25. That 25 million is an investment for the Londoners to attempt to maximise, both in effect and value, which will only happen when decisions like playing when injured on a whim are not only eliminated, but the player himself would become so professional as to say you know what not today. Which clearly couldnt happen at our club.
 
In moving we, all of us,will get to see or find out just how good Kieran can actually become as he competes with a former season ticket holder for England maybe even Europe’s best left back, instead of how many injuries he had.
He had to go down south to thrive, its as simple as that.
 
I hope I speak for us all when I type Kieran my bhoy, knock em for six kid. Away and shine.
For in doing yourself proud down there, you are doing us all proud.
You’ll Never Walk Alone.
 
The above by Mahe. Black Lives Matter.
sentinelcelts@gmail.com