FC Utrecht were also impressive in their weekend match against Willem II by running out to a 3-0 score with a brace from Ricky Van Wolfswinkel. One player who will not be facing off against Celtic is Jacob Mulenga, the Zambian striker who left the match against Celtic with a calf injury. Celtic continue to miss long term injured Gary Hooper, Niall McGinn and Andreas Hinkel. Depending on who you believe Glenn Loovens left Celtic Park on Sunday after not being named as a starter or to the bench and may be on his way back to Cardiff.

Also, joining Celtic on loan is giant (6′7″) goalkeeper Fraser Forster. He is ineligible to play in tomorrow’s match but is eligible for Sunday’s match.

So let’s have a good turn out for tomorrow’s match and cheer the Bhoys on to European progression!

Celtic open their home portion of the campaign against St. Mirren this Sunday at 10. Celtic are on a two match winning streak that includes two clean sheets while St. Mirren began their campaign with a plucky 1-1 draw against Dundee United.

Celtic enter the match with Gary Hooper, Andreas Hinkel, and Niall McGinn all definitively out while Josh Thompson has joined Rochdale on loan for the season. Emilio Izaguirre is back in Honduras packing his bags and signing the proper papers to join Celtic and is not eligible as of yet.

St. Mirren (with a Lennon of their own managing) have injury and suspension issues, especially up front with Michael Higdon suspended, Paul McQuade, Steven Thomson and David Barron injured and Paul McGowan (on loan from our beloved Celtic) unable to face his parent club.

Sunday should be a lovely day with cooler temperatures so take advantage of the lack of paint-melting heat and join us at Fado for a continued great start to the campaign!

No, it will not be broadcast in the United States. That means fire up the computers and go to Channel 67 (or other less legal means) to watch the Bhoys play AT HOME in the Europa League. Lovely.

That aside, Celtic will be playing their Europa League qualifier against FC Utrecht this Thursday with a new signing (or two) at their disposal. With Craig Bellamy going back home to Wales Celtic have welcomed in 33 year old Daniel Majstorovic, Swedish internationalist and center half to the squad and are close to signing 24 year old Ecuadorian Emilio Izaguirre, who plies his trade at left back.

Going the other direction is Darren O’Dea who is back on loan to Ipswich Town for 6 months. Celtic’s injured list include Gary Hooper (gone about 6 weeks), Thomas Rogne (2-3 weeks), Niall McGinn (2 weeks), Mark Wilson (2 weeks), and Pat McCourt who was Maloneyed after scoring the winning goal against Inverness this past Saturday (day-to-day).

The latest in rumor mill “slightly not completely rubbish” transfers have Celtic interested in two Manchester City players - Vladimir Weiss, a winger and Slovakian internationalist, son of Vladimir Weiss, Slovakian national team manager. The second player is Séamus John James “Shay” Given, who you may have heard of before. He’s apparently a goalie, Irish internationalist and spent 3 years as a Celtic youth player from 1991-1994. It was announced today (August 17th) by a man who wears a scarf an awful lot (no, not HIM), that Given may leave the club if he wishes.

So, enjoy the match in your own special way on Thursday and the match report for the weekend will come later this week!

Celtic travel to ICT this Saturday morning winners of eight straight league matches under Neil Lennon. The last three times Celtic played Caley there were two wins (2-1 and 1-0) and one draw (0-0).

With the departure of Aiden McGeady to Moscow, Celtic are continue to shop for players, the latest being a loan offer for the return of Craig Bellamy to the Hoops.

The lineup has not been announced at this time but Thomas Rogne (you know, our one central defender who does not make you want to wet yourself on a cross) appears to be out due to an injury picked up in a Norway U-21 match played last night. He joins new signing Gary Hooper on the injured list. No other injuries have been announced but long term injured Niall McGinn looks to be sitting out until he’s repaired.

Last season wasn’t the most successful for Celtic but here’s to hoping for a much better season for the bhoys!

CHANGING GEARS:

I will be missing the next couple of Saturdays as I finish this rotation but if someone would be kind enough to collect I would be much indebted.

The match prices and season ticket package remains the same for this year. $10 per match and $300 for the season. If you are interested in the season ticket package and were looking to pay in installments, please contact me directly.

The other thing: guys and gals, we took a big downturn last year both in the number of people showing up and financially. Fado has been kind to us more often than not and I would like to repay them with good numbers this season. I know not everyone on this list is in town or always available, but please if you can show up for matches. It keeps the organization strong and financially afloat. If our numbers drop more we can’t buy matches. We can’t buy matches, the club folds. It is that simple. So let us continue to be t he strong, successful organization we have been up to this point.

Enough Debbie-Downer talk. COME ON THE HOOPS!!

Celtic play the return leg of their Champions League qualifier against Portugal’s finest, SC Braga. The first leg was a decent sized 3-0 beatdown brought to you by defensive lapses, poor passing and poor goalkeeping. Going back to Celtic Park the team could see some changes as Aiden McGeady could be offski to Moscow for a chunk of change (reportedly 9.5 million pounds) and the cause has been joined by Gary Hooper and Beram Kayal.

After two matches in two days against the likes of Lyon and Arsenal does the additional gelling time mean that Celtic could have a heroic comeback as some have predicted?

The BBC is reporting that while Aiden ponders the joys of Russian hospitality and plastic pitches, Mark Wilson, Darren O’Dea and Niall McGinn are all sidelined for the match while James Forrest sat out training with a bit of a sniffle but will be more of a game-time decision.

So here’s to the return leg which could feature a comeback of epic proportions with a team that has had a chance to play together for more than a few minutes.

Celtic are continuing their fine league form of winning 5 in a row and have wrapped up second place while Motherwell sit in fourth place one point above Hibs. Which means Motherwell have an awful lot to play for.

In their most recent match, a friendly against AZ, Celtic went down to defeat 2-1 with a team mainly comprised of ‘fringe’ players including Niall McGinn at right back. Feel free to make comparisons to Ross Wallace at left back if you must.

No injury reports have been posted yet but Thomas Rogne’s season is finished after he came off in the first half of last week’s match.

On the re-signing front 5′7″ striker Paul McGowan (who played well in his limited first team exposure) has signed a two year extension with Celtic.

Let’s have a great turnout this Saturday as Celtic hope to keep this good form running!

Dundee United will be missing Scottish internationalist Paul Dixon while Scott and David Robertson return to action for the Terrors. Celtic will be welcoming back to the fold Kamara, Rogne, and Loovens from their various injuries.

On the ‘who’s going to manage Celtic’ front, Roy Keane has said that he does not have an interest. I guess this means Celtic should not fear getting relegated next year under his ‘tutelage’.

Another painfully early start but let us finish the year strong and have a good turnout!

I have an excellent joke for you:

Knock, knock

Who’s there?

Alan Pardew.

I kid, I kid.

Anyway, Celtic are coming off of a mid-week win due to a Josh Thompson double (I believe the last defender to get a double was Steven Pressley, Gerry) while Hibs are bring to the table a 4-1 thrashing defeat from Hamilton.

Guys, it has been a very long, very difficult season. I am not going to say otherwise. Whether we have the wrong board, players, manager(s), whatever we still remain Celtic supporters no matter what. We argue, we bicker, we have definite opinions about whatever situation but when it comes down to it, we’re green and white against the world.

Let’s please have a good turnout and finish to the season to show that our club remains solid and willing to continue to show pride and class to those who lack it.

Thanks.

Ross County’s team are populated by no less than four former Celtic youth players and are sitting fourth in the 1st division.

Celtic are now 2-0 under the management of Neil Lennon and his number two, Johan Mjällby.  The injury plagued (ahem) side will not welcome any new returns at this time with the possible exception of Artur Boruc who has been on bereavement leave due to the passing of his father.

The match tomorrow is early but it is a fine chance for us to see Celtic advance to the final of the Active Nation Scottish Cup!  Hope to see everyone there.

It has not been announced at this time who will be managing Celtic for the remainder of the year. Paddy Power has McStay and Lennon as the leaders finishing this year and staying for next. If gambling were legal, of course.

So. . . no new injuries to report at this time, no reports of the injured being healed.

Much seems the same and everything is different. The league is lost but the huns crashed out of the cup yesterday so whomever is in charge will have that to strive for.

Guys and gals, it has been a bad, bad season for all involved. But now is the time to support the Bhoys against all comers and make the best of it for the time we have left!

Another announcement will be coming tomorrow.

Hope to see everyone there on Saturday.