Sellick’s manager – “Sometimes I feel like Frank Sinatra answering
questions about connections with the mafia”. I have a feeling this may
well sum up Chesney’s tenure at Porkheid - a bit part player within a
highly dubious organisation that likes to promote a romantic image of
itself.
The following from Big Eck had me more than a bit worried when
responding to questions about his first Old firm experience – “I
avoided all the side issues in the newspapers and phone-ins and just
concentrated on the game. If I didn’t do that I might have heard or
read something that would have put a doubt in my mind” (some things
should just remain unsaid, shouldn’t they?) Certainly very worrying
that he might be swayed by such things, but we needn’t overly concerned.
No evidence, either recorded or in print, prior to some of the freckled
one’s team selections and tactics can be found to prosecute him on this
count (certainly his own man when it comes to baffling decisions). In
fairness, the manager got his tactics spot on when the mhanky mob were
reduced to 10 men (although the introduction of Boab had me panicking a
wee bit).
How about bet365’s Steve Freeth explaining the rather generous 10-3
odds for a sending off – “The likes of John Hartson, Neil Lennon and
Barry Ferguson don’t get booked as often as they used to in this type
of game”. Well done Barry for keeping your nose clean while the hooped
ones lost the plot yet again (well how can anyone expect them to lose
with good grace when they are such undiginfied winners).
Japanese journalist Kosuke Inagaki offered this wee insight on Shunsuke
Nakamura’s learning curve in Serie A – “He’s now the type of guy who
doesn’t wait to be attacked. He has a retaliate first attitude.”
Ahaaaah, now I can see the Nakamura attraction to Celtic and vice-versa
(although after Sunday he may feel he has an awful lot still to learn
from his teammates in the ‘retaliate first’ stakes).
On the subject of Nakamura the Gherald managed to put these two gems
belonging to the ‘utter pish’ category into print: -
“Nakamura is part of Japan’s Golden Quartet, comprising Hidetoshi
Nakata, now of Bolton Wanderers, Feyenoord’s Shinji Ono and Junichi
Inamoto of West Bromwich Albion. All have blazed a trail in European
Football..” Now substitute the words “not exactly set the heather
alight” for “blazed a trail” and you have something resembling fact.
On the same theme - “Real Madrid were interested in him prior to the
2002 World Cup,…His omission from the squad had killed a move to
Madrid, but Serie A side Reggina offered him an opportunity to bring
his talents to the European stage. Inevitably greater challenges
awaited him there”. Hmmmm, so Real Madrid were about to sign Nakamura?
This desperation to create a superstar out of Shunsuke is becoming
laughable (by the way, was he spotted at Ibrox any time on Sunday?)
JAWS73