I would not usually be up for giving the opening blog gambit to a Huns goal. Whitesnake, Def Leppard, yes, but LoTW, today is breaking from the Status Quo.

So, yesterday, as Wallie Nosurnames Army were still showing signs of an European hangover, which has plagued them since August, by losing another domestic away game, at least Europa Golden Boot Contender, Kris Boydchenko, showed that he could still entertain the masses in times of trouble.

After claiming credit for the own goal, Kris showed that he is in training for the 2012 Olympics wie a 'Roly Poly' dive, which induced an earthquake in Korea due to Boydchenkos Monster Munch enhanced frame crashing onto the turf.

If, them getting beat wisnny funny enough, we should gie Boydchenko a big, HURRAH, for his encore. It's almost as funny as Roy Keanes beard. Almost.

A Snooze To 12 In A Row

Celtic, showed what Europa willnae be missing after Christmas, wie a performance that was mair Celtic December 2007 than Brazil 1970, wie a 1-0 victory over The 'Senkie wie a goal fae Shaun Maloney after 29 mins. For those that are avid 'Celtic Watchers" the worry that we are returning to the form, or the lack off form, that saw Decemeber 2007 a month to forget, is something to suck on like a week old, Worthers Original that has been stuck to yer couch.

We have to hope that the teams we face are mair open than The 'Senkie were yesterday. Their was mair chance of Prince Harry coming oot as a cross dressing sheep worrier than The 'Senkie coming oot to attack. Still, after a 5-0 drubbing they received at Ipox, then that's their bag if they want to try and find a cure for insomnia wie their tactics.

Still, we were off form. Oor manager said: “The longer the game went on, the crowd get more nervous and the player’s seemed to get a bit nervous as well and the technical ability went down the longer the went on. It wasn’t brilliant to start with but obviously it went further down, so that was a problem. Another problem was giving the ball away in good positions and sometimes in areas where you thought was very safe." I'm willing to put money on this slackness in oor play was due the lack of threat posed fae The 'Senkie and a bout of illness caused by dodgy Danish bacon.

The game was won wie oor 2 most creative players, who both had games to forget, another game to forget for Shaun Maloney and he is racking up a few of them, combined to score. GS said: “We scored a smashing goal with a real good pass, that was his best pass (Nakamura) – it was a lovely pass- and to get the ball up and down with not too much pace on it and allow Shaun [Maloney] to make his run which he knew the only person that could play that pass was Nakamura, so if was coming from any other player I don’t think Shaun would have made that run."

Apart from the worry that oor last 3 domestic performances have been lacking the flair, a bit like the current fashion for tight fit jeans, shown earlier in the season but this could just be due to injuries and heavy legs catching up wie us.

But we can't really complain, as oor manager lays the truth cards on the table saying: "This run shows that we can deal with disappointment and injuries and win when we are not at our best. Also, in this run, we've had Champions League games, League Cup games and six players away with international teams a lot of times. So the players have had a lot to deal with recently." So, we have done not too badly then, Gordon?

Tims In Shorts

Like this blog, Artur Boruc has no friends. "I don't think that it's a good idea to make friends with people in football. There is no deep relationship between football players," said Artur. While the meeja like to peddle the myth that "the team that drinks together, wins together" bottomline is how many people actually socialise wie their workmates?

Anyway oor manager is not to bothered: "What he is saying that he doesn't mingle with the lads after training and I can understand that. By the looks of it, he has far better people to mingle with than some of the lads that are here (like big blondes who buy pints and snog him) and so I can understand why he wants to down the tools and get out of here as quickly as possible."

LoTW disnny socialise wie his workmates either. This is not his choice but it has mair to do wie his messy lunch habits and lack of hygiene.

Rumour O'Filter

In the Hail Hails the other evening, I mentioned Niall McGinn who plays for Celtic's Irish Feeder Club, Derry City. The 21 Norn Iron internationalist, he won't be  if he signs for us, said of being entered on the Transfer Database by John Park: "Celtic are obviously a big club and it is a great honour to discover that they are looking at me," he said. "It would be a great move. I was a M*nchester U*ited fan as a boy but Celtic were my Scottish team, so it is obviously something I would consider."

It is really nice to see that we are looking at the far flung markets of Europe. Wie the SSM saying: "We are looking at both quality and quantity. We have a track record of getting to a transfer window and coming out of it stronger." we are hoping that Celtic will notice Ryan Air do cheap flights to Poland and Sweden, not just Belfast and Dublin. 

Cauld day here. So it's time to get a nice wee drink of 7up and curl up in front of the fire and shout "Burchill and Moravcik".

Forza

Thanks to Number 7 fae KDS for the Paul Hartley Riverdance picture.