That's me in the corner
That's me in the spotlight
Losing my religion
Trying to keep up with you
And I don't know if I can do it
Oh no I've said too much
I haven't said enough
I thought that I heard you laughing
I thought that I heard you sing
I think I thought I saw you try"

I'm at a loss to what I'm experiencing as a Celtic fan. I've teetered on the brink of chucking it before but never did. Through the madness of Brady, that wee git Luigi Macari, TB's heartbreaking term at the helm through to sipping a beer in tears outside the Dub Pavilion in Belfast when we stopped ten in a row - and actually being congratulated by a die hard Bear from Ballybeen - I've never reached the point I'm at now.

I sat down Thursday night for the Hamburg game full of beans. Had a good week at work to that point, managed to score a 6 pack of Efes (a Turkish lager that rocks), I'm sat on the couch, nice curry and thinking about getting tore into a spoof article on the horror show from Ibrox the night before.

Then the game itself. Fcuk me. Ended up watching it on a stream on the web as I couldn't get the coverage on Sky in the room I rent in Dublin. There's nothing needing saying about the game itself. Celtic simply are at this point struggling to cope and compete at third rate level in Europe. At the end of game I'm sat in disbelief and utter apathy. I didn't even bother with the laptop. I simply have no motivation to write about Celtic (cue ironic notion of actually writing this) as I feel as little attachment to it as I ever have.

It's fcuking criminal what is happening with our club. Dermot Desmond is - absolutely is without a doubt - running a fantastic business model with Lawwell and Reid playing a blinder on his behalf. As a business it's bravo thrice - no debt, costs cut to suit SPL level, nice risk-averse spend model in terms of player outlay and salaries. We are the thinking mans Business model for a professional football business. And therein lies the problem.

Celtic is a football club. How on earth does a fan base get that cracked into the thick fcuking skulls of those who think balance sheets, profit and loss and 'consumer apathy'?

Not to labour the point but when the Ballymena lads I met after the Rapid Vienna game are starting to lose faith and wondering why they bothered taking a day off work to get back home at probably 3:00AM to get up the next morning you know there's a major problem looming.

I drove through Lurgan last weekend and seen the lads from the club who'd just returned from the Motherwell game - fair fcuks for the dedication to go watch that. And, like the Ballymena lads and countless thousands throughout Scotland and Ireland they'll be back next week, no doubt about it.

Maybe I'm getting older and grumpier. I dunno. What I see is the slow death of the club I love unfolding before my eyes. In 5 years Lawwell and Desmond have removed what was left of the concept of positivity, attachment and genuine excitement about watching Celtic and have, slowly and by stealth, replaced it with the language of business bullshit bingo, paying customers, product on the park and debt free.

Celtic Football Club - the entity that existed pre-Fergus McCann - is long gone. However it was this entity that I attached to. My affinity though lies with it and it alone. In the grand pantheon of "where the fcuk are we now" Celtic FC plays a bit part in Celtic PLC's fabric of existence. A vehicle to drive sales, a brand, a consumer demograph, an untapped Irish global diaspora with market segment potential, a copyright, a trademark, a non-tangible asset with huge value attached.

Celtic PLC can go fcuk themselves. Until there's major changes in terms of how Celtic treat me as a fan they'll not get a fcuking penny more of my hard earned. Celtic Football Club is where my loyalty lies. Until it's restored to a minimum of parity with the PLC - for as long as that entity exists - they really can sing for it. N

Given the recent run of performances and results the most important thing in this game was simply to pick up the three points. In previous seasons a critical support also demanded entertainment. Not any more. We'll take the three points, thanks ... and let's move on.

Celtic started this game with the same enthusiasm, but sadly the same lack of fine tuning, as the young school kids who entertained the sparse crowd ahead of the kick off. A heartfelt rendition of the John Thomson song briefly encouraged the crowd to warm their hands in generous applause - which was just as well, because it would be another half hour or more before there was reason to get the blood circulating again on a bitterly cold day at Celtic Park.

St Mirren will have approached this game with a degree of cautious optimism. They had managed to hold a high-flying Hibs side last week, and then watched a fragile Celtic team spill to a late defeat against Dundee Utd. Their last league visit to Celtic Park saw them lose 7 goals, but that was then; this, for better or for worse, is now.

As it was, Celtic made the early running with the restored Zheng Zhi snatching at a half-chance within the opening 5 minutes, only to see Gallagher in the visitors goal get down to smother the effort. McDonald was next to snatch at an effort, only to see his half volley sail over the bar. St Mirren, at this stage, were offering dogged resistance, but little else. Their cause was hardly helped in the 19th minute when their player most likely to worry the Celtic defence - Andy Dorman - limped off.

The game settled into a scrappy phase with neither side offering any real threat. The much maligned Celtic defence is beginning, at least, to settle into a consistent selection - however, this time it was Danny Fox’s' turn to struggle. His performance in that first half can best be summed up as Nayloresque. In the centre of defence, Caldwell and Loovens were largely untroubled until Michael Higdon came on for Dorman. His greater physicality seeming to unsettle Caldwell for a while.

Celtic's main threat throughout the first half came from Aiden McGeady, and it was inevitable that he had some involvement in the 4 minute spell around the half hour mark which turned the game. Firstly, Samaras cleverly fed his strike partner McDonald at the edge of the box and the unusually onside Aussie slid the ball beyond the advancing St Mirren 'keeper to give the home side the lead. A few minutes later and the advantage doubled as McGeady, in a similar position, fed Samaras whose finish was clinical.

Suddenly the thinking in the stands moved from 'will we?' to 'how many will we by?’ This is Celtic v.2009, though, so in the final minute of the 45 some half-hearted defending - Crosas, this time - allowed Higdon to slam a loose ball past a helpless Zaluska. Surely not again?

Celtic were a little stronger in the second half, carrying the game more effectively towards the St Mirren goal but without totally convincing anyone that an end product was coming. It did, though. On the 61st minute the best move of the game led to the clincher. Gary Caldwell - for once - picked out a perfectly weighted ball down the right channel to McGeady, who pulled it down on the run and squared an inviting ball to the onrushing McDonald, whose stabbing leg directed the ball into the net. Genuine flowing football with an end product. Wow!

Samaras then gave way for Fortune, who managed only to further convince his detractors that he's not the answer - whatever the question may be! Aiden McGeady left the field to a deserved ovation for Niall McGinn as the game drew to a conclusion. The final act was still to come though, as Celtic won a late corner following a fierce drive by a much improved Fox. The deep delivery was inexplicably handled by Innes in the St Mirren defence, with the result a penalty and an apparent red card for the hapless defender. High farce ensued as firstly McDonald, Fortune and Ro

A MAGNIFICENT strike from Simon Ferry sealed an eighth consecutive Reserve League championship for Willie McStay’s men at Ibrox.

Celtic dominated this title decider, playing Rangers off the park at points and then, in the 70th minute, midfielder Ferry stepped up with a wonderful volley to blast Celtic to a 1-0 victory.

After a long, hard season, Ibrox turned out to be Celtic’s blue heaven, the place where the reserves made it a fantastic eight-in-a-row.

It was a tentative start by Celtic, in front of a vocal travelling support who had taken over half of the lower part of the main stand, outnumbering the home fans two to one.

Neither side was willing to commit bodies forward in the opening half-hour, although Ryan Conroy had a chance in the fifth minute, cutting across from the left and hitting a low shot with his weaker right foot that was easily collected by Allan McGregor.

Meanwhile Isa Bagci was the target for Rangers’ long balls, winning a few early headers, causing some problems for Danny Lafferty and Milan Misun and at one point stealing in to send a shot trundling at Mark Brown.

As half-time approached Celtic began to gather momentum and pull the Rangers’ back four all over the pitch with their pace, quick passing and good movement.

A flurry of chances ensued, with Paddy McCourt blasting over after cutting in from the left and two mad scrambles in the box leaving McGregor at sixes and sevens.

Then followed the chance of the half, with Jason Marr starting a move from the right back position and playing in McCourt, before taking the return pass and laying the ball off for Cawley who fired inches wide.

Ferry then blasted a shot wide that had McGregor scrambling across his goal and Celtic continued to play the better football and apply all the pressure after the restart.

There were chances for Willie McStay’s men after the restart, including a couple of moments of brilliance from McCourt, including one solo run and nutmeg which left Stephen Forbes completely bamboozled and a beautifully disguised pass which almost played in Niall McGinn.

Rangers were put under further pressure when Steven Naismith limped off injured after a 100 per cent fair, but completely committed challenge from the outstanding Marr.

Then, with 20 minutes remaining, Celtic’s patience and passing play paid off, as Ferry rifled home one of the goals of the season.

Playing the ball through the midfield and tentatively testing the Rangers’ back four, Celtic shifted the ball out to the left with McCourt and Massimo Donati both involved.

Captain Ryan Conroy then stepped up and delivered a high cross which swung out to the back post, dropping perfectly for Simon Ferry, who had a glance at goal and lashed a perfect first-time volley past McGregor.

It was a great strike from a player who has emerged from two-and-a-half years’ of injuries to recapture his early, outstanding form at Under-19 and reserve level.

What followed was a lesson in possession play by Celtic, who frustrated the home side and at times ran them ragged with their movement and play.

There was a glorious chance for Rangers with five minutes remaining when Misun was caught dwelling on the ball, allowing Steven Lennon to go through on goal and hit the post with his shot from the edge of the box.

However this was a rare chance for the home side, who were comprehensively beaten in this title decider.
When the final whistle sounded the reserves were able to celebrate a great win and also the fantastic achievement of eight consecutive league championships.