Spiers excels himself...

[D'Artagnan 13,319]

He manages to implicate us in the downfall of Boruc.

Apparently we dont make life easy for him in Glasgow...

The Times

[bluepeter 5,627]

The offending article, for those who can't access links (work, etc.)

Celtic goalkeeper Artur Boruc proving to be the master of his own downfall

Graham Spiers

There was a time when Gordon Strachan, the Celtic manager, appeared excessively pleased with himself for discovering and then signing Artur Boruc from Legia Warsaw in 2005. These days, though, the toll of the Pole’s misadventures must be making Strachan wonder where he goes from here with his talented, but gormless, goalkeeper.

Boruc’s blunder in letting John Rankin’s audacious, yet harmless, 45-yard punt elude him in Sunday’s Clydesdale Bank Premier League match at Easter Road was only the latest in a series of embarrassments for the player — both on the field and off it. Boruc these days isn’t just error-prone, but appears slovenly, out of shape and even a touch reckless. He has been an inspirational Celtic goalkeeper who now looks in genuine danger of burning out.

As one respected Celtic supporter said yesterday: “Boruc has been worshipped by the Celtic supporters but he is now testing that adoration to the limit.”

It would be tedious to explore the long list of Boruc setbacks of recent times — may it suffice to report his blunders have become a trend. When Rangers won 4-2 at Celtic Park in August many felt that Boruc, quite apart from his middle-finger gesture to the visiting support, was at fault with two of the goals, and the alarms raised then over his declining form have subsequently looked justified. Leo Beenhakker, the Poland coach who recently dropped Boruc after some late-night curfew-breaking, is only one in a queue of people despairing of the player’s antics.

The mistake Boruc made at Easter Road on Sunday is hardly the stuff of public floggings — Rankin’s shot did swerve and, from that distance, was about the last thing a goalkeeper would have expected — but for Celtic there is a one-man circus developing around Boruc which is unnerving. And at the core of it all is Boruc’s preposterous image — is it a deliberate piece of satire? — as the “Holy Goalie”.

On more than one occasion the Pole has been spotted carousing out and about in Glasgow, usually with a retinue of Polish pals or the usual hangers-on in his wake, and normally with alcohol as the lubricant of all the fun. On top of this is Boruc’s unfailing habit, notwithstanding the abuse he takes, for gesturing to opposition supporters, in particular those of Rangers. If this is holiness then, clearly, all the great Christian figures down the centuries have got it wrong.

It has been pointed out, with a germ of truth to it, that a group of Rangers fans lie awake at night nursing their hatred of the Celtic goalkeeper, and that Boruc’s life in Glasgow is not the easiest. Yet no end of this type of earnest sympathy for the player can justify his self-willed decline. Today Boruc is proving to be the master of his own downfall.

It has been better at times to view him as a comical figure rather than a serious one. On one recent occasion, not long after the famous moment when Boruc unveiled his Pope John Paul II T-shirt after the Old Firm match against Rangers at Celtic Park in April this year, an interviewer was keen to ask him about his allegiance to the Christian faith. “Do you actually go to church?” the interviewer asked Boruc. “Yes, yes,” came the blithe reply. Out of genuine interest the interviewer continued by asking Boruc: “Really? Which one?” At this point the bold Artur’s diction became muffled and unclear as he blurted something about “that one . . . you know . . . over there.”

Boruc is now causing a genuine headache for his club manager. Strachan, who resents the media’s public moralising about Boruc — apart from anything else the Celtic manager views it all as hypocritical — nonetheless will be among the foremost observers of his goalkeeper’s failings. The Celtic manager must now know there is a prime case for dropping Boruc, just as Walter Smith did earlier this season with Allan McGregor at Rangers.

Boruc’s talent cannot be questioned, but his mind and its dedication to his football career certainly can. It is claimed that, behind the scenes at Celtic, the goalkeeper employs a psychologist to gee him up for games. It only begs the question: has the shrink in question been on prolonged sabbatical, or maybe even carted away himself for psychiatric help?

Gone are the days when the likes of Manchester United, Arsenal and even Inter Milan were said to be interested in wresting Boruc from Celtic. Right now, the notion of a big-money bid from a leading European club for him seems laughable. Last season, when the omens still seemed good, Celtic put the 28-year-old Boruc on a new, long-term contract, but that piece of business now looks impulsive.

Tomorrow night Celtic play Villarreal at Celtic Park and Strachan will surely give thought to dropping the Pole for the club’s final — and largely irrelevant — Champions League group E game. Yet the problem for Strachan is that his back-up goalkeeper, Mark Brown, is thought to lack presence, while Dominic Cervi, Celtic’s third-choice goalkeeper, is believed not to be ready for such a European fixture. In which case, the chances are that Boruc will survive for the present in the Celtic team.

Celtic are still said to be pursuing Lukasz Zaluska, another Pole, who is presently with Dundee United. If they are then, for Strachan’s sake, it must be hoped Zaluska does not share Boruc’s unique appetite for piety and bevvy in equal measure. Clearly, it is a disorientating mix.

The article would have been a good one, but Speirs couldn't resist including the paragraph I've boldened. There was no need for it, and it doesn't belong. The man is bitter, that's for sure. And they say he's a Rangers supporter.....

[Gaffbear 4,096]

He had to gain some favour with the beggars by having a dig at us.

I doubt there is any Rangers fan who would lie awake at night thinking of Boruc......laughing at him maybe !!

[Coopermania 1]

Hand on heart, I can honestly say I have never lay awake at night thinking about this tosser. Honest, I swear

Britney scaping the barrel again for a story.

[BallochBear 1,613]

Don't really see a problem with the article, in fact I'd say it's one of his least damning of us so I think some of us might be a bit touchy where GS is concerned. Other than the section on some of us lying awake which is probably said in jest to wind some of us up as he knows he is not liked I find it a quite derogatory article having a real go at one of them for a change.

:unionflag:

[WVB 2,560]

I'm away to my bed after spending all night outside Borats house, shouting obscenities & throwing bricks/dog shit at his windows.

[BeerHunter 0]

I don't see a problem either. Even states that the roly roly goalie has engineered his own downfall. And long may that downfall continue!

[Bluepeter9 5,167]

Article was pretty damming of Boruc and you need to be pretty touchy to take the bold paragraph to heart.

[reddrock 107]

Laugh myself to sleep thinking of Boruc

[yellowcross 5]

I have never known an individual who loves winding people up so much - yet - is completely unable to take any of his own medicine back. Boruc you are a sad, attention-seeking, immature fud, no more no less.

I have never known a journalist who has told so many lies, made so many slanders, and twisted so much hate into a half baked personal crusade against one club - yet - seems to think his one-eyed hypcritical abusive journalism is something that will be forgotten about and forgiven and excused because the aim of his crusade was noble.

Speirs, you can never undo what you have said, you will be forever remembered as the lying gay deceiver, you are beyond the pale and always will be: pompous liar, shut it.

[Blue Stars Bearette 1]

'It has been pointed out, with a germ of truth to it, that a group of Rangers fans lie awake at night nursing their hatred of the Celtic goalkeeper, and that Boruc’s life in Glasgow is not the easiest. '

to think any of us would waste our time and mental energy on and lose sleep over Boruc is the biggest joke I've heard yet

[Youllneverwinaway 0]

As much as i dislike some of the stuff he has written over the years, i think "some" of our fans are now going out of their way to be offended by him.

I dont see any problem with that article, though before anyone starts, this isnt me sticking up for all the shitey arse things of the past.

[rangers4eva 12]

I'm away to my bed after spending all night outside Borats house, shouting obscenities & throwing bricks/dog shit at his windows.

same time tonight?

[yellowcross 5]

Speirs has been repeatedly guilty of perjury against our club/fans - that is the crux of the matter - not whether this or that recent article is inoffensive or not. Fuck him.

"There is no excuse for perjury - never, never, never. There is truth, and the truth demands respect."

[MaD CoW 3]

I've more important things to worry about at night than that fat shite goalie!

[minstral 5,375]

scumbag speirs and yet some of our fans want to go and sit in the same room as that cretin.

[BoltonLoyal 2]

I can't say the c*nt has kept me awake at night, but i have certainly spent countless hours wishing the most foul of deeds upon him.

Loved the bit where he was pulled up about which church service he attended, sort of proves the old 'crossing' bit was pure intimidation.

I REALLY hate him that much. Odious horror of a human being.

[Wullie! 8]

I lost interest half way through.

[KazzyTI 267]

To be completely honest, I see the point of the folk who disagree with this. Where was the point in mentioning us in an article about the Celtic goalkeeper and his dodgy antics? Maybe someone should contact Mr Spiers and explain that it actually IS possible to write a piece about one side of the Old Firm without mentioning the other.

[D'Artagnan 13,319]

Pretty touchy ?

Out of my way to be offended ?

Can I ask you then....why in an article about Arthur Boruc does there need to be any mention of Rangers supporters ?

[MisterC 12,299]

Thought it was an ok article. Have to say when I am lying in bed awake at nights I am not thinking about him but rather members of the opposite sex....

[Youllneverwinaway 0]

Pretty touchy ?

Out of my way to be offended ?

Can I ask you then....why in an article about Arthur Boruc does there need to be any mention of Rangers supporters ?

Because in this instance, this is the type of shitey arse excuse Timmy uses. All Spiers is saying in my opinion is "Aye ive heard the excuses but they are pish because its all his own doing"

[maccactfc 2]

how can he 1st blame rangers fans for boruc being an alky, and then try and say that a shot from 45 yards with minamal swerve not be the keepers fault when it hits the net lol.

this twat gets better and better

[DinViesel 399]

And this is why he now writes for the Times.

[Polo 1,433]

I'm away to my bed after spending all night outside Borats house, shouting obscenities & throwing bricks/dog shit at his windows.