Welcome back. The way I structure the blog seasons, the middle of 3 parts often turns out to be the most crucial. Sure, part 3 is where are all the trophies are handed out, but you usually have a fair idea of how that’s going to go based on my shenanigans in part 2. In the previous update, Erik Nevland was ruled out for the season with a damaged spine, which my friend AL suggested was due to the stresses of carrying my team. HOW VERY WITTY. But probably true. We’ve held our own in the group of death, but we aren’t brushing opponents aside like we used to. We’ve also got the World Club Cup and European Super Cup to look forward to. My oh my. Let’s get to it.

One thing that hasn’t changed (despite a brief lapse in the cup) is that we still have Celtic’s number. Even without tormentor in chief Nevland, Bakayoko and Tomlinson step up to the plate, despite missing a penalty.

The Champions League group has really irked me, how is it fair to draw three giants of the game in one group? Bearing in mind we’re the current champions. My moaning actually puts off our team as we fall to our first defeat of the campaign

It’s actually our first group stage loss in 11 games. It puts us under pressure to win at Dortmund, a draw might not be enough.

Phew.

So having ran the gauntlet to get this far, surely we’re due an easier quarter final?

Friggin hell. More on that later.

As a sort of warm-up for that, we have the World Club Cup…in Japan.

Tomlinson is always a man for an occasion and he seals another trophy. Good man.

In the European Super Cup though it’s a 2 legged tussle with Juventus. A 2-0 defeat at Pittodrie puts us up against it, and it’s little better on Italian soil. A defeat. That stings.

I’m starting to wonder how we ever managed to win the Champions League. Maybe Nevland is magic? Fortunately on a domestic front, we are near untouchable. A win at closest rivals Rangers opens the gap at the top to double figures

Even when it looks like we aren’t going to win, we save our best for last.

Having said that, we have lost once. At Hearts. It was just after the Real Madrid match and we all felt a bit sad. I probably should have mentioned it sooner before describing us as untouchable, but I’ll be damned if I’m deleting a superlative.

Some transfers news for you, Partick Vieira is going on holiday!

Wait, what? Signed you say. Takes all sorts. Meanwhile, Southampton want John Ritchie, which is fine as I never play him. However Darren Eadie fancies the move, and I really like Darren Eadie. He’ll provide competition for Mulryne, who is brilliant, but also doing this all on his own without any alternative

As Michael Owen turned us down I’ve decided to sign somebody who is young but can still improve us now. He looks bloody brilliant from his stats

Papin? Not sure. Either way, he’s mine.

Oh and now Paul Ince is an opponent. I knew he wouldn’t last long at the Nou Camp

It is rumoured that he was signed on the back of this great result, where new man Darren Eadie (in for the injured Mulryne) rams in the winner and becomes a hero. Lovely Darren.

Like I said, domestically: untouchable

Only just. But that leads us nicely in to our trip to the Nou Camp, the scene of one of our most ridiculous results last season. But here, in front of 91,542 baying fans (presumably with at least some from Aberdeen) we are second best for the majority of the 90 minutes.

Tomlinson’s goal gave us brief hope but we were dominated from start to finish. It’s going to take some doing to overturn that, but we managed to overturn 3-2 against Man Utd last season so we’ll have to believe we can do it again.

Still, we’re still in the Scottish Cup, something I haven’t managed to win yet, so there’s that.

Celtic have already beaten Dundee Utd, so why it says they are playing nobody I’m not too sure. It’s best not to worry about it and just hope we draw Stenhousemuir (if we beat Hibs). Actually Barcelona are the meat in a Hibs sandwich, as that’s our next game.

All we have is our enormous league lead to boast about

18 points ahead with 27 available. I like our chances. Celtic have recovered a little bit but not enough. Motherwell look like they are goners

Meanwhile, south of the border, it’s looking quite familiar

We have 32 more goals than Man Utd and that’s without Nevland. I miss Nevland. He’s on course to recover in June, which helps nobody.

So that brings us to the end of another update. I’m a bit deflated by our lack of progress and I’m not sure I can blame the lack of Nevland for it all. I will, but maybe I shouldn’t. Join me again next time as we try and overcome the odds in the Champions League whilst sauntering to victory in the SPL. Toodles for now.