Tonight begins the Braga saga ya’ll. Thank god for actual competitive football. What's it been? 2 weeks since the World Cup ended? How’s man meant to survive without water in the desert eh?

Okay so that’s this week’s drama over with. Bring on the Lennon eleven and let us hope they aren’t suspects in a heinous crime by seasons close. Tony Mowbray’s rag tag melting pot of hapless rogues is still being hounded out and I can only hope Lenny has done enough in the way of changes to tear that picture up.

We’re up against Portugal’s number two and I don’t mean they’re crap; get your head out of the toilet. They apparently love a good 1-0 win but still possess enough creativity and skill to put Celtic out, according to Jorge Cadete that is. But Jorge was also at Partick Thistle so we can take that with a pinch of salt.

Given the result of seasons past and the limp flag that hangs over the Celtic platoon from the same period, the team should be in for a tight game. But to be perfectly honest, nobody has seen this team play yet. We’ve seen the shop window quartet and the new guy in a sweaty jersey trick, but we’ve yet to see what Neil Lennon brings on to the pitch as a manager. I’m buzzing with a terrified excitement that may well explode if we play good football and show signs that this season is shaping up to be the Rangers pounding session we all hope it will be.

Remember how we all wanted to see Lenny score at Ibrox? This is the next best thing. On his knees on the track, black gloves clenched in the hair and his boots kicking at the turf of the people. Lenny the conquerer! Maybe I’m getting ahead of myself.

You can sense a real itchy anticipation about tonight's game and the starting eleven will no doubt have the internet buzzing redder than the bat phone. Will we see Mc Geady? Looks as if he’s likely to play from the reports coming from the ‘sources’, ahem. We have new bhoy Gary Hooper ready to show what his fee is all about and Efrain Juarez virtually bursting out of his civilian clothes to get the hoops on in competitive action. It’s got the makings of a page turning season already and tonight is surely the litmus test for the brave soldiers on the battle field of Europe. There I go again with the drama; can’t help it, I’m as  excited as a 7 year old girl at a Justin Bieber concert. I only know who Justin Bieber is because of my daughter, honest.

Barim Kayal is the newest Lennonite (yeah, I know that’s never gonna catch on, cut me some slack) to get toured around paradise in open mouthed awe. That is before they show him the terrible visitors dvd they project in the media room. I really hope that’s not a stop off for potential signings. The Israeli international is wanted by Galatasaray and FC Twente, but wants to join the hoops; I like him already. Should he sign we could well see him line up against Lyon or Arsenal at the Emirates Cup this weekend. It does kind of suck that we get real action tonight and then have to put up with more shadow boxing at the weekend. A bit like getting some off a new girlfriend only to have her shut the door for a few weeks when all you want is to get sex mad and gorilla strong. Okay, so the analogies are tentative, but you get the picture.

We lost Sol Campbell. He didn’t get lost and take a fatal detour to Bridgeton or anything; he just pissed off to Newcastle. Jimmy Bullard wants to stay at Hull and bleed them dry unless they let him leave so he can.........bleed them dry while he’s playing for someone else. The mind of the business genius is a thing of beauty. Too many hair products have bleached Jimmy’s brain me thinks.

Andy Hinkel has been left off the Champions league squad list it would seem. Too bad, I like Andy. He’s hardworking and a real player, plus he seems to really enjoy playing for Celtic. Anyone that could smile through last season is a real strong character to be honest with you Or, maybe he’s just a bit simple, who knows. Either way he’s on he’s leaving out soon it would appear.

So! Who will emerge from the tunnel tonight wearing the hoops? Will it be Joe - GIRFUY Dave Jones - Ledley? Cha Du - Bad guy in any Kung Fu movie - Ri? Efrain - Antonio Banderas meets Sloth from the Goonies - Juarez? Gary - The Hooperman - Hooper? Or will we see some old faces that know how to handle Europe? We will know come this evening.

My hope is we get a fresh batch of blood out there and send out the first warning sign to the doubters. ‘We are ready and we will get better.’ My fear is we will get a fresh batch of blood out there and send out the pilot episode in a new comedy of errors. I’m keeping the faith and I’m hoping for the best. This team is about to feel the effects of a Lennonoscopy ( yeah, I know that’s crap aswell, but jesus I’m trying; who threw that tomato?).

We’re in for a taste of the real thing. So let’s see what they serve up tonight.

Hail Hail