 Thursday, June 14, 2007
Paddy Power Payout Day 21 October 2007
Every time Kilmarnock visit Celtic Park the same question is asked of the manager, “Do you know it has been 54/55/56 years since Kilmarnock have won at Celtic Park?” This record never gives me confidence, as even the worst teams in the league beat the best eventually.
The opening game of the season is usually a disappointing one for the eventual champions; Celtic beat Kilmarnock in the corresponding fixture last season and went on to win the league, but this is the only occasion in the last five years the league winners have collected three points on the opening day.
I will not be placing bets on our opening fixture against Kilmarnock this season, but that aside, even our clubs opponents in the media are likely to change their regular habit of tipping against Celtic for the league this time around.
Confidence among Celtic supporters is matched only by a corresponding feeling of dread among others that “Three in a Row” will be the cry in the spring of 2008. I anticipate Paddy Power will payout on Celtic for the league on 21 October, the day after our visit to Ibrox.
338 Comments:
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barnet
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GL2-I take it that's a wee dig at the dignified procession of non-bigoted,non-sectarian freethinkers from last nights TV?
To say that Fascism was exclusively 'Catholic'conveniently omitted Oswald Mosley,and on a lesser scale William'Billy Boy'Fullarton,who was imprisoned during WW2 for his proFascist sympathies.
And I don't think de Valera was a Fascist.There was an Irish fascist movement called the Blueshirts,led by a cove called O'duffy,but I think EDV was almost as antipathetic towards them as he was to the IRA.
As an attempt to make the LOL look cuddly it worked quite well they were given an easy time by the interviewer.
It's all very well to say to complain that they are simple'patriots'whose traditions have been hijacked by the rightwing but if you go around saying'We are THE people'all the time it's not all that far from claiming to be the Master race.
That was on the end of the last thread.
Confidence in the outcome of the 90minute hate in October is a bit misplaced given our last 2 games against them.
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The bookies have us at 4/5. I'd call that a right good bet.
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How long till we here the comment of-
That widnae a happened if we Lenny was playing.
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Confidence and/or complacency.
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"I anticipate Paddy Power will payout on Celtic for the league on 21 October, the day after our visit to Ibrox"
My my Paul aren't we confident! :o)
You obviously know who our targets are, so all bodes well.
Potentially
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Confidence indeed - nice of the fixtures 'computer' to wait until we're in the middle of our Champions League group before we go to play them for the first time. Very random I'm sure.
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The last 7 fixtures to the season contain two Glasgow Derbys (unless Rangers miss the top six)
The first 5 months contain one.
And the league would prefer to avoid this game to be a decider?
Ah ha! So even the beaks at the SPL know that it will be over early and have weighted these fixtures heavily to be after Christmas. Bit of a risk being as late as 20th October though lads, no?
Glorio to the bold Fensani!
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Andrew -
That is one of the most biased comments I have ever read on this site. *-))
Do you not realise that our opponents will have had to play their EUFA Cup group match on the Thursday before, so we will have had either 1 or 2 days more rest than them? (I am of course giving the benefit of doubt here - assume that they will get humped out of the final qualifying round in the CL, but will struggle past some mediocre opposition to gain entry to the group stages)
KindCurly
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I thought that Celtic had a Strenghth and Conditioning Coach from Australian Rules Football.
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Given the height of the posts in Aussie Rules and the fact that putting the ball wide of the posts scores points as well I'd say he'd conditioned Gerd Miller pretty well!
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Euro polemic
Would it be such a bad thing to finish 3rd in the group (if we qualify) and drop into the yoofa?
Pros Have a realistic chance of winning yoofa/ good for coef
Cons
Missing out on the group stages
Less money
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benny,
I think the fact that we made more from getting to the 16 last season in the CL than we did in the UEFA cup final season speaks volumes.
This must be our main aim!
/Bishop B
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Just finished reading the bile on the Herald's letters page re Lenny and his new job. All I can say is Lenny has never betrayed the Hoops in the way that self styled Season Ticket holder of forty years David Mc Gonnigle has done with his odious contribution. Funny that he doesnt appear on the voters roll in Cumbernauld. I suspect the hand of a hun!
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benny
I appreciate where you are coming from and indeed this has been mentioned before as a possibility but I think it is a poor tactic.
The only way to get further in the CL is to be regularly competing at last 16 stage and once you have that experience it will come good fora last 8 place or beyond.
Dropping in to the UEFA Cup will do nothing for our credibility, finances or global appeal.
If we have true ambitions to be be one of the top 10 clubs in European football we won't achieve that in the UEFA Cup - even by winning it.
Sevilla have won the UEFA Cup for the last two seasons and still they are not considered a European heavyweight because they have still to prove they can do anything in the CL
There is only one true benchmark to a club's standing in world football and that is the CL and we need to put everything we can in to improving our appearances and performance in that arena.
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re the BBC1 programme the 21st Centuary Orangeman. Best comedy I've seen in years, I liked the guy in Broxburn saying that they would have people dressed as clowns walking up and the high street the day of the march. Was it just me thinking "Yeah you'll have a clown with a big drum, some other clowns with flutes etc."?
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The new year derby is back, and we have some interesting fixtures after champions league matches should we qualify, which we will.
http://eveningtimes.co.uk/sport/display.var.1471122.0.0.php
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DBBIA you are correct about my dig. I thought it made them look very stupid rather than cuddly.
They had the guy at the front trying to put them over as really nice people and then the rank and file guys especially the facist and the canibal.
He dismisses the BNP as a facist organisation and then in the next breath he says show me a non Catholic facist. As you say the interviewer was very soft with them if he had mentioned Haw haw or Molsley would he then have but apart from those 2 in a monty python way.
As Billy Connolly used to say they are more to be pitied than scorned.
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i missed the prog last night about the all new singing and dancing everybody welcome orange order anyway i can catch it now cheers in advance
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Should we be prioritizing the Champions League at the expense of the domestic League? Would we have got past AC Milan if we had done that last season? Will the SPL runners up next season still get a shot at the Champions league?
If the Champions League is where we need to be to make money and stay in the game, maybe we should prioritize accordingly.
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The wee man I take it you mean anywhere you can catch it now... It stickied on Celticminded if you are registered there
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just looked on celtic site and no mention of dates for cl anybody know ,booked holiday in sept and feeling a bit nervous incase any are missed
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thanks gl2 heading there right now
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CL or UEFA
for me it has to be UEFA every time. I think it´s important to get into the last 16 as often as possible. This is where the invite to a bigger league will come from. The G14 want full stadiums and fans that are winning to travel to make it an event. Hence I hope that the SPL is not over by October. I hope Hibs push us all the way.
The 21st Century Orangeman programme was the funniest thing I seen in years. When Mr. Irvine or was he the Grandmaster of Irvine ? demonstrated how he had modernised the teachings of the Orange Order by modifying a few "fruity and colorful" sentences into something more modern. I collapsed with laughter onto the floor. They have changed it from something like "Orangemen must wish death and plague to all Papes and their children at all times" to "An Orangemen must not be a law breaker and must kowto to anybody more senior to them in the order"
Luckily I taped it as it took me four laughing bouts to get passed that one excerpt.
I couldn´t laugh at the only Catholic are fascists though. The man said he didn´t know of any I suggest he reads this
http://www.amazon.de/Presbyterian-Reformers-Central-Afrika-Documentary/dp/9004102396
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should say CL everytime .. sorry
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Shamrock diary, I am split on Benny’s idea, but have to point out..
Dropping to the Uefa after finishing third in the CL would achieve more than you suggest. This is the tournament we repaired our European reputation in. We would have another opportunity to enjoy the tournament in the manner we did in 2003 and 2004. We would almost certainly find it easier to collect Uefa coefficient points, and we would have an equally good chance of earning more revenue.
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The wee man:
Pre season:
Thursday, July 5, 2007 FC Basel v Celtic
(Grenchen Stadium, 8pm kick-off)
Saturday, July 7, 2007 Young Boys of Berne v Celtic
(Grenchen Stadium, 7.30pm KO)
Friday, July 13, 2007 Peterborough United v Celtic
(London Road Stadium, 7.45pm KO)
Sunday, July 15, 2007 Queen's Park Rangers v Celtic
(Loftus Road, 2pm KO)
Thursday, July 19, 2007 MLS All-Stars v Celtic
(Dicks Sporting Goods Park, Denver, 7pm KO)
Sunday, July 22, 2007 Chicago Fire v Celtic FC
(Toyota Park, Bridgeview IL, 2pm KO)
Wednesday July 25th 2007 - Airdrie Utd vs Celtic XI, 7.45pm
Thursday, July 26, 2007 Newcastle United v Celtic FC
(St James Park, 7.45pm KO)
Saturday, July 28th 2007 - Albion Rovers v Celtic XI 3pm
Jock Stein Friendship Trophy
Sunday, July 29th 2007 - Celtic vs Parma 2pm (Celtic Park, included on season ticket)
Monday July 30th 2007 - Dumbarton v Celtic XI
SPL:
June 14 - Fixtures announced
August 4 - Season starts
Champions League:
3 August 2007 Draw for third qualifying round
7-8 August 2007 Second qualifying round, second leg
14-15 August 2007 Third qualifying round, first leg
28-29 August 2007 Third qualifying round, second leg
30 August 2007 Draw for group stage
18-19 September 2007 Group stage, 1st matchday
2-3 October 2007 Group stage, 2nd matchday
23-24 October 2007 Group stage, 3rd matchday
6-7 November 2007 Group stage, 4th matchday
27-28 November 2007 Group stage, 5th matchday
11-12 December 2007 Group stage, 6th matchday
21 December 2007 Draw for First knockout round
19-20 February 2008 Knockout round, 1st leg
4-5 March 2008 Knockout round, 2nd leg
7 March 2008 Draw for remaining rounds
1-2 April 2008 Quarter-finals, 1st leg
8-9 April 2008 Quarter-finals, 2nd leg
22-23 April 2008 Semi-finals, 1st leg
29-30 April 2008 Semi-finals, 2nd leg
21 May 2008 Final in Moscow
Courtesy of Pablo5 , KDS.
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Paul67,
If you're looking for a bet try Celtic to get a player sent off at ibrox (if I remember correctly this has happened on the last two occasions we went there first) and get beat with a dodgy penalty!
21st Century Orangeman is it... It looked more like Cocoon 4 to me.
CaltonTongues
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Paul67 and benny
I do see what you are both saying but comparisons are hard.
Our last drop in to the UEFA took us to Seville but it was from round 1 and not the parachute drop after the CL group stages.
However if I remember correctly even a run from Round 1 all the way to the final generated modest amounts of money compared to a run in the CL.
Direct comparisons are hard but strangely enough the dark hordes may give us an indication.
In 2005-06 they reached the last 16 of the CL and in 06-07 the last 16 of the UEFA - this will give a direct comparison of the revenue streams between the two.
It won't of course give the hybrid situation of revenue from the CL stages and then revenue from UEFA knockout stages but it will I believe show the disparity in revenue between the two.
Finally I am not totally convinced that our European reputation was rehabilitated solely on that UEFA Cup run nor will it be enhanced further by continuing to drop in to the UEFA from the CL - may be good for coefficient points in UEFA's archaic ranking system but it will hardly strike fear in to the Milan's, Barca's and Man Utd's of this world.
Our performances at home in the CL perhaps did more to re-forge our reputation but what the UEFA run did do was re-establish our credentials as one of the heavyweight clubs of Europe in terms of fan base, global appeal etc...
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Apologies guys for last post and mixing up my dates and years.
Glaring error in that we did of course play in the UEFA Cup after Seville when we put out Barca but fell to Villareal in the quarter-finals so your comments regarding the UEFA Cup being good for us and our reputation in Europe is a sound one.
I'll away and try and sort out my confused and hopeless brain.
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big liam, dont know wether to thank you or batter you sadly i miss the first game in cl ,but seen as your called big liam and im the wee man i,ll just say thanks
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I think its fair to say that as things stand it is virtually impossible for us to win the CL.
For clubs like ours (the second tier of clubs in Europe)the Yoofa is a realistic target at present IMO.
Last season almost everything went our way - Pot 2 status ,the Man U home game naka and boruc, and results going the right way for us elsewhere.
Remember guys only a short few years ago we were being put out by mobs like Zurich and nobody batted an eyelid.
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Paul67
I have to disagree with you on Paddy Power payout date, while I share your confidence on them having to payout on us it will not be so early because Rangers will not drop so many points against the other SPL teams as they did under PLG.
But if you know something to prove me different then please let me know.
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Benny,
Porto won the CL one year after playing us in the UEFA cup. I dont think we are that far away from claiming a regular berth in the last 16
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celticbhoy -
I posted the following earlier this morning
. . . . I agree that we cannot count on them being as tosh as they have been for the previous 2 seasons. They have been guilty of buying some real first class foreign rubbish, but now they have brought in some Scots lads, who, while they may not be the most gifted of players, will have that "up and at them" mentality allied with the fact that they are darnel to the core, and won't want their team losing out to the "Fenians". I believe this is called "playing for the jersey", so we cannot complain tooooo much about it, since it is something that we all recognised in wee Lenny.
However, the forces of good and light will, as always, prevail over those of darkness and evil. So here's to 3 in a row, at least one of the cups, another extended (let's call it normal in future, eh?) run in Europe, and a continuation of the Generation of Domination.
Hail! Hail!
Curly
Curly
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The bit on that programme last night when when of their bretheren said to his Grand Master something along the lines of catholics being cannibals because they eat the body of Christ & drink his blood had me dumbfounded.
(I then had to go & change my undergarments as i could not stop p#shing myself)
Then the Grand Master agreed about that statement when speaking to his lot seconds later.
They truly are an organised bunch of simpletons.
Hail Hail
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I'm sorry Paul but while I share your confidence that we will win the league again next season I don't buy into the gloating tone of the headline.
I liken this kind of attitude to the now infamous Ken Gallacher and the gub "spikey golf shoes" articles which we keenly ridicule with regularity.
I like to think we are much better than that.
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First time poster, go easy! Right then, what have I missed.
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Celticbhoy, a mere matter of timing.
vclxi, I see nothing wrong with gloating when our team is on top, this is part of sport the world over, we earned our dues some time back.
On the comparison with the infamous article from 2000; Rangers were on top, but losing tens of millions each year. It was unsustainable, payback was due, and it is that payback which has allowed us to gain such an advantage.
We are now on top, well run and no longer losing money. Enjoy it, I am.
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Sister Mary, ciao. Welcome.
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Thank you. Now, tell me, who are the good guys here and who do I have to watch out for??
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curly at 14:45,
Apologies I never took the time to read all the post, yous ids more to the point than mine.
Paul67
Like you I am enjoying the moment. I used to make my self watch Rangers winning celebrations telling myself it would make watching ours all the sweeter...it sure does...gloat away my friend and heres to many years of gloating to come at least 8 more.
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Hi Paul and fellow CQN'ers.
I have been reading and enjoying the Blog for quite a while now, and it is always my first Celtic port of call on the web.
Sorry Paul, but I have to say that the increasingly frequent tendency on your Blog to 'rub it in' and worse, to 'count chickens before they are hatched', is merely a recipe for embarrassment and being brought down to earth with a bang. For me, the more gloating that is encouraged the lower the standard of the Blog.
There is only one place where it counts and that is on the park. I think it highly dangerous to assume that SPL winners equates to highest spenders. Who is to say that Smith & McCoist (albeit aided & abetted by their friends) will not get more out of their 'less expensive' players than Gordon Strachan? Surely we don't have to look much further than Gravesen, Jarosik & Miller (and our 2 recent pippings at the post) for evidence that this 'Paddy Power Payout' talk is flawed and that we should perhaps be a little more circumspect?
At present I am still confident that we will win the SPL next Season, and hopefully we will do even better in Europe too. I will be even more confident if we can secure a top-class striker and midfielder. However, for now I will enjoy the fact we are Champions, enjoy the Summer, enjoy next season's football, and if at the end of that we are STILL Champions, then I will celebrate, quite rightly, with Gusto.
Yours in Celtic,
Jim.
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SisterMary, ha!
You have come to the good guys meeting place, but you knew that already.
Celticbhoy, on watching Rangers win the league…
10 years ago, they were due to play Motherwell at home, when a win would secure nine in a row. I engineered my life in such a way that I avoided all media, all Rangers fans and anyone who would be inclined to talk football to me.
Nine long years had taken its toll. I stayed home.
It was on the Wednesday the following week I learned that they had not, in fact, beat Motherwell.
Have we earned the bragging rights? You bet.
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For the Bhoys who dont want us to gloat/enjoy when we are on top when do we enjoy it?
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There is nothing wrong with rubbing their noses in it, it's out turn for goodness sake, but to suggest we will win the league by October is silly. One look at their results since smith returned tells you they will not drop so many points.
I fully expect us to win 3 in a row, but if we can do it just before the split i will be more than happy.
Our biggest enemy will be complacency.
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Afternoon Paul/CQN
Had a little downtime this afternoon and thought i would crank up Newsnow to see what is happening in the world of celtic....
Has there ever been a more desperate collection of websites attaching their name to Celtic? Leaving aside those useless sites that simply regurgitate news from other sources, the explosion in opinion lead stories about Celtic is staggering. And might i add, really really rubbish!
what do the rest of the CQN fraternity make of these sites:
Vital Football Celtic - Rubbish, made up clap trap of the worst possible kind. TicV, you lead a poor bunch I'm afraid...
KDS - Sometimes funny, some good guys leading the line but most threads descend into emoticon competitions. Hard site to navigate too if you ain't one of the clique.
E-tims - The daddy. I love it. Great articles, wonderful rumour mill and some of the best satire on the hoop minded web.
Keep the Faith - Poor, poor rip off of E-tims is about the best i can offer here.
Celtic Minded - Never been on it.
Monthehoops - See Vital Football. Poor effort at infomring the fans.
CQN - Talking shop for those of us that think we are a lot smarter than we actually are. Takes in all waifs and strays.
Any other sites i have missed? Not looking to start a slanging match with other sites Paul but the linking to newsnow means they want the world to see their stuff and most of it is grade a baloney.
#8
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I was trying to formulate a post in reply to Paul's ill-advised gloating tone, when I read jim the tims post.
Say's it all.
You gloat over what we have achieved, but you don't tempt fate by claiming victory in advance.
On a more serious level, by assuming next season's success, you are just heaping unnecessary pressure on the team and offering a hostage to fortune to the mineshafters , media and all others who get their kicks from a failing Celtic.
So , Paul, stop it. It's not big and it's not ni yoce and it doesn't become you!!
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Och. Should read, "it's not big and it's not nice.
BTW , I wonder if jim the tim is any relation, he sounds intelligent enough to be :>)
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For the bookies mugs i mean friends:
Odds For New Scottish Season
William Hill SPL Odds 2007/08:
8/11 Celtic; Evens Rangers; 33/1 Hearts; 50/1 Aberdeen; 200/1 Hibs; 500/1 Kilmarnock.
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TTT does JTT take that as an insult?
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greenlion2
Mmmmm.
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13.22 itz
Scotland will still have two reps in next year's cL but even more significantly the Scottish Champions will probably gain direct access to the group stages. Therefore no prioritising of Europe is possible. I also agree that we have to make the best we can of the CL rather than look to drop down to the UEFA Cup, even if that could be engineered.
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paul
any word on another dynamic midfielder inbound?
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Paul67 and all on here,
As an auld haun, who, like all my ilk, have suffered times without number from defeats meted out by the dark side (and, often enough, through the direct intervention of their fellow travellers, the Masons in the black), GLOATING at them is something that gives me real delight. Still, I have witnessed too many "dodgy" decisions over the years favouring them ( you only have look back to last season and our dearth of stonewallers actually given)to see the next league Championship won already. The fixtures just published seem already to point to their being helped. You can expect plenty more of it from the likes of Smith.
Let's just enjoy things as they are and hopefully we get a couple of class players in and they settle for the likes of Fowler.
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Actually, its all Winningemmels fault.
Nothing wrong with a bit of gloating especially when it is so obviously tongue in cheek..er....right Paul?
Gloating is part and parcel of supporting your club. Now after 3 everyone......123 'Oh the Rangers are........'
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Should, of course, read "Championship is not won already".
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Great No 8, it’s hard to keep a football site a consistently high standard, especially when there is no football happening.
There are some sites who are simply a Celtic portion of a larger football business proposition (there is money in the clicks if you can pull in enough punters). Expect ‘New striker for Celtic’ headlines to appear often in these places.
Most contributions on the web will vary between profound insight and dull banality, or worse. This is an accurate reflection on life at Celtic, indeed, of life itself. When someone tells me I have written my “worst yet” I remember the above. The content we all produced the Lisbon week indicates what can be done with the correct material, my match preview before we play Falkirk will never move you.
Bear in mind two things:
All sites will go through cycles of factional fighting. This is a well known phenomenon, and does not happen only on Celtic sites. This makes it more difficult if you have several people heading up the site, as opposed to one person who has learned to scroll past anything/anyone he does not want to read.
If you think Celtic sites are bad, you gotta see what else is out there. I remember a Man Utd site the day the Glazers bought the club, wow. Bobby Charlton was abused by the site owners in a horrendous way.
Rev Davie, yes. Hmmm. Let’s wait and see which way the wind blows on this one.
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Paul,
Is the wind blowing our way the now and how long should we wait?
ps, where's kojo and the dug these days?
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Paul67,
Short of checking the meteorological sites for wind direction forecasts in the Parkhead area of Glasgow, is there any other information you feel able to share with us at this point?
Is this the proposed Appiah deal? I would imagine that, if as advertised, Schalke are also interested, they could offer the guy a fair whack in wages, a competitive league - and CL football.
Any signs of us actively punting Gravesen?
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Corrib04, absolutely!
Gerry, Panenka’s, no idea on which way the wind will blow, or when. These things are never done until they are done (unlike the league, which I reserve the right to proclaim ‘over’ 10 months in advance).
"Oh the Rangers are..."
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Jeez Paul,
You're thrawn.
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If not now? Then when?
This is part of the pathology of genetic code...
Stay with me here. Our support's psyche, in my opinion, has went through massive riptide changes since the darnel's grip on the league. We were almost, in some cases, forelock tugging apologists who knew our place - and if not that then we were reminded that we should be thinking that way at every turn - be it the media, or the pub, or your work (Sic), or the billboard advertising, or the ladies fashion sections of the papers modelled by the newest darnel signing's wives, or the 'get out of jail' cards dealt to most of the 'boozed-up barmy army of fun-lovin' players that were gazza and his ilk, or the 'Why are you so good' type questions...
Need I go on?
Confident expression is a lot different from careless bragging. Confident expression amongst 'your own folk' is surely to be embraced?
We are by mentality a million miles away from the 'We are the peepil!' brigade.
Here's a wee story...
In the week's lead up to Dr Jo prescribing 'tic the perfect tonic', I attended a wedding - my wife's workmate. You know the type of wedding - don't know a soul and feel quite awkward by degree. Add to this the full compliment of the groom's party decked to top to bottom in darnel tartan. What a blast - me and one other Celtic man became the whipping boys for their boorish, conceited jibes.
We ended up at a party afterwards. The best man, now a few sheets to the wind and it that drunken post wedding state of undress - as if about to explode, his fat ruddy cheeks heating the room, settles his sights on me. He's a good few years younger than me but not too many to excuse his trip no man's land at a wedding. He makes comment to Saturday's game.
I says, aye well we'll just have to see what happens.
He says, what d'ye mean?
I says, well it's an Old Firm game (Used that phrase then) and who knows what can happen, form book out the windae, etc etc.
He says, Whit! Listen son, it's no gonnae happen. It's just no gonnae happen son.
I repeat my stock phrases.
'Listen son, you cannae beat us, you don't have the right to beat us. It's no gonnae happen. You don't beat us.'
I says, well let's just wait and see...
He says, Wait and see nothing, listen son, you don't beat Rangers, rangers beat yous. Jist accept it.
I have only ever been my father's son.
I says, listen you f*t ignorant ugly blue b*****d, I cannae see into the future, but I can promise you this, if we beat you lot, the first thing I am going to do is think of you, laugh, then go to the toilet...
Badda boom badda bing!
Let's say I was ejected.
But on the walk home I clearly remember saying to my wife that if we ever hit a patch of success like them and I ever get like that guy there, you can shoot me.
To this day I've yet to see anything from our support coming any way close to the Boorish, smug, blinkered yet myopic stance their fans took.
And I include our foolish 'Sebo' chants in that.
If ever you need reminding, think of the lead up to Seville. We made that about us, not about them.
A long way from them bringing toilet paper to Celtic Park to indicate what they thought of our stadium...
These are special times, don't let them slip away in a sustained burst of containment.
U.
Phew....
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Right now we have a better team than Rangers, a bigger stadium, get bigger attendances and have more money than them. We could not even claim that in Jock Stein's time.
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michael kadlec! remember him? not sure if he's still on our radar but he's playing on sky sports 1 the now.
czechs v serbia
Emjay
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It seems that Schalke has stopped the negotiations with Appiah saying his wage demands are too high.
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Hi Paul, Hi fellow CQN'ers,
Paul, I see that despite some gentle persuasion to reign in a bit on counting chickens you still, as is your right, ...reserve the right to proclaim (the league) ‘over’ 10 months in advance. follwed by what I feel is your lowest comment ever and which I will not repeat.
Knowing the very high standard of meat and drink you normally ask us to dine on with you, I have to say that I am considering whether you are slightly inebriated? (You are certainly 'Merry!')
My question(s) however is if you are inebriated
a) Is it because you are drunk with the emotion of being Champions?
b) You are celebrating some news revealed to you that are worthy of a big celebration and which, in your mind, means that you are almost certain that the League will be proclaimed 'over' 10 months in advance. If so would you mind sharing it with us?
c) Its a nice summers day, you are on holiday or just in the garden or in good Company, and 'Celtic - Champions!' is as good a reason to continue to celebrate this summer as any?
I hope you have a great evening and come back fresh and revitalised to the Blog tomorrow.
Yours in Celtic,
Jim.
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Jim, go back and read Ulysses. Thank you for asking, but I am perfectly sober; just champion, and nothing can be said to persuade me that Celtic will not win the league this season.
Read above my thoughts on "worst yet"/"lowest ever", I disagree, in fact I have been much worse many times before.
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Hi Paul,
I understand where Ulysess is coming from, and I agree that most of us on here aspire to be 'much better'.
I am glad you are Champion, and reiterate that I think you are a Champion Celtic Blogger.
If you read my comments again you will see that I have not said anything about us not winning the league or about deservedly celebrating past (and current) exploits. Rather, my appeal is to recognise that it won't be over 10 months in advance, and to appeal to what I know from my (Blogger, not personal) experience of you that in your comments you should get back to playing like Champions.
But hey, who am I to talk? My experience also tells me that even Champions don't play at their best in the close season.
Yours in Celtic,
Jim.
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Hi Paul,
On a lighter note. When you told me to back and read 'Ulysses', my first thoughts wandered to "Is the Minotaur a side reference to Sir Minty?" and is the Medusa a reference to some not-so-handsome Rangers Player's coupon?...
I hope you have a great evening.
Yours in Celtic,
Jim.
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Jim, no, no, no, you completely misunderstand me. Go back and read James Joyce, you were right first time. :-)
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Ulysses, Blooming right.
Jim, I've just watched the second instalment on c67 of the LL 40th celebration. Ask Bertie about being confident and letting them know you are.
No gloating, just fact based confidence.
The jerseys don't shrink to fit the players. The scarves don't shrink to fit the fans.
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Great No 8. I read your synopsis of the various Celtic sites which was fair on all concerned. However, as a regular on KDS, I'm wondering why you think it's difficult to navigate unless you're in the clique.
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OK you've had the synopsis and prologue to The Sceptre of Fanseni, now for the third piece of the jigsaw and the first chapter. Bit deeper and darker this piece, but my 9 yr old off-shoots are warped.
By the way if anyone hasn't a clue what this is all about, just post and say so and I'm sure that I or someone else can give a back link to the synopsis and prologue.
Chapter 1 Valley of the Lions
“Most men with a pound who contemplate the loss of that pound would fight with any and every weapon at his disposal to keep a hold of that pound. For without that pound they would see only the precipice of disaster looming; similarly the billionaire who contemplates the loss of his billion.
Surely it should be the same with life. Should not a man who believes that 'When you are dead, you are dead, that is it!', in the same way that Big W announce 'when it's gone, it's gone', jealously hold onto life with greater possessiveness than one who sees his time here as merely a stepping stone to greater adventure, and who treats the great mystery in life as a puzzle to be unravelled and with each knot removed to pass that less tangled thread onto those who come next. I know so many men and women, myself in particular, who would be insulted if you considered them in any way spiritual and yet I know also that they treat the certainty of death not only as final, but with the equanimity of the most assiduous theologian or even the billionaire who has dropped a pond coin down a drain.”
So wrote Daniel Murphy Bryceland, Danny to all, in his journal of his journey through the coastal desert of Namibia.
“Are we conditioned to death, coded for it in such a way that our genes know it is coming, can detect the physical changes, and rewire our circuits in such a way as to to accept it. Is it really such a physical thing? Does the mix of hormones, the focus of the mind alter, to succumb without tears to final moments following the stab of a knife, the spread of a tumour, the taste of toxin, or the gradual filling of the lungs with water? Or is there something that we have all missed. I find these thoughts hailing upon my mind from all angles assailing my mind. For I am contemplating my own death now, and yet I am doing so with a confidence that this is anything but the and of the wondrous sights I have seen, the marvellous peoples I have met, or the magnificent experiences of the heights that humanity as a species can reach.”
He raised his eyes from his journal and counted the horses one more time probably in a subconscious attempt to convince himself that the number had changed and that he had dreamt the last 24 hours, or at the most he was going mad. The count was the same – 7 horses, plentifully laden with water and food.
“I write now to divert my thoughts however of how I might die as well as to say things that must be known. I cannot sleep and therefore the gentle drift to a new consciousness seems unlikely; I have seen no enemy who wishes to cut me down, shoot or otherwise despatch me violently,; nor strangely have I seen any animal predators that might view my cadaver as a seven course spread. Yet I am fully aware that soon, the exact timing I am unsure of, but soon I will be dead and that will occur here where I sit.
He counted the horses again. Still seven.
“It is my testament sitting here with my back to a rock, counting seven horses, with plentiful rations for seven men. I am but a day’s ride from the coast, a day’s ride through beautiful and now familiar terrain. It is also a journey that I want to take, albeit that it is one that I would have to take alone.
For all but myself are dead and their bones lie bleaching and drying, tracing out a lifeless path between here and the Valley of the Lions”
So here I sit with the means of travel at hand, the supplies to maintain me abundant, the route to the coast clear, and no sign of threat nor expectant vulture overhead. But I know that I am soon to die and that fact for someone who values life so highly and with the finality of the guillotine, finds that the consideration of death itself holds no fears. I am forced by this inevitability of doom to consider how that doom-laden final hand of cards will be deal.
This almanac bears true testimony to our journey over the first six days, and God willing by the time I have completed this entry it will cover the seventh. However, the words will be colourless and shallow, for I can find neither reason nor logic that explains why the events happened as they did. I can find no cause for each event and no logical effect which led to the chain that culminated in the deaths of my six friends and now has me sitting, waiting calmly, and talking through these scribbled markings to the future about the distant but distinct approaching scythe of the reaper.
I say all of this now because I need everyone or anyone who may stumble upon this to know that this is not some raving from a fevered mind.”
An incongruously cold waft of a breeze made Danny stop for a moment, look up and around, and shiver. The seven, still seven, horses seemed unaffected and he returned to his writing. Whoever had just walked over his grave, for the moment anyway, had gone.
“This journal is undoubtedly my final stepping stone and perhaps what follows will unravel another knot and free a strand to be grasped and followed and for more tangles to be unpicked.”
Danny wrote quickly and furiously, the words forming in his mind and flowing down to his hand to end up in clear strong handsome words that painted an incredible picture of lunacy, jealousy, and sub-human behaviour that had led to the infighting that had caused each of his mutually devoted friends and colleagues murder, to slay, to butcher, each other.
Each lie, each betrayal, each insane taunt and accusation was recorded; the stark and bitter isolation he had felt as each in turn had come with nonsensical claims to petition him to take sides, to castigate the others, to restrain, or even physically punish.
And so it had gone on for hour after hour until the suppurating soulless sores burst.
Then one by one, two by two they had gorged themselves in a gluttony of violence; Paul gutting his best friend Pat with the serrated blade of hatred; Eddie taking revenge leaving only the padlock and chain gouged deeply into Paul’s neck. Then three, then four, until his two by now unrecognisable soul-mates, James and Tony hacked and scythed at each other until they lay on the sand, their life force leaking from their bodies. And what was left?
Only the contorted faces fuelling the contorted and tear-stained memories that scarred Danny’s mind.
But worst of all, there were no answers and possibly as strange, no vultures , as if the carrion was untouchable and tainted.
Danny sat back. He felt tired but not from his sleepless hours just from reliving them again. He turned to a clean new page. He had to get down details of how to find the Valley of The Lions. After all it was there that this last knot had been untangled and the thread cleared. It was there that whoever followed would have to start. He had to get it down.
But the breeze that had made him shiver before returned. And then he sensed it. He felt the approach of his nemesis. Of course then he knew! Then he realised! It wasn’t coming around the bend, charging on foot or horse. It was here inside him!
He didn’t feel pain; there was no blood; no screaming and no agony. No bludgeoning attack, no assailant with poison or knife; just the cold grip of iniquity attacking his consciousness. He could feel his eternal soul pulling, tearing, and straining to leave behind the malevolence that had won the battle for his corpse, but would never win the war for his soul.
His earthly strength and awareness shut down, and his true life left him to go on another adventure. The final spark of his mind dimmed to a cold ember and finally the corpse of his life slumped forward against his written legacy, the only remaining witness to the journey to and from the Valley of the Lions.
***************************
Bethgu Brea surveyed his handiwork. More death, more destruction, more souls vanquished from his realm. He wanted the remains to be found. Remains of people who were loved, people who loved. He wanted sadness and misery, suspicion and doubt. Let the almanac be found. The writer would be called insane. More sadness, doubt and confusion! He would be accused of killing his friends. The heat will be accused of driving him mad, after all why didn’t he just leave on the horses with all that water and food? And then there would be fear and fear was a good thing. Overall it had been a good few days; fear, doubt, confusion, suspicion, murder, sadness, insanity and vanquished souls.
It had been a good outcome for Bethgu Brea.
There was something quintessentially brutish about it and that made him feel good!
***************************
Danny sensed his surroundings, but they were unfamiliar in place and time as they were in form and appearance. He vaguely felt that he had come from somewhere but somehow it didn’t feel as if that was on any real importance, and definitely didn’t feel any urge to look backwards. After all, there were things to find out. What was this place? Where had it come from? Who was he? Was he alone? So many questions, but such exciting ones. Perhaps that was why he was here, to find answers!
A path opened up ahead and a welcoming light beckoned towards him. Danny took the path.
TO BE CONTINUED.
Please keep the feedback coming.
Hail Hail
Estadio
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Anyway, I think Rangers are to be commended if they sign a player called Fowler.
Somehow it seems appropriate, to put that name on the back of the blue jersey. I wonder if they'll spell it correctly.
(Edward, no mention of Rafael please. You and I both know that he wasn't fit to wear the hoops.)
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Evening Bhoys,
Usually a happy lurker but am moved to reply tonight.
We had to endure quite shocking arrogence from that lot and their apologists for years.
Their world order was of us knowing our place.
Their owner actually stated and I want to repeat actually came out with the "If they spend £5......"
And do you know what, their fans lapped it up,they knew where there place was and it was lording it over us, with a nasty triumphalist dimension which reflects how their brethern treat their fellow citizens in another part of these islands.
Yes for many of them it was the natural order of life that we are not there equals in any respect.
How I LOVE THE SITUATION NOW, the r*****s fans I know can't even talk about football.
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Right Rev @ 16:50,
He wouldn't happen to be dutch would he?
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Estadio
Intriguing. You take on a heavy burden, the Celtic mythmaker. Good luck in your quest. You have rich material.
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Estadio-
I'm hooked-
don't keep this finale for the publishers........
BSM-
The same bloke who said " Whoever takes over from Fergus better have DEEP pockets"
He can get it RIGHT round him.
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Sorry Bhoys,
As it might be a few monthe before I post again could I say one or two things that I've wanted to post but never got round to it.
Tommy Burns was once extremely kind to a disabled member of my family when they visited parkhead, spending time with them which was probably the highlight of their life.
As a man he is honest and dignified and a superb representative of our Celtic family.
However those who were advocating he could take over as manager were not at Hampden for that awful season where he actually won the cup.
If I remember the average attendance was 22,000 that year and I was there for every game.
I believe those who critise WGS could not have been there or have the shortest memory possibly.
Also the famous mineshafters are mostly HUNS on the wind up, can't people see that?
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Paul
Sorry mate. If somebody misunderstands you, there is absolutely no point in suggesting they read James Joyce.
This successful blogging thing can go to your head, you know.
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Shug-
I read Ulysses and Portrait Of The Arist As A Young Man when I was younger.
I haven't been right since.........
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wgs
no.
we have had bids accepted by clubs and made contract offers.
as paul says
lets see what happens.
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Estadio, deep stuff. I am sure I am not the only one captivated (you are the only real literature I read).
Hugh, :-)
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Noel
But were you right before....
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RightRev,
Are the players of a decent calibre?
Is one of the bids a blue chip striker
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Estadio
You asked for feedback?
Steel yourself.
You are a fine writer,no question.
Inspite of having a supreme command of the language,as well a having a lively imagination, your storytelling technique is far too complicated.
Also, you tend to over-elaborate.
First rule in successful narration:
Do not burden the reader with too much descriptive language.
Your over-use of adjectives is burdensome. Adjectives should be meted carefully,too many are a needless detraction.
Take this advice in whichever manner as you wish.
For my part,it is given as honest and constructive criticism.
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Paul,
Yes, those of us who soldiered- battered, bruised, confused- through the dark time that was their NineInARow certainly deserve to enjoy a wee bit of gloating in these days of relative plenty.
However, we should not be over-confident, for therein lies disaster. I think Wattie and the Orcs will assemble a reasonable SPL team next season- solid, hard, dirty, attacking, not pretty, but red-blooded and determined. No more silly points dropped at FirPark in November for Them.
We will get no favours next year, either from the refs or from Dodgy Dave himself. We need more strength in midfield, more venom in attack, and a bit more guile all over the field. Until we get that, I'd be careful with the gloating.
Or do you know something we don't..?
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Benny12.52.
you wrote, Would it be a bad thing to finish 3rd in the group (if we qualify)and drop into yoofa?.Then you go on and say Pros. Have a realistic chance of winning yoofa/good for coef,
Cons. Missing out on the group stage.
I want Celtic to play Champions league every year, And try their utmost to win every game, If they dont qualify for the last sixteen they should'nt have the luxury of dropping down to the UEFA cup,No team should have that luxury.
By the way coefficients dont win games they may help to get you into the group stages but you still have to win.
All I want from Celtic is to try their hardest and to show they've tried
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Italiabhoy-
"We will get no favours next year, either from the refs...."
Have we ever ?
Banjo-
It's a bit of close season craic as Estadio explained in his prelude.
Lighten up.
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Noel90
Estadio made the request.
I provided an answer.
If that is not to your satisfaction, I can only beg you for forgiveness.
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