Celtic bereft of players who punished Kilmarnock

podium

oh hoki koki koki

Right, as I can’t post during the day and by the time I’ve caught up at night it’s too late to do so, I’m typing this in preparation for my “allowed” browsing at lunch time, so I’ll apologies in advance for it’s length, but not for it’s content.

There is an orchestrated campaign by malignant sources known to us all, with the express objective of bringing “us” Celtic Football Club and all it’s adherents in to the huns’ spotlight with the hope that we will be punished to the same degree that they will.

It is being managed by professionals who are very experienced in the black arts of Media Management and up until now, they have performed this task exceptionally well. I have no idea of the numbers involved, but I would imagine those that are, are some of the best in the business.

You get what you pays for in this game and Murray must be paying Top-Dollar in order to achieve what some would consider an impossible task, but from where I’m standing, “they” are surely getting there !

One of the first principals of war is to divide and conquer and in order to achieve this, one must first identify the enemy’s weaknesses and as has been witnessed on here over the past week or two, one of our biggest is our club’s identity and that of it’s followers.

Up until now I wouldn’t have thought of this as a weakness, but as has been evidenced on here recently, it would seem that it is. We have lost long-standing posters and probably many more lurkers over this than any other issue that I can remember. Whoever identified this from our attackers knows their audience better than probably many of us did and make no mistake, IMHO this has been a very carefully and well orchestrated campaign by them.

There will be protagonists from their side on here masquerading as posters and there will be members of the Fourth Estate doing exactly the same, after all, if your livelihood depended on it, you may well do the same, so let’s not kid ourselves on here, we are being attacked and undermined by those that wish us much harm and it is up to us to identify the “enemy” and to come together as supporters of our club in order to defeat them.

Instead of dancing to “their” tune, we should be focusing on what makes this club so different from ALL other clubs. There is far more that should and does unite us, than is dividing us, but having read most of what’s been posted on here recently, you wouldn’t think so.

I will defend by any means open to me, the right of any individual to have and to express freedom of speech. But as any reasonable person knows, that freedom carries responsibilities and it is this that our enemies are using against us. They are urging some of us to express our feelings to such a degree that others are finding it unpalatable and those in return are then expressing theirs to the same degree. How many of us have read posts mirroring the very sentiments that TRS extol and against which we are all united against ?

As everyone knows, there are certain subjects that should never be discussed by people in unknown company and these include politics and religion. And before anyone says, I would have thought also that this was not mixed company, but as we’ve all read recently, it is !!! People’s political and religious beliefs are personal and will be held dear by those that have them and they will not sit idly by and watch them being attacked. Some will chose to go elsewhere and others will defend them on here irregardless of who they fall out with, or offend.

I am not advocating their exclusion from the blog, but I am trying to identify why and by whom they are being used against us all. And make no mistake, they are being used by the malicious forces currently raging this war against our club, all we have to do is acknowledge this, accept it and agree a common strategy against it, no ???

I humbly suggest that we all focus on what brings us all here together rather on what divides us. We love our club and I feel pretty certain that if any of us met outwith the blog, regardless of our politics and religion, we would get on famously, finding common ground in our football club and being the polite individuals that I think most of us are, we would steer well clear of any contentious ground for fear of offending those we are talking to, or those that are around us.

This is not a sop to all that would harm us, more of a rallying, “call to arms” to those that feel alienated from our club because of what has been written both here and in other places. We have a fight on our hands and we wont win it unless we all fight the same enemy and I hope you can all agree who that enemy is. It’s not the true Celtic supporters on here or at the games, it’s the bellicose (been dying to type that fur ages !!) enemy that lurks on here and all around us.

This blog was conceived and executed by Paul67 to provide us with a platform that was and should be an alternative to platforms that existed and still exist, who’s primary objective was and still is, to either see our club put out of business, or at the very least, see us put (in their eyes) in our rightful place.

Not while I’m still drawing breath !

KNOW YOUR ENEMY, and it’s not any true supporter of our club on here, or at the games

On a lighter note, as said previously by me, If I can manage, I’m in oneanton’s team (if she’ll have me) !

pablophanque

Ps, I wore my kilt in Seville and I also had a Saltire round my neck the whole day. Try doing that in an army issue kilt (probably weighs about 5lbs), Hoops, full-length woolly socks and desert boots and all in 42°C of glorious sunshine :o)

My point being, I should not be seen to be deliberately trying to identify our club as a purely Scottish one by those who think it’s purely Irish, nor should I feel unwelcome by others just because I think it is (with Irish roots). As far as I’m concerned, the day it stops being “All inclusive” will be the day I stop supporting it.

Pps, Kitalba, what does that Icelander know about Scottish History writers anyway :o)))

Ppps, Travelbhoy, (can’t remember your new Nom-De-Blog), forgot to acknowledge your post from a few days ago. Brian’s still the man for me I’m afraid !

MORT YA ******!!!!!!

well done mate

beat me to the 1st

Silver Medal to the usual place please Paul Shun

Time to let Mizuno out of the traps

although Kille Butchers will probably try and nail him and they do every time we play them

Naka will be right up for it tonight as well after getting booted all over the place the last time

OH HOKI KOKI KOKI

Hello to Jim Shun in Perth Australia

Paul

A man with your contacts needs to ensure we have the music ready for tonight when Koki scores

lennondihno18

just got lucky, hit refresh as new article was being posted.

The Huddle last night indicated that Samaras may be fit to play all or some of the game...here's hoping!

It is interesting that, while sensible Celtic supporters do not raise the subject of 9 in a row, Rangers fans do. Of course, when they do that gives us license to discuss the subject raised by them in a non triumphalist peepil-like way. (Saying we shall not stop at 9 is not triumphalist..possibly bear baiting but that's okay).

velvet underpants and nico from last article, is your brother-in-law Joshybhoy or as I prefer to call him Joshurnotabhoy by any chance?

Paul

And there was me suggesting another environment was needed to cover those things at the end of the previous blog.

Are you psychic?

Anyone wanting to say anything on how and where we debate the politics of football can pick up on the questions asked on the previous blog.

Lennondinho18, Koki is an excellent shout. Thanks for staying on the football subject!

Cadizzy, Giorgios has been a big miss, we want him back soon to give him a chance to tune-up for the CL games ahead.

Auldheid, psychic/been here before.

Sami on the bench for a wee cameo? Sounds good to me. And Naka in for Shaun is probably the only change to the starting 11.

I hope Cillian gets a goal tonight. He is working really hard and makes a lot of god runs that aren't found quickly enough, which is why he gets caught offside so much. He is raw but has talent.

Pablophanque

Great post. You might want to think of copy/pasting it on the previous blog also since Paul has left it open to talk about such matters?

Lennondinho
Totally agree, Mizuno looked great the last couple of minutes against Motherwell. As for getting nailed by Killie players, he looks as though he can handle himself pretty well so I don't think we need to worry about that. I wouldn't be worried to see him starting tonight, and with the number of players injured he may well have to, although Strachan said Naka, Loovens and Sammy were back in training. Perhaps something like:
Brown
Wilson, McManus, Caldwell, Naylor
Robson, Hartley, Brown, Mizuno
McDonald, Sheridan
Bench - Loovens, Hinkel, Caddis, Nakamura, McCourt, Hutchinson, Samaras
Look at that, if those three are fit we can actually fill a bench as well. Excellent stuff, should be 2 or 3-0 tonight.

Hail! Hail!

I seem to have put Koki and Robbo on the wrong sides there. Well, I'm sure you knew what I meant.

Paul67,

can I suggest permanent threads for certain subjects like the huddle board has the generic hun thread. Maybe you can have Politics, American sports, Music, Johnathon Ross and Russel Brand, What is amortisation really? oh and an end of the world thread for when we get beat by the huns and an ML2 chatting shop

Well said Pablo
I haven't posted for a long time as I quite frankly got fed up of the ever decreasing circles of first the song debate and now the identity debate. I don't doubt the sincerity of most of the posters on these issues however as more people entered the debates the issues became clouded and it became difficult to determine who was at the wind up.
If you've got your suspicions then name and shame.

Onwards to 4-in-a-row

Silver - Echo and the Bunnymen

Pablo:

I have bought the book three times, having lent out two previous copies which were never returned. I'm a big fan of N.T. loved everything he has ever written, but at times he did indulge romantic licence.

Buy it mate, trust me, I've read it four times and when I finish the book that I am presently reading I will do so again.

Know your enemy!! I will send you a link to a site that is that particular subject personified.

Hotsmokedsalmon and LFT -

Good shout re a NE quiz team. HSS - hope you are big enough to carry LFT and myself? Still need another though, anyone from Eberdeen interested? Ballabhoy or Abmucker? You guys on the go, or will you be organising your own team?

Cyrul

Gary Caldwell first scorer 33/1

them draw 11/4.

From previous thread ... for some reason, our computer here kept on bringing up the old one and not the new one ...

Sure, Cadizzy, I do recognise that the two newspaper headline gags were not quite of the same ilk.

Liked the wet sponge one, though, I have to admit.

Reminds me of the one about the seagulls in Paisley bringing packed lunches ...

Awe_Naw, you forgot the "you have mail thread"

Paul,

12 in a row will see us overtake their 50.5 league wins. Cillian won't even be thirty.

Therags...

Not having seen him yet, can anyone say just how good Mizuno is?

Aw Naw

On a non football web site that I was involved in we went along those lines (but amortisation was voted out ;)) and it was easy to do with no technical expertise at all.

Even then we had to create a totally separate site for when folk fell out with each other until such times as they resolved the issues, and many did given the environment in which to do so.

Michael Collins, Gweedorebhoy,

I have replied to you on the previous thread, but in deference to Paul's wishes, I won't mention it here.

There are reports that Kilmarnock will rest some players for tonight, to ensure they are fit for what they see as more winnable games.

The BBC had a long list of injured Killie players last night too.

Maybe we should make it a reserve game?

I have long held a wee personal theory about likely outcomes of fixtures that revolves around a team playing the other big Glasgow team directly after the other (trying not to offend by using the OF phrase!). This week we have that scenario for both us and TFOD.

I kept track for a wee while a couple years back but no longer have the stats. Basically if Motherwell play Celtic on Saturday and Rangers the next week they are more likely to get a result against Rangers. This is because the standard of their play will have been stretched and honed the previous week beyond what any other SPL could have done and raised their game. Maybe a wee bit like the reverse case of us being unable to compete at Old Trafford having played ICT and Accies in the run up.

This may stand up to no scrutiny but that won't stop me harbouring the theory!

Anyway, Motherwell being stretched at Celtic Park and then getting a chance in their own midden to try and make amends augers well for an upset. Kille being pumped at home will have them fired up too, but the big pitch and having less time to recover, and being on the wrong end of the support might conversely leave them vulnerable. All I need now is a reason why Motherwell will be vulnerable and I will have covered all likely results and be able to claim the theory is a success which means that two draws are on the cards because its a midweek fixture and they don't have the usual week upon which the theory has been harvested.

My goodness this a confusing post.

All the best.

Hello there, Leo here
Podian?

Tonight, it is essential that the Celtics play a really good game against Kilbirnie and outpoint them by a healthy margin. For that reason, I'd play a formation that helps the Celtics do that.
My starting XV would be Boruc,Doumbe,Loovens,Caldwell,McManus,Wilson,Naylor
Brown,Hartley,Crosas,Nakamura,Maloney
McGeady,Venegoor of Hesselink,Samaras,McDonald.

Hopefully, they should all stay injury free since we've been lucky with injuries so far this season. The Kilbirnie team should not be a problem since footer isn't their first sport and though they might be exceptional hammer throwers, I don't expect that will help them much other than at that bit when they get to throw the ball to their teamchums after it goes off the green bit (line-ups?)

I have been following all of the debates on here with interest on mum's laptop and, without re-opening the whole songs debate, Morning Train by Sheena Easton is truly an 80's classic that I would have been proud to sing if the words had been changed to suit.

Podian67, you are an inspiration to everyone else with your wide knowledge of music and ability to download to an iPod.I would love to meet your gran's cat sometime. I too get very fretful when mum takes me to the vets.

Hail hail hail

Or, could an http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/a/arsenal/7723874.stm happen for us?

Paul, my apologies for going against your wishes, I've got to post and run at the moment and I posted before reading *blush*. Feel free to delete and I'll re-post on the last thread.

Kit, I've seen it a few times, so I'll take your recommendation.

pablophanque

Embdy think we should wear poppies tonight ?

Are the poppy-wearers who observed the two minutes silence Hush Poppies ?

I'll get my greatcoat......

WeedyGardener, MLsmells

Paul, quite a refreshing article, things were getting tedious and stale, not good for reading.

On the subject of tonights game, I think that a game for Koki might just be the tonic as some have mentioned. He looks capable of carving open defences with Samurai like precision.

On another note, I think it best to leave our other Sammi(rai)on the bench until Sunday where I think he will most needed.

gsu

that is to say "will be most needed"

gsu

again

our last 19 league home games versus kiliie have resulted in 17 wins and 2 draws. 0 defeats.

we have scored 4 or more 9 times in those 19 games.

I expect the Huns to drop points.

Ulster-Celt

Pablo - magnificent...

And a plea to all ... whatever we write here, can we lose the comparisons between this site and FF, or between our posters and huns?

It's not the CQN way, it's not Celtic way, so let's find some of the solidarity that we are famed for.

C'mon The Hoops!

McGrain

Uyclr, LFT and HSS, The Auld Fashwives :o)))

pablophanque

Can't say I like the idea of lots of separate threads - that would make it a message board and not a blog. I like the mix of topics we get through our discussions, at least when one subject doesn't dominate.

Also, for those of us who routinely log in on mobile devices, a load of different threads would be a real pain. We already have to download the pointless podium stuff, the reposts from previous threads, the racing drivers, etc.

For me this is an indication of how well our Captain is playing.

DARREN O'DEA'S hopes of a January loan move to kick-start this first-team career are a step closer following a constructive meeting between his agent, Kevin Moran, and Celtic boss Gordon Strachan.

The former Manchester United team-mates met at Lennoxtown to discuss the 21-year-old defender's future.

Moran reports the talks went well and that Strachan was sympathetic to O'Dea's wish to move on loan to get the first-team action being denied him by the form of Stephen McManus and Gary Caldwell.

The Parkhead boss has already rejected several requests from clubs wanting to give the Republic of Ireland defender that chance.

And the fact O'Dea was played in recent weeks against Kilmarnock and Manchester United confirmed he is still considered an important part of the squad.

But with Glenn Loovens recovered from a thigh muscle tear, O'Dea fears he will fall back down the pecking order. Moran said: "We're hoping Darren will be able to get out on loan because he needs to be playing games.

"I spoke to Gordon and we are looking to do something that suits Darren and the club."

Moran knows that, when Strachan does give the green light, there will be no shortage of offers.

But they will not simply take any loan move just to get out of this situation.

Moran explained: "The important thing is where Darren goes. It has to be somewhere he is going to play regularly.

"He's under contract for another couple of years and his ambition is to return to Celtic and play for them. But he needs games now."

again

our last 19 league home games versus kiliie have resulted in 17 wins and 2 draws. 0 defeats.

we have scored 4 or more 9 times in those 19 games.

Ulster-Celt

Curly, is that a photo of Balamory on your blog? What's the story and why's it not on TV anymore? Does the English bloke with the kilt really have a badly painted castle?

Bertie Auld last night was very vocal in his support for Samaras playing tonight. I tend to agree though maybe start him on the bench or put him on from the start until we are a few ahead (inshallah!)

Gordon_J,

you could still log on to the normal blog as default. It would just give us the chance to avoid repetition and politely ask those that are boring the mammary´s off us to go to an even more appropriate place

How many times do you want to read the EXACT same thing being repeated over and over and over again

Surely with you being "mobile" that it will only optimise your life.

anyway just an idea

PAUL

Do you not think the Rangers fan was talking about 9 league games
in a row i.e we lost to the dark side and have won our last 8 league games.... Tonight makes 9.

Apologies Paul67, posted on this thread while backtracking on other without reading your article. so that's all I have to say about that topic.

Tell all the REARS you know.
That we'll be going for INFINITY-IN-A-ROW.
We will not stop.
Until the universe pops.
And we all get sucked into a black whole.

Hail Hail

Sorry to repost this but as it relates to other poster I thought I should.BTW quite liked pablo`s Auld Fash Wives suggestion.

Cadizzy,
On the same day as Arbroath won 36-0, another team (Dundee Harp?) beat another Aberdeen team 35-0. Same day!! Perhaps the fixtures` list needed looking at.
LFT,
I have met Curly (Golf Day)and I got the impression that he could take humiliation in his stride. A definite requirement for our team (see, it is `our team` already).
Auldheid
Another excellent post.(11.59).Often in life, someone says something and we say: That`s just what I think but needed someone else to actually put it in words and out in the open. You do that extremely well.....would you like to move to the NE so as to be in the catchment area for our quiz team?
Cadizzy again.
Loved that one about the brush handle! A question in The Sunday Post Quiz once was: Why are our policemen so handsome! I kid you not.

http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/sport/display.var.2467568.0.refs_all_set_to_call_in_cops.php

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/scot_prem/3526837.stm

Have to say that I am with Paul Jewell on this one. They dont deserve what they cant give and that´s respect

Whos the ref for tonights matches involving us and the huns ?

Awe Naw, excellent idea for an Amortisation blog, but we would need to diminish it in equal measure throughout the course of the season, not sure that’s possible!

Therags, well figured.

Lhondondave, Koki only got a few minutes on Saturday. He is light and small but has lots of energy and is skilful.

St. Michaels Bhoy, thank you.

Pablo, no worries, I think the message is out.

GSU, too true.

Ulster-Celt, every time they go away from home you get the feeling something might happen. Our home record against Killie is heroic (I try not to mention the stat) but every new day, is a new day.

jc2, well spotted, but I’m sure he was talking about leagues.

awe_naw

Celtic v Kilmarnock - Mike Tumilty
Motherwell v Rangers - Steve Conroy

Mort

Mike Tumilty ????

Never heard of the guy. Has he reffed us before ?

HSS, re the Sunday Post quiz, what was the answer (presumably printed upside down on the next page)?

Their sportswriters (Doug Baillie at least)were not allowed to use the words "goal" and "goalkeeper". Instead they had to use onion bag and custodian. Occasionally they did use rigging (hastily dropped after a certain Sex Pistols song) and the man between the sticks.

Don't you want to go with my NE team name suggestion?

My starting team for tonight. 4-5-1

.........................The Ghod-Like Caldwell

The Ghod-Like Caldwell, The Ghod-Like Caldwell, The Ghod-Like Caldwell, The Ghod-Like Caldwell

The Ghod-Like Caldwell, The Ghod-Like Caldwell, The Ghod-Like Caldwell, The Ghod-Like Caldwell, The Ghod-Like Caldwell

..........................The Ghod-Like Caldwell

As Caldwell is Ghod-Like he is omnipotence, omniscience and omnibenevolence he is therefore omnipresence on the pitch and covers each blade of grass.

The GLC (Ghod-like Caldwell) Supporters Omnibus leaves BB's at 7.15 tonight.

OmniBarnsleyBitter CSC

Pablo- good post. Clearly the time you spent in Elysium was not wasted!

Awe-naw

Never heard of him myself but hasn't refereed Celtic as far as I can see

Paul 67 Shun

No problem, Football every time (oh hoki koki koki)

Drunken Lullabies Shun

here here shun I am very confident of a good win tonight, but I am worried about Naka, and every other Celtic player for that matter particularly as we have so many out injured at present and also when they play in the SPL as most teams try to kick us off the park, especially Kilmarnock.

I Remember when Alan Mahood broke Shuan Maloney's ankle as if it was yesterday (last game of the season after Seville)

it was a disgrace of a challenge and he was only booked

Mort,

thanks for that. Here´s hoping he has a good game

As Caldwell is Ghod-like, you get 3 in every 1, so our line up is actually

The Ghod-Like Caldwell

The Ghod-Like Caldwell, The Ghod-Like Caldwell, The Ghod-Like Caldwell, The Ghod-Like Caldwell

The Ghod-Like Caldwell, The Ghod-Like Caldwell, The Ghod-Like Caldwell, The Ghod-Like Caldwell, The Ghod-Like Caldwell

..........................The Ghod-Like Caldwell

AND

The Ghod-Like Caldwell

The Ghod-Like Caldwell, The Ghod-Like Caldwell, The Ghod-Like Caldwell, The Ghod-Like Caldwell

The Ghod-Like Caldwell, The Ghod-Like Caldwell, The Ghod-Like Caldwell, The Ghod-Like Caldwell, The Ghod-Like Caldwell

..........................The Ghod-Like Caldwell

AND

The Ghod-Like Caldwell

The Ghod-Like Caldwell, The Ghod-Like Caldwell, The Ghod-Like Caldwell, The Ghod-Like Caldwell

The Ghod-Like Caldwell, The Ghod-Like Caldwell, The Ghod-Like Caldwell, The Ghod-Like Caldwell, The Ghod-Like Caldwell

..........................The Ghod-Like Caldwell

However, if he covers every blade of grass, do we now need three pitches, three referees, six assistants and a 10th, 11th and 12th official? Picking deities in your starting line up has its drawbacks.

Lennondinho18

The 'tackle' from Mahood that day will have been no accident. I've told the story on here before but I know for a fact he is a dirty hun.

PAUL67

if he was saying 9 league titles in a row the thought has obviously entered his mind...And if he is so negative about his own team maybe he should switch allegiences and join or own band
of mineshafters and Gloom and doom merchants.

AlwayslookonthebrightsideoflifeCSC

The Knights that say NE?

If we are going to play dieties, how about Seth at left back? Could put in a good shift for us there, even if physically he's no oil painting.

Anyways, is the hokey-cokey not anti -Catholic?

Narrowbhoat -

if he covers every blade of grass he must be Dewish

CircumcisedCSC, www.donteatrubberpolomints.com

Porridgeandbananas

I believe he meant it also

always have even without that info

was he not also the person who shouted at Chris Sutton in the tunnel after the game (when sutton said dunfermline lay down)

I think he may have been

I've been driving in my car, its not quite a jaguar
I bought it in Primrose Hill from a bloke from Brazil
It was made in fifty-nine in a factory by the Tyne
It says Morris on the door, the G.P.O. owned it before
I drive in it for my job, the governor calls me a slob
But I dont really care, give me some gas and the open air

Complete madness of course. The BRM V8 is the stylish chassis for me; it's the classy chassis.

OH HOKI KOKI KOKI

Awe-Naw,

I see your point, but I would probably end up looking at several different blogs. And then we would get the "what blog should this post be posted on" debate ...

DBBIA
Yes, quite like that and at this time of the year `The long dark (K)nights that say NE` is a possibility. Anyway, with all the fish we eat will we be favourites?

Cadizzy
Remind me of yours again...sheep and fish featured, I know. Baahdock?

Smokie and the Baaahndits?

The Baas of the Cold Brigade?

Paul,

Thanks for posting a new article and suggesting we steer away from the politics. I can honestly sat that I have read CQN less in the last 7 days than in the 3 years or so before as we were covering no new ground, simply opening up old wounds, and maybe creating the odd new one too.

Blantyrekev 12.37

I would say it all boils down to to how TFOD handle a midweek fixture! Something of a rarity round those parts these days ;-)

Gordon_j,

It would be interesting to note the number of CQN bloggers that have left or who are now just lurking. It seems to me that we have lost quite a few valuable contributors recently. In the world of publishing content is king. I suppose it depends on what you want to read.

Hail Hail

Thanks for the suggestions. I have to go now but so far,and hoping Cadizzy doesn`t go in the huff, I like The Baas of the Cold Brigade. (Or Baa`s, just for urcly).

Aberdonians least favourite film - Sheepless in Seatle.

Favourite film - Wnen Harry met Dolly.

With apologies to my friends in the North!

DBBIA,
Excellent :-).
Incidently, proof if need be, that modern doctors are rubbish. Radio 5 news has just stated that "experts" studying apparent remains have discovered after several months that the skull they had been studying was in fact .... a coconut. I kid you not.
LFT

Leo Sayer

Have the mighty Ladeside had an unexpected promotion?

Paul67

Great article particularly your last comment about getting back to football.

P.S. Bring on the Gers in a cup semi at Hampden.

Hail Hail

Rocccobhoy

Lft -or you Kid Creole me not.

Of course if the remains had been found in Ayrshire I can understand the confusion. A recent survey has revealed that on close inspection 73% of the Ayrshire Roads Department and 48% of shop assistants in Mauchline were in fact Coconuts and other forms of the genus Cocos.

When asked how so many important jobs were being filled by the [admittedly delish] fruits a man in Irvine who had most of his own skin said' At least they're no' Taigs'.

Lennondinho18

Yeah it was him that was giving it bick licks in the tunnel about us losing the League and as far as I was told (by someone who is best mates with someone who played for Kilmarnock that day) he keeched it big time when big Sutton went for him.

My for over Jeffries playing his expendables tonight is exactly that.

He will programme them to get stuck in regardless of yellow or red cards.

Blantyre Kev,

I wouldn't discount your theory, even though I couldn't follow half of it.

Away back in the fifties, Dundee United manager, Jerry Kerr, said something to the effect that," he enjoyed playing against Celtic, because they allowed you to play football".

I believe that still holds today and Celtic have an "if you are good enough, show it" attitude to other teams.

I too expect M'well to put up a better show against them than Killie and Caley did.

HSS my suggestion was solely meant to convey the equal importance of the contribution of Arbroath and Aberdeen to the heritage and culture of the North East CQN team and the inclusive nature that the team wishes to convey..hence "you smoke one sheep.." but the baas of the cold) brigade is a commendable suggestion, even if the suggester should better spend his time healing the sick and/or pronouncing them dead.

New public address announcer for Rugby Park

Paul your admonitions seems to have worked, what a novel idea, a football site talking about football, long may it continue.
I'd like to fit Caddis in tonight preferably as a right sided midfielder or at fullback, if Naka starts play him on the left, I think these two could supply us enough balls into the danger areas for our scorers and they would be backed up by Wilson and Henkle while Scoosh runs riot down the middle

Armchair Celts have a story on it about Danny McGrain's beard potentially being banned from Albania. It got me thinking that tHere just aren't enough beards in football these days, and i mean proper man beards not just the unkempt look. Danny was one of our greatest ever players. Perhaps our full backs of today should experiment with with ZZ Top-esque facial fuzz to see if it improves them as players

From the Grove Magazine (strapline "Inside London's hippest enclave" Aye right!

"Tim Jefferies
Tim Jefferies is well known for dating some of the world’s most beautiful women...... Lucy Land catches up with him.."

Conclusive proof that torn faced Jefferies is definitely not a tim

Cadizzy -

Bala-where? Naw, it's (spot the apostrophe used correctly this time!!) Harbour Street in Portree, on the Isle of Skye, where the former poster (now lurker perhaps?), Trotternish, no doubt hails from.

Cruly

http://www.flickr.com/photos/aberdeenfc/2992092163/in/set-72157608569895957/

DBBIA, but can it speak to the flags amassed behind the goal (at the Old Flag End) in their own language.

some light afternoon relief

I met this bloke with a didgeridoo and he was playing 'Dancing Queen' on it. I thought, 'That's Aboriginal.'
-----------------------
This lorry full of tortoises collided with a van full of terrapins. It was a turtle disaster.
------------------------
I told my girlfriend I had a job in a bowling alley. She said 'Tenpin?' I said, 'No, permanent.'
-----------------------
I went in to a pet shop. I said, 'Can I buy a goldfish?' The guy said, 'Do you want an aquarium?' I said, 'I don't care what star sign it is.'
----------------------------
I bought some Armageddon cheese today, and it said on the packet. 'Best before End'
---------------------------
I went to buy a watch, and the man in the shop said 'Analogue?' I said 'No, just a watch.'
------------------------------
I went into a shop and I said, 'Can someone sell me a kettle?' The bloke said 'Kenwood?' I said, 'Where is he then?'
--------------------------
My mate is in love with two schoolbags. He's bi-satchel.
------------------------
I went to the doctor. I said to him 'I'm frightened of lapels.' He said, 'You've got cholera.'
---------------------------
I met the bloke who invented crosswords today. I can't remember his name, its P something T something R.
----------------------------
I was reading this book today, The History of Glue. I couldn't put it down.
----------------------------
I phoned the local ramblers club today, but the bloke who answered just went on and on.
---------------------------
The recruitment consultant asked me 'What do you think of voluntary work? I said 'I wouldn't do it if you paid me.'
--------------------------
I was in the jungle and there was this monkey with a tin opener and a banana. I said, 'You don't need a tin opener to peel a banana.' He said, 'No, this is for the custard.'
----------------------
This policeman came up to me with a pencil and a piece of very thin paper. He said, 'I want you to trace someone for me.'
--------------------------
I told my mum that I'd opened a theatre. She said, 'Are you having me on?' I said, 'Well I'll give you an audition, but I'm not promising you anything..'
----------------------------
I phoned the local builders today, I said to them 'Can I have a skip outside my house?' He said, 'I'm not stopping you!'
--------------------------------
This cowboy walks in to a German car showroom and he says 'howdy!'
--------------------------
I fancied a game of darts with my mate. He said, 'Nearest the bull goes first' He went 'Baah' and I went 'Moo' He said 'You're closest'
------------------------------
I was driving up the motorway and my boss phoned me and he told me I'd been promoted. I was so shocked I swerved the car. He phoned me again to say I'd been promoted even higher and I swerved again. He then made me managing director and I went right off into a tree. The police came and asked me what had happened. I said 'I careered off the road'
----------------------
I visited the offices of the RSPCA today. It's tiny: you couldn't swing a cat in there.
-------------------------
I was stealing things in the supermarket today, while balanced on the shoulders of a couple of vampires. I was charged with shoplifting on two counts.
------------------------
I bought a train ticket to France and the ticket seller said 'Eurostar?' I said 'Well I've been on telly but I'm no Dean Martin .
---------------------------
I phoned the local gym and I asked if they could teach me how to do the splits. He said, 'How flexible are you?' I said, 'I can't make Tuesdays or Thursdays.'
--------------------------------
I went to the local video shop and I said, 'Can I borrow Batman Forever?' He said, 'No, you'll have to bring it back tomorrow'
--------------------------------
A waiter asks a man, 'May I take your order, sir?' 'Yes,' the man replies. 'I'm just wondering, exactly how do you prepare your chickens?' 'Nothing special, sir. We just tell them straight out that they're going to die.'

Awe_Naw_No_Annoni_Oan_Anaw_Noo,

Big Mick had an outstanding game against Man U. His best one in my view in a Celtic jersey. Credit were credit is due, I'm quick to criticise him but he had a great game last week. Still does not change my opinion though. Celtic do need a new centre half to partner either GC or Mick. A big dominant one that will win the balls in the box when corners and crosses come in. At the moment in my view we are very vulnerable when we defend high balls in the box, especially corner kicks. Lack of hight and zonal marking a bad combnation for me. If we had someone like a player like Vidic wins balls it would help a lot.

However, Darren O'Dea is going out on loan not because of the performances of Mick. If that was the case he would have been giving a shot when he was playing poor. O'Dea is going out on loan as he won't be given the chance at Celtic. He has to move is career on. Can't wait for GS to suddenly decide right Darren he's you chance.

We will lose Darren after the loan. He has 2 years on his contract left and i don't think he will sign a new one as he won't be playing.

Curly
Balamory CCBBBCC?????(bbc for weans)TV programme. My youngest had it on al the time about 5 years ago. It's (apostrophe!!) great when they grow up. I now only have to watch the Simpsons with him.

I don't mean Vidic personally but someone in that mould. Wins balls in the air. No Nonsense

Cheers, Paul67 (earlier). It'd be great if Koki played tonight although I'd fear for his wee shins.

Another signing we exiles wouldn't get to see much is McCourt. He got some minutes recently. Is he injured?

Cadizzy @1.12 -- you won't be leaping to answer questions on Trinitarian Theology come the great CQN Quiz, I reckon.

It's appraisal time here in our office, here are some comments from managers over the years -

1) Since my last report, this employee has reached rock bottom and has started to dig.


2) I would not allow this employee to breed.


3) This employee is really not much of a has-been, but more of a definite won't be.


4) Works well when under constant supervision and cornered like a rat in a trap.


5) When she opens her mouth, it seems it is only to change feet.


6) He would be out of his depth in a car park puddle.


7) This young lady has delusions of adequacy.


8) He sets low personal standards and he consistently fails to achieve them.


9) This employee is depriving a village somewhere of its idiot.


10) This employee should go far, and the sooner he starts, the better.


11) Got a full 6-pack but lacks the plastic thing to hold it all together.


12) A gross ignoramus - 144 times worse than an ordinary ignoramus.


13) He doesn't have ulcers - but he is a carrier.


14) He's been working with glue too long.


15) He would argue with a signpost


16) He brings a lot of joy whenever he leaves the room.


17) When his I.Q. reaches 50 he should sell.


18) If you see two people talking and one looks bored, he's the other one.


19) Donated his brain to science before he was finished using it.


20) He has two brains - one is lost and the other is out looking for it.


21) If he were any more stupid he'd have to be watered twice a week.

22) It's hard to believe he beat out 1,000,000 other sperm.


23) Some drink from the fountain of knowledge - he only gargled.


24) The wheel is still turning but the hamster's dead.

8-))

Yurcl

Lhondondave

McCourt did get an injury but has taken a while to reach the fitness required

he is well on the road now and should have actually scored a few games ago when he came on as a sub

fingers crossed for him for a run out tonight also

oh hoki koki koki

For the horse racing fraternity on here -

Cheltenham Races..............

A group of primary school infants, accompanied by two female teachers, went on a field trip to Cheltenham races to see and learn about thoroughbred horses.

When it was time to take the children to the toilet, it was decided
that the girls would go with one teacher and the boys would go with the other.

The teacher assigned to the boys was waiting outside the men's toilet when one of the boys came out and told her that none of them could reach the urinal.

Having no choice, she went inside, helped the boys with their pants, and began hoisting the boys up, one by one, holding their willies to direct the flow away from their clothes.

As she lifted one, she couldn't help but notice that he was unusually well endowed.

Trying not to show that she was staring, the teacher said, 'You must be in year four.'

'No, madam,' he replied. 'I'm riding Silver Arrow in the
2.15.'

Culyr

curly

nearly swallowed my Marlboro.

Lyruc,

couldn't help but notice that it's appraisal-time yet you're on CQN all day. Anyone looking over shoulder at your screen right now?

Hi everyone, a long-time reader here (nearly 4 years!!) but first time poster. Love the debate on here.

Sorry to go off topic but I'm hoping someone can help me out. Most of you will remember Love Street 1986, and the lime green away strip we wore that day. I certainly do, it was my first ever Celtic top, and my old man scraped together some pennies to buy me it! Anyway, I can't find a picture of it online anywhere, can anyone help by posting a picture of the strip or a even a link to it??

Would be most grateful.

Keep up the great work Paul, and here's to another 3 points tonight.

I loved this press conference with our manager from the bbc website. His comments on injuries and Scotland call ups were great, especially when you consider a certain other clubs attitude when it comes to Scottish players playing (NOT) for their Country.

Gordon (no pointing any elbows) Strachan

Maestro ......

http://www.kitclassics.co.uk/kits/celtic.gif

WGS,

As always I think you are over critical of Mick. He has had to endure a lot since been promoted to his lofty position as a young lad and he has NEVER let us down. Always prepared to play and put his body on the line.... and all this without a quality left back. I dont think that Mc Manus can be blamed for the decision to mark zonally at corners. I dont think he can be blamed for Artur Boruc being glued to his line - especially in big games. I dont think he can be held responsible for our penchant for diminutive full backs. I dont think he can be held responsible for having to play with Camara, Telfer, Wilson, JJPD, Caldwell, Loovens, Hartley, Robson, Hinkel and anyone else you care to mention that has played full back for Celtic over the last three years of which there have been many.

I believe that he kept O´Dea out on physical presence alone

Quiz Who said;

"Stephen and Gary were fabulous.

"When you look at the quality of the opposition - exceptional in the first half, world class in the second - Celtic still managed to keep them out bar that one goal.

"Their positional sense was superb, anything coming into the box, crosses down the right hand side, they were more or less camped in.

"They got themselves in the right place to cut out the cross before it caused any danger.

"Their understanding throughout was first class.

"It was a night for brave men and Celtic had it in every department.

"The central defenders when asked to do something special or take it where it hurts were so willing.

"That's a positional thing as well - anticipating the shot, where it's going to be and being brave enough to get yourself out there and make that decision to block it.

"Stephen and Gary have fantastic experience together now. They can play a bit too, they're not just two big stoppers. And they show composure."

"Maybe on the night the corner kicks caused them a problem or two. That was the only weak part of their game. It's important you don't let the opposition's reputation overwhelm you. That didn't happen and they stood up to whoever was going at them - Tevez, Berbatov, Giggs, Ronaldo, Rooney.

"Playing together is important. "

This is the Celtic guys' third year playing together and they've had their critics. But individually both are good players and over the three years they've grown in stature.

"Games like the one against Man United are only going to help.

"You get landmark matches in your career that give you the belief you can go on to bigger things.

"You've got to take the knocks."

"Stephen and Gary wanted to show how good they could be against the best. They did it with honour."

The way they have developed they look like being the partnership for now and the future.

"Both are at a perfect age with peak athletic years coming up and mentally improving.

"Playing European Championships or World Cups helps too because you are measuring yourself against a broad section of the best. Knowing you've handled that makes you a better player or partnership."

"The Celtic guys are more equal as a partnership.

"They are confident, both can use the ball, they are comfortable on it and quite happy to play one against one.

"The full backs will bomb forward and the two at the back are happy to be left on their own, they know they don't need too much protection.

"Both Stephen and Gary have pace and are athletes and fabulous players." ?

---------

If we are going to buy anyone in January it has to be a left back and another striker...somehow I think it will just be a keeper

Maestro

http://www.kerrydalestreet.com/page/Away+top+1985-86

Lhondondave -

The boss is too busy competing the appraisals of the others to see what I am up to!!

LOL!!

Rucyl

Hello there, Leo here

aliballif, I apologise for the time it has taken for me to reply to your earlier post. I am currently preparing a secret concert for my mum and her bridge group when they come round to our house for coffee next week and was busy rehearsing "Feelings" which is a lovely song and was such a big hit for Maurice Albert. I am also doing some more raunchy numbers for the "younger" ladies such as Devil Woman and Crazy Horses as well as a selection of my own songs.

I hate to point out the errors of other posters but I think you are confusing Kilbirnie from the Scots Premiership League with Kilmarnock Ladeside who play "little league" footer (that's a league for juniors). I know I am right because Kilbirnie play in white and blue up and down lines and have the best pies.

I hope you are not upset or feel that you have embarrassed yourself by showing a lack of knowledge about footer. Believe me, I used to be like you and didn't know one end of a football plot from the other.

Hail hail hail

Lcruy, your moment will come.

Me? I'm in charge here so am just plain avoiding loads of stuff that needs to get done. If I keep ignoring it all, it might just decide to do itself.

D

Paul, sorry its not ALL football related but somethings I need to get of my chest

10 things I hate the most

1) Any DFS advert. (Particularly the latest Christmas one)
2) Bus Drivers who don't pull their buses all the way into the busstop and leave their backsides hanging out just enough to stop you getting by
3) Queue jumpers on the motorway
4) Old people walking in front of you in the supermarket with their trolley going from side to side at 0 mph
5) Bar staff who ALWAYS serve their pals first. ( They usually give a nod and wink to them to let them know that they will be allowed to jump the queue)
6)A playing partner on the golf course complaining that you are making them inhale your passive smoke (On the golf course FFS)
7) That same playing partner not minding your health (mental) as he slurps and gnorfs his banana while talking in your ear as the third member of the three ball is lining up his shot
8) Strictly Come Dancing
9) That advert on the tranny for JOHN HEALY ELECTRICIANS (......ist Jake, Joe?.......NO JOHN HEALY ELECTRICIANS) Amateurish production, and don't say it must work because I remember it.....IT STLL DOES MY BOX IN
10)....and finally......to keep in with Pauls football only topic.....RANKERS FC

Thanks in advance everyone for letting me get that little lot off my chest

31003

Men in real beards playing traditional Scottish music

I can't remember if Leo ever wore a beard on TOTP.

Make-up yes, beard no.

Still, DLT had a beard and he's rubbish.

31003, some brilliant stuff there! :-)

I clicked on the link for the site advertised on here - http://www.sixtee7.com/ - and was wandering is it any good? I saw the Lenny top and want that!

Hail, hail.

Paul67

Things I hate on this site...

1. People who put lists of things they hate on football blogs

Newspaper Headline Tomorrow...

Cillian Kills Killie

Tomorrows headlines

Koki and Cillian kill off Killie cloggers

I never like playing Kilmarnock.
I remember during the great Tommy Burns reign, listening to an away game on the long wave radio.
If memory serves me right, they beat us, but big Pierre had a hat full of chances in the last 10 Min's.
Every time the commentator got excited, the feckn radio would drift off the station and I'd have to wait for several minutes until I found out what happened !

In those pre Setanta / Internet (for me) days, we used to drive 5 miles to a nearby hill, to get the reception on the radio.
Makes me laugh now, sitting in a car, on the top of a windswept hill listening to the car radio.

I hope Caddis gets a run tonight, he looks like a great prospect.
Talking about prospects, I was blown away by the standard and style of the Arsenal "second" team on Monday night.
Absolutely brilliant, a joy to watch.

Smashy.........you lookin over ma shoulder?

TOLH- I've bought stuff from them in the past ,and they're very good. A bhoy called 'Rumoid' used to post on here and he was involved with them.

ET tonight

CAN CILLIAN CONTINUE CELTIC CHAMPIONSHIP CAMPAIGN CONQUEST?

DBBIA, cheers for the info. Maybe i can put my CQN badges on them ;-) ??

Thats the same Smashy who couldny believe that Scott Brown could play in goal....'til someone pointed out it was MARK brown that was in goals

For DBBIA and Ed

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=IwMvVQGZKyU

madra rua

That brings back memories (listening to games on car radio not sitting in a car on a hilltop with you before anyone gets the wrong idea).

I think I can remember that particular game as well. Over in NI you can pick up Radio Scotland on 810MW but reception is patchy at best and each time the team crossed the half way line the commentators would get very excited.

The best match I can remember listening to on the wireless was Cadete's debut against Aberdeen. When he scored the noise was so loud it put 5 Live off the air for a couple of mins.

Oh for those simpler times.

Mort

Draw for CIS Cup semi anybody??

sorry if missed this already, but when's the cup draw today?

celtic v du
huns v falkirk

cis draw
as expected
celtic v dundee utd

The Semi-Final Draw of The CIS Insurance Cup competition took place earlier today at The Scottish Parliament, Edinburgh.

The draw is as follows:-

Celtic v Dundee United

Rangers v Falkirk

Both ties will be played at the National Stadium, Hampden Park, Glasgow on either Tuesday 27th or Wednesday 28h January, 2009

What a shock there!!

draw for the CIS Cup Semis

Celtic v Dundee United, Falkirk v Rangers
.
.
.
or
.
.
.
Celtic v Falkirk, Dundee United v Rangers
.
.
.
or
.
.
.
Celtic v Rangers, Dundee United v Falkirk

Sorry, bored at work and just wanted to pass a few more mins.

cheers m'dears - bairns bashing in the final then

Thanks Mort!

oops didn't realise it had taken place.

First guess was correct though :-)

Is that the correct draw or will there need to be a redraw later?

rolf harris did the draw and refuses to re-draw the draw as it can't get any easier for them

Aw Naw,

I'm not been critical of him. I gave him praise and said either Mick or GC to partner a new dominant centre half. As a team point of view this is what we lack, a big dominant centre half. Not criticising him.

pablo
spot on .expect more in the coming weeks .
hail hail
regarding tonights game I think we can expect more of the same from the killie boot boys ,nobody says there should not be hard tackles but they have to be within the rules of the game ,watch how many times the killie player leaves the boot in after the ball is away IMO this is what upset naka so much ,hope the ref is smart to it ,I won't hold my breath though
hail hail .

It's a pleasure reading the comments and much more like the site it should be. Instead of allowing ourselves becoming embroiled in matters other than football for so long. One of the culprits!!

Can't see anything other than 3 points tonight and a 3 or 4 goals credit and hopefully Mark McGhee's men will get back on track, with no doubt a few call-offs from the Huns for the Scotland game. Trying to be magmanimous here and felt a teeny wee bit sorry for Kevin Thomson, although we all hope for maybe minor injuries to our opponents, that's a bad yin he's got. Tin hat on!!

anyone else think that if we are letting darren o dea go out on loan then jfk must be ready after his spell at norwich to return to the centre of our defence,

4-0 tonight, sheridan, mcdonald, robson and hoki koki with the goals

mon the hoops!

selling Everton:

"its value should increase by 5% to 10% every year"
Seems a very low expectation for such an investment.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2008/nov/12/everton-premierleague

....interesting to see that nobody's flying a flag for Donatti, at some stage tonight?

(Random though - would a "Salcolor" or a "Tritire" be an appropriate flag for us all?)

I know it's always difficult to tell from the telly but these past few games he's looked like a very capable controlling midfielder?

On a separate note - we (the Rio Fergus McCann CSC) presented a full training kit and set of Celtic strips to a local Boys Club (Santa Margarida) here on Sunday. To see the reaction of some of these wee kids would've melted a granite heart, I swear. Once we work out how to do linky/foto things we'll put some stuff up.

Viva A Revolucão Verde!!

smashinmilkbottles.

How did the wife do in the NewYork Marathon,did she finish the race,congratulate her for me.

Missing another game tonight,I'm getting fed up with not seeing my team,Give them a cheer for me.

I think the bhoy sheridan has a hat trick in him and time is running out ,so c'mon big man get 3 in before your oot .
hail hail

Emerald Green v Tangerine

Yogi v Boo Boo

notoneofthepeepil

I hope Kennedy's back in our team soon, but if not then I think we should hang on to O'Dea until Kennedy returns. I don't really think O'Dea needs any more experience, he looks pretty solid already, but I don't think we can afford to lose players just now with the number of injuries we've got.

Hail! Hail!

WGS,

I think we lack strength and height in the full back areas and in the middle of midfield especially. I believe that this should be addressed first along with another striker. Dont you ?

With O´Dea and Kennedy going out on loan and the recent 2m quid Loovens cooling his heels on the bench then I think with th egreatest respect to you and your opinion that its an indication of wishful thinking on your part.

I feel that Mc Manus and Caldwell have turned the corner. A much needed bolstering of the defence and a Lennyesque midfield enforcer would only improve them and their reputation as would jumping lessons for Artur;-)

That´s not to say that if a Vidic or Ferdinand type decided to turn their back on medals and money for the sake of the Celtic cause that I would disparage them.

btw you still never answered the quiz question ;-)

Well said Pablo (12.07) I couldnt agree more I think this entry of yours should be copied and pasted at the start of each new article just to keep the present campaign against us in sharp focus , I am from the north east myself ken and as we say up there 'its no the devil yi ken thats the problem'.I too had a rampant lion roond ma neck in Seville but for me ,if you are for Celtic it dizna really matter what flag yiv goat as long as you,ve got Celtic in your heart!
Anyway just hoping for three points tonight and a goal fae Big Ben Hail Hail!

Surely there's been a wee mistake?

I mean - I think I could be forgiven for thinking it looks as if one team has been allotted an easier tie and therefore swift passage into the first final of the season. Surely not?

That's just me being crazy. You're crazy Magoo. That's crazy talk. Stop talking crazy.

I mean, really... They couldn't.

...

Between John Kennedy, Darren O'Dea, Stephen McManus and Gary Caldwell we shouldn't need to purchase another centre half for at least 5 years.

About time to secure 10 (and more) in a row then!

That ignores the likes of Scott Cuthbert who I know less about.

From SSN Breaking News

In a sensational development concerning the CIS Insurance Cup, a statement from the Scottish Football League has thrown the draw and the tournament itself into doubt. The statement reads

"Earlier today, the draw was made in Glasgow for the semi final ties of the CIS Insurance Cup. The outcome of that draw was that Celtic would play Dundee United and Rangers would play Falkirk. However, the Chairman of Rangers has brought to our attention that Falkirk is in fact a team from the SPL. As he points out, this gives Celtic an unfair advantage by not bestowing any advantage whatsoever on Rangers. In the spirit of fairness, therefore, there will be a redraw of the fixtures for the League Cup and we will keep redrawing it until Rangers draw a team from a lower league with a long injury and suspension list. If such an equitable draw proves problematic, Rangers will play Gretna. The tie between Celtic and Dundee United will go ahead as planned unless the latter lose their current run of good form, in which case they will be replaced by Manchester United.

If any of the four clubs(for example Gretna) are unable to field a team, the tie will be awarded to their opponents who will also be granted a 2 goal start in the final to make up for the lack of practice and familiarisation with Hampden in the semi final.

The final itself will be played at Ibrox on the day following a Champions League or UEFA tournament game. That date will be finalised at a later date when all relevant facts and qualifications have been confirmed. Statement ends".

See next year can Paul67 organise green poppies...

... just sowing the seeds.

u

Re the draw

We should relax. It's just the start of this season's fixture pile-up for TFOD:)> (goatee-bearded emoticon!)

Old Tim

Thanks for asking. The girls power walked it thru NY in 6hrs 20.

Celtic Tops and baseball caps went to good homes!

Does anybody believe Killie will actually field a weakened team? If it was against TFOD, we would be raging!

Cadizzy - That deja vu all over again. top post.

Ulysses - like the way your thinkin.

play4dg

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2008/nov/12/knowledge-football-owngoals-records

The first answer puts into the shade Arbroath's trouncing of Bon Accord. The second question screams out such an obvious answer, that I am not going to send any answer in.

CLUBS WHO EMPLOY ANIMALS (2)

"Last week we looked at the clubs who have employed animals, and, unsurprisingly, this week's mailbag has been bulging with more examples..."

How about this. I remember this game well. Celtic were issued with the bare minimum number of visas and, I think, had to leave some backroom staff behind

KNOWLEDGE ARCHIVE

"Is it true that Albania once barred Celtic defender Danny McGrain from entering the country because he had a beard?" wondered Andrew Oxley in 2007.

Very nearly, was the answer, as communist Albania frowned at all facial hair under its leader Enver Hoxha, who had made beards illegal before Celtic were due to travel for their 1979 European Cup first-round first leg tie against Partizan Tirana. The owner of a fine-follicled face-hugger himself, McGrain was understandably anxious before the trip, recalling that "there was a lot in the press about beards being banned there."

As it transpired, no one told McGrain to shave it off and he went on to play in a 1-0 defeat. "I would have done it if they had asked, but I had actually seen a few people with them," added the Celtic legend, whose side subsequently ran out 4-1 winners in the return game. "It was a little intimidating too because when we went outside there were only men in the streets and no women to be seen, but there was no bother at all."

Right-back McGrain went on to win 62 caps for Scotland, before moving into management at Arbroath, where his fancy chin-warmer came to prominence again. "I'll never forget how the fans took to Danny McGrain and his beard," recalled then-chairman John Christison of the so-called 'Danny McGrain's Bearded Army'. "It was crazy - but brilliant. They would all wear their own beards and we had 700 T-shirts printed up. They sold out in three days."

having read 'porridgeandbannanas' post about the Green Brigade on the 9th november and the following posts by 'wgs' i felt i had to post and explain a few things about the Green Brigade.

the Green Brigade was formed to try and help bring back a bit of colour and atmosphere to celtic park. the group is made up of about 50 lads with ages ranging from 18 to late 40's. our political outlook is broadly left wing and we model ourselves on the 'ultra' way of following our team (before 'wgs' has a heart attack - we are not hooligangs, as everyone who have seen us at games will testify). we have members in every stand at celtic park but a majority do sit in 111/112 area of the lisbon lions stand.

'porridgeandbannanas' is correct in stating that we as a group are attracting a lot of youngsters to the 111/112 area from all over the stadium. basically they see our group banner (which goes everywhere the team goes) and try to squeeze into these areas as they want an improved atmosphere that their own seat does not give them. time and time again we have asked on our own forum that people should not come up to 111/112 unless they have a ticket in that area. we are continually asking people to be respectful of the rest of the celtic support in that area. i was saddened to read that 'porridgeandbannanas' is thinking of moving his seat from this area. personally i sit in 111 myself and if there is anything i can do to help, then you can let me know. i'd also like to thank you and everyone else who helped with our 'tifo' at the recent man who game - if you have seen the photos you will probably agree that it was our best yet.

i get the feeling that some posters on here maybe see the group as being full of young boys who are only interested in singing.

for a group that has only been going for 2 years we are doing remarkably well. this year we organised our first anti discrimination football tournament which we hope will be an annual event. we have also played numerous games against different teams of refuggees and have invited a group of refuggees along to celtic park as our guests.

in the stands we have also had various anti racist/refuggees welcome tifos. in our 1st year after the st johnstone player jason scotland was racially abused by motherwell fans, we had an anti racist display at our semi final against st johnstone where the centre piece was a banner proclaiming that 'we are all jason scotlands'. we are also continually trying to spread the word that we as a support do not need any add ons to the many songs we sing. you will all remember the game against livi this season in the cup where our corner was bouncing all game with not one questionable song sung.

i hope this clears some things up and maybe lets you understand the group a bit better.

i'm not going to go back over the poppy issue as it has had its fair run on here and elsewhere - but i'm sure that whether you agreed with our viewpoint or not - we did have a right to protest peacefully.

anyway hail hail

UTLR

Off to the game now, preditcing a two or three nil win for the Good Ghuys tonight.

C'mon the Hoops!

petethebeat
he is probably blowing the cobwebs of all his old cloggers ,

WGS 3:18
`...to partner a new dominant centre half`. Mick IS a dominant centre half. His failing is in his distribution but many, many centre halfs fall into that category.If Mick and Gary had not improved so much, I think you might have had a case but they have improved tremendously (Gary for the last 8 months or so and Mick in the past month). Hinkel, too, has improved so our defence is much more solid than it once was....and we won the SPL 3 times with that weaker defence!

UTLR

I hope that St Pauli song catches on.

Ulster-Celt

UTLR

If you post this on previous blog you might get feedback. I applaud your intent to communicate what the GB stand for (and some of what you do stand for in terms of game atmosphere) as well as your right to protest peacfully.

I would only add to that "and effectively".

Any further discussion around that can go on the previous blog without distracting anyone.

I think Paul was making a point by saying that certain discussions should go on the last blog ...

I started writing this about an hour ago but was distracted by work!!?! The centre back pairing have looked much steadier since the full backs started pulling their weight. More so than anywhere else on the park you have to understand and trust the players beside you and let you concentrate on your own role. Wilson and Hinkel have been allowing Caldwell and McManus to do this in the last few games.

Thanks for the comments Ghuys.

One Team (on and off the park)

One Cause (The Glasgow Celtic)

One Goal (or however many it takes to beat the opposition)

This really is the land of the lost "the" !!!???

So............. ! Is game on t' telly or on t' radio ?

pablophanque

new article posted.

pablo, motherwell game on setanta. I will watch until m'well go two down.here's hoping I watch in delight to the very end and all the interviews.Maybe ours will be on the radio but chances are Radio Shortbread will go with the mothers against them.

UNEW MIKE en route to Glasgow par le train
"Sure its a grand old team to sing for !"
hope to see some serious game time for Koki & Hutch !
Hail Hail

Paul?

31003

Did you delibertely miss out women who buy something and get to the till whereupon they appear overcome with surprise that they have to actually pay for the goods.
Then spend 5 minutes looking for their purse and another five finding the cash or often credit card for a £0.75p purchase.

Does ma box in.

On fitba: Killie

Whatever Kojo says.

Especially on Caddis.

didn't get the link to the new post but it's ok now

Paul
UNEW Mike enroute to paradise par le train
Sure its a grand old team to sing for
hope to see some quality game time for Koki & Hutch
Iki-ma-shi-yo Mizuno ! let's go Mizuno
when we win tonight that'll be 9 in a row !
apologies for the double post train wifi signal is intermittent

QUESTION OF THE DAY

Does koki Mizuno actually wear Mizuno Boots?
How much cash could he make it he makes it?

answers tomorrow please

FAO THE GREEN BRIGADE

PLEASE PLEASE sing the Christian Dailly song the night eh?

Christian Dailly's nearly 40

UNEWMike, that you on National Express's Wi-Fi! I thoroughly enjoyed spending most of a King's X-Glasgow trip on CQN via Wi-Fi last year.

Lennondhino18, earlier today: thanks for the info. I thought that mcCourt had got over his injury and had made the 1st team since then but I didn't see him listed recently.

Whoops, new thread. Must try to get podium.

Pablo-
Well said some questionable posts on here of late.
If its not poppies its Rebel songs or something else people having a go at us over.
Lets not take our eye off the ball here.
As soon as the hun was in the dock re' TFS , we knew they would try every trick in the book to get us on something.
On tonights game really looking forward to it, i cant see a full house but think it wil be a good atmosphere,with a wee outside chance of an upset at Fir Park.

Hotsmoke,

We have no dominant centre half IMO. If you think we have, that that's your opinion and i repsect that. I'm happy to go with that. But my opinion is we don't. It's all about opinions. I may well be wrong.

I agree with Aw Naw that left back should be a priority come this window and possibly a striker to see us to four in a row. But in the long term a dominant centre half is required. A guy that wins everyball in air. Our centre halves rarely do that.

I agree GC has improved beyond my wildest dreams and has remarkably became a totally different player. If i am bang out of order in saying that we have know dominant centre half, why were Celtic pursuing the likes of Metszelder on loan last January, Tamas and Basa in the summer? We already over the past couple of days had an agent say that everybody knows that Celtic are after a central defender . Not yet seen enough of Loovens, he may well be the answer. I do not know.

Koki does wear Mizuno boots. White ones

lennondinho 18, the christian dailly chant is mince .

but don't worry you'll hear the Green Brigade tonight.

Moonbeamswetdream :- I hardly ever comment on spelling as my own spelling is so bad, but in the last line of your post the spelling mistake gives a very different meaning :-)
E.U Multiracialfun RSC

From Mr Spiers.................

"Celtic’s complex heritage open to distortion and abuse on Armistice Day
By Graham Spiers

The so-called Armistice controversy at Parkhead last weekend was a classic reminder of the political and religious complexity of Celtic. There are other clubs in Scotland and Britain who envy Celtic's colourful history and cultural make-up, which make this club a social saga as much as a football team. But Saturday in Glasgow's east end confirmed the downsides that come with such a story.

For their Armistice commemoration Celtic elected to have a minute's applause rather than a minute's silence for Europe's war dead, and the reason was obvious. The club, with some justification, dreaded the thought of a silence being violated by a small minority of dissenters. It was an anxiety, regardless of the political rights and wrongs of such protest, which stemmed from one strand of Celtic's identity, which is an anti-British cynicism rooted in Irish republicanism.

Photographs of the protestors on Saturday confirmed as much. Young men (and women} could be seen wearing Republic of Ireland shirts, and scarves which spoke of the same. In a crowd of 60,000 they maybe numbered 100, and might be cruelly categorisd as "zealots", but they are nonetheless there as a part of the Celtic tradition. And in the specific case of last Saturday they could have severely embarrassed the club.

The wider context of this tradition at Celtic, in its purest form, is perfectly legitimate. The club has profound Irish roots and should rightly be able to celebrate that fact. For many, Celtic as a club represents the Irish community in the west of Scotland, and such decisions as that of Aiden McGeady, the club's Scottish-born winger, to play for the Republic of Ireland, is a further example of the Irish-Scots community.

Just as the Irish community in the USA is celebrated, or the Scots community in Canada is celebrated, so the Irish in Scotland should also be celebrated. Celtic represent the peculiar subjectivity of ethnicity. It isn't for me, you or anyone else to tell Celtic or McGeady what their ethnic make-up is. On the contrary, it is for them to inform us - as McGeady has - what their inner feelings amount to.

But Celtic FC is more complex still. Perhaps as much as a fifth - or maybe even a quarter - of the club's following is non-Catholic, and many Protestants who are Celtic fans hold the club's Irish story in respect. And Celtic's all-inclusive ethos, stated repeatedly about being open to all, regardless of race, creed or colour, is one reason why the club has made impressive strides in rooting out sectarianism in its midst.
All these colourful aspects of Celtic, however, can turn sour when zealotry or ignorance takes over. In the case of Saturday, for example, a political argument (to put this at its most crude) against so-called British imperialism might be legitimate to express for those who want to, but not, surely, to the detriment of the memory of Europe's war dead.

It's not that people at Celtic or elsewhere don't want political freedom of expression. It is when that freedom of expression is abused to such an extent that it insults a wider sense of human decency and respect.

The same applies to the pro-IRA chanting among Celtic's travelling support. The truth is, such chanting offends the vast majority of Celtic fans - Catholic and Protestant - because they once more see it as an insult to the club's sense of all-inclusiveness. The IRA chants embarrass Celtic because they represent a distortion of the club's values. Football clubs are about people, not politics.

Such are the pitfalls of Celtic's complex heritage. Clubs all across Europe, from Barcelona to the Balkans, have their cultural traditions, and Celtic's remains among the most revered. Such sagas only create potential, however, for distortion and abuse."

pablophanque

Pablophanque: Always had a high regard for Graham Spiers, he shoots from the hip not like your Leckie's of this world who go out of their way to be controversial- one sided- for want of a better word!!