I was shouting at Martin O’Neill through the television last night. With the game at 0-0, Wales’ Joe Allen was off getting treatment, which lasted several minutes before he was eventually replaced. Ireland had a man advantage, but still refused to press Wales, who were able to comfortably pass the ball around the back.
Ireland needed a victory, they had a brief window where they would enjoy the advantage, but they chose to defend instead. Then I remembered the game against Barcelona in March 2004. For much of the game Celtic enjoyed a 10-9 men advantage, but it didn’t look that way. We defended our territory and ventured up field only when a mistake or long clearance permitted.
We won that game, the first leg of a knockout tie, 1-0, but there were grumbles among the support in the days thereafter. “We should have gone for them, 1-0 will not be enough.”
Martin gambled successfully against Barcelona as he did last night. There was probably an acknowledgement on both occasions of the comparative limitations of his players, so his game plan was easily understood and scrupulously followed.
He could have urged his players to press forward for the period Allen was getting treatment, but that would have been counter to his simple message. Permitting such off-the-cuff decision-making would have been a fatal mistake.
Teams in possession are more likely to make bad passes in their defensive area than teams who have been drilled to get the ball as far away from their defensive area as possible. You don’t need to like this type of football (I don’t), but Ireland are in the World Cup play-offs when countries with more talented players are out of the competition, including Scotland and Wales.
You wouldn’t want to watch this football at Celtic today. Even back in his Parkhead heyday, Martin received complaints about his team’s robust, target-man, playing style. Ireland are simultaneously an echo of a bygone era and a lesson in winning against better-resourced opponents. I would take it for international football, or even for Champions League group stage, but it would shut the stands at Celtic Park if we tried it domestically.
Celtic wore commemorative shirts against Hibs to mark National Famine Memorial Day. One million people died in Ireland’s Great Hunger in the years of famine, from 1846-50. Millions more left the country, some of whom arrived in Glasgow, and formed the communities which founded Celtic 40 years later.
One million people dying of starvation in what was then part of the United Kingdom is an unimaginable horror. Scotland was also affected by the Blight, although to a lesser extent.
James Forrest’s shirt from the game against Hibs is available for raffle to aid the Celtic FC Foundation’s work (James will sign the shirt). Your Foundation carries on the mission that gave birth to Celtic 130 years ago. It feeds the poor in Scotland, Ireland in London and across the globe, but it also works with many disadvantaged groups of children and adults.
The Foundation is core to our mission as a football club. You can enter the raffle by making a minimum £5 donation on this MyDonate page and answering this question:
Which PSG player was booked for diving against Celtic last month?
Please forward your donation confirmation with the diving player’s name in the SUBJECT line to celticquicknews@gmail.com The raffle will close on Monday.
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The new Invincibles treble disc DVD is now available from CQN Bookstore HERE. It is quite simply unmissable. What a season that was!
All CQN t-shirts are now reduced to £10, choose from our Invincibles shirt, the Jock Stein one or the Gotcha classic! We’ve added some new books too and there’s some crackers on the way! More on that over the next few weeks or so.
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Good morning CQN from a dull and breezy but dry as we speak East Devon.
Good morning CQN.
Overjoyed to share some good news. Yesterday evening my daughter gifted me with my first grandchild, Maria Rose. Will see and hold her later today, God willing.
It may be raining outside, but in my heart it’s Spring….
Life’s Good!
Papa Jobo
Morning all.
Noticed some comments on Jim Brogan.
I know a guy who was at school with him at St Joseph’s College in Dumfries – where Brother Walfrid is buried- and he told me that Jim played rugby for the school, and was as hard as nails.
Had the privilege of seeing him lots of times in the late 60s-early 70s and he never gave less than 100%.
Will never forget a famous chant of the time which would ring round CP – “Brogie’s gonnae get ye” – whenever a Celtic player was the victim of a nasty foul.
Jim usually obliged, although occasionally Davie Hay would beat him to it!
HH!!
Congratulations Jobo.
And Welcome to the world Maria Rose ( lovely name).
H.H
Jobo.
Congratulations to you and all your loved ones.
Great news. Enjoy that special feeling that the gift of a new born gives.
Hail Hail
South Of Tunis/ Wee Bobby Collins.
I’ve read back and viewed your posts.
Thank you both, one of the things that brings me back to the blog is being educated.
You ghuys certainly gave a wealth of knowledge on The Dells and Higher and Higher.
MIT.
If you read back, enjoy Paul Weller.
A genuine good guy. My friend does some session work and he got Paul Weller to phone my sister, she wouldn’t believe it was him, so he sang Broken Stones down the phone to her. It was about 20 years ago, but she still remembers it as if it was yesterday.
Hail Hail
Jobo Baldie. Congratulations, granda. Best wishes to all and especially to Maria Rose in the hope that she will be blessed with a long and happy life.
Congratulations Jobo and family.
Welcome to the world Maria Rose.
TGSC,
Sailing On….
JOBO
Congratulations granpa’!
HH!!
Jobo,
Deo Gratias.
Jobo, congratulations your daughter, son in law and your family on the birth of Maria Rose.
Jobo…brilliant! I know the feeling… kids are great–grandkids are magical…welcome to the world Maria Rose…
Congratulations Papa Jobo and family on the addition of Maria Rose.
HH
JOBO
Congratulations and Best Wishes to all involved,and …
Welcome to the world,Maria Rose!!
Jobo, Congratulations. Being a Grandpa one of the best feelings in the world. Best Wishes to all.
Cliftonville Celt from Belfast, many Thanks for the 2 votes for my daughter Niamh. Deeply appreciated.
Off oot to Golf on a dull looking morn in Clonmel, Thank God the Celts are playing this week end.
See ye later.
Papa Jobo
Congratulations on the birth of your grandchild! Grandchildren are what we’re here for :-))
Jobo
Congratulations to all the gang.
Being a Grandpa is a great job, enjoy.
HH
Congratulations to Papa Jobo and ‘ welcome to this world’ Maria Rose!
Jobo,will you be singing the hit from West Side Story on the way!!!
On jury duty at the moment. Not allowed to publish details of course.
However, the defence lawyer took a swipe at Sevco yesterday with a throw away remark. Will quote it after the trial is over. Which could be weeks and weeks away.
Should stress the case is not football related. I did laugh (internally).
Jobo:, The Youngest Granda in Town.
I have a feeling that wee girl will be spoiled enormously (and first words might be Hail ! Hail! ).
JJ
Jobo…do you think big Judith should be worried for her job now?
Jobo
Just heading into work (late) soaking wet, trains running late and not at all, just logged in and saw your news, congratulations to all Jobo Baldie family, terrific news
Hail Hail
Congratulations Jobo, and to your expanding family.
What a lovely way to start the day !
Higher and Higher .
I thought this verged on sacrilege but my Mother ( RIP ) loved it and instructed me to get it – Having got it — My Father said — ” could you no have told her you couldn’t get it ? ‘ ”
https://youtu.be/mC6l7ypNqKA
Congratulations Grampa Jobo.
Welcome to Celtic Marie Rose.
MWD
Cork Celt,
Just catching up with the blog. Vote cast for your daughter, best of luck to her.
HH
Papa Jobo: brilliant news. Comhghairdeas.
I can`t say these words from Henry McLeish fill me with hope:
“I think the tentacles of the club game are so intertwined now with the ambitions of the country game, and that is not what I would like to see. We need clear demarcations of responsibility and I put it quite boldly to say that the SFA must now become the dominant political institution in Scottish football. The two institutions of the SPFL and the SFA have got to rearrange and reprioritise what their objectives are and the country, in my view, must overcome the power of the club.”
JJ
Today’s get out and do something -choon .
https://youtu.be/oqopDh-KlmU
23 at 10 30 am -way down south
Awesome news Jobo, welcome to the world Maria Rose. Congrats to your daughter too, heaps of family fun ahead.
Early start to the day, drive into work in darkness.
Long winter coming.
Glad to hear the good news for Jobo!
HH.
Daily Record up to it’s usual tricks,a negative spin on a Celtic story. Here’s the headline-
“Craig Bellamy reveals Celtic players had to ask Neil Lennon what formation they had to play under Martin O’Neill”
From that,you would think CB is putting the boot into MON.
Nope. Far from it.
Bunchac s.
I come to praise Regan, not to bury him.
Regan Hendry, of course. This kid is showing real leadership this season as captain of our development squad, driving them on home and abroad and I hope Brendan calls him into a first team squad for one of the many pre-Christmas fixtures in the weeks ahead. Great win last night. Next up – Bayern Munich (St Jude, pray for us).
well done JOBO.
Much needed watwaer / caffe freddo break .
Radio item re the shambles that is the Italian National team – a wee sample –
” watched Galles v Irlanda.. I’ve seen better technique in Serie C but they beat us last time we played them ..If we get them , they will get stuck in while our lot worry about how their hair looks on HD television ” .
Back to work following a quick spin of this –
https://youtu.be/4N8HcmibCJg
“
Congratulations Jobo on the birth of your Grand -daughter.H.H.
Congrats jobo to you n your family HH
Congratulations Jobo to you and yours, great news.
YNWA