After the two drubbings at the hand of Paris St Germain, I read how they were among the best teams ever to visit Celtic Park. In the next round of the Champions League they lost home and away to Real Madrid (currently 15 points off the pace in La Liga). The truth is, we flattered the French champions-elect.
PSG are not on the level of any of the Barcelona teams we have faced in recent years, or the Milan or Juventus teams who eliminated us from the Champions League knock out stages. They have abundant talent, but this is not a team who should be beating us 0-5 and 7-1.
The Milan team we faced in 2007, who were on their way to winning the Champions League, contained Maldini, Gattuso, Seedorf, Pirlo, Inzaghi, Ambrosini and Kaka. Celtic held them to two 0-0s over 90 minutes, with Telfer, McManus, O’Dea, Naylor and Sno in the side, none of whom would get into the current side.
Truth is, we have better players than at any point under Gordon Strachan and Neil Lennon. The current crop have and will continue to achieve more domestically than their predecessors, but we cannot go toe-to-toe with Europe’s moneyed elite any more than Morton can at Celtic Park.
This season’s Champions League group was a five defeat and one win success. We eliminated a higher seed – progress in anyone’s book. But conceding five, six and seven goals needs to stop. Defending against overwhelming talent is an art. Let’s learn it.
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From the BBC site:
” Uefa’s investigation into claims of racism towards Liverpool’s England Under-17 striker Rhian Brewster has failed to find conclusive evidence.
Brewster, 17, who helped England lift the Under-17 World Cup in October, said he was racially abused by Spartak Moscow captain Leonid Mironov.”
Obviously,UEFA don`t have the ` balance of probability ` option.
Cheerio for now,
JJ
According to Quora, if we can reach the magic 67 consecutive trophies (I know, I know), that will be
a Septensexaguple. ?
88, will be a Octooctoguple ?
Pitting Ralston against Neymar for CL debut was a huge mistake by Brendan
BIGBHOY on 7TH MARCH 2018 4:22 PM
Thumbs up.
The folk that gave us the hapless Ronny Delia are now trying to tell us that there is nothing that can be done about the corruption in Scottish football.
Nothing for it but just bequeath your seat at the back of the bus to the grandchildren and let your descendants watch the cheats, cheat.
When the money is down due to Sevco playing in the CL (in the next couple of years) sure we’ll make it up with the Tribute Acts performing in the Hotel? The Museum might have an interesting story or two to tell about the Oldco/Newco scandal.
Sorry to say but the players have been trying to tell us for months now that something is wrong.
Typically as the heat is gradually turned up we see the ‘Lawwell Loyal ‘point the finger at ‘Daily Record reading supporters’, individual players and if the trend continues… Brendan.
Nothing to focus on in the Boardroom of course.
Let’s hope the Compliance Guy sorts them?
Maybe we should have a wee review of the Plc too?
In the meantime let’s wave goodbye to a ‘Generation of Domination…’
HH :)
SOUTH OF TUNIS on 7TH MARCH 2018 9:12 AM
Meanwhile my mother and my big sis were Shaking All Over- to the sound of Johnny Kidd and The Pirates .-
*This as a big hit over here with the group that would later become the Guess Who.
They had a big hit in the early 60s with “I’ll Never Get Over You”, which sounded eerily like “Please Please Me”.
A couple of years later I saw them down in Balloch, they were replacing the no show featured group and were realy realy good that night. By that time Johnny would be about 30 and had been playing for a lot longer than the established “stars” of the day, although he looked colourful on stage with the eye patch etc he was IMHO in the same vein as Alex Harvey, i.e. a seasoned musician, and covered some early blues songs, his version of “A Shot of Rhythm and Blues” is sublime.
He would be dead shortly after as a result of a MVA.
NOTTHEBUS on 7TH MARCH 2018 5:35 PM
Pitting Ralston against Neymar for CL debut was a huge mistake by Brendan
*A bit like Tommy Burns and Barry Smith against lurpack.
Yogi
Always good to pick up bits n pieces for the festival. Cheers
HOT SMOKED on 7TH MARCH 2018 5:27 PM
From the BBC site:
” Uefa’s investigation into claims of racism towards Liverpool’s England Under-17 striker Rhian Brewster has failed to find conclusive evidence.
Brewster, 17, who helped England lift the Under-17 World Cup in October, said he was racially abused by Spartak Moscow captain Leonid Mironov.”
And this year’s World Cup is in……
The loss of Neymar through injury proved a huge handicap for PSG in last night’s game. Like him or loathe him, the 180 million pound man is well capable of winning a match on his own, we saw him do it for Barcelona against the Quataris last season.
Despite some heavy defeats it was enjoyable European campaign for Celtic and the team did well in seven of the fourteen games. We should have been well capable of eliminating Zenit as the stats proved we had as much of the play as the Russians but dreadful defensive errors as Paul has made reference to above which have to be rectified.
Commons is another in a long line of players who made their name at Celtic, took the cash and the adulation and have now stuck two fingers firmly up at us. His public show of petulance at being substituted gave us a clue as to the measure of the man. File him alongside Walker, Nicholas, Bonner and the rest. Scumbags the lot of them.
Commons’ reported comments ref BR v Murtinio would almost leave you thinking Brendan had previously sacked him…or at least declined to renew his contract!
Sunday will provide a decent litmus test of both managers.
HH jamesgang
corkcelt ,your post from earlier, i dont think we are spooked because they are a better team, if we are spooked its because of 100 years of cheating and bigotry, a bunch of tax cheating barstewards .allowed to come up the leagues aided by orange masonic bastar–s ,does anyone think for one minute if that was us we would be afforded the same help, no chance because we are irish catholics .we have been hounded for years, you no it and i know it, ffs our parents could not get a job because of the school they attended, i really despair for the country i was born in, makes me think should i hate scotland, then i think feck them im proud to be scottish.rant over.ktf.
Get the midfield sorted and we’ll beat anyone. If we are playing a side which we expect to win then play an attacking formation, if not then play a defensive formation, simple. If the midfield is correct, then in turn the defence will be covered which means less howlers. If we think we are going to be up against it, then Kouassi beside Broony is obvious and kinda play on the break.
I could , of course be talking crap, but that is my take on things.
Still feel we need a Lubo or Modric type of player in the team.
KINGLuBO
JAMESGANG
A decent litmus test is-Who would you rather have as manager?
I know my answer. And we’ve got him already.
SOUKOUS on 7TH MARCH 2018 1:00 PM
I always enjoy reading his pieces, he’s very funny.
I think every one of the psg players would be at Madrid if they were given the chance and the same money. It’s probably true of just about every professional footballer mind you. But they’ll always have that problem when they very me up against the really big clubs with real history.
While I’m on , I cannot get over the hulabaloo about the Russian guy being “poisoned”. Sure, feel sorry for the guy but FFS there are 100’s of attempted murders every week here in the UK. Why such an outcry about another attempted murder. As for Boris, he should be shot, what a clown.
KINGLuBO
Sad to say, Kris Commons is only the latest in ex-Celtic players who want to carve out for themselves a media career. Only 1 way to do it in Scotland: praise the deid club, at the expense usually of ourselves, and never ever give us a balanced critique. Bonnar, Nicholas and particularly Walker have set the benchmark.
KINGLUBO
First police officer in attendance is also seriously ill.
BIGBHOY on 7TH MARCH 2018 4:22 PM
An excellent post and one which I cannot disagree.
If I may, I would like to clarify what I meant by “condoning” the actions of the SFA over Sevco.
I mentioned the only two options for Celtic, in my view.
They were to relocate or leave,
I also said that the former was improbable and the latter, a non starter.
In effect, this means that we have no viable options, in light of the brick wall of intransigence and worse, of Scottish football.
As football is our business and Scotland is our location, we have to carry on and compete.
We don’t like it and I’m sure the club don’t like it.
However, we can’t sue the SFA, so all that we can do is push for their own rules to be applied and for questions to be answered.
We know for a fact that we are being stonewalled .
In days gone by, in the divorce courts marriage infidelity, was one of the most common grounds for divorce.
In some cases, it was found that the injured party had continued to live with their spouse, after the event, often because they had nowhere else to go.
It is in this context that I used the word “condoning” in reference to Celtic being an injured party, but with nowhere else to go.
Sorry for the long winded explanation, but I felt it necessary to state that I don’t find Celtic culpable for the state of SFA malfeasance, for the reasons that you so articulately expressed.
BMCUWP
Yeah I believe so, sad , but still, ONLY an attempted murder
KINGLUBO
Bobbio
BR every time.
That said he’s leading a team that has generally underperformed domestically this season, in form and points.
And Murty has done a creditable job with a team put together on others peoples money and backed to the hilt on Sunday by rabid fans and a hapless ref.
This season is closer than it should have been. I hope Sunday isn’t.
HH jamesgang
“They were to relocate or leave,”
Relocate or close down.
A double rebel treble
I see some talk of PSG v Real Madrid last night. A couple of thoughts: Pastore looked like Coco the Clown in a football strip when he came on. He gave away possession for Real to score the second and crucial goal. His efforts to get back and do something about his error were somewhere between comical and non-existent. A Real player passed him on the way having started from about 15 yards behind him. After starting bad Pastore’s game fell away.
My other random thought is that Marco Asensio won both games for Real. He turned the first leg after coming on as a sub and he was a constant thorn in the flesh of PSG last night. His reverse nutmeg pass for Madrid’s opener was sublime. He’ll be some player in a few years time.
A “double treble”. Six of the best.
In cricket,
3 wickets from consecutive balls = Hat Trick
4 wickets from consecutive balls = 2 Hat Tricks.
So technically we already have a double treble. Number the winnings 1-League Cup, 2-League, 3-Scottish Cup, 4-League Cup, etc.
First Treble = 1,2,3
Second Treble = 2,3,4
How many trebles will we have for 6 consecutive domestic trophies?
Embdae know why Barca are playing Espanyol in a friendly tonight?
I teach a fan of thems – ‘hates celtic’ , dad doesn’t come and see me at parents’ evening, nice kid – struggling with the content at the moment but I won’t give up on the pupil – couldn’t resist saying something today -‘what’ll you do if you don’t win this one ?It’s your best chance , we’re not in great form and you’re scoring for fun’.
PARKHEADCUMSALFORD on 7TH MARCH 2018 8:35 AM
TONTINE TIM,
Yes, we were blessed with centre halfs then. I vaguely remember John Kurila RIP, but I well remember John McNamee and John Cushley RIP. Bobby Evans and King Billy were just too good.
*I’m just a wee bit older than you so my memory of John is mainly in the reserves who were better fair at that time than the 1st team; ironically their coach was a big ex-miner fae Burnbank.
I did see him in one of his few first team outings and that was the opening LC game at Firhill, he was deputising for the suspended Pat Crerand, 2 games by the SFA for being sent of in an international game (whit ???) and another 4 for the same offence in the infamous 5-a-side tournament at Brockville, Mike Jackson was also sent off that day but he played in this game, looks like Bob Kelly always had the proverbial knife out for Paddy.
As far as I recall this was a sunny day and a huge crowd was on hand, we were in front twice before a young Joe McBride pulled us back then in the closing stages Mike Jackson got his 2nd to send us happily down Firhill Road.
My main memory of that game was standing in the covered enclosure and one fan shouting “gi’e us one for the black walk Celtic”, this was August 12 BTW and I hudnae a clue what the BW was, when I got home I asked my da, he didnae know either, or so he said, he spent his early life out in Connemara in the summer with his mother and in the black north with his da as a teenager, he knew fine well what is was, just trying tae shelter me fae the bigotry that surrounded our game.
John McNamee was a cracking defender and a more than able deputy for Pat Crerand when he left, however, he did have a wee bit of a short fuse which was evidenced in a LC replay with us while at Hibs when he almost haufed the Bear, on receiving a booking (nae yellow card back then) he continued berating the mitby davidshun who sent him off, he still continued after the final whistle and Pat Stanton had tae drag him away, pity. He was also booked in a reserve game for arguer with big Frank; he was playing for us at the time lol.
Big Jock eventually took him tae Easter Road but surprisingly never brought him back, mibbees that was a bridge too far for Bob Kelly.
He eventually moved tae Newcastle, where he still retains legendary status, he was part of the Toon side that won the Fairs Cup beating deidco enroute where they rioted once again, prior tae the ko at hades he warmed up wearing a Celtic tap. Unfortunately like big Billy he also suffers fae Alz.
Big Cush who my da labelled Ned as that was his da’s name, he was involved with Blantyre Celtic I believe, was also an unfortunate in having Billy there, Billy was always gong tae be the “Golden Bhoy”, Jock signed him and then farmed him out, not to the traditional Celtic friendly junior sides like Blantyre Celtic, Duntocher Hibs or Maryhill Harp but Blantyre Victoria where I believe his own da was a committee man with the instructions tae look after this lhad.
So unfortunately the other Johns, McNamee and Cuhsley were always going tae struggle at Parkheid, As I said my da really rated the latter as he was a big hard mhan, but unlike the former didnae have a short fuse and as I have said before stopped a young Kenny fae getting sent aff at Boagheid after wee Wispy had wound him up.
Initially Billy struggled with the hun centre forrest, not John and the wee garngad man actually went intae hiding playing against him. He only played one game in the glorious season of 1967, 10 days before Lisbon, and that was NOT to rest Billy but put John in the shop window as West Ham were interested in him. Even though a deal had been done he was part of the squad that travelled tae Lisbon and it wisnae for his linguistic skills either, none other than Bobby Moore who he partnered in defence spoke highly of him.
Supersutton –
Once we have the 6 trophies in the bag, how many different ‘treble’ permutations are there? One for the horsey folk (pretty sure there are least 2 or 3 of them on here) …. -;
Tonight’s quid to throw away is on Man City (at minus 1) and Spurs (but with both teams to score).
Oh and remember LMS10 – still got 47 hours to enter – just email cqnpredictor@gmail.com
Its like this……
Empty awe the parks, if you want to stop corruption!
Empty awe the houses of worship, if you want to stop the scandals!
Peddling petitions to golden unicorns is exactly what it says on the tin!
Good luck.
……..oot.
CL anthem at Wembley, you could hear a pin drop.
Clogher Celt
The Board had tried to bring in a more European style by bringing in a young Norwegian up and coming coach, unfortunately Neil Lennon who had been onboard with Ronny joining, left the club. We gambled that Ronny would change the playing style, ensure proper training, diet and preparation. He did that but he didn’t have the depth of experience to handle a hostile press and to manage Million pound players. Of course Ronny wasn’t a complete failure and we twice won the League during his term. We then went out and brought in an upgrade in Brendan. The condition and preparation which Ronny led was modern and improved our players
With regards to corruption then there is plenty that can be done to bring it out in the open but to suggest Celtic are to blame, is obtuse. Celtic have raised the issues with SPFL and SFA and have failed to get support from the other clubs.. The release by the RES 12 chaps proved this and we got a rare glimpse into what the Celtic Board wanted. Celtic want Rangers stripped of titles and an end to the same club myth.
The PLC may not be the best model for our club but at this club the majority of shares are held by the support. Desmond is the largest shareholder but not the majority. When we have this club as a PLC then we have a proper business plan and a board who are full of experienced Executives and businessmen. The Board run the business well and the figures are good.
Brendan Rodgers is a proper Manager and he runs the football Department, he has his budget and he signs the players. He decides who is on his coaching staff and what we do in Training, practise and preparation. He picks the tactics, the formations and who plays. Rodgers would not accept any less. He is in charge of the football Department and everything in there. This week it seems he decided Christie gets another chance but Allan doesn’t.
You might not believe this but Peter Lawwell didn’t know on Friday if Commper was playing. It’s not his business, it’s Brendans. The Board don’t interfere in the football.
The Celtic Board have not and will not accept the back of the Bus. John Reid(Boo) famously said as much. However, we cannot decide on our own where we sit. we need support and there seems to be something stopping people supporting us and the logic of our position.
Now in the machinations of the Scottish Football Governance, Celtic cannot be a “Don Quixote” type and tilt at windmills, we have to be the Hard nosed business types not prone to crowd pleasing statements but showing our logical commercial advice. We are the best performing club financially and we try to get others to follow.
In terms of “Lawwell Loyal”, I refuse to accept the loyal term. We are better than that we are not blind in our support we are knowledgeable, Intelligent, eloquent and discerning. I happen to think the long term Board members, like Lawwell, Reilly, Wilson and Allison have done a sterling job and turned our commercials around. These sound commercials gives Brendan the ammunition for improving the football side
In terms of the compliance officer, we know by experience that whatever he comes back with will be suitable dressed up to avoid any hint of corruption. But, that is the shame of the SFA and we should keep pushing.
As for the Daily Record, the media are increasingly more anti Celtic than ever and as less Celtic fans stop reading their papers, listening to their Radio and watching their TV, then they will increasingly pander to their dwindling readership with their anti-Celtic message.
Now we have Kris Commons, selling out our club out to join the long line of “soup taking” ex players. The media is a lost cause and Celtic blogs are where I get my information from. I go to Celtic Park and sit with fellow Celts and talk about the realities. I sometimes travel on the supporters bus and go to several pubs where we talk football. We don’t sit in the back of anyone’s bus we can think for ourselves and we know who the bad guys are.
They are not at Celtic
HANKRAY on 7TH MARCH 2018 6:23 PM
Sorry. Dont agree. Neymar done hee haw in the first leg.
He’s a chancer for that kind of dosh.
IMO
I see that Mhari Black was before a committee today complaining about the abuse she get’s on her blog?.
Can she blame anyone, After all, She stated on her blog that she hated all Celtic Supporters.
I just hope it was Celtic Supporters that put the boot into that slimmie creature.
BIGBHOY on 7TH MARCH 2018 7:51 PM
Clogher Celt
Bigbhoy
Diet….not according to BR.
Met with supporters and said players were ‘fat ba……s’.
Apparently diet was crao.
BTW I liked RD but BR is a different animal.
HH
Crao ……crap