Alan Thompson, scourge of the Rangers

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If you’ve been on Celtic Quick News since the beginning you’ll know how high a regard I hold Alan Thompson.  In 2004 I called him the most influential Celtic midfielder since the Lisbon Lions.  His goal won us our first Champions League points, he scored the only goal of our two-legged Uefa Cup tie against Barcelona in 2004, he has scored two thirds of our competitive goals on German soil and his deliveries for Larsson, Hartson and Sutton were legendary.  His free kicks and corners always threatened.

He also punished Rangers more than any other midfield player in the last 40 years, scoring seven goals against them.

We have had many more skilful midfielders, but no one since the Lions came closed to making the impact of Alan Thompson in the games it really mattered.

We wish him well.

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438 Comments

  1. BOBBY MURDOCH'S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS on

    KEVJUNGLE 1230

     

     

    Still here?

     

     

    Joe Ledley is the best midfielder in the league,bar none.

     

     

    I saw Bobby Murdoch in the flesh,frequently. Along with the rest of the Lions.

     

     

    You are right to say that Joe isnae fit to lace his boots-but then,who has been?

     

     

    George Connelly? Stevie Murray? Alfie Conn? Paul McStay?

     

     

    None,really. Bobby was unique,a truly special talent.

     

     

    You are unique too. And whatever anyone tells you,just remember,you are special……

  2. lennon's passion on

    Eyes Wide Open on 4 June, 2012 at 12:02 said:

     

    Good post well thought out. I’m voting you for Neils number 2.

  3. Eyes Wide Open on

    KevJungle – “1st Flag on the JUNGLE roof for LENNON’S LION’S” on 4 June, 2012 at 12:34 said:

     

     

    What you are failing to grasp is Celtic can not afford a team of superstars all on movie star wages.

     

     

    We need ‘squad’ type players to add the meat around the bones and having the likes of Stokes who wont be on massive wages, in and about the squad is necessary.

  4. Mc Dowell,remember his interview when he jumped ship,onto a sinking one.I coulded refuse the chance to go to a bigger club….keep him well away from us.

     

    If I remember well,Alan Thompson was one of the players frozen out by Strachen,he said on his arrival at leeds,they had to defrost me to get me down here..good luck to Alan,enjoyed his goal celebrations,and was one of our best on the road to Seville..

  5. KevJungle – “1st Flag on the JUNGLE roof for LENNON’S LION’S” on 4 June, 2012 at 12:21

     

     

    **tumbleweed**

     

     

    ps – How big is your framed photo of Bill Leckie? Mind and wipe it clean…..

  6. The Onlooker on

    On subject of West Lothian :

     

    I always remember Frankie Boyle ( first time I saw him on TV) commenting on the ‘Miss Scotland’ Contest that had just taken place.

     

    ” I see the beautry contest was won by Miss West Lothian”

     

    “I always thought ‘Miss West Lothian’ was an instruction !”

     

     

    I’ll get my coat

     

    The Onlooker

  7. Sad to see Alan Thompson has left, he was a great servant to our club.

     

     

    I hope he and Celtic can bring the matter to a swift conclusion in a manner that is satisfactory to both parties.

     

     

    Thanks for the memories Alan and good luck.

  8. Best of luck for the future to Hunskelper extrodinaire Alan Thompson, a man with no small amount of skill but was highly competitive in the Bertie Auld mould, my lasting image is his frustration standing over and berating a yellow spineless cheat like Lovenkrands, and suffering a red card from Kenny Clark for his troubles- Thommo knew the score up here, equally he knew how important it was to put them in their place, which he did many times.

     

    Thanks for the memories, Al.

     

     

    As for the attention seeker on here- ignore him/her.

  9. BobbyRussel

     

     

    Re Declan I agree, i just remember talk one day of many scrolling past as they thought he was a supported of the soon to be departed.

  10. Off out now for some of the Pure and in memory of an old pigeon I lost years ago. HaiL HaiL Alan Thomson. You scored a cracker agin the Pool too!!

  11. Eyes Wide Open on 4 June, 2012 at 12:42 said:

     

    _________________________________________

     

    Stokes isny the worst player i’ve ever seen in the hoops but, when the chips are down he canny do it!

     

     

    The last 5mins of a CF v’ Killie….through with the keeper to beat and, he chickened it and, went down for a penalty ?

     

     

    It was the type of penalty that, only the huns would get or, a team playing against us like, Hearts in the SCSF would get.

     

     

    Why did Stokes not try and get the shot away ?

  12. The Onlooker on

    Alan Thomsons free kick at Anfield

     

    “What’s that coming under the wall ?”

     

     

    Magic

     

     

    The Onlooker

  13. KevJungle – “1st Flag on the JUNGLE roof for LENNON’S LION’S” on 4 June, 2012 at 12:21 said:

     

    Players who will NEVER be Celtic players….

     

    Stokes

     

    Ki

     

    Ledley(invisible-man)

     

    Cha

     

    Samaras

     

    Commons ? I hope so

     

    Loovens

     

    thats all I can think of just now.

     

    ==================================================

     

    Supporters who will NEVER be Celtic supporters

     

    SuperSammy

     

    Thetruth16whatever

     

    Mark Mingwall

     

    Kevjungle

     

    Marti Pellow

     

    Nacho Novo

     

    etc

  14. Good luck and thanks to Alan Thompson.

     

    If Lenny is looking to add to his coaching staff I think he should

     

    consider Kenny Shiels . Good football man and likes his tactics.

     

    gbnl

  15. Kevjungle

     

     

    Have to say I agree with all you have said, in fact I hate Celtic too. The only reason I go every week is to get out for a few hours.

     

    Have to go.. the nurse is coming wae some goodies

  16. viewfromthestand on

    I don’t know why AT left, however I think Eyes Wide Open struck the nail on the head earlier when he suggested that Lenny is wanting a change in direction within the coaching set up. I believe Lenny’s eyes will have been opened by his trip to Lille, and it wouldn’t surprise me if a European coach made an appearance at Celtic Park. No successful business stands still, they evolve, and learn from successes and mistakes from the past, and if Celtic are to move to the next level, then we must change to move forward.

     

     

    A sincere thanks for the memories AT.

  17. Son of Gabriel on

    Something said earlier sparked a reaction in my head their.

     

     

    Who exactly is the Clubs PR man??? Majority of big clubs have huge marketing dept’s and I’m certain ours do, but within that there must be someone not directed at advertising.

     

     

    As frankly I think we need someone better, might go a long way in re-balancing the way our club is portrayed in local media. Especially after the dark-side finally caves in.

     

     

    Hail Hail Thommo, a true Hunskelper. Best of luck in the future.

  18. BOBBY MURDOCH'S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS on

    KNOXY2000

     

     

    That is not a sacking offence,not in the first instance.

     

     

    I’m quite sure that the club will have followed proper procedure in undertaking a thankless and unwanted event.

     

     

    It is unfortunate for all concerned,but in the absence of further information-and concrete confirmation that the info is true-the MSM and others should refrain from speculation and rumour-mongering.

     

     

    IMO,of course……

  19. KevJungle – “1st Flag on the JUNGLE roof for LENNON’S LION’S” on 4 June, 2012 at 12:43 said:

     

     

    Swiss Tony on 4 June, 2012 at 12:41 said:

     

    ______________________________________

     

    Joe Ledley for me is, the modern day Peter Grant!

     

    Feckin useless! imo.

     

     

     

    He wasnt that useless when when he powered in the header against the scum in December was he?

  20. Kilbowie Kelt on

    Don’t you just love the spoiled weans that come onto the site & give us their wish-list of class players they feel they are entitled to ?

     

    They want strikers who don’t miss sitters.

     

    Don’t think I have ever seen one of these mythical creatures.

     

    Don’t even know if I would want to.

     

    They want defenders who never lose challenges.

     

    The great John Charles was probably the best I ever saw, but he sometimes lost out in a challenge.

     

    For some on this site, football is not a sport. It is some branch of science in which perfection is achievable.

     

    I can think of nothing more boring.

     

    We have a TERRIFIC squad of young players who are capable of becoming special.

     

    It is not some of our players who need replacing.

     

    It is some of our miserable & unhappy so-called supporters.

  21. KevJungle – “1st Flag on the JUNGLE roof for LENNON’S LION’S” on 4 June, 2012 at 12:54 said:

     

    BobbyRussell on 4 June, 2012 at 12:50 said:

     

    _________________________________

     

    Bobby Russell, now there was a player :)

     

    Hail Hail

     

     

    Yes, but NEVER a Celtic player.

     

    As for me, I could NEVER have played for his team, due to certain rules they had in place.

  22. I see a lot of mentions for Alan’s last minute winner against Rangers and his free kick against Liverpool. I always thought his best was at Ibrox, when he came in from the left past three defenders and curled the ball round the keeper with his right foot. Will long live in my memory. Good luck to him.