I got my haircut today. Sitting, waiting in line, usual habits were cast aside and I picked up a newspaper; what an alarming read. Neil Lennon was quoted as saying, “I’m not big on tactics. It’s about the players and they have to go out onto the pitch and apply that.”
I couldn’t disagree more. It’s all about the tactics. Players need to be sufficiently fit, fast and fearless but all the talent in the world can be ripped asunder if it’s not tactically well organised. I had been watching Celtic tactics closely for 20 years before Martin O’Neill arrived. Back in 2000, watching Celtic was like going to school. My eyes were opened to how a defence is organised, how to stage an attack that fits your strikers and how to buy with a playing strategy in mind.
We had seen plenty great players since our last great team: McStay, McClair, McGrain, McAvennie, Burns, Nicholas. We’d seen courage and directness: the Bear, MacLeod and Provan, and cameos from Moravcik and Larsson, but we were forever found out, a plucky team who would flatter to deceive. Celtic would regularly dominate Alex Ferguson’s Aberdeen – who understood too well the importance of tactics – and lose 1-0, and we went 30 years without beating a team from a major European league.
Martin O’Neill clearly demonstrated that successful football teams are all about tactics, not the players, nor courage, not even an aggregate ocean of skill.
>90% of football games are won and lost before kick-off.
As for the on-going orgy that is dominating front pages (good grief). Get used to it. As I’ve said many times, positions are absolutely entrenched when it comes to the songs debate. Neil Lennon and Ian Bankier are in for a disappointment if they think they, or any of the rest of us, can “self-police” those who object to being inhibited from singing about the IRA. I’ve encouraged this so often I’m not going to waste my your time with it anymore.
Celtic are set for an extended period when its reputation will suffer, there is no avoiding this. Unfortunately, not everyone listens. My great sympathies go to the £X per hour Celtic stewards who have to put themselves in the front line of this confrontation.
If I can offer any advice on a related subject… Songs and banners affect individuals, who will often be selected randomly for exclusion. Lateral movement in the stands, which happened last weekend, will get an entire section of the stadium closed by Health & Safety. If this creeps back into Celtic Park there is a real risk of council action. I’m pretty sure Michael Davitt didn’t place the sod on Celtic Park before bouncing left to right and back again. It’s not a key part of our heritage, don’t pick fights you’re going to lose.
CQN Magazine, issue 5, will be out soon. After 4 issues online and shipping single copies from Magcloud in the US, we’ve ordered a print run locally. You can order now with credit/debit card or Paypal and buy direct from the UK for only £5 by clicking on the link below.
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Cheers SOAL jeez that was quick. One day I,ll master the linky thing. I would encourage other CQN,ers to have a listen. Thanks once again. Hail Hail Hebcelt
BCC
Good choice
hebcelt
You sounded like my wife there.
Love
fergus
You know as well as anybody that they will write what they want, aye ok, we give them a ooh ah up the Ra they cream themselfs, we give them a eff uefa banner they cream themselfs, we do nothing, we have something to hide, they lie and they cream themselfs.
We will prevail mi amigo, we will prevail.
And after we destroy them:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-e1PK-2ETtM&feature=related
COME ON CELTIC!!
THE EXILED TIM @ 23:37
Already proven correct amigo. As we’ve discussed in the past, it has escalated beyond control, and their response is to attack Celtic. Our only hope is a new govt in the next few years that will tackle it and deal with it quickly so that the extent of the damage can be contained :( G’night amigo.
Naw Naw SOAL trust me she doe,nt sound like that!!!!! Hail Hail Hebcelt
fergus
Aye yer Italian manager snuffed Sammi out, and what could Lenny do about it, we had kids on the bench, we took a injury riddled team to Italy and were as good as the best in Italy could throw at us, an honest ref would have given us a pen at the end, hey ho, scotland in the footballing world is persona non grata.
I hope the officials enjoyed the fruits of their labour the other night.
Clashcitybhoy @ 23:39
He was there to discuss the renewal of his pal Craig Thompson’s maintenace contract….and the possibility of the existence of bribery amonst UEFA referees in European competition and doubled-up bonuses for MIB strikes. Just to assert to his pals at Ipox that these things do not exist, and never have done, you understand.
A one, a two, a three……
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-1QDMFnLW2A&feature=results_main&playnext=1&list=PLB943A5B6122DC4A3
Remarkable:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pDPQILYRFg8
BelfastCityCelt @ 23:50
:)))
Anyway
Off to watch my birthday pressy To The Manor Born Box set
Love
Sunday morning up with the Lark
Every moment’s a good moment for Luke Kelly.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gfngKaaDVro
Our loss to St Jonstone at CP this term was the most disappointing of the season for me ,we should have skelped them that day .The only time I can remember us getting more that we deserved this term was St Mirren away .We played a lot worse than St Johnstone and won 2-0
We totally outplayed the orcs at Ibrokes in the first 45 but failed to compete in the 2nd 45
St Johnstone need some karma
ktf hail hail
Antrim man myself,but i will play this one in tribute to our leader,Neil Francis Lennon – 18 – Unbroken,unbowed and undefeated!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ac86dyVmcqg
GOOD BLESS THE CELTIC OF GLASGOW!
Oiche mhaith. :)
James Forrest is Lennon…
Good to see you back, and back to slamming me! Excellent fella.
Thank you! :) There are a bunch of things I think we agree on too – so I don’t think I continually slam you! :) Anyway, on this one we differ, so the bolding continues…
Nothing you say I would disagree with. Believe that? I agree with almost every word. Because you’ve chosen to focus on the banner, as if I am accusing the guys of breaking the rules. If you read my last, lengthy, post you’ll know that my anger over the banner is in that it was then followed up by an act which DOES violate UEFA rules, and has almost certainly contributed to a change in attitude towards us.
Firstly, whilst your *other* post does indeed make comment on the flares, the post I took issue with cartianly had full focus on the banner, not the flares. Unless you are suggesting that the flares were part of the protest? You’re an intelligent poster, so I know you don’t actually believe that. The flares most certainly won’t contribute to a change in attitude…and in truth, even if it does – who cares? Why would UEFA’s opinion of us make one iota of difference? And why would we crave their approval? We are Celtic fans, not UEFA fans. UEFA are neither pro nor anti Celtic. The apply rules (supposedly) on an impartial basis, so their opinions matters not a jot. Frankly, I couldn’t care less what the opinion of UEFA is toward Celtic. As long as we are treated fairly I don’t care. Celtic fan, UEFA neutral.
If you are suggesting that UEFA will now apply a different set of rules? Then I am firmly against them. I believe in equality. And will not accept anything less. Why would you believ differently?
The flare wielders are stupid oafs. Why? Because they place others in danger for little point. On that we are in concert.
Your view that the people spoke only for themselves is naive, and not like you at all. The world press today is not making the distinction. The man-on-the-street will not make the distinction. UEFA themselves will not make the distinction.
Let’s take these people one by one – if a government cracked down on dissent and criticism, the world press and leaders would jump up in (righteous) indignation. UEFA does it and our fans should comply? I’m sorry, but UEFA have to be subject to the same rules governing us all. They cannot, and should not be able to supress criticism, or unfairly silence people. It’s wrong when Coca Cola do it, it’s wrong when UEFA do it. Why have you transferred this onto Celtic fans?
The world press. And hugh Keevins. I find it very sad that journalists who rely on free speech to carry out their jobs without fear of recrimination will not champion that cause. The world press should be four square behind the Celtic fans saying “it’s your right to show dissent, maybe don’t swear”. If UEFA choose to crack down on Celtic because of this? The press should be all over them. That they are not? Just further evidence of a cabal that we can do without. I’d rather be right and vilified than be part of the dictatorial, totalitarian, unethical regime. On this occasion, I’m much happier to be on the ourside of the tent, urinating in.
For the record, I could not care less what the press writes and even less than that for the ignorant, uneducated views of said man-in-the-street if he hasn’t bothered to even think beyond what he hears in the media … but UEFA’s view does matter, and to mock them and taunt them in the week they have found us guilty of breaking their rules, and then follow it up by breaking another is an act of arrogance which borders on insanity.
Except in the above paragraph where you are clearly concerned? UEFA’s view is irrelevant as long as they apply rules fairly. I don’t want favourable treatment. I don’t want victimised. I simply wnat rules applied in a fair manner. I have no fear of the UEFA spotlight. That our board roll over and take it? Makes me hate ’em. UEFA? Pencil pushing beurocrats more interested in getting their snouts in the trough than governing the game properly. We’re small fry. In a week they wont remember our name. The press are pariahs already, and I dont’ care about them. If you seriously think that UEFA will launch some sort of vendetta? Unless we break rules, what do we have to fear? No rule breaking, no problem.
If there was some way to seperate the consequences to the individual from the consequences to our club, believe me I would support it and then confront the issue of whether the consequences were deserved. But this situation is akin to someone hijacking an airplane and the authorities responding by jailing everyone on board. If they can’t see past their own selfishness then yes, I do think they need to be removed.
The people with the flares, if they did it near me would get the same treatment racists get. Broken teeth. They deserve all they get. The Celtic fans should *not* be disciplined for criticising UEFA however. It’s their right. Now, if UEFA dislike profanity and penalise Celtic for that? If Celtic had any courage, a whirlwind of the like never seen before should tear through UEFA courtesy of a team of highly paid Celtic lawyers. So, no crackdown on swearing and we’re back to the original point – should Celtic fans shut up when wishing to criticise UEFA because they fear being punished for excercising their human rights? Should Rosa Parks have remained standing lest all her people where punished for her insubordination?
The bare truth is this – I don’t think we’re a million miles apart James. I think that if you look at the issue in perspective you’ll see my point. And I’m sure you’ll agree that people *should* be able to offer dissent without fear of recrimination. If they can’t, the problem doesn’t lie with them. It lies with the oppressors.
I admire hugely Malcolm X. I like his soundbites too. I’ll leave you with this one…“If you’re not careful, the newspapers will have you hating the people who are being oppressed, and loving the people who are doing the oppressing.”
In truth, the Celtic I see now are not the Celtic I support or maybe more accurately, supported. I find myself loathing the board in a way I never imagined possible. I loath them, and feel no bond with them or the “club” they have created. Fergus was a man of the people, these guys are shamless capitalists. I do feel at least some common ground with the Green Brigade however. They put themselves on the line week in, week out and are detested by the board, by the press, and now by a lot of Celtic fans. Shame on us.
/p
Friends in Celtic,
our battle now lies North and our opponents will be stout in their challenge, strong of forearm, brazen in the lunge and gallous in their swagger.
However….
Our cause is just and beautiful, our football pure and our support – the finest in the world.
We take our formation to the Ploughing Championships and our brows will remain unfurrowed.
Our foe has stolen a march on us but we will remain on their shoulder, steadfast in our quest……..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v9x6fG3QrBE
James Forrest is Lennon says:
17 December, 2011 at 19:58
Are you not one of those who just a wee short while ago was demanding that Neil Lennon be shown the door? If so….
…and Goodnight-one-and-all!
p8ddy says:
18 December, 2011 at 00:19
Kind of been lurking on and off tonight, wasn’t going to post as I’ve had enough of the arguments. HOWEVER :-)
I skimmed over your post so apologies if I missed something, THAT BANNER WAS AN EMBARRASSMENT. You comparing the criticism of UEFA with the use of that banner to Rosa Parks is embarrassing.
I do agree with most of the rest of what you post, particularly your Malcom X reference and quote, I posted the fuller version a few weeks back. It is very similar to what happens in this country.
In addition, I would also like to point out that I thought Lenny’s quotes went too far and were as ill judged as the banner.
hh
bjmac
PS Anyone staying up for the boxing?
Bjmac
Depends who your fighting!
p8ddy says:
18 December, 2011 at 00:19
I admire hugely Malcolm X. I like his soundbites too. I’ll leave you with this one…“If you’re not careful, the newspapers will have you hating the people who are being oppressed, and loving the people who are doing the oppressing.”
In truth, the Celtic I see now are not the Celtic I support or maybe more accurately, supported. I find myself loathing the board in a way I never imagined possible. I loath them, and feel no bond with them or the “club” they have created. Fergus was a man of the people, these guys are shamless capitalists. I do feel at least some common ground with the Green Brigade however. They put themselves on the line week in, week out and are detested by the board, by the press, and now by a lot of Celtic fans. Shame on us.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Apart from quoting one of my personal heroes what you posted above is not only very well written but also,sadly,correct.I would like to thank you for having the skill and eloquence to post something i enjoyed but more importantly,to post something i wish i could but lack the necessary ability.
In a way you have spoken for me,or at least expressed sentiments similar to my own.
So once more,thank you and i look forward to your further posts.
FOREVERANDEVER!!!
kitalba says:
18 December, 2011 at 00:28
I’ve noticed, JF can express polarised opinions often, sometimes on the same day ;-)
hh
bjmac
Kit
He’s a queer one that one…..
hamiltontim says:
18 December, 2011 at 00:41
I’ve told you before, I hold the jaikits. I’m a great corner mhan!
hh
James Forrest is Lennon says:
17 December, 2011 at 21:19
The Honest Mistake says:
That is something I can accept, and well believe. If they found, now, that Rangers should not have played in the last two years of European competition, they are wide open to legal cases from several clubs in this country, those who Rangers defeated in Europe and it would certainly have to result in investigations in other countries where the same thing might have happened.
It would be a headache of EPIC proporitions. What I think we HAVE achieved by our highlighting the possibility is that next time the scrutiny will be fierce.
An accomplishment in itself, I would suggest.
——————————————–
The purpose of the article on CU that asked the questions of the SFA and UEFA and gave the SFA answer (I do not know if UEFA have responded in my absence from home) was to do exactly what you mentioned in the last para.
The news of a late appeal only helped suggest something not right had happened. We know the licencing rules now, they know we know and the next licensing round, if Rangers qualify for a UEFA competition, will be done in the public glare not just of unpaid tax if that is still a factor, but also unaudited accounts (a disqualification matter on its own) or accounts with a going concern qualification, not to mention the possibility of Rangers being in administration, all matters covered by licensing rules.
By that point though I suspect the Ranger’s game will be a bogey anyway so getting at UEFA will not have the same survival element as it has had since 2009
BJmac
did you get my message re Fr Mallon?
Great light heavyweight fight.
Árd Macha
So the banner will damage our reputation ?
Well we see how many clubs stop inviting us for testimonials and the close season tournaments we are denied entry to .
There;s more tothe world than a hurting jim traynor and hugh keevins.
CultsBhoy
no, not picked it up. Which address you send it to?
hh
bjmac
via fb
Lads jst in but I’ve been posting for weeks now about referees in this country and now today proves my point.
Seriously lads we are going to need to do something about this and every new article Paul puts up I will keep saying it untill we do something.
This is cheating at the highest order and it’s time we done something about this.
bjmac
http://web.me.com/jm69/FJM_Homepage/Genealogy.html
wot… in the world… is goin on
admittedly, I’ve only been dippin in tnight, but it looks like a lot of the time was takin up discussin a banner… a banner!… with a wee sweary word, against an institution that – by any definition – is corrupt. Context? Screw the heid? The press have made this, and its a non-story.
For Celtic, the banner was stupid, and Neil – I think – reacted because the talk should’ve been about the game, and because of the EUFA ruling a few days before. Was he suckered by the press? Possibly, but he’s probably as fed up of these wee inanities as most of us. Sorry, but cannae believe some of the expressions tonight of indignation. Storm. Tea-Cup. Bad Press.
macanbheatha says:
18 December, 2011 at 00:49
So the banner will damage our reputation ?
YES
With fans like these who needs huns?
Fholks,
My own radical point of view on the reasons behind current events.
The Ulster Scots (who, by and large, are no less human than the rest of us) are yet again subject to misrepresentation by a mentalist minority. This MM group are making in roads into Ayrshire due to empowerment by drugs money, a greed given to them by that success, and a realisation that it will not be tolerated so easily back in the Six Counties as in Scotland.
Aware of this serious danger to contemporary Scottish politics and culture, but also aware of the fact that the OO represent a significant vote, the SNP have taken an approach. This approach is easy to gain support for amongst other elements. The Polis need not be included in this as, well, they just don’t.
The threat of the bigoted politics being de-canted back to Scotland rightly fills many of us with dread.
That’s a fear that can be easily utilised.
And how do you eradicate the possibility of things escalating, bearing in mind what we know here about unreported attacks and media distortion of the truth?
Kill any idea of support for a terrorist group who have been known to fight similar ( of course, more extreme) versions of such a mess in defence of the victims.
And bearing in mind, the additional complication/comfort of the divide and conquer rule.
Feel free to think on that.
A bit blunt..but there you go.
My point of view; fire at will :(
Cultsbhoy
Got it mate, thanks very much – appreciate it.
bjmac