I’m as interested in a good game of football as you, but when Atletico Madrid’s comeback was stopped in its tracks late in the first half of last night’s Champions League semi-final, I was happy for some old friends.
Despite a complete lack of empathy for them, it is impossible to dispute that Atletico are an incredibly well run football club which has achieved beyond all reason for several seasons now. They won La Liga in 2014 against two of the finest teams ever assembled. This was achieved despite an exhausting run to the Champions League final, which they lost in extra time, after allowing a lead to slip away in the final moments of the regulation 90 minutes.
A year later their Champions League adventure ended at the quarter final stage, but they were back in the final in 2016, this time losing on penalties.
For any team this period should be remembered throughout their history with enormous pride, but there’s a sting in the tale for Atletico: it was neighbours and rivals, Real Madrid who eliminated them from the Champions League on each of these occasions.
Atletico have great players, an incredible manager, have humbled many of Europe’s finest clubs, but city rivalries are zero sum games. In years to come fans will largely look back on this era with frustration and regret.
Were it not for their fiercest rivals strength, Atletico would be part of the European Champions club, instead of being multi-times losers.
What I’ve admired most of Real during these seasons is their appetite to get the job done against a formidable opponent.
With six-in-a-row under our belt, this is a trait we’ll need. I know you think that this is easy, but human nature doesn’t work like that. If you want to be ruthless when merely efficient will do, you need to work at it.
This season there is every chance we’ll inch ahead of the record-breaking points total we achieved when we destroyed all before us in season 2003-04. 12 months later an appetite for success was the last observation evident on a field in Lanarkshire. The end of every great season is the time to up your game.
I’ve incredible respect for those who left Celtic Park early this morning bound for Lisbon on their bikes this morning, and for the others who will join them along the way, led by our very own Mouldy67. Read about them here.
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New one?
I didn’t see ne article posted?
And neither did anyone else it seems?
this is how it feels to be celitc
Have I wondered into a Mari celtesk?
Ahhhhh, they arrive.
Morning,all.
I still canny think about that day in 2005.
Had a few sair yins supporting Celtic but that is right up there.
Even more galling to think that the huns should have been relegated after losing every match 3-0,rather than partying
Strip the titles,it still won’t hurt them as much as 2005 hurt me!
Tony donnelly
almost 6 in a row
Best of luck to the cyclists, great effort for a great cause.
BMCUWP – Look forward to a catch up in Lisbon M.
HH
ONEMALLOY
Very much so,H. Canny wait!
Two months since the big tax case was heard, can’t be long now.
” multi times losers ” ..
None better at that thing than Rubentus ..
8 European Cup / Champions League Finals .
2 wins- 85 / 96 ..
6 losses -73 / 83/ 97 / 98 / 2003/ 2015..
Wee interview with Max Allegri on the tele earlier . Journo man asked him about the possibility of Rube winning the Serie A title away to Roma this coming Sunday night . .Allegri’s response was a 5 minute rant re the drop in concentration and the consequent bad defending which had given Monaco a goal on Tuesday night.
James Doleman @jamesdoleman 1m1 minute ago
AD “Are there such things as solicitors account rules?”
Withey: “Yes, but ask me if I’ve ever read them?”
James Doleman @jamesdoleman 1m1 minute ago
Advocate Depute “Did you anticipate money was going to have to be paid to the seller?”
Withey “It was a pound”
James Doleman @jamesdoleman 2m2 minutes ago
Withey: “The surprising thing is that the money arrived in the first place
I can’t think of any deal where the money arrived before the legal documents”
James Doleman @jamesdoleman 3m3 minutes ago
Withey email shown to court “the loan has been to the club” £2,925,000.
James Doleman @jamesdoleman 3m3 minutes ago
AD Asks about Jerome group “retirement benefits plan”
James Doleman @jamesdoleman 4m4 minutes ago
AD: let’s stick to the traditional structure, I ask the questions and you answer”
James Doleman @jamesdoleman 4m4 minutes ago
Withey: “I thought of something odd last night can I explain
1 reply 4 retweets 4 likes
James Doleman @jamesdoleman 2m2 minutes ago
AD “Did you ever receive written instructions to move the money, think carefully you are under oath”
Withey “I’m not sure”
THETIMREAPER on 11TH MAY 2017 11:16 AM
Two months since the big tax case was heard, can’t be long now.
I read somewhere that the result could be as late as October I think? Not sure.
TONYDONNELLY
Nineteen years since the tax evasion scheme was first implemented,so what’s another few months?
The wheels of justice grind exceedingly slow…
Do the hokey -cokey
Jerome Group
Worthington
Liberty Capital
Merchant Turnaround
Collyer Bristow .
Who put it in and who took it out ?.
Shake it all about !!!!
Withey: “I thought of something odd last night can I explain
AD: let’s stick to the traditional structure, I ask the questions and you answer”
BMCW
I suppose yer right .
James Doleman @jamesdoleman 12m12 minutes ago
AD asks if any mention of Ticketus
Withey “The answer is no but there is a bigger story behind it, but you ask the questions”
Withey: “My personal view is that the Ticketus money was known about.”
Withey asked about engaging with Scottish law, replies “It’s like another language”
Says was unusual Mike McGill was writing directly to him rather than through his lawyer.
Adds “He wanted comfort that this wouldn’t turn into an embarrassing mess for everyone”
Hehe well that worked out well !!
Good morning CQN
O.G.RAFFERTY on 11TH MAY 2017 11:43 AM
Withey “The answer is no but there is a bigger story behind it, but you ask the questions”
Withey: “My personal view is that the Ticketus money was known about.”
pmsl Grenade detonated in court…………………..boom
To clarify, the AD is questioning this guy as a prosecution witness!! Donald will have a field day with this joker, he must be loving this. What a fiasco.
I’m wondering if Donald will question this guy he’s doing well as it is.
Best wishes to all the cyclists on their way to Lisbon.Mrs WF and myself will be at Estadio Nacional to greet them.Will there be a breakaway group or an all Peloton ride in this Tour Da Iberia?Many thanks to BRTH. HH.
“The wheels of justice grind exceedingly slow…”
Not if you are on the Celtic board that banned 128 of its own supporters back in December 2013 post the Motherwell game.
Even although those 128 were – to the greater extent – innocent as charged.
could we not have organized some crowd-funding and got the cyclists a few cars or a bus for their trip to Lisbon, instead of that outdated Victorian transport method they are using?
BMCUWP:
Above post in response to your earlier post mate.
Gary Withey -April 2012 –
” I didn’t have a single concern about him ”
” there were a number of good recommendations ”
” wealthy ”
” good businessman “.
Was very remiss in my last post not to add my own heartfelt thanks to the Lisbon cyclists on a fantastic effort this is exactly who and what being Celtic is all about, safe journey see you all in Lisbon
Has one Kinght of the Realm perjured ones self?
Good Afternoon.
Best of luck to those cycling to Lisbon! What an effort!
Here is my latest – about Sevco’s next owner…
https://theclumpany.wordpress.com/2017/05/10/skeletor-could-be-the-man-to-fix-things-says-kris-void/
Naw she didnae…
HH to those heading off to Lisbon on their bikes.
I see the silly season has started in regards to our alleged pursuit of new signings. Latest being Red Star Belgrade’s Srdan Plavsic. At 5’5″ a bit on the small size ,as was Diego Maradonna!!, but allegedly the wee Serbian is being compared to Xavi in footballing style albeit Xavi is a towering 5’7″ tall :-)
Can’t quite understand why we are, again allegedly, offering 500k to keep Paddy on loan for another year. If Paddy is amenable and Man City will not offer him regular 1st team football why don’t Celtic just stick a decent 5- 6 mill offer in for him to test Man Citys resolve – he may in fact cost us F all if we receive a Virgil Van D windfall? The Paddy situation is a strange one if true. The Chelsea youngster we have been linked with would appear to be a good prospect given the success of big Moussa since his move from Fulham but again this would potentially push Griff further down the ‘striker pecking order’ or are we about to see Moussa moving on for a big fee?
Anyway as stated silly season and the only thing that we do know is that Celtic rarely let the MSM know who are are real targets.
Me i’d be happy with Armstrong signing a long term deal, Paddy R also signing on plus the aqusition of a ‘Lubo / Mastero style ball playing midfielder as well as a couple of bench warmers for GK and defense.
Big shout out to the bike dhudes,more power to y’all.
===
Don’t care who wins CL.No time for Franco’s 11,the Turin cheats or UEFA.I wanted last night’s match to go to penalties and none to be scored,both teams missing until the date of the final had been surpassed and it having to be rearranged for another date,whereupon Cardiff suffers it’s biggest rainfall in history causing the game to be postponed and eventually cancelled causing UEFA to lose money,the one and only thing they care about.
My CL interest starts and stops with Celtic.
THETIMREAPER on 11TH MAY 2017 11:16 AM
Two months since the big tax case was heard, can’t be long now.
##
The last big tax case at the Supreme Court took 11 months. To be fair, that was exceptional and the delay was for reasons that don’t apply to the huns case. Hector won.
THETIMREAPER on 11TH MAY 2017 11:48 AM
‘Donald will have a field day with this joker’
###
Donald might prefer to let sleeping dogs lie. As it were.