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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MARSPAPA on 11TH MAY 2017 10:41 PM
BIG JIMMY
Are you lurkin ? Was wondering whereabouts in Easterhouse/ parish you were in back in the day ?
Just saw your post
I lived in Langbar Cres ( Between Torran Rd & Baldovan Cres.) I as brought up in the POSHEST bit of the ‘Hoose. I was there from around 1958/59 until I got married ( idiot) and moved to Dennistoun in 1977. Family and friends still stayed in Easterhouse beyond that time.
Primary School was “Blessed John Ogilvie”….BEFORE he became a Saint.
Secondary School…The Old St Gregorys ( Behind the Dalriada )….and for my last 6 months or so…The New St Gregorys in Cranhill.
I played Boys Guild for St Benedicts ( The Benny), Lochbridge Utd, St Gregorys.
HH
Morning, it’s a no from me
KIKINTHENAKAS on 11TH MAY 2017 11:09 PM
The young guy who sits next to me at clubceltic is going travelling for a year. His seat is right on the halfway line..looking to see if anyone is interested in taking it for a year.
Let me know..contact paul67 for my contact details
Kikinthenakas
Big Jimmy I just saw your post mate.
I MIGHT be interested in SB. I will email VFR and ask him to pass on my email address to you asap.
HH.
Good Morning CQN
13 days to go.
The weather forecast for Lisbon today is partly cloudy with spells of sunshine. The temperature will reach 68 degrees and there is only a 20% chance of rain.
FAO KIKINTHENAKAS .
I have asked VFR800 to either give you my email address…or for him to give me yours…or both ?
Depending on circumstances I may be able to accept that season book ?
Am I 1st to ask ?……………………2nd place is nothing ! LOL
HH
Big jimmy serious question, who do you dislike most , Huns or Tories
Minceyheidman
If st stubs gives them to my dad( if he doesn’t mind)at the game on a Sunday he will bring them over to Vegas if Be Celtic can’t pick them up for you
Be Celtic
If you are at the match on Sunday St Stivs will be at the pools office beside the Celtic superstore which is Cqn corner
Big Jimmy
Have you changed mobile numbers?
Sent you a text re kickinthenakas
Begging letter!!!!
Please, please, please buy a raffle ticket for BRTH’s big swally raffle ya tight arsed basturt.
https://www.ebid.net/uk/for-sale/big-charity-raffle-156693864.htm
Fanx
Good morning friends and a Big Happy Friday Matchday from a dry, bright but breezy East Kilbride.
Marspapa.
Reading back good to see you on B.
Hope all as well as can be expected.
Enjoy your evening, hopefully cheering on a Celtic victory with some friends.
Hail Hail
Good morning CQN from a cool, overcast and precipitation threatened East Devon.
Let’s pump the Dandy Dons tonight.
YNWA
Big Jimmy, have you procured a ticket for the swally raffle? if not, both you and kickinthenakas’s and yersel need a kickinthenakas’s.
He’ll get his in Lisboa, whits your excuse.
https://www.ebid.net/uk/for-sale/big-charity-raffle-156693864.htm
Ianbhoy929 – your report was bordering on turning into a forecast. Be careful my friend! And I hope the rain stays away.
Work calling….
Hebcelt, you are a shining beacon my friend.
HH to you bruv
BIG JIMMY
i only classed Easterhouse from the FIRE STATION (westerhouse road) back to both of the bus terminus/s ;) lochend and …
I played for St Benidict school then onto StLeonards.
Born in 59 and left in 74 and moved to the Hamilton
(With parents)
BTW you might know somone who posts on here , my memories not great but i think it’s
Glendalystonsils….apols if i got that wrong .
Hello again all you young rebels.
Nice to see all you young Celts up early and some good posts, CQN
at it’s best, and as BATEEN BHOY said 13 days to go until we all
celebrate the greatest day in our clubs history.
I wish i was going with all the bhoys who are going back to Lisbon but
our own CSC down here in Oz will pay our tribute to the Lions on our
own celebrity night in the Marcetta restaurant on the rebel peninsula
Mornington which is now a sell out, we had hoped to get our legend
Willie Wallace back down from the Gold Coast but he will be back in the
U.K. for you ghuy”s so enjoy.
Our big Celtic Sunday is 21 st May and our early morning golf at Mount
Martha still has a couple of places available so if anybody wants to play
before you join us to sing and dance at all things Celtic let me know asap.
I’ve said to you all before how big soccer is becoming over here and the
Aussie rules people must be sh*tting themselves, an agreement has been
reached between neighbouring areas Cardinia, Casey, Berwick, Dandenong
etc and local mayors have signed off on a new stadium build for a new team
to join Sydney F.C, Melbourne City et-al in the A league, our own bhoys club’s
construction of restaurant and bar is almost finished and it’s looking amazing.
The clubs committee in their wisdom have invited the Harry kewel academy
to give a training night there in June when it’s first opened, not a bad earner
for a rich ex footie player, $100 for a couple of hours instruction in how to kick
a ball, but you do get a Harry Kewel beanie as well,
The committee got our bhoys together after training to see how many were
interested, so after explaining it all and how their parents could pay they asked
any questions?
You know who, hand straight up, the wee mhan.
” Who’s Harry Cool?
” Ehm… he’s an Australian internationalist scored a lot of goals, so how many are
interested?
” Did he play fur Celtic?
” No don’t think he did, but he played for Liverpool and Leeds United and
Melbourne Victory so are you interested ?
” Did his family support the Celtic ?
” How would i know, now how many?
…………… silence.
If only Willie Wallace or Paul McStay had started an academy :-))
H.H Mick
on 12TH MAY 2017 6:55 AM
Marspapa.
Reading back good to see you on B.
Hope all as well as can be expected.
Enjoy your evening, hopefully cheering on a Celtic victory with some friends.
Hail Hail
Everything is Champion JNP.
Looking forward to catching up with BT and Poalosboots and a few others, although i may dissapiont BT as in i’m driving so no drink shall be consumed :)
JNP as it was with Franny …i enjoy the company first and foremost :))
Anyhoo need to go .
Take care .
BRTH
Sorry, was just teasing.
Dancing til 7am?
Just trying to stand would be an achievement at 4am.
https://www.ebid.net/uk/for-sale/big-charity-raffle-156693864.htm
It was a glorious day in Lancashire yesterday but its drizzly in Suffol today. The world has gove topsy-turvy.
It will all be put right tonight when the Celts hammer Derek McInnes & The Bottlemerchants at Pittodrie.
In other news, I see John Guidetti made his mark on the European stage last night…
Marspapa
Will be good to just catch up ☘️☘️
Morning
http://celticbynumberscom.ipage.com/celtic-4-st-johnstone-1-numbers/
A review of the St Johnstone game. Ralston and Johnston did a lot e than just be tidy and neat on their full debuts. Their games in numbers above.
HH
new article posted.
Word of The Day (Inspired by most games in the EPL)
somnolent /ˈsɒmnələnt/
adjective
1. drowsy; sleepy
2. causing drowsiness
3. Inducing or tending to induce sleep; soporific.
4. In a condition of incomplete sleep; semicomatose.
Derived Forms
somnolence, somnolency, noun
somnolently, adverb
Word Origin
Word Origin and History for somnolent
adj.
mid-15c., sompnolent, from Old French sompnolent (Modern French somnolent) or directly from Latin somnolentus “sleepy, drowsy,” from somnus “sleep” (see Somnus). Respelled 17c. on Latin model.
KTF