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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MWD
Yes i think that’s possible. A Judicial review has also been mentioned. Something will need to be done. Hopefully someone with a bit of savvy and know how will step up to the plate. If not it’s up to us to crowdfund.
thetimreaper
“Crowdfound”? I’m still still trying to organise a crowdfund to help me buy the new “Elite” Celtic jersey!
Bit of a strange Tweet from Thomson. Why now and why only a tweet, no article or blog. Has he been briefed by someone at the SFA to put the feelers out to see how people react? Or does he know something about the BTC. Maybe he’s just looking for a bit of profile.
I’m sure oldtim has a state of the art camera( unless he has given it away)
Keeping him sober enough to use it could be a problem though..
BRTH
Indeed the work you have put in has been fantastic
Starting from a jibe at CQN golf and snowballing to where we are now
Hats off to you, even I might buy you a drink or 2
I wish we still had the bin from the old cqn.:-))
So how many CQNers (apart from the old geezers I hang around with) will be in Lisbon for the street party?
‘We will not be tweeted differently’
John Reid
BLANTYRETIM IS PRAYING FOR THE KNOX FAMILY on 11TH MAY 2017 4:31 PM,
Is it a Box Brownie?
:-)))
Marxist jokes have no class.
Title stripping is the new grave robbing.
ALL these LEAKS must be down to one Hun..Lee Wallace…
Leaked news from Huns dressing room ?
Leaks about Big Tax Case ?
Aye… and The LEAKING of The Labour Manifesto….feckin Wallace ?
There is an old Political “trick” I believe that is sometimes adopted and that is for the Party to deliberately leak it’s own Manifesto…..wait for the reaction to it….and then AMEND it to your choosing before launching it ?
What do I know ?
HH
FAO All Lisbon pilgrims requiring a venue to watch the Scottish Cup Final on the 27th May.
I’ve had an email response from Hennessy’s Lisbon confirming they will be showing the game. 4PM K.O. local time.
Good luck to the cyclists. Hope their journey is trouble free. I Just heard mouldy on the radio Scotland news. Brilliant effort from the whole team.
HH
P.S. if you’ve not bought any raffle tickets for BRTH’s big booze raffle you can get them here:
https://www.ebid.net/uk/for-sale/big-charity-raffle-156693864.htm
MARGARET MCGILL on 11TH MAY 2017 4:49 PM
Marxist jokes have no class.
———————————
Depends on the Engels you look at them from…
TIMMY7 on 11TH MAY 2017 4:36 PM
So how many CQNers (apart from the old geezers I hang around with) will be in Lisbon for the street party?
I would be going to Lisbon..but I am far too young and handsome to hang aboot with some of the geezers that are going……or so Lee Wallace leaked to me ?
HH
MARGARET MCGILL on 11TH MAY 2017 3:41 PM
So Celtic need to be more Real Madrid like???
What would jesus have said?
***
We dont need to ask what he would have said…. we know…. he said ‘screw Real, Man City is offering me more money, so I’m signing for them!’.. and he did!
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gabriel_Jesus
Margaret McGill
There is not much ‘surplus value’ to cracking a Marxist gag:)
HH
The Green Man says SACK THE Board
&
Davidopoulos
Full Marx!
mike in toronto
Awe naw dont tell me there’s 2 of them ? :)
Just seen Pedro on the news there taking about ‘identifying the source of the leaks and sealing it off’.
Labour’s leaked draft manifesto
Nothing wrong with most of it but to rule out an Indy Ref 2 would be undemocratic because the democratically elected parliament of Scotland has voted for it.
On the manifesto itself some of the draft policies have already been implmented in Scotland.
Truth be told it will not matter how people in Scotland vote for this because the elction will be decide by the electorate in England. Only once since WW2 has the electorate of England NOT got the Government it voted for with the exception of the Coalition Govt of Tories and Con Dems.
Everytiime there has been a Tory govt since the 1950s the electorate in Scotland has not voted for it.
I do not believe Labour will do as badly as Blarities want it to do but we are without doubt looking at a Tory Govt returned with an increased mandate. Heaven help us all.
However vote anything but Tory and UKIP and BNP etc
since we are cracking marxist jokes ….how about this oldie but goodie
Boss to employee: “Young man, you have risen very fast in this company. Two years ago, you began as an office boy. In a couple of months, you were a clerk. Then, you became a salesman, after that assistant manager, then manager. Now you are the vice president of the company. What have you to say about all this?”
Employee: “Thanks, Dad”.
“It’s a long way to Lisboa, it’s a long way to go!”
…especially by bicycle!
‘Haste ye there ghuys.’
HH!!
THETIMREAPER on 11TH MAY 2017 5:00 PM
Just seen Pedro on the news there taking about ‘identifying the source of the leaks and sealing it off’.
———————————
Leaks? Pedro needs to show them who’s Bostik.
‘I never forget a face, but in your case I’ll be glad to make an exception.’
Groucho Marxist
Hope Pedro doesn’t Welch on his promise to plug the leaks..
HOLY MOSES !
Story from Glasgow evening “RAG” Today
A Paisley dad has taken the internet by storm after filming himself making his way to his son’s school after he was summoned by the head – because his son took in almost £800 in cash.
Craig Cowan, from Paisley in Renfrewshire, had to make his way to nine-year-old Robbie’s school after he decided to take in the massive wad of money he had received at his communion the previous week.
In the clip, Craig tells how it was his son’s first communion on May 6 where he got a lot of cards and money from family and friends.
………………………..
All I got at my Holy Communion was a new school blazer, a new haircut and a WHITE SASH !
I did quite well looking back.
HH
MIT
Stalin and Molotov are out for a stroll in Red Square at midnight.
A freezing, homeless peasant stops Stalin and asks: Comrade could you spare a few kopeks for a poor man.
Stalin replies, ‘Certainly comrade’ and fishes in his pocket and hands something to the peasant.
As the peasant walks away, he notices that he has an old button in his hand….He shouts to Stalin…’You cheap bastard’
At this, Stalin turns to Molotov and says, ‘Fk sake, some people are never happy’:)
HH
TGM ….
did you learn nothing from Trotsky?!
Please share folks. Important issue.
https://thecelticblog.com/2017/05/blogs/jim-delahunt-jokes-about-tanks-in-george-square-as-thommo-hints-at-no-title-stripping/
MIT
Two things i learned from Trotsky.
Dont go to Mexico….and if you do, beware of ice-picks:)
HH
ACGR
The cup final will also be on in O’Gilins (The oldest Irish Bar in Lisbon) which is about 100 yards away from Hennessy’s.
I have been in them both (had my dinner in O’Gilins last night while watching the two dreadful Madrids) and couldn’t care less which gaff we drink dry.
You can have a look at both when you get here.
Hennessy’s is a funny late out over two floors with a big well in the middle, while O’G’s is a smaller pub in one big room with a big screen.
Both have bar, taps, alcohol and bogs ………. Take yer pick.
TIM TANIUM on 11TH MAY 2017 5:02 PM
Labour’s leaked draft manifesto
Nothing wrong with most of it but to rule out an Indy Ref 2 would be undemocratic because the democratically elected parliament of Scotland has voted for it.
###
Personally, if I was Corbyn I would insist on an Indyref2, just for the sheer joy of seeing the panic among the SNP leadership.
They don’t want to hold a referendum until support for yes is consistently at 60%. Anyone with any grasp of Scottish politics knows that. So spare us the bullshit.
JAMES FORREST on 11TH MAY 2017 5:20 PM
‘Please share folks. Important issue.’
###
What are we supposed to be incensed about here?
It’s not clear.
Is it the SFA or Delahunt? Or both? Or neither?
And is Delahunt not having a dig at the huns?
BIG JIMMY on 11TH MAY 2017 2:01 PM
PORTUGAL “PINK STREET”…..BMCUWP….You better wear your PINK Celtic Jersey mate..just to blend in you understand ?
hahaha.
HH
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Jimmy,I won’t need a pink top to blend in. I burn in a blizzard,I’ll be like a lobster come Thursday.
JAMES FORREST on 11TH MAY 2017 5:20 PM
Good blog and good on you James. The onus is on Celtic to step up but every organisation with any association with our Club has a responsibility to speak up when the time comes.
Is the Cup Final a 4pm kick-off back home ?
Lisbon is in the same time zone as UK., isn’t it ?
Have to say,the leaked Labour manifesto ticked a lot of boxes for me. I reckon most of the party activists will be delighted.
While strangely a large number of sitting Labour MPs won’t be. I doubt they expected to have to support a left-wing manifesto,not what they signed up for.
Aw,diddums.
I wonder if Brother Walfrid ever cracked Marist jokes?