Appetite in winners, Madrid, Lanarkshire 2005

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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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368 Comments

  1. BT

     

     

    I txt’d you and OT67 at time but you must have changed your numbers. :-@))

     

     

    I’m good now although always tired and unable to sleep properly much.

     

     

    MWD

  2. Best of luck to Mouldy and the rest of crew on their long trek to Lisboa,doing the Bhoys proud .

     

    Must be some size of pedals on Vmhan’s bike ….wae his big Frodo feet :O) hh

  3. Regan needs to be removed the guy has done nothing but take it up the arse since the day he arrived. A hun placement being worked from behind by huns..

     

     

    He should get the jail for his involvement in the frauds surrounding the game.

  4. Best of to the bhoys cycling to Lisbon, amazing.

     

    The club will say feck all, they have said nothing since Dr John gave out, he was soon reigned in and we have sat at the back of the bus since.

  5. The Green Man says SACK THE Board on

    Starry Plough

     

     

    Spot on.

     

    Ive no idea how this halfwit Regan gets away with it.

     

    He should be in Barlinnie:)

     

     

     

    HH

  6. BIG-CUP-WINNERS on

    AN TEACH SOLAIS on 11TH MAY 2017 7:16 PM

     

    BADA BING at 7.00pm

     

     

    That line right there

     

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

     

     

    If you care about something, sometimes individually you have to take some action.

     

     

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

     

     

    That is where we fall down.

  7. embramike supporting Res 12 on

    With regard to Title Stripping etc,, I think the time for action would be once the Supreme Court have ruled on Big Tax Case / EBT legality, and once all testimony has been heard from the current Whyte trial.

     

     

    If the SFA are proved beyond doubt, according to court transcripts, to have been complicit in the awarding of a licence to RFC for season 2011/12 as was implied in Resolution 12, and the Supreme Court deny the appeal against the CoS decision to rule EBTs a method of tax evasion, thus eroding the terms of reference for the LNS ‘no sporting advantage’ decision, then there is a definite case to be answered.

     

     

    It would have the necessary gravitas if this action were led by the board of Celtic FC, in concert with representation from other SFA members, but failing that, it may be incumbent upon the fans to take whatever action appropriate, from lobbying to Judicial Review, to ensure that this era of lies, malfeasance and maladministration is exposed and remedial action is forced on Scottish football.

     

     

    I doubt there would be a shortage of willing bodies to make the concerted effort and I’m equally sure that any funds required would be raised without too many problems.

     

     

    The time for action is when the incontrovertible facts are in the public domain – then it’s down to Persistence beats Res12tance – again !

  8. THE GREEN MAN SAYS SACK THE BOARD

     

     

    Can you imagine any other walk of life where year after year you are consistently crap at your job. run the business into the ground, lie and cheat your way through every public utterance and be as UGLY as he is and STILL be in a job??

     

     

    Him and his type suck awe the joy and fun out of fitbaw and they always have done..

     

     

    On another note I see ole Gianni Infantini bumped a couple of people off over at UEFA, getting to close for comfort perhaps:))

  9. The Green Man says SACK THE Board on

    Starry Plough

     

     

    Maybe someone should send Gianni a letter, telling him how he is talking mince, and that he is a lump of wid:)

     

    No wonder hate FIFA and Sevco….two cheeks of the same arse.

     

    The should be dragged through the streets in a tumbril to meet their fate….along with David Murray and Dave King:)

     

    Grrrrr:)

     

     

    HH

  10. !!Bada Bing!! on

    Bada Bing

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Do you think they will step up?

     

     

     

     

     

     

    MWD

     

     

    No i don’t mate

  11. We don’t need Alex Thomson to tell us what Stewart Regan thinks, the SFA are 100 % complicit and its only natural that they won’t countenance any title stripping talk.

     

     

    They are incredibly guilty and it would expose them in the cover up if any titles were stripped, its a plain straightforward admission of guilt.

     

     

    Remember the SMSM phrase ‘ no appetite ‘ it’ll be back when the season is over during summer, what with the Craig Whyte daily revelations, how guilty are they on a scale of one to Dr Crippen?

  12. thetimreaper on

    Donald Findlay QC would be the man to engage should Res12 and Title Stripping end up in the Courts. Can you imagine?

  13. whitedoghunch on

    MWD

     

    get in touch if you need any strike resource info.

     

    strike wards are a hoot.

     

    Watch Peter Griffin when you are up for it and need a smile

     

     

    off for night

  14. Wee CQN poll

     

     

    Just out of interest.

     

     

    If Supreme Court find in favour of HMRC do you have enough confidence in Celtic PLC that they will step up and fight for proper justice re. Huns cheating?

     

     

    Yes or No?

     

     

    MWD

  15. !!Bada Bing!! on

    ATS- not digging anyone out for an idea to get justice mate.Blogs like this have been a shield and a useful tool to fight major battles, on a fan front,a Club front , and looking for answers over variious issues all things Celtic.We have waited and waited , probably for the outcome of legal cases.When that day happens soon, this is the time for the Celtic FC Board to step up and seek justice,and ask questions of the SFA ,UEFA,and people who were covering up, and cheating CFC , and the rest of Scottish Football.So for me, no Crowdfunding for our custodians to hide behind.HH

  16. BABASONICOS71 on

    MOONBEAMSWD on 11TH MAY 2017 8:06 PM

     

     

    Wee CQN poll

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Just out of interest.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    If Supreme Court find in favour of HMRC do you have enough confidence in Celtic PLC that they will step up and fight for proper justice re. Huns cheating?

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Yes or No?

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    MWD

     

    ===

     

    No

  17. fergusslayedtheblues on

    It was very good of Gary Withey to put another nail in the coffin of the BIG LIE .

     

    When he stated that CW had used the company Wavetower as the vehicle in which to buy the CLUB .

     

    As Wavetower was NEVER liquidated ,it would leave only ONE thing to be lying on a slab

     

    RAGERS 1872

  18. Godspeed the cyclists on their righteous crusade. Hope they have comfy saddles. “May the road rise with you “. Anyone good to accompany this with the appropriate tune? Hanx in advance.

  19. Dear BT Sport,

     

     

    How have soccer fans offended you so much that you inflict Mr Know it all Guy Mowbray, and his jibbering assistant Robbie Savage on us with such regularity?

  20. mike in toronto on

    something to chew on …

     

     

    from what I can see, Donald Findley has done more in one week to shine a light on the corruption in Scottish football … than Celtic’s Board has done in 5 years.

     

     

    Donald F’in findley!!! FFS!

  21. !!Bada Bing!! on

    BSR- BT is far better but Lily Savage, McManaman, and Horlicks Man Owen Hargreaves…

  22. fairhill bhoy on

    GORDYBHOY67-yesterday at 10:06,magic mate get there on Sunday,looking forward to a beer in Sean’s place:-))

  23. MIKE IN TORONTO on 11TH MAY 2017 8:13 PM

     

    something to chew on …

     

     

     

    from what I can see, Donald Findley has done more in one week to shine a light on the corruption in Scottish football … than Celtic’s Board has done in 5 years.

     

     

     

    Donald F’in findley!!! FFS!

     

     

    From a guy that was born on ST Patrick’s day

     

     

    The Donald is doing well ;))

     

     

    HH

  24. fergusslayedtheblues on

    If after all of Murkys cheating is laid bare there is no titles stripped then I really do think the preesent board at celtic will suffer in the long run .

     

    At a time when they should be basking in great success they will be forever remembered in our great clubs history as having conspired in the biggest cheating scandal in scottish football history

     

    Just think on that as a legacy

     

    DD and PL

  25. mike in toronto on

    WWW(GBWO)

     

     

    … the ‘F’in’ in Donald F’in Findley isn’t a swear word, it stands for Fenian!

     

     

    :)