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
Mammy doing well in Yoker care home. All weans and grandweans healthy and happy. I am off to Portugal for 2 weeks on Tuesday. Life is good B thanks.
Love to you and your tribe fae me and my tribe. :)
HH
Crocodile tears from John it’s all about me
That game showed what is wrong with football
Weak cheating pre madonnas going down as if they had been shot
100m players who couldn’t lace the boots of our greats
Some we numpty Jessie getting £100k a week
Sad
Marspapa
Looking forward to seeing you tomorrow night big man
Bacardi is on me pal
What’s wi the big orange moon tonight?
Looking great fae Dalmuir.
BT
See you a week on Wednesday in Lisbon.
Getting quite excited. :)
DELANEYSDUNKY
Not much chance of me seeing that-torrential rain down here theses last few hours.
Btw,this time last night,I was on the slip road from the M3 to the M27 at Southampton.
Guess what was on the hard shoulder?
A mobility scooter! God knows how the old codger had managed that,but he was in very much the wrong place.
I don’t think the radio operator believed me at first when I called the cops!
DELANEYS DUNKY
So jealous of the CQN BRIGADE heading to Lisbon .
Remember and steer clear of that wee hoormaister ACGR , he’s a bad influence :)) ….
Great news your all doing well pal .
BLANTYRETIM
what time are you going to be in the PV at ?
I was looking to get a CQN badge by asking for them to be brought to the Vegas convention this year.
I got my reply and thank you for that saint stivs.
I believe they would sell very well if there are enough to go round.
If anyone is going to Vegas and fancies bringing a few then please let me know as I would love one or two.
Can we set up a CQN corner in the Westgate?
It is a very special one this year with Lisbon etc. but could be an unforgettable one but I do not want to tempt fate.
If anyone is going please keep this in mind and let’s sort out a place to meet at the pool party/ karaoke day.
Once a Celt, always a Celt……..COYBIG
Delaneys,
good to meet you too mucker,
extremely jealous of you and all the others heading to Lisbon,
unfortunately stag do in SP was offered to me first
DD
I’m trying to play it cool in front of Mrs BT
Marspapa about 7 pm
BLANTYRETIM
Weak cheating pre madonnas going down as if they had been shot…
So you’ve saw HAMILTONTIM play 5s………i think i may regret this lol.
MINCEYHEIDMAN
I hope someone who is going can sort that out for you. I’m sure they will,in fact.
!!BADA BING!! on 11TH MAY 2017 10:14 PM
I think we could do well in Europa League next season.
***
I think we could do well in the Champions League next season. We have a world class manager and a confident, performing squad which will be enhanced. Many of the CL reputations are PR-based and not founded on resilience and sound tactics. It is all about belief, training, performance and confidence.
BMCUW
Old Mr O’Neill fae Knightswood been missing for 48 hours. Dementia sufferer, last seen onA82 at Clydebank. Pray for him.
BIG JIMMY
Are you lurkin ? Was wondering whereabouts in Easterhouse/ parish you were in back in the day ?
Marspapa
Bad influences is the story of my life. Easily lead astray. :)
Gordy
Santa Ponsa will be in Lisbon in spirit I’m sure. :)
DELANEYSDUNKY
Will do,mate. Hopefully he’s ok somewhere wi people he knows.
A coupla weeks back,about 3am,I saw an old fella hirpling around town wi a Zimmer frame. So did a passing police car,which pulled over and helped him out.
Crying shame when you see stuff like that.
BT
Aye K, Lisbon’s nae big deal. :)
Delaneys,
my mrs just mentioned the old fella thats missing,
used to have a bet in the laddies at the Lincoln
BMCUW
Not looking good for the old bhoy. Totally out of character and style for him. Dementia is a curse, I see my mammy’s deterioration daily.
God bless all who suffer.
Celtic’s pre-season confirmed by Brendan …
Meanwhile, Rodgers has confirmed that Celtic will be headed to Austria this summer as they prepare for another gruelling process of getting through the Champions League qualifiers.
“We will return for pre-season on June 19,” he said. “Some of the players will come back on 22nd and others round about the 26th, depending on their international circumstances. We’re going to have the first week here at Lennoxtown and then we will go to Austria and have a nice nine days. We’re all ready.”
2017/18 UEFA Champions League calendar
19/06/17: First and second qualifying round draws
27–28/06/17: First qualifying round, first leg
04–05/07/17: First qualifying round, second leg
11–12/07/17: Second qualifying round, first leg
14/07/17: Third qualifying round draw
18–19/07/17: Second qualifying round, second leg
25–26/07/17: Third qualifying round, first leg
01–02/08/17: Third qualifying round, second leg
04/08/17: Play-off draw
15–16/08/17: Play-off round, first leg
22–23/08/17: Play-off round, second leg
BOBBY MURDOCH’S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS
Nice to think that will happen.
Closer to the date I hope others will arrange to meet up.
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
BLANTYRETIM
Ok doak , C u tomorrow :))
I hope Mr O’Neill is found alive .. Dementia is a horrible condition , my mum suffers it.
Delaney’s , Molly is a battler , she will fight it.
Just back from seeing the Lions of Lisbon at Rutherglen TownHall. Its a very good show with Dave Anderson and Davie ‘Stookie Doyle’ Mackay in it.
It was very funny and the actors playing Larkhall currants in it were very entertaining.
Its touring about the West of Scotland between now and August with shows at Celtic Park, Irvine , Carluke and Oran Mor
MINCEYHEIDMAN on 11TH MAY 2017 10:31 PM
I was looking to get a CQN badge by asking for them to be brought to the Vegas convention this year.
I got my reply and thank you for that saint stivs.
———
noted, ta.
i made a mess of the payment method, for those on the order list.
trust me,
i am henriks first 2 appearances , from being a genius.
Dallas
Good to see Colin putting on a Celtic show in Oran Mor. His children are Celtic fans! :)
James Doleman reporting from the High Court
Does anybody else think Ticketus will fund Pedro’s summer signing splurge?
In World football if there is an any more odious,devious, character than Mouriniho, ive yet to find one. No specific grudge against Man Utd. Its just whereever he seems to go the players seem to pick up his sleezy way of playing(cheating). As witnessed tonight.
No religious zealots in tonight? I am surprised.
Got to go, Ive a 26 mile marathon to run in the morning, backwards, wearing tackety boots. nital.
Minceyheadman
I am heading home from Torono next Friday for the last game if the season and the henrik and Lubo game.would be glad to pick up badges and bring them to Vegas as I’ll be there June 5th to 10th for the convention.
I do need info on how to get my hands on them tho. I’ll be staying In East kilbride if anyone can help on that front.
And on the off chance anyone comes across a ticket for the the cup final I’ll gladly take it off your hands;)
Email me at paulbhoys@gmail.com if you have any info on the badges
Hail Hail
https://scotslawthoughts.wordpress.com/tag/gary-withey/
HH
BECELTIC
I am there from 4th to 11th going out of YYZ.
Keep me posted pal.
Morning All.
Thunder Road — Re Lisbon after the pubs shut at 4:00am you go clubbing till 7:00am, hit the early mass, grab breakfast at 8:00 and then go on a day trip before catching a siesta at 3:00pm.
Alternatively, you go gowfing with ACGR or hang about town eating custard tarts and drinking coffee or some other such substance.
EmbraMike
Re Transfers from the airport? Three obvious routes in:
1. Metro from the Airport (Red Line) for 9 stops change at Alameda to the Green Line heading for Cais Do Sodre and get off at Baixo Chiado (5 stops) – from there the Terreiro do Paco is a 5 minute walk — The 7 Hotel is a 2 minute walk and The Borges Chiado is right outside the other entrance to the Metro station
2. Aerobus transfers from th airport leave every 15 minutes from outside Terminal 2 and take you right into the city centre stopping at all the major areas and hotels.
3. Taxi — a Taxi for 4 into the city (and so to the door of the hotel or near as damn as the Borges Chiado is in a pedestrianised area) will cost around 25 euro and takes about half an hour depending on traffic.
HOWEVER, AGREE THE FARE FIRST!!
I recommend the taxi if there are a group or if you have any difficulty walking a distance as the Metro stations are wide and long so there is a reasonable amount of walking when changing stations etc.
There is always private transfers but I haven’t looked into that.
Delaneys Dunky
Big Colin at Oran Mor’s weans are Celtic fans? Never knew that. If I have time I might see that show.
The big fella likes his country music — big John Prine fan.
Re evidence given in court recently and Supreme Court decisions Hmmmmmmmm
Neil Doncaster is a dumpling (I was going to use another word) and Regan is amongst the most stupid pantomime villains imaginable.
Celtic?
Like a duck on a pond all is calm above the water but underneath there is much activity. Then again, you can lead a horse to water but you cannot make it a duck!
By the way, I had an interesting chat with the Estadio Nacional manager about Portuguese football managers — Jesus Jorge, Mourinho and even the sainted Pedro who he had heard of — he thinks.
His conclusion is that Portuguese Managers are all very “stupid people” and that The Special One’s popularity in Portugal is down to the fact that he is very far away — and most people would like it to remain that way.
More on this another time.
Thanks to Connaire 12 we are now definitely having the mass in Lisbon at 11:00AM on the morning of the 25th of May in the Basilca of Our Lady and the Martyrs on Rua Garrett.
I am away for the early siesta …………