Optimism among the Celtic support is tangible right now. For much of last year the league title remained in the balance, but today, despite being promised a more taxing season, we’re miles ahead. You can get odds of over 40-1 on second favourites to win the title; the definition of No Contest.
As I noted yesterday, the transformation goes deeper than the heroics of Scott Sinclair and Moussa Dembele, neither of whom were material in the level of performance shown against Barcelona.
Achievements are often subject to reassessment at a later date and Celtic’s progress or otherwise over the last two years fall into this category.
A year ago, with a faltering Craig, Emilio, Efe, Dedryk, Stuart, Gary, James and others, we looked miles away from being a Champions League team. It turns out, we have a squad full of Champions League players.
Youth development hit the jackpot with Kieran Tierney, while John Park’s swansong signings, Erik Sviatchenko and Moussa Dembele, saw a return to form for our recently departed chief scout.
Money isn’t everything. Since 2004 it’s been clear on CQN that many Celtic fans have no interest in the game’s finances, all they are interested in is seeing an improving team on the park, but for the rest of us, the financial consequence of simply getting to the group stage this season is enormous. It makes accession to the same level next season so much more achievable.
None of that matters right now as we have the first cup final of the season coming up on Sunday. The litany of underachievement in this tournament stretches back to Jock Stein, who qualified for ever League Cup final during his 13 years in charge of Celtic, but after winning the first five, contrived to lose seven of the next eight.
I’ve seen a lot worse teams than Aberdeen knock us out of the League Cup, I hope nothing is taken for granted in the dressing room.
I’ve no idea what happened at the Newco AGM this morning but you’ll remember we discussed here the wisdom of launching a hostile takeover bid while a company is being driven into the sea by boycotts? More precisely, Newco was driven into the arms of the lender of last resort – Sports Direct. Sports Direct provided the cash that kept the lights on and picked up various rights and properties in compensation.
Offering a lender a shop at a rental of £1 per year for a decade seems harsh, but if the alternative is administration, there isn’t really an alternative. We didn’t know what the quid-pro-quo was for Ashley at the time, but we knew there had to be one.
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Wits You’re on a roll tonight amigo. As the great Glasgow Communist Matt McGinn would have said Give it laldy. Hh
Almore
Well said
Mod 2…. Obviously I have already read back…
But it’s not their (sic)
Just watched Supersonic, if you are from that era you have to watch it, excellent stuff
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt5213534/
HAMILTONTIM on 26TH NOVEMBER 2016 11:27 PM
Time?
Love this guy
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T2UF8yw89yE
Sorry
Meant this link
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H4fNW6CaWts
CHAIRBHOY on 26TH NOVEMBER 2016 11:34 PM
” American death squads ”
Admitted . Therefore no disputing that.
However , there is the possibility that the death of Fidel may well result in further info. being made available about the assassination of J.F.K.
I have the suspicion that Cuba was involved with Mafia support.
We shall see.
I meant reckless by providing Cuba as a launch pad for Soviet missiles.
Not reckless with his own safety.
Back to tomorrow:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5JqcXJeA25g
GERRYFAETHEBRIG on 26TH NOVEMBER 2016 11:36 PM
If you have any issues with what has been deleted contact Paul67
Moderator2
Pretty much any time he posts!
This site is like a teenagers you said he she said
ALMORE on 26TH NOVEMBER 2016 11:35 PM
Fidel Castro may not have created the perfect society but he did overthrow Batista and his supporters. He deserves credit for that.
============================================
Agreed.
But then backed the wrong horse.
WEEFRATHETIM
B-I-G hello to you after all this time.
Yer back just in time for a cup final. That disappoints me.
Never took ye for a gloryhunter.
Aye,every day’s a school day,right enough!
Gordon
Thanks
I am reclaiming the blog
From the creeping right wing revolution
F’emdy fancies a pre-game pint tomorrow I’ll be upstairs in The Overlee at Clarkston Toll from 1-ish. And a £3 donation might get you a seat in a taxi to Hampden at 2.15-ish! Hic.
G64 – Yer a genuis and a gentleman mo chara.
Not going to argue with you.
I will say this though – Poor people don’t start revolutions.
The participation of the poor is necessary, no doubt and the poor ultimately have to suffer the consequences, but they don’t start the things.
HH.
Oasis – Cigarettes & Alcohol
https://youtu.be/UJDK8X5K9mw
HAMILTONTIM on 26TH NOVEMBER 2016 11:36 PM
Ernie
Thanks, I’m well aware of their analysis. I’m merely expressing a view formed from reading a multitude of views.
Macjay
I’d prefer if you actually discussed or debated my point.
=============================================================
Which point ?
Castro ?
No debate.
He`s deid.
Or end justifies the means ?
Or Thatcher ?
Or Pinochet ?
Or Ireland ?
The Huddle
Oh No its not and anyway my brother is bigger than yours …so there
Na na …na na na
Finally
BMCUW
Ya rascal “M”, you know circumstances ya bugger ye. :-))) HH. Talk at our usual kiddo.. :-))))
Queen – These Are The Days Of Our Lives
https://youtu.be/oB4K0scMysc
This is beautiful:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q98EcxrOr6w
Remember.
The League Cup was originally an extension of the Southern League Cup which replaced the suspended Scottish Cup during WWII.
It was reintroduced and renamed the SLC at the beginning of season 1946/47 due to the demand for competitive fitba by the fans that had been denied, except for the shipyard loyal, of decent players and teams.
As a competition it was no bigger or better than both the Glasgow and Charity Cups, just more teams, although the latter initially invited clubs like Dumbarton, Renton and Vale of Leven from in and around Glasgow, or even the Summer and Dryborough Cups of the 60/70s.
In its earliest years we were too busy fighting off relegation and trying tae rebuild a war ravaged side to concern our self too much with it.
My first recollection of it was on hearing on the news that we had won a replay against the sizzle one Wednesday afternoon, in fact I relayed this tae my da as he walked in the door fae work, since there were no floodlights at hunden then he chose not to lose half a shift tae go to watch a “diddy cup” game even though it was a final.
The following year would become part of Celtic folklore though and we looked like championship contenders until injury, Charles Patrick and Teazy Weazy, and boardroom interference got in the way. Within a year both the Juggler and the Wee Barra were sold tae allegedly pay for the floodlights.
That was that then as far as ambition was concerned and from “hampden in the sun” until Jock’s first encounter as a manager against deidco 6 days after the SC victory over the Pars we had played them 33 times winning only 7 games a 27% success rate.
Of those 7 games 2 were by the toss of the coin in the Charity Cup and another 2, one aet, in the Glasgow Cup. So in essence we only won 3 big games against them, although as far as I’m concerned they’re all big games when playing that mob.
Reminds me of leaving hunden after Jinkys goal and Denis Connaghan’s 2 saves in the penalty shoot out to win us the Dryborough Cup, a bhoy in front of me said tae his mate “FFS it’s only the Dryborough Cup” to which he replied “I don’t care if it was for a chocolate watch as long as we beat them”, pretty much sums up how I feel.
When I hear comments about how the 90’s were brutal I think mibbees aye but at least back then we knew it was all about money and we didnae have any, although we didnae know about the alleged fraud being perpetrated.
During the years in the wilderness there didnae seem tae be a light at the end of the tunnel, the only consolation, if there was any, was other teams, Clyde, St Mirren, Dunfermline and Hearts like now, were also winning trophies.
We also had some really good players then, wee Ten Thirty, Paddy Crerand, Johnny Divers, Frank Haffey, Jim Kennedy, Dunky Mackay and Eric Smith, all full or League internationalists who other than a couple of paltry Glasgow Cups and a shared Charity Cup with the bully wee tragically never won any silverware with the Bhoys.
On arriving home from another defeat in again a contentious game at hunden, our players claimed a goal at the Mt Florida end while the mitb said no and the papers on the Monday showed the ball in ritchies grasp after he had pulled it back !!!!!, it was remarked to me that mibbees we were still paying for the 7-1 game.
However, that would all change when 8 years and 4 days after IMHO our greatest ever victory which left “niven on bended knee” a Bear penalty double which again IMHO became the catalyst for the honest NIAR and Big Cup.
We would own this trophy for the following 4 years and although we lost the next 4 before the Dixie show we then appeared in another 3 more finals, an amazing 14 in a row. Once again controversy raised it’s, davie dodds/terry hurlock/ian fergushun, head, when our run of 155 consecutive League Cup games ended with Tommy Burns being sent off !!!!!eh for complaining about a soft penalty after 26 minutes and a Ben Casey og with 7 minutes left of extra time, it is alleged that BFDJ was offside when he shot for goal which our youngster deflected.. Bet you there was no injury time that night.
As I said it wisnae seen as a diddy cup when we were owning it until the ball skited off BFDJ’s heid tae end our winning run in the final when on the Monday’s front page ham and egg was shown puting the cup intae their trophy cabinet. Quite ironic as he was injured and didnae play that day which was pointed out as probably one of the reasons they won.
So that was us other than a Charlie Nick display on soggy hunden, until Wim the Tim won his first trophy with us, followed by Kenny and his only piece of Celtic silverware as manager, next up was MON, then WGS and finally the much maligned da doo Ron Ron.
So hopefully tomorrow the Blessed Brendan kicks off his trophy winning career with us in what has been quite a controversial trophy since its inception.
16 ROADS – CELTIC ÜBER ALLES…
You point out that John Beaton is the MIB tomorrow.
Patrick Rolink ironically pointed out to those gathered last night at Anyone but Celtic in Blantyre that he was the MIB who allowed an illegal goal against Albion Rovers at ipox when the Rovers GK was clearly fouled…
Keep the Faith!
Hail Hail!
Macjay: Not knowledgeable enough to agree or disagree. Having disposed of a despot, and giving the US economic sanctions, I’m not sure he had too many choices.
I believe Castros’ intentions were good. He looked after peoples’ basic needs, unlike his predecessor.
For small (even larger countries), who achieve self determination, the path to self fulfilment is a long and arduous one.
Can’t do link but Ordinary Man by Christy Moore
GFTB,
aye calling people clowns,thats gonna help
GERRYFAETHEBRIG on 26TH NOVEMBER 2016 11:54 PM · EDIT
Posts are deleted without fear or favour for breach of blog rules.
If you wish to complain to P67 about deletion – please do so.
That should have read “As I said it wis seen as a diddy cup when we were owning it”
Mod2
9:07am. But honestly it doesn’t matter. Leave it there to demonstrate his ignorance.
Macjay
“A football club will be formed, for the maintenance of dinner tables for the children and the unemployed.”
Discuss.
Gerry – wasn’t on earlier and not quite sure what you’ve (allegedly) been up to but maybe time to breathe deeply, hit the sack and move on. Tomorrow’s another day and all that.
Hope you take this in the spirit that it’s offered.
Hamiltontim on 26th November 2016 8:13 pm
Bada
I think the only game of the 9 in December that I’ll miss is Hamilton at home because I’m going to Rod Stewart (front row seats so you can imagine the cost!)
My kidney, left leg and the buttock with A&Ds tour dates will be available for sale in January! :-)
VG- keep fighting the good fight
16Roads Good to see you back on CQN my Belfast amigo. Hh
Tontine tim.
Quite brilliant memory.
Hat doffed
It’s CUP FINAL DAY!!!
MACJAY
Strange that you should take pleasure in a failed state-Venezuela-as a comparison to Cuba.
Little compassion being shown,more like a hell mend them attitude. Most unChristianlike.
Politics of hatred overcoming humanity is,strangely enough,how we started 60 years ago with Cuba,and are back to square one now.
Yaboosucks politics has really served us well in the intervening period,I’m sure you’ll agree. Maybe a new politics for the many rather than the moneyed might be a way forward.
I know you’ll agree with that last sentence,btw. But where does the impetus come from to start that movement,and more importantly how do we slam the brakes on the moneyed?
Lennybhoy
Obviously you will going to the game , PV was wanting me to go to the Office ……. But we’re all going to the GH (you are more than welcome )
Hamiltontim on 26th November 2016 11:19 pm
You Sicken me.