Billy and Davie on Caesar and the Assassin

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Billy McNeill and Davie Hay met the press at Celtic Park yesterday, along with Alex Gordon, who authored their time as managers of Celtic.  It didn’t disappoint……

Billy was self-effacing as ever.  For all purposes, today he is an ordinary Celtic fan, so much so you need to remind yourself that there is nothing in the club game he hasn’t done.  Yesterday was about his days as Celtic manager but he made the point that Davie Hay was a profound influence on him as a team-mate.

The take-away thought I had on Davie Hay was about his range of knowledge and experience.  He has done so much in the game which still pulses in his veins.  Does Scotland still produce men of his calibre?  If so, why are we not giving them a platform to flourish?

There is tons of great stuff in the book from both men:

“We were already a goal down nine minutes into the second-half when Johnny Doyle was ordered off.  As he came off, I remember telling him he would be in serious trouble if we lost.

“I was furious, especially as we were in such a desperate situation at the time.

“Afterwards in the foyer, Jimmy Johnstone, Bobby Murdoch, Mike Jackson, Paul Wilson, Pat McCluskey, Benny Rooney and a whole host of former players were dancing around in amazement.

“Jinky was as happy as I’ve seen him. That win meant so much to anyone with an affiliation with Celtic.”

– Billy McNeill on winning the league against Rangers in 1979.

“I arranged for someone to cut out the stories and pin them to the walls of our dressing room at Love Street.

“I said nothing, but I could see the players reading the clippings. It was having the desired effect. It’s never clever to dismiss Celtic.

“It’s history now that we won 5-0 and Hearts lost 2-0.

“I think I still owe [Albert Kidd] a pint!”

-Davie Hay on winning the league at Love St in 1986.

The book’s great, reading the step-by-step accounts of what happened from the managers’ view, you’ll love it.  I know I’m biased but it’s the best thing CQN has done, a wee bit of our history set down on record.

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  1. Neganon…..winner of the gold cup in march please…just if you aint too busy..failing that…lottery numbers for weds will do…yours in anticipation…BGX..

  2. Soz….

     

    Ur explanation of events smacks of someone who has never played competitive football…. Arms and body are used in football….. Gasgoine regularly would run with fore arm and elbows out…. The issue is whether you use hands, arms, elbows, fists to cause another player harm. Quite clearly Markovic wasn”t being aggressive towards the Basel player, or likely to cause harm.

  3. Wits

     

    Wasn’t trying to pigeon hole you in any way those statements that you make just normally come from those quarters. If it had a wet nose and barks usually it’s a dog kind of thing.

     

    Last comment revealing. There are better ways to get the full story than reading “Darkies” book though.

     

    As I said agree to disagree probably like your own my politics have been forged by time and place.

  4. never saw sendingoff but Gagoine should have been booked at least 10 times every match..only happened in europe!

  5. What is the Stars on

    Gearoid, dark had his own agenda I am well aware of that, maybe we will discuss it over a pint some time, it can get too silly on here

  6. The Liverpool fans are shocking, a big European night like this and very little backing for the team

  7. Craigellachie10 on

    Ruggyman

     

     

    I’m afraid I agree with soz. Running with arms out is one thing, but turning and flicking an arm at your opponent is not a natural movement in my opinion.

  8. jmccormick

     

     

    I’m a woose, I cried first time I saw the John Lewis advert too mate :-)

     

     

    Parkheadcumsalford

     

     

    I’ve made much better contributions :-)

     

     

    SOAL

     

     

    I’m grand son how’s yourself?

  9. Not a ref, therefore I am full qualified to pass an opinion on the sending off or to ref in the SPFL. Now the guy Markovic needs his haw maws kicked, intent is all that is necessary to be evident in a case like this. If I drew back my fist to strike another player, bottled it and did not complete the act the ref could interpret my act as intent.

     

    The ref saw this from no more than 10 yards away, he had to see it as intent. Now ,despite all that, the Basel player milked it and also needs his haw maws blootered.

     

    Asktherefcsc

  10. Summa of Sammi….

     

     

     

     

    21:09 on

     

     

    9 December, 2014

     

     

    By support I mean pay money to watch a team I have contributed financially towards playing and in whom I have made an emotional investment.

     

     

    I see no point in doing either if a) I’m being cheated and know it and b) having my emotions battered knowing that I’m being cheated.

     

     

    I can take losing fairly no problem but Celtic have in my view, supported by evidence, been cheated by Rangers since 1999 with it reaching a crescendo in 2011/12.

     

     

    I want to make sure there is no repeat so that I can continue to support wholeheartedly.

  11. stringer bell

     

     

    See what effect their demise has had on the world.

     

     

    I blame this weather on it!!

  12. Ruggyman

     

    Red card justified for me.

     

    It’s all to do with the intent. He clearly looks to see where the Basle player is before he throws his arm out, the fact that the contact was minimal is irrelevant.

     

    What a goal!!!!

     

    .

  13. 67Heaven ... I am Neil Lennon ....The angels are with Wee Oscar in Heaven.. Ibrox belongs to the creditors on

    What a fekin goal that was

  14. For all the bhoys and ghirls going to Zagreb.

     

     

    Wrap up – it will be close to zero at night.

     

     

    If you get some time during the day in the centre, head for the Gornji Grad (Upper Town) where there are the old bars and restaurants. There is a small fenicular railway to get you up if you don’t fancy the walk.

     

     

    Back down will bring you to the main square Jelačić Trg which will have the Christmas markets on just now. Should be quite spectacular.

     

     

    Best beer is Karlovačko , an international award winning beer. My favourite on draft.

     

     

    Local food varies from being quite heavy through to haute cuisine. Ćevapi, a grilled dish of minced meat is very tasty and probably good for winter fuel.

     

    ,

     

    Bhoys – watch out you don’t come back with a Croatian bride which happened to a guy I know from the Tartan Army when Scotland were playing there a few years ago. On the other hand, maybe not such a bad idea.

     

     

    Although I would say that the Croatians are friendly towards Celtic, Prso and Jelavic are popular and some of them need to be re-converted. I have no allegiance to any Croatian team as I am not really sure about their supporters. I would tread with some caution until you gauge their attitude. If you wish to wind them up about Prso, mispronounce his name a Prsa which means “breast” in Croatian,

     

     

    Sretan put (Bon voyage)

  15. intent? if he swings punch and you duck then you can get sent of for diving… think Aiden at Easter road!!

  16. 67Heaven ... I am Neil Lennon ....The angels are with Wee Oscar in Heaven.. Ibrox belongs to the creditors on

    Notice that the English commentators back ALL English teams in Europe ….. can’t say the same for Scottish commentators …..bless them

  17. Best thing to do semi final……avoid going……avoid watching on TV too. Treat it like the under 17s game a few weeks back find out the result here 2 hrs later. This blind loyalty stuff we’re too far down the line for that. I’m not saying don’t support the hoops I’m saying gtf to the establishment. They want nothing more than to see this game ramped up “the return of the old firm” why dance to their tune. Get a grip.

  18. jeez_I_thought_blinker_was_pants on

    BRTH

     

     

    I got an android box last week, you get games from everywhere, but the quality of the feeds leave a bit to be desired at times and it’s a bit of a steep learning curve, Stops you giving money to Sky tho’.

     

    Livibhoy (I think) was talking about them last week to a couple of posters, he’ll know a good bit more than me.

  19. West End of East End on

    So a tribunal made a decision on Dundee Utd & rangers and this place goes into meltdown because Celtic don’t make a statement that’s got nothing to do with us. Is that the gist of it ?

     

     

    I really don’t care or even think about them, couldn’t tell you who they play one week to the next. Caught some of their game on TV a while ago and didn’t recognise about 1/2 their players as I’ve not bought a paper in years. Still don’t know who their keeper is, I thought it was still Alexander until I saw him start against us a couple of weeks ago.

     

     

    We say they are not the same team/club but the amount of coverage they get on here you wouldn’t think so. The most I read anything about them is when I’m on here, I came on here the afternoon after the last Greenock CQN Friday night to find out how the night went and how much was raised, they were the live game against the min huns on tv at the time, some people on here kicked every ball that game, and can I say it’s usually the ones who are most vociferous (and don’t go to Celtic games) Wait till Friday night, the quiz & music will be interrupted with updates from a deid team and the only reason I know they’re playing then is I read it on here earlier.

  20. Wits

     

    We can agree on that at least (Darks agenda , Boston tapes etal)

     

    You do realise that none of this would have happened if you hadn’t told me to get a grip lol.

     

    Agree to disagree and respect. Can get a bit silly on here at times. As you know and I know football is certainly not much more important than death.

     

    HH

  21. mike in toronto on

    Unless Pool score in the next few minutes, I think Brendan Rogers will be looking for a new job soon.

     

     

    Yes… I know I said this a few weeks ago…. one of these times, I’m going to be right!

     

     

    BrokenclockCSC

  22. Magnificentseven on

    West End of East End

     

     

     

     

    21:26 on

     

     

    9 December, 2014

     

     

     

    Good post mate, place is full of clowns wetting themselves over the huns

  23. What is the Stars on

    Gearoid, agreed. But it can be good to have a frank exchange of views be times. Anyway take care.

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