News that the Maribor game later this month is on the season book has setup a dramatic climax to what will be remembered for decades as a remarkable month in our history. We didn’t ask for this situation. As we drifted away from Murrayfield, our thoughts were only of Celtic’s abject display, but nine days and two Uefa Disciplinary hearings later, we’re through to the Champions League play-off round next week.
For Legia Warsaw, the pill is unbearably bitter. So much so, they had to appeal to Uefa, and on to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, despite scant cause. CAS who will eventually be asked to determine if Uefa’s rules were interpreted correctly. Which they were. The consequences for Legia are so abrupt their reactions are understandable.
Football affects us in ways which are not always beneficial. There was nothing Legia fans could do to remove their distress this past week, but reading comments, by fans of another Scottish club on this subject, has given a glimpse into the human condition.
The emotional investment by some Scottish football fans in Legia’s forlorn cause has evidently resulted in untold misery. Celtic fell into the Clyde and came out holding a winning Euromillions ticket. It was unplanned for, random and undeserved, but it happened and, right now, Celtic are the luckiest team in the world.
At a time when their phoenix club is falling apart before their eyes, our unearned good fortune has caused volumes of hilarious, angry, ranting. Efforts to explain it as a consequence of immoral plots (as well as running the Celtic, the SFA, the SPFL, Glasgow City Council and The Commonwealth, Peter Lawwell also manipulates Uefa’s Disciplinary Body) demonstrate classic evidence of our old friend, Cognitive Dissonance.
We were blind lucky, accept that, or continue to give the rest of the world new and innovative ways to enjoy their football. It’s not worth the dissonance.
It’s been an interesting week in the media. Neil McCann’s excitable misinterpretation of the rules on Wednesday was a highlight, but the paper which brought you ‘news’ that Celtic wanted Dan Pertrescu to be manager, who declined as he was warned the club have problems by Neil Lennon, subsequently got a second story when they ran a properly sourced article denying ‘reports’ Neil spoke to Pertrescu.
I’m also loving reading those who in the media were spinning anti-Celtic nonsense that Neil left because he wasn’t happy with the player budget, now suggesting he could take over Crystal Palace, after Tony Pulis left because he wasn’t happy with the player budget.
Nonsense like this is never random, it has a purpose………..
On a related subject, I’m gutted for Palace, their fans, and for Pulis. The economics of the entire English league structure doesn’t work. Well-run clubs with good managers will be weeded out and relegated, as crazy debt-junkies inflate the bubble a little longer. Scottish football may be poor, but there are only two of our 42 clubs in any sort of financial danger.
Flag Day tomorrow, get along early, give Fergus a warm welcome back, and bring some change for The Kano Foundation bucket collection on the way in. Remember to join Fergus, Jim Craig and others from the Celtic Graves Society for the Jimmy Quinn event at Kilsyth Cemetery.
Thank you to everyone who gave so generously to Mary’s Meals by entering our competition for tickets in the comfy seats tomorrow. I’m proud of every one of you. My thanks also to Magners for helping out. The competition is now closed, winners will be informed by email shortly, so check your inbox!
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MWD
The doc sent a letter to the hospital recommending they operate but they wrote back to say under new guidelines I don’t qualify. Hey oh, there are more urgent matters for them to deal with I suppose. Frustrating but as I say, there are some people with more serious needs. I will get it done private soon enough.
…..though it grates a bit when I read about things like boob jobs being done on the NHS!
Twisty
Out of interest. Is that here in Scottish Britain or down in English Britain?
MWD says AYE
Summa of Sammi….
07:35 on
16 August, 2014
Mate.
We`re all stuck with our preconceived political opinions.
I genuinely try to keep an open mind and accept when ” my side” of politics gets it wrong.As they do.
You have your truth.No problem.It`s not my place to attempt to change your political opinions and I wouldn`t attempt to do so.
I simply object to Tony Abbott being described as a clown,particularly when other politicians who have made similar comments are ignored.
Twisty
Get the BOOB job instead! At least when your hernia pops oot you have something to fondle to take your mind off it. :-)
MWD says AYE
Good morning Hoops and Hoopettes
The CQN predictor returns next weekend with a new competition included and a new very worthy cause to support.
Competition 1: CQN Last man standing
Simply just select a winning team from each weekend fixtures. Get it right and you stay in the competition. Competition runs until there is a last (wo)man standing who then takes all the prizepot.
Competition 2 : CQN Predictor Champions League/Europa League
This will follow the same basis as last years Champions League/ Europa League tournament, where you will predict 10 correct scores on selected weekends throughout the season and play against opponents on a head to head basis.
Prizes will be distributed to the last 4 in each tournament.
The prizepot pay out will be 50%, with the remaining 50% going to our new worthy cause, Shay McGinley, our Bhoy Wonder.
You can read more about Shay here
https://fundrazr.com/campaigns/7psr5
The cost to enter each tournament is £10 each. So great value over the season. Note: dependent on interest we may run more than one “Last Man Standing” in the season, so it may cost a little more, but further entry is your choice.
Competition is open to all. Posters, lurkers, friends and family
Last year we had 80 participants from all over the CQN world.
So if you would like to join us, have a bit of fun beating your fellow CQNer, whilst “Helping Shay along the way” then drop us an email at cqnpredictor@gmail.com
Note: closing date for competition 1 is next Thursday.
HH
CRC
Deila sacrifices his family life to be with Celtic
Hugh Macdonald
Chief Sports Writer
Saturday 16 August 2014
SCENES from a new life:
Ronny Deila today faces his first match at Celtic Park since he took over as the club’s manager in June
The immigrant is far from home. He has spent the night dining in a strange land. He cannot hail a cab so he walks into the nearest pub.
“I now realise I shouldn’t do that,” says Celtic manager Ronny Deila. In the spring, he would have been anonymous in Glasgow. In the summer, he was mobbed.
“Everyone was very polite but it was too much. People wanted to talk to me about Celtic and have their picture taken with me, things like that. It was okay, you get used to it.”
Scene from a life already past: Deila meets his 14-year-old twin daughters, Thale and Live, in their home in Norway. He wants to talk to them about ending one professional existence and opening the door to another. The conclusion is painful.
“My family haven’t come. I am single now and my two kids wanted to stay in Norway,” he says. “They’ll visit me when they have a vacation and I’ll go see them whenever there is an international break. It’s been the hardest thing. Very hard.
“When you do this you sacrifice everything. They wanted me to do this, though, and I couldn’t say no. They knew I’d regret it for the rest of my life if I didn’t come here.
“Ask any big manager if they’ve made sacrifices and they will all say yes. This is not a job, it’s a lifestyle. It’s 24 hours a day, thinking all the time. There are so many decisions to make that it has to be this way.
“With my kids, I asked them what they thought about me coming here. I asked them if it was okay with them. They saw in my face, though, that they couldn’t say no.”
Three years managing Brodd and six years at Stromsgodset gave Deila some satisfaction and increased his desire to work at a big club. This has led him to Celtic, to Champions League qualifiers, to massed press conferences, to mobbed pubs, to decisions and comments and speculation… and so much more.
Scene from a private life: Deila jogs through Glasgow trying to find a respite from the unrelenting demands of a job he loves but which stretches him to the limit. There is the odd game of golf, a meal with friends and, of course, the solitary pub visit. There has also been heavy defeat in the Champions League qualifiers, pressure to sign players, the mundane but draining tasks of adapting to a new home, new employees, a new language.
“There have been some tough weeks but you feel you are living and learning. You can sit in automatic mode and do everything in remote control. Now, however, I have to push myself to new limits.That’s why I came. I know I can cope with it. It’s hard but everything has been okay.”
Deila is intelligent, imaginative in his language, so he finds colourful phrases to describe what he must find to retain a stability.
“I need to get a routine and then find holes to relax in. I don’t want to find I’m just spinning around in the washing machine. You have to come out of it sometimes to reflect.
“If you are a leader you need to reflect. You need time by yourself to see the next step, and you have to always been a step ahead. It’s been hard in the beginning but over time it will become easier.”
The 38-year-old Norwegian is open and articulate but there is also a steeliness about his approach. He knows leadership comes with responsibilities. He makes a point of leaving players in no doubt about what he wants. James Forrest must become quicker, the ball must be used in combinations in wide areas, Leigh Griffiths must learn to play as one of a team not just as an excellent ball striker, the ethos must one of unrelenting pressure on opponents.
He looks forward to his first match as a manager at Celtic Park today with undisguised relish.
“We will attack. I have nothing to hide,” he said when asked if a counter-attacking Dundee United side might give cause for an element of caution. This romantic vision is articulated in a tone that is strong and that, ever so politely, ever so firmly, brooks no argument.
“At home, Celtic must go out and attack. When you meet the best teams like Barcelona, I understand you have to defend. But when we play in the league, every time we go out on to the pitch we will play to entertain, and you entertain when you try to attack.
“We have better players than the other teams, so at Celtic Park we don’t just stay back. If you do that then there is something wrong; you are afraid to lose. I am not afraid to lose. I would rather lose than play bad football.”
This idealism was only heightened by his experience of watching Celtic play Barcelona in the Champions League and by a contemplative walk around the stadium this week. It was the first time he had stepped on to the Parkhead pitch since his unveiling as manager in June and he admitted he pictured scenes of glory.
This afternoon Fergus McCann, the saviour of Celtic, will unveil the SPFL Premiership flag. Deila is the new managerial standard bearer. He marches towards battle with a vision of perfection guiding every step.
“I said many times it’s my dream to play fantastic football against good teams in a full stadium,” he says. “Money is nothing compared to that. Trophies are nothing compared to that. It’s the ultimate experience and it’s what I have in my mind.”
It is a captivating, intoxicating scenario. It has, though, to include the substance of titles and cups to allow Deila to continue chasing the dream in Glasgow. The idealism is inspiring. Ultimately, though, Deila will be judged on whether he can produce genuine scenes of glory; of Celtic captains lifting trophies.
That is the reality.
Bingo
MWD
That is in English Britain.
Shropshire.
A wee pic of Shay, who is green and white :-)
https://www.facebook.com/celticrollercoaster/posts/10203379604384043?ref=notif¬if_t=like
FINAL CALL…..
CQN Saturday Naps
Lads, for all the mug-punters out there… the CQN Naps competition resumes again this Saturday, and hopefully PF ayr will be around to defend his crown.
In order to confirm your entry, please send me an e-mail stating your CQN username to : fleagle29 at ymail.com
After that, the RULES are relatively simple :
a) each Saturday log onto the last page of the previous CQN article.
b) post only ONE ‘nap’ selection from any major Saturday horserace meeting (e.g. UK, Ireland, Dubai)
c) if your selection is a Non-Runner, you may select an alternative – as long as it also runs on the Saturday.
d) if your nap wins, you will “win” the hypothetical profit from a £1 stake @ Starting Prices (S.P.)
e.g. selection wins at 9/4, your hypothetical profit is +£2.25
e.g. selection wins at 5/1, your hypothetical profit is +£5.00
e) if your nap loses or if you fail to post a selection, you will “lose” your £1 hypothetical stake (-£1)
f) if you want to join the competition late (e.g. in Week 3) you will be allocated 2 losers, and will start the competition from (-£2)
g) Our winner and CQN Naps Champion Tipster will be the CQN punter who shows the greatest overall profit during the season.
Last season the competition lasted for 40 weeks, and PF Ayr was the champion tipster, with +£12.60 profit
Happy punting everyone…
:o)
Cheers, fleagle1888
CQN Saturday Naps Competition
Lads, for those who are in the CQN Saturday Naps competition, please go back and post today’s selection at the end of the previous article :
“Celtic growing into their skin, more on Maribor”
Happy flag day….
fleagle1888
Good morning friends and Happy Bunnet Day from a previously wet but improving by the minute East Kilbride. Pretty windy and heavy clouded so a wee bit of chewing gum in the ole bunnet might be required for this afternoon.
ParkRun in 90 minutes. That’s when it starts, not how long it’ll take me to do (I hope). Ah, but which one this week – decisions, decisions….
http://www.parkrun.org.uk/strathclyde/
http://www.parkrun.org.uk/glasgow/
Due to a mixture of kindness, fate and a little PARENTAL NEGLECT:))))
I will be able to join the celebrations at some point today.
New lucky socks – Check
Let the people sing –
https://www.youtube.com/watch?gl=GB&feature=related&v=zhkdy0AOpaM
check
Off to help with the bucket collection
Bring your change along Bhoys and Ghirls to help weans who may not have been given the opportunity to see the famous Glasgow Celtic get that chance.
Every time I think of the weans I recall the story of a wee jambo wean who came through with his wee pals to the match and on returning home insisted to his parents to remove the maroon from his room and replace it with green & white as he now followed THE Celtic.
“I would rather lose than play bad football.”
I like but don’t think it will catch on
Summa
You referred to Warren Mundine.
Here`s what he thinks about the party of which he was president.
He succeeded Barry Jones as President of the ALP, beginning his term on 28 January 2006, and became the first Indigenous Australian to serve as President of an Australian political party.[3] Mundine served one term as national President, stepping down in 2007.[1]
Warren Mundine is also a Chairman of the Australian Indigenous Education Foundation[4] and the Chairman of the Australian Indigenous Chamber of Commerce. [5]
Mundine expressed an interest in becoming Labor’s first federal indigenous parliamentarian when Mark Arbib resigned from the Senate in March 2012, but Bob Carr was selected for the position. In November 2012, Mundine told The Australian newspaper that he had quit the Labor Party. He said he had been a supporter of “Hawke-Keating Labor, where it was about economic development, and progress, and working with unions to get good outcomes for everyone”, but that the ALP by 2012 was “no longer the party I joined” and had failed to keep up with the Conservative parties in selecting indigenous candidates. Mundine maintained his interest in indigenous advocacy in his role as Andrew Forrest’s Pilbara Mining indigenous charity Generation One.[6]
Following the election of the Abbott-led Liberal-National coalition in 2013, Abbott appointed Mundine chairman of the Australian Government’s Indigenous Advisory Council.[1]
Recollection time…the Flag Raising
First time I saw the flag raised….
1969 I think…Sir BK or rather his Lady wife.Against St J, maybe?
Two things I recall…being surprised there was a limousine on the track and wondering what the hell it was there for. I was a young silly bhoy
Secondly, from the end of the previous season, last home match the treble trophies on display on a decorated table in the centre circle…was the first time I realised there was a championship trophy as well as a flag. I was an even younger silly boy.
Any other reminiscences? Anyone before the 9iar?
CRC
Great stuff bud. Hope there is a big take up in entries. Actually, of course, there will be.
Wooooohoooo, it’s Celtic Park today.
Now what do I wear to celebrate the Flag ?
Hail Hail
cowiebhoy
The traditional broad black brimmer :)
fleagle 1888 – I’m in!
celticrollercoaster – I’m in!
A belt with a big buckle, no trooosas mind
CRC,
He’s a beautiful baby
Canamalar
I like Ronny .. But after that statement I wonder how he felt when we played bad football AND lost both legs to Warsaw
Cowiebhoy
It’s fancy dress day at Celtic park .. ;)
Mwd
You should always keep your eye on the ball …
Hope we all have a great day at Celtic Park. We will thank the “bunnet” by our presence and our applause. The great not much more than that in the account. But it was worth it and I will forever be part of Celtic and its survival.
My friend told me after we invested, ‘Maggie tried to get us to buy shares in Water, Electricity, etc. But we turned it down. Thank God. We would never be capitalists. Wee Fergus asked us to buy shares to save Glasgow Celtic. We jumped at it right away. No questions asked. I guess we are capitalists now.’
tbj..,
I expect it was his worst nightmare, bad football and lost
Missed a bit. should read after the great – man asked to buy shares. I forked out £600 and I did not have much more than that in the account.
Sorry. Hit wrong key.
Morning all. Dire down here at the moment. Hope things are better in Parkhead, at least by lunchtime.
Hope our saviour, Fergus McCann, gets the cheered to the rafters of the stadium he built for us.
connaire12,
Apology accepted :o)
tbj
Surely you mean Moneyball!
MWD says AYE
Anyone going to CQN corner ?
Regular visitors will be aware that BTs dad frequents the area adjacent to it ..
Today is his birthday so if you bump into him .. Wish him the best and remind him that fergus is actually raising the flag in his honour ;)
MWD
Is that where you keep your money ?
Good Morning Timland.
I caught the back of the DR when over for the rolls,the Polish
clown goalie want’s Celtic hounded…..if you’ve got something
bad to say about our club,the smsm will oblige.
Great effort by TD and his maw
Nice top as well ;-)
HH
tbj
Just the savings I invest in Celtic PLC. They are trustworthy and responsible. In fact I know it’ll never be spent. That’s the BONUS!
MWD says AYE
From Twitter
@FourFourTwoOz: Jackson Irvine: Highs and lows of an Aussie Bhoy
http://t.co/MNkLC8uctg #socceroos http://t.co/OPQCIw7Ypl
Jackson Irvine: Highs and lows of an Aussie Bhoy
16 hours ago
Con Stamocostas
TOPICS
JACKSON IRVINE, CURTIS GOOD, TOM ROGIC, CELTIC, KILMARNOCK, SCOTTISH PREMIER LEAGUE, SOCCEROOS, AUSTRALIA
comments
The famous quote from a Tale of Two Cities can sum up the lot of a footballer’s life – the winning and losing, making the team and missing out.
That’s exactly the case with Socceroos and Celtic midfielder Jackson Irvine.
There were the best of times – captaining the Young Socceroos at the FIFA U- 20 World Cup, playing regularly in the Scottish Premier League for Kilmarnock, winning his first Socceroos cap and almost scoring on debut.
Followed by the worst of times – being knocked out of the FIFA U-20 World Cup in the group stage and the disappointment of missing out on Socceroos selection.
Irvine failed to make the 2014 World Cup in Brazil but the 21-year-old from Melbourne was philosophical about his omission.
“It was a disappointment not to be selected for any of the squads but it was not something that I was expecting, and I’m sure there are many other players who feel that same way,” Irvine said.
Adding: “I was tremendously impressed at how the team performed. They not only showed promise for the future, but put in performances to be proud of in all three games.”
With the Brazil World Cup in the rear view mirror, Irvine is looking forward to adding to that one Socceroos cap, with upcoming friendlies, the Asian Cup and Olympic qualifiers looming on the horizon.
“It’s every young Australian player’s dream to represent the Socceroos at the World Cup and I’m no different,” he said.
“That’s the level I’m striving to get to and hopefully one day I can achieve it.
“It all starts with continuing to play at the highest level possible on a regular basis. There are also tournaments coming up for U-23’s with Olympic qualification … so that is definitely something I am working towards.”
It is club football that decides a player’s national team fate and for Irvine getting regular game time with Kilmarnock was the reason for the Socceroos cap he earned against Canada.
“
It had everything I could have learnt from a debut season – goals, mistakes, assists and a red card
Irvine made 25 appearances and scored one goal in his 2013-14 breakthrough season, noting it was an important time in his football development.
“It was a very surprising and eye opening season for me. Regular first team football was vital for my development at this age so it was great to go out and get those games with Kilmarnock,” Irvine said.
“Adapting to regular first team football isn’t something that happens over night but I feel as the season went on I adapted to the pace of the game and ended the season very strongly.
“It had everything I could have learnt from a debut season – goals, mistakes, assists and a red card. All of which I replayed and re-watched to take everything I could from those moments.”
Recalling his debut goal against Ross County, Irvine said: “I don’t score very often so I was delighted.
“It was a short free kick rolled to me at the edge of the box and my curling shot was lucky enough to float into the top corner.
“It was just a few days after I had my Socceroos debut so it was a memorable ending to that week.”
During the last SPL season when Dundee United hosted Kilmarnock, Irvine faced his Young Socceroos team-mate Curtis Good.
The two have known each other since they were 10-years-old and living just two minutes from each other.
“It was pretty surreal and quite funny,” Irvine said of facing off against his good mate on the pitch.
“It is ironic that our paths have overlapped as they have, considering that we grew up together and how different those paths could have been.
“(Anyway) he managed to get away from me and score from a corner which I wasn’t very happy about and still haven’t heard the end of. I don’t think I will any time soon.”
But it is with another Socceroos rising star that the parallels are more evident. Both Irvine and Tom Rogic missed out on the World Cup squad, and both spent last season on loan away from Celtic.
“
I will always be a Celtic player first and foremost
Asked if they spur each other on, Irvine had nothing but praise for his Celtic teammate.
“Tom is an excellent player with fantastic ability,” he said.
“He has struggled with injury since the World Cup as everyone knows, but I have no doubt once he is fit he is capable of making an impression at Celtic and becoming a regular starter.”
While he is unsure what plans Celtic have for him in the season ahead, he remains a Hoops player at heart.
“Pre-season is an interesting time at any club with many friendlies being played and squads are still chopping and changing,” he said.
“(But) my priority while I am signed at Celtic will always be a Celtic player first and foremost.
“But if regular games are going to be hard to come by then another loan move would be the smarter option for me.”
Being in Scotland since he was 16, Irvine has learnt a lot and matured as a footballer. Being away from home at such a young age can make or break a footballer, but the Australian has taken it all in his stride.
“I’ve been in Scotland for nearly five years now and a lot changes between the ages of 16 and 21,” he said.
“I’ve matured a lot as a player through all the games, seasons, and tournaments I’ve been able to play in.
“Living away from home and so far from your family also forces you to grow up quickly. I’m sure all players who move to Europe young can relate to that.”
With Socceroos boss Ange Postecoglou focusing on youth, many Socceroos fans will hope to see players like Irvine getting more game time and Irvine knows the best way to add to his single Socceroos cap is to play regularly for your club.
“It is definitely a goal of mine to get involved with the Socceroos again in the near future,” he added.
“Ange has made it very clear he wants players playing at a high level and playing regularly at first team level so that’s what I’ll try and do over the coming months to get myself in his thoughts.”
HH
.
MacJay..
Mundine was merely mentioned in a Article quote i wanted You to read..
As l said..Quoting what Abbott has supposed to have done Re; Aboriginal‘s time and time again to justify Him being a good guy..Is Wrong in my Humble Opinion..
Any person never mind a Politician who had really spent a week a Year in a Aboriginal community they would be Highlighting it week in week out..And trying to make Change..
Also..
l don’t really have a Political opinion either way..and l actually agreed on Principal what Hockey said..in Principal he is Correct..But that doesn’t mean he is right to say it..
Summa
justafan
08:00 on
16 August, 2014
Pre 9 in a row,there wasn`t much to celebrate and not much remember.
7-1 game in `57. Followed by 9 years of sfa
League and cup double in`53 ? Even I don`t remember that.