BT Sport had Alan Thompson on at the weekend previewing the Cup Final and I was reminiscing about him. When he played, I wrote he was the most influential Celtic midfielder since the Lisbon Lions. Not the most talented, McStay and Collins among others could claim to be more gifted, by Thompson pushed Celtic into places none of the others managed.
His goals in Europe and against Rangers are legend, and his assists record is outstanding, but despite my complete adoration of the player, he had a clear drawback. Whenever he was absent through injury, it took weeks in the first team before he looked moderately competent. So much of his game was about sheer physical effort that anything below 100% fitness made him ineffective.
This week Boli Bolingoli, Mohamed Elyounoussi, Leigh Griffiths, Jonny Hayes and Mikey Johnston started games for the first time after injury. Bolingoli (that corner kick!) and Elyounoussi both reminded me of Alan Thompson returning from injury. We should cut them some slack as they build fitness.
The same cannot be said for Leigh Griffiths, who looks as sharp as a tack. He will benefit from 90 minutes last night but he is ready to lead the line, if required.
Scott Robertson looked the part, especially early on, when Celtic had more shape than they did at the end of the game. Delighted too that Karamoko Dembele got his first outing of the season. He was not able to contribute much but he is a lad we should have plans to develop into a first team player.
Many thanks to everyone who contributed to the raffle for Tom Rogic’s signed shirt for the Celtic FC Foundation’s Christmas appeal. It is humbling to see Celtic fans in action like this. The winner has been informed by email – so check your inbox!
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Ernie
My point was more about mindset and desire whatever the circumstances of the current situation.
I think the poor souls of the Highland clearances may argue about treatment.
Park road 67
You lucky guy I love GC especially around maspalomas.
Anyway bed time duties with my granddaughter –
Gene on 14th December 2019 8:03 pm
Ernie
My point was more about mindset and desire whatever the circumstances of the current situation.
I think the poor souls of the Highland clearances may argue about treatment.
###
The clearances weren’t unique to the Highlands. And had nothing to do with being part of the UK. England experienced the same thing centuries before when, as Thomas More put it ‘sheep ate men’. The same thing happened all over Europe as farming practices changed. Ironically it was the reporting of the Highland Clearances by the London Times that made them so notorious.
Taurangabhoy :
Exactly why Scotland is unlikely to be “granted” Indy Ref 2 , or if they do, project fear 2 will get ramped up to beyond the stratosphere.
Brexit, as suicidal as it is at the moment and would be ultimately inconceivable without the riches of Scotland’s resources.
Why else would Parliament all jump on the train in 2014 and walk through Glasgow city centre ( United for once!) , when we are all a bunch of mooching bassa’s, relying on “hand outs”
GENE
We are in Puerto Rico been here for a week and today was first day we saw a cloud 😎 , back home on Tuesday
bluegrass celt on 14th December 2019 8:18 pm
Would Scotland currently meet the economic requirements for EU entry?
If not what would have to be done to ensure the requirements are met?
I appreciate that you might consider such matters rather vulgar but such issues need to be dealt with otherwise independence is going nowhere.
gene
It’s amazing how far an SCE in Arithmetic can take you…..
Ernie
Getting dragged out of the EU against our will is out of our hands.
Getting back in would be in our hands if we wish to do so as an Independent nation.
Getting released from this stranglehold that we find ourselves in, where we can make our own decisions and balance our own books as opposed to handing over a £1 and getting 37p back and getting told to make the most of is the most important moment for Scots to realise.
Nothing vulgar in that is there? Just self determination my friend as opposed to getting pumped at the back of the bus.
ernie lynch
One man’s grievance
Another man’s aspiration
Isn’t that how it goes in the company you keep ernie?
Doubt that Rod Stewart is worried about some CQNers and their poltics. Good for him I say. And I voted for Labour.
MOTHERWELL manager Steven Robinson has been arrested and charged following an alleged disturbance in Edinburgh.
Police Scotland confirmed the 45-year-old has been nicked in connection with an incident on Waverley Bridge beside the city’s main train station on Friday night.
bluegrass celt on 14th December 2019 8:40 pm
You haven’t even attempted to answer my questions.
You’re not going to get independence until you can provide satisfactory answers.
People just won’t vote for it.
And, if you think about it for a minute, Brexit goings tits up is going to make people even more suspicious of being sold an economic pup by the SNP, just like Brexiteers were by the Tories.
As I understand it, Scotland wouldn’t currently meet the entry requirements for the EU, and would have to either raise taxes or cut expenditure very substantially to meet the requirements (or a combination thereof). I can’t honestly see a majority of people voting for that.
Ron Bacardi on 14th December 2019 8:55 pm
Doubt that Rod Stewart is worried about some CQNers and their poltics.
####
He’s a narcissist. He won’t like it if he gets a hostile response at CP.
He might have got away with it if he hadn’t recorded Grace. Now he just looks like a hypocritical shit.
Live in South Yorkahire and at 76 don’t get to Glasgow very often to watch Celtic, I watch all their games on Sky or Celtic T V. bEEN TO THE Sheffield United v Aston Villa match today. Mcginn, in my opinion would be a part time player at Celtic, not as good as Brown,Christie or McGreggor. That’s the second time I have seen him against Sheffield United recently and again in my opinion not as good as Fleck of Sheffield United.
Rod Stewart BBC2 the now
Hail Hail
Celtic = Celtic
Congrats Bada, Wasn’t actually a football post but at least it was close.
Emboldened by your effort I would like to allude to the fact that tomorrow kicks off a huge 6 days.
We have 3 big games , starting with our Bogey Team Hibs. Those blighters have been doing extremely well against us.
We need a really big performance tomorrow.
Ernie,
A free Scotland would be use the 67% of the dosh it already hands over the WM . Pretty simple arithmetics, it’s just the belief that’s lacking. And of course the naysayers that love to put the country down.
Plenty of economists out there that could verify the facts.
Re-entry to the EU might take a while but the fact that we are going out on Jan next year is another good reason for getting the divorce
Rod Stewart is Rod Stewart Inc. Every decision he has made since he destroyed The Faces, has been about making money. Boris won the election, Boris’ Party is the single biggest market, Ergo…. ach ye know. It’s no like sayin’, “Hard luck Greens”, was gonna shift many albums or whatever people that like music buy these days.
🍀⚽️
ernie lynch
Bit harsh on Rod there Ernie.
Then again when he recorded Wild Mountain Thyme/Will ye go Lassie go
as ‘Purple Heather’ and gave himself a credit (and royalties) for writing it he might have been stretching it a bit.
I’m sure even Van Morrison noted is as ‘Traditional’
Gerrard catches some amount of breaks, no wins in 3, away to Motherwell and Stephen Robinson goes and gets himself lifted. FFS.
Celtic Mac on 14th December 2019 9:22 pm
It comes to something when Van the Man is more personable than you (as well as being an incomparably better musician).
Corkceilt- we have looked a bit disjointed last couple of games,hope the rest has done a few guys well, if Eddy not 100%,start with The Griff
Corkcelt….
DAVID17
Random arrest? No sure that SQUARES with the reality. 😉
🍀⚽️
Evolution is the solution 🍀
Hello again all you young rebels.
WTF… Still politics.. thank feck am off down to rebel town today
i’ll get my fill of Celtic down there.
Cellic tap oan and oot.
H.H . Mick
bluegrass celt on 14th December 2019 9:17 pm
Ernie,
‘A free Scotland would be use the 67% of the dosh it already hands over the WM .’
#####
I think we can safely assume that’s been factored into the calculations.
The figures just don’t stack up and independence isn’t likely to happen until they do.
Talking of figures it’s worth remembering that in the election the SNP got 1.2m votes. The other parties got 1.5m.
MELBOURNE MICK
Watch oot for handsome Huns… they might get ye when your unawares.
🍀⚽️
David 17 9.25pm
One win in 5 for the Sev Klopp
The Highland Clearances were just a change in farming practices! I’ve heard it all now.
Away and brush your corduroys.
Yep Bada, We weren’t impressive against the Accies and downright poor against the Huns.
We need a big step up tomorrow, Hopefully we will put things right tomorrow.
Ernie
Yeah, you’re correct. I think that was around 42%
Boris and his crew got about 40% and look where that got him!
We have got a match the morra. And what a game.
Jack Ross who I rate…and will be surely setting out a team to win. But to be honest ……..no one on this site seems to care, anticipate or live in the skin of a history that stretches back to our foundation and we nicked ten of their players.
This is huge tomorrow.
Everybody in the pubs tonight, buses/planes from England, Ireland, Mainland Europe are singing about it, talking about it and just wallowing in the fact that they will be there or be square.
CQN? Nah!
Technical issues? adverts?….Easily solved.
But if it wants to be a Celtic go to site then guess what………?
The C in CQN I always thought stood for Celtic…I think…So how do you think the game will go tomorrow?
Hail hail
Matt
Effwit Tims
The darlings of the hun press.
https://stv.tv/news/west-central/1443155-celtic-fan-backlash-after-rod-stewart-congratulates-boris/
Disjointed ??
Maybe … Neil Lennon has been in charge circa 47 games since Feb’19 only 3 teams have got the better of him over 90mins .. Cluj twice (one dead rubber) whether we like it or not Thursday meant nothing to the manager, Rangers when league was won (dead rubber) although a bit harder to swallow, and the bold Livvy after one of the best Euro performances at Celtic Park on the Thursday night … we can pick holes anywhere but Neil is doing a terrific job and some exceptional football along the way … hope he hammers his old employers the morra :-)
Not read much is the sacked from Bolton, sacked from Hibs, lost the dressing room, job in the showers mob for a bit … am sure they are still lurking :-) … 4 defeats since February, first trophy in the cabinet, humped the Sevs in their own midden and topped our Europa league section qualifying with 2 games to spare … maybe one or two disjointed performances could be forgiven :-)
Big,big game tomorrow.We find it hard to beat Hibs for some reason.No one else does.No worries about Tynecastle,they are rank.Get through these two,will be a brilliant start to the run in to Dubai.
I am sure whatever happened with the Well manager he will be out on at least,bail, in time for Sunday.
Luvvin all these games.Mysery during January.
ERNIE LYNCH on 14TH DECEMBER 2019 4:05 PM
SuperSutton on 14th December 2019 3:58 pm
The yanks are probably right on this one.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SbZCECvoaTA
———
Thanks Ernie. Educational. But not necessarily correct. Only one person’s view. Note that the original Greek term WAS plural i.e. Mathematika. As it was the collective term.
The fact that the “english” choose not to use it as a plural doesn’t make it not plural.
To use the example
Mathematics is fun
Mathematics ARE fun
Replace Mathematics in the above with “Algebra, Calculus, Geometry,… and Arithmetic”. Now which is correct?
Anyway, my real point is that the phrase “You do the math(s)” is wrong. Because really it should be “You do the Arithmetic” or “You do the Geometry” or “You do the Trigonometry”, etc. Unless solving the puzzle requires two or more of the subsets in which case it is plural and the only correct saying would be “You do the maths”