Absolutely delighted the Dutch injected some swagger into the World Cup last night. Diego Costa continued the pattern this week of Brazilian born players profiting from a tumble inside the box, gifting Spain an early lead from the penalty spot, but the Dutch were irresistible.
Exactly how they managed to improve their performance against Spain, four years after losing the World Cup Final with the imperious Edson Braafheid, is a mystery of the modern game.
Netherlands scored all those goals and created even more chances with a meagre 36% possession. If they were German, we would be reverting to the national stereotype that they were the epitome of ‘efficiency’.
Speaking of the Germans, I’ve always had a lot of time for Franz Beckenbauer, but to find himself banned from football for coming up short in a matter with the words “Fifa” and “ethics” in it, must make him the most notorious German since, erm, well, in quite a long time. With his former Bayern Munich teammate Uli Honess due to be jailed this month for financial maleficence, it’s better to assume no one in the game is above sticking his snout in the trough.
The soul of football depends on the outcome of this Fifa investigation; no one should be above its reach. Beckenbauer’s provisional ban should be verified. Kick him out the game.
Fantastic stuff on the blog yesterday from Bertie Auld; what an honour to have these great guys among us. I’m heading to the Celtic Shop on Argyle St today where Bertie, Tommy Gemmell and John Hughes will be signing books between 13:00 and 16:00. If you’re in town I’ll see you there.
The Big Cup’s going to be there, so bring a camera.
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Hita
Hiya
Morning
Hx2
I love watching the Dutch when they get it together.
That’s the model Celtic should emulate.
BMCUW
THE TRUTH WILL OUT.
TONETINE TIM.
ENJOY
I CAN STOP SHOUTING NOW..
macjay1 for Neil Lennon
11:09 on
14 June, 2014
theglasgowcelticway
10:57 on
14 June, 2014
My 21 year old son and my family were in extremis at that point because all my nightmares were coming true.
We got back into the game and reasonably could have claimed a draw.
However,I am eternally grateful that we did not suffer the humiliation that I feared.
For one reason and one reason alone.
The future of fitba` in Oz.
A through back to “total football”
HH
Oh a top ten, that wee post sneaked in from the blind side, even BMCUWP never saw it coming.!
Ayrshire is Green and White
bobby murdoch’s curled-up winklepickers
11:14 on 14 June, 2014
BLANTYRE TIM
Ask MARSPAPA if he managed to score in MWD’s absence the other night?
If it was me,I would ask to play on the same side then score an og!
Neganon2 for the record im happy with the situation at parkhead. None of what you mention particularly galls me. Celtic fan’s obsession with sevco does. Now is the time to finally drop the old firm tag. As an aside i couldnt look myself in the mirror if it wasnt family first for me ahead of all else.
MICKTT
I was waiting for you,ladies first!
Enjoy the whisky. ACGR is on his way,so get fired in quick.
Will the Dutch’s performance lead to a return to ‘fashion’ of the 3-5-2 formation?
Hope Ronny was watching, would suit us given the players we currently have.
Why is Levein admitting that he`s a failure?
His motivation?
http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/27842743
My friends in Celtic,
I was at a funeral in St Ninian’s Knightswood yesterday.
A wonderful family which again demonstrated
Family is everything. Everything else is secondary.
HH.
TET
Like late goal – late post on last article!
With you on Columbia and Uruguay – fancy Italy but might ring-fence that bet after the surprise humping of Spain last night.
Got out yesterday’s bets +30p thanks to a 92min Columbia (-1) goal and Mexico double.
Got an acca running (3 up) waiting on; Uruguay, France, Argentina and maybe the iffy one Columbia. TnT’s tip + Brazil pen providing the funding! :-)
Greenpinta.
Indeed, we are an extended family on cqn…
hail hail
bobby murdoch’s curled-up winklepickers
11:15 on 14 June, 2014
MICKTT
I was waiting for you,ladies first!
Enjoy the whisky. ACGR is on his way,so get fired in quick.
———————————————————————-
I’d need to be really quick, that yin is as quick and lively as a Brazilian tumbling.
Oneneillennon
Faith family football, family always comes first, don’t confuse faith with church, without faith you have nothing..!
Best wishes to all today, whether it be sitting in a waiting room, flying, standing in s car park or just being with friends.
God bless ye all, the Pope and the Celtic.
Ayrshire is Green and White
Good Morning Folks,
Just heading out to join the fun and banter at the Argyle Street store along with Yogi, Bertie, Tommy G, Winning Captains and Paul67.
However, before I go:
A few months back I was told part of a story about a most remarkable man. So remarkable that I started to write down what I was told and then did a little research.
I said I would publish what I was told and what I had found out when the time is appropriate as the story is one which has a natural time for publication.
It is the tale of perhaps the most remarkable international sportsman I had never heard of.
9833 words later – this is his tale.
The King, The Baron, The House Painter and Boris!
http://wp.me/p1G95H-1iL
Save it for later if you are heading into town.
BRTH
blantyretim .
Home safe and well.1/3 correct with my accumulator yesterday,Nederlands may be worth a punt for the Cup.
oneneillennon
The Old Firm tag will never be dropped in this country.The media here deny that there’s even been any change in Oldco/Newco/Sevco or whatever they choose to call themselves these days,situation.
Oneneillennon I agree regarding old firm tag. I am however disgusted that those who run our club still want it!
PEDANT ALERT!!
It’s COLOMBIA.
Not COLUMBIA. Columbia is an American Uni.
We have to maintain the highest standards in spelling on here.
It’s not FF Ffs!
HH!!
Oldtim
just spoke to mrs BT, will be along next Saturday if I can get off work, I’ll call you later this afternoon.
Tallybhoy
thats why I write KSC and KTF. 8)
Hi ho…
Lord Livingston of Parkhead is the subject in the Q & A section at the business end of The Times.
He left his £9 million-a-year job with BT to take an unpaid role with the government.
He relaxes by watching Celtic.
Blantyretim those who would run an independent country have already shown their true colours. Our erstwhile government outlawed the practice of blessing yourself or at least said someone else who could be offended by it would make you a criminal. That is outlawing aspects of Catholicism. Given how small a minority we have here in Scotland and given this track record, while I am being provocative, I think it’s right to be concerned.
What was worse was that our media didn’t complain when that OB act was voted.
I find it ironic in the extreme that cyber Nat bullies who are attacking anyone who would put forward a no vote are allowed to so so with impunity but when no campaigners start provoking debate we are debased and attacked. But the cyber Nats like yourself become wee sensitive souls hen confronted.
The truth is that the yes campaigners have changed very little in terms of public opinion and now the desperation is becoming tangible.
I am right to accuse our scottish government of outlawing at least aspects of Catholicism and I am right to therefore hypothesise on hat that could mean when these people are not fettered.
MWD it is our would be governors who would outlaw us and who have started that practice.
Macjay. Your usual aggressive ill thought through response. Are you denying that the celtic board have acted badly towards its support??????
Tallybhoy,
Ma teecheers tot me to reed and rite reel goodish.
Its nought ther falt I’m just fick.
HH.
Good Morning Timland.
What we saw last night was a Spanish capitulation. no
more no less, still would not put a thin dime on the Dutch
to win the tournament.
Neganon
thanks for the reply but if you read my post I stated I was undecided, certainly not a cyber nat…
our parents and grand parents fought for what we have, no cybernat , agnostic or bigot will stop me practicing my faith
oldtim67
11:30 on 14 June, 2014
What time you leave the Blane Valley?
Keep the Faith!
Hail Hail!
blantyretim is praying for the knox family
11:35 on 14 June, 2014
If you can get off, fancy picking up a Passenger in ML5?
Keep the Faith!
Hail Hail!
Watch oot, the spelling polis are aboot!
Hale hale!!
Gary67
Will the Dutch’s performance lead to a return to ‘fashion’ of the 3-5-2 formation?
Hope Ronny was watching, would suit us given the players we currently have.
Love 3-5-2 (or 3-4-1-2 with Commons in the hole).
Think we have the defenders for it – Ambrose, Van Dijk and Mulgrew are all ball-playing CBs, each of whom pose a threat running from deep.
Commons is ideally suited to playing in the Wesley Sneijder position. Commons is Celtic’s most intelligent, creative player, and he is a huge threat if he’s given any kind of space.
Izaguirre has been at his best in this formation. The fact that it’s 3-4-1-2, not a flatter midfield 3-5-2, means that the fullbacks need to have the judgement for a pass inside rather than just bomb backwards and forwards all the time, and Izzy knows how to do it. Matthews, albeit to a lesser extent, looks capable of this.
Our central midfielders are untested – Brown and Ledley were good in this formation, but not sure who out of Johansen, Biton, Kayal, and Henderson can partner Brown.
Up front, the loss of Sammi is crucial. You need strikers who can pull defenders to the side, and Sammi was an expert at this. If we can find a replacement for Sammi, 3-4-1-2’s a goer!
Lennybhoy
ill let you know
Gary67
I forgot about the Japan game, ko 3 in the morning, and I agree, I think a narrow win for them.
P
Had the same bet on Chile, also dbled with bts in the Spain game, so, came out a bit better off, stuck a few daft bets on as well, group forecasts and the like, all still in the running, even with Spain getting humped.
HH
blantyretim is praying for the Knox family
11:45 on 14 June, 2014
‘our parents and grand parents fought for what we have, no cybernat , agnostic or bigot will stop me practicing my faith’
###########
And just to give an idea of what they had to fight against, these are the words of Andrew Dewar Gibb, a professor of the University of Glasgow, a KC, and founder member and leader of the SNP.
“Wheresoever knives and razors are used, wheresoever sneak thefts and petty pilfering are easy and safe, wheresoever dirty acts of sexual baseness are committed, there you will find the Irishman in Scotland with all but a monopoly.”
up_over_goal
I’d more inclined to Lustig as part of a back 3 along with VVD and Mulgrew. This allows Matthews a place wide on the right. Brown & Johansen would be my middle two with Griffiths plus one from Forrest or Watt up front. Forrest or Pukki could also play in KC’s position behind the front two.