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.
[calameo code=0003901719d82038831a9 lang=en page=126 hidelinks=1 width=100% height=500]
2,184 Comments- Pages:
- «
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
- 8
- 9
- ...
- 58
- »
delaneys dunky,
Life is good, just about to hit the hay for a 0440 wake up call on Sunday morning, tomorrow is my last day at work for a couple of weeks, another couple of shutdowns here in early July then on the plane back to Bankieland on 24th July. Looking forward to it.
How are you doing?
AR
Ernie
That’ll be the fact that there has been and will never be a UK Catholic PM.
Do you disagree. Or are you deflecting my question again?
You truly would make a reasonably good UK politician!
MWD says AYE
My friends in Celtic,
Don’t really care who wins the England v Italy game, but I will be watching it.
Do I want England to win the tournament. Honestly No. Neutrality is only viable up to a point.
However I would imagine that England’s progression would put even the most toxic of the cyber nats in a quandary.
England’s progression with the inevitable circus that would accompany it would probably bring a boost to the yes campaign.
So will the cyber nats be blogging for England, or will that be way too hypocritical and traitorous.
HH.
Neganon2
It’s not religion per se for me, it’s more tribal and having seen the lengths the big tribe have gone to keep alive their totem and cover up their dishonesty in the process I do not trust independent governance an inch on the basis that what I have seen is unethical and the product of am unethical mindset.
Two things…
Just noticed Prof Tom Devine has accepted a knighthood… speechless!
There is no law against blessing oneself and there have been no charges/arrests/court appearances for such.
There are enough contentious issues regarding the OB Act and real hate crime without someone, anyone, inventing grievances. It just dilutes and deflects from the legitimate intelligent campaign against stupid potentially dangerous legislation.
AR
Very well thanks, bad day at the bookie though. Maybe Greece, Uruguay and Italy can redeem that. :)
Look forward to share a few pints with you in July bud.
aiden bhoy
13:33 on 14 June, 2014
Philbhoy
You don’t need to wear a tie to the Number 7.
————-
On match days you do, if it’s for a meal on other days I reckon it’s not a requirement. HH
AR you’ll always know when Ernie is wrong he either does’nt answer or disappears for a wee while. When he’s right – and to be fair he sometimes is – he’s like a dog with a bone. I have no idea if he goes to games, he does,nt seem to mention it much. To my knowledge nobody on the blog has met him – his perogative – so we only have his blog personna to make a view of him. Hail Hail Hebcelt
Kilbowie Kelt will vote YES
15:35 on 14 June, 2014
‘Ernie,
There is no shortage of documentary evidence of the rioting around Scotland when the Act of Union was announced.
I would be surprised if you did not already know that.’
###
You said there were riots in very town.
There weren’t.
You said that the riots were about loss of sovereignty.
They weren’t.
Do you agree (a) that organised opposition to the Union was led by the Church of Scotland and (b) their opposition was bought off by the privileges they were granted?
Independence debate.
Just prompted by Auld Heid’s train of thought to suggest that the prospect of English resentment manifesting itself in fractious negotiations seems largely ignored by the yes camp who seem to take the view that Alex is right and it’s all bluff. I can only say that I hear increasing grumbling re Mr Salmond and his attitude that Scotland is somehow a special case and needing special treatment and I would not be confident of any sort of smooth passage via the English electorate’s pressure on their elected representatives.
MWD 1237
With respect,I’ve never seen the sign of the cross abused.
If someone want to be anonymous they have a perfect right to do so.
This is not a dating site.
Auldheid
I explained my opinion of the benefit of change. We would run our country and trade with the benefit of our nation to the forefront of our policies and not for the benefit of Westminster. It’s a fairly simple concept. At the moment all policy making is conceived solely for the benefit of Westminster and the City of London, it’s bankers, politicians, southern and Middle England voters. There is no concept or want to understand the needs of Scotland, and let’s face it The North of England, Wales or the Annexed six counties. Economic policy is currently aimed at propping up the £1.3 trillion pound debt created by our bankers which was allowed to happen under UK government/s. The poor and the hungry are not even afforded a passing thought. Foodbanks are on the increase and Austerity measures are only going to worsen after 2015 general election which will impact again our nation, zither North of England, Wales and the annexed 6 counties more than it will the deep anti social South Westminster and the blathers in the city. The oil from our nation props up the national debt and keeps the UK treading water on interest payments affording a higher standard of living in the South of England while, the outer reaches of the nations Suffering will increase under a Tory, Labour or Lib Dem/UKIP formed coalition.
MWD says AYE
Moonbeams WD. Wee Oscar’s our Bhoy and Kano’s our mhan.
15:40 on 14 June, 2014
‘That’ll be the fact that there has been and will never be a UK Catholic PM.
Do you disagree. Or are you deflecting my question again?’
###
I assume you mean there has never been a Catholic PM. That’s agreed.
I don’t accept there will never be a Catholic PM.
For the vast majority of people in the UK it just isn’t an issue.
I have noticed some progress on here about the issue.
The nats used to argue that there was a ban on Catholics becoming PM. They seem to have ditched that argument.
Ernie
Are you a son of the manse fae Kirkcaldy? When I read your words, I hear the voice of Gordon Brown in ma heid.
Neganon2 I;ve met you briefly at CQ10 and you seemed a sound ghuy but your posts(and some others) are boring the pants off quite a few on here. You can of course post what you like but please a wee bit less politics wee bit more Celtic. Hail Hail Hebcelt
MWD (from this morning)
“In an Independent Scotland the chances of a future Republic of Scotland are measurably greater than the zero chance of a Republic of the United Kingdom will be.”
I am not greatly impressed by a measurable increase from 1 in a million to 1 in 950,000 but, you are right, it is measurable. It’s a bit like believing that buying two Euromillions tickets increase your chances of winning. Technically, true; practically, as likely as ernie lynch revealing that he is Alex Salmond in disguise and Neg Anon is Nicola Sturgeon.
No, wait a minute…. I may be on to something here.
P.S. Let marspapa score at the 5s and he will give you a Yes Vote
Auldheid
14:28
You’re peddling the myth that by leaving the Union we will be forcing conservativism on our English neighbours. Only twice has the number of MP’s Scotland ever decided the outcome of elections to Parliament both were short lived Parliaments. Your point about influence is precisely the reason so many want us to leave this Union, we don’t have any.
What is it you’re trying to say re “it ain’t gonna be friendly”?
BMCUWP
Seriously!
I’ve seen it performed at Celtic park from close proximity to opposition fans and from the distance of the football field. I’ve seen it from supporters bus windows while on buses towards opposing fans on the street and from members of public in close proximity to sectarian marches.
MWD says AYE
BMCUW
“With respect,I’ve never seen the sign of the cross abused.”
Have you ever been with Celtic fans at Ibrox?
Sorry to say that it does happen.
SFTB
Some principles I cannot break. Not even for a YES vote. Lol
MWD says AYE
Lurgan lion on BBC now
derbyshirebhoy @ 15.55 hrs.
You are very correct in your analysis IMO.
Just refer to the stats on Acrimonious Divorce.
HH, always in Celtic.
Good afternoon all
NFL on the beeb panel now.
Weefra HH praying to Wee Oscar.
The leader of the NO campaign shamelessly fiddled his Westminster expense claims. He has every reason for maintaining the Union.
Ernie,
Yes, I did carelessly say ‘in every town’ when the reports only tell us that the rioting was ‘widespread’.
How careless of me !
And ,YES..’ Sovereignty’ probably badly describes the reason for their anger.
Loss of pride in their country’s independence would have been better.
I beg your forgiveness & will try to be more accurate henceforth.
Good luck.
79caps
16:07 on 14 June, 2014
Talking about leaders fiddling with things what’s the rumour about Salmond and McAlpine?
Kilbowie Kelt will vote YES
16:08 on 14 June, 2014
And the bit about the Kirk?
Headline from the Official site:-
“New kit is a hit with fans online”
There’s the club lying to us again :-)
Ernie
Can you suggest a single reason as to why Tony Blair waited until shortly after leaving his PM role before he felt he could convert to the religion of his choice even though he attended Catholic services with his family weekly when his job afforded him the opportunity during time as PM. It strikes me that a Roman Catholic PM leader under a CofE monarchy would be unacceptable to the establishment!
Otherwise TB would have converted to the religion that was natural to his beliefs and faith sooner.
MWD says AYE
.
Yes or No..
Dependant or Indie..?
Do You want to go ‘OnYou Own Can’ or Keep giving Yer Mammie Your full wage packet and She still buys Your Clothes Etc..?
Hmmm..
Or as My Czech mate Said..
How many Countries ask to go back to their Mammy after going it Alone..?
Summa
Slow news day at Celtic Park…again.
PlayersallonholidayorattheworldcupCFC
Seems like the Pope has commented on Scottish independence
“All division worries me”
Said the Pope
“What aboot kafflik skools?”
Asked La Vanguardyloo
“No too bothered”
Said the pope
Alistair Darling. He should be behind bars.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/mps-expenses/5418493/MPs-expenses-Alistair-Darling-billed-us-for-two-homes-at-the-same-time.html
Margaret McGill
“Seems like the Pope has commented on Scottish independence
“All division worries me””
I seem to remember Stalin asking “How many divisions has the Pope?”
Moonbeams WD. Wee Oscar’s our Bhoy and Kano’s our mhan.
16:11 on 14 June, 2014
You seem to be suggesting that Blair was a Catholic in all but name.
Which part of the establishment would take umbrage at there being a Catholic PM?
Do you mean people like the UK’s most senior aristocrat, the Duke of Norfolk, who happens to be, er, a Catholic?
setting free the bears supports res. 12 & oscar knox
16:13 on 14 June, 2014
Didn’t know you were that old? :)
Summa
When most of us leave our mammy we move in with another woman.
That would be like leaving the UK to become the 51st sate of the USA-
Think there might be more truth in that analogy than we think.
Try telling your new wife that you are giving up Trident and setting up a Socialist state.