Cocky Dutch

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I’m older than Virgil van Dijk and I’ve seen more football scenarios than he has, so in this respect it is forgivable for him to be talking about Celtic going through the entire league programme undefeated, but Virgil was in the Celtic team who lost at home to Morton less than two months ago, so he really should know the only place to do your talking is on the football field.

Celtic have a rather important game on Tuesday, which the manager will quite rightly be preparing for, making tomorrow’s game against Aberdeen an open race.  If Virgil’s (reported) mind-set is shared by many in the dressing room the 7/1 odds against Aberdeen look generous.

Better all-round if we knock any ‘undefeated all season’ talk on the head.  It’s fine fare for fans but not for players.

Feeling gutted for the five Celtic fans who failed to get justice in Amsterdam yesterday.  The rest of us can busy ourselves campaigning on their behalf but verdict will be a blow to the five and their families.

Have you heard the ‘Tommy Burns – single’, in aid of the Tommy Burns Skin Cancer Trust?  Available on iTunes, 99p.  Wire in.

I hope you’ve enjoyed the current edition of CQN Magazine, not that I want to divert you away, but…  The Football Pink magazine is well worth a read.  We don’t get to read about Hugo Meisl and the Winderteam enough.  Hugo’s in the current issue, along with an excellent article on The history of Irish centre backs, the player loan system, and an article on Gunter Netzer, the midfield general who brought West German football into the modern era.

Columba Club, Blantyre, tonight, 8pm, me, Phil, Paul, Lourdes Fund, Q&A, general revelry.  Tickets on the door.
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£2 from every CQN Annual sold between now and midnight Sunday night goes to the Dam Appeal. Order here:


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  1. I'm Neil Lennon (tamrabam) on

    PFayr

     

    aye i guess yer right, but how are we getting to get the loaded dice put to one side

     

     

    im not sure what we can/should do, but whatever we are doing now doesnt seem to be effective and the sevco comeback seems to be on the cards if we do nowt

  2. ….PFayr supports WeeOscar

     

    06:36 on

     

    23 November, 2013

     

    Neustadt braw

     

     

    Wishful thinking …or another example of CFC and their acquiescence with the SFA and most things Hun

     

     

    Maybe braw …..maybe no…

     

     

    …………………………….

     

    lets turn that argument 180…who is dead ….or even worse who thinks there are only a wee bit dead …the ticking clock is louder for the un dead ….don,t know where your from ,,,,,but you seem to me a tad hasty ….and in high finance you need braw braw cool heids …. :)

  3. A SCOTS cop battered with other innocent Celtic fans in Amsterdam accused Dutch counterparts of “brutalising” supporters.

     

    Former riot control officer Paul Ryan, 51, was whacked in the chest with a baton as violence erupted in Dam Square.

     

     

    The Met PC, who was on duty during London’s poll tax battles in 1990, said plain-clothes police were “out of control” as they waded into shocked Hoops followers. Parkhead season ticket-holder Paul, originally from Motherwell, said: “They hit people minding their own business. Fans were brutalised.

     

     

     

    TERROR … PC Ryan

     

    “I was brutalised for being in a foreign city wearing a Celtic scarf. I still have bruises and couldn’t move for a week. If one of my colleagues acted like they did I’d arrest him.” Dad-of-four Paul, who has extensive public order experience from 28 years’ service, was in Amsterdam with fiancée Debbie Millian, 49. for Celtic’s Champions League clash with Ajax this month.

     

     

    He revealed he was “terrified” when a cop hit him as he waited for Debbie in the historic square. He said: “There were scuffles between Celtic and Ajax fans — no more than handbags. It was a tense atmosphere.

     

     

    “Mounted police and foot soldiers turned up. They hit everybody. One, with no warning or provocation, whacked me with his baton. He hit me that hard the baton came out of his hand.”

     

     

    Paul, who now lives in Camberley, Surrey, has sent a detailed report to Parkhead chiefs — and wants it used as part of a formal complaint.

     

     

     

    GUILTY … our story

     

    We told yesterday how five Hoops fans were handed jail sentence of up to two months for attacking Dutch police.

     

     

    Damian Dobbin, 23, of Hamilton, Thomas Kennedy, 30, and Andrew Vance, 21, both Blantyre, Lanarkshire, Padraig Mullan, 29, of Belfast, and Joe McPherson, 20, from Glasgow, are all appealing.

     

     

    Last night window cleaner Kennedy called his six-week jail term a “joke”. He tweeted: “Corrupt to the core.”

     

     

    Celtic said in statement: “We have received numerous written complaints from fans regarding their treatment.”

  4. NEIL LENNON has urged Celtic captain Scott Brown to boot out the ‘petulance’.

     

    The Hoops boss is anxious for Brown to cut out the ugly moments which have been overshadowing his inspirational displays.

     

     

    Instead Lennon wants Brown to be focused on the brand of midfield play which has taken his game to a new level.

     

     

    Brown completes a three-game Champions League suspension on Tuesday following his red card in the 1-0 defeat to Barcelona on October 1, for aiming an off-the-ball kick at Neymar.

     

     

    He was lucky not to be sent off for Scotland too, in the 1-0 midweek friendly win over Norway in Molde.

     

     

    Skipper Brown netted a superb winner, but there was just as much post-match talk about a fly kick at Vegard Forren, which was missed by referee Martin Strombergsson.

     

     

    Yet, overall, the 28-year-old’s had a superb season so far.

     

     

    Celts boss Lennon said: “It’s not for me to balance it, it is for him. I don’t want to lose that devil in him because it is part of his make-up.

     

     

    “It is an important part of his make-up. If you take that away you end up with a robot.

     

     

    “He has that drive and that will to win and sometimes it does spill over.

     

     

     

    OH BHOY … Brown sees red for kick on Neymar

     

    “Some top players have that. He just needs to pick and choose his moments and if he has done something outwith the game, make sure he doesn’t get caught!

     

     

    “It is unnecessary and that is something he has to learn himself. I can tell him a hundred thousand times not to do it, but he has to find that self-control.

     

     

    “He doesn’t need to do it because he is playing so well. He is on top of his game, but he just likes giving people wee reminders that he is there.

     

     

    “If it’s within the laws of the game and he is trying to impose himself on an opponent, I haven’t got a problem with it.

     

     

    “But sometimes we don’t like the petulance because it is unnecessary.

     

     

    “I can’t comment on the Scotland incident. I didn’t see it and it’s for him and Gordon Strachan to talk about.

     

     

    “I’ve already spoken about the Barcelona thing and he knows where I stand on it.

     

     

    “I’m expecting him to lead the team as he always does.

     

     

    “I don’t want him to lose that little bit of devilment because it is an important part of his make-up.

     

     

    “But he’s got to do it within the laws of the game.

     

     

    “It wasn’t my issue during the week. But if it happens again, it will be my issue, if he does it with Celtic.”

     

     

    Lennon wasn’t exactly a shrinking violet himself as a tenacious midfielder for Celtic.

     

     

    There were times he had Martin O’Neill on his case whenever he was deemed to have crossed a line.

     

     

    Now Lennon’s the mentor figure and Brown’s the pupil.

     

     

    And the Hoops gaffer — fast approaching his 200th game in charge — said: “A couple of times when I got sent off, Martin made me realise it was a huge mistake.

     

     

    “There are times when you get sent off and it’s harsh.

     

     

    “But anything that’s over the top or unnecessary, I make it pretty clear to the players I don’t want to see that again because we pride ourselves on team discipline. And I think our record over the years would prove that.

     

     

    “We’re talking about Scott here, but we also recently saw a Ronaldo headbutt. Which is more sinister?

     

     

    “Even the Scott kick on Neymar, if you want to call it that. Is that more sinister than what Ronaldo did to Mikael Lustig? I’m not sure. So even the greatest player, or one of the greatest in world football at the minute, is prone to losing his temper or losing his self-control now and again.

     

     

    “So I’m not here to bang on about Broony.

     

     

    “If it remains a factor in his game from here on in, then I will deal with it. But at the minute, I don’t need to.

     

     

    “Scott’s flying. He looks in brilliant condition and, thankfully, his injury problems are behind him.

     

     

    “We are really seeing the best of him now.

     

     

    “He’s enjoying his football here and he’s enjoying his football under Gordon for Scotland as well.”

     

     

    James Forrest is struggling for Aberdeen’s visit today but should be available for AC Milan on Tuesday.

     

     

    Lennon has respect for the Dons and he insists he isn’t being lured into a false sense of security over Champions League opponents Milan. The Italians are toiling in Serie A and are under pressure for the Parkhead tie.

     

     

    Lennon said: “Aberdeen will be fresh after a two-week break, so it’s a good game to get our teeth into.

     

     

    “Nothing I have seen so far has changed my mind that they will be our biggest challengers.”

     

     

    On Milan, he added: “They have players like Kaka and Robinho and Balotelli, Abate and Montolivo.

     

     

    “These are all internationals, some world-class players, and they probably save their best for the Champions League.

     

     

    “They have drawn with Barcelona, they have drawn away at Ajax, they have beaten us.

     

     

    “So their results haven’t been too bad so far in the competition. I’m very wary of them.”

     

     

    Celtic FC Foundation has raised over £20,000 to help those in the local community most in need. Cash will go towards providing a proper Christmas meal for 150 local families, plus gifts for children. Players, management and fans have all contributed.

  5. the way you phrase this gives myself cause to doubt your motives…

     

     

    .”.Wishful thinking …or another example of CFC and their acquiescence with the SFA and most things Hun”

     

     

    very odd ………….

  6. TTT ….all the best today for the team and the bucketeers ……NB is off to party ,(our wee dorf kneipe is closing ) …such is life …and this life is braw….

  7. valentinesday DAMands justice for the 5 on

    Good Morning Timlamd.

     

     

    Got the hat and gloves looked out for today,looking

     

    forward too the sheepies visit…..they tell me 1600

     

    of the dandy dons will be in town…..good luck to all

     

    the bucketeer’s,I’ve no doubt everyone will dig deep.

  8. Young guy in his twenties killed by a shark this morning in Gracetown, 270km south of Perth, third fatality there in the past ten years, dangerous in the water!

     

     

    AR

  9. antipodean red

     

    Unusually, Hawaii has also seen dramatic increases in shark attacks this year. More than double the average. As they say ” must be something in the water”

  10. ....PFayr supports WeeOscar on

    Braw

     

     

    The ticking clock of the undead

     

     

    Or the sound of the ever quickening march of the undead as they approach the SPL …where the riches are, the honest mistakes etc etc

     

     

    CFC do not want sevco to die …they welcome their return…should they die CFC will deserve no credit

  11. I'm Neil Lennon (tamrabam) on

    Antipodean fullah

     

    theres quite a few sharks circling in the clyde, near to govan.

     

    unfortunately theyre not able to apply the fatal bite yet

     

     

    one of them is a craig whyte shark

     

    apparently one of the most fearsome type in that part of the world

  12. Mountblow tim supporting wee oscar on

    Good morning CQN

     

    Up with the lark to get ready for the day a head

     

    Will see some good Celtic friends at gate 1 today

     

    To get our buckets

     

     

    Come fill up my bucket come fill up my heart

     

    All we are looking for is some of your cash

     

     

    Help the 6

     

     

    God bless wee Oscar and family

     

    Keep fighting wee man

     

     

    God bless the Celtic family

     

     

    Keep the Faith

     

     

    Hail Hail

  13. 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 :

     

     

    “Six Celtic fans”

     

     

    All the best, fleagle1888

  14. ....PFayr supports WeeOscar on

    Things not going overly well for the ole barmy army

     

     

    Chasing a total of 561 ….12 for 2 …over 2 days left ..

  15. I’ve got an unpleasant feeling the Dons will take something from today’s game. I hope it’s a hammering….but as I say..just got that nagging doubt. Hopefully that means the Bhoys are a cert.

  16. PF

     

    I posted yesterday that the stable strongly fancy Smart Exit in the Midlands national. 4/1 and they targeted this race a long time ago. Josh Moore is one from one on it and he’s been looking forward to this. Tough race though but I’m on.

     

     

    Check your mail at noon and I’ll forward you a mail I’m waiting for re a few horses. Been promised it will be here for noon latest.

  17. ”McCoist has still not decided which side he will publicly endorse, but is in a situation which makes it highly unlikely he would oppose his current employers.

     

     

    “That would be committing suicide, to be honest with you,” said McCoist.”

     

     

    http://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/spfl-lower-divisions/ally-mccoist-opposing-ibrox-board-would-be-suicide-1-3199466

     

     

     

     

    #####

     

     

    For once I think Sally might actually be being honest, to be honest with you.

  18. Wishful thinking …”or another example of CFC and their acquiescence with the SFA and most things Hun,,,”

     

     

    as I say the phraseology seems full of a deep suspicion of The Celtic ….and anyway NB is well sleepy …have a great day …take no offence from a friend….and if you have then I have not explained my good self adroitly genug…:) braw

  19. ....PFayr supports WeeOscar on

    Twisty

     

     

    Cheers

     

     

    Send it to work email if you have it ….that comes to my iPhone

     

     

    Ta

  20. I'm Neil Lennon (tamrabam) on

    Campbell Ogilvie said

     

     

    “None the less, I am compelled to convey my disappointment that we find ourselves in this position, as a result of an apparent erosion of mutual respect between two of our oldest rivals.”

     

     

    Just to be factually correct, Celtics oldets rival is deid and burried

     

    surely that was the whole point

     

    shall we now raise a complaint to CO that he is being disrespectful to the newco who have risen in place of the deadco

  21. BOBBY MURDOCH'S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS backs JUSTICE FOR THE 'DAM FIVE on

    bobby murdoch’s curled-up winklepickers backs resolution 12

     

     

    14:29 on 22 November, 2013

     

    Cyber pint for anyone who can get the connection between this

     

     

    http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=5JuD9umfGo8

     

     

    and the clip from PETEC,

     

     

    http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=dz2LTIkWIB0&desktop_uri=%2Fwatch%3Fv%3Ddz2LTIkWIB0

     

     

    twists n turns

     

     

    14:31 on 22 November, 2013

     

    Bobby

     

    The arrows wrote I love rock n roll. Lager.

     

    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

     

     

    APOLOGY

     

     

    It has been pointed out that I asked a question and did not acknowledge the correct answer,above,which was given almost immediately.

     

     

    There is no suggestion that the answer was deliberately ignored as I am too tight to cough for the reward. The cyber-pint is on its way,Twists. You’ll have to sing for a real one!!

  22. T3…….

     

     

    Ref the nags, do have an interest as that tosser bigbones threw in a couple of donkeys a week or so back.

     

     

    3 pts today.

     

     

    HH

  23. ....PFayr supports WeeOscar on

    Tamrabam

     

     

    Must stick with the illusion ….toe the party line

     

     

    PL strayed….must be brought into line

     

     

    Never mind reality , corporate law and such incidentals

  24. When Sevco, aided and abetted by their friends in the SFA, tried to walk straight into the SPL, they were told to take a hike.

     

     

    Similarly, when Sevco, ably assisted by their ludge mates in the SFL, thought they could start life in the first division, they were again told to sling their ook.

     

     

    They were banished to the third division, the bottom tier of Scottish Football.

     

     

    Predictably, Sevco won that league at the first attempt. Now they are romping to promotion to next season’s Championship, one more promotion away from the Premiership.

     

     

    Now much as I, like many of my fellow CQNers, would prefer Sevco to disappear forever, it looks like they may be back in the top flight for season 2015/16.

     

     

    They may go into administration in the intervening period, they may not. If they do, they may survive a CVA, they may not.

     

     

    What I do not understand is why so many of my fellow Celtic supporters are seemingly complaining about the prospect of them eventually making it to the top tier. We celebrated when they were unceremoniously dumped into the third division, rather than being allowed direct entry into first the SPL and then the first division. Having laughed at their ignominy at finding themselves where they belonged as a new club, when was it stated that they would not be allowed to play their way back to the top division? There was no such stipulation.

     

     

    I keep reading comments like “the sevco comeback seems to be on the cards if we do nowt” and “Where is the stake thru the heart going to come from? And more importantly, when?”

     

     

    BTW how can a new club make a comeback?

     

     

    Apart from wondering how a new club can make a comeback, believe me when I say I am not attacking the authors of the above comments. I merely use them as perfect examples of what I am trying to understand. As I said, when Sevco were banished to the third division, there was no stipulation that they would never be allowed to enter the top division. So what is it that we have to do to stop it happening, as opposed to doing “nowt” and why should there necessarily be a “stake through the heart”?

     

     

    I would love there to be a stake through the heart of that mob, but if it doesn’t happen and they struggle through to Premiership entry via season-on-season promotion, then no matter how regrettable we may find that to be, we cannot just wish it away.

     

     

    Again, I am not looking for confrontation here. I am genuinely asking what people are really looking for and expecting to happen. I would love to see them die a death and disappear and that could yet happen. If Celtic never play that shower ever again I would be delighted, but it won’t happen just because I want it to happen.

     

     

    If they survive financially and make it to the Premiership, then really, what can we do?

     

     

    As I said, I am not being confrontational with this. I am open to persuasion and if I am missing something then please enlighten me.

     

     

    Some people have said that if Sevco were to make it to the Premiership, they would give up on football altogether. All I can say is, the day I end my 50+ year love affair with Celtic because of that shower is the day I will hang my head in shame and put a noose round my neck.

     

     

    Thank you and Hail Hail.

  25. BOBBY MURDOCH'S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS backs JUSTICE FOR THE 'DAM FIVE on

    DESERTBHOY

     

     

    Or a kilt wi nae sporran!

     

     

    Actually,I think that might be a skirt. Been a long night!

  26. ....PFayr supports WeeOscar on

    Tom

     

     

    There existence as “Rangers” is an affront to sporting integrity

     

     

    We appear to have acquiesced in the charade

     

     

    It will be interesting to see how the first game against them is billed ….CFC will have to be very careful how they deal with this

  27. Marrakesh Express on

    Tamrabam

     

     

    I hear what you say but….when the boiling frog senario was written about 4 years ago, never in our wildest dreams did we envisage the nightmare about to unfold for the hun.

     

    Sure, they’ll never be allowed to disappear like Third Lanark because they have too big a following, not to mention privileges no other club would be afforded.

     

    However at present they are in the depths of despair, not knowing what the future holds or what spiv owns them.

     

    They are stigmatised and the fallout will last a very long time. Many books will feature the biggest scandal ever in British football history. There will be no wiping from memory, at least not for those who witnessed it.

     

    What will hurt every bit as much as their beloved club dying, is the thought of ‘timmy’ loving it. A by product of the whole affair has been our vindication of long held beliefs that the system is corrupt and bent in favour of that club. Thanks to the I B’s, many at the Sfa and Msm have been exposed.

     

    A massive sea change has taken place and is still ongoing. We’ve gained ground more since Farrygate than in the previous 100 years and I feel good about that.

     

    Rfc1872 died, shamed and disgraced, and its followers will never be allowed to forget it.

     

    …and its not over yet.

     

     

    Hh