Delighted Joe Ledley got on the score sheet twice yesterday. As well as missing the influence of Wanyama, and Scott Brown on Champions League duty, Joe’s absence through injury has been felt. He has been back a few weeks now but Neil Lennon has used him sparingly, putting a lot of responsibility on the shoulders of Beram Kayal and Charlie Mulgrew. For me, Joe’s composure and running deserves place in the team.
Ross County have dropped like a stone recently, even when you consider their abandoned matches, but they successfully pressed high up the field for long periods of the game. When Celtic do this in Europe we are always concerned about opposing teams passing through us with speed. It was a bit concerning that we could not do the same to County.
The most pleasing aspect of the game was the performance of Emilio Izaguirre. Neil Lennon went on record in the summer to say he needed cover for left back, which is still the case, but at the time ‘cover’ was interpreted in places for an admission that Emilio’s form was not what it once was.
We are incredibly strong at right back, with internationals Adam Matthews and Mikel Lustig vying for the position, while Nigeria’s right back, Efe Ambrose, occupies a different position at Celtic, but Emilio has no obvious left-footed cover.
Following the loss of St John Doyle, George Ryan, Lennybhoy sent £1534.30 on your behalf to the Mini St John Doyle Fund, now officially launched as Sean’s Trust. George’s wife, Linda, responded with this message:
“George’s fantastic friends at Celtic Quick News have this evening donated £1,534.30 into the account for our charity Sean’s Trust. This money has been raised since George’s death on 5 October. Also they paid for 4 seats at Celtic Park for the family to attend the Ajax game, and sent beautiful floral tributes.
“Most of the supporters on CQN had never met George in person. Paul Brennan from CQN visited me after George’s death and he said ‘It takes a lifetime to make a Celtic Man like George’ What a beautiful tribute. We are grateful for the immense effort you have all made in memory of George. We will never forget you x.”
There are never any real compensations on occasions of such loss, but your efforts connected with, and supported, a family, at a time when that was as much as anyone could do for them.
Thank you to everyone who participated, especially Lennybhoy, for picking up the ball.
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From The Herald
Clubs can be left carrying the can after some supporters have drained theirs . . .
Michael Grant
Chief football writer
Monday 11 November 2013
ANYONE who has followed a team to enough away games over the years develops what amounts to a sixth sense.
The presence of so much alcohol was not a surprise amid the trouble in Amsterdam. Picture: SNS
You cannot see or hear an “edge” or “an atmosphere” in a city, but if you have been around the block enough times you can certainly feel one. There are times when there is a vibe that things could kick off in a place. Some of the eye-witness accounts from Celtic supporters alluded to exactly that feeling of malevolence in parts of Amsterdam city centre last Wednesday, especially as darkness fell.
The attack on The Old Sailor pub by a gang of masked Ajax hooligans on the Tuesday evening is the sort of incident – a surprise attack by a home mob – which has a profound impact on the rest of a trip. It was clear immediately that, after a bit of a rampage in Glasgow, the Ajax hooligans felt that they had some unfinished business. Celtic supporters were correctly warned to be “vigilant” by the club but that meant the prospect, or the fear, of trouble was never far from most fans’ minds. Knowing that a mob of masked thugs might turn up to smash windows and crack heads at any time is a deeply unpleasant thought in the hours before a game. A highly visible police force, some in riot gear, and plain-clothed “arrest squads” indistinguishable from local hooligans, is not conducive to a peaceful day either.
The statement Celtic issued later made much of the many complaints the club had received from innocent and aggrieved supporters citing the high level of unprovoked assaults or attention they had suffered or witnessed from the police, especially when tensions seemed to rise after a Celtic flag was stolen by Ajax supporters. It must be assumed that those contacting the club to freely proffer their accounts responded to any provocation maturely and sensibly, either by trying to defuse whatever situation they were in or else trying to get as far from the flashpoints as quickly they could.
Celtic have two things to do: help and support any of their fans who were victimised, but also establish who among their support reacted with aggression, violence and loutishness of their own. It is clear from the footage posted on social media that some did. “We would stress that there is no excuse for any form of violent conduct,” read that Celtic statement. That is an unequivocal position from the club. Does provocation or “heavy-handed” policing excuse fighting, chasing and attacking a handful of guys beside a tram, throwing bottles or standing across a street challenging a line of police? It does not. A plain-clothed policeman repeatedly kneeing a fan is unforgivable, and so is beating and throwing bottles at him in return.
Celtic have had little run-ins with Uefa over crowd issues in the last couple of years but those were for a banner, chanting and fireworks. Not for violence. The club does not have a hooligan issue, there is no mob of their fans looking for trouble when the club travels around Scotland or Europe. Considering the numbers who journey with them they are impressively trouble-free. There is no reason to believe there will be any problem when they complete their Group H campaign in Barcelona.
But not every city and every police force takes kindly to more than 10,000 fans descending on it for a day or two of noisy outdoor drinking. Some citizens will always bristle at an occupation of that scale. Seville happily accommodated 80,000 and the absence of trouble spoke volumes for the Celtic support. But no two trips are entirely the same, and when Amsterdam’s hooligans and police began to throw their weight around, some Celtic fans went beyond legitimate self-defence.
Only British clubs – and arguably only Celtic and Rangers – have supports which think nothing of travelling to away European group games in the sort of vast numbers which descended on Amsterdam. Who else would take 12,000 to such a game, with only 3000 of them holding tickets? It is risible to argue that every single one of them, after a long day of heavy drinking for many, and whatever the circumstances, will always behave impeccably.
Last December, Peter Lawwell, the Celtic chief executive, apologised to Dundee after crowd trouble at Dens Park, blaming a small minority and saying that other supporters had complained about that troublesome element. “It is time for all our true supporters who care about Celtic to unite with the club and find a solution to this problem,” he said. Dundee’s operations manager spoke of drunkenness and likened the episode to a throwback to the 1970s.
The drinking culture is endemic among travelling British fans. In the footage last week, one constant was people virtually wading through a sea bed of empty bottles, cans and beer boxes. For years there has not been footage of a stand-off between police and any set of British fans in a city centre without the detritus of heavy boozing all around. Usually heavy drinking does not equate to trouble, but it is a guaranteed part of the mix when there is any.
There is nothing Celtic can do about that. Nor can they have enough input when 9000 fly to a foreign city without tickets. But when a club does not have control over such numbers, especially in a city with a rowdy reputation, an established hooligan problem and a twitchy police force, it becomes deeply vulnerable. And real damage can be done to its reputation.
HHv
I was fair looking forward to a wee moonhowlers sesh last night,but one of the drivers didnae turn up-that’ll be the one wi severe bruising to the groin area when I see him next-which saved me from a solo sesh.
Seven posts from 2am to 7am.I’m shocked!
BRING BACK THE MOONHOWLERS!!!!
Lymmbhoy
A plain-clothed policeman repeatedly kneeing a fan is unforgivable, and so is beating and throwing bottles at him in return.
Surely that should read “A man repeatedly….” whether he was a policeman or not is irrelevant…
Top of the morning to you all from a still-dark Fife.
Perhaps I am going senile as I don’t think the article by Michael Grant is too bad!
My petition on judges’ secret societies membership will be heard on Tue 12 Nov at 11am Please watch it here: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/newsandmediacentre/66732.aspx … … Thanks
Good morning friends from a dark, grey, drizzly East Kilbride.
Good Morning Timland.
Where is everyone?……..oh! that’s right, it’s the AGM this
week,god know’s what it will be like on here on Friday…lot’s
of dummy’s getting flung from lot’s of pram’s.
Radio Scotland say Ross County and St Johnstone have “apologised” for not observing a minute’s silence on Saturday.
Didn’t say to whom.
hun skelper
20:34 on 10 November, 2013
supersutton
20:07 on 10 November, 2013
When did izzy leave ?
———————–
The article is titled “Covering Emilio…”. Who says he has to leave. With the frequency of injuries to our fullbacks having an equal or better option is required. See Matthews and Lustig as an example.
Following Administration Day II,lots of huns will doubtless be looking for places to go as their Saturdays become even more meaningless than before.
It seems there’s a wee village in Romania which is ideal….
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2498479/In-January-thing-left-goat-Romanian-father-sevens-boast-mayor-says-half-population-villages-way-Britain-higher-salaries-generous-benefits.html
The dull, damp air dispelled to start a great week in the Chilterns…
Radio 4 were discussing the UEFA – TV rights deal this morning, over the weekend the reaction to the news that BT Sport has secured the TV rights to ALL UEFA CL & EL from 2015/16 has been mixed, as usual most are looking at it from their own perspective, I certainly am – got to be good for Celtic.
Now for the most part Celtic’s European games are not on Terrestrial TV, STV tend to take the same CL game as ITV, probably have to, although when we are in the Europa you do get half decent coverage on ITV4.
Now I’ll paraphrase a quote from BBC TV News, reporting earlier on vis-a-vis the deal – “Sky Sports have top Premier League action this weekend including the Man Utd, Arsenal clash, while BT Sports have to contend with Ross County, Celtic.”
The BBC have recently been dire in their outlook/delivery of Scottish Football, it was a wee add-on for SKY.
So from a Celtic/Scottish Football fan this deal suits me, it bmeans a platform that has CL, EL and SPL matches – If the SPFL are smart – ????? – they will sign an exclusive deal with BT Sport next time out.
The fact is Globally the Broadcast/Media industry is changing, the service provider and content provider role is impacted.
As a customer all you want is a media provider, if the platform and customer service is fine you are not going to notice it, all you’ll be doing is selecting the content.
Now SKY needs you to pay for content to make it’s money, that’s it’s business model.
Yet BT doesn’t, it makes revenue as a service provider; line rental, broadband etc, plus (and it’s a big plus) enterprise offerings.
BT is after content to maintain/increase market share on it’s existing offerings.
Therefore I believe they will provide some of their content free – after all if it’s free they’ll have more viewers and can maximise exposure and advertising revenue – they do this already.
The one downside is the next battle for English Premiership rights could mean even more money for that league, yet even that has a silver lining if the Southamptons and Norwich Cities of the world are going to continue to pony-up.
We shall see but the status Quo is limiting Celtic – Change is good.
Hail Hail
BMCUW,
I had a look on a couple of times and thought the blog might be broke, so during my lunch break here in Karratha, I thought I would tell my little story of Seville, still never got the place excited.
AR
Chairbhoy
That is a well made observation re the BT deal.
I work in the digital broadcast industry and the rate of change in digital broadcasting is rapid and constant.
Digital Broadcasting is undergoing a revolution and within the next few years all sorts of retailers, service providers, industrial outlets and so on will all have their own digital channel and will be broadcasting vis the internet.
Further all sorts of businesses are coming together to take up spare satellite feeds and so broadcast straight into your living room.
Video represents 50% of traffic on all mobile devices– far more than phonecalls.
So the whole thing is moving, and all the football clubs and associations should be very much aware of that and the opportunities it offers such as the recent SPFL deal for China.
How many other territories can Scottish Football be sold to?
There is a whole industry in that.
Interesting article by Michael Grant.
However, note the post by Winning Captains in the wee early hours about the issue of CQN Magazine coming out tomorrow.
There is far more to the Amsterdam story than you are being told………. at present.
chairbhoy- the only problem I have with BT Sport is I enjoy this free with Virgin XL package, I suspect this may well end soon now they have revenue to generate and something attractive to offer.
Still, its a price to pay to break the BSkyB stranglehold.
Antipodean Red.
Great story about Seville.
I may get back to you re that looking for a little more detail.
HH
BRTH
ANTIPODEAN RED
I was gonna wait till you were back on to say how much I enjoyed that.
I couldn’t go as I had started my current job less than a month before,but my Dad went.
Like you,he never thought he would see Celtic in a Euro final again. We all did!
Now,we’re in much the same boat,but…..
Strange things happen inParadise!!!!!!
ANTIPODEAN RED
When BRT&H refers to a little more detail,run!
War and Peace started out as a short story before he got involved…
Only kidding,BRT&H. You could write a recipe for porage and it would make great reading.
Morning all. Very wet and grey down here.
I thought Radio Scotland surpassed themselves earlier. On their sports report about 6.30, instead of giving details of the games, they had a round up of who and who did not have a minute’s silence at the games. As it turns out, only 2 did. Their later reports toned it down and only mentioned that 2 clubs had apologised for not having it. Pathetic stuff.
That was a short Message from a chap called:
Bobby Murdoch’s Curled up Winklepickers – 35 characters.
Brogan Rogan Trevino and Hogan – 26 characters.
And he talks about Brevity? lol
I rest my considerable case!
BRT&H
Touché.
Chairbhoy,
I noticed that comment on the BBC news on Saturday evening. Typical EBC arrogance. Why can’t Scottish viewers demand that their BBC give proportionately as much money to the SPFL??
Meanwhile,a wee donation to a potential miracle? BMCUWP words, great sentiments
Only 5 teams remaining ! ! ! once pledges come through today ! ! !
* * * FUNDRAISING SUPPORT CQN STYLE * * *
Handicapped Children’s Pilgrimage Trust (group77)
Bhoys and Ghirls, looking for support with a very Important Fundraising initiative for my Daughter.
Laura is a member of HCPT 77, from this year, having been in the Scottish Youth Group section for several years, (a life changing experience for not only Laura, but the children who attend) acting as an entertainer for Children with special needs, disability, or underprivileged etc, on an annual Easter week Pilgrimage to Lourdes.
This year is different, her first year as an adult carer, and allowed to fully sponsor and support 24/7 a child throughout this trip.
To allow this to take place, she needs to raise £1000 by December, to fund the Child.
We are looking to run over the course of the next week, a Football Card,
50 teams and £10 for a team, with a very special prize. ( we can add more teams if more contribute)
“The Calm before the Storm” a 44″ * 32″ portrait of the Nakamura free kick goal scored against Man utd on 21st November 2006, ( it was £500 when bought)
If you would very kindly like to support this, please drop a note to
HCPT77@hotmail.co.uk.
We will respond with details on how to pay into the fund and have the chance to win this prize, once payment made, a team will be allocated, and hopefully drawn by next Friday ?
Thanks to all in advance to all who will support
The prize (thanks to Doc for posting);
http://www.twitpic.com/dkhzlu
And a wee link to how the children feel about this visit
http://youtu.be/_0SOBjVnEtQ
Hail Hail
BRTH & BMCUW,
I’m still playing catch-up with the wife for that Seville trip, she doesn’t get the football, Celtic thing. I took her to Tannadice on Boxing Day 1987, centenary year, first time ever, hired a car from Tariq on the Boulevard, gave here the keys to put in her bag, at half-time she’s moaning and wants to go back to the car, she asks me for the keys, I say you’ve got them, no ah huvnae, the keys were eventually found on an empty terrace about 30 yards from where we were standing about half an hour after the game finished, covered in all sorts of you can guess what. At least most of the traffic was gone by the time we got back to the car, I never even got to see the goals!
AR
ANTIPODEAN RED
I only ever took a lass to the football on one occasion.
1985 Cup Final.
We caught caught up in the crush outside,vaulted the turnstile to get in-taking too long otherwise,walked round the other side to get out,and watched it in The International Bar.
She never asked to go back-and I certainly never offered!
You were lucky!!
FouryorkshiremenCSC
BTW,the above excludes my kid sis,who caught the bug when she was eleven,still a season ticket holder over thirty years later!
good morning one and all…just a wee quickie to announce the latest member of the CQNs family. beautiful baby granddaughter arrived at 6 this morning, baby and daughter in law in fine fettle, jeez isn’t life grand?.
Congratulations masty.
Hail Hail
BT
thanks mo chara,
Morning folks.
Great result on Saturday I enjoyed what turned out to be a good performance. We wore Ross County down then got under their skin.
Referee was weak stretching the third foul rule to the fourth before awarding it to Celtic.
On players let them be the player they are rather than what we want them to be….you might enjoy their performance more.
Match of the Day Scotland is shockingly poor
On CQN cliques I have to say I have only met briefly a couple of you something I hope to rectify when this dinner comes up.
I’ll hang fire on whether the BT deal is good or bad….
Poppies…don’t need a flower to remind me of my grandfather and his brothers in WW1 or my Dad and his brothers in WW2 pain in later life…war is a terrible thing.
Internationals this week…is it me or have they become more intrusive this season.
Remember there is no Old Firm.
Back to lurking and enjoying your thoughts and stories
HAIL HAIL
Congratulations granddad masty.
masty .well done another one for THE FRANKS.
Congratulations masty
masty- great news gramps, enjoy every minute of her
Great news masty
MASTY
Congrats to all concerned.
Masty…prepare for some very happy years….!!!!!
67HEAVEN
Aye-babysitting!
supersutton
07:33 on 11 November, 2013
We have plenty of cover Charlie mulgrew and Adam Mathews or bring in a u-20s as we have done with fisher, this need to bring people in when we have a youth team winning everything for years is a joke we need to promote from within and see if the youths can do it HH
hun skelper
09:20 on 11 November, 2013
Correct….!!!!