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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IMO,Henry Winter is the finest football journalist in the UK.
I would love to think that some of the charlatans who write about the game in Scotland had a fraction of his ability-or honesty.
The following is a perfect example of that ability.
“When Tony McCoy goes to work, he is followed by an ambulance and adulation.
When Ashley Young goes to work, he is followed currently only by recriminations. Their only shared trait seems to be a love of Arsenal.
At Towcester last week, McCoy avoided a fall, won his 4,000th race with a well-timed run and became even more of a sporting icon for his skill, bravery and dedication. At Real Sociedad last week, Young deliberately did not avoid a fall after a well-timed run and became even more of a pantomime villain for another dive. The cheating debate intensified further with Saturday’s incident involving Chelsea’s Ramires, although the spotlight remains strongest on Young because of his growing list of offences.
Two of the week’s headline-fillers show the good and the bad of sport: racing’s humble legend versus football’s tumble tot.
McCoy is too dignified and self-effacing an individual to appreciate his example being used as a whip to beat an admittedly unpopular denizen of a world he respects. Yet the juxtaposition of McCoy’s latest racecourse high and Young’s latest penalty-area low make it even more of an irresistible contrast. Young has to find some substance as a man as well as a player.
Even those of us with only limited affinity with the Sport of Kings can appreciate that McCoy’s endurance alone, carrying on towards his 40th birthday despite all the broken bones, punctured lungs and splintered teeth, is a remarkable feat. Young cannot even break his own fall.
It would be too much to hope that the Manchester United attacker, who is not alone in his cheating ways, looks in the mirror and has a few moments of honest self-assessment. It is frustrating.
There is still a very talented player inside Young but his hopes of adding to his 30 caps and seven international goals are fading unless he changes his game. At 28, Young should be at his peak, enjoying that golden period when the athleticism of youth is amplified by a decade’s knowledge of his craft. He should be a fixture on a United flank.
He should be going to the World Cup. On the eve of Euro 2012, Young received plenty of praise for some of his performances for England. Now he is out in the cold. Roy Hodgson gave Young 22 minutes for England in Kiev in September, and although emphasising “that the door hasn’t been slammed in his face”, it is clear that Hodgson’s focus is now more on Andros Townsend, Ross Barkley and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain. Adam Lallana and Jay Rodriguez have moved ahead of Young. He is in danger of becoming yesterday’s man.
Arsène Wenger, Arsenal’s manager, argued that the disdain of the media and the disapproval of fans would make divers like Young and others be more upstanding. Unlikely. It really requires a collective intervention from managers, the players’ union and the law-makers. And the player himself.
Managers have an immense responsibility. They are the ones who have most influence, being able to leave the player in the stands. Jose Mourinho needs to have a word with Ramires after Saturday, and while David Moyes earned much admiration when condemning Young’s dive against Crystal Palace, he undermined that commendable stance by defending Young this time, saying it was down to the referee in the Basque country.
“If you need to talk to anybody, you should ask the referee,” said Moyes. Most observers felt Nicola Rizzoli had been duped. Moyes argued that there was some contact, albeit the tiniest of tugs from Markel Bergara on Young, whose response was utterly disproportionate.
Of course, Bergara’s place of work has its own practitioners of gamesmanship. The Spanish league has been joined by Neymar and Gareth Bale, wonderful attackers but also known to exaggerate challenges on them.
Peter Schmeichel spoke powerfully on BBC 5 Live of how he was left almost speechless with anger at the amount of diving in Portugal. Even good old Phil Neville, such an admired professional, admitted diving at Everton. England’s current darling, Townsend, confessed his guilt after being cautioned for simulation when challenged by Frank Lampard. And do not mention Wayne Rooney v Sol Campbell 2004 to Wenger; he has still neither forgotten nor forgiven.
Diving stains the game at home and abroad. The focus on Young is because he is a frequent offender. He has dived against James Milner, of Manchester City, against Shaun Derry, then of QPR, against Ciaran Clark, of Aston Villa, and against Chelsea’s Branislav Ivanovic. Young does not just collapse; he seems to straighten his body through the air before inviting gravity to do the rest.
It is one of English football’s most unappealing signature moves. For all his public defence of the player in San Sebastian, Moyes must also think of his club’s reputation. Similarly, the Professional Footballers’ Association should remind its members that they are cheating each other and damaging the image of the game that pays them so richly.
The Football Association needs to act because of concerns over the impact of Young’s simulation on aspiring, impressionable youngsters. “On occasions when I have delivered FA courses, coaches raise the issue, saying kids may mimic what they see on TV – just like they may try and copy a new turn or trick,” said Roger Davies, the FA’s National Game coaching in education manager.
“We discuss how to deal with it if it does happen. When we played as kids in the street with no adults and no refs, it would self-regulate by us dealing with it.”
Peer pressure would sort the problem with a growled or mocking “Get up!” order. “The other way is I take the football issue out of the equation,’’ continued Davies of his advice to youth coaches, telling them “how you would deal with a child found cheating in an exam or doing something underhand to gain an advantage over someone else”.
Ultimately, grass-roots coaches are shaping human beings and sportsmen. “We are developing the players to be footballers yes, but, also holistically, to be good citizens of our country, and with that comes honesty and integrity.”
Honesty and integrity: not words always associated with modern football. Seeking to restore such standards, the FA now permits retrospective disciplinary action for violent incidents even if partially addressed by match officials at the time. “This sacrosanct rule that once it has been judged by the referee nobody can come back, means you could be a killer just because the referee doesn’t have the perfect angle to see what you did,’’ said Wenger.
If the game’s guardians are now, quite rightly, prepared to take post-match action on violence then why not on felonies that assault the fabric and popularity of the game? Young’s misdemeanour was in Europe, outside FA jurisdiction, but divers should be brought to task if deemed by a panel to have committed offences in England. Wenger made the valid point that players will become warier, knowing that the short arm of the law has grown longer. They can run and dive but they can’t hide.
When the FA compiles its Fair Play League, offensive and abusive language carries three times more penalty points than a dive. Clearly the yellow-card sanction is insufficient. If a referee has decreed it a dive, then a red card should be applied. Again, there are grey areas: simulation is cheating whether inside the area or outside, it is simply the stakes are higher in the box, so the punishment should be higher.
Weaker referees might waver, doing nothing, rather than triggering the inevitable storm of a red card. The case for a sin-bin grows ever stronger, leaving the devious likes of Young squirming for 10 minutes on the seat of shame. This modern public stocks might just embarrass the divers into refraining next time.”
CultsBhoy. Funny how we can watch the same game and see things so differently I was thinking Ki has not developed into the player we thought he would he does not hurt teams he is much happier with a sideways pass or a back pass and he doesnt do any defensive work.I think Swansea realise they did not get a 6 million pound player although they paid 6 million.I dont think he would have held down a first team place at Parkhead and im happy heis at Sunderland.H.H.
Dubaibhoy
Great cut and paste…..
KTF
Looking forward to Man U arsenal should be a cracker HH
Will our custodians tackle the MSMs blatant attempts at denigrating our support ?
HT
I thought both full backs were excellent, both defensively and offensively. Hats off to you and the travelling support. You created a great atmosphere in my local. :)
PF
Celtic are conducting our own ‘investigation’ when it’s complete we should expect a statement .
dd,
How are you bud? The Mountblow Bar or H and B?
BSR
Or maybe it’ll remain as hidden as the dossier ..
I hope your correct …but it have no faith in these bassas to do anything to support the fans
Perhaps I’ve just become cynical
PF AYR
Wouldnae hold my breath on that one.
The MSM are only following where the board have led.
That board is now reaping the whirlwind of not defending the support over allegations made about the Rennes game,and of not appealing the findings-guilty,obviously,as no defence was offered.
Dubaibhoy-”If I signed off the accounts it has been in good faith.”
15:42 on
10 November, 2013
James Stokes VC: Celtic Fan and Hero
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Good post……..not for everyone but it does for me.
BMCUWP
You were at the Rennes game …yes ??
BMCUWP
And of …failure to tackle the SFA …..their open desire for the return of some form of Huns …..etc etc
TCR
I am good bud. How’s life in Doire?
Mounty for the free half time pies. :)
Was busy yesterday.
Seem to remember their was/is a supporter’s bus
James Stokes VC back in the day.
Joe Fillipis haircut
Watched the Sunderland game.
Ki went through his repertoire of simple sideways passing.
He was positionally good but can’t remember him winning any tackles .
Today when Poyet demanded a positionally sound formation he made sense.
I still struggle to see what a limited player like Ki brings over a season.
His pAssing stats are good but, he only takes the easy option for himself but sometimes puts the recipient in trouble.
He to me abdicates responsibility to often to be a great player.
He has the skills but not the mental strength.
dd,
Things are fine mate.All good.Didn’t finish work till 11 last night and had a wee squint on here before I got the head down.Saw there was a wee Bankie debate about the Blitz.I was exhausted though so had to pass.Good result yesterday.
Man Utd pressing Arsenal high and causing them problems.
The fluid passing of Arsenal non existent so far.
Can’t see why more teams do this against similar type teams its so much more effective than sitting back and absorbing pressure for 90 mins
dont post much these days but after all that has been done in aid of sevco, how can anyone argue that our board stinks or is gutless? its beyond a joke all clubs have been spineless or corrupt, seriously look back at everthing and even now and tell me there is no corruption and no one is responsible and scottish football is not corrupt, away again needed that phew.
TCR
Enjoyed yesterday! BRTH article is a must read, about the blitz. Lovely service for the dearly departed in OHR this morn.
fan-a-tic Joe fillip
Ki’s movement was good and he kept Toure off the ball. He is yecnically very good but I would rather have £6m than him in the team …
Has anyone heard that Owen Coyle refused to select James McClean for today’s game because he refused to wear a poppy shirt
Cultsbhoy
I don’t think he kept Toure off the ball as he had plenty of possession .
But Ki did fill the space so reduced options of where he could pass or run.
Modern football seems to desire these type of players.
I am disappointed with Ki as I think he has the skill just not the mental strength .
BMCuW,
Thanks for posting the fundraising message, have been out most of day, as has Laura, and she will respond to all in time.
Please note, we will post a copy of the cheque being passed onto HCPT group 77, once completed, and hopefully funding a special child’s Pilgrimage to Lourdes.
I will also post a link to the fantastic work done by HCPT (when Laura gets back in)
BRTH,
Can’t believe after the disaster of Clydebank, your family then had to put up with being moved to Airth, would have been better staying put :-)
Hail Hail
PF AYR
Indeed I was at the Rennes match. Along with my Uncle Jim and my Dad.
Usual seats right beside The Green Brigade.
Both of those elder gents are quite vociferous in their condemnation of certain songs which have no place at the ground,but are more than happy to lead the singing in a pub,club,or supporters bus.
They didnae complain because it didnae happen.
The board,IMO,were happy to see the club shamed in order to blacken the Green Brigade.
They didnae quite think it through.
And that type of not quite thinking it through extends to a helluva lot of their recent decisions,again IMO.
DD
Aye the atmosphere was good yesterday and I even managed to contribute for the entire 90 minutes which wasn’t the case last season :-)
BMCUWP
Exactly
Just about had enough ……the inevitable gerrymandering of votes against the resolution will simply add to my disgruntlement
Apart from finance and balance sheet obsession …what are our board all about ??
16s beat Aberdeens 16s 1-0 at L T today. Hard but good game. The dons are a V G side and one of the top teams!!
COWIEBHOY
Not a problem,bud.
She is a credit to you,and intelligent enough not to touch that particular bottle of poison!
I’ll hit the local RBS tomorrow with my donation.
I confidently expect not to be the only person giving more than a tenner for a great cause and a smashing prize.
Though I suspect it will remain in your wee grotto regardless….
Ki is an outstanding player. If half our games weren’t played on small, uneven winter pitches I suggest he would still be at Celtic Park.
PF
Hard to say at this stage, Celtic will take into account our pretty impeccable European supporters status, in the main, and won’t be fooled by bias MSM seeking a mini Manchester microcosm, in which there were a handful of arrests under severe provocation.
In effect despite Daily Thugs and Thieves type churnalism, our board may say nothing just like regular people.
PF AYR.
I know,mate. Getting really scunnered by it all.
Prayer supports wee Oscar
It’s hard to equate our boards actions as those of Celtic supporters.
It’s worrying how often they have alienated the support on issues concerning our club.
Valentines day
There was a club of that name. Don’t know if they still run a bus. The bus was run by Joe Gallagher, known as Mr celtic because he cashed in his life insurance to go to racing club matches, among other things.
Club was originally called glenties csc but the name was changed in early 70s when celtic said club names should not be associated with Ireland. The bus used to travel from gorbals cross but moved when the cross was demolished.
Michael Owen’s uncle used to travel on the bus.
Thot it was a bit ruff on Leadley yesterday getting hooked when he had a chance to score his first ever hat trick.and maybe even get in the soccer record books as one of the few all scored with headers.
Stephanofderby
Could you remind me of games were Ki was outstanding?
I remember some effective performances but can’t truly remember him ever being outstanding.
fanadpatriot
16:47 on 10 November, 2013
He was sent home from Yeovil today for refusing to wear a poppy shirt,
Don’t know if it was Coyle or a board who done it.
Shocking so much from freedom of choice, Coyle should no better that a right thinking bhoy from Derry would not wear a blood stained poppy.
Well done James McClean a guy with principles HH
Any idea how long until Matthews returns ?