I spent a lot of time last season defending Stefan Johansen. His goals, goals created and interceptions stats were incredible. He needed defending because apart from when he was scoring or creating goals, lots of his work was done off the ball. Those who take note of off the ball work, his direct opponents, voted him Player of the Year (those who follow the ball, or action on TV, miss lots).
This season’s been different, none of the markers he put down a year earlier have been met. I don’t have enough information to explain why this is, so I’m not going to absolve the player from responsibility, but what we got from him on his return to Norway on international duty was the talking part of a good game:
“I am dissatisfied with the way I was playing”
“But in recent months I have felt my rhythm is better and that my body is good”
Perhaps more importantly:
“We are going to get those two trophies [league and Scottish Cup]. We have decided to do that.”
You very occasionally hear players talk in those terms – “deciding” to win. I remember writing up that Fraser Forster “decided” to make the England World Cup squad. He made his mind up, put the vagaries of form and fortune out of his head.
The commitment from Fraser in the year-or-so before the 2014 World Cup was enormous. He worked harder than any Celtic player. Enormously harder than some. That’s how you decide something which isn’t actually your decision.
Stefan has a lot of work to do to get back to where he was a year ago. Only he can decide if the time for talking off the park is over.
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And if they fail in their privileged positions to equal their ego…. at least we would have their hubristic mince to keep us warm at night with laughter.
And they are failing… miserably. And they ridicule you their failings from the AGM floor, and they get away with it,,, and you pay them to shaft you.
To shaft you.
Eyes full of dreams that cannot see.
my my at waterloo napolean did surrender
oh yeah
Cruyff was a selfish twat.
Caused many a young man to rush outside and try and replicate that turn.
Followed by many visits to local casualty unit to have mouldmasters surgically removed from said youngsters rectum.
That man could play an entire match without his feet ever touching the grass.
Bobby Murdoch’s Curled Up Winkelpickers……………Dublin is now an excellent city and has shown massive improvements in the last ten years. Small and compact with proximity to the mountains and the coast and amenities like fine eateries and hostelries and sporting facilities and the new Luas light rail system. I think it’s significant that Celtic have been chosen to play mighty Barcelona in Dublin as we celebrate 100th anniversary of the 1916 rebellion just as Barcelona were the opponents on the 125th celebrating the founding of Celtic Football Club.
And I cry for the dead that gave their lives to see our club a club that cared.
Really cared.
Cared for that that was worth care.
The Hun Buck does not qualify.
Sorry Peter.
Lucky white heather
Just read in Lottery last night
3 numbers paid 25 quid
4 numbers 51
5 numbers 15 yes Fifteen
apparently > 4000 had 5 numbers
Numbers 7,14,21,35 and 42 multiples of 7
meant folk were doctoring tickets to take a match out
: > )
Feeling a bit down.
As I have posted previously. About a year ago I contacted SFA asking what it intended to do about sectarian and racist behaviour at LC semi final.
I was informed that my letter had been passed to ‘appropriate department’ from which I heard nothing.
About ten days ago, I contacted SFA asking how it was going to combat inevitable sectarian and racist behaviour at forthcoming Scottish Cup semi final.
Sadly so far, it appears that on this occasion, my letter has not even been sent to the ‘appropriate department’.
20 unbelievable photos of sally that actually happened
is res12 gonna be our civil war?
how ironic given the 1916 celebrations
No WITS, Was up about 10 days ago for a couple of days, had a great time, did Kilmainham etc.
Am involved in organising a couple of events locally, could have gone up tomorrow OK but would have had to be straight back down Sat.
That would have broke my heart completely.
Right Ghuys and Ghirls, I will make a few posts about the Rhebel Session ClogherCelt and myself have organised for Easter Saturday night.
First up is info about the gig itself.
It started out as a Dublin Hootenanny, but given the significance of the year, we decided to incorporate the centenary of the Easter Rising as its theme.
The event will take place in the club premises of Craobh Chiaráin GAA Club which is adjacent to Parnell Park – the Home ground of Dublin and Hurling football teams – on Clancarthy Road in Donnycarney on Dublin’s nortside.
Doors will open at 9pm and music will be provided by Celtic Storm who is a regular entertainer at Celtic functions here and he is also a regular attender at Celtic Park. He will have CDs available for anyone who wishes to purchase them.
Finger food will be provided and we will also hold a raffle. You can queue at the bar or use the floor staff we have hired. Drinks will be at club prices which are cheaper than pub prices and a good bit cheaper than Temple Bar/Hotel prices. The bar closes around midnight but you will have time to finish your drinks.
The venue will be decorated to commemorate the 1916 Rising and to acknowledge the Celtic FC supporters in attendance. The Association of Irish CSCs will have some merchandise for sale.
I have been supporting our great team for over 45 years through good times and bad. Celtic today are led by a corporate team of suits who care nothing for those who pay to follow their team. The product on the field is poor and thousands of us cannot wait to play the team from Govan in the cup, encouraged by the suits to do so. Celtic are a pale imitation of the great club it used to be and unfortunately a huge part of the blame for that falls on the supporters or is it customers, I’m not sure…..
TONTINETIM@17:12 – Great post- great memories, and yes, the morose lunatics did take over the asylum(blog) yesterday – but only for one day.
Almore
I hope there wont be any offensive songs
I will be recording the event and sending on the footage to Strathclydes Finest
ONENIGHTINLISBON on 24TH MARCH 2016 7:24 PM
I have been supporting our great team for over 45 years through good times and bad. Celtic today are led by a corporate team of suits who care nothing for those who pay to follow their team. The product on the field is poor and thousands of us cannot wait to play the team from Govan in the cup, encouraged by the suits to do so. Celtic are a pale imitation of the great club it used to be and unfortunately a huge part of the blame for that falls on the supporters or is it customers, I’m not sure…..
Just how are the supporters to blame?
– See more at: http://www.celticquicknews.co.uk/deciding-to-win-talking-a-good-game/comment-page-5/#comment-2800193
Just seen that the Luas workers (Luas is the Dublin Tram system) are going on strike Easter Sunday & Monday.
If this goes ahead it is going to have very serious travel implications and could badly affect crowds attending the Parade.
Paul67 et al
Of course Johan Cruyff hinted at greatness as early as 1969, helping to defeat Benfica, Eusebio and all, 3-0 in a replay in Paris in the European Cup quarter-finals. Outclassed by our conquerors, and Man United’s too in the final, 4-1 AC Milan, the die was cast. We got to see him up close in both Amsterdam and Hampden in 1971, with Holland setting new standards for both club and international football. And all from a humble background, losing his father at twelve and brought up by his mother, who worked as a cleaner at Ajax. Proper proper football leader, one who accepted that players would and will make mistakes some of the time. Not only a great loss but a sad sad loss to our game.
God bless Johan
Requiescat in Pace
And if and when as they screw down your coffin lid, and one day they will, you a granted but a God given moment of reflection on your life’s devotion to Celtic – and asked – where did it all go so terribly wrong? With a lie of will to send you to hell, what would you answer?
In truth and fear of faith, or in courage of your own eyes witness….
Would you lie and say “God they met all my expectations”
BZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ
Turn up the heat Beelzebub, one more for the barbecue.
Thank you for playing ‘The Biggest Lie’
But you lost.
You never once cared to care.
In the language of the noble sheep it is proclaimed Bahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
What other Celtic forums can I log on to,thanks
“Celtic are a pale imitation of the great club it used to be ”
Maybe true or maybe we just didn`t know what was going on in the old days. When I went as a 15 year old, I don`t think I even knew we had a Board!
If we blamed anyone, we blamed the players when things went wrong.
JJ
Craobh Chiaráin GAA Club is the local club and was formed as Donnycarney began to develop in the early 1950s. ‘Craobh’ is the Irish word for ‘branch’ and Ciarán (Kieran) is a ‘saint’ associated with the ancient monastic site of Clonmacnoise.
GAA clubs were originally formed to protect and promote the traditional Irish sports of ‘Peil’ (football), ‘iománaíocht’ (hurling) and ‘liathróid láimhe’ (handball). Football is the strongest nationally of these three sports although it varies from county to county. Handball is very much a minority sport now. (it is very much like racketball without the racket!).
Craobh Chiaráin is more of a hurling club but it has football teams also and caters for boys and girls. The club’s biggest rivals are St. Vincents from the neighbouring parish of Marino.
Here’s a link to the club:
http://www.craobhchiarain.com/contentPage/106105/h_i_s_t_o_r_y
There will be a good attandence at the gig from the GAA club and some are members of the Bad Dawgs CSC. One of their members was extremely helpful in putting the event together.
The GAA will hold a 1916 pageant in Croke Park (the National Stadium) on April 24th before the League Final kick-off (hopefully to be won by Dublin).
WITS: Strathclyde police will only know about the offensive songs if Mickbhoy666 attends:-)
PRAECEPTA on 24TH MARCH 2016 1:55 PM
Sad news!
Sandwiched among the many Legends I’ve had the privilege to have see in the flesh – from; Puskas/ di Stefano – through; Jinky/ Pele/ Beckenbauer – to today’s Messi.
A rare mistake(?) from JC – taking down our great TB in 1982.
https://youtu.be/woRYB2Svb2M
Johan Cruyff RIP.
==============================================
magic capture ta for sharing.
remember the night very well, 16 in the jungle, loads of the YPSR took the early train at woodhall and we were first in the jungle, all steamboats.
first shock was the all blue strip.
second shock was jesper olson goal that someone kept shouting “get that feckin strachan lookalike”
anyways great memory, i think the 2nd half was an anti climax as sinclair stopped johan from getting a sniff of the ball.
did we miss a sitter in the last few minutes ? maybe even charlie nick,
What is the Stars on 24th March 2016 7:04 pm
Sandman
That’s a bit tasteless
It’s not a crime to make jokes of
===============================
Dumb footballer shags infatuated underage groupie. Been happening since the dawn of professional football.
I have no problem with jokes about that. You and others may be more sensitive about the subject. I have no problem with that either but won’t be apologising if I incur handwringing; just scroll on by.
The absurdity in this case is that dumb footballer just got handed a category A1 sentence. The same sentence some freak would recieve if he were to assault my 8 year-old daughter.
Why are the Rising centenary parades being held in March when the insurrection began Monday morning, 24 April?
‘O words are lightly spoken,’
Said Pearse to Connolly,
‘Maybe a breath of politic words
Has withered our Rose Tree;
Or maybe but a wind that blows
Across the bitter sea.’
‘It needs to be but watered,’
James Connolly replied,
‘To make the green come out again
And spread on every side,
And shake the blossom from the bud
To be the garden’s pride.’
‘But where can we draw water,’
Said Pearse to Connolly,
‘When all the wells are parched away?
O plain as plain can be
There’s nothing but our own red blood
Can make a right Rose Tree.’
Sandman
I think he probably would get a longer sentence for “assaulting” an 8 year old than a 15 year old
I am presuming ( maybe incorrectly) that by assault you mean ” sexual assault”
Anyhow each to their own
Its a nasty business even if the victim was an “infatuated teenage groupie” as you so charmingly put it
Ghuys, it’s really quite simple. Don’t respond to the obvious hun trolls who frequent the blog, just ignore them and move on to the next post. There is an obvious campaign in place to try and split the camp but in all honesty they are very easy to spot. Normally the overly Timmy type name is a dead give away and the usual pronouncements of being died in the wool fans is normally followed by a …….. but.
They aint so bright, in fact they are thick as sxxxte, so very easy to spot normally.
Must be even more annoyed now that we have been invited to take part in the prestigious Champions Cup along with 11 other European giants, and they are now down there as non entities, unrecognised by the rest of Europe.
Not just unrecognised, but dead …………. dead and forgotten, never to return.
Hahahahahahahahahahahahaha!!!!!!!!!!!!
Almore………..Donegal play Dublin footballers in the League on Saturday night in Croke Park and the hurlers are also in action against Ilmerick possibly in a double header same night. Should ensure a big crowd at the gig.
Good luck to Gordon Strachan tonight, that sound you can hear is the sharpening of knives, for the offence of not picking any sevco players.
Oglach, The real Commemoration, will be The Citizens Commemoration on Sunday 24th April.
Is Scotland game on anywhere?
Heading over to Dublin on Saturday morning. Really looking forward to a good weekend. Taking in the Donegal v Dublin match at Croke Park on Saturday night. Come on the Donegal
Well, well, 1 up after 9 mins. Anya.
Catman
Grrrr
Enjoy Croker
We should be more proactive in our condemnation of the present board led by Mr Lawell and the silent Mr Desmond. They treat us like customers, want the “old firm” brand to swell their coffers and choose to ignore our heritage.
IS THE GAME ON TELLY????
the question as always is what would walfrid think ?
class post jude !