I thought it was the emerging influence of Nir Biton as a central midfield influence who transformed Celtic against Hearts on Sunday; he looked that good. If anything, Celtic were better in his absence last night, more fluid, more incisive, against a better team.
It’s all about shape. The correct shape gives players time on the ball when they need it, allows them to look industrious, not static, and makes them difficult to counteract. The only two questions are: can we maintain it, and when was the last time a Celtic team controlled the ball like this?
Forget about trying to maintain this in Barcelona, that’s far too risky, but if we can play like this at Tynecastle and Fir Park we can do so anywhere else in Scotland. Don’t think we’ve played like this since the Centenary Season.
It’s difficult to interpret the vandalism at Fir Park last night. As Celtic fans we don’t have a point of reference for this stuff. “Had enough. Won’t be back at another away game”, was the verdict of a friend I spoke to, who has probably missed no more than 40 domestic away games in the last 40 years. The proportion of Celtic fans who would never vandalise seats is well above 99%, but there’s a new and unwelcome phenomenon in British football and Celtic have the best views in the country.
Getting back to more familiar ground, The Kano Foundation asked me to pass on this message:
“The Kano Foundation World Cup 2014 Predictor
Friends,
2013 has been a world class year for The Kano Foundation. We’ve had our first ever bucket collection, held our 3rd annual dance, welcomed groups from across Scotland, England and Ireland, and last but by no means least we will welcome our 2000th child to Celtic Park. All this would not be possible without your unwavering support.
As we move towards the new year, The Kano Foundation are always keen to continue our work while bringing you the fans new and exciting ways to support us. The fabulous prizes on offer at our Golf Day in September are just one example.
To keep up this form, we are delighted to announce a very special competition ahead of the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.
We will be running a predictor competition unlike many others. At first reading our two part predictor is very similar to others where you enter the scores and winners for the 72 games.
However, we are also offering an unbelievable bonus prize fund of £10,000 for anyone who can correctly predict the outcome of all 48 group games . Yes, that’s correct – £10,000 to be shared amongst all entrants who can correctly predict the general outcome (winner or draw) for the all the group games.
In order to run both competitions we are asking entrants to make a one-off donation of £10. From the funds raised 50% will go as a donation to TKF with the remaining 50% available for prizes.
With just 100 entrants, not only can we raise a £500 prize fund for the predictor, we can also take over 200 kids to a game at Celtic Park. A tidy reward for a just few minutes brain effort!
All you need to do to enter is register you interest by email at:
wcpredictor@thekanofoundation.com Please include TKFWCPred as the email/paypal subject and tell us your user/team name so we can verify your entry. If you’ve not got enough room, enter as much detail as you can and tell us what you’ve done so we help.
Then make your payment into The Kano Foundation bank account (30-13-01 00989961 through Paypal or by sms by texting KANO11 £10 to 70070 – remember to include your name/email address.
Visit our predictor webpage (coming soon) to find more details and follow your progress
Once again, we hope we can rely on your support to make this predictor a success for us in terms of fundraising and for potentially making one of you £10,000 richer!
Thank You
The Kano Foundation”
Congratulations to the Celtic fans who run and support The Kano Foundation, our community is rightly proud of the. Register your interest by emailing: wcpredictor@thekanofoundation.com.
Less than one day to bid on bid on the charity auction for lunch at Cinc Sentis in Barcelona. Another bounty from the excellent reputation Celtic fans have. If you’re going out next week, treat yourself………
Order your CQN Annual here:
Order Sean Fallon, Celtics’ Iron Man, here:
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reasonable and acceptable……(hit the wrong key)
I care I just don’t feel the need to shout about it while Chris Commons runs up the wing.
Regardless of what section of our support causes bother we all suffer.
GB tell everybody else they are wrong but can’t manage the big problems within their own ranks.
Anyone mention Zola Budd? Hail Hail Hebcelt
big-cup-winners
16:29 on 7 December, 2013
Aye, they could throw a smoke bomb to show their support for those ideals…..so disappointed in them….
10,500 at Easter Road
BMCUW
Hamiltontim is right up there as one of the nicest CQNers I’ve had the pleasure to meet.
The blog sadly has a few McCoist type sleekit gits.
Se7en
16:30 on
7 December, 2013
I care I just don’t feel the need to shout about it while Chris Commons runs up the wing.
Did he do that last night ? That’s a first.
BIG-CUP-WINNERS
Sounds awfy like the panel on Clyde SSB…
minceyheidman
16:15 on 7 December, 2013
Last night’s highlights.
Thanks for putting up link to game. What a ball from Pukki for 4th goal. Now i am not one to criticise refs, i know how difficult a job they have, BUT, only from the highlights, what was that ref up to? Two stone wall penalties & Pukki got booked for ‘simulation’…joke. I know you can appeal a red card, but does anyone know if Celtic can appeal Pukki’s yellow card?
I’m trying to keep off site but just couldn’t resist replying to Se7en. I just love it when a Troll’s or a Hun’s mask slips. What Celt would call Kris, Chris and don’t say its a typo because its not, Away and bile your heid as my Scottish friends might say.
Big cup winners-
There’s photos showing GB members with scarves over faces and a green ultras flag, one of them holding a flare in the area where the seats got wrecked. It’s been reported from various sources that damaged seats were covered in GB stickers.
hebcelt @ 16.31 hrs.
Zola Budd of course. Who can forget the song It’s a long way to trip a Mary ( Decker )
HH.
Paddy Gallagher
Great to meet you the other week albeit briefly and great to see you posting again.
Hebcelt, was wee Zola no white :-)
Now read the question again.
I was going to mention myself, as I played in the Currie Cup for the Vaal Triangle many years ago, but I’m also white :-)
Hail Hail
67Heaven
Think you are linking different points.
I’m not disputing the fact that wrongdoing should be stamped out.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ehw25c19wws
High quality official SPFL highlights.
Note the cameo appearance of FF.
big-cup-winners
16:22 on 7 December, 2013
Smoke bombs have no place in politics, ideals or football …… their only outcome is to hurt innocents, and for what…..not to make a statement, but to make the perpetrators look like BIG MEN …… when it actually makes them look like silly little 5 year old adolescents…..bitterly disappointed, I’m afraid….
Morrissey the 23rd Viva Resolution 12!
15:01 on
7 December, 2013
There is a fundraiser to help the Bhoys who have been treated disgracefully by the Police and the Courts in Amsterdam.
Music is from Billy No’Well.John Joe Amadans,Tandoori Tony,Erin Rogues…Words from Jeanette Findlay,Matt McGlone and other guests.
Admission £5 – From 7pm in The Phoenix tonight.
https://www.facebook.com/events/1415334828702820/?ref_newsfeed_story_type=regular&source=1
I’ll be there
Hamiltontim goes to more away games than most on here.
Club sitting good, team playing well, Ned’s dragging our name through the mud, sooner the close them down the better, and I notice it’s all the usual suspects backing the GB, WHATABOUTERIES doesent make this go away, they are bad for the club they need weeded out it’s just getting out of order, sooner the GB are banned from Celtic Park the better I for one have had enough, and please do not insult me with the , ” how do you know it was the GB” we all know who it was, this mob just don’t like Celtic being successful, they don’t want CFC to be the headlines, they want GB headlines, sling them, and the apologists who back them ASAP.
iPaddy McCourt Supports Wee Oscar
I think one of them (the guy lit up by the flare) looks like Neil Lennon. Maybe an Edinburgh jury would too ?
Cowiebhoy sorry I thought it was all South Africans,I,ll withdraw Zola in that case . Hail Hail Hebcelt
cork celt so I called kris chris big deal.
I have been on CQN from the start and been to more Celtic matches than you ever will over the last 40 years. Just because you don’t like my opinion don’t make me a hun.
67Heaven
You did see the reply ?
EldiegoBhoy how was breakfast this morning? Hope to see you next Sat. Hail Hail Hebcelt
NegAnon, I won’t try to defend the indefensible
Dubaibhoy-”If I signed off the accounts it has been in good faith.”
15:22 on 7 December, 2013
”On the subject of Mandela, can anybody name a black South African sportsman (other than Stephen Pienaar)?”
####
Stanley Matthews?
Good Evening.
Last night I watched a Celtic team on my television who played some of the nicest looking pass and move football I have ever seen in Scotland. Motherwell, who are normally a hard working, well organised and, on more than the odd occasion, a physical team, just were not at the races.
They could neither get near their opposite number nor the football itself for long periods of time. The movement of our players and their fluidity was a joy to behold and there were so many excellent individual performances to praise.
Last week I said that the highlight for me was the early ball played into the box by Mikael Lustig for Joe Ledley’s goal– it was a beautiful pass and although his goal was spectacular, such a divine pass makes the hair stand up– and trust me— mine does stand up!!
Similarly, last night I saw a goal of such quality I jumped out of my seat, yet I know it will have looked even better to those in the stadium.
When Teemu Pukki fought for the ball near the half way line, won it, twisted and turned before playing the ball back to Charlie Mulgrew, the cameras didn’t quite catch the fact that the Fin then got on his bike and ran up the right hand wing.
It seemed only seconds passed before Mulgrew split the Motherwell defence with a pass back to the Finnish player who then laid the ball on a plate for Tony Stokes to score.
As I said last night, that goal reminded me of that famous day at Love Street all those years ago.
This was a Celtic move from a Celtic team at their best, It was a great goal.
I am therefore disappointed that such a goal and such a performance should even face the threat of being overshadowed by the actions of those who chose to damage the seats at Fir Park.
The damage concerned was not accidental, did not come from over exuberance, or innocent exaltation of our team’s performance. No, there are reports that sections of those involved formed a cordon at the back of the area concerned which was designed to prevent stewards and police from interfering and stopping the damage.
Further, very early on there were reports from those who were there which said that these actions were not the actions of the Green Brigade, but were a faction of fans who regularly appear at away games.
Today, debate has raged about the press coverage, the prominence given to the damage by the press, the significance or insignificance of the damage compared to the victory and what have you.
Well, all of that is well and good. However it ignores or sidesteps or just plain doesn’t emphasise a view shared by many many Celtic fans of my age and my experience with similar beliefs to me.
So, let me explain something very personal and which is not being said on behalf of anyone other than me.
I am 52 years old, have hair like Don King on a bad hair day at times, and have a penchant for Cowboy Boots, strange clothes and am a firm believer in individualism.
In terms of my politics I am more of the left than the right and believe in the basic concept of Trotsky’s perpetual revolution– what is the right approach today may well need challenged tomorrow, and that starts with the views of the guy that stares back in the mirror.
I have knackered knees, damaged arms as of this year, failing eyesight but inwardly believe that I am really still in my twenties or early thirties at worst. In the main I am as happy as a pig in shit and on a good day, yes you can change the world in some small way.
However, I have been following Celtic since I was a wee wee boy of about 4 or 5. I have travelled the continents to watch the team, as well as the length and breadth of the United Kingdom and throughout Ireland. I have followed the team through lean footballing times and some pretty bleak social times— including the Thatcher years, The so called Troubles, all that David Murray had to bring and all that an out of date and out of touch board could inflict on the club.
Of course I have also been there during some great times– too many to mention.
Somewhere along those 52 years I reached a conclusion and that was that this was about far more than the 11 men on the park and whoever sat in a boardroom, or behind a managers desk. Whether you are for or against a PLC structure, agree with the transfer policy or not, the on field tactics chosen, or team selection made, it is about you — or collectively “us” as the supporters of, part of, and the very soul and fabric of — Celtic Football Club.
The reputation of Celtic Football Club was established long before I saw the first day of those 52 years. It is a reputation which was forged in harder times, leaner times when social conditions were bleak and the industry that engaged most was heavy and hard— possibly even cruel.
It is a reputation that is carried by each and every one of us like a baton in a relay race. You only have the baton for a limited period of time before you have no choice but to hand it on to the next guy who will take it as far as he can go, However it is the same baton that has been carried since 1887 and I am afraid it is precious.
It cannot and should not be carried by those who have no respect for it, or for the men and woman who carried it previously. And it cannot be carried– should not be carried by those who are simply not up to the job!
So, to those who damaged the seats at Motherwell: I have no idea who you were trying to impress or what you thought you would achieve but you have dropped the baton. Not only have you dropped it but you allowed it to roll down into a stinking stank and you have made it dirty and unpleasant, Maybe you decided to deliberately dirty that baton– I have no idea– but what you did not do was take care of it and cherish as others have in the past, and as many of us are trying to do now.
What I do know is that you must not be given the baton to carry again– at least not until you realise its worth, its significance and recognise that it was hard fought for by generations passed whose boots you are not fit to lick never mind lace.
You do not speak for me. You do not represent me. You are not a good advert for the club and the people I love and support as fellow supporters, and you do not represent the club or yourselves well with such behaviour.
You are not up to the job.
I have spent my life telling people I am a Celtic fan. Being a Celtic fan, in my eyes at least, means something, counts for something and represents something. By your actions, it is clear you do not represent the same thing, the same ideals, the same dreams and ambitions that I have— where every football fan in the world, no matter who they support, will automatically smile at the very mention of the word “Celtic”.
I care not a jot for the press in this country. I am not impressed or swayed by poor law making, arrest statistics, or any of the other Government paraphernalia which is supposed to tell me how society stands. I have spent decades in and around all sorts of people– everyone from Government ministers, murderers and convicts, con men and captains of industry, millionaires and folk on the dole, priests and pirates ( literally ) and damn near everyone in between.
As a result I rely on my own judgement as to what I think is right or wrong, is acceptable or not in my eyes, and the kind of company I want to keep.
You are not of the type I wish to be associated with. You are not of the type I wish MY club to be associated with. You are not to be admired, but should be condemned and cast out.
The rest of us cannot stand idly by and watch you tarnish the reputation that has been so long in the building by oh so many others. Nor can we stand by and allow the actions of so few to damage the reputation of so many. The needs of the many, outweigh the needs of the few — as someone else might have said.
Accordingly every Celtic fan has to take a stand on this. There is no room for arses on fences or mealy mouthed words. At any future game were such behaviour is prevalent the Body of the Celtic support has to do what is necessary to put a stop to it– legally of course. There is no room for blatant vandalism in the Celtic that I know and love– and that is not said in the spirit of Walfrid but in the spirit of the men who worked in yards and mines and who would not stand for such idiocy.
They built a reputation for fair play, song, laughter, strength in adversity, and for being a support that was like no other.
In another time and in other social circumstances, those who deliberately tarnished that reputation and that sense of community would have been taken outside and given a right good hiding in the name of Celtic and told never to darken the door again.
I do not advocate the hiding, but I do advocate that the deliberate tarnishing of the Celtic fan’s reputation– my reputation–our reputation– cannot be tolerated.
However, I am only one voice– and a voice that is no more or no less important than any other Celtic voice but I believe there are many more Celtic voices that will sing the same song.
As for the Green Brigade I would say beware: Beware the imposters and wannabes who would supposedly act in your name or allegedly follow your lead with a view to being more Ultra than the Ultras. Beware you imitators. Unless you come out and condemn these guys you will be in danger of associating yourelves with them and as being for them and of them —giving them ever more licence to go further.
On an evening where the football team on the park were just sublime a small section of so called fans through the baton away when it was not theirs to throw.
They disrespected the team, the fans, the club, our opponents and our reputation.
They are not for me.
They are not for us.
Most of all they are not for Celtic.
‘GG
16:38 on 7 December, 2013
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ehw25c19wws
High quality official SPFL highlights.
Note the cameo appearance of FF.
I sometimes switch of on here and have to read the post again to find out if FF is Fraser Forster or follow Follow. Woke up and paying attention now!
There was that S African lady who had to take the gender test in the athletics.
On another note, I remember an interview with Graeme Pollock (father of Shaun) who before the apartheid ban, was shaping up to be a cricketing superstar in the 60’s up at the level of Gary Sobers et al.
His career was halted in its tracks by the apartheid ban, rightly so, of course, at the age of 23.
It was heartwarming to read so may years later that he held no bitterness for what happened to him, saying that it was nothing compared to the dismantling of apartheid.
Big cup winners-
Aye ok it wasn’t the green brigade last night. It was neds dressed up as the GB in ultras gear with an ultras flag and a flare and GB stickers. Nothing to do with GB at all.
Silly me
ElDiegoBhoy
16:36 on
7 December, 2013
Paddy Gallagher
Great to meet you the other week albeit briefly and great to see you posting again
*************
Likewise mate – a pleasure to meet you.
Just in to say….
So, it takes Celtic fan -Jim Delahunt to illuminate the possibility that, another Celtic fan, Ross McCormack of Leeds Utd FC – might be a possible target for Celtic in January ?
Hmmm ?
Off oot.
Talking of Kriss Commons
Player of the season so far ?
Se7en
16:42 on
7 December, 2013
cork celt so I called kris chris big deal.
I have been on CQN from the start and been to more Celtic matches than you ever will over the last 40 years. Just because you don’t like my opinion don’t make me a hun.
Great your credentials are undisputed.
There’s this guy in area 108 too. A few years back he was dishing out some vile drunken abuse aimed at Mark Wilson. I ended up arguing with the guy and he started telling me what a great Celtic man he is and he was more passionate than me etc puerile really………. but he is totally convinced and he is always there.
Wonder who he targets these days ?
mickbhoy careful you spelled his name right now or you’ll be labelled a hun
Splendid post BRTH cap doffed sir.Hail Hail Hebcelt