The triumphs and tragedies of Euro 2020 were great entertainment. Although major national tournaments are won by the big countries, they have a meritocracy that Uefa’s club football tournaments lost long ago.
Contests where Switzerland can eliminate France, Hungary can terrify Germany and Denmark can reach a semi-final are compulsive. Those of us who get our football kicks from the Champions and Europa Leagues can only dream of the level playing field where developing talent provides a remote chance of success.
Italy deserved to win the final, although Spain and France will wonder what could have been. England had Italy on the ropes for 20 minutes, but when Kane was nullified, Gareth Southgate looked like someone whose only previous managerial experience was in charge of Middlesbrough. The song that describes “30 years of hurt” will soon be 30 years out of date. They will never have a better chance.
I was in London last week and was able to enjoy banter with England fans without a whiff of trouble. They are no more represented by this morning’s headlines than Scots are represented by what happened in George Square. The human condition has a long way to go.
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From today’s CQN LATEST NEWS – “Celtic Step Up Recruitment Drive.”
Ye Gods! Where is the drive? Where is the dynamism? Where is the urgency? It has been nearly 3 weeks since the Dom and Ange Laugh In when they expressed that the holes in the team would be treated with urgency. And NOTHING has transpired. BSR’s cartoon’s of tumbleweed are particularly apt.
Few people know if transfer rumours have any substance, but the Club seems to be linked with players from Lawwell’s past, who we failed to sign before, and now fail again, or linked with the likes of Viscovic or Starfelt and just can’t close the deal. It is now too late for foreign based players to feature against the Danes in 8 days and getting short for Tynecastle less than 3 weeks away. Celtic finished 25 points behind last season, and are now considerably weaker. Whatever anyone thought of Griffiths, Klimala and Bayo, without them there is zero back up for Ajeti and a lethargic, unmotivated Edouard. As for the defence, last season’s sieve now has wider gaps.
Absent any evidence to the contrary, it appears the Board of Inertia are quite content to allow Sevco to have an uncontested run at automatic entry to the Champions League Group Stages. Maybe the Great Desmondo thinks that will make them more attractive for any potential future EPL entry as Celtic’s joined at the hip partners? I have as much chance of enjoying a fling with J Lo. Ten in a row was apparently not a good match for the business model, and we are back in the 2012 title sharing mode, where we do not contest Sevco name, date of birth, number of title wins or farcical 150 year anniversary.
Trent Arnold was injured before the the tourney started.
Italy must be pretty poor if they couldn’t beat a dud team like England over 120 minutes 😀
England world cup semi finalist and Euro finalist in what 3 years?? I think most nations would be happy with that, but the CQN experts know better.
I think they’ll go far in Qatar, though they clearly have a mental block or lacking a winning mentality to finish the job
they wont go far in Quatar.
They are not in the top 8 in the world, imho.
Didn’t Ian Bankier say recently the board looking through a wider lens? I was impressed by Ange and Dom interview with the fan groups – all great words but so far the lens is the same narrow penny pinching lack of ambition view as before.
We need to start signing our top targets, even if it means revisiting our salary structure.
THE BOARD IS A BALL A CHAIN FOR CELTIC FOOTBALL CLUB!!
England must be pretty poor if they couldn’t beat a dud team like Scotland over 90 minutes 😀
BIG JIMMY on 12TH JULY 2021 2:50 PM
Engerlund Pundits and Engerlund Manager and players TELLING us all how wonderful and GREAT the Engerlund fans are…….while at the same time…
You KNOW the rest !
________________________
That’s certainly not what I heard this morning on Radio 5. Commentators and fans alike were queueing up to describe and condemn the thuggery which began before the kick-off.
A Daily Mail journo graphically described how he shielded his 70 year old father father-in-law from a mob. Later he described in detail how legitimate ticket holders couldn’t access their seats as the thugs had occupied them.
Almost all the contributors registered surprise at the negligible police presence. It was left to poorly paid stewards to maintain law and order.
Miguel Delaney (The Independent?) summed up best: for 20-25 minutes England were on top. Then they ceded possession and control to Italy. They never won it back.
Squire @1.34. I beleive the Ange comments on Rogic came from a few weeks ago mate. HH
Paul do you think Peter, oh I meant Dom , will get any signings over line any time soon.
Asking for 48,000 season ticket holders
Well,another day spent reading the same transfer stories,and another day with zilch transfers.To say this is getting ludicrous,would be ludicrous in itself.Made the decision not to look at any more Celtic news,until the weekend.Fed up having my day spoiled.
The huddle
At the start of every tournament England are a seeded team and carry high expectations. The media go overboard and the fans buy into the hype. Measured over the last 55 years (1 in sevco speak) they have spectacularly underperformed given the size of population and footballing finances.
The current squad playing at home represented a great chance of winning – they had the easier route to the final and still didn’t win it.
Do they have a chance in Qatar – of course they do – they’ll be seeded again almost guaranteeing a last 16 – but we’ll see – it’s only 12 months away.
JHB on 12TH JULY 2021 2:51 PM
………..
I will make my views and opinions on whatever I wish to ” Base” them on.
You have unsuccessfully attempted to thrust YOUR views based on YOUR opinions in your Post above, as you have done with the majority of your Posts about anything for months now…
Im AFF OOT…to drink just some of MY Winnings from Italys Victory….and it will taste even sweeter knowing that I am tasting Engerlunds downfall at the same time…
Magic !
FORZA ITALIA.
https://twitter.com/90MinuteCynic/status/1414576005717577729?s=1002
Sevco charging the media 25k for access…..
FRITZSONG on 12TH JULY 2021 3:13 PM
………..
On BOTH TV Channels for weeks during the EURO’s…I have heard nothing but PRAISE for the Engerlund fans from every TV Host and Pundit…and in interviews with Southgate and ANY of his squad.
CHUMPS in DENIAL.
England’s improvement on the international stage sees them remarkably as ranked 4th in the world by FIFA.
Russia world cup they beat Tunisia, Panama and Sweden.
They drew with Columbia but when through on penalties.
The lost to Belgium (group & 3rd place play off, and Croatia in the Semi Final.
AN TEARMANN @ 1:32 PM
Tory MP unhappy at Rashford
This is the racist vermin in power in Uk today.
https://twitter.com/PoliticsForAlI/status/1414501837181489152?s=19
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An T …..
Brilliant post.
Goes to the heart of what, IMHO, is a very binary matter.
(which Paul touched on in his leader).
I have friends and relatives who are English.
Most English people I meet are genuinely decent people.
Gareth Southgate, his management and his players come across as decent blokes.
I totally understand and respect the disappointment felt by these groups.
Then there is the flip side ….
The ignoramuses.
The “who won the war anyway Fritz?” brigade
The “BLM is not relevant – so I won’t respect its existence” cabal.
They’re the minority for sure. But they are loud.
Saving the worst to last – the establishment bandwagoneers.
At the sniff of an opportunity out they come.
And if the opportunity fails to deliver – back they go …. but not before one of them deploys the shabby well worn tactic
“I really don’t think we should even mention or discuss that thing I’ve mentioned here”
Beyond contempt.
The frauds unfounded comment on last nights posts was simply to set up his follow up post.
Not to be trusted
FRITZSONG on 12TH JULY 2021 3:13 PM
……….
The Morning after Manchester 2008…not long after the Hun support had raped and pillaged their way thru Manchester city centre after getting gubbed 2-0 in the UEFA Cup Final….
I watched on TV…Martin Bain of Ranjerz and their Head of Security being interviewed and Bain telling us all how wonderful the Ranjurz fans had been…as Manchester lay in tatters.
The Huns blamed Chelski fans at that time..
Who are Southgate and his players and their Engerlund Pundits gonna blame ?
BOURNESOUPRECIPE on 12TH JULY 2021 9:29 AM
Celtic set to miss out on…………….
Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah
……………….
Where did you hear that? Sources please! 🤣
!!BADA BING!! @ 3:35 PM
https://twitter.com/90MinuteCynic/status/1414576005717577729?s=1002
Sevco charging the media 25k for access…..
———
Cheers Bada.
Interesting.
Personally I think the 90 minute cynic’s response misses the mood.
I think most outlets will moan about free press, the symbiotic relationship, the mutual benefit, the existing good will …. and then happily pay up.
I dont know for sure IF Southgate is a decent guy or not…hes just an average ex player…and an average Manager whos made Millions from the game…?
I couldnt care less IF hes a decent guy or not…to me…he got found out last night by a far superior Manager in Mr Mancini, and was showed up for what he is…..an average Manager who didnt know what to do when Italy stepped up their game.
I have a terrible feeling that we will not be back to full capacity after tomorrow announcement. I fear we will be stuck at 2000. The scottish Government are not about to take chances with club teams. However, I think they may well allow a full crowd at Ibrox on 29th August.
Mr Southgate has presided over the biggest lot of Engerlund players who will DIVE and CHEAT their way thru any game…
That alone doesnt appear to be a ” Decent” Guy to me..HIS ” Win at all costs” attitude and coaching has been done BEFORE by far BETTER Managers//Coaches than he will ever be.
Shearer actually said Italy “got battered” in the first half .e.
Unhinged busllhit punditry like this is the reason most folk want to see their arrogant nonsense shown up for what it is.
As for Rio Ferdinand, the undoubted “W*8k of the Tournament” award
Notthebus
They also described a couple of Italian tackles on the snowflakes as hacked down.
Before I go our for a few Beers in celebration…there is another JOY to take out from Engerlund getting GUBBED last night….
Thousands of Hun fans would have bet lots of Cash on an Engerlund victory….thats yet another reason to celebrate, and even though Engerlund scored first…how many Huns would have had Shaw as their 1st Goal Scorer on a Betting Slip ?
LOL
………
THE HUDDLE…
IF Trent Arnold was injured BEFORE the EURO’s why did EXPERT Pundit In Wright tell everyone halfway thru the EURO’s, that Arnold was the best crosser of a ball in the WORLD…WHY talk up a player who wasnt even there ?
Who would Southgate have dropped to play Trent Arnold ?
According to Southgate ALL and the Engerlund Pundits…ALL their players were fantastic…World Class…and FITTER than any other Team…
How did THAT work out for them ?
LOL
Right..its Beer time !
At one point during the match ( 2nd half..I think /)….Italy were in the English penalty area and had an effort at goal…the Engerlund Goalie was on his KNESS….with his BACK to the play…and luckily for him the ball came off his BACK…The Engerlund Commentator on BBC described it as ” An EXCELLENT SAVE” !
The Goalie didnt KNOW where the ball was….
EXPERT UNBIASED commentary…NOT !
BIG JIMMY on 12TH JULY 2021 2:50 PM
Engerlund Pundits and Engerlund Manager and players TELLING us all how wonderful and GREAT the Engerlund fans are…….while at the same time…
You KNOW the rest !____________________
That certainly wasn’t what I heard on Radio 5 this morning. Fans and pundits alike were queueing up to describe in detail and to condemn the thuggery witnessed last night.
One journo described how he had to shield his 70 year old father-in-law from a mob trying to effect entry into the stadium. He went on to describe legitimate ticket holders unable to access their seats as criminals had already occupied them.
A common theme emerged from the fans’ comments: the police presence was negligible and it was left to poorly paid civilians with limited authority to maintain law and order.
INIQUITOUSIV on 12TH JULY 2021 2:51 PM
From today’s CQN LATEST NEWS – “Celtic Step Up Recruitment Drive.”
Ye Gods! Where is the drive? Where is the dynamism? Where is the urgency? It has been nearly 3 weeks since the Dom and Ange Laugh In when they expressed that the holes in the team would be treated with urgency. And NOTHING has transpired. BSR’s cartoon’s of tumbleweed are particularly apt.
=====================================
Saved me the bother – agree with all of that. The ‘reported’ negotiations about players / haggling, etc., have an incredibly strong sense of déjà vu.
Risking multiple millions in European income by haggling over a few thousand pounds and not getting targets in early – a perennial problem at Celtic and it has cost us very dearly over the past years.
I do have hopes for the new regime, but the approach of the old one seems to still apply.
Going in to the most important games of this season having done almost nothing to improve the failed squad from last year – in fact with a squad that is further weakened – is once again making a huge gamble.
Ange has his work cut out as it is – we haven’t moved fast enough – as usual – to give him any help to turn us around. Not good.
HH
BGFC
police confimed huns were going to riot if they didnt get their title party
https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/rangers-union-bears-threatened-cops-24515344
utter scum
They KANE,they SHAW but did not conquer.
Are we any further forward than we were at the end of last season? Naw. Thought not.
We shouldn’t judge nations by the actions and behaviour of some of their supporters.
I’ve lived in England for 50 years and things have changed over that time – most are very tolerant and welcoming. If you look at the crowd last night the England supporters are ethnically very diverse.
It seems if you wrap yourself in a St George’s flag it’s different than if it’s a saltire.
There are racists in all countries and communities.
Bhoyjoe
Very good
Thank you Gene…bit of humour so they say!
GENE on 12TH JULY 2021 4:44 PM
We shouldn’t judge nations by the actions and behaviour of some of their supporters.
I’ve lived in England for 50 years and things have changed over that time – most are very tolerant and welcoming. If you look at the crowd last night the England supporters are ethnically very diverse.
It seems if you wrap yourself in a St George’s flag it’s different than if it’s a saltire.
There are racists in all countries and communities.
………………..
Absolutely agree with you. The crowd scenes in the match build up showed the ethnic diversity of the England fans. I said to my wife how good that was because it would enrage the far right in England and I don’t think those fans would support their national team if they felt threatened or unwanted.
The atmosphere during the build up was incredible but I was rooting for Italy. The media and pundits are intolerable. They lost all sense of balance after the Denmark semi-final. They deserved what they got. Just as the Denmark manager made horrendous team decisions by subbing his two strikers too early so too did Southgate leaving his penalty taker substitutions until the last seconds of extra time so that they didn’t get a touch of the ball.
BIGBHOY on 12TH JULY 2021 3:51 PM
I have a terrible feeling….
——
So do I!! That there will be no return to substantial crowds considered in Scotland until at least the end of the year. We will then be into winter and therefore no surprise if there is yet another postponement.
We know that Ibrox was treated with ‘kid gloves’ in a series of apparent Covid breaches last season, in stark contrast to Celtic who were handed a strong penalty every time – but surely it would be stretching credibility too far if they, like the Tartan Army, were allowed special dispensation to wave their respective flags and sashes.
Another season of no match-day income and little, or, no, attendances at European ties, will have a profound effect on Celtic and, of course, those in Ibrox.
Ibrox cares little, as we know, for balancing the books – they, as someone mentioned on here a couple of days ago, seem to ‘defy the laws of finance’. We, on the other hand, post Martin O’Neil, spend only what we earn and can afford. Is this the reason that we appear to being circumspect in our transfer dealings?
I’m sure Dom will not want to be seen to plunge Celtic into a financial mess in his first year in charge.
Such an approach will, of course, be extremely unpopular with the support, that’s why I argued for some kind of statement on strategy in a previous post. If there is bad news to deliver, then sooner, rather than later, say I.
Chris Jack all over Twitter launching his Sevco comic.
So this guys, as I understand works for Hearld and ET as a journalist. Hes obviously a died in the shite Rangers fan .Looks like he’s is a full time Rangers correspondent.
I don’t buy MSM anymore, Is their a Celtic equivalent? Serious question.
GENE on 12TH JULY 2021 4:44 PM
‘We shouldn’t judge nations by the actions and behaviour of some of their supporters.’
I agree, if you were going to judge them then i suppose it would make more sense to judge them by the political choices they make. And the English have chosen Brexit and the most extreme right wing gov in my lifetime run by an obvious narcissistic sociopath when they could have chosen a decent human being instead…
What do you think that says about them?