It remains a possibility that Atletico Madrid will lose today’s league decider against Barcelona and next week’s Champions League final against Real Madrid (vernacular: ‘do a Hearts), but I hope not. The fact that they have pushed the two most celebrated football clubs on the planet to the limit, across two tournaments, is already remarkable. Should they deliver on two fronts, it will be the most stunning achievement in European football in 47 years.
There was a healthy amount of bloodlust for the Uefa Financial Fair Play (FFP) rules to fine the life out of the likes of Manchester City and Paris St Germain, before banning them from Uefa competition. This was never the point.
What Uefa have done is bring Europe’s two most freely spending clubs into line. FFP will restrict City and PSG’s expenditure, transfer market activity and squad selection. This is a result.
It’s a pity we’re not at Celtic Park to lift the Scottish Cup today. *!*!
Enormous thanks to Tommy Gemmell and everyone who participated in the entertainment here yesterday. Tommy thoroughly enjoyed the banter and will be back on the blog below this article early this afternoon to catch up with the questions he didn’t have time for yesterday.
You can buy a signed copy of his new autobiography, which he can add a personalised message to, by ordering below:
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Take care bud
HH
Burghbhoy
Bar coming along slowly but surely.
Grand opening July 2014.
How’s them tatties coming along?
Off tae bed
HH
http://www.thefootballlife.co.uk/post/86134974571/fade-to-whyte-glasgow-rangers-from-beginning-to-end
32k words – the entire Rangers story.
Good morning friends. A beautiful start tot he working week here in East Kilbride – dry,warm(ish), bright with dissipating clouds. What more could a man ask for ;-)
Morning Jobo
Dunblane much the same though I could never hope to match your eloquence & quiet authority.
;-))
HH jamesgang
Morning all from a hot & sunny Marmaris
On way to airport tho 8-(
Morning CQN some disgraceful posts last night of a personal nature
Well following Jobo’s weather update looks like a spot of long overdue gardening for me enjoy your day CQN
Morning all. Sunny here at the moment. Doesn’t look as if it will last. Puddles everywhere.
Any entertaining news from Govan?
Morning all from a warm Feungerola.
Top of the morni ng to you all from a fair and pleasant Fife.
Looks like being a good one today with lots of sunshine.
Any other good news stories would be a bonus.
Nothing happening in Govan?
timomouse
06:24 on
19 May, 2014
http://www.thefootballlife.co.uk/post/86134974571/fade-to-whyte-glasgow-rangers-from-beginning-to-end
32k words – the entire Rangers story.
————————————————————————————-
Just downloaded the full document – 34,893 words, including footnotes.
That’s my reading sorted for a few days.
Thanks to Timomouse for posting the link – are you the author?
HH
Centenary?
Off to work with a smile:-)
But in Kilkenny, it is reported
On marble stones there as black as ink
With gold and silver I would support her
But I’ll sing no more ’till I get a drink.
For I’m drunk today, and I’m seldom sober
A handsome rover from town to town
Ah, but I’m sick now, my days are numbered
Come all you young men and lay me down.
Nope not sick but just off to Kilkenny for the day.
I hear the young Scots got beat 5-0 by the Dutch last night. There were suggestions that they were being forced to play a game foreign to them. Why? Surely at that level all the concentration should be on improving their technique? Don’t tell me they are pinning their hopes on big guys at CF to whom they can punt the ball up to and that kind of nonsense. Hope I’ve got the wrong end of the stick.
Morning from hot, sunny and fresh Tenerife
JJ
D Tartt book next on my holiday list …currently half way thro Jim Naughtie’s effort “The Madness of July”… Decent reading
parkheadcumsalford
08:30 on 19 May, 2014
From what was written in here at the time it seems you’ve got the right end I’m afraid!
HH jamesgang
BakuBhoy
Indeed I am.
Parkheadcumsalford @ 08.30
The tactics (Scott Gemmill’s or Wotte’s) were terrible. In the first half they just hit long balls to the lone striker, who couldn’t get or keep possession. They sat back and allowed the Dutch to build from the back instead of pressing them. They also started with 3 Celts instead of the 6 who played in the previous games. Perhaps the SFA didn’t want to see so many Celtic players in the team.
Whither the cash strapped scrofulous hillbillies the day?
PFAyr- the David Goldblatt book on the history of football in Brazil is pretty good.
It’s called ‘Futebol Nation’.
Enlightening and at times depressing; the ole Sevconian way of doin’ things is not confined to Sevcaledonia.
Heading in to renew my season ticket some day this week – where can I park now that we have the Celtic way – on match days I always come in from the other side so not really sure of the layout now
good morning
‘Morning CQN some disgraceful posts last night of a personal nature’
just like the Designated Driver the bhlog could do with havin’ a Designated Moron.
.
hail hail
charles kickham
Tix office is behind the superstore – should be able to park in there,access from London Road
corkcelt
08:30 on 19 May, 2014
But in Kilkenny, just off to Kilkenny for the day.
Wish I was there on such a nice day as it is here anyway.
I have only visited the place for a few days but liked it. It had a good feel about it but then I am biased my paternal grandfather was a Cat.
79caps at 08:47 on 19 May, 2014
I was thinking the same myself, especially about the sudden change in the composition of a winning team (by leaving out a number of Celtic players). Wotte has been on record as criticising the Celtic Development programme arguing that it should be incorporated into the national system. If Scotland had won with only three Celtic players, then he could have said that it was a success for the National Programme: if there had been six Celtic players in the side ….? It is possible that the team was changed to make this point.
PS It is not often we can use ‘winning team’ in the context of a Scotland national side.
DBBIA
A few candidates last night
Re books
I know you like a crime novel …just read Tony Parsons …The Murder Bag …a decent yarn …
As I said to JJ reading Jim Naughtie’s effort …quite good..
Hi,folks.
If you have received an e-mail from me at around 0255 this morning,
DON’T OPEN IT!
Same goes if you received one from THE EXILED TIM at around 2345
Apologies.
Pubs in Wales are being stopped from opening late during the world cup because the nation is not in the tournament.
David Cameron promised to suspend licensing laws during the games in Brazil but a government review decided the change would apply only to England.
The decision has outraged Owen Smith, shadow secretary of state for Wales.
Brilliant! The power of devolution.
Margaret McGill @ 00.46 hrs
“Any true Celtic supporter who wants Rangers back is a moron”
————————————————–
This is one of the more reprintable posts from last night.I have absolutely no wish to even partially cross swords with one who has such a formidable reputation.
Yes “Rangers” do not deserve to come back and its even doubtful if they will. Do I want them back .? No.
But :-
Do I miss the excitement of beating them. Yes.
Do I miss the build up from days before. Yes.
Do I miss the whole buzz. Yes.
Do I experience such euphoria beating any other league team. Truthfully No.
Domestically the so called cup “game of shame ” has yet to be surpassed. Pre match drinks, beating them at Paradise and the way they lost the plot, followed by the after match pub sing song.
I think this is gone, and again I must partially disagree with you.
Because this is gone our future must ( And will ) lie in a league with teams of equal status and ambition.
IMO this is not unexpected, however always expect the unexpected. Remember Bosman.
HH to you & always in Celtic.
Young scots conspiracy therory.
Scotland have Dutchman in charge . A winning Scots team is drasically changed . Wrong tactics employed and Scotland get beaten by ……… guess who……the Dutch!!
BILLY BHOY 05
The power of devolution in WALES was never as strong as in SCOTLAND.
The amount of legislative powers passed to The Welsh Assembly is significantly less than to The Scottish Parliament.
timomouse – thanks.
Morning all. Been away for a week and missed out on much of the news – have we signed anyone yet? Any good rumours apart from Hooper returning?
‘I have absolutely no wish to even partially cross swords with one who has such a formidable reputation.’
-to say nothin’ of her hunners of lovely buses.
Gordon J- were you at the oooooooooooooooooolllllllllle Oran Mor on Saturday?