I assume none of us knew Stuart Armstrong has been playing with a hernia problem? Stuart’s form has been below that of last season, but whereas others carrying an injury would raise the white flag, he’s made himself available to the manager.
Much was, therefore, said and written about him which was grossly unfair. As we know, footballers are not machines, even brilliant ones.
I know I’m not alone in being irritated by “the greatest league in the world” guff we so often have to endure, in particular from the (England and Wales) Premier League main broadcaster, Sky Sports. It was brought to my attention this morning that European Champions, Real Madrid, are three points closer to relegation than the top of the table.
Juventus are the only non-La Liga team to reach a Champions League final in the last four seasons, having done so twice. Even in current form, Real are one of the most dangerous teams in the history of the game, but the technical brilliance of La Liga is such that any vulnerabilities are exposed.
If only we were part of that guff to the south, but the game there is as relevant to football as pantomime is to the theatre (Oh yes it is). The game’s brilliance resides in Spain.
NEW CQN PODCAST OUT NOW FEATURING TOMMY SHERIDAN
A Celtic State of Mind presents its 30th instalment of insightful discussion around the culture of Celtic Football Club, the city of Glasgow, and fans of the reigning treble-winning Scottish champions.
Kevin Graham is joined by Scotty Alcroft to interview Scottish pro-independence politician, Tommy Sheridan, at The Penalty Spot in Glasgow.
The interview took place as part of A Celtic State of Mind’s first live event – Five-a-sides at The Penalty Spot – and, as such, there is some background noise (including mobile interference – apologies) from the audience.
The other voice you may hear throughout this episode is that of former Celtic striker, Frank McGarvey, who is a friend of Tommy’s, and who was also interviewed separately that day for a future show.
You are sure to enjoy Tommy’s eclectic input, as he discusses everything from Catalan independence to Coolio, with a constant undercurrent of that thing called Celtic.
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Jamesgang –
Noticed from last night that you’ve just returned from The Maldives. Not Kuramathi by any chance?
HANKRAY, rinse your mouth out with soap and water, its the butchers apron on here.lol.
800 years of history?
When the English rugby team played at Croke Park and GSTQ was respectfully accepted by the Home crowd I knew my Irish cousins had a peace and maturity about their national identity that we in Scotland didn’t yet have.
HH to the Irish.
Jobo
It was Velegandu. Stunning.
Now in Dunblane where it’s velecold!
HH jamesgang
Fanatic………….let’s not forget that Celtic have already played 12 games in Europe in addition to the domestic Cup games and with a short closed season players become injury prone. This is fact according to medics.
Jamesgang –
Mrs Baldie and I went a day trip to Velegandu in 2013. Not from EK obviously but when we were on Kuramathi for our Silver Wedding. Still paying for it. And, yes, it was stunning.
EXCATHEDRA44
I agree that we need another combative midfielder and have posted it often enough.
Our invincible run was cornerstoned by Scott Brown in virtually every game, and Brendan Rodgers’s side has always been attack minded, high press.
This means all of the high pressers with exception of Scott Brown who is usually withdrawn tend to stay upright mark up, and don’t ‘go in where it hurts ‘ with defensive tackling.
‘Go to ground tackling’ is an art form not as popular as scoring a goal but a skill none the less, and we simply don’t have a tackler other than Scott Brown, which is fine when you have the ball and play fast passing and score invariably often in the league.
Not so good when you are under pressure like Europe or Tynecastle 4-0. McGinn and Shinnie almost look ‘dirty’ compared to Olivier Ntcham Stuart Armstrong or Callum MacGregor. Definitely a softness in the middle.
There’s no doubt we need the player you post about, and think its time to flex our muscles with the cheque book for John McGinn.
With regard to the injury situation and the internet hysteria, I blame Peter Lawwell.
HH
Along with the extra games we have played, we also had most of the squad involved in the three International breaks.
That adds up to an extra six weeks that all the other clubs had their players at home, to train, coach or visit Nando’s.
We lost that time, plus the travel involved.
BOURNESOUPRECIPE on 18TH JANUARY 2018 6:39 PM
McGinn looked the part when he played with St. Mirren, he has improved steadily. Was his Granda not connected with Celtic in an executive position a number of years ago?
HH
gsu
GREENSIDEUP-GBWO, jack mcginn think he was club chairman.
GREENSIDEUP-GBWO
Jack McGinn
http://www.thecelticwiki.com/page/John+McGinn
Broony needs hauners? Pfft.
And even if he did. Ntcham is the man.
BMCUW
Yup that is a good point and a relevant one
However that was then and this is now and I think that in order to see “now” we have to be prepared, if only for a time until it’s proved otherwise, to leave behind judgements based on the past and not let them cloud factors that can explain behaviour now, as I set out in the post about the 5 Way.
In a way it is the practice of forgiveness which reminds me of the introduction paragraph in his book The Long Glasgow Kiss by Craig Russell. It goes on the lines of.
“Three concepts alien to the thinking of the Glasgow mind.
Salad:
dentistry and
forgiveness.”
I’ve come across quite a few Celtic supporters to whom forgiveness seems to be an alien concept.
It might even be one that effects the Celtic Board as they and support continue with an unforgiving dance based on the past but carried into the present, where mistrust exists on both sides.
Given that forgiving is a choice of being generous of spirit or mean of spirit, I should find an unforgiving attitude surprising, especially when there is a very generous Celtic attitude that created the Foundation.
Then again we are all human beings struggling to be more generous of spirit in a world where spiritual generosity asks us to rise above human nature.
Perhaps, to go totally philosophical, that is why we are here.
GREENSIDEUP-GBWO on 18TH JANUARY 2018 6:51 PM
BOURNESOUPRECIPE on 18TH JANUARY 2018 6:39 PM
McGinn looked the part when he played with St. Mirren, he has improved steadily. Was his Granda not connected with Celtic in an executive position a number of years ago?
HH
gsu
———————————————————————————————————————————
His granda is former Celtic chairman Jack McGinn, and the ‘inventor’ of the Celtic View.
HH!!
McGinn is a good player and may well enhance our team. And whilst our main concern (our only concern?) should be to have Celtic as strong as possible there is always a part of me that wishes that the other Scottish Clubs could retain more of their good players, improving their own team and the league in general. Raiding the other Scottish teams for their best talent (Armstrong, Mackay-Stevens, Hayes, etc) has the double-whammy of potentially improving Celtic but certainly weakening the other team.
Years ago there was the possible counter argument that if we don’t buy them, another Glasgow team will. That’s no longer a possibility.
Ntcham looks like he could play a bit further up the park IMO…
so sad to see posters who have been on this blog since its conception falling out, we all know celtarella is mags, and awenaw is mags brother, think awenaw has got a bee in his bonnet about cqn as i say so sad. hh.
!!BADA BING!! on 18TH JANUARY 2018 7:00 PM
Ntcham looks like he could play a bit further up the park IMO…
—————————————————————————————————————————–
I’m sure I heard him say that he prefers to play in a more advanced role.
HH!!
Tallybhoy- quick feet and can see a pass, might be the time to try it just now…HH
McGinn’s other grandad (Mr. Gibbons) was on Celtic’s books as a boy.
BTW, I can’t believe that Celtic supporters are in any doubt who his grandad (Jack McGinn) was or how he was connected with Celtic.
FFS!csc
GREENSIDEUP-GBWO
Absolutely, and among other accomplishments is credited in Celtic folklore as having first described
some rebellious Celtic fans as ‘Malcontents’
No internet in those days just the Celtic View or Not the View, back in the day Mr McGinn worked his way
to the very top, as Head Custodian of the “Biscuit Tin” and was no David ( sugar daddy ) Murray.
turnedoutniceintheend CSC
HH
BP, BCW and Tally, thanks for the info lads,
McGinn could definitely add a bit of grit to the midfield and help Broonie out. Someone said earlier that we do take a few kickings in games, gone are the days where we had players like the Lions who could handle themselves, but the game was different back then
HH
gsu
VALE BHOY,
I guess that comes from too many years being on the other side of the pond :)
BSR
Was it Matt (malcontent) McGlone who started the alternative view?
HH
gsu
BIG PACKY on 18TH JANUARY 2018 6:02 PM
Fifty shades of green, wind up merchants —- trolls—- or just plain nuts.??? Or maybe all 3 . everybody on the blog has an opinion mate whether they agree with you or not, think you owe the blog an apology…
@@@
Hey big man why take part of my post and ask for an apology???
If you think I’m wrong thats up to you but dont take the bits from my posts that suit you, post the whole thing then take it apart, thought you were better than that, if you genuinely dont know who I’m referring to thats not my fault, but do me a favour and dont hold your breath waiting on an apology.
Also to pick up on the point I think your trying to make, I haven’t asked for anyone to stop posting their thoughts, just to maybe come on with something different now and then. Thats my opinion, and I posted it on here, or is that not allowed cause you dont like it?
H.H.
Mcginn love in is not something i go along with, watched the lad loads of times and he has rarely impressed me, we should be able to do better imo. Would like to see a couples of quality signing but have my doubts we shall see, hh
50 SHADES OF GREEN, i posted the part of your post i didnt like, im not a troll and and alot of other posters are not, ffs its a blog all about opinions if you think you dont need to apologie thats okay definately dont want to fall out mate. know your a big tim.hh.
JOBO BALDIE on 18TH JANUARY 2018 6:29 PM
Jamesgang –
Mrs Baldie and I went a day trip to Velegandu in 2013. Not from EK obviously but when we were on Kuramathi for our Silver Wedding. Still paying for it. And, yes, it was stunning.
——-
Prices for Velegandu trebled from 2014 following the unveiling of the EK Adonis life size statue. It was our main reason for choosing that resort.
Weather observation is a bit ‘samey’ though – fekin lovely, fekin lovely, fekin lovely, etc etc!
HH jamesgang
VALE BHOY on 18TH JANUARY 2018 7:11 PM
McGinn’s other grandad (Mr. Gibbons) was on Celtic’s books as a boy.
*His granny, Jack’s wife, was a relative of the late great Johnny Madden the father of Czech football.
Auldheid,
With regards to forgiveness who are you suggesting that we forgive?
The board? But then your hypothesis (and it is only a hypothesis) is that there is nothing to forgive.
The Hun? The SFA?
Shall we not rake over old coals.
Having read your post on the 5 way agreement I am struck by the various ways in which you expressed my views (I firmly believe Celtic colluded in the 5 way agreement because we are the sole superpower in Scottish football). You have said this is my dogma and accused me of an inability to move beyond my conditioned way of thinking.
However you absent yourself from showing exactly the same way of thinking as myself by espousing your credentials as being thoughtful and forgiving.
I believe you are displaying your own dogma and dressing it up as a sincere and academic analysis.
I do believe that the “territory is not the map”. We all have our own perceptions of reality. We all take the available evidence and make conclusions on it. You are prone to politely belittle other people’s maps.
To me all of the available evidence suggests that Celtic are happy to accept the corruption. There is no way they didn’t know about the 5 way agreement and your best excuse for them is morale cowardice mixed in with an acceptance that Celtic are just a club like Brechin.
From your own work regarding res12 Celtic have never taken this on fully. Instead relying on shareholders and supporters.
And the letters to and from the sfa? The lack of any public Condemnation or protest (instead using polite words like surprised) doesn’t show a club angry and willing to challeng corruption. I believe Celtic have stage managed this whole affair to attempt to cover up their complicity.
Finally I read your piece on what Lunny said. It’s clear that the passage of res12 is mired in a corrupt organisation. This is simply an attempt to create such a distance between the issue and time. At which point we will be told it happened so long ago.
Should we forgive them auldheid?
What get’s me is
The whole charade by the other clubs and the BIG LIE by the peepil running our game and the MSM was done mostly through fear of a support who take great pleasure in telling us all “THEY DON’T DO WALKING AWAY” ,in doing just that .
How ironic
HH
TONTINE TIM on 18TH JANUARY 2018 7:37 PM
VALE BHOY on 18TH JANUARY 2018 7:11 PM
McGinn’s other grandad (Mr. Gibbons) was on Celtic’s books as a boy.
*His granny, Jack’s wife, was a relative of the late great Johnny Madden the father of Czech football.
Tontine.
Thanks for that information. I love snippets like that.
Hail Hail
Good Evening!
Something new (in case of interest…)
https://theclumpany.wordpress.com/2018/01/18/intergalactic-interest/
Michael Calvin’s excellent football documentary ‘No hunger in Paradise’ on BT Sport 2. Worth a watch. Hh
PAUL67
“I assume none of us knew Stuart Armstrong has been playing with a hernia problem?”
As we walked up to last encounter with zombies I was mystified what Ntcham
wasn’t playing. I said maybe Brendan going with horses for courses.
If Armstrong was carrying an injury or hint of one I am more baffled than ever
why Olly didn’t start.
TONTINE TIM
An absolute font, as always.
GREENSIDEUP-GBWO
That explains it.
HH
Good evening CQN
I looking for some help (a long shot)
I lost my keys and car fob on Monday night between Clydebank and Whiteinch
Contacted police and bus company but no luck
As I said a long shot but if you see anything on the social media out lets
About lost keys and car fob if you could let me know so I can check it out
Thanks
Mt
John McGinn,not for me , good enough player,but for Celtic no.Nitcham is ok,Koussa,needs to get a run of Games,also Bitton,, enough Centre Half’s, I hope Brendan gives some of the young development players,more first team opportunity’s,example Johnson, Miller, Atchison.
Aye thanks for backing me up fellas!
Love yeez!