When I researched yesterday’s article (yes, research does happen sometimes) I was far from encouraged. Udinese had an impeccable home record and Snr Di Natale is one of Europe’s irresistible strikers at the moment.
We didn’t manage to resist Di Natale but he will remember Fraser Forster for a few years. We have been fortunate to see a few great goalkeeping performances in Europe in the last decade but last night Fraser was second perhaps only to David Marshall that night in Barcelona. That last minute penalty save against Hearts on Saturday has moved the player onto a new platform.
Udinese had a good 20 minute spell when they looked every inch the team joint top of the Italian league but they were on the rack in the closing stages of the game. Cha DuRi has had an eventful Europa League on the road this season. He was a bit unfortunate at the Udinese goal but completely out of luck when he twisted his body mid-air to volley off the post.
Watching Georgios Samaras last night was a lesson in how complex a game football can be. This is a player who could not hold down a place in the SPL last season, yet playing in a different position he had top-flight defenders throwing themselves at him in order to inhibit progress.
There is still work to be done, but the return of three first choice defenders will enhance the team considerably. The most pleasing thing about last night came after the game; Fraser Forster’s focus was immediately on St Johnstone. It’s all about Perth now.
Issue 5 of CQN Magazine will be out soon. Hard copies will be available direct, at a considerably reduced cost from our current Magcloud arrangement and with a fast delivery turnaround. Details soon.
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Gordon_J backing Neil Lennon – Our support displayed a banner with a nasty word on it? Seriously, that’s an issue?
Not only that, but many of them were drinking beer and even smoking. (thumbsup)
If Celtic are hit in the pocket as a result of this banner I hope they take civil action against those responsible to recover costs.
That might send out a strong message.
What else can they do when some people can’t differentiate the law from competition rules and assume if they are within the law then they can ignore the rules regardless of the cost to the club they profess to love?
QB
ernie lynch – Did the SNP have close links with the Nazis?
Who do you think Rudolf Hess was dropping in on? (thumbsup)
I applaud you james forrest
well put
all reasonable celtic fans find the behaviour of the “moronic” element offensive and disturbing
Think there may be forces of darkness working within the ranks purposely to bring us down
macjay:
You are beating a dead horse there mate. Like I said earlier there were many nazi’s in position of influence in England and there still are. I can’t be bothered shoving up the links.
Many happy returns to ole SOAL.
Love…
..and any love left over goin’ to Mo Bangura.
Thinkin’ about it yesterday we’ve not had much luck with our Mos- Camara, Sylla, Merde.
Maybe Bangura’s the one to buck the trend!
philvisreturns,
And I’ll bet that a few of them didn’t even wear ties.
ernie lynch says:
16 December, 2011 at 12:48
Without commenting on the rightness or wrongness of the action. If UEFA decided to punish us for a flare/smokebomb it wouldn’t matter how many are let off week in week out in Italian games because they are not under the control of UEFA.
UEFA might suggest to the Italian FA that they take some action about fans letting them off at domestic games, but that’s as far as they could take it.
So let’s not use the widespread use of them by fans at domestic Italian games as a line of defence.
In my opinion the banner last night was the act of morons. They should have put their point across less provocatively and showed no thought for opportunity they gave jornos to bash us over head with it over shadowing performance.
Missing our best full backs and pushing a midfielder into defence and yet we could have qualified from that group.
The squad must now focus on winning league and in order to use that experience to make the CL group stages next season. They have shown they can compete with teams from Spain, Italy and France so ambition and confidence should be brimming. Another CH and Striker along with injured players returning would satisfy me.
Kayal and brown need to pick their game up though cause right now Samaras Wanyama,Ledley, Forrest are the 1st choice midfield.
Gordon_J backing Neil Lennon – And I’ll bet that a few of them didn’t even wear ties.
There wasn’t a pair of cufflinks or polished brown brogues to be seen in that crowd.
Red, my neck was.
I hear the Italians are unaccustomed to sweary words and some of them had to be administered smelling salts. (thumbsup)
Up over Goal..
Woo Hoo, your mental ratings are back. Oh how i’ve missed them.
I’d like to ask anyone on here if they thought Forrest was poor? Kayal good?Ki outstanding????
You my friend are comedy gold bonkers.
Zaluska in goals on Sunday for you also??
Anyone not related to up over goal please.
James Forrest is Lennon says:
16 December, 2011 at 12:38
well said , I love what the GB bring to our support, but the Student Grant politics and childish behaviour brings nothing to the party, what was the thought process ?? Sing loud and proud,we have dozens of great songs and the GB have plenty of great banners. Last night was an own goal,we handed the LL the initiative.
up_over_goal
“Football – its a funny old game” as someone just said.
Your player assessment is interesting! Its always amazing how different fans see the same game. Much of what you said I agree with but…
HOOPER – I thought was good and (I remember posting this during the game) actually was much much better in holding up the ball and laying off than I had ever seen him before!
KI – I had it completely the other way around! Little boy lost first half and a class act second!!
FORREST – Thought he was good and had his decision making been a bit better, more than good. I suspect he was fouled more than any other player which showed what our opponents thought of his potential.
Are we required to be respectful to all forms of authority or just UEFA?
James Forrest
Whatever happened to freedom of speech?
jmccormick 12.58 Was the banner instigate and flown by the Green Brigade.? H.H.
If UEFA get nasty over the f-word banner we should get that we bloke from Sion to defend our corner.
He’d sort them!
Banners and Smokebombs !?
Totally agree,James..
We must cleanse our ranks of these so-called fans,with their destructive hardline ernielynch-tendencies,who bring only dishonour and opprobrium,to Brother Walfrid’s Most Splendid Legacy.
Sammi is World Class..
Paddy is better than Ki.
Jamsie will be better than Dalglish..
Yer Pal,who thinks you’re swell….
kitalba says:
16 December, 2011 at 13:00
Could the banner wavers got their message across without resorting to offensive language?
Great article Paul67
“second perhaps only to David Marshall that night in Barcelona” exactly – as for Sammy – their can be no question now over his ability – its up to the management team to get that level of performance from him on a regular basis.
Joe Filippis Haircut says:
16 December, 2011 at 13:00
Good shout , I too may be getting carried away, but it was in the font they use and have they denied it ? The banner was the problem and the mindset behind it, if the GB are not involved that`s fine by me.
Philbhoy – It’s just the beginning! says:
16 December, 2011 at 13:01
Yeah, that worked out well for Sion.
DougC, absolutely.
bournesouprecipe, as I have said over a few months now, our reputation is in for a torrid time and I see no way to avert this.
neveralone, aye.
goldstar10, it’s interesting to contrast the reaction from some to Celtic signing Fraser instead of someone who went to Genk and won has played only two games since.
Aipple, aye.
Tomtheleedstim :-)
Kitalba, yes, Perth on Sunday is what it’s all about.
The Idiot, yes. Lesson learned about Georgios. Give him space to stretch.
weeminger says:
16 December, 2011 at 13:02
kitalba says:
16 December, 2011 at 13:00
Could the banner wavers got their message across without resorting to offensive language?
How about ” it`s no` fair!”
brimmer
I know you’re a fan, but please keep fawning to a minimum.
neveralone
If Georgios had lost the ball as often as Hooper, you’d never hear the end of it on here. Have a look at Ki early on in the first half if you get a chance to watch it again. Forrest won a few fouls, but what’s so ‘special’ about that? He didn’t look quite so good when he stood on the ball in a very promising area.
Weeminger
Ok, he lost eventually, but would UEFA fancy taking him on again?
Battlestar Galactica fans say:
FRAKK UEFA (thumbsup)
According to ole Bert Kassie, the thinking woman’s Johnny Clash, after this season’s Euro adventures Celtic have a co-efficient of 5.550, which is 64th in UEFA.
Our ranking is 32.728, 60th overall.
According to UEFA rules 0.365 of a co-efficient point has been deducted for the infamous banner.
James Forrest.
Agree completely. I think there is a SMALL element of our support who are beginning to adopt a “no one likes us, we don’t care” mentality.
There was no positive outcome from that banner. Jack Irvine must be rubbing his hands this morning. That’s the agenda set for another few weeks in the media; Celtic fans bad.
I don’t care greatly what the Scottish media say about us but I do care about our reputation in England and Europe. I’ve travelled abroad and annoying of our reputation there. The Scottish media have set up this massive booby trap for us with flashing lights on it yet some seem determined to walk straight into it.
Obviously a banner and some flares pale into insignificance compared to the serious crowd trouble and “heavy handed policing” which seems to follow Rangers everywhere they go, but we’ve worked hard to earn our fantastic reputation and we have to work hard to maintain it. If this growing mentality continues our fair play awards and “best fans in the world” accolades could become a distant memory. There is a real sense of the tide turning.
The only thing I could say in defence of the banner is that the supports who produced it were probably daft wee laddies who don’t know any better.
As for the grown men capable of reading and writing who defend them on here, I despair.
did lawwell have to approach the match observer himself this time, aww what a shame
Quick update on the Chilli crisis
Regular readers will recall the m’aidez put out across cyberspace a few weeks ago to help with the Greenfly infestation of the chilli plant.
Well, I can report now that a dilute solution of washing up liquid sprayed directly onto the leaves resulted in little more than the blackening of the leaves, and the spattering of the window with careless spray. The flies themselves seemed to rather enjoy their warm soapy bath, and redoubled their knawing and nibbling efforts.
The most recent crop of chillies as a consequence are somewhat mis-shapen, with many resembling a clenched fist with the thumb sticking up.
I’m calling it the Philvis Chilli, and expect it will be a tasteful presence at dinner.
How about this alternative banner:
NOT FAIR PLAY – UEFA
A much better, more relevant & (if I say so myself lol) ironic banner.
Now to follow my previous self ordained ban – no more from me re banners!!!!
How about:
PAST INSTANCES IN WHICH WE PROFESSED TO LIKE YOU WERE FRAUDULENT, UEFA (thumbsup)
jmccormick 13.00 I have no idea fella who was behind the banner but I was thinking you are innocent until proved guilty.The Green Brigade seem to rub the Celtic Board up the wrong way but while that might not be wise its not a crime.Let the powers that be find the culprates and once there guilt has been proven the club should then take appropriate action.H.H.
Proud to be a Tim.
Cant wait to see a defence of- Forster , Lustig , BIg Dan, Cha Mulgrew , Izzy . The treble is most definitely on.
Could some supporters please note Celtic do not have a player called Lurch .
Should be “I’ve travelled abroad and am
am proud of our reputation there”
iPhone.
up_over_goal
Oh I know – the standing on the ball bit still makes me shudder!
Even so the lad (just a boy) is very exciting and will I think become a marvel.
As always opinions, opinions…
ernie lynch:
Come on mate, seriously. You know where I stand on the singing issue. I personally do not like it at games – I think more even than it being offensive to some of our own fans, it gives people a stick to beat us with that otherwise they would never have, and yes, I know they find another reason to do it, but it would be less potent and more obviously malicious … and probably one that would unite us in opposition instead of turning into this House Divided we look like on days like today.
UEFA are not our enemies. I think it’s not unfair, or unwise, to say, publicly, what many of us feel. UEFA disciplined us for the singing as a result of several things; political pressure, the fact the complaint came from a police authority and, and yes it needs to be said, after a nod and a wink from inside Celtic Park itself. Given all that, they had no choice but to do what they did.
Last night did nothing positive for Celtic. It did not advance any cause that I can see. It brought us nothing but negative publicity and a gigantic amount of scrutiny from here ever after from a body which has never had anything other than a positive view of us.
I am a trade unionist and socialist. Yet one of the most vemonous articles I ever penned was the one which attacked the STUC for trying to engage our support for a political cause, against the Israeli’s Hapeol, when they came here. My objection then, and now, was that they tried to use our club to further a political end, and it does not matter to me whether that end is something I have broad sympathy with – and I do have sympathy for the Palestinian cause, more than sympathy. Celtic is not the province of a small number of people, not their property to do with what they will.
That banner last night crossed a line. It openly provoked an organisation which does not wish us ill, and has already censured us. And yes, as I said, I do not like all their rules, but as the Swiss have found out to their cost, UEFA do not follow anyone’s drum beat but their own.
This is not about kow-towing or bowing the knee. When we are being wronged we must fight, always, no matter the odds. But this is not a fight we need, nor one the vast body of Celtic fans wants, far less wants to win. Imagine, in some far distant time, we did win. What would we have won?
The right of a group of supporters to turn Celtic Park into an IRA propaganda centre? To stoke the fires of a war which is over? To refight the battles of 300 years, long after most of the world has moved on? To allow other political organisations to hijack what our club is about?
How long before we are not one Family, but a club like PSG, where the support is made of a group of factions, many of whom detest each other?
This Family does not need this. We have enough EXTERNAL enemies to be fighting.