Usually we head straight home, but that day we stood around the front door of Hampden Park, waiting to see the players emerge with the trophy. It was big Billy’s last game, it also provided an enduring memory of Paul Wilson, but it was the unused Jimmy Johnstone who engaged the fans most. In the days which followed Jock Stein had ‘the chat’ with Jinky. Celtic’s greatest ever player, still only 30-years-old, was released from the only club he’d ever been at.
Jinky later acknowledged he expected the news. Jock had been using him increasingly sparingly, and mostly as substitute, and these were the days before clubs supported large squads. It was the end of an era, a sad time all round, but this is football, and football is ruthlessly harsh to everyone eventually.
Georgios Samaras has come through the wringer at Celtic, often target of the boo boys and denied the support and encouragement he needed to flourish. His languid style implied a lack of urgency, for some, but Georgios stuck to his beliefs on how the game should be played and had a late spell in the sun during the last two years.
He was instrumental in the incredible league win in 2008 but the Champions League campaign of 2012 will be his most memorable contribution to the club. Goals away from home against Benfica, Barcelona and the last minute winner against Spartak Moscow, for our first away win in the tournament, are his hallmark goals.
It wasn’t just the goals during that campaign, Celtic were fourth seed, up against three considerably stronger teams. Neil Lennon set out to defend and used Samaras physical attributes, as well as his natural desire to hold the ball, as his first stage in building attacks.
Celtic tried the same in this season’s Champions League but, not surprisingly, Sami more often than not, found three defenders around him whenever the ball approached. He was ineffective, as was Celtic.
In domestic football, Georgios, our main Champions League attacking weapon, was often regarded as a blunt instrument. Scottish teams defend deeply against the champions, who would, therefore, never ask Samaras to hold the ball up and bring others into the team. On these occasions his languid style frustrates those wanting a more urgent approach to their football.
The lack of an offer from Celtic will be a blow to Georgios, but I’m sure Peter Lawwell can more than stand the ‘blame’ for this one.
Very best wishes, Georgios. I hope you have a great World Cup and have your choice of next destinations.
The Celtic FC Foundation badge sellers had enormous fun before yesterday’s game. Many thanks to all who joined in, and who bought a badge. It was an easy way to feel part of this great club’s reason for being.
Issue 20 of CQN Magazine, CQLisboN, is out and enjoying great reviews. Click here to read for FREE.
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BMCUW… Well big jock was a miner!
DBBIA – did she?
That well known republican Amy Winehouse did “Our Day Will Come” though.
Hope Beram Kayal gets himself fixed up with a new club, to lighten the wage bill for a newman.
THM- Was meaning manager mate,you make a fair point and hope the boy buckles down.HH
BSR- Pukki’s agent was at CP today as well.NL has to be decisive now ,as to guys he wants moved on IMO
I see some remarks re Sir Minty.
What is happening to the mogul?
Is his reputation at stake?
Is the famous vintner promising a bumper harvest or a blighted crop?
Big Malay 9/4 fav for the baggies job.
Malay=malky. Effin iPad!
BOBBY MURDOCH’S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS ………Praying for our WEE HERO! 17:21 on 12 May, 2014
“Laughter is one of my favourite emotions.
“For that,I will be forever grateful to the hordes of hunnery.”
Laughter certainly beats being angry, bitter, twisted and spiteful.
It is ironic that people with those emotions provide us with the biggest laughs though … or is it coincidental?
Chuckles CSC
!!bada bing!!
Did you happen to meet an tearman on Saturday?
I felt Ronnie Corbett in your company but jeeso he’s gigantic and a top bloke.
Not saying that your not :)
Gg… I predict the onset of mildew!
Or as better known…. plasmopara viticola
‘GG 17:25 on 12 May, 2014
It was om page 24 of the DR that MIH has a £22.5m pension black hole.
Sipsini- i’m not too sure mate,turned out a long day :)) HH
!!bada bing!!
I think he did buy it for his own reasons.
I do not think they bargained for the govan guardiolla getting them pumped out of Europe in record breaking time!
Think the loss of all that money was a gamechanger.
Having used the ticketus money to pay off the bank he needed that Euro money to keep them running.
I think he would have kept them limping along as long as he could and depending on the tax case result, kept going and sold it all or pushed the liquidator button.
McCoist blew it for them all.
‘In Let’s Do The Things We Normally Do, Dido (real name Florian Cloud De Bounevialle O’Malley Armstrong) sings lines from The Men Behind The Wire, a rebel tune written 30 years ago in tribute to the provisional IRA men interned in the Seventies.
The song, penned by Paddy McGuigan, a member of the Barleycorn folk band from the infamous Falls Road in Belfast, is now associated with extreme republican movements such as Continuity IRA and the Real IRA.
-lifted from The Daily Mail [I kno…]
STEINREIGNEDSUPREME
After two years of defiance the facade is crumbling. They are totally beaten and have finally woken up to reality.
——
Impossible….for they are The People and, according to The Scotsman, they plan a tour of the US in the Summer following a glamour friendly against Portsmouth.
Bada
I think it’ll be a very busy window with lots of flouncing and board bashing.
I blame Owen Coyles granny
Plus ca change
thunder road
Delighted to meet you on Saturday, and glad that you made the last bus home.
Thankfully I spent the night in Glasgow with several others – nae chance of catching the last train to Ayrshire in the state we were in!
Eventually got home at tea time on Sunday.
I’m fine now!
Great night, and hope to see you at à future hootenanny.
HH!!
BadaB
I am happy with the situation at the club re buying in prospects, in reality it’s the only avenue we can go down considering our lack of TV cash.
So we just have to suck it up, and hope JP finds another VW and VvD.
The sad thing is the coach will have his best players taken away from under him, this is where I think Lenny is doing a wonderful job.
HH
THM
As far as I am led to believe Lenny has pushed PL for 2 players, one being Hooper and the other LG, and I imagine the LG situation will be Lenny’s responsibilty to fix, but fix it he will IMO.
HH
desertbhoy
17:26 on 12 May, 2014
Big Malay 9/4 fav for the baggies job.
————–
Someone mentioned he was2/5 for the Norwich job earlier :))
Congratulations to Fraser Forster,playing for Celtic has enhanced his
career.Others should take note.
Congratulations to auld age pensioner Evans Connolly of the
Michael Davitt csc Ayr who went to paradise yesterday and
came home with a £12,000 windfall.
Will the David Murray fan club in the Scottish MSM still defend
this guy ? Pension fund dipper knight of the realm.
thunder road- the money from the Arsenal shares will keep him in Champers furra wee while HH
Portsmouth?
– the shape of things to come for Sevco.
They’d better hope that the pestilence that brought Pompey down isn’t contagious.
Monaghan1900 17:37 on 12 May, 2014
What – no ‘sash bash’ with Linfield?
BSR- NL said last week he hopes to get his business done before the WC,makes sense with the CLQs shortly after it.
Steinreignedsupreme
17:43 on
12 May, 2014
What – no ‘sash bash’ with Linfield?
——
They’re a stick-on to be opponents on the US tour.
I am in the process of reading back on the posts that I’ve missed over the last two days. Glad the posts (so far) about the hootenanny are positive. Although I am going to run out-of time as my internet is about to be cut (Punishment for missing the train?).
The venue may have been more expensive than the Gallowgate but I feel it’s worth noting the chance of trouble is considerably less there than in the Gallowgate. The venue also gave £100 to the Oscar Knox fund.
Reading posts is helping to jog my memory of who I met. Seems there were many there whom I never met. Next time!
I hope some of lurkers get posting.
The funniest thing I’ve watched in the last few days was the BNP Party Political Broadcast.
Truly Sevco-esque in every respect.
It was so funny I watched it again on +1 an hour later.
TET,
A big thank you from my son and daughter, they are over the moon with the wristbands that acgr brought back from his visit and wearing them with pride.
Hope you are keeping well mate.Hail Hail
MONAGHAN 1900
A tour of the US?
I wonder if they’ll get a charity to pony up the costs for this jolly.
Meatloaf McCoist will explain how it is done v
steinreignedsupreme
17:32 on 12 May, 2014
‘GG 17:25 on 12 May, 2014
It was om page 24 of the DR that MIH has a £22.5m pension black hole.
Buried in the business section? Oh my aching sides.
Shirley The Minty Mogul can take the money he got from selling off the undead and balance the shortfall? It only represents two Tore Andre Flos.
sipsini
Howzitgaun?!
It was great to meet you on Saturday, and was glad to hear that you managed to eventually get into your house and feed Caeser the cat!
HH!!
BOBBY MURDOCH’S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS ………Praying for our WEE HERO!
17:49 on
A tour of the US?
I wonder if they’ll get a charity to pony up the costs for this jolly.
Meatloaf McCoist will explain how it is done v
——
I understand the plan is to take the high earners white water rafting.
Bill Struth CSC
desertbhoy
17:31 on
12 May, 2014
Or as better known…. plasmopara viticola
Did we not gub them in Europe a few years back?
monaghan1900
17:52 on 12 May, 2014
BOBBY MURDOCH’S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS ………Praying for our WEE HERO!
17:49 on
A tour of the US?
I wonder if they’ll get a charity to pony up the costs for this jolly.
Meatloaf McCoist will explain how it is done v
——
I understand the plan is to take the high earners white water rafting.
Bill Struth CSC
……..
Shirley they can dae that up at Killin!
Desertboy@17.05
Methinks youthinks I’m somebody else.
A case of mistaken identity (although your probably spot on).
‘GG 17:49 on 12 May, 2014
“Buried in the business section? Oh my aching sides.
Steady on. It was the DR. No business section in there.
It was in the bullshit section, which runs through the entire paper right enough.