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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SoAL, wifi, 5 Euros per day, company need me available so free CQN;-)
For any lurking hun, go on grass me for mis appropriation of 5 bucks, go on.
HAHAHAHAHAHA.
Doc
Not sure who Lenny is managing but it’s not sammi ;)
I passed Andy Thom earlier, he was out for a run, I was on a pub crawl, he nearly caught me!
ok last night was funnier.
Good evening all
Dena
That post was beautiful. No less than I would have expected from you, being the lovely person you are. Hope you are well.
Boaby
How you doin buddy? Sobered up yet? :-))
Weefra HH praying to Wee Oscar.
sipsini
sammi’s work ethic, you opinion might not be popular but it is spot on
my view on work ethic is you simply can’t turn on and off like a tap, it’s either there, or it isn’t there.
If it’s not there, it takes a lot of hard work and a huge mindshift to change it, it doesn’t happen overnight. So if Sammi isn’t trying his hardest on the Saturday, you can bet he won’t be trying his heart out on the Wednesday no matter how many scouts are there, or not there.
Doc
22:29 on
12 May, 2014
Hole wifi, 5 Euros per day, company need me available so free CQN;-)
For any lurking hun, go on grass me for mis appropriation of 5 bucks, go on.
HAHAHAHAHAHA.
Personally disappointed ‘arry gets a shot at a bounce back…
iPaddy:
You’re usual empathetic style.
Harsh, but brings a bit of perspective…
TBJ, heard that, dissappointed, he did well for us in Europe, I’ll miss him.
As I said last night, the next appointment for Lenny is in Brazil, scouting for the Hoops.
Sipsini
Is Andreas Thom Cockney rhyming slang for an explosive device
Bob O’ Baldy will vote YES! was pggtips2
Sammy is another Harold Brattbakk.
In Europe with space behind to run into behind, these players stand out.
Brattbakk scored against some of the best / biggest sides in europe. They aren’t poor players, the system we play or indeed the system that teams play against us stops these types of players from scoring goals.
We went to Rosenburg thinking we were world beaters, Brattbakk given space made us pay.
I hope Sammy doesn’t come back to haunt us in Europe.
BOBBY MURDOCH’S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS ………Praying for our WEE HERO!
22:22 on
12 May, 2014
not my work BMCWP but does come from a friend. some people just have a way with words
HH
SoAL, you said it, not me. Read it again.
Hole, big smiley face.
morrissey the 23rd,
So what about the poor souls that bought shares and season books….ach well they will never learn :)
.
Who do Hibs play off with..?
TIA
Summa
Tbj,
Give you one guess where I would put it:)
Summa, either Hamilton or Falkirk.
Griffiths scored 28 goals last season in an absolutely dire Hibernian team. He’ll score goals for us in Europe. He also bursts a gut every game – something that the infuriatingly inconsistent Samaras failed to do all too often.
Falkirkbhoy
Lack of effort wasn’t Brattbakk’s problem at Celtic, lack of guile was. If Samaras had half of Brattbakk’s ability to put one mistake after another behind him and try again, in true Robert the Bruce style, Samaras would have won player of the year at Celtic more than once.
WEEFRATHETIM
Aye,right.
Tried to call you today,no response.
Heyho.
More to the point,I hope D is feeling better. What you said last night wasn’t good.
You and her deserve to live out an easy retirement,mate. No worries.
sipsini
22:17 on 12 May, 2014
micktt,Must admit, I saw your petted lip as you left, many more good nights out to come mate.Enjoy your time off. HH
————————————————
Not as petted as hers when I went back out after the game, car dumped and pub..
HH
Who does Wright play for?
iPaddy, I’m looking forward to watching Leigh do well, but thats not fair, Sammi had a style, and often it was effective. He always tried, and I would argue all day long over that.
His style was languid, he wasn’t, he was looking for opportunities to burst through.
We may miss him
Boaby
Just checked ma fone, no missed call. I was up seeing ma wee mum today about 1400 hrs. Nae signal in there. Will ring you tomorrow, ok? :-))
Weefra HH praying to Wee Oscar.
Doc
How many times have to you see Lionel Messi or Christiano Ronaldo throw their arms in the air and sit on the grass for 5 seconds after the ball has disappeared up the pitch?
That is not hard work.
Sammi I recall did that at least three times in the game v Ross County at Hampden in Lenny’s first game. He’s done it before and since for club and country.
He’s a lucky lhad.
bob o’ baldy will vote yes! was pggtips2
22:30 on 12 May, 2014,
He has it in his locker to be so much better as we’ve seen on special occasions…a luxury we just cannot afford at this time unless he’s willing to give it 100% in all games…that is what I see.HH
Good evening Bhoys & Ghirls
Not long back from Belfast where we said our goodbyes to Wee Oscar.
Today was a fine tribute and celebration of the wee mhan. His parents and family did him proud.
May God give them strength, courage and guidance in any tough times that may lie ahead.
#TeamOscarForever
Some slightly disparaging remarks on. LG.
I admit I am impressed by his play so far.
He leads the line well, is constantly on the move, harries defenders, checks back.
Oh and he scores.
A goal almost every two games.
I am sure he will only improve and we will enable him to reach his peak.
Could we have another Joe McBride on our hands?
Could Gary Loche be lennys no 2 ,
@Bob O’
I get it that you’ve never rated Sammi But give it a rest mate,
He never hid in all his years with us Did he? I don’t like it when
our players get tore to ribbons from our own,there’s plenty
currants waitin for that opperchancity .
H.H.
Nadir Ciftci wd be a brill replacement for Sami. Better even imo!! Right commence fire!!!
At his best Sammi is a great player, but he produces his best, at best, two or three times per season and even then it doesn’t always lead to a goal.
Nowhere near good enough.
Doc
I disagree mate, there were plenty of games in which you just knew within the first 10 minutes that samaras wasn’t interested, his shocking performance against Aberdeen in the cup this season being a prime example.
Samaras on his A game was a joy to behold but he just didn’t do it anywhere near often enough. An average of 10 goals a season really isn’t great for a Celtic striker, no matter how you analyse it.
Bamboo from last night.
Just read your explanation to the post.
I think you misjudging me or you think you are much smarter than me. You are the second poster who decided to keep mocking me. If you think that’s funny, keep doing it.
‘gg
100% agree. Griffiths will score a barrowload for us. His big test will be the CL. I wouldn’t put it past him to do the biz there as well. You are either a natural goalscorer or you aint. Simples. :-))
Weefra HH praying to Wee Oscar.
timbhoy2
Hope not.
aiden bhoy
21:27 on 12 May, 2014
Am I the only one who thinks Caldwell did ok for us ?
My 1st answer was a resounding ‘yes’!
Then I remembered the lad himself who had a guid conceit of himself it seemed!
HH jamesgang
celticrollercoaster, have you seen the poem?
PggTips2, iPaddy, we shall simply have to agree to differ over all.
Yes there were times he frustrated me. But think on this.
A player who does the dangerous, the unexpected, that is harder than stopping the flair player, sometimes it doesnt come off, sometimes it does, actually more often it doesn’t, even for the very besy, it would be 10-10 in games if every effort flew into the top corner, or evry cross hit tit’s target. Sammi always tried to do something different, that takes bravery, especially when those who support you are doubting.