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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Acgr
I disagree regards the Glasgow climate not suiting Brazilians
I know a lassie that does the vagazzeling and trimming too and she reports business is bristling ;)
Gold Coast Tom. All the best for your retirement and your return to auld reekie as the saying goes home is where the heart is. H.H.
Eddieinkirkmichael
What a heart breaking post.
God Bless
TBJ. ………..:-)
Tom -good luck with your move from the ole Gold Coast to the cold coast.
Or, in traditional Edinburgh hospitality style, the cold toast.
TBJ
I am with ACGR on this one. The unsuitability of Glasgow for Brazilians is evidenced by the amount of its citizens who are half cut.
Cycling calls.Cheerio for now,
JJ
Maybe GCT could have a word with Leigh Griffiths when they are neighbours in embra … now that GCT is retiring he could get a steady gig doing some childminding for him
Well there is no doubt we will be linked with plenty of players during the coming transfer window as it sells papers.However,only Lennie and the SSM will know who we are really after but we do have a few players who could become part of any transfer deal Balde,Watt,Pukki,Kayal,McGeoch to name but a few.We really need in my opinion need to bring in three quality players to strengthen the team for the CL qualifyers. H.H.
Apologies, meant to add this onto the end of my last post:
2011/12 – 5726 people utilise the Trussell Trust foodbanks in Scotland.
2012/123– 14,318 people utilise the Trussell Trust foodbanks in Scotland.
2013/14 – 56,000 (++) people utilise the Trussell Trust foodbanks in Scotland.
Once upon a time there was a five year old boy — who was, to be fair, only one of a long line of 5 year old boys.
It doesn’t matter where he grew up or what colour of hair he had at the time, he was just a 5 year old boy and like many other such boys he dreamed of being a footballer.
He was forever kicking a ball about, heading it, dribbling with it, trapping it and so on.
Now, the problem with 5 year old boys is that they get older, they grow up a wee bit and progress to be 10 year old boys and then 15 year old boys and by that time many of them have stopped playing with the football quite so often.
They discover girls, music, concerts maybe even booze or whatever and the football gets left behind.
Others, however continue with the football and of those only a very few lucky ones will ever be able to earn their living by being a professional footballer.
Of those lucky guys, a tiny minority will be able to say that they played at the very top level, in the big stadiums throughout the world and in the big tournaments.
A Professional career lasts roughly 18 years from when you are sixteen until you are say 34 — and peak years are maybe the dozen between 19 and 31.
On Sunday, before the game I was making my way across the front of Celtic Park with my CFC foundation bucket when I had to pause for a group of 5 year old boys who had all progressed to that stage where they can say that they have played in the big stadia.
I want to highlight three of those.
The first, is John Hartson who has played for any number of clubs in England. Big Bad John did not really settle anywhere and gained a bit of a reputation for being either overweight or a bit of a bad boy ( remember him kicking Berkovic at West Ham? ) — and then he arrived at Celtic Park.
Since then, he has played in the big in some of the big Stadia, scored some great goals, endeared himself as a Celt and had the longest stay at any club in his career. He has also battled cancer, recently become a father again and is now a respected and constantly employed pundit, journalist and charity fundraiser — something that was not really envisaged in his pre Celtic days.
Then there is Stan Petrov who arrived at Celtic park as a teenage prospect. Sure he had achieved a degree of starlet fame in his native Bulgaria, but it was at Celtic he matured and spent those years where his reputation was established.
He too has battled and is battling serious illness and while that illness struck at Aston Villa Petrov and those behind him turned to Celtic Park in the knowledge that the east end of Glasgow would always welcome him and stand in support of someone who once wore the green and white hoops.
The last of the three who I saw on Saturday who I want to mention is the 5 year old boy that went on to become Giorgios Samaras.
While Hartson and Petrov strode up Celtic way with huge smiles holding the league trophy, Samaras trailed some distance behind them, behind all of his team mates, and clearly looked a forlorn and sad figure– he looked like someone who was in pain. Someone who was walking up to the stadium for the last time.
The thing about 5 year old boys is that they don’t always get what they want. That is a part of growing up.
In the case of Giorgios Samaras, I believe- and have reason to believe — that Giorgios Samaras the man, the once 5 year old boy, believes that he grew up at Celtic park — just like Hartson, Petrov, Larsson, Lennon and many others before him.
It is often said that Samaras “Gets” the club.
This might be true and probably is but I believe that it is more accurate to say that Samaras gets himself — and he found that self at Celtic park.
I read Paul’s article yesterday and all the comments afterwards including those who disagreed with the comparison to wee Jimmy. I understand those comments and in a way agree with them as George is no Jimmy — but then again who is?
However, the comparison is a fair one as especially in Europe certain things have to be recognised.
First, Big Sammy could not be ignored by top coaches in Europe. Like us, they never knew which Samaras would turn up! Would it be frustrating Sammy from a Celtic point of view or would it be “Unplayable” Sammy as described by Neil Lennon.
Whichever it was, Samaras was so effective in previous seasons that by last season wherever he went he was crowded out by two or three defenders. I read one post which said that this nullified him as the out ball and as an effective force and now we should find an new force.
With respect, I disagree, and it is here that the comparison to Jimmy is justified.
Jimmy Johnstone also reached a stage where his reputation was such that two or three defenders shadowed him — one was never enough.
However, in Stein’s day he managed a wealth of riches which meant that if two or three followed Johnstone there was ample room for other devastating and effective assets in the team to make a difference.
On the other wing there would be Lennox or Hughes.
Through the middle would come Auld or Murdoch and later others.
Up front there was McBride, or Chalmers or Deans or Dalglish or Hood, and if you ask Willie Wallace he will tell you flat that Jimmy made more goals for him than anyone else simply because he dragged defenders all over the place and made room.
In other words, the opposition changed shape to deal with Jimmy and while dealing with him they couldn’t deal with the rest.
In the case of Samaras– where are the other teammates that posed a threat last year?
Where are the other players in the Celtic line up where an opposition coach before the start of 90 minutes asks the question ” Right, how are we going to deal with him?”.
In my opinion, other than Commons who poses a different type of problem, there are none.
Griffiths may establish such a reputation — but Samaras is the only one who immediately poses a tactical problem.
That he was Celtic’s only outball in Europe is not his fault. That is the fault ( if fault be the right word ) of others.
Yes he could be frustrating, appear languid, sometimes uninterested ( though i don’t believe he was ) but by God on his day he got your arse out of the seat.
Displays against Rangers, the overhead kick for the winner against Aberdeen, the goals in the Camp Nou and in Moscow — and his ability to charge Celtic park on a European night cannot be overlooked or underestimated.
Big Sammy will never be hailed as our greatest player but he is and was a certain type of Celtic player and to not attempt to keep him is in my opinion a mistake. he could make the heart beat faster and the spirits soar — and sorry but Celtic do not have enough players with that ability.
We have been told that Neil Lennon has let it be known that he will consider a job down south if one becomes available — something that is a very real possibility.
That being said, perhaps the reluctance to even have further discussions with Samaras is as a result of the club not fully knowing who the manager is going to be and what kind of team they wish to put out next year. Would a new manager want Samaras?
For me, however, the lesson to be learned here and emphasised is that a football is a team game. It is about more than one player and one set of tactics and one footballing asset.
Samaras has more experience of international football tournaments than Hartson and Petrov put together. He took a wage cut to spend the majority of his footballing golden years at Celtic park — and chose to stay when many other young men would have got the hell out of Dodge.
I have written before that he is an influence in the dressing room and off the field of play and that could be seen by the reaction of some of his team mates on Saturday. His experience and dressing room reputation alone is an asset — especially if you have a youth academy of any standing and with any ambition.
If Celtic really want to progress on the European stage do you let assets like Samaras go?
We have already seen that money is not his be all and end all. Perhaps the gap between what he was looking for as a wage and what was offered was too wide? However, if you are clever about it why not try and bridge that gap in creative ways with £x per annum — an old fashioned testimonial — or whatever.
You can try and bridge that gap. To talk actually costs nothing — to not talk at all will get you precisely nowhere and means failure from the start.
I don’t think for a minute that Samaras is the sole answer in Europe but even as an impact sub he presents a unique problem and forces the opposition to ask and answer the question ” What do we do about Samaras?”. In domestic football he is not given space to roam — unless of course there is another threat somewhere that helps to create such space?
If he were Scottish, I suspect that Gordon Strachan would have him in an international squad.
However, it would appear that he has gone from Kerrydale Street..
But not for good.
His public statements, his instinctive reaction to carry a child around the stadium at the end of proceedings on Saturday, and his involuntary tears at scoring the penalty on his final appearance tell me that like Petrov and Hartson, Samaras has learned something special whilst at Celtic Park. In many ways he has grown up as a person in Glasgow.
I hope he has learned that once you “get” the club, then no matter what happens with your contract or how you end the halcyon days as a footballer — the club gets you — the man if not the player —- forever!
And Celtic Football Club will never be short of the need for men like Giorgios Samaras.
JJ
I was showing off my ” Independant boxer shorts” at the hootenanny … Count yourselves fortunate I wasn’t promoting Brazilian Independance ;)
Just a wee bit fun who would you prefer Celtic to sign and why ? Finnbogson or Hooper I dont think we will sign either but I would go for Finnbogson who s high on confidence after scoring 29 goals last season. H.H.
TBJ
:))))))))))))))))
eddieinkirkmichael
A very brave and heartbreaking post.
I will remember you and your family in my prayers.
Take care and God bless.
BRTH- another 60p contribution from your good self.
Sammi had his faults but that’s why he’s at Celtic; and why Real Madrid broke the bank to sign Gareth Bale.
Gold Coast going to Parhead in the Winter cold nights ,getting home ,traffic on the London Road ,nightmare ,no if I was you mate I would stick were I am.and worse of all standing outside waiting for the game to start,no decent eating facielites.which is absaloute shocking .unless you can afford the corporate seats,The Celtic Way .for me they should have built some bars for food etc etc instead of that ,but as usual the ordinary fan is treated as nobodys by the present board of directors ,and that was one of the reasons I didn’t renew my season ticket ,having had one for over 20 yrs
BRT&H
09.54
Fantastic post mhate,hh.
timbhoy2
10:03 on 13 May, 2014
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From what i have read celtic are looking to open large entertainment area where food and drink are available.
I dont think celtic is the only reason he is moving home.
Im not the boards biggest fan but the celtic way looks excellant, hopefully the entertainment area can look half as good.
Sammy could be good but just not as often as he should have been and yer right that is why he was at celtic annd not madrid but then thats why he should have been scoring or even playing at a higher level every week v Scottish teams in which he often had a bad gAmes and didnt look that bothered tbh
BRT&H
Great post had me close to tears.
HH
Thanks Proudbhoy. its just depressing ,standing outside on them winter evenings.cold and at times hungry.and its not for everyone to go to the pub
BRTH-Great summary of Sammi’s contribution to Celtic.Lesser men would never have recovered at CP,after that penalty miss.If you went anywhere in Europe and got chatting to a local,and the subject of Celtic came up,i would say the local would only know 2 current Celtic players,Forster and Samaras.To let a guy like that go to the WC as a free agent is gross mismanagement IMO.As you see you negociate ,find some common ground and agree a deal.If a club comes in for him,and he wants to go,CFC would get between £3-5 mil.I wish him all the luck at his new club.HH
Morning Timland from a warm, soon to be hot hun free mountain valley.
Brogan etc……..
Very good post about Sammi, I agree 100%.
HH
BRTH 09.52……excellent post on big SAMMI…..3 on him on the CL games last season…..mediocre sometimes useless forwards beside him …..was always going to be difficult for the big man……same with AIDEN……he will be missed big time away in the CL…….anyways the forwards we have will take us nowhere in Europe….
I can’t believe a Celtic fan would come on here and tellanother fan not to bother buying a season ticket for himself and two sons….
BRTH – you keep good company.
Darren O’Dea @odea_darren 21m
Love him or hate him! Samaras will be difficult to replace. A player 4 the big occasions and what ppl don’t see is he is a fantastic person!
It’s very worrying that we are losing Georgios. As BRTH says, if we want to progress on the European stage, and Lenny keeps saying this, why get rid of one of our main assets? The only other player we have who would make our opponents worry is James Forrest – if he’s fit! If we replace Sami with any more projects and rejects, we will probably struggle to qualify for the group stages of the CL.
We seem to be in a bit of a turmoil at the moment.
Big Johan gone,Sammy gone,Lenny openly saying that he wants EPL chance.
We could be making room for RS with Sammy leaving but i have a nasty feeling that we have started to downsize even more from max25k to circa 15k. will be interesting when Broony’s contract comes up.
One thing is for sure this team will have big problems in the UCLQ stage, nightmare if we get Malmö in the first round.
KTF
Charliebhoy
Fine post on your own battle to overcome adversity – thanks for sharing.
And I agree – grandchildren are fab.
HH
Carrigan
It’s way too early to start panicking. There is plenty time to get the players in we need.
LB
Gold Coast Tom @ 23:46 on 12 May, 2014
I recently announced to the blog that I am taking early retirement, finishing work on Friday 6th June….. and I will be moving back into my old house in Edinburgh.
Welcome home GCT – Embra is a great place to enjoy retirement .
Looks like another head for the Murrayfield Gazebo in July and of course a quiet pint in the legendary Roseburn Bar. Look forward to catching up with you at your leisure.
BRTH,
that was wonderfully written , John, Stan & Sammi , are up there as great celts.
Not the very very best players, but high contributors to the cause , in words and deeds.
I personally wouldnt have let Sammi walk. It cant just be about the wages.
When he picked young Jay out the crowd , I just thought what a magnificent thing to do.
I read somewhere there is a video of Jay on the celtic bus , anyone got the link ?
Livibhoy
Agree!
We’ve got plenty of time to panic later on!
:-)
Was going to post after catching up but
quantum
saved me the trouble
08:36 on 13 May, 2014
eddieinkirkmichael
23:53 on
12 May, 2014
————————————————————-
Just read back on last nights post.
Eddiekirkmichael , a very moving post .
Gold Coast Tom -Welcome home!!
Except to add Y.N.W.A Eddiekirkmichael
Ole Sammi must be the only Celtic player to have earned both meanings of unplayable.
eddieinkirkmichael @ 23:53 on 12 May, 2014
Heart rending buddy. Strength comes from sharing and I’m sure your family appreciate it. I know your CQN family do also.
Livibhoy,
I read somewhere that we can meet the Swedish champions in the first round, if heaven forbid we get knocked out , then it is goodbye Europe.
We will be playing away from home (Murrayfield) that in itself is a disadvantage.
Lenny has went from a few players to a couple of players to come in, well those two better be good ones.
KTF
BSR-VG