At the start of this month I look at the fixture list; three away games, at Inverness in the Scottish Cup and both Edinburgh grounds in the league, sounded a tall order. Before the Inverness game I wrote that it was games like that which often brought a promising treble run to a halt, while Hibs and Hearts had already taken points from us this season.
‘The record shows’, we’re in the next round of the cup and hit an incredible nine goals over two visits to Edinburgh without reply.
We’ve scored 21 goals away from home since the last goal conceded (at Udinese) and have scored 26 in domestic away games since Motherwell took the lead against Celtic on 6 November last year. In that time Dunfermline Kilmarnock and Dundee United have scored at Celtic Park, while Falkirk managed a goal at Hampden in the League Cup semi-final, but I don’t remember such an imperious Celtic team away from home.
I remember throwing a troublesome away stat at Gordon Strachan’s team. Despite winning the league Gordon’s team went over 15 months in all competitions without keeping a clean sheet away from home. Celtic were the best team in the land, indisputable winners, but no matter how lowly the opposition, there was a fragility about the team.
These great times need to be placed in a suitable historical frame.
The signed Celtic jersey we were auctioning on eBay raised £5000 on Saturday. I get to see a lot of Celtic fans, so should know your nature well enough by now, but you continue to raise the bar higher.
Stunned.
If you would like to read CQN Magazine online (for free), click here. You can download a pdf of the magazine using the button at the top of the page, second from the right. Click on the link below to order a hard copy of the magazine.
You can support the online edition by making a discretionary donation here.
162 Comments- Pages:
- «
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- »
Classic WHITABOUTERY from the idiot that is bill leckie.
Scotpatsfan
I was among the Barca fans that game too – apart from the occasional teasing chants of Rankers, they were top class. I think they were bemused at how guttered we were…
On a separate note, can I convey a message to all those, ahem, ‘journalists’ out there –
“I know you are hurting, I cannot almost feel your pain it is so tangible. However, just stick to what you’re good at – sympathising with the Rankers’ support. Don’t talk to us about ‘dignity’ Mr Pattullo of the Hootsman. Instead, question why your investigative skills failed you so badly. Why didn’t you and your brethern unmask the financial charades at Ibrox?
I think I know the answer –
as with the objectionable songs, if you don’t mention it, perhaps no-one will notice.
Looks like we could be celebrating a League win at Ibroke-if results go our way(time for some MIB interference?)according to this report on the BBC.
Police concern over potential Old Firm title decider
By Chris McLaughlin
Senior Football Reporter, BBC Scotland Strathclyde Police have raised concerns over Celtic potentially clinching the SPL title against Rangers at Ibrox.
Sunday’s win at Easter Road stretched the gap between Celtic and second-place Rangers to 17 points.
Should Celtic remain unbeaten and their Old Firm rivals drop two points, then Neil Lennon’s side could win the title on 25 March.
A police spokesman told BBC Scotland a fixture change would be difficult as the game falls before the split.
With home games to follow, against Dunfermline on Wednesday and Motherwell three days later, Celtic have the opportunity to make that difference 23 points before Rangers visit Inverness Caledonian Thistle on Sunday.
Lennon’s side then take on Aberdeen before the next Old Firm encounter.
Rangers have an away game against Inverness before a home game with Hearts and an away clash with Dundee United.
Police say they would rather the scenario was avoided but admit pre-sales of tickets and hospitality packages would make a switch difficult.
But they also say they have experience in policing events and will treat this one in the same way.
Rangers clinched the title in 1999 after an ill-tempered 3-0 Old Firm derby win at Celtic Park.
That derby led to a call from the Scottish Police Federation for the fixture to be banned completely following violence after the game.
The SPL say the scenario is completely hypothetical but plan to hold talks with police and the clubs before the game, as is the case before all Old
ernie lynch@12:37
Thanks for that mate….
I stand corrected!( must do the Wiki thing more!)
HH
Paul, can you remember the game when Gordons team eventually kept a clean away from home? And who was brought in from the cold fir that game?
SffS
Paul67
We do seem to have novel up a gear away from home.
However we got ourselves into ‘fankle’ a couple of times yesterday and on other days we would have leaked goals.
In contrast we have been better in other games.
Hertz – the defence played very well.
TR – still a bit bambi on ice with the ball at his feet.
KW – struggling for confidence when he has to play the ball.
Too much of our play starts with CM.
Yesterday we did not have a passer / spreader in the MF before Ki came on, too many times we were playing tight football on one area / side of the park with no-one prepared to move the ball on.
VW played some good touches to move the play on in the middle but on the wings we were all too often closed down and lost the ball in traffic. GS was missed to both work the wing and also do his headless chicken forays inside which open up play not through the range of his passing but through him physically changing the thrust of our attacks / advance.
Finally some words for AS.
Rocket up his erse / head screwed on the right way – not sure which was applied yesterday but whatever it was it worked.
However he is some talent if he can grow up.
Most complete forward / footballer since possibly CB or HL.
GH is the better finisher but AS is the better footballer.
Hope it all continues to the end of the season.
Financial Doping? Thier 9-in-a-row will forever be tainted.
Scottish journalist Alf Young reveals that former Rangers chairman Sir David Murray demanded his sacking
Scottish journalist Alf Young reveals that formerOne of Scotland’s most respected journalists, Alf Young, has revealed how former Rangers FC’s owner, Sir David Murray , demanded to have him sacked over stories in The Herald on his business interests.
Writing in The Scotsman on Saturday, Young claimed that Rangers FC’s descent into administration is a result of decisions taken years ago, in bank and in boardroom.
Young, who held several senior editorial posts at the Herald before he retired from the paper, recalled, that in 1988 …”when the news came through that he (Murray) was buying Rangers, I was as astonished as everyone else.
“Some three years on, with the early 1990s recession beginning to bite, my editor called me into his office. ‘I’ve heard there are serious problems with David Murray’s property interests. Could you check it out?’ he suggested.
“I talked to my contacts and checked out the relevant company accounts. It rapidly became clear there were problems. They were big ones.
….”And this was happening at the same time when a recently-acquired Rangers’ overdraft had tripled in the space of a year. All in all, my editor’s whispers had substance.
“This was a story of considerable significance for both the bank and for the credibility of David Murray’s growing business empire.
“When the stories on what I had found appeared, he went ballistic. There were demands I be sacked. I have never spoken to David Murray from that day to this.
“I once found myself in his company, tried to broker a peace and was right royally snubbed for my pains.
“I’m telling you all this because it illustrates how the events of recent days – plunging one half of the Old Firm into ignominious administration and threatening its very existence in its present form – have been incubating for a very long time indeed.”
Lenny is the Mhan..
Never doubted him since taking the job on .
He has exceeded my expectations tenfold however. Incredible how he has brought our fine club to this point.
GBNFL
I feel that Leckie is onto something…
I have it on good authority that Celtic cooked the attendance figures at a match in 1893.
I place my sympathetic hand on Bill’s shoulder. I quietly whisper gently into his left ear –
“Dry your eyes, ya beanbag!”
Seven Fishes Four Steaks says:
20 February, 2012 at 12:46
was it Bobo at utd?
greenjedi 20 February, 2012 at 12:43:
Snap, didn’t pay until I had bum fluff, neither did any of the 6 bhoys I went to the games with.
Remember all the priests at the priest gate that got in for nothing too.
Add to that the pals of the cashier, then there’s no wonder that the crowds looked bigger than reported.
The hun meeja are lashing out as they will all be unemployed soon, none of the know enough about rugby or golf to survuve without the hoard:o)
I’ve noticed down here in the big smoke, their supporters are already denying any interest in ther team, and the cock has’nt got its second crow out yet :oD
Hun text me last season to tell me about their 3IAR, has already told me he’s no interested and that the text was only a wind up, more interested in the national rugby team.
Howmany time you been to murryfield to watch them – none
Last game you watched them on the telly – about two year ago – ha ha ha ha ha ha.
Well you’ll be big enough to accept the returned wind up when its being dished out – like now begger – cue, dummy spat and storming huff, they cant contain themselves, just keep at them.
The scottish rugby team will be their last sectarian stronghold
another media perspective from Phil
óglach, (from previous thread)
Don’t put words in my mouth. Your comment about Catholics joining the RUC tells me that you would rather persevere with an “us and them” scenario than see the divisions and attitudes that facilitate these divisions smashed.
Our views are shaped by our experiences and as I do not know what your experiences are, I will not judge you on your views. For my part, I have grown up watching too much sadness caused by small minded people on both sides of the divide who were unable or unwilling to forgive. I notice you use the late Tommy Burns to support your argument. I don’t think you have the right to do that. If he would agree with you or not, I do not know. I do know that he was a very devout Catholic and a man with forgiveness in his heart.
Just one more thing. I don’t know how familiar you are with the divisions that existed in South Africa. I recomend you watch the movie Invictus.
There is a lesson for all of us in how Nelson Mandela chose to wear the Springbok jersey, until then a symbol of Apartheid.
I got a lift over the gate ,till I was 5 foot ten ,then I
was getting embarrassed at my workmate slagging me.
Good mornin’ from a cold Toronto (-8).
Nursing a whopping hangover after a jelly & ice cream party in the club yesterday.
Thanks to Mark & Sinead for the wee surprise – never tasted vodka jelly before:)
http://i41.tinypic.com/291g5c4.jpg
A couple o’handsome lookin CQN’rs in there too:)
Hail Hail
TAL
We’ve had the best of times and we’ve had the worst of times but this fellow tims has to be the best of the best. Each day just seems to get better and better for us and all the more perilous for them. If karma is proof of God then he has finally shown his cards- he has shown us his colours and they are shining like light through an emerald. Few of our forefathers could ever have predicted such days as these; these moments, hours and days upon days of awe and happy bewilderment- as we, the living, witness the mighty Glasgow Rangers fall so disgracefully to their knees and utterly humbled by the justice of beautiful circumstance…how lucky are we to be born in such times in terms of our Timhood? Will these times ever stop giving forth with such abundance? I’m reminded of Blakes phrase: Heaven is Gratitude…this feels like a rehearsal for the rapture or are we already in heaven? Whatever it is just enjoy it with gratitude in your heart and remember your a tim and all the responsibility that holds.
peace and prosperity to one and all
Seven Fishes Four Steaks at 12:46
Paul, can you remember the game when Gordons team eventually kept a clean away from home? And who was brought in from the cold fir that game?
I seem to recall it was against Dundee United and if my memory is correct, it was Mark Brown brought in to make the saves to keep the clean sheet. :-)
Or did you mean someone else!!!!
Mort
unew mike says:
20 February, 2012 at 12:38
*******************
mail to ye bud.
V
TBB
Re: Andrew Smith article.
Very succinct and accurate synopsis.
David Murray is the secret source whose name cannot be mentioned.
Says it all really
HH
i broke my arm when an ,oul so an so threw me over(the turnstyle) at an Irish league game when i was 10,still have trouble with it,but stayed and watched the game!!!its the Ballymurphy in me
The OSB @ 12.41
Regarding the crowds in the 60’s and 70’s, the main driver for all that happened was the fact that the money was split between the teams.
From memory the crowds followed a pattern year in year out.
TFOD – 55K
Hertz / Hibs / Sheep – 35K or 40K.
The Rest – 25K.
The only time I can recall a change to this pattern was the year Aberdeen were putting a big challenge – 71/72, possibly 72/73.
Game in the Spring at CP – 1 each – BMcN scored an OG.
From memory that crowd was given as 61/64K and it was the biggest crowd I can remember outside of Euro games from the 70’s that I attended. I always put it down to the Sheep playing hardball on attendances as they were the big draw at the time.
My thoughts are that the attendances were a game / stitch up.
It suited the old board and it suited the opposition.
Finally can anyone offer any info on the last two seasons of the 9 IAR era?
I can remember being told that the club lost money in these two seasons.
Struggling to see it myself as 73/74 had the Basle + AM games.
However that is a story I have been told.
Any other views?
Teuchter ár lá says:
20 February, 2012 at 12:53
brilliant photo – I’m sitting smiling at my desk at a picture of some guys I don’t know holding a plate of vodka jelly!!
I love our club and our fans.
HH
please let leckie,s straw clutching be . his eyes will be on here as we post looking for more tit bits . Let the old board deal with this .
jimtim
vmhan おさしぶりでございます メール ありがとう good to hear from you again thanks for the mail hail hail
After Celtic’s 5-0 victory away to Hibs, their full domestic record since NL took charge now reads:
Played 89
Won 72
Drawn 8
Lost 9
Scored 204
Conceded 56
Clean sheets 51
Failed to score 7
NL’s team has won 80.9% of it’s games and lost just 1 in every 9.9.
It has kept a clean sheet in 57.3% of it’s games whilst scoring in 92.1% of them, averaging 2.29 goals scored and 0.63 conceded per game.
It is some 925 minutes (including stoppage time) since a Scottish team playing at home to Celtic has managed to put the ball past the Celtic ‘keeper. If Aberdeen fail to score against Celtic in the first 75 minutes of the game on the 3rd of March, this record will reach an incredible 1,000 minutes!
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
For comparison, the domestic record of Glasgow Rangers Football Club PLC (in administration) (up to and including the 0-1 home defeat against Kilmarnock), since NL took charge at Celtic Park, reads as follows:
Played 85
Won 61
Drawn 10
Lost 14
Scored 181
Conceded 69
Clean sheets 39
Failed to score 12
Rangers have won 71.8% of their games and lost 1 in every 6.1.
They have kept a clean sheet in 45.9% of their games whilst scoring in 85.9% of them, averaging 2.13 goals scored and 0.81 conceded per game.
And they have had one administration event.
Lift over turnstiles & doubling up with my big brother was the only way my dad could afford for all 3 of us getting to home games in the 70’s. So if you are reading Leckie, here is a wee maths lesson for you. 1 in 3 paid to get in, averaged out that means a 66,000 crowd would show up as 22,000 paying customers, 33.33% paid, 66.66% skipped in. So where is the tax avoidance?
I know you personally Billy(not Bill), and I am insulted at your reasoning for taking up journalism, at times like this. The man would be insulted if he knew…
Reiperman,
Forgivness is wasted if not matched with repentance.
18 straight domestic wins,first time since Jock Stein in 1965!
Sadies Bhoy
Do you remember the late Alec Burnett in the old cash office? I was a boy when I met him and I reckon he could’ve been a right ol’ bu99er at times but I could’ve listened to him talk about Celtic and being one of the only tims in Weirs for hours. (Still don’t know how he got in there cos I’ve heard it was one of the worst for the old “what school did you go to?” interview technique).
He told me that after the 7-1 game, he went into work early, scribbled 7-1 onto wee bits of paper and placed them on every desk in his office. A pre-cursor to email wind-ups!
He used to talk about how big Packie Bonner was a miserable sod when asked to sign autographs and I believe the doorman at Parkhead put him straight in no uncertain terms.
Good memories.
Hail Hail
Tombola
Minty Moonbeams’ Lying Circus
JinkyvJohnGreig-saysitall
Aye! there were a couple of stray hibs supporters
wandered into the club to see the game. They
were told to sit down and eat their jelly & ice cream like
everyone else.
And that is what makes us different.
Cheers
TAL
BigChipsUK – at 13:07
Them’s fine and interesting stat’s.
And quite possibly the last time we’ll find reason to compare ourselves against the Foe Malign for some considerable time.
Sadly, I think we may find that history will recall ‘the one administration event’ ahead of all the rest … ;-)
FF
Great news :)
Celtic welcome Good Child Foundation to Paradise
By: Newsroom Staff on 20 Feb, 2012 12:42
CELTIC are delighted to announce that 40 children from the Good Child Foundation are to visit Glasgow between late April and early May 2012.
Affectionately known as ‘The Thai Tims’, the children have been taken to the hearts of the Celtic family after performing a number of songs about the Club.
Celtic will be making a contribution to enable the children to visit and supporters´ groups are also delighted to be involved in active fundraising to ensure that the trip is an unforgettable success.
Through the visit, the Good Child Foundation, the Club and our supporters will aim to raise funds to help children with Down’s Syndrome in Thailand, and also support the work of Down’s Syndrome Scotland, with whom Celtic enjoys an existing relationship.
The group will perform at a match at Celtic Park and will also appear in concert in Glasgow.
Celtic Chief Executive, Peter Lawwell, said: “We will be delighted to welcome the children to Celtic Park and we are sure they will enjoy this trip of a lifetime.
“The children have really made an indelible mark on the Club and the wider Celtic fanbase, through their magnificent support and this will be our opportunity to thank the children for all they have done.
“Celtic has always been much more than a club and through this initiative, the Club and its supporters will be working together for a magnificent cause.”
Paul Lennon, from the Good Child Foundation, said: “The Thai Tims are an inspirational group of children who have reached out to people from across the world. Their upcoming visit to Celtic Park is an opportunity that would be beyond many of their wildest dreams.
“The children come from a rural province in South-East Thailand, where the majority of their parents are rubber plantation labourers. This work can mean families being separated, as parents have to leave the children with relatives so that they can travel to find work further afield.
“Many of the children also help on the plantations, working several hours before coming to school. This will be a trip to remember for these children and naturally, they are very excited about visiting Scotland.”
All of the major Celtic supporters’ groups have indicated their willingness to support the project and have offered their assistance and backing in making the initiative an overwhelming success.
Supporters can get involved by donating online here via text – Text CELT07 followed by £1, £5 or £10 to 70070 or through various initiatives that will be announced in the coming weeks.
The Celtic Supporters’ Association, The Affiliation of Registered Celtic Supporters´ Clubs, the Irish Association of Celtic Supporters´ Clubs and the North American Supporters´ Federation of Celtic Supporters are also supporting this fundraising effort and members can raise funds directly through these groups as well.
To see the Good Child Foundation kids singing ‘Just Can’t Get Enough’, click HERE
TheOriginalSadiesBhoy says:
20 February, 2012 at 12:41
I worked with an older bloke for a while who was with the old ‘Inland Revenue’ as it was then for most of his career. He says Celtic were investigated and monitored over and over again by his mates at Customs and Excise for potential VAT evasion. The Club didn’t run at sufficient profit so there was no real corporation tax issue, but a straight percentage of every match was of much greater importance for VAT collection. Reviewed right down to cash collection and counting and banking procedures. Nothing was ever found to be untoward.
Doubling up, and kids lifted over the gate were the explanation, that plus a large number of free entry priests! :-)
I’d love to see Micheal Kelly issue Leckie/The Sun with a wee invitation to The Sheriff Court.
Rieperman says:
20 February, 2012 at 12:51
óglach, (from previous thread)
Don’t put words in my mouth. Your comment about Catholics joining the RUC tells me that you would rather persevere with an “us and them” scenario than see the divisions and attitudes that facilitate these divisions smashed
————–
Your opinion of me is wrong on so many levels. I have said more than enough with regards to this issue and in deference to the blog and other posters with no interest in the issue i will not expound further on my beliefs on the struggle for justice in NI during the period more than the following. The comparison with South Africa is indeed valid and i would question what the reaction of the people of Soweto to one of their own joining an openly apartheid supporting institution would have been? Please correct me if I am wrong but wasn’t the movie you talk of based in a democratic South Africa lead by a charismatic leader determined to unite the disparate groups within the new state? A somewhat different scenario to NI in the period that we were debating. I will concede that if this were related to this current period of reconciliation in NI I would agree entirely with your sentiments.
St Martin, Mort. I believe it was Dundee Utd and Bobo brought back in. I thought THG played that night Mort.
SffS
Canamalar,
True. People need to start the healing process somewhere though. I will certainly not slam a fellow Irishman and fellow Celt for having the courage to ignore the bigotry that exists at Windsor Park just as I wouldn’t criticise those who, with even more courage, put their lives in danger to work for the RUC. The biggest complaint was always that they were a protestant police force for a protestant people, yet when Catholics joined it was their own people who threatened their lives. Go figure.