Hapoel Beer-Shiva delivered Olympiakos first defeat in a Champions League qualifying match in six years. The Greeks have competed in the group stage every season since, holding their own throughout the period, so getting knocked out by Hapoel was the equivalent of losing a Scottish Cup semi-final to a lower-league club.
Hapoel are not better than Olympiakos, not nearly so, but they were good enough to progress when they got the breaks. Anyone who thinks we’ll easy past them into the group stage is being ridiculously complacent.
I’m trying to avoid the nonsense coming out of Ibrox while we have more important things going on, but good grief! Please, please, have them follow through on the nonsense of ditching their legally contracted Puma strips to wear something else.
That stadium seems to be a beacon attracting stupid people doing stupid things.
You’ll note the INDEPENDENT SFA report on crowd at the Scottish Cup final recorded no assaults whatsoever on Newco players. This clearly caused some dissonance at the media organisations who reported utter fabrications after the game.
Never mind, Newco is in the same good hands which were on the tiller when their disastrous EBT plan was enacted, and the players who benefited from EBTs are front and central of Newco media coverage.
If you can’t see how this story ends, you’re not looking.
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So good I read it twice.
ROY CROPPIE on 4TH AUGUST 2016 1:43 AM
You’re in my Heart
“Yessssssssssssssssssssssssssssss”
It was even louder than that. This was the ‘heart ward’ as it was known in ‘The Monklands’ and this was the quiet hour when you rested after the so called lunch and awaited the Russian roulette of visiting hour…let it be somebody good!
More importantly Stephen McManus had just scored an extremely late winner to snatch a 2-3 victory for Celtic at Tynecastle in a cracker of a match that we looked like losing until the last few minutes. I could hear her feet coming along the silent corridor and the rhythm appeared to be in triple time. There was four of us in the ward: two auld fellas were still sound asleep despite my best attempts at waking ‘the dead;’ Rab the bluenose from Bellshill was sitting bolt upright just shaking his head at me and mouthing ‘jammy bastards’.
I regressed to childhood and feigned sleep however I could smell her ward Sister Efficiency standing over me.
“Your heart rate is through the roof” she mouthed disapprovingly. I’d forgotten about the Telemetry device I had to wear that was constantly feeding back my surf like heart waves to the Nurses’ station.
“Doctor will be here shortly.” Her clipped tones confirmed my suspicions-a crabbit bluenose!
“You better hide that radio.” She wasn’t all bad as there was a few games coming up and confiscation could necessitate the need for an escape plan.
“I take it your team won? Jammy as ever.” That’s what Bluenose Rab said I thought. He was still sitting bolt upright shaking his head and mouthing sectarian obscenities but as it was in the context of the match and I had more to worry about, I let it go. Rab wasn’t looking that good though and Sister’s attention was drawn to him for a precious few minutes as I wanted to hear the after match chat on the radio and enjoy our dramatic win.
The Doctor gave me a mild rebuke but reiterated when it was rest time, that’s what I had to do. I told him that I’d be far more agitated not knowing what was happening and the radio helped. He sympathised but then said the immortal words: “Do you want Celtic to be the death of you?”
It was a rhetorical question but in my racing mind I was now going through a catalogue of incredible Celtic highs and lows that may have answered his question on more than one occasion.
“Good chance they will be,” I mumbled…
Rab was now fast asleep after his scare and it appeared to me that he’d come off the worst after the late winner for Celtic. He was one of my longest companions in the ward and was good company. He had a warmth to him that led me to say during one of those never ending days that, “You could be a Tim.” He couldn’t stop laughing especially as I backed it up with the age old and still very apt retort, “But you’re not handsome enough.” With tears in his eyes from the laughter he asked, “would I need to give up the baun’?”
He had previously regaled me with tales of the Bellshill Baun’ and his role as a dummy flautist. This was comedy gold but he couldn’t see what I was laughing it. I imagined a book: ’Marching for Dummies.’ I felt this was oxymoronic perfection. Dummy drummers, dummy twirlers, dummy speakers…the list was endless. He even said most of his baun’ were dummies. That nearly ended me. Mischievously I enjoyed this guided tour of Bellshill ignorance and bigotry but I bonded with the guy in medically challenging circumstances and it was good for killing a couple of hours.
I’d been in the ward since Boxing day and watched everyone else around me come and go. The two old boys left on the Monday after the Hearts game and Rab and I looked forward to getting to know the next two inmates. Some guys were talkative and others-I understood why-were insular and tried to keep themselves to themselves. Difficult that in a room with 4 beds and very little privacy but you had to respect their wishes. Disastrously the bold Rab was released on the next Friday…I should change that to miraculously as this was the Friday before the Clyde cup game and that wouldn’t have ended well for either of us. I just hope he didn’t celebrate too much…
Once again I tried the old radio under the covers with one ear-phone in but I got rumbled early doors. My old friend the telemetry monitor and two early disallowed goals for Clyde ensured it was lights out for the remainder of the game. I struggled to sleep but eventually managed it albeit a very fitful repose. I must have sub-consciously known that a football catastrophe was occurring in Cumbernauld. The choirmaster’s team were convincing winners against a star-studded Celtic side with Keane, Hartson and even Du Wei in its ranks. I was gently awoken by a Celtic friendly nurse and I’ll never forget the look on her face; ignoring all heart issues and my current setting I asked, “Did we draw with Clyde?”
She never answered but the look said it all and I thanked God for one small mercy that Rab wasn’t here. The two new guys who apparently supported Airdrie-well they had the day before-were delighted for the small club and Scottish football as a whole. Aye right or Aye Ready springs to mind. I wanted to dig a hole to escape.
I hit the jackpot with visitors roulette as a posse from the Supporters bus came to see me. It was cathartic and I appeared to be consoling them far more than anything they were giving me. The three to the bed rule was smashed as this was an emergency and the crabbit bluenose Sister was off the weekend, no doubt toasting Clyde’s triumph as a smile cracked across her formidable coupon. The Bhoys and Ghirl from the bus seemed to replay the full match in front of me and all I could really ascertain was that Du Wei was crap; Keane was crap and Clyde deserved to win. Oh and Graeme Roberts is a…I’ll leave that there for common decency as they were awfy het up.
January came and went as did my various temporary companions in my ward. It appeared that I had heart failure and this was a lot worse than the heart attack boys who were turned around in about a week and released back into the community promising salad was the way ahead. The outlook was grim but I truly didn’t grasp the enormity of the situation until I was moved to the Transplant Unit in the Royal and I met the surgeon who would ultimately save my life…the very next morning.
Prior to the excellent Jubilee Hospital ward 67 was a nirvana for Scottish heart failure patients (although my new mate was from Australia on work experience). Again my Celtic DNA kicked in and the number 67 was sure to prove lucky. My room was amazing, a penthouse in the Royal infirmary with two sides totally glass. Straight ahead from my bed was the East-End and I could see the tops of the Celtic Park stands. Fantastic. To my right was the Eastern necropolis, Glasgow Cathedral, Drygate and the Barrowlands. What a location to die!
The Surgeon and I looked over the east-end late on the Monday evening as he tried to improve upon the intelligence gleaned from my Monkland notes. He admitted despite the numerous weeks in hospital he still wasn’t sure what was wrong. He was going to watch me closely and I declared for the first time my fears and my desire to take my son to a cup final. The big guy was into sailing and rugby and as I probed him further it turned out he was telling the truth. I had a multitude of cards/souvenirs from the Monklands and he commented on these. At 1130pm at night overlooking the Necropolis with a heart surgeon I felt he had to know where I came from. He was still into sailing and rugby so I trusted him; he listened to me wax lyrical about Celtic and acknowledged my passion. We hit it off. Sleep came easy for the first time in months.
There were only 5 rooms in Ward 67 and we all had our own dedicated nurse. I felt invigorated on day one and pushed for a shower on day 2. Happy days.
As I left the shower room around 20 yards from my room…
That’s all I remember. My hero was on the ward and operated on me as I hit the deck. A cut to the groin, a pacing wire and several thumps to the chest brought this Tim back into the game, Some man. He had his answers though and I couldn’t have been in better hands.
By this time the season had marched on and the unrealistic goals that I had set myself had come and gone. Nightly I’d debate with John Knox out of my right window as I glorified in the Celtic Park Stands straight ahead. Knoxy wasn’t for listening but the green on the Cathedral roof cheered me up as did the flashing lights from the Gallowgate and the deer in the Necropolis at 6am in the morning.
As the season progressed it looked like we were on for a League and League cup double. The League cup final was my aim to take my Bhoy-his first Celtic cup final-but it was not to be. However his uncle (Lymmbhoy) and my cousin Tony ensured the wee mhan had a day to remember. He visited the ward that night bedecked in a scarf and flag and oh how the tears flowed.
Mr Surgeon worked wonders with me and after several procedures a transplant looked less likely and I was taken off the list. The final procedure was a cardiac ablation and I was informed this would be exceptionally painful’ and you would be awake. My new aim was to witness Celtic winning the league and to celebrate with my family. In Surgery the big fella informed me that I could not be knocked out due to the volatile nature of my viral dilated heart but they would provide pain relief and music provided by the Surgeon. I tried to laugh. He told me the pain would come in waves lasting 45s of intense pain and 15s of relief over a period of 35-40mns. I asked about the music…
I was sedated.
It was agony.
The first song, ‘You’re in my heart, you’re in my soul’
I smiled. Bring it on…
5/4/2006
I made it to the Championship winning game and my defib didn’t activate. I’ll never take Celtic or family or life for granted again.
Well done the Surgeon for his skill and his music…although I have a couple of musical suggestions!
YNWA
Kodi Box is Ace Bhoys, Clever wee piece of kit.
KLV
TBB being an ML6 Bhoy I can relate to a lot of Roys Story. Great read from a great poster. He is Celtic.
KLV
Proudbhoy
Its cleaner for a start.
been in them all.
CitizenM….great base to explore the town….stagger back easy:)
HH
Fishal…Scott Sinclair signs and could feature at
swinecastle according to SSN.
http://www.celticfc.net/news/11029?
Official, Welcome Flying Machine.
KLV
KEVINLASVEGAS on 7TH AUGUST 2016 10:16 AM
As a T.V. supporter , I`m not really in a position to see the ebb and flow of a game and make a valid assessment in particular about midfielders who should control the game.
Bitton,Christie , Mc Gregor ,Broony ,Armstrong.
Too many players for too few positions.
A settled team is and always has been the answer.
Change only for necessity.
I`m sure Brendan will follow that mantra, but he must be given time.
Cmon Scott Sinclair, give them hell son.
HH
MACJAY1 FOR NEIL LENNON Patience Mac your right.
We need more of it, Wednesday was very edgy for everyone but Brendan is right. He seems to have a bit of a midfield conundrum, sometimes it works, Sometimes it goes missing no matter who he put in there. Erik in as Def Mid? O’Connell and Toure CB? or Simo.
He may lookout side for another Midfielder, The ones we have are all very similar.
KLV
League opener day. Always a great feeling. A heady mixture of excitement and trepidation that creates a tangible tingling in my stomach, even after 56 years on this earth.
So many possibilities in the months ahead, terminating in ecstasy or despair next May.
Time to hop on the Brendan Bus, and let’s all sit at the front.
The “Rangers” are coming? Are they? One game is no indication of how that will fare over the season, but that was a pathetic display yesterday, riddled with errors, if they were looking to create any momentum.
Our team are responding to Brendan. They will also respond to support and encouragement from the terraces (sic). This will be evident in our fantastic away support today at Swinecastle.
With 50 000 backing the players at home, really backing them, we can do well. There will be losses, and poor displays, along the way, but we are all in this together.
Today it begins. Embrace. Enjoy.
Hail Hail
YNWA
HUNDERBIRDS ARE GONE
Well put Sir!!
Excited already.
Magic!
KLV
KEVINLASVEGAS on 7TH AUGUST 2016 10:39 AM
Bottom line.
Supremely relieved to have a sound coach with a pedigree of success and a hunger for more AND who happens to understand US and what we are about.
I have every confidence that he`ll take us where we should be.
Welcome , Scott .
Over and Over
Jobo
My head was bursting with all that tech talk!? I am in Virgin Media too and get BT Sport with the package I am on. What would be my options?
I do not understand mpbs,, Ethernet, HDMI. or the likes. Just need to know what to plug in where, if possible?
HUNDERBIRDS ARE GONE on 7TH AUGUST 2016 10:42 AM
Shit YES.
:-)
Aberdeen game first ……..the wee picture.
Tynecastle………………the main feature.
Beer gently cooling.
Life`s no bad.
Big game today, great chance to put a marker down and put massive pressure on the tribute act next week. Their house of cards isn’t far from crumbling. Hearts haven’t played off the back of their Euro exit so let’s get right in about them from the off, if we do they won’t cope. Come on.
Roy Croppie
Some amount of heart in that post buddy. Great read.
Anyone wanting to watch the Bhoys on android box.
1. Always make sure you have the latest Kodi working build. Currently:
Jarvis 16.1
2. If game is on Celtic TV best stream is available via Navi-x. Select Navi-x and either search for Operation Robocop Reborn 24/7 it go to latest updates option 10 mins before game.
IF NOT on Celtic TV install Soortsdevil, Phoenix and DC Sports addon’s. I’ve only failed once to get a stream in last 3 years of away games.
To update build use ES Explorer addon. Allows you to update build without need for PC.
Instructions for installing all of the above are available from just doing a google search ‘install Kodi navi-x’ for example or ‘update kodi latest build’ etc. etc.
MWD
MACJAY1 FOR NEIL LENNON
Yeah you can see we are more assured this season already, Last season at Parkhead i watched them hesitate to do everything include do the huddle. Ronnie may be clever but it wasn’t being communicated to the team. Even the warm ups now seem to have purpose. Not meaning to have a go at Ronnie but Brendan knows his onions.
KLV
MWD
Cheers…now where do I get a Kodi Jarvis 16.1?
So m that’s dinner decision made, sea bass fillets, steamed with ginger and spring onions, home made potato croquettes and side salad. Should be ready for just after our game today.
This will be a fierce fight, very windy day, big physical opponents who will threaten at every set piece.
If Brendan is expecting two signings this wee and Scott is one who is the other?
Is it the Dutch defender St Juste?
Is it a midfielder? Somebody under the radar.
I was very impressed by Hendriks for ROI at Euro championships but he hasn’t been mentioned by anyone.
I know it won’t be Balotelli:-)
Bhoys
Thank you for the kind comments, much appreciated.
HH
Leaving mass to faith of our fathers sets you up well for a Parkville Breakfast then the first game of the season
Might go for eggs benedict :-)
Welcome Scott, hope you have a very successful time at paradiseCELTIC are delighted to announce the signing of Scott Sinclair, who has joined the club from Aston Villa on a four-year deal.
The 27-year-old attacker is the latest addition to Brendan Rodgers squad and he teams up again with the Hoops boss, having previously worked with him at Swansea City when, by his own admission, he played his best football.
Scott, who could be in line for a place in Celtic’s squad for the Premiership opener this afternoon (Sunday) against Hearts at Tynecastle, has a wealth of experience behind him, including spells with Chelsea and Manchester City.
Now he’s joined the Scottish champions and the player is eager to play his part in the forthcoming campaign, both domestically and in Europe, as he told the official Celtic website in an exclusive interview.
“It feels amazing to have joined Celtic,” Scott said. “It’s a massive club and I’m looking forward to it. I’m here now and I’m happy to be here.
picture
“I can’t wait to get on the pitch. When I went back to Aston Villa for pre-season, I heard Celtic were interested, and I just knew I had to come here.
“I had to look at this move and I thought it would be great for me. And because I know the manager and I know what to expect, hopefully I can get off to a flying start.”
Scott was one of Brendan Rodgers’ first signings for Swansea City when he joined the Welsh side in August 2010, just a month after the Irishman had taken over at the Liberty Stadium. And he also left the club just a couple of months after the manager moved to Liverpool, though Scott headed to Manchester City. Last season he was at Aston Villa, having made a loan move to the Midlands club permanent at the start of the campaign.
“The manager had a great influence when I was at Swansea and that’s when I played my best football,” Scott admitted, “and hopefully now I can get the best football out of me and get my form back out there and score goals and perform.
“I’m just hoping to come here, score some goals, create chances and hopefully excite the fans.
“I know Kolo Toure and Dedryck Boyata from Manchester City, but I’m sure it’s a great set of lads here and I’ll quickly settle in.”
And Scott also revealed that the prospect of European nights at Paradise is one of the many appealing reasons for joining the Hoops, having watched Celtic’s midweek victory over FC Astana in the UEFA Champions League qualifier.
“I watched the Astana game in midweek and the atmosphere was incredible,” he admited. “To have the possibility of Champions League excites me and I can’t wait to come here and play at Celtic Park and for it to be rocking.”
Maidín maith agus Dia daoibh uilig
I’m a big fan of Kodi also,once you get to know it there’s nothing better
MOONBEAMSWD they have just released kodi 17 this past week.
HH BB
Roy Croppie
A drop of the Celtic Pure…
Class..
Mon The Hoops..
I would recommend these people for anything Kodi
GREAT quality with warranty,with Amazon and Ebay anything can happen
https://www.entertainmentbox.com/
Well it’s not his goal scoring, then again Sutton wasent having a very good time scoring before he came to us, who knows?
http://www.sportsmole.co.uk/football/celtic/transfer-talk/news/celtic-clinch-scott-sinclair-signing_278337.html
Roy Croppie…….great story pal,yer one of my
favs on here.
proudbhoy on 7th August 2016 9:55 am
I’ve used the easyhotel in Cambridge St as a crashpad, twin c£25pn. No frills, on same lines as easyjet but a step up from say bunk-beds in a cityroomz in Haymarket.
——————————————————————————————————
Good luck to the Celts today, our first step on the road to 6IAR.
Welcome to Paradise
The Mail On Sunday can’t seem to make its mind up on whether Rangers are “back” or is they are new.
Headline: Rangers find it a rocky return
Sub Headline: Accies make Ibrox men’s first outing in top flight hard going
And if you are Virgin media like me go into your hubs settings and turn off virgins firewall via advanced settings.
IP address for access to your Huns settings is 192.168.0.1 and it will then ask for user I’d and password which are on your hub.
MWD
A very honest good read, I recommend it to all.
http://tirnaog09.blogspot.co.uk/2016/08/badge-kissers-bead-rattlers-and-wgs.html
SUPERSUTTON on 7TH AUGUST 2016 11:11 AM
The Mail On Sunday can’t seem to make its mind up on whether Rangers are “back” or is they are new.
Headline: Rangers find it a rocky return
Sub Headline: Accies make Ibrox men’s first outing in top flight hard going
——————————————–
The headline writers future is secure. As for the Sub headline writer…..i`m not so sure.
Just catching up.
TET great to know Senora TET is recovering well. Someone recently mentioned she had a way with the writing skills. Is there anything published ?
Really enjoyed my day yetterday with old friends over from Dublin and later my youngest brother and his wife to be. Sitting in the garden. Bliss!
Day spent running about to Dobbies for ‘stuff’ on a long list, then preparing food and setting up the Gazebo in garden (anticipating some clouds and rain around 5pm)
Anyway, the point of all this is that I was tuned into BBC radio Scotland, normally avoid like the plague, but intrigued as to how they would handle the mythical ‘return’.
Didn’t listen to the Sevco match as A step too far, however, the last quarter of thems game came onto the main channel. The upbeat mood had changed.
Almost a full day of constant referencing the ‘return’ became a veritable wall of silence after 2:30- with zero reference whatsover to the result at poundland ( unless they had to read out the SPL results)
Brilliant!!! Sometimes the licence fee does have it’s rewards…
At one point we had the immortal words ” and the most surprising result of the day in the top division on opening day was……..(zombies tormented at home to Canning fodder (sic)?) ”
nah!!
“… Dundee’s shock result in Dingwall….”
Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!
Great to see Brendan has finally managed to get another player he wanted. We have a right tough game in Dunedin and the forecast high winds will probably play some part in the outcome. i’m confident of an odd goal clincher in what could be a low scoring game…. But ye never know!
Welcome to Celtic Scott Sinclair!!
Pub at 1pm with a small investment on our young striker, avec les gros testicules, to score anytime. Lumping onto that (normally a small wager, if any)
Our evening ended sitting outside with the roof of the gazebo at half-mast and frantically adding longer screws ro post and tightening the guylines, as the howling wind rocked the place. Then off to bed at 1am, completely satisfied with my day. Earlier received some personal news that I had been waiting a long time to hear, shed a happy tear.
Awoke at 4:30 a.m to the sound of the wind and the air pressure was almost tangible. Ran down stairs and outside to check my precious gazebo, the skies looked like the opening scenes of Wizard of Oz. Thankfully, the extra screws and guylines had done their job.
My relief was short-lived.
I looked around, and the roof was off the hut and the fence partially caved in.
Gimme canvas
GImme Shelter
That’s life.
C”mon Brendan and our Celts. Let’s put on a Capital Show!!
HH
‘The Hoops begin the latest defence of their title at Tynecastle against their oldest top-flight rivals, which is live on Sky Sports 5, and Rodgers is braced for a tough test.’
Sky web page
Big ones
Do you need to restart and reload all your builds?
I’ll be in PV for the match so no rush
Erik Sviatchenko, Kristoffer Ajer, Moussa Dembele, Kolo Toure and now Scott Sinclair our recent transfer activity has started to give our squad additional quality, the transfer window now and January hopefully will see at least 1,2 more
Our youth academy is providing the best youth players in Scotland.
Brendan Rodgers is a top class manager
Time to back the team and manager to what i think is a possible very successful season
COYBIG Today