I like David Turnbull, when given a chance, he does a job for Celtic and he has a role to play in this season’s title race. But talk about AC Milan being interested in him is surely fanciful. Scots have done well in Italy recently, David could thrive there, but the demands at Milan would not make that city an easy place to prosper.
The Vatican is the most inspiring place I have ever visited. The scale and intricacy of its buildings and statues are unlike anywhere else in the world. My ‘audience’ with Pope Francis was with several thousand others and from a distance of around 100m. Still, it was a ‘thing’.
It was an historic occasion when the Celtic party who met the Pope in person yesterday morning. The doors to the Vatican opened to them because they represent you and me and our club. He spoke of our founding goal, to “alleviate poverty in the city of Glasgow”. A timely reminder of the work the Foundation will carry out this winter.
Sorry to hear of the passing of Shane McGowan. His cover of the Celtic Song was an instant classic. It’s impossible not to smile when thinking about Shane.
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Broadsword calling Danny boy
Shane MacGowan RIP
Shane MacGowan RIP
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=DoCPRRmkeXs
Bada
Can you access SC this morning?
RIP Shane McGowan
“For it’s stupid to laugh and it’s useless to bawl
At a rusty tin can and an old hurling ball”
A metaphor for his life and the gift he gave us.
RIP, Shane.
BB- Yes mate
We all had high hopes for DT when he came and as far as stats go he’s up there with anyone – Top goal scorer in the SPL, and by far the best minutes per goal at 77.
I’d keep him as an option if he wants to stay – he scores goals from outside the box no one else can since TR left. But it doesn’t look like he’ll kick on to be the sort of CL player we need in our squad playing in Brendan’s system so having been given his chance at the start of the season maybe it is best he’s allowed to leave, if that’s what he wants.
RIP Shane. You proper rock star f’ing stud.
Rainy Night in Soho – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PSyL-TrD_2g
Both of these poor troubled souls gone now.
Haunted – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_q7307IWwr4
Bada
I’m getting an error message saying I’m either using a proxy or a VPN. I’ve no idea why as I was on both channels until late last night and never !ogged out! 🤔
BB,strange, not seen other guys having issues.
Great seeing the photos from the Vatican.
It shows what regard Celtic are held in.
The Spirit of the founding fathers makes us proud.
Still embodied within our Club.
Hail Hail
QUADBHOY @ 11:50 AM,
CHAIRBHOY on 30TH NOVEMBER 2023 11:37 AM
“However, the “football world” doesn’t see it that way, seeing the “Glasgow Giants” embarrassed seems schadenfreude to our detractors inside and outside Scotland.”
I couldn’t give a Castlemaine XXXX what our detractors think or how they see things. I saw a young team, coping with a lot of injuries try their best and other than AM I saw them try their best without fear. I also don’t see us as “Giants” any more than I see previous UCL winners Benfica, Hamburg, Red Star or Steaua Bucharest as such.
“Still, you didn’t seem to tackle my main point.”
I wasn’t really intending to challenge your point, I just raised the question as to whether we will even be a UCL team after next year anyway as I think we only qualify for UCL automatically next season.
I would hope that our official agenda is to be the best we can be regardless of which competition we are going into.
QB
My original point and my narrative came from a question MNCELT raised.
It seems there is an unawareness in some Celtic supporters about our European ambitions and the Europa League.
Let me reiterate for the new blog Celtic’s official agenda was to…
Get straight into the UCL this season ✔️
Win the league and get straight into the new format UCL next season
Win the league and qualify for the eight+ UCL games the 2024/25 season
Win the league and qualify for the eight+ UCL games the 2025/26 season
Win the league and qualify for the eight+ UCL games the 2026/27 season
Win the league and qualify for the reformed UCL games the 2027/28 season
Now if we screw up in the near future, there is a possibility we could end up in the Europa.
The Chairman has stated, the Board will have money aside to deal with the financial impact should that, unwanted event, occur.
Fair enough.
However, if we base our team build around Europa League participation and our PLC strategy around UCL participation, isn’t there a huge disconnect there?
To reiterate…
…this calendar year we have not bought anyone to improve us in the UCL.
And outside Nat Phillips and Bernardo, who are loans and Luis Palma who we bought, none of the players strengthened our Europa chances.
Our recruitment is at total odds with our stated “elite” ambitions.
For Celtic, there is NO Europa participation, only UCL participation, that should have been obvious to the Board in the summer.
Going into this seasons UCL weaker than we were last season is a dereliction.
We need to start rectifying this in January.
Hail Hail
There’s an element in our support that make it very easy for others to portray them as wallopers. How anyone can get angry over a meeting with the Holy Father is beyond my understanding. Francis being a football man no doubt knew all about our history prior to our visit and I’m sure he approved of our Palestinian defiance a few weeks back. The history of Celtic lives on through the support despite the PLC and big salaries.
Rumour has it that the team returned to Celtic Park via the secret tunnel from the Vatican.
CHAIRBHOY on 30TH NOVEMBER 2023 12:50 PM
“Let me reiterate for the new blog Celtic’s official agenda was to…
Get straight into the UCL this season ✔️
Win the league and get straight into the new format UCL next season
Win the league and qualify for the eight+ UCL games the 2024/25 season
Win the league and qualify for the eight+ UCL games the 2025/26 season
Win the league and qualify for the eight+ UCL games the 2026/27 season
Win the league and qualify for the reformed UCL games the 2027/28 season”
It is always our hope/objective to win every game we play which would (via qualification or directly) achieve the above. It’s not fully within our control given how co-efficient points / UCL qualification works not to mention the vagaries of refs and even the bounce of the ball.
“Now if we screw up in the near future, there is a possibility we could end up in the Europa.”
I’d suggest that this is more of a probability than a possibility whether we screw up or not.
“The Chairman has stated, the Board will have money aside to deal with the financial impact should that, unwanted event, occur.”
Wise given we’ve qualified roughly 50% of the time, including when we’ve went straight into the groups due to co-efficient which is getting worse year on year.
“However, if we base our team build around Europa League participation and our PLC strategy around UCL participation, isn’t there a huge disconnect there?”
That is a big IF. I’m not sure we do. I’m just not sure we can attract players that will make us any better in the UCL.
“…this calendar year we have not bought anyone to improve us in the UCL.”
Agree with that in regards to this years UCL other than Palma who I rate. Others (I have hopes for Holm) may in time improve us but not for this years UCL.
“Going into this seasons UCL weaker than we were last season is a dereliction.
We need to start rectifying this in January.”
If we can clear a few out I’d like to see if we can attract some players with the carrot of 8-10 UCL games next year guaranteed but most can earn more elsewhere and any with a choice between 8-10 UCL games vs playing in a top five league might still go for the later – especially if they watch any SPFL games first!
QB
“AN DÚN on 30TH NOVEMBER 2023 12:56 PM
. How anyone can get angry over a meeting with the Holy Father is beyond my understanding.”
I didn`t know anyone had but I am not keen on it as I feel it promotes the idea that `Rangers ` are the Protestant Club and we, the Catholic one.
I much prefer the `open to all` approach.
Billybhoy1967
Just checked, no problem with access to sentinel celts site.
The fact that we are in the SPFL won`t stop two or three 10-20 million pound players wanting to play for us. Furthermore, these players are guaranteed to make a positive difference against sides with nearly a whole team of 50 -100 million players. Finally, none of the players we buy will fail at Celtic.
Have I got the popular CQN view right?
HOT SMOKED on 30TH NOVEMBER 2023 1:11 PM
“AN DÚN on 30TH NOVEMBER 2023 12:56 PM
. How anyone can get angry over a meeting with the Holy Father is beyond my understanding.”
I didn`t know anyone had but I am not keen on it as I feel it promotes the idea that `Rangers ` are the Protestant Club and we, the Catholic one.
I much prefer the `open to all` approach.
————————————————————-
The very definition of catholic
I am sure the Holy Father would be more than happy to receive Sevco in a similar way if they were in Rome.
Whetherj they would take up the offer is a horse of a different colour.
Wise words Hot Smoked
MCPHAIL BHOY on 30TH NOVEMBER 2023 1:26 PM
With a small `c` , yes.
GARYGILLESPIESHAMSTRING on 30TH NOVEMBER 2023 1:32 PM
:-)))))
HOT SMOKED on 30TH NOVEMBER 2023 1:26 PM
——-
You almost had me there 😁
I’m blaming the lurgy for my lack of brain something or other
Delighted our club met the Holy Father,he meets many people from all cultures and religions,if some don’t like it too bad.I was privileged to be quite close to him on one occasion in St Peter’s Basilica..KTF stpatricksbhoy
For those that may one day find themselves at the Vatican, I’d highly recommend doing a tour of St Peter’s Tomb.
http://www.scavi.va/content/scavi/en/ufficio-scavi.html
Even for those who are not religious and wouldn’t get much from seeing the tomb of Saint Peter, the history on display as you move up the basement of the Basilica is amazing.
Alters built upon alters with Saint Peter’s grave at the base of them all. A work of history and an institution unlike anything else.
RIP Shane MCGowan …you were a big Irish legend and I am sure the Tim’s in the shipbank tomo will raise a Guinness to your memory …🍀
May perpetual light shine upon you 🙏
Thousands are sailing ….The Pogues 🍀
So we met the Pope AFTER the game?
Got it.
Thought they’d met him beforehand.
Shane MacGowan actually carried out the half-time raffle at Celtic Park, musta been twenty years ago or so, but I’m pretty sure it was an end of the season title celebration, against Livingstone if I’m not mistaken…..
I’m hoping BBC4 will repeat Julian Temple’s documentary ‘Crock of Gold’ “A Few Rounds with Shane MacGowan”, last shown March 18 2022, but made a year or so earlier. A worthy tribute to Shane then and now, as told by Shane himself et al with a soundtrack by the Pogues, the Popes (but not the Pope) Syd Barrett, the Clash, the Sex Pistols and Hawkwind et al, an eclectic mix.
RIP Shane
QUADBHOY @ 1:10 PM,
Apologies, only seemed to be answering half your points (telephone tag with No1 Daughter).
It is always our hope/objective to win every game we play which would (via qualification or directly) achieve the above. It’s not fully within our control given how co-efficient points / UCL qualification works not to mention the vagaries of refs and even the bounce of the ball.
Well there are the practicalities of football.
Yet, my details are aligned with the Board’s stated strategy – unless they’re basing their Business Planning on pie in the sky objectives, it should be based on the practicalities.
I’d suggest that this is more of a probability than a possibility whether we screw up or not.
Only if we don’t plan to succeed, those objectives are quite achievable, if it’s probable we won’t achieve our objectives, we should be seriously talking about sacking our executive and replacing those guys with ‘C’ suite folk who can succeed.
That is a big IF. I’m not sure we do. I’m just not sure we can attract players that will make us any better in the UCL.
It’s the planning re recruitment that could benefit us here. Say we have 10 mn to spend.
Rather than looking for young striker, wouldn’t we be better served by an older, experienced DM who maybe anonymous in many games, as he quietly and effectively goed about his business, but helps us get results.
If we can clear a few out I’d like to see if we can attract some players with the carrot of 8-10 UCL games next year guaranteed but most can earn more elsewhere and any with a choice between 8-10 UCL games vs playing in a top five league might still go for the later – especially if they watch any SPFL games first!
Yes, realistically it’s a competition about the top five leagues and we are the make weights.
The “model” and the recruitment “process” is limited.
The 8-10 UCL games per season, should assist us to attract talent.
We need to work the angles and our networking must get better, yet we have more going for us than many imagine.
The manager has intimated he wants to reduce the size of the squad and only bring in players better than we’ve currently got.
That sounds a very sensible approach to me…
Hail Hail
A Dun …been a number of times to the Vatican ..and it is a truly awesome experience that never diminishes …have never done this tour ..so on my to do list …Re the pope , very proud the team met him , our formation is interlinked with Catholicism .I am also just as proud of our non catholic brothers and sisters who do indeed make us a club like no other. God bless the pope..the great..the good 🙏🍀
The holy father asked for an audience with wee Mark Lawwell?
This was in the Guardian comments about Shane –
‘The Pogues, Barrowlands, Glasgow, St Patrick’s Day 1991.
Earlier that day the Old Firm game. Celtic beat Rangers 4-2 in a match that had four sent off, three from Rangers.
The venue was a sea of green and white, buoyed no doubt by the all day drinking. Huge Celtic flags adorning the staircase as you arrive inside. Shane singing with a Celtic scarf hanging on his mic stand. Gerry Conlan and Paddy Armstrong, half of the Guilford Four up on the stage.
I honestly don’t think you could design a bigger orgy/celebration of the green side of Glasgow if you spent months trying. I’ve not experienced an atmosphere that mental before or since.
Thanks Shane.’
Big Nicky will be a very sad man today. RIP Shane.