Football has been tribal and jingoistic for over a century. Where it succeed in penetrating beyond the scope of a mere sport, it is inherently primitive. This can be a healthy way for people to remain in contact with all that is important in life but it’s often not.
Writing in today’s Sun, former Celtic player (good grief) , Ian ‘Wrighty’ Wright said: “The next young player who says he does not want to play for England should be ordered to ring the parents of a soldier who has died serving his country in Afghanistan and tell them his reasons”.
To invoke the memory of those who have sacrificed their lives in order to rebuke reluctant footballers is beyond primitive, it is debased and ugly. Bereaved parents would surely be sickened at attempts to equate their sacrifice with a football game. Football and our media have lost their way. Wright should be ashamed, but he won’t be, it’s nonsense like this which newspapers pay for. His media value will have increased.
Harry Redknapp’s ill-made comments about Spurs players not wanting to travel for England games are also a nonsense. There’s not a top-flgiht manager in the game who’s yet to experience players reluctant to fly to Tbilisi, or some other distant destination, for a friendly instead of resting at home with his family. If you are a top pro, these games hold little excitement or value and come at a fitness cost, to pretend otherwise is being duplicitous.
Players with imposing club demands can see these games far enough. Those involved in European football often have two games per week for months, depleting resources and adding strains to muscles. A flight to the back of beyond before a thankless task of a game is simply not an attractive offer. Most players go, but let’s be honest, almost all will choose times to back out occasionally.
England are hurting after an awful World Cup but it will be counter-productive to hand the stage over to jingoistic lunatics. And ‘Wrighty’, if anyone asks you to pull the Paradise Windfall one day, don’t feel obliged to pitch up.
Visit the CQN Bookstore to get Tommy Gemmell to sign your personal copy of his book, All the Best.
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Hamiltontim
23:03 on
24 June, 2014
I’ll bet your colleagues will be surprised :-)
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Only minions have colleagues.
Does the cap fit? :-)
Cowiebhoy,
I’m not grasping the hysteria either.
I’m sensing a release of pressure from some.
Just heard from the wife that Ronny D was seen in Helensburgh veiwing houses. Someone needs to tell KevJ that he was seen not a million miles away from Murdo’s house at a rather swanky property.
****CQN World Cup Predictor Update****
8 games left for the group stages
Group A
BhoyWonder84 176
Republic of Fudgeland 174
jeez_I_thought_blinker_was_pants 163
Bayern Bru 148
BADA BING 120
Group B
jamabhoy 174
hmack 173
Murcia Super XI PaddyBhoy1888 165
FC Cortes 159
angelGabriel 122
Group C
MurdochauldandHay 152
Jonny The Tim 146
Touched, by the hand of God 140
Stpatricksbhoy 129
Marspapa Clique 113
Group D
The Kidd’s 175
Stevenage Bhoy 156
TLK Deilaghts 151
Angola CSC 145
Evergreen 145
Group E
BK Champion Elect 171
Lennybhoys Lions 170
Celtic Rose 168
Clueless89 164
Dr Mengele’s Brazilian Beavers 159
Group F
googybhoy 168
dim sam 149
Beenies beach bums 135
Team Rocket 134
Giffnock Past(it) Masters 125
Group G
Bognor hoops 150
celticrollercoaster 148
Sponsored by Cheetah 132
Ard Ri 128
Vmhan’s Dunderheids 126
Group H
Kolncelt 184
praecepta 177
Slabhoy – The only Way is Up 168
Dougies Donkeys 151
BringBackBoruc 148
Group I
Minx 1888 164
Bobby Evans Superstar 153
BlantyreKev 144
Celtic 1967 143
Martybhoy59 139
Group J
Kelvinbhoy’s EK Green and White Army 152
Setting Free the Bears 150
MrsCRC knows her place 138
GuyFawkesaforeverhero 124
bognors chosen few 123
Group K
Jobo Baldie 161
HT’s Heroes 147
TravelBhoys From Brazil 137
uruguayforme 130
Token Tims Mwepu Illunga’s Free-kick Army 129
Group L
Geordie Munro 163
Cowiebhoys A B E 159
Doc 151
Bradbhoy 137
Hearthan 111
To be fair, Sammi has had plenty of practice taking that exact same penalty….
Sammi, Sammi, Sammi
Well done big man, cheers in our hoose shaked the street. Good luck where ever you end up.
InfuriatinglylovedCSC
Awe naw,
Try again ;)
Suarez
Guilty until proved innocent.
An Italian player made a claim.That`s all.
Is the vision conclusive evidence?
For some,of course.
Whatever the whys and wherefors of Sammi, that took balls to stick that away.
Well done big man, I hope Pedro disny live to regret getting rid of you.
HH
macjay1 for neil lennon
23:09 on 24 June, 2014
Yes I have an individual cap…..for each pupil :-)
Eddie, diving is gamesmanship, cheating, and should be dealt with by football authorities.
Biting is assault, and a criminal act, and could well involve police being called in.
If someone breaks your leg in a mistimed, dangerous even malicious challenge the law of the land would not be interested, if someone bit me on the park, I may make a complaint, I think the law may be interested.
Anyhoos, early start.
Well done Sammi, good luck with whatever comes next.
Hamiltontim
23:09 on
24 June, 2014
Suarez could eat an apple through a letterbox.
——————
Post of the night!
Geordie Munro
My 5 year old daughter for example sits in the row in front of me and a few seats along, would be just like the thing to get tickets for different areas of the ground, 5 of us go to the games and don’t sit together but are all in the same section at CP
Cowiebhoy don’t do da sentiment!
My head agrees with you, esp in the new Ronni era.
But my heart….. It’s just happy for a good Bhoy tonight.
HH jamesgang
Neymar not bit anyone yet as far as I am aware.
Done a fair ‘bit’ of diving ‘tho.
HH!!
macjay1 for neil lennon
23:11 on 24 June, 2014
Suarez
Guilty until proved innocent.
An Italian player made a claim.That`s all.
Is the vision conclusive evidence?
For some,of course.
——-
I’ve just seen it for the first time.
It’s conclusive and shocking.
macjay1 for Neil Lennon
Suarez
Guilty until proved innocent.
An Italian player made a claim.That`s all.
Is the vision conclusive evidence?
For some,of course.
============
The video and the photo of the teeth marks, the guy has no chance *
* Edinburgh court caveat
Celt for life.
I’m the same. There’s five of us in two rows. Would be handy to be altogether.
tim malone will tell
20:41 on 24 June, 2014
Even if Suarez was offered to Celtic for nothing – for me it would be a definite fangs but no fangs…
…………………………………………….
If Suarez was offered to Celtic, I’d bite your hand off …………. Oh wait.
Great to see that we still have genuine model pros like Alan Shearer able to suggest that FIFA should be banning Suarez for his despicable antics.He has after all had a fantastic career with a totally unblemished disciplinary record, you would never have caught him doing something as cowardly and despicable as that.
Even if he had done something naughty (not that he would have) the English FA would have used video evidence and flung the book at him.
Thank God that we still have some people involved in the game with morals that can uphold that old Corinthian spirit.
Congrats Sammi and the Greeks.
Despite Betis going down, there will still be green and white in la Liga Spain next season with the ascension of Cordoba.
clunks
An oldie but a goldie :-)
http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2014/06/24/luis-suarez-bites-giorgio-chiellini_n_5526351.html?utm_hp_ref=uk
Highland bhoy
Meow! ;)
I hear ye though.
Why let a player like Samaras go for free,he is an outstanding player to hold the ball up in away games in the CL.False economy by PL IMO
Well done Sammi.
The bravest of a brave team.
Showed real class at the end in consoling the keeper.
Proud that he played for Celtic and won over so many doubters.
Good luck for the rest of your career.
Luis Suarez is a disgrace, as a man he’s the complete polar opposite to Big Sammi.
So pleased for him tonight only wish he was still a Celt. #BringBackSammi
HH!
We’re all idiots
Fan wins £500 betting on Suarez bite
http://metro.co.uk/2014/06/24/football-fan-wins-500-after-betting-3-on-luis-suarez-biting-player-at-world-cup-4774558/
Going by the quotes Linneker read out Suarez has more or less admitted biting.
FIFA have to ban him, otherwise the competition is debased.
Delighted for Samaras. Disappointed he’s away, but that’s the way it’s going at Celtic.
eddieinkirkmichael,
Could be worse, could have been The Cardigan’s…..
PaintItGreenCSC
Leftclick
There’s some brilliant mocked up pics in that link. Cheers :)
fanadpatriot
Why let a player like Samaras go for free,he is an outstanding player to hold the ball up in away games in the CL.False economy by PL IMO
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Despite the comments before I dont believe we didn’t offer Sammi anything, more likely we said here the new contract and his agent said no chance we want this.
He’s just out of our price range now, he could sign tomorrow if he was content to be paid at that level but I’d guess he knows he’ll get much more else where.
clunks
23:12 on 24 June, 2014
Hamiltontim
23:09 on
24 June, 2014
Suarez could eat an apple through a letterbox.
——————
Post of the night!
That’s nothing, after the lambing season, mrsweefra can decorate the hall through the letterbox. Night Night All. :-))
Weefra HH praying to Wee Oscar.
Hamiltontim
23:12 on
24 June, 2014
Touche.
————————————
23:13 on
24 June, 2014
O.K. I`ll take your word for it.
Crucify him.
Definitely afoot.
thomthethim for oscar ok
23:17 on 24 June, 2014
Completely agree but we both know that he should still be a Celtic player.
I guess samaras Mjallby & Lenny’s wage increase demands didn’t fit into Celtics vision of executive bonuses and old firm shite
HighlandBhoy
23:15 on 24 June, 2014
You couldn’t be talking about the incident when the red haired aggressive fenian headbutted poor Shearer( he’s a banker) boot? :-)
HH
CRC
Weefra! Ouch! And I say that despite being neither a sheep or a female!!!
HH jamesgang