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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Absolutely delighted for Sammy.
Would still love him in a Celtic shirt.
WeeFra
You’d better hope D doesn’t secretly lurk! :-)
Well done, Samaras.
I have always thought you were brilliant.
I write this in the hope that anyone who knows me has gone to their bed!
the_huddle
23:14 on
24 June, 2014
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 *
—————————————————————————————————————–
I demand forensic evidence matching the alleged bite mark to the incisors of the alleged perpetrator.
OR
O.K.
Ah gie up.
Booked tickets for Celtic v Liverpool through Celtic last
Season in |Dublin
3 adults 3 kids all season ticket holders.
We got to ground and realised all behind goals but
3 adult tickets one section different turnstiles 3 kids
In different bit.
Eventually I went with my bhoy his mate and me using u12 tkt.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
celt for life
23:12 on
24 June, 2014
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
jamesgang&HT
You should see what she can do with her hands in the wrong end of a pregnant ewe. Counts me out. Cot time now. :-))
Weefra HH praying to Wee Oscar.
typical british footballer mentality
spitting, diving and now biting – hang them
yellows and reds for career threatening tackles is enough though
and how cool is Sammi
a true international class footballer
only broonie comes close right now – tho forgot about efe !
Off to turkey on holiday on Saturday.
Told the wee Mhan that our hosts might not be cheering for Sammi quite as much as we will!
History! Bah! What are we like us humans?!?
Anyway, I’m ok I’m a Tim!
Night Jungles.
HH jamesgang
Bottle still intact, Sammi! Well done!
I didn’t think I’d see the naivety of the USA in the last minute of stoppage time against Portugal matched in the rest of the tournament, but Ivory Coast just exceeded it. Why were 4 of them marauding forward entering the last 2 minutes? And even then, why not hit the corner and keep the ball? Naive is probably being kind to them. Stupid is maybe a more accurate description.
Ridiculous comparisons being made between Neymar’s behaviour and that of Suarez. Even at his worst, Neymar only breaks the laws of the game, not the law of the land.
macjay1 for Neil Lennon
——-
I did see it suggested that Pirlo bit Chiellini at half time in a ruse to get Suarez banned. Those pesky Italians :o)
jamesgang
23:32 on
24 June, 2014
Off to turkey on holiday on Saturday.
Told the wee Mhan that our hosts might not be cheering for Sammi quite as much as we will!
========
You may be right but there is not the hostility from all Turks that you statement implies.
Where are you going on holiday?
Well, today’s shenanigans allows me the opportunity to jump on one of my soap boxes:
Video Replay.
It is widely accepted that there is a great deal of corruption in football today. There are many reasons that make our game such a fertile ground for fraudulent behaviour. Among them is the reality that the ‘rules’ of the game allow referees so much discretion. Within these ‘rules’, referees can chose to award a penalty for hand ball. Or not.
Added to this, is the fact that referees can simply ‘not see’ incidents.
Neither of these excuses should be available to referees. I’ll deal with the ‘rules’ in some future rant. However…video replay.
Billions of pounds changes hands in and around the game of football. Personally, I am fed up seeing referees ‘not see’ things that are in fact, undeniable facts to those who watch on tv. Many of these incidents can be resolved in real time.
Officials are already miked up. Get two officials in front of 2 tv screens. Immediately, the world is a better place.
Off goes Suarez.
Greece ends up drawing their game.
Etc, etc, etc.
Hockey does it.
NFL does it.
Tennis does it.
No excuses. FIFA needs to get this sorted.
In this otherwise excellent World Cup, we have seen penalties given when no foul had been committed. Goal kicks given instead of corners. Offside goals scored and onside goals disallowed.
There is no reason not to get the decisions right.
None.
Unless……..
Just my 2 cents……
Ronnie
Celtic rollercoaster.
I think that wee ginger headed guy had toothache and Alan was trying to extract the offending tooth for him to ease the pain.
Alan ,being the type of guy he is asked if the incident could be played down as he does not like a fuss.Amazing guy!
FIFA need to get to the root of this
HighlandBhoy
23:34 on 24 June, 2014
Like never playing for England again if he was punished
He’s a smashing lad :-)
Where are you based in Highlands, as I travel up to Inverness couple of times a year?
HH
CRC
Iki
It was largely tongue in cheek and I expect to meet good folk there as I always have in life.
Belek. Can’t wait. Hopefully something to keep all the family happy.
HH pal. Jamesgang
As long as Uruguay don’t get the crown I’ll be happy
jamesgang
23:40 on
24 June, 2014
Hopefully something to keep all the family happy.
==========
Sunshine.
If Suarez gets banned there will be a big cavity to fill
Margaret McGill
Agreed, molar less.
They’ll put up a plaque in memory of the assault.
the disproportionate amount of tcheuctars on bbc scotland annoys more than suarez biting antics
Celtic rollercoaster
Not from the Highlands but like to spend time there when I can, so many stunning places.
Iki
Except that half of the family are olive skinned and the other half have peely wally down to an art form! :-)
Not to worry. I’ll have my SPF 1M windsurfing top packed. Saves me all that sun cream palaver!
HH jamesgang
Gives new meaning to the incisive pass
Suarez will have to start building bridges yet again.
Didn’t he score a brace against England whose national game is in a terrible state of decay.
HH jamesgang
I can’t really see the wisdom in it, Sure as a striker you brace yourself against the defender but you can’t be proactive like that
spikeysauldman
23:47 on
24 June, 2014
the disproportionate amount of tcheuctars on bbc scotland annoys more than suarez biting antics
======
Yes, let’s have more mid Atlantic poseurs like Heather Dewar.
Seriously, having teuchtars is hardly something that should be complained of on a Scottish medium.
What next? Too many Irish accents on RTE. Too many Indian voices in Bollywood films. Too manyWelsh speakers on SC4.
How many caps has he got?
Is he an out and out striker or is he filling the gap just behind the front 2?
I’d give my eye teeth to know the answer.
HH jamesgang
the_huddle
23:32 on
24 June, 2014
Mate.
There was a Latin American goalie a few years back who purposely cut himself or burned himself.
Sorry I can`t be a bit more vague.:-(
Jokes aside even for health reasons Suarez should be banned from playing football. It is beyond anything I’ve ever seen in football.
I remember it, he hid the razor blade in his glove then cut himself. Got caught on camera so was busted.
Similar to the rugby bloodgate scandal where they faked blood injuries to stop the game and make subs.
I dont see the problem you’re all making a mountain out of a molar!
no just too many outer hebrides broadcasting types on bbc scotland – as opposed to mid atlantic poseurs – who annoy me too ;-) the other comparisons are irrelevant.
HT,
I loved Sammi as a player the first time I saw him v Kilmarnock.
Many a game I watched in Sharkey’s, Annagry, when I was the lone voice, crying in the wilderness, like a latter day Thom the Baptist.
However, I genuinely think that his time was up at CP. He was negated in Europe last year and, like with Greece, his strength lies as an out ball.
Time will tell if the new regime manage to deliver on their promise of fast, quick passing, front foot football.
If they can, then not only will Sammi’s style be obsolete, but also players like AS and CM.
It will be a gradual change, but space has to be created for emerging and new players.
We have been effectively playing the same style for ten years and it is beginning to pale.
While I have the chair, can I also suggest that the time to introduce new players is after the qualifiers, as there are enough banana skins with the early start, new coaching team and Murrayfield to contend with, without introducing men new to the club.
Sammi may have been a help for this, but ?I don’t think it would be worth giving him a new contract just for the qualifiers.
It is hard to say goodbye to favourite players, especially one as honest, decent and exciting as Sammi, but we move on.
It wasn’t easy for us old gentlemen to bid farewell to the Lions.
After that, it is relatively easy to let go.
Balotelli is a star player whilst Giorgio Chiellini is only a bit part player.