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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My shares are worthless
ernie lynch
00:20 on 25 June, 2014
the_huddle
00:16 on 25 June, 2014
You don’t think Sammi would have had a resale value tonight if we had renewed his contract a few weeks ago?
You don’t think Celtic’s world wide profile would have been raised tonight (which would mean £££ in advertising and marketing)?
100% correct.A total failure for the PL driven Brand Celtic.
Mags, How so?
Spikey
Jeezo you’re a right cheery sod the night :-)
Take Broony oot the team! Who’s gonna replace him?
Been watching the Tic for 45 years and don’t se anyone in the squad at the moment who can captain like Broony.
the huddle- Samaras didn’t have a decision to make,he wasn’t offered a new contract. When the NL departure unravels, we might find out more.HH
Margaret McGill 00:37 on 25 June, 2014
My shares are worthless
……………………………………….
Mair pish Maggie doll. Your shares are not worthless, they’re worth about 60p each.
So, not worthless.
dixiedeans
00:40 on 25 June, 2014
What was Broony’s contribution to our European campaign (lets be honest, the only competition in which we need a captain) last year?
Do you really think Celtic offered Sammi nothing? Think about it we spoke to his agent and said nope no matter what Sammi wants we aint paying, £200 a week no chance get lost.
HT,
All of my post was opinion.
I know where you are coming from re no contract offer, but, I understood that a club was obliged to offer a contract to a soon to be out of contract player; even though it was an offer they had to refuse.
Whatever anyone thinks about PL, he is not stupid.
Bada Bing, did you ever get the game on the best course on the planet?
ht
haha
actually in a good mood and just cos of Sammi
made my day
Broony is a good player to have in the team but not as a top wage, he isnt good enough to be one of your top earners.
george osborne probably isnt stupid either !
a ceiler gonof rust
00:42 on 25 June, 2014
Sell you them what I paid for them
Mags, your shares also allow you to voice your opinion at the AGM. So get your lazy arse over here and lets hear your voice at the next one.
Worthless?
No, definitely not.
Ernest
You a Tim?
You also get a letter from Fergus not to shabby that, as a kid back then getting that letter wow, means pee of course but still Fergus
Mags, geez them for a hun price and I’ll take them off your hands.
Why not transfer them to your wee brother, or give them to him. He’s a star, a tim, a great guy and a hoot. I like ra M23………………….a lot.
Bed for me.
Laters.
David Taylor ex-SFA man, dies after taking ill. RIP.
HH
The Ramones – Blitzkrieg Bop (Live)
http://youtu.be/TYh1lRR1m6Y
This is wee Louis’s favourite song.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_wtwIKc_twc
He loves it so he duz
The wee biter
Johnny Cash – The beast in me
http://youtu.be/T8tGCVavS5s
Did Sammi dive for that pen? First time I seen it and his foot seemed to kick the ground
The world cup is great and has been smashing but spare a wee thought for a pal of mine who is besieged in an office in Iraq with murderous men who don’t like Scotsmen. They’re bearing down on him. He cant get out. We treat our employee’s so well!!!.
I’ll do something I’ve not done for 30 years, I’ll ask someone to pray for you.
Phil D, hunker down and live big man..
A few of you ghuys must have been over celebrating Sammi’s goal tonight because some of the comments have been total pash. I watched the game and, ok, Sammi scored a vital penalty under pressure. Be honest! How many thought he was gonna miss?
His overall contribution was typical Sammi; he lost possession umpteen times and was involved in the build-up to Greece’s other goal too. He had the bottle to take the pen, and scored. So now PL is to blame for Celtic losing a prize asset. Geeza break!
I hope our tactics will be more advanced that we don’t punt long balls forward for Sammi to head on or then give it away.
Thanks for great memories, Sammi, and all the best wherever you play.
ger57
01:28 on
25 June, 2014
I don`t disagree with any of that.
Assuming Celtic qualify for the CL maybe their goal difference can improve from -11
the huddle….
No. The defenders leg banged Sammi’s knee making him trip.
Good night, fellow Tims.
sweet dreams of sammi missing – when you wake up – he scored
Ger 57, will I see you at aberdour?
justafan
——-
Yeah looks like it, I watched the Japan game so hadn’t seen it live.
Clicked in a link greek diving the up popped Sammi, seen him take the pen didn’t know he was the one fouled.
Shearer: “Staggering. I could not believe it. The pictures are pretty damning and, if found guilty, they should hammer him. ”
http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/28008605
Staggering hypocrisy from the man who stamped on another’s head.
Going back to 23:56 last night, the goalie who cut himself –
Roberto Rojas, of Chile. Happened in a qualifier vs Brazil, in the same stadium where they beat spain last week. Feigned injury after a firework landed close to him on the pitch, he was hoping to get the game stopped and brazil banned.Chile were banned for two world cups, Rojas was banned for life (though his ban was later lifted).
I must admit that when a chilean collegue told me this after the spain game, I had absolutely no recollection of it.
Just watched the Greek game….Really pleased for big Sammi..God bless you big mhan.
Gnight all hh