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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quonno
Dumb analogy
Willie Haughey’s main job is not running a splinter campaign of the Referendum debate,
Rebbeka’s job was knowing what went on and into her newspaper wot she edited.
It’s a bit like me digging you up for not knowing what your son was saying on twitter.
traditionalist88 – That’s quality :)
Celts in the World Cup
David Hay was superb for Scotland in 1974. Bossed the midfield v Brazil and was unlucky not to score with a long range shot.
And to think Jinky was kept on the bench to allow Willlie Morgan to play.
It is precisely the unthinking type of jingoism demonstrated by Wright that makes me distinctly uneasy about the future following what will almost certainly be No Vote.
While jingoism has been around a long time, it is worth noting that it took a marked upturn when Labour’s Gordon Brown, in futile desperation sought to portray himself as being more British than the English.
The queen and Phil The Greek being shown around Crumlin Road jail as I type. Queen seemed quite relax. Phil not so happy – mumbled something to Martin McGuinness about “Craig Gordon not Celtic class” and “…remember when he came up for that corner…?”
the living wage, for god sake they work part time, be it saturday, or sunday or during the week.1 day. nobody twists there arm , also the craig gordon and the oronge parades thing, gie us peace,same all same all,
weeminger
Willie Wallace came to us from Hearts. He wasn’t a Celt until he arrived but he very quickly became one and is today Celtic through and through. He was telling he recently when we went for a bite to eat about the good natured abuse he’d get from Joe McBride. Unlike Joe, Willie found it remarkably easy to score against Rangers. Joe would call him all the jammy so and so names etc but Willie seemed to have the last laugh on that particular issue. Joe could score easily against any team but always struggled against them. Think he only got one?
Robcfc11
14:51 on
24 June, 2014
traditionalist88 – That’s quality :)
====
Ha:)
A brave appointment and a bit of a coup for them particularly considering they got relegated. I just wonder what sort of players are within their reach because they need an overhaul. But I’m sure he wouldn’t have taken the job, given he already had a great little number at Everton, if he wasn’t convinced he’d have the resources required.
HH
Why have all of these ex News of the World employees been so desperate to avoid being sent to jail. When they worked atth
setting free the bears supports Res. 12 & Oscar Knox
14:50 on
24 June, 2014
quonno
Dumb analogy
Willie Haughey’s main job is not running a splinter campaign of the Referendum debate,
Rebbeka’s job was knowing what went on and into her newspaper wot she edited.
It’s a bit like me digging you up for not knowing what your son was saying on twitter.
Was only repeating what another poster said yesterday.
My own view is that she and her boss Rupe were more than well aware of what was going on.
As I pointed out earlier courts do not deal in rights and wrongs. They deal in law and proven facts.
…… At the paper they told us they were like holiday camps.
timbhoy2
14:54 on 24 June, 2014
the living wage, for god sake they work part time, be it saturday, or sunday or during the week.1 day. nobody twists there arm , also the craig gordon and the oronge parades thing, gie us peace,same all same all,
———————–
Phenomenal, you’ve solved every issue of today’s CQN all in the one post!
Bravo Sir :-)
Auldheid
Is Coulson related to Craig Whyte?
………
Or is Cameron related to David Murray?
HH
quonno
“Was only repeating what another poster said yesterday.”
It was me what said that about Willie Haughey. I did not draw any comparison with being Editor of the paper wot did the hacking. Now if Willie had done something illegal in running City Refrigeration, there you would have an equivalence and a comparison and an analogy.
I agree that the Rebekka Brooks verdict is wrong.
And I am aff oot again
Trad88
I don’t think anyone thought it was Una that weeminger was referring to.;)
Giveusaclue csc
Just heard David Cameron apologise to the house for big Craig Gordon going going up for a corner-aparrently his manager knew nothing about it…
quonno
14:52 on 24 June, 2014
‘It is precisely the unthinking type of jingoism demonstrated by Wright that makes me distinctly uneasy about the future following what will almost certainly be No Vote.’
####
Are fear and negativity not attributes ascribed to the No campaign by nats?
So who on here has heard the 8 months of evidence in the phone hacking trial? Seems like some are happy to pass judgement based on media reports.
Geordie Munro
15:02 on
24 June, 2014
Trad88
I don’t think anyone thought it was Una that weeminger was referring to.;)
Giveusaclue csc
=======================
Whoever it is they’ve just been sacked;)
HH
Ho..! Comfy Collectif..
How’s Business These Days..?
What Goes Intae Them ‘Kebabs’….?
Have Our Beret-Wearing Heroes (And Ian Wright)..
Tracked Ye Down Yet….?
———
Ernie…I Completely Concur….
With Your Concerns Over Craig Gordon….
The Goalkeeping Position
Is Just To Crucial….
To Take Any Chances…
PS…I’m Looking For A Time-Share In Croydon..
Any Local Knowledge Would Be Welcome..
In The Union…We Trust !
Ger57
There are lessons to be learned from the way the Living Wage issue was developed.
There has to be a cost so first step is how many affected and at what cost?
Now if the cost were substantial in budget terms and let’s accept it was £500k pa then the debate would have moved on to who funds it? A levy on ST’S? From a decrease in the playing budget that might impact on performance & results, but an agreed with shareholders/supporters as an acceptable risk to take?
I’m not sure if this aspect of meeting the cost was looked at or by passed by Celtic on the principle that Celtic would not let an unregulated body dictate their costs, which for a PLC or any business is understandable as a matter of principle.
You would not let a neighbour dictate to you what you spend on groceries for example. The principle is sound even if unpalatable.
From there you go back to what is the underlying issue which is that of fairer pay, something that Celtic should always be aware of and how that principle could be applied without being tied to the Living Wage but nevertheless putting the additional cash into the pockets of those whose pay fell short of the Living Wage standard with an understanding of where the cost would be met and with an annual review to stay within affordability parameters or raise additional funds.
I missed how the issue developed but hope that next time agreement can be reached beforehand so that something all parties can agree to that addresses their concerns whilst moving towards an acceptable solution, that then becomes a resolution that then gets passed, is the end result rather than a laudable objective becoming an instrument of ongoing division.
Trad88 @1507
I seen that.
Belter mate :)
Ernie Why why why? Hail Hail Hebcelt
Embdy having a wee punt tonight?
Uruguay 2/1 @ coral.
For me it is the people who set the minimum wage that have got it wrong. The minimum wage should be a living wage.
In effect the benefit system has make up the shortfall in earnings and is in fact subsidising in some cases very large and very profitable companies.
Well said Paul, thanks!
From SkySports.com
Manager Ronny Deila does not expect any new Celtic signings before his first game in charge and is more concerned with keeping his best players.
The Norwegian is already aware of the constant transfer speculation that surrounds the Scottish champions after succeeding Neil Lennon as Celtic boss just a few weeks ago.
Celtic are holding talks with Sunderland goalkeeper Fraser Forster, but Deila warned fans not to expect any recruits ahead of his first competitive game, a mid-July meeting with KR Reykjavik in the second qualifying round of the Champions League.
eh??
d done anything illegal.setting free the bears supports Res. 12 & Oscar Knox
15:00 on
24 June, 2014
quonno
“Was only repeating what another poster said yesterday.”
It was me what said that about Willie Haughey. I did not draw any comparison with being Editor of the paper wot did the hacking. Now if Willie had done something illegal in running City Refrigeration, there you would have an equivalence and a comparison and an analogy.
I agree that the Rebekka Brooks verdict is wrong.
And I am aff oot again
I made no suggestion that Willie Haughey had done anything illegal. Nor would you and I be wise if we dare to suggest that Ms Brookes has done anything illegal.
Giving Haughey the benefit of the doubt, he may in time come to reflect that the lying down with dogs almost inevitably leads to the rising up with fleas.
So it’s a big congrats to my big mate on getting the Hibs gig.
Celtic’s loss is Hibs gain!
Mncelt,
Eh exactly.
AULDHEID
I suspect that the figure is nearer £120k than £500k.
Either way,not our finest hour.
bournesouprecipe
14:47 on 24 June, 2014
Bret Maverick was Bart Maverick’s smarter brother, and Bart later changed his surname to Simpson.
ah the good auld days.i’m off to PORTA on 14th july.does that cross over with you.will take you to CHRISTINA’S villa .
gene’s a bhoy’s name
15:06 on 24 June, 2014
So who on here has heard the 8 months of evidence in the phone hacking trial? Seems like some are happy to pass judgement based on media reports.
~~~~~~~~~~++~~~~~~~~~
Ok,in that case OJ was innocent because the jury said so.
As was thon eejit who attacked Neil Lennon.
You are right,of course. We do not have the time to process the info available.
But I think PHILVISRETURNS may have.
GENESABHOYSNAME
http://www.forbes.com/sites/georgeleef/2014/06/23/why-so-stingy-seattle-government-could-do-much-more-than-raise-the-minimum-wage/
mncelt
15:15 on
24 June, 2014
Here’s my take on that negative story form the MSM (without quotes as usual).
The players aren’t back from holiday. I would have thought that RD and JC would want a half decent look at them before a) deciding where out limited budget is best spent and b) informing any that they’re surplus to requirements if they don’t buck any existing doubts about their merits.
Or c) PL is also away on holiday and hasn’t done the wages/transfer fee ration calculation yet.
Some people think the OB act is oppressive, let’s thank our lucky stars we weren’t born in Egypt
http://mideastsoccer.blogspot.co.uk/2014/05/jail-sentences-re-position-egyptian.html
SFTB & lionroars67 at 14.38.
Is this another example of old firm type reporting.
Mention loyal orders and republicans in the leading paragraph.
Yet when you get to the main body of the report only loyalist figures are available.
Any numbers on republican parades.
Ones as bad as the other dontcha know
Auldheid
You are correct, of course. The motion at the AGM seems to have been discussed in a “them v us” atmosphere.
The costs of implementing the “living wage” must be met from somewhere and perhaps if supporters offered to pay say, 50p/£1 extra per ticket for this specific purpose, the PLC would agree. The principle is that there is more chance of achieving the goal if a more conciliatory approach is adopted.