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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Sad news Kilwinning lad Andrew Gallacher found dead R.I.P
weeminger
16:21 on 24 June, 2014
I know you support it mate, I wasn’t having a dig in the slightest so apologies if my post sounded brash.
It was a genuine enquiry as to what figure you were starting from.
Login to Skybet, they are offering 14-1 England 3 Costa Rica 0 also offering Italy 0 Uruguay 2 14 -1 Which do you think is more/less likely? I’ve got money to lose :O)
Livornobhoy
“BBC Journalist Steve Auston tweeting that Celtic have bid 8 million for Luiz Adriano of Shakhtar Donetsk.”
Now if he had tweeted that the fee was $6m I’d be impressed. :)
Is that £8m Lira?
Hamiltontim
16:38 on
24 June, 2014
Is that £8m Lira?
====
If it was it wouldn’t have a £ sign in front of it;)
HH
So nearly time for more football.
Italy v Uruguay in a game that decides who goes through and who goes home, or England reserves v Costa Rica in a friendly? Not a difficult choice.
traditionalist88
16:40 on
24 June, 2014
Hamiltontim
16:38 on
24 June, 2014
Is that £8m Lira?
====
If it was it wouldn’t have a £ sign in front of it;)
HH
====
Actually it would!
HH
Parkheadcumsalford
Re the picture in your mind. Funny you should mention that.
A few months back an older Celtic supporter gave us a collection of old original Celtic photographs. Think they’d been in a loft for fifty years. Some were coloured in by a young boy all those years ago.
We have restored and digitalised these pics and just got them back this afternoon. The next stage is to get them over to Barry McGonigle (find him on Twitter, it’s worth it). Barry adds colour to old black and white Celtic images and these are sensational.
Really looking forward to sharing these with the blog when they are ready. They will be in the next edition of the magazine which will be out later in the summer (ie not sure exactly when!)
If Celtic ever spend £8m on a player I hope our new kit is made out of cotton wool!
LB
Celtic, are doing the RIGHT thing…
For Celtic..
Mebbe, NO… fur YOU..
n… Ah am So Gled ,that,that… is the Case!
Kojo
Still,Laughin’
Trad88
Hee hee :-)
Were Shaktar not after VVD?
LB
weeminger
16:28
I’d rather they sort out childcare costs and made it worthwhile to work for parents than looking at raising wages for low skilled work which is, or should be aimed at ‘after school’ type jobs.
I’d say there’s a lot more wrong with parents having to sacrifice and go without BECAUSE they work over those who don’t because the working parents get pretty much zero help and high costs. The system is back to front and has been for a long time.
Hamiltontim
16:32
Like I said, for what I would call a main job yes. For fairly casual work, that many use as pocket money (aka booze or fags or goin’ oot money) – no.
“Celtic Football Club is the fans, without them there is no club.”
Paul McStay
Hamiltontim
16:43 on
24 June, 2014
Trad88
Hee hee :-)
=============
Its what I get for being a smart a***
:)
HH
Trad88
It did make me laugh though, cheers :-)
£8m for a 27 year old – me no fink soooo!
Hamiltontim
16:49 on
24 June, 2014
Trad88
It did make me laugh though, cheers :-)
=====
Ha, every days a school day:)
HH
4th oct 1965
league cup semi final
ibrox park
celtic………………………2-2…hibernian
joe McBride….08min………..martin-16..58mins
bobby lennox-90min
…………………….after extra time
18th oct 1965
league cup semi final-replay
ibrox park
celtic………………………..4-0…hibernian
joe McBride……17min
john hughes……21min
bobby lennox…..69min
bobby Murdoch-83min
hail hail
So Costa Rica are certain to finish top no matter the result in the other game (apart from a decent goal swing)? If so not touching with any money
Hamiltontim
16:35 on
24 June, 2014
I didn’t take it aggressively, no worries. I think it’s worth always stating your position on, especially when the post is just figures. Anybody that hadn’t read my previous my have thought I was using the cost as a reason the club shouldn’t pay it.
Job opportunities all over England.
Are you available from 17.00 onwards?
Can you take flags and bunting down?
Apply at any English pub.
malone bhoy
16:47 on 24 June, 2014
Hamiltontim
16:32
Like I said, for what I would call a main job yes. For fairly casual work, that many use as pocket money (aka booze or fags or goin’ oot money) – no.
———-
You do realise that these jobs you’re talking about are increasingly becoming ‘main jobs’.
This money is for child care, bills, food etc not luxuries.
8million Rubles I think equates to £3m Sterling,I could be wrong though,well within our range.
fanadpatriot
17:04 on 24 June, 2014
8million Rubles I think equates to £3m Sterling,I could be wrong though,well within our range.
——–
Who was the last player we paid £3m for?
Does anone know if we are getting a new Hoops top soon? The current version has not been a favorite of mine.
Hamiltontim
Ask Tony Mowbray,he should know.
Uggg think I can see where this Italy Urg game is going
When Lennon took over permanently McGeady was sold and the proceeds helped us rebuild a team which took us back into the CL.
We are in a far better situation squad wise now than we were following the Mowbray debacle so I would hope that the thinking is not along the same lines… Van Dijk, in particular, is one I would love to see stay at CP for a long time to come.
What I would have loved even more would be to have seen him and big Vic in the same team – talk about formidable.
But it wasn’t to be…
HH
traditionalist88
17:09 on 24 June, 2014
Yes, the spine of the team composed of: FF, VvD, Vic & Tony (with his head straight). That I would like to have seen.
Italy v Uruguay .
A nil nil anti football game will do nicely.
Didn’t see the game against Costa Rica , apparently Italy could have played all day and not scored
Cmon Italy ffs!
Money at stake here!
Mine!
HH!!
As long as Celtic ur..
Chained, tae this Poorhoose…o’ a League..
Celtic, Need tae Be a Selling Club.
That is Jist how it Is.
Celtic, need the Dough…if.. They wantae well..
Mak Mair Dough!
Forster n Virgil..wull Go..
n..we wull .. Be Laughin’ awe the way tae the Bank.
We wull bring in Repacements… Some may mak it.. Some May No..
It is a Crap shoot…
So far we are Daeing jist Fine..though..
Yep…
Celtic, Need tae Keep oan daeing ..well.. whit they Ur Daeing..in order tae
well.. Be able tae Keep oan daeing ..whit they ur Daeing..
It is the Perfect..
Catch 22~
Me?
Ah am Happy ,as Heidi.. that Celtic Ur gonna Keep oan Daeing.. well…
Whit they ur Daeing!
We ur a SELLING CLUB.. n..
wull Remain ..
A Selling Club..
Until, we get the Hell oota Dodge..
Kojo
Still,Laughin’
Balottellli playing Aussie Rules Fitba’.
HH!!
Yellow card for Mario, misses next game
Although I really want Italy get through , even a meaningless Celtic game means more , sorry dad if you are lurking from heaven.
Paul,
Ian Wright is the latest Murdoch hysteria inducing puppet that has consented to use whatever “reputation” he has to stir the masses into a frenzy. If it wasn’t him, it would be someone else. Manipulate the populations emotions, you sell your garbage. Simple formula.
However, no less unworthy and disappointing from a former Celt all the same.