I never like to hear Celtic fans talk about weaknesses in opponents like Milan. They may be weaker than they were a decade ago but Milan have never been weak. The one thing Celtic have in their favour is the element of surprise, despite last season’s epic achievements. Milan will have read the screaming headlines, ‘spine of the team sold’. They will know little about how effective Celtic can use the vast open spaces of the San Siro.
After defending resolutely against Barca, Celtic looked like a far better team against a less effective Juventus but we found the limit to our abilities. Juve exploited the gaps in defence left as we took the game to them. I would rather defend in numbers and take our chances on the break than try to go toe-to-toe in midfield.
The San Siro seems to bring the best out of Celtic. Jock Stein went there three times, drawing after 90 minutes on each occasion; losing once after extra time. Gordon Strachan’s team were also level after regulation time, losing only after extra time, and lost narrowly in a Champions League group stage game. Martin O’Neill’s Celtic came within three minutes of securing a draw before conceding twice late on.
There can be fewer European grounds on which Celtic have performed as well. Wednesday will require another almighty and intense effort but that is something Celtic are never lacking. Milan may not fear us, but they have reason to be worried.
I listened to former Rangers director Paul Murray on BBC Radio Scotland over the weekend. I know books have been written on the downfall of that club but I could write one on his own contribution. As a non-executive director, Murray’s job was to be the eyes and ears of other shareholders, to ensure the business of the club was in order and carried out properly. He was in a position to ask awkward questions, in fact, it was his job to ask awkward questions and to ensure threats to the club were uncovered and addressed.
In this instance he failed absolutely. Despite this, he trumpeted the 50% decline in the club’s debt during his tenure as a badge of honour, he told us his namesake, Sir David, was exclusively responsible for the sale to Craig Whyte and for the consequences of the EBT debacle. We were informed that Rangers won their EBT case, despite the fact that during the First Tier Tribunal the club accepted they operated an illegal tax scheme for five players, and the remaining issues are a matter of appeal.
Most bizarrely of all he rejected Lord Nimmo Smith’s findings on the conduct of his board before telling us he is absolutely certain he would be judged fit and proper to be a director of a football club. No remorse, not even a hint of self awareness.
Well done to the Tyneside No. 1 Celtic Supporters’ Club who walked from Newcastle to Celtic Park in aid of 1254125 and the Sam Bradley Care Fund. You can support their magnificent effort here.
The new issue of CQN Magazine is out! Click here for a proper read (don’t try to read the graphic below). It’s another great issue, thanks to all who helped.
[calameo code=000390171853d2bfc4f69 lang=en page=1 hidelinks=1 width=100% height=500]
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..sloww work day in the desert
west wales celt
08:10 on 17 September, 2013desert bhoy;Practising all this changing font malarky is all…
Right get oot and do the garden or something constructive ; )
HH
struggling with italics mind…
sloww
Micktt:
Huge hangover.
I’m doing well typing…
MickTT
08:12 on 17 September, 2013
…………………………………………………….
u stick to guzzlin yer porridge…
Just read the paul mcconville piece there. If every other sfa affiliated club,s lawyers are not onto this then its time to call it a day ,because scottish football has died . I also think LNS has some serious questions to answer .
desertbhoy
08:14 on 17 September, 2013MickTT08:12 on 17 September, 2013…………………………………………………….u stick to guzzlin yer porridge…
Och I’ve finished that, dishes done and just watching tv before ma bed.
Right how’d ye change the font etc..
HH
yeah! leave alone!
west wales celt
08:13 on 17 September, 2013Micktt:Huge hangover.I’m doing well typing…
Try some porridge..!
HH
Its basically putting a < and then either b (for bold) or em (for italics) and then typing the word. You change back by typing
Tedious!
No idea what I did there.
Last line missing.
Have I invented the html for invisible font?
How useful is that!!!
Morning all. Dreich down here.
Dreich down Govan way? Any further revelations about the shady shenanigans that ooze out of the very fabric of the place?
Off for porridge
HH
<Test 1….. nup
<b Test 1
<em Test 1
Right this is tedious, I should have just left you to it..
HH
West Wales Celt
08:23 on
17 September, 2013
<emb no working ?
<b test
:)
<em
West Wales Celt?
Not working for this silver surfer.
You need to put > after the <b
To go back to usual font its
Sos, not very adequate instructions
Mind you it was great watching the foiled attempts…
:-))
West Wales Celt.
How many have you caught out with that one? Lol.
up_over_goal
08:03 on
17 September, 2013
Mulgrew was Scotland’s stand out player in both recent internationals playing in the holding midfield role. Would much rather see him there than wide left or left back, and play Brown and Ledley either side of him. Those three along with Forster, Lustig, Ambrose and Samaras are the mainstays from last season’s European campaign and can’t see the manager leaving any of them on the sidelines. Add Commons, Virgil, Izzy & Matthews who will probably start and to me it looks like the team almost picks itself. Stokes will be dropped (wrongly IMO) again for the big game and neither Pukki nor Boerrigter will be risked from the start due to lack of games for us. This game has come so soon after qualifying and close of the transfer window that the manager will go with his tried and tested players at this level.
crap instructions
Nup no working.. lol
HH
testing testing.
looks like a new language to me whatever next!!
So if I do something like thisI get this ?
west wales celt
08:34 on 17 September, 2013
Mind you it was great watching the foiled attempts…:-))
Awe ya rascal, your to good for the garden old bhoy
HH
… don’t know what you did but yes
/
West Wales Celt.
Hahaha, you’ve got us all at it. thanks though.
http://cms.about.com/od/maintain-your-cms-website/a/Write-In-Html-Bold-Italic-And-Links.htm
Try this link for clear instructions
Bold
work ya sod
HH
italics
bold italics