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.
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Sammaras is left sided midfielder who links with the front line IMO………
Pukki will play as the front man and Sammaras will push from a defensive midfield role. He eats the ground up when he has the space to run into.
4-5-1 with no fannying around…safety first and take the one point. Its very doable and we have the players to do it.
Just because we don’t spend 40M on a player and generate acres of news print doesn’t mean our players aren’t good enough…….they are.
Just ask Barcelona, AC Milan, Ajax. They have all been beaten post 1994 in the new stadium.
A draw is well with in our capabilities and the lessons of Juventus and then Shaktar should have been well learned.
Big teams……playing for the big cup
Whats not to like? :)
Tom
Can’t disagree.
An Dun
Sometimes you need to lob in a wee surprise in the big games.
Probably writing a book about what he would have done
Hen1rik
Paranoid tims… not been levelled at us for a wee while .
Turns out we were not paranoid … naive would be a more relevant adjective
Young boy from our parish, Conor Boyle, very seriously ill in Peterborough after a car crash last week.
Prayers urgently sought.
Thanks
Usually just lurk. But is the ‘side letter’ from Mr Doncaster not just an official admittance that Sevco Scotland (The Rangers Football Club) is not Rangers Football Club and can/would not therefor be held responsible for the misdeeds of the former club. This would also explain why the fine was against the old club. If this is the case, then I’m not surprised they wanted it kept secret.
canamalar prays oscar can do it again
18:12 on 16 September, 2013
I honestly thought he was 1 of the good guys to.
ttt
Prayers said for the young lad.
Shortbread devoting the show to the staged Ian Black interview. Just as well there isn’t a big European game this week……..
Hen1rik,
So did I
Greg Ioannidis represents Celtic in assorted matters at UEFA. Perhaps he felt he couldn’t get involved on a professional conflict basis, although I would expect a note to that end.
Certainly whenever I’ve contacted him he’s provided considered and courteous replies so I am a little surprised at Canamalar’s experience.
Hey ho.
Connor Boyle may The Lord protect you in your hour of need
Scrolling back , beautiful post from starry, stay strong pal. Will remember your Mammy & Miki 67 in my prayers tonight.
Good evening friends, I do hope we are all in a jovial Champion mood?
Right canamalar how do I find out if the shares I’ve got can be used to support this resolution?
Michael Stewart giving ex team mate Black both barrels on Shortbread.
Confession time –
Listening to the ‘Ian Black’ debate on Shortbread and I’m quite impressed by the ex-Hearts player. Anyone else listening and know who it is?
Jobo
TBB,
Thanks for the clarification I mixed him up with scotslawthoughts.
However, Morissey got in touch with Gregory and asked about the resolution, his response, he wasn’t sure what was being asked, even though it was his tweet about recourse for clubs against associations already being available, that set things in motion, I just needed to find it and I did.
So I will state my apologies to Gregory for the initial barrage.
I hiv tae say thit Kojo kens whit’s whit wae the famous Glesca Celtic.
I agree wi’ him that big Wullie Gemmell wiz the best o the Lisbon Lions.
Sorry, tae aw ma readers…
Gottae go, Kojo.
Got tae meet up wi Frankie & Dino.
Whit dae ye mean they’re deed ?
Ye’d think sumdae wid av telt me.
Michael Grant in the Herald today:
With the exception of Walter Smith’s Rangers teams in the mid-1990s – talented but seemingly paralysed against even the likes of Grasshopper and Auxerre – every Scottish campaign in the Champions League group stage has been competitive and respectable.
Em, what about Walter’s 2009 campaign when, as a pot 2 team, they managed to accumulate the grand sum of two points…..?
EDB, Canamalar,
Thanks, gents.
The prayers of CQN are very powerful and greatly appreciated, as we know from experience.
Jobo-Stewart will be on the Gang’s list….
Canamalar
Aha! that makes sense.
Gorbalstim,
You need £100 worth, go to the Celtic network, download the resolution, print it, fill in the details on the first page, scan and send the first page back to the address provided on the same page.
Michael Stewart playing a blinder on BBC Scotland. No love lost between him and Ian Black.
“You have to ask yourself why the bookies have flagged it up. Bookies do that when there are irregular betting patterns.”
Kenny MacIntyre produces the inevitable ‘random’ text message praising the way Rangers have handled the Black situation – cue mocking gasp of disbelief from Stuart.
“If I was the captain in that dressing room, I would be very unhappy”
GlassTwoThirdsFull
18:35 on
16 September, 2013
Michael Grant in the Herald today:
With the exception of Walter Smith’s Rangers teams in the mid-1990s – talented but seemingly paralysed against even the likes of Grasshopper and Auxerre – every Scottish campaign in the Champions League group stage has been competitive and respectable.
Em, what about Walter’s 2009 campaign when, as a pot 2 team, they managed to accumulate the grand sum of two points…..?
More shameful lapdogedness…
1,112 people from the following countries: Montenegro, Thailand, Jersey, Brazil, Italy, Mexico, United States, Canada, Albania, Sweden, Indonesia, Cambodia, Norway, Netherlands, Nauru, Spain, Germany, Afghanistan, France, Australia, Switzerland, United Arab Emirates, Taiwan, India, Scotland, England, Ireland, Wales, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom, have signed up to support PE01491 here: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/GettingInvolved/Petitions/judgesmasonregister
Please consider signing and passing the link on to any like-minded advocates of transparency.
Celtic could now be classed as seasoned European campaigners after cutting teeth with six games in Europa, twelve in last seasons Champions Lge and another six matches in the current campaign. They will not fear AC Milan, respect definitely.
Italian teams let you play football and I can see our team enjoying a reasonable amount of possession as witnessed in previous games against these sides.
Celtic created a fair number of chances against Juventus last season and the Italians were flattered by the scoreline over the two legs. Lenny blundered badly by selecting a jet-lagged Efe Ambrose who was at fault for two Juve goals in the crucial first leg.
Liam Brady who brought Anto Stokes to Arsenal as highly talented kid said after the Karagandy game that Stokes is star quality and he is now one of the most skillful players in the Celtic squad. No doubt he will be back in the ROI International squad when Martin O’Neill takes the helm in the near future. However, he may not start on Wednesday night.
Great to see the Pukki score on his debut after some cheeky Messi-like skill by Stoksey but will have to see more of this lad before making an opinion. Celtic may be on the verge of being an even better side than last season. Team for Milan
Forster
Lustig Ambrose Vandijk Izzy
Mulgrew
Mathews Brown Ledley Commins
Samaras
Seen this exchange on TSFM
There is nothing….not one thing on this planet shocking enough that could be produced…presented…or revealed about Campbell Ogilvie that would make him resign from his paid employment at the SFA…
He has absolutely no shame…no moral conscience or strength of character in this Scottish football farce…
He will not resign under any circumstances…because he could not care less about Scottish Football…he is a shameless man who is paid by Scottish football to assist…help…promote…advantage one club who gave him TAX free lump sums of money…and in return he does what he is told by the new re-formed club…
No matter how loud we shout he will not walk away….
______
Ok, whose worse, Mr Ogilvy for having no honour, or those who had the responsibility and the ability to remove him, and instead re-elected him unopposed?
Canamalar
Every time I try and print the resolution the computer freezes. I’ve tried downloading the PDF reader again but just the same. I’ve tried every day. Is there any way that I can get a print off of the document so that I can sign it. I’ve never scanned a document but my printer says it can do this. Are you at work tomorrow morning or early afternoon because I could meet up with you and get a copy to sign. I’m pretty sure that I live near you. (Westend).
canamalar
Cheers, I’ll have a look. I have no idea how much they are worth. I bought the minimum at the first share issue, got a certificate, framed it and it’s been on my wall since. Haven’t thought about them since.
Hopefully there’s an alternative to scanning.
Oh neganon2,
I’m hoping the account haven’t been released because they usually coincide with the AGM date announcement and I’m hoping they are waiting for our resolution before announcing the date and releasing the accounts, we can hope eh :o)
The Scottish MSM being …Well SMSM
Silence
http://www.philmacgiollabhain.ie/you-might-not-have-seen-this/#more-4013
Snooker player Stephen Lee guilty of match fixing,plenty more where he came from…
canamalar prays Oscar can do it again
18:37 on
16 September, 2013
Gorbalstim,
You need £100 worth…
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
You gave me details of a broker a couple of weeks ago, but I don’t have a £100 quid spare to get the necessary shares. Support will have to be spiritual, I’m afraid – sorry.
HH
BGFC
Dr Whatfor,
Westend of Doha ? :o)
Best advice I can give is find an arrogant adolescent who knows everything about everything, get them to be smarmy and show you how it’s done, failing that I’m sure there is someone closer who can help. I know Morissey and a couple of others are going out their way to help ghuys having problems.
Doha. Dear lord! I’ll try morissey.
up_over_goal
18:37 on 16 September, 2013
Michael Stewart playing a blinder on BBC Scotland. No love lost between him and Ian Black.
“You have to ask yourself why the bookies have flagged it up. Bookies do that when there are irregular betting patterns.”
####
I can’t imagine that any footballer who has as a ‘football adviser’, Barry Hughes, would ever be involved in anything shady.
The idea is simply ridiculous.