I’ve been meaning to speak to you about this for a while; thought I would wait until the new season, see if anything changed, maybe we could avoid having the chat.
There are different ways of watching football games. There’s the way we watch World Cup games, as unpartisan observers, which is completely different to the way we watch Celtic games. If I’m watching a game in the English lower leagues with a one-time Celtic target, I’ll watch him closely, usually paying scant regard to anyone else. The same is true if I’m watching the likes of Wigan with Sean Maloney.
When I watch a game before writing a match report I often get a different perspective. The game flows in the normal manner but I then have to look at my notes and compose a report. It’s the notes that are often unexpected, they tell a story of incidents, not of what is essentially a pursuit which flows for 90 minutes. For Celtic, the incidents overwhelmingly, often as much as 80% of the time, involve one player.
He’s not the quickest, the most industrious, or the strongest, but Kris Commons makes things happen at a level no one else at Celtic comes close to. The evidence screams out at me every time I check my notes.
I’m sure Celtic will recognise this with a new contract but there’s reason to worry about this now. What if he’s injured, what if opponents figure out they better stop supply to him, what if his form shades, as it did two years ago?
I like the look of the squad. Lustig, Matthews, Izaguirre, Ambrose, Brown, Mulgrew, Johansen, Forrest, Biton, Stokes, Griffiths, Forster and van Dijk offer consistent standards of performance, most look comfortable in Champions League football, but the dependence on one creative talent feels like an unnecessary vulnerability.
As I said, football is not an incident-dependent sport, like golf, it is a flowing pursuit which requires industry, concentration and strategy, without which, the creatives would end up playing lower league football. But to win games, you need someone to invoke six of seven incidents more cunning than Tiger Woods at a cocktail bar*.
*Kris Commons behaviour at cocktail bars is impeccable, he is capable of on-field cunning only.
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Wee Fra
To come on here with the thought of passing on your ticket so someone else can get the benefit of it, while you’re going through what you’re going through… well, you’re just a hell of a special man.
And I would think your mum would be very proud of her big-hearted Wee Fra.
Thoughts with you.
petec
21:53 on 16 July, 2014
vinniethedog
21:05 on 16 July, 2014
Weefrathetim,………….the only consolation I can even try to give you is ……the pain becomes less….and it turns into wonderful memories that never end…..
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
That is one of the Finest things said on this blog, IMO.
And it will certainly be one of the most comforting.
Wee Fra, Ye ur a big Strong Man. I only seen Dad cry once, so be prepared.
petec
A lovely post.
Vinnie
The memories will never die as they still remain after my dad departed this world 21+ years ago. Time heals, but memories remain for the bestest times of our life.
petec
Yer some ghuy, a cracker indeed. Ya wee luv. :-)
Weefra HH praying to Wee Oscar.
That Hobgoblin beer out of Lidls is tasty btw!!
Evening Timland from a hot hun free mountain valley.
St Pat’s should have been 3 up by half time, missed a couple of sitters, they may well regret them next week.
HH
WeefratheTim
The comfort you have is that your mum lived a full life, she lived to see her family grow and have a life of their own, not everyone is as blessed.
Keep the memories of the special times, your dad will be waiting for her
Weefra, your positivity at this sad time for you is uplifting.
Your description of your mum meeting your dad again had me in stitches.
Take care and I’m sure your mum’s funeral will be a celebration of her life and memories your family have of her.
Anyone watch the Chris hoy doc on bbc1 about champs?
Had a wee image of Stokesie watching it while dipping his monster munch in his chips n curry sauce and taking it seriously with diet coke.
;-)
Joking by the way for any uber easily offended types!
HH jamesgang
greeninbingley
Nothing special about me kiddo. :-) Now if you want to talk about…er.. Ach we’ve been through that. No, honestly, this site gives me an escape that I cannot get elsewhere, as I live in a very rural area. I know I have been blessed with a wonderful upbringing which allowed myself and family to have the strength and belief that we could enter the farming community in this area, and make a success of it. Very few incomers make that dream come true. I will always dedicate our success here to the strength I gained from my upbringing in the tenements of Govan, and the character I gained from that upbringing, as the catalyst to our success against the odds. That is the best requiem I can give to that wee Govan wumman, that I was privileged to call Mum. :-))
Weefra HH praying to Wee Oscar.
jamesgang
22:17 on 16 July, 2014
Hoy had the determination to be a huge success, most football players should take note :-)
KTF
For those mourning, holidaying and just basically experiencing Life.
Weefra
Just want to pass on my regards to u and Mrs Weefra.
Hope that your mammy’s funeral goes to plan and is a comfort to you.
Will be off the blog for a couple of weeks ( off Friday to Toronto to visit Teuchter of this parish )
Just wanted to pass on my best wishes before I go.
God bless bud
Cowiebhoy
All joking aside, I’ve always been amazed by how little many footballers train. Not all. But far too many.
One of greatest NFL players was jerry rice of the 49ers. Every close season he would pick out part of his game or physique and basically make it better.
HH jamesgang
Radio Freedom.
Night all Night wee Oscar my hero. God bless xx
James gang
I know you are a cyclist and many on here are too
A fellow cyclist explained to me that the power chris hoy achieved on the indoor track was the equivalent of cycling at the fastest sprint pace with the brakes on full..the Tour de France cyclists do it for 5 hours ! Hh
dallas dallas
Thanks for that. Yes we fully intend it to be a celebration of a full and wonderful life that most folk would be envious of. She will be missed terribly as my dad has been for 21+ years, but we still talk about the hilarious times we had throughout our lives with them. Magic.
Weefra HH praying to Wee Oscar.
Arlington, spoke about that, a 4 year plan for next Olympics, including not touching a drop of Alcohol for a full year pre- Olympics.
Back to the Hoops
You often read about Fraser Forster commitment, in 1st for training, starts before others, and finishes after the rest, constantly working to improve
Naka, used to practice his free kicks after training was finished for the rest
Some examples for us to learn from ?
Hail Hail
burghbhoy
Thanks for your kind words. Now go and enjoy your well earned holiday. All I will ask is that you say a wee prayer to ensure Celtic get through to the next qualifier. Bet you never expected that. I only put that in because I knew you were going to say a wee prayer for my wee mum. Take care. :-)
Weefra HH praying to Wee Oscar.
johann murdoch
I’m embarrassed to be called a cyclist in that context. More like a Bhoy on a bike!
Amazing what these guys can do, although some (too much!) is drug tarnished. The endurance that the tennis guys show is incredible too. And no fatties on a rugby field any more!
And of course lots of fit Lhads and lhassies on CQN!
HH jamesgang
Tennis guys are mega fit too,no excuses not to be as fit as you can be/ should be.
Cowiebhoy- Wayne Rooney and beck ham at manure did the same – Naka also took ice baths after each game ( allegedly) hh
Weefra
Consider it done mate .
Will be watching at the Toronto CSC.
May even have a few jars!!
Hail Hail
Cowiebhoy
22:35 on 16 July, 2014
Arlington, spoke about that, a 4 year plan for next Olympics, including not touching a drop of Alcohol for a full year pre- Olympics.
Back to the Hoops
You often read about Fraser Forster commitment, in 1st for training, starts before others, and finishes after the rest, constantly working to improve
Naka, used to practice his free kicks after training was finished for the rest
Some examples for us to learn from ?
Hail Hail
_____________________
Post longer, and ask to get away from work earlier to be able to post earlier. :)
I’m delighted anyway, as I’ve just found out the 2 coaches that were Destroying a good wee team, well they won’t be moving up. I just need to get the wee man to fall back in Love with the game, those 2 coaches certainly killed his love for playing for the Team, like they did half the team.
James gang – never too late to join the Cqn 10k runners ! :) hh
God bless all here
Cowiebhoy
Also interested to hear old Becks talking recently about how much he practised and how tough it was to get praise from his father.
For naka’s free kicks, read also Jonny Wilkinson’s kicking on a rugby field.
The more you practice, the luckier you get!
HH jamesgang
Delaney’s, enjoy your holiday.
A Knightswood/Clydebank takeover of Benidorm.
johann murdoch
Would love to mhate. Nae cartilage left. Hence the pesky bike rather than the beloved 5s!
HH jamesgang
weefrathetim-good to see you back.HH
jamesgang
Are we getting that special meet at the ole CQN corner this season??? We better.
Weefra HH praying to Wee Oscar.
DD, enjoy the holiday on Thursday, the wee Man gets Bach then. He is a pool player. :)) I’m likely to go for a few games there at Reds with the auld fella and the wee chap, whilst he catches up with his pre-season training.
Slightly different from training to succeed, I know many talk on here that Kris Commons appears to carry some weight.
Was really surprised at how Lean he actually is, when you see him off the park
Hail Hail
Interesting chat re footballers levels of dedication.
Cristiano Ronaldo probably the best example of hard work and self improvement . It isn’t all that long ago he was a gangly spotted kid who Sir Alex challenged to get into double figures for the season. Relentless hard work and see what happened.
DD
Have a brilliant time in benidorm last there 20 years ago I do believe sticky Vickys daughter now performs strange feats with a certain part of her anatomy
Weefra, he definitely there once last season when you were.
Right enough you were too busy talking to Dena to notice :-)
Hail Hail
martybhoy59
22:54 on 16 July, 2014
DD
Have a brilliant time in benidorm last there 20 years ago I do believe sticky Vickys daughter now performs strange feats with a certain part of her anatomy
——–
That’s nothin’ Ally McCoist can fit 6 steak bakes and a mince round in his mouth at the one time!!!
Weefra
Let me tell you this first.
For the 1st time in my life today I became the proud owner of a Celtic season ticket for me and the wee Mhan.
Had always been on a pesky rugby pitch when I was younger!
Can I afford it? Prob shouldn’t.
Can I juggle things to be there every time? Def not.
Am I a 100% happy clapper? No, tho others may disagree!
Am I happy with what I’ve just done? Like a wee Bhoy at Christmas!
So you’ll see me there Fhriend. I have a big hug with your name on it!
Bed – or should I say – cot time.
Peace n love to you Fhriend.
Night Timdom.
HH jamesgang
bada bing
Great to be back, thanks. We have had a couple of stressful days, but all is now attended to and all should go according to plan (hopefully). The funeral is tuesday, then all that is left is the memories. They, of course, will last forever as they do for everyone who has lost a loved one, but mums are special,er, as are dads. :-)
Weefra HH praying to Wee Oscar.