Neil Lennon as a mirror on Scotland

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When I checked my phone this morning it was full of emails and texts about Kevin McKenna’s seminal article in the Observer on the treatment, or lack of it, Neil Lennon experienced during his years in Scotland. It placed a mirror in front of the former Celtic manager, for Scotland to look at its reflection.

The prime targets were not missed: the Scottish Government, the SFA and the conspicuously idle anti-racism bodies, while the “reserved professions”, the Tories and the C of S were marked for historically nurturing anti-Catholic and Irish sentiment in Scotland.

People outside Scotland will read in horror, perhaps tinged with a whiff of moral superiority that their own communities are not similarly afflicted.  This, ironically, would reflect the moral superiority many in Scotland viewed the English with last week, as a sizeable minority of their apparently poorly-educated, old and white voters backed candidates who align with racist, misogynistic and homophobe views.

In CQN comments section Scotland has often been parodied as the worst small country in the world, which is absurd.  In truth, its panorama of human values vary little from those shared by our neighbours or anywhere across the globe.  To think otherwise invests more weight in racial traits than I’m comfortable with.

Order your dedicated copy of Tommy Gemmell’s All the Best at the fancy new CQN Bookstore.

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1,091 Comments

  1. the long wait is over on

    There are two reasons why Vic and other valuable players were and will be sold as soon as the right offer comes in.

     

     

    1. Emilio Izaguirre .

     

    2 Beram Kayal.

  2. i wish people would stop putting things like “really?” and “seriously?” at the end of their comments when questioning someone’s opinion.

     

     

    it’s poncy, almost condescending and is a tactic used by that bell-end Adrian Durham.

  3. Likely opponents in q2

     

     

    Malmo

     

    Reykjavik

     

    Dudelange

     

    Stromsgodset

     

    The new saints

     

    St Pats

     

    Skenderbeu

     

    Tallinn

     

    Rabotnikki

     

    Valletta

     

    Zrinjski

     

    Cliftonville

     

    Torshavn

     

    Vilnius

     

    Santa Coloma

  4. BOBBY MURDOCH'S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS on

    HOOPY-DO. 0904

     

     

    Adrian Durham?

     

     

    Really?

     

     

    (Sorry,mate-open door!)

  5. If they’re talking to the press, they’re not talking to Celtic…………

     

     

    Soooooooooooo………………

     

    Oweny ” Sir Blabbermouth Of Garrulous”……..?

     

     

    Nuff said.

     

     

    Apart from that , lovin’ all the guff from the usual suspects…..

  6. BOBBY MURDOCH'S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS on

    DOCTOR WHATFOR

     

     

    Haha,good point!

     

     

    Of course,it IS a Bank Holiday. Most people have got less to do than me today.

     

     

    And speaking of which,time I was in the pub.

     

     

    Offski,folks-have fun!

  7. Dontbrattbakkinanger on

    PFAyr- I think the point is that Emilio and Beram would have been sold for big bucks but they got injured and their value fell like the Sevconian lira.

     

     

    So better to sell Vic before some SPL clugger re-arranges his cruciates.

  8. Di Canio fascist sympathiser and Green Brigade left-leaning ultras.

     

     

    Would at least make for some interesting banner displays?

     

     

    HH jamesgang

  9. Syd- I didn’t want to sell Vic either, however when an offer comes in that more than exceeds the player’s valuation we have to accept. As Niallo said, like in other small nations we are a player trading club and in many ways a prep school for players heading to England.

     

    As much as I dislike it and get frustrated by it I have to accept it.

     

    TLWIO also makes a very valid point.

  10. I'm Neil Lennon (tamrabam) on

    Niallo

     

    buy low sell high eh

     

    i wonder hwo much profit we will make on derk, amido and pukki

     

     

    in real terms the purchase of those 3 is likely to cancel out the profit we made from vic

     

     

    perhaps you should include a bit about these types in your theory too

  11. BOBBY MURDOCH'S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS on

    JAMESGANG

     

     

    I doubt anyone in British football will be daft enough to go near Di Canio now.

     

     

    Despite success at Swindon,he was largely reviled by the fans and loathed by the players and staff.

     

     

    And his record at Sunderland was dreadful.

     

     

    Good enough for him,IMO.

  12. DrWhatfor/solmick

     

     

    Thanks, you’re welcome.

     

     

    Most of it speculation of course, but some of it beyond speculation venturing into the ridiculous, hence me deciding not to post the Di Canio stuff this morning. Shoooorly noooooo……..

  13. Billy Bhoy 05 on

    Neganon

     

     

    You say the same crap day after day and you think that gives what your saying credibility.

     

     

    A horrible, bigoted wee country. You canvass for the Tory government and deny it. Be honest in your aims.

     

     

    You are a right wing bigot.

  14. Parkheidcumsalford @8.52

     

    Exit Tallies suggest Ukip to take 2seats in Scotland. A stain on the Scottish electoral map but over here in the North of Ireland we are used to the vagaries of lunatics voting, indeed controlling the asylum for many years.

     

    Anyhows, sorry for interrupting a decent footballing discussion. It will never catch on. Have not seen anything from HT recently. What’s the story?

     

    Is mo na cumann e

  15. ....PFayr supports WeeOscar on

    Di Canio is bonkers ….more chance o the Ibrox pieman getting the gig

  16. BMCUW & TNT

     

     

    There are a few things that could keep me awake at night. Mad Di Canio bring in charge of anything at Celtic would be one of them. But I sleep easy cos you’re right, he’d struggle to get a gig with a pub team after the Sunderland debacle.

     

     

    HH jamesgang

  17. gearoid1998

     

     

    I also noted HamiltonTim’s absence of late. Reckoned he might be ironing his trackie and readying his clipboard for a tilt at the manager gig.

     

     

    Do CQN badges count like those from Seamills?

     

     

    HH jamesgang.

  18. TNT

     

     

    Now I prefer to read your posts, but you could have pointed drwhatfor & solmick to Celtic News Now :-)

     

     

    From an earlier post, a lot of Bhoys think Nir Biton, will be better than big Vic ?

     

    Stefan Johansen looks every bit as good as Joe Ledley

     

    I was a fan of both

     

    VVD is a vast improvement on Kelvin Wilson

     

    Others have a view that Leigh Griffiths will score more than Gary Hooper ?

     

     

    Are we worse off, going into a CL qualifiers this season ?

     

     

    PS – I heard the only player we have had any enquiries about so far is VVD

     

     

    Hail Hail, with manflu

  19. The more I consider the board options, and try to second guess their thoughts, the more I’m convinced Malky MacKay will be our next manager. Celtic connection which DD has said is important to him, managed at a decent level, available with no fee required, would be very keen I suspect to have a tilt at CL football with a club close to his heart, and I suspect he’ll accept there are restrictions to his spending.

     

     

    Yep, Malky will be our next boss……..

  20. Rock Tree Bhoy on

    Hoopy Do – anything else you don’t like so we can avoid upsetting you in the future?

  21. Sydneytim

     

     

    Now I would agree with that, a one off spend on a decent target man would help

     

     

    And one of the reasons I would like to see the back of our current head of Scouting

     

     

    Hail Hail

  22. ....PFayr supports WeeOscar on

    Cowiebhoy

     

     

    I agree re VVD and Johansen …

     

     

    However , I think Griffiths and Biton have some way to go before they can better Hooper and Vic

  23. Jamesgang

     

     

    Did you apply for that other role, I heard you discuss ?

     

     

    Hail Hail and good luck if so

  24. Pfayr

     

     

    Well spotted, I did say some fans view, and not particularly mine

     

    Although there has been a few occasions where you can see real potential in Nir Biton,

     

    Also think young. Liam Henderson has a real chance of making it

     

     

    Still think like sydneytim, we need some power and pace up front

     

     

    Hail Hail

  25. ....PFayr supports WeeOscar on

    Cowiebhoy

     

     

    Constantly seeking a bargain has cost us a fortune in the striking department

     

     

    A litany of failure …at least with Griffiths we’ve bought a striker who scores goals

  26. Dontbrattbakkinanger on

    Ah, the di Canio/ Bellamy dream team..

     

     

    I think I’ll away and get the tattoo.

  27. Cowiebhoy. Couldn’t in the end I’m afraid. There’s a reason 93% reaches it’s intended target. I applaud them for that. But I need some bawbees too!

     

     

    Angling to be your butler and bagman as a permanent gig!

     

     

    Or maybe assistant to HT if he succeeds Lenny? Think being your gofor would be easier role!

     

     

    HH jamesgang