I was disappointed to hear Neil Lennon was ‘mutually consented’ by Bolton yesterday. He picked the club up off the floor early last season, putting together a remarkable run of form which saw them talked as promotion candidates, but a reply cup defeat to Liverpool saw momentum dip. The year since has seen Bolton look like the relegation fodder they were before Neil’s arrival.
Forget all this nonsense the newspapers are throwing around this morning (anything to undermine the team ahead of Kilmarnock on Saturday), Neil’s ship has sailed in Glasgow, but he should plan to remain in the game.
The people of Bolton might not have seen him at his best, but he’s a genuine managerial talent. After a shaky 18 months at Celtic he turned a corner and became a remarkable success, crafting a team who could compete with anyone in the world.
Looking back now, I think the intensity of the Celtic job got too much for Neil. It’s a 24x7x365 life, you need vast oceans of patience, and need to be prepared to make enormous sacrifices. It’s not just about structuring a defence to subjugate wee Leo and his pals.
The Bolton job was always going to be a tall order. He picked them up in a relegation spot, there was no money to improve things, while each passing month the financial position deteriorated. He also had to find an unusual pre-match technique to address the ‘I know you’re not getting paid but how about giving 110% anyway?’ problem.
The same media who are trying to disrupt our title challenge have misread the mood music this time. If anything, they’ve focussed the support on the task in hand.
On another matter………….. I’m one of the many who have signed up to Zip Slide across Celtic Park on Easter Saturday morning in aid of the Celtic Foundation. This is a great initiative; all those who have signed up have paid event costs, so money raised goes straight to the Foundation’s mission to improve Health, promote Equality, encourage Learning and tackle Poverty.
The work the Foundation do in our name is incredible. If you can contribute, please do so here.
Thank you.
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Shona Lá Fhéile Pádraig.
Happy St Patrick’s day too all
One for 25 years ago
Sun 17th Mar 1991
Scottish Cup Quarter Final
Celtic 2
Gerry Creaney 06 mins
Darius Wdowczyk 37 mins
Rangers (old co) 0
Celtic
Pat Bonner
(Made his competitive debut for celtic
Same date in 2-1 win v motherwell 1979)
Darius Wdowczyk,Anton Rogan,
Peter Grant-sent off
Paul Elliott,Derek Whyte,
Joe Miller,Paul McStay,Tommy Coyne,Gerry Creaney,John Collins.
Rangers(oldco)
Chris Woods
Gary Stevens,
Stuart Munro(Tom Cowan 73 mins)
Richard Gough,Scott Nesbitt,
Terry Hurlock-sent off,
Trevor Steven(Pieter Huistra 13 mins)
Ian Ferguson,
Mark Hateley-sent off,
Maurice Johnston,
Mark Walters-sent off
Att 52,268
Ref A Waddell
Happy St Patrick’s day Timland
Be good and be safe
HH
Beannachtai na Féile Padraig oraibh uilig.
The last day of Bobby Sands’ Prison Diary.
Have a great St Patrick’s Day CQN.
Árd Macha
Happy St Patricks Day from NYC
which as ever is a sea of Green today.
HH
Tuesday 17th
Lá Pádraig inniú ‘s mar is gnách níor thárla aon rud suntasach, bhí mé ar aifreann agus mo chuid gruaige gearrtha agam níos gaire, agus é i bhfad níos fearr freisin. Sagart nach raibh ar mo aithne abhí ag rá ran aifreann.
Bhí na giollaí ag tabhairt an bhia amach do chách abhí ag teacht ar ais ón aifreann. Rinneadh iarracht chun tabhairt pláta bidh domhsa. Cuireadh ós cómhair m’aghaidh ach shiúl mé ar mo shlí mar is nach raibh aon duine ann.
Fuair mé cúpla nuachtán inniú agus mar shaghas malairt bhí an Nuacht na hEireann ann. Táim ag fáil pé an scéal atá le fáil óna buachaillí cibé ar bith.
Choniac mé ceann dona dochtúirí ar maidun agus é gan béasaí. Cuireann sé tuirse ormsa. Bhí mo chuid meachain 57.50 kgs. Ní raibh aon ghearán agam.
Bhí oifigcach isteach liom agus thug sé beagán íde béil domhsa. Arsa sé ‘tchim go bhfuil tú ag léigheadh leabhar gairid. Rudmaith nach leabhar fada é mar ní chrlochnóidh tú é’.
Sin an saghas daoine atá iontu. Ploid orthu. Is cuma liom. Lá fadálach ab ea é. Bhí mé ag smaoineamh inniú ar an chéalacán seo. Deireann daoine a lán faoin chorp ach ní chuireann muinín sa chorp ar bith. Measaim ceart go leor go bhfuil saghas troda.
An dtús ní ghlacann leis an chorp an easpaidh bidh, is fulaingíonn sé ón chathú bith, is greithe airithe eile a bhíonn ag síorchlipeadh an choirp. Troideann an corp ar ais ceart go leor, ach deireadh an lae; téann achan rud ar ais chuig an phríomhrud, is é sin an mheabhair.
Is é an mheabhair an rud is tábhachtaí. Mura bhfuil meabhair láidir agat chun cur in aghaidh le achan rud, ní mhairfidh. Ní bheadh aon sprid troda agat. Is ansin cen áit as a dtigeann an mheabhair cheart seo. B’fhéidir as an fhonn saoirse.
Ní hé cinnte gurb é an áit as a dtigeann sé. Mura bhfuil siad in inmhe an fonn saoirse a scriosadh, ní bheadh siad in inmhe tú féin a bhriseadh. Ní bhrisfidh siad mé mar tá an fonn saoirse, agus saoirse mhuintir na hEireann i mo chroí.
Tiocfaidh lá éigin nuair a bheidh an fonn saoirse seo le taispeáint ag daoine go léir na hEireann ansin tchífidh muid éirí na gealaí.
(Translated, this reads as follows:)
St Patrick’s Day today and, as usual, nothing noticeable. I was at Mass, my hair cut shorter and much better also. I didn’t know the priest who said Mass.
The orderlies were giving out food to all who were returning from Mass. They tried to give me a plate of food. It was put in front of my face but I continued on my way as though nobody was there.
I got a couple of papers today, and as a kind of change the Irish News was there. I’m getting any news from the boys anyway.
I saw one of the doctors this morning, an ill-mannered sort. It tries me. My weight was 57.70 kgs. I had no complaints.
An official was in with me and gave me some lip. He said, ‘I see you’re reading a short book. It’s a good thing it isn’t a long one for you won’t finish it.’
That’s the sort of people they are. Curse them! I don’t care. It’s been a long day.
I was thinking today about the hunger-strike. People say a lot about the body, but don’t trust it. I consider that there is a kind of fight indeed. Firstly the body doesn’t accept the lack of food, and it suffers from the temptation of food, and from other aspects which gnaw at it perpetually.
The body fights back sure enough, but at the end of the day everything returns to the primary consideration, that is, the mind. The mind is the most important.
But then where does this proper mentality stem from? Perhaps from one’s desire for freedom. It isn’t certain that that’s where it comes from.
If they aren’t able to destroy the desire for freedom, they won’t break you. They won’t break me because the desire for freedom, and the freedom of the Irish people, is in my heart. The day will dawn when all the people of Ireland will have the desire for freedom to show.
It is then we’ll see the rising of the moon.
FRANKMARKER @11 30 .
Match report in The Guardian commented on ” the physical delinquency ” of that Deady Bears team.. For once a Scottish Referee did something about it.
Very interesting programme on the Rising on RTE…A Terrible Beauty.
Catch it on the RTE player.
HH
Matt Stewart
Maybe it’s already been decided who will win through to the final.
Enjoy the game HH
So if the report from John Clark is accurate, Regan is not only contemptible but he is actually rubbing our noses in it.
I know we have been cheated in more ways than res. 12.
Regan appears to me cocky in the knowledge Celtic won’t do a damn thing. He seems to be actually daring us .
My God Celtic, let’s accept his. Challenge square on.
Failure to do so will cost our club more than money.
Happy St Patrick day
HH
Paul 67
Anything you’d like to add to this comment?
I know we talk about the bigger aspects of the club, like this, often, but it’s incredible how deep the links the modern Celtic support have with the founding ethos of the club. It’s no idle boast to suggest we are the world’s most ethical football club.
From Themayancsc Twitter.
Which is why I say sack our board. They expect Res12 chaps to spend tens of thousands of pounds on legal fees!!!1/2 https://t.co/uOMlel3BTg
2/2 Does everyone know that Res12 is funded by fans? Their own money!! Their own time!!!
The club have lost possibly millions & they want fans to tackle this.
South Of Tunis on 17th March 2016 10:40 am
A Sicilian radio station’s choice of choon for San Patrizio ?
Van Morrison – Cyprus Avenue ( from the great Astral Weeks Lp .)
Hope the self styled ” Reverend Dr ” could hear it !
*there were only 2 jehova witnesses families in Belfast at one time, his was one of them.
Saw a collaboration of Van and the Chieftains on tele where he has a wee dig at Derek Bell for drinking lime cordial, he laughingly suggested it should have been bitter orange.
Derek incidentally brought up like James Galway a ken dodd converted tae Buddhism.
I have to seperate my love for the team from my utter contempt for the board regards Res 12.Unlike many,I think ,on some things,the Board does a good job,on others abysmal.Having supported the team for over 50 years,I cant really say there have been any boards any different.To deprive the guys on the park my support is not something I could do lightly.I did during the !Celts for change “era,and it broke my heart.I know some of the guys on here are younger,but this SFA corruption is not any new thing.I,and many like me,have lived with it our whole lives,and our fathers.Its not going to go away soon.
In my opinion,the only way to beat them is on the park,thats their greatest fear.Which itself carries the double edged sword,support the team,give them money.
To me ,at the moment,the most important thing is to win this league,and defeat the Huns.The close season will be the time to take stock,because believe me,if we were to lose this league,and cup,and nothing happens concerning Res 12,what would that have gained us?.They would have won,ans personally,that would be my worst nightmare.
Hail Glorious St Patrick dear Saint of our isle.
St Patrick or Patricius to give him his Roman name was not Irish but born in Scotland no matter what the Cymri say.
He was born near the town of Dumbarton, in the west of Scotland, about the year 372 of the Christian era. His father Calpurnius, was in a respectable station in life, being municipal magistrate in the town in which he lived; conjecture has it as being Kilpatrick.
His father is supposed to have come to Scotland in a civil capacity with the Roman troops, under Theodosius. His mother Cenevessa, was sister or niece of St Martin, bishop of Tours; and from this circumstance, it is presumed that his family were Christians.
In his sixteenth year, up to which time he had remained with his father, he was taken prisoner, along with his two sisters and carried over as captive to Ireland.
Here he was reduced to a state of slavery, in which he remained for six or seven years with Milcho, a petty king in the northern part of that country.
At the end of this period, he effected his escape in a ship to France, and repaired to his uncle at Tours, who made him a canon regular of his church.
St Patrick had already entertained the idea of converting the Irish. During the period he studied he was sent to Rome with recommendations to Pope Celestine, who conferred upon him ordination as a Bishop, and furnished him with instructions and authority to proceed to Ireland to convert its natives.
On this mission in 432, he sailed for Ireland from Wales, which is possibly where the Cymru connection comes from, having come first to Britain from France, and attempted to land at Wicklow, but being here opposed by the natives, he proceeded along the coast, till he came to Ulster, where, meeting with a more favourable reception, he and his followers disembarked.
He soon afterwards obtained a gift of some land, and founded a monastery and a church; from this establishment he gradually extended his ministry to other parts of Ireland. During this time, he paid frequent visits to the Western Isles in Scotland, with the view of disseminating there the doctrines which he taught. Being now far advanced in years, he resigned his ecclesiastical duties in Ireland, and returned to his native country, where he died.
He was buried at Kilpatrick—this, indeed, appears all but certain from many circumstances, not the least remarkably corroborative of which is, the name of the place itself, which signifies, the word being a Gaelic compound, the burial place of Patrick—that he died about the year 458; and that he was about eighty-six years of age when this event took place.
new article posted.
Italiabhoy
Thanks for your reply.
I’m not sure that you’ve provided substantive evidence though of ‘too left wing’. We’ll obviously disagree on the importance of the LW, personally I believe it goes to the very core of Celtic. In addition, it’s been costed and would hardly brink us to the brink.
That aside, what else has been proposed that would cost the club money?
Apologies for the delayed reply.
From the Clumpany.
I have now added a few paragraphs about why Resolution 12 should matter to fans of all clubs https://t.co/lbtuqdapEd
Well I am going to the Hampden semi, even though I hate the place – Celtic supporters will sell-out their allocation.
What is the point of a boycott?
We do what we always do – support our club with our heads held high, like we have always done. We have done nothing wrong and we shouldn’t behave as if we have.
Letting the actions of others determine your life is surrender – I don’t surrender to cheats and bullies and neither will 99% of the Celtic support.
Yes I want answers to lots of questions, yes I want HMRC to win in the Supreme Court, and yes I want the ongoing Fraudco court cases to find against the wrongdoers – but I am damned if I will let any of it stop me supporting Celtic in my normal manner.
Happy St Patrick’s Day CQN
The four green fields are the four provinces of Ulster, Munster, Leinster and Connacht, with the fourth one still in bondage being that part f Ulster considered s Northern Ireland and under British rule.
The fine old woman is Erin or Ireland, and her sons are the generations of Irish people who have ‘fought and died’ for a free and united Ireland.
It is at it’s core a political song.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zcfu1EZFgU4
ps Happy St Patrick’s Day mother England
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5BYfvLBs_9Y
John James.
Regan’s Reformation & Revisionism
John Clark, who contributes to The Scottish Football Monitor, followed up his formal meeting with Alan McRae and Darryl Broadfoot with an impromptu meeting with Stewart Regan. The occasion was a lunch time presentation at Edinburgh University where Mr Regan was a guest speaker to an assembled crowd of 60 students. Mr Regan evidently thought he was on safe ground. Oxford university have a reputation for inviting football legends, such as Diego Maradona, to address them and engage in a Q&A. Surely yesterday’s presentation would be a walk in the park?
Mr Regan, who is a legend in his lunchtime, chose to recycle an old Powerpoint presentation on former Scottish First Minister Henry McLeish’s reforms, prior to seamlessly presenting on UEFA and FIFA reforms. The theme was reformation. If he could have found a way to have incorporated Martin Luther in his presentation, I posit that the students in attendance would not have been surprised.
Mr Regan opined on values, integrity, transparency and the governance issues at UEFA & FIFA. The SFA executive was in fine form. The audience were eating from his hands. If he had delivered his speech in The Meadows, which is a short walk from Potter Row, he probably could have envisaged that the students would gather daisies to create a makeshift Lei as a token of their appreciation. However there was a snake in the grass. Mr Clark, who asked the first question, stated that the SFA had problems with its own governance. He stated that UEFA had been misled, either intentionally or by incompetence, apropos Rangers social tax indebtedness, and as a result the member club had been granted a UEFA licence that they were not entitled to.
The host of the presentation, Professor Grant, noting Mr Regan’s discomfiture, interjected by stating that the question should be interpreted through the prism of Rangers/Celtic rivalry. This is the academic euphemism for ‘Rangers Hating.’
However Mr Clark deftly dismissed Mr Grant’s objection handling techniques by stating:
“It was not a Rangers/Celtic matter. I invite Mr Regan to state categorically that RFC was not in debt to HMRC at the UEFA deadline date.”
Mr Regan, regaining his composure, replied that the matter was complex, and with a smile to the audience, he stated that the West of Scotland raised particular problems. As I know from my experience presenting to audiences of up to 250 delegates, the last resort of objection-handling is an invitation to take the matter offline. Mr Regan invited Mr Clark to keep his powder dry until after the presentation. Mr Clark waited patiently for the students to ask the anticipated academic questions and for Professor Grant to conclude the two hour meeting by leading the audience in the applause.
Mr Clark then approached Mr Regan, who was accompanied by an SFA assistant, to repeat the question. Mr Regan stated:
“The SFA had met the requirement of UEFA Article 66 and that the club, at that time, had been in negotiation with HMRC.”
Readers of my site will recall that Mr Regan wrote to Craig Whyte’s board seeking permission to release this statement to the press. Mr Whyte told him in no uncertain terms to spike it as he was digging a hole for both parties. When he later met with Regan at Hotel Du Vin, he almost certainly informed him of the impending administration. Mr Whyte referred to this as ‘matters of more import.’ The UEFA licence was the least of their concerns.
Mr Clark refuted Mr Regan’s assertion:
“No, in fact, the club was actually in debt in respect of social taxes. The SFA were derelict in their duty, intentionally or otherwise. If I were to provide incontrovertible evidence that the club was actually owing money to HMRC, and that the debt collectors had been in, what would you do?”
Mr Regan’s response, as Chief Executive Officer of the SFA, beggared belief. The man entrusted with Scottish football governance blithely stated he would do ‘NOTHING.’
Mr Clark stated that he would report back to his people (colleagues and readership at The Scottish Football Monitor). Mr Regan sneered:
“Who are your people? People who don’t use their real names?”
Mr Clark highlighted the fact that he had always used his real name and that he had written to UEFA using his real name, so that there would be evidence that at least someone had raised the issue before any artificial deadline.He then added that he and others who pay money to support football, are the people.
Mr Regan responded : “If you’ve made your mind up, and that’s your opinion,there’s no way I’m going to convince you.”
Mr Clark stated that it was not a matter of opinion, but of fact, and it won’t go away.
Those like Reiver who organised a petition, and those advocating a season ticket embargo, won’t galvanize Regan to act. Everyone knows about the outstanding taxes. Everyone knows the licence should not have been granted. The only issue in dispute was the 50% penalty for late payment. £2.8m was owed and never paid. Not my opinion, just a matter of fact.
When Craig Whyte sold more than three years of season tickets to acquire Rangers, the only way he could sustain the club was via UEFA group stage income. The SFA kept their part of the bargain with the 2011 licence.
From Celtic Research.
Given the lack of comment from the SFA here is Stewart Regan speaking on the Res 12 matters & Club Licensing in 2013 https://t.co/9lQqzLl7Tu
CowieBhoy at 7.45am
Myself and partner can be added to your 4 for the Saturday morning tour.
Clogher and others have done an amazing job catering for the invasion!!
HH
Lads,
sometimes the older articles will be closed down for new comments, so moving to THIS article for Cheltenham Day 4 selections :
Cheers, fleagle1888
Cathal on 17th March 2016 7:55 pm
Day 4 here?
1.30 Zubayr
2.10 Wait For Me
2.50 Gangster
3.30 Cue Card
4.10 Aupcharlie
4.50 Laurium
5.30 Eastlake
Good luck
voguepunter on 17th March 2016 10:49 pm
Day 4 picks…though I’m not ravin Mary…..
1. Ivanovich Gorbarton
2. Starchitect
3. Shantou Village
4. Smad Place
5. Paint The Clouds
6. Flying Angel
7. Arthurs Oak
13:30 Apple’s Jade
14:10 Superb Story
14:50 Long Dog
15:30 Don Poli
16:10 Mendip Express
16:50 Qualando
17:30 The Saint James
Final day picks at Cheltenham
1.30 – Sceau Royal
2.10 – Wait For Me
2.50 – Bleu Et Range
3.30 – Don Cossack
4.10 – On The Fringe
4.50 – Qualando
5.30 – Arthurs Oak
Fleagle many thanks for all the hard work, it’s much appreciated
Best of luck to all……… (especially the CueCard punters)
Cheers GFTB
Day 4 picks
Apples Jade 1.30
Superb Story 2.10
Gangster 2.50
Cue Card 3.30
Paint The Clouds 4.10
Mr Mix 4.50
Rock The World 5.30
Good Luck To All , hope you make a profit HH
Great job fleagle many thanks for all your efforts
1.30 Zubayr
2.10 Starchitect
2.50 Shantou Village
3.30 Djakadam
4.10 Paint the clouds
4.50 Squouateor
5.30 Rock the world
Footpad
Superb story
Gangster
Djakadam
On the fringe
Qualando
Bold Henry
Good luck to all
Hail hail
1:30 Zubayr
2:10 Wait For me
2:50 Barters Hill
3:30 Don Poli
4:10 Aupcharlie
4:50 Work In Progress
5:30 Velvet Maker
I’ve got a mug e/w punt on Big McIntosh in
the first,a hun co-worker? reckons it should
be called “big fenian bastard McIntosh” oh
bless him,good luck everyone.
From last night,again my apologies.
BOBBY MURDOCH’S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS on 17TH MARCH 2016 8:35 PM
Aw,ffs.
Just got back into the house and a raft of mails.
Real problems picking up Hotmail on my iPhone and just seen this.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Hi Mick…
I’m out celebrating Paddys day in Auckland… can you please post my Day 3 nags… ?
Bristol de Mai
Missed Approach
Vautour
Cole Harden
Kings Palace
Chocca Wocca
The Giant Bolster
Cheers, Fleagle.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Genuine apologies to Fleagle,without whom the Naps Competition would be a bust. Hopefully the rest of the contestants will allow his picks. And call me all the halfwits-get-yer-phone-fixed-ya-choob under the sun.
HH
“May your pockets be heavy and your heart be light,
may good luck pursue you each morning and night”…
13:30 ZUBAYR
14:10 HAWK HIGH
14:50 FAGAN
15:30 DON POLI
16:10 MAJOR MALARKEY
16:50 ZULU OSCAR
17:30 DANDRIDGE
HH.
Cheltenham Festival Day 4
1.30 Zubayr
2.10 Great Field
2.50 Barters Hill
3.30 Don Cossack
4.10 Paint The Clouds
4.50 Squouateur
5.30 Rock The World
Lads,
Ooooooft… yon St.Patrick fella has a lot to answer for !!!
Back at Cheltenham, and hats off to Onemalloy who had FIVE winners on Thursday, I hope you backed them all, fella… and had the 5 horse accumulator !
However, even 5 winners was not quite enough to take the lead… as FrankMarker heads the pack going into Friday.
Cheltenham standings after Day 3 :
160.64 – FrankMarker
143.23 – Onemalloy
127.48 – Graffitionthewall
109.64 – Gerryfaethebrig
106.14 – Nye Bevans’ rebel soldier
99.00 – Burgas Hoops
96.25 – 21-5-79
96.25 – Som mes que un club
94.98 – The Bhoy from the Village
89.14 – Hashadenough
87.42 – Cathal
87.42 – Ohits
80.64 – Eurochamps67
79.92 – Zihuatanejo
79.25 – BMCUWP
78.25 – PFAyr
68.98 – 16 Roads
58.25 – Eddieinkirkmichael
57.92 – fleagle1888
50.00 – voguepunter
44.92 – twists n turns
43.50 – Ard Macha
Let’s hear it, for some Gold Cup madness today !
fleagle1888
4th and last day of the Festival, a big thanks to Fleagle for this challenge.
1.30 Sceau Royal
2.10 Great Field
2.50 Shantou Village
3.30 Don Cossack
4.10 On The Fringe
4.50 Squouateur
5.30 Eastlake
Good Luck to all
HH