I’ve been to a few non-Celtic games over the years and always found is striking the different reaction mid-table teams have to a defeat compared to how we react. There is simply not the expectation that every game has to be won. For most of the last 40-odd years Celtic have been nip-and-tuck with a direct opponent at the top of the league, so a single defeat can have a significant bearing on league title prospects.
Even when we were not involved in a close league race, the desire to win by an astonishing number of points provided an edge, whereas, back in the 90s, the chasm between Celtic and the top was made increasingly unbearable by each passing defeat.
This season is different. We’ve dropped 10 points in 10 games but substantial evidence exists that the team is making solid progress, a fact not disputed by the support, even as they left Celtic Park on Saturday. For most, the distress of defeat has tempered.
We’re two points ahead of three teams at the top of the league, with a game in hand, which makes this the most competitive SPL ever. The gap between second and second last is just six points, St Mirren who sit second bottom, would be level on points with joint-second St Johnstone had they won the game between these two earlier this month.
All this honest competition has resulted in a rise in average attendances for most clubs during “Armageddon”. It’s too easy to poke fun at the miscalculations of the SPL and SFA chief executives who believed the game needed a fatally flawed giant in the top flight. Instead, what it needed was genuine competition, which we have, to a degree.
Hibs, Aberdeen and St Johnstone are all two points from the top of the table while Inverness and Killie are only one win below them. Can you imagine how good a league this would be without the last remaining over-sized behemoth?
The SPL didn’t need Rangers, in fact, it is a better, more competitive league without them. The same goes for Celtic. We are not good for the league and do nothing for Aberdeen, United, Hibs or clubs who want nothing but a sporting chance in the game. Many of these clubs seem to have Stockholm Syndrome; locked into the belief that they need to be with their tormentors.
If I was writing a blog about any of these clubs I’d tell Celtic to go find themselves some fantasy football league and let the rest of the country get back to a proper sporting endeavour. They have nothing to lose but their loser labels.
The next issue of CQN Magazine is due out shortly, let me know if you would like to advertise, advert@cqnmagazine.co.uk.
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Sitting waiting out the storm in maine no power now for 5hours praise the lord for the smrt phone. I wish i was in scotland cold and wet as it may be,on a night like this. Fish supper and a bottle of irn bru would go down a treat righ now.
mattgallscot
04:02 on
30 October, 2012
Sit tight and be safe. If you have family with you pour your energy into keeping minds occupied.
Good luck buddy
Hail Hail
Thanks clunks, weans wife and dug the dug all in the same room, i’m just sitting. In the dark with a wee JD and coke and a bag a crisps ma biggest fear is that i loose the sheperds pie the misses made yesterday fridge with no power, no good.
If it even gets half as bad as New Orleans then clean water will be your biggest priority.
Fill the bath with cold water. If supply goes down or is contaminated you will be good for a few days.
mea culpa,
I enjoyed your post about the day we stopped the cheats claiming their fraudulent 10.
Lovely story.
Good(?) morning from a dull grey and cloudy Marmaris.
Bah csc
greenlion2
18:56 on 29 October, 2012
!!Bada Bing!!
18:45 on 29 October, 2012
Some of the defending was very suspect.. Ive still not been able to watch the Seville final again yet so im weaning myself towards it slowly
If Vmhans looking in does this remind of you of anyone?
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/20117987
……………
Aye GL2, can I have my shirt back :>)
Good morning friends.
Given the events in the USA it would be insensitive to complain about the EK weather this morning.
Vmhan – good to see you back posting.
Jobo
Poor League Cup Record v St Johnstone
« Thread Started on Sept 28, 2010, 9:12am »
16/08/1961 Section Home L 0-1 (HT 0-0) 23000
30/08/1961 Section Away L 0-2 (HT 0-2) Att n/a
25/10/1969 Final Hampden W 1-0 Auld (2), 73067
12/08/1981 Section Away L 0-2 (HT 0-1) 10406
19/08/1981 Section Home W 4-1 (HT 2-0) McGarvey (17), Provan 2 (21, 48), Nicholas (65) 14600
19/08/1997 Round 3 Away W 1-0 AET Donnelly (104 pen) 7488
27/10/2010 Quarter-Final Away W 3-2 (HT 3-1) Stokes 2 (8, 13), McGinn (12) 5151
P 7 W 4 D 0 L 3 F 9 A 8
Cool and Dry in the Chilterns…
Looking for a good performance and a win tonight – St Johnstone won’t make it easy but a clean sheet and two goals will suffice.
2-0 To the Glasgow Celtic
Got to hand it to Mr Green he tries sooo hard, then RTC goes and spoils it all by doing the maths.
Chairbhoy:CountingDownOnFTTTWeek
Cheers Jobo, just a minor flounce.
Ye did right re the weather report.
BBC Breaking News
@BBCBreaking
7 New York subway tunnels flooded in most “devastating” night in service’s 108-year history – via @MTAInsider bbc.in/TS67po #Sandy
Morning all!
Looking for a vastly better performance from the Bhoys tonight – sure we will get it.
Hope Neil will put out a full.strenght side -pretty certain he will. No square pegs in round holes please!
HH!!
Lisbon 67 was definitely the root cause of the death of RFC.
They killed themselves trying to match the big man’s achievement and by illegal means too.
I see wee Barry Fergushun has went to Fleetwood Town on loan, whits Micky Mellon (the manager) thinking of. I was gonnae go and watch some games this season innaw…… cancel that.
vmhan
he will be able to hear you’re shouts of encouragement now with it being a smaller crowd..
Vmhan 07:55:
Good morning amigo, great to see your name up. I hope you are all well.
Keep the Faith!
Hail Hail!
Vmhan
Go to a game with your Hoops on.
That’ll sort him.
Good to see you back on the Blog.
BT,
Micky Mellon is a Celt and has been on the Blackpool Shammy bus, whits he doing signing that wee turd :¬)
Seriously though BT, Fleetwood are sitting fourth in a league they were just promoted into, wasn’t that long ago they were a non – league team, it’s a step up for wee Barry in comparison to Sevco 2012!
SeriouslyCSC
Lennybhoy, I was never away TAL
Vmhan 08:17:
TAL, right got to start…until we meet again…
Keep the Faith!
Hail Hail!
Morning bhoys and ghirls ,
is today the day ?
Hoping the crowd get right behind the bhoys tonight .
Sanna
Morning,
Chuck must be desperate if he is rolling out The Cardigan. Someone must have checked those pledges over the weekend and realised they are well and truly F*****!
?
??
???
Hopefully its a full strength team out tonight, the only player deserving a rest is Scott Broon.
The Wilson and Ambrose partnership should be restored to develop further, only Spartak and that Catalan mob have scored against us when they have started together in central defence.
Use the game to strengthen the first 11 instead of trying out new players/things.
!
!!
!!!
EN
“Use the game to strengthen the first 11 instead of trying out new players/things.”
I am happy for that to be the approach when we play a cup tie against SPL opposition.
BUT, we must allow our manager to have a look at players in various roles, without facing this square peg/round hole jibe, when we are at home in SPL matches.
This season, of all seasons, is the time to allow the manager that leeway and recognise that it carries the risk that you’ll drop a few more points now in order to reap benefits later.
Players through the ages have been able to play in more than one position. The modern Celtic squd is no different. Ambrose, for example, has played 2 games in the Celtic midfield. In his first outing there, he was very impressive. Against Kilmarnock, like all his outfield team mates, he was very poor.
Have to rush out now. Will catch replies later
Just commenting on the lack of posts this morning.
Don’t tell me people are working instead.
That word should read “squad”
Unless we have recently signed a tasty deep sea creature
petethebeat
09:23 on 30 October, 2012
‘Tis the calm before the storm that the FTT result will bring.
Setting free the bears 09:22
I agree, dont make changes for cup ties v SPL teams and try out one or two changes for SPL games at home.
EN
Wee Bazza will end up back at Sevco.
doc is neil lennon
09:29 on 30 October, 2012
petethebeat
09:23 on 30 October, 2012
‘Tis the calm before the storm that the FTT result will bring.
Are we definitely at long last really really going to see the FTT result this week????
Big game for St J,they won’t be shy of putting the boot in.