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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The huns are cheats,they cheated to gain advantage,no amount of spin from their loyal media can alter that,the huns have been the cancer in Scottish football,everybody can see that.
What do you call a Zombies Zombie?
Morning bhoys from a cool but thankfully hun free mountain.
Everything points to some news on the FTT sooner rather than later.
Chucks rallying calls, the Daily Record removing stuff from their archives, and seemingly starting to point a finger at minty.
I see that Lenny has told players anyone he thinks is saving themselves for the Barce game will be dropped. Think we can expect a strong team tonight then. St J will be up for it, especially having seen us lose at the weekend.
googybhoy ♥ Celtic
09:33 on 30 October, 2012
doc is neil lennon
09:29 on 30 October, 2012
petethebeat
‘Are we definitely at long last really really going to see the FTT result this week????’
I’m guessing Thursday.
Though Media House will have a copy already and will be hard at work exerting pressure on behalf of whoever is paying them the most.
Zombie mania.
There’s a zombie in my kitchen what am a gonna do,im gonna fix that zombie that’s what am gonna do.
Will be a tough game tonight, St Johnstone are on a very good run.
Though I’d hope the fact they beat us earlier this season would serve as extra motivation. I can’t imagine we’d play as badly as we did on Saturday twice in a row.
Walk like a zombie.
I see glasgows gary twigg has left shamrock rovers to sign for portadown. Was hoping derry might have got him.
Move is down to family commitments
Where did my post go?
Morning CQNer’s
Kenny Sheils stated that Killie were missing five first team starters on Saturday.
I still count that as twice that KS has served NFL his erse on a plate if you count
in last season’s LCF. I know that we won the SPL at Rugby Park after the LCF against
a Killie team who had nout to play for. I then ponder the thought…would we have won the SPL at Rugby Park if – the game had meaning to Killie ?!?!?
On a positive note or is it……?
The huns this week will, hopefully be terminated. But….where does that leave us ?
Does it mean that…given the recent transfer window when our leaders in their wisdom
decided on our behalf that, rather than pay £1.5mill for D/Utd’s Johnny Russell and, bring in, two strikers whom I had never heard of before they signed for us and, have not scored many(if any) goals for us and we’re almost into November…..what will it be like next season ?
Hooper – Vic – Efe – FF – Izzy – Forrest…..deemed unaffordable ?
To cut a long story short…I couldny give a flying f#ck about the huns.
But, I’m worried that we(fans) will be taken for a ride by the Sharp-Suited Dick Turpins
on the hierarchy of our club.
But then…it has ever been thus.imo
Hail Hail
DBBIA-Bad news,AIK Stockholm are looking to make Mo”The Bounce” Bangura’s loan move,permanent………
asapcsc
proudbhoy
Watched the Sligo v Shamrock Rovers game on Saturday ,he looked a good player .
Knew he was leaving but didnt know it was Portadown he was joining.
I hear there’s a move afoot to rename the Clyde the Zombezi in honour of the Govan sevconian necroambulists.
The complicity of the daily rangers with sevco has now become very apparent. The timeline of blocking all comments on stories just recently (usually exposing journalist’s sevco fawning) has now allowed them to spout a frenzied amount of upbeat, good news stories ahead of the share issue. This has been well planned in advance to aid the sucess of the share issue. Papers dont ban comments about their stories, they are moderated like any other paper online.
Sally heard to say, “I’d rather take on HMFC than HMRC.”
ernie lynch
09:49 on
30 October, 2012
googybhoy ♥ Celtic
09:33 on 30 October, 2012
If we are waiting for the Scottish media to read a 300 page legal document we could be waiting some time.
Tonight is a must win game. We all expect to win the SPL comfortably and if we are honest do not expect to win European Silverware. The only trophies that are “up for grabs” are the 2 Cups and as such should have our priority. There is also the little question of Sevco, these little rodents are still in the mix and could well make the semis, we need to be there to snuff them out if needed to do so.
look forward to heading here for an hour before hitting the Gallowgate.
AS Celtic welcome FC Barcelona to town next week, the club is keen to ensure that supporters of both teams can enjoy this momentous occasion.
Celtic are delighted to be back at Europe’s top table. This will be a football fiesta like no other and supporters will be able to see that the wonderful relationship between Celtic and Barca is celebrated.
Therefore, on the day of the match, next Wednesday, November 7, a Fanzone, bringing Celtic and Barcelona fans together to enjoy this great occasion will be set up at Merchant Square in the Merchant City.
The city of Barcelona always welcomes Celtic and our supporters so warmly and it is right that we should offer our good friends the same hospitality.
We are sure the Fanzone will be very popular with supporters of both clubs and we look forward to everyone who attends enjoying the venue, enjoying the city and enjoying the famous Celtic welcome.
The venue will provide an opportunity for fans to gather and meet and there will be music and entertainment on offer to supporters.
Further timing details will be announced in due course.
Oh goody,,the attention seeker is back with more of his OTT drivel!!!
HH
Bomber is back!!
Ally McCoist’s side are aiming to take their second SPL scalp of the season tomorrow night when they entertain Caley Thistle in the Scottish Communities League Cup.
The Ibrox outfit have already eliminated Motherwell from the competition and can secure a semi-final place at Hampden Park if they manage to overcome Inverness.
But nine-in-a-row legend Bomber reckons the Light Blues wouldn’t be good enough to mount a top half of the table challenge despite big-name arrivals such as Dean Shiels and Ian Black.
Brown believes McCoist was sold short by owner Charles Green in the summer and has questioned the wisdom in signing Brazilian defender Emilson Cribari.
He said: “I have no doubt that Rangers would struggle over the course of a season in the SPL with the squad Ally has right now at his disposal. I genuinely believe that there is just not enough depth of quality in it.
“What you are seeing with some of the players, such as Cribari, who have come in is that they are just not good enough to help the young guys who are being pitched in develop and learn during the course of the games.
“I question why these guys have been allowed to sign contracts with Rangers when they are plainly not good enough and the buck in that respect stops at the feet of Charles Green.
“Tomorrow night’s tie with Inverness is a massive test for Rangers and the support will be watching to see that the victory over Motherwell was not a fluke. But the bottom line is that Ally has not been allowed to bring the quality of player in sufficient numbers in that he needed to.”
ibleedgreenandwhite1
Took the words right out of my mouth! His constant attention seeking negativity is getting tiresome
ibleedgreenandwhite1
He will disappear in 10 minutes and then start posting under his main tag.
Kj- zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
Mea Culpa
Sally heard to say, “I’d rather take on HMFC than HMRC.”
……………………………………………………..
I think he actually said he’d rather take on a KFC
ASonOfDan
Should we reciprocate and invite some Glasgow pickpockets to the Merchant City as well? Would help the Barca fans feel right at home I’m sure.
Im puzzled is the attention seeker a Celtic fan trying to wind up fellow Celtic fans or is he a hun trying to wind up Celtic fans????
Personally i dont care just wish he would beat it and give us all peace!!
HH
goldstar10
10:25 on 30 October, 2012
Kj- zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
______________________________________________
Aye – don’t be saying ye wurny telt :o)
Freddiebhoy
10:14 on 30 October, 2012
Haven’t bought a Record or a Sunday Mail for about 20 years.
Haven’t visited the website since they banned comments. They were the only thing worth reading.
The way their sales are plummeting they are not long for this world.
And just in…
Latest score from Ibrox Park:
RFC 0 – 94,000,000 HMRC
Wow! That’s more than 1,000,000 goals a minute !!!
Those HMRC strikers are incredible.
31003, What about the Ladies from Las Ramblas, could you include them as well.
Bomber, the buck stops with your pal ally. He bought players who are not preferred to roll up their sleefes and fight for the right to paaaaaaaaaaarrrrrrrrrrttttttttttttyyyyyyyyyyyyy, sorry play fitba!
He should have went and signed the best players from division 1 & 2 who have experience in the lower leagues, not buying lightweights who think they’re ronaldo.
ibleedgreenandwhite1
10:31 on 30 October, 2012
_______________________________
And, there was silly old me thinking that – you were one of those who
sought the truth ?
As I said – silly old me :o)
Wonder when the titles will be stripped from the old club? What will their punishment be?
jimmybhoycampbell
An update for when you log on. I was just about to post on Friday evening when the blog went down but by the time it came back on I think you had gone!
Although I expected some news by Friday, I didn’t get it. These things happen, I guess, when dealing with a 3rd party. Yesterday the impression I got was that it is not looking hopeful at all, although it is not a deffinite a ‘no’. I did say it was a long shot and the best I can say now is that it is a longer shot.
It’s not dead yet though and until it is, I will keep in trying.
I’m going to the game tonight and will be leaving shortly (lunch date before hand) so am not likely to be back on until tomorrow. As soon as I have some news, one way or the other, I will let you know. Guarantee it.
Green Lantern (((((0)))))
10:13 on
30 October, 2012
I hear there’s a move afoot to rename the Clyde the Zombezi in honour of the Govan sevconian necroambulists.
PMSL
greenjedi
10:33 on
30 October, 2012
If Swally Mcmoist wet his bed somebody else would still get the blame for it lol !!!
: )
HH