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.
[calameo code=000390171a36dad35d58c lang=en page=78 hidelinks=1 width=100% height=500]
901 Comments- Pages:
- «
- 1
- ...
- 16
- 17
- 18
- 19
- 20
- 21
- 22
- 23
- 24
- »
Henriks Sombrero
My memory tells me that was Wolves, but it also tells me I never put the cat out last night although to be fair I definitely did not know any cat we might have was on fire.
Anyhoo Ian Lochead certainly was one of the forwards from that time . Him and Jim “cannae keep on his fee” Conway.
Aprops nothing at all but harping back to a blog of few weeks back on buying tops etc, I see Celtic have dropped the price for Celtic shop goers.
http://www.celticfc.net/newsstory?item=3264
Pod I
You will find the tribunal decision here when it is published. Possibly Thursday as Ernie has confirmed that Tax tribunal decisions are normally published on a Thursday.
http://www.financeandtaxtribunals.gov.uk/Aspx/default.aspx
MWD
Auldhieid – I believe it was Wolves – and we got beat 2-0. Celtic team that night (from Celtic Wiki).
Fallon, MacKay, Mochan, Smith, Evans, Peacock, Chalmers, McVittie, Lochhead, Divers, Auld.
Namedropping –
Tam Boyd called me a hun at the CQN gowf.
Bah humbug, hivnae been able to show my face in public since.
Cyrul
I also went to school with the sons of Ian Lochhead and John Divers from the same team.
PS re floodlights –
October 12th 1959, day I was born!! Don’t remember much about that though . . . . . . .
Lyruc
Sorry guys just one more. As a small kid sitting inside the fence in the old Mardyke in Cork ran out and picked up the ball and handed it to Charlie Tully to take a corner, that was circa 1960 & Charlie was player/Manager of Hibs at the time.
curly
Is that awe you ur?
:)
greenjedi
12:16 on 30 October, 2012
Pod 1
This is the Appeal by Rangers (in liquidation) , so Rangers (in liquidation)cannot issue a further appeal, I’m not sure if HMRC can though.
However all the cases are being dealt with on an individual basis, so the the ones HMRC wins can be issued straight away in any case
+++++
Pretty sure ole Hector can appeal an adverse decision. I’m equally sure der zombenkind cannot.
tmthetim.skirsa street???did you know joe lynch brian rodden???
Ylurc- Tom Boyd wasn’t Celtic captain for nothin’.
I watched thon ‘Harbour ‘ last night; I see the divers are gettin’ £1k per day for their efforts, rather them than me.
Anyways, hope Yvick and Ymurph are in fine fettle.
New SFM post up
thomthethim ?????
Jungle Jim
I met John Clark in the waiting area at Ross Hall 6 weeks ago when I was taking my mum in to get her varicose veins looked at – he was about to go in to get his hip fixed.
BGFC
curly
As Bertie Peacock said to Sean Fallon, when the insult was the opposite of Hun, ‘It’s ok for you. You are one.’
In the summer of 1977 I had the pleasure of scoring a goal against the then England goal keeper Ray Clemence. (Charity match) After the game he gave me his gloves, a real nice fella.
Q What’s the difference between Bovine Tuberculosis and Sevconitis?
A The first is spread by badgers, the second by tadgers.
So whats ole chucky been saying today..
“weve loadsamoney!!!”
“walters back!!”
“Im a sevcovian for life!”
“champions league here we come!..whippee !”
roll up roll up erra sevco shares…..
Curly
Tam Boyd is a hun! Seriously!
All Timmish on the outside. But deep down I know he’s a hun.
Ain’t that right Tam? :-))
MWD
JJ
I used to work in Bellshill loading Safeway lorries beside John Fallon, son of John Fallon the Blantyre supergoalie (son never mentioned his famous dad – much!)
BGFC
thom
I take it that was John Craniey and not the voice of a fitba?
FAVOURITE UNCLE
12:32 on 30 October, 2012
tmthetim.skirsa street???did you know joe lynch brian rodden???
*******
Can’t remember the names.
I lived there from 1953 – 71.
Phil –
Bald, good-looking, intellegent . . . . .?
DBBIA –
She Who Must Be Obeyed is fine, our 3rd anniversary today, so taking her out to the local transport caff tonight for a slap-up pie, beans and chips. And they say romance is dead? Pah, I wave my private parts in their general direction.
Missed The Harbour as the ol’ Sky box decided to throw a wobbly and hadn’t recorded it. Will get it online later this week. Getting a replacement Sky box this Friday – should have been installed last Fri, but the Sky van crashed and was being towed back to weegie-land with my 2Tb box inside when it should have been getting fitted and set-up.
Doctor Whatfor –
8-))
curly
12:28 on
30 October, 2012
Namedropping –
Tam Boyd called me a hun at the CQN gowf.
Bah humbug, hivnae been able to show my face in public since.
Cyrul
……….
Our Ironing Board was a present from Tom Boyd
Tenuous links
In Drumchapel in the late sixties I went to the dentist and Jim Craig took my tooth out
HH
Big Georges Fan Club
The other brother that works in Glasgow is a complete firework
greenjedi
12:43 on 30 October, 2012
thom
I take it that was John Craniey and not the voice of a fitba’
***
not sure if that post was for me, but if so, I don’t understand.
thomthethim.they both lived in skirsa st.i went to the MUNGO with both.
I’m getting into this nostalgia/name dropping thing now and am only begining to remember stuff I had forgotten about. After a European game a couple of years back when we stuffed Benefica 3 nil got chatting to a few Benefica lads in a pub after the game, mentioned Jorge Cadete and it turned out the lad I was talking too was a Night Club owner in Lisbon and was a very close friend of Cadete. The guy goes and rings him up and hands me the phone so I end up having a 5 min chat with Jorge.
Big Georges Fan Club
12:42 on 30 October, 2012
I used to work in Bellshill loading Safeway lorries beside John Fallon, son of John Fallon the Blantyre supergoalie (son never mentioned his famous dad – much!)
BGFC
I am sure if I ever met a son of John Fallon, he would buy me a pint . . . . . long wait mind you . . . . . . . . getting thirsty . . . . . . . oh bollox, I will buy my own. Tight git!!
greenjedi –
An ironing board? I am sure you have had many happy hours whiling away your days!!
Frightened to ask what SFM is and what the new post/Pole will be used for
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
southside
12:33 on
30 October, 2012
New SFM post up
SOAL ‘works’ ?…..
googybhoy ♥ celtic
09:33 on
30 October, 2012
Sorry for the late reply, bosses expecting me to work, ridiculous!
Yes everything points of the release of the FTT, RTC, Paul Mc tweeting on it.
Halloween would be an appropriate day for release;-))
SFM – Scottish Football Monitor.
http://www.scottishfootballmonitor.wordpress.com
MWD
Curly / SOAL
Sounds like a nice wee family ;-)
BGFC
I think the fundamental issues inhibiting RFC/Sevco (whatever) appealing against the FTT decision is that they know they can never win and if they appeal, ka-ching there goes another million in interest.
Mind you, who cares if you don’t pay 50 million, 60 million, 70 million, you’re never going to pay anyway.
What a screwed up mess this is?!
Just to add my story in meeting Celtic Legends!
I won the opportunity to play at Celtic park in a charity match, I turned up on the day to be led to the home dressing room, stepped inside the door and Billy McNeil and Danny McGrain were already there waiting! Billy asked my name and said your peg is over there son, I looked over and the green and white hoops with my name on the back was hanging at the peg and the rest of the kit folder out on the bench! It was surreal! So gets changed into the famous hoops and sit on the bench when billy gets the group together for our team talk and tactics, I was sat in awe at the surroundings the occasion and of course being given a team talk by Billy McNeill!
You might have thought that was the end of the amazingness but no! Walking out the tunnel onto the hallowed turf alongside the celtic “away” team who we were playing, and who happened to be guesting for them? Tommy Burns! walking out shoulder to shoulder with Tommy Burns was a magical moment, although probably not as surreal as Tommy during the game picking the ball up in midfield and me charging in for a tackle mistiming and up-ending Tommy like an Inverness Clugger! So many more memories from that day that will stay with meto my grave, unforgettable!
Right, canny wait any more for the new article, back to work for me. See you later!
BGFC