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
- ...
- 6
- 7
- 8
- 9
- 10
- 11
- 12
- ...
- 24
- »
What’s the Celtic Supporters Associations position on harassment of Celtic Supporters and the Green Brigade in particular ?
GL2, Bada
So I’m not alone in having never seen the Seville game back.
Haven’t watched the Henrik dvd either because of it.
I still genuinely believe that had we ever went in front in that game, we’d have stayed there.
My flight left 2 hours after the game ended. Arrived home before my wife, who had watched the game at her pals (2 miles away)
Still a sore one – not yet resolved. Like Sammi’s penalty at the Megiddo…
Ah well…
U
TorontoTony that is fantastic. Excellent work.
WeeOscar4Life account opened today to enable funds to go direct to Knox family.
Will forward details of account via email.
MWD ;-)
ulysses mcghee – Watched the Seville game live. Could never watch it again. And yet, I wouldn’t trade that memory for anything else. (thumbsup)
Greenlion2
Despite being second best that night – we took the lead and early in extra time Yogi had a one on one with the keeper – I was at the game and we were hoping to see it out for a draw with a replay on the Saturday. Of course we didn’t – still hurts as I type.
ulysses mcghee and Bada.. I know a lot of folk who have not watched it since. Ive been offered the video to watch a few times and have thought about sitting with a bottle of something strong and trying to go through it again.
I was in the front row behind the goal and when Shaun had the free kick right at the end I was thinking put it into the mix and let Johan attack it…When he skied it I was gutted…
After writing that I dont think there is a drink strong enough for me to sit through it with
GL2
oh and never watched it back
Arrived in Seville on the Tuesday for a 3 day party.Watched the game in a park where you couldn’t see the screen for the 1st half hour because of the light.
Unlike Manchester,when our screens didn’t work we just opened more bevvy and continued the party.Flew home on the Thursday.
Haven’t watched it since.
Torontony
Email sent.
BT
Cheers
MWD
Right heading to go and see Taken2…see if i get any ideas on where to send the lioness and the cubs on holiday next year
!!Bada Bing!!
*****************
I was there and still have not found the time to watch it again, i remember the talk I had before the game with my mates that the Council had planned to have the winning team parade round Glasgow and end up at the Chambers all on a long holiday weekend, God how good would that have been.
Saw last week you posted you did a bit of FRA work, I am in the H & S game myself and got qualified by the FPA to carry out assessments in a competent manner, the guy who trained us was senior in the Fire and Rescue service in the Lothians. The paperwork is a bit on the comprehensive side (well ours is)
pHILVIS
Glasgow in the 80′s was some place. Bremner’s, Goldbergs, and that dancing robot guy. (thumbsup
I used to work in Bremners in the early sixties, their back door I believe was on Hutchison Street, there was a barber shop down near Argyle Street run by two irish guys and every morning there would be a few Celtic players in there having a cup of tea on their way to training. Big Billy, Tommy Gemmel, Bobby Murdoch, Paddy Crerand all with their green jackets on. I played football for Bremners in the Glasgow warehouse league, the games against Goldbergs were the Old Firm games of the warehouse league. The games had to be played at a Junior ground, fantastic memories, thx for the reminder. HH
was fortunate enough to get a ticket for the Seville game, the turning point imo was Bobo being sent off, Porto stepped up a gear as soon as that happened and we couldn’t stay with them, not blaming Bobo or anything like that but had it stayed 11 v 11 I’m convinced we would have come out on top.
Regarding the Green Brigade, what is it the police and club seem to think these ghuys do?
They sing constantly, jump around and have a laugh. I sit in 209, one section along from them, they aren’t trying to intimidate anyone, there is no threat from them, if anything people are attracted to sitting closer to them.
They do make me feel old though, I couldn’t keep up with them!
Never watched a re-run of the Seville game – just too painful!
HH!!
Memories are flooding back, Is the Hangman’s Rest still there, just off of Glassford Street I think, near were the old fruit market used to be..??
St.John.Doyle-Can get a bit heavy at times,but the Guides are pretty good.I think if it was a bit more prescriptive rather than subjective,it would simplify a lot of it.HH.
Re GB statement;
my 18 year old lad was in 111 for the past 2 seasons. He didn’t renew this year largely due to the constant hassle. Searched on entry, having to show his ID to get into the GB section and having to repeat this at HT or any time he went to the loo. Every game.
By contrast, he was applauded out of the Nou Camp last week.
BTW this was going to be the start of a bit of a rant but I’ve just seen Chucky on SSN.
Ach, I suppose it could be worse!
Billy Bhoy
I think BBJ was our missing link in Seville,not sure how the big man would have lasted in that heat right enough.Thommo put a great ball across the 6 yard box with a couple of minutes to go in normal time…..if only.
Check this out
http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/607/010kvf.jpg/
Awe naw
Been busy all day ..what’s the craic with the green brigade ?
Doc
Considering Artur was put under surveillance in regards religious observance, it’s not the GBs actions – it’s people paranoid imaginations that are fuelling the actions the police are taking. There are some senior people making these decisions.
It was made all the more stark by Neil’s unsubtle (And I use that word positively) recognition and applause of the GB last year.
U
BT – Cheers amigo:)
MWD – Got the email; fantastic effort from the Toronto bhoys and ghirls!!!!
slainte
tony
Bada bing
I remember Morinho (sp ) commenting about BBJ missing the game …he was very pleased he wasn’t playing
!!Bada Bing!!
19:33 on 29 October, 2012
***********************************
I get copies of the prosecutions but they are always from down south when do you think the enforcement authorities up here might start flexing their muscles a bit more (bit not in my workplace)
The trainer quite liked our FRA documents getting used to them now, just liked going out and picking up issues without reverting to a large document
PF
Last year was somewhat unique. It will rightly be remembered as the year our great rivals died. Yet what seemed to almost slip under the radar amidst the hilarity at Ibrox was the continued harassment of the Green Brigade, and the Celtic fans in general by Strathclyde Police both before and after the SNP legislation was scribbled. We have remained relatively quiet on this issue up until now, but it has got us nowhere and the harassment has continued; in fact it has worsened.
Most Celtic fans heard about the unprecedented case of the 17 year old Celtic fan remanded in custody at HM Polmont Young Offenders Instituiton for an alleged breach of the peace. The fall-out and the protests of other Celtic fans led to that thankfully being overturned before too much damage was done to a young boy. However, there are numerous other cases that haven’t been made public and so the Police have escaped criticism and been allowed to arrest and charge who they want, when they want. These include three of our members arrested by CID (two at home, one at work) after holding a banner reading ‘Huns FC’. Their case lasted the best part of two years before finally a ‘Not proven’ verdict was delivered. The cost of that case will have been astronomical. Clearly unhappy at this, the Police arrested one of the above AGAIN, this time for alleged sectarian singing. This never even made the courtroom, after the CCTV was shown outside the court, showing him clearly singing ‘Up the Celts’ much to the embarrassment of the officers who turned up as Prosecution witnesses.
After the highly-successful ‘Fans Against Criminalisation’ demo at George Square, Celtic played Hibs in a bore 0-0 draw. The game will be remembered by many though, after the Police unnecessarily waded into 111 looking to make arrests for reasons unknown. On the concourse after the game, they successfully arrested one of our members, accusing him of abusing their officers. Again, this was nothing but a blatant lie and led to another court case with THREE different trial dates. A Not Guilty verdict was returned when the case was finally heard.
A month or so later, and we had another member in court. This time his alleged crime was for ‘assault and resisting arrest’ at a Semi-final at Hampden. Again though, he was found not guilty. We have some other court cases pending as we speak, but we are confident these will go the same way as every other one so far. However, they are still obviously causing massive inconvenience and are having a huge effect on people’s livelihoods.
These charges have all led to our members missing matches watching and supporting the team they love. Celtic had banned every one of them while the cases were on-going. Indeed, the club do all they can to facilitate the Police and have offered no help whatsoever to their own support. After the match in Udine in December, Celtic banned a handful of supporters after flares were lit before kick off. One of these fans was a female season book holder in 111 whom, rather bizarrely, was watching the match from the comfort of her own living room! Thankfully, this was overturned eventually after it was pointed out to Celtic security that they had quite clearly made a rather embarrassing yet damaging mistake.
The level of surveillance applied to section 111 and the Green Brigade specifically verges on the surreal and is an astronomical waste of tax payers’ money. 90 minute surveillance clearly isn’t sufficient though as we learn from being filmed when approaching and leaving stadiums. A small band of Strathclyde Police following our members around Europe attempting to make their trips abroad uncomfortable also now appears to be common practice. Perhaps the hardest one for us to take is being filmed when inside Celtic Park hours early setting up for a display. Further from Celtic officials obviously accommodating such procedures they now believe it to be acceptable to hand over personal details of our members. Private information such as mobile phone numbers, names and addresses have been swapping hands without consent, even in instances where there is no alleged crime to answer for. Sadly, for us at least, this type of behaviour isn’t wholly surprising from Celtic officials – whether it is being sanctioned by Chief Executive Peter Lawwell who privately described our songs as ‘cancerous’ or Head of Security Ronnie Hawthorn who willingly will ban dedicated Celtic supporters offering them no chance of a defence against their alleged breach.
In recent weeks there has been a noticeable upsurge from Strathclyde Police in targeting the Celtic support. Up until now they have tried and failed to secure convictions for singing Irish Republican songs, attempting to concoct all manner of charges desperate to find one that will stick. Under their new ‘Anti-Football Legislation’ they are now targeting the Roll of Honour with a number of fans being arrested and charged with ‘offensive behaviour’ and even ‘Racial BOTP’ for singing this song. The most recent arrest being one of our members who was arrested while leaving Celtic Park at the Kilmarnock fixture and who has only just been released after being handed a weekend in the cells. Co-coincidentally, or ironically even, the accused just happens to be someone who has already been through the charade of a football charge with all the accompanying delights and he came away victorious. You’d excuse his paranoia for thinking he was being targeted and tested here.
Perhaps quite unbelievable to some it is not just at or around matches where we get such unwarranted attention. A few months ago one of our members applied for a licence to become a taxi driver. Normally, this would be a straight-forward procedure for a young man with nothing but a minor Breach of the Peace charge from his teenage years. Not quite. He received a letter explaining that his application had been rejected on the grounds that he’s not a ‘fit and proper person’ – an accusation based solely on his connections to the Green Brigade. This had come from the Chief Constable. Thankfully, after appeal, the licence was granted in the end but with no thanks to Strathclyde Police.
The above is just some of the instances of police harassment in the last 10-12 months. Not only is it causing innocent football fans great stress and hitting them badly in the pocket, it’s also costing the taxpayer a fortune. For too long, we have sat back and let them do as they please but it has to stop, and we hope that the coming weeks and months will eventually see a change in their approach and we can get back to supporting our team without fear of arrest at home or away. We believe we sacrifice an awful lot as individuals and as a group in what we do. We dedicate our time and money for our passion of supporting Celtic in our style and we have always attempted to maintain an amicable working relationship with Celtic employees for the benefit of both parties – even when in dispute over certain issues. However we will not tolerate the level of harassment we continue to face nor Celtic PLC’s compliant attitude.
Yaaas – ticket sorted for tomorrow night my seat in the upper tier obviously closed.
Hope the GB aren’t ageist, I want to be as near you as possible.
Mon the Hoops
http://www.celticquicknews.co.uk/?p=10753&cpage=3#comment-1605133
itsaboutim
are you around?
jimmybhoycampbell
The Laddy McGeary
15:51 on 29 October, 2012
Green Brigade statement on Police harassment
________________________________
I knew that you guys suffered unfairly.
I was unaware that it was as bad as you have so eloquently described.
My sympathies are entirely with you.
I wish I was 50 years younger.
Keep up the good work.
God Bless you.
aw_naw
you snooze you loose…. 0))
I will go down tomorrow to buy my tickets for me my son and daughter I will try to get as close to section 111 to see if I can see the hassle the GB suffer at home.
TSOAL
Victor Wanyama’s Lantern
ulysses mcghee
19:38 on
29 October, 2012
Maybe that is the cause, paranoia of the authorities.
Sad, says more about them than it does of the GB.
Love their energy, and the atmosphere they bring.
BT
You won the first category.
Presentation and efficiency sections next ;-)
HH
St.John.Doyle-The Licencing wing of the Glasgow Council, seemed to have more of an appetite than Fire Service for clamping down on offenders.I think the laws on being qualified to carry out FRAs are being tightened up just now,would like to see a FRA as part of a restaurant/bar’s licence renewal as a Duty of Care……might be good for business…!
Half Time at Firhill Nil all
The dissenting voices regarding Miku should remember Neil Lennon was absolutely delighted to get him because they had been following him for 2 years and never thought a deal would be possible.
Swansea tried to get him in the summer and were quoted a fee of 8 Million Euros.
I reckon the guy deserves a bit of patience.