Exactly one year ago today, just after lunchtime, one of the pivotal moments in Celtic history occurred. Neil Lennon took his Celtic team to Kilmarnock, who had lost their three previous league games, and for 73 minutes looked like surrendering their league title chances just as Tony Mowbray’s team collapsed at St Mirren Park seven months earlier.
The manager later admitted to thoughts of resignation. 3-0 down at half time while already in heavy deficit to Rangers, who were riding a wave of positivity under the reinvigorating ownership of Craig Whyte, events looked to have escaped Neil’s grasp.
It is tempting to write the narrative that a half time talk or tactical change turned things around but turnaround was more difficult to explain. Celtic were awful for the opening 28 minutes of the second half; like condemned men waiting for the inevitable.
Anthony Stokes started the recovery by exploiting Kilmarnock’s weaknesses. A free kick drifted over a wall which didn’t jump and into the net. Had the wall jumped, would history have been different? Three minutes later Stokes fired into the corner of the net from distance, Jaakkola in the Killie goal was not equal to the challenge. Suddenly, we were back in the game, back in the title race.
Charlie Mulgrew, who erred to gift Kilmarnock their third, equalised with 11 minutes remaining, surely there was only one winner now? Not so, images of Heffernan’s last minute header from inside the Celtic six yard box gliding over remain vivid.
We escaped with a draw but it felt like a stay of execution, not a pivotal moment. Neil didn’t resign, he stayed, beat Stade Rennes in the Europa League and never looked back. The imperious positivity which surrounded Craig Whyte was ultimately proven to be a charade, those of us who told you Rangers were in peril were proven correct.
It is impossible to calculate just how much football has changed since Anthony hit that free kick, although imperious positivity still surrounds a charade which is doomed to fail, leaving a lot of football fans out of pocket. If only the football authorities had a warning from recent history that light-touch regulation is dangerous, or had the mechanism to order a financial audit. They do, of course, but despite the traumas of 2012 I doubt they have the appetite to head-off potential problems. It’s easier (in the short term) to hope everything will turn out well.
Not that you need worry about any of this, you can chill and enjoy the season.
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Team for Barca
Forser Zaluska
Matthews Ambrose Wilson Izzy
Brown Wanyama Kayal Ledley
Two goalies should help and Brown or Ledley to chase our blooters up the park
greenjedi:
My CV used to say I was an Aquinas Bhoy now I don’t have it on there only because it has sweet FA to do with my ability to do the job. But I’ll forever be an Aquinas bhoy.
kitalba
12:22 on
16 October, 2012
SwanseaBhoy
Sectarianism – The Myth that tarnishes Scotland
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Kit, link didn’t work.
Good afternoon CQN from a wet Fife
Great news about Wee Oscar
Keep up the fight wee man
We are all praying for you and your family
God bless you all
Keep the Faith
Hail Hail
Engerland 11/4 -1 goal v Poland.
Anybody know a good mobile application to download that will help watching videos?
I believe there is a dispute with Adobe resulting in Android mobiles being deprived of the handy program,does anybody know if theres a good or any substitute at all?
greenjedi
great team but only 10 players
Bed for me, I wish I could put down on paper what I feel for wee Oscar and his family but I can’t, my God never gave me that gift.
I hope they have some happy sleep, because their days are hard.
estorilbhoy
http://www.glesga.ukpals.com/churches/sectarianism.htm
SFTB and Son of Gabriel
Chasing Barcelona is playing into their hands.
When Chelsea and Man U had success against them in recent years they did it by compressing the space between midfield and defense.
We have to hold our position and catch them on counter.
Their system is based on neat triangles and movement in the last third so closing the space reduces their effectiveness.
The X factor of course is Messi but i love seeing this guy on the field at Celtic park
after hearing of Liverpool’s plans to upgrade the main stand at Anfield i began looking at some images of what it may look like,,,in the process i came across a fans view of what the main stand at Celtic Park could look like,,i think it looks amazing?
Your thoughts??
http://doc-04-8g-3dwarehouse.googleusercontent.com/3dwarehouse/secure/hhulr73hmmak89paul31eote4ben7ngk/jbqghg9s43p8ldtn9vstj0h317bijcav/1350367200000/lt/*/40da0c38b8fc7ac89f68a19229dce731?ts=1299428959000&ctyp=other
HH
One game at a time for me, keep rotating and freshen things up . This weekend i would start with.
If all players are fit, I’d go for this line up.
Forster
Matthews Ambrose Wilson Izzaguire
Forrest Kayal Ledley mccourt
Miku watt
If all players are fit for barca id go for.
Forster
Matthews Ambrose Wilson Izzaguire
Brown Kayal Vic ledley sammi
Hooper
Kayal would need to play a good solid 90mins this weeked thou to stand a chance.
I would keep that for 45/55mins and hopefully were still level , bring on kris then for kayal and hope he can create something.
Barca at home is more important than away so a good performance with no injuries and i’ll be happy.
Cant wait for both games..being an ireland fan i now hate international breaks :-(
We’ll be parking the bus against Barca. Anything else would be lunacy.
There’s a new genius on the block called Gow, and STV have kindly given him a platform to provide us with more laughter.
So many mistakes (or lies as we used to call them) in such a short space.
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In a recent article about Charles Green, one of his quotes suggested that if the Rangers fans didn’t want to return to the SPL then neither did the club.
He said: “I can’t make up [with the SPL]. If the Rangers fans can make up, get on with it. But Charles Green will never forget what the SPL has done and that’s why I am against going back where we were told we weren’t wanted.”
Assuming the club gets into a position to re-enter the SPL, which is an assumption most people will make, is it true that Rangers fans would not want to go back?
Without a scientific poll it’s impossible to tell for sure, but if I may be so bold as to believe I have the finger on the pulse of the majority of the Light Blues’ support, then I may be able to give a reasonably intelligent answer.
But, first, it all comes down to the SPL investigation by Lord Nimmo-Smith into allegations Rangers used EBTs as a double-contract.
If the SPL investigation – which Rangers don’t acknowledge – does not remove SPL titles and finds Rangers with no case to answer, or at worst gives a nominal fine, then it’s very likely that the Rangers fans will enjoy going into the SPL to win it.
However, the leaked draft-documents that supposedly show the SPL (and SFA) trying to push Rangers into Division 1 in return for removing titles and cups, even though there had been no investigation and an appeal was not allowed, have removed confidence from Rangers and the fans that the title-stripping has not already been pre-determined.
(In fact, Charles Green was recently cleared by the SFA for bringing the game into disrepute when he himself questioned the SPL investigation.)
If the SPL investigation does remove titles from Rangers’ history, then I don’t think it too much of an exaggeration to believe the fans will see no way back. Fines and transfer bans can be forgotten about, but removing titles is different.
The former relate to the club and are obstacles that can be overcome, but the latter is an attempt to remove memories. Memories of enjoying moments with your family and friends. Memories of hard-working and honest players or management, winning fair and square on the pitch.
To remove those on the basis of an administrative error to a tax scheme, which was legal at the time and was never hidden, is something few fans would ever forget.
It’s completely plausible that any Rangers board would be forced by the fans not to enter the SPL until any lost titles were given back. The consequences for the Scottish game would be much worse than anything seen lately.
Rangers were like a feather in the wind this summer, and were mostly powerless against the wishes of the SPL and SFA as to how the money they generate is used. But in four years’ time, it will be different. Once again, Rangers will be masters of their own destiny.
If this season’s trends continue, with the most TV viewers and highest attendances going to the SFL, then long-term sponsorship in the game will be reduced, split or disappear.
There will be two power blocs vying for power and money, and this could leave the SFA with a huge problem over who really is the top football body in Scotland. It will tear the game apart once again and will almost certainly lead to the financial collapse of a few clubs.
Of course, many will just see more Charles Green hyperbole, but even he might not realise that refusing a return to the SPL, in its current form, is no empty gesture from the support.
I noted the following by James Forrest last night.
“Some of you are worried about anti-Catholic sentiment exploding in Scotland if this country votes to go it alone. It is a foolish notion, and the absolute wrong reason to vote no. Furthermore, it is cowardly. It is a surrender to reactionary forces which we should be thinking about ending. You know what keeps them alive? Sincerely?”
It is of course no such thing – it is in fact foolish to to believe that the latent sectarianism in Scotland will not come to the fore.
James you are a good writer but dont believe in your own hype too much and try and stay open minded.
Wee Oscar Knox ………… Fighter supreme, keep it up wee man!
God bless
God bless wee Oscar and his family and keep them safe.
Please.
new article posted.
Let’s talk football.i was watching Preston North End vs M K Dons,and was impressed by 18 years old,Jeffrey Monakana ,a right winger,but can also play on the left.He was with Arsenal before signing with PNE. I hope Celtic know about this boy,I will be keeping a close watch on this boys progression.HH
Let’s talk football.i was watching Preston North End vs M K Dons,and was impressed by 18 years old,Jeffrey Monakana ,a right winger,but can also play on the left.He was with Arsenal before signing with PNE. I hope Celtic know about this boy,I will be keeping a close watch on this boys progression.HH
Steinreignedsupreme.
Replace rangers fans with a fox and the spl with a grape and you have one of Aesope’s fables on your hands.
Gow is struggling with cognitive dissonance.
Rangers share issue on course for target
Richard Wilson
Sports writer
THE Rangers share issue is on course to reach Charles Green’s target of raising £20 million.
The initial public offering (IPO) was launched last week, and already interest in shares has been substantial.
The Herald understands that more than 7500 investors have registered with indicative pledges that would raise £15m.
The IPO prospectus has still to be released, and no investor will commit before seeing full details of the assets and financial health of the club, but sources at Ibrox are delighted with the response.
Supporters have been registering in their thousands for a prospectus. Only current and former season ticket holders, as well as former shareholders, are eligible to buy shares, with the minimum price set at £500.
Mr Green said all the money raised would stay with the club. The chief executive explained the early launch of the IPO by saying it would be cheaper to buy in now, though he had to issue an apology to Aston Villa for disparaging remarks and miscalculating their turnover.
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http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/home-news/rangers-share-issue-on-course-for-target.19166804
I think it’s worth keeping a copy of that article.
‘The Herald understands’
Don’t we all. Don’t we all.