Could someone remind me the last time we heard rumours that Ronny Deila had players rebelling against him? I heard it often, and put it to the club, but was told the players had bought-into the changes, then underway and largely unproductive. I think we got our answer after the full-time whistle yesterday. This is a group of players and manager with a common purpose.
Celtic are now top of the league, a point away from qualifying from the Europa League knock-out stages, and are beginning to look like a team, but the results are largely secondary to the transformation. Even if Virgil’s 90th minute winner hadn’t arrived at Pittodrie, progress is evident. The fragility and lack of cohesion which marked so many of our performances until early last month has gone.
Success has many fathers so it’s difficult to know exactly what’s behind the improvement. Scott Brown’s return from injury helped enormously, as did the return of Mikael Lustig and Adam Matthews (although I thought Adam had a torrid time with Niall McGinn yesterday).
The blossoming of Stefan Johansen has to be the most striking element. He has without doubt been the most improved player this season and an early contender for end of season awards. By any measure, he had no right to score his goal yesterday.
The return of James Forrest, who yesterday played his fourth game in eight months, will give the squad an extra boost before the final two Europa League group games. If he has fully recuperated from the problems which blighted him throughout this year, he’ll give fresh impetus to the pacey product Ronny is trying to hone.
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Who is offering 5 million for Scott Brown
Winning Captains
Hope it goes through ok on Friday, I think it was Monaghan 1900 that posted some of the huns “thoughts” on it the other night, their mentality beggars belief. Are they really that stupid that they cant be faced with the cold, hard truth ? Unbelievable, yet just about everyone has rolled over to it. Good luck
HH
Hunmedia
If brains were Semtex they wouldn’t ruffle their hair if there was an explosion.
HH
What is the Stars
Crystal Palace, apparently
Kayal gave it a good go, in filling Robsons boots….. But by my reckoning, elbows mccullloch wouldn’t of got away with his tackle if it was a 50/50 with robson . The ginger warrior would of put paid to that.
jamesgang
Now you know how I feel aboot ma fags. Hahaha. Seriously, not feeling too bad and hoping the ole baccy is a thing of the past. You need to lose weight like I have to lose money, no need whatsoever ya mean, lean, mhan machine. Lol.
Weefra HH praying to Wee Oscar.
Jamesgang,
I was sure you would have came back with Spiderman, re: web police….:))
I would be tempted to take the 5 million . but only if they would take ronny also as part of the deal☺☺☺
twentyfirstofmaynineteenseventynine,
Stan the man – getting old but seem to remember a particular game near the end of his time with us. I think we beat the townies (dunfermline) 4-1 or 4-0 and seem to remember stan got 3 or all 4.
Was one of mini-calves first games and I remember telling him he had just witnessed one of the best midfield performances in the flesh – dont think I have seen a better one since !
Have high hopes for SJ – a wee bit mair baws and played at the front of a diamond, this boy could be class….
CHC (Doc – you have spawned my new sign aff…. :) )
ger57
I put the status of the ad to private as the truth really hurts for some folk. Drop me an email and I’ll send a copy over.
Sips
how are you ?
haha my missus got mates !!
aye the devil , honestly she should post on here , start a fire in an mt hoose comes tae mind , ask SOAL he had to put up with her at work, poor soal ( soul ) see wit a did there , naw , never mind ……. ;)))
Did someone mention Finnbogason ? How’s he doing………
TET,
Funny thing is a few continue to haver on about it and how civilised their intolerance is.
Finnbogasson……. He played against Aberdeen at start of season in the Europa League qualifiers. Last time I herd anything, which wasn’t recently, I don’t think he was finding the transition to the Spanish league, a smooth one. Struggling I think
Re the ad – was astonished at the number of people who did view it!
Who is around on Thursday morning around about 10am-12noon?
CQN might not be a bad place to be given the company you’ll be keeping!
First the Assassin and then a week or so later Caesar!
The new book arrives Wednesday morning – sensational it is too!
http://www.cqnbookstore.com
PS Doc – sorry for messing you around on the times for this, outwith my control.
Brown has his limitations but he is our captain and Scotland’s too. There is good reason for that. We owe him big time.
Good Evening.
Words!
I am a great believer in words.
They shouldn’t be wasted or allowed to spill out without thinking of their consequences, and they should be used to convey a message, show an emotion and let the listener know what you are feeling and thinking.
That is how we communicate best.
Yesterday’s post match celebrations, the emotions shown, the words between players and indeed fans shows you something about where this Celtic team is and perhaps where it is going.
However, none of that is really the main message of this post.
Words.
If more words had been spoken, whether they be firm words, persuasive words, appealing words or whatever we would never have had World War One or many other conflicts.
There was to be no appeasing Adolph Hitler and perhaps no words would have changed his stance or point of view.
However, it is often forgotten that initially Hitler was an elected leader using words and rhetoric to build a following and once in power he used that power to silence the words of others who spoke of a different Europe and a different Germany to the one that Adolph wanted.
Words:
Here are seven words. Three initial ones and then another four for good measure.
I detest War – and everything about it.
I hate it’s glorification and the jingoism that goes with armed conflict.
I hate the misery, death, destruction and loss that it brings — and that is the loss of life, loss of limbs and loss of society.
I will never wear a poppy because the poppy has been gerrymandered, stolen, kidnapped, besmirched and turned into something that it was never meant to be in my opinion.
War is an action of last resort, a symbol of man’s complete and utter failure to live with one another in any form of sensible harmony.
Words should lead to the banishment of war.You would think that a race or breed of intelligent creatures such as the human race would have learned lessons over the centuries and would have come to realise that war is stupid, futile, dangerous and misery bringing.
But no — man has learned the square root of Jack shit.
Words.
The songwriter Eric Bogle wrote some great words on the misery and the terribleness of war.
Eric was a wee communist ( and an accountant ) from Peebles who entered a song in a competition in Australia one day. He had actually entered one song when he was told he could enter another and so threw in a second tune called The Band Played Waltzing Matilda.
The first song disappeared without trace and “Matilda” came third!
Jesus knows what two songs came 1st or 2nd.
Anyway, Bogle had a great ability to stir the soul with words which described both a scene and the emotions to go with it.
So, here is another of his songs which I have always loved and used to sing at one time long ago and it is especially for Weefra and his departed Auntie.
While the song is about the horrible feeling of leaving a loved one to go off and fight in the war, it is just as poignant on the departure of anyone under sad circumstances.
So, For Weefra — This is the leaving of Nancy.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v53meyKstrY
ruggygman
Maybe we could swap Pukki, Balde or even Scepovic for him ?
sipsini
21:39 on 10 November, 2014
Jamesgang,
I was sure you would have came back with Spiderman, re: web police….:))
—-
You’re too sharp for this old dullard!!!
HH jamesgang
Weefra
You met me for the first time when I’d already got fat!!!
HH jamesgang
centre halves calves
seen Stan score a few against them, remember him getting a hat trick against murderwell.
Great to see him on the way to recovery. What about the tackle big Mjalby put in at his charity game ? No prisoners with the big man haha, Stan took it well
BIG-CUP-WINNERS,
That was me wi Finbogason – a wee bit tongue in cheek !
Who will be this summer’s £5M player we dinae sign that goes onto one of the big leagues and does nothing ?!
Hx2
CHC
Ha, or all 3 !
Guidetti should take stock, and be made aware of the likes of Hooper, Finnbogasson etc….. Sometimes it is better to stay at a place where things are going good for you.
As appossed to always striving for change.
Henke hung around, and look what happened to him
marspapa,
I’m fine mate, other than my grumpy da.
Hope to hell I don’t go that way.
I know that sounds terrible, but my god he knows how to drag me down.
Are you going to make Belfast? I’m hoping to make it, the ot is tight just now, hopefully it picks up and I will make it over.
I’ve never been and I hope to meet some of the bhoys that make the effort to come over to watch the hoops. HH
We have been lacking experienced players in recent seasons,because a player is 30+ is no reason to get rid IMO.Commons will be a victim of this in January.
Centre halves calves,
Townies??
Any doubt you weren’t a fifer just dissapated:)
Rip Nancy Donald.
We lament the fact that we “lose” all our best players and some can’t wait to get rid of our Captain.
I think Doc mentioned about Skoosh being required by the team for more than his footballing abilities and I would agree with that. His footballing ability is none too shabby either. This years Champions league campaign without him anyone?
Weefra
Condolences to you and yours not the best year for your family, hope the forthcoming new year will be kinder
LEEDS UNITED V CELTIC april 1 1970
Our team Celtic had the chance to reach another European cup final
all they had to do was beat the mighty Leeds a team the English told
the world would rule Europe for years, they had class, they had tough
and talented midfielders and awesome firepower and according to some
the finest left back England had ever produced Terry Cooper.
How could that ragtag bunch of jocks hope to beat them?
Yes they had everything and all that…but…but then
they never had wee Jinky and we did.
There were four of us went to every game home and away a right eclectic
mix a bit like CQN on a bad day
Big Ed the one with the analytical mind.
Wee Louie aggressive by nature called a spade a shovel
Zimba a Zimbabwian Afrikanner knew nothing about football but followed
Celtic everywhere just for the craic.
And me, well i agreed with everybody as long as you kept passing me the
carryoot.
I’d recently found employment and bought an old banger with my new
found wealth to take us to the game but it caused a bit of friction between
me and ma princess, when i first suggested buying it she said.
Yur no buying that..look at it it’s a bliddy wreck and no only that it’s blue.
Seeing our trip to the game disappearing i said.
Think about it honey pie all they huns with the stanley knives urny gonny
try and streamline it if it’s blue ur they?
And our transport was duly acquired as we rattled all the way home.
The big day finally came and the car was loaded with our provisions
6 bottles Lanliq
24 cans Carlsberg specials
4 rolls corned beef
Got to get the priorities right, and we were ready to roll, the rattler had been
in and out the garage getting repairs but now it was covered in Celtic flags,
banners, and anything else to hide the blue, all the tenement neighbours at
their windows some waving others hoping the wheels would fall off before
the end of the street and ma precious just shaking her head, i’ll always
remember her sweet parting words.
Yees are awe aff yir nuts, that thing wullny reach Lanark never mind Leeds
Undeterred we roared off.
Hail hail the Celts are hear….
Sure enough the princess of doom was right we barely reached Uddingston
when smoke started pouring out of the exhaust, we stopped and stared into
the engine and big Ed with the analytical mind sagely said.
it will be alright just keep papping oil into it and it will get us there.
What about getting back i thought to myself.
Off we went again with renewed vigour.
Hail hail the Celts are here…
Up and over a dark and desolate Shap no fancy motorways in those days
and it was snowing only one windscreen wiper as one had flew off when
switched on, then up ahead we couldn’t believe our eyes three Celtic fans
bent down against the wind and snow, walking, and only one with a jacket
two had Celtic tops wee Louie piped up, only Celltic fans wid try tae walk
ower the shap at night in the snaw.
I thought that might be us if this engine packs in.
Finally we were in England and daylight, thousands passing us all pointing
to the back of the rattler,telling us about the smoke as if we didn’t know,it
was billowing all the way back to the border.
Then the Leeds sign.
Hail hail the Celts are here…..
That was another thing the english underestimated the faith of
the Celtic support i can still see the Leeds folk standing open mouthed
at this huge singing army that had taken over their city and we all marched
together down to the park.
The game flew by in a flash Celtic dominated from start to finish and the finest
left back the world had produced was left a quivering wreck by the wee
magician Jimmy Johnston, i swear Coopers legs were facing a different way from
his body at the end trying to stop him weaving his magic.
Thrashed them again at hampdump with Bobby M. imperious and Jinky again we
tore them apart and we were through to the final in Milan.
Now, how will i get there? i might have to hitch hike, but iv’e told you about that
haven’t i ?
H.H Mick.
ruggygman
I actually think Guidetti will stay with the Celtic. Like Craig Gordon, he has had cause to consider what is worth keeping. Those two and Scott Brown could form 3/4 of the mythical spine. Pity about the centre-backs. Still 3 from 4 ain’t too bad.
Also should mention the Caesar & The Assassin book launch party at the Greenock CSC on Friday 21st November.
Have you been to one of the CQN events in Greenock? If not you don’t know what you’ve been missing. Last time we had three Lisbon Lions and the Beautiful Big Cup (talking of BBC, got an email from them re our complaint re the national news stating that they were DEMOTED last Saturday, apparently they need more time to investigate!)…
Anyway back to Greenock – great line-up, a great night guaranteed and ALL the door money goes to the Inverclyde Food Bank which is supported by the Greenock CSC.
You can buy tickets through me – tell me how much you want to pay per ticket (min £1 and max £10) and we’ll organise a Paypal link.
We are also asking you bring along a Christmas themed food-bank donation bag on the night.
Lots of CQNers coming along and the Greenock club always has a huge demand for tickets. Email david@CQNMagazine.com re tickets…
At the last CQN event at the CSC in Greenock, Bertie Auld was late but we had been having such a great night with Willie Wallace and Big Yogi holding the floor. Then BRTH hushed the place on instructions and from the back of the hall, in came Bertie with the European Cup and he roared HAIL HAIL THE CELTS ARE HERE! Greenock just erupted in song!
There’s a good chance he will stay, and like most I hope he does.
It’s entirely feesible we get to February, and Ambrose and Mulgrew become our first choice centre halfs. Who’d a thunk it
Geordie Munro,
Evening my lang toun friend – used to go to a few rovers games when my da wouldnt take me to CP. Worked in dunfermline for years, thon wans fae the west o Fife are just strange :)
!!Bada Bing!! – anither name thats been around for years on this hallowed site – hope you are well.
Tin hat on – Love KC, his missus, his love for our club etc. He’s just no my type of player. Can’t argue with his season last year but for me SJ is a better longer term option especially played a wee but more advanced.
Hx2
CHC
Canman
Aye, the irony.
I can well imagine their reaction to the SS.
You are notty sometimes >}
HH
centre_halves_calves
Welcome aboard :))
Weefra
RIP nancy
The zombie charged with threatening the Easdales
I rest my case :))))
Sips
the wife gave me and the shadow the alll clear to go , the shadow got us flights on the fri coming back on the sun , a twin room booked almost centre of Belfast and i phoned her at her work to cancel ( i bottled it ) the shadow is rrrrragggin wae mae
my wife and the two brats might attend i dont know
as you know i’m not a drinker , but my wife and kids could keep up with the best of yeez sad to say haha !!
sips my problem is my eldest is expecting twins early march , because its twins she’ll be induced early february ???
gearoid1998,
Evening fella – ma first night on the blog and Ive caused a rammy :)
Im not saying we should ship our captain out as such – however, what could we do with £5M and 25kpw ???? (aye, I know mineshafters, we will keep it in the bank and help fund PLs 2015 bonus :) ).
Scott’s natural game means his body has taken some punishment over the last 15 years or so – I just worry about him beyond 30. But as a Celtic fan, I agree, he represents me !
Hx2
CHC
I have said before that I met Scott Brown and a group of our 1st team players and to a mhan you could tell by their actions that broonie was their leader and Captain.
Till tomorrow all