Pot 4, decline of the Spanish empire

1020

A cursory look at our fellow pot 4 Champions League teams shows the extent of the challenge.  Six of the eight teams lost: Steaua Bucharest (3-0), Austrian Vienna (0-1), Celtic (2-0), Real Sociedad (0-2), Plzen (0-3), Anderlecht (2-0).

Copenhagen got one of the better results of the night, a 1-1 draw at home to Italian champions, Juventus, while Napoli, who split Juve and Milan in the Italian league last season, but are still a pot 4 team, recorded the only bottom tier win, a 2-1 victory over last season’s finalists, Borussia Dortmund.

Napoli are in a different category than the rest but Celtic are in with a decent chance of out-performing others from pot 4.

Sociedad’s home reversal to Shakhter Donetsk, who are going through a rebuilding process was a shock, but Valencia’s 0-3 Europa League defeat to Swansea indicates a worrying scenario for Spanish football below the uber-indebted Barca and Real Madrid.  As a general rule, anything which undermines one of the economically powerful football nations should be welcomed by those disenfranchised by the size of their TV market (that’s us).

Shakhtar Karagandy put in a credible performance before going down 2-1 in Greece, a far better showing than Elfsborg’s 4-0 collapse in Salzburg.  Best of luck to the Kazaks.

I’ve been going to the football long enough to remember black players being booed whenever they touched the ball.  The phenomenon seemed to arrive here in the late 70s and faded around a decade later, although such is human nature I don’t think complacency is appropriate.  Homophobia is a different matter.

‘Out’ gay footballers are so rare I don’t know what the reaction would be at a match but the crowd-bullying phenomenon which can exist in the game makes any minority vulnerable.  The first step is to explain to the hard-of-thinking what they are doing, and the error of their ways.

Can rainbow coloured laces change the world?  Stonewall have distributed rainbow coloured laces to every player in the UK, asking them to wear them this weekend.  We’ll not see the WAGs acronym become WAGSABAH overnight but it feels like an appropriate, colourful, first step.

Keep reaching for that rainbow, Celtic.

1254125 at The Great Scottish Run.

On Sunday 6 October there is a 10k and Half Marathon.  If that is beyond you. There are family events taking place the day before. This is your club, remind the world of what really counts and get involved in 1254125.

The first thing you need to do is sign up for the Great Scottish Run, or here for one of the family events.

Once you’ve done that, you can register for the 1254125 campaign here.

Then you can create a donations page here.  Click Start Fundraising, search for Celtic Charity, setup your My Donate account).

Email me and let me know if you are having trouble signing up or need any more help, celticquicknews@gmail.com.

To read the new issue of CQN Magazine click here (don’t try to read the graphic below).
[calameo code=000390171853d2bfc4f69 lang=en page=4 hidelinks=1 width=100% height=500]

Click Here for Comments >
Share.

About Author

1,020 Comments
  1. Pages:
  2. 1
  3. ...
  4. 8
  5. 9
  6. 10
  7. 11
  8. 12
  9. 13
  10. 14
  11. ...
  12. 27

  1. I notice Gary Hooper has not played for Norwich City in the EPL so far – saw his name on the subs bench last week.

  2. TinyTim:

     

     

    We lost our soul – for me – when Jock Stein and belatedly Tommy Burns died.

     

     

    But there is so much more to our club than those two mere immortals and money, for me, will never be part of the equation. If your ideal for Celtic is to be a “rich” club in terms of cash and glory over joy and support of the unfortunates, then we walk on different roads.

  3. Tiny Tim

     

     

    Ah believe that Ah kin fill Ye in.. as tae Th Reason ,as tae… WHY the Celtic Board of Guardians..

     

     

    In .. A loata Folks,oan Here’s…. Eyes.. Are The ENEMY..

     

     

    Aye the Enemy!

     

     

    Think Ah am Haverin???

     

     

    Well..Ah am No.. Ah am Jist telln it Like it Lays…

     

     

     

    Which, Ah always Try tae Dae.

     

     

     

    Oh Aye..and getting roon tae the Reason which Ah promised Ah wid gie gie,in Ma First Sentence..

     

     

    Here it is..

     

     

     

    The Reason, Is that Maist of the Celtic Board Denigrators.. are

     

     

     

    Eethur..

     

     

     

    Irish or.. of Irish Descent!

     

     

    Fur..

     

     

    Irish Folk.. In Ma Opinion.. and A loata Ither Folk’s Opinions. as well

     

     

    Just Do Not Hanker tae AUTHORITY..

     

     

    they Jist Dinnae..

     

     

    They are Natural Born.. well..

     

     

    Rebels..

     

     

    And the Celtic Board of Guardians. being Folk who Wield A mair than a Fair Modicum of Authority.. and Certainly Must be Viewed as Authority Figures.

     

     

    Therefore..

     

     

    Get it in the Neck.. fae those.. folk of whom Ah Hiv Already Told ye

     

     

    Are.. of..

     

     

    Irish Or of Irish Descent.. as well as Celtic, Supporters..

     

     

    And so it Follows as Two follows Wan..

     

     

    It is Quite Impossible tae Expect those Irish Blooded.. Celtic Fans

     

     

    tae Behave Otherwise.

     

     

    like Ah said..

     

     

    The Irish are Born Rebels.. and It Shows..

     

     

    Oh How it Shows.

     

     

    Kojo

     

    Still,Laughin’

  4. blantyretim is praying for the Knox family on

    How can you debate with that..?

     

    I’m away for a while before I fall into the trap.

  5. Blantyretim @ 14.11

     

     

    I wish you were right, got one winner today at Ayr. Lincoln in the first race @ 4/1. The bookies cleared up today I’m afraid.

  6. Morrissey the 23rd on

    Regarding the change of venue for the Big Day Oot.

     

     

    Seems I have secured a bar in the Gallowgate for us to watch the game that will provide us with a buffet and cheap drink depending on how many of us are going and if you guys like the bar.

     

    What do you guys think? I will e-mail bmcuwp with more details including the name of the bar. Just don’t want to post it on-line yet.

  7. leftclicktic oscar in our thoughts on

    Efe 12/1 and Broonie 5/1 to score anytime in 90mins tomorrow.

     

     

    I will stick wae Efe

     

    justcozcsc :))

  8. Rainbow laces……….aye why no?….all inclusive

     

    at CP……..any creed any colour, or whit ever

     

    rocks yer boat………..btw married fur 27 year’s

     

    wae 3 weans

  9. NatKnow - Supporting Wee Oscar on

    setting free the bears supports Celtic’s best fighter- Wee Oscar Knox

     

    18:46 on

     

    20 September, 2013

     

    Summa

     

     

    Did she leave you because you let her down once too often?

     

     

    It wasn’t like that – you’re blowing it up out of all proportion…

  10. Hankray

     

     

    Glad tae Find oot..

     

     

     

    That Ah Agree wit You.. aboot the Enormous Prowess,That Adam Matthews ,exudes.. whilst…Playing the Beautiful Game.

     

     

    This Kid Is A Great Prospect.

     

     

    Kojo

     

    Still,Laughin

  11. The German indefatigability is Legendary none other than the Fantastic Resistance D, their music breaks are superlative and were at the cuttin’ edge of dance/techno coming out of Germany as the Wall was tumbling down.

     

     

    Skyline is incredible and slightly slower than the above Track… Dinnae let Broonie hear it, as he will turn into Messi after listening to it!!!!

     

     

    Letsalldothebroonieevenrooney.csc

  12. Morrissey the 23rd on

    whinhallkev @ 18:17

     

    It must be hard for you to support anything with some many people around having opinions on everything.

     

     

    RWE @ 18:30

     

    I enjoyed your ramble. I was just curious if you knew something that you were not posting.

     

     

    I also hate the simplifying of boxing people under clear labels. We all have diverse opinions and it would be a dull life if we never.

  13. BT

     

     

    When TheTheRnagers come into our league Celtic will return to making a profit from domestic football.

     

     

    Until then it will be a small measured cloth unless we have CL income.

     

     

    Like it or not .

     

     

    TheTheRnagers = increased mullah.

     

     

    TT

  14. VP KO'd by fearless Oscar Knox on

    Get well soon wee Calton Tongues.

     

    My apologies re your hip replacement …I thought you had rickets like

     

    awe the weans fae the Calton.hh

  15. Companies House seeks clarity over Sevco Scotland return

     

     

    Companies House is to contact Rangers’ subsidiary Sevco Scotland Ltd after it filed an incomplete annual return.

     

     

    The document submitted on 12 September contained no details of shareholding during the return period from the company’s date of incorporation.

     

     

    Annual returns usually provide details of the identities of shareholders.

     

     

    Sevco Scotland Ltd was the company that acquired the assets of Rangers Football Club PLC last summer after it formally entered liquidation proceedings.

     

     

    Sevco Scotland Ltd changed its name to the Rangers Football Club Limited in July 2012.

     

     

    Companies House told BBC Scotland that it would raise the issue with Sevco Scotland Ltd and confirm if a second annual return was to be filed by the company.

     

     

     

    http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-business-24181481

  16. leftclicktic oscar in our thoughts on

    IMHO

     

    We are at this present time being led by a man Neil Francis who is destined for greatness and for me has been steeped in the celtic family traditions all his days, whether he gets the backing of others is the question.

     

     

    The answer to which again IMHO will show us the path we are headed on.

     

    In Neil I trust

  17. Gotta Leave ,Steve..

     

     

    Seeya..

     

     

    Looking forward tae seeing the Israeli Chap.. the Morrow.

     

     

    Kojo

     

    Still, Laughin

  18. .

     

     

    SettingFree..

     

     

    So embarrassing when the Chambermaid tells You she has Cleaned the Room and Folded your Girlfriend and put her in the Bedside table..

     

     

    Me being smart changed the Do Not Disturb sign to.. Do Not Deflate..;-)

     

     

    Summa

  19. leftclicktic oscar in our thoughts on

    petec – Oscar BraveO – God Bless.

     

    Only collected once all year but plenty more to come :))

     

     

    The bhoy can play and is finally settled though I thought he would have played a slightly more midfield roll he seems to have found his calling and will get forward plenty in the SPL.

     

     

    not closing my eyes as often as I used to csc :))))

  20. Tiny Tim,

     

     

    I whole heartedly agree with you. I am a direct descendant of those for whom Celtic was created. I would have thought if there was any losing of our soul, it occurred when we became a limited company. How old were we when that happened? 2 or 3?

     

     

    I may be prejudiced because I spent my youth supporting a Celtic run by the Whites and Kellys as their own personal fiefdom and who well nigh ran us into oblivion. Then we are saved by Fergus McCann, who is booed (still by far the most depressing experience I have ever had to endure at Celtic Park). Then, his successor is also booed. Shameful. Men of great integrity and business acumen.

     

     

    Long may the current Board do their best to uphold and develop our values, especially that we are CELTIC, a bridge, in Brother Walfrid’s fervent hope, between the Kelts of Scotland and Ireland. Let us be open to one and all and stretch out the hand not just of friendship but of support to all those in need, especially in Scotland.

     

     

    Rainbow laces? It’s a positive development imo.

  21. leftclicktic,

     

     

    Efe is gonnae rock ye, the big Virgil seems able to step through the midfield also.

     

     

    Get on Celtic for Goals all ye gamblers before they cut the prices dramatically.

     

     

    The Bhoys should get 5+ tomorrow, kiss of death, nah I don’t think so.

     

     

    This is an amazing team that is being developed, IMO.

  22. You couldn’t make the pieman’s latest comments up ‘I think that’s another four boys who have left the club in the last month or so. I couldn’t give you specific names..’

     

    Surely he has demanded to know who has left?

  23. fergus slayed the blues on

    Already looking forward to tomorrow’s game

     

    I have a feeling we are going to give someone a real thrashing this term .

     

    Barca beware

     

    HH

  24. Morrissey the 23rd on

    Ok keyboard warriors. Who wants to help get signatures for this proposal from share-holders outside Celtic park at the St Johnstone game and in the Celtic bars tomorrow?

     

    (You can also do this by yourself in the places you go and with the people you chat to.)

     

    http://thecelticnetwork.com/2013/07/29/resolution-for-agm/

     

     

    We desperately need more share-holder to sign up for this THIS WEEK.

     

    Please do all you can to support this resolution. HH

  25. fergus slayed the blues on

    Craigellachie10

     

    My thoughts exactly

     

    Sums up how raw the new club are regards running a new football club in the lower regions of the Scottish game .

     

    The manager doesn’t know who has chucked it from one week to another

     

    HH

  26. leftclicktic oscar in our thoughts on

    Someone asked earlier for games on predictor this weekend

     

    Sat21st

     

    Norwich v Villa

     

    Cardiff v spurs

     

    Liverpool v southampton

     

    chelsea v fulham

     

    aberdeen v inverness

     

    Celtic v st johnstone

     

    Partick v killie

     

    Ross county v hearts

     

    sun22nd

     

    arsenal v stoke

     

    man C v man U

     

    I think :))))

  27. fergus slayed the blues on

    Anyone know how Jackson Irvine is doing at Kilmarnock on his loan spell ,has he been given a start

  1. Pages:
  2. 1
  3. ...
  4. 8
  5. 9
  6. 10
  7. 11
  8. 12
  9. 13
  10. 14
  11. ...
  12. 27