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Pot 4, decline of the Spanish empire

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By on CQN BLOG & Comments

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).
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  1. petec - Oscar BraveO - God Bless. on

    Blindlemonchitlin

     

     

    After that I cannae possibly not select this.

     

     

    I’m Blessed I have been able to watch My young Son grow up, it was tough at Times, having to trek doon to Birmingham just to see him. Thankfully that was only for 6 months. I will defend Kelvin Wilson Religiously when it comes to Children and their Dad being about as much as possible. He gave up SO much for his Child, I think the guy is a Legend.

  3. minx1888 praying for Wee Oscar on

    Petec – I am sure you will all manage just fine appreciate it won’t be easy but I’m sure you will all give it your best to have a champion day :-) top tune was listening to that earlier on when I was on taxi duty.

     

     

    BT – Glad to hear it pal, its been a hellish time for you!

  7. fergus slayed the blues on

    blantyretim

     

    My daughter got married couple of weeks ago and the photographer was a gem .a Polish boy and nothing was a problem for him .

     

    Good rate apparently not full of himself (from the venue host as the night was running overtime ) .

     

    Not seen the photos but could give number if ok .

     

    As for a cake ,try special days cakes in Uddingston ,one’s more stunning than the other

  9. Coneybhoy on

    80s night on C4.

     

     

    Why do all these programmes focus on mainstream fashion and music when that decade had massive diversity?

     

     

    I loved the combo around 86 of wearing skinny black jeans and leather jaicket on Fri ‘alternative night’ and dancing to Smiths, Jesus and Mary Chain and the Cure and then wearing an ovesized suit, lariat tie and silk scarf on the normal Sat night and drinking at the bar ignoring Whitney, Wham and Duran Duran.

     

     

    Fri was about music, Sat about chasing girls – great stuff. I miss Vicky’s nightclub in Killie!

  10. thomthethim for Oscar OK on

    fstb,

     

     

    Very good post. Well balanced and recognising the situation the club finds itself in.

     

     

    Regarding boys going out on loan.

     

     

    Looking at the calibre of the lads who are farmed out, I see this as a fast track approach to the first team.

     

     

    The main thing for these lads is to gain first team experience.

     

     

    With the pressure on the first team at CP, there is little opportunity to grant a young player a consistent run in the team.

     

     

    Playing regular first team football at another SPL , or similar club, lets Celtic see if a lad can make the big step up from Youth to top team.

     

     

    It also lets the boy experience life at a smaller club and should add extra incentive to make it at Celtic.

     

     

    I would go further and have a clause in their contracts, stipulating a one year placement with another club.

  11. Blindlemonchitlin on

    BT

     

     

    He’s still at it and we’ll never hear the end of it when he does, bless.

     

     

    Petec, very good but how about this from Cill Black? I heard it on the radio 2 sounds of the sixties show last Saturday dropping off Lemonette IV at her Saturday job.

     

     

    Two things struck me.

     

     

    !. How much better things sound on vinyl, even on the radio

     

     

    and

     

     

    2. Who knew Cilla could sing with such soul?

     

     

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2zjkKBIk7HE

  13. Blindlemonchitlin on

    Coneybhoy.

     

     

    you are obviously a Hunposter.

     

     

    Everybody kens the weemin in Killie never needed no chasing.

  15. Big Nan on

    Will soon be a year since we lost Dundee legend Michael Marra.

     

     

    His composition about narrow minded religious fanatics, “Chain up the Swings” is a classic and as with much of his work deals with topics that no one else touches.

     

     

    Maudlin perhaps but at this time of night, just right for me:

     

     

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ntT37AZzx8Q

  18. Celtic_First on

    BlantyreTim

     

     

    Thanks for asking, amigo.

     

     

    Do you think if it was your brother doing it you would know he wasn’t even setting out till next Tuesday?

     

     

    Aye. I think you would as well.

  22. Bobby Murdochs Ankle supportin Oscar Knox on

    Malorbhoy, I was singing your praises…………haha

     

     

    Bma

     

    Cowardlycsc

  26. Coneybhoy on

    Peter

     

     

    Brilliant

     

     

    Blindlemonchitlin

     

     

    I embellished my memoirs, I just drank at the bar wearing strange clothes, chips and curry sauce and home….

  30. iPaddy McCourt Supports Wee Oscar on

    RFC is dead.

     

     

    The tribute act calling itself RFC is circling the plug hole.

     

     

    No amount of spin or succulent lamb munching can change either fact.

     

     

    Karma.

  31. cliftonville celt from belfast praying for Oscar the wee legend on

    All Ireland will be on BBC occupied 6 counties if you can’t get RTE

  32. blantyretim is praying for the Knox family on

    C1st

     

    Good luck with it..older brothers are not very reliable..as malorbhoy..

     

     

    Fstb

     

    Mini is only 13 too early to book the photographer.. Cowiebhoy has the wedding next year. I’m sure he will be reading back..

     

     

    Watching bbc4 reminds me golf my youth. My dads 8 track in his big Volvo.. Glen Campbell on it constantly. Must have been early 70’s

  33. gordybhoy64 on

    gliftonville celt,

     

    tried the insurance companies you suggested but they don’t cover anyone outside of

     

    the 6 counties

  35. petec - Oscar BraveO - God Bless. on

    Coneybhoy

     

     

    22:28 on 20 September, 2013

     

     

    Petec , sorry spellcheck keeps turning you to Peter

     

     

     

    ____

     

     

    I wasn’t that offended, I hope the earlier track and comments I made beside it are not getting people going Radio Rental. You can call me Pete, Pedro, Trumpet, walloper, moonhowler, rocket or anything that tickles yer fancy. I definitely wullnae hold a grudge. Neil is the same type of person,

  38. gordybhoy64 on

    BT,

     

    Cheers pal will do,blooming quotes I am getting are more than the value of the car the young fella has

  40. Malorbhoy on

    BT

     

    I remember your dads old Volvo sitting outside the Pub and it was a lovely colour of racing green

     

     

    Also looking for a lift to and from Paradise from my old home town on Sat 23rd Nov Aberdeen at home do you think the OHG will be in a giving mood that day? (Book early and avoid disappointment csc)

  42. ACGR Supporting BMCUWP's Hootenannay, 28th Sept in Fun City on

    Minx, pity you cant make it next week, so it will be down to me this time to keep awe them nutters in check.

     

     

    Hail Hail sister

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