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).
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1,020 Comments

  1. RobinBhoy - Supporting Wee Oscar and Mackenzie on

    Looking forward to the game. First of the season due to travel commitments for work! Bloody part timer!

     

    COYBIG!

  2. What is the Stars on

    Blantyre tim

     

     

    Joyce Dubliners

     

     

    I like them,good collection of short stories,obviously set in a Dublin circa 1900 that doesnt exist anymore but for me being a Dubliner he did capture some quintessential aspects of the city and its various characters

     

    Hope you enjoy

  3. blantyretim is praying for the Knox family on

    Cheers wits.

     

    Not much reading since mini came on the scene but at 13 her old da is surplus to requirements. I’ll break myself back into books gently..

  4. tim in the chamber on

    Dontpatmadug

     

     

    As BT says – Disgraceful.

     

     

    All our leaders in the Catholic Church, all the local councillors and senior politicians should be involved in this.

  5. NatKnow - Supporting Wee Oscar on

    bournesouprecipe

     

    10:34 on

     

    21 September, 2013

     

    Nat

     

     

    Your TimPhone?

     

     

    *Wife demanding that I change her’s back to the way it was before IOS 7*

     

     

    The new look & feel are different apparently.

     

     

    You can’t beat the ole Look & Feel. But I’m preaching to the converted with that one…

     

     

    ;-)

  6. brogan rogan trevino and hogan supports oscar knox, mackenzie furniss and anyone else who fights neuroblastoma

     

     

    11:00 on 21 September, 2013

     

    ………………..

     

    Was it good to get that off your chest :>)

     

     

    100% agree with your post.

     

     

    HH

  7. tim in the chamber

     

    11:11 on

     

    21 September, 2013

     

    The clown who uttered ” catholics all together ” should be asked exactly what he/she meant by this.

  8. Brogan Rogan Trevino and Hogan supports Oscar Knox, MacKenzie Furniss and anyone else who fights Neuroblastoma on

    Vmhan

     

     

    Vinny,

     

     

    I am a lot less angry about any of that then I used to be lol— in fact not angry about it at all ha ha.

     

     

    I just don’t like Murdoch, his politics, his empire, his products etc etc.

     

     

    He makes me feel like I need to wash if I have anything to do with his organisation.

     

     

    So I just don’t feed his beast as a matter of principle.

  9. mighty tim supporting wee Oscar on

    blantyretim and any others who are interested the petition link is as follows. We have over 1000 signatures now but would like to see a significant increase as the consultation period ends in October.

     

     

    http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/save-st-josephs-primary-school

     

     

    If you can help in anyway or wish to comment contact

     

     

    campaign@keepstjosephsinmilngavie.com

     

     

    you can keep up to date with all our latest campaign information at

     

     

    http://www.keepstjosephsinmilngavie.com

     

     

    Thanks in advance bhoys and ghirls

     

     

    KTF

     

     

    HH

  10. DontPatmaDug

     

    33 bands!! Good grief.

     

    I had the misfortune of a close-up look at them on Belfast ferry when I was going to Dublin.

     

    Old ones ,young ones ,females, but not a semlance of any intelligence to be seen. What a sad life they lead.

  11. BRTH

     

     

    I was highlighting exactly what you are saying. I stupidly accepted a package they offered me but will be following your advice when this expires.

     

     

    Cheers

  12. blantyretim is praying for the Knox family

     

    I thought Dubliners good but not fantastic.

     

    If you like it then you will love a book called Winesburg, Ohio by Sherwood Anderson, which was written at the same time as Joyce’s and is like a small town American version of his story. It is beautifully written and a very satisfying read

  13. Sorry.

     

     

    FFM:

     

     

    that was for you.

     

     

    My posts might mean nowt to nowt, I’ll live with that, but I just wanted you to know, I watched the movie.

  14. glendalystonsils on

    Jungle Jim

     

     

    10.00

     

     

    Sorry, just back in from taking the wee granddaughter for a walk.

     

    News now Celtic is what I was referring to. There’s a particularly one sided

     

    bit from Frazer Wright. Don’t read any of it if you have high blood pressure.

  15. Anybody in Ayrshire want a main stand season ticket for today… can’t make it

     

     

    Obviously no charge…

     

     

    HH

  16. mighty tim

     

     

    Signed the petition when you posted it previously. Have now circulated the links to the ‘Teaching Fraternity’ within the family – good luck with the campaign!

     

     

    H!H!

  17. mighty tim supporting wee Oscar:

     

     

    I was once honoured by being introduced as the sponsor of St. Joe’s football team. It was only for a moment in one year. I bought them a few balls. In a wee way, it felt good.

  18. RobinBhoy - Supporting Wee Oscar and Mackenzie on

    Fraser Wright is a Hun thug, remember who did not applaud when St Johnstone formed a guard of honour when we won the Championship?

     

     

    Hope someone lands him a stiff one today!

  19. blantyretim is praying for the Knox family

     

     

     

    10:43 on 21 September, 2013

     

     

    Just downloaded the Dubliners by James Joyce for my holiday reading. Is it any good?

     

    ===

     

    An excellent collection of short stories. I particularly enjoy ” The dead”. The great John Houston adapted it for the big screen and his daughter Angelica played one of the main characters Gretta Conroy. Well worth a watch (once you have read the book of course)

  20. mighty tim supporting wee Oscar on

    praecepta

     

     

    Thank you. My wife is also circulating it within her school and other schools.

     

     

    kitalba might be that I know you as my son played for St.Joe’s and I also regularly meet some of the former coaches.

     

     

    KTF

     

     

    HH

  21. WAGSABAH

     

     

    Wives And Girlfriends And Boyfriends And Husbands.

     

     

    Very good, Paul.

     

     

    Took me nearly a day and a bit of sobering up, but I got it….

  22. I detest posters whose sole purpose is to cause angst and anger.

     

     

    I don’t mind hun posters doing it because that is part of rivalry, however when green huns spend their whole lives attempting to wind up real Tims, well that is not sad, it is sick.

     

     

    Canamalar:

     

     

    I really do apologise for not making the effort sooner, I really never thought you’d need me, I’m gutted with myself for letting you go it alone (until morrisey decided to help)

     

     

    On Monday, if I can I’ll buy shares in my name and in the name of my kids, I’ll back you, I’ll back you all the way.

     

     

    Please do me the favour of reposting your request of the Celtic board and I’ll get it out to the few Celtic shareholders I know.

     

     

    Again, I apologise for not getting involved sooner and I apologise for not ripping that prick who posted ‘purported’ personal details about you, apart.

     

     

    AND, I’m disgusted with the silent endorsement of the majority of the blog for letting that PRICK abuse this blog by being such a PRICK.

  23. tim in the chamber on

    Dontpatmadug

     

     

    I don’t know much about the area but from Kevin McKenna’s article in the Scottish Catholic Observer it would appear there is a solid case for keeping St Joseph’s PS.

     

     

    Every effort must be made to stop this closure and a robust stance must be taken – anything less is unacceptable.

     

     

    In the worst case scenario if the council does decide to close then Ministers at the Scottish Government should call in the decision, assess how/why the decision was made and overturn it if they feel there is enough evidence for the school to remain open…..Now that could be interesting and extremely important for the children, parents and all others in the community who use the school…..

     

     

    The person who used the phrase “All Catholics together” should have been challenged there and then.

  24. brogan rogan trevino and hogan supports oscar knox, mackenzie furniss and anyone else who fights neuroblastoma

     

     

    11:18 on 21 September, 2013

     

     

    I remember reading that there is a scottish sevco supporter in London in charge of editing sky sports output. I can’t remember his name perhaps someone else can.

     

     

    There is an obvious bias there, especially in there online and apps output. Sevco headlines are always above the champions. Even after the Milan game, the news that “Gers draw Stennie in Ramsdens cup” was placed above the Celtic reaction to the Milan game. There are numerous examples of this where some non- entity playing for them in the 3rd tier tells everyone how great the morale is etc, somehow trumps Celtic signing Teemu Pukki.

     

     

    It is more than keeping the hordes buying sky subscriptions. Someone inside Ibrox is constantly feeding them “good news stories” and someone in London is more than happy to give them a platform. It’s all about keeping their profile as a big club in the public’s minds, when they should be treated as a scottish 3rd tier club.

     

     

    It’s sickening and laughable at the same time.

  25. AND Paul67:

     

     

    This is your blog, it is your rules, I hope you clocked what that PRICK tried to do.

     

     

    It was disgusting, it was cheap and nasty and if I met the PRICK in person he might be chocking on his balls.

     

     

    Not nice language Paul, however, it fades into insignificance compared what was allowed to be posted on here a few nights back.

     

     

    Canamalar never complained, he wouldn’t.

     

     

    So when the huns go up to lift the Scottish Cup will you all be there? Well I’d start planning my lunch box for the day now because if you real die hard Celtic supporters don’t get off your indifferent and spreading buttocks and actually stop bleating and doing something, then it won’t be too long before the huns will go up, to lift the Scottish Cup.

     

     

    Then bleating is vomit.