You will remember Roy Keane getting all up himself after Celtic celebrated Champions League qualification as though it was something important. Roy’s ability to apply perspective isn’t all it should be.
The Champions League presents levels of success. Lincoln Red Imps achieved theirs this season, as did Celtic. As we look forward to the quarter finals, which begin tonight, Monaco are a different type of winner.
In the round of 16, Atletico beat Bayer Leverkusen, Juventus beat Porto, Barcelona beat PSG, Bayern Munich beat the living daylights out of Arsenal, Real Madrid beat Napoli and Leicester beat Sevilla. All these victors, including apparent underdog, Leicester, are richer than the teams they eliminated. Only Monaco, who beat Manchester City, won against the money.
It’s not easy to congratulate tax haven-based millionaires on succeeding despite being relatively impoverished, so we’ll perhaps withhold our joy, but Monaco’s win was the Champions League’s sole instance in the last round of an outcome which was not significantly determined by finance.
What you are unlikely to hear from those happy to disparate Scottish football as an uncompetitive environment, where outcomes are overwhelmingly determined by the richest club’s money, is that our domestic game resembles the elite competition in this very respect.
This is modern football, in fact, it is increasingly elite team sport across the globe. We can get all misty-eyed for days of yore, when 12 different English teams who the league in 14 years, or 11 guys from a 30 mile radius climbed the highest peak, but the future of sport looks entirely different.
You, me and Lincoln Red Imps fans know our level. I suspect we all know where the net ceiling which prevents us moving too high up the food chain lies. We can and should always plot, scheme and dream of bursting free, but knowledge of our place in the game has value. It grounds us in reality, where surely our dreams do not become fantasies?
Remember the Celtic Disabled Supporters’ Association, Dinner Dance, at the Kerrydale Suiteon Friday 21st April. All are welcome.
After the meal there is entertainment from Foggy Dew, with Jim Craig, Bertie Auld, Tom Boyd and more. Tickets are £25 each and are available from events@celticdsa.co.uk 07514-059870 (office hours).
Let’s say THANK YOU to the Lisbon Lions!
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Bliddy space bar sticking.. :-(. Damned ipad…..
Barca having the ball for long spells but can’t fashion an opening. Juve go up the park and it’s wide open. A 3rd goal for Juve is near certain.
3-0 Barca defence all over the place.
Goodnight Vienna
Juve will not lose 3 goals at home – great 6/4 bet tonight.
That guy Ash Taylor would improve the Barca defence.
Correction – just checked my line @7/4!
Barca are shambolic at the back when pressed.
TT
TINYTIM
They’re shamnolic at the back ALL the time.
Barca 3-0 down, commentator ‘you feel they need an away goal’
No sh** Sherlock
A 4th might just be a deju vu moment for hard done by PSG!
Mair clinching going on in the Barca box than you would see in Clatty Pats on any given Saturday night.
Stonewall pen Barca denied
The Barca system is easy for a defensively excellent Juventus.
It is to slow in build up and once Juve set their midfield and defensively lines there is no room to tip/tap through no matter how good your players are.
Once the ball gets turned over it leaves a huge area for Barca defenders to deal with.
Juve will beat them at Nom camp also.
Barca pressing, Juve defennding in numbers, but the Catalans will create more chances.
This tie ain’t over yet :-)
Steve McManaman, football genius.
All over in Greenock.
Morton 1 Saint Mirren 4
Dancing in the streets of Juventus tonight.
Juventus 3 Barcelona 0
Should be good enough.
Dortmund fans have set up a twitter page for Monaco supporters to contact , who need put up for the night .
rubentos once a cheat always a cheat, no love for barca cheats aswell , like sevco
Would settle for a Bayern v Juve final
…………. and may the best man win!
euro football corrupt and full of cheats
Dallas-class supporters.
Hopefully the Monaco fans who miss flights to watch their team will get reimbursed
i acts moralistic
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Oh Dear….
Now A Body-Blow To The Off Licences Of Blantyre..?
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/04/11/monks-could-lose-charitable-status-production-dangerous-wine/
Could They Petition Sturgeon ?
Haunds Aff Oor Ither National Drink..!
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Good Evening
Something new, short and silly!
“Story Of The Decade: A Correction”
https://theclumpany.wordpress.com/2017/04/11/story-of-the-decade-a-correction/
Barca out. Juve won’t lose three in the Nou Camp, unlike PSG they have proper defenders.
Not quite sure why Dortmund would be the target of an attack like this.
I expect someone will come on and explain though.
BATEEN BHOY on 11TH APRIL 2017 10:11 PM
There have been a few attacks in Germany recently. Blamed on mass influx of refugees last year. I think previous attacks had links to refugees turned bad. Likely a few bad apples amongst many.
Great support from the football community tonight,Monaco fans in the stadium on hearing about the incident, chanted ‘Dortmund Dortmund’.Then news that Dortmund fans opening a Facebook/Twitter page to offer a bed for the night to Monaco fans, who have been put out.That is what it is all about.
Praecepta- hope you are well my friend, doubled Juve with St Mirren (5/2), made up for weekend punting….
https://www.google.co.uk/amp/www.newsweek.com/timeline-recent-terror-attacks-western-europe-580977%3Famp%3D1
another mental day at inverclyde hospital.
old bill, my father, lying ill, but getting better.
i know this cause he show me his latest facebooks, telling the rest of the world they are eejits.
my sister then shows me some posts from years ago.
a sharp intake of breath.
—————-
TON CHE DAN
may that child of yours grow up strong and bright.
a beautiful picture.
Some on here constantly complain of the commercial operation that underpins Celtic FC.
Some would have the club dispense with its major shareholder – some (quite a number) detest Petet Lawwell because he earns a salary which is determined by his expertise and ability to meet agreed targets – another lot would get rid of the board of directors, because they are professional businessmen and have political affiliations different to them.
As Paul outlines in his article, Celtic operate in a football world dominated by clubs with financial clout well above anything we can contemplate.
We have our place in the football pyramid – we are dominant in Scotland and can cautiously can look forward to Champions League Group participation in the forseeable future – BUT – we cannot aspire to this kind of success without ensuring that we have a successful business model run by experienced and talented businessmen.
Just in from the shitty shift, lucky for my bhoy he remembered to record the game for me.:))
Moonbeamswd on 11th April 2017 8:30 pm
BRTH
I will counter your thoughts with:
This is Scotland and The Rangers are King David.
MWD
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I know where you are coming from, gave the same response myself on LNS to someone who thought if HMRC won, removing titles would be a natural consequence.
However we live in a very different world now where I could see what you are having for dinner if the curtain were not pulled ;) .
We are talking about the transparency that social media now offers us and the Hawthorne Effect (no not Ronnie) of knowing you are being watched.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hawthorne_effect
Now stop dipping that digestive in your tea. :)
Sipsini- enjoy, was a good game.