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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Good Evening (again)
Here is the second short piece of the night!
“Dear Co-investor”
https://theclumpany.wordpress.com/2017/04/11/dear-co-investor/
!!BADA BING!!
Just watched the first half, a cracking game right enough. I was catching posts on here so was looking forward to it.
Same scenario tomorrow:((
There are quite a few that inhabit this site, our host included, who are effectively screaming…
“Celtic fans know your place. Accept your place. Worship your betters”
Bolloks to that. I though I supported a movement not a capitalist enterprise.
BRTH
Excellent forensic analysis of the ongoing European licence scenario with the new club.
I hope you are correct in that the current boards of all Scottish clubs, not just ours, are alert to these ongoings and are ready to make the strongest possible representation should the slightest hint of malfeasance or impropriety become apparent.
I also hope that Mr Traverso in his role as Head of UEFA Club Licensing will be particularly vigilant after his inputs during the ongoing Resolution 12 issues.
Rangers will get their UEFA licence
Is a bear a catholic?
Does the pope shit in the woods?
bloody ipad
This is the good part of the CL now where you get some schadenfreude games like today.
Juventus v barca (at least one cheating bunch of C****s! are out)
Tomorrow leicester no chance against Atletico -> shame
Dortmund V Monaco -> at least one of the good guys will be in the semis
Bayern V real _> come on Bayern.
THECLUMPANY
Haw,you-stop doing Jabba’s job for him!
Just remembered I missed an important anniversary by four days.
Margaret Thatcher 8th April 2013…………………………Rot in Hell.
As George G and Elvis C said, tramp the dirt down and ding dong the witch is dead.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_902BmnJM3w
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9t4-zDem1Sk
Respect to both George and Elvis. An wicked and evil woman.
..
I’m glad they 11Folk fae Glesga never knew their Place..¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Summa
Ps.. What was the Song Bertie started Belting out going up the Tunnel..?
Hail Hail The……….
Any north standers online who can give me an idea what price my SB will be this coming season? I’ve had no email or letter informing me.
Mibby they’re letting me go like they did wi Charlie Mulgrew.
section 405
HH
White house spokesman Sean Spicer said today that even Hitler didn’t stoop as low as Assad in using chemical weapons??
Apart from ZyklonB of course used to gas 9 million innocents before they were incinerated. A verifiable angel by comparison really.
Im getting that war coming down the pipeline kinda feeling again.
Maggie, aye I saw that earlier. The assembled journo’s looked around at each other given the own goal and proceeded to tear him a new arsehole.
Exactly the same as happens here in Scotland when they get it wrong…………………………….:__)
‘World-Class’ Series [No1]: Kenny Dalglish (Celtic, Liverpool, and Scotland). Was he ‘world-class’?
4/11/2017 10:53:00 pm | Jaimie K
‘World-class’: Arguably the most overused label in the modern football lexicon. Everyone has their own view of what constitutes ‘world class’ football ability, but the label is thrown around so liberally these days that it barely has any real, quantifiable meaning. The commonly accepted definition is subjective and experiential, which is not (IMO) an accurate basis upon which to judge world class football performance. In this new series, I’ll be applying my own personal definition of ‘world-class’ to a number of players (past and present), and I’ll start with Liverpool legend Kenny Dalglish.
When assessing ‘world-class’ ability, the only fair way to judge is to apply – where possible – objective criteria. A purely subjective analysis is based on emotion, (flawed) individual perception and biased, experiential interpretation. Consequently, such an analysis is of questionable merit.
The subjective formula is basically: “I see, therefore he is…World Class”. Subjectively, any player can be anointed ‘world class’, but it has no meaning unless the label can be persuasively justified with objective facts.
World Class: My Definition
Before a player can be deemed ‘world-class’, he/she must have a Specific, Measurable Impact (SMI) at all three levels of football, and push his/her team to relative success at all three levels.
The Three Levels
* Domestic: National leagues.
* European: Champions League, Europa League, or equivalent.
* World: International – qualifying and/or tournaments.
Relative Success: OAL and SMI
* What is the the team’s Optimum Achievement Level (OAL) in a given competition? In other words, considering the overall quality of players available, and relative strength of other teams, what is the absolute best the team can realistically expect to achieve?
* Causation: The player’s causal contribution to his team’s OAL. To what extend did the player in question help the team to meet its OAL? But for the player under consideration, would the team still have achieved its OAL?
* A variety of objective, position-specific criteria should be used when assessing the SMI of players. For example, for attacking players: Goals; assists; conversion rate; key passes; shot-assists; passing accuracy etc. For defenders: goals conceded; blocks; aerial duels won; tackle success rate etc.
* Players in inferior teams are still capable of being ‘world class’ as long as their SMI is such that they excel, and push their team to achieve its OAL (though in all cases, SMI at all three levels is required).
KENNY DALGLISH: WORLD CLASS?
* SMI at Domestic Level | Celtic: 240+ goals/assists in 322 games. Helped Celtic win 4 league titles in 5 years, and 6 domestic cups. Liverpool: Close to 200+ goals/assists in 355 games. Helped LFC win 6 league titles, and 5 domestic cups. Footballer of the Year: 1979 and 1983.
* SMI at European level | Celtic: KD’s Goals/assists helped Celtic get to the European Cup semi-final in 1974. Liverpool: 25 goals/assists in 51 European apps. Helped Liverpool win 3 European Cups in 6 years, and get to the final of another. Scored the winner in the 1978 final.
* SMI at International level | Scotland’s most capped player, and joint top scorer with 30 goals. Prior to Dalglish’s international bow in 1971, Scotland had not qualified for the World Cup since 1958. From 1971 until Dalglish’s international retirement in 1986, Scotland qualified for for 4 consecutive World Cups, including 1974 and 1978, two years in which England failed to qualify.
* Scotland OAL: Scotland have never advanced past the group stages of a World Cup or European Championship, so the team’s OAL = qualification for a major tournament. Dalglish contributed 20 goals/assists for Scotland in various international qualification campaigns, and but for his goals/assists, Scotland would not have qualified for the World Cups in 1974 and 1978.
* Conclusion: Dalglish excelled at all three levels of football, and had a specific measurable impact for Celtic, Liverpool, and Scotland.
* Verdict: Definitely World-Class.
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ACGR…
Good links mate and I celebrated that day. She was a poisonous bitch, that looked after her own.
George Galloway nailed in that interview.
It in that interview. :)))
Noticed a post from my auld wing man JJ saying his SB price had been hiked up a fair bit.
After Sunday night’s debate about the wealth of golfers it shouldnay be a problem, he’s obviously minted.
Down wiff scaffbaw nat kinda hing, its only fur posh fulks.
Haw
Sad stuff re the attack on the Dortmund team bus tonight. A bunch of young guy’s going to their work being targetted is poor regardless of their profession.
Nicer to see, the respect between both sets of supporters in the aftermath of the match call off.
Goodnight Celtic men and wummin.
HH
Just 0-3 in the first leg.
Barça will be delighted with that, as teams that gradually improve from the last 16 onwards often emerge as eventual winners.
2nd leg a formality now!
NEGANON2 – 11:30 PM
There are quite a few that inhabit this site, our host included, who are effectively screaming…
“Celtic fans know your place. Accept your place. Worship your betters”
Where did Paul67 tell us to worship our betters?
Noticed recently there has been a steady decline in the quality of Cadbury’s products such as the much loved creme egg.
Low and behold, those pesky septic tanks have bought over the company and started to change the chocolate.
If you are wondering why a bar of Dairy Milk now tastes like an old shoe – that’s the reason.
Why do they have to ruin everything for,why?
The bassas.
HH.
Mags McGill
The litmus test will not be did they get a licence but if they do is it justifiable under the rules?
In 2011 it looks very much like everything was done on either trust or a nod and a wink with no questions asked.
If the SFA are now applying UEFA’s rules as UEFA intend, then what more can be asked for regardless of outcome?
With other informed clubs and informed club shareholders watching the process, an element of accountability has been introduced that was absent before.
16 roads – Celtic über alles… on 12th April 2017 1:22 am
Because Americans believe in capitalism and free trade so Hershey’s resorted to the Judiciary to ban Cadbury Imports.Now with a monopoly over Cadbury Schweppes and Kraft whom they bought they changed the recipe to a cheaper shitier one made in the US. It’s progress.
It was the same with beer. The American pishwater monopolies banned beer imports and even licensed breweries. Only after a prolonged legal battle could local American microbreweries make beer without breaking the law after the licensing laws were scrapped. Now beer in America is some of the best in the last 10 years. Capitalism? Dontcha love it. What next? taxes will be used for wars and to subsidize executive bank bonuses. Dont you believe it!!
Auldheid on 12th April 2017 1:33 am
Have Hearts and St. Johnstone stepped up to the plate yet?
Margaret McGill on 12th April 2017 1:45 am
Auldheid on 12th April 2017 1:33 am
Have Hearts and St. Johnstone stepped up to the plate yet?
==========================
They may not have to but that is not the point if they are now, after the31st March, conducting checks they claimed were UEFA’s job in 2011.
to clarify.
They (Hearts/St J) may not have to but that is not the point if they (the SFA) are now, after the31st March, conducting checks they (the SFA) claimed were UEFA’s job in 2011.
Does anyone know when the post split fixtures are announced?
I assume we will be presented with the trophy on the 29th at Ibrox?
That would be a fine day?
Good morning CQN from a cool, overcast but dry East Devon.
Good morning friends from a rather grey, dreich, wet and blowy (or is it blowey?) East Kilbride.
MARGARET MCGILL on 12TH APRIL 2017 1:44 AM
————————————————————-
Makes sense now.
Thanks for explaining.
HH.
As i descend into the depths at Dalmarnock I noticed that yet again the fascist who posts in here as the Donald has another swipe at me
At least he is leaving more important posters alone as he has his snide comments.
In this week that is holy I will forgive him as our lord taught us to do
Out of the depths I have cried to thee oh lord
From darkest Lanarkshire to darkest Lancashire again today. Hopefully be done with work for a CL double header tonight. Take care everyone. HH
Good Morning
Some writers just find it hard when picking player of the year, unless you just a dyed in the wool DOB.
GORDON PARKS
JONNY HAYES (Aberdeen): Just has the edge on Sinclair given his importance and impact he has in a Dons side which isn’t the same when their talisman is missing. An old-fashioned winger who is always looking to get at his full-back and more often than not has a final ball to die for.
Johnny Hayes, hahahahaha, it would be funny if it was so tragic…
Scotland The Brave Oh Aye…
BT
You can’t just go calling a fascist a fascist. They don’t like that!
MWD
TD67
The other six went for Scot Sinclar * 5 and Scott Brown * 1.
Parks bigotry has got the better of him.
Plus they also need someone to get those hotline numbers ringing.
MWD
BT
Displaying a fine example to all ! ! But not like you to turn the other cheek so nicely. Must be holy week right enough. I blame the Dalmarnock air. No such problems on Jura!
All the best BT
Gordon Parks sports journalist and x lower league and junior footballer. Born Glasgow 1972. Oh and Bigot!
MWD