Georgios Samaras journey over the last twelve months has been astonishing. The player was subject to treatment by those who enjoying booing at the football and suffered the indignity of being subject to an exchange at last year’s AGM which must have made it difficult to rebuild confidence and form.
Now he is the most effective man in the team. He was involved in six out of Celtic’s eight Champions League qualifier goals. He has found his position, wide on the left, where he scores and creates more goals than he ever did as part of a forward two. The space on the wing allows those long legs to stretch and get behind defenders.
I’m not paying too much attention to the scare stories which emerged from Latvia last night following his elbow injury, we will need to wait on the results of a scan to know the extent of the damage, but there is modest alarm ahead of our opening Champions League group game against Benfica in 11 days.
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TMWTL
Thanks. Didn’t realise that, although think we could still see Lassad /Miku in action.
Gordon_J
Commons has something in, er, common, with Sammi, in that he can play wide or in behind the striker. I’d like to see him play in the latter role, as he has such a good shot/pass on him, and his set-piece delivery is top-notch. It’s what I would have preferred v Hibs.
Always think our middle 4s are better when we have attack-minded player down one side, defensive down the other – that’s why Lustig/Matthews Izaguirre/Paddy worked so well v Inverness.
Kayal33
WGS is too much of a CFC man
and ..wouldn`t have any of that SFA crap
too much of a handful for them and nowhere near compliant enough
It’s little wonder keevins is at the bottom rung of the journalistic ladder……. He’s now engaging in ‘fan mentality’ insults……. I will be VERY disappointed if our Board EVER let him anywhere near Celtic Park again …….. If Scottish Football is to have any chance of recovering from the reputational damage caused by the corruption of that now liquidated excuse for a ‘football club’, one of the first things they need to do is to ensure keevins is removed from Scottish Football journalism, closely followed by jabba ….although even jabba is not in the same ‘league’ as keevins when it comes to ‘lowering the tone’ of journalism…. He takes ‘gutter press’ to a new (low) level ……… Sad little man ….
Very sorry to hear about your sad losses, Jobo et al. Lost my beloved Mammy 14 years ago and it was hard to take. She’s with me every day that passes and the feeling of loss has never changed. I’ve offered up my old standby, the Hail Mary and hope it helps if you’re that way inclined.
‘Richer than God’ by David Conn is a good read.
He starts off as a typical supporter, raised on the great Manchester City team of Bell, Lee and Summerbee.
He does a law degree, then becomes a journalist specialising in the financial side of football, so to him the balance sheet becomes as important as the team sheet.
The price he pays for this knowledge is that the Club becomes just another business, and as a result he falls out of love with them.
People he used to idolise [Francis Lee] become seen as the villains ruining his club, and people he wouldn’t have regarded as natural allies [the ‘punk football’ of FC United of Manchester] become heroic.
Well worth reading; not much to do with Celtic although it made me think that the Celtic of the mid 90s were lucky to be playing in an uncompetitive environment in Scotland, or they would have suffered the same fate as the hapless City team , being relegated two divisions [or worse].
Agree with Saltires on the Scotland thing. It’s a great pity we’re such a conflicted nation. It’ll take time but the only way to change a culture is from within and although it’s a slog, the Celtic diaspora is making a difference. What on earth is so wrong about having a smile on your face and enjoying your fitba, win lose or draw?
Well, it’s my 40th Wedding Anniversary today and we are going out for a nice meal with our wonderful 2 sons, and 2 grandchildren……..Dooooo Dooooooooo
Don’t make it onto CQN much these days, just an occasional turbo-read, a wee post, then off to my other life.
Just reading on the blog this morning that 3 of our finest CQN-ers have lost their mothers.
Jobo, DBBIA, DJBEE –
My thoughts are with you all at this sad time. I hope that the words and prayers from those on here are offering some comfort to you during these days.
Curly
Who is this Paul67 ? Harry Lime , Smiley, Our man in havanna (Govan) ? I’ve seen a face on the telly purporting to be him but it could have been any one of many agents he has working for him. Not only a tax expert, sporting legal expert and social engineer, he now is foretelling the doom of The Rangers’ (95 % not owned by fat sal) attempts to float. He is not one but many, be scared sal , seemingly investors want a return on their money. Those called Paul67 know this and they’re going to let the rest of them know – you know the ones with the money , the ones in msm and you know what happened when the ones whocall themselves paul67 did last time. It all went sdm up !
hailhail to allpauls
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GXWnA7zlGjo
Lads i criticised Levein yesterday but the media seem to be hounding him just after 1 game, why ?
67Heaven …
Congratulations mate -have a wonderful day
67Heaven -enjoy your day.
Ylurc- you planning to get to any games this season?
Ole rowies in short supply down here.
JOBO, DBBIA , DJBEE
Sorry to hear about your sad loss matey, no one understands how hard it is to lose a mother untill it happens.
Gaun yersel 67Heaven congrats have a great day,no singing mind!! Hail Hail Hebcelt
Top of the morning to you all from a sunny Fife.
Sympathy for anyone who loses a loved one especially a mother, but there is the consolation of many happy memories of years spent with a good and loving mother. Some don’t have that privilege.
Re internationals, it has to be said that the SFA didn’t always overlook Celtic players.
I was at a game when seven Celts played for the national side at Hampden, and Bobby Murdoch was a substitute, but not used.!
The Scotland team against the USSR fielded Ronnie Simpson, Tommy Gemmell, John Clark, Billy McNeill, Jimmy Johnstone, Willie Wallace (a sub for Dennis Law) and Bobby Lennox.
A Celt scored in the game too, but big Tam didn’t put it past Lev Yashin the legendary Russian keeper and instead lobbed “faither” in 6 minutes!
Did the SFA have a sudden change of heart after years of overlooking Celtic players in favour of less talented players from other clubs?
Well the game was played a fortnight before we were due to meet Inter on May 25th in our first European final and Rangers were also due play in the final of the Uefa Cup against Bayern on May 31st so they were excused duty.
Perhaps the SFA were trying to get our boys fit for the final while Rangers fitter players were allowed a wee break for a friendly in Canada?
Anyway the bhoys led by Big Jock just got on with it without complaint and the rest, as they say, is history.
67heaven … i am neil lennon..!!.. ibrox belongs to the creditors
10:30 on 9 September, 2012
Well, it’s my 40th Wedding Anniversary today and we are going out for a nice meal with our wonderful 2 sons, and 2 grandchildren……..Dooooo Dooooooooo
Congrats matey have a good one.
Jobo,Dbb,Djb
Just read back and would want to also offer my condolences for the loss of the most important person in each of your lives…….. May eternal light shine upon your mothers
hen1rik
Maybe the penny has dropped that he shouldn’t have been given the job in the first place and they, who backed his appointment to the hilt and continued to back him through a poor euros campaign, were wrong. He’s worse than Burley and Vogts but to date has had laptop loyal backing and has been given an easy ride. Haven’t read any rags today nor listened to the brain dead punditry on radio or tv, but if they are turning on levein then good, pity its about 2 years too late
Condolences to our three esteemed posters who have suffered bereavements.I know the feeling,remember the good times.Hail Hail Hebcelt
Whilst I’m at it – another great score film score
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-tEgzGnzojc
hen1rik
After just 1 game?
He’s had 9 competitive matches so far, and if you take out the two hair-raising triumphs over Lichtenstein, he’s accrued 5 points out of a possible 21. Scotland are no world beaters but that is a dreadful run of results with what is a relatively talented Scottish side. The man is totally out of his depth.
Who has Levein actually beaten in qualifiers?
Lichtenstein
And I cannot think of any others.
International fitba ——-
Didn’t see Scotland —– I never watch the SFA 11. My only interest was that neither team would win and neither would score . ——– thanks !
Did watch Croatia 1 – Macedonia 0 . Macedonia were robbed. Denied a stonewall penalty and hit the woodwork twice.. They have some excellent players — Pandev , Ibraim and Trichkovski . Odds re. a Macedonia win look generous..
Mid 80s — cooling down -way down south.
Jobo, DBBIA AND DJBEE
No words I can offer will ease the sorrow at the loss of you loved ones.
I hope you can gain some strength from the empathy and solidarity offered by fellow CQN’rs and Celtic fans at this time.
My thoughts are with you all.
SwanseaBhoy
Levein:
Loser as a player
Loser as a club manager
Loser as an International manager
he is anti-Celtic
His tea is oot
hebcelt
10:37 on 9 September, 2012
Ta ………. (and to my good friend in Celtic, Hen1rik)
It was great to ‘put a face’ to the moniker at the last game ……. I make no apology for stating that you are one of the best Celtic fans I have ever met…….. A credit to our club …… And I will NEVER stop breaking into song when I enter Paradise……LOL
“I was born in a Dublin street”, beats the hell out of “hello” ………..Dooooo Doooo
Kayal as you were at the game yesterday did you note any anti-celtic among the crowd? Not been for a long time but thought these things had all changed and that there was as many Tic fans than that lot attend the Scotland games now.
hen1rik
10:34 on 9 September, 2012
Lads i criticised Levein yesterday but the media seem to be hounding him just after 1 game, why ?
=======================+=++++
Hi – just logged on and I havent read any of the papers, so not up to the details of what the media are saying yet, but I think Levein is doing a very poor job so far.
The lack of Commons and our £14M striker (!) seem to be down to personal issues rather than ability to add to the Scotland performance. Watched Morisson yesterday – not a patch on Commons in terms of ability to do the basics, i.e. find a teammate with a pass. Shape as well – surely we should have two up front in a game we really should be looking to win. We only really looked as if we may score when Jimmy came on and we played with two fresh strikers up front.
Dont want to abuse the guy, but I just dont think Levein is getting the best out of the personnel available to him. Very poor shape, and, as was the case at the start of the last qualifying campaign, a terribly cautious initial approach which has cost us two very valuable points.
BGFC
saltires en sevilla
10:35 on 9 September, 2012
……and you have a wonderful day too, fellow Tim…..!!!!
Jobo / DBBIA / DJBEE .
Godless / faithless me lost my mother a long time ago ——-
On her death bed in Gartnavel she said this ——–
” Everybody dies Tunis but not everybody lives . Make sure you do ! ”
She had a point.
I actually quite liked Levein as a player and wouldn’t have been unhappy to see him in the Hoops at the time.
However, he doesn’t come across as a particularly likeable individual.
International football leaves me cold. I would want Scotland to do well over any other international team but it barely registers on my radar.
Yesterday Mrs SwanseaBhoy and I were babysitting her freind’s son and took him to see Brave 3D while the Scotland game was on. Would I have gone during a Celtic game? Of course not.
When I came out and saw the score did it bother me? Not in the slightest.
What I’m trying to say is that I wish no ill on the Scotland national team but there really is only one team in the world I have an emotional investment in and attachment to. I’ll let you guess who that team is! :0)
Love Celtic.
SwanseaBhoy
There is no way on this earth Gordon Strachan will get the Scotland job and we all know why.
Look at how Tommy Burns was treated by them.
It will be the return of the Cardigan or the cat in the hat. They won’t pick Gordon Strachan despite him being a Scotland legend and someone the Tartan Army would respect.
What would the media have said yesterday if EBT Walter would’ve got same result ?
Jobo,Dbb,Djb – sincere condolences at this very sad time.
DougC
Sorry, but I’m afraid Levein simply doesn’t have the leadership qualities required.
Before I go out to buy mair tinfoil are we really playing on Sunday November 11th?
We’re playing Barca on the Wednesday at home, so why aren’t we playing on the Saturday?
Lads, thatnks for all the furtehr good wishes. Really appreciate this.
Fellow golfers – see you soon.
Jobo
I think Levein’s a decent manager…….He’s probably better suited to the hurly-burly of Club management tho’……….
……I’d imagine it’s difficult to be ‘always on’ so sporadically no matter the job.
Someone like, but not Gordon, might be better suited. Gordon would be too easily distracted by press baiting I think………
…..Scotland has decent players but the huns humped national development when they introduced their novel approach to financial rewards for expensive imports…….
……..their other cultural gerrymandering ‘traditions’ didn’t help, but the national game was undermined critically by the Busted Flush and his ‘borrowed’ vanity.
HH.