I remember getting annoyed at the grief Gordon Strachan took after David Fernandez inspired Dundee United to a draw at Celtic Park. It was disproportionate, despite the poor performance, and ignored the sporting reality that weaker teams can get it right and leave Celtic Park with a point. As well as a lot of credit for their efforts.
Positives first. Many things didn’t work for Celtic yesterday but James Forrest looked to be back to his best. There was only one occasion he didn’t get past the Killie fullback all day, and he recovered to dispossess two opponents and win the ball back.
For James, it’s all about fitness and confidence. Right now, he has both.
I looked at the clock: 3 minutes had gone, Jozo Simunovic was still on his feet. ‘We’re breaking new ground’, I thought. Kilmarnock defended their penalty area all day, so we were seldom troubled, but you and I have seen enough football to know that’s not the whole story. Jozo was immaculate, didn’t put a foot wrong, covered ground with pace and precision. Threw himself into tackles and won the ball.
The contrast with recent defensive performances could have scarcely been more marked.
Elsewhere it didn’t go so well. Tom Rogic and Nir Bitton were both inhibited. Stuart Armstrong prodded but seemed out of sync with his team-mates. Passes regularly found an opponent. From my seat, it looked like our movement and use of space was inefficient.
The last 30 minutes of the game saw Kilmarnock clear their lines and regroup under sustained pressure. During this period, I was confident the goal would come, it usually does. Maybe the extra dimension we hoped we’ve recruited in Carlton Cole, out ill yesterday, would have given our wing play more of a target.
Since writing on the subject on Friday night I’ve seen some of the sectarian abuse left on Facebook about our director, Ian Livingston, amid a diatribe against refugees and all sorts of people who are minorities in the UK.
Years ago I wrote that there are few values we can anchor the club to. Scotland is changing, as are peoples’ sense of identity, no more so than when it comes to religious identity. We can’t, nor should we, impose restrictions on who becomes a Celtic fan. Our demographic is largely left of centre, but a Lisbon Lion went on to become a Tory councillor, so there’s no political bar to supporting Celtic.
I also know an Ulster unionist, who for several years joined his family and friends as a Celtic season ticket holder. He was always made welcome, and didn’t find the celebration of Irish heritage at Celtic incompatible with his identity. As the generations pass, we’ll see more of this. People will care less about 20th century politics (not to mention 17th century) and your view on transubstantiation.
Our founding value is that we are open to all. You will find a welcome at Celtic irrespective of colour, race or religion, you don’t need to care about Scotland or Ireland, we have Poles, English, Norwegians, Americans, Aussies and many more. Few of them had an Irish grannie.
These values are under threat across Europe. We should take every opportunity to reinforce them.
I took some advice on whether to out those behind the racist abuse yesterday, but I’m glad Ian Livingston did so direct on the Affiliation site (and apologies for the direct quote appearing on a CQN article, I pulled it as soon as I saw it).
I was also challenged over the weekend for criticising the chairman’s right to use any available platform to call out racism. I don’t feel qualified to say that’s not allowed.
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I used to really enjoy CQN – sadly many of the original posters are probably like me – they post much less frequently than they used to.
CQN articles are increasingly becoming a mouthpiece for Board dogma.
I agree with The Green Man’s comments above.
Our chairman has been very quick to stamp on any potential racism displayed by our fans yet happily turns a blind eye to institutional anti catholic culture that has been a feature of Scottish football for years.
To be 100% clear all racism is unacceptable. The comments made towards Zlord Livingstone are mindless, vile and to be challenged. However that challenge should in my opinion be made via reporting to Police who can properly identify the culprits. Right now all I know is that they are claimed to be from Celtic supporters. If proven then they bring shame on themselves and by association our club..
There are alternative possibilities that also need to be explored.
Paul67 has just jumped on the Board bandwagon .. Again
Paul,
It is true that political persuasion is no barrier to supporting Celtic, but where someone holds a position of power at the club and are also in a position where they can influence politics in a direction which is alien to the club and against everything the club stands for, this position must be challenged vehemently.
Sectarianism and racism (among other -isms) has no place at Celtic Park…and as someone said earlierI just wish the club would take a more vociferous stance against other institutions in Scottish football, just as they have in this instance.
Cheers
B
Timmy7,
As I said on the last blog, Broonies injury appears to be a wee bit more serious than first thought and is having a scan today.
HH
The Board disconnect is not widening. Nothing has changed. All that is happening is that the
support is slowly very slowly awakening to how we go about our business and how the board
perceives it´s own customers and who the board actually are ? This awakening is also reflected
on CQN. Which is clearly not very high.
You cannot blame the board they get more income via armchair fans and that is who they target.
The 50 quid ST for the kids was compromised by them having to leave their seat for Sevco.
That reveals all you need to know…..if your capable of semi intelligent thought that does
not truck with your rigid belief system then their mind set is there for all to see
I don´t believe we would be having these discussions if Celtic were 2nd in their CL group table
aye and there´s the rub
Where were the Celtic board when Neil Lennon was attacked at Tynecastle?
Did they speak out forcefully….or was it quickly forgotten?
Did we hear them condemn the bigotry of Hearts fans?
Did we hear them condemn the bigotry of sevco fans?
HH
Cultsbhoy
I agree with you it is all about ingratiating oneself
HH
FLAT5 on 23RD NOVEMBER 2015 1:27 PM
Well said WilliamF,
Keep supporting, if you listen to some you would need to be a mix of catalan/basque/palestinian/irish and have marxist tendencies before you can yourself a Celtic man.
Cheers
Josep Andoni Hassan Kerins
– See more at: http://www.celticquicknews.co.uk/saturday-agm-afterblow/#sthash.83euir8M.dpuf
Well said that man.
Regarding the game,
Yeah it won’t make my top 100 all time favourite games, but the ol cliché, I’ve seen us playing worse and taking all 3 points, is purdy accurate Imo.
HH
Interesting article Paul.
For a number of years I have listened to apologists and revisionists try and tell me that “Catholicism has nothing do with Celtic”. What utter nonsense.
Our club was founded by a Marist brother and until very recently every director that sat on the board for over a hundred years was a Catholic.
It does not follow that because you are proud of your heritage and your culture that you see others as less important.
If you go to every primary school in the West coast of Scotland you will find that the majority of young boys are Celtic fans. Should we apologise for this ? Not in my view.
The only time it becomes an issue is when people state that to support Celtic you must be a Catholic. Utter nonsense. However you cant rewrite history nor can you change truth.
It is true that in the 21st century this country and Europe in general is changing enormously. Who knows that by the end of this century maybe Islam will be the predominant religion in Europe.
I TOTALLY agree with you that we have no right to install values as a pre requisite to supporting Celtic. I also agree that our political persuasions shouldn’t either although I am always surprised when I read stories such as that of the Ulster Unionist.
HOwever, I do think that if we are going to give a group such as the Green Brigade such a prominent position at Celtic (aren’t we all just Celtic fans – why do we have to have factions ?) then you reap what you sow. The SILENT MAJORITY do not hold the views of the GReen Brigade and there is no doubt that there is an attempt by some to bully others into their way of thinking.
I think for myself. I form my own views. As it is happens they are left of centre politically but few things politically are black and white.
We are open to all but I make no apology for my CAtholic background and the fact that most of my Celtic supporting friends have that same background. However I have many other friends that are from irreligious upbringings and they have never felt less of Celtic fan because of it. However it doesnt make them more either!
One club, one support…………….We do fantastic things as a unit …………..wouldn’t it be great if we can see a team worthy of our support play at PArkhead once again. Sadly I feel that we are going in the opposite direction.
At least dont try and write me out of the club’s history.
Weeminger
It is certainly double standards of the worst kind and totally at odds with the ethos of Celtic.
Mr Livingston, a beneficiary of the inclusivity of Celtic, has no right to use Celtic as a vehicle to inflict misery on the poorest.
If you cannot see a problem there, there is no point of discussing it further.
HH
Looks like the Celtic Trust spin on this is going to be….why don’t the club take the same stance in backing up the fans……. Tragically predictable, but never the less, predictable. Mark it down as another busted flush for them.
It’s all goin’ a bit Monty Python……..
Inflict misery on the poor? He did when?
i hate intolerence on all levels,
but i have to say it i cant stand the jedi’s.
The green man,
The plc never have agreed to remove the 50 quid ST for the weans to accommodate their beloved Sevco fans. It was not just Livingston that inflicted misery on the poor Celtic fans he was clearly not alone.
HH
Jeezo, if brains were chocolate, our resident troll’s couldn’t fill a Smartie.
Aff oot, shops beckon.
Have a nice day.
and again
The green man,
The plc SHOULD never have agreed to remove the 50 quid ST for the weans to accommodate their beloved Sevco fans. It was not just Livingston that inflicted misery on the poor Celtic fans he was clearly not alone.
HH
TD67
When Mr Livingston’s party decided to cut tax credits to those who need them, then id say he was responsible for inflicting misery on the poorest.
It was only general outrage that prevented the immediate implementation of tax credit cuts.
Millionaires who want to cut tax credits to those who rely on them to exist….do you want to defend that?
Who’s to say that the comments re livingston were made by a Celtic supporter ? Hasn’t our board lacky TD inferred on numerous occasions that a great number of posts on here are made by huns ? Our board did nothing when NL was assaulted at tynecastle, have done nothing about the cheating feckers from the south side and seem to hold our hard core support in contempt on a regular basis. Whats not to like ?
HH
AWE NAW
Of course…it was a collective effort.
They are all responsible for the demise of the Celtic ethos.
They don’t see things from a football perspective.
Its all about the coin.
HH
THE GREEN MAN on 23RD NOVEMBER 2015 12:33 PM
PAUL67
Eh, big Elephant in the room here.
Why comment on a few vile racist and sectarian tweets or posts online, and totally bodyswerve the history of institutionalised racism and sectarianism in Scotland.
Strange.
But what do I know about anything eh.
Its not Celtics place to comment on any of the things you mention.Anyway,I dont believe that Scotland is still as you say.Yes,we still have wee bastions of scum,but nothing like in the past.Celtic responded to a Celtic Board member being religiously abused by so called Celtic fans.To ask why they would comment on this is quite frankly,unbelievable.
I think that Celtic have handled this whole episode pretty poorly.
However, there is a lot of drivel being talked with regards to widening chasms under the plc, blah, blah blah…
Football is a feudal system and always has been. Those on the board see themselves as being a notch or two higher up the social scale than the riff-raff that support the club. They usually keep pretty quiet about that – and are happy enough for the “plebs” to abuse each other since we know no better – but every now and then the mask slips.
It was never any different in the past under the Kellys, Whites etc. – and Celtic are no different from 99.9% of other professional football clubs in that respect. Boardroom and fans is “them” and “us”.
With a bit of luck, Bankier and Livingston will quietly find “other interests” by their own volition – but I wouldn’t be holding my breath expecting seismic changes in attitudes.
I’ll name that squad in……….?
THE GREEN MAN
correction.
their coin
HH
TIM MALONE WILL TELL on 23RD NOVEMBER 2015 1:56 PM
I agree (see my post previously)
unless we stop giving them money
HH
THE GREEN MAN on 23RD NOVEMBER 2015 1:36 PM
Where were the Celtic board when Neil Lennon was attacked at Tynecastle?
Did they speak out forcefully….or was it quickly forgotten?
Did we hear them condemn the bigotry of Hearts fans?
Did we hear them condemn the bigotry of sevco fans?
Neil Lennon was backed all the way by the Board.Lenny has told us all this.
John Reid was the one who spoke out against “The Famine Song”.
Selective memory on the go here.
Turkeybhoy
If we are talking about racism and sectarianism in Scotland, why should we avoid the real substance of it.
If Mr Bankier and Mr Livingston want to expose the vile ranting of some online headcases, wouldn’t it be natural to address the reality of racism and sectarianism as it is in Scottish Society.
Like I say….running away from the reality, wont solve anything.
HH
The Green Man on 23rd November 2015 1:44 pm
So you’re saying that if he experienced racist abuse at the hand of Celtic fans, he can’t call them out unless he makes comment about wider racism that they may or may not have experienced? Whatabouttery at it’s finest.
In what we did he use Celtic as a vehicle to hurt the poorest?. For me it’s the opposite way round. The fact that he clearly has no understanding of who or what Celtic is has been demonstrated by his vote and that’s why he should consider stepping down. His vote clearly wasn’t shaped by anything to do with Celtic.
Confession time. My family name is English, for the reason my paternal grandfather was, erm, English.
He was an air force officer stationed in the south west of Scotland during WWII. After the war he bought a farm and a garage, also in the south west, mysteriously declared a distaste for the royals, Toffs and “English arrogance” in general. He never ventured south of the border again, other than to fly over it in his own rickety single engine he “procured” just after the war ended. He married a Highland lass from the Isles, a nurse, who nurtured a love for all things Gaelic (both Scots and Irish) in me from an early age.
My love of Celtic comes from my own dear Irish mum, a devoted convent educated Catholic, and her brothers. My Uncle Andy took me to my first game at the age of five. He was a softly spoken farm worker from Ayrshire, who was respected and liked by his Ayr United supporting farm owner, who ensured there was a little extra in his pay packet come the time of season book renewal.
The long winded point I’m trying to make, is that who gives a “F” who you are and where your from when it comes to supporting Celtic. If you saw my full name on paper you would assume I was some bumbling, eccentric middle class cricket obsessed gent from Surrey.
HOWEVA, what does rip ma knittin’ is that some SCOTTISH toff, who represents my inclusive Club of all backgrounds, votes for draconian, medieval legislation that suppresses the poor. My request is that he resign his stewardship of our Club immediately.
The Old Firm is the establishment. Celtic, Rangers II, SFA, Police Scotland, SNP, Labour. Conservative, JOhn Reid, Livingston etc.
Celtic are just in the privileged position just now to be holding the fort until all these Old Firm problems blow over and the natural unquestioned scheme of things return.
You have to hand it to our plc they are doing a great job.
HH
When Mr Livingston’s party decided to cut tax credits to those who need them, then id say he was responsible for inflicting misery on the poorest. – See more at: http://www.celticquicknews.co.uk/saturday-agm-afterblow/comment-page-2/#comment-2723971
The thing is he didn’t, he spoke out against the House of Lords, and so what, that’s his politics his business, as I’v said he’s a Tim, that’s good enough for me, same as an ex Lisbon Lion was a Tory M P, make up your mind what badge of honer you want to wear today? Pathetic politics, all to be used as a stick by the Celtic Trust to beat up the club AGAIN, The Celtic Trust are the enemy within IMO
saint stivs
“this is not the board your looking for”
You have to hand it to our plc they are doing a great job. – See more at: http://www.celticquicknews.co.uk/saturday-agm-afterblow/comment-page-2/#comment-2723989
That I agree with.
Before we lurch to kangaroo courts and hang out the Celtic Support .. We should As I stated earlier allow police to investigate this ‘criminal racism’.
We should not assume if it is identified that it was a troll that it was necessarily a Fan of any other club – it could feasibly be just about any other club supporter who holds staunch anti Celtic and anti Jewish views- as it might just be a totally ignorant imbecile who holds an anti Lord Livingstone, ant Jew, or anti- Catholic ( they dont all appreciate the full plurality of our club) but has no association with any football club.
In short it could be anybody so let’s get them investigated by the Police.. And then make comment.
If only our Board Chairman taken the same approach?
WEEMINGER
I fully support the condemnation of racist and sectarian abuse directed at Mr Livingston.
But to comment in isolation, without any reference to the wider problems of bigotry in Scotland, I don’t understand.
Call it all out….don’t be selective.
A wee glimpse through the pages of Scottish History provides an abundance of evidence of the sectarian nature of Scotland….or don’t we want to talk about that?
HH
Imagine any of you taking a ticket off of a young Celtic fan so that you can sell it onto a Sevco fan for a slight profit ?
That is what all you board lackey´s are about. …. oh and the board
HH
The entire basis of this Bankier, Livingston, racism row centres around a few comments.
I assume that before chairman Bankier decided to chuck this meat to the SMSM hyenas he ABSOLUTELY confirmed that the comments were made by GENUINE Celtic ‘fans’, and not just the work of interloping Hun trolls obviously out to spit venom and sully the dialogue.
I mean, I’m assuming he did? Didn’t he? Would he be so naive as to take the bait left by (e.g) ‘A.Cellicman’ without checking his sources?
He does realise the multiplicity of the interweb can be deceptive and hasn’t just thrown the entire reputation of the support under a bus on a knee-jerk?
Well P67, were those comments varified as attributed? – to real individuals with a history of following the Hoops?
TD67
So, you are excusing the ideological beliefs of a Tory Lord….because he is a Celtic fan.
What kind of fecking reasoning is that.
Would you have cheered Hitler if he was a Celtic supporter?
You will have to do better than that….because, believe it or not, some of us aren’t as daft as you like to think.