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.
1,057 Comments- Pages:
- «
- 1
- ...
- 21
- 22
- 23
- 24
- 25
- 26
- 27
- 28
- »
HERBO
You’re missing my point, probably on purpose. Ian Bankier has to defend the directors on his board, otherwise he’s not doing his job
Anti-semitism is disgusting, no one deserves it, and anyone who suffers it deserves sympathy and support.
Just back from a wet, windy and cold vale park.
Vale 2 -0 Blackpool
attendance 3600
Happy gene
BSR
Maybe he’s in training for new head of polis Scotland?
God help us !
Celtic40me
I agree. No discrimination should be tolerated. Except of course discriminating against the poorest in society right? The SAS need another 2 billion.
CELTIC40ME on 24TH NOVEMBER 2015 10:04 PM
Anti-semitism is disgusting, no one deserves it, and anyone who suffers it deserves sympathy and support.
—————————————
Agree with that bit. And the only way to deal with it is to identify those carrying out and prosecute them to the full extent of the law.
So – who is doing this? Has someone called Police Scotland?
No one is saying those bigots who attacked livingstone should get away with it
As I said earlier it could have and should have been dealt with better
Gene
Had them on my line tonight
Just home from an extremely eventful Celtic Trust meeting.
Some people will be surprised but all conversation centred around Celtic and we only played Billy Bragg records twice the whole night :-)
I’ve promised an update, for anyone remotely interested, on what was discussed but I’m done in so it’ll need to wait until tomorrow.
BT
you lucky bhoy, we were less than convincing however 3 games in 6 days and 4 straight league wins – can’t complain.
Millions of voters voted for the Conservative party and it’s candidates. The labour party abandoned all of its socialist principles and tried to be tory “lite” gifting the election to the Conservative party and the SNP but somehow it is one Celtic directors fault for not voting against tax credit changes in the unelected second chamber of the British parliament which are imposing swinging cuts upon the poorest in society.
Definitely bed time now.
Gene
Not really as Porto burst my line. ⚽️⚽️
Spare Inverness ticket has gone to CQN legend Estadio.
HT
Did you start The Internationale again? Jeezo. Nay wonder your knackered ;-)
Herbo
You seem prepared to tolerate it in this case – you don’t care about the feelings of a jewish person being racially abused because he’s a tory.
Is it OK for him to be abused for his faith because he serves in a Tory government, or is it just that you don’t care that he will be affected on a deeply personal level by it?
THE GLORIOUS BALANCE SHEET on 24TH NOVEMBER 2015 9:42 PM
67Heaven 9.09pm-
– Macjay chundering on about socialists as though they are lepers and some clear and present danger to the security of Celtic plc (the latest instalment of which was delivered this morning);
I`ve never noticed HamiltonTim pushing any political agendas on here though so I think you`re out of order to say that’s the case if its not so.
==================================================================
He pushes the Celtic Trust.
Do they have a political agenda?
Does Jeanette Findlay have a political agenda?
Do the executive have a political agenda?
Would it be true to say that they are in fact all socialists?
And wish to impose their “socialism” onto Celtic?
So.
What`s it going to be?
Answers or more insults?
Herbo
It was the dancing along with it that’s done me in :-)
Celtic40Me
I don’t like racism or religious intolerance in any way. Let’s just be clear on that. I’ve campaigned against it all of my adult life.
I don’t like Tories. They are the antethesis of everything I believe in. And what I believe Celtic to be.
BT
It was too late for Celtic to deal with it although they’ve been trying since Friday.
Ian Bankier said what he said, and it was interpreted differently because people are
different, the Press Pack pounced, as soon as he’d finished speaking.
As for CQN, Paul67 immediately as did The Celtic Trust, denounced racism, first and foremost, so that
has been dealt with.
The public relations disaster and conscious or subconscious misinterpretation of what was said, including now all the way to The Jewish Chronicle, is another matter.
31003-cracking post……unfortunately mate. HH
I have always thought that balance was the key to good governance, whether it be in government, running a football club whatever.
We have torys running the country while less than 25% of the people voted for them, we have torys running our club and I don’t know how many voted for them, but I would wager less that 10% of the support, some are even un-elected.
Now that imo is really not a fair state of affairs, yet we have tory lovers telling us to shut the f up and stop trying to impose our values on them.
Well f u.
BSR
I posted during the AGM in jest when our PR was praised
Macjay
Ok I’ll answer your questions.
No, we don’t have a political agenda.
You’d need to ask Jeanette that question but at Trust meetings, no.
No the Executive don’t have a political agenda.
I have no idea the political allegiances of all the other members of the EC.
We don’t ‘impose’ anything onto Celtic. In our opinion we hold the Plc board accountable.
I keep repeating myself but you keep making the same unfounded allegations J.
I like this (thumbs up)!
Brian McNally @McNallyMirror 50m50 minutes ago
When a real billionaire like Ashley goes after relative paupers who reneged on a huge debt, there’s only one outcome- death by a 1,000 cuts.
:-)
Hamiltontim …. Hope it was Workers’ Playtime …. still my favourite Billy Bragg album…. and one of my favourite albums period! Great leap forward …. a real toe tapper!
that will be old Bill on the FF banned list now for sure …. although, many years ago, I remember his saying some less than flattering things about the zombies at a show …. so he may very well have been on the FF banned list already!
Actually, now that I think about it …. its probably easier to list who isn’t on their banned list.
And now that I think about it … I dont think I am …. what the hell have I been doing with my life that I haven’t made it onto their banned list…. I should be ashamed …. a life not on the FF banned list is a life wasted!
All the posts about the Celtic Trust and their political agenda, makes me think of the BBC comedy , Citizen Smith , with Robert Lindsay , being the leader of the Tooting Popular Front.
I cant imagine Hamiltontim shouting Robert Lindsay’s catch phrase, power to the people.
Barcabhoy , another former regular poster here, has had some of his tweets posted on etims twitter about a review of the LNS decision and if Celtic don ‘t request this , the trust and other fans groups could coordinate one.
The Trust might not have time to do it as, in the opinion of some of our support, they are planning the socialist republic of Celtic Park. Their involvement in FAC is another scheme for their dastardly agenda.
BT…
I read Phil macs blog earlier on in the week, there was a troll on the comments page who made a derogotive remark towards another poster.
Another poster commented for him to expect the police at his door as he had been reported and his remark was found to be offensive.
Why didn’t Livingston/Bankier persue it in the same manner if they felt so strongly about it.
For myself, i’ve had it all my working life and have dealt with it on my own and in my own way.
Maybe I’m just a lot more experianced in these matters…any chance of a place on the board :))
TET
Well said!
Maybe my spelling would let me down…experianced = experienced. HT, fancy being my secretary :)
HAMILTONTIM on 24TH NOVEMBER 2015 10:32 PM
No problem.
I hope you note that I didn`t bring this matter up.
Balance sheet.
“Chunder” interesting Aussie word for “vomit”…………..”Watch under”
Dallas
Now after a really long day that made me smile! :-)
Sipsini
It’s the stilettos ain’t it :-)
HERBO
Anti semitism is worse than the political doctrine of a democratically elected governing party.
I went to a school that was mainly jewish, I know how deeply anti-semitism affects jewish people. I have a feeling we wouldn’t be having this discussion if it was baroness Warsi or the black tory mp who’s name escapes me.
the wife always complains that I get her crap Christmas presents,…….
well this year is gonna be different cos I’ve found her list……..
Eggs, Milk, Butter & Toilet Rolls……
should be a good yin .
Dallas…
The Che Guevara of CQN in stilettos, that might just bring acgr back on :)
Good to see CQN back in good humor
So
http://thechive.com/2010/06/25/parents-can-be-cruel-to-their
Don’t even look at the ads at the bottom
HH
bognorbhoy…
HaHa, next years list will be a new man :)
Celtic40Me
I’ve not seen anyone trying to defend anti-semetism. Quite the opposite in fact. The comments made to Livingston had nothing to do with the issue at hand on Thursday. That being he’s a Tory Bstrd who is part of a government attacking much of our support. His cuts will mean I won’t see Celtic as much as I would like soon. Away games are finished for me.
Bankier made an erchie of it. “This campaign has verged on the criminally racist” were his words. Pre-prepared I hasten to add. What campaign was he referring to? Everyone around me on the room on Friday was disgusted. I doubt we’re going to find much common ground here but that’s ok. I encourage diversity. I still hate Tories though.
Hamiltontim, I was hoping you would see the funny side of my last post and hopefully those who don’t agree with what the Trust does, see that too.
Better watch out in case Special Branch and/or MI5 are following you.
I meant to add , our Castlemilk posters will be delighted to hear, two van loads from Saturday’s collection, went to their local foodbank to add to the contributions made by the above posters.
The glorious balance sheet
Think you will have to ask Hamiltontim ?
Sleep well Timland.
HH
KTF