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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ernie lynch
I do think we should bring up the no iPhone/Apple products at the next AGM!
CANAMALAR on 23RD NOVEMBER 2015 3:08 PM
Weebobycollins,
Lordlivingstonofparkhead is a title he choose to link himself with the club,
###
Not sure about that. Apparently his father was a GP in Parkhead.
Your grasp of how Parliament works is as shaky as his.
He claims he voted on the issue, not because he was in favour of it, but because he didn’t think the unelected Lords should overrule the elected Commons (the two of you would appear to agree on that). The point is though that the Lords were acting within the powers allowed to them in the constitution. If the government didn’t want the legislation voted down by the Lords they shouldn’t have tried to introduce it as a statutory instrument.
Canamaler
Like you say, its all graft.
Straight from the school of Walpole and Pitt.
Modern politics eh.
HH
For the sake of repeating myself
Absolutely no interest in politics, that includes those of our board
But
Had enough of Ian Bankier denigrating us Celtc supporters, he is not fit for the role, in my opinion only
Again just a personal view, he has totally deflected all attention from what is angering most Celtic fans, and that’s the proven cheating we have suffered since 1998 – was this deliberate to deflect attention from a lack of action by our board ?
Of more importance to me just now, who will ur team be on Thurs night ?
Hail Hail
Oh Aiden Bhoy, I would never believe you plugged the school :-)))
Perhaps someone should even create a petition!
“If its not acceptable for the Green Brigade to display political banners, why is it acceptable for Mr Livingston to enforce his Tory ideology on those who rely on tax credits? ”
Tgm,
You are confusing uefa rules with your own thoughts.
HH
Geordie Munro
What could he teach me exactly?
…..
Also – is that it ? 1 example from your lifetime? I think that nicely supports my point….
Does anyone know where those anti-Semitic comments were posted?
JjHS
Broonie also struggling
May have to drop Armstrong in there ?
And if Rogic also struggling drop in Allan ?
Hail Hail
Cultsbhoy…
“We are a predominantly Catholic socialist supporting club who believe in addressing inequality – See more at: http://www.celticquicknews.co.uk/saturday-agm-afterblow/comment-page-4/#comments”
Really? That sounds like an almighty assumption on your behalf.
IPhones….
Anyone else find themselves having to tell folk…
“Aye I know they can do fancy stuff but you only bought one. You didn’t design the fekin thing!”
HH
Ernie…,
What happens to Lords who refuse to vote with the party ?
Are the delorded, do they get their money docked ?
What sort of shit is he feeding us and why should we believe anything he ever says again in an official capacity ?
Geordie Munro
No, not really.
Id say that it was obvious that claiming the benefits of inclusivity does not give you a platform to impose your political ideology on others.
Its pretty clear really, and against the historical ethos of the club.
If you want to remove the politics from football…..lets start with the Celtic board.
HH
Glendalystonsils and Cowiebhoy ( minus tonsils}
Gordon
Lustig Boyata Simunoviv Tierney
Forrest Brown Rogic Allan Commons
Griffiths.
So, from the above, Armstrong instead of Brown and McGregor instead of Rogic?
Please be fit, Broony and Tom!
JJ
JUNGLE JIM HOT SMOKED on 23RD NOVEMBER 2015 3:18 PM
This could be a vain attempt to get back to football but here goes:
Gordon
Lustig Boyata Simunoviv Tierney
Forrest Brown Rogic Allan Commons
Griffiths.
Allan could just be the boost we need this week.
Cultsbhoy,
He was the only one we’d mutually know.
I have tic mates who vote for all sorts of different parties.
HH
Cultsbhoy
Geordie Munro and ernie lynch are both Tories.
That`s three now. Four if you count me and Kevjungle.
JJ
No No No
Please No McGregor
Hail Hail, need to nip off oot
Italiabhoy,
It’s really no that big of an assumption, you can pretty much bet your mortgage that the Celtic support were one of the main supporters of unions and Labour Party voters throughout the years the Labour Party built the social welfare state in the UK.
That happened mainly between the world wars and after the second, however prior to the first is when it was born and probably one of the reasons the first was arranged.
Meanwhile people of your own political persuasion had the likes of billy Fullerton representing you, anything is better than socialism but we’ll milk everything the socialists provide eh
Brogan Rogan Trevino and Hogan supports Oscar Knox, MacKenzie Furniss and anyone else who fights Neuroblastoma on 23rd November 2015 3:07 pm
It wasn’t a Finance Bill, it was a Statutory Instrument.
If it had been a Finance Bill the Parliament Act would have applied.
I suspect the Tories were playing politics with this. They realised the measure was going to hurt them ( a lot of people voted for them assuming it was the unemployed, not themselves, who were going to get a kicking, and felt betrayed). So, how to drop the measure without losing face?
Blame the Lords.
• tonydonnelly67 on 23rd November 2015 2:06 pm
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
*he was a tory councillor Tony not that that matters, his da was a former zombie captain, not that that matters either.
Our greatest manager on leaving the field at full time when playing for Albion Rovers would ask “how did the boys get on”. not the bhoys. He was allegedly a member of the craft.
George Patterson one of our greatest captains was an officer in the BB, apprentice masons we called them.
The captain of the 7-1 team was allegedly an Orangeman.
Willie Cook one of our finest full backs and the player closest to John Thomson on that fatal day was from the black north and not of the ben Affleck persuasion.
I could go on but Willie Maley whos da was in the british army said it best.
JJ,
‘Toleys’ must get changed to ‘tories’ in your spell checker :D
HH
The Wee Green Man@3.09…we are not totally in dispute here. I repeat, I think it was his personal decision to vote as he did and nothing to do with Celtic…however, it does go against what is perceived as the ‘Celtic charitable ethos’ and I understand that probably is of concern to many of our support. Personally speaking, I have no time for modern day politicians even if Livingston claims he is not one…I just wish our board members were low profile people who worked only for the good of the team and the fans (club). Unfortunately, too many with outside interests I should think.
Italiabhoy
How would you explain the behaviour of the crowd at the Centenary ‘no votes in Scotland’ cup final … ?
VIP
I can see Mulgrew being drafted in for the Ajax game.
ohnoCSC
Lord Livingstone’s dad ,Dr Livingstone was a GP in Parkhead… His grandfather was also a GP in the gorbals affectionately known as wee Livvy by my grandmother…
Ironically ( in my mind at least) Lord Livingstone is credited as being the driving force behind PC World during his stint at Dixons… He therefore could have created the source of the computer that was used … (in creating this very un-PC world) to abuse him…
We had joy we had fun
Beat United two one
Won the league won the cup
Told Thatcher “Get to F**k”
Thanks for a reminder of a great memory Jungle VIP
Geordie
I am curious about the spelling of `toley` or `toaly` or ` toaley` or `toallie` or` toally`.
Who gives a ****.
JJ
Whens the next issue of that right wing Celtic Fanzine out?
WEEBOBBYCOLLINS
Id pretty much agree with you.
I cant see how the Celtic PLC can possibly stay faithful to the ethos of the club, while they are employing people who are politically motivated against the poorest in society.
That cannot be right.
And in my opinion…it is hypocrisy, and an insult to the traditions of Celtic.
HH
When you think about it, it wasn’t until about 60 years of socialised politics in the UK that the thick fcuks who got their free education, healthcare and welfare safety net, started to believe they done it all for themselves and decided everyone that follows should do the same without the safety net they had.
And here we are, eh most of the most animated are no even residents ffs.
As an individual, I am extremely fortunate that tax credit cuts do not affect me.
Having said that, as a pensioner I have little doubt that Osborne will ensure Tiocfaidh ár lá –
My objection to Livingstone is not that he voted to preserve tax credit cuts. Having taken the Tory shilling, he had little option.
His real crime for me was dressing his actions up as being the interest of protecting the democratic rights of the House of Commons.
I wonder what his views on democracy were on Thursday when the votes of a few snoed under the votes of many.
Ah well but you see. The democracy of money trumps all.
What a train crash.
Mr Bankier,
1. Identify the criminals who issued the vile statements about Lord Livingstone of Parkhead and prosecute them through the courts.
2. Stop using two vile statements to blacken the name of the entire support.
3. Ask Lord Livingstone how he can reconcile being a member of an upper chamber of government, which supposedly exists to provide checks and balances on the lower chamber, with his view that it is not the function of the House of Lords to provide checks and balances on the lower chamber.
4. Ask Lord Livingstone how his vote in the House of Lords accords with the Social Mission Statement of the club of which he is a director.
5. Then resign.
5.
Canamalar on 23rd November 2015 3:55 pm
You could have done with moderating your language in another wise excellent post.
Apart from those you refer to, who having made it, no wish to pull up the ladder; it is safe to assume that when Dave and Gideon were enjoying twenty five grand a year education, their respective paters would have been milking the public purse in one way or another.
Quonno
The Tory tax credit cuts will affect my wife my son and I nearly £2000. A lot of money to us. We both work but are low wage earners. My wife being part-time.
Mr. Livingstone and his government can G right TF as far as I’m concerned.
HERBO on 23RD NOVEMBER 2015 4:04 PM
Quonno
The Tory tax credit cuts will affect my wife my son and I nearly £2000. A lot of money to us. We both work but are low wage earners. My wife being part-time.
Mr. Livingstone and his government can G right TF as far as I’m concerned.
I merely outlined my personal circumstance.
I know exactly where you are coming from.
Without being a Uriah Heep about it. Myself and many other pensioners are being called upon to directly subsidise the Welfare State as family members are being crushed by it.
– See more at: http://www.celticquicknews.co.uk/saturday-agm-afterblow/comment-page-5/#comment-2724109
Quonno,
That was me moderating my language :)
And a well made point from you nails another loophole they obfuscate, squirrel, naw it’s no my dad would never evade taxes, he sent me to private education to honor the empire, not steal from it. :)
Quonno
It’s not only tax-credit cuts either. It’s housing benefit (we live in private rented accommodation) and GHP. We both have to work round our son who plays football most night and we don’t have easy access to childcare and really can’t afford private childcare.
We also believe it is important for us to spend as much time as we can as parents bringing up our son.
Livingstone and his party are making that almost impossible. He’s Cnut and so are the rest of them.