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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Listening to Spiers on Sportsound you’d think we were in relegation trouble and put of all cups. We’re crap, our players are crap and our manager is crap according to the bold Graham. He’s Sounding like a CQN poster!
GARY67 on 23RD NOVEMBER 2015 6:49 PM
Listening to Spiers on Sportsound you’d think we were in relegation trouble and put of all cups. We’re crap, our players are crap and our manager is crap according to the bold Graham. He’s Sounding like a CQN poster!
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He sounds like lots of them.
But hey! We’re a broach church. So long as he agrees with me then he’s in… ;-)
Introspection is the best way to learn about yourself, never stop interrogating the board and never listen to those happy with the current situation, that’s how catastrophes happen.
Apostrophise are different
Locke being lauded for anti football
Bada..,
So did Neil Lennon against Barca, don’t knock it.
Canamalar ….
Like so many conflicts there are very few’ players’ with clean hands in middle east but to say ” there has been a lasting peace in Syria since the 1960s is bizarre.
Have a look at what Assad’ s father did to the town of Hama in 1982.
Just one example of your lasting peace. Not everyone who disagrees with you is a right wing imperialist loony or a brain washed stooge.
Natknow,
The Mos Eisley cantina is a sewing bee compared to here tonight!
Your comment made me laugh.
Canamalar,
You are the living embodiment of the “let’s not have a fan on the board” argument.
As for the footie, I reckon defeat by Ajax will place real question marks over Ronny. It will confirm no real progress since last season. As long as the fans can see forward momentum, they will back him.
Although I was scunnered on Saturday, there were 2 particular bright spots: Simunovic and Allan. Allan was only one for a few minutes but he looks like a naturally attacking player, and an inventive one. Much as I admire Broon and I can see the merits in Nir, neither really strike me as the type of create chances for the forwards. Their attributes are much more defensive.
Lots riding on this game, for all involved.
Gary67
There are CQN’rs salivating at the thought of the result on Thursday.
Never understood it about the ones that happily tell you how crap Celtic are.
Crap, and they don’t go, anymore but still hang around CQN?
Best regards Graham Spiers
From Arsene Parcelie on KDS: https://t.co/oNqAdggecL
DHARMA BAM on 23RD NOVEMBER 2015 7:04 PM
Natknow,
The Mos Eisley cantina is a sewing bee compared to here tonight!
Your comment made me laugh.
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:-)))))
If you didn’t laugh you’d cry dude…
Wits,
I know there were plenty of atrocities committed, the fact is, you show me a country that never committed atrocities at the time and I’ll judge them against that, while that was going on in Syria what was going on in Ireland ?
What was going on in Vietnam ? What was going on in a hundred countries around the world, aye there were atrocities going on bit who the fcuk are the NATO countries to hold them up ?
The Middle East is still a Middle Ages mind set none more so than the UK and the USA’s current biggest allies, Saudi, right now the Indians are blockading Nepal because India does not like the Nepalese constitution ffs, and earthquake less than six months ago, and relief is still not being delivered because India refuse to allow Nepal self determination. Meanwhile Cameron has the Indian prime minister to behave like a pop star in the UK, fcuk the Gurkhas eh.
BOURNESOUPRECIPE on 23RD NOVEMBER 2015 7:10 PM
Gary67
There are CQN’rs salivating at the thought of the result on Thursday.
Never understood it about the ones that happily tell you how crap Celtic are.
Crap, and they don’t go, anymore but still hang around CQN?
——————————————
The main function of CQN for some posters has long since been anything to do with supporting Celtic. It’s a Cyber Skwerr-Go Zone for big men with small minds, empty vessels and generally people with anger issues. That includes Happy Clappers…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Nt7PWtgOPI
:-))
WITS,
Would Russia be within their rights to attack the UK on the grounds of what they did to the Irish after the First World War, IMO that is the exact same argument you are using on NATO being justified to attack Syria.
Who writes the news, propaganda is never neutral.
Canamalar
So you have moved from. .” Lasting peace in Syria since the 1960s:” …to I know there were plenty of atrocities committed
.bit of a jump that. In Hama in the space of a few week’s in 1982 Syrian govt troops were responsible for at least 20 thousand deaths. The majority of whom were civilians. Yes there were other atrocities committed in the region which indeed resembles Europe of the middle ages in the mindset of its rulers and attitudes to the civilian population.
Our own little squabbles over here look like a punch up outside the pub in comparison.
Canamalar
Just for clarity. ..at no stage did I attempt to justify anybody bombing anybody.
Certainly not Nato bombing Syria.
You must be mixing me up with someone else
NatKnow
Ha – No……… going back there, ‘ the bovrils too hot ‘
p.s. and there’s a Tory on the board
WITS,
Ok,
Fair enough, has there been a lasting peace in any of the countries I made comparison with.
Has there been lasting peace in Palestine ?
Has there been lasting peace in any of the South American countries that never voted for an American puppet?
Sorry pal, I appears that you look to make dissimilar definitions of lasting peace when it does not suit your argument (note I don’t say agenda, cause this is an argument and I like arguments:)
Now, since the 60s, and that atrocity, and like most states that make such a statement there has been a lasting peace, but can I ask you what you know about that atrocity and why it might have happened or who suffered, what exactly do you know about that ?
I’m off to have a look. There surely must be a full Moon.
WITS,
Sorry forgot to ask
Did you read about it in the daily record ?
Just waiting on Kate Adie posting
Enjoy
GREENPINATA on 23RD NOVEMBER 2015 7:35 PM
I’m off to have a look. There surely must be a full Moon.
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It’s a serious problem after the clocks go back – the full moon comes out earlier..!
:-)
WITS,
Keep in mind that the British clearances in Palestine in the 50 were meant to have ditched similar numbers but then that’s only local exaggerations, then again who are we to question that ?
I have a spare ticket for Inverness away on Sunday if anyone is interested.
hamiltontim88@yahoo.co.uk
not the most enjoyable read on here this evening
Thankfully Russia has said enough is enough after a year of false non air-attacks on Isis by the US and France. Russia has exposed the con or sham . US and others were actually allowing Isis to establish their “state”. The evil Putin is going after Isis and the other terrorists really bombing them and has got them on the run . The US-UK-Frances plan has been foiled. Thank goodness. Wake up and smell the coffee.
Reading back not a night for the faint hearted
WITS,
The US has murdered 2,000,000 civilians in the Middle East in the last 20 years, yet we should focus on what a 60s govt done.
The US murdered more than 2,000,000 US citizens since the 60s but we should focus on them Syrians eh.
Or the easily offended
Gene,
You might note, not a lot of replies when asked for independent sources, they tend to run away.
No even an argument, that’s why I welcomed WITS, at least he will go and look up independent source and I welcome learning
If RD, or any of the players are reading ….. i’m hitting the big 5-0 on Sunday …. and I’m not being greedy ….. all I’m asking for is a decent performance this weekend, and a few forward passes …. dont even care if we win …. would just like to see us playing some decent football for my bday. …
okay, on second thought, I am going to be greedy … I want the same on Thursday AND Sunday! and a few goals would be nice…
oh… and, if Roy Croppie is reading …. can you arrange a bday dinner with the lovely Ms. Grogan….
that’s not too much to ask, is it? :)
Bamboo on 23rd November 2015 7:45 pm
Nail on the head mi amigo
HH
Mike…,
Happy birthday when it comes.
I’m optimistic about Thursday because we should be shittin ourselves and in my expert opinion we perform better when shittin it, very simply, when we turn up expecting to win we blow it. When we know there’s a fight we fight.
Canamalar
I have never defended what the US the UK or any other western power’s have done in the region. As a matter of fact I am record on here for condemning them for their interference in the region.
The region is unfortunately a mess, there are no good guys that I can see only some who are less bad than others from time to time.
The massacre I referred to for instance took place in the conflict between what could loosely be termed progressive Arab forces of Assad against what could be termed the reactionary forces of the Muslim brotherhood. In this case the progressive forces did the massacre and the reactionaries ( including women and children) were massacred.
Yes the daily record is my source for all my world news
Bamboo,
4 years pal
Canamalar – its pretty difficult finding truly independent sources in this day and age especially on the Middle East. I usually try and find opposing moderate voices and take it from there. I don’t read the DR.
The three Celtic books we’ve worked on over the past few months are all out now and each one looks great.
First published was Brendan Sweeney’s Celtic The Early Years which provides for the first time ever, a comprehensive account of our club. Given the events of the past week or so it is an even more important book if you want to ‘get’ Celtic.
Next Scott Brown My Celtic Story. Loved the video the club released today for this and expect this to be a must have item for Bhoys young and even old, for Christmas. Again it looks great.
Then there’s The Winds of Change as we pick up the story in 1991 when Billy McNeill gets the sack. We feature 7 managers and 1 caretaker and of course Fergus. For those who’ve read Caesar & The Assassin, this is the one for you.
All three available now at the new look http://www.cqnbookstore.com
Canamalar … cheers.
Around the house, I have already started “….. But, its my birthday week…..’ ….think I’m pushing my luck …. if I keep it up, I”m not sure I’ll live to see 50!