There’s some fresh enthusiasm in Lanarkshire this morning with the appointment of Englishman Ian Baraclough as Motherwell manager. Baraclough had a couple of successful years with Sligo Rovers from 2012-14, winning their first title in decades, before things fell apart this year, but his role as a scout for Huddersfield over the last six months is likely to interest Motherwell as much.
Motherwell directors have had a long-term tradition when looking for a manager of saying they want someone ‘plugged into’ the scouting and agent network. This game is all about the right contacts, you don’t get to acquire a promising Blackburn Rovers reserve (as Motherwell once did), but this particular activity is also very competitive.
The small matter of how to deploy players is, of course, equally important, but if you’re Motherwell, Celtic or Barcelona, that call is a shot in the dark.
I watched newco Rangers for the first time last night, although I ended up watching a lot more Queen of the South than I expected. The latter, each of them journeymen, were excellent, the former were symptomatic of everything that’s wrong with comfortably well-off footballers. Newco’s medium-term future, if they have one, will be to spend the next few years building a self-sustaining lower league club, capable of winning promotion and remaining a top-flight football team thereafter.
Get along to Celtic Park early tomorrow, Davie Hay will be signing copies of Caesar & the Assassin in the Superstore. If you ask him nicely he’s promised to sign your CQN Annual too. Don’t forget your camera!
Also remember to look out for the Foundation bucketeers as you approach the ground or enter the turnstiles. My boys and me will be at the North Stand, turnstiles 1-13, say hello if you’re around.
Thanks to everyone who donated to Mary’s Meals yesterday, the response was overwhelming. Emails went out this morning to winners of the Magners’ tickets.
You can order your CQN Annual here, or get a special Annual-DVD bundle here.
As a special offer, everyone who buys an Annual, or bundle, before Christmas will be entered into a prize draw for a VIP Meal of 4 at a Celtic Park restaurant on a match day. One entry for each Annual bought; pile in.
804 Comments- Pages:
- «
- 1
- ...
- 5
- 6
- 7
- 8
- 9
- 10
- 11
- ...
- 22
- »
embramike..,
Same synopsis I read about Sammi, we don’t watch the same player, I see real quality your looking for mistakes.
roy croppie
18:25 on 13 December, 2014
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/B4lqHTtCUAE2Y91.jpg:large
Was at this game as a wide eyed 10 yr old; Kenny got pelters…
HH
==============================
Me too. Jock’s testimonial. Remember the jungle slaughtering Kenny, to my 10 year-old shock, but the stand applauding him as he scored – two I think, one a headed cracker? 3-2 liverpool off top me head, great night anyway.
Roy C
Wasn’t my hero ,but like you, hate to see any hoop abused on their return. Was sick to the pit of my stomach when some booed the KoK when he returned to play for Barca.
Reception Iniesta got when leaving the field is more in keeping with the Celtic support.
HH
gearoid1998
18:49 on 13 December, 2014
Roy C
Wasn’t my hero ,but like you, hate to see any hoop abused on their return. Was sick to the pit of my stomach when some booed the KoK when he returned to play for Barca.
Reception Iniesta got when leaving the field is more in keeping with the Celtic support.
HH
——
That was pantomime booing though
Oh no it wasn’t.
Lookoutbehindyoucsc.
HH
Neil canamalar Lennon hunskelper extrordinaire
Stokesey and Sammi are two similar players in that they are capable of great things but and not consistently great – in my opinion don’t consistently apply themselves. Pity when you have that much ability.
I don’t look for mistakes, I can just see them. When you are looking to improve a team that’s what you work on, the mistakes – just listen to any manager after a game.
Otherwise, if it ain’t broke , don’t fix it.
Celtic Wiki
A huge crowd turned out in tribute to Jock Stein. Billy McNeill was still looking to judge his players and said this would be an ideal test. Danny McGrain was named as substitute after a year out with injury and tossed the coin with Dalglish, who was Liverpool captain for the night, before taking his seat on the bench.
Celtic started well and Tommy Burns scored with a flying header in 3 minutes but Tom McAdam was adjudged to have fouled Ray Clemence and the goal was disallowed.
Celtic took the lead in 22 minutes when Burns beat three men and was hauled down by Souness at the edge of the area. From the free kick Ronnie Glavin send a trade mark thunder bolt shot into the Liverpool net.
The Reds equalised when their new £300,000 left back Alan Kennedy ventured forward to take a Souness pass and score from a tight angle after rounding Latchford. Seven minutes later they took the lead when Conn lost possession to Ray Kennedy who sent Heighway clear down the left. Latchford saved his shot but Dalglish followed up to head in a simple goal.
Celtic equalised with a superb goal. Alan Sneddon crossed from the right wing and Andy Lynch’s dummy fooled the Liverpool defence and allowed Tom McAdam to fire home a thundering volley past Clemence.
Dalglish had the last say in proceedings in 56 minutes when he took a pass from McDermott, changed feet and sent a shot flashing past the diving Latchford.
Celtic pressed to the end but found the Liverpool offdide trap most frustrating to beat. With 10 minutes remaining McGrain came on for Glavin and played out the game in an unusual midfield role.
‘The thunder of applause which greeted the big man (Stein) swelled to almost hysterical adulation as he was joined on the field by the Lisbon Lions, the eleven men who first brought the European Cup to Britain in 1967’ Glasgow Herald 15 August 1978.
‘I was most impressed with Celtic we know thay had a bad season last year but I was most impressed with them tonight’ Liverpool captain Emlyn Hughes.
‘We were delighted to see such a huge crowd for the occasion. It was wonderful for Liverpool to come here and pay tribute to our former manager’ Celtic chairman Desmond White.
‘It was a marvellous night and great to see a crowd like that back at the ground. It’s along time since we have had that kind of attendance. We played well but Liverpool are a fine side. The fact that they came to play here is a real tribute to us’ Jock Stein
Teams
CELTIC:
Latchford, Sneddon, Lynch, Aitken, MacDonald, Edvaldsson, Conn, Glavin, McAdam, Burns, Wilson.
Substitutes: Filippi, Baines, Doyle, Casey, McGrain.
CELTIC SCORERS: Glavin 21 McAdam 44
LIVERPOOL:
Clemence, Neal, A. Kennedy, Thompson, R. Kennedy, Hughes, Dalglish, Case, Heighway, McDermott, Souness
Substitutes: Fairclough, Hansen, Jones
LIVERPOOL SCORERS: Kennedy 32, Dalglish 40, 55
Attendance 62,000
Some talent
http://image.wikifoundry.com/image/1/CAThfGmBAN6JOSqL6hmscQ93718/GW746H650
HH
gearoid1998
I’m pretty sure the booing was for the departure of our old friend Deco and not his replacement – the KOK. The booing started as Deco began to walk off. At that point no one was paying much attention to who was coming on.
roy croppie
Lovin’ your work, Sir. Especially that last one of the Jungle. Great memories!
gearoid1998 @ 18:49
Reception Iniesta got when leaving the field is more in keeping with the Celtic support
I stood and applauded him off the park and couldn’t believe when some ‘Celtic fans’ said on social media that it wasn’t right as it showed a sign of weakness !! Really??
I thought it was about acknowledging one of the world’s best players, a gentleman on the park and who also scored the winning goal in a World Cup Final.
If you are a true football fan, how can you not applaud genius?
RC
I now do not know if I prefer your music links or your Celtic photos?
Great memories of games I remember. Thank you. :)
I totally disagree about Stokes. His work rate this season has been top class. Added to that he has provided goals and assists.
Indeed, he has been our most effective wise player.
roy croppie
Really enjoying your photo’s (my era). I can still feel the magical atmosphere of the time when I see them.
EM
Totally agree. Iniesta=genius. Was a pleasure to witness him in the flesh, and applaud and cheer him in Paradise.
Thanks for the comments Bhoys.
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/B4cR3NICcAE1fK6.jpg:large
Any of you here?
HH
I sometimes hung about here
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/B4cKCsmCYAA6JA7.jpg:large
HH
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/B4SNFBpCAAAlp63.jpg:large
Hampden in the sun
HH
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/B3raxm4IgAAXT39.jpg:large
One of my favourites photos
Hail Hail
Been summoned film time YNWA
Off to the Roseburn Bar to banter with the happy Hibees, smug Jambos and no Bears !!
Enjoyed the banter on here too – that’s what the blog is about – football opinions, even if diametrically opposed, a bit of music and no politics or religion !
More later HH
roy
Hampden in the sun
send that to andy walker – remind him of the team he owes everything to
Roy C, brilliant photos as usual.
The one with us scoring v St Mirren was Tom McAdam (out of picture) getting our second in a three nil win the day we won the league in 1982.
It was the first time I saw us winning the league at Celtic Park and was nearly greetin when the crowd sang we won the league for Doyle.
Tommy was absolutely brilliant in the second half, setting up both of George’s goals that day. Also, my most underrated Celtic player, Billy Stark in the picture also, St Mirren’s number 8. Frank McAvennie, wi red curly hair, played for the Buddies also in that game.
Roy C
Brilliant pictures – many thanks for posting them!
The old “new” Celtic end – used to stand up behind number 2 entrance/exit as my dad and older brother had ST for the main stand. Gave up on the Jungle after a game with the Sheep when I spent the whole 90 minutes side on to the park because oft the crushing and size of the crowd!
I was brought up to love the Tic but to appreciate talent as well – so I was more than happy to applaud the like of Iniesta who is a true world class player. Not only that but he has spoken very highly of our club and our 125th anniversary celebrations. I genuinely believe that our love of the game for its own sake is one of the key differences between ourselves and the deid Huns. Far too many of them saw no value in the game for its own sake but just a way of lording it over people they didn’t like! I’ll give one telling example – look at who we picked as the Greatest Ever Celt – wee Jimmy who must rank as one of the greatest ball players in the history of the game not just Scotland! Who did they pick? A journeyman player noted for nothing apart from his ability to kick people!
HH
I’m a big supporter of Stokes, I realise he is not a top class player but he is a great squad player to have on our books.I think this year in particular he is tracking back, he is combining well with Izzy going forward, I’m not sure how many assists he has but he has quite a few and he is our joint top scorer in the League with Guidetti. Considering he is being played wide and is not the penalty taker, that is no mean achievement.
Having said that I want what is best for team and if Stokes is not to figure in our best formation so be it. I too would like to see Guidetti in the wide role with Scepovic up front.
My ideal would be to start tomorrow with Guidetti & Scepovic and if its not working Ronny would have the option to take off either & bring Stokes on wide left.
embra..,
I’d hoped you’d have caught me better, my ref to Sammi n Stokesy is about how much focus on them specifically and their mistakes, while others get away with amateur performances.
And don’t get half the interrogation.
Dallas
I first saw us win the league in Paradise on that day in 82. Amazing how few times we won the league at home. Dundee and St Johnstone my two favourites. My parents would not let me attend the league winning game in 79.
Corkcelt.,
“I’m a big supporter of Stokes, I realise he is not a top class player” in your opinion
Neil, I never know with you, how far your tongue is in your cheek, so if I had any sense I’d just ignore you.
Anyway you know well what I mean.
roy croppie
19:12 on
13 December, 2014
Great photo, could have been there
Love this; could’ve been written by a Tim…
http://www.ibroxnoise.co.uk/2014/12/ally-mccoist-master-manipulator.html?m=1
Delaney’s, I’m a ditto on the 4 2 game. I had just turned sixteen and my mum & dad were flying out that night to Alicante.
It turned out their flight was at eight thirty pm and did not leave the house until seven o’clock. I thought their flight was at half six and was hoping to go to the game as they would have left around fiveish.
However, we did it without us backing the bhoys in person that night.
We had to catch up on a lot of games that season as it was a terrible winter and I’m sure we never played for about two months. I went to a few home games the nights before some of my o level exams. My mum and dad couldn’t stop apart from going the one that really mattered.
Stokesy for Hibs @ the bargain bucket dome:
http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=JMOg0n_rVnA
Say 1995 cup final was a great victory, particularly for TB and the Maestro.
God only knows they had our great club on it’s knees in the 90’s , the grave was dug and they were itching to shoot us on the back of the head and kick us into the ditch.
Defiance.
The Celtic Football Club fought back, and won against all the odds.
Nothing short of a miracle.
These are great times my friends, a golden age in the history of our most magnificent club.
Enjoy it.
HH.
IGC
Did you see the last comment!!
Dallas
I was 14, had been to every home game and most aways with the O’Neil bros that 79 season. I kicked up such a fuss that my Uncle took me to my first game v thems the following year. Cup final riot. My mammy was a nervous wreck till I arrived home in Knightswood with her brother.
At this time our board and support should stand on the huns throat…they are down…no compassion…no mercy…no prisoners….its what they would take great pleasure in doing to us….
Got my tickets in for Dundee Utd game at a 12:15 kick off on a Sunday, who makes these times up!
Igc and starry, i love the number of posts by anonymous particularly the last one. Could the last one be by big lawrie fae dennistoun, the regular on ssb? Lol
Starry do you think the last commenter is a Tim taking the pash or a current bun taking the pash?
Couldn’t have been Laurie, no sign of the word ‘consubstantial’