Negatives out of the way first: we’re not good enough, this is a low achievement by a Celtic team who have reached a group stage. There’s no disputing that, but amid the predictable ‘Throw them all overboard’ reaction, I know I’m not the only one who is not panicking right now.
When I heard we were playing three wingers (Forrest, Mackay-Steven, McGregor) I anticipated a thrashing. Gordon Strachan would often drop all his craft players for the more industrial types in European football, with good reason.
As it turned out, we had the majority of the chances, and all the better ones, as we spent most of the second half pushing for a winner.
No arguments with Leigh Griffiths assessment immediately after the game, that was his worst performance in a Celtic shirt. Nor is there dispute in Ronny Deila’s retort that he’s scored plenty for us before and will continue to do so. Even the greats have days like that, including the Swede.
The midfield formation was fluid throughout the game. Tom Rogic initially played as a defensive mid, before moving in front of Stuart Armstrong (who moved everywhere) and Callum McGregor. The defensive mid role Rogic played isn’t one carried out by either Nir Bitton or Scott Brown. We’ve not had anyone in this role since the departure of Victor Wanyama (still pining) and it remains a large gap in the offering.
Lesson: we need a defensive mid. The deep lying playmaker + box-to-box player isn’t robust enough in Europe.
Callum McGregor carried possibly the lowest expectations of everyone in a Celtic shirt but he put in an excellent shift. His goal was outstanding, losing possession immediately before Ajax equalised took the shine off things a bit, but it was still a strong performance.
Do you know the last time McGregor started a game? October 2014. Under those circumstances that was a remarkable performance.
General consensus is that the defence played well. Kieran Tierney is as good a left back as we’ve had in years. Had he not gone off with an injury the result might have been different.
Jozo Simunovic is clearly out best central defender. I know I’m not setting the bar too high with that statement, but he’s a move in the right direction. He’s also young, still working on his fitness, and will continue to progress.
A week ago Celtic Underground’s Harry Brady suggested Dedryck Boyata plays better alongside Simunovic than without him. Dedryck still has a long way to go but the evidence suggests partnered with a game-reader like Jozo has helped him. Let’s see where he is at the end of the season.
And Craig Gordon? He could have stopped both Ajax goals. That’s not to say he was to blame for either, he wasn’t, but these were the kind of stops he was making in last season’s Europa League.
Ronny is 18 months into the job and has contributed to the situation we find ourselves in (tactical mistakes in both Molde games), but this is not the time to lurch off plan. We’re not good enough largely because we’ve recruited too few players since 2012 who have improved the team.
We need to continue to develop players like Tierney and we need to recruit better. Get this right in January, and again in the summer, and we will be vastly better. The alternative is likely to be to pick up a best from the SPFL pool, or someone from the English circuit who cannot get a better paid gig. And then it would take until November 2017 before we could assess them properly.
Return of the Bampots
Tonight, for one night onlyt, Phil Mac Giolla Bháin, John Fallon and myself are in the Hibs Club, Carfin, for a Q&A in aid of Mary’s Meals, with Phil Agnew hosting. The event starts at 7:30, £5 entry, can pay at the door.
Looking forward to seeing you there.
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Aiden Bhoy
Why would Celtic comment on attacks on other people’s property in the Gallowgate? Surely the owners of the property that suffered damage should be screaming from the rooftops about the failures of Strathclyde Police not Celtic.
As for the damage inside Celtic Park it is possible to conduct business with out releasing a press statement every 15mins ala GASL.
******Help Shay Along the Way Auction update****
We have our first bid in of £250 all the way from a CQNer in Trinidad. :-)
——————————————————————————————————-
We are delighted to offer you the chance to bid on a very special single cask bottle of Bowmore 3 Elements Single Malt Whisky.
This is bottle No 1 in the collection of 251 produced and has a cask strength of 59.4% (normal strength is 40%).
This bottle, an 8 year old Islay malt, was bottled on 26 June 2009, was previously donated by our good friend ACGR, to raise funds for the WeeOscar4Life campaign and raised a staggering £1901 for our wee green and white hero.
Now the bottle is now back to help raise funds for another deserving and worthy cause and another wee Green and White hero, Shay
This bottle is believed to be only 3 of this cask collection now left, so the current value of this bottle is around £200
https://www.facebook.com/celticrollercoaster/posts/10206420451763327?notif_t=like
The auction will close at 6pm on Sunday 29th November
Submit your bids and any questions to : cqnlastmanstanding@gmail.com
HH and good luck
CRC
It hurts but it hurts so good.
Rangers claim they knew nothing about confidentiality agreement until Mike Ashley produced it 10 days before general meeting
BY GARY RALSTON
THE Ibrox side have asked the High Court in London to overturn a gagging order obtained by the Newcastle United owner almost six months ago.
RANGERS have laid bare Mike Ashley’s iron grip on the club in their court defence against the Sports Direct boss.
The Ibrox side have asked the High Court in London to overturn a gagging order obtained by the Newcastle United owner almost six months ago.
Ashley has accused Rangers chairman Dave King of breaching the order, which forbids the club revealing details of controversial contracts signed by the former board and his sports empire.
Ashley is seeking damages over an interview with Sky Sports presenter Jim White in July. If found guilty of contempt of court, King could face prison.
The case is expected to be heard on December 9 and Rangers are also expected to seek to strip Ashley of his gagging powers.
Papers lodged by Rangers secretary James Blair state the arguments for overturning the confidentiality agreement drawn up with Sports Direct, former Light Blues chairman David Somers and influential shareholder Sandy Easdale. The Record has accessed the papers, which reveal the club’s anger as King hosted yesterday’s AGM at the Clyde Auditorium.
Rangers claim:
● Records relating to the original confidentiality agreement signed by Somers and Easdale don’t exist
● Somers sought no legal advice from the club, no meetings were in his Rangers diary and he had no authority to sign a confidentiality agreement
● Easdale was acting as leader of a shareholding bloc and not a company representative when he agreed to the deal.
Central to the case is a Record article in May in which we revealed there is a seven-year notice period in retail contracts between Rangers and Sports Direct.
Rangers categorically deny leaking any such info and we would never reveal our sources.
VIEW GALLERY
But the Ibrox defence papers reveal that not only does the seven-year notice period exist, but it can only be activated once Rangers pay off a £5million loan from Ashley’s company MASH Limited.
The loan was drawn down by the old board shortly before they lost control of the club earlier this year – to the disgust of fans who claimed there were other options.
Allegations of failings by the old board will come as no surprise to Rangers supporters – and nor will Ashley’s attempts to keep his dealings with the club under wraps. Blair said: “The former board owed duties to Rangers including a duty to keep proper records of their business dealings.
“Notwithstanding that duty, records of certain dealings relied upon by Sports Direct International do not exist and matters that might otherwise be admitted or denied are the subject of non-admissions.”
Blair said Rangers were unaware of a signed confidentiality agreement with Sports Direct until they were presented with it by Ashley’s solicitors on June 2 this year – 10 days before the club’s general meeting and nine months after it was drawn up. Blair added: “Rangers are unable to locate any document explaining why Mr Somers signed it and what was said on behalf of SDI to induce him to do so.
“If it was signed at any meeting on September 5, 2014, Rangers do not believe the attendees attended as company representatives.
“It was a meeting of key shareholders arranged to discuss issues impacting on them as shareholders and to review how, as shareholders, they would proceed.
“There is no record of the meeting at Rangers and there was no reporting back from it to Rangers. Rangers’ chief executive and finance director were not present.
“The meeting is not in Mr Somers’s diary.
“Mr Easdale clearly attended in his capacity as leader of a shareholding bloc and signed the undertaking personally.
“As far as Rangers are aware, Mr Somers did not take advice from in-house counsel or any lawyer retained by Rangers about whether it should be signed.
“Nor do Rangers believe Mr Somers asked for or was given authority to sign the undertaking on behalf of Rangers.”
Ashley applied for gagging orders against the current Rangers board ahead of the club’s general meeting on June 12. He feared directors would lift the lid off controversial contracts agreed with Sports Direct by the former board.
In their defence, Rangers insist the applications were unnecessary as King would only have discussed issues in the public domain such as annual accounts – including “how little revenue came to the club from Rangers Retail Limited”.
Ashley also acted to gag the board in light of the Record story revealing the existence of the seven-year notice period to terminate his retail contracts.
But the Rangers defence papers add: “While this was true until about January 2015, once Rangers had drawn down under the Facility Agreement they were unable to give notice at all without repaying the sums borrowed. Rangers consider that provision to be onerous and one that should not have been entered into.
“Had they wanted to stoke up hostility for Mr Ashley, they could have provided this information to the Daily Record.
“The fact this information is not in the article is evidence that Rangers were not responsible for any disclosure made.”
Rangers also insist the confidentiality clause has already been breached several times by sources close to Ashley – including Easdale – rendering it invalid.
They list seven occasions when newspaper outlets and bloggers have quoted details of dealings and meetings between Sports Direct and Rangers which the club say couldn’t have come from them.
King is refusing to back down in his war with billionaire Ashley, who is also embroiled in action with the SFA after they granted King “fit and proper status” to lead Rangers.
Snapshot for those planning heading up the A9 tomorrow. I just looked out the door and A slight dusting of snow lying on the ground today, has currently disappeared and the roads are black. It’s miserable mind. This report sent from Aviemore.
Disclaimer: snow amounts in this part of the world can rise as well as fall :)))
now returned from a leisurely lunch. back home in time to see the little scamp Vardy expose a highly priced defence for what they are. MUFC decide to go witht3 at the back against an in form striker who score goals when running into space? great thinking there by van Gaal!
Forget all that, I hear our game could fall foul of the weather? I have been a regular visitor to inverness over the last 30 years. The ground lies at sea level, reclaimed ground from the Moray Firth, Inverness can often be free of snow and ice when towns 3 miles away can be frozen solid.
The waterlogged pitch will be the only concern, and that will have to wait until tomorrow. Sorry guys , but that is a fact, if the drainage works we will be okay, if it rains all night….no chance.
Posted the photos of the damage – have a look.
Owen
They’re quick to issue statements when we are perceived to be the offenders. Are you seriously saying the safety of Celtic supporters is nothing to do with them till they’re in the stadium ?
HELP!!!!!
EMDAE KNOW WHATS HAPPENED TO MC KENNA’S CHIP VAN?? USUALLY IS IN COATBRIDGE ON A FRIDAY HASNT BEEN FOR 5 WEEKS NOW. HOPE JOHN IS OK!!??
As the great Laurence Olivier asked in Marathon man Is it safe ? or is that board plant eedjit still afoot.
HELP!!!!!
EMDAE KNOW WHATS HAPPENED TO MC KENNA’S CHIP VAN?? USUALLY IS IN COATBRIDGE ON A FRIDAY HASNT BEEN FOR 5 WEEKS NOW. HOPE JOHN IS OK!!?? Fish supper brill at £2
OOPS
O.G.Rafferty #sthash.bCzwiY9l.dpuf
thanks for that, must admit that when it comes to the Ashley v Sevco battles, I am reminded of a great quote from Dan Maskell.
He was asked about a Connors v McEnroe Wimbledon final and he was alleged to have said, off the record of course….looking forward tom it , its a great shame one of them has to win
SOUKOUS on 28TH NOVEMBER 2015 6:14 PM
A long time ago in gaĺaxy far far away Celtic2 Barcelona1
How far are this board prepared to let our club fall.A manager well out of his depth has 2 attempts to qualify for the champions league,2 at the Europa league and we’re told be patient.18 months into the plan.What exactly is the plan?
You must be a bit dolly dimple if you don’t know the plan. It is simply, above all else, the books must balance every year.
That is why with no CL money for financial year 2016/17 PL is desperately looking around for who to sell next July or August.
– See more at: http://www.celticquicknews.co.uk/some-perspective/comment-page-26/#comments
AIDEN BHOY on 28TH NOVEMBER 2015 7:05 PM
Owen
They’re quick to issue statements when we are perceived to be the offenders. Are you seriously saying the safety of Celtic supporters is nothing to do with them till they’re in the stadium ?
That is precisely what they are saying.
In fairness to Celtic, given that it was Dutch hooligans MSM has chosen not to ask Celtic for comment.
– See more at: http://www.celticquicknews.co.uk/some-perspective/comment-page-26/#comment-2727784
Aiden Bhoy
Legally yes.
If my bar was attacked I would be finding out which copper allowed a group of hooligans near my place and demanding compensation for their failure.
As for Celtic I do seem to recall that they only react to events within grounds what happens outside is not strictly their concern. The only exception to this, that I know of, was the lads locked up after the Amsterdam police rioted. They allowed fund raising collections and engaged a Dutch solicitor if I recall correctly.
OWEN on 28TH NOVEMBER 2015 7:14 PM
Aiden Bhoy
Legally yes.
If my bar was attacked I would be finding out which copper allowed a group of hooligans near my place and demanding compensation for their failure.
Given that someday he might depend on retaining his licence on the word of said copper, bar owner is not liable to say too much.
– See more at: http://www.celticquicknews.co.uk/some-perspective/comment-page-27/#comment-2727786
Quonno
That shouldn’t need to be asked for a comment to make a statement .
Owen
It wasn’t just property that was damaged 4 fans were seriously assaulted and ended up in hospital.
Quonno
That is as maybe but if his insurance goes up his bar might close anyway. The cops failed and should be held to account.
The damage inside I hope Celtic are pursuing but don’t expect hourly updates.
the glorious balance sheet @ 5:56 pm
“This is what I don’t get-
There are people who post on this blog who regularly tell us we can’t hope to do anything in Europe as the teams in Europe have more money than us and Scottish football is just a backwater so how can we expected to compete in Europe anyway?;
But many of these same people tell us that we are to rejoice in winning the SPFL – a competition in which we have much more money than the rest of our rivals and which takes place in the backwater of Scottish football.”
I don’t see any contradiction at all. I see a situation that persists all over the world and in every sport. Some sports are open and you can compete in any competition in any country where you are good enough to qualify for entry. Some are closed and you can only compete in your national category and at a European or World level if you satisfy the qualification criteria (this is the situation facing Celtic).
We are “allowed” to enter all domestic competitions and, despite our advantages, we very rarely win them all. Therefore, since the prospect of defeat exists in every domestic competition, I rejoice when we win and prove ourselves to be the best team in the competition. I don’t really get how some people can “turn off” their joy at Celtic winning, even a reserve league or quizball but still find room to carp and quibble that we did not win in style, or by a big enough margin, or that we dropped points at times, conceded too many or did not break the ton in scoring. I can only reconcile that viewpoint, and it is prevalent amongst some of our own, as spoilt. We are used to winning leagues and, now that the blue team are deid, it is no big achievement. It will only be fun when they are back in the league.
This is not just a modern phenomenon. Celtic’s crowds for league games did not increase exponentially as we worked our way towards 9iar. In fact, we got a blase as the Ibrox mob did in the 90s when they did their “equivalent”. Crowds started to drop off after the 5th or 6th title as it was becoming routine and stale for some.
Now, if we win our domestic comps, and have fun doing so, then we get to enter the European arena. That used to be an even playing field and, while we enjoyed the post-war talent of the 60s and 70s and. perhaps some of the 80s, Scottish clubs had every right to expect to win trophies and they did. In those pre-Bosman days, pre-TV money and big league dominance, we had a fighting chance- now we don’t. Our real failures as a Board and as a team occurred then when there were no excuses as to why we should not have been better in the late 70’s, and 80s right up to the Bosman ruling- Aberdeen and United showed us up when they had no financial advantage over us.
I wish it was different but it’s not and I can’t change it by having “ambition” but expecting somebody else to pay for and implement my ambition. It needs clear thinking, negotiation and planned campaigns with clubs that have been similarly disadvantaged, to change things. The big Euro names of the past- Celtic, Legia, Anderlecht, Austria Vienna, Red Star Belgrade, Malmo- al face the same hurdles and glass ceilings.
So, I have to be stoic about the proven lack of winning capability we have in the European arena and just rejoice at signs of improvement or even an ability to halt the slide. Meanwhile, I will take my pleasures where I can find them. Pellegrini and McCoist have shown it is possible to blow a league when you have a huge financial advantage so, forgive me, I plan to be cheering Celtic and RD come May when we have won our league and, hopefully, added a cup or two,
A bit of a contradiction in my view.
Mibbe the Glesca Polis didn’t expect any trouble from those nice Ajax fans (and their Scottish zombie cousins).
They are culpable and should be held to account.
SFTB
That’s wot I sayed but you used betterer and morrer words.
:-D
If my bar was attacked I would be finding out which copper allowed a group of hooligans near my place and demanding compensation for their failure.
Ha ha this place is brilliant that’s up there with the boy could produce a Morrison share certificate.
Since his arrival on the blog he he has been a deeply divisive inflluence. Without doubt a plant by our board. It has cost us good men like ACGR. Time to take sides CQN. Jeanette’s bold rebels or TDs donkeys.
GLENDALYSTONSILS
Agreed they are culpable and should be held to account. Celtic should be asking serious questions here . Fans getting harassed left right and centre for singing or having a banner Police all over the place filming and kettling fans. But a group of well known thugs in town with their Hun pals not a policeman in site on you go boys charge in.
Lennon’s Passion
So as a business owner they would not be entitled to ask why a group of football hooligans had evaded the police? Then they could not,of course, have sued Strathclyde Police for failing to protect their property through a failure to carry out their duties and responsibilities.
It’s Saturday night I’m enjoying a few well earned beers so I will be charitable.
Foxtrot Oscar
Owen,
You’ve already told us it’s the be all and end all, you’ll be happy if that’s all we win forever more, you’ll always be happy for us to get pumped out of Europe because we should not be as ambitious as to expect a result against European teams regardless of their relevant seeding or economic status because we are only Celtic and we are defined by our lack of ambition.
Aye a true Tim, why didn’t Jock Stein know his place
Evening Bhoys
Shun the troll lads.
Sad excuse for a Celtic supporter.
Brings nothing but nastiness to the blog.
Ignore him…hopefully he will go away.
HH
Gordon64
Applause. The most ridiculous post of the day and that takes some doing. But doubtless you’ve more stupidity to come.
Canamalar
I have said nothing of the sort.
You show one quote from any of my posts that back up your accusations if you can.
I want Celtic to succeed in every competition they enter, I do not demand they win every competition they enter. There is a difference.
Evening folks,
THE GREEN MAN on 28TH NOVEMBER 2015 7:36 PM
Agreed. Cut off the oxygen to the empty vessel and they will soon disappear.
HH Dan
Eldiegobhoy Thanks so much. Indeed I have more nonsense to follow. As I get older I have become more wary of eedjits who appear harmless but are indeed dangerous influences.
OWEN on 28TH NOVEMBER 2015 7:35 PM
No you enjoy your drink.
hello again, by now I am on the outside of two good bottles of Sicilian wine, or at least one and a half, so postings will be hopefully accorded some license.
There is no excuse for people on here giving up on the team, we know some things and can only be speculative about other matters.
I could not give two hoots if we have a great CEO or a visionary board; my greatest years as a Celtic fan 1967 – 1975 and the MON years , forgive me but I had no idea who our CEO was. If you add in the Centenary year glory there is another tranche of time.
We will always be Celtic. Not Celtic plc, not a brand name to be hawked around, Celtic Football Club…nothing more, nothing less and that in itself is a whole lot more than 99.9% of the football world have.
Hail! Hail!
GORDON64
Careful…..they will try to bamboozle you with an avalanche of cut and paste quotes:)
HH
Gordon64… You are not that old, I thought you were Gordon63…..
I have hardly been on the blog because I can’t be bothered with a lot of the excrement, but apart from that I hope you and all yours are well !
JMCCORMICK
Well said.
Enjoy the rest of your wine.
owen
Thanks and cheers, the wine is gone, Cider now on tap…..
JMCCORMICK
Hate cider gives me an awful headache no matter how much water I drink afterwards.