My friends in Celtic, a year ago I signed off on 2010 by saying, “I have never spoken to less confident Celtic fans ahead of a game against Rangers than I have this week”. Celtic had won only five of their previous 10 league games, seven of which were at home, but with a squad ravaged by injury, they found a formation which over several games dominated Rangers.
After three defeats and an Ibrox draw against 10-man Celtic, Walter Smith eventually got it right and beat Celtic at Hampden. The league challenge floundered in a scrappy defeat at Inverness, the home team fought for everything and found some vulnerabilities in Celtic but the season ended on a high with the first trophy of the Neil Lennon era as the Scottish Cup was won at rain-soaked Hampden against Motherwell.
Neil Lennon, Paddy McCourt and Niall McGinn all had to deal with more serious events than football in the first half of the year. Bombs and bullets were sent to Celtic’s three Irish stars, prosecutions are pending. These events put Scotland on the international news circuit in a very unwelcome light. First Minister, Alex Salmond, promised to take action but instead of tackling a century-old anti-Catholic, anti-Irish tradition, his government passed a law which criminalised all sorts of non-sectarian, non-racist activity.
Despite this initiative taking on flagship status for the Scottish Government, Salmond has steadfastly refused to re-gather and publish information on sectarian attacks in recent years. Policy has been made without reference to facts.
The new season brought great promise. Neil Lennon had a year under his belt and was no longer up against Rangers’ most successful manager, instead he would face rookie Ally McCoist, but a humbling by Sion, ultimately neutralised by Uefa, and poor early season league form saw the manager consider his position.
A home defeat to St Johnstone and an utter collapse at Ibrox set the tone, but it was Kilmarnock’s three goal lead which caused Neil Lennon most concern. The story of the second half comeback at Rugby Park is likely to take on legendary status in years to come, but as with much in life, it contained prosaic events. Celtic came out of the dressing room like a condemned team and failed to register a genuine attempt on the Kilmarnock goal for 25 minutes. Anthony Stokes struck a free kick which would have been stopped by most defensive walls but the Kilmarnock version was made of butter and Celtic had a platform to stage a comeback. Killie’s reserve keeper, Jaakkola, failed to reach Anthony’s shot a few minutes later and Celtic were level six minutes after they realised they had a game of football to play.
In their next game Celtic failed to score at home to then-bottom Hibernian, allowing Rangers to open up a 15 point gap over their rivals, who by then were in third place, although with two games in hand over Rangers. Celtic then went to Motherwell and promptly fell behind, our season hung by a thread, but it was that guy Stokes who again had the stomach for the fight. Anthony equalised within minutes and Gary Hooper scored a late winner.
Celtic have not dropped a point since, while Ally McCoist and his boss, Craig Whyte, now look like the rookies they are. They have lost three of their last six games, completing a collapse at Celtic Park on Wednesday night.
A year ago I reflected on the 46 players who played for Celtic during 2010 and suggested we would be better starting with a blank sheet of paper. The league challenge ended in failure but 2011 didn’t. This year ends with a coherent team strategy which could deliver the first sustainable and successful Celtic team in 40 years. We have a young squad, on wages the club can afford, with a scouting and management team that have delivered a clutch of players destined to achieve an enormous amount in the game.
Despite the energy and excitement around Celtic Park, attendances are down. Football is not as fashionable as it was three or four years ago. For much of the season, we play in a cold, wet, environment against well-organised but defensive teams; it’s a hard sell. We all know fans who have drifted from the stands, large areas of the stadium are now scarcely populated unless Rangers are visiting, which will impact income and subsequent expenditure.
Still, the shambles of 2010 has gone, Celtic look like a club with purpose and the tools to move forward with confidence. A two point lead at this stage of the season is largely symbolic but it’s a deserved honour that your team deserves.
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May all Tims that sail in the good ship CQN have a great 2012, especially the Captain Paul67, we appreciate all the effort.
Left the house on Wednesday morn at 5am for the Huns match and got home at 7pm thursday . . . Worth every minute. Special thanks to the Green Brigade for the wonderful atmosphere they helped create at the game.
Thought the whole team were brilliant with special mention to Rogne and big Victor.
I know we were wrong but thought I’d share with you anyhoo, 9 of us tried numerous bars before the match, the wee mans, the drover and O’Haughians etc but couldn’t get in as we had left it a bit late to leave our hotel bar.
Anyhoo, in our drunken state it was suggested by one of our guys to get a carry out so we did but due to the inclement weather we really needed somewhere to shelter!!
So to anyone that entered a well known fried chicken fast food establishment in the Forge only to find you couldn’t get a seat due to a crowd of Irish bhoys hogging two tables for nearly 2 hours sharing little chicken but lots of ‘cokes’, apologises!! Needs must and all that ;-)
Hail Hail
62nd minute, Bartley having a go at Sammi.
Sammi tells him to have a look at the scoreboard.
Nice one Big man
Panda hands.
Good thinking.
I stood in the queue for pizza hut for 15 minutes to get a few beers before realizing that everybody else had the same thought.
As I was walking up the gallowgate the police were ahead of me pulling the shutters down on all the pubs. I thought they were trying to ruin the atmosphere.
Anyway as we pull the shutters down on 2011, I wish everybody, their friends and families the best for 2012.
Our day will come in 2012.
happy new year bhoys & ghirls, one thing I would say has influenced attendences has been the economic factors, for anyone with a family 3 years of no pay rises, no overtime & the threat of redundancy has meant things have to be cut back.I have struggled to justify my season ticket & in the end had to give it up. Celtic should look at the price of the tickets & refreshments in the ground they are way to expensive. Peter Lawell should work harder for his bonus by increasing income.The mistake of not signing a stiker in January 3 years ago should never be forgotten by the board.
Wishing a happy and healthy New Year to Paul67 and his family and to all who sail in the good ship CQN.
stayed in the thistle £4.30 a pint went for a dander to the Crystal Bell £ 2.80 a pint and atmosphere was unbelievable until polis arrived an someone started singing ss ruc i was sh //in it
good evening CQN
Hope you all have a great night! Just having a quiet one with the good lady after being posted missing since Wednesday. Damn Celtic imagine beating that mob lol
All the best for 2012…….onward to the treble!
Oh wait Mr Jasper Newton Daniel from Lynchburg Tenessee has just gate crashed the party
Hail Hail
Happy new year Paul67 and everyone on cqn…Hail Hail.
Caberfeigh. Life not good for many people backing
The home country , recession just never happened here
I agree with most if what you say
Still think majority of fergus legacy lost because appathy if fans
Yes indeed striker
Wilo window cost out club up to 30milion in lost income and trophies
The main man who decided the wilo window policy , ie Peter L, is still
There and has actually profited personally from
That window
Zero debt, zero trophies , nice big fat salary
Happy new year to all you bhoys and ghirls around the world. Hope its great year for you.
Paul67 and family a special thanks to you guys.
HH
Happy New Year to all on CQN.
Have a champion new year!
SffS
I liked the ghost story in cybertims
So if you have not read it, have a wee read
read to the end troops…..i like to think its true
I Got a phone call last night from my mate Eddie who was totally freaked out about something that happened at the game. I kinda wish he hadn’t as its a bit creepy but in a really nice way. errr that sounds weird. To put you in the picture hes a very very down to earth guy and thats what makes it worse. He takes his two grandkids to the games and gives them shots each. It’s a really long story so I asked him to send me an email about what happened. I have edited it a little bit to correct a few bits of spelling and tried to make it fit the page better but here it is. I think it’s worth sharing. He did make me promise not to reveal something and I have respected his wishes.
Subject: Re: ghost
Date: Thu, 29 Dec 2011 16:00:24 +0000 (GMT)
X-Mailer: YahooMailWebService/0.8.115.331698
Hi Davy
Here’s that email you asked me to send. I am shite at writing things down and it might not come across very well but I will do my best. Please edit out anything you think isn’t right. I will try to relay some of the bits of conversation I had with the wee yin but it might look crap. You know where I sit. Last night there was a couple of seats next to me at the aisle empty as the two Irish bhoys hadn’t made it over. They weren’t empty all night as a few lads had sat down and then went away again. I think there was a few sneaked in so there was a bit of coming and going. I know you asked me if you could post this on cybertims so for people that don’t know me I’ll fill in a few bits. I never slept a wink last night and I can’t stop thinking about what happened. You can ask the wee yin yourself when you see her. Honest to God I near shit masel. You can delete that bit.
Okay here’s the picture for the guys on Cybertims that don’t know me. I am 52 yo and I have Two season books in the Jock Stein. I take my Two grandkids on alternate games and this last night at The huns game I took my Grand Daughter Abbey. I Wouldn’t normally take a nine year old to a huns game but we had a reserved disabled parking space right at the door and I was going to leave early because she was there.
So what happened? I am still getting shivers.
We were doing all the usual stuff and singing and dancing and I was getting right into it. There was piles of really bad language but well a ghirl has to learn sometimes, We were having great fun and as you know the atmosphere was brilliant. The was an empty seat to our left and sometimes two empty seats. Then the Aisle and the first Two seats opposite the Aisle were Kenny and Andy’s usual seats. Kenny has grandkids too and always brings a wee Celtic picture or a badge for Abbey or Katie and they Love him to bits. Abbey always shouts across to them and they wind her up so it’s not unusual to see her turned round and talking across the aisle.
I was a bit carried away with the game and didn’t pay her quite as much attention as usual but she was as always talking across the Aisle to auld Andy and she was having a ball. Everything was normal and at half time I was asking her what Andy had been saying?. She said it was too loud so she just chatted to the nice man that sat beside her. “The wee guy with the daft hat” I said. “No granda,The nice man with the red hair”. Oh Ok. Fair enough there was a couple of different people had sat on the empty seats, probably so the stewards didn’t chuck them out but they had moved to better seats when they got the chance.
I thought nothing of it and We danced and sung and cheered. We left with a full 15 minutes to go. I never leave early but it was a huns game and I wanted to get her out. On the way out she started to laugh and I saw her putting something inside her coat and just assumed it was her programme or something. We got back to the car and got away super quick. Nothing too unusual and we were super happy and listened to the end of the game on the radio and as we got to the start of Springburn road the game ended with us jumping about like a pair of dafties.
This is when it got creepy. I’ll try to explain the conversation in the car as best as I can. Ask her yourself at the weekend and I swear on the bible this was exactly as it went
me “What bit did you like the best?”
Abbey “The Goal it was magic it hurt my ears”
me “did auld andy give you a badge?”
Abbey. “naw I couldn’t speak to him it was too loud”
me “I saw you talking to him”
Abbey.”naw I was talking to the man”
me “what man?”.
Abbey “The nice man with the red hair. I liked him”
me “ahh I missed him he must have moved away quick”
Abbey (laughing)”daftie he was there the whole game, you need to go to specsavers”
okayyyyyy thinks me I’m not that old shes winding me up.but I don’t like strange men talking to her and when people do chat to her I always listen. There is NO way even in the heat of a huns game I would have missed anyone talking to her
Me (trying to laugh and make light of it) “what was he saying?”
Abbey “He was just telling me about how the game was going and that the game was good”
Me “anything else”
Abbey. “He said he used to wear the Celtic shirt and that he had friends still here”
Me “did he tell you his name”
Abbey” Naw I asked him but he just smiled, he said you might know him though”
Me (getting worried in case he was a perv) “did he say anything other than football stuff?”
Abbey (sussing me right out) “Naw granda just football. Don’t worry he was awfy nice”
Okay now I was a bit freaky. I had no recollection of this guy. I did see her talking to someone but the seat was empty at the time and she does that all the time because The Irish bhoys dont make every game and she talks across the aisle to auld Andy. In truth I was getting a bit angry at myself because as you well know i am really protective of her, well we all are i guess. But there’s no way someone could have been there all game and talking to her and me not spotting him. At this point i remembered something. I don’t know if you should put this bit on cybertims but I will leave it up to you. I remembered that on the way out she put something in her inside jacket pocket. I was praying that it wasn’t a phone number or email address or anything. Well in truth all sorts of shite went through my head and I was thinking stuff that I shouldn’t be thinking but as I said I am very protective.
Me”did he give you anything?”
Abbey “yep but granda he wasn’t a perv” (kids are getting smarter I swear)
Me”what did he give you?”
Abbey “it’s in my jacket in the boot. It’s ok granda it’s cool and I was going to give it to you for your birthday On Saturday”
Me “Sweetheart I know your a big girl but If a strange person gives you something I really should know what it is”
Abbey “okay i’ll give it to you now if you like”
okay so here’s me raging for no reason I can put my finger on, partly because I had maybe spoiled my birthday surprise and maybe because I was being over protective and treating her as if she was even younger and I hate doing that because She really is a smart wee cookie, Anyway I drove into Mcdonalds in Springburn road and ordered a drive thru and then sat in the carpark. Abbey full of nonsense and me worried sick.
Me” Abbs go get the thing the man gave you will you don’t think I am being an old fart”
Abbey ” sure you’ll really like it. The man says its a special thing and its a won of”
Me “whats a won of”?
Abbey “dunno” (laughing)
Right this is the bit I can’t stop thinking about. She went and brought out the thing the man had given her. It was beautiful it was a (EDITED BECAUSE I PROMISED I WOULDNT TELL WHAT IT WAS)
Davy there is no way on earth that that could have been bought on the internet or in a shop. it’s the real deal. Abbey has slept with it beside her bed all night . it IS the real thing. I knew instantly who it belonged to. I shit masel. I actually felt my fingers shaking. I KNEW who the man was. I reasoned that it was maybe a relative. did he have a brother? anyway.
me “Abbs are you sure he never said his name”
Abbey “nope he told me he was a Gaulton Boy”
me “Gaulton?” never heard of it was it Galston”?
Abbey “don’t think so”
Me.”he didn’t say anything else that would give you a clue to who he was?”
Abbey “oh yes he said people called him a funny name”
Me.”Can you remember what it was?”
Abbey Laughing “aye thats easy, he said his name was “Mr twists and turns”
Davie I swear on my grandkids lives that’s what she said. You can ask her. My eyes are streaming with tears even as I am trying to email you. I am a wreck. That (DELETED) he gave her could only have been his or been bought by someone from him. I’ll show you it when you come over.
Abbs was staying with us and she went to her bed and I told her she could watch shrek on the telly. That was when I phoned you. I haven’t a clue what to do now. If anything. Abbey is incredibly happy and she kept the (DELETED) beside her all night and it really is a treasure. What I didn’t tell you last night though was that when I was sitting in the Living room something jumped into my head and because Abbs was still watching the film I went into her room and asked her.
Abbey “Where did the man say he was from?” , “Gaulton Granda”. “Abbey was it Calton?”
yayyyyyyyyy Granda that was it it . Calton
While I remember and before I get get totally welded…Hoopy New Year to all my CQN friends!
Estadio
Give us the Sandman.
Hola Amigos;) nearly hauf six here in Toronto and just heading out for some cheer. To all my cqn pals that i’ve had the pleasure of meeting, God Bless you and happy new year. Oscar is always in my thoughts.
To Paul 67, it’s hard to express my gratitute to you for this site and all that you do, but thanks, well done and keep it up.
To Terry O, i hope to see you soon and trust you and the good lady will be enjoying a wee dram or such, glass raised:)
Slainte
tony
Happy New Year when it comes CQNers all around the world. I love this site and the positive contribution it makes to my life. Thank you Paul.
HAPPY NEW YEAR ONE AND ALL.
All our friends around the world and especially
oor Paul67
Happy New Year to all my fellow Celts and a big thank you to Paul67 for this wonderful site.
bhoys4ever
Paul67 etal.
I’d like to wish you and everyone else, A Happy And Prosperous New Year.
There’a a wind of change in the team and that is taken up by the supporters who were tremendous on Wednesday night,there is improvement in most departments of the team,and I think a big scoring machine would be the icing on the cake,anyway,it’s looking good for the rest of the season,Thanks Neil, your assistants, and most importantly the team.
It was nice to see Kit again,I was in good company that day.
As I say there are far too many, for individual salutations, but you know who you are.
Someone mentioned Pablo earlier and it brought tears to my eyes,he was very good friend to me and is still sadly missed,Jonathon if your reading on here, I’ve still got that bottle that I promised you.
Again a Happy new year to one and all.
Happy new year everyone! Now to win the league!
Happy New Year CQN. Here’s to the treble!
Happy NY CQN!
We are top of the league…
2012 and still a Celt, life is indeed good.
All the very best to hoops around the world.
A very happy New Year to all CQNers. Paul, thanks for the fantastic site. I’m so encouraged by events of the last few weeks, here’s to a successful 2012 for the greatest club in the world.
The Ghood
Is it fireworks or just thunder in the air?
Hail Hail.
A guid New Year tae yin an` aw.
HAPPY 2012
EVERYONE
Happy New Year Paul 67, thanks for the blog.
Hopefully a great 2012 for all Genuine Celtic fans on here.
HH
Happy new year to boys everywhere
Happy New Year CQN’s
Hail Hail
Mucker
Ach feck it! Why shouldn’t we shed a wee tear of fantastic nostalgia, friends departed and ambition inspired.
Pablo and everyone.
Hail Hail and a wee memory from when I heard that Steve had taken that big step!
*******************************************
Hi all.
I heard through a friend of Pablo’s so sad and untimely death.
I wouldn’t even dream of comparing my knowledge of the man with some of his closer friends on here, but our paths did indeed cross a couple or more times. …….And he annoyed me intensely!
He wouldn’t stop offering to help out, do that, organise that, to get Oldtim from A to B. He should have been in ‘how to succeed in getting things done’.
Steve was an amazing example to so many people. And that perhaps is the reason why when I heard of his passing, I thought of all that he had achieved and contributed. It struck me that perhaps we view life as an allotted set of years when the essence of ‘life’ is actually what you do, how much you enrich and what message you leave to echo down through your descendents and acquaintances.
If we accept that we have the free will to choose, think of the unselfish role model that Steve has been. So perhaps ‘life’ is fulfilled not always in reaching a date, but in building the foundations for others.
Perhaps Steve achieved what he was meant to achieve. Perhaps he has built that foundation for many who follow. They will continue to build.
Time is a mirage, what we do is real and echoes forever.
Mind you as I said he wasn’t perfect .
He always annoyed me with his plan! Well he thought it was one plan; but I knew different for there, staring back at me from his face was a million plans moving around like a hailstorm in a gale. He was going to do this and then and then……this ……this ad infinitum.
I was always exhausted when I watched his ears attune to a room’s 15 conversations waiting to pick up on another opportunity to “I can do that. Friday no problem!”
His eyes told the alternative reality; he didn’t have a plan, he didn’t really know what one was.. Or thinking again maybe he did ….sort of….it’s us that have too many plans, too many passwords, passkeys pin numbers, deadlines, alarum clocks, diaries and organisers. Maybe he had skipped that bit that said ‘this isn’t a plan; this is everything you will do between now and when you retire”
Naw Steve didn’t really annoy me; he just redefined the word plan to mean ‘do as many things in whatever order you want to provided that the balance of the ‘good’ outweighs the ‘bad’.
As I said time is the mirage.
Just to finish and say cheerio, Steve seems to have been noted for his musical contributions to CQN melody makers. This may have been what influenced the other thing that resounds to the mention of his name. He always greeted me with that sort of sixties/hippies greeting ‘Hey Man’!
So just as a wee tribute to Steve
Hey Man.
“Hey man, why you headin where the mountains meet the sky
What’s that you call? Your word’s unclear! Hey man, why Goodbye?
The album cover’s no’ designed, the lyrics no’ set down
The melodies are no’ complete, the rhythm no’ yet found
“Hey man see these memories, a witness tae yer past
In brush, or pen, in note or bronze, each by a master cast
Each ache, each pain, each flight o’ joy, each smile a star in time
Each touch, each word, each fear, each hope, life’s poetry in rhyme.
Hey man, what gives you the right, tae up and pack yer stuff
Without sae much as ‘dae youse mind?’ a life lived aff the cuff
Nae ticket bought, nae taxi booked, nae train, nae plane nae, bus,
Hey Man, you’ve nae map, nae plan, so why you leaving us?
But then you turn to wave again, your sands of time have run
You’re off to roam and tell the sky the tales of battles won
Just one glance back and one last grin, and then your music played
Of triumphs, losses, laughter, tears “Hey Man …you could have stayed.”
Bye, Pablo be seeing you some day. I haven’t smoked in 10 years but I’ll try one of your specials tonight. If you are watchin nearby or at a loose end, come and have a chat and we’ll have a giggle about the plans you’ve got in hand for up there. One thing is sure, there will be a four leaf clover involved.
Pity help God!
Estadio
Have we bought a centre half or forward yet-
Come on peter get the finger out
Lots of love for2012
Champions
Happy New Year you Bhoys in Green!!
2012 is the time for heroes.
HH
CRC
BHOYS
Happy new year to Paul and all who frequent his wonderful blog.
HH
Hoopy New Year to Paul and all CQNers!