There’s been a lot of talk about the Lisbon Lions recently; you may have noticed. Go ask you dad about them, he’ll tell you they could take care of themselves. For all the pretty football, they still had to win the battles.
Consider also the team during Seville season. Thompson, Lennon, Sutton, Hartson, Mjallby and Valgaeren never failed to meet an opponent square on. They were all hard men. Don’t even ask about Bobo, he terrified opponents by the scale of his shadow, no opponent dared take him on.
All of those duties now fall to Scott Brown, he’s our hard man. It’s an important role and he doesn’t have much in the way of support.
You get the feeling there’s a notion that the rest of the guys can concentrate on being wonderful, in the knowledge that Scott will sort out the troublemakers. He was, of course, wrong yesterday, not for the first time, although red cards are not a regular occurrence.
Sky TV could not have hand-picked a better analyst of this situation than Barry Robson. Barry arrived at Celtic in January 2008, picked up the mantle of Sorter Outer in Chief, and stamped his authority on the league title. We all knew that, unlike a then often-rash Scott Brown, Barry could work within the lines and still get the job done.
But even the such a master of subtle intimidation can get it spectacularly wrong. Last year he lamped former Celtic team-mate, Scott McDonald, a minute after coming on as a substitute. If you want a hard man in your team, don’t go yelling about him when he acts like a hard man moments after being assaulted from behind.
The only surprise about the late penalty for Ross County’s Schalk’s outrageous dive and subsequent penalty was that it happened this weekend, not next. Set your watch for it, people, if you think the treble will be decided purely on meritocratic terms, you’ve not watched as much football as me.
Brendan’s about to find out the limits of his apparent powers in Scottish football.
BOOK AND T-SHIRT OFFER ENDS TUESDAY AT MIDNIGHT!
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I am sure like most Celtic fans, either in attendance or watching from afar, it took a while for the wrath to simmer down following the dramatic events at the end of yesterday’s game. One advantage of the the long bus journey home was that it helped to assess what had happened.
The news that Scott Brown, in my opinion our most influential player, was free to play in the semi final certainly helped to assuage yet another sense of injustice at the hands of officialdom.
Anyone who watches football these days knows that simulation, let’s call diving, is part of the modern game. It really is a scourge which needs to be addressed.
Yesterday’s culprit, Mr Schalk, has previous of course and our own Efe Ambrose was the victim in last season’s Scottish League cup semi final. Schalk’s antics that day not only cost us a goal from the penalty spot but severely handicapped us for the remaining 75 minutes of the game with Efe receiving a red card.
Many were quick to criticise Efe for giving away the penalty however they may wish to reconsider given who was the alleged victim.
Interestingly, Schalk was at it again just 10 days after that semi final….
From the BBC live text report of this game :-
WED, 10 FEB 2016 SCOTTISH PREMIERSHIP
FT Ross County 0 Hearts 3
HT 0-0
Davies (53′ minutes og), Dauda (86′ minutes, 89′ minutes)
69′
Alex Schalk (Ross County) has gone down, but that’s a dive.
70′
Alex Schalk (Ross County) is shown the yellow card.
Referee Steven McLean got it right that day and it is a pity his colleagues got it so wrong yesterday. Referee Robertson is a former youth player too which is even more surprising he apparently could be conned by Schalk.
Anyway by the journey’s end yesterday I managed to console myself with the fact that we have our great captain available for Hampden, we remain unbeaten and that terrible penalty award could have been the end of our fantastic run.
The decision certainly did not alleviate the plight of Paul Hartley’s poor Dundee team.
Drama over (until the next time), Robertson is to apologise apparently , thoughts are now turned to Hampden where I hope we rediscover our tempo and ruthless streak which (Tynecastle apart) has only been visible in flashes in recent games.
One last thought on Mr Schalk. In future any player who goes down in a similar fashion should be considered to have “Schalked” it (see also Nicola Amoruso or one for the old bhoys (Davie) “Wilsoned” it).
Phil\HT
Good to see the love is back.
There is hope for the Turkey and me now. :-@)))
MWD
Practically every week we have a referee’s mistakes being THE match story.
Think back over the last few week’s Robertson’s penalty award whilst missing teh assault on (2) Madden’s Thomson’s (one which we beneffiteed from), Betaon’s after Garner’s latest assault
SCULLYBHOY on 17TH APRIL 2017 1:44 PM
Teemu Pukki – The 27-year-old forward has struck 25 goals in just 37 league and cup encounters, as well as laying on another 10 goals as his side sit second in the Danish Superliga behind Copenhagen.
*but he’s a dud don’t you know, some heated driveway hater on here has pals in the eastern part of the fatherland that told him so.
@CraigWhyte22 bio
Entrepreneur. Business Turnaround Strategist. Former owner Rangers Football Club
No ways is it real. He’s no that clever.
MWD
He’s only tweeted twice
This one
@CraigWhyte22: Looking forward to being in Glasgow later this week. After years of inaccurate commentary and speculation the truth will come out!
and this one
@CraigWhyte22: It’s you’re! https://t.co/i7ka7RcN0Y
correcting this
@Machina72x: @CraigWhyte22 your a charlatan, everyone knows it, hopefully you’ll go to prison. you better prey the judge/jury aren’t rangers fans
Going by the grammar fascism I’m going for @CraigWhyte22 being a CQNer
:-@)))
MWD
BHOYJOEBELFAST on 17TH APRIL 2017 1:50 PM
Video evidence would have k.o.ed the penalty shout….. but then it all depends who is viewing the’evidence’.
*absolutely, in the NFL the decisions are made in the offices in NY. So if this is to occur in hunden, nothing will change.
Practically every week we have a referee’s mistakes being THE match story.
Think back over the last few week’s Robertson’s penalty award, whilst missing the assault on Tierney some week’s earlier; Madden “missing” the penalty and ignoring Holt’s foul on Patrick Roberts; Beaton missing Garner’s latest assault, a round kick on Imrie.
Our focus is of course on our team. But the problem, poor refereeing standards, is so widespread. On Saturday Collum awarded a goal, that never was. Track through the leagues you’ll find a litany of errors.
I’d like the Fleming to publicly announce what steps have and will be taken to improve things.
I think he is hamstrung. The referees seem to be riven by internal problems. The regional structure they have is not conducive to advancing education and promoting better referees . It’s likely to add layers of politics and jostling for position.
Self interest seems to hold sway too. For example Dallas’ son, it’s an open joke at his fast-tracking, particularly when viewed against his calamitous abilities in his meteoric rise.
Then there’s the real problem: how they manage to influence football results for the Ibrox club. That is not something they will voluntarily give up. The video technology may just be football’s salvation.
Just watched BEEB highlights and retract my previous that I thought Broknues challenge was red. It was a yellow. He did not come in high and not stud first. It was very slightly late but nothing worse than you’ll see most games but not in any way dangerous.
The ref when you watch also thought it was yellow. He went to his back pocket to get his yellow then changed to left breast to get the red after he saw Rossed up county players having a go or b) realised it was Broonie and computed a possible loss of player next week.
MWD
Brown free to play Sunday —
http://www.bbc.com/sport/football/39616097
!!Bada Bing!! on 17th April 2017 1:17 pm
Auldheid- the Club should not hide behind KT’s comments.They should be asking publicly for an explanation of the penalty, nothing will happen but they should bring it into the open . Blatant cheating should be highlighted, we are taking this on the chin on a regular basis.HH
==================
Not sure why that is being directed at me. I was posting on a different subject, the opportunity to do something that still exists and will be a dereliction of duty if not used.
On Tierney I don’t go along with Video Celts attributing this to Celtic’s official stance. Interviews with players are part and parcel of post match and the lad is expressing his personal view as did BR and on same lines.
For it to be attributed to Celtic I would want to see it in a statement by them on their web site.
I like to be sure of my and other people’s ground before I decide what meaning to give something.
sa broonie tr
cmcg biton to come
mid should be sound for the game against last chance saloon
Gordon
Great post.
Kenny Miller schalked
Tontine Tim on 17th April 2017 3:52 pm
BHOYJOEBELFAST on 17TH APRIL 2017 1:50 PM
Video evidence would have k.o.ed the penalty shout….. but then it all depends who is viewing the’evidence’.
*absolutely, in the NFL the decisions are made in the offices in NY. So if this is to occur in hunden, nothing will change.
======================
Only in a situation where after 4 or 5 replays can the video ref be unsure is any bias likely to occur.
If its as obvious as it was on Saturday that penalty would have to have been denied after one look.
Its use on goal line might have helped ICT. They might argue lack of video cost them two points on Saturday. I gained v M well, the that RC would have lost.
Perhaps finally the clubs who are really affected by poor decision making will realise video is the answer.
Any upcoming sanctimonials?
Auldheid- pardon me, my annoyance was not meant for you.It was when you brought to light the official website including KT’s comments on Robertson.I am pi$$#@ off at the club hiding behind his comments, instead of taking the bull by the balls.HH
testimonials…obv
Moonbeamswd on 17th April 2017 3:57 pm
I think based on other recent decisions it will be reduced to a yellow. The ref going to his back pocket first will help as will fact similar tackles have gone unpunished.
Incident oan the pitch?
Och, wait a wee minute noo an awe that.
Next we’ll be seeing madmitch and mrs pastry popping up.
Oh wait…
:-)
Broony’s sending off seems laughable when viewing in context of all the pictures of unpunished assaults on Celtic players during the course of the season.
Who gives a hoot if that’s whataboutery? The facts, or pictures in this case, don’t lie.
!!Bada Bing!! on 17th April 2017 4:14 pm
Auldheid- pardon me, my annoyance was not meant for you.It was when you brought to light the official website including KT’s comments on Robertson.I am pi$$#@ off at the club hiding behind his comments, instead of taking the bull by the balls.HH
=======================
YOU’RE PISSED OFF?
Don’t get me started lol.
Failure to tackle dishonesty ends up rewarding it.
If we take the other bottom 5 teams on Saturday are they going to tell their players not to dive as a result.
No bloody way. So what if a player gets suspended if caught. At this end of the season points on the board are worth more than a player suspended where the standard of player across all six is pretty even, as the points tally show.
To deter you either take away any point won as a result of such blatant cheating or bring in video to reduce its likelihood. Inaction is simply not an option but if the bottom six clubs cannot see this, then there is no critical mass for a reaction.
Trying to post on CQN is becoming nigh on impossible currently, even here in the US.
My Apple devices are completely paralyzed by ads and pop ups. Particularly my iPad, which keeps reloading the page on a never ending loop.
I use my gadgets for work, so can’t install Adblock.
The Rangers are a better outfit than Thistle and Ross. We have outclassed both of the latter, but were unable to put them away.
The danger in the next two matches is that we again do the same. We are by far the better football team, however that is not always good enough in games against the Ibrox occupants.
We must be on the front-foot from the start – we were not in the 2-1 Ibrox and 1-1 at CP.
Killing them off in the first-half must be the aim – the longer the deadlock remains the greater the risk of referee intervention.
For what it’s worth, I was disappointed in Scott Brown yesterday – thought he had left that type of petulance behind – disagree slightly with Paul, we did not need a ‘hard man’ yesterday – we could/should have been ‘out of sight in the first-half.
Finally, let’s hope someone is designated to pick up Miller when he drifts into the box, usually at the back post.
NegAnon2 on 17th April 2017 1:22 pm
Auldheid I am presuming that is a rhetorical question?
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Not if I can help it.
Apart from popping in to have the occasional pop what have you been doing about it recently?
Specsavers withdraw funding for the MIBs as share price pummets.
Sin City BHOY
If you go to settings, then safari, then advanced at bottom, then turn off Javascript it will solve your problem completely. It takes two seconds and if you visit other sites that require Javascipt you will be advised and can turn it back on in two secs.
For everyone who has ordered the Lisbon book and t-shirt for £19.67, I have been folding the t-shirts all afternoon and there will be in the post with your copy of That Season in Paradise in the morning.
This launch offer ends tomorrow at midnight so there’s still time to order from cqnbookstore.com
Pep Warbiola edges closer to the drop, Notts Forest lose again.
Che;sea announce John Terry for the off at the end of the season.
When a player takes a penalty with his right foot 8 out of ten times it will go to the goalies right. So im very disappointed in Gordons dive to his left yesterday.
Jude
Put yer specs oan!
I was not disappointed in our captain yesterday.
He reacted when it was obvious his team were being cheated by your bog standard hun with a whistle.
That he was red carded for far less than O’Brien received a yellow is just confirmation that his feelings about double standards are true.
The same ref allowed Motherwell to kick us off the park with impunity and administered a yellow to a player who left the imprint of his studs on KT’s knee and upper thigh.
They are cheats.As huns it’s in their dna.The majority of this country share the same dna.
The sanctimonious assertion is that it’s only a west coast problem by those in other parts of the country is them refusing to admit their own prejudices,
Ask Neil Lennon or any Celtic away supporter how the best wee bigoted country in the world treats them?
In my youth i never missed a game and i have been been punched and kicked by the police in Aberdeen and Edinburgh for having the temerity to wear a Celtic scarf.,Had missiles rained on me and fellow supporters at Tannadice while the thin blue line laughed at our plight and only reacted when the Celtic fans had enough.Needless to say those wearing green were arrested.The hostility faced in every town and city was obvious but it has had the unforeseen effect of creating a a Celtic support with a defiant and collective mentality .
This is why we saved our club and the spoilt,pampered and entitled huns let their club cease to exist.
BEATBHOY
CANNY FIND THEM!!!
Can anyone tell me why charles green got off Scot-free when there was a £70m hole in the accounts when he was in charge ?
In nineteen hundred and sixteen the forces of the crown.
Was Robertson appointed to the semi-final today? Nah, that would be too cynical.
Paul67, I’m sure our manager well knew the score when he took on his perfect job. Maybe Collum and Robertson will find the guts to give us a level playing field. Maybe not.
For to capture orange white and green
Bombarded Dublin Town
Anger is an energy.
Celtic have to stay calm.
The sense of injustice is FRESH, and that is Good.
I can’t wait for the day that Sky have nothing to do with Scottish fitba, unfortunately they are covering the game next weekend.
The Sky is indeed Falling in.
My auld Dad always claims that the Tynecastle lot are even worse than the lot fae Govan. He always hated going there. Salmond created that law that a Sheriff deemed “mince” to get at us. Mrs Budge treats us as some sort of vermin. West of Scotland problem? Never in a million years.