Celtic’s valiant capitulation last night had a familiar feel to it. We took the game to Milan, bossed them in many areas while the tie was still close enough to be called a contest, created chances but had no cutting edge and lost heavily, at home, to what is clearly the weakest of four Milan teams we have faced in the last decade. It was a similar story when Juventus came to Glasgow last season.
Am I the only one who thought it was familiar from stirring European nights of the 80s? Take on one of the most experience teams in Europe with two out-and-out wingers, inspire for a time but only earn a lesson in how unforgiving the game can be at the top level. Or at least, hope we learned a lesson.
We loved it in the 80s, of course, but it was like going to school when Martin O’Neill arrived and taught us how to win in Europe. Despite the defeat, the 10 men got it right at home to Barca, and in the home win over Ajax, where we allowed the visitors the majority of possession and territory, but with four minutes on the clock and Celtic playing well last night, I noted the game was “worryingly open”.
In Europe, an open game means defeat. We don’t have the midfield or attack to win playing adventurously. When setup properly, we can defend as well as anyone in Europe, this is our irrefutable strength, play to it.
Paul McConville
The first thing I did when I met Paul McConville at the Columba Club on Friday was dig him up for not being in touch recently. This gave him an opportunity to wax enthusiastically about the consuming joy of being back on the tools as a solicitor in Glasgow. He was a man who had arrived exactly where he wanted to be in life.
He was so full of drive, clarity of vision and purpose that it was with utter disbelieve I heard the news of his sudden passing yesterday.
As anyone who read Random Thoughts Re Scots Law knew, he loved his family. He also loved practicing law and held Albion Rovers in high affection. He was not, as has been suggested, part of the Celtic family. Had the snake oil salesmen turned up at Celtic Park they would have endured the same forensic analysis from Paul as he applied elsewhere, but he was an important friend and resource to our community, and ultimately our club, during an historically important time.
To most of us he was a unique blogger. Cheerful, incisive and unrelenting. He charted the story of Rangers insolvency, administration and liquidation, then picked up the even more complicated events surrounding the phoenix.
When asked on Friday why he had been less industrious recently, specifically covering the leaks from Charlotte Fakes, he conceded he just didn’t have the time anymore; he was back litigating and loving it.
The personal cost of his blogging was often all too clear, he was out there, but Paul managed to retain his determination not to be browbeaten, while enduring the numptites with more good grace and humour than most of us could muster. Before taking up his new role in Glasgow he worked a few minutes walk from me. We collaborated on a number of matters in recent years and marked one auspicious afternoon last year by sharing a bottle of Champagne; a genuinely treasured memory.
The fragility of it all is breathtaking. Our condolences to the McConville family. May he rest in peace.
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Tom
I think the point is that where you live you could sing Roll of honour with absolutely no consequences to u.
Sing it hear and u get arrested.
That’s the great wee country we live in.
The good and the great learned ones of CQN decide the fate of the GB
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8BIdy2fQK5I
Oh mammy! Run away boys, and never come back.
ulysses mcghee is praying for Oscar
On the wider point re Celtic’s efforts to market the club. We are in a position where the likes of Cardiff, Swansea and Hull have an income stream from TV much larger than Celtic’s – the club’s efforts should be applauded – in theory the profit will be invested on the park.
ernie lynch
22:22 on
27 November, 2013
=================
Geezeabrek!
I’m no finished with the SFA yet.
Personal insult?
Used by those who have no viable counter argument.
A de facto compliment.
CRC
moody, i’ll gie ye moody…been on this blog, not a lot of posting, for about 9 years, last years cqn annual & this years does not have my monicker at bottom of any page, yet some trumpets get mentioned twice. To think that some folk want to argue about Celtic & banners, when i have more pressing matters to contend with…ah want ma nom at the bottom aw next years annual, no twice, wance will dae.
Moody al gie ye :-)
Talking of the Board doing Hee Haw about a corrupt governing body have all petitioners received answers to why Resolution 12 was canned or what ever the euphemism used was?
forget about sevco or huns whatever people on here want to call them.vent ur anger at the real culprits .the current coaches ,the board ,they get a easy ride on here, tony donnellys right ,I have no time for people with left wing views, they stir it up for the green brigade,
Spanish PM just announced he will block independent Scotland entry to the UK.
Salmond’s grand plan now effectively dead in the water.
If the GB had a little more patience they could have stuck around to see his political demise…
“entry to the EU”, obviously.
D’oh.
The exiled Tim…
Permission given by the club for display on an agreed non political basis as required by uefa.
Disregarded by GB (strange they previously wanted more communication with the board and when they have it they abuse that trust).
GB deliberately target a CL game for, presumably maximum exposure, ignoring the possible consequences for the club. Uefa add this to the past
list of ‘crimes’
Self serving and arrogant I’d say.
My politics are well left of centre. I am 100% against the SNPs criminalisation bill and will never vote for them again (I gave up Labour after Blair’s first term). I share much of the GB’s politics and views (including their view on the Living Wage, on which the recent AGM vote was an absolute disgrace) even though they are half my age
However, regardless of what whether they have a point or not, their banners last night are being reported by Reuters and, therefore, across the world (e.g. Edmonton – http://www.edmontonsun.com/2013/11/27/celtic-asks-for-political-banners-to-stop-after-uefa-charge)
They can argue all they like about the comparison between Bobby Sands, Nelson Mandela or the Honey Monster – the outside world see only that Bobby Sands was part of an organisation that was responsible for the deaths of hundreds of innocent people. They neither see nor care about the reasons behind the deaths and, frankly, why would they
I admire greatly the GB’s determination to hold firm with their beliefs and principles. However, they have now gone too far. Arguments of freedom of speech are garbage – if i invite people to my home and they start racist talk then they would be chucked out – freedom of speech is not limitless and comes with responsibilties. Celtic have asked them to stop – the GB have stuck two fingers up to them regularly
Reluctantly, I would ban them. On the whole, Celtic Park will be a lesser place without them but they are now bringing embarrassment to themselves and their club
They are perfectly entitled to continue with their protests and i hope they do. However, they should do so away from Celtic Park. They should also have the courage of their convictions and pay the fine that will surely be on its way
A lot of whataboutery on here tonight.
ernie lynch @22.20 hrs
I can appreciate your sentiments to a certain extent. We have always prided ourselves as being outside the establishment and being the ones discriminated against ( With good reason ).
However I will draw your attention to our mission statement which I believe encapsulates our ethos perfectly.
Celtic Football Club has a straightforward social mission statement:
“To maximise all opportunities to disassociate the Club from sectarianism and bigotry of any kind. To promote Celtic as a Club for all people, regardless of sex, age, religion, race or ability.”
This I believe is not compatible with the divisive political agenda last night.
HH, Always in Celtic.
midfield maestro
Yoo tryen tae cause a STOOSHIE, its been so quite oan the blog, yoo wid start a fight in an Emty Hoose.
Awerabest PJ
Jude2005 we collected a massive £28,280 on Saturday the overall total on FAC is approx £38,000. Massive thanks to everyone who took part.
Apologies for not being more precise but I’m still laughing at the comedians on here tonight.
TD & Smoke & Mirrors do you do stand up?
Monte – I can well imagine you’re thoughts on the cowardly and corrupt UEFA, but should we just pay the fines and no more said? What if fines become one stand being closed, which I believe happened to Legia Warsaw this season, the club of our friend Zbysek?
T4
midfield maestro
22:34 on 27 November, 2013
That’s cos you never go oot with us! We don’t think you exist :-)
Having a local beer tomorrow night with Paddybhoy1888 after the 5s, if you fancy a partake?
SMB-you allowed out or is your liver still impounded?
HH
CRC
Anyone got a link to the Green Brigade statement?
Italiabhoy
Given recent experience of the GB surprised you can’t identify posturing when you see it!
Paddy Gallagher…interesting.
Assume that’s Whyte putting in motion his attempt to prove he was duped out of the original Sevco.
At times like these, it’s nice to remember that the Huns’ problems are of an entirely different magnitude to our own…
Burghbhoy –
You are preaching to the converted. I have no problem with the sentiments behind the protest.
That’s not what my comment was about.
Emdae know any details re Pauls funeral?
AN DUN What serious problems are you talking about.i thought as a football we had no problems.
CRC
thanks for invite, watching granddaughter though.
Hx2
THE EXILED TIM-Free the Dam 5 22.29 – Fair comment, well said. The Green Brigade are offending precious few people other than those engaged in a tit-for-tat battle that has seen UEFA bombarded with emails and phone calls by fans trying to get their “enemy” into bother.
Other than their F**K UEFA banner, I doubt if anyone inside UEFA would know who or what was being offended by any of the songs or banners inside Celtic Park. And Ibrox for that matter too.
We are being fined, and Deadco were fined, because of our fans and theirs being desperate to grass each other up.
“Miss, Miss, he did it Miss, I saw him . . .”
THE EXILED TIM-Free the Dam 5
22:29 on
27 November, 2013
In all honesty I think we need to get this in perspective.
The GB display a banner that offends the bigots, the club are reported by the bigots, and get a fine, a fine of say 20K, or whatever, bad enough, but at the end of the day, little money in the grand scheme of things.
Do you know how much was raised by the bucketeers?
minx1888
Thanks for that. The family eh? HaiL HaiL
Anyone know how the Barca fans were treated by the regiokorpsen
gscbhoy (Just idag är jag stark – Just today, I am strong)
22:37 on
27 November, 2013
They can argue all they like about the comparison between Bobby Sands, Nelson Mandela or the Honey Monster – the outside world see only that Bobby Sands was part of an organisation that was responsible for the deaths of hundreds of innocent people. They neither see nor care about the reasons behind the deaths
====
Wrong many European countries hold Robert Sands in great esteem.
Good night all
HT what have I told you about wrestling with pigs :))
Till we meet again
Fanad – there was a Hun called into Radio Clyde the other night about the GB tifo at the Dons game, so it’s not easy to work out where the complaints came from!
T4
justafan.
There’s posturing and there’s a slap in the face.
The GB posture. Hopefully they will be man enough to pay the fine, rather than expect the rest of us to contribute via our club.
The Spanish PM has just slapped Salmond in the face with a wet kipper. This is the big league now, and this kind of realpolitik as entirely predictable. No way Spain would let Scotland separate from an EU member state but remain in the EU, not when they have the Catalans whining on the sidelines. I suspect they are not alone among EU governments in that attitude.
Leaves Salmond’s vision of an independent Scotland in tatters I’d say. No EU membership and the whole shebang falls apart.
Just read the sad news. I loved reading Paul’s blogs as they were incisive and captivating, even on “slow news days”.
God rest his soul and keep his family safe.
jude2005 is Neil Lennon \o/ 22:40:
It will not be until next week, no date as yet. If you want you can e-mail me and I will let you know as I am in touch with Paul’s Brother who is a good friend of mine: It certainly will not be before Tuesday.
lennybhoycfc@gmail.com
Keep the Faith!
Hail Hail!
Good night all
God Bless all here
Oglach…
Never knew that. Which ones?
justafan
It cuts both ways, the club have already said they would support the GB in their fight against the act, that hasn’t happened, the GB decide to get maximum exposure to highlight their fight against the bill that had criminalised them for being Celtic supporters.
I am not saying they were right or wrong, but ffs, they will be locking the support up for the wearing of the green if they could.
My point is more about the suits standing by and letting the sfa shaft them, that is what is criminal imo.
We can argue till the cows come home about the songs, the poppy, the politics, we are all entrenched, and that will never change.
the suits are not doing their job re the shareholders….end of.
That is why the Res 12 was on the agenda.
HH