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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Ernie Lynch
I note your comments on republicanism which is ok elsewhere but not in Scotland
I fear the moral compass is hanging heavily tonight
Team for Sunday based on CQN interest:
Stornoway
Black Pudding Skwerr Slice
Green Brigade Lawwell Mandela
Sands Wallace.
`night all,
JJ
PS TNT Thanks. I hadn`t seen your post `till now.
TeT.
I’m good mate.
Thankfully missed the second half..
MWD will never forgive me. I left before I took his pie back up..
winning captains
23:18 on 27 November, 2013
Thank you
justafan
22:53 on 27 November, 2013
‘I understand the point your making but if your talking Realpolitik what was the Spanish position when czechs and Slovaks split?’
###
Czechoslovakia wasn’t a member of the EU.
Ah hiv written extensively oan whit Ah believe should be the Criterion used, when oor doubtfully, redoubtable,,,, Talent spotters,go aboot the business of vetting a potential
Signing.
In a Nutshell.. the Candidate should be Physically Impressive, first and foremost..and then we should go aboot choosing him or not.. based on him possessing… first and foremost….that Initial Feature.
Howevahhhhh..
Meanwhile,,,, at another Place in the Forrest…
Ah noo come tae the More Demanding Art ..of which .. Ah am Sure oor Manager Knows little.. or…is Brave enuff,if he diz.. tae gie a Few of oor Likely Lads, from oor over achieving Reserve System, a shot at the Peerie.by handing one or more o’ those youngsters the whip.
Now there is a Wealth of Fitba talent tae be Found in that Youth System of Oors.
Case in Point..
D. Fisher.
This kid..
Whether Neil, knows it or Not.. And Ah doot that He Diz..
Young Fisher is the Real Deal..
And he should be Given Full Rein.
In other words, a Permanent Place for Fisher should Be Found..in oor First Team.
IF not in the Full Back Stations.
Certainly, he kin be Inserted into the MID -FIELD.
The Kid is too Good No tae be Playing in Every Game..
Therefore, He should be Made Available tae be slotted intae wan of the Mid Field Berths..whenever a vacancy occurs..or.. even if Wan .. Well.. Disznae Occur.
For example..
Kayal.. is Jist No Damn Good.. Ma Words.. no, his Mammie’s.
He should be driven from the Fold.
so..
should.. Joe Ledley..
Who Never appeared tae me as being superior tae Rogic.. but that is anither Story..
Rogic,is being Unmercifully IGNORED by the Manager..
This Lad, could be a real Asset in oor Mid Field..
But Only if … Neil, wid Gie Him a decent Run of Games..in order fur him tae properly, settle in.
Instead, Neil is Hell Bent determined… tae Shoe-Horn a Very good Defensive C.B. .. namely, Darling Charlie,into a Mid Field Role..
Which is a Complete waste of A Talent.
While oan the Subject of Mid Fielders..
Let me state Here and Now..
Celtic, Hiv a real Godamned Potential Smasheroo.. in young..
LIAM HENDERSON
This Kid has mair Fitba’ Nous in his Left Shin-Guard.. than ..
Eether.. Ledley or .. Neil hiv in eethur of thur their Big Toes! (Ah don’t know,entirely , Whit That Means. but, the Devil in me.. Made Me write it.. anyway!}
Bottum line..
‘
Young Henderson ,should be given Mair Games .. especially, starting agin S.P.L. Opposition.
In Ma opinion. right noo.. Henderson, is as Good as Gould is.. Mebbe, a wee bit Bettah.. but. Ah am Predjudiced..so ye kin ignore that bit..
The Only difference that Ah see in the Potential of Baith of these Youngsters..is
that
Gould Hiz a Manager…who his the guts tae gie Him a Place in the First Team.. and Keep him there..
And
Henderson,hiz a Manager..
Who..
DISNAE HAE THE GUTS, tae gie him a Start in the First Team. .and KEEP HIM THERE.
Yes..
Neil… You must be a wee bit mair Bold in making yer Selection Decisions..
Yer Present Incumbents in oor Mid Field.. are ..well. Crap,wid be too strong a Word. .tae describe their contributions…but
No By Much!
And Ah am Including
Broonie..in the Proclamation..
Yes , Broonie.. He is A great Hasher and Basher.. but
He is No Mid Field General..
And that is whit.. Young Henderson, could turn oot tae be..
But..
Only if Neil.. gets his Act together.. and Straightens up and Flies Right.
Yes, Virginia..
Celtic, do have the Resources ,already within the Club.. tae Turn Things around in oor
Mid Field.. but it Requires a more Laissez Faire Attitude, coming from the Manager..
which,Unfortunately, shows No signs of Arriving.
Kojo
Still, Laughin’
justafan
Who came up with the labels “Scottish, catholic, male, Celtic supporter”.
Billy Bhoy 05
23:20 on 27 November, 2013
I favour a republic rather than a monarchy.
I believe the SNP favour a monarchy.
Consumers v Citizens?
Politically Passive v Politically Active?
Haud yer Weesht v Stand up and be Counted.
Fair enough, we are blessed to be living in a culture of Choice all…. Still
Bit surprised & disappointed by the tone & language used by some on here tonight…. Maybe I am just getting old and it is a Sign of the Times.
The Tims They Are A Changin CSC
This is the song that last night’s banner was taken from.
http://youtu.be/3rK_280ebIY
WARNING!!!!
Some may find the lyrics offensive as there are frequent references to resistance and armed struggle.
Ernie Lynch
Can’t remember who it was that said on this site you where up the bum of Galloway: he got that right.
You stand shoulder to shoulder with the Loyal Orange Order.
DeniaBhoy
Cheers, will see it later.
HH
Beauty sleep time…
Until we meet again…
Keep the Faith!
Hail Hail!
b-c-w
On bobby sands I hold no position as I have little knowledge of the man, his politics or his beliefs and it would be stupid to have one in the circumstances.
As am sure you know my question was nothing to do with that gentleman bit you chose not to answer the question I asked.
You are entitled to do that, no problem!
One of the bereaved on SSB tonight says wee Dicks team was the greatest team to grace the C L. Not a mention of EBT’s
I take it he’d been on the gas and milk again.
Billy Bhoy 05
23:24 on 27 November, 2013
No I don’t remember who it was either.
Sad really.
b-c-w
Labels…
Er….that would be me
D’oh!
Oh FFS there’s some deplorable slagging going on tonight.
U
Evening All.
Would this banner be tolerated by the club, the support, the police, UEFA and the act?
It comes from Amsterdam– a nice, well run, quiet and peaceful city with a liberal police force.
https://twitter.com/nikpostinger/status/405733654493925377/photo/1
justafan
Maybe you are having problems reading my words ? You seem to be having issues even with your own ?
blantyretim is praying for the Knox family,
The GB is a relevant topic of conversation simply because of the negative publicity that they have generated on our club. Again. Its a pity as they can and do provide a great atmosphere.
Do you not think another fine or worse is worthy of comment?? Your, or my own opinion of the breach of UEFA guidelines are frankly irrelevant; it is how it is portrayed that is the problem.
I agree, unfortunately we are again talking about this when we could be having a more constructive debate.
THE EXILED TIM-Free the Dam 5.
On the contrary, some of the esteemed posters on here seem extremely well educated and express their views eloquently, in fact so much so that they can form an independent opinion.
HH, Always in Celtic.
BT
Only ever saw a pic of him, and he looked like he would have needed that pie >}
Only jestin, good that you are ok.
HH
Gotta Leave,Steve.
Seeya
Kojo
Still,Laughin’
Why do we bring in and pay millions for “strikers” weve never heard of when we have them here in Scotland? Mc Kay & Steve May? And Russell when he was here??
Greenpinata
They do, and some are uneducated, and probably work for jack.
HH
b-c-w
Didn’t appreciate what labels u meant. Sorry didn’t think of my example as labels.
Could have said a Swedish, female,agnostic, disabled Celtic supporter or not been such a smart Alec and just said Celtic supporter.
As I guess you are aware it was the ‘labels’ you used I was querying.
Anyway, as before, you chose not to answer as is your right.
Jude
heard the hun on snyde earlier, a dreamer or what, let them delude themselfs, they deserve all they get.
HH
Jude
I’m struggling to remember when we were so bereft of a goal grabbing forward ? Lou Macari’s team ?
Seven Drunkin Nights on Iain Anderson just now. Class!!!!!!
SNP favour a republic. You are attempting to be disingenuous. It will
take time to be fully free of the English Yoke
Never once have you answered any
Statements on Labour inventing the Bedroom Tax. Pledging to charge students £9k a year. Or the SNP
Social polices on NHS such as free prescriptions and protecting it from growing privatisation which is happening in England. Never once have you appreciated any decent
policies. You are a unionist apologist and I would ask that you consider the future of children and grandchildren.
Never once have you defended the actions or explained the actions
of the Labour Party in causing death and mayhem in illegal wars. I watched parliament today and I
found it repugnant to see the Tories
and Labour cosying up to each other. The party of Bambi Blair, Mandy and Darling addressing the Tory conference is the party you want us to embrace.
The Party Of England: and Scottish acolytes
Justafan – having seen it from all angles on Spanish TV it is soft and for the minimal of contact.
The man now has 17 red cards to his name (none for Spain in 115 games funnily enough).
Along with Pepe, Ramos has a deserved reputation for dirty and, at times, idiotic play. But I can’t imagine he’s ever been given a softer red than tonight. Their bodies tangled is about as much as he could be criticised for.
Or maybe I’m just looking for reasons to criticise Collum, the night’s Rioja might be blurring my ability to be impartial . . .
I don’t mind the debate I detest the name calling and childish put downs.
No respect shown by Celtic fans to Celtic fans.
That is a bigger problem.
Good night folks.
Big Cup Winners
Hi. I wd like to test ur memory. You blogged something about Custer to me but it went right over my head. Do you recall it.
Twas abt 10 days ago.
justafan
It seems to be just you that can’t decipher my answer. There is at least one other post in reference.
Perhaps I am missing something that you could label correctly this time ?
jude2005 is Neil Lennon \o/ @23.35 hrs.
At last, something we can all agree on, I hope.
When looking at some of our purchases I have the same opinion. Certainly did last night.
HH.
Billy Bhoy 05
23:39 on 27 November, 2013
‘the English Yoke’?
Your sitting there typing with your face painted like Mel Gibson, aren’t you?
charles kickham
22:56 on 27 November, 2013
whether you agree with the display or not – one thing is clear – it has certainly allowed some on here to let their mask slip and show their true colours
—————————————-
I would not want Celtic or CQN to suffer any fine from UEFA, but since you bring up the subject of ‘true colours’ I might as well confess.
From rebel veins my life I drew,
In rebel arms I lay,
From rebel lips the lessons drew
That led me day by day.
And, rocked to rest on rebel breast
And nursed on rebel knee,
There woke and grew for weal or rue
A rebel heart in me.
A rebel heart, a rebel heart,
From taint of thralldom free,
God strengthen still through good or ill
That rebel heart in me.