If you were sitting in the Cliftonville dressing room tonight, you would fancy your chances against Celtic. They are a team reportedly playing the best football in their club’s history and are packed with professionals who are focussed on the task in hand. Celtic have vastly greater resources, but the fact that we have a list of excuses ready for a below-par performance is concerning.
The plastic pitch, the departed Wanyama and possibly departing Hooper, the tactically non-existent preseason and the fact that the deciding game will take place in Glasgow next week, are all available excuses, and teams with ready-made excuses often take them.
None of the above hold water, though. I would be surprised if Celtic players didn’t spend more time working on a plastic pitch at Lennoxtown than they spend on Celtic Park. Wanyama and Hooper were each absent from substantial Champions League victories last season and whatever gave Celtic the blues in Germany is a consequence of poor form, not a reason for it. Celtic can draw or even lose tonight and will still be favourites to proceed in the tournament but this is a game of football, and deserves to be respected as such.
The momentum for last season’s triumphs started to build after a solid win in Helsinki. A win tonight in Belfast would take the pressure of next week, allowing Neil Lennon more freedom to prepare for future challenges.
No excuses, Celtic.
To kick off the new season we’re having an Internet Bampots session on Friday at the (always excellent) Columba Club in Blantyre. Paul McConville, Phil Mac Giolla Bhain and myself will be on stage for a Question and Answer session from 19:30.
Tickets are available at the door. See you there.
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Philboy 14 10………..what an exciting place for a summer holiday. I reckon you won’t have a problem. Every pub on the moon is showing the big Celtic match to-night.
Steinreignedsupreme
Am I correct in saying the big share holders are locked in and cannot sell at present? Green? Ahmed?
jackie mac,
Do you mean he wore an orange top or an Orange top? And out of interest what was the incongruous setting?
Sincere thanks to HT & Tiny Tim for the tickets.That was beyond generous fellas,seriously.Thanks a million.Legends.
….and if I am correct, surely today’s activities is costing them plenty?
TTTT
Thank you, my friend :-) Something just comes to my mind. In my first days on CQN I used to write under my posts “Legia Warsaw fan”
“L”
Cheers Steinreignedsupreme,
must be something else, then. I wonder what.
Willie Wallace and Bertie auld on shortbread now
Notice the Sun has a headline today
” McCoist is in shape for new season ” ( no jokes about steak bakes please )
” His road tested formation of 4-1-3-2 pre season tour of the highlands and England
will see the goals flow at ibrox ” ( stop laughing please )
Bertie and WW on shortbread – talking about the Lions
Celtic to win tonight……PLEASE PLEASE
Talking about all the lions
TnT,
Ok I’ll put it another way, who are they selling to ? :o)
Who is giving them 40 odd pennies for their shares ?
Is it the mad mental nomad ?
mickybhoy 18:12 on 17 July, 2013
You are making the mistake of taking everything the manager says in public at face value.
Most football managers, certainly the smart ones, just tell the press anything. Ferguson was speaking about his plans for this season just two days before he announced his retirement.
What the manager says in public and what he says is the dressing room are to completely different things.
Embdy got a link to the WW/BA interview
Build up on radio scotland
Midfield Maestro
One more thing. Don’t change your money at the airport. Maybe when on the trip in the city, ask taxi driver to bring you to the exchange office.
If you need, I can find telephone number to so called Red Taxi. Easy, no concealed meaning, just fair taxi drivers. All their taxi drivers are women.
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=602742963082098&set=a.149218508434548.23140.100000392008182&type=1&theater
coors lad and his troops take over Belfast.
Gordanj
Orange and an ‘educational setting’ beggars belief
Canamalar
Not certain but I’m guessing they are being bought cheaply by small investors. ( investors -ha). If the shares dumped today were being bought up by an individual, I’d have thought there would have to be some announcement to the SM. How much of the club has been traded today? 20%. More?. Any experts out there?
Wilkins is looking to appeal the decision and has asked the retrial be held in Edinburgh…..
twists n turns 18:18 on 17 July, 2013
“Am I correct in saying the big share holders are locked in and cannot sell at present? Green? Ahmed?”
That may only apply to people on the board. Although some posters on here will be able to verify or correct that.
Whatever the situation though, we are talking about real shady people here – these shares will be getting dumped for a good reason.
Twists
20% of not a lot = not a lot
Financialguru CSC
16 Roads, hope all is well today! hope youse, explain that one to HT have a great evening…
Googybhoy
That’s the same Davie Whyte who was so shamefully treated by Oldco. Imagine their arrogance to blame such a young manager because he couldn’t get the better of Big Jock?
Condolences to Mr Whyte’s family.
Are the Easdales hoovering up shares inter alia, then?
look at me all erudite
RadioScotland = Magic at the moment – Bertie Auld ” Murdoch had everything” , agree always been my Fav player
Paul67 et al
Looking for a positive professional performance from the Bhoys in Belfast tonight to get our European campaign off to a good start. And take it back to Glasgow next week. Not looking past Cliftonville but that wont’ stop me backing Celtic to win. Hail Hail!
Gherrybhoy57
Howzitgaun?
I take it you know who I am now?!
Not sure when I will be next over tbh – was hoping sometime this month, but it is looking unlikely.
HOPE to be over late September for BMCUW’s day oot, and the ‘Maharani night’.
Fingers crossed.
Hope you are well and enjoying living in Ayr.
Where you watching the game tonight?
Hope to see you soon!
HH!!
emusanorphan you will probably get the game in the Dubliner at Spinola Bay in St.Julians or the Cork just up the road from there.x
Good old STV from Edinburgh kick off the football review with a Hertz story; then next find a Cliftonville fan who supports oldco; then to put them in their place – last – we wee hibs story. Still laughing………….
Stein Reigned supreme
That’s alright then
Here’s me thinking he was a wee bit worried
I think paul’s leader suggests excuses are being
rolled out early
Anyway , a no nonsense victory is a must
Still pissin myself laughing at Mr Zs lenin quip..he has definitely picked up the Glasgow humour.
HH
My first rallying call of the season- COYBIG…..
Walk on…..
Bertie again “In this game, Greig hammered wee Jinky and put him onto the red blase at the side, wee Jinky gets up, the brushes the red. off his strip, runs up to Greig and says “you’ll know be trying to intimidate me now are you John “”
bbc 1 shortbread sports section opens with a report on the Open
Alternate.Go to Munchies in Bugibba Celtic club/bar downstairs.20 minutes in taxi.bus takes longer.
#Celtic: Forster; Lustig, Wilson, Ambrose, Izaguirre; Commons, Brown, Kayal, Forrest; Stokes, Samaras. (LB)