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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472 Comments- Pages:
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hun skelper
13:07 on 17 July, 2013
Well done mate for doing what’s right.
It’s just a pity others don’t take that stance but no doubt they’ll be first to complain when the blazers punish our club next season.
‘they jetted to the club’s German training base last night’
– has the wearethepeoplecarrier broke?
Or is it bein’ fitted with the ole water cannon for when they get turfed out the Ramsden’s?
T4
T3 wisne allowed out to play in Lanzarote, so will hopefully cashing in a few broonie pts for tomorrow. Enjoy.
HH
CRC
fanadpatriot
12:43 on 17 July, 2013
Phone call yesterday,second letter arrived today asking me to renew season ticket.are we having problems this season re- sales.
I have told them when Celtic speak up for the support I will renew.Asked the lady yesterday to get a Director to phone me,wont hold my breath.
Sorry well done to gentleman above from previous post.
BMCUW
The transfer market is being fully utilised over at Sevco. Rumour has it they have sold Broxy Bear and he’ll be replaced by a new mascot, a giant cheque, who will be known as bouncy bouncy.
HENR1K
He is doing what you think is right,and what he thinks is right.
Everyone who buys a ticket are also doing what THEY think is right.
Punishing Celtic because the huns aren’t being punished is not,IMO,the way to do it.
Like it or not,who are your principles hurting?
Can anyone say if the return leg is on season book? I’m off on holiday to gran canaria tomorrow so want to leave it with neighbour. Also if anyone can recommend a pub to wach it in over there please do. Btw ive had a few problems with internet and have a new moniker – so no need to call me a h**. ;)
Che
Some of us in east Belfast are washed, shaved and heading out shortly for a few before the game .
NoBOinthestrandcsc
Georgios. Sign him up. The man has talent, he’s a worker, has nobility, he loves the club, and he is in his best years. And he is a good player for us when he is used properly.
There is a feeling on the site that we need to do well in Europe, given that we are almost guaranteed to win in Scotland. Given the role Sammi can play in Europe, I’m not sure we could afford to replace him.
TWISTS N TURNS
I reckon the plan is to avoid the obvious disorder when they go bust by letting the place fall down on their hun heads.
As many as possible,hence the free tickets.
And as an added bonus,it saves on demolition costs.
Serious point,how did that stadium get a licence last year?
Or this year coming?
thomthethim
12:35 on
17 July, 2013
Well argued points.
The hip pocket nerve.
Seldom fails to work.
Action required.
Boycott the S.F.A.
“All this did was to validate the SFA and to suffer the humiliation of CO handing ot the gongs.”
That humiliation really stuck in the craw.
jjb
r u dead sports store?:-)
Game on SB. Enjoy the hols!
HH
CRC
Square Slice
I think you will be ok in Calahonda as there are a few bars that used to show Celtic games going back a few years though.
If you head back towards Fuengirola — just beyond the Riviera complex– there is an urbanisation called Torrenueva and I used to watch games in there and knew some good Celtic fans who had apartments there — however I am going back more than a decade so don’t know if things have changed.
Anyway I am sure you will find somewhere in Calahonda especially some Irish bars.
HH
In today’s Herald, lamenting Celtic’s early start to the season, NL studiously avoids the elephant in the room. That is that apart from poor quality on the field performances, one of the reasons for Scotland’s poor Euro co-efficient is that all too often Scottish sides are playing qualifiers in what is effectively the close season.
Europe is not going to change for Scotland therefore Scotland has to change for Europe or forgo European cash.
Sadly the dinosaurs who run our game, including those at Celtic Park, would wrap their guts round a thorn bush before contemplating summer football.
bobby murdoch’s curled-up winklepickers
13:26 on 17 July, 2013
I agree it’s hurting Celtic but what else can we do ?
Telling someone he won’t be missed is not right either because he will be missed and his money every year will be missed.
If 1 fan is not renewing what’s to say others won’t and then that will hurt Celtic more.
Celtic have been cheated out of CL revenue and they remain silent on this.
Cheers crc. Poor choice of name :( frustration led to it. Computersandphonesarghhhhhh.
macanbheatha
iPhone copy and paste boob,
I missed out the Shankill road part.
T4
Miss both games due to flight times.
HENR1K,
Don’t get your reasoning, not buying a season ticket for Celtic park does nothing except hurt Celtic we have nothing to do with the sfa if you want to hurt them don’t go to Scotland games semi finals/finals at Hampden buy Scotland strips and the like. HH
hen1rik
The guy said he wasn’t renewing he was wanting a director to phone him, if its that much of a hassle to buy a season ticket to support your own he won’t be missed HH
BMCUW
“Serious point,how did that stadium get a licence last year?
Or this year coming?”
For geographical reasons Bobby. Being based in Scotland meant they were not required to meet the criteria. It’s not straightforward though. If Celtic had been in their shoes, they WOULD have been required to meet it. Hearts, mibbe. mibbe no. Hibs, need to meet it. Killie, possibly not. As I say, not straightforward.
Ian Paisley shares a joke with big Sammy ahead of the game in Belfast.
[IMG]http://i39.tinypic.com/v8cu42.jpg[/IMG]
1. We say oh we can’t boycott certain league games because it’ll hurt Celtic.
2. We can’t boycott the semi final at Hampden because it’ll hurt the team.
3. So when can we do it ?
Oops
http://i39.tinypic.com/v8cu42.jpg%5B/IMG%5D
jjb
Plenty Tim bars in Gran Canaria. What resort you heading to?
LB
BMCUW Wouldn’t want to be 16roads head today and not even tomorrow and the “shame” of losing a home drinking fixture into the bargain!!!
HENR1K
I know,and I agree.
It is the difficult choice which Celtic fans face.
I vowed never to go back after Lawwell let us down,IMO,by not arguing our case after the Rennes game.
The only person who would have suffered was my Dad,who loves his dayoooots wi his boay.
DENA29 and BADA BING-IIRC correctly,Apols otherwise-made me see sense,but I only accepted it grudgingly.
Hurt Celtic,everyone else rejoices.
That,sadly,is the choice you have.
Sit in the tent and piss out,well,there’s another option.
But I won’t criticise your decision because I genuinely understand it.
Anyone know a CSC or any bars that might be showing the game tonight in or around Cannes?
HH
Good article Paul.. Totally agree no excuses. I don’t think narrow defeat or draw will be the outcome.
Comprehensive gubbing (3-0) more likely.
If I was a Celtic player I’d be taking severe umbrige at the insinuations that the departure of Vic and Hooper has severely weakened the team ( they could both be injured tonight of still in squad). If I felt I was being blocked by above players last season then tonight I would be out to make my case.
I have ZERO concerns about the team beating Irish opposition. If we were to draw EPL team with current squad further in the competition.. I would be less bullish. Our guys are playing international football when they leave Parkhead… The guys at Cliftonville will be going to proper jobs.
I envy Cliftonville guys their big night but they will not damage Celtic.
A win tonight is really important – not just to settle the nerves
It will also help on the subject of signings
Any “decent” player will be tempted by Champions League – even Europa League
But SPL only – not sure ???
So a win tonight really important and we will, comfortable 2 or 3 nil
67 ECW
Headtheball , didn’t recognize sammy with his clothes on!!! remember pics in the paper
hun skelper
13:39 on 17 July, 2013
But he’s just wanting to know our club are working behind the scenes.
He’s spending his hard earned cash every year so he’s entitled to ask ?’s.
What’s the point if its not a fair game in this country.
If that lot are openly breaking rules in front of our faces then what are they going behind our backs.
The ordinary Joe public work hard hoping they are watching a fair game and rules apply fairly.
No one wants to hurt Celtic its what we live for we love Celtic but we must make a stand at 1 point.
Doing sorry
TWISTS N TURNS 1340
Ffs,and I foolishly regard myself as a reasonably intelligent person.
Apologies for being too thick to grasp the answer,and it really is obvious when you think about it.
Thanks for putting me straight,glad at least one if us didnae ruin our lives at them kafflik schules.
Erm,smileything…..
I,d like to know what our physio’s are up to MATTHEWS was supposedly close to being fit for cup final yet 6 weeks later he’s still not fit, and other players taking ages to recover ,perhaps the most important signing might be a new physio
PAOLOSBOOTS
He’ll be fine. If you think about it,he’s waited all his life to see his team laying a competitive game in his city.
Must be like being a hun fae Annan…..
(He’s gonna kill me in September for that one)
BT
Thanks
Your post at 12:54 … meeting oldtim at 2.30 …. reminded me to book a dental appointment
Where is the meet tomorrow bhoys? BRB
Anybody know any pubs on the Shankill Rd showing the game tonight. I would have gone to the match tonight but you see I was standing on top of this Land Rover when this water cannon…..well you know the rest.
firstwashofthemarchingseasoncsc