The Craig Whyte narrative. Kris, Leo.

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Best news of the day?  Kris Commons wants to be involved tomorrow against Barcelona.  I doubt Kris is anywhere near match fit, so there’s no chance of him starting on Wednesday against Astana, but a 15 minute cameo, when the Astana players’ body clocks are telling them it’s after 2am, would go down a treat.

I’ve always been a bit more ambivalent about Leonel Messi than most.  “He’s not hit the levels of Ronaldinho” is my stock comment, and then there’s the dirty little subject.  (Tax).

But his media comments ahead of tomorrow’s International Champions Cup game, “I have a Celtic jersey at home. The games against Celtic were special and I want to remember them”, proves there’s substance to the man.

I’ve a Celtic jersey at home too, Leo.  A few of us here do.

Former-Rangers former vice-chairman Donald Findlay is to defend Craig Whyte is his forthcoming trial.

Whyte’s urban legend is going to be difficult to shift, but it’s not accurate.  We mocked Rangers fans a few years ago, referring to him as “Our Hero” but he never was.  He was the bag man for a very dirty job.

How he handled the SFA, Uefa, HMRC and, most crucially, the insolvency court, when he managed to secure the appointment of Duff and Phelps as Rangers administrators was crucial in the continuation of football at Ibrox.

It was Duff and Phelps who gave Newco the right to use the name “Rangers”, after which point Whyte could claim he was passing on “Rangers”.  Everyone else mocked this liquidation fantasy at the time.  Until liquidation became a reality, that is.

Whyte left Newco relatively safe in the hands of Charles Green, where it would have thrived, if it hadn’t faced a hostile and damaging takeover bid from its first week of life.

Our auction prize, donated by (the pretty fabulous) Celtic sponsor, Intelligent Car Leasing, closes just after 1pm today.

You can win:

2 seats in the directors’ box

Champagne reception

5 course meal in the Walfrid Suite

Fully expenses bar (pre and post-match)

Half time snacks and refreshments

Car Parking

At the game against Kilmarnock on 24 September.

Money raised from the auction will go towards building a school kitchen in Malawi for Mary’s Meals. It it will be the 5th CQN school kitchen.

Our four existing kitchens feed over 2000 primary aged kids every day. School attendance has increased 30% since kitchens were built, as kids attend for their daily meal. This has an impact on health, education and life chances.

You can follow the auction on eBay here.  Thank you.

I’m off to Aberdour now for the 12th annual CQN Golf Open.  I’ll be the one holding the jackets.

See you then.

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  1. Joe Filippis Haircut on

    I see it has been announced that Stevie Gerrard and his family are to leave the U.S due to home sickness now there is a player who could improve our midfield go and get him Brendan.H.H.

  2. i'vehadtochangemyname on

    yeah a belter from 25 yardsout by KC against astaina would go down very well

     

     

    monthebrcsc

  3. Gutted, Kolo no playing tomorrow? This would have been the perfect match for him to settle in before next Wednesday. Logically, it looks like we won’t be seeing him then either. The positive being that our new look defence still at least gets another run out together.

     

     

    What is the point of comparing any game changing player such as Messi to others that are no longer playing at the top level? Once they both have retired then a comparison can be made. Messi still has a long career ahead of him in terms of football years.

  4. THE EXILED TIM on 29TH JULY 2016 5:26 PM

     

    VFR800A8

     

     

    I have one of them in my garage, still in it’s box as well.

     

     

    _________________________________________________________

     

     

    A VFR, a Monster or a Roberto Carlos?

     

     

    I just noticed I put Carlos and McGrain round the wrong way!

     

     

    As for Carlos, it’s all about opinions; I was initially going for Giacinto Facchetti but decided to go for Carlos because of his goals.

  5. Hi Clogher,

     

    Got your e-mail & replied straight away, hope I didn’t mess up.

     

    I’ll be arriving O’Connell Street circa 12.30, first task a bit of lunch & then I’ll be good to go where ever the craic is.

     

    Looking forward to meet up.

     

    HH

  6. Another less acknowledged similarity between Messi and oor own Patrick is that you can kick them both all day and they won’t go down.

     

     

    They will come back and hurt you, just when you think it’s all over. Both, it is rumoured, studied videos and learned from the best of all- Jinky Johnstone.

  7. VFR

     

    A Monster, I have well over 100 models, aquired them a couple of years ago and they are still where I left them.

     

    Aye, players and opinions, he just never did it for me.

     

    HH

  8. glendalystonsils on

    SIN CITY BHOY on 29TH JULY 2016 5:48 PM

     

     

    They could have broken both Jinky’s legs and he would still have kept running at them.

     

    If Brendan Rodgers wants to find the hidden player in James Forrest, he could do worse than sit him down in front of some videos of Jinky.

  9. THE EXILED TIM, still boxed they will be worth a few bob!

     

     

    If it wisnae about players and opinions, the fan boards would be non-existent.

  10. mike in toronto on

    Hello lads

     

     

    Just in and reading back..

     

     

    I was always a ‘Pele is better than Maradonna’ guy … but, it is hard to believe there have been better than Messi …but some say Garrincha was the best Brazilian ever … which means there is a good argument that he was the best player of all time.

     

     

    I haven’t seen enough of him to say one way or the other ….. but I wish I had seen more of Garrincha … he sounds like he was some player (and character).

  11. Dexter says HAVE WE ALL FORGOTTEN ABOUT THE LIVING WAGE AT CELTIC PARK??? on

    “I’ve always been a bit more ambivalent about Leonel Messi than most. “He’s not hit the levels of Ronaldinho” is my stock comment…”

     

     

    ——-

     

     

    Oh Paul, oh deary me, Paul.

     

     

    I thought I’d misread that. Then I thought there was a punchline coming….

     

     

    Ronaldinho would himself bow at the altar of Leo.

     

     

    Leo not only “burst onto the scene” (like many others) at only 17, he stayed there, then created a whole new scene. He’s still got years left in him and was back to awesome heights last year, despite injury.

     

     

    His attitude and enthusiasm have been top drawer for years and he has remained grounded in family and club, despite mega stardom.

     

     

    He is a true footballing genius. The best of his generation, including Ronaldinho. He hasn’t hit the Maradona heights at the World Cup but arguably has been as good if not better a club player. Granted, Maradona single handedly won the title for Napoli etc but Messi’s Champions League record, especially in the big games, is second to none.

     

     

    He may be the best ever. We will hopefully discuss that in years to come. However, Ronaldinho doesn’t even get into the top 10 ever. There isn’t really a comparison.

  12. Kris Commons should have been booted out after his public rage display. No matter what we thought of the management team that was unacceptable. Peter Lawell should have went with him just because…

     

     

    But he is here. We have a new management team and if Brendan thinks he can get something out of him to help the team playing only in his best position then I’m 100% for keeping and using him. He can score out of nothing and make that defense splitting pass, cross or dink that is sometimes required to break down 11 man defenses. Needs to up his passing game as it’s 50/50 wether he reaches his man and his first touch really needs improving. If it wasn’t for those inadequecies he wouldn’t ever have been at Celtic mind. Still worth keeping and playing IMO.

     

     

    MWD

  13. mike in toronto on

    VFR800A8 … thanks, pal!

     

     

    Its nice to say that I was too young to really remember him…. that is happening less and less these days!

  14. Turkeybhoy on 29th July 2016 1:26 pm

     

     

    I have disagreed with you many times. On your football, political and general posts.

     

     

    However not once have I detected anything but your desire to follow and support your team. You have always said what you think, no matter who it upsets. And rightly so.

     

     

    Independent thinking is one of the blogs greatest strengths. It would be extremely boring if we all agreed and followed the popular, often cliquish opinion.

     

     

    Continual negativity is easy, positivity is always more difficult I hope you reconsider and bounce back with both barrels in a posting frenzy.

     

     

    Hail, Hail.

     

     

    PS : I wonder if West Ham Quick News is in meltdown ?

  15. BOBBY MURDOCH'S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS on

    MIKEINTORONTO

     

     

    In a few years time,you’ll be too old to remember some of today’s stars(!)

  16. mike in toronto on

    BMCUWP ….

     

     

    In a few years?! I take that, thanks!

     

     

    Not a word of a lie …. I was in court this morning, and a young lawyer comes up to me and starts chatting like we are old pals. After a while, he looks at me and says ‘you dont remember me, do you? ‘ Honestly, I hadn’t a clue. Eventually, he tells me we had a case at the Court of Appeal a few years ago … I remember the case, but I still cant remember this kid! I felt bad as I didnt mean to be rude, but I was more upset for me … I’m becoming an old geezer!

     

     

    I think I need a shot of Geritol!

  17. EXILED TIM, it is amazing how much specific models will fetch for yeh dedicated collector!

     

     

    MIKE IN TORONTO, it’s worth a watch, though some of the picture quality is poor. Our Jinky was in the same mould and equally great to watch. My lasting memories of wee Jinky are the 2 goals at Ibrox in ’67 to win the league and the abuse he got from Atletico in 1974. Some memories in here:

     

     

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f0tkvFMTJt8

     

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bm6-pf5Fhtk

     

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CpxoTiKkvw8

  18. GLENDALYSTONSILS on 29TH JULY 2016 5:55 PM

     

     

    A pity, but it’s too late IMHO.

     

     

    Why don’t we leave the future of Kris Commons to Brendan and his assistants?

     

     

    If there is, or was any doubt about attitude, motivation, or more importantly mood, I’m sure the current gaffer will be less understanding that the last. Not body will know that more than the player in question.

  19. glendalystonsils on

    SIN CITY BHOY on 29TH JULY 2016 7:12 PM

     

     

    I quite agree. That will be the acid test.

  20. On Monday we enter transfer window home straight and our inward activity amounts to a nineteen year old and a a thirty five year old.

     

     

    Hardly matches ambition apparently heralded by BR appointment.

  21. !!BADA BING!! on 29TH JULY 2016 6:58 PM

     

    Fud on Clyde told the wrong guy he had just won £5 grand……:0

     

     

    ———————————

     

    Was spectacular gaffe. Cringe worthy .

  22. 67Heaven .. CHALLENGING THE LIE ..I am wee Oscar...... Ipox belongs to the creditors on

    Paul67 … Lionel Messi is the best player ever to walk this earth, and Craig Whyte is being used as the scapegoat for the real crooks …..Charles Green, who made £70m disappear, and Sir (hahahaha) David Murray, who absconded with millions, are the real villains ……. and they are both getting off Scot free ….only in Scotland ….!!!!

  23. When you get down to the brass tacks of the hun debacle, it was always gonna happen they they would get away with it, we had a dream on occasion that they would get their cumuppance but it was not to be and the only ones who are losing out are the thick as shit support who in reality deserve to be ripped off, they sat back and watched their club die FFS, they deserve to be taken to the cleaners time and time again for their stupidity if nothing else, but most of all cos they are bigoted huns, fleece them te feck.

  24. BABASONICOS71 on

    Yashin

     

    McGrain Baresi Maldini

     

    Jinky Zidane Socrates Cruyff

     

    Maradona Messi

     

    Batistuta

     

     

    Try n get the baw aff that mob.

  25. For those coming up/down/over for the Barcelona match the Spirit of 88 CSC are providing entertainment in the Irishtown House (10 minute walk from stadium) before and after the match.

     

     

     

     

    The number 1 bus from O Connell Street (every twenty minutes) will leave you at the pub door while Landsdowne Road is the nearest Dart station (10 minute walk away). Traffic in Dublin city centre will be severely restricted because of Luas(tram) works. Further information here:

     

     

     

     

    http://www.aicsc.com/celtic-v-barcelona/

     

     

     

     

    The AICSC will also be selling a badge at the gigs to mark the match.

  26. Been in scroll/ blank/ scroll/ blank-blank mood for a while now………..

     

    However!! Can’t resist these all-time 11’s – i.e. those I’ve seen (in the flesh) these past 60+ years supporting Celtic.

     

    Seeing as it’s a quiet evening – I thought I would pick an 11+ bench (based on players from circa 1970 onwards) that would be capable of playing together loosely based on today’s: 4-2-3-1 – though given my choice – they would probably have been fairly comfortable with a: 3-2-5 set-up!

     

     

    G. Buffon

     

    D. McGrain – F. Beckenbauer – A. Nesta – P. Maldini

     

    M. Platini – L. Matthaus

     

    Jinky – A. Iniesta – J. Cruyff

     

    G. Muller

     

     

    Bench: S. Maier (gk) – F. Baresi – B. Moore- L. Messi – M. van Basten – B. Charlton – G. Best.

     

     

    One slight problem – they might need at least 3 balls to play with so everyone could get a touch!

  27. Bada Bing

     

     

    I bloody hope it is not on tv.

     

     

    At least not until we have sold every seat in the house.

     

     

    Support matters more than the tv money this next couple of games IMO

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