The day has come

Celtic’s primary job tonight is to defend properly, something we have singularly failed to do this season to anything like the levels achieved last term.  This is not solely to do with the defence, and has nothing to do with the goalkeeper (who missed the Legia debacle), but is a function of the entire team.

Scott Brown and Stefan Johansen have the primary job of protecting the back four but most importantly, whoever plays wide midfield, has to partner with the corresponding full back.  The full back positions have not been stable recently.  Emilio looked to be back to his best at the weekend, but his form since returning from the World Cup has been erratic.  We’ve had Efe Ambrose, Adam Matthews and Mikael Lustig at right back, leaving Callum McGregor little chance to establish a working relationship.

We have the speed, and Salzburg have the defensive record, to suggest we can score on the break, but focus should be on ensuring this is not an open, fluid, game of football.

The day has come

This is a unique time in our history and a CQN’er and academic has prepared a survey to record who we are, where we came from, our views and how closely our objectives align with the Club.  You will be asked about the Referendum, faith, education, your heritage, the Offensive Behaviour Act and more, but you’ll be finished in around 5 minutes.

The objective is to identify why you support Celtic and whether these reasons are being recognised and served.  You don’t sign up for anything, but the survey will record only your first visit.  You’ll find it here.

I’ve never waved a blue and white – nor red, white and blue – flag in my life.  Nationalism holds nothing for me, so I’ve found the political question of our time to be a difficult, technical, assessment, principally about jobs – Scotland’s real need.

This time tomorrow we will know the verdict and whether it’s Yes or No, we will come together behind green and white flags once more.  In the event the polls are accurate, and No wins an unconvincing victory, use your voice in as many places you can, and let the chastened UK powers now that if they have any intention of Nation Building, they must use their influence to stop the exclusion of Scottish clubs from the dominant England-and-Wales football market.

Many people in Scotland feel culturally and economically excluded by this England-and-Wales legally permissible cartel.  It suits the regions of England, it suits Wales, but it costs jobs and income in Scotland, is unjust and must end.

Allowing Scottish clubs to enter this market would bring tens of millions of £s into the east end of Glasgow every year.  It would also establish emotional and cultural ties among groups in society who feel disenfranchised, and who the Westminster parties seem to have lost.  In political terms, reaching out to football is a no-brainer.

Nation building is part art, part science, but it doesn’t work if you exclude people on what they hold dear.

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