PT Barnum may have been right 150 years ago, but The Greatest Show on Earth these days gets underway this afternoon, despite the shameful corruption displayed by Fifa. By comparison, the Olympics is a sideshow. My first experience of the World Cup was watching Scotland play Zaire in 1974. For 20-odd years the tournament had participation value for Scotland, even if the joy of being there was short lived.
These days the joy is all about being a neutral football fan and soaking up the drama and brilliance from the game.
Statistically it is difficult to look past Brazil, who will benefit enormously from home advantage. European teams have never won the tournament in the Americans, where Brazil and Argentina have won every competition since Uruguay triumphed in the last time the tournament was held in Brazil 64 years ago.
Leo Time
Lionel Messi was, until recent times, the undisputed best player on the planet, but his position in the all-time greatest list is in considerable dispute. Ask an older Barcelona fan, who has watched Cruyff, Maradona Ronaldo and Messi all do their stuff at the Camp Nou, and they are likely to tell you Leo is by far the better player. His stats as a striker bear this out, but ask an Argentinean, and he’ll scarcely get a mention in the same breath as Diego. There is not even a debate that Messi is the greatest Argentine.
After giving a spectacular display of goal-scoring prowess in 1982, then 25-year-old Diego Maradona singlehandedly led Argentina to their second World Cup in 1986 and back to the final four years later. By Comparison, 26-year-old Messi has looked comparatively pedestrian in his two previous tournaments. He’ll be 30 by the time of the next tournament, which will be held in the completely different environment of Russia. If Messi is to be considered an all-time great, he needs to take Argentina to the final. If his career ends without an outstanding World Cup, he’ll slip somewhere between Eusabio and Cruyff in the list.
I’d like Belgium to win. Belgian clubs and FA go about their business correctly and brought a remarkable bounty of talent to Brazil. It’s always been easy to back Brazil but I’m still not over the Neymar thing. The guy is an abomination in the Brazil No. 10 shirt, a vastly over-rated charlatan. Anyone but Neymar, please.
Bertie Auld live chat, tomorrow, 1pm, on CQN. Be there.
Visit the CQN Bookstore to get Tommy Gemmell to sign your personal copy of his tome, All the Best.
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English referee says that the ref only made one mistake . That’s like going on a wild weekend and when asked how it went , ‘ only made one mistake , have you ever seen the crying game. ‘
NatKnow
11:17 on
13 June, 2014
You give the impression that the entire online Yes presence is only there to abuse any No debaters, and it’s not it’s a tiny minority.
Probably not much bigger than the number of No people posting photoshops of AS with a bloodied nose saying they’d love to see that on the front page of the sun, or saying “I will kill to make sure my children do not fall into the SNP abyss”.
Both of which are currently in my timeline.
There’s loads of great, reasoned debate out here, and I don’t like seeing the whole thing being characterised as something nastier than it really is.
Happy Friday Celts!
V
Referees, FIFA and corruption.
Eighty years ago, in 1934, FIFA sat back and let Mussolini pick referee for Italy’s World Cup semi final and final. Guess who won World Cup that year.
Huns tell AIM that they have sold 17,000 season tickets, sky reported it as the combined average att of all the other teams in that league .
Always look on the bright side right enough .
twists n turns
11:19 on 13 June, 2014
Hadn’t read that. Is that correct?
__________________________
Yeah, sure is.
Thats why we don’t know why Neil left?
Did he leave?
Was he removed?
Who knows?
I didn’t know that Celtic PLC operated ‘confidentiallity-clauses’
till, Alex McLeish said ‘that’ was the reason that he couldn’t buy Bobo Balde
for Birmingham City.
McLeish said on Radio Clyde -” We wanted to sign Bobo but, Celtic won’t let him
leave till he signs a ‘confidentiallity-clase'”
Probably, the board didny want Bobo explaining why, WGS was ordered to keep his best CH sitting in the stand when, the CH’s out on the pitch were being bullied by the likes of, Daniel Cousan and Kyle Laughatme?
Instead of an independence debate we could have a gangster debate now that VP is on.
Where’s aw ra bodies buried big mhan:-)
Off oot fur sclaffbaw on the Carnoustie “man’s” course.
HH
Livibhoy
1 packet of cheese and onion crisps.
1 can of Vimto.
1+1= a sorted 2 year old :-)
Jungle spy ghuy
Bobo must have signed the clause in the end because Ive never heard his side the fiasco.
242 Henrik Larsson goals.
Smashing.
Oooooooops………………
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LMt_vCidSsA
offski
Jungle spy ghuy (or Kev J)
The club website did not state that we had sold 40,000 SBs
They mis-led but did not lie.
What they stated was that Celtic were on track to sell 40,000 tickets i.e. they were projecting that 40k would be sold if sales continued at present rates. However SBs rarely continue to sell at the same rate in the week after the renewal deadline as they did in the final week before, when stragglers hurry to get their renewal in.
I have doubts as to whether we have yet sold 40k SBs but still feel we will just about do so by the time the season begins.
There are people not renewing because of concerns about treatment of our fans and the GB.
There are people not renewing because the timing of games gets changed at short notice.
There are people not renewng because it is easier to pick and choose the “big” or “important” games, a practice I used to follow as a young man myself before I had a SB.
There are people who are not going to renew in protest at “downsizing” as they blame that on PL instead of our economic circumstances.
There are people who cannot buy because they have lost their jobs and are downsizing their leisure spending.
There are people who have got used to watching the games in the comfort of the pub or on illegal internet streams and prefer this to matchday experience.
And, finally, there are, unfortunately, a group of people not renewing because “it’s boring without ranjers”.
I cannot attribute percentages to the above camps and many will select 2 or 3 of the above as reasons. Some might even come up with an 8th or 9th reason to not renew.
The effect will be difficult for the club but they need to be more proactive in recognising fan concerns.
neganon2
10:45 on 13 June, 2014
Billy Bhoy 05 I want you to admit that you lied in this post
“Ernie
Today it was Neganon who introduced the subject”
You posted the cybernat link well before I got involved.
Its pathetic – it really is
:::::
Your insults are not becoming of a right minded person: and your wild and malicious lies about saying that SNP are intending to outlaw catholics are absolutely nuts.
Regarding your post above I am not a liar but I will admit to getting it wrong as I was certain you had posted earlier. It might have been because I was talking on the phone to BMCUW and we discussed various blog things: therefore I would ask that you accept my apology on this.
Livibhoy
I’m afraid you will not find me in the ole gazebo…unless it’s serving drinks
to the ole west end ashton lane public schoolbhoy types who frequent the place. :o)
Hope to catch at next day/night oot HH
beatbhoy
11:05 on 13 June, 2014
At last, some tactical analysis from a pundit, rather than their usual pointing out of the bleedin’ obvious. Danny Murphy highlighting Scholari’s moving of Neymar inside having started wide, and Oscar taking the wide role, following a poor start from Brazil.
Both ended up Brazil’s best players last night, in a better game than many seem to think. Then again, if you were expecting Brazil ’70 or ’82 levels, you would be disappointed!
And a bit of credit to Neymar, who was clearly fouled inside the box as he ran along the byeline preparing to cut the ball back, but didn’t go down. He passed to Oscar, who brought out a save from the ‘keeper.
Looking forward to seeing Chile tonight, who played really well at Wembley recently, and are many people’s idea of a live outsider.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I thought Oscar was sensational last night, the crossing was exceptional, on, IMO, a bumpy pitch – wtf.
Neymar, split opinions before he even left for Europe, last night he was very good, he is a chancer (using underhand tactics) and not a patch on Messi, howevaha……
It is brilliant seeing players take on defenders, whether from a standing start or at high speed.
I hope my negativity about this World Cup is wrong. I listened to a Five Live audio for a wee while, whilst driving not long ago and they done a sequence of World Cup moments, all were highly recognisable and one of the first things mentioned when it went back to the discussion, was, something along the lines of….
You wouldn’t be able to remember Champions League moments as well as those, talking about the commentators commentary.
bamboo
11:37 on 13 June, 2014
___________________
Yeah, thats probably why his book didn’t hit
the shelves either?
Who knows?
Who are the masons on the board?
Regards Saturday kick offs.
Remember if we fail in the UCL, we potentially can drop into UEFA EL and this will mean Saturday games moved to Sundays too.
fingercrossedcsc
Vmhan – YNWA Wee Oscar
11:28 on
13 June, 2014
Vogue
Aye
Vinny
you
would
start
a
fight
in
an
empty
hoose
hh
Instead of arguing about independence watch this great footage of The B52’s live in Dortmund – Not bombers
VoguePunter.
Nice Abdul Qadir.
CricketisunderratedinScotland.csc
natknow
11:23 on 13 June, 2014
By the way, here’s the poll result on indy vote for the last 2 years
:::::::::
I appreciate your efforts, your posts and also the points you raise.
On our own door to door polls and after meetings on debates polls, show large disparities on the polls we see regularly in the newspapers: and your Poll of Polls.
We have been trying to figure it out locally here in Ayrshire as our polls show us gaining a victory.
You will no doubt know this but a week before the last election here Labour was well in front according to the polls, and yet it was a resounding victory for SNP.
Going back further did something similar not also happen with Thatcher?
Once again ta for your efforts
Apology accepted Billy Bhoy05
With regards to the outlawing of catholics – well according to the OB act aspects of catholicism already are. It was admitted that you could get arrested for blessing yourself if you do it in “the wrong way”.What right minded society would introduce such a law?
I see it as the thin end of the wedge – the SNP government are authoritarian and want to become more so. They will rally round their majority and acts like the OB will become widespread.
Going away cheerio Tims.
Ah the old bobo story
Gordon was the manager and should had the right to choose whoever he wanted
We don’t know the real story
If Gordon thought bobo was not good enough then fair enough
If PL decided it. Sorry but that sums up all that is wrong with PL
And Billy Bhoy – it wasnt so long ago when you were going on about the polls showing how close the race was. Now they arent saying what you want them to say you are dismissing them in favour of your own polling.
Thats why I find it hard to believe you in anything. You are all over the place. I get your passion for your cause but your attempts to either deny the evidence or mislead people really arent working.
you do have some musical taste then :-)
jungle spy ghuy…
11:22 on 13 June, 2014
I don’t remember Commons diving regularly in that game tbh. It’s not something he has a habit of doing. Neymar does tho and for a young guy to have that reputation already isn’t good. He’s a great talent tho.
petec
That was a good year.hh
More from VP, not quite the same year though, heh oh.
NEGANON2
Just catching up,mate. Sorry for the delay.
BILLYBHOY05 seems to have made a genuine mistake on this as I haven’t spoken to him for ages!
Only kidding,we were on the phone for a while there discussing all sorts. It is highly probable that he got the two arenas of debate mixed up.
I’m astounded that he apologised though. He only normally does that when he has been in the toilet when it is his round.
He’s a good guy. Just politically unsound. You would agree if you met him.
And for people constantly harping on about the evils of Yes supporters on social media – do you really think they’re the majority? I’m no SNP fan but the BT side have compared Alex Salmond to Hitler, Mussolini, Kim Jong Il, and loads more. And that’s from politicians. If they can’t win the arguments they go for lies and insults.
But anyway, how would you feel if the media went on say, the Huddleboard and started saying that all Celtic fans were like the most rabid posters on there? That’s what this media overreaction feels like to me.
Bertie Auld will be on the blog from 1pm for a few hours.
Myself and Doc will be there to make sure he is looked after properly.
Bertie will be joining Tommy Gemmell and John Hughes at Celtic store on Argyle Street tomorrow from 1pm -4pm and we will have the EUROPEAN CUP there too!
You can get a signed copy of Tommy’s All the Best or Yogi’s Yogi Bare signed by all three Lions.
If you can’t make it into the Celtic store tomorrow but want one of the books signed by the three Lions please email me and I’ll sort – david@CQNMagazine.com
Be nice to Bertie – he doesn’t take prisoners! Enjoy!
thunder road
09:53 on 13 June, 2014
Absolutely…..but he did play really well, and he does get battered about the park….he should have been a deep sea diver…..\o/
voguepunter
11:56 on 13 June, 2014
petec
That was a good year.hh
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
One of the most important ever, the Team on the park was incredible. Macca was just Majestical up front.
weeminger
11:29 on 13 June, 2014
NatKnow
11:17 on
13 June, 2014
You give the impression that the entire online Yes presence is only there to abuse any No debaters, and it’s not it’s a tiny minority.
Probably not much bigger than the number of No people posting photoshops of AS with a bloodied nose saying they’d love to see that on the front page of the sun, or saying “I will kill to make sure my children do not fall into the SNP abyss”.
Both of which are currently in my timeline.
There’s loads of great, reasoned debate out here, and I don’t like seeing the whole thing being characterised as something nastier than it really is.
——————————————————————————————–
Nice flip. I was responding to Snake Plissken who took exception to the use of the word “cybernat”. There is a clear attempt to shout down anyone who says “No” and to characterise them in a way that invalidates their opinon. Yesterday we had the line on this blog that, because she writes kids book, J.K.Rowling’s opinion was invalid – which is the point that people like James McMillan make.
Debate? That would be good but I see more heat than light to be perfectly honest – even when the politicians are on Newsnights etc. In my view that’s because the basis of much of the argument is emotional and rhetorical. Which is why I posted the poll data. As I said – not infallible but at least it’s data rather than name-calling. I agree that there will be trumpets on both sides of the debate – there is in every walk of life. But it certainly appears to me and others that it’s part of the Yes strategy to play the man rather thanthe ball when well-known people the express the “wrong” opinion.
BOBBY MURDOCH’S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS
12:00 on 13 June, 2014
NEGANON2
Just catching up,mate. Sorry for the delay.
BILLYBHOY05 seems to have made a genuine mistake on this as I haven’t spoken to him for ages!
Only kidding,we were on the phone for a while there discussing all sorts. It is highly probable that he got the two arenas of debate mixed up.
I’m astounded that he apologised though. He only normally does that when he has been in the toilet when it is his round.
He’s a good guy. Just politically unsound. You would agree if you met him.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
In your opinion, he is politically unsound. :))
You know what I think of Politics.
bobby murdoch’s curled-up winklepickers
12:00 on 13 June, 2014
NEGANON2
———————————————————————-
I’ve got to agree with BMCUWP, and its no Ayrshire sticking together…….
Billy is very passionate about his politics, although I don’t always agree with his opinions, I can assure you, he is just as passionate about friendship and the Tic.
Ayrshire is Green and White
neganon2
11:55 on 13 June, 2014
And Billy Bhoy – it wasnt so long ago when you were going on about the polls showing how close the race was. Now they arent saying what you want them to say you are dismissing them in favour of your own polling.
Thats why I find it hard to believe you in anything. You are all over the place. I get your passion for your cause but your attempts to either deny the evidence or mislead people really arent working.
Thanks for your positive response to my apology.
Regarding being all over the place you are spot on as there is so much conflicting info to try and work out. Got to go now as taxi waiting
The number of sectarian incidents recorded at Scottish football matches fell by 24% last season, according to Crown Office figures.
The number of offences, under new legislation which criminalised religious hatred connected to football, dropped from 267 to 203 in 2013/14.
Officials said this may account for a 15% drop in all offences with a religious aggravation.
The figure of 587 was down from 689 the previous year and 898 in 2011/12.
The totals for the preceding five years were relatively stable, with between 600 and 700 charges reported each year.
In 51% of the football-related cases, the accused was affiliated with either Rangers or Celtic.
I would be interested to see the figures split out for Celtic and the other Glasgow team.
LB