Someone made the point to me over the weekend, 30 goals, and counting, from midfield, rivals 53 from Henrik Larsson as a central striker. It is an unnecessary burden to compare Kris Commons to Celtic’s greatest player in four decades, even Henrik couldn’t compare to the memory of Henrik, but the history books will show for decades to come, Kris Commons is a rare gem, a Celtic player for the ages.
He’s the definition of a Moneyball player, he’s a great multiple Player of the Year and he’s ours.
Enjoy watching him.
Issue 20 of CQN Magazine, CQLisboN is out and enjoying great reviews. You can check it out here, for free, now….
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Glasgow’s Green and White
And Lanzarotte is scorching :>)
V
Happy holiday Monday dot com
Hello all
Jimbo67 supporting and praying for Oscar Knox
Paul67
And he’s grown into a Celtic man, well done KC.
Back to the pool, 25c and rising (thumbs up)
V
From Saturdays Scotsman
GG always worth a read, think he may be a lurker??
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Glenn Gibbons: Atletico win recalls Stein’s Celtic
The substantial number of fans who crammed forums with declarations of glee over Atletico Madrid’s Champions League triumph at Stamford Bridge in midweek seems to give testimony to a widespread conviction that Jose Mourinho’s Chelsea are a team that only their mothers and their own supporters could love.
The notion that Mourinho’s readiness to body-swerve the elements of artistry and creativity that distinguish the most popular ball game on the planet would, to use the Scottish vernacular, “get fitba’ stoapped” had been gathering momentum even before the 2012 triumph that made them among the most soulless and least joyful European champions in history.
The final itself, during which Chelsea appeared determined to execute the kind of relentless defending that would result in a penalty shoot-out against Bayern Munich in the latter’s own Allianz Arena, was merely a reproduction of the form they had shown throughout the competition.
At its core was an unshakable devotion to the theory that a refusal to engage in legitimate combat – instead relying on a constant rearguard action – would eventually bring the mistake from more adventurous opponents and the chance to steal the potentially decisive goal. Achieving their objective, victory from a Didier Drogba penalty following a goalless 120 minutes, was not a pretty sight.
What Atletico produced on Wednesday – the more cheering, too, for having taken place in London and after Chelsea had sneaked the lead with a deflected shot by Fernando Torres – was the kind of game-changing blow with which Celtic struck Internazionale in Lisbon in 1967.
The Inter coach, the Argentine Helenio Herrera, was so dedicated to the cause of ultra-defensiveness that he was credited with the invention of catenaccio, the notorious system dreaded by all who had the misfortune to meet an Italian side in that era.
Like Mourinho, Herrera was difficult to love, but he was still held in ludicrously high esteem by many people who argued that the honours he captured justified the barrenness of his methods. Nobody could possibly accuse Mourinho of a lack of intelligence or talent but, every time his team takes the field on the greatest of occasions, it is impossible not to anticipate watching a B-movie featuring A-List stars.
In 1967, Jock Stein’s philosophy was a disavowal of Herrera’s profanity, a conviction articulated as impressively as only the great Scottish manager could when the conversation turned to serious matters.
“Inter will play it defensively,” he said of the match. “That’s their way and it’s their business. But we feel we have a duty to play the game our way and our way is to attack. Win or lose, we want to make the game worth remembering. Just to be involved in an occasion like this is a tremendous honour and we think it puts an obligation on us.
“We can be as hard and professional as anybody, but I mean it when I say we don’t just want to win this cup. We want to win it playing good football, to make neutrals glad we’ve done it, glad to remember how we did it.”
The significance of Stein’s words is that they were spoken before the match.
The fact that they could not be construed as a winner trying to be clever after the event gave his ambitious assertion total authenticity.
It was, for the manager, clearly a moment of towering pride when his deepest wish was shown to have been granted in the most eloquent way possible.
An elderly Portuguese official, himself obviously a disciple of Benfica’s thrilling brand of aesthetically dazzling football, confronted Stein soon after Celtic’s 2-1 victory, completed in irresistible, rampaging style. “This attacking play, this is the real meaning of football,” he said. “This is the true game.”
Stein slapped him on the shoulder and said, “Go on, I could listen to you all night.” Then, turning to the small gathering of journalists beside him, he shook his head in wonder and said, “Fancy anybody saying that about a Scottish team.”
Waiting around to hear such an exchange in any dressing room occupied by Jose Mourinho and his Chelsea side would be an exercise to compare with hanging around for a word of remorse from Hannibal Lecter.
Jimbo67
Nice of you to join the party :>)
Commons and his partner Lisa, really get what Celtic are all about.
Vmhan – YNWA Wee Oscar
Yer no wae Auldheid are ye :))))
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Auldheid
13:15 on 5 May, 2014
Where am I?
Frosties n coffee for breakfast.
Walk along prom to headland.
Stop off for 2 sangria n olives.
Another stop off for beer n tapas.
Another stop off for bottle Bacardi n bottle coke.
Sitting on balcony sipping aforementioned watching the world go by.
Clue: It ain’t East Kilbride.
VMHAN- YNWA WEE OSCAR
Rarely around at these key moments so it’s nice to see the world from the Podium!
Jimbo67 supporting and praying for Oscar Knox
Top ten… HH
Could he be our “false No 9” in Europe next season?
KC’s value to us may make him a Moneyball player but in the film the team put together using this principle were capable of beating the top teams where money was no object. KC is great for us and a standout in Scotland but against top European opposition . . . not on what we’ve witnessed so far. He’s short of pace and athleticism to compete with the best in his position. That’s why he’s playing in the SPFL and not for a top six team in the EPL.
Kris Commons is a great Celt and a guy that is held in equally high esteem on and off the park.
Have been giving a wee flavour of what’s coming up in the papers in the days ahead – most re our Nasty Neighbours.
Tomorrow Gary Hooper’s campaign to return to the hoops will be championed by none other than Kris Commons. Suppose that’s what mates are for!
mikamura
13:34 on 5 May, 2014
Commons and his partner Lisa, really get what Celtic are all about.
I hope they are both around for a while yet.
Met Lisa at the wee Oscar collection and she walks the walk, has fallen in love with our club :))
squire d – that’s interesting. I asked the question on here a few nights ago, is Mourinho the modern day HH?
Great writer that Glenn Gibbons! :-)
T4
deniabhoy
Very, very harsh comment on the Scottishvplayer of the year.
A bit like if Celtic had any good Celtic players they wouldn’t be playing for Celtic.
Paul67 bang on the button regarding to KC
Something else has struck me (not you Minx thatll be on Saturday!) about this current Celtic squad, the sense of togetherness not only of the players but also their wives/partners, someone noted earlier the fact that Lisa Hague has caught the Celtic bug, Lisa gets it and she is never slow in showing her love for the Club, I understand that amongst the wives/partners she is not alone in that respect, it says a lot not only for the individuals, it also says a lot for the Club we all love,
More than just a Club indeed
HH
winning captains 13:42
Seems to be a big thing at the moment re Wallace’s bonus, while the players and managers haven’t got one (I guess that’s what happens when you don’t read your contract!).
Are they trying to push Wallace out?
Che
Did you catch my discussion with Twisty earlier
Ayr Races Silver Cup Friday 19 th Sept
Auldheid, benalmedena?
Home?
leftclicktic we are all neil lennon
13:37 on 5 May, 2014
Vmhan – YNWA Wee Oscar
Yer no wae Auldheid are ye :))))
—————–
No, just very quiet Huns around my hotel, I did see a Tim out near Arreciffe airport earlier.
HH
The Celtic Way
Happy Birthday
Ian Stephen McCulloch
KC certainly knows where the goal posts are……..he isn’t the quickest player but when his conditioning is good then he improves exponentially…….and I think he is looking very lean at the moment.
We would get more out of him with a very quick midfielder alongside him….leaving him to mop up around the edges of the box, keeping the pressure on and drilling home all the half chances perhaps?
30 goals is a tremendous return from a midfielder and he was doing it against a full strength orc team too……….who was our last 30 goal MF?
The Celtic Way at Night
DeniaBhoy 13:40
There is an increasing importance in European football of pace (see Bayern v Barca last year or Real v Bayern this year). But players like Kris (and Charlie) have other qualities which we need at that level. We need to find a way of covering for their weaknesses.
PF
catch up on Saturday re Sept?
May have to do a bit of work on that one as (no laughing T4) were usually in Canaries that week for the Mrs birthday
HH
“Enjoy watching him.” Love to. But he needs a new contract so it is possible for me to do so …
I was in the company of a handful of the Graceless Dead last night. They started talking about Sevco matters. I got the feeling they were looking for an outside opinion, but I refused to join in. I just sat there with a smirk on my face and listened to their conversation with interest.
One of them stopped going before the old club were put in liquidation, but I know from peeking at his twitter page that he believes in fairy tales. The other four are not renewing their season tickets, (two of them have been ST holders at Ibroke for around 30 years) I’m not sure they are putting the money in King’s account though.
Sounded like they have finally realised what everyone else already knew. Best line of the conversation: “It makes no difference even if we do buy season tickets. We’re ***&£#.”
Looking at the Celtic Way reminds me that I need to get my driveway monoblocked.
TTTT & Sandman
The Ronaldo back heel…pahhhhh
What about Broonie’s back heel in front of the dugouts on Saturday.
HH Broonie
deniabhoy
13:40 on 5 May, 2014
Ddddooooohhhhhhh…….!!!!
‘Someone made the point to me over the weekend, 30 goals, and counting, from midfield, rivals 53 from Henrik Larsson as a central striker.’
#####
Not when you take into account the fact that Henrik Larrson had Chris Sutton and John Hartson as striking partners competing with him to score the goals.
The Celtic Way looks great in daylight, but even better at night when it is lit up.
Visiting fans will be amazed when they arrive for a European night.
HH!!
GlassTwoThirdsFull – I agree.
RWE
Orrrrrrrrr L Griffiths wee flick to release the ball when he was back helping Izzy out early doors on Sat
67 Heaven – Doooohh? OK, I’m stating the obvious. Apologies.