Validation of earlier angst, Well played Fernando

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In the last six years of his life, which ended this morning, Fernando Ricksen did what he could to raise awareness of the research into Motor Neurone Disease.  MND is a cruel and indiscriminate thief.  Fernando will be remembered as a footballer, but his greater legacy may be to the research into this terrible disease.  Well played, Fernando.  Our thoughts are with his family.

Last night’s Champions League results supplied some validation of the angst we felt a year ago when our Europa League group was drawn.  Salzburg scored six against Belgian champions, Genk (who finished 20 points ahead of Anderlecht), while Leipzig won away at Benfica.  That we managed to get out of that group is a significant achievement.

The other result that caught the eye last night was Slavia Prague’s 1-1 draw with Inter at the San Siro; the Italians equalised in added time.  Slavia beat Cluj 1-0 home and away after the latter dispensed with Celtic in this season’s qualification campaign.  At the time, I thought – in haste – that proved how weak Cluj really were.

A lack of reputation is no guarantee of anything in Europe, which we would be well to mind when Cluj come calling again.  We committed every defensive cardinal sin in the book when they last visited, but they were still good enough to get the job done.

The opportunity to surprise this week lies with Celtic.

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  1. My friends in Celtic,

     

     

    RIP Fernando Ricksen, a truely horrible disease. Scottish football is united today.

  2. The Battered Bunnet on 18th September 2019 4:54 pm

     

    —————————————————-

     

    On another day :-)

  3. Is it just me or is there no comments box at the bottom of page 2???

     

     

    Having to back to page 1 to make any comment……

     

     

    HH

     

     

    D. :)

  4. And as quick as its there it’s away again…

     

     

    Logged onto another site then back and someone has stolen the page 2 comments box…😂

     

     

    D. :)

  5. Fernando Ricksen RIP

     

     

    Neil has a big squad now. 32 and 4 out on Loan.

     

    Reserve Squad 15 and 9 out on loan. With collapse of Reserve league and a new arrangements there are few games for the younger players.

     

     

    With our large squad we will need to rotate. if we have an average of 6 players out injured at one time (just 4 at present) we still have 26 available for selection. Each game we need a match day squad of 18 and therefore we have 8 spares in the stand.

     

     

    I think this is too many and we will have a number of dissatisfied players in the squad Training every day and fit but not in the squad.

     

     

    Hazard -4th Goalkeeper

     

    Hendry – 5th Choice CH

     

    Sinclair – well down picking order No4 LW

     

    Arzani- Not ready for 1st Team No14 midfielder

     

    Morgan – Not shown much No 3 LW

     

    Kouassi – never played enough

     

     

    These 6 need game and should be loaned out

     

     

    They are some good players and no-one gains with them doing nothing.

  6. Maybe Celtic players should wear black armbands on Sunday for Fernando and Jinky and all sufferers from MND.

  7. A good friend of mine unfortunately has MND, slow progression fortunately, I think its seven years since diagnosis and he can still walk pretty well, his speech is getting pretty difficult to understand these days and he’s losing the strength in his arms. Still retains his sense of humour, his love of the gee gees and a few pints.

     

     

    He copes amazingly well as does his good lady and kids.

     

     

    Hard to watch even from afar.

  8. RIP Fernando Ricksen.

     

     

     

    In a few hours I’ll leave ma hoose to head for Rennes via Manchester and Paris.

     

    It’s a great feeling knowing that we have a good chance of taking something from the game.

     

     

    Marshall in Barcelona…

     

    Douglas in Valencia…

     

    Forster in Rennes…???

     

     

    hh

  9. RIP Fernado Ricksenn and thoughts and prayers for Family and Friends.

     

    A battler on and off the field. Too young at 43. 🙏

  10. GreeninbingleyinOslo on

    Rest in peace, Fernando Ricksen. Nothing but respect, and actually awe, for the way he battled that awful disease and devoted the last years of his life to raising awareness and funds so that hopefully a breakthrough can be made to spare others what he and his family went through.

  11. This is a Group that will test us severely. It will be a major achievement if we progress.

     

    As ever will be praying for a win tomorrow but will be delighted with a draw.

     

    I could live with a narrow defeat providing we play well but if we are skelped I will be gutted.

     

    I am forecasting a one all draw.

  12. A lot of lovely heartfelt posts re Fernando Ricksen.

     

    It really is the most horrible of ways to go, my close mate watched his beautiful wife taken by it several years ago.

     

    My heart goes out to Fernandos family and anyone else thats loved one is suffering with it.

     

    Rest In Peace Fernando, you deserve the solace after the torture you have suffered.

  13. Big Georges Fan Club - Hail, Hail, Wee Oscar on

    GFTB on 15TH SEPTEMBER 2019 7:32 PM

     

    Big George 7.12pm

     

     

    Lawell in

     

     

    Plains oot :-)

     

     

    ——-/———-

     

     

    Just saw this from a few days ago…

     

     

    tee hee … yer an awfy bad man. :-)))))

     

     

    HH

     

    BGFC

     

    PlainsToiCSC

  14. Big Georges Fan Club - Hail, Hail, Wee Oscar on

    We seem to do quite well against Rennes – previous draw and a win in Europe and no defeats. Also did we not get a friendly draw recently?

     

     

    Means little on the night if course – they are a top team from a big league.

     

     

    A point away would be better than could reasonably be expected (but we want a win).

     

     

    If fully fit, would like to see Ncham on the park – he has been looking sharp and very mobile since Neil had his early season ‘chat’.

     

     

    4 – 2 – 3 – 1 formation

     

     

    Forster

     

    Elhamed – Ajer – Julien – Boli

     

    Broonie – MacGregor

     

    Jimmy – N’cham – Corpus Christie

     

    Big Eddie

  15. Ballymena v Sevco Youths in The Tunnock Caramel Wafer Cup,on SSN ticker,alongside CL games,absolutely fkn desperate stuff from Level 5

  16. ST TAMS on 18TH SEPTEMBER 2019 10:31 PM

     

    Henry Joy

     

     

    Thanks for the tip today. Any for tomorrow?

     

     

    ———————

     

     

    If not watch out for Badas tips. ☹️

  17. In the pub tonight watching the CL.A big crowd of Irish in.They were saying how lucky we were to get Olafabi.They reckon he is going to be a superstar.Around 12 of them in,only 2 supported Celtic.Chelsea,Man U,most of them.

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