Teams can lose their competitive edge quickly. The Celtic team of 2003-04 were imperious: 25 consecutive league wins, they beat every team in the country, home and away, on the bounce. Larsson left, of course, but the following season’s problems were deeper than that.
Watching Argentina last night took me straight back to Fir Park, 2005. A feted team, packed with reputation and talent, simply failed to compete. Unable to match the industry of Iceland, or the ability of Croatia, they look like they want to return to the safety of club football immediately after the group stages.
Having great players is not enough if they are not sufficiently hungry, and keeping millionaires hungry for the SPFL is a challenge we will forever encounter. On this front, we must do what we can. Packed 60,000 seater stadiums help. I’m sure open-top bus parades help even more. These things create a sense of occasion and achievement, which is difficult to find elsewhere.
CQN Golf Annual Charity Open
This year’s CQN Open is set for Friday 29 June at the first class Aberdour Golf Club once again. It is a day of sport, entertainment, Celtic chat and is always good fun.
After the golf, we head up the road to the CQN friendly Woodside Hotel for our evening meal. We’ve the usual round up of all things Celtic by Paul67, and our very funny after dinner speaker is Willie Allan. Then musical entertainment from Scoogz, who you may have seen if you’ve been to Celtic Park entertainment nights. Plus all the usual prizes and charity fundraising, for the Petrov Foundation this year. Cost is £40 night only and £80 all day including golf. Please contact cqnopen2018@outlook.com if you’d like to attend this fun event.
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Whatever anyone says in moments of deluded enlightenment…(weakness! :)…)
The huns and Eng e land have so much in common as football organisations.
Dena , sorry I missed out looks like Donegal continuing Fermanagh’s unfortunate run
DALLAS DALLAS WHERE THE HECK IS DALLAS on 24TH JUNE 2018 1:43 PM
My grandfather was a Fermanagh man , so c’mon Fermanagh
*mine tae, they were culchies, the paternal side of my family goes back generations there. When west brit born carson partitioned the country he only wanted Antrim and Down, in Armagh and Derry they were a small minority so was willing to accept them but not Fermanagh and Tyrone (sounds like a song there).
Dallas Dallas where the heck is Dallas on 24th June 2018 2:47 pm
I have no affiliation to either team , just the faCt they have never won it was why I was rooting for them.
I love the exuberance the green brigade bring to games and you cant please all of the people all of the time
HH
Dallas Dallas where the heck is Dallas on 24th June 2018 2:51 pm
Not just me then . I do that all the time and when I read back wonder how it happened :-)0
HH
Alasdair , a friend of mine from Coatbridge moved down to St Anne’s just before Euro96,
I got in touch with him after Scotland England game in Euro96. He told me he as dreading going to work. He echoed your thoughts about the England football team and the mince associated with them , was hunlike
DALLAS DALLAS WHERE THE HECK IS DALLAS on 24TH JUNE 2018 2:47 PM
My grandad was from Pettigo who met my granny , who was from Cushendun, in Glasgow.
*My grampa met my Connemara born granny in Dumbarton, don’t know when he came over but they were married in St Patrick’s in the town in 1915.
Tontine , fine words and sentiment as usual.
Engurland v Panama Hts,
I got Kane for the Panama Hat Trick….Just ! LOL @17/2.
On a more serious note, Panama could and should have scored THREE. Outwith their goal, they missed TWO sitters, one in each half. The English defence is there for the taking.
At half time and 5-0, Lineker and co were talking about “Record score etc etc”
At Full time ( 6-1)..Lineker and Co all agree that ” It was only NATURAL that England would slow down and mange the game in the 2nd half !
So WHY did NONE of these EXPERT PUNDITS say at Half Time…” I expect England to NATURALLY just slow the game down, and manage the 2nd half etc ” ???????
CHUMPS !!!
HH
What happens ifBelgium draw with them ?
Aff oot to meet ma burd and plenty Beers paid for by Englland… Harry Kane…oh and the Bookies !
HH
The sheer joy and happiness expressed by the Panamanian supporters in scoring a mere goal is my highlight of the competition .
Made me smile. Bravo Panama.
ADI,
If they draw with Belgium and cos the Goal Difference is the same 8-2…it could come down to Fair Play “Yellow Cards etc” to see who tops the Group.
If Fair Play also level, then FIFA Draw LOTS !
At this moment England have TWO Yellows against them, and Belgium THREE, so if they draw England would Top the Group.
I think ?
Well done Big Jimmy, love to see the bookie getting hammered – but FFS, you rode yer luck today :-)
“Brilliant edded goal we’ve seen many a player edding them balls straight down the keepers froat”
Rio Ferdinand
Urban London Accents CSC
Defo AFF OOT Now to met a beautiful young Lady for Drinks etc…..I might let her Kiss my ………..Wallet LOL
HH
Thank you Harry and Bet365.
England.?
“Won 2 in a row but have yet to encounter a quality team..If I was Southgate I’d be worrying about the defence.It is nowhere near being good enough for the serious end of this competiton”
Fitba pundit -Sicilian Radio.
Final whistle, sound off, Foggy Dew immediately on the speakers.
Take it all back about the Shamrock.
Three Englanders walk in, full length of the bar, decide, “Don’t want to listen this Irish shit” and walk out.
Obviously hoping there would be more than an old twat and a beautiful demure wife with no interest in them to be there.
Stood outside for a while, 3 or 4 of them. Now gone.
Good job they were too thick and uneducated to know what was being sung.
ADI_DASSLER
Best behaved finishes top of table
BIG JIMMY on 24TH JUNE 2018 10:53 AM
And another thing about that English mob, when they “won” the World Cup, they conveniently forget to mention that they played every game at Wembley, whilst other nations travelled around different cities.
*first and possibly only country to ever do that.
WHY did no one invent VAR before 1966, as Hurst would only have scored TWO Goals. I am aware that they “won” 4-2, but THAT NON GOAL, changed the game, as west Germany were then chasing the game, and thats another reason why Hurst scored a 4th for them, as it was a break away by England….cheatin bassa’s.
*The Swiss ref wisnae sure if the ball had crossed the line consulted his Azerbaijan linesman who after non-verbal communication indicated it had.
Modern studies using film analysis and computer simulation show that the ball never crossed the line, both the Visual Information Processing Group at Imperial College London and the Department of Engineering Science at University of Oxford agreed that the ball would have needed to travel a further 2.5–6.0 cm to fully cross the line, and that therefore it was not a goal.
Some Germans cited possible bias of the Soviet linesman especially as the USSR had just been defeated in the semi-finals by West Germany, in fact its alleged that the linesman when asked years later why he gave the goal simply replied “Stalingrad.”
As for the 4th and knighthood goal Geoff Hurst who had replaced the injured Jimmy Greaves in an earlier game admitted that he simply blootered the ball while some spectators were streaming onto the field (shades of the Nou Camp 6 years later) intending to send it as far into the Wembley stands as possible in order to kill time.
Simulating another outlanders name it was a Roger Hunt of a day.
TEUCHTER ÁR LÁ on 24TH JUNE 2018 3:08 PM
Well done Big Jimmy, love to see the bookie getting hammered – but FFS, you rode yer luck today :-)
………
Cheers mate, I cashed out at 4-0, and then Kanes Panama Hat Trick.
Yes I Rode my luck ……oops I could continue, but I better not !
LOL
HH
England are amazing, super team, a lot like Sevco when the they play Dundee or Partick, let’s see how McGuire and Stones gets on against some real strikers:)
When does Harry Kane and Gareth Southgate pick up their Knighthoods ?
HH
Well done Big Jimmy.
Your riding your luck this weather. :-)
I had England minus 2 at 2/1. Easiest bet since I bet Celtic minus 2 against Sevco in the last game.
England v Belgium might be the game no one wants to win.
The runners up may have an easier draw.
Hail Hail
Southgate should be sacked…imagine only drawing 1-1 with the Panama Hats in 45 minutes of football ?
Thats another way to look at it…possibly ?
LOL
AFF oot…..ma young, sexy beautiful Burd is awaiting for some Glesca Banter from this Big Chump..
HH
Big J
Thnx
& well done
TONTINETM 311
I believe Nigel Havers conclusively proved-25 years later-that the ball HAD crossed the line.
Sleepers,with him and Warren Clarke as two Soviet agents. BBC1,1991.
So there!!!
england’s 4th goal in 66 should not count.if there are spectators on the pitch the game stops immediately irrespective of what happens .football rules .YOU CAN ONLY GIVE WHAT YOU SEE.he could not see ball over line for 3rd,therefore a 2 each draw.
deadsimplecsc.
taking kids to mass in YORK tonight.i’m wearing tartan scarf.POPE’S COLOURS.
Oh what excitement
Havent seen such joy since we last won the ashes.
Would be totally spiffingly fab to be on the mainland today. Bloody native broadcaster is showing that native game now (cross between Rugger and Wrestling)
Its days like these that makes one pine for the empire.
Must dash, here comes butler with cucumber sandwiches and G & T
Afternoon just back from beach reading back Bmcuw, thanks for responding to my post this morning it’s appreciated
Weebawbabitty…despite what bmcuw says I think you look like a moderator…got you sussed, numbers up, cat’s out of the bag… :-)
WITS
Crusts trimmed off I trust Sir?
HH jamesgang
Englands prowess from corners and set pieces will cause problems for most teams.
Englands defense will worry no-one .
Not one from Trippier,Walker,McGuire or Stones can actually defend.
Jobo
If lurking BBC just showed the clip you posted this morning with the Senegal players… the good lady says “we used to do that at Zumba ?” (the “we” did not include me)
JNP good stuff with the minus 2 and Big Jimmy good to see you collecting, I looked at both Harry Kane & Lukaku top goal scorers because of their group but in my wisdom went with Jesus…suppose am only 5 aff the leader :-)
Was Japans anthem written by Ivor Cutler?
FAVOURITE UNCLE on 24TH JUNE 2018 3:28 PM
england’s 4th goal in 66 should not count.if there are spectators on the pitch the game stops immediately irrespective of what happens .football rules .YOU CAN ONLY GIVE WHAT YOU SEE.he could not see ball over line for 3rd,therefore a 2 each draw.
*same situation in Barca 1972, Dynamo pulled one back in the 87th minute and went right back on the attack after deidco’s bottle went at the kick off. The huns then invaded the park, waddle claimed they were escaping the violent security forces who were trying tae subdue their victorious fans, he later changed his tune and castigated the support for their hooliganism.
Dynamo Moscow and the Soviet FA demanded a replay on the grounds of the pitch invasion and had the sympathy of some neutral observers and it seems even UEFA, however, the tentacles of the ludge reach far and wide and it never transpired. There was also the train of thought, absurd as it may seem, that no Communist club was ever going to win a major trophy in Franco’s Spain.
The Herald, complete with the late great and lamented Ian Archer, the following day was the only paper tae have a go at them, changed days, and tae cap it all Top of the Pops was pre-empted the following night to show them parading the cup round hades.
Spent the afternoon in the backdoor, England did what good sides do
to bad sides no more no less, the real stuff has still to start, my money
is still with France.
WITS
“I often looked up at the sky, and assed meself the question, what is the moon, what is the stars?”
Sean O’Casey CSC