If you review the comments section in August, you will note the demand for a holding midfield player to be purchased. There was corresponding anger (to put it mildly) immediately after the close of the window that one wasn’t purchased. Roll on three months and it’s difficult to see where such a player would fit in, even during Champions League games.
Instead space opened up for Stuart Armstrong, who, often used on the left, was well out of the picture last season. Now he’s playing central mid and earned two assists and a goal on Saturday, leapfrogging Nir Bitton and Callum McGregor for his place.
McGregor again answered the call at left back, but his move into the middle at halftime changed the game. Two goals down, Celtic needed someone to take a grip on the game. Operating with very little space McGregor played a one-two with Armstrong, dropped the shoulder on a defender, before finding the corner of the net. True control under pressure.
Kolo Toure’s first game back from injury was memorable for the wrong reasons, caught ball-watching for Louis Moult’s goals, the first of which is Goal of the Season material. Sharpness will improve for Kolo, but the change in defence illustrates how effective the Sviatchenko-Simunovic partnership has been.
Graeme Souness met the Scottish media last week and gave his personal insight into the game. On Celtic’s dominance, which he was unequivocal about, he posed one question: “What does 10-in-a-row matter?”
I know one Celtic fan who is neither here nor there on the subject of 10-in-a-row but for most of us, that number of consecutive league titles has enormous resonance. 46 years ago Celtic broke their own record to go seven-in-a-row. When nine was achieved two years later it met with little enthusiasm, but a target was created – and met.
Nine-in-a-row was a record many of us were enormously proud of but it’s no longer something we can shout about, nobody can, when two share the achievement.
I suspect the week after 10 is achieved we’ll wonder what all the fuss was about but our world view will change. 10-in-a-row represents the horizon for many of us, we cannot seriously consider what lies beyond until we’re there.
Here’s a couple of thoughts for you. We’ll no longer count our achievements in years, but in Generations. Generations of Celtic fans will perhaps know the occasional blip, but that’s as harsh as it will get.
Perhaps more tellingly, Celtic will not to lose another Scottish league title in their lifetime of a fair percentage of fans. It’ll be green and white, right ‘til the end.
Directors’ Box auction prize
Courtesy of Celtic sponsor and all round good guys, Intelligent Car Leasing, we have an outstanding auction prize to commence work on Celtic Quick News’ seventh school kitchen for Mary’s Meals. For the Celtic-Dundee game at Celtic Park, on 17 December 2016, you can win:
2 seats in the directors’ box
Champagne reception
5 course meal in the Walfrid Suite
Fully expenses bar (pre and post-match)
Half time snacks and refreshments
Car Parking
And a match programme.
There are experiences in life which money can’t buy. This one is now available for you to bid for here on ebay until Thursday lunchtime. Two of you, directors’ box, Champagne reception, 5 course meal, free bar, get in there – and tell your pals about it.
Many thanks to Intelligent Car Leasing for making this possible – and for you for taking part.
416 Comments- Pages:
- «
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
- 8
- 9
- 10
- 11
- »
AWE_NAW_NO_ANNONI_OAN_ANAW_NOO
Thank you for your response I agree that we are fighting an uphill battle for transparency and justice and the power of the craft is still potent.
However, as the saying goes, ” For evil to succeed, it only requires good men to do nothing”.
Surely, there must be a few just men in UEFA or in other European clubs. I sure hope that some will choose decency and integrity. HH
CHANNELISLANDCELT
They are yours.
Did I meet you once in TGIF in Glasgow to give you tickets for a CL match? – recognise the name
Pass me contact details or let me know a location / time to meet
Cheers
Tiny Tim,
I know what you mean. Phil’s blog today I find basically incomprehensible (not sure if that’s his intention..). Is he saying the SFA have promised to bail them out?
I think journalism – whether on a blog or in a newspaper – has a requirement to be clear in its meaning. Phil seldom is these days. He clearly has a decent source at SDI, but I am pretty sceptical how reliable this source actually is, and Phil’s reverential attitude towards Mike Ashley leaves me queasy.
As for John James – his last 2 offerings strike me as sailing very, very close to the wind legally. I hope he has evidence to back up his various claims…
Sloleybhoy .
Sound mate . Thought I recognised the name as well , it was my bro you met in Glasgow . Tickets are for a couple of mates who are en route to Manchester just now . Don’t want to put my email or number up on blog , can’t remember how I contacted you last time ?
Tiny Tim
Appreciate your scepticism but the roof thing has credence, I have seen the tender for safety nets on three stands to be installed January 2017, its real!!
HH
ahh 10iar doesn’t matter anymore
Channelislandcelt
By any chance we’re you in Paris for the Scotland Brazil World Cup opener??
HH
Aw Naw
Nonsense. UEFA and ECA have a joint memorandum supporting FFP.
It is in the interest of the majority of clubs so the ECA support it.
The “big” clubs are big because of the market in which they operate and so the legitimate football income they can attract.
That gives them the ability to pay for better players so win more trophies but FFP has nothing to do with controlling the G14.
It’s not perfect but it’s genesis came from a desire to protect clubs from themselves and each other, plus pressure from the EC after the White Paper on Sport was adopted as result of work by Ivo Belet.
It came from the obvious need for football to regulate its finances in order to remain a sport and not a franchise.
It’s success can be seen from the reducing number of clubs entering insolvency, the risks of not abiding by it will see such clubs entering insolvency and if not for selfish reasons of protecting integrity of UEFA competition it will be applied to save clubs from their own financial idiocy.
UEFA have turned a blind eye, due to the huns contamination of their tournaments, and any subsequent financial claims, that they may be liable for IMO
ITALIABHOY on 5TH DECEMBER 2016 4:
48 PM
My reading of it is that what the auditors say is perhaps not quite as clear a representation of the true state of financial affairs as those making decisions based on it really require to make an accurate judgement of the true financial health of an association member.
Heaven forbid the word of auditors would be untrustworthy.
LMCBHOY
I was in Paris but wasn’t at game .
Closest I ever got to attending a Scotland match . HH
LMCBHOY on 5TH DECEMBER 2016 5:02 PM
Channelislandcelt
By any chance we’re you in Paris for the Scotland Brazil World Cup opener??
I was at that game with my big mate Darren
BADA BING
I think that is a factor in terms of events in 2011 and SFA/UEFA responses thereafter.
We are a professional football club (in fact,more than that …).
Does inning trophies matter ?
You betcha’ !
Des setting records matter?
You betcha’ !!!
Does 10 in a row matter ?
…
… Whit is this, wi’ the daft questions ?? !! ??
10 in a row league titles – WON WITHOUT a HINT of CHEATING – is a target worth pursuing !!!
LMCBhoy
I was there at the game in Paris with my bhoy.
Not often you see two Celts score in a WC opener …
It all went downhill after that …
ha ha
Channel islandcelt
Does the bar of hotel de crillon ring any bells?think we might have met, just a long shot. Not many bhoys there, but we had a helluva trip!
The only issue we had was our ticket supplier, an agency, supplied fake tickets but having got in we pursuaded the gendarmes that we were, as we were, innocent victims and they let us stay.
Good times even with the result
HH
Sloeybhoy and Channelisland celt
Blantyretim1@aol.co.uk
I’ll try to get u in touch
Looks like Celtic think roofs are safe they are now selling tickets for pound land
Italiabhoy
I don’t read Phil’s blogs anymore
Find them way too cryptic
And lacking in concrete evidence
Pity done a lot of amazing work
It’s strange that Scottish sports journalist take every opportunity to drag the game down.
Motherwell 3 Celtic 4 … fantastic game.
Headlines are about a playground dispute about where yer jumpers make the goalposts.
Whatabout the great end to end match ???
– Three great goals from MWell against a side that hadn’t lost a goal in dunks…
– Great tactical changes during the match
– Callum’s goal
– Armstrong’s tackle (oh err missus…)
– Paddy’s brilliant pass for Armstrong’s goal
– etc etc
– Rogic winner – on 90mins…
An advert for the game in Scotland…
GLENDALYSTONSILS
Callum or Calum
It makes one l of a difference
AULDHEID on 5TH DECEMBER 2016 5:02 PM
Aw Naw
Nonsense. UEFA and ECA have a joint memorandum supporting FFP.
No time buddy sorry. If what you say is true and not nonsense then answer me this question.
Why did the ECA bestow a life time membership on a club that has never played in Europe ?
HH
Good evening, friends.
Would/could Glasgow City Council fix their roofs by giving them a grant as part of regeneration of that part of the city? Just asking like.
Sky Sports have just run a story alleging a former RFC 1872 coach who also worked at Hibs was dismissed for child sexual abuse in the 80’s, saying they sacked him when they found out and reported it to the Police, wonder who investigated it and what the outcome was, I did not read or hear anything about this at the time.
looking for 2 tickets for the Man C game- prefer tim end if possible
LMCBHOY
Sorry mate , doesn’t ring any bells .
Biggest memory was arguing with some Hun who had a deid club badge sewn on to his tartan scarf .
HH
Chris Davies sticking it to McGhee,’ i find it strange he said he never knew me, he offered a welcome to me in his programme notes…?’
Evening champions….
Burgas great to know Allan is their! Tell him Wokman for the best Chinese in Piccadilly… Dimsum wonder!
1973 …to the day…won a weeks wages (butcher bhoy) of a blazing knuckle squeezer…Harry hit three braw goals past thems…
Here is how a Hun should perceive, but alas they lack perception…
Smiley thing….
The Earth beneath our feet seems reassuringly solid and unchanging most of the time. But this is an illusion, born of our limited perspective.
Green Lantern…..
Big green smiley thing
Braw.
Melbournemick…..
braw posts …you and your fellow Thims…. Doing braw Rogical work !!!
Hail Hail
Braw.
Channelislandcelt
Longshot, just wondered!!
HH
My take on certain blogs will sound pious, but adopt for a minute a Tommy Burns attitude and perspective on life. Regardless of the content veracity are they written in a way that assists, is neutral, or directly contravenes better relations between folk living in the West of Scotland who may support opposing teams?
And you’re not allowed to uses whataboutery in your answer.
Told you it was pious.
DESSYBHOY at 5.50pm
I would suppose that any decision by Glasgow City Council to fund repair of roofs in Edmiston Drive would have to be in minutes of the council. Any Glasgow Council taxpayer could submit a Freedom of Information request to ascertain whether any funding has/will be paid.
Re the child molestation- and I am sure that tbis is not your intention- we have to be careful that we are not making tit for tat comments. The tragedy that befell any youngster I way beyond pont scoring. The real point is why was there no proper investigation by the police. HH
Shortbread carrying a story that Jim Farry dismissed an abuse victim who was reporting an abuser active in Scottish football with Regan apologising for the lack of action. Powerful stuff
An Teach Solais
No tit for tat from me, all these complaints require the same level of investigation no matter who the perpetrator is, hope that clear that up
Perhaps, considering the expensive poisoned chalice that Europe has been for the SPFL also-rans in recent years, Hearts and Aberdeen are not too fussed whether they qualify for the UEFA play offs or not.
Therefore, they are not rocking any boats. Either that or it is just the usual freemasonry at work!
Classic Zombie Zombie content
” A £500,000 bonus for negotiating a 7p in the pound deal. At £40 a strip we’d need to sell 178,000 just to cover the bonus. It’d be hilarious were it not us. “
Scotland Supporters Club fake invoice warning after suspected hacking of SFA database
Fans have been left worried about their personal data after receiving emails asking them to pay a £170 invoice.
BY MARK DOUGAN
10:11, 5 DEC 2016UPDATED11:59, 5 DEC 2016
The SFA has issued a warning to fans after supporters received an email supposedly from the Scotland Supporters Club with an invoice for £170.
Current and former members of the Scotland Supports Club received the phishing email requesting the money to be paid by December 7.
The incident has left many of the Tartan Army worried about their data being compromised with thousands of supporters on the mailing list.
But the SFA have moved to allay fears that credit card details may have been stolen in the hack.
In a statement they said: “We would like to apologise to those who have received a spoof email this morning purporting to be from the Scottish FA.
“The email asks recipients to click a link where they can pay an outstanding bill.
“This has occurred due to a third-party email database being compromised.
“We urge all recipients to delete the email immediately and recommend that anyone who may have opened it run a security check on their computer to ensure no malware has been installed.
“We would like to assure all supporters that no bank or credit card details have been shared.
“We have moved to delete this account and the issue has been raised with our suppliers.
“We will provide an update in early course.”
Fans aren’t the only people who have received an email. A number of football coaches have also received a similar email, this time purporting to be from the SFA CPD department which deals with coaching courses in the country.
A number of fans took to Twitter to question the legitimacy of the email, and the Scotland Supporters Club quickly posted a tweet warning fans to ignore the message.
They said: “Please be aware of a false email being circulated purporting to be from the Supporters Club. Please ignore and delete this email.”
The email asks fans to view and pay their bill by clicking a link, which leads to .zip file being downloaded, leaving fans’ devices at risk of various hostile software including viruses.
Fans were also angered that they were being billed £170 for tickets they never ordered, before they were told to delete the email by the SFA.
The Scottish Football Supporters Association have also tweeted that they have contacted the SFA for information, saying the source code for the email comes from China.
The email said: “I wanted you to be aware that we have had many of our members have contacted us regarding the invoices coming for the SFA.
“This looks like a serious security breach and that a source in Hong Kong ( from what we can see of the source code) has access to the Scotland Supporters Membership database.
“I would appreciate if you can confirm what action the SFA will be taking to protect the data of the Scotland Supporters Members and what measures are in place to ensure that no personal data has been accessed from your files ( bank accounts and other sensitive information).”
Follow
SFSA @scottishfsa
It looks like the @ScottishFA fans membership accounts have been hacked – source code from China. We have written to them to ask for info!
10:44 AM – 5 Dec 2016
18 18 Retweets 5 5 likes
8h
Scotland Supporters @SFA_Supporters
Please be aware of a false email being circulated purporting to be from the Supporters Club. Please ignore and delete this email.
Follow
Karen Sneddon @KarenSneddon79
@SFA_Supporters I just got this, haven’t been a member in eight years, not happy about my details being hacked.
10:54 AM – 5 Dec 2016
Retweets likes
8h
Scotland Supporters @SFA_Supporters
Please be aware of a false email being circulated purporting to be from the Supporters Club. Please ignore and delete this email.
Follow
Martin @mcmacmouth
@SFA_Supporters Has your database been hacked then? Please can we have assurances our information has not been stolen?
10:49 AM – 5 Dec 2016
Retweets likes
8h
Scotland Supporters @SFA_Supporters
Please be aware of a false email being circulated purporting to be from the Supporters Club. Please ignore and delete this email.
Follow
Stuart McMichael @stuartmcmichael
@SFA_Supporters this is worrying. Had data been compromised?
Please confirm.
10:48 AM – 5 Dec 2016
Retweets 1 1 like
8h
Scotland Supporters @SFA_Supporters
Please be aware of a false email being circulated purporting to be from the Supporters Club. Please ignore and delete this email.
Follow
The Garthdee Prince @MikeyCumming
@SFA_Supporters have our details been hacked??? Hopefully they have hacked in and processed the sacking on Strachan
10:44 AM – 5 Dec 2016 · Aberdeen, Scotland
Don’t think I’ve read more than a handful of Phil’s Blogs since 2012, as for John James ditto.
Hong Kong is in China
HH