Olivier Ntcham stole the show with a stunning free-kick goal for France under-21s against Bulgaria last night. Celtic’s midfielder came on as a 75th minute substitute, not long after teammate Moussa Dembele was subbed off.
Olivier has been capped by France at every age group since under-16. It is a mark of the expectations we have for him, and Moussa, that they are exposed to the demands of the Allianz Arena, despite Olivier having less than 50 senior games under his belt, and Moussa having less than 100.
At similar stages of their development, expectations of Kenny Dalglish and Henrik Larsson were considerably less, while contemporaries, Stuart Armstrong and Tom Rogic took years to reach peak form.
What we have seen from Olivier, and to a lesser extent Moussa, is a glimpse of their potential. Playing for Celtic, with its unique mix of expectations to win every domestic game, indifferent domestic opponents, and regular Champions League football, provides a great opportunity to polish potential into the finished article.
Young players will get first team opportunities in less demanding games, while 18-year-olds like Anthony Ralston will be asked to get stuck in against PSG. I doubt any other club can offer a better environment to develop talent, which explains why we can attract Moussa, Olivier and Odsonne Edouard.
NEW CQN PODCAST OUT NOW!
A Celtic State of Mind presents its 23rd instalment of insightful discussion into the culture of Celtic Football Club, the city of Glasgow, and fans of the reigning invincible Scottish champions.
Paul John Dykes is joined by Bafta-winning documentary director, John MacLaverty, and Scottish comedian, Phil Differ.
John’s Lisbon Lions documentary – Glasgow: 1967 – is an incredible celebration of Celtic’s European Cup win 50 years on.
Phil has been a staple part of Scottish comedy for decades, and has worked on such iconic productions as Scotch & Wry, Naked Video, City Lights, Rab C Nesbitt and Only An Excuse.
The CQN Podcast has gone from strength-to-strength over the last few months, and there are many more guests lined up in the months ahead from the world of sport, music, film, art, broadcasting, literature and politics.
NEW FROM CQN BOOKS! JIM CRAIG – RIGHT BACK TO 67, THE LISBON LION DIARY, ORDER A SIGNED COPY NOW!
ORDER YOUR SIGNED COPY NOW AT CQNBOOKSTORE.COM
962 Comments- Pages:
- «
- 1
- ...
- 17
- 18
- 19
- 20
- 21
- 22
- 23
- 24
- 25
- 26
- »
BMCUWP
Thanks for the clip.
Easy enough to say he should have stayed with us, he was a wonderfully gifted player.
Very, very sad.
THELURKINTIM
I meant to say to you this morning, thank you for the Kenke link!
World class indeed!
For me Henrik was the perfect striker.
He was great with either foot, fantastic in the air, strong, great imagination, could see a pass and his flicks and chips were, well ,world class!
And he was quick!
One of my best memories is the 6-2 game when Henrik nutmegged the defender then sublimely chipped the gaolkeeper. Watch the ball boys behind the goal!
I thought they were going into orbit!
Wonder where they are now?
CQN find out and do an article on them!
Thanks again!
KENKE = HENKE
Obviously
Philbhoy 6.15pm
Ball Bhoys 6-2 game rumour has it one of them was David Marshall the goalie
The Henrik chip is one of my favourite ever goals
A wee sand wedge of a dink :-)
On the subject of ball Bhoys young Kieran getting Nakamuras Boots is Celtic gold … whit a smile :-)
henke was good .but you younger guys had you seen boaby lennox joe mcbride willie wallace harry hood ?.
Big Packy 6.27pm
From 1977 onwards I have witnessed great goal scorers but the Maestro will always be my favourite ever player… although at 20 young KT could be anything for us
Corkcelt – shocking news about Liam Miller God bless him and his family
BIG PACKY
I saw the Lions and every striker since.
They all had a great range of skills but Henrik outranged them all!
IMO.
GERRYFAETHEBRIG.you young whippersnappe.r aye okay different generations. but where is my pies and bridies. lol.
Philbhoy, good to meet you and other bhoys yesterday. Enjoyed the chat. Glad to see that my standard of golf seems to be on a par (see wot I done there) with yours! HH
PHILBHOY. yes see your point. but the buzzbomb is up there with him.
FRIESDORFER
Great to meet you too, but, I need to get a couple of shots a hole, in the interest of fairness, you understand!
Terrible news on Liam Miller. Thoughts and prayers with his family.
BIG PACKY
The Buzz Bomb was quicker than Henrik……. but Henrik was a wee bit better all round.
IMO
Watching the Swiss take on the 6 Counties. Regardless of the dross served up by the pundits in the Scottish game Gerry Armstrong is the most embarrassing tube I’ve ever heard on tv talking about football.
He’s made a good living from it too.
He’s hard to stomach.
Philbhoy, only a couple of shots per hole, way out of my league _ lol!
ROBERTTRESSELL
Looks like it will be hard cheese for Armstrong’s tea tonight
Kieran Tierney Is An Absolute Disgrace https://theclumpany.wordpress.com/2017/11/12/kieran-tierney-is-an-absolute-disgrace/
Just read back. Liam Miller – good god! Awful news.
I’ve got to speak to Delaney’s Dunky, what is it with the Delaneys, There was a Delaney playing for Denmark against the Republic last night & unless my ears deceived me there is a Delaney playing for Switzerland against the 6 Counties today.
Am I right or am I nuts.
PHILBHOY .agree with that. imagine if boaby had henriks talent.
BIG PACKY
Can you imagine them both in the same team?
Dreeeeaaaammss!
Awful news of Liam Miller,God bless him…..thoughts with him and his family.
CORKCELT
Just read back.
Truly shocking news about Liam Miller.
Heartbreaking.
O. G. Rafferty. I watched a documentary on him a few years back. He moves in ‘Ulster Tattlers’ circles. Makes a living from the Spain World Cup in 82 and, dare I say, he doesn’t reflect the views of the vast majority of people I know from where he grew up. Each to their own I suppose but surely some ability to read a game and be a little dispassionate when commenting on it is a requirement of Football punditry?
According to him the Swiss were under the cosh for most of the second half. They were poor alright but the poppy clad Irishmen weren’t much better.
PHILBHOY. one can only dream.h.h
Thoughts and prayers with Liam Miller, his family and friends at this sad time.
HH
THECLUMPANY
Too often I read your articles but fail to mention that
THEY ARE CONSISTENTLY SUPERB!!!!
Btw,is that Ryan Jack behind Kieran? Also poppyless-as is his right to be,of course.
DESSYBHOY on 12TH NOVEMBER 2017 4:45 PM
Dunlop are not good golf balls,unless the person loses balls regularly in that case they will be a cost effective option.
VG
Big Packy 6.39pm
No Christie’s venture this weekend, me & the wee blade only go if am not working, as I said before I will provide a Christie’s “packed lunch” if we make Lyon 2018 :-)
OG Raff/Robert T
Said the same the other night re his “commentary” on the first game. I know some on here don’t like the epithet “soup taker” but Gerry Armstrong is a soup taker extraordinaire.
Came from a tough Nationalist district Beechmount and played Gaelic football for St Johns but after the dark side embraced him for his goal against Spain in the 1982 World Cup he reciprocated in spades. His comments on the dead team are vomit inducing. In his heyday…..mmmm (Cascarino like) he wouldn’t have got a game for his preferred Scottish team because of his religion. A complete and utter tube and an embarrassment (and occasional disgrace) as a commentator.
HH
Philbhoy- what did you hit on the back 9?
It is hard to comprehend that someone who was so healthy and young succumbs to such a devastating illness. Unfortunately this illness and others do not respect what age a person is. We must live life to the full whilst we are on earth.
Absolutely gutted for Liam and his family.
Keep the Faith!
Hail Hail!
Gerry Taggart with the Sky poppy on…..
!!BADA BING!!
Just broke 200 again!
Whose hand is inside the BBC puppet? …
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/iPhAjPcpcmA8dVdv9TFDhMCW4PVa9R1aYoRgmdtzDZH9i89Zq_GTd_hsSVSOo-zM2GShZzeQFqKRi-85w-4=w1500-h1084-no