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
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Sorry if this has already been posted, but I just got this by email from JJ Site ?
Today someone I know sent me a story which has been doing the rounds; I later found out that it made the E-Tims diary yesterday. If true, it’s a remarkable one and considering the source I have to say that it’s difficult, if not impossible, to readily dismiss.
On Kerrydale Street, long-time poster Corsica68, who used to be on Twitter and has been a regular contributor to TSFM and other sites, made a spectacular allegation, one that goes right to the heart of how the media in Scotland works … and it offers an alarming insight into the BBC in particular.
If it’s true then it’s a major scandal in itself.
Corsica68 did a lot of work investigating a story involving the Rangers Charity Foundation, an investigation which led him to believe – led him to know – that funds which had been appropriated for charitable reasons had found their way to the club. This story flared briefly on social media and then died. But it would not have died had he had his way.
The story, which he initially did a lot of digging into, was that two football matches played by Rangers (IA) and Sevco, as well as a white water rafting trip in which Ally McCoist took part, all of which were allegedly to raise money for charities, instead diverted the bulk of the proceeds into the accounts of the Ibrox clubs.
His work on it was excellent and formed the basis of numerous online pieces.
There is no doubt whatsoever that his findings were correct.
There is no doubt that the club(s) and the Rangers Charity Foundation subverted common practice.
The first of the two games, a match played against AC Milan Legends, resulted in an official complaint being made to the Office of the Scottish Charities Regulator. That investigation found The Charity Foundation to be in breach of its guidelines, confirmed that the club received the money but chose not to sanction the trustees.
One of those trustees worked for the club itself, in as clear a conflict of interest as you will find. That individual, acting almost completely on his own initiative, made the decision to give the proceeds to Rangers (IA). The Regulator said that was “in breach of trustees’ duties and “constituted misconduct”.”
These allegations are fairly widely known, but they would have morphed into a gigantic news story had the BBC been willing to properly investigate them. It would have been a major feather in someone’s cap, and it ought to have been wanted by many in the business.
Corsica68 claims that, initially at least, it was.
Two senior BBC journalists and a producer were interested in this information.
They reviewed it. They wanted it.
They were all set to produce a segment on it.
And then something happened. The story was dead. The story had been killed inside the BBC Scotland offices. A senior manager allegedly threatened his own team. He told them their names would be leaked to the online hate mob, and they dropped the story as a consequence.
According to Corsica68, one of the journalists was Mark Daly.
I cannot think of a more serious allegation about a major media organisation. If Daly was subjected to such pressure from within the Corporation then we’re in a desperate place here. It’s all well and good some saying – as some have – that he should have immediately resigned; few people are willing to walk out of a well paid job, no matter what.
But as I said in the piece about BBC Scotland’s decision to “investigate” Dermot Desmond, an effort which was effectively nothing but an attempt to smear Celtic, someone gives Daly his instructions. Someone decides what projects he will work on. Someone gives him his cue. Our argument is not with Mark Daly per se but with those above him.
That’s what makes today’s story especially interesting; BBC Scotland is an organisation which employs tax cheats. It smears our club. It has ignored evidence that the SFA has been involved in dark deeds in relation to the Rangers and Sevco crises. Its journalists are apologists and hand-wringers. If it is also stifling one of its best investigators in his efforts to dig into scandals at Ibrox that would not be terribly surprising.
But it would be disgusting. It would be shameful.
They are a tax payer funded organisation; their moralising over the tax affairs of an Irishman who lives over there whilst ignoring crooks right here at home is bad enough … but we’re paying the salaries of people who are deliberately supressing news … and that’s a new low, and a dangerous one.
I have no idea if this is true or false; I trust Corisca68 implicitly, because he has been right time and again. This story was one of his best efforts but he did some of the most sterling work on finding out about Craig Whyte and he’s been diligent on issues like Res12 and others.
If he is correct we’re in uncharted waters.
Serious questions need to be asked about this allegation.
I have no faith in us ever getting to the bottom of it but that should not stop us putting those questions in the public domain.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-41945723
didnt kai johansen. play for a club down govan way.
BIGJIMMY
The McCoist trip was a scandal in itself. The costs involved for the jolly for fatso,his pals and his son were paid for by the proceeds of the charity appeal.
They were as enormous as his waistline,there was never any chance of a nominated charity benefiting
It was widely discussed at the time,here and elsewhere.
Disgraceful behaviour.
The Cardigan was on that jolly too…
STV Headline story right now is warning the public over Poppy and/or Charity scams that could lead to ex service men and women NOT getting the help they need cos “Criminals” are scamming money etc etc.
Wonder why they haven’t reported anything about the Huns benefitting from charity ?
HH
BOBBY MURDOCH’S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS on 10TH NOVEMBER 2017 6:05 PM
……………………….
Sorry Bhoys and Ghirls I didn’t know that this story had been highlighted previously, as I just got the email after 5pm today.
I noted the arrival time of your train tomorrow, so you should be in the BV for around 1pm ?
I’ll defo be there, looking forward to meeting up mate FINALLY !
HH
Unlike any Huns “Jolly”….our CQN Jolly tomorrow will not result in us stealing money meant for charity !
HH
BIGJIMMY
Should be about then,mate. Looking forward to it!
My comment wasn’t a criticism,just pointing out that while JJ might be bang-on-the-money,he should have been reading this site years ago!!!
STV NEWS 2 MINUTES AGO………
” Ranjurs have issued a statement ( YAWN)…they will not be rushed in appointing a new manager, and they haven’t interviewed anybody yet”.
BIGJIMMY
My money’s on Alex Neill.
BMCUWP,
I don’t know why I should get this email only tonight….I must be light years behind all you other Bhoys….a bit like The Hoops…………and the Huns.
HH
I’ll phone or text you when I’m just outside the BV….will I need ID to get in cos I’m no 21 ?
My money is on Murty
Barrowbhoy
My son said there are lots of spares for PSG v Celtic being sold on social media sites, and through PSG. Good luck
DELANEYS DUNKY
Managed to get one in Munich here,s hoping Thanks.
Alex Neil doing well at Preston NE
They are giving Murty the chance to win their next 2 easy games giving him 4 wins on the bounce, then the smsm will hail him as the new mourinho and his appointment a fait acxomplie
BIGJIMMY
I think you need to bribe the barstaff wi a round of drinks for the good ole Bhoys at the big table,that should see you all right.
It looks like Ibrox’s issues may be solved by the SFA abandoning Hampden. Surprise surprise!
Give Peace A Chance
BMCUWP-and fellow cqns have a blast tomorrow:-)))
I see tricky dikie has been doorstepped and was maybe asked about the sevco dream job ,or not .
wonder if he will phone Flo and ask if he is up for a reunion.
Correct me if I.m wrong but did sevco not opt for pedro 5th best manager in the Quatri league because they were skint .
Phil Mac mentioned that Billy Boy Davies had refused the gig and funnily enough his name was never mentioned again (even by his best friend and cheerleader) gordon de hell .
When a guy who refers to himself in the third person knocks it back the baw is well and truly oan the slates
HH
Good evening, friends
**LAST MAN STANDING 9 – WEEK 7 – ALL THE PICKS**
With apologies to those who have already fallen this week (not me – I’m through thanks to Croatia!) here are all the picks for Week 7
Thursday 9th November
Croatia [37] v Greece
Northern Ireland [1] v Switzerland [3] plus 1 person choosing the draw!
Friday 10th November
Sweden [1] v Italy [4]
Saturday 11th November
Airdrie v Stranraer [1]
Albion Rovers v Alloa [2]
Forfar v East Fife [2]
Queens Park v Arbroath [10]
Dumbarton v Raith Rovers [1]
Inverness [2] v Falkirk
Denmark [3] v Republic of Ireland
Is Mikel suspended for tonights game with Italy? notice he`s not in the team or among the subs.
BMCUWP
Be very surprised if Alex Neil took that job HH
“We are delighted to welcome Pedro Caixinha to Rangers. We compiled a shortlist of high-quality candidates for the position but we knew after our initial meeting with Pedro that he was the right man to take this club forward.
“He is a man of great experience and authority and the board has no doubt he will help us achieve our long-term goals.
Stewart ( We are the Peepil ) Robertson
“Only one player involved in this year’s European World Cup play-offs also appeared in the original play-offs back in 1997,” says Richard Foster on Twitter. “Step forward Gianluigi Buffon … ” What a legend:
http://celticbynumberscom.ipage.com/celtic-speed-past-maleys-record/
Celtic’s pace and movement was too much for a badly out of form St Johnstone. And the records keep coming.
BOURNESOUPRECIPE
AHHHHH the wonder of the tinternet .
In days gone by ,that little gem would almost certainly have been forgotten and only to be found in the chip wrappers archive of the local library .
HH
In 8 minutes Poland starts friendly against Uruguay. Artur Boruc will be the captain and will leave the pitch in 44th minute. It’s his last game for Poland. A lot of talk about this event in the Polish media. I lot of talk about his time at Celtic too.
my claim to fame could also be a quiz question.in my last year at st augustines coatbridge. i used to carry the guitar case for my music teacher. little did i know he was frequently on stv give you a clue he walked with a limp. by the way the year was 1968.hh.
Italian national anthem, in my opinion the world’s best. Then the mute button, Walker on duty.
Fergus
It’s all out there
” Rangers supremo Dave King insists that the club did their homework on new manager Pedro Caixinha and the management set-up.
The Gers accepted Mark Warburton’s resignation in February and placed Under-20s boss Graeme Murty in temporary charge while commencing the search for his successor.
Eventually the Ibrox outfit settled on Portuguese tactician Caixinha and tempted him to quit Al Gharafa to take charge on a contract running until the summer of 2020; he also brought in his own backroom staff.
And King insists that Rangers, made sure they did their research on the new boss and the set-up surrounding him.”
Soukous 7.16.
Yes. Mickel is suspended, available for 2nd leg.
Zbyszek.
Good to see you posting.
Thank you for sharing about Artur.
Hail Hail
https://twitter.com/ffs_omg/status/929057029360177154
Truly heartwarming stuff
I know I’ve asked this before,but what happened to our music man?sorry if I’m out of order,won’t be the first or last time:-))
BOURNESOUPRECIPE
here’s hoping they do their homework on the next mug also
HH
We have a really good interview with Victor Wanyama on CQN tomorrow morning at 10am.