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Celtic Diary Monday October 31; The Assault On Europe

This military jingoism, which started over on the other side of the river can be quite infectious, and no doubt I won’t be the only one to use war references as the Celts travel to Gladbach to play the local team.

Actually, thats one thing you can say about the SMSM, that they rarely use that kind of language, as opposed to their English equivalent, who are never shy of telling us that Fritz doesn’t like it up him, which frankly makes Fritz pretty much the same as the rest of us.

Celtic need to get a point from this game to keep the campaign alive, and although a defeat won’t mean that Celtic exit europe, mathematically at least, it does mean that it will be extremely difficult.

The team, on a high after completing two difficult games and a Cup semi final without losing a goal may yet surprise us, as BT sports have done by putting the game out live on Freeview.

Optimistic now rather can confident, maybe Celtic can sneak a win over there. in the past, Celtic have performed well away from home but always seem to make an arse of it somehow, and usually come away empty handed.

Manager Brendan Rodgers appears to have been working on that;

“I said to the players a few weeks ago, you have to learn how to win 1-0, They’re not always going to score four or five or six goals.

“But if you’ve got that spirit and collective mentality to fight then it gives you a great chance in any game. The game would have been out of sight. That was the reality of it.

“I think there’s a real connection now, between the supporters, the club, the team, everybody is pulling in one direction. But there’s still room for a lot of evolution of the club, both off and on the field.

“What we showed today was that we can win any game of football.

“What it was like in the past, I don’t know. What I know with this group is that they have confidence. They can outplay teams, they can outpass teams, they can press teams, and if it’s a fight, they can fight

“They can stand up and be counted, be aggressive. We’ve come to some really tough places and won.”

It will be interesting to see if Kolo Toure starts the game is is held in reserve to strengthen the defence should Celtic do the unthunkable and be ahead in the game with maybe twenty minutes or so to go.

That would make sense, as not only will the Germans see him as a possible weakness due to his mistakes allowing them to score last time out, he didn’t have the best game of his Celtic career a couple of weeks back.

Simunovic and Sviatchenko will be our first choice pairing next season, so it makes sense to start them together tomorrow if only for the experience.

Emilio Izaguirre will step in for Keioran tierney, and he is a different type of left back. much more aggressive and certainly more of a physical presence than Tierney.

normally i wouldn’t advocate too many changes before a big game, but a different back four, cpmpleted with Mikael Lustig, will mean that the Germans won’t be as confident of breaching the defensive line. ( I thought you said you would leave the military stuff to the other lot -Ed )

Will Nir Biton partner Scott Brown in the middle. Probably, but again there is a valdi case for the energy and drive of Stuart Armstrong, who is again, a different type of player from what Borussia would expect.

Tom rogic will start, but this time how about he makes way for Leigh Griffiths on the hour ?

As we nned to score goals, it makes sense to include the guy who can get them.

Dembele will probably start up front, flanked by James Forrest and Scott Sinclair, and the two wingers know they have to keep possesion and take the ball out of the danger zone.

There’s goals in the team at any level, but they will need to start the game at pace, and keep it up for the duration, whilst not allowing themselves to be led into a dance by the Germans when not in  possession.

And if Celtic can stop giving the ball away, which is still the sides biggest problem in Europe, then who knows ?

 

One problem might be the referee. He’s Jorge de Sousa of Portugal, and is rather too handy with the yellow cards for my liking. Especially for a game featuring two northern European sides who don’t mind a bit of robustness.

MATCHES OF JORGE DE SOUSA

Ultimately though, Celtic will come back with something if Craig Gordon keeps another clean sheet, something thankfully he’s been getting the hang of again.
The goalkeeper seems to be back to his old self, and told the Sun that he thinks that Celtic may yet surprise a few people.;

 “Of course we believe. We believe we can do it in every game if we get enough of our players playing at the top of their game.

“If we do that, we’ll match them. There are possibilities still for us in Europe and that’s what we are looking at.

“We’ll go into the game and look to keep things as tight as we possibly can against a good team.

“We know they are going to create chances, but if we can limit those and have a threat on the break, we have a chance.”  

Which sounds very sensible, very calm and almost very realistic.

We are the underdogs, as Gordon says here, when asked if they are ready for the game;

What we have learned? We’ll see. I don’t want to say too much.

“In the debrief after the game, we watched bits of it back and the manager has pointed out areas we need to improve for this time around and we’ll be looking at that again now.

“We are certainly going to go into the game as underdogs and nobody will be expecting anything from us but, within our group of players, we know what we are capable of.

I think we prefer being the underdogs.
 Today is Halloween, the traditional marking of the coming of winter where kids go around in ridiculous outfits and demand money from householders to prevent criminal damage.
 Or sweets. You can probably save your windows by handing over a couple of wine gums.
With the Celtic game taking place on All Saints Day, which is tomorrow, I wonder which one will provide the headlines writers with their clever and witty leaders.
Speaking of Halloween, don’t let the kids see this, as the popular daily advertising circular the Daily Record has got into the spirit of things with a photo that will keep the them away from the fireplace…

Strangely enough, the paper makes no mention of the other major event that happened on October 31…

 

Former Rangers FC ? Looks like the real thing to me in the picture.

No matter what happens tomorrow night, theres a timely reminder for us today;

Some good news, as just a mere fifty years since he scored the most important goal in Scottish football history, and still the only one to deliver club footballs biggest prize to this country, there’s recognition  for Stevie Chalmers

If my calculations are correct, he becomes the one hundredth member of this , er, exclusive club.

Started in 2004, the Scottish Football Hall of Fame is a permanent feature in the Scottish Football Museum to honour the truly great players, managers and officials who have reached the pinnacle of their profession and have made a significant contribution to Scotland’s football reputation through their skill, spirit and determination. 

Chalmers takes his place alongside luminaries such as Professor Stewart Hillis, ( Look him up. I can’t be arsed ) RS McColl, for selling the papers that contain the articles about football and Terry Butcher, who isn’t Scottish but does like it up here. , as well as Andy Goram, George Graham and Walter Smith who have all been shining beacons of respectability within our game.

However, that particular cheapening of the game, and those who achieve something pales into insignificance when Herald writer Matthew Lindsay tries to drum up support for the national team, and gives us another example of the mentality that if allowed to continue unchecked, will kill Scottish football.

The gulf in quality between Scotland and England is, regardless of the latter’s far from stellar showings against Malta and Slovenia and even Slovakia before that, considerable. To say that it will be a contest between Premier League and Championship players is no exaggeration.

The defences the respective teams will field underline this fact. Southgate will be able to call on Kyle Walker (Spurs), Gary Cahill (Chelsea), John Stones (Manchester City) and Danny Rose (Spurs). His counterpart Gordon Strachan, meanwhile, will probably go with Callum Paterson (Hearts), Russell Martin (Norwich City), Charlie Mulgrew (Blackburn Rovers) and Lee Wallace (Rangers).

The Scotland backline will certainly be the best available to Strachan. But what are visitors’ chances of shutting out hosts who can deploy Dele Alli, Marcus Rashford, Wayne Rooney, Daniel Sturridge, Jamie Vardy and Theo Walcott? Virtually non-existent I would suggest. 

Somebody should explain to Lindsay that although the English can deploy-oho, there’s your military jingo again-they can’t play them all at once because of the new eleven a side rule.

Local rivals “rangers “, in a desperate bid to raise much needed finace, are now asking supporters to make their season books available for resale if they can’t make the game.

They really have no shame at all.

Did you know that if you can’t make it to an upcoming Gers game you can make your seat available for resale?  

I’m sure that no season book holder at Ibrox has resold his book to a mate. But this time he can ask the club to sell it for him, and all the club will keep is a 100% admin fee.

How can I make my seat available for resale?

If you are unable to attend a Ladbrokes SPFL Premiership fixture you can make your seat available for resale by calling 0371 702 1972, online at www.rangers.co.uk or in person at the Rangers Ticket Centre. 

Surely no non “rangers ” fan would get a hold of someones season book number and phone up to ask the club to sell it for them…? That would be childish.

Can I change my mind after making my seat available for resale?

If your seat has not already been sold via secondary ticketing you can re-activate your smartcard by calling 0371 702 1972 or visiting the Rangers Ticket Centre. There will be no charge to reclaim your seat. If you decide to attend the specified match and your seat has been sold via Secondary Ticketing you will be required to purchase a match ticket (subject to availability) at the full price. 

silly question. how can you change your mind if you haven’t got one ?

What are the benefits to me if my seat is sold via Secondary Ticketing?

You will receive varying credits towards your season ticket for Season 2017/18 depending on the level of the ticket purchased on your seat i.e. Adult priced, Concession priced or Juvenile priced ticket sold. Credits raised against your season ticket seat can only be used against your season ticket renewal price for the following season (or season specified), provided your season ticket is renewed within the specified deadline, and credits cannot be transferred for cash or used towards any other match tickets or Club products. 

Or, “We’ll knock a couple of quid of your next book, unless we dip into liquidation, and then you can justy fuck off like everyone else will have to. Like the debenture holders did four years ago.

Will my seat automatically be put forward for sale once returned via Secondary Ticketing?

Your seat will only be put up for public sale once all non-season ticket seats have been sold. 

Yes, but we won;t tell you if it is.

Can I request what sales level my seat is sold at?

You cannot specify what level your seat will be sold at. Your seat will be made available for general sale and sold at the price level requested.

When is the cut off for credit to be added to next season’s season ticket value?

Credits for season ticket renewals for season 17/18 will be accumulated to the home fixture nearest to 28 February 2017. All credits accumulated after the 28 February 2017 and including season 2017/18 will be credited against season ticket renewal for 2018/19. 

They are going to be selling next years books in February ? They won’t even know what division they’ll be in by then. Oh wait, silly me. I forgot about reconstruction.

Can I make a Cup match ticket available for Secondary Ticketing?

You cannot release your seat for any non-season ticket matches purchased. 

I’m not surprised they had to clarify that only games which are on the season book can be sold. They’re not called the gullibillies for nothing, you know.

 Speaking of that club, and its fans…
The Football Museum in Manchester tells of a visit by “rangers ” long before the UEFA cup final of whenever it was…and puts to bed any doubt that whilst they may not be the same club, they are certainly the same fans…check the date on this, spotted by auldheid when he was wandering around Manchester…

The caption used in yesterdays competition was this one

which prompted the winning reply…

Paulo October 30, 2016 at 12:40 pm · Edit · Reply →

The structural engineer tests the connecting rods in the Ibrox Stadium roofs

Today, ponder upon this image,,,what can they be saying ?

 

By the way, enough of the abuse. I’m tired of ploughing through replies which are just abuse.

There’ll be no more warnings, and you may find your posts go missing. And not just the offensive ones.

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Monti
7 years ago

Caption! ” Doo you come here often “?

Monti
7 years ago

Morning Ralph,
Glad you raised the issue of abusive posts, no need for them whatsoever.

andybhoy
7 years ago

Caption….

‘coo roo-c’too-coo’

The Charlie Saiz International
7 years ago

Caption:
Are you two fae glesga?
No mate just flew in from London to sample the food up here
Geis yer rings ya cunts or I’ll fuckin chib ye

The Charlie Saiz International
7 years ago

Caption:
Pigeon 1 “Yer a dove cunt”
Pigeon 2 “Hope ye die a bid flu ya cunts”
Pigeon 3 “Get this cunt out of here that’s disgraceful”

The Charlie Saiz International
7 years ago

McDonalds owner:You wankers gonny order or am I going to have to bring the cat in?

portpower
7 years ago

6IAR.

HAPPY LIQUIDATION DAY!

The Charlie Saiz International
7 years ago

I would like to see us take the game to Ze Germans Ralph none of this tin hat sheidt sitting in a bunker waiting for the inevitable blitzkrieg?
Go with a back 3 of Jozo Toure and Erik with Toure playing the mine sweeper role in behind the two battle cruisers.
In front of that Lustig Brown Armstrong and Izzy deployed as the first line of Defence with a capability of flanking them out wide and doubling up on the offensive when the tactical situation allows.
On the forward line deep into enemy territory we should deploy specialist forces out wide in the shape of the highly mobile and highly explosive Roberts & Sinclair in close support of the lone recce unit Dembele or Gunner Griffiths last seasons lead marksman.
Ze Germans will most likely control the centre ground and look to dominate possession of the ball we should look to counter when possible whilst retaining a double layer of field defences for them to negotiate which in turn should slow their advance down giving us time to attack their weakness at the back.
We should remember it’s a minefield out there and so should tread carefully as we proceed to execute the plan.
Tally ho chaps let’s biff Gerry.

jimmybee
7 years ago

Caption: Wee pigeon to the other two.
Long time no see guys what brings you here.
Other 2, Roofs caving in at ibrokes m8 nae choice but to move. But will miss shiting on the bastards below.

Texm
7 years ago

caption

Us two doos ur gonny do u the noo ya doo.

Tex
7 years ago

Dont know where texm came from

Tony Carlin
7 years ago

its a pigeons wedding!

do you doo take this doo to be your loving and legal doo?

i do

and do you doo take this doo to be your loving and legal doo?

I do.

and the band played?
.
.
.
.
.

doo doo doo do, doo doo doo doo (sung to the tune of here comes the bride)

Cartvale88
7 years ago

Caption ‘ I’m going to Ibrokes for a crap’
The best read today on the net is the Daily Ragsport hotline, hysterical. The tims should be penalised, it’s no fair, ham no playing and the ultimate Scottish Foorball is shite.
The arrogance of these morons is unbelievable.
Looking forward to the game against a German team, it is a learning curve!

portpower
7 years ago

Caption:

First there was WIFI at IOUbrox

Then there were the walkie-talkies

Now ultimately the sevconian support have the solution

The Charlie Saiz International
7 years ago
Reply to  portpower

Pray as you go from Orange?

D’Fhinnein Mick
7 years ago

Caption

Why are we on a table when there’s plenty of stools available?

Liftedinmoscow
7 years ago

Caption: what do you think of my new bird?

Monti
7 years ago

We could ask the family of bomber Harris how to approach an assault on Germany!

Monti
7 years ago

Caption! Pidgeon on the right” what team doo yooz follow like”?
Two pidgeons on left: ” The Ranjuurs ”

Pidgeon on right: ” Doo one ya pair of seedy cunts “!

Big Shuggy
7 years ago

Caption: Right guys are we ready? okay lets fly over Ibrox and shite on the bastards below.

andybhoy
7 years ago

Caption…..

‘Oh if I had the wings of a sparrow and the dirty great arse of a crow
I would fly over Ibrox tomorr……. wait a minute’

rodow1
7 years ago

As they are stool pigeons “I hear Lee Wallace is a grass”

iancelt67
7 years ago

caption
“hey polly , think our boy has something i hear from his coach he plays well on both wings”

Honest Hoops
7 years ago

Caption; ipox hospitality cut backs are already enforced…

Cortes
7 years ago

Doo be doo be dooo, “Rangers” in the shite, it’s so entrancing….

m1kks
7 years ago

Caption
Pig 1 “think its safe to Drink?”
Pig 2 “We are at ibrox, what do you think?”
Pig 3 “Fuck it lets just go and shite on them instead”

mike
7 years ago

We shall fight them on the beaches,
we shall shite on them from the sky,
we will never ever relinquish our titles,
Mano el Mano, ha ha ha.

Caption, Do Do Doo yoo come here often,only for a big yin Mac.

mike
7 years ago

Caption, Doo Doo Doo the fluffy pigeon.

portpower
7 years ago

Bondibrian,

reckon you`re in with a chance there.
(Bet you`re glad you never got Big Orange.) 🙂

Think I`ll put a wee Grannies bet on it.

Good Luck. I fancy Jameka myself ???

Bondi Beach is a 5yo bay stallion (male) from Ireland trained by Aidan O’Brien, who is based at Co. Tipperary (IRE).

BondiBrian
7 years ago
Reply to  portpower

Here’ hoping. Good luck ti yerself.

Big Shuggy
7 years ago

Hi guys. Do any of you know how much our NEDS get paid at Celtic, I am of course talking about “Lord” parkhead,Brian wilson, Ian Bankier,Tom Allison etc (non-executive directors)just curious to know.

Broxburnbhoy
7 years ago

At the anniversary of the Liquidation of Glasgow Rangers, it iisnworth considering that this event will happen again to the New Company and new team called “the rangers”. They have been accumulating debt over the past five years – maybe north of 30m. The auditors have disowned the accounts and astonishingly this has gone unreported. The basically state there is no factual examinable data and documents behind the financial assertions. Hence no bank will touch them. The question is how long will they be able to run up debts, live of handouts ( with no transparency ) and inevitabley collapse again. When do the authorities say that they are real going concern risk to all the other teams AGAIN. For those other clubs trying to balance their books and live within their means, allowing one club to run on an huge debt basis and expect all the others to be held accountable for their finances. I think this is a big deal in terms of sporting integrity and governance of the game. I hope chairmen and women from other clubs are raising this issue.

andybhoy
7 years ago
Reply to  Broxburnbhoy

One of the many reasons I and a few more will not step foot in a Scottish football stadium again until this clusterfuck and downright cheating is sorted out.

john young
7 years ago
Reply to  Broxburnbhoy

You never hear a cheep from the “other clubs” not then not now not never,so fcuk them.

broxburnbhoy
7 years ago
Reply to  john young

John it was a chairman revolt that stopped “the rangers” being placed in the SPL or Championship. I’d like to see the same level of ethical fortitude from them now including our own PL.

Monti
7 years ago
Reply to  Broxburnbhoy

Broxburnbhoy,
It won’t be ” again “, If Sevco go into administration it will be for the first time!

The Charlie Saiz International
7 years ago

Toure Jozo and Griffiths don’t travel to Germany.
Ooft.

corktim
7 years ago

simunovic and griffiths big losses for 2morro night,looks like eoghan o connell at centre half

Big Shuggy
7 years ago

Looks like Lustig or O’Connell then

jimmybee
7 years ago

Bad news,and I think we should play 3 at the back.
Gordon
Lustig Eric OConnell,
Rwb Gamboa LWB Izzy
Brown Bitton def midfielders.
Armstrong Sinclair to support Dembele.
I think we would struggle if it’s a flat back 4 and to be honest I think we could get another hiding.
Hopefully Brendan has a plan!

jimmybee
7 years ago

Test

The Charlie Saiz International
7 years ago
Reply to  jimmybee

…icles testicles one two one two

jimmybee
7 years ago

Hope he doesn’t go a flat back 4 of Gamboa Lustig Eric and Izzy.
I would fear the worst.
3 centre backs Lustig Eric OConnell
Rwb Gamboa LWB Izzy.
Broony Bitton def midf
Sinclair and Rogic playing off Dembele.

The Charlie Saiz International
7 years ago
Reply to  jimmybee

Was about to post the same thing Jimmy I think their frontline needs that extra CB in there use both Izzy and Gamboa as WB’s.
I disagree about playing Bitton though I would rather Armstrong partnered Broony in a traditional holding/attacking pairing with both WB’s either side when defending.
3-4-3 with both Roberts and Sinclair tracking back when both WB’s do like wise.
Dembele is going to have to hold it up better than he has previously in Europe failing that bring Ciftci in to do so later on.

The Charlie Saiz International
7 years ago

3-4-3 In possession

……….GORDON
.
…LUSTIG O’CONNELL ERIK
.
GAMBOA BROWN ARMSTRONG IZZY
.
..ROBERTS DEMBELE SINCLAIR

To 5-4-1 in defence

………..GORDON
.
….LUSTIG O’CON ERIK
GAMBOA……………IZZY
.
ROBERTS BROWN ARMSTRONG SINCLAIR
.
………..DEMBELE

jimmybee
7 years ago

Rogic instead of Roberts for me m8.

The Charlie Saiz International
7 years ago
Reply to  jimmybee

I think to play Rogic we would have to go with either 4-5-1- or 4-2-3-1 to keep the balance of the side whilst retaining a counter in attack.

jimmybee
7 years ago
Reply to  jimmybee

No really when they have the ball Armstrong to the right Brown Rogic central Sinclair left. Roberts is too weak in the tackle and we need height as Gamboa and Izzy are on the small side putting Roberts in as well would be a great disadvantage in my humble opinion m8

The Charlie Saiz International
7 years ago
Reply to  jimmybee

Problem is with Rogic he blows up after 60 minutes.
I think bringing him on in the second half if we are chasing the game might be a better option.
I don’t think Forrsets recent form has been up to his earlier form and would opt for Roberts who can and does track back when needed.
They will be a different animal tomorrow with the return of Johnson and Hazzard.
They tend to play on the deck from what I have seen in attack.

The Charlie Saiz International
7 years ago
Reply to  jimmybee

Whatever happens Jimmy he will have to think a bit outside the box I feel to get anything from this game especially without Toure and Jozo?

jimmybee
7 years ago

Charlie I can understand Armstrong, so wouldn’t mind that,though he has been a big let down in European ties. As most of them have to be honest.
So yeah Armstrong for Bitton makes sense.

The Charlie Saiz International
7 years ago
Reply to  jimmybee

If you remember his form against Inter I think if we can get him back to that type of player he will be fine.
Brendan seems to rate him so he must be showing it in training I should think?
Bittons a bit too lax and ponderous at times to play as a DM in Europe for me he nearly got caught again against the dons second half?

john young
7 years ago
Reply to  jimmybee

Bottom line we don,t have the players to come away with a result,there are weaknesess in any/all of them,”live in hope/die in vain”.

The Charlie Saiz International
7 years ago
Reply to  john young

Just give them the points and go windae shoppin down the Eros Zentrum instead eh John 😉

Monti
7 years ago

Why not, that worked for deila!

jimmybee
7 years ago

Gordon
Lustig Eric OConnell
Rwb Gamboa. LWB Izzy
Def midf Broony Armstrong.
Rogic Sinclair supporting Dembele.

jimmybee
7 years ago

Caption:
How did yous get here, wan minute I was Joey Barton the next I got pulled oot a tossers fuckin hat. Whits your names, I’m Ally and He’s Kenny, we were on gardening leave then along came the same cunt with the hat. Noo here we are.
Ain’t life grand.

jimmybee
7 years ago

Lest we forget The joy on this day 1973
https://youtu.be/0Hd1R3egze8

jimmybee
7 years ago
Reply to  jimmybee

On 31 October 1973, 31 years ago this week, one of the most spectacular and audacious escapes from an Irish prison took place when three of the IRA’s key personnel were airlifted to freedom in a seconded helicopter from Mountjoy Prison.

At 12 o’clock on 31 October 1973, a mysterious Mr Leonard, wearing a white suit and hamming up a mid-Atlantic accent, arrived at the Westpoint Hangar (Dublin Airport) to take a flight in the five-seater Alouette II helicopter. The helicopter had a long history already. It had seen service in the French Air Force and President General DeGaulle had presented it to the wife of the South Vietnamese leader President Thieu. The South Vietnamese later sold the machine to Irish Helicopters Ltd.

This helicopter had been booked to shoot a film location in County Laois. When in the air, the pilot was told by Mr Leonard that he needed to pick up some photographic equipment and to touch down beside a farmhouse at Dunmace, near Stradbally. On landing, the unsuspecting pilot saw two men coming out of the trees before him, one armed with a revolver and the other carrying an armalite rifle. He was then told at gunpoint that the helicopter was to fly to Mountjoy Prison, following the path of the Royal Canal and railway lines.

As he entered the Dublin area, he dropped his helicopter height to 700 feet and approached the prison from the rear. The helicopter touched down in the centre of the compound outside D-Wing, where political prisoners had been exercising. Upon landing, Séamus Twomey, Chief of Staff of the IRA, JB O’Hagan, Quartermaster of the IRA, and Kevin Mallon, an IRA activist since the 1950s campaign, ran forward and boarded the aircraft.

Prison warders realised what was happening too late. Some of them even thought that the helicopter’s arrival was a visit from the Minister of Defence. As the reality of an IRA escape dawned on them, they tried to intercept the escape but the IRA prisoners in the yard began grappling with them and blocking their way. One of the more intelligent of the prison officers kept screaming “close the f**king gates close the f**king gates”, before reality dawned on him that the escape was going up and not out the gates.

As the helicopter cleared the prison walls, with the escapees on board, the pilot was ordered to take his aircraft to the Baldoyle Racecourse just outside Dublin city centre. The helicopter touched down at Baldoyle, where a car taken in O’Connell Street earlier that day was ready to drive them to safe houses.

Back in Mountjoy, the prisoners continued to run around the exercise yard to confuse the screws, who were attempting to carry out a headcount to discover the identities of the escapees.

Eamonn Mac Thomáis, OC of the prison, eventually held a parade in the yard and addressed the men. He said he had been informed by the prison authorities that a helicopter had landed in the yard and that a number of prisoners had escaped. He said: “I didn’t see a helicopter and this being Hallowe’en, the prisoners that escaped must have gone out on witches’ broomsticks. I don’t see who is missing but the prison authorities want to do a headcount, which necessitates all men going to their cells.” A count was carried out as the men filed inside and it was discovered that three prisoners were missing; their identities were discovered after a cell check.

The escape was a great morale boosting exercise for republicans, particularly to the 1,400 POWs then imprisoned. It had been planned meticulously by an outside IRA escape committee. The three escapees had been selected because of their high profile within the media, rather than men who were serving longer sentences. The primary purpose was to embarrass Liam Cosgrave, his Fine Gael Party, and the Labour Party with Conor Cruise O’Brien, who had boasted in September that their government was having greater success than the British in crushing the Republican Movement.

In Belfast, bonfires blazed in celebration of the event while in Dublin over 300 Garda detectives searched hundreds of homes in a vain attempt to track down the escapers.

A typically downbeat IRA statement referred to the Mountjoy escape at the end of a list of IRA operations against the British crown forces: “Three republican prisoners were rescued by a special unit from Mountjoy Prison on Wednesday. The operation was a complete success and the men are now safe, despite a massive hunt by Free State forces.”

Séamus Twomey gave an exclusive interview with Germany’s Der Spiegal shortly after his escape and throughout Europe the exploit was termed “the escape of the century”.

Monti
7 years ago
Reply to  jimmybee

Jimmybee,
Good stuff!

jimmybee
7 years ago

Caption: So this your idea of coming oot for a drink then. Some fuckin doo this is going to be eh!

jimmybee
7 years ago

Caption: See if we are going to go out for our Haloween try no getting the same costumes eh,says the wee Robin to the crow and the magpie.

SteveNaive
7 years ago

‘Hope I’m wrong but I can see a dooing tomorrow’

Paul1888
7 years ago

Caption: The Ibrox email service stops off for a big mac before flying back to South Africa..

Devoy45
7 years ago

Jimmybee. I knew some of the details but thanks for the summary. You made it seem like a film. Excellent stuff, many thanks!
Tomorrow night. We have nothing to lose. No expectations. I would like us to play well and make a good game of it. MGB at Celtic Park was a kick in the guts so I can’t see us getting a point. The CL has been our reward and I’m happy with that. We can only get better.

mike
7 years ago

Well at least we can see where our Champions League cash is gonny be spent,not on new signings that!s for sure.
With news that the club has applied for Planning permission,to build a 200 bedroom hotel,where the ticket office is sited at present.
Mind you it will be good for the many supporters who travel to Celtic Park long distances,business wise its a canny idea but,but,but,but.whit aboot some new players?

portpower
7 years ago
Reply to  mike

Mike,

We are a Club with a revolving debt facility.

Our Co-Op loans are repayable in equal quarterly installments through to July 2019, though there is an option to repay the loans early without penalty.

Cash is King. 🙂

mike
7 years ago

Missing four first team players tomorrow,we have nothing to lose,if we do lose then lose like lions not like lambs.
Go for it Celtic,just go for it,we need a Man.Shitty performance and we have players who CAN hurt them.
Gordon,

Lustig, Sviatchenko, O! Connoll, Izzy.

Brown, Rogic, Biton,

Forrest, Dembelle, Sinclair.

jimmybee
7 years ago

Mike makes perfect business sense,with the indoor arena across the way.
Maybe we should go the whole hog and get a Casino too,now that really would be a carlsberg moment.
I’m sorry m8 but we will get slaughtered if we play that team.
They don’t have the engine to compete,I’m with Charlie on this,and think we need to go with 3 centre backs 2 wing backs and midfielders who can dig and move box to box.
Maybe we could Spring a surprise, in terms of team selection and formation. For they have us sussed and played us to a tee at Celtic park.
Maybe
Gordon
Lustig Eric OConnell
Rwb Gamboa LWB Izzy
Brown central def midfielder.
Armstrong. Rogic. Sinclair.
Dembele.
Subs McCart Boyata Henderson McGregor Cifti Christie Goalie.
But let’s hope the team give themselves a chance and not lose stupid fuckin goals.

mike
7 years ago
Reply to  jimmybee

Jimmy, my opinion is that Brendan got his team selection and tactics wrong against Barca. he will go with his best and strongest team,that is why i picked the team above,but as you say its only opinions,we will just have to wait and see.
I posted my opinion on the Hotel but it was posted missing,i think that its a great idea.H.H.

Big Shuggy
7 years ago

Posted a comment this afternoon but no sign of it Again.I know i have asked before but is thee something i don’t know about you have to do ?

jimmybee
7 years ago

It will be good to be back in Germany,as we know that’s where the Celtic song was born.
Fritz a grand old team to play for !

BondiBrian
7 years ago

HAIL HAIL THE CELTS ARE HERE!!

getintithum!!!!!

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