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5 Thoughts from Sunday

5 thoughts on Sundays game

McGregor: The rise of the under-rated AND understated player

There are players who shine; There are players who are lauded; Hell there are players who are lauded yet dont actually deserve it and there are also players who just dont seem to grasp peoples appreciation no matter how well or steady they perform.

More often than not that’s due to there being more glamorous players around about them, the phrase water-carriers was in vogue a while back. Those are the ones the fans sing about, the ones the girls and boys swoon about and one the critics rave about. All the while, the under-rated player lives there in the shade, but like many great flowers, they dont shrink and die there, they rise and grow, steadily shooting upwards on the back of strong foundations. And then comes the time that people suddenly start to notice their qualities, their strength, and it’s then the player and the people smile.

Callum McGregor plays the game simply, which is not the same as easy. It was Johan Cruyff who said ‘Playing football is very simple, but playing simple football is the hardest thing there is’. McGregor always looks for the ball and hardly ever loses it when in possession. He rotates possession, covers the pitch and offers both the defence and attack his assistance at all times. He does exactly what his manager and club asks of him and that devotion (at Celtic all his football life remember) can often go unnoticed as others get the headlines and the glory.

It was great to witness McGregors sublime pass into the net( after a 30 yard run to link up with Dembele). Such a confident clinical finish from a young Celt on the top of his game under a guiding and demanding manager who knows exactly what his young devotee brings to the table.

The most deserved goal of the season and here’s to many many more.

 
 
Tom  Rogic coming on strong

I’ve had a wee niggle with Brendans tendency to bring on forwards when we are in the lead. None of this shutting the game down by killing the midfield ie bringing on Eboue or a Gamboa etc, its all go for ball retention and hold it further up the park.

Yesterday was another example. We are 2 goals up, Brendan brings on Forrest and Rogic. This time however I was nowhere near sighing. For when I saw this I was smiling as Tom Rogic got to add a real tough 20 minutes onto his return time from last weeks Ross County game. Suddenly that lack of forwards for the run in is eased ever so slightly and that shot near the end ( as well as surviving that tackle on him) will give Rogic even more confidence for the final run-in, which is ideal as we aim for the Unbeaten Treble Winning claim to fame.
 
 
Scott Sinclair warming up nicely
I had a chat after the game where someone offered they thought Scott Sinclair was Man of the Match. This surprised me as bar the penalty, I, and the person sat next to me, thought he was pretty ropey all day.

I was tempted to have a go at Sinclair whom I think is still playing within himself, despite 24 goals this season and copious assists. Sinclair doesnt start games in an explosive manner, he seems to need time to get into the game and his strength seems to be his energy which sees him flying even at the end of the 90 minutes. That Sinclair last goal bet has been a popular selection and no mistake.

I was tempted to have a go but then I found myself smiling. Why? Well because if this is Scott Sinclair in his first season at Celtic, with so many goals and assists, and he IS NOT playing at his best for 90 minutes, how good will he be come next season, especially with the return of a steady front line given recent chopping and changing due to schedule and injuries to Dembele and Griffiths. Positivity CSC.
 
 
Patrick Roberts

On a recent podcast, the Etims team were discussing Brendans thoughts on improving the side and trying to identify where he would be looking to strengthen. One of the team suggested “Right Wing”. When I asked “Why?” they compared the goal and assist returns from Patrick Roberts and James Forrest against Scott SInclair and suggested another Scott SInclair level of player would be in Brendans thoughts. It was a decent argument, on paper, especially given Roberts is a loannee and Forrests form regularly rises and falls.

After yesterdays showing by Roberts however, Im starting to think Brendan might need to redress any other suggestions for that right wing position. Roberts was sensational. Given the start, the instructions and the ball, he took command of the game and took the game to Rangers. His skill, courage and determination were outstanding and hopefully the wee man’s love for Celtic, success and Kieran Tierneys friendship may just be enough to keep him away from a dour life in the EPL with a mediocre outfit after Man City decide he isnt quite what they are looking for after all.

Hold on…isnt that what they did with Scott Sinclair too?…we love a bit of History Repeating and how we love to see a Celtic man dribble and drive forward with the ball glued to his feet! Brendan, make it so!

 

Management Team Musketeers

A lot has been made recently of Iain Cathro at Hearts getting instructions from Craig Levien sat in the stand. The Scottish media have wailed and moaned about a poor guy out his depth and being either having his tactics rebuked by his boss or simply a puppet or token front man while the Director truly pulls the strings.

Its all pish of course. Levein is simply trying to help his club-mate and no-one should be the least bit worried or even notice such information and advise sharing. Isnt that why its called a Management team?

Now you may be wondering, Whats Hearts got to do with us?

Well, yesterday I was sat just along from the Celtic technical area and do you know what kept happening? Brendan stood inside the area giving out instructions ( how does he whistle that loud?) and all the while he was receiving advice and information from Chris Davies who was back and forth more often than Leigh Griffiths Tinder finger. The dialogue was constant and the information was exchanged, evaluated and actioned throughout the game. It was a true Managerial Team Effort and its always notable how Brendan thanks his entire team after each game.

Remember Armstrongs free kick at Inverness, gap spotted by Davies, instruction shouted by Rodgers, shot struck home by Armstrong..one for all and all for one and no doubt more to come!

 

There are of course many other things that could be discussed from Sunday –

  • The Broony and Armstrong Show
  • The Team Movement  – check out Michael Stewart on Sportscenes excellent analysis of Celtic’s fluidity if you get the chance – interesting and insightful.
  • The Energy and Determination of Leigh Griffiths
  • The Leadership by Example of Craig Gordon and Mikel Lustig
  • Jozo and Dedryk – A Confident Centre Pairing or do some still think its up for grabs?

Feel free to add your thoughts, questions or solutions below

Regards

Desi

 

 

 

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Dziekanowski's nightclub child
6 years ago

Only real problems with yesterday were Lustig and Boyata. Lustig looks finished, could be he has had an injury or he is tired, either way we need a right back if Gamboa can’t push Lustig.

Boyata – his distribution is still poor (same as 75% of Lustigs passes), he puts others under pressure and his decision making is still questionable, If he can be more focussed then he is a player, reckon a new centre half is required.

All in all a great performance, fought well to get the ball back when we lost it and pressured the opposition into mistakes.

HH

Morto
6 years ago
Reply to  Desi Mond

Lustig lacks a bit of pace and that’s not going to improve with age but other than that I’m happy with him.
Gamboa has loads of pace but lacks height and, with Keiran on the other side I think Brendan is concerned about losing goals at set pieces which has restricted Gamboa’s appearances.

Cortes
6 years ago

An excellent article. Thanks again.

McGregor didn’t just move up to support Dembele for the goal but two Sevco players just ambled behind him when he upped a gear to get possession. Another demonstration of their goldfish type powers of concentration and ball watching. The winning goal on Hogmanay is my favourite of the season as Armstrong lays off to Roberts then strolls through five or six dozy undeads to lay on the return for Sinclair. The management deserves a tremendous amount of credit for working on such European style distraction techniques.

Mikelele
6 years ago

I said on a post yesterday Roberts performance was Lubo esque and I stand by that this morning. Obviously he has a long way to go to come even close to the great man but the wee man was exceptional yesterday. Truly majestic although I will say he wasn’t up against much, that mob were rancid.

We played some nice stuff and kept it simple while working our socks off. More of the same next week please HH

6 years ago

Couldn’t agree more with your thoughts on McGregor. He came in for criticism from some people after the Ross county game and I could not see what he did wrong. And that is the problem he never really does that much wrong but is not flamboyant, therefore he never gets the credit he deserves. Lennon was the same and was also a much better footballer than he was ever given credit for.
It would be the best summer signing if Celtic could sign Roberts. He is going to be a dynamite player. I don’t think city will let him go because they will recognise this. Our only hope is another year loan. But if they were willing to listen Celtic should offer 7/8 million for him. I think he is CL class and will only get better under BR. Showed his class by getting up after being assaulted by that Donkey. Can you imagine that had happened to a Lafferty of Kris Boyd they would have milked it and got the player sent off. Paddy bounced back up looking for the ball. If he wants to play at the top level his best option is Celtic. he will get plenty of opportunity to win medals and play in the CL. In the long term he will end up playing for a bigger club than if he goes back to City and wastes a season siting on the bench or getting loaned out to Burnley.
Hopefully the team keep up the momentum and win the last 5 league games of the season before winning the cup. I could not be happier at the moment and am delighted I had it all wrong in July. I don’t mind a large helping of humble pie with my jelly and ice cream!

Monti
6 years ago

Craig Gordon’s distribution & concentration levels need improving.
Lustig will be good to have on the bench but an established RB needs brought in to solve this area.
Boyata is a squad player at best.

McGregor does a good job for the side and long may that continue!

HH

Monti
6 years ago
Reply to  Desi Mond

PISH! Gordon’s distribution is terrible and that IS down to concentration!

Jamie mcauley
6 years ago

Great from Roberts didn’t matter to him how many times they brought him down just got up dusted himself down and attacked there defence time and again hail hail

mike
6 years ago

The only thing missing from your excellent article is the performance of Collum, who I thought was just as pish as the rest of the Scottish refereering fraternity.
Halliday’s tackles on Roberts was shocking, he should have had one straight red for one tackle and two yellows for two other hunesque tackles. Its very difficult for wingers when you are up against thugs like that.
Tavanair should have got a red I think for his last man penalty tackle.
The linesman on the far side must have been on the zombie drug, I have had teeth out that were faster than his arm going up for offside.Until we get them sorted, the quicker supporters will get a belief in Scottish fitba.
The play out from Gordon to Boyata is an accident waiting to happen, agree tho that McGregor played very well and I am slowly changing my opinion of him, his goal was very good.

Monti
6 years ago
Reply to  mike

YAAAAAWWWWWWNNNNNNNNN

Monti
6 years ago
Reply to  Monti

Still no fucking hair on it…….

Monti
6 years ago
Reply to  Monti

Yes, any in particular you are referring to?

Stevie D
6 years ago
Reply to  mike

A yellow card for a Paris Bun is always a licence to kill. They never get a second one.

mike
6 years ago
Reply to  mike

I thought Collum had a good game, bbbbaaaaawwwwhhhhaaaa. What a punda mince.

john young
6 years ago
Reply to  mike

McGregor has good talents,he sees a pass and his distribution is good but cannot dominate his area,he will get overrun against better opponents,I am hoping the new mid-fielder will play as an anchorman in front of a back 4 that are not great in defensive mode,we really need at least 1 very strong/quick defensive c/b.

BJF
6 years ago

Desi spot on today , Calum McGregor doesn’t bring the excitement of Rogic or Armstrong but you are always glad he is on the team sheet, no fuss, good decision making, first class work rate and he gets” the manager.
Brown was imperious, defence is a bit ” iffy” Boysya the most skilful but the odd dodgy decision, Erik the most consistent but slower than the others Jozo, work in progress.
It is really difficult being a zceltic supporter at the moment but so try and cope.

Mikelele
6 years ago

That goal was just beautiful, it gets more sexy and gorgeous the more you watch it lol

Sean Cahill
6 years ago

Always like Roberts from the moment he joined us. Should be number one choice every week. More tricks than Tommy Cooper and greater explosive power than a tonne of TNT. Get the wee man signt!

jrw
6 years ago

Totaly agree with the comments on here today – just one addtional thought on Boyata – it was his pass out of defence that led to the penalty. If there are concerns about distribution the ball could just have easily been humped aimlessly up the park or into the stands. And perhaps last year that it is very probaly what would have happened. He looked up and saw the simple pass.

Monti
6 years ago
Reply to  jrw

jrw,
Correct!
I’m not a fan of Boyata but he did win the ball and got it out of defence accurately, well said!

portpower
6 years ago

Did he not check-in with the lines-man this week.

Bloody blinder Celtic,bloody blinder.

Devoy45
6 years ago

Desi, well done man. A great read. Spot on about McGregor. We also must go all out to keep Paddy Roberts. He’ll only get better. Huns should have had two red cards yesterday. It was free-flowing football at its best, real class. I am so chuffed being a Celtic supporter, now (and forever) Brendan and the bhoys, you have got my mojo working! To all the bhoys on this forum, if you have your good health you have everything. Never take good health for granted. I’m trying to keep the Grim Reaper at bay until ten in a row! LOL Cough, cough. Bless you all…
Sunday, if Dembele and Brown are out:
4-2-3-1
Gordon
Lustig/Simunovic/Boyata/Tierney
Armstrong/McGregor
Roberts/Rogic/Sinclair
Griffiths
To the bhoys, 2-1
No great harm if we draw but we don’t want to lose. I think away to Aberdeen is the main threat to our unbeaten season.
I like the way Brendan made a few wee changes yesterday to confuse the Huns management.
Well done Celtic…and all of youse.

Monti
6 years ago
Reply to  Devoy45

Devoy,
Same to yourself comrade!
Don’t know about the health bit, all this Jelly n ice cream is making more of a fat bastard than normal.
Tried a pair of those hillwalking trousers yesterday and the fucking button nearly took some cunts fucking eye out lol

Monti
6 years ago
Reply to  Monti

I’m sure my oyher half is puting my stuff in tbe dryer 🙂

jimmybee
6 years ago

Boyata, I believe will become as good a centre back as we can buy, some of the passes given to him by Craig were stupid,and put him under needless pressure.
He is quick, good in the air and is becoming a player whom I think will flourish under Brendan with Toure there even more so.
His confidence grows,and it’s upto us to help him,not moan when something he does goes wrong,I’m fuckin gettin fed up with it,not all passes or runs by paddy or Jamesy are going to work,accept it and support the effort,instead of fuckin moaning.
Lustig is a great player,he sees a pass quickly,and his long ball to Dembele delightful. He is a very valuable player to the cause.
McGregor loves to put us on the front foot,he loves to tick things over,and is growing in confidence more. He needs for me to do it more like Armstrong from previous seasons to now.
The Brendan effect is showing, Boyata McGregor Forrest Armstrong,all who were under pressure at the start of the season,showing what a top quality coach can do.
Inspires confidence and gets the best out of you.
I’m sure the players would run through a brick wall for Brendan.
Broony was magnificent yesterday, as was Paddy,and Dembele I’m sure if he was able to continue would have ran amok in the second half. It was great though to see that after the zombies had stopped cheering Dembele being injured,they realised Griff was coming on haha GIRFUY. HH.
Eric is too slow and won’t get back into the team,he will be gone in the summer. Jozo needs to prove his fitness let’s hope he does. I would be okay with Lustig even coming into centre back to cover for Jozo,he reads the game well and can head a ball.
The tackle on Paddy was a disgrace, Haliday was nowhere near the play,and his only thought was to injure Paddy shocking,but once again they get away with it. One of our players is going to be hurt badly one of these days, simply because they have been given a licence to kick us off the park.

Monti
6 years ago
Reply to  jimmybee

Jimmybee,
I disagree with you about Erik, i think he has a lot to offer, doesn’t help with Brendan constantly changing the defence around.
HH

jimmybee
6 years ago
Reply to  Monti

I like Eric Monti don’t get me wrong m8, but he’s worse with the balll at his feet than Boyata. But players have to perform,Brendan is wanting champions league,and if you can’t shape up you will be out. Eric is too slow,and actually worse with the ball at his feet than Boyata. I understand your concerns over Boyata M8 but between him and Eric it would be Boyata all day long for me.

Gerry
6 years ago
Reply to  jimmybee

Spot on Jimmy, the only moment I recall Boyata being caught on the ball was when Gordon penned him into the sideline late in the second half. He tried to create room for a clearance and didn’t get too far, but should not have been put in the position in the first place.
I like his consistency since he came back in during January, and now rather than hoping he’ll play well I’m expecting he’ll play well. Hope he continues to develop, but fear he won’t be given the time of day by some fans until he has a John Kennedy esque Nou Camp game in the Champions League.
The key for me is Brendan will have targets, but should he not get them I believe in his ability to coach better performances from his existing players and will close the gap in slower time where new signings slip through our fingers. Don’t think our previous managers could coach players in this way as consistently as he can.

6 years ago

Only criticism of Boyata and Gordon is that they play this passing game which seems to end up with Boyata holding the ball at the corner flag with no way of getting out. they need to cut out the ‘to me to you’ crap and launch it if they are too slow and find themselves being closed down. This will cost us a goal at some stage. although Gordon should see that giving it to Boyata might not be the best option in these situations.

Monti
6 years ago
Reply to  john

Exactly!

portpower
6 years ago

Desi,
is it true but i`m not over there though.
I`ve heard the sevconians are into dump diving.

portpower
6 years ago

Canny beat the Celts when the Caixinha`s Khids turn up.HH

6 years ago

The defence will come unstuck in Europe if they continue to play they way they do. I suspect that is just how BR want’s it and it wont’ change unless we spend in the area.

As for Broony’s red card appeal do we think the 2 challenges on Roberts will be used to question the red card handed out at Ross Country? …probably not…but hey who cares another good day at the office for Brendan.

Cartvale88
6 years ago

Agree with your analysis Des, but for Europe the team needs two quality defenders.Lustig is showing that all the Knicks he has had are catching up.
Simunovic and Erik are not the answer, OK in Scotland but not Europe.
The club should take referees to task about the career finishing tackles on Paddy. During El Classico Ramos committed a similar but slower challenge on Messi, the referee immediately showed him red, Gollum seems unaware of that colour. Celtic could use those challenges at Broonis appeal.
The positives, the team were magnificent, the negatives, should have been 5-0
Looking forward to the game at their midden
HH

mike
6 years ago

If only we could have kept a hold of Victor and Virgil, what a difference they would be making in Europe, anybody got a spare
£85 million, or the £26 million that we got for them.

6 years ago
Reply to  mike

Yes makes you wonder what we could have had…

jimmybee
6 years ago
Reply to  mike

Mike I tried to make that exact case on talk radio two weeks ago.
When they were all on about how Celtic would do in England.
I stated this do you think Forster Wanyama and Virgil would have went to Southampton if Celtic were in the premiership.Not on your life.
Do you think that players who are coming from abroad to play in the premiership would choose Burnley Hull Crystal Palace etc etc if Celtic wanted them.
Celtic would be in the top 4 at least top6 given the resources we would get.
As it is let’s get the players we need to continue to make us proud.

Monti
6 years ago
Reply to  jimmybee

Jimmybee,
If i’m being honest m8 it would take Celtic a number of years in the EPL before we got anywhere near top four!
I think we would be mid table for a decade or more, you never know i suppose & it would be interesting to see!
Take a look at the clubs at the top end, Chelsea
Man City
Man Utd
Arsenal
Tottenham
Liverpool

It would take some effort to break into the mix of clubs i’ve mentioned.

mike
6 years ago
Reply to  jimmybee

Exactly Jimmy, Southampton ffs.

Monti
6 years ago
Reply to  mike

All clubs could say that though, if Brendan still had Sterling and Suarez he would still be at Liverpool!

mike
6 years ago
Reply to  mike

The thing is, after a couple of seasons, even if we made mid table, with the cash we generated and with the business acumen alongside Brendan and his team, we would be climbing the table in the EPL.
I recognise that it would take a few years to get top four but
their is a lot of Boards who are lazy same with some of the top Managers, because of the cash they spend and earn, makes them complacent. With our huge support tho, the sky is the limit.

Monti
6 years ago
Reply to  mike

Mike,
Getting top four in the EPL will need more than the size of our support m8.
Even the EPL finance wouldn’t guarantee this.
It would be interesting to see where our potential could take us, having said all of that, Celtic should not sell it’s soul in the pursuit of money.
I still want my Celtic to be the one where we walked along Janefield street, buying a NTV mag and a copy of An Phoblacht, paying into the Jungle and watching the greatest club in the world, alongside the greatest supporters in the world!

HH

Monti
6 years ago
Reply to  Monti

Oh…and a copy of Tiocfaidharla!!

jimmybee
6 years ago
Reply to  Monti

Don’t forget the spearmint chewing gum and macaroon bars, and the rebel tapes.

mike
6 years ago
Reply to  Monti

Monti, This/ our club will never sell its soul, we have to many supporters who would never alloy it, we would never condone that.
All we want is to reach our level and all we wish for is a level playing field.
Celtic has huge world wide fan base and I could see us being a huge advantage to the EPL, that support would like nothing better than to see us compete in the EPL and it would get us away from the hun loving shite in this bigoted country. Some say that its getting better, but I see no evidence of that.

jimmybee
6 years ago

We go to ibrokes next, i hope we keep the same team,only with Griff in for Dembele,and Eboue (lets see what he is made off) in for Broony if suspended
,Broony must have a strong case, after yesterday’s tackle. It that merited a yellow then Broony should at the most be a yellow also.
Gordon
Lustig Boyata Jozo Tierney
Eboue Armstrong
Roberts McGregor Sinclair
Griff.

Sweeper67
6 years ago

Yes, if Collum had done his job they would have been down to at least 10men but we didn’t end up with anyone on a stretcher and we totally dominated them playing pure, controlled football that demonstrated just how far ahead that we actually are. Thats not to say that I’m in any way excusing Collum but we came through it and the horde, pundits and press have no excuses and nowhere to go with their “committed, backs to the wall, no surrender performance after the sending off” guff that we would most certainly have got.

Well done to Brendan and his whole team. Lets have another quality performance next week where we put them firmly in their place. The Cup Final will deal with itself in due course. Hail Hail

mike
6 years ago

Hope Broony’s got videos of the nasty tackles on K.T. Paddy, Sinclair, et al and takes them with him at his appeal, if his red insny rescinded then, that is patently unfair and I will be gobsmacked.

Anybody seen the new hand made IRA dolls crafted by Mariea Hughes, its based oan monti, fat bald and woolly.;-)

Monti
6 years ago
Reply to  mike

Hahaha

ROB O'KEEFFE
6 years ago

TESTING TESTING

ROB O'KEEFFE
6 years ago
Reply to  ROB O'KEEFFE

7,8,9,TEN

XTG
6 years ago

Re Point 5. Like you I keep my eye to the touchline when at Hampden as the distance between the Bench and the touchline is so open that you can see the movement of personnel cross your line of sight without distracting from the game. I remarked on numerous occasions yesterday to all around me that not once over the course of the game did anyone, either the number2 or the new number3, go forward with an opinion to the Sevco manager.Poor man,out of his depth,and all alone.

Davie Wilson
6 years ago

I see the poxy Hun loving criminals at the BBC once again didn’t mention the Cetlic game on last night’s sports news.

Every other channel did, Al Jazeera even showed the goals, but not one word on the Scottish Cup semi final from the Savile Broadcasting Corporation.

So that’s now the Record, the Evening Times, The Sun, the Beeb, Sky Spurts & STV who cannot wait to show their disdain/hatred for either Celtic or the Scottish game in general.
I would include The Guardian here but their actual fitba reporting is alright, once you find the SPFL section, which is usually hidden somewhere after the results & fixtures from The Outer Mongolian & Tuvanian League.

(The Guardian is, however, just another begging corporate impostor pretending to be the relatively trustworthy news source of old, when it, too, has been sucked into the current propaganda machine, like all other modern maimstream news media, so I wouldn’t recommend it, or anything else, to anyone.)

I don’t buy their papers, I don’t pay their subscriptions, I don’t watch their channels, I don’t click on their websites, I would not piss on their grannies if the old dears were on fire, so they can stick their anti Celtic, anti Catholic bias, and their bluenosed, goat tampering, English loving, bigotry right up their bitter clenching Gary Glitters as far as I’m concerned, and take their dim witted, reactionary, self serving wankshafting ‘pundits’ like Tanner, Walker, Durham et al right along with them.

We are and always will be the mighty Glasgow Celtic, with or without the twisted words of handshaking, nipple baring, shitbag pricks like Tom English or ‘Professor’ Roy Greedsnake, who both ‘profess’ to ‘know a bit about football’, but whose lowlife slimeball Hun-sucking ignorance would, in reality, do a whole better with their ‘opinions’ if they made them into a home baked greasy tart and flung it at the nearest wall, hoping some of it would stick, like the flies around the Sevco shite that they are.

Institutional bias & sectarianism lies at the dark heart of every former Empire and the Beeb & her sick friends in both Scottish & UK politics are clearly not going to let us forget it.

They didn’t spend 800 years crushing us just to let us get back up again because their phoney team died.

ROB O'KEEFFE
6 years ago
Reply to  Davie Wilson

MOAB,DAVIE

Davie Wilson
6 years ago

Identifying the problem is more than 80% of the solution, weered, and these guys are the problem.

Well, them and the gangsters who’ve corrupted the very heart of the game itself.

BondiBrian
6 years ago

Man, dont yi jist love watchin the Tic dae that shower. HAIL HAIL THE CELTS ARE HERE. Peace.

Davie Wilson
6 years ago

Now that sounds like a plan, weered.

There’s some interesting links on Friday’s (Saturday’s?) The Celtic Blog on the cheating within the game.

A poster has put up some very good stuff on Football Leaks, which I’d never heard of, and the German paper Der Spiegel is running wth the leaks.

Football Leaks claims every league in the world is corrupted and names names in multiple scandals. Yon wee toad Ronaldo seems to have bought his way out of a rape charge, for example, and both him & Mourinho, amongst many others, have wriggled every which way possible to avoid paying any kind of tax on their vast earnings & income.

Reading stuff like this can and has put me off the game many times before but seeing Celtic in their current state of rejuvenation has lifted my spirits.

But not to the extent of letting Lawell & yon other Tory fuckpig on our board away with Resolution 12 or the 5 Way Agreement, or any of the other shenanigans they’ve got up to with the outrageous crooked SFA to the detriment of Celtic.

They can’t even speak out about the horrific, career threatening tackles on their own players, ffs, Miller’s on Armstrong at CP and that full blooded assault by Halliday on Roberts yesterday being but only 2 from the past month or so alone, not counting all the ICT, RC, PT kicking and persistent fouling with it.

I’m most surprised at Brendan keeping quiet and not speaking up for his players but this is clearly instructions from the board, as he is not known to suffer fools and their bullshit quietly.

Let’s see what defence they’re put up for Broony under the trough-snuffling beaks this week.

That gang of sweetie wives and goat strokers up at Hampden should be removed immediately and questioned and charged for their fraudulence and conning of the public over these past 10 years or more.

The SFA are, without a doubt, the protectorate body for any club playing out of Ibrox, as the infamous Shame Game showed, only Lenny found guilty, all 3 Hun players, Bougherra et al, cleared of every charge relating to their hooliganism on the park.

This is the reality of football now, incorporated into the greater corporate machine, ‘The People’s Game’ now subsumed into the faux entertainment world of ‘pro’ wrestling and prawn sandwiches.

I never liked Roy Keane, neither as man nor player, though I could see why folk did, but that quote was one of the most insightful, and absolutely correct, things that he ever said.

That’s why Fergie carpeted him so furiously over it, because he knew he was right, and the auld Hairdryer didnae want anybody fucking with his knighthood by letting the cat out of the bag.

Such is the way of corruption:
Keep your head down, yer mouth shut and yer eyes closed and one day we’ll let you suck on the queen’s blue carpet while ye’re rolling around trying to kiss her feet.

john young
6 years ago
Reply to  Davie Wilson

Davie the supporters had an opportunity to influence the board by joining the Celtic Trust but very few took up this opportunity,the Trust after a horrendous response from the board are now being recognised by them and they though fee in numbers do some sterling work on behalf of the support,try getting the main body of supporters to show some initiative no chace.The Green Brigade haave organised themselves into a tight unit despite the efforts of the board,most people just shun iny efforts at trying a concerted move to make the board listen.

Davie Wilson
6 years ago
Reply to  john young

Oh, I’ve tried, John, I’m still trying yet with my online encouragements (my health’s not good) but, as you say, it’s like pissing in the wind.

I don’t know much about the achievements of the Celtic Trust, so I’d be interested to hear what the few good ones do, but it’s only the board that can stand up to the SFA in defence of our players and club.

And what’s all this about Dermot leaving before the end of the 90 in last year’s SF, and therefore completely missing the KingCo chumps’ mockery after full time?
Phil has made the point several times that it was their ‘unbridled lack of dignity’ that forced Dermot’s hamd into spending, because they had ‘made it personal’ and he wanted to ‘crush’ them?

Davie Wilson
6 years ago
Reply to  Davie Wilson

Aye, the rot is ingrained alright, at FIFA level and way beyond that again.

I’m from the generation where my Da went aff fitba because the players had become ‘overpaid prima donnas’ because they were getting paid more than 50 quid a week 🙂 so to see this lot of preening tax scammers prance about the pitch these days kinda makes my stomach turn.

But, still, it’s my lifelong love of Celtic that keeps my eye on the score, for nothing will ever match those first moments of seeing Jinky dance his incredible way doon that wing, big Billy controlling the whole field with his easy majestic grace while Bobby Lennox would suddenly burst into action outta nowhere and knock the ba’ into the net.
(Henrik was exceptionally good at daein that tae.)

These are the memories that make my heart belong to Celtic, these and the colours, ‘the best fitba strip in the world’, as my (foreign) bro in law says, these and the compassionate ideals on which our great club was founded.

Aye, I’m growing weary of it all now, especially as I watch the best parts of our world and our humanity get flushed doon the cludgie of forgetfulness, auld before my time because of it, and what we once were, but I’ll always have the knowledge that there will always be a Celtic for as long as there’s one true Celtic man left alive to keep the great traditions of our humanity, our compassion and our emotion and empathy alive.

Few though we might now be, those who do know it don’t just know it logically, but have it as a feeling in their hearts that will never leave them.

And, even in this, I recognise why my old Rangers mates cannot let the memory of their old club die, even though it already has, and much as they ought to, and will have to soon enough.

For this world has become a cold hostile place for auld sentimental fuckers like me, no space for the heart now, it’s monkey eat monkey, dug eat dug, and may the best chump champing at the bit still win.

But, even if I die the morra, as it currently feels like I might, I’ll die knowing that the charitable and humanitarian aims of Celtic were set up to precisely counteract the unnecessary bias and bigoted hatred of that other sad club across town, that hubris and entitlement, and which has currently seized control of our planet thanks to the madness of the Internet and clown chumps like Trump.

Check out what Woody Guthrie said about ‘Old Man Trump’, the incumbent’s faither, who was, incredibly, poor Woody’s landlord during his hardest of times.

You won’t believe what a racist, self centred scumbag that WASP bastard was, and it’s fascinating to not only know your history, but to see it repeating itself in such timely, yet untimely, fashion, which makes it all the odder to see so-called Celtic Men on here big up the current Trump dog’s actions.

As the man said, once upon a time and not so long ago, ‘It’s not about IF you know, but when.’

Davie Wilson
6 years ago
Reply to  Davie Wilson

Here it is:

‘“Woody was always championing those who didn’t have a voice, who didn’t have any money, who didn’t have any power,” Mr. Kaufman said. “There’s no doubt that he would have had maximum contempt for Donald Trump, even without the issue of race.”

https://www.nytimes.com/politics/first-draft/2016/01/25/woody-guthrie-sang-of-his-contempt-for-his-landlord-donald-trumps-father/

Stevie D
6 years ago
Reply to  Davie Wilson

That’s stuff I wasn’t aware off. Thanks Davie.

Stevie D
6 years ago
Reply to  Davie Wilson

Davie you articulate my feelings perfectly in a manner I’d struggle to. You’re a breath of fresh air. Hail hail.

Davie Wilson
6 years ago
Reply to  Stevie D

Cheers, Stevie D, and for your thanks earlier on the Shinwell’ & Trump posts.

This is very interesting indeed, watching Donald Findlay, of all ‘Peepil’!, bring the backstage shenanigans from Murray’s Ibrox into the light of day.

I don’t know how Whyte’s feeling right now but it’s quite a sight for us, Muir admitting all their colluding & conspiring and hiding of essential info from their ‘patsy’, with no recourse to outright lies, like they usually do.

Shyster though Whyte may be, he at least seems to have covered his ass awfy well from the crooks who conspired to dupe him.

Davie Wilson
6 years ago
Reply to  Davie Wilson

*McIntyre, not Muir.

Why do all these ‘Rangers’ Men’s’ names start with an M ..?

Mmm, let me three …

Tam
6 years ago

Just watched highlights from the bbc and cant believe the comentator saying that DON (the imposter) behind goal agrees with the PEN if u get a chance to view it do so AS HE WAS ONLY ONE TO SEE A PEN LAST WEEK well HE DISAGREES WITH COLLUM YESTERDAY AS HE POINTS TO THE BALL CLEARLY STATING THE SEVCO PLAYER GETS THE BALL CANT BELIEVE NO ONE HAS PICKED UP ON THIS AS HE MEANT TO BE ONE OF THE TOP REFS IN SPFL AND THE DIFFRENCE A WEEK MAKES ON WHAT HIS IDEA OF A PEN IS HH “6”

Davie Wilson
6 years ago
Reply to  Tam

Aye, I seen that, and someone else mentioned it on here right after the game, but it really disnae surprise me at all.

What DOES surprise me is that Collum ignored him and gave the penalty anyway.

Now, that is surprising, whether he taught the children about the wee baby Jesus or no, because it might be the first time in this local derby that such a decision has been given in Celtic’s favour when there was a chance to deny them.

mike
6 years ago

Fun loving extracts from Mr. Doleman.

from 2006 RFC looking for a buyer.
Whyte bought 85% shares for a pound.
LLoyds wanted out and insisted that the RFC Board, sell it.
Whyte said he had £15 mill. to settle EBTs Board concerned,haha
RFC accountant thought that Whyte would use his own cash, haha
Findlay suggested that SDM had no personnal shares.
LLoyds were going to close RFC if the Whyte deal fell thru.
When Smith left the club “one possible successor, would be owed hundreds of thousands, if he didn’t get the job.
DF. You waited 5 years for the Whyte deal.
DF. bits of Ibrox was falling to bits, H@S forced repairs.
Mair fun ramorra.

Cartvale88
6 years ago

Totally agree Davie, the ingrained hatred of all things Irish/RC is obvious in this disunited Kingdom. They play the division card all the time, keeping the prolls in their place. The Billy Boys Club is literally a machine for the establishment.
The joke is Royalty and the Protestant succession, who would fight for their so called queen On that t basis.
Celtic need to get out of Scotland and move onto greater things in European football, this will happen as the media calls the tune to EUFA, the Europa Cup is not a success.
In the forthcoming elections in Scotland we will see a Tory MP in the most surprising areas as the great unwashed think they are the answer, God help us all.
Delighted with the way the game was played, gave them no excuses.

Davie Wilson
6 years ago
Reply to  Cartvale88

Aye, the SNP was set up by allegedly ‘recalcitrant’ Scottish Tories in Cathcart in 1934″ with the highly specific aim of weakening Labour’s popularity in Scotland, as the Labour Party, even then, was content to sit back and let the machinations of Westminster roll over Scotland, so,long as they pulled in their daily bread from it.

(See Manny Shinwell’s ‘Lead With The Left’ by John Doxat for verification.)

I’m taking neither side in this argument, they’re all as bad as each other, given that it’s a sham hoax that they’re all playing out.
Parliament is The Punch & Judy Show for adults, that’s all it is, so I’ve never had anything invested in any of them.
And even though I once despised the Tories with a righteous vengeance, I realised even then that, at least wI the Tories you knew what you were getting: Riooed off, demonised and criminalised, since that was their agenda.

Labour had already proven itself to be a sham party even by the late 70s, had done so numerous times, but still folk clung onto them, simply out of fear of the Tories, despite knowing that they wee useless in all but the fact that they had the unions, and, therefore, the people, behind them.

It’s the same now, except folk are hanging onto the SNP fro dear life, hooting against hope that their bullshit manifesto will somehow save them, from the hardcore corporate machine that’s currently rampaging across the planet.

Does anyone really believe that the men who are run this leviathan, that can be found everywhere from here to the Philippines, from Oz-Stray-Liar to Ecuador and Syria, Afghanistan & Iraq, will somehow allow wee bonnie Scotland to just step out of the loop and do whatever the fuck it likes to raise money to support itself?

Come off it, these guys are the Grand Architects of our societies, they are the Taxman, the Lawman, the master to whom we pay all our dues.

Yet people still walk about acting like everything that we see around is all just some mad, random accident, as though the events of history are somehow entirely disconnected to what we’re experiencing today …

For those of you who doubt what even the victors’ history tells us, in its own silent way, ask yourself this:

‘What did ANY ONE of these fuckers ever do for us?’

Except pick up a hefty wage packet and piss it up the waw on oor behalf.

For, be they Labour, SNP, Tory or Freemason, and all their Shout Out Loud charitable aims’, I can’t think of anything they’ve done that has helped free humanity from its merciless yoke and its helpless mire.

(And forget the NHS, they only gave us that because so many million of us had already sacrificed our lives for it in the two wars prior.)

Davie Wilson
6 years ago
Reply to  Davie Wilson

Manny On The Labour Party:

‘This party of ours, time & again it’s devoted itself to men who would come out and pretend to be revolutionaries, who would fight to the death on behalf of their principles, only for it to be discovered they had no principles.’

And on the Unions:

” The greatest danger would be that the trade union movement, upon which the Labour Party depends for its finance, might decide to hive off from the political section of the Labour movement and produce an organization of its own, based not on Parliamentary democracy but concerned with unconstitutional direct action.’

That’s what they’ve always feared the most, the Labour Party and its backers, that the workers would dispense with the charade of politics and seize the power in their own hands.

This is what so much war is based on, the repression of that power held in the hands of its citizenry.

This includes the current ‘War On Terror’, for what else is that but yet another excuse to erode the hard fought for laws of civil rights under the guise of an ‘external threat’, while those who carry out such acts seem to be continually given the time and space to actually perpetrate their alleged atrocities, despite them commonly being ‘on the radar’ of police and the security services prior to their nefarious actions.

And I know I shouldn’t go on about this stuff on a fitba page, but the problem is that it’s all connected, in that it’s basically the same kind of people who have set up and are currently ‘working the game’ to their own advantage, they’ve been doing it for centuries, both in a certain stadium near you, and on the greater societal level.

I don’t mean to be ‘waspish’ about it but have a look and you’ll see what I mean.

Shake a leg, bare a nip, and it’s Abracadabras all round, except for the poor chump that has to pay for it.

Stevie D
6 years ago
Reply to  Davie Wilson

Bang on Davie. I keep trying to tell people this “economy crisis” is nothing new. All that money hasn’t disappeared; it’s just in offshore bank accounts of bastards who’ve got far too much in the first place.

Davie Wilson
6 years ago
Reply to  Stevie D

The biggest joke is, that money disnae even exist, Stevie, it’s just numbers on a screen of a gang of co-conspirators.

Neither does the debt exist, it’s just the banks scamming us again.

Search for ‘Greenback Dollars & the Bradbury Pound’ for,proof.

They’re taking the fuckin piss and we’re all swallying it.

Rob O'Keeffe
6 years ago

Hopefully continue a “discussion” we had today.Even the Silly Boys admitted that Celtic are miles ahead of them and the standard in Scotland is pretty poor.However,somehun brought up the question of how good are Celtic?Not in the Jim White sense! So,how many players at Celtic are Champion League level?

6 years ago

As sure as Morning follows Night.Boyata is Odds on to do an Ambrose,His play at times is fcking Unnerving.He geez me the Wullies.HH n Awrat

jimmybee
6 years ago
Reply to  TicToc*1

Tic Toc look across Europe m8, no one apart from Juve have two outstanding Centre backs, all the top teams are struggling.
The days of just clear your lines are gone,you have to play the ball now. Boyata yes has lots to learn,but he is young,look at Toure against the Germans, never did I think he would have been caught out like that with all his experience.
But mistakes will happen,he will at some point cost us a goal,but who doesn’t. He needs to learn from the mistakes,and be allowed to learn. Not the howls of abuse from the stands when it does happen. He might just surprise you even more next season. HH

Thomas Mccarthy
6 years ago

Montit still writing a load of pish

6 years ago

Yer Bang On M8,

Rob O'Keeffe
6 years ago

W R T F Posts?

jimmybee
6 years ago

With the player of the year awards now looming, who would be the etims player of the year, young player of the year,
I will start with my own choice of Scott Sinclair as player of the year. He has brought a new dimension to our team and with it lots of goals.
Young player has to be Kieran Tierney, he may well be some fans choice for player of the year.
What do you all think. Vote now

Yoker Bhoy
6 years ago

POTY: Scott Brown
YPOTY: Kieran Tierney

COYBIG

Monti
6 years ago
Reply to  Yoker Bhoy

Football writer player of the year – Clint Hill

jimmybee
6 years ago
Reply to  Monti

No way

Monti
6 years ago

Jimmybee,
POTY – Scott Sinclair
YPOTY – Kieran Tierney

Longest nose award – Mike

Derek Johnstone
6 years ago

Stats on Boyata’s performance yesterday tend to put to bed the suggestion his distribution is ropey.the two ocassions he got into teouble came from poor kicking from Gordon.I understand the playing from the back but sometimes it calls for a clearance up the lark.I agree if terms could be sorted that allowed us to keep Roberts i urge the board to do so.he has matured in the Hoops and has the heart of a lion to back his undoubted skill up.Assaulted at least 3 times by thugs wearing sevco blue he dusted himself down and went straight back at them.

Monti
6 years ago

Stats?
Sevco are pish and against real opposition as in the CL, you will see Boyata in a different light.
Listen he is playing his part and i hope he keeps getting better, but if we want to be seen to be serious about europe, we need a lot better than Boyata, a lot better!

6 years ago
Reply to  Monti

Boyata is Absolute Utter,Just a matter of time till he does an Efe

mike
6 years ago

I like Sumanovic, he is improving game on game, if he stays injury free, then we are oan a winner, yes Boyata is improving but can still see him and Sviat leaving in the summer.
How is O Connoll doing? but still expect to see a new centre back (Denayer) arrive in the summer, along with a winger and a striker.
We are in a much better position now compared to when Brendan first arrived, thanks to him players have responded and hugely improved, sure as fuck surprised me. Happy Daze.

mike
6 years ago

Player of the year, Brendan.

Young player of the year, Brendan.

Manager of the year, Brendan.

Monti
6 years ago
Reply to  mike

Surprised you didn’t say Desimond!

mike
6 years ago

Desimond, referee of the year,;-)

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