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He’s Not The Messiah

Celtic limped into the winter break with yet another of those half arsed performances that had you wondering if the players were genuinely tired, or if they’d read too much about why they are tired and felt they didn’t want to let anyone down by putting too much effort in.

The 0-0 draw was up there with the other less than impressive games, which fortunately were against European powerhouses PSG and Hearts, but as “rangers ” are not quite at that level, and seemed genuinely surprised not to be on the end of a thrashing, the game won’t be remembered by anyone who wasn’t sitting in the corner recerved for Scotland’s shame.

Celtic missed chances, “rangers ” missed chances and a draw was about right.

Graeme Murty’s men will take much more heart from the game than those of Brendan Rodgers.

Whereas for Celtic, the inquest has begun.

Regular readers would have been well aware that Simunovic, Demebele and Gamboa were on their way out. The players have yet to be announced, bar Comperr, and with the media picking up on what we already knew, then adding to it, the cull we told you about is already well under way.

However, if this is correct, and remember the guy who told us had been drinking, then it follows that if he knew, and we knew, and now the papers know, then no wonder the team is playing with the minimum of effort.

Half of them know they are away, and the other half think they might be.

One or two bloggers have picked up on this and exaggerated it beyond credibility. Rodgers rates only five of his squad ?

Well, thats what happens when the doolallies try to go one better to boost their clicks, or donations, or whatever else they plead for to keep food on the table.

Its open season on rodgers, and they have waited quite a while to get stuck in. The knives have had plenty of time to be sharpened.

Celtic have already started to refresh things. It couldn’t be done before because the squad had just done an unbeaten treble.

Thats largely why Kouassi, Ntcham, Benyu in particular haven’t had the run they need.

You can’t fault Rodgers for that.

There have been a few more injuries than usual.

You can’t fault Rodgers for that…its not like he’s changed the pitch or anything…

The strikers haven’t had a run in the team to keep them sharp.

You can’t fault Rodgers for that..

Ah, maybe i’m taking the wrong path here.

Of course Rodgers is at fault.

Image result for he's not the messiah

As I found on Saturday, in what started as a fairly tongue in cheek bit of trolling on Twitter to pass the time on the way back down the road, Brendan is infallible, apparently.

Well.he’s not.

He’s the manager. And he is paid to mange, sometimes he’ll have a bad day at the office.

There’s been a few this year, and with the blistering start he made to his Celtic career, we will now see how he handles that.

Wholesale clearout ? Panic buying ?

I doubt it.

He’s too savvy for that, and whilst he is not immune from criticism, this is going to be a new experience for him, and it’ll be interesting to see how he handles it.

If the players have forgotten how to win, or lost the eye of the tiger, then its down to him to fix.

If he feels that the players he has at his disposal aren’t up to the job, then it’s down to him to fix.

Rodgers has more than earned the right to do things as he sees fit. Perhaps siging a third striker of the quality of Edouard wasn’t necessary, but you’d rather have three quality forwards than none.

Trouble is, the rotation has left us with three forwards all lacking that sharpness that comes from a run of games.

As it stands, Celtic have lost one domestic game in seventy four, which is a phenomenal and memorable achievement.

Eight points clear at New Year in the chase to become the first side to win seven in a row twice.

One cup in the bag, and two more to come ?

It’s there if we want it, but to take it Rodgers himself maybe needs a wee break, and not just the players.

Maybe he needs to sit down and think about where things are, and take a deep breath and thentake the correct steps to lift the side and move it forward when things start up again.

The management and players may be tired, but is thereย  more of a mental tiredness about it than a physical one ?

Are the players sensing that Rodgers is losing faith in them ? Is Rodgers sensing the players are losing faith in him, or in themselves ?

Too many questions, too many opinions, not enough answers, not enough clarity in direction from the manager.

There is an argument that the games played have taken their toll on the legs, but with the exception of Tierney, Gordon and perhaps Lustig, there has been more than enough rest time for the others.

Therefore, there must be more to it. Players read the papers, they read the intenet, and if they are told they are tired often enough, thats what they will believe.

 

Rodgers is now at a crossroads, one where he has a few tough decisions to make. some players have made that easy for him, for others it will be difficult. Some want to get better, and want to become champions League players, and they may not have that in them.

We’re going to be saying goodbye to a few, and welcoming a few in. More of the former, and less of the latter.

We need to come out of the blocks after the break with a renewed sense of vigour, enthusiasm and above all belief.

If Rodgersย  gets it right, and more importantly, gets the players to believe again that he believes in them, then four out of four is possible.

Anything else, and its going to be a long few months.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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BondiBrian
6 years ago

Ah don’t doubt BR has planned for this eventuality, as you say he’s too savvy no to understand the media will be baying for his blood. As for the team re shuffle the same applies plus …no room for sentimentality, be interesting if/when BR bring oot his ruthless streak.
Here’s to an exciting couple of months.

MON THE HOOPS!!!!

Monti
6 years ago
Reply to  BondiBrian

Bwian eh?:)

Mickelele
6 years ago

Some no bad points there Ralph. We were shite the other day there but we’ve been on a massive high since Rodgers got here and we sometimes forget ourselves when things go a wee bit wrong. Sevco’s finest moments have been a 1-1 and a 0-0 at our gaff, even in our dark days in the 90s we managed a wee result or two against them, they dont have that. They dont have a Paul McStay or a John Collins like we did in them days. Rodgers is not beyond criticism but lets just get a bit or perspective first. HH

Monti
6 years ago
Reply to  Mickelele

Mickelele,
We should be toying with the huns at Paradise, Dundee & Hamilton, Kilmarnock are fucking beating them ffs!

Mickelele
6 years ago
Reply to  Monti

I know mate… Just trying to stay positive. Brendan got it totally wrong the other day there. I dont disagree

Monti
6 years ago
Reply to  Mickelele

I don’t understand how Ntcham is not in from the start, he showed when he came on how to deal with the Hun midfield.

john young
6 years ago
Reply to  Monti

We have too many weak players in this team tooready to accept getting turned over by “lesser” teams.

Monti
6 years ago

Brendan made a big mistake not strengthening tge defence in previous windows, it is the weakest area of the side & it has got worse.
He has to sort that now & Compper alone will not solve this, real investment is needed in the defence, if he does this he will be succesful again.
There’s no doubt fatigue plays a part, we have effectively played an entire season before new year, an element of fatigue is bound to be there.

We have lost the creativity of Roberts this season, we have lost the goals and quality of Moussa this year due to injuries, we have also lost the goals and dynamism of Armstrong not to mention the largely ineffective Scott Sinclair in a lot of games, he still get’s goals but his general form is not of last season.
Griffiths must wonder what he has to do at times, Dembele is the better player but Leigh has done the business for Celtic.

Alex Ferguson was ruthless in his time at Old Trafford, selling big name players when he felt they had downed tools………do the same Brendan, don’t blink.

Celtic first!

Mickelele
6 years ago
Reply to  Monti

Monti

Cant argue with any of that mate but just trying to stay positive. They fucks were on cloud 9 after that 1-1 last year then we served them good and proper at ibrox. Hopefully the same this year but we are in danger of resting on our laurels as we usually do at Celtic HH

Monti
6 years ago
Reply to  Mickelele

Mickelele,
It’s hard to knock the players after all they have contributed for the club in recent times, domestically they have been excellent.
However football is a ruthless game at times & we have to keep increasing the quality, tweak two or three things.
The big defeats at home and thrashings away need to stop and stop now.
I never expect Celtic to beat the super clubs, but i’m not having 0-5 defeats at home and the 6 and 7s away, we are supposed to be a big club.

Well our transfer moves should reflect that then.
We need to push the boat out just a wee bit further.

HH

BJF
6 years ago

Ralph pretty fair comment, mental fatigue is an issue rather than physical. It is simply daft of Packie to witter on about โ€œhis dayโ€, pretty irrelevant now even though a few bloggers here think the same. The intensity of preserving the unbeaten record must have been phenomenal, Man City are experiencing the same with their budget. Criticism of Brendan is fair with hindsight Ntcham should have been in from the start he needed more in midfield and who would have expected Lustig, McGregor, Armstrong and Dembelle all off form. Have the bulk of this team gone as far as they can, do we need two or three fresh faces or 5 or 6, the former I think. A fit Paddy would have been significant.

rebus67
6 years ago
Reply to  BJF

In Canadian Hockey there is a very successful coach called Glen Sather. He has lost his way a bit over the years when he moved to New York for the dollars, BUT when at his peak he would always change a winning team.

At the start of each season, he would trade away some good players and bring in players who had not won anything. His rationale was that they would be hungry for success…they would give the team desire.

It is a good philosophy. The Tic need a wee bit of that at the moment, domestically. Hence the attention to Hendry and Morgan, and Christie will fall into this category as well.

Sure BR got the team wrong vs Sevco. He chose a couple of bad options. BUT remember this, Sevco have no options. What you saw is all that they can be…no viable alternatives exist for them.

Let them have some spurious hope. We shall snuff that out next time round, if Ross County don’t do it first!

Rebus

Joe
6 years ago

Also the only team to win seven in a row honestly and without stealing, cheating and supported by the SFA.

rebus67
6 years ago

Let’s all stay calm. Take a deep breath, exhale slowly through your nose. Take another breath, exhale slowly through the same nose, That’s better! NOW…….

We are going to be alright. By the summer we shall be a much better team. It will take a few months to see the difference.
Those that say we need to get rid of X, Y and Z, seem to forget that:

1. somebody has to want X, Y or Z.
2. Wholesale changes at once will disrupt the team.

Ajer/Boyata plus Commper will be the CB’s going forward for the rest of the season. Changing both CB’s at once would be counterproductive. If we still need another CB, we shall get him in the summer.

The other transformative needs are a creative mid, and a striker that can hold the ball up. The striker issue is being worked on and depends upon when Dembele leaves and whether he recovers form now or later. A loan with a deal to buy would seem to be the solution to that one…D. Ings anyone? It also depends on what we do with Edouard. However, this is going to get resolved…possible too late for Zenit, but it will be fine for the qualifiers. I think Griff will go, either this window or the next. He does not fit with BR’s philosophy.

Creative mid is more difficult. Musonda is the chosen one but will he come? Alternatives can surely be found amongst the less fashionable clubs in La Liga.

Some may say, RB is a problem, but if BR does not think that Ralston is the answer, why the long contract?

The Sevco result is merely a blip. It means nothing in the grand scheme of things. We are flying… just as I am!

Peace, love and may the Brendans be with you,

Rebus

Monti
6 years ago
Reply to  rebus67

Rebus,
I wouldn’t mention noses if i were you ๐Ÿ™‚

rebus67
6 years ago
Reply to  Monti

Monti,

Are you sniffing at my posting?

I look forward to seeing your nose. Perhaps in 2018.

Keep posting, but you do not need me to tell you that!

Rebus

Monti
6 years ago
Reply to  rebus67

Just saying there’s one on here that would get membership of the Judean peoples front ๐Ÿ™‚

Mike
6 years ago
Reply to  Monti

HAHAHA.

Monti
6 years ago
Reply to  Monti

๐Ÿ™‚

Mike
6 years ago

No he is not the Messiah, but he sure as hell is better than some of the managers that have sat in the managers office before him and before anyone else say’s it, I, like everyone else recognise the size of his salary. That outlay has brought in a lotta, lotta dough, in return and added value to the playing pool. We must recognise that he still has to bring in HIS players, every other manager has been judged on there own team and so should he. Also we keep on hearing about the massive sums of money coming into the club, but if you look into the accounts there is a hell of a money going out…..where?
There is no doubt but the team are not functioning any better or worse than last season, the results show that, but no one considers any outside factors, like form or injury or the mental fatigue of the invincible run. The manager is not infallible, he has got selections wrong as far as we know or think, but we are only on the outside looking in and are not aware of any inside info.
For me, this is the time to open the biscuit tin and put the money into the managers hands, the money that is available that is, like the Virgil money and the money from the outgoing players, then and only then will the manager be judged by me. Show him the money…….Pete.

rebus67
6 years ago
Reply to  Mike

Mike,

Agree with everything. That should worry you!

I hope that Pete does sanction a wee strategic splash on a real top quality player. What a boost that would be for everyone. Except, of course, the player he replaces.

I was on the receiving end of that in my short lived professional career. The club brought in a big star, the player in the first team that he replaced took my place in the reserves, and I got a pink slip. Did I resent that? Did I see that it was for the greater good of the team? Yes and No are the answers. On further reflection, I ended up where I should have. Both were better than me and I went on to fame as a stud! Got any sheep that need sorting?

Rebus

Mike
6 years ago
Reply to  rebus67

Tup, Tup away Rebus, in sport it was always so and footballs no different, I am glad that you are aware and intelligent enough to recognise that the cream always rises to the top, difficult though that is to observe when it happens to yourself. I like you reached County and then junior level although my brother went on to pro fitba.
I kidded myself on that because of the family situation and I had to work on a Saturdays, that I would have MADE it, but now I recognise the reality and that was it and that I was deluded…..mibbee. ๐Ÿ˜‰

BJF
6 years ago

Always puzzled by folk resenting the size of Managers salaries and tolerating what some players get, Jim McLean maybe had something with bonuses paid on performance, results and appearances but like Packie that is way back in history.
Managers โ€œ playโ€ every game good or bad, Brendan is great but this season has been short of lastโ€™s in terms of skill and application on the park……..so far!

rebus67
6 years ago
Reply to  BJF

BJF or BFJ or FJG,

Some folks are possessed by the green demon. I have been there myself.

BR is on a good living but he has already repaid that by adding value to so many of the playing pool.

Mr Lawwell you know it makes sense to pay for a really good manager. It hits the bottom line big time.

Happy New Year to ye, BJF

Your love child, Rebus

6 years ago

The money is now in the bank and should be available
Brendan has his own man in as Head of Recruitment so should have names
Zenit and VVD monies are bonus monies

Time for Celtic to to strenghten when in front

If we cant or wont now, we never shall

Jan 2018 is gonna be interesting indeed

rebus67
6 years ago
Reply to  Desimond

Desi,

You are so right! Let us see what happens.

Rebus

BJF
6 years ago

Happy New Year Rebus and all ETims- 7 in a row here we go!

D J Smyth
6 years ago

First of all B R & is team of scouts can only pick out players that are wanted . These players cannot be forced to sign for Celtic . Other clubs might want to sign them too , other clubs in TV rich leagues . I think Brendan is trying to not overwork young Ntcham whom he sees as a very valuable player . Maybe he didn’t want to risk him too soon against the Rangers who might have targeted him with a welcome to a “John Greig ” tackle & destroy the lad. Madden was never likely to be protective & Rangers know that . I love the way Ntcham can shield the ball as he turns round , but I feared before hand that the Rangers could have crocked him then . Some of the pace had gone out of the game by the time he came on .

I think we are poor enough with our corners & too slow with throws in .
We have played at least 10 games more than any other SPL team . That’s 30 proper training days lost , I think our coaches could have benefitted our team by practicing set pieces for some of the time in these 30 days

Monti
6 years ago
Reply to  D J Smyth

PISH

Iancelt67
6 years ago

Hey weered watching a film doco called I am Belfast itโ€™s pretty good

Monti
6 years ago
Reply to  Iancelt67

Is it explosive in parts? ๐Ÿ™‚

Mike
6 years ago

Never before in the World of football has there been such a disparity in footballing monies, big Virgil going to the pool just heightens that, despite Klopp’s dig at Jose, when push came to shove he paid the ยฃ75 mill. to stop City getting there hands on him. Virgil’s salary of ยฃ180,000 thousand pounds….per week, we were probably paying him a fraction of that, who could blame him for seeking these sums. While
At City, PSG, Barca, Madrid et al. they could afford to light a bonfire with the obscene amount of cash the desert Kings are spending, its a funny auld World Gov. init. Well for me never mind the SFA with there criminal Kings ok well that’s a lie, but the point is Governing bodies are allowing this free market to exploit sport for the worse, FIFA and UEFA should be setting out standards and enforcing them or else like the corruption in the Scottish game it will continue to destroy this so called money backed sport.

Mike
6 years ago

Grandad’s wee darling.

Bright blue sparkly eyes,
shielding an intelligence that she can hardly disguise,
tall and slim with long golden hair,
spreading her joy at life for all to share.

Grand daughters, Gods gift to the auld and weary,
making you laugh because she is always so cheery,
forgetting your aches, forgetting your pains,
with her fulsome energy and daft wee games.

Skipping, dancing and singing,
blind to the joy, that she’s always bringing,
watching her grow at a fearsome speed,
learning so much and knowing that whatever she does,
she will always succeed.

Grand daughters sharing your DNA,
bringing you joy, every single day.

Rebus67
6 years ago
Reply to  Mike

Mike,
Fantastic! We had our grandson for Christmas….15 months old!

What a joy! I found myself rolling along the floor, enjoying every minute of the play.

The house is empty without him.

He is the product of my oldest son, who is in his forties. His good lady was in her forties when he arrived. They had an appointment to get a donor egg from the US when she discovered she was pregnant. What a present! And then Malkie was born with his sweet nature, straight back, and broad shoulders.
Retirement and old age could not get any better!

Rebus

Mike
6 years ago
Reply to  Rebus67

How often do you hear that, mother is being so brave and awaiting a donor or IVF, when, a little miracle happens and a cherished infant arrives, to much fanfare and love. Nothing, nothing beats the family, your own DNA….magic. What would Christmas be without the gift of love and family.

BondiBrian
6 years ago

My thought go out on the anniversary to all affected by the terrible tragedy that was the Ibrox disaster 1972.

BondiBrian
6 years ago

Apologies. ’71. Ma eldest brother & father were at the game. For about 30 minutes the news coming in never said if it was at the Celtic end or Rangers end.

Mike
6 years ago

No apologies necessary Bondi, about 25 miles away from me is a monument in fife dedicated to those young men who went to see a football match and never came home, it is right that they should be remembered and mourned, no matter who they supported.
I remember it well and shall never forget them.

Devoy45
6 years ago

Good post Mike. For all those who pray and believe in Divine help please pray for Fernando Ricksen and his family and any of your own family and friends who have horrible neuron diseases like Parkinson’s, MS and Huntigton’s. Sctland has high rates of these terrible diseases. Remember how Jinky and his family suffered? Give to those charities if you can. Peace and good health to you, above all, good health.

Rebus67
6 years ago
Reply to  Devoy45

Devoy,

A timely post. My father died of Parkinsonโ€™s related complications. There is a whole spectrum of ailments that produce what is known as โ€œthe long goodbye.โ€

These diseases take the victimโ€™s personality before ending their life.

My wifeโ€™s sister is suffering from one of them at the moment. She can no longer cook, put on makeup, remember anything from a minute ago, shower, go to the bathroom on her own.

I pray for her every night, whilst I am not a religious person…..spirtual, Yes, but religious, No. i hope God sees my value and answers some of my prayers.

Reading back, I sound like a relgious message! Sorry about that.

Inthink we are all connected, so pray helps.

Rebus

Devoy45
6 years ago

Huntington’s
Scotland

Iancelt67
6 years ago

Was at ibrox disaster game as a 12 year old got a lift over at rangers end at the place of the deaths. Scarf hidden of course made way to Celtic end. Often wonder if the guy who gave me the lift over may have been injured and killed. I remember Johnstone scoring and stein equalising right at the end. Definitely contributed to the crush. Used to pen crowds in like animals. Iโ€™m surprised it didnโ€™t happen more often. There were accusations of shoddy design using cowboy contractors at the time

D J Smyth
6 years ago
Reply to  Iancelt67

I was there myself , awful occasion and shouldn’t have happened .
Rangers played it very low key for very many years in regards to memorials & remembrances , as they they were afraid of claims .
Insurance wouldn’t cover as the proper procedure laid down by the Insurance Company after a previous disaster were not adhered to .

Monti
6 years ago

What’s happening with the title stripping?

broxburnbhoy
6 years ago
Reply to  Monti

Heads are in the sand! I’m also waiting for the tax office to go after the recipients of “loans’ which were proven to be salary and recoup the tax due. Of course they can always pay back the “loans” and that could help pay back the face painters. watch for more EBT recipients declaring bankruptcy and transferring their assets to their wives.

Rob O'Keeffe
6 years ago
Reply to  Monti

What title stripping? Merry New Year from the SFA………

Mike
6 years ago

Don’t know, but apparently the face painter and all the minor creditors from the deed co. can expect ยฃ0.04 pence in the pound, that should give them…ยฃ2.40p. HMRC still talking to BDO about its remuneration as the fixed pathway leads to LIQUIDATION.
King is not following up on his piss take regarding “We might pay the creditors and retrieve the oldco from liquidation”. HAHAHA.
The “Rangers Football Club” PLC is a public limited company registered in Scotland (company number SC004276) and was incorporated on the 27th May 1899. When the current company is officially liquidated, all of its corporate business history will come to an end.
Livingstone got a bye in the Scottish cup 2012/13 because “Rangers” was a new club.
LNS said “It was the same club” so unless the SFA/SPFL admit the truth and confirm the myth of continuation, don’t expect anything changes soon.

Cartvale88
6 years ago

The biggest laugh about the game with Sevco is some of the media and the knuckledraggers think they could win the league.
Celtic are in a far stronger position than most believe. BR will sell and bringing fresher players to stir things up. I believe in this window he will look at Euro qualifiers, trying to avoid players that could be picked for the World Cup.
He should also bring back Christie from ABZ, and use some of the reserves to bed them in. Ralston, Johnston, Aitchison all have great promise, the youth team doing well in the UCL games
Was at the disaster game, due to start shift at 15:00 left before the end, leaving friends behind. Spent a few hours worrying about them.
In those days fans were treated like vermin.

SteveNaive
6 years ago

Rebus,
Good sensible points again but I’m unsure of the one on getting a striker that holds it up. Our three do this to a small extent but I don’t think it fits in with the way the game is played now. Man. City are probably the best at this just know where the whole team attacks and defends ( wonder where they got that idea from ?)and the speed of the inter passing creates openings all over. When a striker holds it up for runners and support it also allows defenders to get back. We are playing the right way but just need to do it quicker.Of course you often have to be able to move and think quicker also. If Celts have players who have reached their optimum ability to do this then we replace them with someone Brendan knows can. Took in the Morton v. St Mirren game yesterday and Morgan played well, scoring also Not sure if Tosh Mc Kinley was watching him or just taking the game in.

rebus67
6 years ago
Reply to  SteveNaive

Hi Steve,

Happy New Year to you.

Belly buttons and opinions, we all have them!

We have a distribution problem from the goalie out. Part of the problem is how he kicks the ball. He tends to hang it up there. The poor FB’s often have to jump for it knowing that an opponent is rush in on them. Hence the ball either goes out or we lose possession. It is worse when the ball is launched up the park. He hangs it up there, so that someone like Griff has little hope of doing anything with it. I think this can be corrected but nothing seems to get done about it. To counteract this we need a reasonable sized, strong striker who can hold the ball and bring others into play. Of what we have, Dembele is the best at it, but we shall not keep him. I doubt Edouard has enough confidence to do it. Could be wrong about this but I doubt it. He has the physique for it but…..!

Armstrong and Brown, at various points, have come deep in the middle to get the ball either from the FB’s after Gordon gives it to them, or direct from Gordon. Armstrong does not do this as much, and, IMHO, Brown is too busy to be doing this. Hence we are slow in moving the ball forward.

I can see the problems but fixing them…….well that is where I fall short!

While I am ranting, another area that could be fixed is at throwins. The number of times that we lose the ball is unacceptable. PLayers do not show for the ball quickly enough. It is a movement issue. Should be able to fix this.

Rebus

Mike
6 years ago

Mahn this fitba. break thingy is…minging, Ralphy must have had some hingover and how better the break would have been if it had left a great memory of the last game, when all it has left is a bitter pill to swallow. I have a funny feeling that the last result will not be the bitterest pill though, unless new signings exceed our expectations (Fat Chance).
What i’m hoping for is the addition of 2/3 new first team signings, not what has been advertised so far, although I have no doubts that they will be good players. Remembering back to Tommy’s era, when each new rumour richy stoked a rush of excitement when Italian, Dutch and Spanish flamingo dancer chancers were mentioned, those were the days my friend and noo, auld Germain cluggers or Scuddish fine young cannibals are all that seem to be mentioned, sqeek, sqeek is the noise of the biscuit tin being eased open, gently does it Pete, dinny strain your fingers, excert some lethal force and if that disny work, climb up 25 stories and drop the bugger down.

broxburnbhoy
6 years ago

There have been other crush disasters in football and I do think the way we were treated back then – basically like cattle by clubs, police and municipal authorities was in hindsight appalling. I remember going to watch Celtic years ago at a cup game in Airdrie and being dangerously crushed by a crush started by the police horses squeezing people together. people were lifting kids above their heads to get them out of the situation. I think the whole “civilization” of football has been good with more ticketed games, seats and other amenities that treat people like the paying customers we are rather than animals to be herded and caged. My thoughts go out to the families who have lost loved ones in football disasters. I hope the lessons learned are built on and attending football matches becomes a very safe proposition.

Rob O'Keeffe
6 years ago
Reply to  broxburnbhoy

Once TRIFC go into liquidation,it’ll be even safer…….

SteveNaive
6 years ago

Sorry Rebus, Happy New Year to you,
Yes the Grand children bit, had the five of them in the house on Christmas and New Years Day, two from South Carolina for three weeks…house was a bombsite but it is easily cleaned. You are right in your observations regarding Celts slow build up and I agree Gordon plays a part in this. Whilst undoubtibly better, he does allow himself to get closed down before he plays it out (part of the con in sucking them in perhaps) but I’d rather he was quicker like Ederson who is crucial to Man. City. Check also the Twitter feed at the top of the page from Gabrielle Marcotti on the analysis some guys have done on them. It’s a long read but does explain their ‘false 9’ and, a new one for me, ‘false full backs’. This is one reason they paid ยฃ50 million for Walker. Talking with mates recently, alcohol involved. I rashly bet they wouldn’t win the C.L., Think I could lose that one.

Devoy45
6 years ago

Rebus, agree with your football post but especially with your reply to my own post about neurological diseases. Many of them strip their victims of freedom, mobility and self respect. A woman in a very Celtic family told me her MS was not a death sentence but a hard life sentence. I am a full time carer myself, 24/7. It is a hard gig. Celtic success takes my mind off it. Good health is our greatest blessing.However, our grandchildren remind us what really matters.
Good health and peace to you!

Rebus67
6 years ago
Reply to  Devoy45

Devoy,

It is hard to see positives in chronic degenerative diseases but there are some. They bring out love and caring in people. My sister in law nursed her husband, a hard ship building man, until one week before he passed away from Alzheimers. Kept him at home and preserved his dignity. Such dedication!

Twenty odd years ago, my brother contracted AIDS when little was known about it. We soon found out who his real friends were. My mother and father who were old fashioned buddies just rolled their sleeves up and helped all the could. He was given 18 months to live. I visited him every two months from Canada and had a good cry with him. Ultimately, he asked me if I would help him end his life when the real bad time hit. Indid not know what to do for Inhad a family in Canada consisting of three boys who depended upon me. I recall that New Years Eve going to a church service and praying for a miracle to help my brother and me as well. It seemed hopeless and I felt guilty and not worthy of asking for the impossible. However, I got my miracle. Along came protease inhibitors which saved his life long enough for other drugs to arrive to keep the viral load under control.
This totally changed my life and it brought the whole family closer. My brother saw his brothers and his parents in a new light. We all be ame better people, not perfect, but more caring.

I still do not go to church but i have a much better code of how I live my life, and I am the major beneficiary of it.

The reasons for the founding Celtic fit right into how I trybto live my life. That is why I follow the club.

Rebus

Rebus67
6 years ago

An over long reply to Devoy has disappeared into the woods. Perhaps a search party can organised. It is legally and politically neutral.

Rebus

Rob O'Keeffe
6 years ago

Nice guy that Murty.Describes atmosphere at Parkhead as second to none,even better when their mob are not there and calls Parkhead a fantastic stadium.Sevconians,you must be delighted? Murty Headstand C.S.C.

6 years ago

Happy New Year to all who write, read and post on this great site. Thank you all for sharing opinions, stories and personal gains or losses. All the best for 2018!

Rebus67
6 years ago

Same to you, Iain.

We are heading back into the minus twenties tomorrow(thursday)! Are you there yet?

I used to teach at Athabasca U on their MBA and DBA programs.

Rebus

Devoy45
6 years ago

Rebus, many thanks for your above post. It is a very moving story. Peace and good will to you. Life goes on.

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