Consider this:
Some Quintessentially British chaps are flying on an Irish airline to a predominantly Catholic country.
However, they think it perfectly ok to sing about hating Irish Catholics.
Now, that takes a very developed lack of sense of self-awareness.
I feel for the other passengers who through no fault of their own found themselves on klanair.
Last night in the Braga stadium the traditional Ibrox song sheet was clearly audible.
As usual, the Stenography Corps will prefer to deflect if they cannot openly defend it.
File under “they are in fine voice”.
Of course, there are honourable exceptions in the Fitba Fourth Estate.
It remains to be seen if the UEFA Match Delegate would have heard and understood the numerous references to “Fenian bastards” throughout the match last night.
On the field, it was a very creditable result for Mr Gerrard’s men.
However, that wasn’t what the klan were really there for.
The unique selling proposition of the new club is identical to the one that died in 2012.
The Sevco matchday experience is a socially acceptable way to express nativist hatreds of the Irish catholic other.
This is an enmity that is only weakly condemned in Fair Caledonia by those who should be acting with good authority.
Consequently, people in the media and in public life write permission slips for the Ibrox klanbase to express their racism.
Full disclosure, Bob is my publisher and he is a Don.
We both agree that the Ibrox klanbase is a stain on the reputation of an otherwise fair-minded country.
As well as the media being posted missing on this issue there are NGOs specifically tasked with combating racism in Scottish football.
They are also are rather quiet when it is the Ibrox klanbase doing their anti-Irish thing.
Indeed, this tweet rather nailed it.
The way in which Scotland’s multi-generational Irish community can be derided and disregarded without any major consequence is rather remarkable.
Even woke folk are allowed to keep doing their thing after indulging in a bit of Paddy bashing.
Therefore, the klan in Portugal were being genuine ambassadors for a cross-section section of Fair Caledonia.
In my experience, the Portuguese are quite simply the nicest people in Europe.
Last night they would have been forgiven for concluding that the British are not sending us their best people.
Sadly, what Ryanair transported to Portugal this week was The People.
At times like this, I feel that my harsh initial assessment of the motivations behind the Everyone Anyone marketing campaign was fully justified.
Hopefully, UEFA takes further action against this club for the racism of their fans.
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Was I gutted that we lost last night…??…Of course I was …I’m a Celtic supporter.
Was I surprised that we lost last night..? Of course not…I’m a Celtic supporter.
A brief comment on how I saw things last night…
Lenny slipped up badly by not playing Leigh and Eddy from the start…I’ve no idea why he didn’t.
And he waited too long to put Leigh on.
Two bad decisions.
Also we have to face the fact that we are still short in terms of European ” smarts “.
Copenhagen stuck to their tasks…and we ended up all over the place.
Structure and discipline are not in our DNA….needs to be addressed.
And just to explain the second line in my post…
I submitted a post on here on the 23rd which ended with…
” As for us…we should go through…but we are Celtic after all…and old habits sometimes die hard.”
Says it all really.
I apologised earlier to Mr Lennon for loss of faith but it was on the understanding that he would play two up given the resurgence of the team with that formation. I am afraid last night’s team selection has done it for me and I think he should go as he seems incapable of learning lessons. I know we have everything to play for domestically but as someone pointed out, lose the two games to Sevco and, given his team selection myopia, it is not impossible, it is game on.
I still say he should play Ajer up front with Edouard.
I would also like to say that there were about three players I deemed would be incredible after seeing them for the first time. Larsson, despite costing us a goal, Kieran Tierney,whom I believed, wrongly, would soon be at Man United and the unfortunate John Kennedy.
The last one now seems to be in charge of the defence which, while it gives the impression of being organised, seems to have little to do with what is actually happening on the park. Celtic never seem to mark anyone when under attack. Last night I noticed at least 5 defenders standing alone with no attempt to close down the opposition as they came forward. Is this the definition of Zone marking and if so it doesn’t work?
Lennon will get pelters. The selection of Brown did not work. He should not have played, and for that Lennon is responsible. Elyonoussi and Rogic? I think that game came 3 or 4 games full league games early for them. We were short in the middle of the park. Playing a three in the central defensive area requires discipline from the two players on each edge of the three. When you are are being attacked from one side the guy on the opposite side has to keep his concentration and nerve. If he is sucked in a simple pass leads to a simple goal. Watch the Aberdeen goal at Pittodrie. Playing 2 up front is great, but 3 central defenders requires extensive coaching and team work. You are also vulnerable in the air from angled crosses – With Frimpong and Taylor on each wing you have Ajer, Julien, Simunovic, OE, and the 7 dwarfs. Have we missed El Hamedi, his injury has been a real disappointment.
Our inability to convert good chances over both legs cost us dearly tonight. I NEVER thought this tie was going to be easy but you simply do NOT get away with profligacy in Europe.
“This has to be said about Rangers as a Scottish Football club they are a permanent embarrassment and an occasional disgrace. This country would be a better place if Rangers did not exist” Ian Archer Glasgow Herald
The more things change the more they stay the same.
I prefer to use the following analogy that …
They are permanent skid mark on the Y Fronts of Society
Aye. Y Fronts with more skid marks than a corner at Silverstone!!
Or Ayr toon centre… (say it fast)
The tea-cosy beanie wearers really do give us all a laugh . They are forever shouting no one likes us we dont care . But all you hear from them is complaint after complaint about how the BBC hate them and their club. But all we ever get from the club/board and club 18to30 is statements about the amount of people who have it in for them . It’s time for the Klan the board/club and club 18to30 to dry their eyes .
Shameful behaviour. At least it is contained within their stadium walls during the Scottish football season but now they are transporting their bile overseas as they did in an earlier group match v PSV. The big problem is that the general European populace can’t distinguish between Scottish sides so we’ll all be branded “Scottish football hooligans”!
I’ve just watched Billy Dodds waxing lyrical to Alistair Lamont about the mighty Sevco’s victory last night.
What’s so strange about that I hear you ask…?
Well it was on BBC Scotland…and I know for a fact that they are banned from Govan…and are persona-non-grata.
Thank God they’ve fallen out then…or it would have been a 60 minute Documentary.
Phil I need to point out that their songs refer to Catholics in general and not Irish in particular…which is inferred in your article.
Hail hail.
The use of the term “Fenian” which was heard throughout the Braga match has a clear ethnic connotation.
Phil does it have to be UEFA that steps in here or can anyone highlight or flag it up to them as in bringing it to their attention . Or with their representatives there is hhat the end of it should they not hear or report anything .
It has to be aimed at the Irish Catholics in particular, otherwise they are insulting those sevco players who are actually catholic.
Having said that, look at the catholic players they have taken to their heart. Judas Johnston was initially persona non grata until he scored against celtic. He pretty-much became “awright furra fenian” in their eyes. As soon as an RC is involved in an event that costs them a particularly important game, or indeed a title or trophy, it is viewed as some sort of hanging offence to them! If a particular player is directly connected to ireland, then he gets the full might of their venom and bile.
We all know what it means…let’s not be distracted by detractors. Sad really.
Don’t know what the rules are for cross-fertilisation, but decent article here from e-tims, Especially on the previously considered evidence by UEFA, dealing with the deceased, with particular dissection of their favourite party tune with expert professor witnesses.
http://etims.net/?p=15297
You would think the Klan had won that cup last night the way Jim Fluffy and Matk Guiddi had reacted. Guiddi put it out there that sevco winning last night meant they would get more money for that any treble. Oh dear clutching at straws to sooth sevco pain of no silverware this season. What a chancer . This is the same so called journalist that quoted 2 years on the trot that big big money was to be invested in sevco . Look what outcome there was from that .
Aye Scud Bhoy…and the muppet on Radio Scotland going radio-rental when the Huns2 scored…and screaming Braga need 3, Braga need 3.
Do any of these so-called experts know the rules of European football??
Guidi, Hugh whoever and others are consistently playing to the horde as it makes them money and keeps them in jobs. They have no other likelihood of earning. CFC supporters who react are fish on their hook and assist with their income.
Ignore them and let them die out in obscurity.
True Gary but it is difficult when it’s utter pish quotes like never mind the treble sevco getting to the last 16 is worth more money than a treble .
I have edited your comment to keep it legal.
You are courageously concealed while you make a defamatory statement.
Unimpressive.
It is very easy to ban you from here.
Very easy indeed.
I won’t warn you again.
I notice Graham Spiers hiding behind the “even some Rangers fans” , in other words it isn’t just me. He also states “great night for the club”. Which club?
I can assure you, being in a position to read free copies of the Times, Telegraph, Guardian etc, twice weekly that they usually copy what the Record (or is it Jabba) say about Sevco, sometimes verbatim. As far as Uefa is concerned nothing will be done. Can you imagine the outrage had the target been homosexuality or Judaism or practically anyone else?
At what point do the match officials give out the three step warnings for anti catholic racism and chanting. Or is it only when a certain colour or monkey chants are heard. Shambolic.
I don`t think too much could be taken from the fact that they managed to beat one of the worst, if not thee worst. teams I have ever set eyes upon. What a joke outfit! Every junior team in Scotland has a better defence, although, to be honest, they didn`t have one.
Clearly, the “Anyone, Everyone” campaign is not fit for purpose. Perhaps Sevco could enter into a joint initiative with Police Scotland, in order to properly deal with their “sectarianism”? I have even thought of a suitable acronym that they could adopt, in cooperation with the Criminal Investigations Division – RANCID!
Totally agree mate…its one of the worst home performances I have ever witnessed at this stage of a European competition.
I honestly believe we would have taken 6 off them…and that’s being kind.
If they’re one of the best teams in Portugal….God help Portuguese football.
Hail hail
The thing is that’s the tactics that got the old rangers to final way back yesteryear . Their fans will soak that s***e up all day long . Hearts will pump then Saturday.
Scud
It’s best not to make predictions about them getting pumped on Saturday: they have a horrible habit of proving us wrong. Just a couple of days ago I was brimming with confidence that they would be embarrassed in Portugal and looking forward to seeing who Celtic draws in the next round. I’ll say no more after that shambles at Parkhead tonight.
On second thoughts, I will.
Copenhagen were booed off the park at half time last week by their own fans and came out
firing on all cylinders in the second half. They then go and do the same again tonight and
Lennon acted like a rabbit paralysed in the middle of the road in a car’s headlights.
By the way, have you any idea where Peter Lawwell could get about twenty of those Benny berets?