The news that the police had charged Copenhagen’s Michael Santos with assault was rather surprising.
Clearly these matters cannot now be discussed or commented upon.
However, I certainly witnessed some criminal defending last night.
Celtic manager Neil Lennon, a year and a day in the job, spoke well immediately after the match.
The Irishman said that it was all about collective responsibility and no one was being thrown under the bus.
I will leave it to others to fulfill the time honoured role of Post-Match Quarterback.
It’s beyond my knowledge base.
What I DO know is that Neil Lennon has the managerial experience to know how to press reset.
He has proved that on many occasions most recently in the winter shutdown.
It is all about the next game now and that’s Sunday in Perth in the Cup.
Success on the football field is a fickle thing and making an error in the heat of the moment just shows that Jozo Šimunović is human.
Sadly, yesterday I also witnessed the inhuman.
Some dignified chaps were openly salivating over the accounts of historic sex abuse at Celtic Boys Club.
The media reportage prompted this personal statement from Martin Henry, the Chair of the Independent Review of Sexual Abuse in Scottish Football.
This paragraph jumped out at me:
Of course, that does not fit the preferred narrative of the child protection advocates at Ibrox.
My sympathies are also with the people of Leverkusen because when the Ibrox klan are in town next month there will be no Peace of Westphalia extant.
The extra revenues from their European progression is desperately needed by the Sevco High Command.
However, it will not arrive until later this year.
Sevco’s need for money is now.
Especially, as European bonuses will be expected rather sharpish.
As always with the Ibrox story, it is wise to Follow Follow the money.
The next episode will be based around the interim accounts.
The folk at UEFA will be interested in them.
Fair play!
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‘Who’s gloating now ?”
I enjoy your posts Phil and I thank you very much for them.
I however do not follow your enthusiasm for NL.
In my opinion he is not very good at tactics and as I
have been saying for some time now to those who sit near
me he continues to use James Forrest who in my humble
opinion is nowhere near Celtic level, as to picking the loan
player Elyanousie i just despair, He played these tactics and
players in the cup final and they were useless too. even though
we got lucky and won he should have learned a lesson. More
worrying though is the new players he signed. If they are not good
enough ,Why did he sign them?
I have to agree that the post match interviews were done very well. However, I dont think NL got either the team sheet or the formation correct for the match – i dont just think this is my opinion, the reality is the result and perhaps NL should have taken a bit more responsibilty for that. I wasnt suprised but disspaointed that he dropped LG to the bench and he reverted to one up front, but was surprised at the ommission of Frimpong. I just dont get why we set-up on a formation that wasnt working before the winter break and lost us some key matches. I really would expect us to go 2 up front in Sunday and score a hatfull.
As for those pesky interim accounts being massaged on another continent – they seeem to be a tad late but I am sure again like this time last year they will show a healthy profit……
This really illustrates what Channel 4 News really are. They’re not anti establishment-they are the Establishment. Here’s a nice cozy interview with Blair. No journalistic integrity about questioning his war crimes-and subsequent slaughter of women/children in Iraq. Just an opportunity to waylay Corbyn, and have a comfy chat about EU.
https://youtu.be/NCsxHkwcCbs
I’m pretty sure there are around 87 clubs guilty of historic abuse of whom our neighbours from Govan aren’t exempt yet the media feel it is necessary to use celtic as the whipping bhoys for the headline but it fits the media agenda all the while the point scoring ignores the plight of the victims…. Absolutely ludicrous but that is how it works.. One word… DISGUSTING
There was much that was done with flair against FC Copenhagen, and there were, as is natural, some mistakes. I hope, like other fans, that everyone learns from the defeat, and takes a more realistic view of how we approach the road ahead.
It is not a time for recrimination, or other forms of ‘abuse’; Neil Lennon’s post-match comments were spot on. Brown and Julien’s composure post-match was also admirable. It’s now time to reflect, then quickly move on. I see my role as a fan as being to support those players who might be beating themselves up about their performance. My only wish is they rest, reflect and refresh themselves; they are real footballing talents who can only thrive with fans’ affection and the support of all at the club.
Celtic are, by far, the best team not in the ‘final 16 of the Europa League’ (something I did not realise was a ‘thing’ until this year, being more familiar with Celtic’s ability to reach the ‘last 16 in the Champions League’). We’ll be back… C’mon the Bhoys.
Still waiting for UEFA to make their statement about the conduct of fans from Glasgow’s Deep South. Their xenophobic chants (inside Braga’s stadium) were clearly audible. Mortifying that Portuguese, Spanish, Italians etc, have witnessed all this bile for decades. Football fans here, and throughout Europe, should contact the hierarchy in Geneva. Simply ask why do you show such leniency to the Klan? When will you actually do something tangible? Do you require help?
There should always be transparency about child abuse. Whether it emanates from political circles, football institutions, or Monarchy. Channel 4 masquerades as a left-leaning alternative. Of course, this ain’t the reality. They’ve been pretty blasé about the whole Prince Andrew affair. Not even the FBI could induce the royal establishment to hand him over for questioning. All the while he hideously skulks behind Lizzie Windsor’s protection. Worst of all is the vitriol from Europe’s most racist fans at Ibrox. Abundance of lauding from them towards Her Majesty. Zero empathy for victims of abuse. That includes any kids who regretfully got mixed up with Epstein et al. Always double standards.
Definitely a night for reflection, yet another campaign in Europe shudders to a halt.
Yip were quite good at shooting ourself in the foot, even when it looks like we have applied the first aid.
All the more disheartening as the Govan Flutists go marching on.
Money rolling in now, to to save there season now we’re out.
Looks like the Danes, have also got a favourable draw.
While the guys in blue, look like they could provide another smash and grab. This time against the Germans.
Time to move on, trip to Perth Sunday, on cup duty.
Could the Jambos provide another shock? Before we get there?
Time will tell!
I have no problem with Lenny giving ” diplomatic ” public responses to last night’s debacle…( only word for it. )
However I would be less than pleased to discover that the players didn’t get an ear bashing in private.
That was unacceptable last night…and whilst I think he was culpable up to a point…most of the players need a rocket up their jacksey.
I also hope that John Kennedy had a strong word with Jozo…who was a bomb scare.
Anyway…what’s done is done…so let’s go and get Quadruple Treble.
Jozo has been a bomb scare since the day and hour he walked in the door.
Phil,
There certainly has been a glut of schadenfreude doing the rounds since the final whistle last night.
Hell, even the BBC website has got in on the act by resurrecting that witty, if not particularly original, headline from 2000 when Inverness CT beat Celtic 3-1 in the Scottish Cup: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/av/football/51678940
They’ve not really had a lot to gloat about for some time. Let’s see if they’ll still be gloating after the game at Tynecastle on Saturday.
Hail and Hail again !
Hubris.
If there’s any leftovers of the humble pie that was being dished out earlier in the week can I suggest it be sent to Celtic Park FAO The Lurgan Klopp.
It’s rather ironic that Jozo had an off night in patches which could result in TRFC outside of Champions League football next season.
TRFC entry to CL down to a Celtic defender performance. Good old Jozo!
Celtic just have the treble to focus on without european travels. I’m happy with that. Sevco have the extra burden with a lack of squad depth.
Sevco also have the burden of flights and hotels and meal costs for the next round.
Don’t share your confidence in the manager, Phil. A good manager should know when NOT to press reset. He obviously doesn’t believe that if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. I’ll be kind to him and say 3-5-2 was his idea at the turn of the year. It transformed the team. Dropping Griffiths was stupidity, not versatility.