THE headline writers could put all the "spin" they liked into their headings and lay-outs; sure, it was Bhoys against Boys, but, you cannot overlook the fact - Celtic played some very-impressive football in routing Hearts on Sunday.
Indeed, I would go as far as to say, the Lisbon Lions would have been very proud of some of the goals, not least the Kris Commons opener which got Sunday's show on the road.
Just a wee thought for Neil Lennon - he might have a team ready to put on a real show in the 2014-15 Champions League, were he to come up with a really lucrative bonus scheme to reward his squad, should they manage two things - to go through the remaineder of this domestic season unbeaten and manage to score three goals per game.
He might also like to double the bonus, should they manage these feats without losing a goal - that way, the terrible lack of genuine competition in Scotland just could be used as a means of readying the side for the tougher tasks in Europe.
WELL done too, the Celtic travelling support at Tynecastle, for their immaculate conduct during the minute's silence or the victims of the Clutha Vaults disaster.
The Celtic fans have, in the past, shown scant regard for such public moments of respect for the dead - this time, they got it right and we could all breathe more easily.
Similarly, what a Dick was that so-called Rangers' fan who flung the flare at the Falkirk game. Kinda does away with the protocol whereby Juan Guy is seen as a Celtic supporter; the Guy family has a sect (a lodge?) across the city too.
WITH the publication of the SNP/Scottish Government blueprint for Independence last week, I had an off-the-wall, out-of-left-field thought: Might not Independence be the making of Scottish football.
It is no secret that, because of the relative poverty of the Scottish game, when compared with their neighbours across the Solway and Tweed, young, emerging Scottish talent is fair game for exploitation by even mid-table "Championship" clubs in England, who can turn such promising boys' heads with the cash on offer in the English game.
With Independence, might not the Scottish government be able to offer our top home-based players tax breaks and more-favourable terms, making it worth their while remaining longer in Scotland, rather than taking the big money on offer in England too-soon.
Might not the government of an Independent Scotland go down the road which once saw highly-talented Eastern European players forbidden to leave until they were 28? That age might just be a big too-old, however, how much easier would life be for Gordon Strachan and Billy Stark if home-based Scottish players couldn't leave for England until they were say over-23?
Apart from the lack of respect shown to the poppy and some of its wearers, I cannot recall ever hearing or seeing any disrespect from the genuine Celtic fans in regard to the dead. But wait, you must surely be talking about the uncouth bunch of brain-dead morons, better known as the Green Brigade. It doesn't take much to realise that these childish wee pricks are long overdue for a proper tanning. I'm thinking a lifetime ban and then left under the Erskine bridge in an old sack whilst the rest of us wave banners and flags in support.
ReplyDeleteCheffy - tis the season to be jolly: peace on earth, goodwill to all men and all that. You are perhaps being a bit hard on the GB.
ReplyDeletePerhaps the local priest should be called in to discipline them!!!
Locked in the chapel with a priest intent on spanking? Ahem, I believe my option of the bridge will be more favourable.
ReplyDeleteA nice touch by Neil Lennon yesterday with his personal visit to the Clutha I thought. Many would have sent a lesser lackey to offer hackneyed words of faux sorrow. That wasn't the case I am pleased to say. Not since the genuine outpouring of grief at Tommy Burns funeral by WS and dare I say it, AM, was I moved enough to nod my head in approval at the way sincerity shone through the blackest of moments in Glasgow's history.
For once, in the eyes of the world, Glasgow's true spirit was revealed.
Sir,
ReplyDeleteI second and fully endorse your sentiments.