Get A Grip!
Morning,all.
‘Tis the season to be merry, innit? Well, not officially. Not yet. Sunday is when that happens, the first day of Advent. You always know it’s the festive season when the supermarkets have already had the Quality Street tubs on special offer for two months.
Or alternatively, if you’re a Celtic supporter, when the sooperdooper new merchandising advert comes out. Yep, we’ve finally achieved ten in a row. Well done to all concerned. Even Tony Roper, who hailed it as the nadir of his career. Check it if you don’t believe me.
Actually, I’ve got no real problem with the ads as such. Merchandising is a major part of our income stream, after all. And Christmas is still a very big part of our lives, a time to give to your loved ones-and since many of us already have all that we need or want, it is increasingly difficult to find something suitable. From the looks of it, The Celtic Shop has a gift to suit all ages and all budgets. It’s just a pity that so much of it is so tacky, like some piece of tat from The Barras with a Celtic motif on it.
Adidas have certainly pushed the boat out in this regard in the last couple of years, and while I think that some of their offerings have been outstanding, too many others have been simply awful. They need to take a good look at these and ask if they are really doing either brand justice. And if Celtic don’t have a veto on such offerings, I suggest they make sure they have one in the next contract.
The club themselves haven’t been blameless in this regard. The brick and paving slab at Celtic Park are well-established and very popular. I confess to not being in favour of these when they were first introduced, but I overlooked the opportunity it offered to friends and family to place a lasting memorial to a loved one in a place which was very special to them. Other efforts to turn a quick buck have been tried with varying levels of success, but surely none can match the one that arrived in mailboxes yesterday.
Your very own chance to own a virtual digitised piece of the Celtic Park turf. Yep, seriously. I’m not going into the details here as many of you will be reading this during breakfast, but really WTF? Who thought this was a good idea?
I’m not particularly known as a friend of the board, but I pride myself on being fair to them. In particular when they deserve credit. There is little doubt that we are at last a well run club, something which has been a long time coming and seems to have coincided with a new approach to investment on the pitch.
I mean, who knew that would work?
But in fairness, they have taken the plunge these last few years. They got their fingers badly burned in the 2023 summer window when they tried to change tack back to the bad old ways, but we didn’t waste money on dross in this year’s winter window, and invested very well in the summer. And just as they are building up all that goodwill, out come the tacky jerseys and a virtual clod of grass.
Get a grip,ffs!
Which words were probably how we felt at half-time on Saturday. Without wishing to rehash MAHE’s review from yesterday, we were bloody awful in the first 45. A two goal lead at that stage wouldn’t have flattered Hearts,and probably would have been the case with the Shankland of recent years. We certainly can’t afford to start the match so slowly tomorrow night. Bruges have some quality players, much more so than Hearts, and will punish any slackness. We need our pro game from the start, and we need to match the confidence and resolve of matchdays 1, 3 and 4. Bruges are slowly reeling in the leaders in their domestic league, and their Champions League form to date hasn’t been too shabby either, beating Villa and Sturm Graz.
As always, the fans will have a big part to play, but the biggest part will be played by first XI and any replacements. It would be nice too if the referee was up to the standard of M. Bastién in our last European outing against Leipzig. That was a masterclass, and I genuinely can’t recall praising a referee before! But again it will be about those moments of quality, can we get enough of them and can we capitalise on them?
I can’t wait for this one,folks. Get the three points and we will surely progress to the next round. Do that and I might even forgive the marketing faux pas eventually.
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Above article by BMCUWP
Link to the CHALMERSBHOY Beat The Bookie Challenge.
https://sentinelcelts.com/2024/11/15/beat-the-bookie-part-two/
Please register your interest via the link.
********
Next up for a midweek shot at glory is BADABING. Good luck,big fella.
As you will all know,the site finally nominated a charity to be the recipient of the generosity and largesse of yourselves,and I think you all deserve huge applause for raising just short of £2k.
⭐️👏☘️👍🍾
That period has passed,and a new charity has been chosen to take us through to the end of the year. A landslide vote in favour of
Lanarkshire Cancer Care Trust.
Once again,CHALMERSBHOY has done the spadework via JustGiving.
Here is the link for the Lanarkshire Cancer Care Trust,our new charity which we will support.
https://www.justgiving.com/page/sentinel-celts-1722588284471?utm_medium=fundraising&utm_content=page%2Fsentinel-celts-1722588284471&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=pfp-share
This drive has already raised approaching £2000,so join in. The more,the merrier.
Default payment method seems to be ApplePay,which won’t suit everyone. There is an option on the page to change that to your preferred option.
Well done Sentinel Celts on all your charitable endevours.Truly Celtic.
Well done all 💚
This is what it means to be Celtic
👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏
NABBLA
you should use some of that virtual currency of yours
https://youtu.be/XSDNYrEL8SU?si=0fnroesTEV4mzaHs
A great weekend for Celtic
https://youtu.be/BYyu3cTjio0?si=pwZQwcP70K0VjWXB
Top class Bobby… it is cheap tat from the Barra’s with the logo stuck on !
For some reason I didn’t get the email about the virtual pitch.
I found this which makes we wonder why Celtic are involved in this sort of thing.
It’s interesting that the details were released just after the AGM so they have dodged a bullet for a year. I can’t believe that’s just coincidence
https://thecelticblog.com/2024/11/articles-and-features/the-individuals-responsible-for-this-celtic-virtual-pitch-scandal-need-to-be-kicked-out-the-club/
You hit the nail on the head today Bobby. Some of the merch is tat without a doubt. Spare a thought though for Al Ettifaq in Saudi. They just sacked Slippy’s backroom staff and hired none other than his famous side kick Mickey the Pluke. Yep Beale and Gerrard together again. What a Christmas panto that could be in Dammam this year.
On tomorrow night I cant wait and agree that we must be much improved on Saturdays 1st half. Play half as well as we did against RBL and we should pick up the points. Boyata in media last weekend didnt sound too confident saying our support will be a big factor as Bruges have never experienced anything like it.
Here’s hoping.
Brugge will be a real toughie tomorrow.
They are starting to find form and are where we want to be in coefficient terms (64 to our 32).
So a real test.
Come through this, like Leipzig, and we can say we are on the right trajectory.
The Leipzig performance is the template for home games.
Fluid attack, well spaced mobile midfield with a solid defence behind.
We have the guile and pace to beat teams at/ around our level. I’d say Brugge is in that category.
Should be a really good barometer for where we are/ where we are heading.
I know we will have a giggle at this latest attempt by the club to get a hand in our back pocket, but the truth is this isn’t funny in the slightest! In fact, it takes some brass neck to even try this! I know we are successful right now and the club are trying to capitalise on it, but someone should tell them this isn’t just going too far, it is fucking embarrassing! Even though I’d probably be labelled a happy clapper, this has just made me angry. Ffs, what’s next?
This has taken the feel good factor and kicked it right in the nuts!
ATOB
Unfortunately others did not think the same way and you can see now why Lawwell was worried about the impact on us as a club. The problem was he was not honest about that, letting the support think that we wanted them punished in accordance with the rules when in fact he was singing the 5 way agreement that let them off with keeping their titles. Now Auldheid, before you come in and say well Lawwell didn’t know that, I would suggest he should have. You can’t be painting yourself as the smartest man in the room and then get your pocket picked by the biggest shyster anyone had ever seen.
=====
I need to clarify a couple of things.
I didn’t raise the 5WA question at that AGM , that was Joe McHugh of Video Celts.
I nearly fell off my chair when the question was asked and answered as I knew of the Doncaster e mail.
Res12 only got going as a result of personal encouragement from PL to do something about SFA reform.
That gave the impression you speak of that PL was in same camp as supporters and wanted justice but as Res12 has shown to all that was not the case.
In my response I referred to a reason why Celtic signed up to the 5WA which was it would clear the road for what became the LNS Commision.
What I said was there is no evidence that PL knew LNS was part of the cover up but I think that unlikely as Doncaster was the one developing it concentrating on misregistration as a way out as opposed to dishonesty to member clubs. Had there been hard evidence I would have said PL knew LNS was a sham.
With regard to forgiveness that does not mean PL was not deceitful, he was and the only way he might redeem himself is confession, but the consequences of that not just for PL but for governance of Scottish football and possibly UEFA make it a can of worms that won’t be opened.
Given I was personally misled I have two choices.
Carry resentment and let bitterness fester
Or
Forgive PL as result of a better understanding of his position and let the past go.
I chose the latter as part of the stages of forgiveness Reframing being a later stage.
There is much misunderstanding of what forgiveness is and I encourage readers to Google The International Forgiveness Institute to learn more.
Auldheid,
Thanks for the reply. I’m glad that you could find it in yourself to forgive PL. Carrying bitterness is not good for anyone. I’ve had no personal dealings with the man but the AGM this month has just cemented my opinion that he has too much power and believes that he is above any questioning by our support. There should always be room for dissenting voices in any organisation. It’s how change and progress gets made. Celtic are where they are in spite of our board rather than because of them as ASWGL said yesterday. I agree.
This shameful episode of trying to sell the support F. All in the form of a virtual pitch shows they think they can get away with anything. And do you know what, they can because as the AGM showed, any dissent is shut down to protect the personal interests of board members.
BMCUW- What type of bet can I pick?
ATOB
I don’t like to be harsh but if the support act like sheep they will continue to be treated like sheep.
Celtic know that the support are unlikely to take the kind of action that will damage the club financially.
They know that putting a winning team on the park prevents any critical mass forming that would produce effective representative opposition.
It does not help that there is not one unified body with authority to represent the support at AGMs, shareholders and non shareholding supporters alike.
Had there been enough shareholders signing up to the Referee Service Resolution, Phase 2 was to canvas non shareholding supporters to sign up to support the Resolution.
That was the end of Resolution Road for me.
The Celtic Supporter Membership Scheme was an idea to address the lack of unity but so far it has no traction although it has the potential to be an appreciated not for profit business, where any excess income is used as supporters decide.
So it is what it is until the sheep say baaah.
On forgiveness this page on The IFI sets out the phases from a scientific perspective as well as shows areas in which they work including Northern Ireland.
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/the-science-of-forgivenes_b_613138
It might widen the understanding of the forgiveness that I speak of.
BMCUW
The purchase of a digital part of Celtic Park is a Bridge Too Far.
Perhaps the low cost of building the software with hope of high take up was too attractive a factor to turn the proposal down but the Merchandising folk who are doing a grand job overall must be aware that there is a saturation line not to be crossed.
Whilst we took a lot of heart from the Leipzig performance by Celtic, I thought Leipzig, in spite of reputation, were not one of the best teams I’d watch in that strata of the CL.
I was impressed by Brugge who played a high tempo/press game v Villa so I’d be OK with a point tomorrow.
BADABING
Straightforward treble from any matches over the three nights. Minimum odds of 5/1 if possible.
Oops,forgot to refresh the page after removing our latest bots in admin.
Good afternoon all,
Back from Jubilee Hospital with good news on recent hand operation from Surgeon ( Same condition as Shooper Swally who has this incurable disease) 🤔🤔🤔
Anyone decided to get food and pint in The Crystal Palace, Union St, Glasgow.
Then thought go for it 😁
Full Turkey Dinner, Large Wine and 600ml bottle of Asahi lager.
Total £17.00.
Cany wack it !!!!!
Anyway, there’s a bunch of Bruges fans arrived and sitting at next table so about to engage in friendly conversation ( I hope 😁 )
Ps
Where’s that BRRB fella ????
Rumour has it, he’s at the Bingo !!!!!!
On the subject of overly priced cheaply produced merch for sale. One shouldn’t forget they are offering a hand signed and framed Larrson number 7 shirt at an eye watering £500 – but it’s a current issue shirt not one Henrick would have worn during his time with us. £500 a bit too much, well how about £175 for a framed and hand signed photo of Henke instead🤔Lest anyone here is considering buying any of the merch listed above i have 2 original period shirts hand signed on the number 7 by Ghod himself as well as a genuine original issue 2003 EUFA cup final prog signed on the front cover by the great man that i would be willing to let go for an exorbitant sum of cash should anyone feel lightheaded enough to part with their hard earned cash.
I am so utterly sickened by this latest scheme to fleece the fans, my love and respect for the club has almost disappeared overnight! Whoever thought this was a good idea has totally failed to take into account how hard things are for families right now! I don’t think I have ever been more disgusted with the club!
Take your virtual pitch and ram it up your ass, Celtic!
I told the wee guy this morning, I will NOT EVER contribute another penny to the club ..I’ve never been more serious about anything in my life! Enough is enough!!
Absolutely brilliant,
Went over to the lads and asked ‘ Over from the game boys ”
” Yes we are”
“Well it’s a pity, coz your team is getting well beaten tomorrow ”
2 of them said” Hope not, we’re Celtic Supporters” 💚
Turns out, these Bhoys from Belgium come over twice a year to watch Celtic and obviously came over with their Bruges, pals.
Their take was, ” Tricky game but they’re a young team and atmosphere might spook them. ” Bruges obviously”
Hope so and wished fans of both teams well for tomorrow.
Ps
Here was me just about to pile in with,
” Oh the Bruges they are shite 🎶🎶🎶”
Never judge a book……….. 😂😂😂
A point tomorrow night would be a very good result, we’re maybe getting ahead of ourselves just now ,given our record at this level.
LEGGY
I’d love to have seen your face when two of them said “Hope not, we’re Celtic Supporters”
BMCUW- Done
Bobby,
You wouldn’t have seen my face !!
I was on the floor, cringing 😁
As the famous phrase goes in Belgium,
“You plonka Rodney”
HH 🍀 🍀 🍀
Virtual gifts, eh? A few years ago one of Mrs K’s elderly aunts proudly told me she had been given a fantastic gift from her daughter, which turned out to be a tiger which she had adopted and only stopped gushing on about it when I told her I had adopted a wildebeest, which had been doing well until some bugger’s adopted tiger ate it.
Atmosphere, knife, cut.😃
Auldheid I understand your forgiveness position, however I like to think I am more in the, “fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice” camp…… regarding the board
The board overseen the shower appointment of Neil Lennon, now as much as I loved Neil and he was was a great servant for the club as a fantastic player, every man and his dog know he’s not Celtic Manager material. They get allegedly £9m for Brendan Rodgers’s departure, yet replace him “for free” with a manager who was sacked from Hibs while being in 8th place in the league table.
Now personally the 10 doesn’t mean a lot to me, I merely view it as supporter bragging rights, but our board unequivocally surrendered the 10 and kept with NL for almost 6 months when everyone knew it was not working, totally disregarding what was best for the club.
Undermining BR his first time here, because he certainly wasn’t buying those players, we have a million wingers (remember that?). This is as bad as Sir Robert Kelly picking the team and telling the manager who was to play, well up until Big Jock put a stop to it.
They overseen the Eddie Howe shambles for months.
They have kept everyone in the dark regards Dom McKay with earlier promises of a new direction.
Their biggest crime in many supporters minds is they gifted a “new club” with tainted titles, regardless of threats with Charles Greene or whoever walking away, allowing that was scandalous and a gross neglect of their stewardship.
Keeping non-exec directors way beyond recommended governance code allotted time in position, it’s more a cabal than a board.
CL failures, year after year.
The appointment of PL’s boy for f**k knows what reason.
Celtic TV looks like it’s run from some 13yr olds bedroom.
Ian Bankier who had a complete disdain for supporters, suggesting they are spoiled brats.
The Dubai farce, these are only a few
Recently a venture of leasing a virtual bit of grass which in really is a “We know supporters love the club, so send us £30 or £50 and we’ll send you a virtual fekk all, as we think you are too stupid not to see it’s a scam” .
I also find it is interesting that this scheme/scam was not made public until after the AGM.
No I stand by what I said “Celtic are a successful team in spite of the board, not because of them” we should be more successful if not for their governance failings.
HH
Looks like our board have been taking advice from Branson…….sold out 😂
ASWGL @2-38
Well said!
Not a fan of the direction this blog has taken recently.
Too much board justification and little on football or tactics.
The board knew rangers cheated and went along with the lie that’s all you need to know
BADABING
Good man,thanks. I’ll stick a couple of quid on it too.
SOLKITTS
Oh,nasty. Nicely done though.
Bobby – aye, the milking will continue.
ASWGL that just about Covers it buddy. Well said!
Fan – good point. hope you keep adding your tactical chat as it adds value. Also, cannot disagree about general direction of travel.
ATOB – enjoyed your posts today.
Big Packy – and the vast majority went along with Bord, and still do…
Anyhoo. 3 CL games on the bounce:
Was it luck? Atalanta
Was it chance? Leipzig
Will it be consistency?..Brugge
Despite everything, we get 3 points on Wednesday, happily acknowledge there are some very positive signs of improvement and credit where it’s due!
FAN
I disagree with you that the site has taken a turn towards board justification. You can see for yourself that the vast majority of us refuse to go down that road,or the path of forgiveness and understanding a la AULDHEID.
In fact,any time such arguments are attempted,site members explain in no uncertain terms why the opposite remains the case. No better examples than those offered by ATHINGOFBEAUTY and ASWGL.
ASWGL
i couldn’t agree more.
Bada Bing
Your charity bet is on @-11/1,good luck.
LEGGY
Great news on your hand!
And a brilliant story about the Brugge lads.🤣
I would have paid to see that.😅😂
HH
Iniquitous IV😊
With regards to tomorrow night, I’ll take a point no problem. One more on the way to qualifying. There are easier games in this group, so being realistic a point tomorrow against a good team and 3 v Young Boys will see us safe and through. Obvious I’ll take 3 tomorrow too, but as long as we take something I’ll be happy.
Leipzig was probably our greatest CL performance in almost 20 yrs, it would be unrealistic to expect the same from now on in.
Leggy
good news on op! Comparing scars on Friday buddy
HH
BMCUW
Fan
November 26, 2024 3:20 pm
FAN
I disagree with you that the site has taken a turn towards board justification. You can see for yourself that the vast majority of us refuse to go down that road, or the path of forgiveness and understanding a la AULDHEID.
In fact,any time such arguments are attempted,s ite members explain in no uncertain terms why the opposite remains the case. No better examples than those offered by ATHINGOFBEAUTY and ASWGL.
================
Can I ask how many of those who object to forgiveness have actually spent any time checking out the kind of forgiveness I refer to?
I have never seen an argument from those who have set out their views in no uncertain terms that says that have looked into the subject and then argued against the principles that support the academic and scientific work behind the process conducted by The IFI.
Why? Too angry, too complicated, or too lazy?
Now if that happened as opposed to setting out all the reasons they cannot forgive, which I more than understand, I might accept it is a wrong approach but that has never happened.
So forgive me if I take an unforgiving approach in return and persevere to clarify.
For forgiveness to apply the start point is that a wrong has been done. How many have been personally been misdirected by PL face to face like I was?
That misdirection set me on the path of SFA Reform using CF material as leverage. Like most others I believed Celtic were on the side of the angels but during the 9 years of hard work on Res12 I realised that was a sham and that PL having given myself and others via CQN the impression Celtic were the good guys, they were just part of the same business cabal.
That required what in forgiveness terms is reframing where basically the wronged puts themselves in the moccasins of the wrong doer and asks themselves had I thought as he did, would I do the same? The one wronged might not say no but at least would understand why the wrong occurred for what the other saw as doing the right thing for Celtic and Scottish football by keeping Rangers alive.
Forgiveness is hard work but if attempted stops the past being the governor of the future.
There is confusion of what forgiveness is and what it is not.
Here are some things the IFI teaches about forgiveness which is the forgiveness I advocate.
Forgiveness is a choicePeople can choose to forgive instead of holding onto anger and resentment. Forgiveness can lead to transformationForgiveness can lead to enhanced self-esteem, hopefulness, and a new purpose in life. Forgiveness can benefit othersForgiving can help people reclaim their lives and find peace. It can also help rebuild relationships and create more peaceful communities. Forgiveness is a processThe process of forgiveness involves several steps, including: Recognizing the value of forgiveness Identifying what needs healing Acknowledging emotions Working to release emotions Choosing to forgive Releasing control and power Here is what Forgiveness is not:
Forgetting: It’s not possible to erase memories, and trying to forget can lead to being hurt again in the future. Condoning: It’s not excusing or justifying the wrong that was done. A sign of weakness: It’s a personal choice that shouldn’t be forced or expected.An excuse: It’s not an invitation for the other person to continue hurting you.Reconciliation: It’s not the same as making up with the person who caused the harm. Kiss and makeup: It’s not acting like nothing happened after a conflict. Just saying the words: It’s not enough to simply say “I forgive you”. Conditional: It’s not based on the other person’s actions or whether they apologize. Justice: It’s not the same as justice, which usually involves an apology, acknowledgment of wrongdoing, and some form of punishment. Trust: It doesn’t mean that you should trust the other person. As said Forgiveness is a choice either to let the past frame the present or open the door to a better future. I see a better future for a Celtic united than a Celtic divided.
Am I wrong in that ? Am I wrong in pursuing that?
Or is bitterness and resentment going to continue to dominate the narrative of a club divided? If I can leave my past personal dealings with Celtic and the personal cost behind in order to continue to love Celtic warts and all, then why can’t others who love Celtic in their own way?
AULDHEID we were both at the vojvodina game in 67, stop burying a hole for yourself as regards the celtic board, still luv ya to bits👍
Big packy😎
November 26, 2024 3:08 pm
The board knew rangers cheated and went along with the lie that’s all you need to know.
=============
So the fact PL drew the attention to SFA AND UEFA in May 2012 to Rangers use of ebts and side letters is not admissible evidence under to refute your suggestion Celtic went along with the lie?
Were Celtic told by UEFA to back off?
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1C8BvxddEbtQKL-rAa1yWZ6X5SOSNcdUk/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=107947982974245186134&rtpof=true&sd=true
That letter was part of a bundle released with agreement between SFA and Celtic in 2017 after the Supreme Court ruled Rangers used EBTS unlawfully when Celtic asked SFA to reopen LNS and investigate the UEFA Licence 2011. SFA refused the former and ran the latter into the long grass of SFA’s own Judicial Panel Disciplinary Tribunal process after R2ngers made the case the matter should go to CAS. The SFA decided against.
big packy
November 26, 2024 5:07 pm
AULDHEID we were both at the vojvodina game in 67, stop burying a hole for yourself as regards the celtic board, still luv ya to bits
============
I will if you stop avoiding hard questions.
Re forgiveness- Some people, in fact, most people in my experience, can only forgive when they feel ‘the wrong’ has been righted, so to speak.
This obviously means it takes a short time for some, a long time for others and forever for the remainder.
I’m in the last category re the Board.
It’s not only the Govan X1 fiasco, but their complete disregard of ‘normal’ practice re non-executive directors and then chairman appointees- there have been some ‘warmers’- but their utter disdain for the small shareholder, Btw, I have attended many AGMs in the past.
As the old saying goes, Do unto others as they done unto you but do it even worse.
Hence, F… he Board.
For anyone going to Lisbon in December
@CelticFCSLO
Latest update:
I just want to add I really enjoy this site.
When Auldheid writes, it’s always a great read. I don’t necessarily agree with everything, but I do agree with most of it and I understand why certain things HAD to happen for the greater good of the game in Scotland.
Yet, I’m selfish, I wanted them hung, drawn and quartered with all dishonest Titles stripped and their rotten carcass dragged through every Town in Scotland as a warning.
But here we are.
However, Celtic cannot be blamed for anything that happend to Rangers before and after the event. They can only look after the best interests of Celtic and, despite some big mistakes along the way since, they’ve pretty much managed to do that.