letters 112

the feigning in spain

Dear NTV,

My commiserations with you after the final. I felt that Celtic did all that could be expected of them, although the defence looked a bit shaky on occasions. Larsson ran his heart out and did well to take two cracking headers, which showed how frail the Portuguese were at the back.

If the referee is one of UEFA's rising stars, then I can only hope that the present crop of useless articles hang around for a few seasons yet. From the first stoppage, when the Porto wing back ran into Agathe, who is probably the most open, fair and honest player in your side and the ref. gave them a foul, I feared the farce that transpired. Okay, the game is going on at 100 m.p.h. around the ref, at pitch level and we have the benefit of replays, but the disgraceful, unsporting attempts by Porto players to have fellow professionals booked, or in Balde's case, red carded, were sickening.

I felt sorry (for once) for Bobo. His second booking was late and deserved a card, but he should never have been given his first yellow card, for what was a run of the mill foul which his opponent milked. Weak or apparently naive referees will always be the bane of British Clubs in Europe, where play-acting is accepted as part and parcel of the game, despite UEFA edicts; there is a degree of feigning injury in our game, but usually a yellow card or two sorts that out early on.

Then you get salt rubbed into your wounds when the guy who has been carried off five times, nets the winner in extra time.

I'm disappointed for your players, who gave everything and got little in return, but circumstances did conspire against you on this occasion.

BILL L
(Buckie Thistle and Hearts Fan)
by e-mail

real progress

Dear NTV,

How many of us were in tears at the final whistle in Seville ? Me too. However, as someone who has bought this mag since its inception, I can't help but think about the long, long road we have come since the days when NTV started.

What I mean is, I promised myself that I would never cry for Celtic again after our defeat at The Death Star v Raith in the '94 League Cup Final. That was depressing, humiliation. This was nothing of the kind. These were tears of disappointment, yes, but also of pride.

I wasn't at the game but that long walk from where 10.000 Celtic fans watched the match on a giant screen to the coach park was done in utter silence by so many. The point is, if Celtic would have lost in the second round of the UEFA cup and gone on to win the league - which we would have done - we wouldn't have achieved a thing. Instead, we have made real progress where it really matters - Europe.

Hopefully the powers that be will give MON a chance to keep the momentum going, and if not then NTV will, I'm sure, get something organised again to let them know we're not happy.

Keep the faith

STEVIE F
by e-mail

market forces

Dear NTV,

Here's a copy of a letter I sent to the Marketing Department at Parkhead following the Seville experience.

'I have only now returned from a very enjoyable week in Seville where I was able to attend the UEFA Cup final. Apart from the result it was a memorable experience and, as the press and other media have picked up, Celtic fans were wonderful ambassadors for Scotland, for Scottish football in general and, more importantly perhaps, for Celtic Football Club itself. I am sure that during the time they were in Seville the Celtic fans won countless admirers and new supporters from across Europe and from the football world at large.

The club owes the fans a great debt in this respect as I feel the marketing strategy deployed by Celtic was sorely lacking when it came to Seville. Indeed, was there a marketing strategy at all?

I was with a large number of fans who found themselves suddenly in demand as parties of Spanish schoolchildren looking for Celtic souvenirs continually approached them. Between us we gave away countless hats, scarves and other Celtic-related items. As they chanted 'Celtic' we were glad to help them out in any way we could and I am sure there are plenty of photographs capturing these brilliant moments.

However, surely the club itself could have played a bigger part in this good work. Why did we not produce thousands of small Celtic flags, badges and stickers to give to local schools, perhaps even back copies of the Celtic View for schools and libraries? Indeed, why not donate Celtic shirts and other items to other good causes in Seville? I feel this was an opportunity missed.

We also noticed that in large department stores and sports shops Celtic replica shirts were much sought after. I am sure you are aware that Porto had a large lorry selling merchandise and displays of the club's history, stadium and plans for the future.

I recognise only too well that travelling from Scotland is rather different from making the relatively short journey to Spain from Portugal. But surely Celtic could still have made some sort of effort in this respect? There was a massive demand from locals and from Porto fans for Celtic souvenirs and the usual street vendors from Scotland (and from other parts of Europe) were only too willing to fill that gap, selling their bootleg and very poor quality copies of Celtic shirts - some even with the new Carling logo.

I would be interested to know why the clubdid not seize on this opportunity to further raise revenue from the UEFA Cup Final and, more importantly, to capture even more hearts and minds among the local population for all things Celtic.

We have a long way to go to match the efforts of many other clubs in this respect - Porto included.

GERRY MOONEY
Paisley

striken by paranoia

Dear NTV,

Paranoia is striking me again. Prior to settling down to watch the Hoops playing the Ayrshire branch of the huns my big mate turned to me and said 'Rangers will score in the first few minutes, probably Mols, and will definitely get a last minute penalty just to be on the safe side'.

It was always going to be the case that if we scored five they would be allowed to score ten. In my opinion Dunfermline are a disgrace and I genuinely hope they will be the team who are relegated this season. Rather than holding an inquest into Chris Sutton's remarks the tossers at the SPL should be investigating the non performance of Fife's finest. As far as I'm concerned Sutton's remarks were spot on.

Predictably the press and Radio Snide have had a field day. We must continue the Daily Record bhoycott and should think about turning off Radio Snide as well. In my view they're no friends of the hoops.

On another matter, UEFA have come out and criticised the fantastic hoops support for booing the Porto Olympic diving team when they collected their medals. Yet they are to take no action against Porto despite the disgraceful racist chants directed at Celtic's coloured players by Porto fans. Are UEFA and the SPL one and the same?

Yours in Celtic
DENNIS O'REILLY
by e-mail

boycott Yorkston's gutless performers

Dear NTV,

Chris Sutton only spoke his mind on the last Saturday of the season, as many - myself included - predicted the Huns would win by five goals, though I was shocked when Dunfermline scored one.

It's not the first time their loudmouth chairman has put the boot into Celtic, and his comments directed towards the club when it was only one of our players who had made disparaging remarks sums up his total disdain for Celtic with his talk of paranoia and conspiracies.

It is with this in mind I feel the tic support should boycott the away games and hurt the fatcat where it hurts him most. Then he will only have the pleasure of entertaining the Huns at his dump. At least that should be a party atmosphere for him and his fellow supporters (both sets) as Dunfermline fans cheered the Rangers last-minute penalty conversion as much as the Copland Rd end did. (and the Killie end... and the Gorgie Rd end... who's paranoid?)

Yes Tims, don't go to East End Park next season, save your dosh for Europe, we'll need it, unlike the Rangers supporters who'll be praying they avoid the big guns this year, as they were desperately unlucky last year drawing the mighty... what was their name again?

BOBBY RUSSELL
by e-mail

visionary

Dear NTV,

Has anyone noticed the terminal decline of the last two clubs big Feck has managed? e.g.-Murderwell: in administration, constantly fighting relegation battles, poor crowds. Then there is that motley crew from Leith: constant drubbings from the plastic huns, dwindling crowds, no SPL wins this year. Coincidence? Or maybe The Cat in the Hat is cursed.

All I can say is roll on the next few seasons when the Eck jinx really kicks in and we can watch and laugh as the huns fall into serious decline and see the Death Star half empty as they play Motherwell for the coveted tenth spot in the spl.

Here's to past history repeating

NOSTRADAMUS
by e-mail

for the avoidance of doubt

Dear NTV,

You will rightly consider the following to be absolutely trivial and of no consequence. For me personally, however, this statement is a matter of importance.

I, Craig Burns McAughtrie, wish it to be known that, for the avoidance of doubt, I am no longer to be associated in any way, shape or form with Matt McGlone, Alternative View magazine and Alternative View website, having resigned as Assistant Editor of Alternative View at 2pm on Monday 12th May 2003. The purpose of this statement is for a clear and unambiguous dissociation from Matt McGlone and Alternative View. Thank you.

C.B. McAUGHTRIE