henrik larsson- the perfect professional

Dear NTV,

It seems that recent reports in the Swedish newspaper Expressen have suggested that Henrik Larsson is becoming increasingly frustrated, and annoyed, at people's refusal to accept that he will leave Celtic at the end of the season for another club. I think it's now about time that we, as Celtic supporters, accept that he will be on his way at the season's end.

Some supporters suggest that Henke is irreplaceable. That's true but only in the same sense as Jimmy Johnstone, Billy McNeill, Kenny Dalglish, Danny McGrain et al were irreplaceable. They left - Celtic continued. Maybe not as successfully, maybe not playing such attractive football, maybe with players who were not as talented as those who had left but, nevertheless, the club adapted, redeployed its resources and moved on.

Football is a team game. A game can be won thanks to a particular piece of individual talent but you still need ten other players to assist an individual no matter how talented he is. Not even Pele or Maradonna at their best could win a game on their own. Same with Celtic. While Henke has won many games for us as a result of his goals one of his great strengths is his willingness to acknowledge that success is based on the team not on any one individual. You win as a team and you lose as a team.

Instead of wasting energy trying - unsuccessfully - to change the Great Man's mind we should respect his decision and be grateful for the seven fantastic seasons he has given us. Let us, with a smile, remember his goals and the triumphs they helped bring about. Let us wish him well with whatever club he moves to in the Summer. He doesn't owe Celtic anything and Celtic don't owe him anything. He has been well paid and deservedly so thanks to his consistently high level of performance. Through his talent and Hard Work he has become a modern day Celtic hero and those of us who have been lucky enough to watch him throughout his career at Celtic will long treasure the happy memories he has given us and will undoubtedly continue to give us right up until his final game in the Hoops.

All we should ask of him in his final months as a Celt is that he plays his part in ensuring that the league title returns to Celtic Park at the end of the season along with, hopefully, the two domestic Cups. If his abilities can help see us through another couple of rounds in the Champions League so much the better. However, with the UEFA Cup Final being held in Gothenburg, in his home country of Sweden, perhaps leading Celtic to success in that would be the perfect way to end his time as a Hooped Hero?

Yours in Celtic,

JONATHON GREEN
Edinburgh

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talking hypothetically (again)

Dear NTV,

I was most interested to read Joe Kane's letter in issue 116. One reason is that I too have hypothetical question that I occasionally like to put to anyone who tries to put forward a case for supporting Rangers.

Supposing there was another immigrant community other than the Irish which had established itself in the West of Scotland. Let's just say they came from somewhere on the Asian sub-continent like Pakistan.

Now let's suppose that these immigrants - not exactly finding themselves included in all aspects of the indigenous population's culture - founded a football club which went on to achieve a fair degree of success and provided for its community a source of pride and identity which in turn drew a large support to all its games.

Now let's imagine that there was another football club in the same city which went out of its way to discriminate against the immigrant community by refusing to sign players because they were of Asian descent and therefore, in the eyes of the people running this football club, an anathema as a result of their ethnic, cultural or religious background.

Picture the supporters of our fictitious native club belting out a song which contained the sentiment, 'We're up to our knees in Asian blood' with gusto.

How long do you think it would be before Plod or the Scottish Executive took some direct action? Politicians would be queueing up round the block to get their nebs on the telly to roundly condemn such behaviour - and they'd be right.

Apart from the relatively few who do speak out, the silence from the rest of them is deafening. Maybe it's just not PC enough to pass comment on, or maybe the propaganda line passed down over the years that 'The Old Firm' are as bad as each other has had its desired effect and it's a plague on both your houses?

As your correspondent rightly points out, if they had any moral fibre they would get this issue out in the open instead of ignoring it or, worse still, revelling in the 'atmosphere' of a big match at Ibrox.

Yours etc.

GARY MARVIN
by e-mail

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you'll neville walk alone

Dear NTV,

You know the worst thing about Tuesday 4th November? It wasn't that the huns gave English commentators another chance to revel in the gulf between them and us (that's Rangers and Celtic). It wasn't that another 'Scottish' humiliation was on the cards until Ferguson took pity on them and removed his entire forward line. It wasn't that last night's particular United team is not exactly the best side they've ever had and can't win this trophy.

No. It was that, over two games, the huns have managed to make the bloody Nevilles look like footballers. No team in England or the rest of Europe has ever done that. One can only doff one's cap to big Eck and the chaps!

Yours, with just a little sporting satisfaction, (fuelled by the fact that, on the same evening, Mihajlovic proved that he possesses all the necessary ingredients required to play for Rangers, if he picks up an injury or two.)

C.D.
By e-mail

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sibling rivalry

Dear NTV,

I was interested to see that Celtic are considering making Raith Rovers an offer for Chris Sutton's brother. The notion that this kind of football skill runs in the family could solve all our problems at one fell swoop if we can persuade other Celtic players to give the board first refusal of their siblings or offspring.

For example, I know Henrik Larsson's wee boy is only about six years old, but if he's a fraction as good a player as his old man then even at that tender age he'd still be able toget the better of most of the defenders in the SPL and, if nothing else, would be a much better prospect than Stephen Thompson.

Remember, If you're old enough, you're good enough (or is it the other way round??)

Yours in genetic engineering,

VIC FRANKENSTEIN
Geneva

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if music be the food of love

Dear Sirs,

I happened across the article on your web site that gave information on recordings by, or about, Celtic.

You missed the following; LIAM MALLORY and the PARKHEAD ENTHUSIASTS issued on Beltona 45-BE-2756 (7" x EP) Recorded Glasgow or London, about February 1964

Side 1 - Parkhead March Medley Side 2 - Parkhead Waltz medley.

I notice that Glen Daly was in the recording studio the same day, so - was Liam Mallory actually Glen Daly? Does anyone know the exact date and location where this record was made. I've never seen a copy of the record or heard it.

Best wishes,
Bill
bill@beltonaproject.co.uk
www.beltonaproject.co.uk

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