PO Box 306, Glasgow, G21 2AE, Scotland
on the positive side
All is not yet lost after Barca. If Marshall, Bobo, Petrov, Camara, Sutton (most of all) can be better supported by the rest in keeping the ball and not giving it away to top class players, then perhaps we can stay in Europe after Christmas yet again.
I honestly think Martin and his backroom team were a little too over the top in their praise of Barca and we took the field with a respect that the Catalans hadn't as yet earned as a fairly newly established side. There is absolutely no doubt they are a fine side, but we did have them rattled and with a little more composure and helpful running off the ball, we needn't have lost the second and third goals, nor the first for that matter. Anyway three points in Milan and we're right back on track!
The support was magnificent and the singing of the Celtic Song when Henrik came on was just right. This is the only company to play in though.
Come on the Hoops,
CD
by e-mail
barca boo blues
Dear NTV,
It's the Friday night after the Barcelona game and I'm sitting home feeling more depressed as a Celtic fan than I have done for a good few years. It's not simply that my missus has gone out and left me in on a Friday night looking after the kids; it's not even the result or performance against the Barca boys - as both were just about exactly what most Celtic fans expected. What we didn't expect was the treatment of one Henrik Larsson by sections of the crowd.
This guy is responsible for more good times than any of us dared wish for since he arrived seven years ago. It's barely 16 months since Seville, a trip that many of us never thought possible and that most of us will never experience again. The man largely responsible for that trip was Henke, with his goals in every round he played and that never to be forgotten strike against Boavista when we all realised that the dream was on. Seven years, two hundred and forty two goals, the tongue, the digging us out of many holes, the nutmeg and lob against the huns, the cup final doubles and hat-trick, the broken leg and jaw, the two headers against Porto, the tears on his last league game, the fact that he stayed with us for seven years when he could have gone anywhere.
You'd think that would be enough for us to give him a warm welcome on his first return. Sadly, too many 'fans' seem to have very short memories. To those who booed one of our greatest ever players and ambassadors, I say you are a disgrace to the club. You are an embarrassment. You are no better than the Kinning Park mob. Please can you do us all a favour and go to Ibrox every week instead, for that is where your behaviour and ignorance will be far better appreciated. They have spare tickets I assure you, and perhaps your own ticket can go to someone on the waiting list who appreciates what supporting Celtic is all about.
To Henrik I can only say sorry, thanks for the memories and I hope you go on and win the tournament as your talent deserves a Champions' League medal.
To those who are as disgusted as me, next time a so-called Celtic fan is embarrassing the Hoops please ask him or her to shut the feck up.
To those of you who booed - shame on you.
Yours in everlasting appreciation of a genius and legend who we were lucky to have as long as we did and let's not forget it,
VINCENT
ORR
Henke Appreciation Society
Bishopbriggs
care in the community
Dear NTV,
Emotions were running high the other night when Celtic were playing Barcelona for a precious three points (even a point would have done) in what looks as if it's going to be one of the toughest groups in this season's Champions League. It was also a bit soon to be seeing Henrik Larsson turning out for the opposition trying to score against us.
Therefore I can understand why some people inside the stadium felt the need to boo his introduction late in the game. I could also see some were irate when he stuck away his goal, a goal he had obviously hypnotised Allan Thompson into setting up for him.
I'm sure the same people who were giving Larsson abuse would have understood perfectly had Chris Sutton been faced with a similar situation against Blackburn at Ewood park a couple of seasons ago in the UEFA Cup. Rather than bullet a header into the net in order to give Celtic a valuable away goal against a club with whom he had enjoyed league winning success, had Sutton chosen to nod it in the direction of the corner flag instead I have no doubt that there would have been nothing but a wave of warmth and sympathetic understanding cascading in his direction from the more sensitive elements of the Celtic fans packed in behind the goal in appreciation of such a sentimental gesture from a professional footballer towards his ex-team mates and supporters in these hard-bitten and cynical times for the beautiful game.
Watch out for a similar reaction should Stephen Pearson take pity on Motherwell the next time he plays against them or when Jackie McNamara takes it easy against the Pars or when Magnus Hedman lets in a soft goal against... er, forget that last one.
Seriously, the club should ensure that the catering outlets never run out of methadone again. If people are booing Henrik Larsson we've got a serious drug problem on our hands.
Yours in Celtic,
PROF. TIM
FREUD
Institute for Ingrate Studies
Geneva
scalpers
Comrades,
I write in disgust at fellow Celtic 'supporters' and their attempts to flog tickets for the Champions Leagues games on ebay and other such sites.
One particular parasite was looking for £1,200 for two tickets South Stand for the Barca game, On Fans FC notice board one halfwit even gave the seat number.
In reply I sent this on: Hey guys we are being robbed blind by our own for Barca tickets. The parasite that has this seat has just placed it on ebay complete with seat identification. Now the likelihood is Celtic will do **** all about it, leaving us to pay over the odds to the privileged few, so in the off chance you are anywhere near this seat tomorrow, have a quiet word in his/her ear.
Surely its not beyond the capabilities of Celtic's state of the art ticketing service to track these bastards down and remove the season books? Come on Celtic get the finger out.
Onwards to Victory
JOEP
by e-mail
away days in europa
Dear NTV,
After attending the Champions League tie against Barcelona I would never dream of calling into questions their credentials for having one of the best teams in Europe this season. It dismayed me, therefore, when I saw how many of their supporters were willing to follow them to Celtic Park.
Let's face it, with Ryanair flying directly between the two cities, it's not exactly the hardest of venues to get to, and nor is it one the more inhospitable of the away trips Barca will have to undertake this season - not like, say, Donetsk in the middle of December. Neither was this a one-off example of a so-called European giant bringing a pathetic travelling support: Valencia, Celta Vigo, Juventus, Porto... The entire visiting support of all of these teams combined would have fitted into a couple of Parks of Hamilton double-deckers.
While the atmosphere at Celtic Park for European nights is very special, I also think it is enhanced if the away team brings a decent support, especially one which makes a racket in support of their team. In recent seasons Blackburn and Liverpool made the short journey up the motorway in numbers, but for me the likes of Basel, Stuttgart, Bayern and Ajax get 'nuff respect because of their travelling fans.
I await with interest to see how many tifosi of the mighty Milan bother to turn up for the match at Celtic Park in December.
Yours etc.
THE BINOCULAR
CELT
By e-mail