Villa v Celtic Friendly

[PaulMcGrathsNo5Shirt]

First and foremost I want Stan to get well, and get well soon. The idea behind this game is clearly well intentioned, as is I believe peoples reasons for not wanting it.
I've been to two Rangers v Celtic games, one at Ibrox, one at Celtic Park, both games in the Rangers 'end'. Not because I have any political or religious leanings as I don't. I went in the Rangers end in both games as that is where I got the tickets, I would have been more than happy to be in the Celtic end. On both occasions when I've been to these games it has made me realise that these games are not just about football. The chants, the songs, between both clubs, from both sets of fans was vile. So why am I mentioning it here? Well, as far as I can see it, Villa fans want to have this game to support our captain, Celtic fans want to come because of their admiration and respect for their old player and show their support.

Celtic fans, are showing a high degree of sensitivity in wanting to come and support Stan, why would they want to come to Villa Park to cause problems about something that happened in our city years before most of them were probably born? As for some of our morons knowing Celtic fans are in town, I doubt they go looking for trouble down in Digbeth when they fancy a ruck.

I've thought long and hard about this, the longer I think about it, the more I think it should happen (If it is what Stan and his family would like) It would be OUR responsibility, as decent, law abiding football supporters to ensure WE play our part in making the game a special occassion for Stan, it would be Celtic supporters responsibility to do the same. It wouldn't do us, Celtic fans or most importantly Stiliyan Petrov any good at all if there was problems.

   

[The Laughing Policeman]

This is Birmingham, the city which every year holds the worlds third biggest St. Patrick's Day parade. Beaten only by Dublin and New York. And a great day out it is too, enjoyed by a large cross section of the city's population.
I'm pretty certain that if this match went ahead a large proportion of the away tickets would end up in the hands of the Brummie Irish population who are obviously proud of their Irish ancestry and also proud to live in our city. So I can't see them causing any problems.
It's already been said many times that somethings are more important than football, I say that this match is more important than outdated politics and bigotry from either side.

[VillaBobby]

Yes this is not about bigoted politics, it won't be when the offensive anti English / British vitriol is spewed either, just about ignorance and alcohol.

But we all know it will happen.

[dave.woodhall]

This is Birmingham, the city which every year holds the worlds third biggest St. Patrick's Day parade. Beaten only by Dublin and New York. And a great day out it is too, enjoyed by a large cross section of the city's population.

And I'm not aware of it ever coming under attack from mobs of fervent Orangemen. Ask around at Villa Park on Monday and see how many (or rather, how few) associate Celtic with anything other than football.

[Andy_Lochhead_in_the_air]

Can we have a poll please ?
I suggest the choices are...1. One off game at Villa
                                       2. One off game at Celtic
                                       3. Two legged affair
                                       4. One off game at neutral venue
                                       5. No game should be played

[Pete3206]

Yes this is not about bigoted politics, it won't be when the offensive anti English / British vitriol is spewed either, just about ignorance and alcohol.

But we all know it will happen.

Do we? Thanks for clearing that up.

You'll always get drunken twats talking bollocks, no matter who the teams are. Do we just not bother because of an idiotic minority?

[mal]

To all the people posting about the politics why don't you start a seperate thread and discuss it there?

Exactly what I asked them to do, but got ignored.

So, can we keep this to discussion of the game, and start a thread in OT on the politics of Rangers / Celtic instead?

It's this kind of stupidity that leads people in this country to vote in a government that acts in the interest of the 500,000 richest people to the exclusion of all else and then has the same people who ask why there are riots, mass unemployment no services and the NHs has been privatised as if they didnt think that would happen. They are not separatable issues.

[PeterWithe]

I wonder if McLeish would be less popular in the home or away leg?

[Andy_Lochhead_in_the_air]

To all the people posting about the politics why don't you start a seperate thread and discuss it there?

Exactly what I asked them to do, but got ignored.

So, can we keep this to discussion of the game, and start a thread in OT on the politics of Rangers / Celtic instead?

It's this kind of stupidity that leads people in this country to vote in a government that acts in the interest of the 500,000 richest people to the exclusion of all else and then has the same people who ask why there are riots, mass unemployment no services and the NHs has been privatised as if they didnt think that would happen. They are not separatable issues.

I cant stand the Tories, but what exactly does George Osbournes budget and the policies of the Cameron/Clegg coalition have to do with Stiliyan Petrov getting Leukaemia and a lot of well meaning people wanting to raise a million quid towards research ? I think if people have a mind you could start a thread on any topic at all and within about three steps appear to link it to almost anything else going on in the world. I think the above comment more than amply demonstrates that.

[Andy_Lochhead_in_the_air]

I wonder if McLeish would be less popular in the home or away leg?

I think as its a friendly you could bring in guest managers for the game.
I would like to suggest Martin O'Neill and Billy McNeill, but I haven't decided which way round would be more interesting yet.

[stuart r]

I wonder if McLeish would be less popular in the home or away leg?

I think as its a friendly you could bring in guest managers for the game.
I would like to suggest Martin O'Neill and Billy McNeill, but I haven't decided which way round would be more interesting yet.

Good idea and we should do the same with players. We'll have McInally, they can have Cascarino

[VillaBobby]

Yes this is not about bigoted politics, it won't be when the offensive anti English / British vitriol is spewed either, just about ignorance and alcohol.

But we all know it will happen.

Do we? Thanks for clearing that up.

You'll always get drunken twats talking bollocks, no matter who the teams are. Do we just not bother because of an idiotic minority?

I hate to keep referring back to the point, but some seem either ignorant or in denial.

Celtic support of the IRA is not minority pastime, it's the majority. I can state this from experience of several Celtic games and a Roman Catholic Glaswegian family.

Now stop trying to be patronising.

[Monty]

Yes this is not about bigoted politics, it won't be when the offensive anti English / British vitriol is spewed either, just about ignorance and alcohol.

But we all know it will happen.

Do we? Thanks for clearing that up.

You'll always get drunken twats talking bollocks, no matter who the teams are. Do we just not bother because of an idiotic minority?

I hate to keep referring back to the point, but some seem either ignorant or in denial.

Celtic support of the IRA is not minority pastime, it's the majority. I can state this from experience of several Celtic games and a Roman Catholic Glaswegian family.

Now stop trying to be patronising.

Where do you live, Bobby? Because from my Edinburgh point of view all the Celtic fans I know (I know far too many) couldn't really give a shit about all that stuff. Bit, shall we say, old school.

[VillaBobby]

This is Birmingham, the city which every year holds the worlds third biggest St. Patrick's Day parade. Beaten only by Dublin and New York. And a great day out it is too, enjoyed by a large cross section of the city's population.

And I'm not aware of it ever coming under attack from mobs of fervent Orangemen. Ask around at Villa Park on Monday and see how many (or rather, how few) associate Celtic with anything other than football.

What time and where will you start the canvassing?

You still miss the point, this is not about Brummie opinion, as most have already said, Celtic FC would represent a spectacular and very interesting game with 2 sides from either side of the border.

What I question and will guarantee, is the support that comes from Glasgow, even more unfortunate is theplastic paddy Irish contingent who live in Brum,is the ignorance and glorying songs that support a terrorist organisation that killed and maimed my fellow Brummies.

That will never be welcome.

[Toronto Villa]

it's a right shame that this thread is threatening to go all political again. This is a proposal for a friendly to help a player that is loved by two sets of supporters. What moron would bring political allegiances into that? This isn't the 1970's or 80's. It's a game to help out a former player. How about we give the great, great majority of good Celtic fans the benefit of the doubt that they would treat the occasion accordingly.