-
From the last thread;
Cheers for the reply dumbhoy...
Agreed Lennon was red carded for foul and abusive language....Miko was sent off for both violent and abusive language and violent conduct (if my memory serves me correctly)
But its all semantics to a degree....would you be any happier if the red card was brandished 2 or 3 times? .... I dont know about you but I don't want the referees to judge how harsh the sending off is by brandishing the card a certain number of times during a melee - I would rather it looked at in the cold light of day....(or else I would probably still be at Ibrox today watching Dougal raise the red card over and over for Lennon) The disciplinary committee is there to support the referee and to analyse things in the cold light of day and thats what they have done... Lennon red card - 1 match automatic ban.... (+ 3 game ban) Mikolaunaus violent conduct and abusive language 2 red cards- automatic 2 match ban (+3 match ban).... I don't see where the drama is...
Please don't anyone reply with "but in the record it says".....Cant believe you're still falling for it....
PS forgot to mention Paul is going tonight so attendance is up to 2002...;-)
-
Rumoid
Agree with you 100% that the decision given last night is the correct one. Both Neil and Celtic have agreed on this (no appeal), and are simply waiting for the 3 games to be over so that he can get back on the pitch.
We should all put this behind us now (except for more discussions on this brill web site, of course), and once more get on with the business at hand - winning the Treble, and putting the williams brothers in their place.
Hail! Hail!
Curly
-
I think Lennons past behavior has saved him a longer ban. For all his snarlin and greetin, his desciplinary record is not actually that bad. If he had been a serial offender (ie Thompson) it could have been much worse!!
-
It's effectively a 2 game ban as Neil would probably have been rested tonight anyway.
-
I hope this situation, can help put to rest the paranoid theory. When we feel that we have been given a fair deal, when everything has been fairly, evenly and impartially deliberated leading to a fair outcome, we will call it as that.
On another point mentioned, i for one was delighted MO'N used the 'R' word instead of the completely inaffective sectarian word, I for one am constantly going on about how politicians here in the north of Ireland should use the 'R' word instead, people all over sit up and listen.
-
Can someone say what the match officials said to NL?
-
I would agree that this is a fair and reasonable outcome and we should move on with less emotion.
Howver, the matter oustanding is that one of the participants in this episode, who attended the hearing and gave evidence, has now publicly expressed his disatisfaction with the "lenient" (or should that be lennyient?) outcome.
One Stuart Dougal. Has he not now brough the game into disrepute by challenging the SFA's decision and if so, what's to be done?
-
Paul-
without wanting to open up a whole new social document here-
I think most of us that live in Scotland that also are either Irish or from an Irish background have suffered the same sort of abuse that Neil Lennon has had to
endure.
Obviously not to the same extent or intensity that Neil has had to tolerate.
Myself,personally, I have had to work alongside people who thrive and take great pride in the role of "the bigot".
That should now include the term "racist".
These people take every opportunity
to throw the phrase "Irish B@*%$rds"
into the conversation-knowing full well what my background is-whenever anything or anyone related to The Dear Green Isle is mentioned.
What happens to Neil Lennon on the football pitch is not just a slur on Scottish football but it is an indictment of present day Scottish society as a whole.
noel.
-
From the previous Blog - last entry so my timing was hopeless (or perfect) as usual.
Going by the reports Fraser Wishart clearly did a good job for NL. He managed to get it accepted that referees should not be judge and jury, that the significance of the match should play no part in the decision (doh!) and that NL's previous fine (almost exemplary) record should be taken into account. Top marks to him.
I also think in a spirit of fair play we should give credit to the SFA for not bowing to the media pressure.
The Herald has an interesting article on Martin Bain and this week's "night of the long knives". Doesn't seem like a man to be trifled with and appears to have the ear of DM. Not sure how that squares with previous rumours on here and elsewhere about all the infighting?
-
I still cant see what Dougall has to complain about;
1. He makes the call as he sees it on the day,
2. Writes his report and then sends it to a disciplinary committee which is probably appointed by the SFA.
3. The committee, not the referee, then impose whatever punishment they see fit.
If Dougall aint happy then too bad.....its murder when someone at the SFA stitches you up aint it Stuart :-)
-
Cheers Curly- totally agree lets move on....
Just in case anyone doesn't want to get involved in the ensuing socio-political discussions and discuss the matter in hand- FOOTBALL
From the last thread my suggested (hoped for) line up for tonights BIG game....
--------------Boruc-----------
Agathe Balde Du Wei Mulgrew
-----Petrov---Lawson---Naka
-----------Sutton------------
------Hartson---Zurawski------
Mulgrew more defensive to cover nakas floating role....
Sutton in midfield to help Lawson through the game..
Apologies to Stan but hopefully Didier will do most of the wide play....
2002 and counting any other takers?
-
There can be no doubt that the press furore was multiplied greatly simply by the fact the player involved was Neil Lennon.
His own Union representative, Fraser Wishart, was "astonished" last week when he learned that Lennon had never been red carded in the SPL or ever even amassed enough yellows to serve a league ban in his 5 years here. The question has to be why was he astonished? The answer almost certainly is the influence of public demonisation of a world class player in his role who simply does not deserve such treatment, on or off the field.
3 games is probably just about fair but I wonder if Celtic and Lennon had not gone with legal representation and no doubt an exceptionally well prepared dossier would the sentence have been so 'fair'.
-
Good article again Paul - I agree -Lennon's treatment was fair.
You are so right to warn against wallowing in self righteousness. My darkest day as a Celtic supporter (and I am not forgetting Bratislava, Fir park or any other number of poor performances) was the day some individuals masquerading as Celtic fans threw bananas at Mark Walters from the Jungle. In that act they demonstrated they had no idea just what Celtic is about - a club that was founded to respond to the needs of an excluded and impoversihed community and who has a rich history of inclusiveness from its inception.
"All that is needed for evil to succeed is for good men to say nothing" is a famous quote. We would be wrong to think that we have solved the problem at CP - we sure have come a long way, but we will lose that ground if we allow the self congratulations to blind us from the fact that we still do have issues to deal with. Lets continue to stand up and speak out and condemn discrimination however it may manifest itself and wherever we may find it!
-
Rumoid, I will be there with daughter so 2004.
Re the team then I think WGS will not take this lightly (Falkirk are an SPL team after all) and will start with basically the team that started on Sunday minus NL (CS) and AT (SP). If things go well then I imagine we will see Du Wei and possibly Lawson at some stage.
He might also introduce our new star left back at some point - Ross Wallace!
-
Hi Big Joe.
Sorry to do this Joe, but your v long words screw up the page size, which makes reading difficult for some people so I have removed your last comment.
Noel breaks the words into smaller lines, could you do the same, thanks.
Oh, and congrats on the pool win.
-
-
Bless me Father for I have sinned....
I'm just back from a visit to the followfollow website(yes, I know.What was I doing? Maybe trying to get two sides of the argument?)to gauge reaction to the Lenny news and I am sick to the stomach(serves me right).
This website is absolutely fantastic and I love all the varying points and opinions, interspersed with humour, on offer. What I was met with there left me giddy in a bad way. Please don't be as silly and naive as I am-never ever visit the place.
Paul,
On the issue of moral righteousness, I agree that there may be an undesirable minority at Paradise and I ain't about to defend the clueless Buckfast Provo brigade, but we are not a club who exist simply fuelled on blind hatred. If someone came onto this site and used it as a lobby for racist and bitter viewpoints, they would be shot down in pieces by 99%(or perhaps even 100%)of the bhoys and ghirls(and Mr Ursa)who enjoy the daily debate here.
On a lighter note, I look forward to seeing 1 or 2 new faces tonight. Hopefully we'll get at least 30,000 there.
-
Good to hear scotcelt....hopefully we will be able break the 20,000 soon...You're probably spot on with the team selection btw...just wishful thinking on my part...
For all those who are always suggesting that Celtic look for additional revenue streams tonight's game is an important one for this season.....you even get to watch a football match when you contribute!!...
The ticket office are free to answer your calls......
Blantyre Kev...."world class"... have you been smoking abacus counters?.......
To be fair to Fraser I was "astonished" that Lennon hadn't ever been over the yellow card ban limit....he is a pretty combative player...if you can think of a similar player in England that hasn't been carded plenty I'll be astonished........
Its a shame he won't be playing tonight as his shooting was getting better with every attempt.....
-
with regard to tonight's game why not play c.r.sutton at the back?
i think this is his better alternative position to forward and sometimes the balance of the midfield was upset when he was played there latterly,and his relative immobility is less of an issue in the centre of defence than midfield
-
If anyone would have an insight into how Neil Lennon has been treated in Scotland it would be MON, why because the same thing would have happened to him if he had signed for Celtic.
As for the socio politcal debate you can bury your head in the sand, you can do an Arsene Wenger, it wont go away. You can choose not to buy certain newspapers you can choose which radio station to listen to, because you do does not mean it has gone away, maybe in your mind it has but it has not.
Something stinks of Im alright jack about disting oneself from the situation, it should be brought into the open and confronted. Only those who have something to fear about change want it to remain in the shadows lurking ,skulking and festering.
Whether people choose to ignore it, choose to bury their heads in the sand ,it is part of football in Scotland and will always remain so unless confronted and challenged.
-
Fair play to the authorities for seeing common sense in their decision regarding Neil Lennon's punishment - hopefully this will set a precedent for any similar scenarios the club may be involved in the future. On a sour note i have overheard some really bitter words on this subject in my workplace which is really dissappointing as their opinion is based on religion and nothing else.
On another subject Paul - The Magic Casino has reared it's head again in the media & along with it, the words if, maybe, should, could etc. In the unlikely event that this Pink Elephant goes ahead, i struggle to see how people will flock to this facility in a part of town that is inhabited by Cavemen. Whats also a puzzle to me is how Rangers anticipate this being a money maker when there are a plethora of Casino's in Glasgow that lie empty. Is this Murray's last throw of the dice so to speak?
-
Just taking a quick break from my priory addiction class on Stella Artois....
It was extremely intersting that the SFA decided to be lenient. I put this firmly down to the fact that Celtic (and indeed the board) have the SFA firmly in their sights. The SFA knew that, should they throw the book at Lennon, their motives would have been closely examined. Well done to Celtic for this - we need to keep pushing the agenda here.
MON's outburst last season has had an effect. The SFA now know its not so easy to get away with their normal shennanigans.
Danny I think you are being niave to suggest this should end the so called "paranoia" - all you have to do is look at the unsightly witchhunt being conducted in the press and the quite remarkable reaction from the refereeing fraternaty. Oh I do wonder why they are so upset....
-
Dontbrattbackinanger,
Sutty is a more that adequate centre-half, but I will argue all day that his best position is by far up front. I think he can do a job at the back or in the middle, but that is all it is-an adequate job. Has there been a better forward line that Henke/Sutton in the past 20 years?
I long to see more goals like the one he cracked in at the Amsterdam Arena. Put the big man where he belongs!
-
The witch hunt against Neil Lennon has been interesting to watch. As we all know, there is a dark underbelly of society who will have rejoiced at the chance to hang Neil Lennon out to dry.
What he did was inexcuseable, but was hardly a first time incident. We see situations like this in football every week. What he didn't do, was go home, get changed into a club tracksuit, and go out looking for a fight.
That particular player wasn't punished by the people in charge of the game, and far from being chastised by his club, he was eventually made captain!
The thing is, far from being handicapped by his absence, i think the Celtic midfield will have more fluency to it without Neil Lennon.
-
Yes Rumoid, world class.
Had he been able to change nationality I think there are only a handful of nations who would not have had Lennon in their squad as an outstanding holding midfield player in his prime. Is Makalele world class in your opinion? Is he really all that much better than Lennon at his best?
You may have also been astonished at his disciplinary record but my first reaction to the calls for a 12 game ban were that it was totally ridiculous and I couldn't remember him ever actually serving a ban.
Maybe you too have been influenced by the disgrace that is the red top influenced public perception of Neil Lennon and if so I'm not criticising as it's not unreasonable for that to happen.
Incidnetally can you tell me what an abacus counter is? Is this a machine that is used to count abacuses? Is it organic in composition and able to be 'smoked'? I was unaware of this. Every day's a schoolday right enough.
ps (2006, me an my auld man are going) :)
-
Al OBundy
I agree with you and many of the other comments made with regards the racism and sectarian problem.
Politicians in this country will step quickly in to the breach if overt racism is shown.
However when the waters become a bit muddier (ie when people refuse to accept that sectarianism is simply recism as well) then less condemnation is forthcoming.
Politicos fear the backlash, at the ballot box, of taking on sectarianism so it clings to Scotland like a rancid smell with no-one truly taking the mantle on of dealing with it in a meaningful way.
I know that the present Government in Holyrood wish to remove this stain and many fine words have been spoken but for many people in Scotland there is little or no meaningful action.
Perhaps an independant inquiry/commision is what we need where a truly national debate could take place about the vileness of sectarianism/racism without political parties twitching about what it may do to them at the next election.
It is at this point that I believe we should all try to emphasise the inclusiveness of Celtic (I know the Club do this on a frequent basis anyway with their various programmes) but all of us need to keep that fair minded and tolerant view going and show that there is a wider perspective for the 21st century (in football, the arts, employment - in short in society in general)
I also think we need to stop judging ourselves against Rangers (the we are good because they are so bad syndrome) it does nothing to expand the debate and it will do nothing to eradicate this problem for ever and surely the eradication of this blight is what we need to work towards.
Sorry everyone for a socio-political piece but every now and again the debate does elevate somewhat on this site and it is good to be part of that even if you may not have too many supporting your view.
Thanks Paul - another thought provoking thread worthy of CQN.
-
Team for tonight IMO
Boruc
Agathe Balde Du Wei Camara
Varga
Petrov Nakamura
Maloney
Sutton Magic
On the Casino
Glasgow City Council have approved permission for a Casino on the Science Centre Site, not Ibrox. Rangers may or may not be involved in this.
Any truth in the rumour it's to be called Murray Park Sands to be abbreviated to MP Sands?
Sands of time are running low...
Rumoid make that 2006 for tonight as me and my bhoy will be there as usual.
-
Blantyre Kev - Abacii.
-
And I notice our favourite "paper" gave Stuart Dougal the platform this morning to criticise the length of the ban. Dont worry I didn't buy it or visit the website, I saw the comments on the BBC website.
I'm fed up of referees in this country now thinking they are something important or the "star of the show" during a game. As Fraser Wishart pointed out they are there to referee a match then write a report. Anything else is none of their business or concern. Instead of moaning about Neil Lennon's ban Stuart Dougal should be looking at his handling of the whole incident and questioning whether he could have diffused the situation or at least handled it a whole lot better. But no, instead he'll now go into full victim mode with an ever appreciative press lapping up his every word.
Neil Lennon did something wrong, admitted to it, apologised and got an appropriate ban. End of story.
-
Dumbhoy,
Nice line about murray park sands. But, in the eyes of the red tops, you are now a sectarian.
-
Kev
Makelele....no there would be no room in my world class XI for holding defensive players that have limited passing abilities...
I dont think Lennon would make my top 50 midfield players in the World to be honest....
An abacus counter......those beads on an abacus rod.....a reference to your profession....now genetically modified in condition so unable to fulfil the organic criteria...
I will ignore the red top remark...(where did you read the 12 game ban suggestion per chance).....my views are based on the player snarling around the pitch every Saturday and getting in everyone's face and noising them up.....one of my favourite Lennon moments was when he did the smelly breath hand signal in a Uefa cup final...a wind up merchant like this usually picks up more cards.....
2006 and counting - excellent news....
-
I shall also be going tonite (OK it's included in my season ticket) and shall also be taking Celtic_cross junior with me , assuming I can blag him in . I'm hoping for a team selection along the lines of
Boruc, agathe (if fit) Balde , DuWei, Mcmanus, Maloney, Petrov, Lawson , Naka, Sutton, Magic.
I also believe the midfield will have more fluency with the absence of Lennon and Thompson.
As for the advice of not listening to radio stations and not reading certain papers I can vouch that it does work. I stopped listening to Clyde 4 or 5 years ago after watching celtic hit hibs with absolutely everything on a sunday nite but still lose . One of those games you put down to 'one of those games' only to hear Keevins the next morning spout something about celtic bottling it . Clyde was instantly removed from the presets in the car and has never been back . It may not have made a huge difference to their listening figures but has done a lot for my demeanour going into work in the morning, no longer mr. angry. It works - just do it ! ! !
-
Another point to add to thIS train of though may be that Ricksen was
publicly congratulated for changing his attitude by going an entire season
without a red card (his only season so far without a red card - bearing in
mind the same five season spell at Rangers as Lennon has had at Celtic)
This public perception of the player may have contributed in some capacity
to his joint-player of the year award......an award for which, Lennon has
consistently been overlooked despite his pivotal role in the success of
Celtic domestically and on the European stage in the past five years.
-
I said yesterday that the Herald article on the Lennon situation was the first I'd seen to take a fair, unbiased stance. It also called it perfect - a three game ban. This was the only fair decision in my mind. Miko from Hearts had his age as a mitigating factor, but his punishment related to phyiscal contact rather than just shouting, albeit a tad aggressively!
Ardoch, I said at the start of hte season, that if we wanted more fluency to the team, it'd involve dropping at least one or two of Sutton, Hartson, Lennon and Thommo. Over the last few games, due to the absence of Sutty, this has happened and I think we have seen the advantage. The pace and fluidity of the team is far improved, but I still think Lenny plays an important role in this - we need a defensive midfielder. If only Liam Miller (sorry for swearing on a family site!) had stayed put - I'd still welcome him back in January if he's still out of the picture at Man U. He was a ready made replacement, with a great attacking side to his game as an added bonus.
Anyway, fingers crossed for tonight! I can't see too many changes. I'd rest BBJ and replace him with Sutty and play Agathe in midfield out right, with Stan and Maloney in the middle and Naka on the left. I reckon he'll go unchanged except for Sutty in for Lenny and Pearo for Thommo. A couple of quick goals would be very handy - we could do without extra time!
-
Jamiebhoy
I don't know about that. I can think of many buildings named after MPs who have made some significant contribution. It would be hard to argue that MP Sands in his short tenure had not made a significant contribution.
BBJ should be rested tonight. He's obviously shagged out!
-
jamiebhoy,
agreed his best position is upfront,but he's not getting any younger
i don't think wgs will be keen to play him and bbj together,as he wants to play the ball on the deck.
also 100% agreement with your comments regarding his partnership with henke;our best since mcgarvey and nicholas,if you exclude biggins and cascarino..
-
Celtic cross,
Sorry to be the bearer of bad tidings, but tonights game isn't included as part of the season book. I'm sure that it ain't a sell out and there are tickets left!(Get along early though).
Rossio
I agree with the Liam Miller angle. I too would be prepared to put aside my disdain and disappointment and welcome him back.
Hopefully tonight will be as entertaining as last years corresponding fixture in the CIS cup. To be honest, it was one of the (surprising) highlights of last season.
-
dontbrattbackinanger
Don't think you can exclude Biggins and Cascarino. You can only excuse them!
-
There is no way in Paradise I would advocate BBJ and Sutty up front together ever again after last season dross when they were paired together. That's why Bellamy was such a breath of fresh air when he arrived.
Dumbhoy,
You have won me over with your argument about the naming of the Las Govan complex.
-
Jamiebhoy - it is part of my season ticket (one of those ones where you pay twice as much but still get the same product on the park - hek you've got to get something for the extra dough ).
-
Anyone know if the game will be shown on BBC Scotland on Sky in England? In the past they have encrypted these games for anyone outside Scotland?
-
Celtic cross- I hope you get a nip of Sellick whisky and a pie included in the price of your book. At least your arse will be warm and comfy!
-
Rumoid I think the 'snarling wind up merchant' is unfair but we'll agree to disagree if that's the way you see it.
I'd group Lennon with Makalele, Deschamps or even Gattuso. All have been pivotal to mightily successful teams during Lennon's career. All combatants but I doubt they have a dozen goals between them. Win the ball and pass it to the creative players. Take the ball from team mates in tight positions and pass it on, retaining possession. These are important attributes and Lennon gives our team this.
Unfortunately I don't think in years to come we'll sit with a beer and look back and celebrate Lennon's legend in this light as his persona has been unfairly sullied and memories of Lennon will centre on issues of racism and bigotry, neither of which the man, the great Celtic player, ever deserved.
Polarbear, that made me laugh.
-
Thanks for the info Zbyszek.
We're going from the 3rd -7th of January so I expect it to be very cold?
Just two quick questions:
1) As far as i'm aware £1 = 6 Zloty approx. How much will a pint of beer cost?
2) How much will it cost for a Polish nationa team shirt?
Many thanks
-
VargasShampoo, when you need a long shot to come in a casino is as likely an option as any other. It will not happen.
Cheers Shamrock Diary.
-
It was interesting to see Lennon getting a 3 game ban, but did not surprise me in the least.
Non Celtic people relate to Lennon "manhandling the referee". However if you look at the pictures it is the referee that grabs Lennon first. This is a clear breach of the code of practice that referees have to follow. Referees are not allowed to touch a player, never mind grab one.
Secondly, Don McVicar spoke out the day after the match saying that Neil Lennon should receive a significant ban. As he is the refereeing supervisor - employed by the SFA, then he is supposed to remain impartial in such matters until a decision has been made by the SFA. By him coming out and making such a statement could only go against Lennon.
The Celtic lawyer has certainly earned his keep as well as Fraser Wishart.
-
bhoylondon - i checked the schedules on NTL last night and it showed the game as being broadcast. In the past when it has been blocked the description said "programme not available". There was no such message so it looks hopeful for tonight therefore but please don't take it as gospel!!!
-
What a fascinating article in the Herald this morning.
Nope, nothing to do with Lenny. Lets be honest there, once the SFA stuffed themselves by capitualting to Hearts last season (admittedly as some form of mitigation against the hallucinations of Andy Davies) there really wasn't too many options open to them.
Nope nothing to do with Martin Bain. The opinions of the followers of the crooked road are pretty well polarised here and also acidicly unforgiving. You will find that the anti Bain Brigade = the Anti McCleish Brigade = the Anti Murray Brigade. Aagh now theres a thing - the boys of the old brigades!!!
The really fascinating article was wee Ross Wallace's revelations about the strategy and tactics to convert him to a left back. How he has played there in the last two reserve games and how he is doubling up on training sessions to get his positional play up to scaratch. The role model for this is quoted as being the excellent Ashley Cole! And Ross is twice the crosser of the ball that Ashley is.
That really is some lateral and positive thinking from GS and I think deserves real credit. Whether it works or not is of course aother matter but surely we can continue to see the vision and tactics gradually coming together.
Overlapping fullbacks, switching between midfield and defence, getting to the by-line cutting the ball back, or laying it back to the supporting midfielder, left wing, right wing, through the middle, over the top, all supported by a keeper who can 'heavens to murgatroyd' actually catch a ball AND keep possession.
It will take a little longer just yet but ....
Total Football anyone?
ps I don't understand why we should NOT be going tonight? Aren't Falkirk an SPL team who not only scored first against us earlier in the season before losing 3-1 at the death, but also a team who just took 2 points away from Murray's Mince!
Hail Hail
BonsaiCSC
-
Jamiebhoy - No nip of whiskey , but I do try not eating for a few days before a game ! ! ! Comfy yes , heated no ! that facility broke a couple of years ago and Celtic decided it would be too expensive to get it fixed . Bet that doesn't surprise anyone .
-
Rossio i agree that Neil Lennon does a job for us, my problem is that he is not as pacy as i would like. Mind you, neither are Thommo and Stan, but they would always be in my first 11 from the squad we currently have. In a perfect world we would have a much more fluent midfield, ala just about any of the latin teams you see in Europe.
I look forward to seeing big scooby (Du) tonight, but i'd rest Naka, as i think it would do him good. Wonder if Virgo will play?
-
The Casino development is real - it will sit on wasteland near Ibrox. According to Bloomberg the Casino forms part of a development by MH ? (Murray Holdings) to include community facilities, housing, Leisure, Retail -including a 'rankers superstore' and the Casino - Which will be owned and operated by LAS VEGAS SANDS - the largest casino operator in the world....
So there you have it the Mint is filling his non-rankers coffers - Apart from the ''superstore'' revenue ,Rankers will recieve no financial benefits from the development.
-
Anyone know of how much action can be taken against referee's who "bring the game in to disrepute" - as dougal has surely done in his interview with the Daily Ranger today?
Also, on a bit of a different subject, the english premiership seems to be getting a lot of negative publicity at the moment for various reasons (boring games, high ticket prices, players ego's, chelsea / scumchester utd etc pricing everyone else out of the market) - any views on how this might lead to a shake up and maybe give us a bit of a better chance in heading south?
-
kevybhoy,
he who pays the piper..
if falling gates are reflected in falling sky subscriptions then some pressure may be put on by mr murdoch to 'freshen things up'
whatever he is rupert m. is not a traditionalist.
we may however be in a pan-european league,similar to the n.f.l.,before we're in the premiership,as that has attractions for the big t.v. companies and big clubs,as it guarantees them income without running the risks of qualifying.
we should all be supporting f.c.thun this year,as the name has celtic rather than germanic origins
-
LondonBhoy when I set the game up to record on Sky+ it accepted it ..I am sure previously when it has been scrambled I have received a message sayin "not avialable outside scotland".
So fingers crossed
-
Citibhoy,
Hope your well!
Q. Isn't all of Ibrox Wasteland?
I think it goes over the old carparks and reserve ground they had.
It is still subject to the plan beating every other development in the UK that puts forwrad a submission. Including Manchester Utd.
I'm going to submit an application too, in conjuction with Petes Puggies, the biggest gambling shop in Aldgate. Reckon I'm well in with a chance!!!
-
Martybhoy-
brilliant idea-
I,m going to convert my garden shed into a "soooooopercasino"
plus get a couple of dodgy birds in
and apply for a licence in the name of-
"NOEL'S DODGY SUPERCASINOTHATSNOTINIBROX"
whatdoyouthink ?
:>)
noel.
-
Noel90
£50 on Red! Come on Red!
-
Noel90,
Top idea. Only one thing. Can I get a job. I worked for years on the continent but, alas, my best years are behind me. I'm available on a Bosman but Can't spin a roulette wheel as well as I used to(old war injury.) My wage demands are 25K a week.
How abou it?
-
Jamiebhoy-
unless you are a dodgy bird-and your name suggests you are not-
then-
I,m afraid-
its a no.
sorry
Cavansam-that just came up!
er.....
can I owe you?
noel.
-
rossio/jamiebhoy - you must be kidding about miller? am i the only one who thought he was the single most over rated player to ever don the hoops? and i can honestly say that has been my opinion from the start. the guy scored a couple of goals in europe, fair enough, one of the on a plate from the king, but he was the worst possession player i have ever seen, he constantly gave the ball away when pressured at the halfway line.i only remember him playing well as a sub, when we had teams on the back foot. any time he started he was very poor, the old firm game he played in he was so far off the pace it was unbelievable.a average-to-poor player with a good engine who liked to get forward, a poor man's petrov rather than lennon.and yet he got the kind of leeway that maloney,beattie,wallace,mcmanus dont get.which brings me to my next point
dumbbhoy,rumoid - this applies to others who would also fling du wei into the team despite never having seen him play. why should mcmanus drop out?hes been playing well, and the only criticisms that have been levelled are about his long passing, a criticism from which balde remains exempt apparently. i dont see why we should change the CH pairing, particularly as it looks at its most solid for over a year, yet some would play a non-english speaking,untried player despite having never seen him play (and i am positive he will come good).
Blantyrekev - "I'd group Lennon with Makalele, Deschamps or even Gattuso". i expect you to pick up some kind of comedy award for that one. have you been sniffing glue? gattuso improved a helluva lot after leaving them, and makalele is a better player again. but the comparison with deschamp is laughable. the guy was a great player, far better than lennon. much as i like lennon, he is and has always been too slow to cut it at the very top, and cannot pass forward. all the guys you have stated are good athletes with an eye for a forward pass (perhaps except makelele). its not just that lennon doesnt score, its that he often doesnt contribute.
-
Noel90
You know what they say "Bookies don't lose money", I'll surely lose it on some rubbish bet later, so leave my account in the black for now.
On the Lennon debate there's exageration going on all over the place here, he's not in the Roy Keane, Makelele, Viera league but he is much better then "toot toot ya mad rocket" has stated. You can hardly say that "he often doesn't contribute", he probably touches the ball more than any other player in the team in most games and covers more ground then most as well. Ok he's coming to the end but I'd sooner still have him in the team then out of it.
-
Martybhoy -
very well thanks had a couple of weeks avoiding hurricanes in the Med!!! getting struck by lightening and joining in with the Submarino CSC celebrations in Vila Real - very well organised and a more hospitable group of people you couldnt wish to meet. Saying that a few of the visiting tic let themselves down, including one nut from new orleans - dont know if much was made of it here but we have our idiots as well as everyone else.
re the Casino - Rankers Bingo Palais - your absolutley correct City of Glasgow have given it planning permission but its London who will award the gaming licence of which there will be only one of this type - Aldagte is as good as anywhere imho.
-
Lawlerm
It's not true that polar bears are walking on the polish streets
(Sorry thepolarbear. You are welcome).The temperature expected in January between +10 and -10C. You are right 1 Poud = 6 Polish Zloty approx.
Double room in the three star hotel costs about 260PLN ( incl.tax and breakfast).I can recommend you "Fortuna Bis" realy nice hotel with a good atmosphere, good cuisine. The owners are from Africa.Of course you can stay in Radisson Hotel, but it costs 700PLN per night.Pint of beer costs 3PLN in a shop and 5 or 6 in the restaurant.One pint of good polish vodka costs 24PLN approx.In case you feel hungry,( you can't only drink beer four days) you can have a dinner in a nice restaurant. For one man it shouldn't be more than 70PLN. Taxi costs 2PLN for 1km. Original NT shirt 160PLN, muffler 35PLN.Interesting places around Krakow: Oswiecim-fascist Extermination Camp 71km away from Krakow, Wieliczka-Salt-Mine 16km away,Zakopane well known winter town placed 100km away between beautiful mountains Tatras.Don't hesitate to ask the questions.Also I can ask my frieds from Krakow to help you.Sorry for the mistakes.
Zbyszek Legia fan
-
Hi Paul67 & every 1.…………………………….....
Paul67.…………………………….
Sorry 2 screw up you’re page size Paul
But I didn’t know there was a page size.
You should have sad………………………………
I feel like I have been kicked out…
Sent away………………………………......
A bad bhoy……………………………….............
Bibjoe………………………………........
Notpartofthecolective
:-(
....................
-
sorry canvasman, i wasnt very clear. i meant that he doesnt contribute to scoring i.e. he isn't involved in any attcks.dont get me wrong i dont think he's a bad player, in fact i think he's been a great servant to the club, but lets not forget his obvious limitations.to say he's world class, or that he is in the same bracket as makalele and deschamps, is absurd.he hasnt even been the best defensive midfielder at celtic for most of his 5 years, and may well lose his place permanently to paul lawson.
-
When Stuart Dougal left the pitch at Ibrox, he seemingly passed comment to Scott Booth that Neil Lennon had been lucky that he hadn’t been sent off a few times in the 90 minutes. The studio summarisers were quite astonished at this news and rightly so.
(I know that I never imagined the above because Roughie wouldn’t shut up last night about how Lenny had been given umpteen chances throughout the game by Dougal to stay on the park.)
Surely if this is the case, then Dougal has in a round about way admitted to cheating Rangers on the day, by allowing an opposing player to remain on the field when he should (according to Dougal) have left the field a lot earlier.
If I was a Rangers fan, I would be concerned about this guy refereeing any future matches after admitting to bending the rules in favour of their greatest rivals.
Your thoughts Edward Ursa?
-
Hey !
bibjoewhoseteamwonthepoolleague
lastnightandcanaffordtolivein
spainbutwontbepostingforamonth
becausehehastogobacktoworkand
thinkstheticwillwintheleague
andmissestennantslagerbutnotstella
oranyothercrapbeers-
Hows it going ?
Did you get your car out of the
garage ?
When are you going back to work ?
:>)
noel
-
Blantyre_Kev...
Agree totally about Lennon being world class. Edgar Davids isn't half the player that Lennon is. In the end you can only compare like with like, and I can't think of another player that has the combination of talents that Lennon does. He has the vision, the mentality, the toughness and the ability to read a game (which compensates for his apparent lack of pace). To ask the same question as Martin O'Neill - How many times do you see Lennon outpaced?
To my mind, he's been as important a player to Celtic as Larrson. And I in no way underestimate the contribution of Henke.
The ball never gets tired. Lennon knows this and uses it to his advantage. He's also a hellish sore loser - A positive in my book.
I'll always be honoured to have had the opportunity to watch Lennon grace the hoops.
/p
-
The point that sticks in my throat most about the situation, was Dougal himself. His actions were that of a showman .... waiting for the eyes of the world to stare at him (well ... at least setanta subscriber's eyes). There was no need for the red card to be brandished on the park, this could all have been dealt with post match. The very fact that Neil had his arm around an opposition player's shoulder, meant that the situation was calm. Another poor, poor piece of officiating. Living in England I am always trying to ... big up (for want of a better expression) ... Scotland an the Scottish game, but this is one area which incenses me. The officials in the country are pish, pish poor ! .... I'll leave it a that !
-
Hi Paul67 & every 1.…………………………….....
Noel90.……………………………..
Need 2 keep it short………………………….
Think I am in the bad books……………………….
And I wasn’t even on the Rioja……………………
Going back to work………
Friday………………………………...........
Looking forward 2 tonight’s match………………………
Hope 2 see some of the young boys get a run out….
But I think GS………………………..
Wont change it much…………
Bibjoe………………………………........
Whonowkeepsitshort
-
On the lenny is world class debate.....
Totally agree with Toot toot....I'm "astonished" with the "deschamps, gattuso" comparison........Kev it is true that these guys dont contribute with goals but they are much more effective than Lenny over a wider area of the pitch.....put it this way when lennon was in his peak who was after him and then compare this with Davids, Deschamps, gattuso, Makelele etc etc....
I like the man because he gives his all and is an excellent breaker of the game aligned with being a conduit for the midfield but he is of "limited passing ability and pace" which rules him out of being a "world class player"....IMHO
PS just learned that Rino in italian means Growl or grunt which is quite apt...you learn a new thing everyday....
-
-
toot toot,
Liam Miller was far from the finished article, which is why Saint Martin wanted him to stay in the Hoops for a couple more seasons. What I spotted was the potential for him to be an absolute motor in the midfield. As well as his goal, his all-round performance that night was great. As I said not the finished article, but the most over-rated player to wear the Hoops? A tad harsh perhaps?
Anyway, it's all water under the bridge, spilt milk, etc.
The wee gadge has made his bed on the Man U bench, now he can lie in it.
-
Blantrye_Kev & P8ddy
I agree. There are some players who have the intangible asset of being a winner. I know it gets banded about too often. But Lenny is a winner. And above and beyond that his reading of the game and keeping of possesion is WORLD CLASS, i truely believe it. A fitting captain...
-
toot toot...
you criticise others who would play Du Wei tonight as they have not seen him play but are of the opinion Paul Lawson is heading for a starting role ahead of Neil Lennon?
Is this on the basis of regularly watching the reserves? If so I'm encouraged that he's been so impressive.
I stand by my admiration for Lennon and I can only imagine you mean Lambert has been a better defensive midfielder. I also rate Lambert as world class but I suppose we'd really need to define world class to take it further.
Cavansam, you introduced Keane and Vieira to the equation, I didn't because I don't think they were asked to play the exact same role as Lennon, Deschamps, Gattuso and Makalele are.
I'll stop boring or embarassing anyone on this issue with my final two points.
First, if you are going to rate defensive midfielders from various leagues in order during Lennon's Celtic career then sure, we can all name players better than him, but I still think we'd start getting into real debate after a consensus of no more than maybe half a dozen.
Second, I would rather debate this issue and remember Neil Lennon for this than any other topic.
-
toot toot
No probs your second message makes things clearer.
marktim_67
Spot on on Dougal, Lennon had already moved off to shake hands with Rangers players when Dougal made a hash of the situation. It doesn't excuse what Lennon then did but if it hadn't been a Gers game he might not have been so upset.
-
Ive managed to watch a few games outside of Scotland on BBC1 Scotland on NTL.
The only one which was scrambled was a game towards the end of the season, possibly in the cup, Sky were also showing a game, they must have taken exclusive rights or something, other than that, the Bratislava games and a few Rangers games have been on. So fingers crossed..
On the casino talk, most clubs get criticised for having gambling advertisements on their websites, boothes in their grounds etc as clubs should be doing all they can to set a good example to impressionable youngsters, then Rangers, well Rangers get a super casino attached to their name!!
Lets see, remember the thugs and theives fiasco got a page 1,2,3,4,5,6,7&8 exclusive, i reckon this would surpass that one had it been us, they would have gone into youth offenders institutes, spoke to gamblers anonymous, spoke to people whose lives have been destroyed from gambling etc etc.....
My god, even worse, imagine Celtic chose Neil Lennon as the face to promote the venture!!!
-
whats the point of a casino over there, where it will only attract 50% of the population?. even then the orcs will eventually twig murray is screwing them again!.it will not happen.
hail hail
-
Forgot to say toot toots
I would play Du Wei as I hope he is as good as they think he is and tonight is an ideal game to blood him.....In addition, I don't think there is room for 2 "ball winners" with limited passing ability and if i was to choose between macmanus and Balde I'm afraid Dianbobo would win every time....
-
I agree Jamiebhoy, Liam Miller was nowhere near the finished article, but he clearly had huge potential. Man Utd is not an easy place to realise that potential and MON was correct in his assessment that the best thing for his career was to stay put and develop for a couple of seasons. I wish he had.
Ardoch, I agree that Lenny's lack of pace can be a problem, but his desire to win can sometimes compensate a bit for this - for example the number of times on Sunday that he chased back to help double up with Telfer on Sproule. He might not have pace, but he sure does have the desire.
I broke the Wallace training at left back on this forum ages ago after a mate who'd been watching training told me! This has been happening all season and I agree it's a nice bit of proactive work by WGS. WGS is on record saying that he thinks all teams need a lot of pace and that all his targets would add to the mobility of the team. I agree with this - especially in Europe where pace in all areas of the team is pretty essential. Lenny doesn't quite have the pace we're looking for, but he compensates with a great eye for goal! :)
-
toot toot ya rocket
This is a diddy cup game and a good chance for fringe or returning players to show what they can do.
That's why I'd throw Scooby in.
I also include Agathe for a Start, Sutton for a return and Varga to play the Lennon role.
On Dougal and him trting to keep Lennon on the park. If that's true it must be balanced by Thompson, who Dougal clearly did his utmost to keep OFF the park AND during the game!
Dougal apologists.... please don't!
-
Hi Paul67 & every 1.…………………………….....
I think GS will have……………………..
Du Wei on the bench………………………
The defence is now playing well….
Sort of……………………….
I don’t think he will risk…………………………..
Playing him from the start………………………
Bibjoe………………………………........
Whonowkeepsitshort
:-(
-
“Hey Joe” (name that tune).
In some places it is a badge of honour to be a “bad bhoy”, don’t knock it.
Toot toot.., I suspect we would get more out of Neil if we were playing in a different league. How often has he been taxed in the SPL?
P8ddy, big Lennon fan – as I am of any player who plays with his brain, but Edgar Davids had enormous mobility that Lennon has never had.
Hope some of you will be able to help out with match updates later on?
-
Let's all get down on our knees and be grateful to the SFA. They've never really been against us, after all. Hallelujah!
Aye, right. So they made the right decision for once. Big deal.
Maybe it was down to a precedent being set previously for a more "hands-on" offence from the Hearts player, that the SFA decided that Lenny's crime was not all that bad and certainly not worthy of the rabid tabloid witch-hunt.
Perhaps they also realised that Dougal shouldn't have petulantly shoved the red card in Lennon's face. After all he was walking away from Dougal, arm-in-arm with Marvin Andrews.
I do believe, as other posters have also suggested, that Dougal is just another Ref in the Dallas mould. They go an awful long way to be Outraged.
Anyway, Celtic should always play fair and square within the rules. But if that's not receiprocated then We as a club should go after them (refs, spl, sfa) using every legal avenue available.
Ps
If you think for one moment that a Casino will be built at Ibrox- lay off the cooking sherry.
It has been granted "outline" planning permission. Nothing has been studied in any detail. If, in the unlikely event, Glasgow receives the first Super Casino licence, then the Sands Casino will be up against developments at SECC and Glasgow Harbour (which will also get the same Outline PP).
Glasgow City Council have almost "bet the farm" on the Clydeside regeneration being a success and also a catylist for the whole city. As we speak there are an awful lot of unsold flats along the clyde. These flats and apartments need to be sold before the next phases of the development kick-in. This is a concern for the council. A nice shiny casino complex would be crucial anchor for the whole project.
Don't believe the Murray spin.
-
Big a Joe
just in case you misunderstood Paul
the post you did caused problems cos it was too wide
<----------thisway - horizontally -wide -- (rather than wide meaning gallous ;) --------->
if you post a sentence with spaces then the page automatically keeps the right width by breaking the text up at one of the spaces.
But-if-you-dinnae-use-spaces-then-there-is-nowhere-for-page-to-break-your-words
So everybody then has to scroll scroll sideways ->> to read every sentence - because it now makes every sentence posted on the board as wide as the one-without-spaces.
Hope this made sense and if you already got the gist then i'll just pee off and shut up ;-)
NBNC
-
Dougal probably said Lennon was lucky to stay on the park because he was waiting for a reaction from the start of the 2nd half. You could see him watching players have a wee dig after the tackles and instead of pulling the opposition player up about it, or even watching the game, he lingered waiting for Lennon to lash out. Maybe that's what he means by lucky.
I would put Lennon's ability to read the game in the world class category and when on form his ability to break up attacks; but that is all. He does not have the vision or ability to see or make many positive passes (I'm all for moving back or to the side when the pass is not open - and tend to get annoyed at the restlessness amongst the support - but Lennon, and Thompson to a lesser extent hesitate when the pass is open until it's too late).
Another thing that annoyed me in recent years is that the defence played the ball from one player to the next when switching play - I was encouaged to hear GS shout play it direct... what's the point in letting every player in defence have a touch when it gives the other team a chance to counter it?
Hope to see some of: Du Wei, Virgo, Wallace, Maloney, Sutton & Agathe play at some point. I wouldn't start with more than 1 or 2 changes but subs should be used.
-
Dumbhoy,
My comments were not in the defence of Dougal, so no apologist here my friend.
Dougal, through his own admission, should have sent Lennon off during the 90 minutes. In failing to do so he never carried out his duties on the day to the letter of the law.
Therefore he is a cheat.
He may have cheated FOR US in this instance, but what about the next game and the one after that and so on.
The man cannot be trusted to officiate at that level ever again and should resign from his position.
I can’t believe the Rangers fans are not going off their rocker at this, although they have bigger fish to fry in their bile in Neil don’t they?
-
Hi Paul67 & every 1.…………………………….....
No Bread No Cakes…………………………..
Cheers M8.……………………..
Just having fun ………..
In the Celtic collective…………………
BibJoe………………………………........
Whonowkeepsitshort
-
Hell hath no fury like a media witch-hunt so cruelly spurned.
The best laid plans o' mice an' men (an' hacks an pundits)
Gang aft agley
An lea'e us nought but grief an' pain
For promised joy.
Aw well - nae luck eh.
-
good info Digger Barnes, good to know.
If i can make a few points on Stephen McManus. He is doing a good job, and i hope he continues to, but i would never want to go into a champions league game with him in my team. He is a bruiser who has a tendency to lunge and kick quick skilful players. Joe Cole nearly got Terry Hulocked by him in America, and one of the reasons he has been doing a good job is we have come up against very few quick and skilful players.
I hope he continues to go relatively unchallenged so he remains on the pitch, and his confidence grows, which on top of his attitude which is meant to be top class, he can improve into being a player good enough for Celtic.
One other comment, and look out for this one, he doesnt seem to be able to jump and challenge for the ball. He has been beaten in the air by smaller men than him, they have jumped high and he is 6 inches off the floor. This is one thing Bobo does brilliantly, he dominates the air, that is his territory and you have to think of a way to beat him to it. McManus, fot his size doesnt.
As i say, look out for it, i only realised it myself when my dad pointed it out to me, and from then on what i never noticed became obvious!
-
Someone described the game tonight as part of a 'mickey mouse cup'.
Given that we have been dumped out of Europe, and THEM have not, that makes every piece of silverwear doubly important.
I will be one disappointed Tim if The Boss disnae bring in the Treble this season. I'm I asking too much?
Hail Hail.
-
Danny
Totally agree, I think McManus is a good player but not the type of quality we have been looking for at Celtic. If he becomes a great player then I'll be delighted but at the moment he isn't really good enough. He isn't the fastest, best passer, doesn't dominate the air and is actually quite a poor tackler of the ball (in the sense where he has been lucky a few times not to be booked/sent off at the start of games). I think he has merited his place over Varga down to the fact that Varga has been terrible this season and probably a major factor in last season's poor defensive displays.
He have brought in Virgo and Du Wei as centre-backs and I fully expect that this is because WGS knows he needs better quality. If not now when does he try to bleed the new players in?
-
arrrgh just wrote a reply and it didnt post. in brief:
the comparisons with davids are taking an already ridiculous comparison to an absurd degree. please stop it.
rumoid-fair enough about du wei, just hate hearing people written off in favour of an unknown quantity. e.g. same thing was said about mcmanus-virgo, and people are often stating on here that pearson should play left back (despite the fact he couldnae tackle a fish supper, and has never played there)instead of camera (who's improved dramatically).i think mcmanus deserves the jersey until du wei proves himself.
blantyrekev - the statement "lennon may well lose his place permanently to paul lawson" is based on a few thing. 1)lennon is nearly 34, and a slow 34 at that. 2)lawson, unlike your comparison du wei, has played several times for the 1st team, and recently played well in lennons place against dunfermline. 3)strachan, explaining each subs presence at the weekend, said that lawson "is the only one who can play the lennon role. 4)the guy has been training with the first team for over a year now, knows the players, speaks the language, and knows how the team works, unlike du wei who has been here 2 weeks and speaks no english. therefore he shouldnt struggle to adjust as much. of courses he may bottle it over the next 3 games but if he plays well, i dont think its stretching it to say he may restrict lennons appearances.
-jamiebhoy - yeah i remember the game well, his all round performance WAS good - for the entire 20 mins he was on. dont remember him playing well from the start ever. his performanc against rangers was risible. only played well as sub."the most over rated player to wear the hoops?" i cant think of many who have gained such a reputation based on so little contribution.did he ever actaully play 90 mins? also he was 23 when he left, hes 24 now, bit old to be talking of potential.
-
Pleased with how Lennon was treated by the SFA, my only gripe over the whole incident is why Dougal chose to Red Card Lennon at the time.
If memory serves me correctly Lennon was shaking hands with a Rangers player and about to leave the pitch, Dougal had to tap him to get him to tun around to brandish the card which then resulted in Lennon going a bit daft.
Surely Dougal should have let the players leave the field ask fro Lennon to visit his room and issue the card there, then none of this would have excalted into the media frenzy it became.
or maybe I'm wrong nnd did have too much beer that day.
Would like to see either Du Wei or Virgo tonight, gives us a chance to get a decent look at one of them.
-
dumbbhoy- they are not a 'diddy team'. they gave us a good game a couple of weeks back, dont you remember? are you looking forward to another supercaleygoballistic headline?
i think strachan will, and should, start with an unchanges team (except lawson for lennon). if we're 3 up at half time by all means get virgo, pearson, and du wei on. but have the game sewn up first.
-
Big Mick has taken the place of Varga fairly comfortably, at least since he & Bobo became partners. Maybe now we are seeing the results of a regular partnership, but once everyone is fully fit this will NOT be the central defensive line-up. I don't think WGS seems to favour a 3 at the back system, so its perm any 2 from 6 once the treatment room is cleared.
Who would everyone's 1st choice partnership be?
I hope Virgo is getting into shape quickly and has not moved into the retail business because(this is true)there is a clothes shop at the Trongate called Virgo's which sells BIG & PRETTY garments for the ,erm, larger bodied among us.
-
Toot toot,
You're right about the Lyon game. I was getting that night mixed up with the Anderlecht game(ah those heady nights!).
-
Strachan is on record as prefering four at the back.
I for one am not missing Varga at all. The Bobo/Varga partnership was one made in hell. I'll take a hunger young player over a jaded one any day.
If Agathe is available then I would play him at Right Back and shunt Telfor into the DMC role. He has experience and is very industrious.
This match is not one to experiment with. We need to get the game in the bag before bringing on any of the 'hopefuls'. I base this on my desire to see the Treble at Celtic Park at the end of this season.
-
From my limited understanding of the new broadcast agreement between the BBC and SKY, it is no longer possible for the BBC to encrypt BBC Scotland in England (CH941), but not in Scotland (CH101).
The BBC opted out of having SKY encrypt their channels because it was costing them millions a year.
So the only way that tonights game would be available in Scotland and not England is if the BBC don't show it AT ALL on the SKY network, and stick up that "please switch to your analogue BBC 1" message that happened a season or so back.
If its on Sky Channel 101 in Scotland then its on Sky Channel 941 in England :)
more details found Here
-
Although one cannot condone Neil Lennon for his actions during the game against Rangers, the media frenzy has been totally out of proportion.
The added barbed comments by certain referees have done little to help the situation. This is all apparently heading towards referees being balloted by the SSRA about industrial action. For goodness sake, you would have thought Lennon commited manslaughter.
The ban was decided after a 3 hour hearing. So, somebody somewhere, decided to obviously look at the cold hard facts, and not just make a sweeping statement based on the stories in the press. The SSRA should grow up, and stop being so childish. Football is an emotional game. Sometimes, such as on this ocassion, the emotions can go over the top. But the punishment should fit the crime. It has this time. The 3 match ban is appropriate.
End of story.
-
Missed a bit this afternoon but to go back to the supercasino debate for a second.
Did I hear the Rangers Finance guy on the news last night say that if this was all successful then Rangers MIGHT (and he stressed that) get close to seven figures per annum?
Not sure what is or isn't true on this but I'm bloody sure that if I had the MGM Govan or the Ibrox Bellagio running at full tilt then I would be expecting a better return than £1m per year to the coffers.
Anyway like most of Vegas this is just pure fantasy and I suspect another timely diversion from some of the other questionable goings-on like getting rid of Campbell Ogilvie, John Mclelland and of course George "best in the youth development business" Adams.
Please would someone other than Graham Spiers step forward and for once question some of the inner workings of the dark place.
-
Just hearing that Mr. Dougal & his fellow referee's are unhappy with th decision of the Exec. Committee regardig Neil Lennon's suspension.
How can they expect players / managers / fans to accept THEIR decisions when they refuse to accept THEIR SUPERIORS decision ?
Have Celtic or Hearts or any other club complained about the disgraceful decision by the assistant at Tynecastle whcih contributed to celtic losing the league ??
Was this assistant referee dealt with for his "mistake" ??
I don't think being given the line in the national cup final is in any way a punishment for his HUGE error. Notwithstanding the suspension he brought about by his error on the young Hearts player who understandably lost his head for a few moments.
We are constantly told, the referee is ALWAYS right, even when he is wrong. Similarly the referee's should appreciate the Exec. Committee are ALWAYS right even if they think they are wrong.
We ALL make mistakes, players / managers, fans, referee's that's what makes football the great game it is. But we HAVE to accept someone will make a decision and live by it right or wrong.
-
Two main thoughts cross my mind with regard to the Lennon case, and they are similiar to many posters on here.The media hysteria and the referee's reaction....
The media's job is to create anything which results in increased sales. If you are in any doubt about that buy Piers Morgans diaries, which confirms as much , and happy to do so, in every page. Now this is a guy who was editing a 5 million circulation paper at age 28, which means he has more ability in his little finger than guys like traynor have in their 240lbs.....This includes printing stuff you know not to be true and also printing opinions you don't genuinely hold, just to create controversy and sell more issues...
Talking of Traynor, does he realise the hypocrisy in his column over the last couple of days. First of all he tries to threaten the sfa into given an unprecedented ban, and then when he doesn't like the decision he loses it (does this sound in any way familiar- lennon at ibrox possibly). Irony is probably lost on him.
However as long as Strachan and the Celtic board are not intimidated by this stuff, and my guess is they are not, then the media's fury is irrelevant.
The referee's reaction's are more of a concern. They have not gone public before in criticising leniency, and whilst i believe guys like willie young and stuart dougal are genuinely honest guys, the must realise this reaction will be taken as an anti celtic and anti lennon position from them. There is already a large section of our support who believe we are hard done by, by the officials, this will not make matters any better.
For my part i believe officials are overwhelmingly honest, but they have acted hastily here. Thats not altogether surprising with a leader like Mcvicker, who's ridiculous comments on alan thomson's "career threatening " sending off should have resulted in his removal from his post.
-
Toot toot ya rocket.
Your battering on about Lawson playing well in "several" first team appearences.
If my memory serves me correct, and it ussually does, he has only got about 20 mins as a sub against a poor Dunfermlin, and a meaningless pre-season friendly, against Leeds, where he gave the ball away constantly in the first half.
So on one hand your saying Lawson look's good, when you've hardly clapped eyes on him, but dissmissing Liam Miller's "20 mins" against a very good Lyon side.
Liam Miller changed the game for us that night, like it or not.
We were chasing shadow's that night till we brought Miller on.
I hope young Lawson turns out to be a smashing player but at the moment we know nothing about him.
So until then you can't say he can fill Lennon's boot's or be the prospect Miller was for us.
-
I just don,t understand mcvicar-
you would think that after spending
twenty odd years in jail
he would just keep his big moooooooth shut
and try and stay on the straight and narrow.........
:>)
noel.
-
Just a word on the quality of Neil Lennon. I had the pleasure of watching Neil and Martin's Leicester for a number of years before both came up the road. In his last season at Leicester, Lennon came top and near top in the Opta midfielders stats for highest successful pass rate and highest successful tackle rate. What's my point? Not sure. Perhaps, it's let's judge Lenny at his peak which surely were from his last 3 seasons at Leicester through to Seville. I would suggest he was world class in this period.
The same season (99-00) Matt Elliott, often linked with Celtic, finished second only to Tony Adams in the best defender category and our very own Steve Guppy finished second to Beckham in the successful crosser stakes. I appreciate these last two facts may well have blown my Lennon argument out of the water.
Lennon's been a fantastic servant to the club and with big Chris, the key signings of Martin's years.
-
new artcle posted
-
We must win this game first and foremost to enable us to try and get the treble.
I don’t think we were firing on all cylinders when we played them a few weeks back but I fully expect we can do the business tonight.
Pearson for the first goal @ 14/1.
-
Can someone confirm if Neil Lennon called two Rangers players as witnesses last night in his defence. I am sur I heard this on the radio. If this is the case what evidence were they expected give
First time poster
-
Hi Paul,
Dialupcelt :- If we could only use refs who don't have any bias against the forces of light then it would be a very small pool indeed :)
My take on the incident is that it was poor refereeing, if he felt that NL was committing offences that deserved a red card then that card should have been issued, that's his role to apply the rules as he sees them happen, The incident after the game with the red card was caused by two errors of judgement, the first being S Dougals, if he wanted to take further action he should have waited till the player involved was in the dressing room then calling him and his manager in and explaining he was reporting him for a red card offence, thus avoiding a potentially explosive situation amongst both players and fans, a poor day for him. The second error in Judgement was Nls no matter ho much he may feel provoked he can not react in that way, even when a ref has a stinker his person must be sacrosanct otherwise we have anarchy, and much as that has it's attractions it doesn't work in football. All round I think a three match ban fair and just. (I also have to admit surprise at Nls previous disciplinary record)
-
here we go again
jackd - i'm not 'battering on' about anything.what exactly are we disagreeing on? i said i thought he did well that night, superb in fact.i also thought he had enough poor games afterward to convince me he wasnt a player.i dont think im contradicting myself.you seem to think im saying millers rubbish despite 20 superb mins, and lawson good after only half an hour. thats not what im saying. i made my judgement of miller based on all the times i saw him play average and give the ball away. my earlier point was about not switching players in form for unknown players. the lawson/lennon situation isnt such a case,lennon is suspended.lawson comes in, unproven as he may be, and will get 3 games after which we may be able to tell how good/bad he is. whats your point?
-
Mayb i'm missing something or just a bit slow, but what was neil lennons red card for, it wasnt for abussive or foul language as he did this after his red card, so what did he get sent of for?
-
Hello guy's, just a mention, looked at the back page of the record this morning when I was buying my Scotsman, couldn't beleive the blatant bias, and attempts to whip up hysteria, my point is, I think they have overstepped the mark, it is blatant bias and it is reasonable to ask why are they so biased?,if you think it is bacause of "Celtic", "Irish", "Catholic" "red-haired wee git" etc, if you are as pissed off as am I then contact the press complaints commission and make a formal complaint. Compare that coverage with the thinly veiled attack on thier fellow Scottish rags with Glen Gibbons piece in the Scotsman today. Reasonable reporting at its best. P.s annoyed at how casual we were last night, extra time should easily have been avoided, Magic unlucky not to get a hat-trick but the mid-field was all wrong, why not play Pearson, I like Nakamura but he will not put in a challenge, is this a weakness in a midfielder? The futures bright, the future's green and white
ttfn
-
I suppose it is a complete waste of time to expect some BALANCED JOURNALISM. All I have seen so far is the referee's side of things.
Not one newspaper that I have seen (Not bought any) has put the players perspective. Not even quoting the exact rules for this specific offence. They keep going on about THREE games being lenient...Lazy journalism, it is clear Lennon has been given a FOUR game ban immediately missing the next game.
No witch-hunts against the clown at Tynecastle, or the diddy who sent of Didier Agathe v Dundee or the muppet who sent off Jackie v Motherwell......Sponsorship by Specsavers couldn't be more appropriate.
-
This is a wonderful site and a lot of the comments are from guys and gals with intelligence too which is a nice change. With regards the ongoing Socio/Political/Religious debate (I take it I have used the R word but forgive me I am based long term in England), which for the time being is centred around NL before it moves onto someone else linked to Celtic, I can only advise to do as I do and write to the BBC; the Newspapers; your MP; MSP; MEP; Glasgow City Council or whatever. They all probably think I am some kind of lone nut because probably I am the only one who writes, but if everyone did so then it might make a difference. Occasionally I do get published too. It is worth a shot. There is also the option of doing what the Liverpool fans did and just boycott offending papers en-masse.
It is important not to get too paranoid, because at the end of the day football wise if you are far superior to the opposition then there is nothing anyone can do about it for example 1967 and all that. However the problem goes far deeper than football. It is important to note that not everyone who does not support CFC is necessarily a bad guy.
The Times online has done a fair and totally unbiased report on the NL saga: (http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,438-1791560,00.html). It is entitled “Imagine there's no fairness: for Neil Lennon, it's easy if you try” by Phil Gordon.
-
We could have solved Paul's electricity supply problems by installing a wind farm around the BBC and some of their newspaper colleagues recently. If we could have trapped the hot air being generated over the NL situation then we could comfortably have kept Carfin alight (sorry, lit).
-
Hello There from sunny Oz
Did anyone read Sean Maloney saying BBJ is worth his weight in gold!
Is Sean trying to be funny
