Momentum proving in league race

the huns have won 17 drawing 1 of their last 18 v murderwell

at home i should add

plus the huns have won their last 12 at home in the league

prediction

1 - 2 :)

From previous post

Rangers v Motherwell 7/5/08

Draw 9/2
0-0 draw 10/1
M'well win 15/2

Title
Celtic 5/6
Rangers 5/6

Goooooooood Morning CQN!

And what a lovely day it is too.

Why is it that all the Rangers fans are now crossing the road to get away from me, whereas up to now they have been recklessly endangering their lives to get over the carriageway in the midst of the Turra rush-hour (ahem!) to "speak" to me?

Mmmmmmmmm?

Clue - nothing to do with B.O. Well, not mine at least.

Isn't it great to wake up on the May Day Holiday with that wee tingle running down your spine as you look forward to the last 2 games of the season with "hope in your heart", where most thought there would only be despair.

Inwardly I think that I had tossed away the towel, something that no follower of H2G2 should ever do. However, thanks to the fine folks on here (including the WG Towel Retrieval Company Ltd.), and that wonderful team that we support from the heart, I have come through that very short but bleak period, and have realised that we can win the league to make it 3-in-a-row! Even if we ultimately do not claim a righteous victory, we have shaken the hun to the core with our fightback, and have laid down a marker for next season.

Come on the Bhoys, we can and will do this.

Historic quadruple my combined (pert - hah!!) buttocks! We have been there and done that before, but the hun cannot follow (follow) into the coldness of our shadow!

Hail! Hail!

Curly

I don't want to sound paranoid (like the huns!).

But sudden critical media attention (frenzy?) over a free kick (that was a free kick), a corner that probably wasn't but might have been, and a goal that wasn't even close to being a goal, could suggest the ground is being prepared for some horrendous hun saving ref decisions.

e.g. linesman popping up at the backpost to nod in a hun winner agaist murderwell in the 98th minute - cue Chick, Daryl, Roddie and BFDJ in unison "Ref didn't call that one, but these things even themselves out over the season"

3N---->

Ulster-Celt, we have an even better home record against Kilmarnock, who have not won at CP since 1955, but I hate hearing about this record before they are due to visit as it’s going to end eventually, and will most probably happen when we are vulnerable and therefore need the points.

mymum'scousin, *!*!. Deleted, the language of the English Crown is not always suitable for a Celtic site. Please re-post your plea. And thanks for yo kind words.

Finally made it in !

I am now the proud owner of Seville67 and Seville.67

I think that the new sitw is the turning point of the season.

Knowing that it was coming game the team a kick-up the backside and when it finally arrived there was defintely an impact in the dressing room.

Well done Paul - now 2 more wins please and the rest will take care of itelf.

Seville.67 aka Seville67.

Thanks for the all-clear Paul - much apprec. Fair point on the language violation - when you put it that way, it's hard to argue against!!

'Yo kind words'? Dude, don't go all hoochy on us....

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN - A GOOD FRIEND OF MINE HAS BEEN SHORT-LISTED BY GRAND DESIGNS (CHANNEL 4) FOR BEST NEW-BUILD ON TONIGHT'S (MONDAY 5TH) LIVE PROGRAMME. JIM AND BECKY (DYER) ARE GENUINELY AMONG THE NICEST PEOPLE YOU CAN MEET, AND GOES WITHOUT SAYING JIM'S A HUGE CELTIC MAN. AM A BIG BELIEVER THAT GOOD THINGS HAPPEN TO GOOD PEOPLE, SO PLEASE TAKE THE TIME TO MAKE THE CALL AND VOTE FOR JIM AND BECKY. I'LL OWE YOU ONE BIG TIME - THANKS GUYS AND APOLOGIES FOR POSSIBLE MIS-USE OF THE SITE. I'LL RE-POST THIS LATER TODAY TO ENSURE MORE READERSHIP, UNLESS PAUL TELLS ME TO SLING MY HOOK!

Jim, if ur reading, nothing ventured and all that....!

MMC

curly - maybe it helps answer the question "Why did the Rangers fan cross the road?"

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/columnists/gabriele_marcotti/article3872684.ece

Interesting article by Marcotti in Times today

What is the OPPOSITE of momentum??

Whatever it is that's what Rangers have just given themselves after yesterday.

I dont suppose I'm the only one who thinks that Walter Smith looks and sounds like a man under pressure like never before.

His whinging about not rearranging the fixture list even more than has happened is embarrassing.

I also note that there is no mention of the fact that if the league were rearranged any further Cuellar ( far and away their player of the year) might , presumably ,be suspended for a game other than the St. Mirren game-- far away their easiest remaining game.

The rest of his team are so poor that his absence from any other game could be the difference between a win/ draw and a possibly fatal loss.

They dont have one single flair player currently playing for them and what they're facing is what happens when the hammerthrowers run out of blood and snotters .

Paul et al -- Am I right in saying that IF we win against Hibs we are guaranteed at least a final day finish?

TLWIO

jeah, just signed in.
first off al, thanks for this briliant site paul.
have been reading for a while, but now will also comment.. cheers.
just hope that they can keep this none scoring momentum up..
hail hail
not over yet!

Ok, before I go out and enjoy the sunshine, has anyone else had the 'we win the league, Zenit take the UEFA and Doonhammers snatch the Scottish cup, leaving them with the Skol cup only' dream yet? If not, believe me, it's comin to a sleep near you! That's 4 nights in a row.

One final point - was reading people's thots on the St Johnstone game where we won the league on the last day thanks to King Harald. My 3 main memories were: 1. The unbelievable feeling of relief that went through my body when number 2 went in. 2. Someone handing round a bottle of Jamiesons at FT, don't like the stuff, but it was purely medicinal and 3. My brother being lifted on the shoulders of about 100 different fans, being carried through the streets of The Merchant City, with everyone singing '2 Martin O'Neils, there's only 2 Martin O'Neils!' It all kicked off in Bargo, when a couple of guys spotted it, and we had a laugh. Then the whole pub joined in, then it went on from there! Ended up being mentioned in a book!

My brother (let's call him Pete - cos that's his name) was reasonably comfortable with the feigned adulation, and he had by that time scooped a fair few Budvars, so he played along (like he had a choice.) When it all calmed down, I dunno, about 8 hours later, all he could say was 'But Martin O'Neil's 10 years older than me!' How vain spex, how vain. (And I know ur reading....)

MMC

The sun is shining, we're seven points clear and my have all the Rangers fans changed their tune...

Paranoia has reached new levels amongst them. Looks like all the decisions that "even themselves out" across the course of a season are now part of an SPL conspiracy to stop Rangers winning a quadruple.

They are hurting BIGTIME :)

They will drop points again and this is going to be the sweetest championship in a decade.

KTF

TLWIO -

Is it "inertia"?

I hope so - would suit us down to the ground.

Interesting comment from Roy Keane who its suggested may be encouraging his board to pay off some of his bad buys. Little insight perhaps into how he regards our manager?

Outwardly at least, Keane remains unperturbed by his patchy buying record. "There are no guarantees, otherwise every signing would be brilliant, you don't really know about someone until they come into the club," he said.

Not that he exempts himself from blame. "I've been very kind to some people, maybe too patient. Gordon Strachan says that if you have to tell a player to do something more than three times you should get shot of him."

Ulster-Celt, we have an even better home record against Kilmarnock, who have not won at CP since 1955, but I hate hearing about this record before they are due to visit as it’s going to end eventually, and will most probably happen when we are vulnerable and therefore need the points.

mymum'scousin, *!*!. Deleted, the language of the English Crown is not always suitable for a Celtic site. Please re-post your plea. And thanks for yo kind words.

Derbyshirebhoy, don't go ending one of the most enduring anti-Celtic conspiracies.

Paul

Momentum is a vector quantity, so has direction as well as scale.

Now one of the most important laws in physics is the Law of Conservation of Momentum, which states that when two objects collide, the total amount of momentum of the objects after the collision is the same as the total amount before the collision.

Now if we take the two games we played against them as a collision, it is clear what happened. Their momentum was reduced significantly, so by the Law ours must have increased significantly.

Stands to reason!

B.Sc CSC

I was talking to a Rangers supporting acquaintance of mine today.

He wasn’t his usual gregarious and talkative self. No, not at all; he was a wee bitie tetchy and abrasive. He all but accused me (Celtic) of stealing their league.

When I asked him to please explain he backed off a wee bit but retorted that I (Celtic) needed other teams to do us (Celtic) a favour if we (Celtic) were going to win the league.

I took great pains to explain to him that a championship is won over the course of a whole season, not just the last six or seven games. I also pointed out to him that Rangers were only in the position they are in because other teams ‘did them a favour’ by taking points of us earlier.

His last retort – “aye but we’ve beaten you (Celtic) twice already this season”.

I’d had enough; I left him with a bemused smile on my face as I happily made my way to the dentist for a root canal job.

I was tossing this conversation around my nut for a while and then it dawned on me that we’d talked for more than ten minutes about Celtic and Rangers and somehow he’d manage to not say ‘Celtic’ once.

Is there a night class these guys go to where they learn such useful skills?

Just haven’t been able to get the word ‘moronic’ out of my head all day.

Weebles wobble but they don’t fall down, but huns do.

Oh! And the best part of my day. My appointment with the dentist is next Monday not this one.

They are in a bad way and hurting. The huns, not my teeth.

Congrats on the new site Paul ............. absolutely excellent!

Squeaky Bum Time indeed, how I love that phrase.
2 more wins Celtic, please, as they are under enormous pressure and I thoroughly enjoyed watching Smith twitching and suffering yesterday.
Its going to get worse for them as well, they are now facing 2 must win games at home, and the Orcs are going to get ugly(uglier)if they dont score early.
C´mon Mark, all I can ask is that you have your side as committed as they were against us, and that will suffice.

Who knows what will happen, but at present its all good stuff !

Looks like the supporters with typewriters are being reigned in by the more professional media people.

Even Keevins is highlighting some of the nonsense being spouted regarding the timmy refs conspiracies over the last couple of games. He actually makes reference to the fact the Motherwell got a dubious corner themselves!!

If anyone heard the phone in yesterday on Clyde (I know I shouldn't), the conduct of 2 of the supporters with typewriters after the Hibs game was a shocking embarrassment....real cringeworthy stuff from Derek Johnstone and Darryl King. Well done Davie Provan and Andy Walker for challenging it. Years ago we would have been washed away in the tidal wave of support for the establishment team. The league would have been extended forever, refs would have made supportive decisions unchallenged and the media would have triumphantly banged the drum in support! Times have changed, and they aint enjoying it one iota.

Well done to Paul 67, all CQN'rs and people who share a similar ethos amongst all clubs and cultures through their outlets, within a changing country!! As Twisted Sister said...

we aint gonna take it anymore

KerrangCSC

HAIL HAIL

I did say a couple of weeks ago that if they dropped points in any of the two matches following their UEFA Cup semi then we would take theree in a row. I'm just delighted they did it so soon. The tension of their next two home matches will be a delight to share I'm sure. Anything less than ful points will be a disaster for them and just think of all the effort they will need to put in to achieve two wins - and they'll still be a point behind at the very best.

From during the night….

Welcome defender.

Welcome Keswickbhoy.

Welcome also to cv.

Welcome finally to timsinyyz.

And apologies to defender, Keswickbhoy, cv and timsinyyz, the About page appeared prematurely and will not have comments, so your initially contributions have disappeared.

Seville.67, I was scared to publish the new site before the Rangers games in case things went against us; I’m becoming increasingly superstitious as this season wears on.

TLWIO, correct.

Welcome Amsterdamcelt, look forward to hearing from you.

Gordon J, well put.

Cheers Nakasleftpeg.

Paul67 - Thanks for fixing my connection probs.

I had a premonition last night. Zenit won the UEFA cup final 7-0.

Stoir mha chroi - Look - I didn't even mention their name. It can be done!

Paul,

On our way to Mothwerwell on Saturday someone on our supporters bus asked me if we had ever played a League game on a Thursday in recent times.

We will of course play our last League game at Tannadice on Thursday 22 May.

It got me thinking and then I recalled the 1970/1971 season when we won the title on Thursday 29 April at Hampden.

We beat Ayr United 2-0, Bobby Lennox and Willie Wallace the scorers.

The game was played at Hampden due to the reconstruction of the main stand at Celtic Park (although the last League game v Clyde and the Lison Lions' final appearance was played at Celtic Park the following Saturday).

That was six in a row and the mood at Hampden was pretty muted given the achievement.

Incidentally that Ayr United game at Hampden was the second of three games that Celtic would play in 6 days!

27 April St Mirren...2 Celtic...2
29 April Celtic 2... Ayr United...0
1 May Celtic...6 Clyde...1

I seem to remember us winning some other Big Cup on a Thursday too!

Many Happy returns for tomorrow!

P.S. - when we were discussing the run in last week, I compared the form of the 2nd placed team in the SPL to that of Wigan down in the Premiership.

Given recent events, I would like to take this opportunity to offer my unreserved apologies to all Wigan supporters. Your late season form is a joy to behold and I regret comparing your team with a bunch of tired journeymen who can't win, can't score and can't entertain.

Hail Hail

Ok, so how is this all going to pan out?

It is frustrating beyond belief that their next two games are at home. Just when they are looking utterly bereft on the road they get to go back to Mordor just in time.

I feel these two games are critical. If they take any less than six points then it is curtains for them. That's why they will win. Watch for an array of soft free kicks and dodgy offisde calls in these games. The stops will be well and truly pulled out.

That leaves three matches- St Mirren, Murderwell, and the Sheep. Sadly I feel they will beat StMirren, and I think Aberdeen on the last day of the season, with half a squad for the off, with the two Jimmy's "just enjoying the occasion"... well, suffice to say that is three points for them as well sadly.

Which leaves Murderwell. A tricky game, and one that will hinge on two things: 1. Are the Mothers still in with a shout for Europe? And 2. What effect will the UEFA final have on them? A gubbing, and they could collapse in a gurning, sobbing heap. A win (Lord forbid), and I fear the Orcs will be rampant...

In short, I feel we really need them to drop something in the next two home games. Not impossible, but still less likely than likely. If they were playing at Fir Park on Weds instead of Ibrox, I think they might have lost. That pesky fixture computer, eh?

Brace yourself - this will be a shock to most. A sharp intake of breath. Take a seat.

That most impartial of journalists, nay chief sportswriter to boot, has kick-started the campaign for a knighthood for Walter. Yes, indeed, the man who acknowledges his (physical) control of the changing room; the man who turned his back on managing his own nation; the brains behind a style football known universally as "anti-football" is being touted for a knighthood.
In his weak effort to disguise his love for all things blue, Broad of foot throws in a "give one to Jock" line.

No thanks mate, the crown of European champions is all we have ever required.

The heat is on !

Long Tim Lurker, you are welcome. I hope you are right about Zenit, although 7-1 has a ring to it.

Gordon, I am now convinced that football fans of all colours need a loss, or perhaps a wee scare, before they can enjoy a triumph.

Six in a row equalled the all time Scottish record, perhaps even the world record at the time, so logically you would think it would be a time of historic celebrations, but we get used to winning all to quickly.

Which is perhaps why, if we win this one after a wee scare, it will be all the sweeter.

And thank you; well remembered.

The heat is on ... Glenn Frey

Here´s another Glenn Frey one

Dignity FC started cheating early
with the Celtic captain knocked out in style
9 bookings later
And we won't have to worry
the flag has gone and it has been for a while

Gretna were asked and agreed that it would boldly
postpone their game after getting some advice
A nod a wink and then a dodgy hand shake
and the decision not to play was cowardice

The tic are asked now why are you not moaning?
If only you had asked you stupid clowns
but such a request is really self deceiving
As they helped the need of the cheatin' side of town

You can't hide your lyin' eyes
And your smile is a thin disguise
I thought by now you'd realize
There ain't no way to hide your lyin eyes

On the other side of town a bhoy is waiting
with fiery eyes and dreams no one could steal
He drives on through the night anticipating
the web of lies and deceit that they´ll reveal

They rush into his arms,
They fall together
They whisper no more bookings for awhile
We´ll make them play at Ibrox, and well for forever
We´ll pull away and that´ll leave us with a smile

You can't hide your lyin' eyes
And your smile is a thin disguise
I thought by now you'd realize
There ain't no way to hide you lyin' eyes

He gets up and pours himself a strong one
Scotlands games arranged for Wednesday
Another night, it's gonnae be a long one
unless all our players suffer injuries

He wonders how it ever got this crazy
He thinks about a bhoy he knew in school
Did he get tired or did he just get lazy?
he's so far gone he now looks like a fool

My, oh my, you sure know how to arrange things
You set it up so well, so carefully
Ain't it funny how your new team didn't change things
and with Celtic well on the way to number three

You can't hide your lyin eyes
And your smile is a thin disguise
I thought by now you'd realize
There ain't no way to hide your lyin' eyes
There ain't no way to hide your lyin' eyes
Honey, you can't hide your lyin' eyes

All, Great to be able to comment. So much easier now!

My belief is that, without getting carried away, we could win this league by winning only against Hibs at home. They will drop points in more than one game...but winning both games will certainly do it.

Our lads need to be focussed on these two games as never before!

Not bothered about the UEFA cup...they will not win it...and that will lead to fall out in the league.

Back on at last.

Great new site Paul. A big congrats to all involved in the design of it.

It wasn't much of a match yesterday but I enjoyed it so much. I had a feeling that Hibs would take something so I took the offer from my brother and sister-in-law to watch it in their house. They're all fans of them and had some friends over as well. I loved every minute of it. They squirmed around on the couch and seats as much as they did in the dugout. Staropramen has never tasted sweeter!

Let's finish the job, enjoy the title, and then have a wonderful day to pay homage to Phil.

A little ditty that you may all be familiar with -

From Struth to Smith, we have destroyed the beautiful game
From Parkhead to Barca, tarnished our name
Our journey is ugly, our footballs the same
As everyone knows, we're Scotlands shame
Wherever we are, wherever we stay
Be sure we are Rangers, anti-football we play
For our sisters, our mother and also our wife
The notorious Glasgow Rangers, anti-footballs our life

Awe_Naw,

That was class!

when you look at the comparative strengths of our team/squad and theirs,and they have 5 games they pretty much need to win, and we have 2

i find it hard to accept that we all think it's a big ask for us

MON's team quicky nurtured self belief, but after 3 years of WGS, we have a lack of faith in Strachan's team

I hope he proves us wrong, but i hope he leaves either way

Walter Smith is really getting on my nerves with his bleating about the lack of help Rangers are receiving and the digs he keeps having at Celtic in passing.

I hope some of it is pinned up on the wall at Lennoxtown.

Worst of all is the unadulterated revisionism that is going on regarding our match against Dundee at Celtic Park in May 2003.

Walter is quoted in the Herald today as saying (not for the first time) that it was cancelled. It was brought forward, Walter.

Perhaps if he asked for some of his side's games to be brought forward to this week, he'd have cleared his schedule a wee bit.

Also, nary a mention of the part Rangers have played in clogging up their own fixture schedule, as though it were all a great piece of misfortune that has befallen the heroes of the land.

We have to keep telling the truth.

Edward - you may wish to look this way now ;-

Season 1978-79 Revisited

May 5 Hampden Park

Rangers 1 (MacDonald 57) Celtic 0

Deloused :-

McCloy,Jardine, Johnstone, Jackson, Dawson, A MacDonald;
Russell, Smith, McLean, Parlane, Cooper.

Beloved :-

Latchford, McGrain, Aitken, Edvaldsson, MacLeod, Davidson (McAdam);
Conroy, Burns (Lynch), Provan, McCluskey, Doyle

Att - 52,841

From The Celtic Football Companion :

The game was another triumph for Davie Cooper. He was in the mood and gave Danny McGrain more trouble than he had had since his return to the first team. The only goal of the game came in the 57th minute. McLean sent over a low cross, Russell dummied and MacDonald scooped the ball into the net. With Lynch and McAdam on for Burns and Davidson Celtic found more power and were desperately unlucky to see a Johnny Doyle shot come off a post. Throughout the match Rangers created many more chances and they were undoubtedly the more positive side throughout. As a result of their victory they now had a 1 point advantage over their opponents.

I was at the game with my dad and remember being far from downhearted in the aftermath. If we won our remaining four fixtures we would take the title. However I don't recall the match as being a particularly one-sided affair in the darnel's favour although Campbell and Woods seem to disagree :-

Rangers, the more purposeful side throughout, could have won by several goals, such was their superiority over a remarkably subdued Celtic, but seemed content to settle for a 1-0 victory.

Gordon ?

WG

Paul67 :- You said "I was scared to publish the new site before the Rangers games in case things went against us; I’m becoming increasingly superstitious as this season wears on."

Don't you know that superstition is an outdated concept only used by those who can't get a grip on reality, it can have no effect at all on subsequent events.
This is why when my son and myself make sure we are wearing the same outfit (even down to the scarf) that we wore in the last game if we had a good result or if we change it say by wearing the away top rather than the home one or we change to a different scarf it's purely a fashion decision and nothing to do with superstition.

E.U
carrying rabbits paw, wearing silver charm and lucky white heather RSC

derbyshirebhoy 10.36

A coach can only tell a player something three times is attributed to Marcello Lippi. Gordon Strachan borrowed it from him.

Martin 42 -

Your brother John and I had our Purgatory Cards stamped at St Ig's this morning....

Ladies & Gentleman, Bhoys and Ghirls, please be upstanding for Craigneuk's National Anthem, The Sun Is Shining Brightly.....

laters amigo

WG

I loved WGS reply to Mark McGhee's comments regarding 'the corner that never was' in the Scotsman today.

[B]However, Strachan reacted curtly when told of Motherwell's ire, saying: "I am still furious about a goal and the offside decision that we didn't get at Inverness – so we are all furious."{/B]

Well said WGS, well said.

Couple of points - Well I`m getting excited again, although Mrs Dog tried her hardest to put a dampner on things by saying "they are just teasing you" (the huns).

You see 22nd may is the day we go on holiday Edinburgh - Zante 5am flight and the last thing mrs dog wants is old VTD being frantic on the first day there "where the **** is the setanta??"

After Motherwell at home I had not only thrown the towel in but the whole washing machine...........it never really is over till its over! This celtic team scares the living daylights out of me though - everyboy knows we could easily muck it up - just pray we do it .......then worry about the(glaring) deficiencies after that.

The Motherwell game is massive for them - if they win - they will probably beat utd on sat - but if the drew or lost I honestly believe they might crumble.

Poor Walter Smith!

On the eve of the final against St Petersburg,with the league campaign hanging on a shoogly nail, Mr Broadfoot advocates a knighthood for Walter.He even generously concedes that Mr Stein might be similarly elavated on Walter`s coattails.

Walter,apparantly,earns his gong for establishing the superiority of "Ranger`s principles of labour and industry"( does he mean the Protestant work ethic?) over "Tommy Burns flair filled" Celtic(does he mean feckless,flashy and lazy Catholic ethic ?) and techicnally superior Johnny Foreigner(they dont like it up em)

Reminds me of Hitler,with the Moscow campaign hanging on a shoogly nail, making Von Paulus a field marshall at Stalingrad with the reminder that no Field marshall in the history of the German army had ever surrendered.

Poor old Walter.I`d say he was being offered a poisoned chalice except that such does could not happen under Ranger`s labour and industry principles.

stoir mha chroi - tapadh leat airson na dealbhan. :)

Edward

It's probably for the rabbit to decide whether that brings luck :)

WinningGemmell :- It must be a rare day as the sun is shining down this end of the country as well, all I can say is.

Carpe Cerevisi

Celtic_first,

I think its understandable why Warty does not want to go into too much detail for that match. Firstly the goal that Celtic conceded in that game ultimately cost them the league. The Dundee game that was brought forward was all down to Jim Duffy who I am sure would have done the same for Rangers if the role was reversed but maybe Rowbottham 3 penalty in 45minues performance might have spurred Jim Duffy on.Around this time a very skint Dignity FC were hovering over the bones of Dundee for Gavin Rae, Zurab and Novo.

TPTWCParadise :- The rabbit had four of them I'm sure it could afford to lose one :-)

Edward

For 'rabbit', replace with 'Rangers' - lose at least one of them :)

cost "us the league" above post should read

ED,

Did you check out that wabbit eye sockets first before you skinned it ?
I hope that wasn´t one of those Bruce Springsteen Rabbits seen lying around Govan

Blinded by the head light,
revved up like a deuce,
another runner in the night
Blinded by the head light,

Edward -

Give it back, CLICK

They don't work.

TPTWCParadise :- I'd rather not put that one to the test thank you very much :-)
I remember posting a while back when we were well clear that I felt there was a few more twists and turns to come in the league yet. The bookies have both our teams at the same odds, right now I'd disagree with them and place Celtic as slight favourites, however if we win our next two league games I'll reverse that and consider us as slight favourites. Either way I'm sure this season is good for the sales of valium.

One Star - Excellent post on the Scotsman sport website yesterday re their shameless pro-Rankers propaganda. I was moved to add my rather long contribution...

The hypocrisy, lies and half truths permeated by Rangers FC this season are almost staggering even by previous standards. Less staggering is the way the media have aided and abetted this propaganda drive by publishing every tantrum without even the most token level of analysis.

Rangers are kidding no-one. This dummy spitting act has nothing to do with the UEFA Cup. Please stop the smoke and mirrors now. This has everything to do with being terrified that your bottle is crashing and the Rangers league challenge is going to fail. If Rangers had lost to Fiorentina the whingeing would be just as vociferous as it is now, if not more. The excuse would then be some sort of sporting integrity garbage.

HALF TRUTH: The SPL helped Celtic before the UEFA Cup final in 2003.

Yes Celtic were allowed to bring a fixture FORWARD against Dundee to allow 7 days preparation before the final. This DID NOT INVOLVE EXTENDING THE SEASON IN ANY SHAPE OR FORM. No-one in the media feels the need to point this out strangely enough, whilst at the same time agonising over the apparent "double standard" as if it presents some sort of unexplainable conundrum.

The fact is Celtic prioritised the UEFA Cup over the league so were willing to SACRIFICE 4 days preparation time for the league game with Dundee in order to GAIN 4 days preparation for the UEFA Cup final.

If Rangers want to bring any of their league games FORWARD to give themselves extra preparation time for the UEFA Cup final, no-one at Celtic would have any objections.

But of course Rangers aren't interested in fairness, what they demand is "help", in the form of changing the rules AGAIN, to gain any possible underhand advantage at no cost to themselves. I find it strange that Rangers officials should constantly bemoan the fact that the SPL are doing nothing to "help" them as if in some way, this forms part of the SPL's remit.

This is a recurring theme with Rangers this season. Remember Rangers' pathetic attempts to persuade FIFA to change their rules so they could bring in an extra bob or two by flogging Cousin? Arrogance in the extreme. Of course then the media bizarrely claimed that FIFA were hampering Wattie's ability to play Cousin against Panathinaikos by not letting Rangers..em.. sell him. Only the Scottish press could come up with that one!

TRUTH: Rangers asked for their own game against Gretna to be postponed indefinitely which was an UNPRECEDENTED act.
TRUTH: The SPL agreed citing the fact that BOTH CLUBS AGREED.
TRUTH: The SPL denied Aberdeen the same request citing the fact that Motherwell did not agree to the request.
TRUTH: The SPL denied Dundee Utd a postponment of their fixture with Hearts following their players having to witness the death of Phil O'Donnell in their previous game. The SPL REFUSED this request despite BOTH CLUBS AGREEING TO THE REQUEST.

If there are any double standards here, they certainly seems to have favoured Rangers.

As far as unfair fixture scheduling this season goes:

TRUTH: The SPL fixtures "computer" made Celtic play 7 out of 10 games immediately following Champions League ties (including qualifiers) away from home.
TRUTH: The same figure for Rangers was 2 out of 8. Tellingly Rangers lost one of these league games.

HYPOCRISY: "The date is set and that's it. If you look at Man Utd, the play Liverpool then Real Madrid, then Newcastle and Arsenal. They have another game before the play Madrid for the second time and I don't see them complaining. You have to be happy that you are involved in those games. I would love to be in their position" - Ronald De Boer 2003.

The BBC very helpfully titled their reporting on this matter as "CELTIC BRANDED MOANERS"
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/scot_prem/2951361.stm

HYPOCRISY: "Rangers would not complain if we found oursleves in similar circumstances. I would love to be in the position they are in." - Alex McLeish 2003

HYPOCRISY AND LIES: "But let me just clarify no-one from Rangers has ever asked the SPL to extend the season and we will not ask them to extend the season" - Walter Smith 2003 http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/r/rangers/7328229.stm

Aye dignity right enough.

Awe Naw

I think we conceded two goals that night, although what you say is true of course.

My point is that people are printing lies, perhaps out of ignorance. Either way, it's a disgrace because it's not as if it was that long ago.

Why is Walter Smith's comment of a mere few weeks ago — about asking for no extension — being forgotten too?

If I were a Rangers supporter I would view all the bleating in public very dimly.

Red Card for SPL as Russians show us how a successfull club should be looked after.

http://sport.scotsman.com/football/Comment-Red-card-for-SPL.4049236.jp#2775813

CSIALegend :- Good point, if I find the rabbit involved I'll return it :-)

malceye: Did you notice that this campaign also praises Smith for "leaving the semi-retirement" of managing the national team when Scotland still had a chance of qualifying for Euro 2008?

As for all the Smith bleating, surely drawing against Hibs is not any good reason for Smith to complain. Had he just lost the UEFA Cup final - or played Dundee Utd at a terrible cost to the team - the "nobody's helping us" whine might hold some water.

What has drawing with Hibs 10 days before the final got to do with any "help" that could be given to them.

Edward U

Re: Pre-match superstitions

Try wearing a Celtic strip while watching the Gers. It always makes me fel better.

tony b @12:28

Brilliant!

Could be titled - Lies, Damn Lies and Dignity FC

Paul - first post on new site - it's lookin good. Well done! A new format fit for 3 in-a-row!

Tony,

I read this one earlier it was written by Tom English ?? but I now see that they have removed his name and replaced it with "comment".

Never read anything like that in 2003

I see Walter 'we'll not asks for a extension' Smith is in the papers today moaning about not enough is being done to help rangers win the UEFA cup.......if that is what's really bothering him, why doesn't rangers ask UEFA to move back the UEFA cup final????

Maybe rangers know they'll be laugh out the park, if they did.

you can just see rangers wobble wobble..:-)

On the next two Rangers matches at Ibrox.

I share the view that they are likely to beat Motherwell because they will have to rally from their Embra result and they'll get themselves up for it with a frightened crowd behind them. Failing that, they'll get a penalty.

However, I am not so sure of the Dundee United game. The circumstances change when
a) They feel they are back on track after beating Motherwell
b) Dundee United have revenge as well as Europe in mind.
c) Their minds start to wander to being in the UEFA final line up 4 days later and they pull out of challenges.

So my prediction is a win for EU's mob on Wednesday but further dropped points on Saturday.

Whichever way it goes, we still have a tough game on Sunday. The hard part of the equation remains. Celtic have to win 2 games.

Greetings

Do we dare to dream?
We dare
Do we roar on this team?
Hear us!
Will we fight to the end?
Bring it on
Can we drive the huns round the bend?
Please God!

Dare to dream my friends, I do

SFTB :- Thanks for the suggestion but I look fat enough without wearing hoops. Plus there is also the worry that it would have the same effect on me as the Nessus shirt had on Heracles :-)

Taking the lies, damnied lies and dignity FC to task (cheers GlasgowBhoy!) is a lengthy business and I could have continued ad infinitum. However I missed one transparent example of the spin that easily demonstrates that the Scottish media are lock stock and barrel behind Rankers over this Extensiongate carry on. I won't offend anyone by linking to the Daily Ranker website thereby contributing to their traffic, so have typed this effort "credited" to Traynor and McCarthy verbatim (with my own emphasis). Be assured the article exists:

"Rangers are also bewlidered that the SPL freely admit that they helped clear the decks for Celtic in 2003 but haven't done the same for them"

Careful not to mention that the season wasn't extended in 2003. Well done Traynor.

"Operations manager Ian Blair attempted to explain and said: "We moved a Celtic game with Dundee United [?? Blair can't even get his facts right therefore represents a questionable source. Remember this was the kind of gaffe that John Barnes was castigated for] before their UEFA Cup final, but we had more flexibility to do that then, than we do now".

Not suprising that Traynor would spin things to suit Rankers agenda but you would've thought that the "impartial" SPL official, Blair, would perhaps have pointed out the fundamental point that the season wasn't actually extended in 2003.

In the absence of this, the impression is allowed to persist, that the Govan cheats are in some way, hard-done-by. Mission accomplished!

Tony B

Excellent work there, bhoy. Keep it up.

Edward or anyone, I'd be keen to see any concrete proposals Rangers have come up with as an alternative to the fixture lists as it stands.

What, really, are the options? Has anyone made a practical, practicable suggestion?

Concerned we all seem to be getting carried away...
We could easily have dropped points at Motherwell and there are no guarantees that we'll get 2 wins in our next 2 matches.

I'd still rate this as 50/50 at the moment

serutiku:

I think the appropriate response is: 'you're welcome'.

Sorry I couldn't find anything more but to be honest I enjoy looking.

A wee secret between you and me. I am ashamed to say, having been born in Glasgoe, I was never educated in the language of my country and it is only in my later years that I wish I was.

To have your question answered categorically you might do worse than to contact Celtic themselves on the official web page.

Some good old photo's all the same eh?

pin76

it's an expression of doubt - it's what faith is all about

believe

it costs nothing

and it makes me smile

2gl

Celtic_First,

An excellent queston. I have never seen a proposal from Rangers - and of course the club didn't ask for an extension!

Another fact often forgotten is the forthcoming European Championships. Players called up for their country's squads have to be released and so UEFA made it known many months ago that seasons had to be concluded (or stopped for those summer playing countries). So there is no time to extend the season in any case!

Lubo 1977: Did you notice this from the same Times article?

"Antidoping agencies are, for the most part, fighting the good fight. But sometimes their zeal takes them far beyond the bounds of common sense and turns them into urine-sample wielding versions of the Stasi.

Take the case of Kazuki Ganaha, the Kawasaki Frontale and Japan striker. When he came down with flu last year, his doctor prescribed intravenous garlic infusions (no, I didn’t know that garlic, in addition to warding off vampires, was also effective against influenza).

Now, garlic is neither a performance-enhancing drug, nor a banned substance. But intravenous treatment is prohibited by the J-League, in line with Fifa regulations. Therefore, he was banned."

http://sport.scotsman.com/sport/McCoist-adamant-Rangers-played-fair.3927213.jp
"Barry Ferguson has been given an injection for his ankle with a view to hopefully being involved."

See me and dead horses, and see this Rangers being doping cheats, I'm going to keep flogging them both.

Perversely, I hope Rangers make a monumental effort and take the points from Motherwell on Wednesday. They'll think they've turned the corner, but they'll need to make the same effort again in each of their remaining games, and I doubt that they can do it.

Points on the board over games in hand, that's what you usually here from the press, although strangely not this time.

Was at the Training Day today. No Hartley, Brown or JVoH. McManus and Kennedy running but not kicking the ball. Cuthbert training with first team, presumably because Bobo won't be risked again after the goal we lost yesterday.

CelticFirst :- While I wish circumstances were different and we had an easier run in I've said for a while now that I think the fixture list should stand. If we do win the league then managing to do so while playing so many games will make it all the sweeter.
I can't see us not winning the S.C so at the very least the season would consist of two domestic cups and finalists in the UEFA cup, not a bad season by any standards and one that's been unmatched in Scotland for a generation. Yet strangely enough it would leave me feeling slightly dissapointed. If we win any two out of the three remaining trophies I'd argue that we have managed a better performance than any other Scottish team in recent memory.
So to repeat my opening line no complaints from me at the fixture congestion.

Gordon_J

Entirely correct. And this did not apply in 2003 when there was no European Championship or World Cup at the end of the domestic season. That means extending the season then would have been much easier, say by pushing the final games back a few days to midweek.

It would have meant clubs such as Dunfermline changing holiday arrangements, as their holiday started at 3.00 pm on the Sunday when they arrived in the Glasgow Airport area, and that would have been unfair on them.

Ed, thanks old thing, but you fail to answer my question.

I wonder what alternative suggestions Rangers have put forward, not how you feel about it all.

Question...

Do WaltDisnae's Squad have any players involved in EURO 08 or Internationals... I cant think of Any...

o1bhoy

stoir mha chroi - no need to apologise and many thanks for the photos, shouldn't have assumed you did speak it, never assume anything eg. that you're going to win 4 trophies!

Winningemmell,

Wee brother is doing and looking just fine.

I think that this evening we shall be upstanding for,

"Bring Flowers Of ,,,,,,,,"

In the meantime how about being

UPSTANDING FOR THE CHAMPIONS,

Martin.

Celtic First

I reproduce their practical, practicable proposal below verbatim:-

"Gonnae gie us the league. Gonnae, Gonnae. Youse huv hud it for two years and it's no fair. I'm tired of playing awe these games. Gonnae jist gie us it. I'm telling ma maw!"

Wattie Smith aged 9 and three quarters

Tony,

I read this one earlier it was written by Tom English ?? but I now see that they have removed his name and replaced it with "comment".

Never read anything like that in 2003

Fifa Regulations:

M2. Chemical and physical manipulation

2. Intravenous infusion is prohibited. In an acute medical situation where this method is deemed necessary, a retroactive Therapeutic Use Exemption will be required.

CelticFirst :- Sorry about that, I did mean to add that I wasn't aware of any alternative being put up. I'm slightly distracted by the game on the telly just now :-) If you don't mind a non believer quoting a father of the church the game brings to mind the famous phrase.

da mihi castitatem et continentam, sed noli modo

WinningGemmell :- I'm watching your second favourite team on Beeb 1 just now and I have to say they are more attractive than any other football team I've watched this season.

why did that post twice ????

ShaggyCSC

EdwardU,

I will mail you tonight,

STAND UP FOR THE CHAMPIONS,(STAYING),

Martin.

01bhoy,

It is likely that Boruc, Samaras nad JVoH will be called up for Euro 2008.

They are unlikely to have anyone there, unless Nacho Novo's long awaited elevation to the Spanish squad finally happens.

Methinks another league title will be decided today.

I can see 'the toon' holding Chelski at the very least.

9/1 for Martins for first goalscorer. Owen at 7's. Gone for £10 on Oba.

Anyone who thinks that Motherwell will take anything off Rangers is living with high hopes. While Mc Ghee´s frustration at the corner decision was unnecessarily evident. I thought to myself, ok Mark I can understand you wanting to flush out any questionable decisions for Wednesday at the expense of our name and that could be considered good management. I later reflected at the two goals we lost at Celtic Park to Rangers and thought mmmh maybe it was better to keep your big mouth shut Mark if you want Motherwell and then Celtic to progress.

The Kirin cup is also being played and the Japanese manager, Takeshi Okada, has stated that he'll call up every european based player. The first match is on the 24th May. Japan v Ivory Coast.

Will Naka be forced to attend camp on or before the 22nd?

historyreader

I simply thought it was interesting that despite the misinformation abounding at the time he was with us it seemed that Roy Keane had sufficient respect to listen to what Gordon was saying.

chris sutton is a legend: Funny, I can see that too. He can be pretty annoying but I actually quite like Kevin Keegan now. He seems to be the old-fashioned "spirit of fair play" type that is so rare in football now.

He might not "love it" but I bet he'll have Newcastle giving their all.

Aw Naw - Unfortunately by the time my attention was drawn to the "SPL red card" artcle by One Star there was no author credited to it. I will have to google Tom English and see what that throws up.

In the course of looking for quotes re 2003, I came across a hun site really scraping the barrel to find a "media all against us" angle. It really is demented stuff. I don't usually lurk on these sites for the good of my own blood pressure.

Apprantley the eggs benedict, pepperami, green & white straw stuff all made it into the papers as part of a timmy conspiracy. Anyway the latest is that the "Is it cold in Jock's shadow" banner was made by a member of the IRA, that the Jungle Bhoys paid this individual money and that the press have hushed this up. They really do appear to be making a serious argument that this constitutes a media campaign against them. We have nothing on paranoia like this.

Has anyone heard anything along these lines re the Jock's shadow banner? Of course the fact that it isn't racist or a slur on someone's religion doesn't matter.

Tonybananas

I had the misfortune to catch part of Traynor's show on Saturday during which he punted the same rubbish about Celtic having a game postponed in the run up to the UEFA Cup Final.

I emailed in (as no doubt did many others) pointing out that this is untrue, and highlighting the essential problem that the SPL cannot help Rangers in the UEFA Cup final WITHOUT giving them an unfair advantage in the league.

Of course all these were ignored - even by his sidekick who is supposed to be a BBC journalist (who if they had half a brain would know this anyway - but I understand that standards in BBC Scotland are falling by the day).

When challenged Traynor as per usual shouted down the caller, and cut them off. I think he then branded all Celtic fans who didn't want Rangers to win the UEFA cup "bigots".

We pay the licnese fee for this "public service" broadcasting?

CelticFirst - Ranger's alternative proposal was made quite clear in explicit and unambiguous language by Martin Bain -

"Why couldn't the season have been extended to 27th May regardless?"

This was followed by a couple of lines of "we realise this will inconvenience some other teams but... sporting integrity blah blah"

i.e. but other teams are not as important as Glasgow Rankers and in any case we don't give a daffy duck about logistics as long as we get our own way.

In a sporting integrity manner of course.

Hi all, first time poster. Paul, been reading this site for over a year now. Brilliant reading. We WILL make it 3 in a row.

Mon the hoops.

First post on the new site but I was an infrequent poster and avid lurker on the old site.

Well done Paul for the upgrade, looks very professional.

On the issue of Edward Ursus, fair enough you seem like a decent guy from the small number of your posts that I've read but at the end of the day this is called Celtic Quick News and I don't come on here to get a balanced view of Glasgow Rivals opinion, I want a balanced view, purely of the Celtic kind.

This might be regarded as insular, backward or whatever...I think that retort is just plain hyperbole on the part of the accusers.

I have enough Rangers supporting friends, family etc to build up a decent enough mosiac of Rangers opinion and views.

As I'd imagine the majority of those on here do.

I'm aware Edward meets several of you guys and corresponds via e-mail so I fail to see why he needs to post on here to contribute to your own personal mosiacs when he already does outwith the confines of this site.

For those who don't meet him or e-mail him, obviously you don't require his opinion and friendship THAT much otherwise you would make an effort to expand your interaction beyond responding to one another on this site.

I'm proud that Celtic are a club open to players and fans of any creed, race, gender, social status, sexuality etc,

But why should we be open to accommodating Rangers fans within our specific place of conversation and debate? Our online community to be more precise. I think thats pushing our all-welcoming stance a bit far...

It does not mean we are bitter, bigoted, sectarian or otherwise, it just means we want to have our own private, purely Celtic space to convene.

In a country like Scotland (where a large percentage of posters are from) it is extremely difficult to find such a private location to be in the company of your Celtic family - other than of course - Celtic Park.

Just my two cents.

I'm also interested to see that there is a bit of belief suddenly back amongst the 'supporters'.

Sadly it does not change my opinion on the majority of you.

Gutless.

Gave up without a fight, luckily the players did not as we are now on the brink of a famous turnaround, the likes of which haven't been seen since the day we beat Artmedia 4-0. (Turnaround Tuesday is what I nicknamed it - before and after...read as: Keep The Faith)

I am of the opinion that at the end the St. Mirren vs Rangers game we will be without doubt the Champions of 2007/2008.

4 points clear with one game to go sounds good to me.

I look forward to watching Gordon lift his third league trophy in a row with The Hoops.

Glasgow Celtic Champions...

We love you, we love you, we love you...

Sevillian

I thought some of you might find the following two entries in the Herald diary quite funny.

Rangers reaching the Uefa Cup final in that penalty shoot-out meant a lot of west of Scotland men crying for the first time in years. But should they admit it?

As one wrote on a Rangers fans' website: "Cried, but pretended I had something in my eye like a real man!!" And another, who watched the game in a supporters' club, wrote: "For the first minute the tears were running down my face, but managed to disguise them by wiping my face in everybody's jumpers

FOR Celtic fans, the shoot-out was also nerve-wracking, but for different reasons, obviously. On one Celtic website, seconds before the kicks were taken, one fan wrote: "Dear footballing gods, I will adopt a poor African kid, buy an RSPCA dog, join the Red Cross, work in India unpaid, give blood daily, help old dears cross the road, recycle, change old people's pants and bedsheets - just don't let Rangers win this." So, if you see a chap with a dog and a young African at the Blood Transfusion Centre, let us know.

Could the anonymous Celtic fan be Whitedoghunc or maybe even Collie, though if it were the latter you would have to think on his motives in buying the dog :-)

Martin42 :- As always it will be a pleasure to hear from you.

Things are gathering momentum paul67 was right.

Glasgow Herald has Tardy Floorboard .. well that´s what Michelle called him demanding that Watty gets a Knighthood (no kiddin)
and by this afternoon Thomas Jordan in the Evening Times has bestowed the title of Prophet on him (no kiddin).

Hail Hail

Lanark Celt (and everyone else),

I have written to the BBC several times complaining about Traynor. If more Celtic fans wrote in it may have an impact, then again probably not. Like I have said previously - stop listening and definitely stop calling these shows.

Arsenal ladies score. 1-0

Lanarkcelt,

I dont pay them a penny but I asked "a question" to BBC last week. Not a complaint.

What I would like confirmed if there is anyone from the BBC that is reading on here can do so.

When you ask a question via email there is an automatic reply. The reply basically states that due to volume etc. they cannot answer all complaints. WHich in itself is abit defalting. You write a question send it to them and then get the immediate answer that they wont answer but will read it and log it.

Smells doesn´t it

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