Celtic Quick News, Charity five-a-sides, 25 October 2008

RED...............AMBER..GREEN and their off

Céad Dhaoine ?

MANCHESTER AUTHORITIES SLAM CELTIC LOUTS

A man who works as a security guard, near Manchester, thus putting him in authority, has slammed the antics of two Celtic fans, who had been drinking a mere six days before the game at Old Trafford on Tuesday. Billy, who doesn`t want to be named for fear of reprisals from the hordes of CFC fans, told a hushed and shocked Scottish media pack about the frightening scenes. "I was going about my duties as a security guard in the Biddlesnook Shopping Centre, near Wales, when I was passing tables outside of the Starvin Marvin Bistro, last Wednesday lunchtime. I heard a man, talking quite loudly, in what can only be described as a Celtic accent, asking his friend if he had a ticket for next week." "No, I can`t get my bleedin `ands on one" came the other thugs answer. "It was obvious to me, said Billy, that they were meaning the Man Utd v Celtic match. Such language, at such an early hour shocked me, and I also noticed that one of them had ordered a quarter bottle of Merlot with his fajitas." Billy went on, "The other one had a clear drink in front of him, and although there was an Evian bottle beside him, it was probably just a front for a vodka & tonic, maybe even a gin and tonic", a clearly upset and traumatised Billy added. "I really feared for my life, so I got out of there as fast as I could. I have now lost my job,* but will the so called Greatest Fans In The World care about that? Somehow I doubt it"
When asked about them possibly talking loudly as they had hearing aids in Billy quipped, "Not bloody likely, they were probably earphones and they were probably listening to sectarian and probably racist and possibly bigoted IRA songs"
CCTV footage later saw the men paying their bill and leaving,(after arguing, as both wanted to pay it) the Merlot bottle had almost been emptied, and had it been glass and not plastic, a bit bigger and one of the elderly hooligans taken it with him and hit someone over the head with it, it could have caused immesureable damage and destruction not seen on a scale since 9/11.
"They should close 2 of their stands at the next European match", said a distressed Billy, "and ban them from that match, that would send out a message to the Fenian scum, if they are even still in Europe after Christmas"

*Billy has since got a new job, checking for broken wheels on trolleys at a supermarket, at an undisclosed location, near England

podium?

Celtic have activated a one-year extension clause in Gary Caldwell's contract and will begin negotiations to secure the Scotland internationalist's future on a more lucrative long-term deal.

Caldwell's original contract expires next summer but The Herald understands Peter Lawwell, the Celtic chief executive, quietly reached an agreement with the player and his agent last month to exercise the club's right to an automatic one-year extension until July 2010. The 26-year-old's recent performances, though, have merited his elevation into a higher earning bracket and talks are due to begin on a deal that could result in Caldwell committing his future to the club for up to another four years.

Caldwell was one of the few success stories of Tuesday night's 3-0 defeat to Manchester United at Old Trafford. He performed admirably in the holding midfield role and is now an established first pick for club and country.

Gordon Strachan, the Celtic manager, has regularly extolled the virtues of the former Hibernian and Newcastle United defender and, despite initial criticism of his performances in Europe, Caldwell has become a mainstay beside Stephen McManus.

Celtic's travelling supporters were also praised last night for their exemplary behaviour in and around Old Trafford by Greater Manchester Police.

The local authorities had been on edge after ugly street violence marred Rangers' UEFA Cup final defeat to Zenit St Petersburg at the City of Manchester Stadium in May.

Superintendent John Graves, the match commander, praised the 40,000-strong travelling support and described them as "ambassadors of Glasgow" and a credit to their club.

"As the Police Match Commander at Old Trafford, I would like to pass on my thanks to those Celtic fans who came to support their club in the finest traditions of genuine football fans, and ambassadors of Glasgow," said Graves.

"I have to say that Celtic Football Club has every right to be proud of its fans. Those who braved the night in a windy and wet Manchester were a credit to the club.

"We have a cliche in Manchester about the eyes of Europe being upon Old Trafford during these massive football games, and this was no exception.

"I believe that Celtic fans did a great deal to enhance not only the club's reputation across Europe, but also their own: well done."

Lawwell endorsed the praise from the Manchester police. "Once again, Celtic fans have shown themselves to be tremendous ambassadors for our club and our city and they have further enhanced the good name of Celtic Football Club in European football,"

he said.

"Despite the disappointing result, they gave total backing to the team, recognising that the players had given everything in the game against the reigning European champions."

Tell all the tims that you know

Jinkysboy just made 4 in a row

Thats now 5 out of 6

With Nigel Mansell on slicks

Coming first is what counts as you know

Obviously , I'm subscribing to the Nigel Mansell school of pit-starts !

I don't like criticising big Mick, as he's the sort that would stand in front of a train for the team. But I know that's not enough.

Caldwell for me is the real captain in the team, and I'd like to see him and O'Dea get a run together.

But to be honest, injuries permitting, and as a fan of WGS, for some reason I don't see it happening, which I worry might be missing a great opportunity

Paul 67

Be aware that there may be some "reporters" at the 5s lurking with cameras too.

Any kicking of opponents legs, tugging of shirts or foul language would be reported on their site and obviously connected to the Hibs game at CP only hours later

Please therefore advise all players and supporters to behave and not tarnish the image of our great club (and the CQN site)

Hoping to make it to the 5's look forward to it.

BobbyRussell

Great piece, do you get that from that Scotzine site?

Reminds me of this True Story

Paul, we might come and watch. Where is it? Glasgow Green?

I know we are all disappointed with Tuesdays result, but reading through last nights posts, it looks like some fans want to have a fire sale.
The financial and therefore skill difference between ourselves will never be bridged under the present financial systems.
entry into the EPL or a Euro League would have see us reach our target of the most successful club in the world, but until then we have to strive to succeed with the finances we have(perhaps a little more).
We can achieve results against the richer clubs, through determination and skill and wise purchases.
However, decisions like those given on Tuesday night will quickly negate any chance we have.
Like Parnell when he was praised by The Times I have to go search my conscience, I find myself in agreement with EdwardUrsus on last nights post, when he said that Man U and Arsenal have half a dozen players with that "something extra" that Liverpool don't possess.

Anyway, back to the real world of SPL.
Any word on Crossas ???

Madra Rua

Im sure I read "somewhere" that Marc Crosas could be out for a month

I am able to confirm [on here of course first-amongst my people!] that I shall be attending the 5-a-sides in person, myself on Saturday morning.

As well as autograph signing and photo opportunities I will be happy to spend some time amongst you- my people!-where I will be able to answer all your questions on life in Formula 1 when it was exciting and competitive.

Unfortunately for legal reasons any questions on Murray Walker are black flagged. Afterwards I shall be able to give one of my lucky people a lift to the game in my F40, a personal gift of Enzo himself.

Can you imagine the look on the urchin's face when we drive up and he offers to 'look after yir car, mister'!

Nige- the people's champ.

Having taken time to consider Tuesday night, had another look at the match and read some of your comments, I offer the thought that we were beaten before we started.

Many of you commented that the players looked spooked, I think our management team created that. Let me explain.

I have no arugment with the tatics or most of the personnel employed but I do have issues with the motivational skills of our management team. From the previous Saturday we hear the manager tell us that the team is too small, not in their class, snow white looking after them and how it was an impossible task.

I don't pretend to know as much about football or tactics as WGS but I also manage people and no matter how difficult the task or impossible the target I would never tell them the couldn't achieve it before they started. I might tell them when it was over and they had done their best, that it was impossible but I would never tell them under any circumstances they weren't good enough.

The only person I heard with a positive take was Neil Lennon, who said nothing was impossible, I just hope he does the motivation for the return leg.

I am not a WGS hater I just think he got it wrong in this instance and the above coupled the all the forelock tugging he has done to Manu since the match, I don't know how he can motivate his team for the retutn leg.

I thought most of them did great and with our help will manage it on 5th.

Keep the faith bhoys

Can I ask whats wrong with Darren O'Dea, he's the best cenre back we have and very capable of playing against anyone as he has already proved.

Paul, I've maybe missed it, but is there somewhere we can contribute to the charity day on line or whatever.

In the true spirit of Celtic it would seem that some folk have put a lot of work in to this event. Wish it every success!

The Holy Goalie is up before the SFA beaks today. Anyone else think that the same punishment that was meted out to Andy Goram for wearing a Black Armband in memory of a scumbag convicted murdering terrorist will be administered ?

NotachanceCSC

hartleysmyhero

I agree totally re the negative comments coming from WGS before the game, that team were beaten before the game even started.

I was lucky enough to be close enough to the pitch at tannadice the day we won the league to hear Lennon go through the pre match warm up. As the players warmed up he was walking past giving what I can only describe as Rocky Balboa esqu type stuff. @you are supreme human beings' 'you are world class sportsmen' 'you will not be defeated'.

I thought it was superb I really did!

DD

Nigel

May just see you in my Ford Focus rear view mirror as we drive to CP. Its not the car mate - its all about quick reactions and driving skills.

Martin 42

Im looking forward to the Peoples Tenor singing Nessan Dorma and YNWA in the centre circle at CP saturday at 2.40pm. I hope theres a healthy crowd in the stadium especially when he sings YNWA as that could be a classic duet with our choir.

Good news for Eduardo (Arsenal) - Wenger states that he could be back in 3 weeks. Glad to hear that

Dundee Celt from previos article

"Antsman, I agree almost every other EPL team has a stronger team on paper.

I ask you this however, do you think someone like the Paraguyan internationalist Roque Santa Cruz wants to play for Blackburn Rovers as he enjoys living in the North West of England?

Or does the Brazilian forward Afonso Alves want to play for Middlesbrough as he likes it 'up North?

I would suggest the answer lies somewhere between playing in the EPL and earning upwards of £40k per week.

This is unfortunately where we cannot compete with the likes of Wigan etc as we don't/can't finance to these amounts."

The above only further perpetuates the myth

We can pay £40k a week and we can compete with the likes of Wigan, we have more money coming in than them.

We choose not to compete because the club is not prepared to go into more debt like the prem teams are. Look at wigan's turnover, it was nowhere near ours and their debt is higher. We can compete with most prem teams on salaries but we choose not to. I am not saying that is wrong but this whole we can not compete is garbage and yesterday's Guardian article backs that up in many ways

BobbyRussell @ 12:16 PM

I very rarely post (full-time reader though) but I had to come on and say that your post had me in fits of laughter.

Toooooooo funny.

Cheers mate

PandaHandswhojustcantstoplaughingatBobbyRussellspostcsc

Awe naw

Lucas Zaluska (Dundee Utds POLISH GOALIE) was fined £500 for a similar signal to the Aberdeen fans this year in the league cup semi

I would assume thats the going rate then

I would like to add that I have no probs whatsoever with how WGS handled the press before and after the Old Trafford game. What he says in public and what he says in private is well thought out and we can only speculate what is siad privately. It would be foolish to think they are the same. He is nobody fool or patsy. Losing JVOH and big Sami effectively killed the tie off. We still have to play Man U in two weeks and lulling them into a false sense of security and superiority and being overly complimentary (which he wasn´t just brutally honest) will not provide them with any extra motivational material for the game at CP.

The Gate In The Wood, Episode 61 - Nessun Korma

The Holy Trinity Lounge, Old Twafford - Tuesday 19:40

FA (on moby): It's a cwisis, Cafe. The Match Announcer has wost the Champions Weague theme CD and the bwasted scousers won't couwier a copy to us. Pwatini is having a convussion and says the match can't go ahead without Zadok The Pwiest.

Cafe : Zadok The Priest ?

FA: The official mewody of the Champions Weague

NAFOS (quietly to Cafe) : Is there a problem Cafe ?

Cafe (covers moby with hand and whispers to NAFOS) : The match is in doubt if the Champions League theme is not broadcast. Fergus is at the end of his tether.

NAFOS: Tell him I'll sort it out but our group needs Access All Areas accreditation.

Cafe (back on moby): Fergus, that nice Mr Nafos has a solution but his party needs TrebleA accreditation.

FA: Gauwanteed, Cafe. TwebleA accweditation is gwanted to all Bwegkamp Gemmell's gwoup with the exception of Winston Bwegkamp himself. Bwegkamp must wemain in the Howy Twinity Wounge, it's impewative. (disconnects)

Cafe : Well, Mr Nafos....

NAFOS : Call me Naf

Cafe: Well, Naf, you have your accreditation but Winston Bergkamp Gemmell must remain here. How do you propose to solve the problem ?

NAFOS: The solution is right here in this very lounge, Cafe. If you can arrange a PA system in the centre circle I'll do the rest.

Cafe: I don't see how....

NAFOS: Trust me, Cafe. We have in our company one Hugh Richards, the finest bhoy soprano in the West of Scotland. He knows the words to Zadok The Priest better than he knows the plot of Brokeback Mountain. He will be accompanied on the guitar by Ulysses McGhee, one of the finest musicians in Lanarkshire. The Badger will conduct.

Cafe: Sounds like a plan, Naf

NAFOS: Cafe, who was the last band to play in the Holy Trinity Lounge ?

Cafe: There was a a Barry Manilow tribute act on in here last night.

NAFOS: Perfect, let's find their maracas.

Cafe: Maracas ?

NAFOS: Aye, fur Arthur Lee. We also need four blousons with ruffled sleeves for The Four Fivers. Our bhoys are ready to save the day. Let's go, go go.

madra rua

I agree a firesale is a mugs game and just look at our (ahen) friends across the city when they had to dismanlte the 100 quid team Advocaat had made. They went from contenders to chumps pronto. We can't get the money they got to clear their debt because MON is our only way of moving guys on. Graeme Souness helped out by buying a whole load of their assembled squad.

No, we have some good players who are capable of more than Tuesday showed but I can't help but feel we could have had a better transfer window. PL dallied on certain deals and then the guys went elsewhere for more money. Getting TG and BB out of the club seemed to be a bigger priority and one left with a wad in his pocket, the other one probably will too.

The fact that so many of our fans complain about the defence must mean something. The fullbacks are unconvincing at best and the centre pair are not right. Think about some of the names we were linked with and who we ended up with:

Gabriel Tamas, the serbian guy, Michael Kadlec.

These guys would be first picks and I personally think more should have been done. It guarantees nothing of course but we certainly have good attacking players but we can't kepp the ball in Europe and that always puts the defense on the back foot. The answer? Midfielders who can pass the ball to someone in their own team. Hard work and endeavour are all very well but several of our midfiled invited trouble on us too often.

So to the manger's role: Mis - management or one hand tied behind his back? I don't know but in January it will be too late if we crash out of Europe altogether! This will allow the board to justify a modest transfer window again!!!

The other mob across the city have spent their money and I don't see anyone in that squaqd who'd fetch Hutton money or Ugly Betty Money. We should go for the throat but we won't, we never do and that's the trouble. I honestly believed in the summer that a good purchase or two would come along but so far the jury is out on what we did get (Samaras apart).

Somthing isn't sitting right!!

BobbyRussell :- I have to agree with PandaHands :-) That's what happens when you let folk losse from their natural environment in B.B's
From the description my suspicion falls on OldTim and AulHeid.

Could you imagine if we had sold S McDonald, THG and McGeady in the summer as some have suggested?

'Meltdown' would spring to my mind, could the CQN blog stand up to the test? I for one am glad we did not have to find out.

I suppose hindsight is a beautiful thing as they(who?) say

I asked a question yesterday at 12.05p.m. but to my knowledge you did not comment but I really would like your take on the situation as it is bewildering to say the least.Thanks to Dontbrattbackinanger @ 1.14 I now know that Head of Sports Science is Gregory Dupont who I assume would be the man responsible for the attainment and monitoring of fitness levels and dietery control of our players.My question is, why is he still in the job?It is 3.5 months since we started pre-season and just look at the lack of physical conditioning of Boruc,Macdonald and Hartley.In their current physical state they should be nowhere near the first eleven.It says volumes for their lifestyles.How can you train and play like they do and look like that?People will ask,how can WGS leave out your main striker and no. 1 goalie,well I would argue that you cannot afford not to leave them out for 2 reasons.Firstly what message does this send to the rest of our playing staff.Secondly I have no doubt that Boruc who is our biggest single financial asset on the playing staff has in the first 3 months of the season reduced his asset value by half as a result of his lack of motivation and application.If ever anybody needed to be dropped it's him right now.These guys are well paid "athletes" not a word that springs to mind when you look at them.I have a perception (as we all do) of Strachan's coaching philosophies,work ethic and discipline standards,well I am stunned that he,to my knowledge otherwise they would'nt be playing in the first team,has not taken a stand on this.This is a true worry.These comments are in no way a knee jerk response to Tues. night.Whether it's Man U,Livingston or Hibs our players should not be taking the field in that condition.It was a bit embarrasing watching Hartley trudge out there like he was playing for his street team on a Sunday morning.Can you imagine watching an Arsenal side with any player close to being overweight?It's a worry.

KrakowBhoy,

I thought Hinkel and Donati would be first team picks too !!

Edward

Saw the Liverpool game today - as you posted last night - even worse performance from the officials in Madrid. The Sky experts were harping on about the smaller countries officials as I think they were Danish and ours wee Belgian.

TGITW Episode 6-2, Mistaken ID

Post-Match, The Holy Trinity Lounge, Old Twafford

WF: Hi there, I'm Wio Ferdinand, England internationalist and you, sir, are...... ?

WG (quickly opens two packets of Scampi Fries and throws them over himself): Sir Gordon Duffield, Chief Executive of the Scottish Football Association.

WF: I'm absolutely delighted to meet you, Gordon. Sir Fergus speaks very highly of you

They shake hands and, as they do, WG cunningly removes the compass from Ferdinand's tracky jaikit poakit

WG: I'm sure he does. I've had a highly entertaining evening made even better by tonight's result. I thought the first two goals were onside by the length of Argyle Street, Wio.

WF: Me too. Sir Gordon, if we can be on the level for a moment. Could you kindly indicate to me he who is Winston Bwegkamp Gemmell, the republican rebelrouser ?

WG (points to Willie Chaughey who is tinkering with a thermostat in one of the champagne fridges) : That's Gemmell over there interfering with the Old Twafford chill machinery. I wouldn't be surprised if that's a bomb-timer, Wio. Anyway I'm taking no chances, I'm out of here. Laters, Wio.

I hear the brazilian yellow is not a very flattering colour ;)

Annoni ,

they were and are in at least one case and as I said it guarantees nothing, every player is a gamble even 30 million quid ones. I personally felt both the guys you mention would be better. I like Donati as a player but he never settled into any rhythm. He appears to be out in Siberia now so we'll never know, once WGS doesn't want you that appears to be it.

Who would you rather at Left back? Kadlec or Naylor?
While I appreciate what he and other players have done in the last 3 seasons I and many others are not convinced.

I watched the game with a pal the other night> I was disgusted with the give everything to MAn U attitudes (not just those goals but just generally they got more than we did and I felt unfairly) but my mate called it when he said too many players chucked it with 25 minutes to go which is not something that sits well with many supporters.

The guys I mentioned as potential signing targets might have done more, I don't know but other than throwing money at the team, there is no way we can improve in the short term at least. Would you agree?

jinkysboy,

after the English pundits had a go at the wee Danish officials we then had the immediate pleasure to watch Mike O´Reilly and Howard Webb in action - woeful but not a comment from Sky. I bet Mike Mc Curry never slept so good as he did last night too.

Jinkysboy :-)

Lisbon Lions Upper, yes, Glasgow Green (now mentioned above), look forward to seeing you there.

Nige, see you Saturday.

Yarranabbe Bhoy, thank you for your kind sentiments. Email me via the About page and I’ll get back to you.

KrakowBhoy, Gabriel Tamas would have been a first team pick? He was shunted from Auxerre to Dynamo Bucharest on loan in the summer, where I think he has disappeared from the starting line up.

Hoop-A-Holic, we could have sold all three but you are right, what would the reaction have been?

WinninGemmell

Great stuff, Let The People Sing.

ANNAOAN

Bit harsh on Andy Goram Andy Goram.He was diagnosed as suffering from schizophrenia and could hardly be blamed for being unable to distinguish between a specimen of Ratus Ratus(especially of the royal stripe) and his aunt.

Crip McWilliams Aunty terrorist CSC

While Lee Naylor struggles for form and neither Wilson or and injured Hinkel impress at right back - what chance the manager changing formation to a 3-5-2 for the Hibs game.

Boruc

Caldwell Mcmanus Loovens

Caddis Brown Hartley Robson McGeady

Sheridan Maloney

Paul67

I think he would have been for us is all I mean. Remember the out of favour Spurs defender Ramon Vega?
Some guys settle better at different clubs and the guys we could have had might have done more is all I mean. There have been out of favour rejects from other clubs who move and reignite it:

Samaras
Vega
Moravcik
Hartson (who was moved all over London and the Midlands before he settled down with us)

I think the lack of strength in depth told for us not just up front up all over.

According to the Beeb, Artur Boruc has been fined but they don't give any details of how much.

jinkysboy, I like your team but I was shot down in flames some time ago for suggesting a 3-5-2 in home games where opposition rarely play more than 1 attacker.Think it's good.

From the SFA

DISCIPLINARY COMMITTEE MEETING

Thursday, 23 Oct 2008

At today's meeting of the Scottish FA's Disciplinary Committee, Celtic Goalkeeper Artur Boruc was fined £500, severely censured and warned to his future conduct. This relates to an incident that took place following the
match between Celtic and Rangers on 31 August 2008. The player has 7 working days to appeal this decision.

Take it they are now free to look into other incidents from that game.

Artur fined £500.

After a comment from KrakowBhoy, I decided to check how Michal Kadlec is doing in his new club?
After eight games, Bayer is third, after Hamburger and TSG. They collected 15 points, in comparison to 17 of HSV. Kadlec played in the last five games. It seems, since four games he was always in the first XI, not replaced. No goals, no cards.Bayer lost 11 goals, scored 20 goals.

jinkysboy,in my excitement for your 3-5-2 suggestion, i didn't realise Hartley was there.Replace him with Naka till he gets in shape.See my contribution at 1.00p.m.

Krakow.

Celtic paid TG's contract in full to get him to move on. That was money lost to our transfer kitty.

Discostu

I think we have been trying to fit players into "OUR" system and GS has said that certain players cant adapt - so I suppose 3-5-2 is a non starter with the boss

But as i posted - we dont have a form right or left back at the club right now - so rather than play out of form players or try to fit square peg into round holes (Robson @ LB and Loovens @ RB) why not adapt the formation to suit the players available and on form.

Im not advocating a permanent change - this is a proposed Plan B to suit the current circumstances.

3-5-2 is probably the most discredited formation in world football but it does have it's strengths. Unfortunately, I think it requires 5 players performing really specialist roles - namely, the back 3 and wing backs - and we have 2 or 3 at the very most and nobody to fulfill the wingback role!

Domestically we are on fire and there's nothing there to be fixed at the moment but there are so many myths out there it's not true. The Manchester United game is where I'll make the least of my judgements of all those played so far.

Discostu

I thought twice on Hartley - but my alternative would have been Donati and not Naka who is clearly tired and maybe a sub with Skippy.

King Fume

Rained off today I take it? Jug has a job but its outdoors tae!

Thismancraig

Hibs threat is Riordan - if he gets to run at either wilson or hinkel he will then cut inside and shoot from inside the box.

Im thinking Caddis in right mid to counter the initial run and Caldwell to cover across should he get past or behind youn Paul. GC covering right would still leave Mick and Glen in the centre.

How many posts have highlighted the 2 CHs being exposed by poor full backs.

I would agree we could do with an Alan Thompson as a left wing back and I thought perhaps Robson could fill that role with Aiden stepping inside.

KrakowBhoy, indeed there have been plenty of rejects who have subsequently blossomed, but Tamas has taken several steps back from his peak, which is consistent with the non-football reasons we decided against him.

Disaster for Il Verdeblanco's!

Our keeper has had to pull out of the 5s on Saturday as his amateur team's game on Sat afternoon has now been brought forward to a 1pm KO.

Now on the search for a replacement keeper.

NAFOS, you available?
No effort required, all I ask is that you lie on your side in front of the goals and we are guaranteed an intact goal :-)

HAIL! HAIL!
Token

Zybszek

Do you think he would be better than Lee Naylor?

I just cited him as an example of what else we could have had at our disposal and it would have been interesting to have seen him at the club when we originally wanted him.

I think this is becoming a pattern - in the summer we want this guy or that guy, a meeting is arranged and the PL says NO DEAL, we're not the Premiership. It's tiresome. In my humble opinion Kadlec is better than Naylor.

Basically name any player who should be in our price range who would add something extra or different to the squad and it seems as though it's still too much money for our club. We are a huge club with much better supporters than the mob we played the other night but we surely can't have so little spending power or am I being naive? I'm just posing the questions because I really can't see us getting significantly stronger than we are right now without hard cash going on somebody.

By the way where are you from in Poland anyway?

jinkysbhoy

Agree, Riordan a certainty to score and start a tiresome 'Strachan's a clown thread' lol!

The threat from wide (Lovenkrands) kills a 3-5-2 and in any event Caldwell would be the middle man, if we did play it. It seems to be the formation that football forgot and probably for good reason.

The mention of Thompson there though is a classic, people yearn for Mjallby and Bobo but it's the Hun-Skelper and Petrov for me. They knew how to go to Ibrox and dominate, that's what I miss!

TTT,

You're not alone, the artists formally known as FC Paddy McCourt's Beard - namechange still TBC - have been left devastated by the late withdrawal of their influential goalkeeper (who actually played for TWO teams in last years tournament) to an emergency back operation.

Codename: GeezAKeeperWho'sNotAHun is underway, but at this late stage, it could be my Mam who ends up in goal.

Or we could just agree to play a backie-in?

JumpersForGoalposts CSC

KrakowBhoy,

Kadlec´s father in a well publicised dialogue within the press hijacked our initial attempts at signing him by demanding a 1m pound signing on fee. PL told him where to go and quite rightly so.

Paul67

I have twice now asked for your comment as I would like your view on my contributions yesterday @12.05 and again today @ 1.00 p.m. So far no response so am I to assume I won't get one.It is not a criticism of you but the status quo as explained.Do you have an opinion? Please don't ignore my contributions and I know you do not respond to every contribution but I have twice asked for a comment. Thanks in anticipation

Thismancraig

I think theres decent odds on deeks to score first and Im tempted

I seem to recall this was the formation MON used more than often and see caddis as an ideal wing back with the pace and engine to get up and down.

There was a point that Thommo never finished on a losing side against TFOD and I thought he was a talisman in those days. However when MON gave him his last contract (2003 I think) he went downhill and he was sent off (sometimes unfairly ) against them more than once due to his short fuse which Im sure was a side effect of his frustrations. I would rate AT as one of MONs best signings - maybe his best on a value for money basis.

Discostu

Paul doesn't need any defence from me, but if you will accept a piece of constructive criticism, your posts might be easier to read if you made a new paragraph every now and then.

jinkysbhoy

MON only really played 3-5-2 in the first 18 months of his regime, I've not seen enough of Caddis but at 5ft 7 he doesn't fit my vision of a wing back (or a full back). I think his future is on the right of midfield but we'll see!

Thompson scored against the Rangers in every season he was a First Team player and as you say post new contract he struggled though I think he was the biggest victim of Larsson's departure! Sent off 3 times at Ibrox and only one was remotely justified - 1 due to the Danish Ratbag and another the Spanish version.

His knock knock gesture towards Ricksen was outstanding!

Paul67

ok I accept that but he is only one example. I don't want to be one of the spend spend spend brigade and I have preached prudence in the past but surely we could try a bit harder for one or two players from European leagues and not always quible over the money. Am I right in saying that PL and WGS said we can't pay what the Premiership gets? That's putting players off for me unless they're complete unknowns who can work out if you've got the good scouts but so far we've not had that much success where that is concerned.

Tamas' countryman Rat would possibly have been a good player if we'd got him but again pushing the boat out isn't our style but nor it would seem is spending decent money.

I'll repeat, the only way you get ahead fast in this game is by spending. The alternative is more nights like Tuesday or Villareal where we could not keep the ball. We must be clear it looks like two ways forward where Europe is concerned for us:

1. Happy just being at the party.

or

2. Do we want to try and make more of an impact ( and by that I mean win somewhere on the road but not necessarily Old Trafford)?

The message from the powers that be seems to be take the money, do your best and then we'll see. If that's the way they want it then fine but fans will always be disappointed with that.

Negativity towards Donati and Hinkel highlights the type of football that some people want to watch.

Donati started well but after two indifferent games the £10M price tag was wheeled out by Shug the negative on radio slyde.

Questions were asked and his confidence evapourated. Now we have a lame duck midfielder and the first stone was thrown by the press. Quickly joined in by our wonderfull home support.

Hinkel very similar - he has never been 100% fit but is the subject of the press.

For Donati and Hinkel please add , Gravesen, Jarosik, etc etc etc and Crosas in 6 months time too.

Anyone who would prefer Wilson to Hinkel doesn't really follow football.
Anyone who prefers Hartley to Donati prefers a different type of football to me.

If we give a foreign national 4 games to settle before dismantling their confidence and backing up Shug Keevins then we deserve to be stuck in the SPHell.

Note I didn't mention Evander Sno - who at 19 played well against both Man U and AC Milan but was booed by the Slyde listners amongst the greatest fans in the world.

Seville.67

Celtic First, surely it's the content that matters.Are you an English teacher ?

Annoni

while I agree with the principles you outline it's the current climate. There are probably tons of transfers that work along similar lines.

It might have been worth it but we'll never know. People these days operate that way. Did his new club pay this money or is it just us that people take the michael with?

If someone is is willing to pay why are we not? (Germany's another place heading for recession or is in it, can't remember which)

Thismancraig

Thommos gesture to Fernando was up there with the aboslute doing Bobby Petta (Remember him) gave him.

Discostu

No, I was only offering an opinion.

Did I really hear John Reid say that Celtic would not be sold to a foreign billionaire?

No disrespect John, but I guess Dermot was actually born and raised in Cathcart, before the Irish spotted his potential at an early age and asked if would come and live with them...

Seville.67,

Is your last post addressed to WGS.

Its him that is not picking Hinkel and Donati not us or Hugh Keevins.

The fact that Donati never even made the CL squad a list prepared by WGS tells its own story.

Awe Naw,

I think that WGS is giving Hinkel a chance to get properly fit.

I think he would love a confident Donati in midfield but the big guy is shattered so he doesn't play him.

IMO he is left out for the same reason that Sno was - the fans are on his back. Sno got to play away from CP because he at least was supported.

Seville.67

No when PL walked away his father was told to keep his trap shut. Difficult for a former egoistic player like his father. They tried to resurrect the deal but when you know what your dealing with then it was appropriate to walk away.

I would like to see a couple of quality full backs as well but understand after Jarosik, Graveson, Donati .... possibly Hinkel why they dont want to gamble further.

KrakowBhoy

I'm not sure if Kadlec could be better than Naylor. In the game which I saw live, against Barcelona, Naylor was poor and looked lost, but he has also played many good games. I don't think Kadlec's wages in Bayer are higher that possibly wages in Celtic. Don't forget that he is on loan to Bayer, with a right for pre-emption. Celtic could do the same.
I live about 18 miles South direction from the centre of Warsaw. I don't have F1 bolid ( I'm sorry Nigel Mansell), but I have lawnmower. No pony too.
So, my friend. We have Polish derby on Sunday. I'm sure Legia will be better than Wisla.

Awe Naw

I have read many articles on this side, about Kadlec transfer to Celtic. If my memory does not cheat me, that is no truth in the mafia story, big demands, or any other rumours. The fact was 400 000 GBP difference between seller and buyer.
Bayer Leverkusen could find mutual agreement. Statistics say, they must be happy now.

Awe_Naw_No_Annoni_Oan_Anaw_Noo

I alwys kinda liked Jarosik but he was never consistent enough. He gave us some good things in Europe and I think we could've used his cuteness the other night as he did win free kicks against MAn U twice the last time.

I understand the need for something more reliable.

Awe Naw,

so should we just settle for Colin Nish , Steve Lovell type players and forget gambling on those foreigners ?

Seriously ?

If what you are saying is right then the board have no faith in the managers ability to spot a player and shoud sack him today.

or

Are the board happy to hide behind this as a way of having no debt ?

Seville.67

Seville.67

I see Donati´s situation as being similar to that of Tommy Gravesons. Sno left for first team football.

Donati can pass but he cant tackle that´s why he is on his way out. I expect him to be gone by January

Hinkel has been with us for nearly a year. A crock or a 1st team player we´ll have to wait and see. He has had his chances, like Donati and Sno and I dont believe that the support has got anything significant to do with it. A lack of acceptable performances for WGS I reckon has everything to do with it.

Awe naw

I find Strachans selections regards to some players very confusing

Jarosik - he seemed to play him when no one thought he played well then dropped him when he seemed to be getting better

Sno - for a 19 year old boy he would play him in vital games then not when the pressure was off

caldwell - played him every week when he was getting caned from the crowd and fair dos the guy has come through that

Mick - same as GC - hope he comes through this

Riordan - Crowd singing his name - wont play him - brings him on as late sub and scores - dropped for next game

Donati - stuck with him through the bad days last winter then dropped him last 7. Never got a look in other than the Livvie game at CP this season.

Darren O Dea - Good enough to risk against Milan over two games did well - too good to loan out but only good enough for reserves.

The wee man puzzles me with all this - Im going back to doing crosswords

Bruce Rioch fired today as Aalborg boss

Jinksbhoy

Just saw that as well, surely this is the best chance so far of the away win we need. Got to play it like a cup final.

Zybszek

you know Wisla are good for it! (Kidding)
Personally I prefer Lech Poznan. I watched them against Austria Vienna (no Sebo in sight)and I thought they were pretty good and better than Wisla who really should have stuffed Tottenham but they lost out for those reasons.

I had an Artur in my class the other week and his surname was close to Boruc so I asked him if he was any relation, to which he said "Not today for sure" - It was the day after the Slovakia match.

How dumb am I?

Awe Naw,

I agree that there is an element of truth in what you say. However I think Sno's reason for not getting first team football was that he was the subject of the boo boys.

Also it is interesting that I'd put my money on Donati in every 50/50 with Naka - yet he plays every game - home and away.

I am not writing off Hinkel - he is better than Wilson and more of a genuine fullback than Caddis - who looks like a prospect but is too short to play at the back.

Seville.67

jinkysboy,

I agree with you entirely I cant fathom WGS selections out either.

I reckon Riordhan never showed up in training.

Sno he didn´t want to lose but Sno did.

O´Dea he wants to protect.

Jarosik he never gave him Lenny´s position. See Mick Mc Manus

Estadio

My thoughts exactly - get a goal on front and they could give up. a cup final approach must be taken

A lot on here last night saying "how can they score 3 in El Madregal and we cant get one" We can assume the Aalborg board dont read this site then

Seville.67,

I agree with your assessment on Hinkel. He´s got a long way to go to be half the player he was at VFB. I reckon thats why WGS is talking Wilson up buying everyone time.

Sno suffered from O´Dea syndrome.

Naka is not a central MF player and fitness wise puts Donati to shame.

Awe naw

I remember hearing Davie Provan saying that when Stein and McNeill were managers at CP if the crowd were shouting for a change or giving someone a hard time then they would do the opposite and maybe Strachan was the same.

I have to say thats the way it looks to me.

Jinksyboy

the answer to that one is simple.

If you have a defense that you trust then you can play with a holding midfielder maybe even 2 but the rest of the team can be chartered to go and attack.

If you have the worst 2 fullbacks in the champions league and a skipper who is a bombscare then you play with 5 midfielders - 3/4 of them not allowed over the halfway line and one up.

If you go with the second scenario then you will never score.

Guess where we are ?

Seville.67

Seville.67,

your stuck in a moment (Tuesday night)
and you cant get out of it. :-)

I was in Milan when every passer by the next morning was praising O´Dea, Mc Manus and Boruc. Guess who the fullbacks were ?

We cant be as bad as you say. Aalborg was disappointing . Villareal was not and Roma shipped a barrowload against Man u but are still in the CL.

I dont think things are as bad as you are making out.

Evening times claims Samaras may not make AAlborg clash.
Fact or opportunism by those who eat from Sir Moonbeams doggy tin?

Jinksy: No Hartley in my team until he loses the bag of washing off his arse!

Celtic goalkeeper Artur Boruc has been found guilty of improper conduct by the Scottish FA's disciplinary committee and warned about his future conduct.

Boruc, 28, was photographed gesturing towards Rangers fans during Celtic's Old Firm defeat at Parkhead in August.

And he was fined £500 and severely censured by the SFA review panel at a hearing at Hampden on Thursday.

The Poland international has been at the centre of a series of controversies since signing for Celtic in 2005.

In August 2006, he received a procurator fiscal's caution for breach of the peace as an alternative to prosecution after making gestures towards Rangers fans at Ibrox in February that year.

In March, he was shown a yellow card for making a gesture towards Hibernian fans after Celtic's 2-0 victory at Easter Road.

Then, in April, he wore a "God bless the Pope" t-shirt on the pitch after a 3-2 victory over Rangers.

Most recently, he was dropped from the international squad for alleged off-the-field misbehaviour in August.

Boruc made the latest gesture at Rangers fans after conceding four goals while Celtic's Glasgow rivals ran out comfortable winners at Celtic Park on 31 August.

His case was held over from 16 September in order to allow him to prepare for the following night's Champions League opener against Aalborg.

He was to be given the opportunity to explain his actions.

Boruc's fine is identical to that given to Dundee United goalkeeper Lukasz Zaluska for gestures his fellow Pole made during a match against Aberdeen last season.

The Celtic goalkeeper has seven working days to appeal the SFA's decision.

Awe Naw,

I hope you are right.

It was a long drive home.

I do think that Naylor and Wilson are hopeless and have done for a long time. Today your fullbacks are so important - need to be able to attack , defend , pass, cross and be the most physical player on your team. I hate to mention his name but (Hutton). Did I really say that - ok sorry. I meant Srna and Rat.

I just think that we play guys there who are not good enough to play elsewhere.

Seville.67

billyimatim

It should have read Hartley / Donati / Nakamura / Strachan / Scholes / Fabregas / Bawwy ferguson / Roy Keane / Billyimatim / EdwardUrsus / Roy of the Rovers.

Im glad Im not picking the team

Everyones a critic in this job

Im away back to my playstation manager game where I always win.

Naebodylikesmethinkillgoandeatwormscsc

Seville

Im sure I heard Sorenson say that Alan Hutton was indeed the most physical player in the Spurs team at the weekend.

Seville.67 ,

two international class fullbacks needed desperately. Agreed.

Ghuys n Ghals.

Can anyone point me in the direction of any Manchester based CFC's that may be travelling up for the game on the 27th of December against Rangers.

Will be in Manc and want to come back up for the match.

Cheers

Big Swee

heres one for you

http://www.manchestercsc.com/

Big Swee

I met you in Finnegans around 2 pm on the day of the Aalborg game.

I had to meet big John with Tickets - dont know if you remember.

How are you doing?

I was at the game on Tuesday night - Embarassingly easy !!

there is a Manchester ERmerald CSC I believe.

You should Google it

I know it's frustrating the lack of cash available for both transfers and wages, but I think our prudent fiscal policy (ooh I've gone all Gordon Brown), will prove to be our success and not our failure. Big clubs go bust look at Leeds. With the way money is disappearing from world markets now is not the time to be 10s or 100s of millions in debt. If we reach a stage at the end of this season where we are in the black, and qualify for the CL (c'mon Bhoys 4 in a row)how many other teams in the CL would be in this position? Platini is right it's not a level playing field, a club that is £600m in debt is not playing the same game we are. But some club's debts are differnt to others and I'm not 100% sure how they work this out when you balance assets against debts (how do you calculate assets when Rooney/Berbatov et al could break a leg tomorrow and never play again!).

Roccobhoy

How was your day in Manchester - other than the game -- Im sure you had a good one

Jinkysboy

It was a great night - After the game I got lucky lucky if you knopw what I mean - She was a utd fan.

Prior to the match I was in the Hotel I was staying in and the Man Utd casuals came into the pub attached to the hotel - cutting a long story short the atmosphere was tense - very tense but no trouble.

In a strange sort of way I enjoyed the match - the atmosphere was good and the Tims sang their hearts out - Faithful through and through mate although the game was obviously one sided.

I got your E Mail last night will reply tonight - but basically you can have my season ticket whenever I,m not using it and we can work out some sort of money for the ticket.

Ravenheart35,

I don't think anyone is asking for Leeds - I think we need to start acting a bit more like a club with a bit of pride.

I am all for sensible financial management but I'm still waiting for a top class balance sheet to appear on any scoresheet.

Seville.67

Paul,
Can you give us any guarantees that there won't be any underhand tactics this year unlike last year where I believe a certain Mr McGarvey had a couple of ringers in his team?

vclxi

Great reply JINKSY, laughed like a drone seeing me in the hoops but although I like PH you've got to admit, he certainly looks as though he's been inactive for some time and let himself go?

why is it every time we ask for a reasonable amount of money to be spent getting new players, people on here bleat 'what about Leeds, what about Leeds' absolute nonsense! A cop out! I have no interest in the balance sheet or the share price I want the team on the pitch to play the celtic way with players with a bit of fight about them! Not to be totally embarrassed every time we play away in europe!

DD

Ravenheart

"I know it's frustrating the lack of cash available for both transfers and wages"

The money can be made available, how many Prem clubs do you think do it with cash not credit?

Lets be clear we could easily spend more but make a deliberate choice not to, the prem clubs decide to spend more and we are told "we can not compete" "we don't have that spending power".........neither do they all these clubs borrow just like we could.

If a player's career is finished they are ensured and the policy matures giving them a cash asset.

Ask yourself is a club in the prem with a playing squad worth £100m in £40m debt in better shape than a team in the SPL with £3m debt and a playing squad worth £40m?

vclxi,

I believe that team was full of Ringers....Mr McGarvey was the only one WITHOUT a pro contract!! ;-)

Best of luck to all that are taking part.

Hail Hail

G.

At the moment Im not in the peak physical condition I would wish either but then again Im not on £15k a week to stay in shape so fair enough.

Sorry your name had captain bawwy beside you there but many on here say he would walk into our team so you will just have to carry him.

Im not a great footballer but my claim to fame is that I beat Steve Davis (the red headed snooker player) 2 years on the trot. It was actually a bit more than a trot - it was the Glasgow half marathon but thats an irrelevance (in my book anyway).

Awe_Naw_No_Annoni_Oan_Anaw_Noo

Why does he want to protect O'Dea and what from? From what I've seen O'Dea is well capable of handling anything thrown at him. I presume the same applies to Caddis who is a better right back, certainly for SPL, than Hinkel or Wilson, through I think Wilson will come good.

roccobhoy

Was there any trouble that you saw?

We were in a pub before & after game which had half & half with us & united fans but there was no bother at all.

The bottom line regards finance is that our board saw what happened with the soosiders failure to qualify and decided moonbeams bubble was burst. This led to them deciding we could do 4IAR without further investment. To them the CL is a bonus.

Moonbeams then went and invested further catching them out.

Money will be spent at the next window, possibly balanced by outgoings. Finally, Leeds are an extreme. We can comfortably support further investment and choose not to do so. That is a choice made by the board. It may yet come back to haunt them and us. I sincerely hope not.

We are now at the stage where many would forego European games after Christmas to "ensure" SPL success, where with a bit more ambition both could have been achieved.

Cheers both. Hi Roccobhoy. I do indeed recall and that ended up being a bit of a session with the big fella (as always).

Trust you are well.

Bruce Rioch has been sacked as manager of Danish club Aab Aalborg with immediate effect.

The club is currently involved in the same Champions League group as Manchester United and Celtic but are second bottom in the Danish league.

"Our results in the SAS Ligaen have not been satisfying," said Aalborg sporting director Lynge Jakobsen.

"We're stopping now because we no longer agree with Bruce Rioch on how we can best reach satisfying results."

Rioch was appointed manager in June on a six-month contract but the club had already decided not to renew his deal when it expired in December.

Roccomebhoy

Well I hope you gave the young Mancunian lady your telephone number as we wouldnt want the press to pick up on that "Celtic fans take advantage of Manchester's hospitality and disappear into the night" type headline.

We have enough bad press with the two bhoys talking loud and drinking clear liquids nonsense. (that was so funny - almost better than TGITW - I said almost WG)

Look forward to your mail then - off to the gym now

Hartleysmy hero,

I have honestly no idea but thats the only reasonable conclusion that I can come too. He mentioned this about Sheridan recently and he seems loathed to throw on the young uns. I remember scratching my head when Caddis was pulled against Barca.

Big Swee

I,m good, busy in work

Jinkysboy talk later.

I still think the bubble is going to burst...

On the other topic of full-backs what's the story with JJP Doumbe's injury, I quite liked the look of him (what little i saw), I still think Caddis should get a run in the team and Naylor needs competition at LB. Ideally this should be from a LB but how did Robson get on there when he played the other week?

Roccobhoy,

I hope you were wearing a love glove. We dont want The Record getting hold of this ;-)

Mind you it would make for a great headline competition.

Berbatov Offside Rocchoboy Inside ;-)

Hello all,
its that time of year again, time to complain that we can't buy players for the champions league. Clearly its not just the currant buns who are deluded. Why can't people understand that we are currently punching well above our weight and we will never compete with the biggest clubs.
Regarding comparisons with Premiership clubs, its not all about money, its about playing the same pishy teams 4 times a year, anyone with any ambition would rather play against the cream of England rather than have some SPL thugs given licence to kick them up and down the park.
For us, the Champions league is there to test our players and help improve the team both tactically and technically. Clearly some players embrace this opportunity whereas others are trully found out. My only ambition is to qualify each year; providing a platform for progress which can hopefully improve the standards of homegrown players. At this time the SPL is all that matters, pipedreams are for losers!
Hail Hail
www.hibswillbepunishedseverelytomorrow.com

Raveheart

I was at the reserve game when Dumbe pulled up - looked like a hamstring but not certain

Barry did ok in the LB role but was nit really tested. He is in the view this week saying he will play anywhere for the club

Awe Naw

I typed a few wee doubles in my post to rocco but deleted them myself before Paul did it for me...

I had one about the Glaswegians being like the Vikings with the huns doing the pillaging and Rocco........ but decided the rest might offend so didnt think would chance it

Jinkysboy,

I wonder if she did to Rocco what Ronaldo done to Naylor

You´ll never wa&k alone - Scottish sun ;-)

I thought Robson was magnificent in the run in at the end of last season, i know that he doesn't have a Celtic background, but he looked like he run through a brick wall for the Hoops and his team mates. I think he'd do a job at LB.

Despite my extra few pounds these days, i did play a bit of top level sport for a few years and often found that when there was little between teams it was not wanting to let down your friends and knowing that they'd not let you down that made the difference. I think I see a lot of this in the Celtic team and that's why we win so many games late on.

Awe Naw

I went for a drink from the fridge and one point and must have missed that on TV. Did you tape it?

Dublin Celts score where Glasgow Celts couldnt - Fanzone

Jungle-ed,

can't agree with you on punching above our weight this year.

We couldn't punch our way out of a wet paper bag.

From 2003 - 2006 maybe 7 I'd have agreed with you, but now we are nowhere. We are never going to compete with Man U - but we should see off Aalborg with ease - at home unable to score against second bottom of the Danish league is not punching anyone.

I'm afraid that the ambition of the board is all about financial management. We are fans we should have the odd dream not be conditioned to expect mince signing after mince signing.

The SPL is garbage but the worry is that we are setting targets to win it by minimal investment not aspiring to anything.

I agree with Paul that our best route is qualify for the champions league - get third and have a real go at the UEFA Cup - but right now we simple have no chance as we under invest every single window.

What is really a joke is the way that every window there are big signings talked about and every September and February first me, WGS and a few other posters feel a massive sense of let down. If we were going forward I'd be happy but we are simply not. So punching above our weight is pure spin from the board.

Seville.67

jinkysboy,

Never taped it.

What I want to know was Rocco made to dress up in a skimpy Man U top ?

Dubs are always the luckiest CSC !!

Raveheart

In SPL and CL home games the never beaten spirit is there. Sadly not after an hour at OT. They all looked demoralised.

But if your looking for a big athletic LB then Barry fits the mould - why not give him a run or 2 in the reserves to get him used to the position

Awe naw

I will check on youtube - perhaps the hotels CCTV cameras will reveal all

Those friggin Dublinners with their melodic accents - My Mrs watched PS I Love you and suddenly wanted to go visit Dublin.

I heard the local boys in Manchester were singing "why dont you go home" to Rocco in the hotel - I dont blame them.

Tuesday 2330

WG has commandeered the services of Sammy McIlwoy and the mancunian limo for the journey back to the MLs....

WG: So, Sammy, That Wishaw it is and don't spare the horses. There's the jaggy end ay a compass at the back of your neck so consider it a kind of ML2 Satnav. Destination or deathination, it's your choice, Shankillboy.

WG presses speed dail on his moby

WG: Nafos, howzitgaun son ?

NAFOS: WG, you pulled it aff and goat is tae the gemme fur heehaw. Ah knew ye'd manage tae escape fae the monsoons.

WG: Ah'm oan ma wey back tae ML2 wi aw the swalix swally Ah cin haunle. How ur the rest ay the bhoays ?

NAFOS: Ah dunno. Ah booked masel a room at the Stretford Moat Hoose.

WG: Home alone, Naf ?

NAFOS: Naw, Ah've actually goat some charmin company

WG: Surely no Hugh Richards, the silver-tonsilled Saviour of UEFA ?

NAFOS: No way. Ah'm lyin here wi none other thin Lady Cafe Alexanderson. Consider it peyback fur they two affsides.

WG: Oh dear - n here Ah'm ur interferin' wi play. See ye it the weekend Naf.

Seville.67

We did score against Aalborg, just the linesman and the ref didn't agree.

Are we officially the unluckiest team in Europe yet?

Jinkysboy,

Silver tongued Dubs

When she told him he´s a WAG now he though it was his patter!

Seville67

We did score against Aalborg and it was wrongly disallowed. I take issue with 'we should see off Aalborg with ease' - they are far closer to our level in terms of expenditure than Manchester United will ever be (in the current climate).

If a team can't come to a stadium, organise themselves well and deal with the opposition threat then football is over. That is all Aalborg did at Celtic Park and they got a slice of luck to gain a point. Well done to them.

Awe Naw

IS Rocco really NAFOS or has WG just stolen Roccos story

Awe Naw

Roccobhoy keeps possesion even under pressure in hotel room

http://www.manchestercsc.com/

Roccos parting words..."at least your team didn`y get *****d"! (and you can put `horse` before that d if you like)

Rocco singing on the way out the door - but no add ons

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=siQtzrI5w88

thismancraig

We should have seen off aalborg with ease I don't think there can be any defence of not doing so. They are 2nd bottom of the Danish league and if you're seriously trying to suggest we did well to get a draw then your lack of ambition is astounding! As is your acceptance of mediocrity.

DD

Awe Naw

Roccobhoy keeps possesion even under pressure in hotel room

WRONG LINK LAST TIME

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sNPHt4P8NAs

Thismancraig,

sounds like you have bought the dumbing down spin.

Are we really that bad ?

If that is the case - how come we can't do it anywhere in Europe ?

Would the team for 2003 have stuffed them 4-0 ?

Seville.67

I've just been watching the news, is it me or is Sarah Palin quite hot for her age? Rocco any thoughts...

Raveheart

If you think she is hot check this out

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=07kO9TtHYzQ

donegaldanny / seville 67

I never defended not beating Aalborg nor suggested we were lucky to get a draw. There is no lacking of ambition or acceptance of mediocrity from me and neither have I bought any spin - perhaps I should just buy your spin?

Aalborg played well at Celtic Park (did not perform like the 2nd worst team in Denmark) and got what they deserved (as did we). On the evidence of that game Aalborg were at least as good a side as Rosenberg, Anderlecht or Copenhagen - none of whom we managed to 'stuff 4-0'. The team of 03 had a great run in the UEFA Cup but failed miserably in the Champions League Qualifier remember.

A bit of luck on the CL fromt - Bruce Rioch has parted company with Aalborg.

Now if EVER there was a chance to win an away game......

I know we are not on the US Sports nightshift but for anyone who has never seen the Terry Tate Reebok adverts this is the kinda "defender" I want as our centre half

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RzToNo7A-94

thismancraig

They may have played well but we did not, if we go with the logic of some on here that we can't compete with english clubs, how many £4.5m, £3.75 or £2.5m players did aalborg have? Surely they shouldn't be able to compete with us???

DD

thismancraig,

I am not suggesting you buy any spin and I am not spinning anything other than my belief.

I sat at CP and compared Aalborg to Falkirk, I did not see a team that would normally pose us any problems.

To compare Aalborg with Rosenberg with their CL experience is laughable.

The 03 team did lose a CL qualifier to FC Zurich but we did score 3 at Celtic Park. Our inability to defend away from home was the issue (again)

I see you did not address my question - if it is so easy to organise a defense away from home how come we can't do it ?

Let's be honest Aalborg were the poorest champions league team to come to Celtic Park and our failure to score is a reflection on our current standard.

Seville.67

Riordan is 55-1 to score twice on saturday

donegaldanny / seville67

As I said, Aalborg did at Celtic Park what we aspired to do at Old Trafford. Punched above their weight by organising themselves and getting the benefit of the doubt with a decision.

Clearly the away day record affects the club massively, in the same way as the home record does in a positive sense. I think in Lisbon last year and Villareal this year we had the right system deployed.

For what it's worth, I have zero expecation we'll win in Denmark!

thismancraig

You're right. There is nothing in our present form to suggest that we should win in Denmark. Far from it in fact!

Samaras injury update - ET

Meanwhile, Georgios Samaras is struggling to be fit for Celtic's Champions League showdown with Danes Aalborg next month.

The Greek striker sat out Tuesday night's game with United after surgery for cartilage trouble and will not be ready for the re-match in 13 days.

But it is feared the Greek internationalist, who is currently Scotland's top scorer with 10 goals to his name in all competitions, will miss the game against Aalborg too.

The player's advisor Dr Gregory Ioannidis said: "Georgios had a successful cartilage operation last Sunday. He is well and he is expected to return to action in four weeks."

If the 23-year-old is unavailable for the game with Bruce Rioch's side on November 25 it will be a major blow to Strachan, who is also without Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink.

Big Jan, though, is expected to be fit again for the meeting with the Scandinavians.

Is it ok to fall in the middle ground of the present argument? I undoubtedly think that we have been let down with some of the recent signings and hope that now we have reached a level of financial stability, we go out there and buy some players. I'm not even too bothered if they are not multi squillion pound players. We aren't going to find the next Lubo, Henk or Bobo if we don't get out looking. We can't rely on a link up with Barca and the English Championship for players. Lets get out there and scour europe. You can't tell me that the in the Dutch, Belgian, Russian, Latvian, Bulgarian, French etc etc leagues there isn't a good LB prospect?

Howevvah (Kojo style) .....I agree that we are punching above our weight and have to expect / accept getting turned over by the likes of Man U on their own ground. There simply is no grounds for competition at this time. By being in the competition we are puncing at that weight. Long may that situation continue.

Aalborg are a level above the rest of the SPL. You need to look at the performance of our other teams in Europe and the dross they are regularly beaten by in pre qualifying rounds to see how poor the SPL is. Aalborg would beat any other team in Scotland, with ease (IMO)

Hail Hail
Jamiebhoy.

thismancraig,

I certainly agree with you on the Denmark expectations.

Expecting a win there would be the triumph of expectation over experience - kind of like getting remarried :-)

Sevill.67

think we've all got our points across but don't think we'll agree on the state of the current squad.

As Mr McBride said today of our budget ''It (Tuesday's result) was disappointing, but we always plan it quite conservatively.''

Your not joking there Brian! Any more conservatively and Strachan will morph in Michael Hesiltine!

DD

Hello there, Leo here.

I see that Nigel Mansell is turning up at the 5 and sides on Saturday so I might come along also. Does anybody want me to do the singing from the centre circle? I can do that "Nissan Dormer" right up to the last line when I get really puffed out...probably best to stick to "You'll never walk along" I wonder where young Ulysses is. He could be my support act.

Hail, hail, hail

DD :-)

Oh, a gathering of ths stars in Glasgow on Saturday! I will definitely be there....if I can remember. Honestly, I have a mind like a sieve these days. Perhaps I'll get Dennis to remind me. I wonder where he's got to. He was here a minute ago, I think.

I hear the 5 a sides may be switched to Fir Park if this weather keeps up. Nigel should lap that up, he`s good on Bridgestones, but not of the Bridcestone Billy Boy variety. Raincoat.

Bridcestone?

.

Margaret....

Dennis Died 5yrs ago....you then Married Tony Blair....

o1labourbhoy

Bringing along a bunch of 'bevvy merchants' dressed up as footballers on Saturday,we'll be easy to spot only one of us will not be stressing the stitching on the hoops and he has a bad back.

I see Vclxi is getting the excuses in early his team must be rubbish...............................

Who do I speak to to ensure our team name is spelled properly on the trophy??

InthepubformiddayCSC

o1bhoy, are you making fun of me just to be mean? I hardly think I would forget either of those events. Why can't you moaning minnies embrace the concept of "forgive and forget" You do the first bit and I'll see if I can do the ....em..er....wotsit

PERSPECTIVE BHOYS! Although we got a doing on Tuesday we got a bigger doing in my opinion in Barcelona, with all the battlers we had then and came away with a draw, we don't become a bad team overnight. A goal away from a great result in Villareal. Have some faith.

Just catching up with today's news.

I'm surprised that so many posters see Bruce Rioch's sacking as a positive. I would have thought an unhappy team/ manager would be the best scenario. How often do we seen teams improve dramatically with a new/ caretaker manager?

.

Bhoys....

Bruce Roich was Sacked 3 weeks ago because of his Home Form....He Had a 6 Month contract that wasn't Renewed....

o1bhoy

Awe Naw Jinkysboy and BobbyRussell

There was no way Celtic were leaving Manchester without some sort of a score :) :).

I have to admit it was an impressive performance by myself, I was determined to make for my teams lacklustre display :) :)

Headline in the Manchester Evening news the next day

Celtic leave it late (2 AM IN THE MORNING IF THE TRUTH BE TOLD) but do what Rangers couldnae do SCORE IN MANCHESTER!!

Hail Hail Roccobhoy

Where is Einstein?

E=mc2 CSC

Discostu, give me a sporting chance.

If you want to ask me a question, use my name at the start of what you say. “Paul” was mentioned in the middle of your fourth line, and I’ve been skim reading this week so missed it. The previous word also rolled straight into “Paul” without a space, so my chances of catching it were low.

Also, you missed me out completely in your question from 1:00 today.

Gregory DuPont is our fitness coach and I hear very good reports about him, in particular from Aiden McGeady, who has put in a lot of extra work, which not all players have done. Such is life at all football clubs, in fact, you mention Liverpool, who I recall employing a heavy Australian recently.

KrakowBhoy, we earned £72m last season and made a £4m profit. So there is room for a little more spend (say a £2m player on £1m p.a.) but not much. The answer is not ever more money, it is to use the money better.

Vclxi, I can guarantee there will be a ringer or two this year.

as per usual the rags went totally over the top
on there reporting of the manure game,its was if this was the moment they were waiting for,and by god havnt they just exelled
in there gloating and pomposity
Lets hope we really stick it to hibs on saturday and a get right intae them performance against manure in the return leg,how I would love for celtic to give them a real big GIRFU

Roccomabhoy

You might be more welcome back in Manchester next time than the rest of us.

roccobhoy,

How ungallant of you.
Wait till Scotzine get a hold of you!!

here ahm ur..though I expect you're meaning mah distant relative Albert

Big Tam Einstein

Hang the DJ@ 3.24

No trouble

My best mate from Glasgow (runs a supporters bus from the city centre to every away game) told me they were casuals, initially there was 4 but an hour later there was about 25 - 30, at one stage trouble nearly did break out but the potential for trouble was quickly averted.

My mate used to be a Celtic casual years ago (thoroughly decent bloke by the way) and he says he could spot them a mile away.

When the 4 came in, 5 mins later 2 police officers came in - they were obviously aware the Utd casuals were looking for Celtic casuals.

As I say it was tense, very tense but no trouble.

I,m off home from work, catch up later.

Discostu

Thats you telt - get your punctuation and paragraphs sorted.

And never mind the "are you an English teacher" stuff - Im a Scottish teacher

Paul 67

Is said Gregory related in any way to the famed Duponts that developed such fascinating polymers such as nylon, neoprene and lycra. If so I think he may have coated Skippys boots with another of his materials (Teflon) as nothing seems to be sticking these days. He could come in handy with a kevlar wall to put up before manure visit next month too.

.

The NarrowBhoat Tim....

Mad Rush for The Melbourne Cup....Luca Cumani....

o1bhoy

Apparently rocco met the same burd Waz Rooney got off with a couple o years ago...

jamiebhoy

Allegedly that "lassie" was in Liverpool - was it no Lilo Lil?

Dont know if its already been mentioned,just read Boruc has been fined 500 pounds for his one finger gesture against the hun.

By my reconing when all the racists behind him are i.d and brought to court,the fines should total a bit more than that..i think!
Lynott67

Jinkysboy, I’m sure he’s not, but it would make a good story if he was, so don’t read this.

o1bhoy

Did it ran last weekend down under and how did it do?

your right jinksy. it wis her sister that rocco met. she's fae manchester.

Seville67

It’s nothing to do with “buying the spin from the board” or whatever terminology you want to use.
With the amount of money some of the other clubs are raking in, particularly the English ones, it’s patently obvious we’re punching above our weight.

How can you possibly expect us to compete with a team who spend more on one player than we have on our whole squad over several seasons? And they’ve done it numerous times.
Apparently the Celtic team against ManU cost £10m to assemble.
Man U spent more than that on Rooney (as a teenager), Ronaldo(as a teenager), Carrick, Ferdinand, Tevez (soon), Berbatov, Hargreaves, Nani and Anderson. They’ve sold players like Beckham for tens of millions.

And you expect us to compete with them?

And to claim we should dispose of Aalborg with ease is absolute claptrap.

You’re basing that on one game in the Champs league. Using your logic should Man U have had a firesale when we beat them in 2006? Or Barcelona when we put them out the UEFA cup? Or Milan when we scored right at the death? Or Lyon when we gubbed them a few years ago? Or Juventus when we beat them 4-3?

Over a season, Aalborg wouldn’t compete with us, the same way as over a season we wouldn’t compete with the teams we beat in a one off game.

Incidentally, the ManU team apparently cost £250m on Tuesday night.

.

TNT....

I Bet it in the Caufield Cup each way it finished 4th from Barrier 17....A Impossible Draw Blocked 600meters Out @ 400meters out He Had a Double Handful and Finished Well....I Have it @ 17/1 it's 11/2 Now....

Cumani had 2nd in The Cup last year Purple Moon....He Has Damien Oliver (Cup Specialist) on Board....

o1bhoy

never mind the melbourne cup. what about great leighs tonight?!!

Rumblings in the Premiership especially from Bolton's owner[bbc website]about the unequal status - they've got more money than us.
He suggests a two tier premier league, maybe an opening for the BHOYS somewhere in the not too distant future?

01bhoy.

Have you a bet on the football tonight,I know you like picking draws at half time and wins at full time,you must have won last night surely.

darich,

I have never said we should be able to compete finacially with ManU.

I do not buy that qualifying for the champions league via the spl and not scoring in 3 games and not in 5 away from home is punching above our weight.

Our turnover is circa £75M - we made a profit last year and used it to accellerate amortisation of players, clear deferred taxation accounts and make it look like our surplus was a lot smaller than it really was.

For the last number of windows we have sold first team starters and replaced them with squad players. We have not invested in the team. Other teams have manageable debt we have none. A normal debt to turnover ratio would be 30% therefore we could expect Celtic to comfortably run at £20M debt without any bank blinking.

If we managed our business at that level we could have 4 more £5M players in the team - I think that might make a difference - not against the current champions of Europe but agains minnows like Aalborg. And every seat filled at every home game because there would be players we would all want to go see.

Any team - Celtic . Barca. Man U Lyon can have one off bad games and that would not merit a firesale so long as the team is improving and progressing - we simply are not.

Football is about wanting the best for your club , having ambition, passion - not making excuses for a board.

Seville.67

.

OldTim67....

Didn't Bet Last Night.... ;o(((( Been Busy.... The Sun is Out....

Bet Spurs 2-2....

Judgment on My Case is Being Handed Down @ 10:30am Today....So i'm Sitting Here Fingers/Legs/Arms/Eyes Crossed Ha Ha....

So That Beer in BB's is Getting Closer by the Day....Hope You all Have a Good Day @ the 5s....Then We Gub Hibs....

o1bhoy

spurs 0 1 penalty

Aye, anyone suggesting Celtic should be spending more money just wants to have a look at Juande Ramos' attempts to emulate Paul Le Goon's Rangers. Bet Roman Pavlyuchenko wishes he'd come to Celtic now!

Breaking news over here just now re David Healey and The Famine Song.

Any reactions?

If you accept that we can't compete with ManU and numerous other teams, even smaller teams like Wigan, Bolton, Fulham etc, then why have most of your posts done nothing but berate almost the entire team after we were outclassed by arguably the best side in the world?

I don't believe you'd have said the same thing had we managed a "plucky draw" or even sneaked a win but that would have been papering over cracks according to you. So I agree with a previous poster - i think you've taken the defeat hard. Possibly harder than a lot of other posters. Nothing wrong with that. Shows passion.

But I am not a board apolgist nor am I making excuses for them. However, I'd rather be where we are than where ManU are in a financial sense. By that I mean if the debt was called because the bank was going under, we'd be fine.

Man U on the other hand would be desperately looking for Abramovich number 2.

And that position is thanks to the board.

Like you I'd love to see Evra in our left back and Drogba as a striker but without borrowing more than we make (which is never a good idea) we need to accept we'll have "lesser quality" players. Occasionally we might find a gem like a Larsson or a Lubo but in general you get what you pay for.

I suppose "you get what you pay for" could be used on both sides of the argument but therein lies the problem. We don't have the income to sustain heavy spending.

Why do you think we are not progressing?
Isn't 3 leagues in a row enough?
or 2 last 16 in the champs league?
I accept the team maybe isn't as strong as the 2003 seville one but that team cost bucket loads and we're only starting to recover.

The board's strategy is sound and reeks of sustainability. If we live within our means we'll never be in any major trouble.

And here's another point of view. Our aim every year is to win the SPL. Like it or not, but that's the way it is. If it costs 5m to ensure we win it then it would be less than sensible to spend millions more, just so we can have a couple of good games in the champions league.
I think every poster would admit that we'll never win the Champs league until there are drastic changes that might even things up. But until then, the extra millions spent above what is required to win the SPL is wasted money - we'll never win it anyway so why spend 10m a season trying to compete with Man U, Barca, Madrid etc?

I know you'll probably think that shows lack of ambition or drive or that it admits defeat. Possbily, but many clubs have tried it and suffered. Our rivals are one such club. Leeds are another.

Personally I'd rather see Celtic struggle in the Champs league every year than see them go spend 50m over 2-3 years and then disappear into oblivion because it was unsustainable.

Presumably you know that the gers when they reached the UEFA final still made a loss that year because they bought numerous players that enhanced their squad? Their plight is not something i would like to emulate - it's one thing I'm glad they're first at!!

I'd disagree about the 20m debt being servicable. What if it is called in in these uncertain times? interest payments? What if the board is aiming to take Celtic to a point with no debt and then spend the 20m you mentioned? Wouldn't that be more sensible because it would be OUR 20m and not the bank's meaning there would be no interest - effectively increasing the 20m by quite a margin.

Lurgan 53

What is this news of which you speak?

Lurgan - whats the news?

Seemingly He was interviewed after the NI v San Marino match. He hadn't scored in a while and he said of his goal "The Famine's over". On a Rangers website some poster / s have posted that this was an indication of his support for their singing of TFS. Celtic fans have reated angrily apparently and on some websites ther have been what allegedly ampunt to death threats. Wa on Ulster TV about half hour ago.

Sir Paul

As you know, but naebody else knows..well..mebbe some know, but.. no minny, know.. that I have bin known to be a bit peeved, on occasion, by....the silly, stupid, insistence by the Powers That Be, in ALLOWING key Celtic Personel to take part in...pure Ego Boosting International Footballing Contests~

I blame Celtic's current abysmal offerings, against far more bettah equipped opponents, as shown in the last two C.L. encounters ...strictly, on this idiotic compliance by the Celtic Pilots, on allowing our Bhoys to be not only Target Fodder ,during these international meetings, but also in many cases the root cause of subsequent debilitating injuries.

It is no mere coincidence that Jvoh , right after one of these International Games,in which he represented his Country,that he collapsed on agony,at the start of his first game back.

This tragic incident, was ...to me.. to me.. uncannily , reminiscent of the same type of collapse,before a ball was kicked, by Bobby Petta... on HIS return from his International Call up..by.. strangely enough, the very same Country that Jvoh represents in the International Arena.

I immediately put Two and Two together...

Did You?

Possibly, not.

It was a confirmation of sorts..to me, to me.

A Change in TRAINING REGIMEN..especially, among Soccer Players..can sometimes have the most deleterious effects on a Player's Over All Fitness.

Strange, but true.

Then to further compound our misfortune... we find that our latest Slickest and Quickest Target Man.. returns from his Greek International outing... with an OUT OF THE BLUE...Injured Cartilage.

There is more... although, he is not a major cog in the Celtic Panoply.. almost the same type of muscular type injury was incurred by Mr. Killen.. after his Chinese Sojurn ..at the Olympics.

And ... MAKO.. has simply.. not been the same Player since his last two Australian Representations.. and Naka..well Naka has just returned from an operation,to take care of a plethora of niggling injuries that he had incurred... by...

Ya Goat it...

Representing his Country in a Wide World Travelogue of Silly, Stupid Internationals.

I could go on.. quoting the past incidents concerning the plethora of ill effects, that always seem to linger from a Game in which a Celtic Player was involved in Representing his Country...
John Kennedy...ach!!!

My point, is this...

When are Celtic going to realise that ... especially, when a Smorgasbord of VERY IMPORTANT Games for our Club are slated to occur, right after or in very close proximity to the dates when International Games Involving the call-up of our Players are concerned.. to do the Uncommon Sensical Thing...

And .. Just Say No!!!!?????

Kojo.

darich,

I have not taken the Man U defeat hard. I think that the EPL is not our yardstick right now - it is over financed and in a dangerous place with the current financial climate.

I also agree that we don't have the revenue to sustain heavy spending - but we do have the revenue to sustain a higher level of spending than we are currently seeing - the empty seats tell a story.

My ambition for Celtic is not just the SPL - it is a wee bit of progress in Europe and a style of football that gets us off our seats.

I would not advocate spending to win the champions league we are simply not capable of putting that level of finance togther - but we do better financially than we are led to believe - our TV revenue is less than say an Aston Villa - but our commercial revenue is far greater.

With all due respect on the debt - I am a finance professional I hate to use the chartered accountant word as it sounds pretentious but I can assure you that that level of debt is fine.

My final point is I have not berated any of our players - they all give their all for the club - my plea was for investment in quality fullbacks, a midfielder who can win a game with a pass and a fit striker. I want to get excited about a signing. Is that too much to ask ?

Surely having ambition for something better is what makes us all head to CP on a Saturday ?

Seville.67

Lurgan53

nothing in it for me

"the famine the drought is over"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QlEoj6qJZ7w

Ulster-Celt

Roccobhoy,

This burd? Poor defence policy?

01bhoy.
Good luck with you court case,I hope your successful,and get a good result.

This is my football coupon for tonight,I've erased the stakes but these are the teams and the bets.
---------------------
Single.
Udinese V Tottenham Draw at 45 mins and Tottenham at 90 mins @ 6/1
---------------------
Single.
Braga V Portsmouth Draw at 45 mins and Braga at 90 mins @ 9/2
-----------------------
Double.
Udinese V Tottenham Draw at 45 mins and Tottenham at 90 mins @ 6/1
Braga V Portsmouth Draw at 45 mins and Braga at 90 mins @ 9/2
---------------------
Doubles.
Hertha Berlin V Benfica Draw at 45 mins and Hertha Berlin at 90 mins @ 9/2
Rosenborg V Club Brugge Draw at 45 mins and Rosenborg at 90 mins @ 4/1
Dinamo Zagreb V N E C Nijmegen Draw at 45 mins and Dinamo Zagreb at 90 mins @ 7/2
Zilina V Hamburg Draw at 45 mins and Hamburg at 90 mins @ 10/3
F C Copenhagen V St Etienne Draw at 45 mins and F C Copenhagen at 90 mins @ 9/2
--------------------- Trebles.
Hertha Berlin V Benfica Draw at 45 mins and Hertha Berlin at 90 mins @ 9/2
Rosenborg V Club Brugge Draw at 45 mins and Rosenborg at 90 mins @ 4/1
Dinamo Zagreb V N E C Nijmegen Draw at 45 mins and Dinamo Zagreb at 90 mins @ 7/2
Zilina V Hamburg Draw at 45 mins and Hamburg at 90 mins @ 10/3
FC Copenhagen V St Etienne Draw at 45 mins and F C Copenhagen at 90 mins @ 9/2
-------------------
Fourfolds.
Hertha Berlin V Benfica Draw at 45 mins and Hertha Berlin at 90 mins @ 9/2
Rosenborg V Club Brugge Draw at 45 mins and Rosenborg at 90 mins @ 4/1
Dinamo Zagreb V N E C Nijmegen Draw at 45 mins and Dinamo Zagreb at 90 mins @ 7/2
Zilina V Hamburg Draw at 45 mins and Hamburg at 90 mins @ 10/3
F C Copenhagen V St Etienne Draw at 45 mins and F C Copenhagen at 90 mins @ 9/2
----------------------- Fivefolds.
Hertha Berlin V Benfica Draw at 45 mins and Hertha Berlin at 90 mins @ 9/2
Rosenborg V Club Brugge Draw at 45 mins and Rosenborg at 90 mins @ 4/1
Dinamo Zagreb V N E C Nijmegen Draw at 45 mins and Dinamo Zagreb at 90 mins @ 7/2
Zilina V Hamburg Draw at 45 mins and Hamburg at 90 mins @ 10/3
F C Copenhagen V St Etienne Draw at 45 mins and F C Copenhagen at 90 mins @ 9/2
-----------------
Single.
Schalke V Paris S G Draw at 45 mins and Schalke at 90 mins @ 10/3
------------------ Single.
Galatasaray V Olympiacos Draw at 45 mins and Galatasaray at 90 mins @ 4/1
------------------
Single.
Nancy V Feyenoord Draw at 45 mins and A S Nancy at 90 mins @ 7/2
---------------------
Single.
Aston Villa V Ajax Draw at 45 mins and Aston Villa at 90 mins @ 10/3
-------------------
Doubles.
Schalke V Paris S G Draw at 45 mins and Schalke at 90 mins @ 10/3
Galatasaray V Olympiacos Draw at 45 mins and Galatasaray at 90 mins @ 4/1
Aston Villa V Ajax Draw at 45 mins and Aston Villa at 90 mins @ 10/3
Nancy V Feyenoord Draw at 45 mins and A S Nancy at 90 mins @7/2 --------------------
Trebles.
Schalke V Paris S G Draw at 45 mins and Schalke at 90 mins @ 10/3
Galatasaray V Olympiacos Draw at 45 mins and Galatasaray at 90 mins @ 4/1
Aston Villa V Ajax Draw at 45 mins and Aston Villa at 90 mins @ 10/3
Nancy V Feyenoord Draw at 45 mins and A S Nancy at 90 mins @ 7/2 ---------------------
Fourfolds.
Schalke V Paris S G Draw at 45 mins and Schalke at 90 mins @ 10/3
Galatasaray V Olympiacos Draw at 45 mins and Galatasaray at 90 mins @ 4/1
Aston Villa V Ajax Draw at 45 mins and Aston Villa at 90 mins @ 10/3
Nancy V Feyenoord Draw at 45 mins and A S Nancy at 90 mins @ 7/2

The outrageous punishment of Boruc should be rejected by club and player.
No doubt their decision to fine him a mere £500 was meant as a sort of acknowledgement of the unbearable provocation to which the player was subjected.
Even so, I believe that the club should take a stand. Force the SFA to confront the real problem.

Oh, I think he did it on purpose. The common phrase is "goal drought", he smirked, he's a Rangers fan. Has anyone got links to these "death threats"?

Obviously, I am not in favour of people threatening him for being a Rangers fan, guy's an idiot, he's proved that before. He's no better or worse than anyone else that sings it, and no more worthy of attention.

Antrim / Oneantonrogan.

I can't make my mind up.He was fairly silly with his "flute playing" nonsense.Now this. Could be coincidence. Who knows?

old time67

spurs game started 6.1o, hope you didn't get it on before it started as they where 1 down at half time, 2nd half just starting on C5

One thing is certainly in no doubt!

The support knows how to win away from home.

Manchester police Statement:

Match Commander Superintendent John Graves of Greater Manchester Police said:
“I have no doubt that, for those Celtic fans who made the trip to Old Trafford for the Champions League fixture against Manchester United, it was a long and eventful day.

“Whilst I know the result of the game wasn't what Celtic fans would have wanted, the result of the overall event surely was. Any major sporting event is a challenge to police, and a sell-out crowd at one of the nation's largest stadiums for a game between two of Britain's greatest clubs, has to rank amongst the biggest.

“Making such events a success is not just down to the police and the clubs, it’s a responsibility of everyone involved, especially the supporters.

“As the Police Match Commander at Old Trafford, I would like to pass on my thanks to those Celtic fans who came to support their club in the finest traditions of genuine football fans, and ambassadors of Glasgow.

“From a policing and safety perspective, the game was a great success. There were very few incidents and arrests, and nothing that should detract from a great footballing occasion.

“I have to say that Celtic Football Club has every right to be proud of its fans. Those who braved the night in a windy and wet Manchester were a credit to the club.

“I would also like to compliment the Celtic stewards who helped tremendously throughout the game and added great value to the safety operation.

“We have a cliche in Manchester about the eyes of Europe being upon Old Trafford during these massive football games, and this was no exception.

“I believe that Celtic fans did a great deal to enhance not only the club's reputation across Europe, but also their own - well done.”

Hats of to every one of you.

RRC

old time?
sorry oldtim :0) tired BT

Did anyone hear Davie Provan on the Clyde phone in answer to a caller say that if TFS continued to be sung this season UEFA would have to take some action against Rangers if they qualify for Europe?

It is the first time I have heard any pundit publically state that view.

Hopefully that will concentrate minds a bit.

.

OldTim67....

Thats Some Bet....Villa Draw/Villa Looks Good @ 0/30 if l Know Oor Martin....

o1bhoy

PS. Mad Rush for The Melbourne Cup....

Does anyone know if we're likely to see Evander Sno for Ajax tonight? He's not been getting a regular game for them, has he? Mind you, he wasn't getting a regular game for us and still got flung into the big games, so...

.

BlantyreTime....

Leave OldTom Alone.... ;o))))

o1bhoyd... ;o((((

o1bhoy
what time is it over there?
you on tenderhooks?

.

oneantonrogan....

Van Basten had a fall-out with him a couple of weeks back....if l know the Dutch it will be a while before he plays again....but would love to see him tonight....

o1bhoy

.

BlantyreTim....

5:22am Yes Yes Yes....Even More So in 5Hrs Time.... ;o((((

o1bhoy

Just been browsing my new Celtic Encyclopaedia and it gave me the best present I've had in years. I grew up knowing the "Jungle" as the Hayshed, which is where I really grew up too (but that's another story altogether). That was always how it was known in my home and it turns out that that was how the original inhabitants referred to it. They think it got its new name when supporters returned from the Forces after serving in the Far East. Well, my Dad, who did serve in the Far East, never did change. He still calls it the "Hayshed" to this day.

Was anything mentioned in the Boruc case about TFS?

01bhoy.

When you mentioned 17/1 to NBT,Did you mean Mad Rush,it's now 4/1 with Wm Hill,I'm not betting it now.

Blantyretim.

I did bet Spurs,they have to start winning sometime.
Are you going to the 5s,or BBs,I want to see the semi's and final.
I might bring a carry-out if Paplophangue allows me to use his boot as a temporary Bar.

Lurgan 53 @ 7 .02

She let her defensive guard down very early on she did not put up resistence once Rocco went inside :) :)

I see one of my picks from the euros is playing for udinese

.

OldTim....

Yes Mad Rush l Bet it Before it Ran Last Week @ 17/1 Me and WhitedogHunch were Talking About it 2 Weeks Ago....It's 11/2 2nd Fav Down Here to Septicus....from the Coolmore Mafia....

It's Still a Good Bet....9/2 With PP....

o1bhoy

Seemingly Dermot Desmosmond and Peter Lawell
have acording to a financial expert on realradio after examining the club accounts came to the conclusion that both of them
have taken £5million for DD and £600,000 PL each respectiveley
from the club,therefore limiting there abily in the transfer market and shortchanging the fans

as usual ewan camerooni was absolutely shocked at this guys accounting ability,and totally gobsmacked that this news wasnt available to celtic fans

Newsnow csc

sorry, I cnn not be as upbeat as some posters
Imho the celtic performance was an embarrassment
and not acceptable for cfc and a lot of posters on here expected it and knew it was on the cards.
Thats the second time in a six week period we have been
subjected to "this is so reffin easy" by the opposition fans
The wgs managerial blueprint of how celtic should play
and the staff he has accrued to perform the task are
poles apart
Imho a managerial change is inevitable
It would not surprise me in the slightest that a certain
somebody somewhere is being sent footage of every ball kicked
by celtic at present
By the way, I do not subcribe to the sack WGS campaign.
Imho, he is managing that all on his ownsome

Udinese 2 Oopsadaisy 0

lou

£5.2million I think it is to DD. In Private Eye number-crunching terms, compare and contrast that figure with our gross summer spend. Investors in other clubs take the more philanthropic, no-return route. I guess they can afford to.

.

oneantonrogan....

Evander on the Bench....

o1bhoy

Re OT result

Probably, I'm in a minority of one or even fewer but I thought Celtic were coping reasonably until the first off-side goal. The whole complexion of the game then changed and in the end it was something of a rout.

That said, I didn't much like the 'privileged to breathe the same air as Rooney, Ronaldo etc' kind of attitude of some of the Celtic party. If we go into this CP game on 5 Nov. in a defeatist frame of mind we can expect a lot worse than 3-0.

oldtim67

probably make an appearance at the fives, my nephew plays on saturday morning. it is his turn to come to the game with me.
i'll see what i can do, my dad parks his car next to the away team bus so i can take my hippy and leave it in his car. might try and bring some light clothing for the charity.

.

Does Anyone Think MON Can Gub AJAX 3-0 Again....????

o1bhoy

o1 bhoy
not tonight, he will wait till the away leg again ;0))

blantyretim.

I asked Paul about opening an account so that we can donate money rather than school gear,ie pencils and books,but I don't think he's moved on it yet.

we won that game 3-1

shota arveladze scored the consolation for Ajax

Ulster-Celt

.

SetantaOZ are Showing the Frickin Pompey Game....I Have Bet That Agolan Bhoy 2 Score 2 any Updates would be Good....

o1bhoy

Oldtim... I don't think you have enough bets on yet!!

I've got ugly Betty to score first at 33s amongst others.

Hail Hail
Jamiebhoy

Bloke_109

Didnt think any director took money out the club apart from a salary

.

Ulster-Celt....

Amsterdam Has Always Played Tricks on My Mind/Memory....Don't Know Why....????

o1ghirl

corner villa 5 mins

o1bhoy

not the same when not the hoops, i'll only update with goals
BT

laursen
1 0 villa

wrong centre half for me!

.

1-0 Braga v Pompey Brilliant Free Kick....

o1bhoy

lou

I think it's from preference-share non-equity dividend, rather than salary for DD. PL is employee.

Paul... :-) Bueller... Anyone?

Up for it crowd and high-tempo Villa leave a nervy Ajax quaking and unlikely to recover. Serves them right in their faux-Chelsea strip.

Likely score now cos I couldn't predict my dinner - 5-1 Ajax...

.

Betting in Running 5/1 Pompey are a Good bet Still....IMO....

o1bhoy

I spoke a a current bun today who runs a Rangers supporters club in Fife.
They have a sportsmans dinner each year to boost club funds.

The speakers over the last few years have been John "Bomber" Brown ,Andy "UVF" Goram and ex ref Bobby Tait.

He has built up a friendship with all of them and has there personal mobile numbers.

Whilst i was talking to him,and he was gloating about how outclassed we were by Man U,and yet again how ineffective Aiden had been.Bobby Tait phoned him.

He was confirming that ex ref Jeff Winters would be the speaker at there up coming dinner.He would cut his normal fee from £1500 to £600, plus a days hospitality at Ibrox.(The Buns dad has a box there)

It just goes to show you,the hun ref is not a figment of our imagination.

eventheolivesarebleeding

No way - apparently they are just not very good at their job

Everything else is just coincidental

cloudcuckoocsc

Ghents,

what are the thoughts of the David Healy interview about the famine being over..... (when talking about his scoring drought)

Lubo25

is the pompey game on scottish telly anywhere?

olives

bobby tait :))))))

extra time played on his last match at ipox and killie went on to score,was on my way to a supporters night in forfar that day and we nearly ran the car of the road with our jumping about. anti climax the next day against dunfermline then cheerio to 10 in a row the following week...cheers bobby tait....

1 1 villa

Ajax have equalised, Ugly Betty standing still watching. The phrase "zonal marking" was used in commentary.

Lubo

Wouldn't give him the satisfaction of being in my thoughts. Water off a ducks back is the way I look at it.

Hail Hail
Jamiebhoy

A rankers fan view on theology,catholiscm and being eaten by lions

Bugger Off Walter; I'm Sick of Being Called a Bigot

Only cowards insult people who don’t have an opportunity to defend themselves. The papers have turned this into a fine art – offended on behalf of imaginary people; offended at imaginary people. Every politician, newspaper hack or football club owner with their own little renegade-denouncer-of-great-evil fantasy has jumped on a bandwagon of their own creation to stand up for the Sectarianly Oppressed against the Sectarian Oppressors – getting to be the Goodie in a sea of Baddies.

Politicians and newspaper hacks earn a living off this – it’s the very controversy that pays the bills. For Sir David Murray it’s a convenient way of sooking up to the liberal snobberies of broadsheets and hence deflecting any possible criticism of himself from there. But, Walter Smith? Now he’s standing up against this magical, mystical, barely tangible sectarianism as it vaguely exists in flux out on the internet? I’m not sure what the hell is going on, but I’ve spent more time than I should on Rangers fansites and generally there isn’t bigotry tolerated anywhere. The battle is imaginary, and the only victims are the people who don’t have mass-media at their disposal to defend themselves.

This racist, sectarian oppression that everyone’s standing up against simply doesn’t exist. I know a fair bit of Catholic history – it’s had its ups and downs, but there is an undoubted recurrent theme of genuine martyrdom. Their founder, Jesus Christ, history attests, willingly died for what he believed. There’s disagreement about what he believed, of course, but that he died for it is argued only by a lunatic fringe of scholars. The first Catholics happily walked into the actual jaws of actual lions for what they believed. Through the lives of the Saints you see the recurrent themes of persecution, and an almost supernatural humility. Catholics have dished out their fare share of oppression, certainly, but they’ve also endured it. To dare to be an actual Catholic in the modern world, serving others and trying to live unselfishly and in the persual of goodness in a world of money and hate, I think, is a noble sort of persecution. In Glasgow, they have been historically persecuted, and as disagreeable as separate schooling may be to some, there is a genuine argument for it being a battle to retain a tradition people still find important, despite it not being the popular one. Catholics feel the burden of secular oppression today, and Catholics, as a group of people through history, have, at various points, suffered massive oppression.

But modern day Catholics in Scotland are not part of this group. Those complaining are rebels in love with their self created persecution. They have a job; the right to practice their faith freely; an Xbox and massive representation in parliament – the truth is that they're just not oppressed. People being eaten by lions is oppression – enduring the word ‘fenian’, or being told to go home back to Ireland if you love it so much, in a football ground, where you’re shouting and swearing yourself, and flying Irish flags, is NOT oppression.

When was the last time, in Scotland, as a Catholic, or a person of Irish descent, lost a job for their faith or nationality? When was the last time they were publically flogged, or forced to sit at the back of a bus? When was the last time they were spat on, or stuck in a gas chamber?

Walter Smith, and the rest of you petty-rent-a-cause-reactionaries honestly think that you’re doing anything other than raping every memory of Actual Oppression purely for the purposes of selling papers, appealing to the electorate or deflecting criticism, then you are deluded. Anyone who takes you seriously are their own punishment.

I’m quite sure there are a minority of morons of the internet spouting immature pish – this is true of all clubs, and I’m not sure why it is that Rangers feel it necessary to give an account for the goings-on of the internet – a medium that gives the most certifiable of nutters freedom of speech. Are Rangers FC to be the first regulators of the internet? Are they to succeed in eradicating pretend evil on the internet while the police battling real evil, with their massive anti-paedophilia budget, have failed?

I, for one, am bloody sick of being part of the faceless masses consistently brandished as a bigot simply for enjoying talking about my team online. The club are going to have to consider really what these constant, cowardly, jibes are doing to people who dedicate a large portion of their lives and energy to supporting the club. These same ‘bigots’, ‘spouting "bile" on the internet’ are undoubtedly the same people who buy the DVDs, the new strip every season and get the letters printed on the back for their children.

The establishment are quite happy to call these people evil every time the media comes knocking at their door for an interview that will confirm the prejudices of their readership and ensures their profits the next day. The same large, weighty, moral conscience disappears as soon as these same people go and buy a sub-standard pie from the catering.

So, Walter, and the rest of you – let’s stop tarnishing everyone with the same ill-informed brush, shall we? Where are these masses of racial oppressors? I haven’t seen them; I don’t talk to them. You’re fighting for an imaginary cause but insulting real, tangible, people. Bugger off and stick to the football please

Lubo25

Th elink was posted on here the day after the interview - it looked like he smirked a wee bit when he said it and I think the Bears were crowing about it.

To be honest I would now just ignore wee dafties like him with his flute playing etc.

jamiebhoy

no, our friend justin is showing it though. ; )

jamiebhoy

No.

TTT,

Unfortunately its my turn to drive the ML2 passengers on Saturday so my cobra-like reflexes are not for hire.

WG,

Can't wait to find out where SOAL, Magoo and the ML2 Cawewwas end up for the night.

Bloke_109

A got it now clear as mud these finanicials;)

Before the 5-a sides you may want to read the review of the week and a preview of the Hibs game. Also at the bottom of the blog their is a link to some fancy footwork,freestyle football which yer sure to break yer neck trying on astro turf wie £12 Mitre trainers on.

Panic!!!! Over. Man Against Bhoys And A Bhoy Named Deek.

Good luck wie the 5's. I'm sure I will get a LoTW team for next year..might need to do some scouting right enough.

Forza

loumacarisbettingslip

Do you think the person that wrote that piece is an ACTUAL Rankers fan?

Forget to say, good luck with the fives and the fundraising on Saturday. Is it five-a-side waterpolo you're planning?

NoahCSC

I had offered a pair of new umbro boots and Nike shinguards free to anyone who will make a donation to the charity

Im thinking of changing this to a rubber ring and a pair of water wings.

jinksyboy
straight from rankers den so to speak gersnet

Don't know why Celtic have suddenly started sending me texts and emails telling me there's tickets for sale. I've got a bleedin season ticket.

Is this just what happens to everyone they've got the number of?

loumacarisbettingslip

Its always interesting to read / hear how the rankers see things slightly different from us.

Gadzooks - maybe they are right - and the rest of the civilized world has got it all wrong.

jamiebhoy

I was in JJB Sports yesterday and my phone got a message on my bluetooth with a Nike advert from JJB. Pretty smart marketing - Celtic should do that at the next Rankers game at CP - No racist songs please.

Not sure if anyone has already posted this.

Show hypocrisy the red card byPhil Mac Giolla Bhain

As a journalist you usually know you’re doing your job when people aren’t pleased to see you. My family are pleased to see me, and my friends welcome me into their homes, so I don’t take it personally when people don’t want to see me and my press card.
Its only business it isn’t personal.
Billy Singh of “Show Racism The Red Card” (SRTRC) wasn’t pleased to see me at Tynecastle last Friday.
It is ok Billy this is business, nothing personal. I had, since, mid September been trying to get an interview, a comment even, from Billy Singh of SRTRC. I had spoken on the phone with two of his colleagues. I wanted SRTRC’s view on the Famine Song.
Many people considered the song to be racist and it was sung at soccer grounds by Rangers fans.
The nice people at SRTRC told me that Billy Singh was dealing with the issue and that I would have to deal with him. I left my number, but didn’t get any reply. I had to go to print in the Irish Post on Friday October 1st with SRTRC having made no public statement about the Famine Song.
Later that day SRTRC made a statement via their website-still no call did I receive. That singing the famine song could lead anyone singing it to be liable to arrest for a “racial breach of the peace”. This statement on the SRTRC website was, err, very similar to the statement released by the Ibrox club in late September.
At this stage I felt like one of the journalists who were piecing together the sequencing of the Northern Ireland Peace process. Who was writing statements for whom?
Finally on Monday 6th October STRC made a public statement via their website that, in their opinion, the Famine Song was racist.
Phew!
I know that several Irish community organisations had approached SRTRC in May to complain about the Famine Song.
Still my phone didn’t ring.
A journalistic colleague who works at the Scottish parliament told me that there was due to be a charity football match played between a SRTRC select and MSPs at Hearts’ ground Tynecastle.
No brainer.
A few clicks on the Aer Lingus website and I was good to go!
It is fair to say that Billy was surprised to see me turn up in Tynecastle, as the game was about to start in Hearts home ground on Friday 17th October.
I introduced myself and showed him my press card. I told him I was researching a piece on the Famine song.
I asked him why SRTRC had taken so long to state publicly that the famine song was racist?
Billy stated, “We have always considered the Famine Song to be racist! It brings nationality into it, it is racist and it is wrong.”
I asked Billy why, having been petitioned by Irish community groups about the song in May, that his organisation had only made a public statement two weeks before our conversation October 6th? Billy could not answer my question, but conceded that the October 6th statement on the SRTRC website was the first public pronouncement by the organisation on the Famine Song.
Billy stated that SRTRC was “working behind the scenes with Rangers football club and the Rangers supporters organisations.”
Billy went onto the field of play and slotted in at right back, he did very well.
As I watched the “Red Card Select” confirm to the MSPs that they would never have made it as footballers (I stopped counting the score after five to the Red Card).
I chatted with Red Card manager for the day Lex Gold.
A very amiable man he is.
He explained to me that the SPL did not have a songbook of banned songs and he, publicly, could not have an opinion on the Famine song, as he might be the guy to punish an SPL club if they were deemed to be negligent in tackling racism among their own supporters. There was, of course, a corollary to this. If the SPL deemed the club in question to be doing all that were possible to eradicate the illegal behaviour of their fans then the SPL would not punish the club. He agreed with me that, in a situation where the club could not be found to be negligent in tackling racism by their fans, but that if that racist behaviour persisted then it was a matter for the police not the SPL.
I also interviewed SFA boss Gordon Smith.
The ex-Rangers man stated that the SFA could not have a public view on the Famine Song as the SFA was, in effect, the court of appeal of SPL clubs.
If the SPL punished a club, for whatever reason, and the club thought this unjust or unfair then the club could appeal to the SFA.
Subsequently, Smith explained, the SFA could not have a public view on the Famine Song for that reason.
I also asked the SFA chief about the treatment of young James McCarthy who had decided to play for the Republic of Ireland. Smith was particularly adamant that young James McCarthy of Hamilton Academicals should be left alone “It is his decision; it was his decision to make. He should be left alone!”
In fairness he couldn’t have been clearer or more unequivocal. People should leave young James McCarthy alone and respect his decision to play for Ireland.
That was from the guy at the top of Scottish soccer as we chatted in the away dugout at Tynecastle. He had just came off the field of play where he had scored the goal of the match, a twenty yard curler with the outside of his right foot.
Smith’s goal was an absolute cracker. Even topping Chic Charnley’s swerving shot which was also from outside the box.
As the Red Card team celebrated Gordon’s goal Gary McKay started to sing to the MSP team “Are you the House of Commons in disguise?”
There is nothing wrong with rubbing it into your defeated opponents, nothing at all.
Everyone who assembled in Tynecastle that day was saying that racism could not be included in any song or chant in soccer.
Agreed.
I had been concerned that following on from Ally Ross’s piece in the Sun attacking James McCarthy’s decision to elect to play for Ireland instead of the country of his birth that he would be the victim of racist abuse.
I had been in phone contact with the club secretary Scott Struthers the week before I travelled to Scotland and I was impressed with vehemence with which he objected to the attacks on James in the media.
Moreover he told me that everyone in the club knew that James would declare for Ireland.
He explained to me that following on from the Ally Ross piece James was not speaking to the media.
This I fully understood.
I attended the Hamilton v St.Mirren match the following day at New Douglas Park.
I had called him the day before on my way back to Glasgow from Tynecastle. Scott was surprised that James had not been in touch, but it was absolutely no problem on my part.
I told him of my intention, as a journalist, to attend the next Hamilton match and sit in the away end.
I attended the Hamilton v St.Mirren match the following day at New Douglas Park.
James McCarthy was subjected to sustained racist abuse in the second half from St. Mirren fans.
Every touch of the ball was booed. In the second half Hamilton were attacking the away end. Each time McCarthy was on the ball for any length of time some chant or other would be struck up. “Plastic Paddy” was the main chant.
In the scale of racist chanting this wasn’t up there with the shameful treatment of Mark Walters by Celtic fans in the 1980s. However, it was, throughout the 2nd half sustained. There was a vociferous minority of St.Mirren fans at the back of the away end where I was sitting.
Every touch of the ball was booed from the time I took my seat with a few minutes played right through to the final whistle.
In the first half he was the only Hamilton player who was booed by the St.Mirren fans. In the second half as Hamilton chased the equaliser.
James McCarthy was regularly on the ball charging from midfield towards the St.Mirren goal.
On each occasion he was running with the ball the chant of “There’s only one plastic paddy!” would strike up from the hard core of St.Mirren fans.
After the match I went down behind the goals and introduced myself to a senior police officer. I showed him my press card and told him that I was in touch with Scott Struthers the Hamilton club secretary and that he was expecting me.
As we walked around to the tunnel area I asked the police officer had he heard the abuse directed at young James McCarthy?
“Yeah he gets a bit of stick doesn’t he?” stated the officer with a slight giggle.
I thought, little chance of this law enforcer approaching the match delegate though the appropriate channels.
After several phone calls and emails I got to meet Scott Struthers. Lex Gold had spoken of him in high terms and I had already made, as one does, an assessment of the disembodied person you are communicating with.
He is a fine man, with only the best interests of young James McCarthy at heart.
He was willing to go on the record about the booing. He declared that he was “disappointed” at the conduct of the St.Mirren fans towards James.
I was lead into the press box where the rest of the media were preparing words and images of the soccer watch we had all just witnessed. When I was asked what blatt I was working for a couple of the pack were interested in the piece I was researching.
One sports journalist who I won’t name to save his blushes stated to me that:
“This PC thing has gone mad hasn’t it?”
I thought of the event I had attended the previous day.
I countered with “ when is anti-racism political correctness? Surely it is beyond debate that racism is a social evil and that it should be confronted at every opportunity?”
“Yeah, but James McCarthy is white and Scottish so it can’t be racist!”
This, I suspected, was what he thought to be a winning polemical point.
“Well racism isn’t necessarily a matter of skin colour, although of course it can be. FIFA and UEFA are very clear that racism can be about nationality, citizenship or ethnic heritage. The abuse aimed at James McCarthy was specifically about his Irishness and his decision to declare for the Republic if Ireland. Hence the abuse was racist.”
His answer was a mumbled “ Yeah, suppose….”
I considered that if this was typical of the level of awareness of such issues in the pressroom what chance the supporters in the cheap seats?
Scott Struthers then brought young James out to be interviewed by me.
The first thing that strikes you about the young Irish midfielder is that he IS young.
I was standing in front of him outside the pressroom at New Douglas Park and thinking that this was a boy doing a man’s job.
It wasn’t the time or the place to have a relaxed examination with a hassled 17 years old about issues of national identity. So my questions on his wearing of the green were to the point.
“Why did you pick Ireland James?”
“When I was young, when I was a kid I would always watch the Ireland matches on the telly.”
For a fifty year old to hear a lad of 17 hark back to the days of his innocence made me smile, but it was a clear and precise answer from the lad. He felt drawn towards Ireland. He qualifies for Ireland through his mother’s side. Donegal people. His uncle Hugh Coyle had stated quite clearly in a piece in that day’s Sun that James was Irish on both sides of his family. In qualifying to play for Ireland he also was entitled to legal citizenship.
I told him
“You will need to get yourself one of these for your travels!” as I brandished my Irish passport. His smile said it all. James McCarthy is for the wearing of the green.
James told me “the Irish set up has been great.” James told me that in a recent 2-2 draw with Portugal his midfield partner is Owen Garvan of Ipswich town and that he hoped that they could strike up a partnership together.
I told him that he would need to learn the words of An t-Amhran na BhFiann. He promised that he would!
When I asked James could he hear the abuse from the St.Mirren fans?
“Yeah I heard it, but I just keep my head down and try and block it out.”
James McCarthy is a lovely young lad, polite and well mannered. As I left New Douglas Park I hoped that the fans of all Scottish fans would heed the words of Gordon Smith and leave the kid alone.
The following day not one of the Sunday papers that covered the match mentioned the booing of James McCarthy.
There was no doubt that anyone in New Douglas Park that day would have known that James McCarthy was booed every time he got a touch of the ball. They may not have heard the “plastic paddy” chants from the knot of St.Mirren up at the back of the away end, but almost the entire away end was booing when James was on the ball.
There was no play related reason to be booing James McCarthy, he had not kicked or injured a St.Mirren player for example. So they would have had to discount the fact that the was being booed so they did not need to comment on it
So there it was, it didn’t happen. Within 24 hours of the Show racism the Red Card football match and the fine words here was racist abuse of a young Irish kid and not a mention of it in the papers.
The next day (Monday) I was on my way to the airport when a journalist colleague in Dublin called me to say that there had been a match report on the Hamilton official club website which had mentioned the racist abuse of James McCarthy by a section of the St.Mirren fans.
Luckily he had printed the screen because a short time later the match report had been taken down. I called Scott Struthers to ascertain what had happened. He confirmed to me that that there had indeed been such a match report on the club site, but that it had been taken down. I asked him why and he said because there had been no abuse of James.
“Sorry Scott, but I have you on record as saying that you were disappointed at the booing of him every time he touched the ball”
“Yes” the club secretary replied, but there wasn’t any racist abuse of James.
I heard the unmistakable sound of goalposts being moved. I reminded Scott that I had personally told him after the game about the chants.
“Yes, but it was only you who heard them.” He said, “ There was no report by the stewards or the police.” I thought of the policeman who had taken me around to the tunnel.
I thanked Scott for taking my call and for all the hospitality and help he had afforded me on the match day and before in facilitating my work.
I remain of the opinion that Scott Struthers is a fine man.
Scott had told me that James had given an extensive and exclusive interview to the Advertiser the week that he wasn’t speaking to the press (after the Ally Ross piece in the Sun). It was a hunch.
I got through to Andy McGilvray who covers the “Accies” home games at New Douglas Park. I told him who I was and the conversation I just had with Scott Struthers.
“That’s nonsense I heard it!” I asked Andy where in the ground he was?
“I was in the main stand right in the middle.”
“Like, above the tunnel area?”
“Yeah”
“And you heard the ‘plastic paddy’ stuff?”
“Yes, everybody heard it!”
I asked him could I go on the record with this conversation and he agreed (or you wouldn’t be reading it now) I thanked him and hung up.
My cell phone immediately went off in my hand again, it was my colleague in Dublin. He had been intrigued by the censored match report between, lets face it, two not every unimportant Scottish soccer teams. He had gone onto a message board for St.Mirren fans and there had been reports of phone calls made to the Paisley club by St.Mirren fans about the original Hamilton match report.
A complaint from St.Mirren to Hamilton, I thought, seemed a likely explanation for the removal of the original match report.
I called St.Mirren and asked to speak to the press officer. I was told that he was on vacation. Ok could I speak to someone else? General Manager Brian Caldwell took my call. He denied that there had been any racist abuse of James McCarthy. I told him that I had heard the abuse and that I had been in the away end. He countered that he had also been in the away end and that he had heard nothing! Mr.Caldwell then asked me what I was doing in the away end with the St.Mirren fans. I told him, quite bluntly, that following on from the Ally Ross piece in the Sun and the Real radio football phone in that I feared that James McCarthy might have been the target of anti-Irish racism because of his decision to play for the Ireland.
“So you went there looking for it?” accused the St.Mirren general manager.
Well yes Mr.Caldwell I’m a journalist I was there checking out a story. It is what journalists are supposed to do! Journalists find stories and then report them to the public. I admitted that it was a small minority of the St.Mirren fans that were subjecting James to the abuse. Mr.Caldwell then stated that if it was only a small minority then it wasn’t a story. This I told him was a slightly different from “it didn’t happen at all”.
Silence.
At that stage it seemed almost impolite to tell him that a journalist from the local paper sitting in the main stand could hear the racist abuse of James McCarthy that Mr.Caldwell sitting in the same stand as the St.Mirren fans claimed he could not.
I thanked Mr.Caldwell for taking my call.
I am back home in Ireland now and I can reflect that in the space of four days I attended an event dedicated to eradicating racism from the game in Scotland, a soccer game where an Irish kid received racist abuse and found out, by looking at the Sunday papers, that such abuse didn’t make it into a single match report. Moreover there is a hesitance in Scotland to call what happened to James McCarthy racism.
You know, as a journalist, that you’re doing your job when you ask questions that people don’t want to answer.

I want David Healy hounded for this.

From the smirk on his face ,he has told friends that he would mention the famine song,in a post march interview, if they won or he scored.

You know the type,i will get bouncebackability mentioned in the interview.
He should be hounded til death.

NAFOS - me too

just hope it's not anything to do with Rio or Wio for that matter

or Wewafield's Wovahs Wetun

or Kwistanio Wanaldo's Hotel Woom...

and especially not yours...

U

The chickens came home to roost on Tuesday.

The Lilliput policy has failed, the lack of investment in the Summer is there for all to see.

The CL draw could have been kinder but the performances in this campaign so far do not come as a shock to me.

eventheolives...,
I questioned jeff winters and he published some of my answers, but stopped short on the questions he couldnt/didnt want to answer, I kept the correspondance.

Me:
Jeff,
I was recently informed that in England , Ref's have to identify any allegence to teams, to try and ensure they cannot be choosen to ref games involving their team. Is this true?? Do you feel it should be considered by other associations??Do you know of any other associations that use this rule ??

Jeff:
Reply:-
It is true John, in fact it goes further than that. You cannot Ref a team close to where you live or have had an allegiance to in your life. Eg season ticket holder previously. You would also be kept away from a club with any family allegiance EG. Your son was on the books of. It went further than that, say Boro were in the
relegation dog fight, I would not Ref any teams in a similar position. It's not that you would be biased, it's just other peoples perception. E G . Scottish football fans!! I am sure that similar principles are practiced around the world, but it isso difficult in a small country like Scotland , when due to geography, religion and the fact that there are two very dominant sides it is not easy to find someone who does not come into the categories that would lead the people not to have conspiracy theories.

Best wishes
Jeff

Me again:
Jeff,
Thanks for your reply,
could I take the "its not that you would be biased" a wee bit further and say it would negate the opportunity to be biased, in an attempt to enforce integrity.
I am a bit confused as to why you insist such rules could not be imposed in Scotland , in fact I would support the rule being imposed by EUFA for all affiliated federations/associations. It would indeed force Scottish football to become more open and accountable, whilst protecting the integrity of referee's. I actually think refereeing in Scotland would be improved by such a rule. The only reason I can see for not including it is that the authorities consider it too much work.
Cheers
John

Jeff again:
It’s not too much work, it’s purely down to the size of the country and also other specific problems that Scotland has.
Take a Referee who lives near one of the major cities eg. Glasgow , he is either protestant or catholic( a fact that does not matter in England ) and as a football fan he may well as a boy have watched Celtic or Rangers. This Ref needs to ref top matches if he is to progress. Applying the rules that work in England, where exactly does he Ref?

Best wishes

Jeff

Me again this not published:
Jeff,
North East Coast, to me its simply up to the ref's to declare themselves. It really is that simple. If a ref is found to have made a fraudulent claim then let the law handle it, that way they know the consequences. I disagree that a referee's religon matters any more in Scotland than in England as long as they have declared their interests. I dont think Glasgow Celtic have ever objected to anyone on religous grounds though I'm sure you will identify a section of support who you feel would object, I must admit reading previous responses I am surprised you raised this ugly issue as it has no place in football. However even at the hight of the McCurrygate, his religon was never referred to as an issue, indeed the issue was solely about his performances. But then again if a Catholic priest was given charge of an old firm game there may be objections.
Cheers Jeff thanks again for you balanced opinion.
Good Luck
John

UM ,

I fear the worst for you but I think SOAL will be able to take everything in his stride(s).

Cha Cha Cha

Personally i think that the board know what they are doing and they are doing what they deem to be the best for the future of Celtic Football Club.

Many many many clubs are in a sticky situation with todays financial climate,therefore for my club to achieve a debt free status by january gives me alot of confidence for our long term future due to the clubs sound business footing.Arsenal came a calling for peter lawell and for good reason as he has done an absolute fantastic job for our club.

I only need to cast my mind back to our centenary season to realise the strides that our club has taken forward,from a ramshackle midden of a stadium complete with pathetic training facilities to a greedy board with no ambition whatsoever.
compare that to our stadium,state-of-art training facilities,decade of dominance on the playing front...all bought...all paid for.

On tuesday we lost to what is arguably the best club side in the world and this shouldn't send us into a state of panic.
Bear in mind the injuries we picked up on the lead up to this glamour fixture didnt help the situation nor did thier 2 offside goals but im aware that we were completely outplayed by a team costing nearly £200m to assemble,the richest club in the world can simply go out and buy players we can only dream about...afterall they have the money,they have the stage and they play in the best/richest league in the world.
Its probably the toughest group we are in and we are down but but not out keep the faith.

I am convinced that with the club offloading the likes of gravesen,jarosik and soon to be balde this frees up nearly £100k in wages pw we will spend big in january without the fear of running up rangers style debts,thus giving us the springboard to go on and secure 4 in a row which in my view will cripple rangers for many many years to come.

hail hail folks.

Paul67/Any journalists

Having just read Andycol's post from the Irish journalist.I hope that you can influence the spreading of this article.

You have stated that you know Celtic fans in the BBC and that they read this blog.
This tory must be taken up by the red tops and broadsheets.

pompy 2 down 46 mins

andycol

I had scanned down your post and thought - should I just skip it due to length - glad I didnt.

Good article and shows how a decent journalist should do his job. also shows how the laptop loyal do their and the overall view in this country to racism when its not colour related.

Suppose we just have to accept we are 3rd or 4th class citizen, shut our mouths and be grateful for every priviledge granted to us.

Or else we could continue to campaign for change

I know which one Im going to do

andycol
thanks for sourcing that piece

disappointing reaction but not surprising

I see Stevie Walford. Oh...!! for a Steve Walford just know to organise the defnece and weed out the duds

loumacari
did this creature give his true identity

no need for him to be faceless

i`ll call him a bigot ....right to his fat bigoted head

Having just read that, I've had a wee look for the journalist in question on the internet - I have a natural suspicion of articles posted without reference to where they come from (paranoid? me? a Celtic fan?) - and found his website:

http://www.philmacgiollabhain.com/

Off to have a proper wee read now, but thought some others with no knowledge of his work might want a look as well...

WGS

weed out the duds

ther wouldn`t be hellish much left

andycol

Had passed the article but your urging made go baxck and read it. Glad I did. No grey areas there!

NAFOS,
Gutted!

Andycol,
Thanks for bringing that to our attention. I don't why I was surprised by the content esp. The James McCarthy incident and its lack of column inches (or even millimetres) just sums up the attitudes prevalent in this pathetic little country.

Mouth platitudes but do nothing when push comes to shove.

Have to say that I am a little disappointed in Hamiltons decision to pull the match report esp. after both Billy Reid and Scott Struthers were very vocal in their defence of McCarthys decision in the week leading up to the weekends game.

As for the St.Mirren character, after the announcer debacle last season, we all know where they stand don't we???

HAIL! HAIL!
Token

Lads,

Not been overly impressed with Ajax tonight. Was looking forward to aeeing Emanuleson and Vermalean. I see Sno been bombed out. Van Basten did lat into him the opther week there about his lack of awareness on the pitch and use of the ball.

Kojo, you make a very interesting point (not for the first time). A change in training regime will, of course, threaten a finely tuned muscular system.

I agree wholeheartedly.

Bloke_109, total dividends for several years do not reach £5m.

Eventheolivesarebleeding, andycol’s article was remarkable.

So much of it didn’t make sense, of course. If a player was being abused for being black, the SFA and SPL would not be reticent to declare such treatment wrong.

Pity about St Mirren fans, I’m trying not to think of them in that manner.

Show Racism the Red Card come out of it very poorly.

Well done to the journo.

oneantonrogan

I notice this in Phils website - its a wonder no one told him to go home.

In the early 1990s for The Irish Post in the UK. This period of Phil’s work saw him focus on the social exclusion of the Irish community in Britain. Born and reared in Glasgow in an Irish household Phil was an important voice during the days of the social exclusion of the Irish community in Scotland.

nice we treble tonight bhoys

hamburg

sevilla

ac milan

£20 .....£97...i thank you

From the Herald

The officials claimed they were unlucky and insisted the fact that Celtic players did not complain at the time backed up their decisions.

De Bleeckere said: "At the moment itself, we were not aware of the error. There was no protest. I walked off the field with a good feeling. But when you see the images, it's a shame.

"The officials are a team. We did okay at the European Championships and in the Champions League. We must help each other and see it as a learning curve."

Verstraeten and Hermans both failed to flag for offside against Berbatov and were labelled Dopey and Sleepy following Gordon Strachan's pre-match reference to Snow White.

Verstraeten said: "I can deal with such comparisons. We have not yet talked about it as a group.

"I admit to the mistakes, but we also ask for understanding. Offside decisions are the hardest to judge. We are only human flesh and blood.

"This is the first time that we have made a mistake in 52 international matches. It is our bad luck that the mistakes came at goals. It is no consolation that Manchester United would have won without these decisions."

He added: "Some players argue their case in front of us, but no Celtic player protested. That proves that the offside decisions were very tight. At the end of the match, I was surprised when I saw the television images."

Does anyone else believe as a team we remain mentally naive in Europe. Lets all agree the decisions were close however if we turn the tables and the decisions went for us you can bet your life on the following.

1. Neville, Vidic, Oshea and Brown would all of had there hands in the air

2. Neville would have charged to the Linesman to vent his disgust at close quarters

3. Ferguson would have waited on the pitch to publicly remonstrate with the officials at half time

The result - In the 2nd half the same linesman, after checking TV replays would have been trigger happy with the flag to ensure no more errors. 2nd Goal rulled offside

At the final whistle and for two weeks in the lead up to the return he would have left no one in any doubt that his team were due a braek in the next game. The officials for November 5th would have started the match under pressure

Our reaction

Half hearted appeal from one defender and manager says the 2 wrong decisions had no bearing on game!

In an ideal world I would respect our corinthian spirit, in fact I champion it with my under 10's team but again reality bites, whether we like it or not, this is the Champions League the pinnacle of the professional game . The top sides use every available tactic to succeed including putting officials under pressure. the quotes from Tuesday's officials confirm this, he is almost using our teams lack of complaints as justification of his
error

Our learning curve is not only in the football sense

Paul67,

UEFA cup some decent teams in it this year, plus the ones to drop out of the CL to join. Could be interesting if we end up their. January sales will have to play a bit as well though.

paul67

very true about the different approach if Mccarthy had been black

somehow it`s all right it`s only a bit of banter

funny how it`s only him and Aiden ....wonder why

paul ...i don`t expect you to comment

you can leave that to the rest of us

sloleybhoy

we been exhibiting nievity in European football from years
from failing to hassle refs , to not making the most of breaks in the game (injuries etc ) to taking throwins too quickly placing our selves under pressure

and my pet hate ....happily retrieving and returning the ball

a significant lack of savvy IMO

and in anticipation of the retort of Rooney's goal being unjustly chalked off, courtesy of 01bhoy late Tuesday

Man Utd V Celtic....First 45mins....

Van Der Sar 3 Saves V Boruc 1 Save....

1 Man Utd Goal.... Offside....

We Weren't That Bad....!!!!

o1bhoy

The decisions changed the game,like a Huns game the early goals were crucial, our heads went down, tactics were shot and the showboating began.

We need to be more professional in every sense

PF Ayr

I said it in my earlier post and in previous TRS articles

I grew up in Glasgow as a 2nd class citizen because im from Irish catholic stock, I am now in no doubt Im at best a 3rd class citizen behind anyone with coloured skin and possibly 4th behind any immmigrants from EEC countries.

Or am I just another paranoid Mick

jinkysboy

inculcated ..sleep walking bigotry

can`t accept the situation ..must keep fighting the good fight

Re Mc Geady and Mc Carthy.
It MIGHT be construed as pro-Scottish rather than anti-Irish. A test will be the reaction to Boyd and McCulloch at SPL grounds.Could be interesting.

Sloleybhoy

I can go back to the partizan game at CP when we were through in the last minute and rushed to take a throw in - only to give it away and lose the game.

I watched the match against Villareal and saw naylor take a high kick to the face. he was up in aflash and rubbing his head and shaking the perps hand. They would have rolled a mile and wasted 5 minutes valuable time if it was at CP and got the celt at least a booking.

the list of naievity is endless

I wonder how roy keane would have reacted if he was in the hoops on tuesday - or how he would have reacted if he was our manager.

jinksbhoy

yes you are a paranoid mick

Q.1 Name me a footballer of Asian descent playing in Scotland?

Evening all

Still frustrated over Tuesday night yet wasn't surprised by the scoreline. I honestly felt we were doing well until the 1st goal went in and have to agree with Mark McGhee on "press box" tonight that it changed the game.

I am not saying Celtic would have taken anything from the game as Man Utd are superior both on the pitch and in spending power off it but we have been victims of some poor decisions in the Champions League this season - the 2nd goal again confirming this.

That said I though the acceptance of defeat at 2-0 hurt me most and some players need to have a wee look at themselves. McManus and Caldwell being the only positives as far as I was concerned.

Didn't expect anything in Spain and England and its the Aalborg game at Celtic Park which has put us in such a poor position.

On the subject of money - we dont have nor would I want to see Celtic in massive debt and spending 20-30 million on one player - the trick for us is to use our money wisely. Donati sitting out games after a huge outlay (in Celtic terms)is an example of wasted resources.

Another major concern for me remains player fitness esp. Scott McDonald. He also has the look of a "i've arrived" after one good season - totally unexceptable as far as im concerned!

pggtips2

I used to kick a ball with a guy from Ibrox who was the first Scottish Asian pro footballer and played for Killie.

he never made it as a pro - just a good junior with Maryhill

cant remember any asian guys making it in Scotland

Sloleybhoy,

Interesting comments from the ref. Is he really saying that players should protest tight decisions??

pompy 3 down

villa win 2 1

Sloleybhoy 9.41
Great contribution.Completely agree with your comments.
The answer,partial perhaps,is video refs.
It`s not a question of whether, it`s a question of when.
Why not now ?
For one,it would make the universal scourge of corruption ,or cheating ,less likely to succeed.

jinkysbhoy

Exactly what I mean, some persective is needed rather than being indescribably anal about songs being sung.

How do you think this songs debate is viewed in the Asian community, people genuinely fighting for their rights to remain in their homeland or a petty argument between two sets of drunks up for a bit of oneupmanship?

If Celtic are serious about taking the adult lead and trying not to see themselves as one-half of the old firm then they need to step off the argument and let the stupid people continue the fight in an empty room.

No-one outside is listening anyway.

Kojo

Excellent article, you have crystalised my thoughts.

Totally agree

Asian footballer playing in Scotland: Shunsuke Nakamura

PedanticGeographyCSC (tongue in cheek version)

Gordon_J - That's the first thing that struck me, was he saying that if the Celtic players had all appealed the decision would have been different? You could have put money on it that if the Celtic players got in the refs face over the decisions then the yellow cards would have dished out like confetti.

jinkysboy - is that Jaswinder 'Jazz' Juttla you are talking about? He played at Morton for a year or so but to be honest he was very poor at that level. Have you not found anyone to take your boots yet?

oneantonrogan

:-D

pggtips2-

Nakamura

PF Ayr,

Nice treble well picked!

Personally I thought the bet of the day was Udinese at 11/10.
Top 3 in Serie A, at home, versus an abysmal Spurs team????
Had a wee nibbble on the single!

HAIL! HAIL!
Token

andycol on October 23, 2008 9:02 PM

Thanks Andy for going to the trouble for re-producing the article. I have read it twice and am now a wiser man. In Scotland we would not have the opportunity to read such a piece of journalism (not even G.Speirs would dare write that article!)and unfortunately, it portrays the type of leadership in Scottish football that is lacking moral courage. Well done to G.Smith for coming out and decrying any type of racist chanting over McCarthy.

Jinkysboy,

meant to ask earlier if the shinpads-for-donation offer is still on the table?

I have managed to find 2 of my shinpads, the only problem is that they are from different pairs!
Obviously they will do if I have no other recourse, but I'd be happy to take them off your hands for a suitable donation to the charity on Saturday.

HAIL! HAIL!
Token

andycol

well done

celticlover
why didnt gordon smith make the point in the press and tv here!

holygoaliecsc

WGS

As ever the UEFA Cup contains "big name teams" from yesteryear.

In reality most of them are pretty poor nowadays.

If, and I think it is a big if, Celtic make it into the UEFA Cup then they need to look very closely at their pricing strategy for those games.

Having taken the financial arguments on board about our expectations against the big boys in europe, a couple of fundamental things still exist: 1) our inability to control and pass the ball in a timely manner to a fellow celtic player and 2)since we last met Utd have we improved? Personnally i dont think that we have. given our financial limitations we should still be able to improve the team no matter how incramentally.

Go tell the spartan

Point 1 remains our biggest problem in European competition and it stems from a lack of presence and ability in Central Midfield.

Have we improved? I don't think we have and we miss a Lennonesque player who can win tackles and make short, quick accurate passes!

Porridgeandbananas

No - it was a guy called Rashid Sarwar. He was a class player and solid as a rock. When he played for Maryhill we were playing half an hour after his match finished and he cane straight through the tunnel to the Ibrox astro and played for us and was still the best player on the park by a mile (and the other mob had 3 amateur players)

TTT

No one has taken the boots off my hands yet... boom boom. Or the guards either. I am coming to the fives so will bring both with me at 0930 - I will be the guy with the green bay packers hat on.

I think part of the problem for us is stage fright. The mistakes which we make in European away games are mistakes which would would never do during an SPL game, by this I mean failing to pass the ball 5 yards. The player's legs seem to turn to jelly. Our away record, the fact we're playing teams who press better as well as playing with a higher tempo are probably the main reasons why the players seem to struggle. I think once we get that first allusive away win we'll be fine. Hopefully we can get it against Allborg.

PF ayr
that piece was from a guy calling himself bmck

some excellent reading here tonight.

Soleybhoy,

I know for a 100% fact. All down to 100% experience that if a Celtic player mouthed off to the referee like a Ferdinand or Vidic would have done in similar circumstances that he would be booked. The Belgian referee comes out with all guns blazing but the fact is they got three goals wrong in the one game. Naturally this affects the outcome of any game not just that one. Its easy to gloss over.

The players showed respect to the incompetent officials. I admire them for that. As they are the ones that have to put up with their own supporters suggesting that they are overweight. Should be punted. Have their integrity and heart put up for question. They should be commended for that and for our support to go running with their excuses beggars belief.

I posted yesterday the number of CL travesties that we have encountered and it doesn´t seem to even itself up over the season. Let me put it this way if we had scored the same goals at OT I would bet that the chances of them all been given would have been slighter. Nothing has changed since we were foolish enough to accept UEFA decision to reaply the Radid Vienna tie at OT. We should have taken the 5 year ban as a matter of principal.

I think we were beat before we went on the pitch also. The moment I knew we had lost was after hearing about Sammi and JVOH. Crosas injury later on didn´t help much either. Boruc´s howler for Poland also gave me the jitters slightly as did ICT being allowe dto kick us off the park a few days earlier.It´s the Aalborg result that´s came home to roost on Tuesday night coupled with a dire display we defintitely can do better against the current European Champions on the home patch with a patched up team.

I am not giving up on them achieving their CL goals. I am keeping the faith. I´m standing by the bhoys that won the title for Tommy and I may be a naive fool but we will give Manchester United a run for their money Sammi&JVOH or not at Celtic Park. Villareal too. Aalborg away? well I said the same about FCK but after packing it in against Motherwell I have learned my lesson.

Somehow I feel if we had beaten Aalborg by a dodgy own goal and Sammi or JVOH had played and we had a similar second half to the first half we wouldn´t be so intent on knocking the good work that has been done up until now.

STANDING FOR THE CHAMPIONS

Hail Hail

Confidence on the ball should be a pre requisite for being a celtic player, remember o'shea (who i think is limited)making a fool out of aidenho. we dont move into space after making that 5 yard pass, no movement means no progress

Paul67

@5.24
You really are quite petty in your comments and conveniently miss the issue altogether.I'm not talking about one other player(the one positive you can find). I clearly refer to Boruc,Macdonald and Hartley who you do not mention at all.Pathetic from you.I stressed that I eagerly wanted your opinion on a serious matter and we still don't get it after 2 requests.Quite disappointing from you I'm afraid.

andycol, great find.
joe brann,
I'm taking a different view, and they dont like it down here in manchester.
When asked about the game, my response is;

"we got cheated, first 30 minutes, we had two shots on goal, you had none.
your first shot on goal was from an off-side position and it counted, yer next shot was the same.
how do you expect the bhoys to feel after theat, gutted and no even being hammered, your tails went up, our heads went down.
our tails would have went up, if we'd half the luck we'd have hammered you"

IMO
when Mr McDonald is on song he's on fire.
had that team gelled with luck and confidence like we've seen them, who knows eh,
all we know, is that we did not get the rub of the green and it hurts like, whats the verb for love making?
hail hail

pggtips2

I take your point regards asian racism - some of my best mates are pakistani and indian descent.

My point though is its clearly racism in the public eyes when its the colour of skin that being picked on - when its a white pesron from Irish descent we are just moaning paranoids.

Also the singing of the songs is (as I have said over and over) just the tip of the iceberg. I dont think I need to give a catalogue of examples as Im sure most who live in the west of scotland will have been the victim on occassion or just witnessed events.

My honest view is "sticks and stones" on the songs - its their problem not ours but when I see no one taking it seriously it riles me. I would argue the same if it was racism against the friends I mentioned or other minorities.

Jinkysboy,

If I cant find the matching pairs I shall be looking for you at 0930 sat morn.

Cheers
HAIL! HAIL!
Token

oneantonrogan

The journalist in question who wrote the article posted by andycol was born in Glasgow of an Irish father and Scottish mother. There is no need to be suspicious as I can assure you that in the context of his writings, he is the genuine article.

Interestingly enough, he is not really a football fan or put it this way, as we used to say back in the day "he widnae know a fitba if it hit him in the face"

A well writen piece

canamalar

I made a comment on here about 25 mins in that we looked comfortable and had 3 shots on target to their one. They were not playing free flowing football - that came after the second goal.

How many times at CP have we struggled while taking 70% of possession until we get the break and then when the pressure is off the nice quality football looks great.

Then theres the flipside - Aalborg - if the pen goes in or the "good goal" stands we would have got a second probably and then maybe a 3rd too.

Decisions at that level are crucial especially when they result in the first goal

Awe_Naw_No_Annoni_Oan_Anaw_Noo,

Just to clarify, I am not having a go at our players efforts or commitment on Tuesday, if you read my comments after the game I said it was actually difficult to slate any of the team.

For much of the first half I also thought our tactics were spot on given the resources available.

Respect for the official is an admirable stance but I sense we are alone in this one at this level,futhermore no one from UEFA down seems willing to ensure respect is rewarded and not punished. The comments from the officials are honest ones, as I believe were his errors however they do regretfully illustrate the outlook of our "top" European officials.

ANDYCOL.WELL DONE GREAT ARTICLE.AND MORE SCOTLAND SHAME. BUT FOR ME THE CAUSE OF THIS YOUNG LADS MISERY .IS THE EVIL BEHIND A MICROPHONE. IT WAS MENTIONED ON HERE LAST WEEK , SORRY I FORGET WHO IT WAS THAT POSTED .THAT UNTIL A COUPLE OF EVIL MEN MADE AN ISSUE IN A PROGRAMME HIGHLIGHTING THE LADS DECISION TO PLAY FOR THE TEAM OF HIS GRANPARENTS BIRTH .A DECISION THAT WAS WITHIN HIS REMIT TO MAKE, AND ONE THAT HAS BEEN TAKEN BY OTHER FOOTBALLERS, WITHOUT CONTROVERSY.( IE GORAM. MCCALL. GOUGH .AND THEY EVEN TRIED TO GET MCSPACKMAN A CAP.) WHERE BEFORE THIS YOUNG MAN WAS LEFT FREE TO DO WHAT HE DOES VERY WELL PLAY FOOTBALL,AS A RESULT OF 2 HALFWITS INFORMING THE BIGOT NATION TO THE CHOICE THE LAD MADE, A 17 YEAR OLD BOY IS NOW THE SUBJECT OF VILE HATRED SPEWING FROM THE TERRACES OF SCOTLAND, A REAL CASE OF EVIL AT WORK. I KNOW WHO IM SORRY FOR .

jinkysbhoy

My own point is that racism is happening on our doorstep and all Celtic fans and the board consider is that sung by Rangers fans. I just looked through wikipedia, Celtic, have not one Scots-born of Asian descent in either the first team or the reserve/youth team.

The Irish-Catholic's have always had routes into football, in fact I ask you if a team was created by Muslims to get Muslims playing in the top flight because of the racism that exists in Scottish football, you would be hearing of Al-Qaida training centres and such like. And that opinion would be aired by nominal and practising Catholics and Protestants alike.

That, thankfully is not what you hear in the mainstream press in Scotland now when Hibernian or Celtic are playing, although you would heard it 100 years ago I'd expect.

Ultimately, the main focus in Scotland of Kick Racism out of Football should be in getting Scots-born Asians into being good enough to play for the top teams and being accepted into the top teams.

jinkysboy

agree 100%.

Not been on much lately so apologies if these have already been covered.

1. Should we buy more fast players rather than technical players. Shutting down angles stops fast players being effective. Fast Technical players cost too much money unless we identify them early.
2. We have all witnessed Aiden getting faster due to his personal training on this subject. Why have the rest of the squad not done this as well?
3. Non Celtic but I saw a bit from duffield the other day after bawwy made a reserve game and he said that it was great he was back and he would undoubtedly play in the Argentina game as he was the captain. When was the last time you heard the head of the SFA talking about a guy who criticised the manager come out with a statement like that .

Much to most peoples ability to scroll pass there will be more when I read back

PS Its amazing the better the opposition the better our captain plays

mdbhoy, thanks. I have googled a bit for background now, but I'm always reluctant to take anything I read on the web at face value, as I'm sure others are, hence me taking the time to have a look around. People have fallen for all manner of seemingly genuine articles from time to time (myself included), so I like to check things out just to be on the safe side.

WGS, aye, the Uefa is a good competition this year I’ll be happy to be there.

PF ayr, indeed.

Discostu, I may well be “pathetic” and need someone with your wisdom of you to point it out to me.

Well, maybe......

My point was that the club has both fit and unfit players (I un-pathetically referred to them, try reading again, more slowly this time), and I gave an example of from the other club’s you mention having the same variety.

Remember, if you want to ask someone a question, include their name, prominently if possible, or would that just be pathetic?

Or maybe not, and then you could complain about being ignored. Would that be pathetic?

Hmmmmm.

What a laugh this place is sometimes.

I seem to have provoked a few responses. What struck me when I read the article was how straightforward a piece of journalism it was. This was followed rapidly by outrage that not one Scottish, or British come to it, journalist has shown a fraction of this man's willingness to turn over the stone to see what's underneath. I have been deeply troubled by SRTRC's role from their original statement mirroring the RFC effort, to the belated acknowledgement that TFS was racist, to the almost covert way the amendment was slipped in. You could be forgiven for thinking they did not really sympathise with the issue. This body is publicly funded and I for one will be asking Alec Salmond for his reaction.
My other main reaction to the article was the revision of their position by Hamilton. They article speculates on why they did this but the salient point is they have failed to stand squarely by their man. Apart from the morality of it it does not seem smart to let down a man they hope to cash in on.
The rest of the article was valuable in confirming my impression of a determination on the part of the authorities to try and sit this one out.
Congratulationss to Phil Mac Giolla Bhain foe behaving as a proper journalist. Shame on the home grown hacks (Including sadly Graham Spiers and Glen Gibbons)for falling down on the job.

My wife has gone out this evening and I'm left with my daughter to help her practice guitar and so I can do a bit of preparation work for a meeting I have with a client tomorrow.She's struggling with the guitar as it's a bit big and my meeting's important tomotrow. I've looked in the fridge and can see very little for tea, although there's some cold chicken and a pot of coleslaw, which I like.I can't see any pasta or potatoes, nor does there seem to be any tomatoesPaul, can you tell what's for my tea tonight?This is not the the first time this has happened nor I doubt shall it be the last. Last Thursday, for example I had to open a tin of beans and defrost loaf of bread and the bairn moaned because she likes grated cheese on her beans on toast and there was no cheese.See my point?I doubt you do.

Reply immediately or I shall call you names.

McGrain

oneantonrogan

Fully understand and agree but in this case I KNOW him to be the genuine article.

Frankly my only surprise is that he has started writing, not about racism, but racism in football, but when he is passionate about something he is very passionate.

Hail Hail

Just finishing George Connelly book. Im undecided so far about it. Its getting better the less George talks in it.

I remember him playing but not at the level he is obviously loved and the talent is fully praised by the people who know as I was at that time young and he was just another world class player in our team.

Sean Fallon really says that he was somethign special saying he was better than the original King and Daniel Fergus.

I wont be there on Saturday but can someone ask DF how good George was compared to KKD for me please.

Paul

That point on £5.2million in dividends taken by Mr Desmond was made by a caller on Real Radio who seemed pretty sure on his financial figures. I'm with loumacarisbettingslip on this and was responding to his point, especially that Euan Cameron on RR seemed astounded of forehead on the caller's point. I know the answer is not to listen to the phone-ins, but I was a taxi passenger and heard the call there.

As a matter of interest though, as I'm naive on the issue, any idea what the £5.2m figure refers to in the accounts re DD? In other words, how much did he receive from the club, according to our last accounts?

pggtips2

I believe that there are a number of asian teams in Glasgow and I might even be an Asian league.

I also think that as part of Celtics football in the community program they do train asian kids - either in groups or as part of other groups.

Im also pretty sure that in the Ibrox / kinning park area rankers also run this program.

It does seem strange that there are no asian boys who have made it at pro level. The old days this would be put down to "they prefer to focus on cricket" or they are just not good enough.

The first is not applicable now and the second was never an argument.

I would put two other observations forward though in the debate

1. Are there any pro rugby players from Asian families (I know there have been badmington. table tennis and squash players in Scotland)

2. There is a definite decline overall in basic football skills and ability which I think is down to lack of places to play (for free) and the PC / nintendo generations who would rather hone their skills on Pro-soccer while munching a pizza or bag of Cheesey Wotsits

Paul67

your comment

"KrakowBhoy, we earned £72m last season and made a £4m profit. So there is room for a little more spend (say a £2m player on £1m p.a.) but not much. The answer is not ever more money, it is to use the money better."

I have to disagree completely, there is room for us to spend ALOT more - we choose not to because we do not want to be in alot of Debt.

I made this point earlier we CAN compete at least half of the prem for players,but choose not to do so because we don't want to run up debt - they on the other hand are happy to do so.

Yesterday's Guardian had an article on english club's finances, of the teams in the prem only 6 have a turnover greater than ours and only 1 has debt less than us.

We can unquestionably afford to compete, we choose not to. I am not saying that is a bad thing but to claim we can not withut the cavaet of 'because it is not our financial strategy' is a lie.

I am not advocating or suggesting we should spend big, but as someone pointed out i have yet to see the balance sheet get on the scoresheet. It is also worth remembering although the prem clubs are in alot of debt the have assets (the players bought) which if necessary could reduce the debt.

I think some honesty is required we can afford these players but we do not want to go into debt. To be clear i am not criticising that stance but this whole notion we can not compete is patently untrue we could, it would just mean we would be in alot of debt like these clubs. We have chose financial prudence over quality players and the debt they bring.

My dear,dear,dear,dear,dear,dear,dear,dear, friend... Jinkysboy.

I does no good whatsoever, to complain about refereeing decisions that gang agley.

As I have constantly said...

Complaining, about a poor refereeing decision that LITERALLY SPOILS..the WHOLE ENCHIADA... is like complaining aboot the Weather..

Everyboady talks aboot it... but, naeboady diz anythin aboot it!

Now the Uncommonsensical Person, handles this problem.. the propah way...

He DIZ SOMETHIN' ABOOT IT!( Okay, Smartypants.. tell Me?..ed)( Listen, ma chile and ye wull Loin!)

HE moans and groans and writes tae his Congressman or Woman... I must mention Woman... as I don't want to be accused of being..Sexist!..
It is not the I am NOT Sexist... I Just Don't want to be ACCUSED... of being Sexist!

Now, where was I...?
Oh!

The Man with the Plan, continues to go on Television.. and Write to the Newspapers.. and everybody he meets.. he complains about the Poor Refereeing Decisions that Spile the Porridge!

Howevahhhhhh...

This Man HAS A PLAN!

Whit?

Aye ..a PLAN!

Okay,then... whit is it? Lobby like Hades fur the implementation at least in EVERY C.L. Game of a functioning...

INSTANT REPLAY CAMERA!

Case closed...

Game,SET, Match!

So... Howdya like dem Apples,folks?

Kojo.
yer pal... who likes tae like ye.

Paul 67 ;-)

My mate says that to find stuff out all you need to do is 'google' it.He says that in a wee window you type words like 'Fitness Coach Celtic FC' and magically it will tell you stuff like who the Celtic fitness coach is. He's quite clever at this sort of stuff but I'm not sure.whatdoyouthinkpaul?Apparently it's a big office in the sky with loads of dead brainy people waiting for all my questions, like who's the tallest ballboy at celtic park this season and how come crosas has got such a big man's beard what with him being young and stuff. He says I don't have two wait two days for a pathetic and rubbish blogger who runs an even worse blog to get off his pathetic butt and answer all my extremely pertinent questions.It seems this 'google' knowsmore than this blogger who isn't that good anyway.I don'tknow.What if this google's pathetic too?

I demand an immediate response.

Mcgraininspain :-) See, I noticed that on line five! That’s just downright inconsistent.

Bloke 109, PL earned a total of £550k last season. DD earned £25k.

Total dividends paid to all shareholders came to £544k, some of which went to DD. Apart from his £25k and dividend, DD took no other money out of the club.

The chap on Real Radio was severely misleading people.

The accounts are on the official web site where all this information is available.

Antsman, correct. We could indeed go into debt for a short term, but this is not a long run sustainable plan. In the long run this debt would need to be repaid and sooner or later we need to break even, which we have now done twice in the last 9 seasons.

Jinkysbhoy, aye.

Having deliberately not posted straight after the game but digested the result for a couple of days one thing still confuses me (willing to be shot down in flames).

Our defence have taken a lot of criticism over the last two days and I readily admit that Naylor wasted some of the ball in good areas, but having sat back and given it some consideration our back four were subjected to wave after wave of fast flowing attaching football and bar the two (unfairly given goals) pretty much restricted man u to one goal (and if were being picky one chalked off incorrectly).

Living in England I’ve seen them absolutely destroy teams, but had the offsides been spotted our defence would have been hailed as a prefect unit who working together to watch the line and each other.

It would have been an interesting scenario to go in 0:0 at half time and see how man u would react without a goal for 75 mins, I thought we finished quite strongly and I’m sure if it was 0:0 after 74 minutes pure adrenaline would have carried us to the 90.

It truly is a fine line between praise and criticism, especially our back four at the minute.

As I said, just my thoughts!

Kojo

Those are the cox's pippins we all adore

all we ask is a level playing field and consistently good and fair decisions

Watched the packers game at the weekend and Indy got two TDs overturned in 2 minutes through the replay judge. Both were given as TDs on the field

This is the way forward as you say its gonna happen = just a case of when

mcgraininspain

I wouldnt like to be that client tommorow mate - remember to switch off the Vicky Pollard mode before your meeting.......

Also - its a bit like reading an Irvine Welsh book - have to read it three times - wheras Kojos posts I now only need 2 reads.

BTW - have you tried fitting the wee girl with a pair of Reverend McCurry hands to help her reach the chords better?

Paul

Thanks for that. The overall point being made was that money was going to DD instead of into the team.

As an aside, Cameron then praised Rangers fans for their Manchester behaviour. No, seriously. As a crass comparison, David Irving is a lightweight.

bloke 109

I know you said "seriously" but you cant be serious or he couldnt have been

There must have been a rider like "the majority of" or "many" or "some of the nuckledraggers"

By jinkysboy on October 23, 2008 11:07 PM

jinkysboy, your mail got me thinking. This isn't meant to be controversial but given that Muslims are required to pray 5 times a day could this be a factor, as you could constantly train but given match time there could be an impact being able to turn out?

I remember in recent years Jonathan Edwards was prepared not to perform at the Olympics if his heats were held on a Sunday, due to his faith.

I know that there are specific Muslim league, perhaps someone wiser than me would know if matches are arranged with consideration given to the Muslim faith.

I could be way of the mark as Mido plays regularly for Middlesbrough (suspect there are other Muslims who play in the UK) but it was just something which sprung to mind as the percentage of the Muslim population in the UK doesn’t appear to mirror the percentage (or anywhere near) across the football leagues in the UK.

I don’t believe it’s because the talent is not there, as if that were the case why set up amateur league and teams etc

Bloke_109, “Irving is a lightweight” ha!

It’s been a while since we’ve had the “where’s all the money gone” blindness.

My dear,dear,dear,dear,dear,dear,dear,dear,friend... Jinksyboy.

Look pally.. when ye get .. a couple of actual ,real live Match Offials..

Agreeing that ... Indeed,guys.. we did do a dum, dum..er.. TWICE!

Then...

Those Guys have Confirmed yer Argument ..

There should be... no moaning and groaning n regrettin and greeeting...from us...

But...

Hey, People..

Lookee Here.. over here.. EUFA... Over Here..

See!

Get those Cotton Picking Instant Replay Cameras oan board.. and dinna spare the Kodachrome( Whit?...ed)( So Ah am dated... )

The Celtic Board.. The Celtic Supporters Assoc.. ( who ur they.. and whit dae thae day?...ed)( Godo Knows,Godo Knows.. they and the Celtic Trust are jist Cosy Background Music)should be at this very moment...

A Hooping and Hollering in the Newsies.. at the street Coarners( ( Whit?...ed)( So ah do incline to practice Hyperbole.. but.. disnae it read so well?)

Look.. Oor Case has already been Proven...

And look how the Poor Refereeing Fraternity could be no longer sneered at and embarassed, when they hiv to admit like these poor guys... to the WORLD.. that they ...Boobed!

"Sorry, about that C.B., ready when you are.." I suppose they could always use that canard..

But, Really...

AN INSTANT REPLAY CAMERA IS THE ANSWER THAT IS UNANSWERABLE.

On the Manly sport of American Football..

I am an Aficianado of that great game.. I luv it, Luv it.. Luv it!

And in that Game...

I sointenly is

No Ovah until it's Ovah..

and tae gild the Lily or in present company , it may be bettah to Paint the Shamrock...

The AFL and the NFL both have

INSTANT REPLAY CAMERAS..

and ye know sumptin..

I like that Idea a Loat!

Kojo.

yer pal.. who like tae like ye.

football is the ballet of the masses

good point

Remember one of the hibs boys - think it was Benji the morrocan could not play during Ramadan because his religion did not permit him to eat or drink during daylight hours. This had a very detrimental effect on his fitness and the manager (think it was collins) didnt ask him to train at 100% or play during that time

This would only be an issue for a month and them six days in the following month and would only apply to muslims and not the other religions within the asian culture

Antsman there is one huge diffeence between our ability to be in debt and a Premiership clubs, and (as ever) that's the tv money.

It's taken us five years of increasing revenue and frugal living combined with share issue to get out of under £30M debt. If they pushed themselves almost any Premiership club could clear that in a year, maybe two. Even if they got relegated.

As far as I'm concerned, it's not just that the club don't want to get into debt, it's that the bank doesn't want (or won't allow) it either. I'm surehte banks of the EPL clubs have a different perspective of what constitutes manageable debt.

Bloke_109
It was me who commented last week on the abuse that Hamiltons James Mccarthy would suffer after that little sh@t cameron from rubbish radio,called for his head just for choosing the ROI
The abuse went on for 2 nights it was incredible,even after the Hamiltons vice chairman came on to give his version that scotland didnt want him,that he wasnt good enough (archie Knox, ross Mathie and other scotland youth coaches) ,that worm cameron still wouldnt give up ,I even wrote an email telling rubbish radio and cameron that he would be responsible for any abuse which young McArthy would certainly recieve due to his goebels like nearly foaming at the mouth rant,that little pwick should be brought to task for if anything it was a case of inciting racial hatred

jinkys

Indeed there was a rider but it was along the lines of, and this is accurate, 'the vast majority behaved well, so there was no trouble'... He blamed the police for treating the fans 'like cattle' in too small a space. The Rangers support received no criticism - a few idiots spoil it for the rest, dozens out of '200,000'.

It's all classic 'shock-jock' stuff, the more listeners, the more they charge for the ads, but the i-pod is going on if I'm in a taxi and this guy's on the radio :-)

Jinksyboy, the reason it occurred to me was also I remember (was it) Bayern Munich signing the Iranian lad a few years back.

The guy hardly ever played but they reckoned that in marketing value they would sell millions or shirts in the Middle East – so on that basis I would assume that most clubs across Europe would want to break into this largely untapped market.

Our recent activity with Naka and Dui Wei is a similar strategy, if were pursuing hope they are more Naka than Wei though!

Man u also recently had a friendly game in Dubai, and Celtic also recently had an invite to play there. The market must be significant and untapped given the EPL recent attempt to play the ‘39th’ game there, when it wasn’t that long ago that some Chelsea players refused to travel to Israel.

weeminger

The tv money is irrelevant, they still make less money than us and have more debt. The only relevant point is the proportion of their turnover that is tv money. How can a prem club with a smaller turnover and higher debt be considered to have more manageable debt than us?

Paul67

That validates my point we can spend and compete, but choose not to. Why we choose not to is another argument but to say as the club do we can't is patently untrue, nothing is stopping us but for the desire not to be in debt. There is no actaual constraint unless nobody would give us credit which even in this climate is unlikely

Not sutainable in the long term tho? How long have these prem clubs sustained high debts? I would say it is in the medium term

The phrase 'there is room for more spend but not alot' is far from the truth in reality we could easily spend lot more if we chose to do so

McGraininSpain

Thanks for your email. I'll write back tomorrow.

Great to see the humour in your posts tonight.

Any time your weans need feeding, I can recommend a wee place not too far from you.

Knock them dead in the meeting.

Bloke_109

You could always play the "customer" card and ask the taxi driver to change the station while your in the car - if he says no tell him the phone ins have been known to send you into spasmodic fits and if that happens your medication is in your top left pocket and the suppository is required to be inserted within 60 seconds

No Asians in the Celtic team?

Paul Wilson was born in India, even if his swarthy handsomeness was a gift from his Dutch/Portuguese maw.

As for the Hibs player who fasted during Ramadan, he did play. Roddy Forsyth mentioned it during a match commentary, then said: “He's hungry for the ball; he's hungry full-stop.”

How we all laughed in OneScotlandManyCultures.

PGTips2

The excellent Paul Wilson pioneered the emergence of Scottish born South Asians in the Scottish game in the early 1970s.

jinkys

lol - and I'd still get charged a blumin boundary charge :-)

Cameron's point on our spending was that £20m should be manageable debt for us. His serious question was 'why not go out and spend 20 million on three quality players at 6million each'.

Kojo

I have a couple of questions for you

One is requires a straight answer (like you have evah goiven a straight ansa)

The other will require your great knowledge of both the US sports industries and the financial acumen that you seem to hold

Q1 - whos your NFL team and why?

Q2 - how do the US sports franchises in MLB, NFL, MBA, NHL run their businesses in comparison with the EPL. Do they generate profit and what level of debt are they in against turnover / margin / net value.

I would think that the second quesy=tion may require a wee bit of research but I would appreciate knowing if their business models are sustainable in the current financial climate or one that we should look at here in Scotland / Europe.

Here is Paul Wilson in his own words, courtesy of the excellent resource that is Kerrydale Street (the website, not the actual street):

“My mother was Dutch/Portuguese and my father was Irish/Scottish - I am a real mongrel. After the Second World War, my dad got a job working over in India and that is where he met mum. I was born over there and lived there until I was one. At that time in Glasgow, there were relatively few people like me. I took the sun well.

“I suppose I did get quite a hard time because of my colour when I was a player. But it used to upset my mother more than me.

“For some reason, I always scored in those matches. But I never once, not once, gestured to the crowd or retaliated. I felt I had made my point on the pitch. I think big Jock respected me for refusing to rise to the abuse. Racism is a terrible part of the game. There are far more coloured players at both Rangers and Celtic now and it still goes on. I suppose you are always going to get one or two halfwits in big crowds.”

----

What a guy.

You gotta hand it to George Peat.

He commented on Artur Boruc's fine at a Show Racism the Red Card event.

Two points from a Herald piece on it:

He (Peat) said the SFA would do all they could to help eradicate the problem from football.

And later in the same article, referring to the 'small minority' of Rangers fans referred to by Walter Smith:

"We've just got to hope through time that their views change."

Do all you can, or hope - what's it to be George?

Kojo,

I would love to see TV replays in football. They work well in the NFL as they are only employed for factual calls. The rule is that there has to be clear evidence of a mistake or the call on the field stands.

How long would it have taken on Tuesday night for a TV official to view a replay of Berbatov's goals and radio the ref with the correct decision?

Video is also used in rugby league and tennis now has a system for determining if a ball was in our out.

It's time football caught up.

Bloke 109

Boundary Charge - if its a Glasgow Black Hack you will get turfed out for your cheek and a long walk in the rain listening to the I pod.

Jinkysboy & Footballistheballet :- Although not Asian, Rangers have had a couple of Muslim players recently, I don't recall praying causing any problems but I seem to remember one not being at full strength when Ramadan fell during the season.

The Scotsman tells us who was on the panel for the Artur hearing:

Rangers secretary Andrew Dickson left the room when Boruc's case was heard as the incident concerned came in a match involving his club. Sandy Stables, secretary of Highland League club Keith, chaired the meeting and considered both the evidence and Boruc's testimony along with Kilmarnock chairman Michael Johnston, Hamilton secretary Scott Struthers and Fraserburgh secretary Finlay Noble.

Just read this on KDS. Well worth it.... apart from bringing us up 20 odd years ago

Show hypocrisy the red card

As a journalist you usually know you’re doing your job when people aren’t pleased to see you.

My family are pleased to see me, and my friends welcome me into their homes, so I don’t take it personally when people don’t want to see me and my press card.

Its only business it isn’t personal.

Billy Singh of “Show Racism The Red Card” (SRTRC) wasn’t pleased to see me at Tynecastle last Friday.

It is ok Billy this is business, nothing personal.

I had, since, mid September been trying to get an interview, a comment even, from Billy Singh of SRTRC.

I had spoken on the phone with two of his colleagues.

I wanted SRTRC’s view on the Famine Song.

Many people considered the song to be racist and it was sung at soccer grounds by Rangers fans.

The nice people at SRTRC told me that Billy Singh was dealing with the issue and that I would have to deal with him.

I left my number, but didn’t get any reply.

I had to go to print in the Irish Post on Friday October 1st with SRTRC having made no public statement about the Famine Song.

Later that day SRTRC made a statement via their website-still no call did I receive.

That singing the famine song could lead anyone singing it to be liable to arrest for a “racial breach of the peace”. This statement on the SRTRC website was, err, very similar to the statement released by the Ibrox club in late September.

At this stage I felt like one of the journalists who were piecing together the sequencing of the Northern Ireland Peace process. Who was writing statements for whom?

Finally on Monday 6th October STRC made a public statement via their website that, in their opinion, the Famine Song was racist.

Phew!

I know that several Irish community organisations had approached SRTRC in May to complain about the Famine Song.

Still my phone didn’t ring.

A journalistic colleague who works at the Scottish parliament told me that there was due to be a charity football match played between a SRTRC select and MSPs at Hearts’ ground Tynecastle.

No brainer.

A few clicks on the Aer Lingus website and I was good to go!

It is fair to say that Billy was surprised to see me turn up in Tynecastle, as the game was about to start in Hearts home ground on Friday 17th October.

I introduced myself and showed him my press card. I told him I was researching a piece on the Famine song.

I asked him why SRTRC had taken so long to state publicly that the famine song was racist?

Billy stated, “We have always considered the Famine Song to be racist! It brings nationality into it, it is racist and it is wrong.”

I asked Billy why, having been petitioned by Irish community groups about the song in May, that his organisation had only made a public statement two weeks before our conversation October 6th? Billy could not answer my question, but conceded that the October 6th statement on the SRTRC website was the first public pronouncement by the organisation on the Famine Song.

Billy stated that SRTRC was “working behind the scenes with Rangers football club and the Rangers supporters organisations.”

Billy went onto the field of play and slotted in at right back, he did very well.

As I watched the “Red Card Select” confirm to the MSPs that they would never have made it as footballers (I stopped counting the score after five to the Red Card).

I chatted with Red Card manager for the day Lex Gold.

A very amiable man he is.

He explained to me that the SPL did not have a songbook of banned songs and he, publicly, could not have an opinion on the Famine song, as he might be the guy to punish an SPL club if they were deemed to be negligent in tackling racism among their own supporters. There was, of course, a corollary to this. If the SPL deemed the club in question to be doing all that were possible to eradicate the illegal behaviour of their fans then the SPL would not punish the club. He agreed with me that, in a situation where the club could not be found to be negligent in tackling racism by their fans, but that if that racist behaviour persisted then it was a matter for the police not the SPL.

I also interviewed SFA boss Gordon Smith.

The ex-Rangers man stated that the SFA could not have a public view on the Famine Song as the SFA was, in effect, the court of appeal of SPL clubs.

If the SPL punished a club, for whatever reason, and the club thought this unjust or unfair then the club could appeal to the SFA.

Subsequently, Smith explained, the SFA could not have a public view on the Famine Song for that reason.

I also asked the SFA chief about the treatment of young James McCarthy who had decided to play for the Republic of Ireland. Smith was particularly adamant that young James McCarthy of Hamilton Academicals should be left alone “It is his decision; it was his decision to make. He should be left alone!”

In fairness he couldn’t have been clearer or more unequivocal. People should leave young James McCarthy alone and respect his decision to play for Ireland.

That was from the guy at the top of Scottish soccer as we chatted in the away dugout at Tynecastle. He had just came off the field of play where he had scored the goal of the match, a twenty yard curler with the outside of his right foot.

Smith’s goal was an absolute cracker. Even topping Chic Charnley’s swerving shot which was also from outside the box.

As the Red Card team celebrated Gordon’s goal Gary McKay started to sing to the MSP team “Are you the House of Commons in disguise?”

There is nothing wrong with rubbing it into your defeated opponents, nothing at all.

Everyone who assembled in Tynecastle that day was saying that racism could not be included in any song or chant in soccer.

Agreed.

I had been concerned that following on from Ally Ross’s piece in the Sun attacking James McCarthy’s decision to elect to play for Ireland instead of the country of his birth that he would be the victim of racist abuse.

I had been in phone contact with the club secretary Scott Struthers the week before I travelled to Scotland and I was impressed with vehemence with which he objected to the attacks on James in the media.

Moreover he told me that everyone in the club knew that James would declare for Ireland.

He explained to me that following on from the Ally Ross piece James was not speaking to the media.

This I fully understood.

I attended the Hamilton v St.Mirren match the following day at New Douglas Park.

I had called him the day before on my way back to Glasgow from Tynecastle. Scott was surprised that James had not been in touch, but it was absolutely no problem on my part.

I told him of my intention, as a journalist, to attend the next Hamilton match and sit in the away end.

I attended the Hamilton v St.Mirren match the following day at New Douglas Park.

James McCarthy was subjected to sustained racist abuse in the second half from St. Mirren fans.

Every touch of the ball was booed. In the second half Hamilton were attacking the away end. Each time McCarthy was on the ball for any length of time some chant or other would be struck up. “Plastic Paddy” was the main chant.

In the scale of racist chanting this wasn’t up there with the shameful treatment of Mark Walters by Celtic fans in the 1980s. However, it was, throughout the 2nd half sustained. There was a vociferous minority of St.Mirren fans at the back of the away end where I was sitting.

Every touch of the ball was booed from the time I took my seat with a few minutes played right through to the final whistle.

In the first half he was the only Hamilton player who was booed by the St.Mirren fans. In the second half as Hamilton chased the equaliser.

James McCarthy was regularly on the ball charging from midfield towards the St.Mirren goal.

On each occasion he was running with the ball the chant of “There’s only one plastic paddy!” would strike up from the hard core of St.Mirren fans.

After the match I went down behind the goals and introduced myself to a senior police officer. I showed him my press card and told him that I was in touch with Scott Struthers the Hamilton club secretary and that he was expecting me.

As we walked around to the tunnel area I asked the police officer had he heard the abuse directed at young James McCarthy?

“Yeah he gets a bit of stick doesn’t he?” stated the officer with a slight giggle.

I thought, little chance of this law enforcer approaching the match delegate though the appropriate channels.

After several phone calls and emails I got to meet Scott Struthers. Lex Gold had spoken of him in high terms and I had already made, as one does, an assessment of the disembodied person you are communicating with.

He is a fine man, with only the best interests of young James McCarthy at heart.

He was willing to go on the record about the booing. He declared that he was “disappointed” at the conduct of the St.Mirren fans towards James.

I was lead into the press box where the rest of the media were preparing words and images of the soccer watch we had all just witnessed. When I was asked what blatt I was working for a couple of the pack were interested in the piece I was researching.

One sports journalist who I won’t name to save his blushes stated to me that:

“This PC thing has gone mad hasn’t it?”

I thought of the event I had attended the previous day.

I countered with “ when is anti-racism political correctness? Surely it is beyond debate that racism is a social evil and that it should be confronted at every opportunity?”

“Yeah, but James McCarthy is white and Scottish so it can’t be racist!”

This, I suspected, was what he thought to be a winning polemical point.

“Well racism isn’t necessarily a matter of skin colour, although of course it can be. FIFA and UEFA are very clear that racism can be about nationality, citizenship or ethnic heritage. The abuse aimed at James McCarthy was specifically about his Irishness and his decision to declare for the Republic if Ireland. Hence the abuse was racist.”

His answer was a mumbled “ Yeah, suppose….”

I considered that if this was typical of the level of awareness of such issues in the pressroom what chance the supporters in the cheap seats?

Scott Struthers then brought young James out to be interviewed by me.

The first thing that strikes you about the young Irish midfielder is that he IS young.

I was standing in front of him outside the pressroom at New Douglas Park and thinking that this was a boy doing a man’s job.

It wasn’t the time or the place to have a relaxed examination with a hassled 17 years old about issues of national identity. So my questions on his wearing of the green were to the point.

“Why did you pick Ireland James?”

“When I was young, when I was a kid I would always watch the Ireland matches on the telly.”

For a fifty year old to hear a lad of 17 hark back to the days of his innocence made me smile, but it was a clear and precise answer from the lad. He felt drawn towards Ireland. He qualifies for Ireland through his mother’s side. Donegal people. His uncle Hugh Coyle had stated quite clearly in a piece in that day’s Sun that James was Irish on both sides of his family. In qualifying to play for Ireland he also was entitled to legal citizenship.

I told him

“You will need to get yourself one of these for your travels!” as I brandished my Irish passport. His smile said it all. James McCarthy is for the wearing of the green.

James told me “the Irish set up has been great.” James told me that in a recent 2-2 draw with Portugal his midfield partner is Owen Garvan of Ipswich town and that he hoped that they could strike up a partnership together.

I told him that he would need to learn the words of An t-Amhran na BhFiann. He promised that he would!

When I asked James could he hear the abuse from the St.Mirren fans?

“Yeah I heard it, but I just keep my head down and try and block it out.”

James McCarthy is a lovely young lad, polite and well mannered. As I left New Douglas Park I hoped that the fans of all Scottish fans would heed the words of Gordon Smith and leave the kid alone.

The following day not one of the Sunday papers that covered the match mentioned the booing of James McCarthy.

There was no doubt that anyone in New Douglas Park that day would have known that James McCarthy was booed every time he got a touch of the ball. They may not have heard the “plastic paddy” chants from the knot of St.Mirren up at the back of the away end, but almost the entire away end was booing when James was on the ball.

There was no play related reason to be booing James McCarthy, he had not kicked or injured a St.Mirren player for example. So they would have had to discount the fact that the was being booed so they did not need to comment on it

So there it was, it didn’t happen. Within 24 hours of the Show racism the Red Card football match and the fine words here was racist abuse of a young Irish kid and not a mention of it in the papers.

The next day (Monday) I was on my way to the airport when a journalist colleague in Dublin called me to say that there had been a match report on the Hamilton official club website which had mentioned the racist abuse of James McCarthy by a section of the St.Mirren fans.

Luckily he had printed the screen because a short time later the match report had been taken down. I called Scott Struthers to ascertain what had happened. He confirmed to me that that there had indeed been such a match report on the club site, but that it had been taken down. I asked him why and he said because there had been no abuse of James.

“Sorry Scott, but I have you on record as saying that you were disappointed at the booing of him every time he touched the ball”

“Yes” the club secretary replied, but there wasn’t any racist abuse of James.

I heard the unmistakable sound of goalposts being moved. I reminded Scott that I had personally told him after the game about the chants.

“Yes, but it was only you who heard them.” He said, “ There was no report by the stewards or the police.” I thought of the policeman who had taken me around to the tunnel.

I thanked Scott for taking my call and for all the hospitality and help he had afforded me on the match day and before in facilitating my work.

I remain of the opinion that Scott Struthers is a fine man.

Scott had told me that James had given an extensive and exclusive interview to the Advertiser the week that he wasn’t speaking to the press (after the Ally Ross piece in the Sun). It was a hunch.

I got through to Andy McGilvray who covers the “Accies” home games at New Douglas Park. I told him who I was and the conversation I just had with Scott Struthers.

“That’s nonsense I heard it!” I asked Andy where in the ground he was?

“I was in the main stand right in the middle.”

“Like, above the tunnel area?”

“Yeah”

“And you heard the ‘plastic paddy’ stuff?”

“Yes, everybody heard it!”

I asked him could I go on the record with this conversation and he agreed (or you wouldn’t be reading it now) I thanked him and hung up.

My cell phone immediately went off in my hand again, it was my colleague in Dublin. He had been intrigued by the censored match report between, lets face it, two not every unimportant Scottish soccer teams. He had gone onto a message board for St.Mirren fans and there had been reports of phone calls made to the Paisley club by St.Mirren fans about the original Hamilton match report.

A complaint from St.Mirren to Hamilton, I thought, seemed a likely explanation for the removal of the original match report.

I called St.Mirren and asked to speak to the press officer. I was told that he was on vacation. Ok could I speak to someone else? General Manager Brian Caldwell took my call. He denied that there had been any racist abuse of James McCarthy. I told him that I had heard the abuse and that I had been in the away end. He countered that he had also been in the away end and that he had heard nothing! Mr.Caldwell then asked me what I was doing in the away end with the St.Mirren fans. I told him, quite bluntly, that following on from the Ally Ross piece in the Sun and the Real radio football phone in that I feared that James McCarthy might have been the target of anti-Irish racism because of his decision to play for the Ireland.

“So you went there looking for it?” accused the St.Mirren general manager.

Well yes Mr.Caldwell I’m a journalist I was there checking out a story. It is what journalists are supposed to do! Journalists find stories and then report them to the public. I admitted that it was a small minority of the St.Mirren fans that were subjecting James to the abuse. Mr.Caldwell then stated that if it was only a small minority then it wasn’t a story. This I told him was a slightly different from “it didn’t happen at all”.

Silence.

At that stage it seemed almost impolite to tell him that a journalist from the local paper sitting in the main stand could hear the racist abuse of James McCarthy that Mr.Caldwell sitting in the same stand as the St.Mirren fans claimed he could not.

I thanked Mr.Caldwell for taking my call.

I am back home in Ireland now and I can reflect that in the space of four days I attended an event dedicated to eradicating racism from the game in Scotland, a soccer game where an Irish kid received racist abuse and found out, by looking at the Sunday papers, that such abuse didn’t make it into a single match report. Moreover there is a hesitance in Scotland to call what happened to James McCarthy racism.

You know, as a journalist, that you’re doing your job when you ask questions that people don’t want to answer.

Time I hit the hay

Gordon J - Guessing its another late night for you - 2-0 would be some start to the series. Good luck.

Paul 67 (blind copy) - Im having a long lie in the morning so can you leave the new article to the same arrangement as today - around lunchtime and text me a minute before you post as usual.

And its goodnight from me!

Will be back on tomorrow, hopefully in time for the 5s draw!

Night all
HAIL! HAIL!
Token

Edward

Just caught your post before I logged off

Am I right in saying that rankers do a lot of work in the local community including Asian kids in the Ibrox / KP area.

I used to train in a gym in Glasgow and every day during the festival of Ramadan my mates would be sitting in the changing room waiting for the time to arrive before scoffing their food and guzzling down water before going into the gym to lift weights with us. Dont know how they do it as youyr body is depleted due to the starvation from the early hours that day and the nutrients dont get into the system that quick.

Also have to say it made me hungry for a good curry just watching and smelling the tikka etc.

Greenlion2.

Has all the flooding in Greenock affected you that much.

The excellent article was posted earlier by Andycol.
There have been several comments about it posted since.
All the same you should be thanked for raising the article again.

We need to keep exposing these bigots.

.

Please....Please....Please....

o1sayaprayerBhoy

Antsman 11:52

I tried to explain in the last thread.

Who are you wishing us to compete against?

We already compete with the Top 4 from the EPL in the UEFA CL, so why try to compete with anyone else outwith these teams when we will seldom play them?

I am not getting your logic.

jinkysboy,

Another late one, yes. At least there is no game on Friday night so I will be along early for the fives. I'll be the one in the Phillies cap!

I expect another close game, but the pressure is really on the Rays. 2 - 0 heading for three games back home would be superb, as you say.

o1bhoy

Before I go

getting near the time - my prayers are with you mate

Keep the faith

Gordon

Im really going to bed after this last one

Will see you at the 5s - im the geezer in the Packers hat

And by then you should be the bhoy with the big smile on your face.

Go Phillies

.

Jinkysboy....

Cheers Buddi....

Just Staring @ The Mobile Waiting on the News.... ;o((((

o1bhoy

i would love to see the reaction of the racist mob if wee james mccarthy had choosen England or even N.I. instead of the republic?
because thats what its all about...never mind him turning his back (rightly so) on scotland...no its because he chose Ireland

pauloantony,

Brian McLean is Scots born and chose to play for Northern Ireland. The reaction? I haven't noticed any.

Taken from the Scotsman

Meanwhile, John Hartson has insisted Celtic can still qualify for the last 16 of the Champions League despite damaging defeats to Manchester United and Villarreal and a disappointing home draw with Aalborg that has left them sitting third in Group E, six points adrift of the La Liga side.

Former Celtic striker Hartson said: "I think you have to keep believing and the amazing thing about Celtic is that they have a fantastic home record, and Celtic are capable of winning their next three games.

"Now they can finish on ten points, so they are capable of beating Manchester United in two weeks' time and Villarreal and Aalborg.

"While it is still mathematically possible I think Celtic fans should keep believing they can do it."

You've got to love Big Bad John.

By Gordon_J on October 24, 2008 12:13 AM

Usually anything Adrian Durham says on TalkSport makes me want to pull over and rip my car stereo from the dash board (usually for his hatred of all things Celtic I might add) but he actually said something tonight that made sense (and I paraphrase):

“I have always loved the beautiful game in its current format so see no reason to change it”

That actually got me thinking, is it all the camera angles and replays which Sky etc now shows which is ruining football.

Everything now seems so definitive, we actually have an answer from TV before the game ends so there is no debate.

If we reduced the number of cameras in the stadiums i.e. back to the 80’s where you could still see the game but the replays were not conclusive, if we did that would we have a better product??

Just a thought!

By EdwardUrsus on October 24, 2008 12:18 AM

ED, thanks for that. I didn’t have anything to back it up but just find the whole situation strange.

By that I mean, in areas were a large Muslim population exists such as Glasgow, Leeds, London etc and given the extensive scouting networks clubs have (man u have Brazilian twins on Italian passport) that we have very few home grown Muslin professional footballers in the UK.

.

Ya Frickin/Freckin Buooooooooooty.....Yeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeessss....

The Feds….The CIA….Ml5….Ml6…ASIO….The KGB…The SS…Sheena Easton…. Tam Mackean…. That Guy That Kidded On He Stoaped The Bombers…. Victor Meldrew…. Chief Inspector Taggart…Inspector Cluesoe….Inspector Morse…Piriot…..Charlies Angels…The Angels…. .Columbo.…Kojak….Ironside….Dirty Harry….The Saint…The Avengers….The Professionals…. .Callan….Get Carter ….Starsky & Hutch….The Untuchables….The A Team…The Dukes of Hazzard…..Dr Who….Dixon of Dock Green….The Bill….Parco PI….Inch High Private Eye….Robo Cop….Mork & Mindy….Jack & Dianne…(Who the Feck is Jack & Dianne).Mills & Boon….Charles & Cammilla….French & Saunders….Morecombe & Wise…The Two Ronnies….Little & Large….Especially Little & Large….Cannon & Ball…Elton John & Kiki Dee….Tweedle Dee & Tweedle Dumd….The Marx Bros…Little Britain…. Especially Little Britain….The Two Neds Oan Chewin The Fat….Only An Excuse….

o1bhoyoverthefrickin/freckinMOOM/SUN....CSC

football is the ballet of the masses,

A lack of cameras simply lets officials off the hook. In the days of no live games and just a highlights program there was little analysis. So largely you were reliant on the Sunday Mail to tell you if the ref got it right.

Refs aren't any worse than they used to be - they just get caught out now.

I do feel sorry for linesmen at times. Trying to watch when the ball is played and where exactly all the players are is almost impossible in some circumstances. That's why I support cameras.

I think it is more important for us to have correct decisions than something to talk about after the game.

Was not Momo Sylla a Muslim?

In case we wonder why Gordon Strachan does not love journalists.In todays Guardian (Hugh Muir)

CNN International has taken to running its interviews with Celtic manager accompanied by subtitles.It means the viewers know what he is saying even when the players don`t have a clue.

I fancy if Mr Muir ever interviews Gordon Stachan he will not need an interpreter to know what Mr Strachan thinks of him

Arguments for not going into greater debt are:

1) Greater interest to be paid reducing money that could go on players.

2) We cannot repay the debt in anything like a reasonable time frame thus extending the amount of interest due increasing effect of 1.

3) There would be return on the amount of debt we could afford in terms of going that far in the CL we would get back more than we paid to go that far.

4) We have won 3 SPLs in a row and got as far as we can in Europe commensurate with spend with existing debt reduction policies.

Case for:

5. We might get a better left back (but should be able to do so under existing policy)

6. We might beat Rangers with a bit more to spare in the SPL.

Only the last point justifies getting into greater debt but last season when that looked like losing the SPL we increased spend (and therefore debt) in the transfer window.

Just caught up.

The UEFA Cup looks difficult this year a fair few teams are showing a real interest in it, I sense a few teams are realising that its the only realistic chance of winning a European trophy.

o1bhoy.

Congratulations on the news and brilliant post.

o1bhoy

I guess you got a good result. Well Done.

I'm assuming from your list that the police, security networks, and couples/pairs generally have done you a disservice and you are now vindicated.

Is there a specific anti-Bellshill thing in mentioning Sheena Easton & Tam McKean?

01bhoy

Why are u so happy?

Further to increasing the debt.

What is needed is an Ethical European Football League based on manageable debt. If we take £20m as a debt limit just as an example the following clubs would be eligible using Forbes Soccer Evaluation based on 2006/07 accounts

Bayern Munich £0m
AC Milan 0
Chelsea* 0
Inter Milan 0
Hamburg SV 0
Werder Bremen 0
Marseille 0
Juventus 5
Barcelona 7
Lyon 7
Celtic 11
Roma 12
A Villa 12
Spurs £15 m

If you go to £30m Real Madrid would sneak at £27 as would Everton at £30 and West Ham at £23m but their position must have deteriorated sharply since then.

* I am surprised Chelsea appear but that is probably because of the kind of debt they are based on, an interest free loan from Abramovic. Whatever it is its excessive so boot them into touch.

Now that looks like a league that would attract a lot of attention.

If you order by operating income of the clubs with debt less than £20m the order would be:
Barcelona
Bayern
Spurs
AC Milan
Roma
Celtic
Hamburg
Juventus
Inter
Lyon
Marseille
Werder
Chelsea* GTF
A Villa.

Now who fancies playing in that league instead of the SPL (or EPL)?

The big boys would be told they can join as long as they follow the same borrowing policies and ratio of debt to income as the named teams and are points handicapped until they do.

This is no right Im watching Americans with bats and theres no noightshift?

Im out.

Old fashioned noightshift.

Spiteri

Anyone else watching the baseball or is it just me tonight?

2 - 0 Rays early on.

Auldheid

I like your thinking, Id say Celtic would finish 9th in that league if it were this season, with the income it should generate we would be top five and challenging the next season.

Gordon_J

Philly tonight?

Philadelphia Phillies 9 - 4
Tampa Bay Rays 2 - 7

Gordon-

I told you before, the baseball season finished last week.

Tobi,

For some teams maybe ....

Estadio,

The Rays have started better - but it will be a close one.

Auldheid-

You base your league on debts, but what about assets ?

Milan, Inter, Bayern and Juventus don't own a stadium.

Cheers Estadio. I'm all for telling the Big Four to GTF (as long as Barca etc are standing besides me)

.

Estadio National....SetFreeTheBears....eventheolivesarebleeding....

And Anyone Who Has Spoke too Me in the Last 379 Weeks....

Thank You One And All....

When l Get Too BB's The Drinks Are on Me....

Paul67.... Your Wonderful Site Was Mentioned (More Than Once) in My Case....

Hail Hail....

Just Got Back from The ' Bottle Shop' and The ' Bone Shop' see Happy Hound.... ;o))))

o1hyperbhoy....

PS. Enough Aboooot Me We Need to GUB Hibs....on Saturday....

Auldheid

Tell them. Im with you as well, a fair playing field is a fundamental part of the game.
This week has been another big wake up call and Im stuck for a realistic answer to winning the European Cup/League/Champions League.

Appreciate the work you put into your posts.

Back To Real Reality

Gordon_J Im going to pass on this one, should have bet the Rays after they won their last round game.

Go The Phillies.

.

Fir Ma Wee Mam....Who's Sleepin Happy 2Nite....Mary's Prayer....

o1mamasBhoy

o1bhoy

Majic stuff, dead happy for you even though I dont know the story but can imagine.

In late news: I got some good news tonight and I like it, I'll reveal when I buy YOU a pint.

What A Party

.

setting free the bears @ 1:53 AM....

Jist ReRead Your Post....More Against PI's Who Think their the Fed's Et al....

Anti B'Hill Moi Never....Me & Sheena Have History....'o)))) 'Tam' The Bellshill Bullet....He's Fae Viewpark.... ;o((((

o1shireBhoyCSC

PS. Get intae Hibs....

.

rotit j....

NakaGhod....

Get Back On Here Now....Please....You Are Sorely Missed....

o1bhoy

PS. The Fed's Are Spewin....'The Fat' ;o))))

From a formerly non tabloid Glasgow based 'newspaper'

Celtic fan in court over T-shirt jibe. A Celtic fan was arrested on the night of the Uefa Cup final for wearing a T-shirt that predicted Zenit St Petersburg's win over Rangers, a court heard yesterday.

Michael Devlin was spotted wearing the top, which had the words "dirty horrible huns" scrawled across the back, just minutes after the game in Manchester.

The top also had "Zenit St Petersburg, Champions Uefa Cup Final 2008" printed on the front. The 20-year-old was walking along Glasgow's Hillington Road South with friends when two police officers noticed the T-shirt and stopped him.

Sheriff Iain Peebles told Devlin: "This was an act of gross crassness and stupidity taking into account the timing and the place you were when wearing the T-shirt."

At Glasgow Sheriff Court, Devlin, of (Im not repeating the address), Glasgow, was convicted of committing a religiously aggravated breach of the peace on May 14 this year.

The court heard that Devlin had been watching the game in a house with friends when the group decided to go out and get a takeaway at the end of the match.

Constable Andrew Gunn told the court he and his colleague were out on another call when they spotted the Celtic fan with a crowd of youths at around 10.10pm.

Mr Gunn said: "I informed him that the T-shirt was offensive and told him to take it off. He had a Celtic top on underneath. There were members of the public there and Rangers fans were walking along Paisley Road West nearby.

"There were no other difficulties, just that he was wearing that T-shirt."

Defence lawyer Bob Mackinnon told the court that the top was just a bit of "Glasgow banter".

He said: "From school to university to working life, almost everyone in Glasgow is affected by this divide and will get on the case of their friends and colleagues."

However, Sheriff Peebles told the court his decision was based purely on law. He deferred sentencing on Devlin until October next year for him to be of good behaviour.

Banter?

Yes.

.

Ma Dug....Wants too Post....

Woof Woof....Mien Dag (He's German) Das VoondeBar Happy.... Woof Woof....

o1GhaibrealDerDashingHoundCSC

PS. Up The Raw....Meat....

.

Estadio....

The Polis....Probably Done the Bhoy a Favour....Why Take it to Court Tho....????

o1bhoy

Estadio,

I despair when the court's time is wasted by nonsense like this. I mean, it's not as if they are short of real crime to deal with.

Wearing a t-shirt is breach of the peace, yet thousands singing a racist song is allowed.

Only in Scotland ...

.

Gordon j....

Where's The Baseball Crew Tonight....????

DublinBhoy....Can't Be Far Away....

o1bhoy

I'm on my own tonight, o1bhoy. And the Phillies are 4 - 0 down.

Gordon
I am with you tonight with the baseball but it looks as if it wont be our night 4 zip done at this point.
Gerrybhoys wife was returning from a trip tonight so I guess he is otherwise occupied and Dublinbhoy will be writing his thesis on "the songs debate" :)