Maradona, populism gone mad

Hail Hail

a podium for the fish?

podium

first

Wooohoooo
:-)

boo

6th will do me

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Diego Maradona = Andy Goram....

o1bhoy = 007....

Franz Beckanbauer and Jurgen Klinsman had little or no managerial experiecne when they took the top job in germany and had a reasonable amount of success.

Steve Staunton however had a distinct lack of success in his term as Ireland manager in his first managerial appointment.

Diego Maradona was a better player than any of the above but whether that can be enough to bring the best out of a very talented bunch of players remains to be seen.

I don't think you will get great odds on him still being manager of Argentina come the World Cup in 2010 but football's a funny old game and with Maradona, you can't rule out what would be the greatest comeback in football if he leads Argentina to a world cup win in South Africa.

Got to love the picture of Maradona 10 on the hoops that was posted last night.

Paul 67.

Were you happy or displeased when Kenny Dalglish was appointed at Celtic Park?

Paul 67

It's the equivalent of making Gazza the manager of England in a couple of years after his failed attempt at management and numerous non football related problems.

I'm sure Maradona still has a very good football brain and the player's will no doubt respect his achievements but I dont see him having the staying power for this position - unless the attention is what he has been craving after his years out the game.

Regardless of what he has done I genuinly hope he succeeds as he is without doubt the best player of my generation.......after Henrik obviously :-)

Celtic lay on a the facilities for maradona and his team and the ball boy gets worldwide fame for his honesty.

meanwhile across town Ex Rankers captain the Butcher says "I may introduce his the the fist of butcher"

Old Firm indeed

when i first heard that maradona was taking over the national team, my immediate reaction was it was a populist decision to give new impetus to the team, but that there would be someone behind the scenes like bilardi who would be making all the key decisions. the holy hand would be good in uniting the dressing room.

gazza for england manager, i like it!

When Paul refers to wee Diego as a TV host, think more Jonathan Ross than Gary Lineker by the way.

Who knows, he has great players. They love him, the nation loves him. What if it clicks? What if, leaving all references to banned substances to one side, the human chemistry is enough for Diego to get the very best out of his group of brilliant, brilliant players?

I think of George Best as a flawed genius, but he ended up playing for Hibs, when he could get out of bed on time. No one would have entrusted him with a World Cup qualifying bid.

Wee Diego has won the World Cup for Argentina before by the sheer force of his personality. His genius has shone much brighter and for much longer. He got to the very pinnacle of the game and stayed there for a number of years, in spite of his personal demons. I think the genius outweighs the flaws by a considerable margin.

I can't help but love the guy.

jinksyboy

I reckon wee Diego would take Butcher no probs!

It's a vewy pwoud day for me.

Just goes to show what hard work and dedication can achieve. I truly believe that things can only get better for me from now on. This will not be my last victory. I'd like to thank Paul for giving me this opportunity, Nigel for his inspiration and long time lurker 67heaven for pointing me in the direction of the blog all these months ago.

Hail Hail to one and all.
Your champion of the day.
Jamiebhoy

DundeePerth, when Barnes and Dalglish were appointed at Celtic I said “we are going down the tried and tested rookie manager route”, with some sarcasm.

When Dalglish took over as a caretaker I was ambivalent as he was only going to be there for a short period.

Helicopter Thursday, a good analogy.

Celtic_First, yes, thanks for pointing that out.

Jamiebhoy, today’s champion.

DundeePerth:

was Kenny Dalglish not one of only three managers in England to win their premier competition with more than one club?

That is a genuine question on top of I think Kenny Dalglish was the first manager to take Newcatle to a cup final in over forty years.

I stand to be shot down on that, but i think I'm right.

Another popular opinion gone mad, fuelled by Sir Minty and the man with no surname, is the fallacy that the establishment and referees in particular, are falling over themselves to aid the Celtic cause and hinder the pretensions of the manky mob to our crown.
Is there no way that Celtic FC can counter this spin campaign deliberately designed to undermine our effectiveness? Last season we saw all sorts of underhand deviousness, sometimes subtle (lack of bookings, e.g. Captain Unbookable) and some not so subtle (e.g. McCurry), take place. At least they waited to the new year then. What must the panic be like at their place when their 2 most influential mouthpieces have resorted to this nonsense by November?
Unfortunately the more intellectually challenged among the mob's hordes will see this lead, (Minty & waistcoat not our 4 points) as an excuse to extend their already vile terracing behaviour.

Kitalba.

I think you are.

Paul 67.

Thanks for swift response. Personally, I think it is a little early to assume that Diego will fail at Argentina, but as Mort has pointed out, there are success stories to be had with rookie managers.

I hope he succeeds.

Terry Butcher does not have a clue

1) after the forces of darkness drew with Motherwell he had a mad rant on setanta stating that "i mean, Celtic arent even playing well just now"

very good terry, at that point we were playing our best football under WGS

2) his statement last night "i will never forgive him" and "it may be more like the fist of Butcher" are a disgrace

he is the assistant manager of scotland FFS
99% of Scotland fans were DELIGHTED when Maradona did that
99% of Scotland WANTED Argentina to beat England

Butcher should remember who he is Assist Manager of

what an absolute ar******

Also

the Tartan Army yesterday tried to present Maradona with a set of glass boots which were encased, for scoring against England yet on the same day Butcher comes away with aw that nonsense

what an absolute ar**

cannot stand the guy
talks the biggest lot of pi** i have ever heard

RANT OVER

Guys like Beckenbauer and Klinsmann were model pros who didnt have the major problems Maradona has had over the years.

Having said that, Maradona is now managing arguably the most gifted set of players in International football and could surprise a few people if he can command the respect he, and any good manager, deserves.

Just depends if Diego has managed to control the self destruct function which seems in built in his character

One question bhoys: would you be upset in Butcher's shoes? Is, say a former Rangers player had scored a goal with his hand against us??

I'd love to see Maradona succeed. He deserves to be remembered as a legend.

I'm all for it. Maybe modern day football is getting way to serious? Maybe a bit of romance will bring smiles back on faces in 2010? Maradona lifting the coupe de monde would certainly go a long way to achieving this.

As my bhoy and ghirl would say....... Go Diego Go!!!

DundeePerth, Momrt did provide good examples, but the circus that has surrounded Maradona for nearly 30 years is not going to disappear.

I harbour a wish to see McCoist installed in the top job at Ibrox for the same reasons.

eurochamps

I don't think you should worry too much about Celtic countering the spin campaign. Let them hang themselves. I think the claims being made by Oor Wattie are just showing the cracks that are getting bigger and bigger behind the scenes. At the end of the day if they want to start a campaign against the officials in Scotland I am all for it. I'll take neutral officials, TV evidence etc. any day of the week. And if they want to question each officials background I'm happy with that too. Conspiracy? I can almost bet we would have Craig Levein and Dundee Utd's backing and that's just for starters!

Although Dalglish and Barnes sounded like the dream ticket it was an initiative that Fergus Mc Cann was completely against. He warned all board members (including DD) that he was personally against it.

I reckon that with Mac Donald being one of Kenny Dalglish´s golf partners and an obvious fan that Fergus saw it as another act of Celtic cronyism and guess what ? :-) he was right

Dalglish saw an easy nook for himself having had stressful times as Liverpool, Blackburn and Newcastle. His tenure at Newcastle was especially gruesome and should have been an indicator of what Celtic were letting themselves in for. Kenny Dalglish made singularly the biggest mistake of his Celtic career by leaving John Barnes to get on with it. That was a massive gamble by Dalglish on his part and it truly reflected Fergus´s concerns.

I cant imagine Kenny Dalglish accepting a job in the EPL under the same circumstances and been given the same leeway unless it was a newly promoted club. Imagine an EPL club lining up with a revolutionary 2-2-2-2 formation? and not a formation that has been cooked up by a master tactician but a complete novice.

RANGERS fans were slammed in the European Parliament last night for singing the notorious Famine Song.

Irish MEP Eoin Ryan said the chant was �despicable and totally unacceptable�.

He has written to all of Scotland’s MEPs, seeking their support to end the �sectarian, racist and anti-social behaviour� at SPL matches.

Gers supporters have come under fire for aiming the the song at Celtic rivals and Scots-born Hamilton Accies player James McCarthy, 17, who has chosen to play for the Republic of Ireland.

Mr Ryan told the parliament: �We must do all in our power to combat racism at sporting matches which is very prevalent in many countries around Europe and in particular at soccer matches around Europe. Sadly in recent times this has now included Scotland.

�It is utterly despicable and totally unacceptable that a number of fans who are opposed to Scottish-born players who have declared for Ireland are singing abusive and insulting songs against them at a series of different Premier League football matches in Scotland.

"In particular, they are chanting what is known as The Famine Song, which is a vile and racist song and which calls for Irish people who took refuge in Scotland after the famine to return home to Ireland.

�The singing of the Famine Song at Scottish Premier League matches is highly insulting to the Irish people and to our country.�

John Macmillan, general secretary of the Rangers Supporters Association, said he was �angry� that the issue of the Famine Song had been raised at such a high level.

He said: �Let me ask the MEP to investigate the IRA chants that come from the Celtic support.

�Celtic don’t say too much on the subject and some of their fans are in complete denial that it takes place.�

perhaps Terry forgets how Diego made a mug of him when he dribbled around the whole of England to score the worlds greatest goal. Diego inspired a generation, and I for one know I wozn't the only kid to try ridiculous maze ups in the play ground and on the rare occasion they came off, wheeling away in delight shouting Maaaraaaadooonaaaaaa! Certainly inspired me to play football. Maybe Terry forgets Michael Owens embarrassing dive to con a penalty in 2002?

Gordon J

Too right I would have been annoyed, especially in a game like the 1/4 final of a World Cup.

What Lennondinho18 says is true though......in Butcher's new role with Scotland he shouldnt really be entering into what he feels about Englands history.

He was probably asked a direct question from a journalist though which, in all fairness, he's just answered honestly.

Difficult one to judge but as it's coming from a former England and Rangers captain it makes it slightly easier ;-)

I was still at school in 86 and staying at a mates in Armadale, we'd been to mass and the Irish Priest there at the time Fr Healy, said a prayer for Diego and his team to give England a going over so perhaps there truly was a touch of the hand of God.

I hear you Gordon_J and clearly Butcher is well within his rights to never forgive Deigo Armando.

Howevvvahhh, as my post in the last thread pointed out, the main issue is that I think big Tel is in the wrong job. He's going to have to listen to 90 minutes of the Deigo Song tomorrow night and if he had any cahoonas he'd be saying: "no hard feelings guys, but this isn't really the job for me, is it?"

from previous article

CQNer's

Today was a good day

Kano is progressing as always

He was in great form today

and has a new communication tool that has

allowed him to express himself further

they have had him out of bed and sitting/lying in a big chair

although the diagnosis is still unclear Kano has taken it

upon himself to get this show on the road

his progress is steady and consistent although slow

it has only been 13days since he was taken ill

I have to say thank you to every one who has

sent me emails and posted on here in support of martin

there is still a very long way to go but HE WILL PREVAIL

again...if you feel like emailing a message to martin

please use this email

ramie420@gmail.com

ramie

Awe Naw

Thanks for posting that, I was wondering if Eoin Ryan had got to ask his question.

.

Well Done Paul67....

You Have Just Started a Managers Debate.... ;O((((

o1gaffermanagercoachteamleaderCSC

Lennondinho

You need to remember that of that 99% of Scotland fans who were delighted to see Maradona score a load o them decided a few years ago that they were actually English! Never seen so many England tops walking the streets of Glasgow!

John McMillan should take his campaign to Europe.

If nothing else, it would give him a wee European trip this season.

He should concentrate on France's EU presidency and take his protest there. He should seek to make the most of the Celtic (sorry John) connections with Brittany and hold a press conference in Nantes.

I can recommend as a venue the Brit Hotel Le Kerann. Cracking name for a hotel, John, isn't it?

It's easy to find. It's in the Rue Bobby Sands.

It´s pretty funny I find that we are debating whether Diego will make a good manager when our national assistant manager (note not coach) lasted 3 months with Brentford and 4 months with Northern Spirit and unfortunately he is not remembered for taking Motherwell down due to an SPL management decision which was all based on helping Rangers to the 2003 SPL title, he also took them to the wall.

I think that Terry Butchers recent press utterings have put people off from actually going to the game. Instead of being a glamour friendly it sounds like its about to become a grudge match and Gary Caldwell would be well served keeping his big trap firmly closed. We need him until the end of May.

Any dirty tricks that Caldwell sees tonight that he hasn´t seen already in the CL then I´ll be amazed.

Faithful thro n thro

True mate

but they will all be part of the forces of darkness

they still dont know what they are

Dutch, English, Scottish

Hence why they fly the Saltire and the Union Jack together at Ibrox

2 totally different flags meaning different things

they dont have a clue

Faithful

Good points but you say what I mean. Why don't Celtic come out and say e.g Yes we are all for transparency, we have nothing to fear?

By allowing them to pedal their nonsense unchallenged then their view becomes the percieved wisdom. When we KNOW the opposite is true.

I'm not talking about a tit for tat, "your goal was offside" etc. More an open airing of the issues, strokes chin, "Mmm, possibly the SPL, SFA, could consider video evidence, we would welcome and are open to scrutiny", sort of thing.

I hate the fallacy that we, Celtic and the manky mob, are two sides of the same coin. We are not. None moreso than in the 4th estate, where we constantly have to put up with weak populist journalism from the likes of Walker, Provan, Nicholas et al, rolling over to appease their paymasters, when the likes of BFDJ, Gordon Smith, Butcher and a whole host of "sports journalists", find it impossible to question the will of Watty and Minty.

Maybe Celtic FC should spearhead the campaign for transparency in Scottish football decision making. Especially at this time when it is being claimed that we are the beneficiaries of dodgy dealings.
Beat them at their own game. Put up or shut up Minty.
We have nothing to fear except fear itself.

The hand of god I alway equate with a good kicking that I got while living in Surrey in England. Having celebrated uncontrollably both Maradona goals on the way home - while completely drunk. So you´ll have to excuse me if I still take perverse pleasure in that particular goal. I think it shades Joe Jordans goal in Wrexham that took us to Argentina

.

Star-struck Scotland bows to Maradona....

They gathered in hushed tones around the entrance to an hotel in the centre of Glasgow yesterday. From the ever-growing kerfuffle that developed, any innocent passer-by might have thought that the Second Coming was imminent.

“Have you seen him?” someone asked. “Yes, yes . . . he passed by that doorway five minutes ago.” When Diego Maradona is in town, the natives evidently stir. Glasgow was grey and wet — “dreich” to use a colloquialism — but it didn’t stop the locals, the media and anyone else who fancied a peek from descending on the plush hotel where Maradona’s Argentina team are based for tomorrow evening’s friendly against Scotland at Hampden Park.

And a “peek” is about all they got. I maintained a two-hour vigil, which incorporated a coffee, a chilled beer and then — marvel of marvels — a 20-second flash of Maradona as he sauntered across the lobby for lunch at about midday.

“Don’t approach him,” we were warned. Whatever else has come and gone from his life, it is good to report that the mullet is as bushy as ever.

He was a bit grumpy, too: no photographs, no autographs, and certainly no pesky children getting in his way, so the word went out. A few of the television hacks were brassed off at being told that no one — save for an official Argentine film crew that is following him this week — could film Maradona near the hotel.

That did not stop one schoolboy from meeting the coach, though. Maradona’s mood appeared to lift as he hoisted Adam Brown into the air to pose for pictures with the 13-year-old after he found a St Christopher medallion that Fernando Gago, the midfield player, had lost on the field in training at Celtic Park.

It captured the spirit of goodwill and Tartan Army well-wishers will congregate at Hampden tomorrow to offer Maradona their very, very best wishes. In Scotland, anyone who does what Maradona did to England that hot, sultry afternoon in Mexico City in June, 1986, is guaranteed a warm reception.

The “Hand of God” goal in the Azteca Stadium produced a split reaction in Britain that resonates to this day. In England, the screeching and sheer bleating over what Maradona did to Peter Shilton was so loud and prolonged that you can still hear its echoes. In Scotland, however, there was nothing but hearty guffaws at the former player’s cheek.

Terry Butcher, the Scotland assistant manager but a hapless England central defender at the time whose job was to huff and puff fruitlessly after Maradona, claimed that he would “never forgive him for what he did”. From memory, Butcher attempted two lunges at Maradona as he slalomed past England for his wondrous second goal that day and he is evidently still bearing the mental scars.

Butcher’s grief was not helped by Maradona writing in his biography: “I sometimes think I preferred the goal I scored with my hand . . . it was a bit like stealing the wallet of the English.”

Meanwhile, the Tartan Army are just happy to quote Barry Davies, the BBC commentator that afternoon, even if they juxtapose commentary and respective goals: “You have to say that’s magnificent!”

The truth is that this has become a bit of a circus. Faded geniuses in sport are always a bit complicated. Past greatness and present sadness are always the unspoken themes.

Given his impulsive and faintly reckless nature, it seemed a bizarre decision when the Argentine FA appointed Maradona as Alfio Basile’s successor three weeks ago.

Six months from now — even six weeks — will he still be in the job? In the meantime, Glasgow is playing host to these first, improbable moments.

The Argentina coach will give a press conference this afternoon, where he will be asked yet again about Butcher, England and 1986. It is like Bobby Fischer and Boris Spassky all over again.

(The Times)

o1bhoy

Maybe Butcher should remember what his job is, but as pointed out he was probably asked a direct question and responded honestly. We have enough to get at Rangers without worrying too much about what Butcher has to say.

Will Maradona make a good manager? Who knows, but it will be interesting. There will probably be fallouts and some interesting stories along the way.

Great player doesn't always equal great manager, as we know. And many of the best managers were mediocre players at best.

I dont want to go too far into the song debate,I feel I have to reply though after reading comments by the Rangers fans chairman John McMillan,I personally wouldnt chant about the IRA however, when Rangers fans use it as an excuse to being offended by a group who they percieve should be banned from singing about in Britain I always make the comparison to the BNP,their agenda is far more sinister and would have devastating consequences for the security of these Islands,being in Bradford there are thousands of Muslims,now in my book,singing about the IRA wether it be the group of the Easter Rising or the Provisionals is the exact same as voting,supporting,marching and campaigning for the BNP,yes,theres a taste element but its in no way illegal especially if the songs sung dont have graphic references to bloodshed or racism,so if theres any lurkers just think about this point when you think the idea of the Irish struggle,singing or whatever,is deemed offensive in Britain!

Lennondinho

Totally agree. I remember asking a Rangers fan at the time why they were following England. Answer was that they have had so many English players who have done well for their club .....eh?? That must be how that perfectly innocent 'tangerine' top came about that they had - was all for the benefit of those legendary dutch players and management! See we just don't understand, really they are a caring bunch!!

Is the game not tomorrow night?

Tonight's big fixture is the FACup replay between Gray's Athletic and Carlisle.

All these Mcmillans are confusing; we've got James who thinks the Celts are the pollinators patellae and John who err begs to differ.

Wee Diego's coach at the '86 WC,Carlos Bilardo, was a trained gynaecologist.

There already is a video evidence initiative in place

http://www.scottishfa.co.uk/news.cfm?newsid=3043&pageid=155&back=1

Celtic should be asking publicly why this revolutionary ground breaking initiative has not been used since 1st August 2007 ?

Gents

This John McMillan clown is supposed to be an ambassador for the rangers supporters and only succeeds in taking a swipe at Celtic football club and our supporters. As general nobody of the rangers supporters club you are suppose to be seen to combat racism by commenting on the despicable and totally unacceptable behaviour of your fans!!.

Maybe you are the "ambassador" for the rangers supporters club as the "scum element" only rise and proclaim such shocking backing of sectarian racist and anti-social behaviour.

WCM

DBBIA

Didn't know that, thanks. I for one believe there should be more gynaecologists involved in football.

Faithful thro n thro

so true mate

they have no idea what they are

and have no idea why either

I remember Tam Cowans show, Off the Ball, interviewing people at various places

TC: Why are you wearing an England Top
Boy: Cause am a Ranjurs fan
TC: Burst out laughing

sums it up

eurochamps

Again good points. Agree that it may be a good time to turn it right back round on them. For example, had the ref (McCurry I believe) from the Dundee Utd game at the end of last season been scrutinised (as well as others) there is no way they could even defend some of his decisions. We have been calling for something to be done for as long as I can remember so maybe now is the time to hit them back with it! OK you have convinced me!!

Sir David Murray will celebrate 20 years in charge of Rangers this coming weekend and there is to be yet another sumptuous bash to mark the occasion. The pity for Murray is that quite a few Rangers fans are growling over his continuing stewardship. The moral of it is that, in football, you shouldn't over-stay your welcome, however much in Murray's case that seems a bit harsh.

It hardly seems 10 years since James Traynor and I - then of the Daily Record and Scotland on Sunday respectively - were invited out to Jersey to commemorate Murray's 10th year in charge. Yes, yes...that was the famous occasion of Jim's knife "slicing through some of the most succulent lamb I've ever tasted in the company of His Highness, the Rangers chairman..."

Murray has always been the subject of drooling journalism but, beside that, we still need to acknowledge his amazing durability in his post.

Those Rangers fans who have good cause to want him out of Ibrox still need to acknowledge the great things he did for the club. In those first 11 or 12 years Murray literally minted Ibrox, with such players as Brian Laudrup, Paul Gascoigne and Stefan Klos arriving to play for Rangers. For quite a while during Murray's stewardship there was also a regular panning of Celtic, which for many Rangers supporters was all that mattered. Notwithstanding the odd embarrassment in Europe, these were heady and thrilling times to be a Rangers fan.

The problem Murray faced came when the inevitable feasting was over. His ambition for Rangers bordered on fiscal recklessness, and he even scoffed when some of us in the press began to point out that Rangers' bank-borrowing appeared to be becomig dangerous. At the time in early 2002 I wrote that there was "financial vandalism" being done to Rangers, and Murray never forgave me for the phrase, signalling the end of a sweet relationship. By 2003, when the Ibrox net-debt rose to £82m, the plain fact was that Murray's governing of Rangers had led the club to near-ruin. Rangers, I still maintain, have paid long and hard for these damaging days.

One example of the lasting effect of it all was in the appointment of Paul Le Guen in June, 2006. This was a brilliant appointment for Rangers at the time, a real coup for Murray and the club, yet Rangers FC was hamstrung. The club appointed one of Europe's most sought-after coaches while not being able to give him much money to spend. "We have to go down the road of youth," Murray said at the time of Le Guen's arrival, acknowledging the on-going frailty of Rangers.

Le Guen made many mistakes at Rangers but the episode remains the great lost opportunity at Ibrox. The Frenchman's appointment could and should have heralded a new golden age for the club.
Now a new set of circumstancs has washed over Murray.

The current recession means he is locked into Rangers, unable to escape. He has wanted out of the club for two years but has unsuccessfully searched for a buyer. And all the while his asking price for Rangers, just like some of us trying to sell a house, has gone down and down: £70m, £60m, £50m, £45m. Le Guen's time was supposed to be the Murray get-out on a high: here is a great coach, here is another title, thankyou and goodnight. But the plan failed and Murray is still mired in Rangers.

The many great things he did for Rangers should not be forgotten. History, however, will remember David Murray as someone who was very good for Rangers, who became very bad for the club.

Britney

The good old orange top they wore was hilarious.

Just imagine if they were celebrating a positive influence from Nigeria or the like......would they celebrate by wearing green andwhite for the day.

Note to self - must only celebrate Dutch, Northern Irish and English influences because I like the colours of the flags!

C1st- I saw the La Liga results yesterday. Herr Schuster's jaikit must be on a shooglie peg after losing to the mighty Vallodolid.

Why are they called the Pucela? The fleas?

I live in England and most of my mates are English (one of them bought Bazza Fergushun's house when he couldn't hack it in the EPL), I even married and English girl. I couldn't care less if England win lose or draw (unless they're playing Scotland), but if they are going to lose I always prefer a "we were robbed/that was an embarassment" type loss.

RH35: Why are you wearing a Rankers top?

English lad: 'cause I'm an idiot.

RH35: fair enough.

Lennondinho

That's so unfair. Does Tam Cowan not realise that theyarrapeepul and "cos am a ranjurs fan" is a good enough answer for any question???

Maybe we should start a campaign for their next away top and which player they should dedicate it to!

GEORGE BURLEY is set to play all six Celtic players at some stage against Argentina tomorrow night - just six days before Gordon Strachan's men face Aalborg in a crucial Champions League tie.

The Scotland manager has already spoken to the Parkhead boss about the situation.

And, despite being in the grip of a serious injury crisis and in the middle of a very heavy fixture schedule which resumes at Love Street at lunchtime on Saturday, Strachan has made it clear it would not be right for him to try and tell another manager what to do with Paul Hartley, Stephen McManus, Gary Caldwell, Scott Brown, Shaun Maloney and Barry Robson.

Midfielder Hartley - who scored the late winner against Hamilton prior to joining up with the squad - revealed the Celtic six are all ready and willing to play against Diego Maradona's side.

He said: "All the Celtic players involved want to play for Scotland. We are desperate to represent our country.

"The gaffer (Strachan) always encourages us to play for Scotland. He has never said anything to the contrary. As a player he got 50 caps and wanted to play in every game. We're no different."

Smith said last Tuesday that he felt Ferguson was not ready to play a full game. However, he lasted 90 minutes in the his first start of the season against Motherwell the following day and played another full game on Saturday against St Mirren. Smith added last week: "We've got two games before the Scotland game and so he's ready to start a game for us. But whether he's ready to start against Argentina is another thing.

Now I ask you if a nation cannot see this then how is video evidence going to help ? Peeple see what they want to see

regarding TRS
mcmillans comments just confirm that the bigots just don't get it .
they have been told twice that they risk arrest if the continue to sing TRS ,It has been discussed in parliament here and now Europe ,and still these so called spokesmen for rangers still don't get it .time is running out for the bigots ,when are the decent rangers supporters going to stand up and be counted ,tell these mouthpieces to shut up and leave TRS singers exposed to arrest .

Help!

Is Kenny Miller not in the squad due to a calf injury or a hamstring in the thigh area. Is it the same injury that kept him out against Norway ?

DAnke

Awe_naw

The proposal for retrospective penalties for divers was discussed at the International FA Board meeting on 8 March 2008 and while the IFAB didn't agree to Gordon Smith's proposals they agreed that simulation is an act of cheating which must be intensively fought and sanctioned during the game and that all member associations would be encouraged to do so. Gordon Smith then had this to say.

One has to wonder why nothing more has come from this. I'm sure there has been a number of occassions when players in Scotland have "simulated" a foul to try and get an advatage over a fellow professional. If Mr Smith doesn't have access to video footage of games here are just a few acts of simulation he may wish to retrospectively punish:

Kris Boyd v Dundee United
Novo v Aberdeen
Thomson v Celtic

Does anyone think that this campaign has stagnated due to some of the above actions or am I just being paranoid.

Mort (not holding his breath)

Clark's write out of order
I WAS interested to see Kenny Clark come out and defend his mate Tom Murphy in his newspaper column last week after his display in the Rangers game against Motherwell.

I am also surprised that, so far, there has been no comment from Kenny on Steve Conroy and his assistant Chris Young after the penalty decision in the Hamilton game against Celtic.

What is the point in giving a former referee a column if all he is going to do is back up his old colleagues? - BFDJ

PotKettleblackCSC

Could the Rangers squad not all declare themselves English like their supporters? Then they wouldn't need to worry about pulling out of internationals!

Helicopter Thursday,
Totally agree m8,

Holland, England and Northern Ireland strips. Never seen any Italy stirps for their Italian contingency.....Porrini, Amoruso, Vanoli, and co. Pretty sure they may be tims!!!!!!

WCM

Faithful thro n thro

Surely you're not suggesting that Mr Cappello has got enough quality players in the England squad that he wouldn't need to call on the services of McGregor, Broadfoot, Weir, Dailly, Ferguson, Thompson, Miller or Boyd should they all be available for England.

I'm assuming the foreigners, Novo et al still wouldn't be available cos England would need to give some teams a chance.

Mort (tongue firmley in cheek this time)

Mort,

Exactly and exactly the questions we should be asking.

Rangers for some time now when they play away try and get the ball into the final third and hit the deck. They do this nearly every time. It´s sad to see Kenny Miller a player who normally tries to stay on his feet being coached into this. Shame on you Kenny Miller. Novo Boyd and Miller always take the percentage call. Check out the number of away goals that Rangers have scored since January from set pieces that was the result of a bad decision due to a Rangers player throwing himself to the ground.

I think that we're all being a bit hard on Boydichenko, he must have a medical problem, probably something to do with his inner ear that causes him to fall over randomly. He is also disorientated by the presence of a football and defenders, although the clip doesn't back up this as he wasn't near either. From his resopnse to falling over, it appears he may also suffer from a form of Tourrette's Syndrome.

DBBIA

Pucela is an old-fashioned nickname for Valladolid, and is easier to say when you've sampled some of the local vintage, which I try to do as often as possible.

It is quite similar to the word for flea 'pulga'.

Leo Messi's nickname is La Pulguita Atómica, which is the name the Hispanic world gave to Atom Ant.

Has there ever been an Atom Dec?

I have fond memories of that orange shirt :-)

during seville week, Me and my dad and pals were staying in benalmadena. the pub we went to most nights was in this huge square of pubs.
one night there was literally hundreds of cellic fans in the hoops, when this guys swaggers out from behind a pub in his bright orange gers top.

"whoa! look! what the?"

cue this stupid guy getting pelters from hundreds of celtic fans

he then managed to squeak "eh, hope yous do well on wednesday lads"

never seen a guy run away so fast!

breaking news
nacho nova pulls a hamstring whilst waiting in queue at Glasgow passport office ,after receiving his passport,he declared" my dream is over I have no choice but to retire from international football and concentrate on playing the best I can for my club "

Paul67

Aha! Be it a case of great minds or fools seldom differing (albeit a great mind in your case!) I find myself agreeing completely regarding the Carnival Atmosphere of McCoist (my memory of this headline in the Daily Record from the 90s has clearly caused me some upset)taking on the job of Chief Bluenose. While this self styled "Joker of the Pack"/one half of Laurel and Hardy of Scottish Football (another reference to McCoist, in tandem with Mark Hateley - ah! the halcyon days of the 90s....)may excel in front of the television cameras, I do long for the day that a further return to "traditional values" along Paisley Road West means he, Durrant and Brown are promoted to form a managerial coven. Arguably the very definition of form versus substance.

Lest we forget:

Wife cheatin'
Keban shop beatin'
Bath overflowing and downstair seepin'....

Mon the Hoops.

"H"

I wish Novo would take the leap of faith from the govan Highrises.......oh a hope there's spikey railings below. :) :)

On the diving debate, I think we are sometimes too quick to forget that it's not just the other side that have a small tendancy to do this at times.

We have a few in our side that love to play for fouls, most notably Skippy anywhere close to the 18 yard line!

The best player to grace the Hoops for the past 30yrs was also slightly prone to going over easily.
Not trying to stir an argument but we need to admit it's widespread throughout the game and not just at Ibrox

Mort

I wouldn't dream of making such a suggestion! I was merely suggesting that Fabio Cappello is no a Rangers man (otherwise he would qualify for the Scotland job) and therefore, in this current climate of anti-Rangersism he would not consider such players even although it would be difficult for him to overlook them. I thought that was obvious!

(Tongue even more firmly in cheek)

Maradona as a manager? Yeah it takes some believing, but he might not seriously damage the game as much as Dunga is doing at Brazil. Diego is having a bit of a new lease of life it seems. His daughter is going with Atletico de Madrid's ' Kun ' Aguero and it is said that Diego will be becoming a grandfather soon. And what a player the new kid, male or female, might be. It is good for Diego to be a pseudo father figure to the new Argentinian star and Aguero will be getting some great advice from a man who has seen it all, as the best in the world in his day.

C1st ;- Thanks a lot for the info on old Pucela the other day,...you wouldn't know any good places to stay in or around the city?

touristinformationCSC

Faithful thro n thro

true mate

maybe a bit harsh on tam cowan ;0

Helicopter Thursday ,

my point was that at Rangers they are coached and schooled to go down every time as part of the game tactic as they have a better chance of scoring from a set piece. These fouls are normally given. When a Tic player go down it´s an individual choice with them and the award of a free kick is statistically much less likely. It´s similar to being booked for leaving the field of play. The stats back it up.

Skippy I will give you but I challenge you to provide a youtube clip of the Kok´s clearly diving ?

Raveheart35 - i love your phrase that boyd is 'disorientated by the presence of a football'

lol

Helicopter thursday.

TAKE THAT BACK.....My wee Henrik never.

Celtic_First said

"I for one believe there should be more gynaecologists involved in football."

and there is no place more appropriate as their workplace than Parks Murray and Ibrox

ANNAOAN

I didnt say Henrik dived as such....I suggested he went down easier than he should when in a position which we might benefit from a set piece.

Dont think we can say they are actively coached to dive......regardless of how obvious it may seem.

Under Martin O'Neill we were accused of the very same thing due to how effective we were from set plays.

Gents,
I think skippy has more upstairs than Boyd,Novo and co. Most of the fouls skippy wins are back to goal, whereas Boyd and novo just go down anywhere possible, prob more so running with the ball. The clip of Boyd's "where's the Sniper"...(a Wish,lol) VS Dundee Utd is because he is just plain lazy and cannot be arsed chasing a lost cause.We need to give skippy credit on chasing lost causes. Most Huns i speak to (from distance!!) know that Boyds a lazy bass and say he needs to be wiser instead of downright obvious at diving.

Over and Out
WGS

Helicopter Thursday,

I am saying that Rangers are actively coached to dive in the final third of the pitch. I´m also saying that it´s the only logical conclusion that anyone can come too who has watched Rangers play away regularly. The stats according to goals that they score from open play compared to free play and the number of free kicks awarded seem to back up what I am saying.

Hail Hail

WeeChrisMorris

I take your point and agree that Boyd expecially just throws himself to the floor regardless of whether anyone ois close to him.

Some players however play for the free kick and then fall as soon as contact is made.

That was my point....going over easily when it is possible to stay on your feet is still a form of simulation and becuase it is carried out by one of our own doesnt mean it is 'clever' rather than cheating.

Hutton was the worst offendor during his time at Ibrox for putting himself infront of the man and then deciding to stop running so the defender would barge into him.
In the rule book it is a free kick but it is still not good sportsmanship

Student Bhoy @ 12.31

I had family in that square on that night. They tell the same story only that it ended with hundreds of Celtic fans pointing at said ReaRangers fan and singing

"One Hun in Europe, theres only one Hun in Europe ...."

Smallworldcsc

Think Henrik took a dive for Thompson's missed penalty in the 2-0 Lyon game.

Awe_No_Annoni-Oan-Anaw-Noo

stands to reason what with Mc Coist having a significant influence on training that they would practise tipping over, someting he made a career out of. Personally plenty of Celtic men have and actively do it, as do a large majority of players today. Part and parcel of the game in my opinion. I didn't complain about Sunday's peno anyway!

hail hail

GordonJ

From earlier regards the butchers comments

I would be peed off

but as an ex Engerlund and Rankers captain and current assistant manager I would hope that I would

- rise above all that crap and maintain my professional dignity (to quote Kojo - Neva eva let them see it bothers you)
- Focus al my energies on getting him bak in the right way: on the frield of play with fair play

- and last but by no means least : check the zeros in my bank account and console myself that I got away with murder all those years and still made a packet

green vespa,

No I agree with you and Helicopter Thursday assertion about player going down easily when challenged. Rangers players do it when not even challenged and will only do it in the final third, there are subtle differences at play here based on the ease with which a free kick can be awarded, that´s really my point. I do believe that it is part and parcel of the normal modern game and I am with Paul Lamberts assertion on it that if we dont do it we are putting ourselves at a massive disadvantage. Naka also does it regularly

helicopter thursday

There is no denying that a lot of players go down very easily nowadays and Celtic players are no angels in this respect. the reason I showed clips of Rangers players diving is beacuse I am biased towards Celtic and will show Rangers players in a bad light if at all possible. That's part and parcel of being a football fan. We see the good in ours and the bad in all others.

However the SFA, media outlets etc should be impartial and should call it is when cheating is concerned. Mr Smith and a great number of Scottish newspapers made a big fuss about rooting out the evil in our game that is cheating after a Hearts player, dived to get a penalty against Scotland. He wasn't slow and highlighting this incident and demanding a change to the law to deal with cheats, yet when a number of high profile Rangers players have done similar, he and the media has been very quiet.

Mort

just watched the maradonna clip with the ball bhoy(adam brown) on BBC scottish news web page..(sound down cos i'm at work)

magic

what bugs me with Naka is that he's a soft target for people to say "ah he just fell over as usual" because of his stature. This leaves the door ajar for games like against Killie when players actively sought out Naka to hoof him one. That's not hard play, it's a dirty assult. Like wise in england, Arsenal vs Stoke was a disgrace in my book. The tackle which put Adebayor out wasn't even on the field of play. PS im not a disgruntled gooner, just thought the tackle was cowardly and ridiculous, but because it was Arsene's team it was acceptable.

anyone agree?

Treading water a bit these days, ghuys and ghals, but bear in mind I ain't been too well (still suffering btw).....

The Gate In The Wood continueth....

WG (looks at his moby in abject despair as he recognises the caller ID as belonging to Sir Fergus Alexanderson): Gemmell

FA: Winston ! I see your team is still fwying high at the summit of the SPL, four points ahead of Wangers

WG: Ten out of ten, Brother, you can't ask for better than that

FA: Quite. A wee bird intimated that you are expanding your business intwests, Winston.

WG: Whatever could you be thinking of Brother Fergus ?

FA: Cafe

WG: I trust your relationship is back on track

FA: Wike wabbits, Winston

WG: Perish the thought

FA: It's all down to her wecent dawwiance with...

WG: NAFOS ?

FA: No, awomafewapy

WG: Where do I come in here ?

FA: Word on the stweets of Gwasgow suggests you have access to the eternal fwame

WG: The eternal flame ? Ah'm good but Ah'm no that good, Brother

FA: Cafe needs a swow burner for her shwine to the Child of Pwague

WG: Good Lord

FA: It's in our bedwoom next to....

WG: No more details, Fergus. I'll get one to you F.O.C. if you promise never to call this number again

FA: If you send it by Wynx Dewivewy it's a deal.

WG: Goodbe, Brother Alexanderson

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Monday Club, Teser (WG missing on account of the tickled trout)

NAFOS: So how did the meeting with the bank go, Hugh ?

HR: Shooty-in - ten grand into the Richards account with barely a whimper of protest

SOAL: Well that's the Christmas party paid for, all we need's a decent venue

NAFOS: We'll get WG to speak to the Parish Priest and see if the chapel hall is available. Have we got a date in mind ?

SOAL: We traditionally have our festive soiree eftir the last hame gemme before Christmas - by my reckoning that's the 13th ay December, the day we play Hertz

HR: Duties and responsibilities then. I'll arrange the music - karaoke and disco. I'll also arrange the edibles fae The Pink Turban

SOAL: Ah'll sort the swally oot and reduce my arrangement cut to 5%

NAFOS: And Ah'll dae the invys. Are the girls from the bank up for a resumption of amour, Hugh ?

HR: Catriona and Boynita are keen to meet with you and WG again but said it would be better as part of a bigger gathering. The festive bash would appear to be the ideal occasion. The 13th is fairly early so it's unlikely to clash with any of the bank's Christmas nights oot. I think we've cracked it lads.

NAFOS: One other thing. Hugh, we need you to give us a few numbers - Ave Maria, Carol of The Bells, Oh Holy Night, that sort ay thing. The lassies love aw that stuff so git practisin'. I'll contact Long John Silver and get him to nobble the Monsignor fur the hall. It's gaunny bi a night tae remember.

TBC

Helicopter Thursday,

I agree with some of your points but i think players now act on poor sportmanship or honest stay on your feet stuff depending on who the official of their match is. How many times do we hear managers/players oh and the waistcoat asking for officials to be strong and questioning how many decisions they have not had and how they are now due so many.

Watching the highlights os Hibs vs Sheep on saturday just goes to show how honesty is now a big thing of the past. Aluko through on goal 2 mins into injury time, sheep 2-1 up and Aluko is hit for a stonewaller. The young "Ewe" stays on his feet and the keeper saves. Surely play brought back for his Good Sportmanship and a penalty awarded?. NO, play on and aberdeen go up the park and score from the resulting corner which they had won.

Aluko comments that the ref did not protect him and gave him nothing throughout the game so he stayed on his feet.

If you canny beat them, Join them!!!

Cheers
WGS

Mort

Fair play for being blatantly honest about your stance and I also fall into the green and white corner in these discussions, especially when I am having them with my less fortunate rivals.

However, when I am discussing it with like minded Hoops fans I see no reason to be overly biased.

The problem we have in Scotland is when someone obviously dives the powers that be are not effective enough at handing out retrospective punishment and putting an end to the matter.
Instead they let the papers print their garbage for days on end until the whole conspiracy theory is at its paranoid best.

The truth is that every tean has offenders and it just depends who is stupid enough to get caught each weekend. Sometimes it's Hearts, Hibs or Aberdeen players but they dont make the press so much more fun when it's a Celtic or Rangers player to make a song and dance about it.

If suitable punishment was dished out immediately the guilty would stop offending so regularly

Green Vepsa,

I think their is a dilemma within the modern game with regards skill versus power. I think MON demonstrated again at the weekend how much value he places on power. I think that WGS is very very slowly and very reluctantly learning this lesson. It is a difficult balance too strike.

Stoke (imho) kicked Arsenal off the park. I have to say though that compared to the Kilmarnock and the ICT games we played recently it wasn´t even in the same ball park.

HelicopterThursday

Im not being biased my friend as i have just used the sheep Sha**ers as a example!!!...never thought i would do that..lol.

WGS

WG -

The gout continues

Larsson

Helicopter Thursday,

My concern with retrospective judgements is that actually dives are often a great deal more subjective than that.

One man's dive - 'He made a right meal of that' - is another man's foul - 'There was definitely contact'...

I'd be deeply concerned about who was making those judgements...

B

WeeChrisMorris

Didnt mention you were being biased my friend!

Helicopter Thursday,
As long as we are still m8's?? :) :)

WCM