Winning the league is hard, or at least it should be. Aberdeen are finding that out as they unnecessarily dropped points on Saturday. Celtic have had it easy for so long we’ve forgotten a few truths of competition.
Sitting 6 points clear, and (again) confident of winning the league, we can constructively appreciate the job Derek McInnes has done at Pittodrie. They are very likely to come up short this season, but the gap between them and Celtic is not the chasm it used to be.
For years we discussed that what Scottish football really needs is teams like Aberdeen and Dundee United comfortably outperforming Motherwell and Inverness. No disrespect intended for the latter two, but Aberdeen have hugely better resources, if we are to receive a genuine challenge, it will come from there.
I was also delighted to see the 15k attendance at Pittodrie on Saturday, reflecting the bounce that has occurred at Tynestle this season. Figures like that will help Aberdeen (and Hearts) solidify. Both can make a profit at that level.
Progress isn’t linear, so don’t be surprised if Aberdeen or Hearts don’t leap forward next season, but the chances of them being overhauled by a smaller club is slight. The future looks healthier than the past.
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bournesouprecipe on 29th February 2016 6:19 pm
Spot on.
Just to be clear my post at 5.23pm was a copy and paste of an earlier post by SFTB’s, he posted it in the early hrs of this morning in reply to a question from HamiltonTim and I reposted it as it deserved a wider audience.
Night Night all. HH
Glad to see big Tom Rogic set the record straight over his contract I like the big Aussie & has certainly improved this season
Who was the clown who posted that smsm mince earlier :))
Weefra…
Early bath tonight! Night. HH
RD has strengths – no probs. RD has leadership and managerial strengths- no problem. RD has got the worst squad we’ve had for a while and has actually made significant advances in LG and youth blooding – no problem Love ya RD. RD knows when to tell the players to shut up shop because a team is sh^^ing on us – got a problem there.
The exiled Tim.
I deduce that you feel Wenger was correct to lie and say he didn’t see an incident that he obviously did.
If that is not what you meant then, perhaps you can clarify for me.
I on the other hand respect people who try to avoid spin and call it as they see it. Too often “we” on here are critical of those who lie and deflect, but somehow believe we should also play that game.
Yours respectfully, as I generally enjoy your comments.
Mickybhoy
Looks to me that you made up that scenario and I could make up a much more plausible one based on as much as you are.
How about RD thought he was right based on what he saw.
Then saw something later that told him his initial view was wrong and was honest enough to admit he made a mistake.
The choice is yours but both scenarios could apply. The question is which one?
Hint. Occams Razor.
Auldheid…
Ronny should have hang fire until he viewed it properly.
A rash statement on his part, hopefully he will learn.
PCS
I watched the replays of sevco winning goal against Kilmarnock last week
When Clark scores he runs across the front of the sevcoNians who are behind that goal but he stays on the park
However keirnan jumps the advertising boards and runs into the crowd before jumping back over again and joins the celebrations on the park
No yellow card
Cragleabhoy
You thought I was a Wenger fan cos of what I posted, I’m not and yes he is a hypocrite, it is just a saying, no more than that.
I am a great believer in defending your players, RD didn’t do that, all he had to say was he hadn’t looked at it properly, that wouldn’t have been a lie, or is he lying today when he now says he has reviewed it and changed his mind.
It’s a minefield for our coaches, esp in scotland where the msm will latch onto anything that will harm us, so it would have been prudent not to say anything to the media, he can rant and rave and do wtf he wants in private, but imo, and I could be wrong, but anything that could cause division within the dressing room should be avoided, especially if we are to believe there is a split presently.
What I am actually more annoyed with him about is his total lack of calling out the HA player who could have crocked KT, not once but twice, nothing, as if it didn’t happen.
His job is on the line here, he has had chances game after game to call out the inconsistant decisions the referees make, the opo players get to foul us at will, we retaliate and are either booked or sent off, and yet nothing, it really doesn’t make any sense to me.
Appols if I was a bit nippy.
HH
Good Evening.
Here is something very very silly indeed with many of your favourite Sevco characters…
https://theclumpany.wordpress.com/2016/02/29/mounting-tension/
Pcs,
Both utd goal scorers who went into crowd were booked.
HH
SIPSINI on 29TH FEBRUARY 2016 8:27 PM
Auldheid…
Ronny should have hang fire until he viewed it properly.
A rash statement on his part, hopefully he will learn.
– See more at: http://www.celticquicknews.co.uk/aberdeen-progress-and-truths-of-competition/comment-page-7/#comments
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What if he thought at the time of interview he had? If all he saw was a rerun without benefit of pause and freeze then he is perfectly entitled to believe it was a foul.
I suspect he was as annoyed by Boyota not following instructions not to tackle in those circumstances and that combined with what he thought he saw influenced his comment.
If I told an employee not to do something because of consequences and they did, bringing about the consequences I wanted to avoid, I’d not be a happy bunny.
All I’ll say is that next time RD will say no comment. Mistakes are how we learn, even managers of Celtic.
Auldheid…
We’re always learning from our mistakes day by day…atleast we agree on that :))
I’m very happy that we have television program called “Liga Plus Extra” in Poland. It’s summary, highlights, experts panel and referee expert opinions. The referee expert gives his explanation of all controversial decisions.
It usually takes day or few hours to learn if the referee was right or wrong? When it comes to Hamilton v.Celtic game, we are few days after and no one knows what happened there and what was the right decision to be given?
From what I have learned in Poland I would say that:
a)Fact that Boyata did, or did not touch the ball should have no influence on decision about sending off. It did not matter for the simple reason – it was not an obvious goal scoring opportunity, nor harsh foul, nor unsporting behavior. People forget that penalty area is the same area as the rest of the football pitch with one difference that foul in the penalty area means penalty kick. Would anyone give red , or yellow to Boyata if that “foul” happened in the other place of the pitch ? I doubt Boyata did deserve card.
Hamilton chance was not an obvious goal scoring opportunity. It was promising action that was probably foul by Boyata. If it was foul, penalty kick was enough penalty/award and card was not necessary.
b)If Ronny Deila said it was red because he thought Boyata did not get to the ball, he was wrong.(See above)
He was wrong anyway when he criticized the player before he learned what happened there and before he discussed it with the players.
c) Would I give penalty for Boyata “foul”? I’m closer to the opinion that Boyata did not get to the ball and knocked Hamilton player down. On the other hand, I’m not sure there was an foul.
The rule the referees in Poland have is: they must be hundred percent sure they are right when they give the penalty. Of course they are sometimes wrong on this. Few penalties given here last weekend and one of them was wrong decision.
Last night I posted that Ronny was wrong in what he said in regard to Boyata.
I stand by that.
I also recognise his position has changed, well done Ronny, that takes bravery and strength of character.
I hope the players see it that way.
A good comment from Etims twitter guy.
There has been more written today about Evander Sno’s charges than about Dave King’s conviction.
Our media don’t work in mysterious ways.
Zbyszek
I agree, it was not a goal scoring opportunity so def no red card.
Oh how I wish there was a program in scotland like you have, but it will never happen, honest, transparent refereeing will still be a dream when I am long gone.
HH
Thanks for the replies, gents. Interesting that the DU players get booked and the deid team’s player didn’t.
All this talk about the poor wee sensitive souls that pass as Celtic players these days, bollocks, it’s about time the whole lot of them manned the feck up and got the league won….
sorry ZBYSZEK but can you explain the award of a penalty being enough when the alleged offence took place at least a couple of yards outside that area
Pcs,
I only seen the beeb highlights of the hunco game and I cannot see where anyone would be booked for celebrating the goal.
A player did jump one set of advertising boards but the highlights didn’t show him jumping the set immediately in front of the fans.
There might be different footage that others have seen. I’m not going looking for more. ;)
HH
The number of players we have in the first team squad and out on loan is almost 40. On the basis that the league ‘is hard to win’, for arguments sake lets say the team below is our 3rd/4th team. Could they team win the league? Are they better man for man than Aberdeen/Hearts?
Fasan
Fisher E O’Conell Ambrose Blackett
Nesbitt Joe Thomson Henderson Boerrigter
Ciftci Cole
Zbyszek
Prior to the contact/tackle/ collision ,the ball was rolling.
Immediately after same ,the ball was bouncing. Therefore contact with the ball was made.
The direction may not have changed , but the trajectory certainly did.
To me it is perfectly clear that Boyata made that contact with the ball.
ie Marvellous tackle………..rewarded with a red card by a serial offender.
SP-correct,take the bull by the balls,get over the line,and we can move on.
An obvious goalscoring opportunity means that the attacker has the ball at or near his feet (TICK), is close to the goal area (TICK)and is moving towards the goal (TICK) , and has no more than one defender or the goalkeeper in his way(TICK). These are known by referees as the “4 Ds,” and only a foul that has all four must result in a red card.
you can argue all night wether Boyata got a touch on the ball or not but there is no argument that the Hamilton player was in the position of an obvious goal scoring opportunity when it’s as a obvious as the nose on your face that all 4 of the above criteria were met
29TH FEBRUARY 2016 1:13 PM
Unfortunately Paul it’s more competitive due to Celtic dropping down a few levels more than Aberdeen getting better IMO
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Not sure what your definition of a few levels is.
After 27 games this season (W,D,L,F,A,GD,PTS)
Celtic 19, 5, 3, 70, 22, 48, 62
Aberdeen 17, 5, 5, 46, 30, 16, 56
Last season
Celtic 20, 3, 4, 56, 14, 42, 63
Aberdeen 18, 3, 6, 47, 25, 22, 57
So both teams one point less. Not what I’d call a few levels.
And if you were looking for positives then perhaps the extra 14 goals scored this season would be a good place to start.
Hypothetically we have a new managerial team next season :
How long do they get to manage?
Until the first Artmedia Bratislava or Neuchantel result?
Until they fail to get three domestic trophies?
Until they fail to get into Europe.
Until they fail to beat Sevco
Until our crowds fall below 50k average
Until they dare to criticize a player.
It would be good to be up front at the interview.
HH.
thetimreaper on 29th February 2016 9:44 pm
That’s some forward line :-)
HH
CRC
mickbhoy1888 at 9:42 pm
As I said in my post, it was not harsh , nor deliberate foul, if foul at all. Boyata intention was not to foul the player. Why give two penalties , indyvidual and for the team?
If this happened in the other area of the pitch and was deliberate foul, I would call it breaking up a promising attack and would give yellow card. If the same happens in the penalty area and your take it’s breaking up a promising attack , penalty kick is enough award.
I watched it few times. What would you chose If you were Hamilton player? Continue attack or being awarded penalty kick? I would take penalty kick.
Mickbhoy1888
No it wasn’t, he was outside the box, our keeper was rushing in, and we had two defenders near the penalty spot.
So Not an obvious goal scoring opportunity
Must try harder :-)
HH
GREENPINATA on 29TH FEBRUARY 2016 10:02 PM
Hypothetically we have a new managerial team next season :
How long do they get to manage?
=============================================================
Until the appointment proves patently to be a failure.
“you can argue all night wether Boyata got a touch on the ball or not but there is no argument that the Hamilton player was in the position of an obvious goal scoring opportunity when it’s as a obvious as the nose on your face that all 4 of the above criteria were met ”
You can also ignore the fact that the Hamilton player was in an offside position when the ball was played to him but why let evidence get in the way of a conviction. No surprises there when it comes to Scottish Polis!
starry plough on 29th February 2016 9:35 pm – Can’t remember the last time we won the league in February, that shows just how much we’re going backwards as a team.
“Marvellous tackle………..rewarded with a red card by a serial offender.”
Macjay,
I have a touch of sympathy/understanding for refs when different refs in slightly different situations give different results.
Thompson had no hesitation to red card ambrose and now Boyata without consulting any other officials. Definite reds? Could be argued either way.
But what sticks in my craw is when wee leigh was through with only the keeper to beat v the dons earlier in the season, only a yellow was given by the SAME referee when he was fouled.
HH
Hello again all you young rebels.
Slowly recovering from our bash in the park at our Sun. BBQ.
Glad to see Ronnie has changed his mind about the Boyata
sending off, but and there’s always a but, he’s an honest
man and agreeing initially with any of the msm loaded
interview suggestions should make him very careful at the
next media call.
Still don’t think dedryk needed to make that tackle.
Glad to see big T. Rogic set the record straight regarding his
contract talks, it’s not as if the rags are trying a bit of disruption
between club and player is it? any way us Oz wallopers love
an Aussie in our squad it’s the only time Celtic get a mention
over here is when the big ghuy does well.
Talking about tackles you should have seen some of the wild
stuff going on at our mini world cup, didn’t help that the ref
was running about with a can of guinness in both hands my
erchie is still hurting and as for all the young pups taunting
us old codgers it really is bewildering when all those hoops
strips are screaming by you, now i know how other teams felt
when the lions were in full flow.
As for Paddmacoz , he’s probably still trying to untie all the flags
from the park trees ,i think he must have had his boxing gloves
on when he put them up.
Pictures are up on Social Celts Mornington Facebook.
H.H Mick
Macjay
What would be deemed a failure?
Would failing to win three domestic trophies be deemed a failure?
HH