I know I’m not the only one who was keen on a league challenge this season, preferably from Aberdeen, not the effervescent Hamilton Accies, who made some early running. Aberdeen, of all other Scottish clubs, have the potential to push Celtic further.
That all came tumbling down during the steak pie yesterday, as I watched scores on my phone. A challenge is OK, but the temerity to go top of the league in January is something else.
Celtic had largely sorted their early season performance problems but an undeserved defeat at Dundee United and a wholly deserved point for Ross County opened the door to Aberdeen, who have threatened to get their act together for 18 months and finally appear to be delivering. The frustrating thing for Ronny Deila and his squad, is that Aberdeen will fancy their chances in all of their upcoming games, while it’s another 8 weeks before Celtic will have an opportunity to take points off them.
Some of us pondered that we need competition to sharpen wits and muscles. It’s welcome, although I may reconsider if we’re not back on top after the Aberdeen game on 28th Feb.
Anyone fretting about the prospects of Four-in-a-Row is respectfully invited to get a grip of themselves.
Neil Doncaster, what a wit*. He sat in the meeting which rejected newco Rangers’ (then Sevco Scotland’s) application to join the SPL in place of oldco Rangers, who were then on their way to liquidation.
Doncaster met Craig Whyte along with SPL chairman Ralph Topping, in London in October 2011 when Whyte laid his cards on the table – and co-opted Doncaster into selling his doomsday scenario:
‘We’re going down the lavvy, the world will end, but you two can sort it all out, let me flush the detritus and nip into the SPL as though nothing had happened.’
He even suggested the whole episode would be over and done with within three months. Doncaster was caught in the headlights, dreading having to lose a club midseason, and no doubt had genuine doomsday fears, he folded in the face of that cunning operator, Craig Whyte, and tried to sell Whyte’s plan to SPL clubs. He failed, after considerable fan pressure.
Yesterday’s interview contained nothing he didn’t say two years ago, but it’s timing raises questions over what exactly he’s doing for his salary, that an inexperienced gardener couldn’t do.
For the record: Rangers appointed a liquidator and changed their name. Sevco Scotland applied for and received conditional membership to the SFA and Scottish Football League. They received permission from Rangers administrators to use the name ‘Rangers’. The newco played its first game against Brechin City….. then oldco Rangers had their SFA membership rescinded. Oldco and Newco existed as two separate members of the SFA at the same time.
Not since the Big Man explained transubstantiation has anyone tried to sell the same story. Until Whyte and Doncaster. Explain the simultaneous memberships – and we might take you seriously, otherwise, leave that patter for off-mic. comments to eager Bears.
*edited for appropriateness.
251 Comments- Pages:
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Oglach
17:06
Utter drivel, get the head out of the sand before its too late. Are you really comparing Aberdeen to the likes of Liverpool or Athletico M.
————
No.
I’m comparing Aberdeen’s lack of resources compared to us, with Athletico Madrid’s lack of resources compared to Barca or Real.
I’m comparing Aberdeen’s lack of resources compared to us, with Liverpool’s lack of resources compared to City or Chelsea.
I could maybe have added Stromsgodsets lack of resources compared with Rosenborg….
Leftclicktic
Was that the shares that changed hands last week?
pedrocaravanachio67
Served my time outside boozers like that in the 70’s…………ok no coke in those days.
Kojo
Seeing as you mention me in your post.
Id just say, that I don’t know PL, so I cant comment on the man personally.
But in his capacity as Celtic CEO, ive have my doubts as to his abilities, as it seems to me, that a myth has grown around PL, mostly engineered by his friends and admirers such as yourself…that’s fine, more power to you.
However….In terms of football, I wouldn’t say he knows what he is doing….he may indeed be the worlds best financial guru(which I somehow doubt), but when it comes to football..I prefer my own interpretation of events.
What I can see currently, is a mediocre team starved of investment, which is upheld by the excuse of rangers demise.
One minute PL is saying we could be the biggest team in the world, the next minute, we are skint and cant afford nothing.
Well, if things are economically that bad….we should trim with board, and curtail the bonus culture at CP….I think that would be wise.
coincide :(((
latchford
17:03 on 2 January, 2015
You have some “imagination”
johann murdoch
17:04 on 2 January, 2015
Not within our sphere of interest (those interested in coming to our wee / corrupt league… We need to get out of SPFL
Seems Dave King and the 3 Bears have realised the ‘starve them out’ policy has failed, and they actually have to buy shares to have any influence.
Still not a penny into Sevco though.
Kojo-agreed.
Bada Bing– Stefano Denswil- a centre half who has a passion for kickboxing
!!bada bing!!
Varying reports have him between 1.85 & 1.88 meters tall :))))
http://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/stefano-denswil/profil/spieler/182923
Kojo,
The evidence is there to see in the declining football and a half empty Celtic Park. Mr Lawwells projects which are out on loan such as Pukki, Balde and others who were paid off like Bangura when the managers had other transfer targets.
Lawwell is culpable in these failures and his track record of a cost cutting CEO is accelerating the decline.
However to be constructive ; should his renumeration not be linked to CL qualification and not to delivering the budget by selling our best players.
Should Celtic make a concerted effort to go after the £100M prize for the next 3 CL qualifications. There is one thing for sure Dave King will now get control of the Ibrox Club and that will go for it. He will see the business opportunity and go for it. Lawwell will be trying to create a bidding war to obtain the best price for Virgil.
Lawwell is in the wrong movie and should be sacked.
leftclicktic
Has the fit and proper person test just been abandoned now in Scottish fitbaw to ensure the survival of the Orcs??
Who did he buy from do we know?
Rangers International Football Club have confirmed that a company owned by former director Dave King has acquired 11.8m shares in the company.
The Glasgow club announced to the Stock Exchange that New Oasis now owns approximately 14.57% of the issued share capital.
pedrocaravanachio67
No it looks as though it’s aswell as .
Hope you and the gang are well sir.
martim1980
Stefano Denswil- a centre half who has a passion for kickboxing
Straight into the team for 1st February then
latchford
17:03 on 2 January, 2015
Tell me…….. How much investment would you like to see…
A rough figure ? Transfer fees and wages ?
pedrocaravanachio67
keith jackson@tedermeatballs · 19 mins19 minutes ago
Dave King buys out Artemis and Miton shares in RIFC to take a combined 14.5% stake.
Latchford
“Mr Lawwells projects which are out on loan such as Pukki, Balde and others who were paid off like Bangura ”
Whats your evidence to substantiate ?
Ok…I will say that again.
If things are as bad economically as we are led to believe, shouldn’t we cut back on board members, and curtail the bonus culture at CP.
We are downsizing the team to cut costs…why should we not be doing the same in the boardroom?
HH
starry plough
That was for you too :)))
The King buy in puts a bit of context on Doncaster statement.
The share owners selling have realised their income source is not going to turn up as long as they are seen as not being Rangers men. So they bail out.
Fair enough. But is it the same Rangers men with the same Rangers men thinking that cheats to get sporting advantage and calls it administrative error?
If so what is to stop it happening again? That is my concern. What steps are Celtic taking to assure supporters we will not be cheated over the next ten years?
There is 5 months to put credible assurances in place.
Martim1980
Muay Thai ! He’ll need that against Elbows.
leftclicktic
17:16 on 2 January, 2015
The spivs will be pleased……leave with a wee profit, and leave the not ‘fit and propers’ to it…..
Hahahahahahahahahahahahaha
south of tunis
16:51 on 2 January, 2015
!! bada bing !! @ 16.25.
” Podolski to Inter on loan ”
Italian media are claiming that a deal has been done but he has yet to do the necessary medical etc .
To quote a Fiorentina blog – ” close to 250 million in debt and now renting a team capable of winning the trophy that will get them in the CL .UEFA’ s FPP is as credible as the words of an Italian politician “
———-
I presume all those Celtic fans who want to boycott our team because of antics in South side of Glasgow, won’t be at the Inter game?
Probably same guys who boycotted Milan, Juventus and Barcelona because of their fair play antics and various scandals.
all starting to look a bit contrived isn’t it?
Gary67 makes sense, there’s not the best clips about but he doesn’t hold back when making a challenge!
Got it Lefty..
First footing hun style:)))
Really ghood post from previous thread this afternoon from BSR (copied below)
Alarmingly when you tally up his player rating average it is a mere 5.57
117 overall/21 players = 5.57 average and I think he scored some heavily!!!!
For me a celtic team should be around 7.5/8
Your Chelsea’s/ Barca’s etc of this world should be 9.5 +
How we have fallen.
Not exactly a footballing spectacle coupled with compliant custodians has me seriously considering why I plough so much £ into our club. It pains me to say that!
End of year review 2014
Craig Gordon
One of our few success stories so far this season. Safe, and capable of brilliance.Smart piece of business to resurrect the class keeper’s career, for Celtic’s No;1 Jersey.
Overall Rating 9
Adam Matthews
Not yet the player he was since being declared fit again after injury, doesn’t often deliver in the final third for his attacking duties. Loss of confidence shows in most games, rarely gets as far forward as Izzy, now more reluctant, to go in where it hurts?
Overall Rating 5
Mikael Lustig
Good strong, tall defender when he plays, but sadly all too infrequently now half way into season four, of an injury plagued career.
Overall Rating 3
Efe Ambrose
Every Celtic team has a whipping bhoy, and Efe fits the bill. Super fit athlete not the best soccer player, but gets by in most games. Better than any other SPL centre back, and a valuable asset, to the Celtic squad.
Overall Rating 5
Jason Denayer
Brilliant loan signing and was a big loss when injured. Made the CB position his own linking with VVD. Interesting to see if RD can wangle a loan extension, as hinted for a player that it’s hard to believe never even made his the EPL debut.
Overall Rating 7
Virgil Van Dijk
Groningen may have been duped by Celtic, gives an air of being in the wrong league. Tendency to switch off, and may or may not go on to become successful, at a smaller club in a bigger league, depending a lot on which club decides to spend the asking fee, next summer.
Overall Rating 8
Emilio Izzaguire
Very good season so far, where the players capabilities are stretched to the maximum in the RD system. Affected by having no target men to hit, when he’s asked to continually overlap, which also leaves a gap in his defensive roll. Easily the best LB since the Tom Boyd period at Celtic.
Overall Rating 8
Scott Brown
Top man in midfield, and deserved his new contract. Was sorely missed at the start of the season but remains the man that makes the engine Tic, and Celtic thrive on his ‘attitude.’
Overall Rating 8
Stefan Johansen
Featured frequently in Celtic’s up and down start to the season. Dovetails well with Brown, an automatic pick, bit of a ‘road runner’ who still needs to improve on ball skills, especially passing.
Overall Rating 7
Beram Kayal
Didn’t fulfil his potential despite being given belated chances by RD, can’t hold down a place in the starting line up. Contract will be run down, if he doesn’t get a move in January.
Overall Rating 2
Nir Biton
Finally established himself in the starting line up, classy player likes to knock the ball sideways should feature heavily in the second half of the season, if he continues to take more authority in the holding role.
Overall Rating 6
Charlie Mulgrew
Season blighted by injury and form loss. Still suffers from being a jack of all trades? – needs to find his best position, which may be a return to CB in the future. Either way, we’ve not seen the last of Chico.
Overall Rating 4
James Forrest
Another of the walking wounded in and out of the team. Seems to get the nod as soon as he’s fit because of his undoubted ability to play. Likely to be fit, again at a moments notice, the oldest of our ‘young’ talents.
Overall Rating 4
Calum McGregor
Great start to the season but quickly faded probably when his game got sussed by opponents especially in the SPL. A handy player to have, curiously untried on his natural side, and now predictable cutting inside, off the right, lost a bit of early cheeky confidence, will be back.
Overall Rating 5
Anthony Stokes
Adapted well in the left channel and the one main striker system favoured by RD. Has added to his game with some tricky new moves linking with Izzaguire, and still scores fairly regularly.
Overall Rating 7
Kris Commons
Couldn’t have predicted such a poor season after last years midfield phenomena. Many contributing factors, not least contractual which may have affected his entire position at the club.
Overall Rating 4
Leigh Griffiths
Not much game time in a strikers role due to Guidetti or Scepovic. Has to play second fiddle like AS, meaning a loss of direct route to goals. May have to score his share coming off the bench, unless RD switches to paired strikers.
Overall Rating 4
John Guidetti
Good young player that may be the only loan player who has done enough to merit a permanent Parkhead move. Much fitter, with hopefully more goals to come, not convinced he fits the RD lone striker role, either.
Overall Rating 7
Stefan Scepovic
Omitted too often in favour of Guidetti, but hasn’t exactly grabbed his chances, and misses with left right, or head indiscriminately. Takes up good positions , but one of three in the squad that might benefit from playing off a team mate, playing much closer to him.
Overall Rating 5
Mubarak Wakaso
Started with a goal, then went steadily downhill., hasn’t featured enough through injury, or form seems unlikely he’ll be with us after summer, unless he ups his game considerably. Slight tendency to leave a foot in, after he’s dispossessed.
Overall Rating 4
Alexsandar Tonev
Flashes from the start of the season, good short passing, strong player, needs a bit of luck or he’ll be back to Villa, not expected to contribute too much in the coming months, unless he starts to hit the ball a lot better .
Overall Rating 4
Ronny Deila – Manager
Thrown in the deep end of CL qualification.
The only way was up after Legia Warsaw, some bizarre games, team shapes, and selections including substitutions, and last minute inclusions.
Gradually has made our midfield more secure against lesser opposition, but still leaves the side too open, with two exhausted full backs and our wide men often left in their slip streams.
Consistently been his own man, that has dismantled the side that NL left behind, in the way we play.
Shouldn’t be judged until he’s made the team his own, and he still has too many of NL’s men, and loanees
Overall Rating – Could do better.
Leftclicktic
Cheers big fella, we’re all good at this side. Off oot for a pint wi ma big buddy, hope all is good at your side.
Was the New Oasis not a dodgy “sauna” in Glasgow? Did that have anything to do with the dodgy King Family Trust?
TraceAgent@TracingAgent
Yesterday’s Doncaster speech was the invitation they were waiting for, confirmation they can liquidate, and come back again as same club.
3rd rankers Tick Tock
Denswil played against us in both CL games against Ajax last season. Think they’d take Derk back as part of deal?
BIG-CUP-WINNERS
The amount of protection elbows will get you’d probably need to be an invisible ninja to get through the game unscathed !
Looks like things have been agreed between SFA SPFL and the so called Rangers men. Insolvency get rid of onerous contracts and keep their position in league. Hence the Doncaster interview yesterday. Only my opinion might be totally wrong but something afoot.
gordon_j backing neil lennon
17:31 on 2 January, 2015
New Oasis is a pub in Castlemilk, where he’s originally from
Starry , i was just thinking same thing. Just by pass the fit and proper person test and put the shares in your aunts name, as easy as that.
Doncaster’s statement is becoming a bit clearer now.
I hope this boy from Ajax is better than the last one we bought from them.
BSR
actions speak louder than words mate. We have changed from having a standalone policy to pining for the missing 10 million. Which is a highly debateable figure. As I said earlier their TV deal stinks to high heavens also. DD’s proclaimed love if Rangers cannot be ignored, The reticence towards Res 12 etc.
If the SFA board were given a heads up with regards the possible purchase of laxely’s shares and therefore excluding Mike Ashley at the hurriedly arranged informal meeting where the SFA then made announcements on their website. Were they duped into believing it was the three bears and not Dave King. Dave King being more appropriate than Mike Ashley ?
HH
So, is the purchasing of these shares a way of controlling administration/liquidation?
Assuming liquidation is the only way to break Iron Mike’s control of the retail contracts?
And is Doncaster’s entirely unprompted intervention the equivalent of a Papal Bull (Papal Bear?”) to the Huns to remember that, whatever happens over the next week or so, “Rangers” will always exist?
All eyes on Big Mike now…
Gary67,
I remember it I think – was that the first one that opened n Castlemilk back in the 80s?