After the two drubbings at the hand of Paris St Germain, I read how they were among the best teams ever to visit Celtic Park. In the next round of the Champions League they lost home and away to Real Madrid (currently 15 points off the pace in La Liga). The truth is, we flattered the French champions-elect.
PSG are not on the level of any of the Barcelona teams we have faced in recent years, or the Milan or Juventus teams who eliminated us from the Champions League knock out stages. They have abundant talent, but this is not a team who should be beating us 0-5 and 7-1.
The Milan team we faced in 2007, who were on their way to winning the Champions League, contained Maldini, Gattuso, Seedorf, Pirlo, Inzaghi, Ambrosini and Kaka. Celtic held them to two 0-0s over 90 minutes, with Telfer, McManus, O’Dea, Naylor and Sno in the side, none of whom would get into the current side.
Truth is, we have better players than at any point under Gordon Strachan and Neil Lennon. The current crop have and will continue to achieve more domestically than their predecessors, but we cannot go toe-to-toe with Europe’s moneyed elite any more than Morton can at Celtic Park.
This season’s Champions League group was a five defeat and one win success. We eliminated a higher seed – progress in anyone’s book. But conceding five, six and seven goals needs to stop. Defending against overwhelming talent is an art. Let’s learn it.
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Big Bhoy
SFA Board Allegiance. A journo (who seems to be in the know) shared this with me on Twitter DM:
Regan going makes a huge difference. Every boardroom vote before was 4-4 with McRae casting decisive vote in favour of the ‘old guard’. Mulraney, Maxwell, Hughes and Stewart forming a pro-SPFL pact which will drive through change and neuter Petrie / McRae
This is in line with what I understand the SPFL and PL’s objective to be – professional governance.
The cover up of RFC cheating is in my opinion down to Ogilvie and Regan, the first had the motive, the second the power. It is how they possibly went about it that will shake the foundations.
In my opinion the wtc liability was the Achille’s heel in their strategy, so they buried it.
The charge of not paying that liability was never part of the JP panel process considering if CW brought the game into disrepute. That took place in March to April 2012. Whilst CW was charged with non payment of VAT/PAYE there was no charge against him for failing to pay the £2.8m plus penalties owed to HMRC that he undertook to pay in 2011. That would have required evidence to be put to the JP.
By Feb 2012 the SFA themselves had refused to grant Rangers a UEFA licence because they failed to prove they did not have a case to excuse payment of the £2.8m+ when they applied for the licence in 2012. Why therefore was the wtc with its associated evidence of dishonesty not included in the JP Investigation into CW?
At same time In March 2012 SPFL lawyers wrote to Rangers IA requesting details of all ebts with side letters. and associated correspondence, the earliest side letter provided was for Flo dated 23 Nov 2000, the side letter for De Boer dated 30 Aug was not provided. Neither could have been the associated HMRC letters of 23 Feb and 20 May 2011 revealing the dishonesty (“fraud or negligence”) that made it possible for HMRC to pursue payment outside the normal 6 year time limit.
Had they been included then the SPL/LNS would have been faced with hard evidence of irregular use of an ebt making it impossible for LNS to reach the decision he did when he said its ok for clubs ‘to arrange their tax affairs WITHIN THE LAW ‘ plus ‘there is no question of dishonesty, individual or corporate.’
Non disclosure when disclosure required by the rules is key here, RFC had a duty to disclose the 20 May 2011 letter under UEFA FFP, as did Duff and Phelps in 2012 under another SFA/SPL Article and indeed they were charged with failing to comply timeously (but not honestly).
Did RFC breach the rules in 2011 and did they (Duff & Phelps) repeat the non disclosure in March 2012 when SPL lawyers sought information?
Significantly did the SFA or anyone at the SFA at any time from May 2011 to March 2012 know the details of the wtc liability?
Those are the questions that the CO investigation should be asking as well as establishing the veracity of statements made by RFC in March 2011 to obtain that UEFA licence.
Whether the SFA knew or not (and it is highly unlikely Ogilvie did not know and even more unlikely Andrew Dickson, who sat on the Licensing Committee in 2011 did not know) the non disclosure of the 20th May 2011 by RFC whether in the UEFA Licence context or the LNS context, must require LNS to look again at what was not given to him, including SDM’s testimony to the FTT about the competitive advantage ebts gave RFC. Regan actually suggested this to the SPFL in the exchanges with Celtic of last September.
So its not enough to hang Regan and Ogilvie out to dry, there are the other guilty parties at RFC still there to be questioned and the process changed so that individuals are not taken at their word or face severe sanctions if they are not honest.
With regard to earlier cheating: we all saw it in 2010/11 season when honest mistakes were rife but the difference now is we have proof.
NORRIEM on 7TH MARCH 2018 11:02 PM
“”””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””
Whats the point in giving your green pound to a colluding PLC board, who’s only god is the Old Firm game ?
That’s beyond stupid!
Indeed, its asking for all the mibberry that will most certainly come your way!
The biggest cheats of the Celtic supporters are the, Celtic PLC board, and your keeping them in house!
Ah thought the huns were the Gullibilly’s ?
Talk about self inflicted pain!
Dear, dear, dear!
Good luck.
……….oot.
david17 on 7th March 2018 10:03 pm
Got some info recently on the UEFA Licence investigation from a good source. Celtic have contacted the SFA re the investigation and have been advised it’s still ongoing.
=================
Does that mean the petition did its job and Celtic will confirm what your source said to the chap who did the petition?
CaltonTongues on 7th March 2018 9:47 pm
Auldheid,
“If I were on the Celtic Board or indeed the board of other clubs I would be asking the SFA how they can ask supporters to buy ST’s to watch a game whose honesty is on trial”.
Really? Forget other Clubs, ain’t ever happening. In that scenario then only huns would be buying season tickets and attending every game….
This is what they want..
===================
If all clubs were to adopt that stance they would be telling the SFA the game in Scotland is finished unless they can give their supporters assurances the clubs think are necessary.
Who would Rangers play against?
My point is it is the clubs who should be taking the moral position on behalf of supporters, not the individual supporters themselves, who are obviously conflicted between loyalty and self respect.
KEVJUNGLE
What does “Oot” actually mean? It obviously dizny mean oot, coz you said he were oot at 10:46pm and then you post again at 11:23pm, referencing posts in between the times of your posts. I know I could, and indeed should, scroll past your posts, but it really is wearing me down now. We all know what you think. Some agree with you, some don’t. If you are trying to woo people on here round to your way of thinking, then I think your tactics are counter productive.
HH
AULDHEID on 7TH MARCH 2018 11:38 PM
Auldheid of course I respect your view.
My perspective however on the moral position is that although I’d love the club to be the proponents I don’t see evidence or a likelihood of that and frankly don’t expect it.
So despite my loyalty to the club I feel the need to try to move the fans behind some corrective action.
I think match boycotts are the only likely effective course but I’m interested in alternative views. Warszavvy.
THEORIGINALSADIESBHOY
I was innTorino for that game and it was terrifying. Some of the worst fans I have ever come across.
KTF
HUNDERBIRDS ARE GONE on 7TH MARCH 2018 11:48 PM
a broken record!
HH
CRC
KevJ, I think you get a very easy ride on here. You are continually insulting in a general way to a many posters on here.
And at 11:23 you are particularly insulting to NorrieM because he has a different viewpoint from you.
Get a grip and articulate your arguments in a way that doesn’t display your usual level of ignorance!
KTF
goodnight Timland
HH
BIGBHOY on 7TH MARCH 2018 7:51 PM
Thanks for taking the time to reply. Sorry about the delay and brief response…
In my view it simply boils down to Trust.
Given the behaviour of Oldco/Newco.
a) Do I trust Peter Lawwell
Unfortunately given the lack of clarity regarding the PLC’s actions, there is an element of doubt. I can’t give him a blank cheque.
As Sevco seem to be becoming a creditable contender for the Title and the consequent financial risk to the club (CL Revenue) surely it is only fair that we can scrutinise Mr Lawwell’s actions in his dealings with the SFA/SPFL?
The financial performance has been ‘good’. That is now under threat. What have the PLC done to ensure that transparent administration exists in the Scottish game. Our club is at significant financial risk.
If Sevco hear of Zadok the Priest, anytime soon, it will be a shame if the spotlight of investigation will fall on the activities of ‘Executives’ in the East End of Glasgow.
Hopefully we will perform at Ibrox and on the Scottish Cup (ahem) and thereby buy a little time for Mr Lawwell and Co.
I don’t have time to address all of the points. Ronny Delia’s appointment cost Celtic two seasons in the CL. It came to an end with the team in disarray and a penalty defeat by Sevco. Senior players were in revolt.
Is the Daily Record banned from Celtic Park?
I don’t think anyone claimed that Mr Lawwell is involved in team selection. He is involved in contract negotiation on Transfers etc?
Souptakers is an inflammatory term. Many ex Celtic players have displayed disappointing attitudes toward the Club when working in the media. I sometimes wonder why so many leave with this attitude?
Maybe it’s what the MSSM require? Are we too sensitive? Do players leave with some kind of resentment?
Who Knows?
Nite All & HH
WARSZAWABHOY on7TH MARCH 2018 11:56 PM
For a boycott to succeed it must have a stated achievable objective.
When you say you see no evidence of Celtic’s intent I suspect you have seen no evidence that would make my suggestion something Celtic would have to do.
However if they don’t, the conditions for getting enough support for a boycott with a stated objective based on evidence held would never be so good.
It might come to that.
Tic toc.
Auldheid @ 11:23
Are you saying that the LNS was deliberately declawed before the investigation?
That by the evidence they withheld there was no way that anyone in the spotlight could be held accountable?
Sounds like they juryrigged the outcome.
‘GG on 8th March 2018 12:58 am
Read this lot and decide for yourself.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B6uWzxhblAt9dnVHSl9OU3RoWm8/view?usp=sharing
“conflicted between loyalty and self respect”
Wow Auldheid, the human challenge in six words. Respect.
I know that conflict, maybe it’s a Cowglen thing.
Loyalty for me. Hope I get a good seat at the next Cup Final. All of them. For the rest of my life. Whoever we play. It’s only Football (oh no it’s not).
Auldheid
That was a long slog, even skimming the docs.
Mind you a blue screen of death didnt help.
It’s as obvious as the pluke on my nose that all of the players in this charade are charlatans, who think they can interpret the rules to suit their desired outcome.
They also think if a lie is told often enough the unwashed will believe it.
Nil carborundum illegitimi.
My friends in Celtic,
Increasingly on here we talk of ” emptying the park” boycott this, boycott that.
Supporting the team and the best manager we have had for some time seems secondary.
None of us on here are comfortable with what has happened in Scottish Football, however if Celtic do not give happiness or enjoyment then I respect your decision to opt out.
Personally I will be cheering on the bhoys on Sunday and will be renewing my ST.
HH to all.
March 1981
Sunday 8th
In a few hours time I shall be twenty-seven grand years of age. Paradoxically it will be a happy enough birthday; perhaps that’s because I am free in spirit. I can offer no other reason.
I was at Mass today, and saw all the lads minus their beards, etc. An American priest said Mass and I went to Communion. One of the lads collapsed before Mass, but he’s all right now. Another was taken out to Musgrave military hospital. These are regular occurrences.
I am 60.8 kgs today, and have no medical complaints.
I received another note from my sister Bernie and her boyfriend. It does my heart good to hear from her. I got the Irish News today, which carried some adverts in support of the hunger-strike.
There is a stand-by doctor who examined me at the weekend, a young man whose name I did not know up until now. Little friendly Dr Ross has been the doctor. He was also the doctor during the last hunger-strike.
Dr Emerson is, they say, down with the ‘flu… Dr Ross, although friendly, is in my opinion also an examiner of people’s minds. Which reminds me, they haven’t asked me to see a psychiatrist yet. No doubt they will yet, but I won’t see him for I am mentally stable, probably more so than he.
I read some wild-life articles in various papers, which indeed brought back memories of the once-upon-a-time budding ornithologist! It was a bright pleasant afternoon today and it is a calm evening. It is surprising what even the confined eyes and ears can discover.
I am awaiting the lark, for spring is all but upon us. How I listened to that lark when I was in H-5, and watched a pair of chaffinches which arrived in February. Now lying on what indeed is my death bed, I still listen even to the black crows.
Word of The Day
Prelect. /prɪˈlɛkt/
verb
1. to lecture or discourse in public
Derived Forms
prelection, noun
prelector, noun
Word Origin
C17: from Late Latin praelegere to instruct by reading, lecture, from praein front of, in public + legere to read, choose
KTF
Goooood Morning CQN :-)
Ok Thanks for the prompt CRC
Had intended holding off until “mymhatemick” was sorted
Here goes
Many of you will be aware of my daughter Laura, and her very special Heart of Gold for those in desperate need of help.
CQN in the past has been very kind to Laura in supporting her charitable drives
Be that HCPT, and paying to take 2 very special kids to Lourdes, or through feeding and clothing for several months an orphanage in Kenya.
This year (Laura claims will be her last as she gets married next year) Laura is doing something totally different, but awesome and will make a Huge, no Gigantic difference to many hundreds of less fortunate girls.
This year Laura will be heading to a special Girls school in Ghana, which is supported by a charity called “Let us Shine” https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=gU9sx_kjRX8
This girls school is run in my view very similar to Mary’s Meals, and the charity/ school was set up by a local Stirling Doctor, Mary Higgins in memory of her Doctor husband.
St Mary’s primary school in Bannockburn have this school as it’s chosen charity, and the school is also sponsored by St Margaret’s Cowie and St Mary’s Raploch, plus the local Stirling churches.
Mary and her husband were very well known in the Stirling school/church community.
Anyway
This July Laura is heading to Ghana to teach at this girls school for a month
Laura will be only the 2nd fully qualified teacher to teach at the school in its 5 year existence.
We are paying for Laura’s visit, but she is looking to raise £3000 for the school, to feed and cloth the girls.
St Mary’s Bannockburn, where Laura is a teacher are fully supporting and fundraising for this event, with the kids at school all doing wonderful things in supporting The fundraising.
One of the events Laura is looking for support.
On Friday March 23rd the school has arranged a Race Night ( adults only) to be held in the school hall, it’s a BYOB event.
Laura would be extremely grateful if any of the CQN brigade could join us at the race night £5 per ticket- join CRC at his table :-))
Also, very kindly donated by the Walk with Shay team, we have a few very special prizes on offer if CQN’rs were to be kind enough to sponsor the jockeys of the races on the night – again £5 per jockey (CRC will inform on the prizes)
We are also looking for some prizes for the raffle on the night
Thanks for you time and no doubt great support
Laurahmccabe@icloud.co.uk
Hail Hail
CELTICROLLERCOASTER SUPPORTING @WALKWITHSHAY on 7TH MARCH 2018 10:13 PM
Norrie M ( The CQN artist formerly known as Cowiebhoy)
There is plenty space for all
As discussed, we would like to donate you 8 prizes for each jockey that wins each race
This will be a high quality A3 print and the winner can choose from:
(1) An amazing print of a drawing as a tribute to 50 years of Lisbon drawn by our very own Thunder Road
(2) An awesome pic of the Lisbon Lions holding the Big Cup back home
(3) A visually “green tainted” print of Cesar holding the BIg Cup
(4) A superb signed print from a painting of TOHG hanging off the crossbar after winning the 1965 cup final painted by our very own Celtic Rose.
I will try and get a link up tomorrow so everybody can see the pics, They are quality.
If you manage to sell all 64 jockeys and decide to move onto selling trainers, we will also donate a further 8 prints.
I hope this helps your daughter’s amazing fund raising cause
Hail Hail
CRC
President Kennedy said something along the lines of journalists not being law enforcers but played a very important investigative role into corruption.
Living in Scotland for a couple of years would’ve surely have disabused him of that notion?
Was watching Mhari Black’s speech on abuse of women , and included the personal abuse she gets on social media. Colourful and strong language . She didn’t hold back.
Now I’m not saying her personally, but I’ll tell you, someone that isn’t afraid to tell it like it is, would be most welcome if choosing to delve into the murky corrupt dealings in Scottish football.
I’ll reiterate, not suggesting Miss Black herself, and please don’t turn this into a love/hate Mhari Black thread, but someone in power willing to raise their head above the parapet and absorb all the threats and career implications that it would almost certainly invite, would be a welcome addition to the fight for fairness and transparency.
….. and to add some transparency of my own to that previous post, it in no way undermines the fantastic efforts of the likes of Auldheid and every other man woman boy or girl who are already trying to do something about this. I’m sure they’d all welcome an ally with some power at at higher level.
CLOGHER CELT on 8TH MARCH 2018 12:19 AM
You ask if you really trust Peter Lawell but I think the real question is do we really trust Dermot Desmond the man who is really pulling Peter’s strings.
I start off with a deep mistrust of multi-billionaires in general as I refuse to believe that any one individual can accumulate that amount of obscene wealth through entirely legitimate means. I therefore tend to be very suspicious of anything they say or do.
I think DD’s attitude to the death of Rangers 1872 is that he was extremely annoyed as it interrupted the existing business model which was his Plan B till he worked out how to achieve his Plan A which was Celtic playing in the EPL. I think he would have happily allowed Sevco straight into the Scottish premiership but he knew he would have faced a massive revolt from Celtic (and other) supporters so was faced to let them start in the fourth tier of Scottish although as a new club they should have started even further down the pyramid.
He may be an absentee landlord but his place-men on the plc Board including PL make sure what he wants, happens and that includes not rocking the boat too much, if at all, around the club’s pathetic response to the continuity myth. Every time the club has had an opportunity to challenge the continuity myth, it has chosen not to do so. This leads me to the conclusion that those running the club are happy for business and not sporting integrity reasons to allow the cheats to get away with their crimes and carry on as though nothing happened.
As long as that situation continues, I will keep my green pound in my wallet and my boycott is a personal one so others are obviously free to do what they want. This does not mean I have lost my interest in the team I have supported for most of my life. I will therefore continue to lurk and occasionally post here in the hope I will pick up signs that the club is serious about challenging the cheats who run the professional game in Scotland.
‘GG on 8TH MARCH 2018 12:58 AM
Auldheid @ 11:23
Are you saying that the LNS was deliberately declawed before the investigation?
That by the evidence they withheld there was no way that anyone in the spotlight could be held accountable?
Sounds like they juryrigged the outcome.
——-
Worse still, judgerigged the outcome.
HH jamesgang
HT
27 years old. So young to be so brave and resolute.
Thank you my Fhriend
HH jamesgang
AULDHEID on 7TH MARCH 2018 11:26 PM
david17 on 7th March 2018 10:03 pm
Got some info recently on the UEFA Licence investigation from a good source. Celtic have contacted the SFA re the investigation and have been advised it’s still ongoing.
=================
Does that mean the petition did its job and Celtic will confirm what your source said to the chap who did the petition?
——-
Yes and I see no reason why not.
TWISTS N TURNS,
There aren’t many willing to take on the mob in public. In recent years the only ones who spring to mind are Turnbull Hutton and the QC who appeared on channel four news following credible death threats to his life as a result of McCoists “who are these people” rallying call.
Scottish football is a closed shop business arrangement that uses the press as a judge and jury with the executioners threat of sectarian violence ever present to keep everyone in line and everything ticking over.
cv
M6BHOY
Complete agreement from me on your post. It’s a sad fact that the game in Scotland has always been rigged to benefit one particular team. Nothing has changed, despite the trophies in the Celtic Park boardroom.
Celtic PLC for their part are complicit in this particular game, I can see no other explanation for their refusal to take SFA to task over Res12. How I wish for a Fergus during these days of myth.
And yet, this weekend 7,500 of our support wil pay almost £50 to take part in the charade and for me, that tells me that the they have bought into the lie and that the days of fan rebellion and organised protest are well and truly a thing of a bygone era, never to return. We have in effect become green huns, ignoring the rules of honesty and integrity in return for trophies and triumphalism – which won’t last. And then what will we have after we played along for so long?
Cowiebhoy/Norriem said:
” I’ve decided Emptying the Park (Celtic Park) only damages us – Celtic
So
I’ve decided to try and empty every other park – so bhoycott all away games, cup games (gates are shared) and Hamdump
This way no one other than Celtic see my Green pounds :-) ”
I would guess that that post is a summary of what many of us feel.
HT
The gentility of nature that comes through in those diary entries is in stark contrast to the anger shown by those ill informed people who see Bobby Sands in the way the Media want him to be seen.
JJ
San Luis
” Celtic PLC for their part are complicit in this particular game, I can see no other explanation for their refusal to take SFA to task over Res12″
Because you` can see no other explanation`does not mean there isn`t one.
” And yet, this weekend 7,500 of our support wil pay almost £50 to take part in the charade and for me, that tells me that the they have bought into the lie ”
Or it could mean that, in spite of all the evidence available, they are blissfully ignorant of what is happening in Scottish Football.
JJ
JJ
Hot Smoked on 8th March 2018 9:10 am
San Luis
” Celtic PLC for their part are complicit in this particular game, I can see no other explanation for their refusal to take SFA to task over Res12″
Because you` can see no other explanation`does not mean there isn`t one.
###
It is however an opinion which is entirely consistent with the known facts, and in line with the views expressed by The Great Desmondo. That’s more than can be claimed for any alternative opinion of the matter.
Hot Smoked
” Or it could mean that, in spite of all the evidence available, they are blissfully ignorant of what is happening in Scottish Football”.
Yes, that will be the reason right enough.
“It is however an opinion which is entirely consistent with the known facts,”
You may well be right but I feel confirmation bias should be considered in this matter ( for both sides of the argument, obviously).
Cheerio for now.
JJ
San Luis
“It’s a sad fact that the game in Scotland has always been rigged to benefit one particular team. Nothing has changed, despite the trophies in the Celtic Park boardroom.”
Did you attend Glasgow derby games in your time supporting Celtic and if you did having posted the above does this make you also a Green Hun??
It was clear to me and to most of mates during the huns 9 in a row that something wasn’t right but still we went, does that also makes us Green Huns??
HH
San Luis
I am taking that as being tongue . If so, you have a higher opinion of the general populace than do I.
Definitely off now.
JJ
This made my day ;-)
I was seeing off my mate from Miri Airport in Sarawak, Malaysia (my turn tomorrow) and was purchasing some tea from one of the outlets. The guy behind the counter asked me where I came from and I told him Scotland. He suggested that it was very cold there at the moment and I acknowledged by suggesting it was very hot here.
He then asked me where I came from in Scotland and I told him Glasgow. He then asked which one in Glasgow? I looked slightly puzzled. He then asked is it the new one or the Hoops? I told him the Hoops and got a big thumbs up.
Imagine the reaction if he asked a hun?
Hail! Hail! PMTYH
Maybe wouldn’t have written this as a young man but now at 70, I am more aware that Life can be full of pain, sorrow & loss, & we all have a relatively short term to get all the enjoyment & fun we can out of life.
Football & supporting a Football team is meant to be fun, I followed Celtic all my life & even when we were winning eff all it was still a source of fun. Mind you when we did start winning again it was even better.
Apart from winning the Big Cup in 1967, these times are the very very best I have ever experienced.
Am I concerned about the Governance of the game in Scotland? Yes I am. Am I outraged at the Lord Nimmo farce? Yes I am.
Am I prepared to walk away from Celtic in any shape or form, No I’m not.
To me Celtic represent a ‘People & a Cause’ & nobody be it Dermot Desmond or the SFA or bent referees will ever dilute or take that away from me.
I joined this site to share my love & passion for the Club with like minded people but more & more I feel out of step with my fellow fans. I have tried to flounce a couple of times but something keeps dragging me back,
however at this stage I certainly don’t enjoy the site anymore and I dread what it might be like if we lose to Sevco on Sunday.
I do not like bullys, never have and never will. I was always told to make a stand against bullys of any sort and this has made me the man I am today.
Now, Celtic have forever been the subject of bullying in one way or another, therefore we must make a stand once and for all. Never mind all the crap, make a stand against all who bully us or try to bully us.
We have nothing to lose.
KINGLuBO