My initial reaction to a Sunday 12:00 kick off time is not positive. It’s out of routine, so there’s an inherent objection, but as I don’t have a long journey to Celtic Park it may end suit me better than a later kick off.
Fans who travel from great distances will have the inconvenience of an early rise, but some, who are dependent on public transport, will be prevented from attending, which is never a scenario to be treated lightly.
I see a bit of angst against James Forrest over his decision to reject a new Celtic contract and opt instead to leave the club when his contract expires next year, if not before. I don’t think we’ve seen the best of James. When he arrived in the team in the wake of Aiden McGeady’s departure he was on fire, but the intervening years have not been kind.
Injury has robbed him of a regular starting place, and a fair bit of form when he does get in the team. Sean Maloney was in a similar position a few years back. Injured for long periods, even when he was fit he was often a substitute. He needed to leave Celtic Park for a fresh start. Had he stayed, I don’t think he would have rediscovered his early peaks. Putting all emotive issues aside, James Forrest looks like a player in need of a fresh start.
He’s not alone, of course.
Barcelona president, Josep Maria Bartomeu took a shot across Uefa bows when he told the BBC he wants big (trans: rich) clubs who fail to qualify for the Champions League to be given wild card access. Make no mistake, this is a follow up to Karl-Heinz Rummenigge’s recent utterances on creating a closed-shop tournament.
Bartomeu also said he views the FA Premier League as the biggest threat to Barcelona, which is 100% true. When teams like Bayern Munich and Barcelona coordinate statements on structural change you know that profound moves are underway.
I’m all for change, Celtic have much to gain, but we need to organise quickly. Find similar allies – big clubs from Netherlands, Belgium, Greece, Turkey and Portugal – and plan accordingly. Europe’s major clubs are each leaving hundreds of millions of TV money on the table each year because of the existing league and European tournament structures.
England has opened their eyes to what is possible. Change of some sort is inevitable now the ball is in play.
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Proudbhoy
Depending on were you are in the town firhill is only 15/20 minute walk from the Charing x end of the town
If your nearer the Clyde there are 2 buses (csc) that leave from the brazen, live music to boot , Gary og I think.
Ernie
Mr Pastry puts his finger on exactly how wrong it would be to make this a Celtic v TRFC issue.
It would be playing right into the SFA’s hands and prolong the very thing we all object to rank rotten regulators rallying round Rangers.
MR PASTRY on 23RD FEBRUARY 2016 2:12 PM
I have much respect and no little interest in most things that you write, however at this juncture, how would some Glasgow version of the Gettysburg Address, be helpful and advantageous to Celtic Football Club?
Surely it would turn the whole ‘train crash’ into an Old Firm ‘stooshie’ and obscure the real nature of the fiasco – i.e. planned and executed in Ibrox with the connivance of those in power in Scottish Football.
__________________
I share your cynicism regarding the reaction to such a statement.
The club proclaiming the inconvenient truth in full view of our enemies would no doubt be cathartic. Would it bring change to Scottish football? Doubt it.
For something lasting and worthwhile to be achieved, Peter Lawwell needs to be standing shoulder to shoulder with like like of Stewart Milne and Stephen Thompson.
We can’t be arrogant and look at this with blinkers on. The Scottish game is not about Celtic vs Rangers. This is about all of us.
I’m more interested in a bilateral campaign than any grand statement form CFC
The new European Cup competition for historically large clubs who (due to finances) are perenially hampered from competing at the top level could be called the James Forrest Trophy..?
#twothreadstoone.csc
PROUDBHOY
Staying in Glasgow on 11 March?
Magic! Got just the ticket for you!!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
By request,I have two dates for your calendar over the next few weeks. The first is a quiz night in aid of An Gorta Mor memorial.
It is at The Squirrel Bar,just off Gallowgate at 36 Stevenston Street on 11 March from 7pm.
Tickets are £5 per person,with live music afterwards. A good cause indeed,and a grand night a certainty. If you are interested,please either let me know or contact
hamiltontim88@yahoo.co.uk
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Second is another cause close to all our hearts. The Annual Kano Foundation Dance.
This is at The Hilton in Glasgow on Saturday 9 April from 7pm.
Tickets are £40,and if last year is anything to go by,well worth your time and money.
Added bonus for you,I’ll miss both of these! If you are interested,please contact
sannabhoy@thekanofoundation.com
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Firhill is a hop step and jump from the town. About ten minutes walk from Kelvinbridge Underground.
It seems to me that the line is shifting from ‘this isn’t the appropriate time to say anything, bide your time’ to ‘it would be inappropriate to say anything at all, ever.’
Which to be fair, is exactly what’s going to happen. Nothing will be said.
Which is why the game is a bogey.
BOBBY MURDOCH’S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS on 23RD FEBRUARY 2016 2:55 PM
—
Thanks Bobby , early stages of planning , but the Doo on the 11th would defo be an option if I make it over for the game.
Masty
Cheers, can anyone jump onto the buses from the brazen ? We would try and get over there early in the morning if that’s the case.
Thanks buddy
ERNIE LYNCH on 23RD FEBRUARY 2016 3:00 PM
It seems to me that the line is shifting from ‘this isn’t the appropriate time to say anything, bide your time’ to ‘it would be inappropriate to say anything at all, ever.’
Which to be fair, is exactly what’s going to happen. Nothing will be said.
Which is why the game is a bogey.
__________
I disagree.
A statement needs to be made in conjunction with the other clubs. We are only 1 club with 1 vote and we shouldn’t forget that.
If you want to change things you need to build consensus.
TIMALOY29
I understand your point entirely. There is a need for pragmatism when faced with such opposition to the truth being revealed.
Except that,well,I don’t.
My thoughts have always been that Celtic refused to comment as they knew the truth of the matter,and that it would soon be revealed to all.
Rangers had ridden roughshod over Scottish football,that could be covered up. But run up debts of £96m and screw the taxman for another £72m? That clearly could not be denied,no damage limitation was possible when they have done over HMRC.
Did you see the whitewash coming? Seasoned professionals are astonished by it.
Phoenixing a company,floating it,having it recognised as the same as the previous entity. These,and more,are all against the law! Everywhere!!
Celtic would have been hammered had they made their thoughts known at the time. Kicking an opponent on the floor. They simply relied on due process. It is due process which has let us down,and I think HMRC are as stunned by it all us the rest of us.
10 out of 10 for that one Auldheid…
“rank rotten regulators rallying round Rangers”
Auldheid on 23rd February 2016 2:49 pm
timaloy29 on 23rd February 2016 2:51 pm
—————————————————————-
100% AGREE
Something else that I feel has been used against Celtic/Lawwell by those who constantly disparage (not including Ernie in this) – is the announcement by Peter that the absence of ‘Rangers’ in the league, costs Celtic approximately £10 million per season.
Rather than take this as an endorsement of a ‘speedy path’ to be provided for them to return – look at it as indictment on the Ibrox occupants, who, by their mismanagement and possibly fraud, have deprived not only Celtic, but Scottish football as a whole, of income over the past four years.
Surely to say that the whole fiasco has not affected Celtic would have been a lie – who knows what the future may hold, however a costed marker has been laid down and will not do us any harm whatsoever.
Proudbhoy
As long as you let me know how many it won’t be a problem, the james stokes csc is your best bet, I will check with conviener at the week end .
Even taking into account past performances, the reaction to Forrest refusing a contract & Commons’ refusal doesn’t sit well with me.
It really shows how some players become fans favourites and others are never able to enjoy such support.
Árd Macha
Tontine Tim @ 2.07.
Ah – The Odeon .Went with a mate who managed to be a member of the YCL and a supporter of Deceased FC ..He is still a Stalinist but refers to his Deceased FC days as an ” infantile disorder.”.Went to the gig @ the ABC in Auld Reekie the following night .Me and my big sis ..There were folk fascists armed with harmonicas in the audience.They were harbouring the delusion that they could use them to drown out the sound of the bits that so annoyed their sense of tradition.Prats.!
BOBBY MURDOCH’S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS on 23RD FEBRUARY 2016 3:08 PM
You are not wrong. However, surely if the high court appeal is dismissed then the day of reckoning has arrived?
Everything you say is true, but I don’t see why it shouldn’t upset Aberdeen or Hearts as much as it does us.
As you say, they ran roughshod over all of Scottish football. We need to win over friends and stand together.
We can’t call shots on our own. FA’s are designed to prevent single clubs from running the show (in theory)
Surely the last few years have taught us that no club NEEDS Rangers
MR PASTRY
Was it a costed marker,a soundbite,or an excuse got in early?
Right now I am quite happy to let them think what they want, after the court cases auldhied seems confident he can hole them below the water line, that’ll do for me, for now.
TIMALOY29
One thing that has come out of this that is very clear indeed. Scottish football might not need Rangers in any form,but Scottish establishment will ensure it is there.
Whatever the cost,however many laws are subverted. Know your place,old bean.
Auldheid on 23rd February 2016 2:35 pm
Paul67
As I said to my mate on Sunday watching Malaga v Real in excellent conditions throughout ” Imagine Celtic were able to meet Malaga once or twice a season in a division of a European league.”
It’s either that or the lights go out across Europe for lots of historically large clubs.
*about 30 or so years ago I stood in the pouring rain watching us play to a 1-1 tie against the deid team.
A memory of that day is when the half time scores were read out and the announcer said “Morton versus Dumbarton late kick off”, too which a punter retorted “they’re waiting for the tide to go oot”.
mcsleekit opened the scoring for them then ran off the park and jumped intae the arms of manager wallace, always was a bit of an ar8ekisser.
Paul McStay equalised for us at the same end in the second half and that was the end of the scoring.
Exactly one week later I’m sitting in the Goldstone Ground watching a then second division game with a Brighton side that contained a young Dean Saunders and former Spurs centre half Garry O’Reilly. The opposing Blackburn side had black north internationalists Jimmy Quinn and Noel Brotherston in it.
As I sat there with a short sleeved golf shirt on, sun glasses and a pint in my hand i thought “I wish I was at Parkheid the day, rain or not”.
It’s all about the game and the crowd. As Jock once said “Without fans who pay at the turnstile, football is nothing, sometimes we are inclined to forget that. The only chance of bringing them into stadiums is if they are entertained by what happens on the football field.”
And that has been the problem with Scottish fitba since the rag and bone man got his greedy hands on it.
It is however improving but God help the game when warbo is running it.
MASTY
I live in hope,but the court cases are being dismissed pre-trial.
AULDHEID’s argument is watertight,I’m sure. Ask William Wilton whether that’s a guarantee of a safe landing….
TIMALOY29 on 23RD FEBRUARY 2016 3:08 PM
The Great Desmondo has already made his views known.
I’m not sure he consulted anyone before doing so, or what consensus he was trying to achieve.
If anything his views would have inhibited any of the smaller clubs from speaking out and telling the truth.
I’m not suggesting that was his intention (though it might have been) just that that would have been the effect.
Bmcwp
Anytime I speak to anyone that claims to know anything on this topic the word Nuclear keeps coming up, I don’t know what that means, but auldhieds confidence has me thinking they are donalded.
TONTINETIM
I can be sitting wi grand lads having a smashing time,pints of Guinness flowing like the Nile at £2 a throw.
I still know where I’d rather be.
Every time,mate.
Settling into new surroundings is one thing. But no matter where you are,how long you’ve been away,there’s only one place where your family,friends,football all hit at the same time.
MASTY
Aw ffs…
Yer getting me paranoid now!
Is that why the SNP want to give up Trident?
Kidding,I’m confident AULDHEID has them in his sights. My only concern is the Scottish Establishment. The number of cases which have been brought,then dropped,worries me.
No recourse on them,case dismissed.
BMCUWP 15:13
———————-
It was the truth, which I’m sure can be substantiated from our audited accounts – why would PL risk his/Celtic’s probity on a ‘soundbite’?
Bmcwp
Yesterday’s cases, as I read it have just been put on the back burner
Ernie Lynch 9.30 this morning
Not quite.
Generally speaking in Scotland historically there was hostility towards Irish Catholic immigrants. There was no such hostility towards Protestant immigrants from Ireland or towards indigenous Scottish Catholics.
The explanation is that back then people saw things in racial terms, in a way that people today find hard to comprehend.
Irish Catholics were seen as being racially different and inferior to native Scots. Irish Protestants would be thought of as racially Scottish as would indigenous Scottish Catholics.
It seems ridiculous to us today but that’s how people thought back then.
No doubt future generations will regard us as being similarly preposterous with regard to something or other.
Evidence please Ernie? of different attitudes to catholics based on where they came from?,real evidence,not the racial supersticion based guff which contrary to last sentence still gets heralded by the peepil today and is as invalid today as then.
:-)
HH
checkinthegapinmyeyesCsc
The ever so partial shysters who administer Scottish professional football – ” facilitated and accomodated ” a Club’s presence in the league structure when there was no legal justification for so doing..Intolerable !
ERNIE LYNCH on 23RD FEBRUARY 2016 3:23 PM
TIMALOY29 on 23RD FEBRUARY 2016 3:08 PM
The Great Desmondo has already made his views known.
I’m not sure he consulted anyone before doing so, or what consensus he was trying to achieve.
If anything his views would have inhibited any of the smaller clubs from speaking out and telling the truth.
I’m not suggesting that was his intention (though it might have been) just that that would have been the effect.
_______________________________
I think that his intention was to say something that wouldn’t rock the boat and upset anybody.
It’s unfortunate nobody has had the courage to speak out so far.
However, it’s my genuine belief that when they day comes and they have been nailed down as tax cheats with no recourse, a lot of people will start feeling brave
I’ve previously spoken to a couple of Guardian journos about covering the Rangers story. The journalists in question were keen to do so and suggested it’s possible in the future. I reckon the editorial team are being a bit too careful and are waiting until all legal avenues are exhausted before they handle it.
That said, they have plenty to write about with FIFA and the Hillsborough Enquiry!
MASTY
Y-e-e-e-s. Of course.
I’ll be asking for my lottery win from the tooth fairy when they are reinstated.
Masty
Sounds perfect , got on of the lads on board so I’ll start sourcing tickets then flights hotels etc
I’ll be in touch
Bmcwp
I read it as , co-operate and we will leave it as is, don’t and ye swing with the rest of them. Budgie impersonators csc.
Proudbhoy
No problem mo chara
Proudbhoy
I’m sure the usual suspects will sort out tickets , if ye ask nicely
From Barcabhoy on twatter.
Warbiola on Jock Wallace
“Unfortunately Frank left three
months after I signed, Jock Wallace
came in, and let’s just say he killed
my love of the game.
“I went from loving every minute of
being a footballer, to hating it.
“Suffice to say, despite his having
huge success in Scotland with
Rangers, I found his methods to be
against everything I enjoyed about
the game.”
http://www.brentfordfc.co.uk/documents/mark-warburton-programme-interview-261113277-1229029.pdf
page 16 first column
HH
mary shelly wrote about frankenstiens monster, a creature that was brought back to life using body parts from the deceased. To get this creature to ‘come alive’ it was charged with electricity,
we all know that the comparisons made with frangers,so instead of saying to ‘keep the lights on’, why not just say ‘to keep the power on’? and no it wasn’t a typo, i know there’s no F in rangers:0D))
How many people ever thought that it would all end up with THEM not smelling of roses?