It wasn’t just the result, which was enormously satisfying, but the manner of Celtic’s performance yesterday was equally gratifying. We passed with speed and precision, creating space between what was often two blocks of five defenders. Hearts were in a sorry state but despite enduring the consequences of being unable to pay their dues, they remain considerably more resourceful than many of the lower league teams which have caused Celtic problems in cup competitions in recent seasons.
We finally got to see what the fuss over Nir Biton was all about. He brought control, time and space to the play. In particular I liked the way he tried to retain possession. Hope we see more of him in the weeks to come.
While most attention was drawn to the striker position following defeat to Milan last week, central midfield, bereft of recent departures, the injured and suspended, was just as under-resourced. The opportunity is there for Biton to grab a place for himself, just as Victor did a couple of years ago.
Christmas book offer:
To mark yesterday’s 7 goals, you can order a copy of last year’s CQN Annual (we’ve only a few boxes left), plus Willie Wallace’s Heart of a Lion, for only £7 (UK, Ireland only). Email David, david@cqnmagazine.com, who will organise. Once they’re gone, they’re gone…….
You can order this year’s CQN Annual below:
768 Comments- Pages:
- «
- 1
- ...
- 13
- 14
- 15
- 16
- 17
- 18
- 19
- 20
- 21
- »
Greendreamz
I grew up in a 1 tim to 10 them street.
greendreamz
00:44 on
3 December, 2013
And how was that mindset changed ?
Partly by integration of schools and Uni`s,sometimes by bussing.
See J.F.K and L.B.J.,`60s U.S.
Got to agree with all the ‘half-empty’ glasses re. the nominations for the three worst referees, but what about the ‘half-full’ glasses? Who were the best referees? I would start with Hugh Phillips of Wishaw, who gave us two penalties in one Cup Final. Who, if any, could fill the other two positions?
glassesandrefereesareanoxymoronCSC
Sarrgasosea
Michael Delaney. Hounded out.
DD
That’s us got two. The half empty were in double figures. All we have at the moment is the froth at the top, and not even a ‘whiteinch’ at the moment.
Sargassosea
Is that you complaining about the pints in Stella Maris?
Why is nobody asking why Laudro ..Scotlands only trained sniffer dog was not deployed at Falkirk ?
HH
Awe naw
Laudro was up the West End. Sniffing about Lenny’s neighbours growing da weed.
Record chasing Rangers ‘are Premiership standard’
Published: 03 December 2013
Lee McCulloch, centre, says this Rangers team would be in with a chance of winning the Premiership. Picture: SNS
By JONATHAN COATES
THE Rangers team of 1992/93 won 18 matches in a row, including the landmark Champions League victory over Leeds United at Elland Road when Mark Hateley’s hook shot and Ally McCoist’s diving header scored goals that confirmed that Walter Smith’s team really was, its endeavours in the Scottish Premier League apart, a force to be reckoned with.
It is far more difficult, bordering on impossible, to accurately measure the merits of the current Rangers team, which has won 18 games in a row and has the chance against Forfar tonight to rewrite the club’s post-war record, against the early-90s vintage, far less the men of long shorts and thick moustaches who won 22 consecutive games in the 1898/99 season.
That record has never been seriously threatened and it would be regarded as one of Scottish footballs great achievements if McCoist’s team of third-tier dwellers were to become owners of the most prolific sequence of results in the history of Rangers. Better, then, to reflect the unique set of circumstances that has led them to become near- invincible in League 1 and insert and their refusal to let the winning habit slip at any point since the league season began on 10 August.
It was seven days before that, four months ago now, when Rangers last tasted defeat, in a preliminary League Cup encounter with tonight’s opposition.
“It has been a fantastic achievement, especially when you look at some of the results over the weekend,” McCoist said yesterday, referring chiefly to Motherwell’s Scottish Cup exit at the hands of League 2 also-rans Albion Rovers. “The boys have been great. The vast majority of people – and rightly so – expect us to win the league and in the vast, vast majority of games, we take that on board. But at the same time we’ve still got to go and do it and win games, and to consecutively win that amount, I think it’s a great achievement.”
It is hard to begrudge McCoist a degree of satisfaction over a demonstration of continuous authority over lesser teams that has lasted a third of a year. Celtic lost in the League Cup at home to Morton in that period, and Motherwell went down to their neighbours from Coatbridge, despite Stuart McCall having had Rovers watched numerous times, identifying the strengths and weaknesses of each of their players and passing on this reconnaissance to his own charges.
Upsets sometimes just happen, McCoist said with a shrug yesterday, as he outlined the kind of research he has commissioned ahead of tonight’s visit of sixth-placed Forfar to Ibrox. The former striker, who will bring Andy Murdoch back into his squad and hopes to involve Dean Shiels, said: “We treat every team the same. We’ll have had them watched three times by at least two different people and I’ll have match reports on my desk of those games.
“I also do a bit of homework, I’ll phone one or two people who have been to their games. I’ll look over recent and old footage of them, our previous games against them, and the players will see the reports.
“We’ll also do an extensive piece of work on the opposition like set plays and throw-ins, so I’d like to think we are as thorough as we possibly can be. ”
Lee McCulloch has not spent much time of late pondering failure. In fact, he has recently spent some hours identifying for the purposes of a Christmas DVD his favourite all-time Rangers players. He admitted that exercise was significantly easier than applying any historical perspective to the strength of today’s team, who were denied a rare opportunity to prove themselves against Premiership opposition when the Scottish Cup fifth-round draw granted them a home tie against Ayr or Dunfermline.
“I feel I am playing in a Premiership team at the moment with the quality I have around me,” said the 35-year-old utility player yesterday. “The way we have started this season, our form and the stats would probably back me up in saying that. We’ve scored over 50 goals in the league, had 15 clean sheets and gone 18 wins in a row. All these stats indicate a Premiership-standard of team but we have to keep proving that. It’s hard to say how close to the top would be in the Premiership right now. I wouldn’t say winning it would be a certainty but we’d definitely be up there with the quality we’ve got.”
McCulloch admitted it had not been easy to listen to criticism of Rangers’ failure to see off ten-man Falkirk on Saturday. To be fair, I have missed a penalty so we could have walked in with a 3-0 result.
“I can’t remember Falkirk creating a chance or having a clear shot at goal, while we’ve missed a couple of chances in addition to the goals we scored,” he said. “So I think the criticism is unjust and we totally deserved to win that game of football.”
Forfar head to Ibrox on a high after Martyn Fotheringham’s injury-time free kick earned a replay against Brechin City in the Scottish Cup on Saturday.
Manager Dick Campbell said: “Rangers have been formidable in the league this season but we are going there with a spring in our step. We are on a decent run of form just now and have not lost in six games.
“We have enjoyed two good matches with Rangers so far this season at our place and we can enjoy this one as well. I will be sending my team out to have a go, you can be sure of that.”
DD
;-)
HH
When has an arrested cannabis cultivators home been revealed to the public, by revealing who their neighbour and maybe friend is. Only when you’re Lenny! Scum
Awe naw
Winning that number of consecutive games is akin to me beating my 4 year old granddaughter at chess 18 times in a row.( As it happens it’s 18 -4 but that’s another story).
How are ye fella? I’ve not seen you around so much but then I’ve been off and on myself recently for a number of reasons. Hope you and the lovely mrs awe naw are well and thriving.
It’s my birthday today and though I’m 55, I have a cunning plan to get younger by telling everyone I’m 59. I’m simply gonna start counting down from now, so next year I’ll be 58. The year after I’ll be 57, which will be true. Makes sense tae me. Can’t believe no one has thought of it before. I might advertise twistys get younger plan on the t’internet. Can’t see that breaching any regulations:-). Ra rainjers have taken it a step further by dying yet convincing their follow followers that they’re actually still alive and have coined it in from the gullible ever since.
I’m going to Oldtims table for the CQN 10 and would love to catch up if you can make it over.
TnT
Hahaha love your logic. Hoopy Birthday Yungyin.
Delaneys dunky
Tyvm.
Not a great start to the day. On sky sports continuos loop and so far today I’ve seen Kenny miller and Super salary 3 times each. Only brief appearances by Danny McGrain is stopping me throwing my birthday cake at the box.
TnT
I am in Thailand having a WHALE of a time. CQN lurking and fishing with a six pack.
I am 39 in January and will soon have to start lying about my age.
I will not be back on the island until spring time. I will try and get my wee brar … WHO just turned 43 to go …but he does not accept charity to readily as a proxy.
Say bello to the bhoys for me and start asking the granddaughter for tips instead of expanding her mind with chess strategies.
HH
*Continuous. Should be able to spell that at 59.
Bello Bello we are the hilly bhoys
To=too
Deary me. Miss Cairney would be having kittens ;-)
HH
Twists
I blame the Clachans use of lead barrels ;-)
HH
Awe Naw
Tips…I need some. My last horse was retired 2 weeks ago. Kept bursting blood vessels as well as my head! Looking for another one now.
My granddaughter? Said to her last week ” what would you like to be when your big?”
She said ” an elephant or the tooth fairy”
Makes sense to me. I told her if she was Dumbo, she could probably do both!
She just laughed ….and said … ” checkmate”
TnT
Who better than Mr DF McGrain? My bhoyhood hero!
Delaneys D
Best full back I ever saw. Have been lucky enough to meet him twice and he’s a gentleman. Nicest players I ever met? Bobby Murdoch. Spent a whole day with him. Told me so many stories about his days in the hoops I was in awe. Derek Whyte. Lovely lad. Nothing too much trouble. A player I loved watching but haven’t met? George Connelly. Class. Wish I could have a couple hours with him.
TnT
Meet Danny a lot. Gentleman and very intelligent. Met Bobby Lennox once and he was just a beautiful humble man. Buzzbomb is my best celebrity meet. :)
Oh…and Packy. What a nice fella. There was a Celtic player I met, and wished I hadn’t, but that’s best kept quiet I guess.
How can I claim to have just turned 40 when my big brother is claiming to be 39?
I will be at the CQN night at CP thanks to a CQN poster. Just as many CQNers have bought me beers recently without me buying them one back. I have became a charity case. The pressure for me to find work has just got a whole lot worse. My girlfriend is now working and supporting me. Not a good feeling.
Happy birthday TnT. However old you have decided to be.
Twists
Fish biting like crazy
Happy Birthday mate. Your like a fine wine.
Hope your celebrating in style young un
HH
Morrissey
It’ll certainly be a pleasure to buy you a drink. Ty for the good wishes.
On the job front, I truly hope something turns up for you. Do you mind if I ask what line of work you do? ( apart from being seeker of truth and justice)
Morrisey43rd
Please clarify. By big you mean taller ;-)
HH
Morrissey
Been where you are a lot in recent years. We get by cause we have faith. Something will be round the corner.
Hail HaiL
Awe naw
Wee brars are awe the same:-)
Not really celebrating this one too much bud. Got an op on Friday early doors, ( nothing serious I don’t think) so I’d best keep off the booze this week. :-))
Will get a good drink on Sunday all going well and they let me oot.
Awe naw
The Cqn 10 is an away game for me. I’ve got a ” home” game lined up down here in Shropshire with BMCUW and Ryecatcher. Sometime in Jan. watching the posts from those two, I’m going into some serious ” training” before the big match.
TnT
Good wishes for Friday
GNGB
I worked in a lot of areas of Agriculture, gardening, sales and call centre work. I’ll find something soon I’m sure.
Glad my wee big brother is enjoying his holiday. Hope all goes well with your father-in-laws’ cataracts operations.
Morrissey
I’m sure it will bud. Good luck. Now that we know what you do, hopefully a CQNer will be looking to recruit. All the best.
Delaneys Dunky
Cheers. As I say, now tim concerned about.
Oh well, better get my breakfast stuff cleared and hit the shower then get to work.
Laters all.
Twists
Your making me jealous …. They both come across as good guys
Get well soon. Cosmetic surgery ;-)
HH
TnT
I am trying to make the Cheltenham Gold Cup in March. Are you in BMCUW’s gang for it?
Now tim? Nowt I’m. Ahh…you worked it out anyway. Bloody eye pads, I mean iPads.
Morrissey43rd
It has already been a raging success. He is being very grateful too much so.
HH
DD.
No, I’m not. I know Bobby likes his nags. ( or perhaps the social scene surrounding the nags). Only been to Cheltenham twice. Unusual since it’s only an hour from me. Right, work calls. I’ll check in in an hour.