At around 13:16 tomorrow afternoon Fraser Forster will hopefully break the 40-year record of Aberdeen’s Bobby Clark for not conceding a goal in Scottish league football. Clark’s record is next up for the Celtic keeper but the British and European records are not too far away.
Apart from Celtic Park itself there would be no better place to break this record than at Tynecastle, but the most important part of the day is to secure a win. Concede early but win the game and we have done our job. Break the record and leave pointless and we will have nothing to celebrate.
Clarity has never been a prominent feature when it comes to the analysis of football finances. 2012 threw up a slew of ‘experts’, practically all of whom swallowed lines from PR people instead of explaining HMRC’s published rules on voting for or against Company Voluntary Arrangements.
Journalists were briefed on HMRC’s intentions, which filtered to the ‘experts’, soon this PR version of events was accepted an a reality. The same was going on inside football. One journalist called me back then to dispute my challenge to his assertion that Celtic would have vote to allow Newco Rangers into the SPL, and that the SPL itself was absolutely certain to vote them “back” (sic.). Celtic were never going to that way and by then the SPL tide had turned.
It was not in Celtic’s interests to have Newco parachuted into top flight football, which has become clear in the subsequent years, although many in Scotland, including a sizeable chunk of the Celtic support, thought otherwise, and that the club would vote in favour.
It was, therefore, refreshing to watch BBC Reporting Scotland last night without the 2012 flops. A new expert was found to ask the pertinent question, a £1.5m loan is fine for a short-term fix but what about the enormous long-term problems?
Many thanks to everyone who participated in the CQteN Dream Team. We have now passed the 125 team target, which has triggered a £1000 donation from a longstanding CQN’er, who is a shining example of what Celtic is all about.
The Dream Team is your chance to select your team from those who have played 10 or more games during the CQN decade.
Select 11 players in either a 4-3-3 or 4-4-2 formation; you’ll need a goalkeeper, two full backs, two central defenders, 3 or 4 midfielders and 2 or 3 forwards. You also need to select a manager from the decade.
The team judged as the strongest will be announced at the CQteN St Patrick’s Dinner on 14 March. The event is open to bloggers and lurkers but you can only enter ONCE. Closing date is 3pm, Sunday 9 March. There will be prizes!!
For a comprehensive list of players who are eligible for selection, see CRC’s comment here. Email your entry to Doc here, and remember to include a manager: doccqten@gmail.com
If you would like to read the new CQN Magazine, GO HERE to read properly, and for FREE, the graphic below is just a taster.
[calameo code=0003901710a55b5798f06 lang=en page=1 hidelinks=1 width=100% height=500]
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Hebcelt
Subs: Forrest , Pukki, Balde for tactical reasons ; the safe guys in case of enforced changes and some of the young guns if we are doing well.
JJ
Bobsleigher tests positive for drugs at the Winter Olympics.
Surely you have to be on the ole drugs to get into that bobsleigh in the first place.
MWD thanks for posting that (on the 1st page), a reminder to me that I’ve not seen the two weans this year, like their dad I look forward to the weans first Celtic game.
Ps ton-Che-Dan was asking me last week about a cqn swally session and I mentioned 001 bhoy is due over from Aus soon, March possibly?
Happy Friday Celts.
V
Regarding debates and opinion polls on the indy ref –
They had a mini-debate followed by a show of hands in my youngest’s P7 class yesterday. Following a civilised discussion there was a narrow majority in favour of NO.
The argument that appeared to have swung it was the suggestion by one kid that Scots would need passports to go to England, and as everyone knows the road to England is a motorway. There was real concern expressed for the safety of the guy at the passport control desk as he attempts to check everyone’s passport as they pass his desk at 70 mph.
To be fair, it’s as convincing an argument as anything BetterTogether have produced thus far.
PF
Of course 0:-)
How are you? I notice many of your posts reflect disillusionment with Celtic. Are you still going to the games?
JJ
Billy Bhoy 05
15:11 on 21 February, 2014
‘He stands by his statement’
####
He’s clearly not the sharpest knife in the drawer.
Do you not think it a little patronising though to deny Scots the right to claim sectarianism as part of their own, endogenous heritage. Created by Scots, for Scots?
It’s almost like treating people as a bit backward and childish to deny them responsibility for their own failings.
I mean, we obviously all regard the English as a shower of basturts, but that doesn’t mean we have to assume that Scots were too feeble minded to think for themselves.
timaloy29
15:21 on
21 February, 2014
How can they expect Ally to win the scottish cup without a war chest?
—————–
Try findning a bookie that will take a bet on thems getting a penalty in the next round-even wee Ian Black is gnashing his gums on that one !
and
If they are in hand to mouth existence financially-just wonder if Albion Rovers will receive 50% of the gate receipts??>Hmmmmmmmmm
steineignedsupreme
Is Bob a UK athlete?
JJ
JJ
I think James Forrest may still be out with injury. No need to flog him in a Hearts game if he is not fit.
The Green Man 15:25 on 21 February, 2014
“I would not dream of putting money on sevco in any circumstances.
“But do the words honest mistake ring a bell?
“We will see soon enough.
“HH”
Chill out and enjoy the weekend. Don’t give Sevco a thought.
But take my word for it Sevco have no chance, honest mistakes or not, of beating any of the SP teams left in the Scottish Cup.
HH
Jungle Jim 15:30 on 21 February, 2014
Is Bob a UK athlete?
———-
I think Bobsleigher’s brother Goat is the Mason’s.
SFTB
Agreed re Forrest. Indeed, I would not play any Celtic player who is carrying an injury. We don`t need too. I suppose, then, I would have Boerigter in Forrest`s place. He is bound to do something some time!
Stein
0:-)
Cheerio,
JJ
JJ
Not often ….completely dusillusioned with the whole SFA set up and what I perceive to be CFCs acquiesce therein
The latest rule change re admin shenanigans served only to confirm my concerns
Scottish football is a con ……no integrity whatsoever
Just popped in to say don’t forget to fill in the survey, please give honest answers:
https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/SK3SZLM
Off oot to see Arminia Bielefeld play Ingolstadt then a few beers at the Brauhaus Johannes Albrecht. Have a great evening everybody.
Hail! Hail! PMTYH.
I reckon around half of the sides in the Bobby Clark run were part time, but I have no reference for this.
Here’s how they finished in the league that season:
Dundee United 6th
Clyde 15th
Ayr United 14th
Heart of Midlothian 11th
Motherwell 10th
Cowdenbeath 18th
Celtic 1st, of course
Falkirk 7th
Airdrieonians 9th
Dundee 5th
St. Johnstone 3rd
Kilmarnock 13th
So, 6 of the 11 beaten teams were in the bottom half of the table, most of which were part time footballers. On balance, you would expect such a distribution in any such run.
On the other hand, this was a fine Aberdeen team who ran Celtic – previous year’s European Cup runners up – to within 2 points in the league, having beaten us in the cup final of 1970.
I’d say Bobby Clark should be damned proud of that record.
Just as Fraser should be damned proud if he eclipses it.
Cheers Hamiltontim.
Pat
early Lynch 15:29
If you say so.
Vmhan
you know I don’t drink but I’d love to join you for a sherbett that day. lol
MWD
Masons
The referendum.
If we vote no…..I’ll know what currency we’ll have, I’ll know how much my savings are worth. I’ll know roughly what my pension will be and when I’ll get it. I’ll know which passport I’ll hold. I’ll know if we are in Europe.
If we vote yes…I’ll know none of these things.
Easy decision for me.
It’s not always best the devil you know.
the battered bunnet
15:38 on 21 February, 2014
There is one consistent factor.
No Rangers.
TBB,
Absolutely. Both should be proud. However, as you said yourself, Clark faced the previous seasons Euro runners up. Fraz canny possibly face the might of Celtic ;)
Syd, yes you do. It’ll be the quid. Same as Ireland did after they cut ties.
ernie lynch
15:29 on 21 February, 2014
Billy Bhoy 05
15:11 on 21 February, 2014
‘He stands by his statement’
####
He’s clearly not the sharpest knife in the drawer.
Do you not think it a little patronising though to deny Scots the right to claim sectarianism as part of their own, endogenous heritage. Created by Scots, for Scots?
It’s almost like treating people as a bit backward and childish to deny them responsibility for their own failings.
I mean, we obviously all regard the English as a shower of basturts, but that doesn’t mean we have to assume that Scots were too feeble minded to think for themselves.
………………………………………………….
I think it is the historical case that the Westminster government actively encouraged anti-Irish/RC discrimination in Scotland in the 19th century as a bulwark to discourage cooperation between the incoming Irish and their Scots cousins in seeking independence for Scotland.
Nothing new in divide and conquer and I am not saying that the Scots for a time (at all levels in society) didn’t relish the task that their London masters gave them. But in the end the daily interactions between the two communities defeated the hate preached from pulpit and politicians.
H T
A few of mines are as usual!!!
Lazio v Ludogorets in the Europa League last night.
Attendance – 6000. In a stadium with a capacity of c85,000.
HH!!
The devil I know is fine by me and allows me to plan. Much better than a total leap into the unknown.
You just cannot ignore the major political parties saying no to the pound and the euro president saying what he did. It’s just crazy to dismiss that and accept Mr Salmond’s word that they all bluffing and everything will be ok.
If the Govan franchise MK II or MK III do make it into the championship and expect to go straight up to the SPFL. Can we not make it more difficult for them.
We have a chance of keeping Govan f.c and Hearts in that league for at least an extra season and we should take it.
Celtic should lend 3 players to either Falkirk or Dundee (or both if we have the players). And also lend 3 players to whoever goes down from the SPFL if they lose the play off.
The Govan mob are saying that the Championship will be the most competitive league in Scotland next season.
Ok let’s get some of our young guns and fringe players down there.
Canada win the perming.
Big Nan
15:53 on 21 February, 2014
Time does not allow a considered response as I am aff oot.
I would however suggest that the timeline does not start in the 19th century.
And, as you know, Scotland had aspirations for an empire in Ireland and elsewhere before the Union.
Indeed such aspirations lead to the Union.
Toodle Pip.
Tallybhoy
Ludogerets at 5/1 too, saw someone highlight this pre-match, wish I’d had some of that!
HH
Istanbulcelt Oscar’s Green & White Army
Do you want our young players to be subjected to hatchet men from Sevco & Fartz?
LB
istanbulcelt oscar’s green & white army
16:00 on 21 February, 2014,
I’m unsure if there is a limit on how many players can be loaned out in one season, if there’s not, a smashing idea.HH
Syd Negakev
15:58 on
Yes you can Syd as we all know they are playing Politic’s and will say anything to futher their own sides cause. It is absolutly madness to say if we do vote for Indy that the Westminster goverment will distroy the value of the pound by excluding Scottish oil and other revenues from the stirling.
Have a look at the Euro president’s background and which parties he’s aligned to and then tell me he’s hasn’t got an agenda.
Liverpool are helping young lads who havnt made the grade get their coaching certificates. Great idea Celtic??
One player I wd like to see back at Celtic once he has hung up his boots is Barry Robson. Great pro for young players to look up too!!
eddieinkirkmichael
Well Eddie, I’m not going to take that crazy risk and I don’t think the majority will either.
Anyway, I don’t want to talk politics on here. I just thought I had to say my piece in response to the ‘Yes’ campaign plants who have come on here recently.
LiviBhoy – God bless wee Oscar
16:04 on
If it meant getting competitive games in a decent league then why not, it will help their developement as players which can only be a good thing for Celtic and the young guys in question.
livibhoy – god bless wee oscar
16:04 on 21 February, 2014,
Hopefully, that would not be the case and protection would be given.
Not only would it make life…oops their deid more difficult for them, it would give our youngsters a chance to show their worth.