In days of yore Celtic would rattle nine goals past the Finnish champions on European Cup duty. That was never going to be on the cards last night but there remains a clear gap in quality between the teams. HJK Helsinki are no better than Hearts, but were clearly sharper.
The tie remains very much in the balance, a ‘Big Dan moment’, similar to what happened away to Sion last season, and the odds would stack heavily against Celtic progressing, and although HJK didn’t impress much, neither did Utrecht, who lost 2-0 at Celtic Park two years ago before wiping the floor with a disorganised Celtic a week later.
I have a few concerns.
Last season it worried me how dependent we had become on Charlie Mulgrew to create goals. His delivery from the left back position, not to mention his runs to the back post, were significant in Celtic overcoming the early season deficit.
Today we are a few central defenders lighter, if not any worse off in that department, but without Charlie galloping down the wing we are immeasurably less potent. Emilio is an able left back, but his performances are several degrees below his Player of the Year form and he is categorically not a goal creator. A double jeopardy is that when Emilio is behind Georgios Samaras on the left, instead of the more defensively minded Joe Ledley, we seem to have a real weak point.
If we are to start with a lone striker and five in the middle next week we’ll need Charlie on the left. This will stiffen up our weak spot and give HJK more to worry about.
The video moment for the players to study must surely be Georgios Samaras cross for the first Celtic goal. In case you missed it, the cross evaded the first defender. In this respect it was quite stunning and contrasted markedly to what was going on across on the right wing for most of the evening.
Early Player of the Year tip: Adam Matthews. Usain Bolt must be relieved our man is not a sprinter almost as much as Victor Wanyama is relieved he’s a footballer.
Our three raffles end at 19:10 TONIGHT! For the sum of only £1 you stand a chance of winning a painting of Henrik Larsson mid goal celebration, Scott Brown inventing the Broony or a print of our manager in his playing days.
It has never been easier or cheaper to contribute to the concept of what our club is all about, go buy a ticket.
Martin Chambers of the Ecuador Trust was in touch this morning. He said, “If you are able to help, the money will be used to fund the Soup Kitchen that we run each day feeding 150 of the poorest children in the shanty town – kids who would otherwise go hungry. Hope to hear from you soon” (he means you).
Feeding kids who would otherwise go hungry. Where have you heard that idea before?
The four beneficiaries are; The Haven, Cancer Respite Centre, Blantyre, Oscar Knox Neuroblastoma Appeal, Martin Chambers Ecuador Trust and Aberdour Primary School Parents Association.
For £1 you can win:
A celebrating Henrik Larsson painting.
A painting of Scott Brown in classic pose.
A Neil Lennon print.
What are you waiting on, do it now, there are only a few hours left! And after you have clicked on ‘buy a ticket’, DON’T FORGET TO PAY, as some people have. Just like social taxes, paying for your raffle ticket is NOT optional!
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SIX different owners of the property!!
I have said for weeks that Duff&Phelps were emphasising in England at meetings, that rangers were a ‘unique property deal’, when it became quite clear no-one wanted the club.
lol!
I hope the SFA don’t use the CQN golf outing as a day to bury bad news. :-)
You can tell there are a lot of empty desks across the country with the CQN open op.
The blog is quiet.
Good luck lads.
HH
for the golfers today :
I played in a small outing last year in millport, a lovely wee course and a great setting, the weather was kind so all was good.
As i stood on the first tee, introductions made, i was first off, looking at the relative safety of the wide fareway i opted for a 3 wood, get it away and get walking.
I hit my shot, not bad, but not great, took a wee bit of ground and sliced it about 150 yds in to the light rough……1st tee nerves. As i walked away, one of my playing partners said “you’ve got a lump of sh*te on the end of your club”
I done the natural thing and lifted the club to examine the club head……..
In which his gruff retort was ” naw, the other end!!!”
Enjoy your day guys and play well.
PC67
Can anyone supply me with some info re TV deals? I am on Virgin and last year I had ESPN (free with XL package) and Sky Sports.
Anyone any idea how many Celtic games featured on each channel?
Now looking to decide whether to keep them or not, I am reading different versions of the new deal ie both Sky and ESPN will have 30 SPL games each? But Sky also have 5 Rangers games and ESPN have 10. Is that over and above the 30 or included in the 30.
Only interested in seeing the Celtic games, not going to put my hard earned into these channels to watch Servco!
Am sure I am not the only one to be looking at this, anyone else done so and found the answers?
What time do the festivities before tomorrow’s game start anyone as I am traveling up from England with the family?
Really looking forward to showing my girls the stadium and hopefully a great day and evening.
If anyone if off for a pint post game please let me know as I want to show them what we are all about.
Then thinking of going to the Barras on Sunday.
Any tips on attire whilst in the city centre and Barras please?
RTC final post
==================================
For the avoidance of doubt, I would encourage you all to move over to the new site: (Link Updated) http://scottishfootballmonitor.wordpress.com/ to continue posting your comments and to carry on the work of this project.
To help move this along, I have now closed posting on this site.
To help with the debate, of course there are many aspects to this story that are incomplete. However, the goal of this blog was to shine a light on the dark corruption that is at the core of Scottish football and the media figures who both sustained it and were themselves fed by it. Most of the key facts are in the public domain now- thanks mainly to BBC Scotland’s documentary team. This means that my personal goals for this blog have been fulfilled.
As I say in the post above- please continue this work. The Scottish media still lives on cheap churnalism and needs to be countered at every turn when it repeats transparent lies fed to it by PR firms. It is a project that will never end, but my own personal involvement will wind down significantly. Best of luck to you all and once again, many thanks.
P.S. there are a couple of things I still want to do. Especially building a monument to succulent lamb journalism.
If you could email images or examples of stories where the Scottish media embarrassed themselves spectacularly- especially in connection with the Rangers story (but other examples of PR-driven hype) will be welcome- please email me at: rangerstaxcase@yahoo.com
========================================
Dear Sevco fan,
In response to your enquiry as to the identity of the Independent Panel charged with investigating dual contracts at RFC, I am happy to furnish you with the full list of panel members. They are:
Paul Brennan, QC(N) (Private Individual)
Monsignor Joseph Byrne (Member of Opus Dei. Damn! I mean, nothing to do with Opus Dei – you ain’t read nothin’, see?)
Francis Gilpatrick (CEO at Frankie’s Leftorium, and Hoopy the Huddle Hound’s stunt double)
(external UEFA supervisor) Sheik Ahmamad T’him Soaum
I hope this list answers the points raised in your letter. If you wish to pursue the matter further, don’t. It’s just not worth it, what with the unseen Fenian hand controlling everything these days (it’s hovering over me now, ready to mete out summary slap happy justice if I don’t send you this letter).
Gemz a bogey, pal
Sincerely yours
D. Dums
On another note, any rumours about the sevco uglies trying to spoil things for us tomorrow?
proudbhoy on 3 August, 2012 at 08:27 said:
Vmhan on 3 August, 2012 at 07:56 said:
Petec, I might gorge on Guinness :¬)
HH to ye!
Not sure if u saw my reply, I’m also in Perth .. Nice city.
Just miss the rebel sessions back in Derry . Need Gary og or someone to immigrate and all will be fine.
************************
Proudbhoy, yes I knew you were in Perth, you’ll have to forgive me as I tend to look in and out of the blog lots as I’m working, I do probably miss some comments so apologies.
My youngest son Jonny (he’s 26) has been out in Perth Aus for about 15 months, works for a company in Perth but also goes out to work in the mines for them when needed.
He’s Celtic mad and was a ST holder since he left school, he also knows Doire very well….. friends with the Derry no1 CSC, he goes to Rosie o’Gradys to watch the games and he trains (or did) with the Perth Celts.
HH
new article posted.
Minceyheidman on 3 August, 2012 at 10:20 said:
A few of us are meeting in Bar67 after the game however we may end up going for a wee wander later which would mean no Celtic gear.
If you want to get a hold of me you can at hamiltontim@hotmail.co.uk
Good morning fellow Celts dark clouds over Renfrewshire
hope it’s sunny and dry for the golfers with a great evening to follow
Cannot wait to see that flag raised tomorrow. Giving Sean Fallon the honour very appropriate. I remain in awe of that man!
Will be nice to see so many Dons down tomorrow -they deserve a very warm welcome in recognition of their sterling efforts to raise awareness of thems’ misdeeds.
one, two, three, four …
The Nothern lights of old Aberdeen
Are home sweet home to me…
HH
CQN Saturday Naps Competition
Lads, for all the mug-punters out there…
the CQN Naps Competition will resume again this Saturday… :o)
Voguepunter will hopefully be around to defend his crown ?
Oldtim will be looking to end his run of 40 consecutive losers !
…and as for twists ‘n’ turns… well, no comment… :o)
COMPETITION RULES are simple :
a) each Saturday log onto the last page of the previous CQN article.
b) post ONE ‘nap’ selection from any major Saturday horserace meeting
(e.g. UK, Ireland, Dubai)
c) if your selection is a Non-Runner, you may select an alternative – as long as it also runs on the Saturday !
d) if your nap wins, you “win” the hypothetical profit from a £1 stake @ S.P.
e.g. your selection wins at 9/4, your hypothetical profit is +£2.25
e.g. your selection wins at 5/1, your hypothetical profit is +£5
e) if your nap loses or if you fail to post any selection, then you lose your £1 hypothetical stake (-£1)
f) if you join the competition late (e.g. in Week 3) you will be allocated 2 losers, and start the competition from (-£2)
f) Our winner and CQN Naps Champion Tipster will be the punter who shows the greatest profit over the season.
Last season the competition lasted for 40 weeks, and Voguepunter won with + £21 profit !!!
fleagle
My previous post on this article was a test… :o)
Cheers, fleagle
Mad Mitch @ 23:58
Interesting– and by the sound of it– angry retort to my own musings– which I would invite you to read again.
Did you get the part where I stressed that for me the jury is out on DD?
Did you read the part where I said that I was not privy to the timescales for development on either Lennoxtoun or the Celtic Triangle?
Can you point to the part of the post where I overly praise Peter Lawell?– I think I mention him once in the passing — and that is about it.
You ask if I think he is good at negotiating– the answer to that question is that I have absolutely no idea? I have never said that he is and I have never said that he isn’t? I don’t know.
What I did say is that both Lonnoxtoun and the Triangle give Celtic an opportunity– in fact a number of opportunities going forward and I openly state that that is exciting. I still believe that.
As for taking advantage to the full of the Commonwealth Games– by that I presume you mean have the triangle up and running so that the visitors centre and anything else can take advantage of the crowds going to the Games?
Sorry, but I would have to question that. The experience of the shops and attractions in London with the Olympics is that the visitors are not spending at all and that the resident Londoners have left the city. The resident businesses down there are dying over the last couple of weeks and into next week because of the Olympics– that is now being widely reported. As I advise businesses in LOndon I am only to well aware what a disasterous summer it has been— beyond all expectations!
Now I don’t know if the delay in the triangle is because Celtic are in a stand off with the council or not but a couple of points on the pragmatics of all of that.
If you get planning permission then there may well be conditions re the infrastructure– Roads, water etc etc. You are expected to pay for there things. In any development the first thing you are required to put in or upgrade is road and sewers— at your cost!
A roundabout costs about £1Million pounds– yes a rediculous sum but that is what it costs.
As I understand it– and I am open to correction— The Road infrastructure and improvements around Celtic Park are costing Celtic nothing and are being paid for by the Scottish Government in essence as a result of the games. Is this good business or bad business on the part of Celtic?
How would the Celtic support feel if the money that they were putting in as you so rightly point out– was in part being spent for the benefit of the Velodrome or other areas which have nothing to do with Celtic?
Is it smarter– to offer the existing Stadium for the opening ceremony in return for a real planning benefit, saving Millions of pounds of OUR money in return? Which money can then be spent on the actual Celtic Triangle rather than on the infrastructure that simply leads to that triangle?
Again, I stress that I am not privvy to the negotiations and details of the plans, and if you are then I will bow to your greater knowledge gladly, but from what I see someone– and I have no idea if it is Lawell ( God forbid the man should get praise for anything right enough ) or the advisers to Celtic ( yep they do employ professional consultants who know a thing or two ) or whoever— has been relatively smart IF– and I stress the IF— they have overseen the improvements that have happened thus far without spending a penny.
On the question of a JV– Joint Venture– with someone. I have some questions on that.
Joint Venture with whom?
Just who else stands to gain out of the Celtic triangle because a Joint venture suggests that you will have a partner in the triangle?
The only one I can think of will be in relation to the suggested hotel– again I may be wrong. So that would mean Celtic going into bed with a Hotel chain who would presumably gain rights over the ground by way of a lease or whatever.
Except, that is not the way hotel franchises tend to work. The developer builds the unit and then negotiates with a franchise– like the one at the Hamilton Palace Grounds– or the units out at Glasgow Airport. The developer ( in this case Celtic ) then has gets the benefit of the rent and ends up with the capital asset.
Again I am not privvy to any discussions but I would be cautious about any JV in the last few years– I have clients who have entered into them only to see the JV partner go bust, or have their funding pulled leading to all sorts of problems and legal wrangles with the results that the venture just grinds to a halt altogether. In this climate that is all too common.
So I am not sure about that.
You say Lennoxtoun is a failure? Suitable for an Academy but not a training ground.
Is that based on personal opinion or based on the views of the coaching staff or the players or the club management?
All I hear is that it is an excellent facility. Did the club not give up some of the land at Barorowfield in return for a price paid by the developer of the old hospital site next door? Was that part of the overall negotiation with the NHS which allowed them to buy the old Lennox Castle Hospital as a whole?
Again I don’t know– but that is what I had understood the position to be.
Look all I am saying is that like it or not there are two very interesting and viable sites under the control of Celtic football Club which are exciting and which will hopefully generate income for the club. You do not get that kind of thing going on at many football clubs and certainly not many in Scotland or even elsewhere in the UK.
I am not praising DD or PL to the high heavens– as I have said now repeatedly– there are things that I would do differently to them given the chance– and I think you have to be cautious over DD’s position– I don’t even like the PLC structure where anyone has a share– but who am I to say what is right?
On the TV revenue stuff– did you read the part of the post where I said that it is a dreadful contract?
I have no idea if there are details in it that allow Celtic out under certain circumstances– but what I am convinced of is that there is a major revolution– or fast evolution in the way that the world watches any broadcast. I believe that because I am involved in a business that is part of that.
How many people in your house sit with the TV on but at the same time have a laptop or an Ipad running. Kids especially. BT, Google, Amazon and various others are all looking at digitising and personalising video content.
The idea of a mainstream TV channel schedule is dying– look at all the plus one channels, the Iplayers, STV players and so on– the future is personal- individual- viewing on demand via the internet.
Get in there Celtic!!!! Extend the idea of broadcast rights to content rights- digital content rights- to your supporters and yours alone. That is not something that the SFA or any other body can negotiate for you– those rights are yours!!
As for the comments about the support being a Keynsian stimulus for the rest of European football– with respect not only did I not say it but to be honest– to hell with the rest if European football in the sense that European Football– per the governing body or the UEFA set up has actually never done anything for us!
In my opinion they are worse than the SFA in many respects!!!
At a relatively recent meeting at Celtic Park with the CEO of the Charities Division I was told that Celtic estimate that 95% of Celtic Fans ( customers, viewers, interested parties– call them what you will ) have NEVER set foot inside Celtic park…….. not once!
I have no idea how they come to that figure– none at all— but there seems to be some way of measuring such things– whether it be through the web, or Nike or whatever.
Now– and here i suspect that you will agree with me– if that is the case then if we are not ( as a club, as a business ) doing everything possible– mainstream and out of the box– to garner that support, to service that support, to satisfy that support, to sell to that support, to extend and multiply that support— then the board, the advisers,and anyone else involved should not only be sacked but should physically be kicked ( quite literally ) up the backside to help them down the steps– because to ignore such statistics at a management level is just plain unbelievable and downright negligent!
All the evidence is there that does in fact support such statistics. How many season ticket holders did not go to Seville? I know loads who could not go and who didn’t go. I know loads who went to Seville who are not regular Celtic Park attendees for a variety of reasons.
I know of one football money man who has been involved with Manchester United and Portsmouth amongst others who takes the view that you only make money in football out of bums on seats and merchandising club services. He points out that every English club tends to spend all or more of its TV money on players– they don’t actually– or didn’t historically– make any money from the TV deal as the money came in and went staright back out again– and then some.
When Rangers were available for sale his view was “what is the point?”– there is only one club worth buying in Scotland and that is Celtic for a variety of reasons. A big reason is the support– another is that if you are able to garner that support then you can relatively easily increase the size of celtic Park– but you have to bring the support in first, create the demand, up the interest.The plans for the extension of Celtic park– there are two schemes– have sat in a drawer sinc Fergus’ day for obvious reasons — but they are there!
Everyone in Europe knows we have that support– and that is why I said that in business terms many were hoping to draw Celtic after Seville as they saw the numbers. Eh what have UEFA done to in anyway encourage a repeat of such a footballing and economic phenomenon? The FFP initiative– that is about it really. No restructures, no think tanks, no alternative examination of anything other than TV money through conventional channels.
Well they are sleeping– the Techies have moved on and the industry will move on with them.
So– there you go— I know I am seen as a happy clapper– hey– been called worse things– but when it comes to business I just ask questions and look at the possibilities. I think Celtic is an exciting business– has great opportunities– and in some respects I agree with current board actions from what I know of them– and disagree with others– again from what I know of them. I would love to be areal pain in the arse in the Celtic Board room– and no I don’t want a job— but there are loads of things I would want to ask and suggest if given a platform. However I would eventually be thrown out I suspect.
I am not sure about the Commonwealth Games being the catalyst that you describe– I am cynical on that but am there to be convinced if you have the info.
However, one thing I have to point out very clearly— I have never patronised a Celtic fan in my life! and never will.
Well……as stated weeks ago,I’ve signed up to CelticTV…..nae Sky/espn. Also,I feel like I’m supporting CelticF.C in a better way,even though it’s at a distance. I hate givin’ that wretched old fascist,Murdoch,any money anyway.
And tomorrow,I won’t be watching the match live anywhere because my missus has a gig on tomorrow afternoon and she needs me to be roadie and to mhan up on the mixing desk for her and her vocalist.
And I’m totally confident that we’ll beat Aberdeen…..they are big lumps and won’t survive our guile and skill.
And now I’ll be able to watch a full re-run @ midnight…..my time of day,too,bein’ a night-owl by nature & design!
HH !
p.s. the change pot for we Oscar is fillin’ up rapido….gonna need a bigger one!
CQN Saturday Naps Competition
Lads, for all the mug-punters out there, the CQN Naps Competition starts here !
(please post your nap selections on this article)
COMPETITION RULES are simple :
a) each Saturday log onto the last page of the previous CQN article.
b) post ONE ‘nap’ selection from any major Saturday horserace meeting
(e.g. UK, Ireland, Dubai)
c) if your selection is a Non-Runner, you may select an alternative – as long as it also runs on the Saturday !
d) if your nap wins, you “win” the hypothetical profit from a £1 stake @ S.P.
e.g. your selection wins at 9/4, your hypothetical profit is +£2.25
e.g. your selection wins at 5/1, your hypothetical profit is +£5
e) if your nap loses or if you fail to post any selection, then you lose your £1 hypothetical stake (-£1)
f) if you join the competition late (e.g. in Week 3) you will be allocated 2 losers, and start the competition from (-£2)
g) Our winner and CQN Naps Champion Tipster will be the punter who shows the greatest profit over the season.
Last season the competition lasted for 40 weeks, and Voguepunter was the champion tipster with + £21 profit !!!
HAPPY PUNTING !
:o)
Cheers, fleagle1888
Nahrain
3.15 Goodwood
Goodwood 540 Landaman please Hail Hail
Quasi Congaree in Newmarket 5.15.
FLEAGLE1888
Thanks for voluntering for this again-gives us all a chance to whup VP’s ass!
Congats,VP,btw. A >50% profit over the season is great going,so I’m just gonna say “same as him” every week,haha!
But I’ll start with ES QUE LOVE in The Stewards Cup 355 Goodwood.
Happy punting,folks…..
Fleagle – thanks for keeping this going mate, good on you.
I’ll go for Oasis Dancer in the 3:55 at Goodwood. I think 40’s are still available! lol
Good luck all.
T4
Thanks for this Fleagle, hopefully as good a giggle as last year
Wasnt going to take one in the Stewards Cup but T4 has narrowed the field down so ill go for
Hawkeyethenoo 355 Goodwood
Happy punting Bhoys.
Hamilton 8.45 Lady Kashaan
Lads,
my nap today is an old favourite, dropping down the handicap, and always comes into form around this time of the year :
Cheveton (5.15 Newmarket)
Good luck to everyone… and enjoy flag day !!!
Cheers, fleagle1888
Fleagle numpty punter here (retired I was that bad) so to make people look good can I join your tipsters gang with IZZI TOP 3.15 GOODWOOD
Geanie Mac 2.30 Thirsk.HH
Ctappers in the First Race at Newton Abbott
Best of luck all
hi lads.
i’ll give it a go !
n/mk 2.20 Hi There
Afternoon all, thanks Fleagle for keeping nap comp going.
My nap for today Willbeme 2’50 Doncaster.
Gool luck to all ,except BMCUWP :o)
First nap of the season—Izzi Top 3.15 Goodwood.
Test…
Hi There was the plan, forgot, will say hello everyone instead, and opt for Henry Bee 4.15 Thirsk.
Good luck.
Voguepunter – great tipping yet again – Willbeme wins at 7/1 !!!
fleagle
Afternoon all,
I’ll go for steeler 4.30 goodwood please.
Good luck all!
Hi fleagle. Hope it’s ok to join NAPS competition.
I’ll start with the following selection…
O’CALLAGHAN STRAND……..4.55 NEWTON ABBOT
Hail Hail
g_b
Fleagle cheers ,didn’t even bet it.too much running
about today,then had to meet some numpty’s fae
the CQN ,at least the tic won :O)