Motherwell fought tenaciously for most of the game at Celtic Park this afternoon but a momentary lapse was all that Georgios Samaras and Gary Hooper needed to settle the contest. Celtic moved an astonishing 23 points clear at the top of the table and are odds on favourite to become champions before the next return to Celtic Park.
Samaras was first to show after 9 minutes when he latched onto a Matthews flick but Darren Randolph was quick off his line to block. Player of the Year elect, Charlie Mulgrew, then jinked past a defender before slipping the ball to Samaras. The Greek’s shot was block and Mulgrew blasted the rebound wide. Randolph then saved well after Samaras shot from inside the D.
While Celtic always looked dangerous, Motherwell were in no mood to concede, so the goal was surprising in its simplicity. Adam Matthews fired a throw-in to Samaras, who chested the ball into the path of unmarked Gary Hooper. Hooper put his laces through the ball from a narrow angle to give Randolph no chance.
Samaras, Hooper and Forrest all had chances to finish the game off but the second goal never arrived.
Good defences are a lot harder to quantify than poor defences. Today Celtic strolled through the game at the back. No one was stretched and Fraser Forster didn’t have a save to make until the 77th minute.
Issue six of CQN Magazine, the Fit and Proper edition, is set to become a landmark collectors item. You can browse the magazine online here but you can buy your own hard copy by clicking on the link below. Read with 20-20 vision…..
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Re: Paul 67’s recent article concerning…”utterance’s”……..
would I be right in thinking that, Celtic PLC’s recent utterance’s about, “we don’t need Rankers”…..
came about, after, Celtic PLC had agreed the TV deal that means, in effect, Celtic PLC have already voted FOR Rankers ???mmmm
Confused – CSC
Today’s papers.
SUNDAY MAIL – Murray quizzed by administrators.
SUN ON SUNDAY – Investigation into EBTs.
SUNDAY POST – Someone stole pensioner’s budgie.
Aye but did they tell you it was a green budgie? Naw!
Paddy G
Nah, it wasnt really an in depth piece of journalism.
seventyxseven ‘gelee et glace’
:-))
kitalba
I think the bbc made a statement about maclean’s comments, so it didn’t go anywhere. other cqners will know more as I’m sure they emailed the bbc
Well, looks like today is the day the MSM finally catch up with RTC and others regarding Craig Whyte.
Well done lads. Only nine months late.
Kevjungle
Jelly’n’ice cream dispels confusion every time!
Dharma Bam says:
26 February, 2012 at 08:14
Jelly’n’ice cream dispels confusion every time!
###
Now why didn’t I think of that ? :¬)))
Hail! Hail!
Good morning,
So, the papers are finally catching up re the Bain thing, the side letters the blah blah blah….
Tell us something we don’t know boys!
CQN – tomorrow’s utterances today!
Lump on Caley and buy the missus a Waitrose roast with the proceeds!
Ice cream is also good for the treatment of aches and pains – any kind of hurt, really!
Anyone else think it is shocking that the Hunday Mail, online, have published Whyteys address in Monaco? Who knows what sort of idiots could go chapping the door of our hero. Totally irresponsible.
Good morning up bright and early for a Sunday.I think it must be this christmas feeling. It all started on christmas eve we beat the minis and the buddies humped the huns at Ipox.But hey let it continue come on the highland huns today,I just can,t get enough.
Hal Haill
Off oot
laters…
Hail! Hail!
.
If You Know The History: 26th Feb: Frank McAvennie signs for second time
26th February McAvennie signs for the second time.
Frank McAvennie was born in 1959 and in his teenage years played for St Augustine’s Milton Boys’ Guild, Kilsyth St Pat’s, Kirkintilloch 200 Club and Johnstone Burgh before signing for St Mirren in 1980.
Five years later (after 135 matches; 48 goals), Frank moved south to West Ham, where he did well under the managerial control of John Lyall (85 games; 33 goals). Billy McNeill brought him back to Scotland and Celtic in October 1987, just in time to play a most effective role in the Centenary Season. After a 2-year spell at Parkhead (55 games; 27 goals), Frank moved back to West Ham in 1989 (68 matches; 16 goals). The striker was freed in May 1992, going on to have short loan spells with Aston Villa, Cliftonville and South China, all during the second half of that year.
At heart, though, Frank McAvennie was always a Celt and when the call came from new Boss Liam Brady, he was delighted to accept. On this day in 1993, he signed for Celtic for a second spell.
Jim Craig
Summa
A grey, cool, misty morning here in North Ayrshire.
KevJungle -“…no seats in the Jungln”,
Uttering was in reference to just that, the crime of uttering. It wasn’t a veiled reference to any behaviour that could be regarded as complicit in keeping Rangers alive.
Morning,all.
Interesting wee article in The Herald.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Relegation to third division may be first step on road to moral redemption
Richard Wilson
Sports writer.
Economic reality has finally caught up with Rangers, but when the turmoil of this week slips away it is indignity that will hurt the supporters most.
inShare.
This is a club that once understood its status to be an expression of fortitude, decorum, honour and self-respect. Fans still delight in the notion that the legendary Bill Struth demanded his players wore bowler hats to training, and that the current squad must always wear a shirt and tie on official duty. There are times when it seems as though the only danger of a mutiny at Ibrox would be if the manager wore a tracksuit.
The traditions are not inconsequential. They provide a form of distinction, and the club made a lasting impression on Dick Advocaat when, during his first visit to Ibrox, the commissionaire opened the front door of the main stand and said: “Welcome, Mr Advocaat.” The reflections must seem bitterly quaint when each of the past six days has brought a different cause for suffering. The history of Rangers seems vandalised by the sight of the club falling into administration and facing the prospect of trying to avoid paying all of its debts.
Supporters used to crow at Rangers’ depiction as the establishment club. It is a cruel irony that a government agency is central to its downfall. Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs are not persecuting the Ibrox side, it is the business of football that they are intent on reprimanding.
The financial irresponsibility of Sir David Murray and the sleight-of-hand of Craig Whyte have left the club on the brink, but supporters, too, have been forced into a confrontation. It is with their sense of themselves as Rangers fans, what that identification means and what values their club stands for.
Some would still enjoy a vindictive glee if Whyte pulled off a scheme of liquidating the club and starting Rangers afresh, while the tax debts were left unpaid. Yet many others are distraught at the notion of 140 years of history coming, at least legally, to an end. The chain of events is still only theoretical, but it does pose the question about whether the essence of a club resides in its corporate entity or in the sentiment, judgment and reminiscing of its supporters.
In the face of this crisis, of finance, of faith, of self-identity, there is a growing feeling among Rangers fans that they should endure a period of atonement. Many, particularly older fans, believe the tax bill should be settled. The means for that might lie beyond the club’s reach if the tribunal into the use of Employee Benefit Trusts delivers a damning verdict and a bill of up to £49m next month. The truth is Rangers may be unable to meet their obligations, but there are other possible ramifications.
The Scottish Premier League will seek to handicap a newco Rangers, out of a sense of justice but also to deter other clubs from a similar path. The extreme option would be to force the Ibrox side into the third division, and that might also be the clearest route to moral redemption. Rangers fans, and the club itself, needs to reclaim a virtuous authority.
The bombast and egotism of Murray, and his rampant ambition, saw Rangers become an expression of capitalist values. He sought to distinguish the club by the money he spent, and previous values of conservatism and discretion were lost. The club is paying for these excesses now. Starting anew in the third division, where budgets, values and standards could be reset, then earning a return to the SPL, would be a purge. The instinct might first be to recoil, but most of the Rangers support would respond to the challenge, and accept the novelty of their journey.
The team would remain comparatively strong enough that it should take only three years to return to the SPL, by which time Rangers would be stable and there would be no cause to denounce the club. Even in directly re-entering the SPL, a newco Rangers would be unable to play in Europe for three years. The Calciopoli scandal resulted in Juventus’s demotion to Serie B, which was once considered unthinkable, but six years on the Turin club is enjoying a period of pre-eminence.
“If that’s where the consequences take us, the vast majority of the support would embrace that, almost out of the feeling that we’ve got to stick together,” says Andy Kerr of the Rangers Supporters Assembly. “I don’t think it will be fatal. It’s about re-examining yourself, and galvanising. We would rather get out of all this properly, in an upstanding way. If that meant we had to go down to come back up, that’s part of that package.”
There are other more likely developments for Rangers. Yet supporters might come to wish for a stringent penalty, so that they can reclaim their club’s traditional standards
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Only wee problem with his scenario is….
If Rangers are liquidated then a vacancy exists at the bottom as everyone moves up a place.
This position will be voted on by the clubs with such as Whitehill Welfare,Spartans,etc,all vying for the place.
Of course Newco Rangers will be favourites.
But what if they have been unable to organise in time?
What if they have insufficient players LEGALLY signed?
I doubt that anyone can buy Ibrox and make it viable ,due to it’s structural and fabric problems,so what if they have failed to organise a new home?
They would not be voted in,and would have to wait years for another club to fold.
They would be long gone by then!
IMO,there will NOT be a Newco Rangers in this league.
If they are liquidated in their current form,they are gone for good.
Wonder what wee Craigy is thinking now?
Possibly this?
http://i.imgur.com/pOVMq.gif
http://i.imgur.com/Q7Aiz.gif
BOBBY MURDOCH’S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS says:
26 February, 2012 at 08:47
The longer this goes on the more I want to see them gone for good and my question still remains for newco :
Where’s the money coming from?
Saverangers.com, don’t make me laugh because when it comes to the bit and the loyal peepul have to put their hands in their pocket we will see just how loyal they are…
SP
kitalba says:
26 February, 2012 at 04:51
Who’s that guy with the blond hair playing in midfield?
kitalba says:
26 February, 2012 at 05:31
The Scottish Football Association has appointed Lord William Nimmo Smith to chair its inquiry into recent activities at the club…
Would be very surprised if Lord William Nimmo Smith from Lodge No.1690 will discover anything untoward.
Morning all can anyone help me? Was in Sharkeys last night talking to Estadios favourite barperson. She said he was not in the best of health, can anyone who knows Estadio give me an update. Perhaps even your good self Estadio!! Hail Hail Hebcelt
STARRY PLOUGH 0856
Aye-the money to stop liquidation,hmmmm……
HMRC will not permit a CVA,so to avoid liquidation they have to settle all debts.
I reackon-assuming the Big Tax Case comes to £75m-that it will take around £120m to square everyone off.
That’s BEFORE any investment on such various trivia as,erm
New players–ANY players.
Buying Ibrox.
Buying Murray Park.
Buying back their income streams,previously hawked off-you know,minor things like Season Tickets,catering,merchandising.
Anyone with THAT amount of money to hand DIDNAE get it in the first place by being stupid.
They are right-royally screwed……..
I went off to bed thinking, foolishly, that little would develop over night…
I thought I would be able to catch up with the piece I had nearly done.
I was wrong.
However, if you want some thoughts on Mr Whyte v the BBC, the administrators’ dealings with Strathclyde Police and praise for Rangers’ reaction to the singing last week at the Kilmarnock game, please read on!
http://scotslawthoughts.wordpress.com/2012/02/26/suing-policing-and-singing/
28 May 1888, Celtic played their first official match against Rangers and won 5–2, if the stars aligned, the last game Rangers ever play might well be against Celtic too. Possibly the proceeds from that game will be required to pay for a dignified coffin.
Good morning friends from a damp but very calm and fairly mild East Kilbride.
Inverness and Cardiff for me today.
Jobo
Big Nan says: 26 February, 2012 at 00:05
Scroll down to “GRAND HAILING SIGN OF DISTRESS” on the link below, it is also what Dougie Dougie did at Tannadice IIRC.
http://www.ephesians5-11.org/handshakes.htm
***
Thanks for the reply.
The Dougie Dougie incident you remarked on becomes clearer,very ominous.
The “THE FIVE POINTS OF FELLOWSHIP” thingy…. aye well if your into that sort of thing ;-)
BOBBY MURDOCH’S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS says:
26 February, 2012 at 09:08
I would be very suspicious if suddenly some ” lifelong rangers fan with wealth off the radar” suddenly appeared, oh hold on a minute!!!
SP
STARRY PLOUGH 0925
I think that in those circumstances,he would have to literally bring it out onto the pitch before anyone would believe it!
starry plough says: 26 February, 2012 at 09:25
What like the “Millionaire” Dave King that made his fortune in Apartheid South Africa??
Dignity indeed.
Starry Plough
There will be plenty of money for the newco if and when liquidation happens. It’s only the £49m big tax case that’s stopping the “Blue Knights.” I only hope that HMRC and the rest of the creditiors, who undoubtedly will be stiffed, will do all in their power to prevent The Zombie Rangers from arising.
BMCUW
Somewhere in berrland a multi millionaire is counting out bags of ten pences to see if he has enough to fund the resurrection..
Enough of this orc talk, Hail HAil the Young Lions in touching distance of the first of many titles…
To all at Celtic Park a massive thank you for restoring our team to greatness.
Neil you have my greatest respect Mate…
Is it too early for ice cream, nah I didn’t think so…
Dubaibhoy
I would hope that he and his co-investigators have come to a stage in their lives whereby they appreciate that truth and integrity has more purpose, value, and shelf life, than a padded stool at the bar in the local bowls club.
Paul 67
The inquiry into Rangers looks like it includes a review of side contracts for Rangers players as Stewart Regan has intimated as much in a reply to me just now on twitter
From what i had initially read the inquiry was to look into Rangers takeover and the old fit and proper test
Good to hear that the side contract question is included
Lennondinho18 (@CelticNewsAtTen)
You should ask Reagan what he plans to do about Campbell Ogilivie given that he was a former employee of Rangers and potential beneficiary of an EBT.
Have fun,lads.
There’s a pint wi my name on it dying of loneliness a mere five minute’s walk away.
Fifteen minute stgger back,mind!
reilly1926 says:
26 February, 2012 at 09:35
The question again why didn’t the Blue Knights buy from Murray when he sold to Whyte??
That plus the fat that none of the previous directors can be involved makes me think that the Blue Knights are full of crap..
Putting a plaster on a broken leg comes to mind, not that I am a financial expert or anything!!
SP