While the World Cup is a nice summer distraction, the serious business of Champions League qualification gets underway for Celtic one week tomorrow. Right now, the temperature in Yerevan, Armenia, where we will face Alashkert, is an egg-frying-on-the-patio 38°C. It’s to be higher-still at 7pm.
Brendan Rodgers may consider it wise to send his players out to pace themselves for the first 89 minutes or so. Playing in heat warmer than body temperature is not something you can acclimatise to in a few days. PLayers’ bodies will react in a way they will seldom, if ever, have experienced before. I would bite your hand off for a draw and no remedial medical attention required.
Best of luck to Dedryck for Belgium’s round of 16 tie against Japan tonight, although I’m beginning to cross-reference World Cup Champions League dates. You would not bet against Belgium remaining involved until the last weekend.
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McSorleys
Anybody going there should take the opportunity to visit the Hotel Albert on East 10th St
Tim Buckley stayed there and played there , so did Muddy Waters , the Lovin Spoonful etc etc
Tim Buckley –
https://youtu.be/u-qNBxXjbI4
Starry@1.45pm ; “A photo mate of mine….”.
You not got a
Oops. You not got any real mates? ;-)
McSorleys
A 15 minute walk from the Hotel Albert on East 10th Street . . History !!!!
An Albert Hotel choon-
https://youtu.be/1agI3u1YUjQ
Off oot to the beach -watch the fitba –
One more Hotel Albert choon-
https://youtu.be/N-aK6JnyFmk
16 Roads,
Jobo states clearly he is not a moderator.
The point, I believe is, a well mannered true Celtic man, Jobo, has left the blog due to the hunlike behaviour of another moderator hater, falsely accusing him of something he is not.
Meanwhile, No doubt the offensive, bullying, oaf remains on the blog in all his/ her sleekit, unapologetic way.
I don’t really care for flounces, however I know I would rather have the type of contribution to the blog that Jobo brought than that type of behaviour that led to Jobo feeling he had to leave.
Eurochamps67
ABURNTOUTCASE
Apparently I’m mateless, according to some on here:)))
Should have put photographer:)))
Lingo CSC
SOUTH OF TUNIS
Quality Tim from my favourite record by him:))
Truly shameful if the music festival is postponed on Saturday to allow sectarian anti Catholic parades to take place.
This really beggars belief.
GER57
Had to go there for a darts match Arran V some Ayrshire select. We had 2-3 Tims in the team and were a wee bit concerned about going to this notorious orange venue. Changing our Celtic flights and we were bit on edge. However the locals and our dart opponents were a very friendly bunch and we had such a good time that a couple of us missed the ferry back to Arran .
Auldheid @ 9:20 am,
”The underlying issue here, technicalities aside (and the technical argument is vety challengeable ) is that a period around which the licence was granted is excluded from JPDT scrutiny.
”It would appear that the Compliance Officer approached TRFC about the period at the end of March and TRFC convinced him all was in order during that period.
”You will note the insistence of the TRFC advocate on SFM that the ship has sailed over the granting period but the reasons why are a confidential matter that will not be aired in public.
This is simply a ridiculous situation – we know this money is owed from the WTC, we know it was never paid we have financial officers from both MIH and Rangers FC PLC on oath confirming the Tax was due. This was the grounds for the referral to the SFA Compliance Officer as confirmed by Stewart Regan in his letter to Peter Lawwel on the 4th September 2011…
…“However, as previously advised, the Compliance Officer is currently dealing with a referral following reports of evidence given in Court in the “Craig Whyte Case”. This relates to the specific issue of whether Rangers F.C. knowingly misled the Scottish FA in 2011 when the club were awarded a UEFA licence.”
The Compliance Officer’s enquiries have led to charges relating to this being levelled at Rangers FC that will be heard by the JDPT. Yet as you say, why was the evidence that suggested the SFA was misled and the counter claims of Sevco Rangers, that technically speaking the SFA wasn’t misled when the licence was issued to the club, not being tested in a Tribunal. The plethora of evidence in the public domain (thanks to folk like your good self) that either the SFA was misled or worked in contrivance is with Rangers Football Club is there for all to see.
As this evidence is public knowledge and has been highly publicized it is simply unacceptable to suggest that the CO has secretly seen some information/documentation that suggests on technical grounds the application wasn’t misleading.
In fact, surely part of the argument against the issuance of the UEFA licence was that Rangers tried to mislead by technicalities. UEFA don’t accept technicalities unless backed up by specific evidence. Now if that evidence does exist and we know evidence exists for the counter argument. Then that evidence MUST be presented and tested at the Tribunal.
”This calls the supposed transparency that any Justice Protocol, required to retain its integrity, into question especially when anything regarding the wtc details was omitted from the JP Panel charges against CW and from the SPL lawyers investigating Rangers use of ebts that led to the LNS Commission, which resulted in a judgement there was no question of dishonesty only made possible by exclusion of HMRC letters suggesting fraud might have taken place as HMRC enquired about RFC use of DOS ebts.”
Yes it’s ironic that if you read an earlier letter from Stewart Regan to Peter Lawwel (18-August -2017) that the need to build up trust and to be transparent is mentioned in the letter, where serious concerns over the granting of the 2011 UEFA licence are raised. The letter states…
“The Scottish FA has also noted media reports concerning the testimony in Court of two former directors of Rangers FC regarding “overdue payables” to HMRC (known as the “Wee Tax Case”) and relating to a Discounted Option Scheme. The alleged statements, if true, might have implications in context of the UEFA Licence to Oldco in April 2011 and in respect of the UEFA Club Licensing and Financial Fair Play Regulations.”
This is an interesting paragraph, “The alleged statements, if true…” what does that mean, the statements that were made under oath and are a matter of Court record!! For a guy who likes everyone to believe all he and the SFA do and say, he certainly seems a bit of a cynic. Also note that Oldco get the UEFA Licence… don’t you have to be a Football Club to get a UEFA Licence!? Another couple of extracts from the same letter…
…“The Board agrees that the events of the last 6 years have led to a lack of trust among many of the stakeholders in the game in Scotland…
…”The Board noted your request for transparency, accountability and leadership and, in this regard seeks your permission to publish your letter and our response to it to ensure that all those with an interest in the game in Scotland are fully appraised of the background to and the reasons for the Scottish FA’s position.”
So that seems very clear, Stewart Regan and the SFA Board believe – “…all those with an interest in the game in Scotland are fully appraised of the background to and the reasons for the Scottish FA’s position.” This will of course apply to their position on the issuance of a 2011 UEFA Licence to Rangers in March.
”Let’s say there is “previous” and if the period at end of March [2011] is excluded from JPDT scrutiny (and if everything is ticketyboo over that period what harm can it do TRFC to have that confirmed by the JPDT) then we have another LNS type sham on our hands. Not the kind of start SFA CEO would want surely?”
Well exactly, personally I can’t see merit in TRFC advocate’s arguments
If Rangers ever intended to appeal the WTC, HMRC’s letter to Mr M McGill (21 February 2011) is absolutely damning, the HMRC mention fraud and deception. By the 03-March-2011 they got advise from Counsel that put paid to any notion of a successful appeal.
Of course that didn’t mean they couldn’t appeal it means any appeal would have been frivolous. If this was a process in kicking the can down the road (and I believe it was as the RFC Financial Officer had agreed the debt in 2010) then that realistically came to a halt 03-March 2011. Of course Rangers were still claiming they were appealing the WTC at the start of 2013 FGS…
Now the other “technical” argument was that HMRC didn’t start to enforce collection until May 2011 and that they were given 30 days to comply…
Unless there is evidence otherwise we must speculate on why HMRC waited to start the collection process. Now another HMRC letter to Mr M McGill gives us an insight into why this was. It was due it seems to the impending takeover by CW.
Was there an official agreement between HMRC and RFC? I doubt it very much – I’m speculating here and reading between some lines but it seems to me that Rangers claimed they were not in a position to pay and that the exchequer would have to wait until the takeover – they must have given a clear undertaken to ensure payment at that stage.
Now if this is the case, how can not having the funds to satisfy an outstanding Tax Debt be the same as having no “outstanding payables”, it can’t on any technicality. On top of that, while stretching incredulity the fact is IF HMRC delayed collection on the basis of a guaranteed payment in full in May 2011 they were misled by RFC. There was no workable guarantee in place – how do we know this…
Because it wasn’t paid in May 2011, nor by May 2012 for that matter.
Of course, you are quite right , we have not seen the evidence to support TRFC advocate’s claims and until we do, there has to be the possibility they are sound. However huge doubts to their veracity remain and they MUST be tested by Tribunal.
Great to see you guys are still on the case and providing supporting evidence, they’ve got a habit of misplacing and overlooking things – especially when it comes to the WTC;)
AngelGabriel on 2nd July 2018 11:14 am
”Buried bone .
Evidence not aired in public.
We don’t know what’s happening.
Real Rangers man claims to know.
Real Rangers man claims technical knockout.
The more things change the more they seem to stay the same.
The sad thing is a good portion of our support are completely oblivious to the extent of how corrupt ,the game we pay into is governed.
A sham doesn’t matter when we’re winning trebles.
I’m afraid that is soooo true, if you read my response to Auldheid (above) you can see this investigation was launched in the face of negative publicity on the promise of restoring trust and transparency. Getting on for a year later and it’s back to covert operations.
Hail Hail
Awe ffs the constant gardener is going to ruin the Brazil V Mexico game for us…??
50 shades @2:55
Sound down HH
EUROCHAMPS67 on 2ND JULY 2018 2:44 PM
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Not to forget all the hard work that Jobo does, running the charity competitions with CRC.
That’s got to be a nightmare.
Don’t know what happened or what’s going on or who’s involved in this dispute, but I hope that Jobo reconsiders.
HH. ?
The wee Mexican player standing next to the keeper at the Anthemns looks ugly enough to sign for the Huns.
God Bless Him.
RP McMurphy, Phylis D, WITS, whitedoghunch and kikinthenakas
Thanks for the much needed info
Beatbhoy
“I’ll be around that area, do you have a Gettysburg address??”
In less than four score and seven days I will be staying at the President Inn & Suites (11th to 14th July only) but I will pick up a hire car in Harrisburg so we can visit some places.
ANd , during my stay, I will hope that I shall not perish from this earth.
59 shades and FrannyB , today’s match is the first I will get to see from start to finish in this world cup . I tuned in at the anthems then fatso’s horrible whine was heard. Mute button applied.
59 should be 50 , sorry
I know we will be missing Dedryck and Big Mick from our CL qualification game and possibly Tom Rogic also due to the world cup, now 3 out of our squad ain’t bad and imho shouldn’t cause us much problem,,,, but imagine if you will ( no laughing at the back please) that Scotland had qualified and got out of the group stages ( I know l know),,, we would have been without Cragie, KT, Leigh ,Cal Mac and maybe Broonie, plus Jack Hendry …..
Thankfully we ( Scotland)are pish or else Celtic would be struggling for a team eh.
H.H
P.s c’mon the Mexicans
Super Salary from Petrofac fail to World Cup glamour.
DALLAS DALLAS WHERE THE HECK IS DALLAS on 2ND JULY 2018 3:07 PM
59 should be 50 , sorry
@@@@@
Ha Ha, no worries mate I’m nearer 59 than 50 so maybe I should just change it ???
Mexico have never beaten Brazil in a World Cup game.
50 shades , lol. Thanks .
Even lstening that horrible little Englander , Tyldsely , is more tolerabe than fatso.
Coral the bookies had a thing on facebook saying Jon Champion and fatso were the favoured commentary team with their punters. Good grief
SFTB forgot to say the William Tecumseh Sherman statue isn’t far from the entrance to Central Park. That maybe of interest to you.
Grand Central is a beautiful building, a must see. The Brooklyn Bridge as well is an amazing structure, built mostly by the Irish.
You probably know all this already though.
Buzzing about all the New York talknow and I’m not even going!
Laters.
HH. ?
Bourne, Sally has never won the petrofac cup as a manager
Super Salary is the only Rainjurz and Sevco link to the World Cup.
DALLAS
See ‘Petrofac Fail’ :-)
Pedants CSC
Is Carlos Pena on the Mexican bench?
ThisTimeLastYearsBestPlayersInScotland CSC
Cracking game..
Bourne, oops , a school boy error from me.
Sevco when Sally was in charge could not beat a team , Stirling Albion, whose manager was not at the game as he was getting married that day.
Eurochamps67 & 16 Roads . I hope whoever has had a pop at Jobo is big enough to apologise. I wouldn’t like the blog to lose a decent bloke and excellent poster.
Chairbhoy .
The whole episode is farcical. Your last post shows it’s actually worse than a farce , it’s a fix . HH
Dallas
I remember that day in the banter years during the journey going for 55 :-)
What a joke this country is with that clown served up as World Cup material.
This game is excellent. Both Brazil & Mexico showing skill and commitment. What price for a red card ?
BOBBY MURDOCH’S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS on 2nd July 2018 10:50 am
AULDHEID
So it’s lip-service and a stitch-up?
Genuine question,as I’m getting totally flummoxed by how little is being done despite such huge amounts of evidence.
================
I think there has been an attempt at exclusion of an important period, a bit of negotiation at play as in “we will cough for breaches under CW regime as long as you don’t examine closely what happened under the old regime.”
Something that would reduce the consequences of foul play at end of March being confirmed that the SFA as a whole would want to avoid having to deal with.
However questions have been raised and Celtic alerted to possibility of another LNS job, so lets wait and see what happens in coming week.
Either the reasons for the exclusion are made public or given to Celtic to explain to shareholders or the end of March activity is part of the JPDT.
In the interests of restoring trust the latter should be the choice.
Chairbhoy
Those are all the factors at play. I mean even HMRC thought what the old regime had done was tantamount to fraud and they were close to the action.
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1IifJ7H9YQ9OXGomnvpn6Enk2A0AgFRxw
BEATBHOY@12-44pm
Who twisted your titty?
You attempt to ridicule my point by quoting stats from outwith timeframe i stated.
Answer the question?
Has Pep won in Europe in the last 6 years?
I never mentioned his domestic record where of course he has had success with vastly more financial resources at Bayern and City.
All systems have their merits but once that system has been countered you have to be pragmatic and change.
Russia used the same simple plan that ended Barca’s domination in European competition by simply compressing space between defense and midfield and holding position thus denying passing lanes .
Spain never looked like scoring.
I wouldn’t worry about our players in Armenia, I am vastly overweight and totally out of condition, I constantly spend a fair few hour in 40+ temps, it’s 42 as I type this and I have to go out for another couple of hours in the heat and I can manage it, to say our players will let the heat affect them is making excuses imo.
Come on Mexico.