I looked into the world of Scottish football betting yesterday. Betting on Celtic to win the Scottish Premiership is less rewarding than putting your money in an interest bearing account, which, I suspect, is an approximation of what bookmakers will do with any such bets. In short, our league is not so much a sport as a secure investment.
Betting gets really interesting if you meander onto what is referred to as the Without Celtic market, or who will win the league if Celtic are taken out of the equation. Favourites are Aberdeen, closely followed by Motherwell and then Dundee United and Hibs (hmm….).
Can you imagine what a league title like this would do for these clubs? Aberdeen, Motherwell and United actually vying to become champions?
Some hold a notion that Celtic are the great benefactors of Scottish football, which is dependent on you and me for the occasional home game and TV money. This is rubbish. Celtic inhibits Scottish football more than we can imagine. We are a competitive poison making it impossible for historically significant football teams to thrive.
Keeping a clean sheet away from home is an achievement for any team. Doing so twice, in Europe, and winning both games, is outstanding for St Johnstone. Well done. I can only imagine their absence from the top of the Without Celtic betting chart is a result of bookmakers anticipating their run to the Europa League final in Turin will hinder their league challenge.
I have to express my sheer delight at yesterday’s pronouncement by the chief executive of Rangers International FC PLC, Craig Mather. We can be confident of this guy’s credentials and that he is worthy of following in the footsteps of Charles Green, Tommy Cooper and other comedic greats.
Mather issued a statement on the club’s web site noting punishments handed out to Hearts and Dunfermline for entering administration were different from the punishment handed out to Rangers International’s predecessor club (the player registrations and current penalties Newco Rangers were allowed to inherit) – for a completely different series of offences.
Those penalties were imposed for a variety of misdemeanours, including failure to declare the club appointed a director who had been struck off, failure to comply with stock market rules and multiple counts of bringing the game into disrepute. The SFA disciplinary panel responsible for the penalties found that “only match fixing in its various forms might be a more serious breach”.
Would you not feel a wee bit embarrassed by this? Mr Mather asks for clarification but I suggest we don’t trouble him by directing him to the aforementioned SFA panel’s ruling. Better that he operates in the version of reality he is most comfortable with, and that he keeps his followers away from looking into the real issues……..
To that effect, our thanks to all the media outlets who unquestioningly reported the Mather comments without hint of irony, apart from those pesky online types at STV, who had the temerity to address the question. Cease and desist immediately.
Flag Day tomorrow, another historic moment in Celtic history. Get in early, or late afternoon, as it happens. Hoping to see some of our new guys make their claim for a start in Sweden.
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What does the Black and White mean?
Summa of Sammi….
05:52 on
3 August, 2013
MacJay..
Did the Bhoy survive..?
Yup.
Probably because the mother didn`t operate.
Don`t quote me on that.
.
Courtesy Scotzine..
Ross County Blog..
To predict how Ross County will fare this season is not the easiest of tasks. The squad, which to all expectations bar perhaps only their own, finished fifth. A remarkable run of form after the winter break saw the team climb from battling it out with St Mirren to a position of no little comfort in the top half. That squad has had something of a make-over. Out have gone classy defenders Vaggelis Oikonomou and Andre Hainault, midfield fulcrum Paul Lawson, battering ram Steffen Wohfart, and top scorer Iain Vigurs.
Each and every one of those players is a fine SPFL level player – and no doubt Derek Adams would have chosen to keep them all.
But this was not to be, and into the free agent pool once again waded Derek Adams, a man who retains not only the faith of his players and one hundred percent support from the fans, but also the unerring trust of his director of football (George Adams) and chairman (Roy McGregor). This may seem a non sequitur, but many a manager has departed clubs – including County in the past – citing a lack of backing from the board. Derek Adams was given, along with his trusted scouting network (no longer simply a bloke sitting at home with a can of Fanta and watching YouTube clips) a free hand. And it was to the Netherlands he turned.
In came Melvin De Leeuw, Kevin Luckassen, Marc Antony Klok and Darren Maatsen. De Leeuw, whom I am told is regarded by the club as something of a coup, is a left midfielder/forward. Luckassen is a burly centre forward, Klok a holding midfielder (signed to keep things ticking over, I presume) and Maatsen a raw and extremely quick wide player. That all of these players are under 25, and two of them only 20, perhaps hints that Adams is taking something of a gamble. That they have all signed multi-year contracts suggests Adams believes the opposite.
In addition to the Dutch contingent – County can safely bring out an orange away kit without fear of sectarian reprisals Hmmm – three well-known defenders came in; from Motherwell came 22-year-old, one-time Scotland cap Steven Saunders, and from Dundee United came Northern Ireland international Brian McLean, and Ben Gordon, formerly of Chelsea. Just when the list seemed to be complete, Graham Carey – scorer of the SPL goal of the season last term – and Orhan Mustafi, a Swiss striker, both joined the Dingwall ranks. And, perhaps best of all, Richard Brittain was retained after an unseemly summer negotiation with St Johnstone.
In short, nine players in, nine players out.
How County line up will be anyone’s guess, but it looks like the 4-1-4-1 of previous seasons may well be emulated.
Brown will be the keeper. The back four seems to pick itself, with Kovacevic and Gordon either side of Munro and Boyd. Richard Brittain will move back to his favoured central midfield role, in essence replacing Lawson. Quinn and Kettlewell will make up the central pairing, and Maatsen will push Sproule for the wide right berth. Fitting Carey, nominally a wide midfielder, and De Leeuw into the same side will be interesting, and Mustafi and Luckassen will rotate up front.
As always, injuries, suspensions and off-the-field issues will sort these things out eventually, but there is certainly a greater strength-in-depth to the County squad this season compared with last.
The rest of the league is, as is often the case, a pick ‘n’ mix of unknown quantities. Dundee were doomed to relegation; Partick should make a far better fist of top flight football, but then again they could struggle. Hearts could struggle; but their squad does have elements of outstanding quality. Again though any number of injuries or suspensions could decimate their squad. St Mirren often look a fine side, but then follow-up great performances with abject displays. Aberdeen… well, you get the point.
Too many County fans compare the team’s performance with that of Inverness. Inverness are a firmly established top flight side. They have achieved nothing that County cannot, over time, replicate. But, at the same time, County still are newcomers to the SPFL. The team must place itself into a position where they are regarded as a rightful member of the elite league, rather than a temporary guest. To do that, a succession of successful seasons must be put together, free from even the faintest threat of relegation. If Ross County’s youthful side can do that in the forthcoming season, they will be well on the way to long-term success.
One last word of warning for the County faithful. County’s summer has largely consisted of signing young continental players with much to prove and much to gain. If they perform as well as they ought to, they will be sold next summer, and the whole process will begin anew. This will not be a sign of a club lacking ambition, merely evidence of wise financial prudence. Indeed..
Summa
Off oot to bed…..
There were many appreciative whistles for the Swedish Ladies, it means nothing at the end of the day, from way up high in the North Stand, I could hardly see them but being Swedish they would have instant appeal,
They are beautiful creatures.
I dinnae think so Rita
The ole DEEDs…..
Bumper Broon where is he?
Everything,asbestos æ
Summa
From the article:
“In addition to the Dutch contingent – County can safely bring out an orange away kit without fear of sectarian reprisals ”
Rejection of the bigoted orange lodge (N.B. Not orange ORDER ) is sectarian?
Now hope we see off Ross Co.today with ease.And lots of it.
PJBhoynyc 22:34
Cheers. Didnt make it, walked past Carolines on last day and they advertised ‘Ladies night’ night of female comedians. Good lady said ‘thats a pity its ladies night’ I gladly accepted that get out ;)
EN
In terms of competitive football, Celtic have won their last 6 games, scoring 17 goals without conceding a goal.
Celtic 4-0 St Johnstone : SPL
Dundee United 0-4 Celtic : SPL
Celtic 3-0 Hibernian : SCF
Cliftonville 0-3 : Celtic CLQ
Celtic 2-0 Cliftonville : CLQ
Celtic 1-0 Elfsborg : CLQ
Here’s hoping for another victory and a clean sheet tomorrow.
Estadio Nacional,
I think it was weeminger (bad memory) too many party narcotics…..
That linked to this amazin’ Essential mixes treasure trove!!!!
defo offski – Nutta&PrawnCrackers
Paul67, very interesting article. I wonder if the news last week about Celtic Nation in Carlisle is at all related to “the without Celtic market”? I appreciate not much can be said publicly, but any clues?
HH.
PeteC
Cheers for that link.
Heres the best dance tune and video you will see this decade.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FbCTG0-PkRA
Dont get the hype about Daft Punk but that tune is outstanding.
EN
macjay1 for Neil Lennon
05:29 on 3 August, 2013
His mother……
Morning all,looking for some culinary advice. my daughter is spending her last day in New York and is looking for a mic place for lunch near Time Sq,something off the wall,not one of the chains.anybody help? hail Hail Hebcelt. 67 Heaven see you tonight
Mic place=nice place Freudian slip!
hebcelt
07:21 on
3 August, 2013
http://katzsdelicatessen.com/
???
Hebcelt
Best place I eat there was Del Frisco’s, within walking distance of Time Square.
http://delfriscos.com/location/new-york/
EN
Hebcelt…………
Try the Cupcake cafe in Hell’s Kitchen………….walkable from Times Sq ( 545 9th Ave at 40th st)
it’s like a funky delli / cafe fitted out with vintage interior.
The missus loved it…………
Yeah thanks Ernie and Estadio both your choices are on my short list for. What about Cafe Edison? hail Hail Hebcelt
I’m a good guy
Eh not the point
http://www.heraldscotland.com/sport/football/ebt-was-abbreviation-for-strife-but-ogilvie-still-spells-out-his-innocence.21772611
Happy flag day everyone
Thank god the football is back !!!!
As further strife is reported in the ibrox boardroom, Keith Jackson (I kid you not) is reporting that a scots born billionaire is planning a take over.
No not that one, Keith has found another one, for a country so small it’s amazing that one journalist can discover two such wealthy men in such a short period of time.
Won’t be long till Keith rightly reclaims his king of the journos crown back from Leckie.
67Heaven … I am Neil Lennon..!!.. Ibrox belongs to the creditors
7.14
Yes,sirree.
Well done.
Strange the assumptions we make without even thinking about it.
This scenario was raised by a criminologist who was discussing the assumption that Ruth Ellis couldn`t have murdered in cold blood because she was a woman.
Mind you,we`re talking about `55,when she was hanged.
……Heb
not as handy, but why not try Prime Burger up by St Pats – the interior is old skool nyc, real old diner and the food is great………….
hebcelt
Tell your girl to get out of Time Square and head up to Washington Heights/Inwood for $2.25 (A Train to Dyckman St)
http://lamarinanyc.com
Opens at 11.00 am on Saturday.
A different perspective….
Hello this is WEE BGFC
On my way back from spain and i will make it in time for the game. See you all there
Bankibhoy1 and pjbhoynyc thanks for the feedback,Lamarina looks special. I,ll pass on all the potential venues to her. Hail Hail Hebcelt
.
Has the World moved..
As the Rain here is Horizontal..
Jeezo..
Summa
Cheers Heb – hope she enjoys………….
I’d take PJ’s advice – place looks fantastic……..
HH.
Wee bgfc
Hope you had a good holiday…. glad the late kick off suits your arrival back in scotland
Happy flag day ;)
Hebcelt …… HH
Good Morning on Flag Day.
Going to be a long day waiting right enough…
Bankiebhoy1 unfortuneately Prime Burger has closed after 74 years also An earlier suggestion Cupcake Cafe has gone as well. Maybe they should have changed their names to Sevco Burger and Sevco Cake and they could have carried on as if nothing had happened!!! hail Hail Hebcelt
.
Wee Big Georgious Fan Club..
G’Day..
Spain..!!
Tell Yer Da to take You to Greece Next Year..;-)
Summa of Samaras
Ogilvie ………….it has been said many many times ignorance is not an excuse, but they all keep saying it when it come at them about breaking the law’s of the land, and the people who are in charge and pass judgement on the law’s of the land, keep accepting it, so ERGO, they will and always will get away with it in this country, remember this statement, “as close as you can get to match fixing” I rest my case.
Bankibhoy1 have you been going about NYC shutting eating places down!!! hail Hail Hebcelt
It’s understood chairman Smith fought against Green’s return but was outnumbered .
That’s like saying the cleaner did not want him back, he has as much power as one of them.