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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PF AYR
The writer of those e-mails earlier in the week made up the losses the next two days.
Typical!
ernie lynch
11:10 on 3 August, 2013
Big Nan
11:05 on
3 August, 2013
I’m not decrying John Keane.
I’m saying that our situation was in no way analogous to that of the huns.
………………………………………………………………………
That’s for sure.
When we were going down the tubes the whole of the Scottish banking community/establishment seemed to have smiles from ear to ear 24/7.
When they were going burst it was a doom and gloom nation from top to bottom.
No way analogous in that regard for sure.
‘crushed nuts?’ ‘Naw, Layringitis!’
The racist comment didn’t do for Chuckles, it was the links to Whyte, despite the fact that, as you say, he was ‘exonerated’ some weeks later.
You say Mather hasn’t spent a penny, yet Bell, Clark, Daly, Law, Moshni, Peralta, and Smith have all signed contracts that begin on Sept 1st. Are you saying Mather can renege on those contracts?
WEEFRATHETIM
Ah,hell.
I hope she gets over it,bud. Fingers toes and eyes crossed.
Bhoys I stopped being really interested in Rangers and their tribute act as soon as it became patently obvious that regardless of the amount of deceit, tax evasion, and cheating that has occurred. Regardless as long as there is football in Scotland they will be casting their insidious shadow across the beautiful game.
I first thought the banner article “Celtic poisoning Scottish football” was a joke – but it appears that Paul67 believes this. Question if Minty hadn’t embarked on his reckless win at all cost fantasy football team would Scottish football be in the mess its is currently in? Would the Dundee utd’s and Aberdeens of the SPL (or whatever it is called now) be able to mount a reasonable challenge for the title if they hadn’t had to put themselves in massive amounts of debt trying to keep pace with the Dead club!
Since sevco do not have any european travel Greggs has anounced a Frequent Pie-er program just for sally
Steinreignedsupreme
It seems to me that there are 2 factions in the blue room – Green’s gang, who want to get out eventually, trousering as much cash as they can, and the old guard, who would be happy to see the buying price driven down for their men waiting in the wings. Surely it makes sense for the latter to drive the share price down?
Weefra-cheers
EDB-If your post was for me,i will need to look into router issue.HH
Kayal33
If Kelvin is out then Charles steps in , if George is out then Derk gets a run out….. Best thing for stiffness at his stage of the season run it off , so expecting James and Mikal to start but maybe not finish the game .. Revised line up
Fraser
Mikal Effe Charles Izzy
James Scott Joseph Derk
Kris
Tony
steinreignedsupreme
11:04 on 3 August, 2013
%%%%%%%%
My guess is that come September 1st, Ally will declare his position untenable and fold his tent. Both CW and chuckles had hoped he’d do a WGS and leave without a payoff. They made the the mistake of not feeling that under the lard and bluster there’s a cunning fox!
Sannabhoy
Was looking for you yesterday is it to late to volunteer to help out today ?
Kayal33
10:40 on 3 August, 2013
Celtic quartet Georgios Samaras (toe), Kelvin Wilson (shin splints), James Forrest and Mikael Lustig (both stiffness) are all doubts.
Can’t see any risks being taken ahead of Wednesday.
===
Haven’t they removed the Swedish players toe from our Sammi’s shin yet?
BMCUWP
Was too busy to lose any cash at Goodwood
up_over_goal
11:16 on 3 August, 2013
%%%%%%
There are no contracts with Bell, Clark, Daly, Law, Moshni, Peralta, and Smith they are trialists.
Again. Ogilvie and Spiers.
This interview reminds me of his coverage of Mike McCury, referee extraordinaire.
Decent guy, honest, impartial, innocent of all charges because he is a decent and honest and impartial and innocent guy who told me that he is decent and ………… .
EKBhoy
11:21 on 3 August, 2013
Hoping big Amido gets a start. He needs game time in order to settle and if we have a winger, or wingers, supplying crosses then he has a more than decent chance to get off the mark in the scoring charts for the season.
Lets get behind the team today, complain about tactics and formations if you will but kindly refrain for ‘player bashing’. Please :-)
Come on ye bhoys in Green.
Right guys, off to get ready. Be back on after 2030. COYBIG.
Weefra HH
Iki
You forgot about dignity
PF AYR
Good man.
I am in a run of poor form-it’s a marathon,this-so didn’t lose much.
Coupon on today and hoping for a wee turn.
Hope springs eternal……
Kayal33
If we go 3-0 up then big Amido will be whisked off the bench. Neil needs to protect the young lad at this stage of the season , his time will come.
iki
11:24 on 3 August, 2013
Again. Ogilvie and Spiers.
This interview reminds me of his coverage of Mike McCury, referee extraordinaire.
Decent guy, honest, impartial, innocent of all charges because he is a decent and honest and impartial and innocent guy who told me that he is decent and ………… …………….
He also did the same with Donald Findlay, QC
http://www.heraldscotland.com/sport/spl/aberdeen/this-is-not-a-peace-pipe-he-may-have-found-redemption-but-donald-findlay-qc-is-still-an-advocate-with-a-bit-of-devil-1.91619
up_over_goal 11:19 on 3 August, 2013
In the meantime the Whyte Knight is still the only show in town.
taranis
yeh it should be no problem,see you in the bar for a wee sherbit or three h.h
‘crushed nuts?’ ‘Naw, Layringitis!’
Cheers – it’s confusing when you read that a player has ‘signed’ for Rangers, when in fact they have agreed to sign on Sept 1st. I would be very surprised, but gratified to the point of hilarity, if none of them did.
‘crushed nuts?’ ‘Naw, Layringitis!’ 11:21 on 3 August, 2013
I can’t see Absolutely walking – although he could do with the exercise. He’ll stick out. He earns more than Neil Lennon.
Eventually King will buy the assets of the Third Reich and Absolutely’s experience at fourth-tier level should ensure he has a job with the next club.
There was never any danger of CFC going out of business in 1994 – not with mhen like Fergus and John Keane ready to step into the breach.
I have no idea how much John Keane was worth back then, but he had no hesitation in putting up £1 million. For this we should be eternally grateful.
Fergus, in his own words, said his investment was £9.2 million, which was two-thirds of his entire wealth at the time. So he would have had assets of c£14 million. Wealthy but not mega-wealthy.
Yes he walked away with c£35 million – but personally I do not begrudge him a penny!
HH!!
Big Nan
11:15 on 3 August, 2013
That is absolutely correct. No teeth were gnashed, no First Minister referred to us as ‘part of the fabric of our nation’. The tone of the press coverage implied that we were thick Tims who just didn’t know how to do it right.
Incidentally, MSM reporting on Sevco started as a disgrace and is now beyond a scandal. The Ibrox boardroom is a zoo and with each week a new and even more exotic beast gathers at the watering hole. It is a whole lot more sinister than the emperor’s new clothes.
oglach
11:27 on 3 August, 2013
Lets get behind the team today, complain about tactics and formations if you will but kindly refrain for ‘player bashing’. Please :-)
Come on ye bhoys in Green.
_____________________
Sound advice, Oglach.
Not one single player EVER improved because idiots were booing at him.
They might try a wee bit of encouragement instead.
Good luck.
Just a thought,
With all the changes to seating arrangements and freeing up of executive seats in Lisbon Lions stand – will all Champions League sponsors be located there, using Kerrydale lounge, when we get into group stages, and us fans in block H, be given our own seats ?
Here,s hoping, and ready to cheer on the Bhoys and Mr Keane today
Hail Hail
PS, you roasters from last night, I was out
FRITZSONG
Agree.
Magic,innit?!
You said it, BMCUW.
HH
steinreignedsupreme
11:43 on 3 August, 2013
£££££££
I agree, he won’t walk, but he will sashay his fat can down thon marble staircase when he finds out that his magnificent seven is down to two!
Steinreignedsupreme. Absholutely! Of that there can be no doubt! : )
Steignreignedsupreme
Yes, but once again it’ll be the same club in the eyes of its follow follwers, and I wouldn’t hold out much hope of them beginning life at the bottom tier, ‘for the good of Scottish football’ yadayada.
SOAL-After the bath,i lay under my bed with a packet of biscuits,distraught at not winning the quiz.You were a worthy winner.
GrittedteethCsc :)
Tallybhoy 11:45 on 3 August, 2013
People like Fergus McCann and John Keane stepped up and saved the club with their own money.
Sevco heroes like Smith and McCoist bleed the new club dry after helping the previous club die.
I’ve just read the CO story in the Herald. Honestly you couldn’t make it up. They are so corrupt and pathetic its unbelievable.