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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up_over_goal 11:53 on 3 August, 2013
The Third Reich will definitely start at the bottom, just like Sevco.
All the bluster about Armageddon has been tried and failed – you are right they will try it on again because they are very slow learners – but the results will be the same.
Ball stuck in the hedges.
In her final year at school, Olivia undertook her Food Hygiene project with highlight being the tour of the Olive production factory, near to the school.
Finally, the day arrived when she was to visit the factory.
She was met at the front office by the production manager.
Inside the factory, there were two main production lines.
At the head of the 1st line, a massive pile of olives was gradually being reduced in size by a man with a large scoop.
He scooped up some olives and tossed them into a vat of boiling water.
The manager declared, “these olives are boiled for one minute before being snap frozen. This process is called scolding and frosting. These olives are best for cooking whole. Retaining the pip improves the flavour.”
Olivia made a quick note.
At the head of the 2nd line, young Olivia witnessed what she thought was a smaller pile of olives than the one she had seen at the head of line 1.
These olives where also scooped up but thrown onto a conveyor belt. Further down the line the olives were dropped into individual compartments in a single stream.
A few further metres along the line, a machine appeared to hammer the olives.
The manager declared, “this process removes the pip from inside the olive. This removal of the pip, of course, makes the olive easier to pop into the mouth, chew and swallow. This process is called pitting.”
Olivia made another note.
Desiring to be accurate in her project report, Olivia asked the manager what was the number of each type of olive produced.
The manager replied that the market demand for the first product was relatively small with a much higher demand for the ready to eat product.
Olivia argued with the manager, stating that she was sure there were more olives being processed on the 1st production line.
“Oh no”, said the manager, “you are mistaken. They’re more to be pitted than scolded, I can assure you!!”
Taxi !!!
Green Lantern (((((0))))) 11:53 on 3 August, 2013
He’s brilliant isn’t he?
Steinreignedsupreme
Well, in the words of one great sage, we’ll see how it pans out, I suppose.
There won’t be the scandal of non-payment of PAYE and VAT this time, and Doncaster will bring up the Coventry precedent set yesterday.
neganon2
11:58 on 3 August, 2013
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.
#####
The strangest part of a very strange article (venom, vitriol, spite), is that CO admits that he accepted an EBT loan when he had left the club. No longer an employee, how did he qualify for an employee benefit?
The article could have written by some PR sort!
The ole CQNnaps back today?
Saturday night at the Gazebo
Who cares which players you see
When you’re hugging with your baby
Last row in the balcony?
Does anyone think Spiers asked CO if he paid the EBT loan back? Or if he hasn’t, when he intends to?
Me neither, the only relevant question given the rest of the sob story we have already heard.
Che.
I asked earlier too, nae response.
Fleagle?
Gary Hooper netted a brace as Norwich drew with Portuguese side Braga 2-2 at the AXA Stadium.
kayal33
12:10 on 3 August, 2013
He was asked that in a tv interview and replied that was his business and no one else’s.
Dignified.
Celticrollercoaster
Sorry for packin in the quiz after round 1 last night . I thought I was having a quiet evening on CQN ,- even dug oot jnrs autograph book n pen for notes- only to be interrupted by a mate that popped in unexpected/ly.
Had a promising start too.
Next week I’m gonna be right up for it.
HH PiP
View from today’s opposition….,.
Celtic v Ross County
SPFL Premiership
Celtic Park, Glasgow
Saturday 3rd August – 5.15pm Kickoff
Pre-season is over, and now it’s time for the real hard work to begin as the season starts, and County couldn’t have asked for a harder start to the season with an away trip to last seasons Champions, Celtic.
The close season has seen a lot of changes at County, with nine players leaving and nine new players coming in, the squad size may be the same size, but the type of players in the squad has changed.
The loss of the experience of Paul Lawson and Iain Vigurs to Motherwell will be a blow, but County have replaced these players with equally as talented young players.
While this time last year we were looking at the experience of the Ross County team and their transition in to Premier league life, this season the transition is to that of a more youthful team, with seven of the new players being under the age of 23 – only Brian MacLean (28) and Melvin De Leeuw (25) being older.
Last year County had one of the best defensive records in the league, and its a bonus that the core of the defence has been kept, Scott Boyd and Grant Munro were keystones in this defence for long periods of last season, and the introduction of Mihael Kovacevic midway through the season bolstered the defence. These three players are main candidates to start at the hart of defence, along with new arrival Ben Gordon at left back, but all these players know that there is now quality in depth and players such as Branislav Micic, Brian McLean, Steven Saunders are all there fighting for a first team start too.
There has been no changes in the goal keeping positions with both Michael Fraser and Mark Brown staying on. Last season they shared the starting position in goals, and I expect it could be a similar way this year as although each keeper is different they are both equally as capable – a tough choice for Derek Adams.
The midfield area is key to any team, and County have kept some of the key players there, but lost some equally influential players, although the majority of the new players coming in are for this area of the field.
Richard Brittain and Ivan Sproule are both likely to be mainstays in the midfield this season, but for this match (and next week against Partick Thistle) they will be suspended after both were sent off in pre-season matches. New recruit Melvin De Leeuw is also an injury concern for this match after picking up an injury in pre-season – although he did play 90 minutes in a closed doors friendly against Burghhead Thistle so a place on the bench is most likely for him. Graham Carey who only joined the club on Tuesday could be thrown straight into the starting line up as a replacement.
Last season most of the goals for County came from midfield, and it could be a similar situation this season as County are likely to continue to play with one striker.
Who will get this role for this match is up for debate. Kevin Luckassen has scored five goals in pre-season and is a strong contender, however with the news that Orhan Mustafi has joined on loan from Grasshoppers Zurich, he could be thrown straight into the starting line-up.
Celtic themselves have had a few changes to their first team squad with central midfielder Victor Wanyama leaving for Southampton for a record £12 million, and last seasons top scorer Gary Hooper leaving for Norwich City.
Like County they have had a Dutch influx with defender Virgil van Dijk and forward Derk Boerrigter joining.
Celtic’s season is already underway with them already having played three Champions League qualifiers, they came through the second round with a 5-0 aggregate win over Cliftonville, and they now lead 1-0 over Elfsborg after the first leg of the third qualifying round – although with the second round scheduled to be played on Tuesday night it is unclear whether manager Neil Lennon will rest any players or not for the league game.
C’Mon you Bhoys in Green…5-0 Derk for a double & a double.
Sevco 3/10 at Forfar …says it all …
new article posted.
Che – did you just volunteer to run this season’s naps competition?
Good on ye, mate! :-)
T4
Paul 67,
Your’e the MHAN.
HH PiP
I hope to see last season’s bogey team soundly beaten this evening, alas from afar, beside the bar in O’Sheas of Manchester with the good people of the [St.] Tommy Burns CSC.
Fraser
Mikael
Efe
Charlie
Izzy
Broonie
Kayal
Joe (should start every week)
Derk
Kris
Tony
With Amido, Wee James and possibly Sammi (if fit) to feature prominently from the bench.
HH
Malorbhoy , yes please . the more the merrier ,
meeting point is our normal place at 2:30 so we can get buckets and collection permits distributed .
Sanna
Off for a wee swim now….then on to watch the Famous Glasgow Celtic unfurl another flag…… can’t wait to join in the applause for John Keane….a mhan who put his money ‘on the table’ when he didn’t have to…