Champions, Euro qualifiers and relegation must be decided

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What happens in football over the next few months is shrouded in uncertainty, but we know enough to be able to narrow the field of possibilities down.  Uefa meet on Tuesday to discuss the crisis when they will almost certainly cancel the Euros, ending all online betting on Euro 2020, and confirm that no Champions League or Europa League games will take place between now and the summer.

Sorry to mention the dirty little subject, but the worldwide game is facing financial turmoil like never before (more on this later), having lost club and national Uefa games between now and the summer, all parties need to ensure that income-generating European competitions take place next season.  A new timetable will emerge, but basic necessity requires Uefa to come out of Tuesday’s meeting with a plan for next season’s Champions League and Europa League, at the very least.

In order to hold these competitions next season, individual countries need champions and qualifiers from other positions.  Whatever else remains unknown, we can be sure that next season’s Champions and Europa Leagues will be scheduled; champions will be determined by June or July at the latest.

Another fact we can be very sure of, it that epidemiology projections indicate no football will take place until July at the earliest.  This temporary postponement will become permanent before it expires.  National leagues are finished across Europe.

In Scotland and England, clear champions are in place.  If you are a Lazio fan, this looked like being your season, but the league is finished, Juventus’ tiny advantage will make them champions.

Hearts have blown their season but I do not think there is a single Hearts fan who would honestly object to relegation at this point.  When you set aside all the transient bluster, football fans know they need to take their medicine when they are not good enough.  We saw the same attitude in many Rangers fans eight years ago, who wanted Newco to start at the bottom of the pile, despite the financial advantages of getting a hand up.

Dundee United will be promoted.  A play-off between Hamilton Accies, Inverness, Dundee and Ayr United can be held immediately prior to the new season, to determine who plays in the top flight.  The Scottish Cup has three games left, this too can take place prior to kick-off next season.

Less than a week ago, I advocated playing the remainder of the season behind closed doors, but the health tsunami facing society makes that impossible.  Football will need all of the income it can get when normality resumes.  The critical path from that financial necessity determines that all countries need to know their champions and qualifiers for European competitions – and that means we have no choice but to draw the line now.

For years I have played over celebrating nine-in-a-row.  There will be no celebrations this year, in this respect, we have been robbed, but we all have far more important concerns right now.

We will cover the hugely significant financial implications of the crisis in the coming days.

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  1. PB

     

     

    Got it! Cheers. I have my folks not looking to be locked down, staff over here with elderly parents in compromised health and my own lungs not in the best of nick right now. I believe we will all make it through this but it’s never a time for that.

     

     

    I assume everyone already has this tracker – https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html

     

     

    Respect to those on earlier with the BIG JIMMY support.

     

     

    HH to all.

  2. I have not really been too worried about COVID-19 I am trying to be cautious but carry on.

     

    As well as my family I am trying to look after 73 staff/colleagues, thinking of ways to minimise the risk etc. but I am beginning to think (I am a bit slow, I know) that there is more to this Virus.

     

     

    I don’t think the Govt are telling the truth… Then again why am I surprised..

     

     

    Hail Hail

     

     

    D. :)

  3. Right now if all had went well we would be singing and dancing about another honest NIAR, however, we’re in a what if and whataboutry situation.

     

     

    The what if is regarding extending the season and the players that are out of contact and ones like FF who have tae go back tae their parent clubs.

     

     

    Personally I believe that the authorities will allow the contracts to be extended, probably on a short term basis and the parent clubs, especially Bournemouth, of the loanees will be more than happy tae allow the loan to clubs tae keep them also on a short term basis as it will save them money

     

     

    However, if not we go with what we have, this is not the first time we have been in this type of quandary.

     

     

    Back in 1968 the League Cup Final due to be played on October 26 was postponed due tae a fire at the national stadium so it was rescheduled for April 5, 1969.

     

     

    However, 2 players who were eligible in October missed out in April, Joe McGoals who was cup tied with us and colin stein who joined deidco from Hibs after the original final should have been played, they really missed out on both strikers and played midfielder peter cormack, who allegedly turned us down prior tae signing Wispy, in that position. We did what we always have done and adapted.

     

     

    Harry Hood also missed out for us as he was cup tied with Clyde, as did the Bear who was injured in a 3-2 victory up at Muirton where Harry Harry scored our last minute winner. The Wee Mhan picked up a booking that day which should have had an effect 25 days later, but not the way the craft planned it.

     

     

    Anyway in the LC Final Jinky was outstanding and we were 6 goals ahead with 15 minutes to go, Hibs scoring their 2 in the last 10.

     

     

    3 weeks later we lined up against deidco without the still injured Yogi and the Wee Mhan who was conveniently suspended, they were without their 100,000 pound striker who was also suspended for brawling with a kilmasonic player who was looking for revenge after he had crudely fouled wee mclean, this was his 3rd sending off for violence in his fledgling career.

     

     

    I say Jinky was conveniently suspended as his booking occurred after it was found out stein had been sent off again and would miss what would turn out tae be sir furious’s final game for his boyhood heroes.

     

     

    They vehemently complained about the suspension right up to the day of the game, we just got on with it replacing our greatest ever player with a young Fifer who extracted the urine from their greatest ever thug right on the half time whistle.

     

     

    As for whataboutry, sevcoites are now greeting about our first title as they were docked 10 points, we still won by 20 points and this was after dropping 2 at rugby park where Lenny at one point was penning his resignation letter in his heid, later that same day sevco dropped 2 at home tae the buddies.

     

     

    They also greet about no being in the same division as us so it disnae count, should have been playing in the lower leagues due tae their ebt thievery.

     

     

    Sevco are NOT going for 55, they still have tae win their first, also deidco did NOT win 54 titles it was 53 ½ as they shared their first one with the Super Sons, in fact the Rock had a better GD than them, +40 tae +33, but that didnae count at the time.

     

     

    The Sons would win it outright the following season 2 points ahead of us while deidco were 13 points behind.

     

     

    We really should be reminding them of this.

  4. I tend to go by the Wikipedia reports of said pandemonium situation that we are all in which no doubt will lead to another underlying matter/issue in due course yeah like 2008 the crashed world economy when savers interest rates fell from the normal 5% to 0.5% for twelve years now yeah it will probably drop to 0% no doubt anyway this so called Bat Virus (Covid19) as we should all know by now came about via a City in China where some people consume Bat’s Soup a late Doctor/Scientist brought this serious matter to the World Media attention & how this Pneumonia Virus will cause havoc around the world if said problem is not addressed asap with the recent Chinese New Year near by we are referring here to last December 2019 the writing was on the Great China Wall however his sound advise was not taking seriously by we all know who the World Governments & now we are all in a time period of uncertainty @ present where the near future looks bleak with no end in sight however its not all Doom & Gloom & Armageddon have Faith Everyone this will come to pass however the question @ present is when will it end & will this serious matter be addressed once & for all ? ? that is the real issue here after all we don’t want to hear yeah this matter has been properly addressed only to find it comes back again in the near future as for future Holidays/Travelling around Europe & The Globe lets be honest here how many people are going to Travel by Airoplane only to find @ which ever Country you go too one has to spend two weeks in quarantine/lockdown before they can go free that does not make sense nor is it acceptable the Airlines are going to feel the brunt of this serious health issue along with the Tourism Industry & all that this entails in other words this serious health issue matter is seriously going to have a knock on effect on not just our economy but also the rest of the World Economy as well Jobs will be lost all over the place & more austerity will happen not unless there is positive news in more ways than one & not all doom & gloom & panic buying what is going down @ present as we have all seen as for the Footy this is a no Brainer the League Titles should & will be

     

    awarded to the Clubs/Teams Celtic/Liverpool etc etc who are @ the top of their Leagues end of

     

    put it this way the so called numpty Scottish Media pundits would not be saying aye the League

     

    should be null in-void with no winner if we all know who (Sevco) where @ the Top of the League

     

    no chance they would all soon change their tune as regards to that situation saying differently

     

    that is for sure & we all know who the numpty Scottish Media Pundits are coming out with that

     

    gobshite anyway as for what is going down @ present the present day current affairs Footy @

     

    present is cancelled down indefinitely until its safe & sound to resume back to normal with no

     

    future problems hanging over ones head so to speak & Full Football Season Calendars can be

     

    completed without doubt after all I’m a Supporter/Season Card Holder who has paid up front

     

    people like myself don’t like to be short changed aye four home matches nearly £112 out of

     

    pocket for nothing in return is unacceptable & not on now we all know that in life sometimes

     

    shit happens although being incompetent about not heeding serious advice & only addressing

     

    the serious sittuation after the Horse has bolted is useless & can effect ones Credibility that is

     

    for sure in other words a total let down as regards to a serious World Health Issue & can said

     

    Leaders be Trusted in future that remains to be seen as for remaining Cup Matches well they

     

    will all have to be Cancelled which is a pain in the you know where considering we where going

     

    for a Quadruple of Trophies alas only to be denied by serious Incompedence by we all know who

     

    their is a rumour saying that the Footy Season this Season 2019/20 will resume on the weekend

     

    of the 4th & 5th of April 2020 however that remains to be confirmed & seen we will all have to

     

    keep our eyes & ears to attention that’s for sure anyway Folks I will leave a comment later until

     

    then keep the faith & may God safely watch over you all go on the Bhoys get it in there & the

     

    Bhoys will never walk alone Hail ! Hail ! all AKBW1888

  5. Not been on for a while.

     

    Just wanted to say that I hope you and your families stay healthy.

     

    Onwards to 10

     

    HH

  6. Scottish football is facing a call to declare the current campaign null and void due to the coronavirus outbreak.

     

     

    According to the Press Association at least one Scottish Premiership club is ready to demand SPFL chief executive Neil Doncaster cancels the season if it cannot be completed, after all football in Scotland was postponed on Friday “until further notice”.

     

     

    A source told PA: “We don’t see how titles, promotion or relegation can be agreed on any basis of sporting fairness.”

     

     

    They added: “Perhaps prize money can be split on the basis of the current table.

     

    “But the league should be ruled void and we start next season as we commenced this one.

     

    “Making the season void is the best of a bunch of bad choices.”

  7. Whilst it is disappointing for us not to have had the chance to be another step closer to our 51st title, please spare a thought for the Sevconians who still have a mathematical chance of their first title.

  8. Scottish football is facing a call to declare the current campaign null and void due to the coronavirus outbreak.

     

     

    According to the Press Association at least one Scottish Premiership club is ready to demand SPFL chief executive Neil Doncaster cancels the season if it cannot be completed, after all football in Scotland was postponed on Friday “until further notice”.

     

     

    A source told PA: “We don’t see how titles, promotion or relegation can be agreed on any basis of sporting fairness.”

     

     

    Any guesses ???

  9. Hello Jobo

     

    Malorbhoy reporting in aged 681/4, had a bad cold since January, it’s a bad cold, but to everyone else its coronaviros, keep the faith in the lord our God for guidance throughout this very difficult time

     

    And be nice to each

     

    Other

  10. Their recent-ish 9-in-a-row remains a monument to dishonesty – largely unpunished at that.

     

    Now they have the gall to raise the spectre of sporting integrity. Have they no shame?

  11. RON67 on 15TH MARCH 2020 8:37 PM

     

    Scottish football is facing a call to declare the current campaign null and void due to the coronavirus outbreak.

     

    According to the Press Association at least one Scottish Premiership club is ready to demand SPFL chief executive Neil Doncaster cancels the season if it cannot be completed, after all football in Scotland was postponed on Friday “until further notice”.

     

    A source told PA: “We don’t see how titles, promotion or relegation can be agreed on any basis of sporting fairness.”

     

    They added: “Perhaps prize money can be split on the basis of the current table.

     

    “But the league should be ruled void and we start next season as we commenced this one.

     

    “Making the season void is the best of a bunch of bad choices.”

     

     

    The PA are talking bullshit their suggestion does not make sense nor is it workable for

     

    example look how many games this Season so far that Celtic have played six to try &

     

    qualify for the CL then two match play off to get into the Europa League that’s eight

     

    so far then six games in the Europa League Group Stages that’s fourteen matches

     

    then another two against Copenhagen that’s sixteen in total now lets look @ the

     

    domestic matches on top four in the League Cup that’s twenty so far & three in the

     

    Scottish Cup that’s twenty three plus twenty nine in the League that’s fifty two

     

    matches in total & say this Season’s League was completed as normal although

     

    this is not the case as we all know however say it did finish normally then with

     

    the eight outstanding SPL Fixtures to go would have brought the Bhoys matches

     

    played total up too sixty (60) & say they managed to get to the Final of the

     

    Scottish Cup that would be another two matches which brings it to sixty two

     

    matches in total over the course of one Season is plenty of fixtures to play

     

    & the same situation could arise next Season in other words another sixty

     

    two matches that is if we have to play the same amount of European Qualifiers

     

    next Season which would need be cut to allow an additional Ten Domestic

     

    Fixtures to conclude from Season 2019/2020 I’m sure that all Clubs would

     

    like the additional matches onto another Season no chance & that does

     

    not make sense nor is it workable & the Press Association do not run

     

    Football its the Clubs & the SFA who are meant to organise it sensibly &

     

    fairly not disorganise it if this Season does not reconvene in three weeks

     

    time & does not look like it can be completed this Season in other words

     

    by the end of May 2020 then the Honours & so called prize money should

     

    be based & handed out as how it stands @ present so for example if Hearts

     

    are bottom along with Hamilton then they should be relegated & the top

     

    two teams from the Championship should come up the normal procedure

     

    should apply to the rest of the Leagues its a no Brainer & is sensible as well

     

    that’s if alot of these Clubs are financially still around

  12. STEPHBHOY67 on 14TH MARCH 2020 3:04 PM

     

    … So while young men were sent to war those in protected skilled work (you know who you are, we know who you are) stayed at home.

     

     

     

    Sorry STEPHBHOY, but I have to tell you that I find the above part of your post not just downright ignorant and ill-informed, but wholly inaccurate and, to me, deeply offensive!

     

     

    Both my beloved Grandfathers, one immigrant Irish and one Scots, both Catholic and both Celtic Fans, worked in Brabbie’s Steel Mill during the war. They both stayed at home doing their ‘protected skilled’ bit for the war effort to help supply much-needed steel. The Catholic/Celtic bit, like our ‘open-to-all’ Club is actually irrelevant in that not all men (and women; my aunt was a welder!) who ‘stayed at home’ were somehow tainted; the ‘war effort’ did not just include soldiers who went to war as most people’s lives were on the line at that time regardless of their creed or background, and regardless of whether they were at The Front or at home.

     

     

    Yours in Celtic,

     

     

    TB&F.

  13. JOBO…

     

     

    Here what you are saying, the blog brought a lot of us together, good banter, hoots and holidays.

     

    In the the time of need, keep the heid and join in. 🍀🍀

  14. i’vehadtochangemynamebacktojackiemac on 15th March 2020 4:39 pm

     

     

    Without doubt the UK and the British people deserve criticism and ridicule for many things, but fighting Hitler isn’t one of them.

  15. After the news of the care home outbreak .. I think it would be wise to shut the schools ..

     

     

    Aye, Ernie .. the concentration camps the Brits used in the boar war planted a seed in a certain Germans napper..

  16. ERNIE LYNCH on 15TH MARCH 2020 9:32 PM

     

    i’vehadtochangemynamebacktojackiemac on 15th March 2020 4:39 pm

     

    Without doubt the UK and the British people deserve criticism and ridicule for many things, but fighting Hitler isn’t one of them.

     

     

    You are damn tooting Ernie Lynch

     

    Did you know that Adolf Hitler was a Freemason & he persuaded a lot of Germans that

     

    the Jewish people where bad & needed exterminated cause they put Jesus to the Cross

     

    & the German people where the master race & it was the Rusian Winter that was the

     

    turning point of World War Two where the Germans lost 300.000 Troops in the harsh

     

    Cold Rusian Weather & Hitler was sneaked out of Germany & lives the rest of his life

     

    until the 1970’s in Argentina before he passed on that’s why they never found Adolf

     

    Hitlers remains in Germany because they are no doubt in Argentina that’s if he got

     

    buried probably his remains got cremated these are true accounted facts about

     

    Adolf Hitler who was a bad human being & also did you know that Shindlers List

     

    is based on a True Story it was also a good movie as well

  17. ERNIE LYNCH @ 10:02

     

    What leaps out at you from that spreadsheet is that South Korea has close to one third of the number of Italian cases (circa 8,000 to 24,000) , yet has 3 deaths in the past 24 hours compared to 368 in Italy.

     

    A testament to early testing of hundreds of thousands of its citizens?

  18. Gavin Wallace

     

    @gav_wallace1

     

    Presenter🎤 📺|

     

    @BBCRadioScot

     

    Travel and

     

    @BBCSportScot

     

    | Stadium Announcer KTV Commentator

     

    @KilmarnockFC

     

     

    ·

     

    1h

     

    1/2 Sources telling me that Scottish football will stop until September. League standings will be final, there will no closed door games due to Insurance’s not covering the risks of catching the virus from playing. The league cup will not run next season…

     

     

    Gavin Wallace

     

    @gav_wallace1

     

    ·

     

    59m

     

    2/2 The Scottish Cup will run from September and there is apparently one club in the premiership that does not hold the insurance to pay out over the current situation. I’ve been told to expect this announcement on Monday.

  19. IniquitousIV on 15th March 2020 10:08 pm

     

     

    Mass testing seems to be a crucial element of getting things under control.

     

     

    In the UK it seems testing is now being restricted to people who have been hospitalized.

  20. ERNIE LYNCH @ 10:18

     

    Placing cart before horse, and closing stable door are two equine analogies that come to mind?

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