I remember Scotland-England games being huge events. They were proper derby games, fired up by a balance – a vastly more resourceful England were in the ascendancy, but Scotland had more wins in the history books. Despite the odd hiding we thought we could take them.
The Home International Championships probably ended at the right time, just before Scotland lunged into mediocrity. No derby remains attractive if one side dreads the game coming round, while the other considers it a formality, but our former manager has given us reason for hope.
Gordon Strachan took time off from the game to invest in his stock of knowledge before becoming Celtic manager. Despite an, erm, memorable opening week, Gordon blitzed Scottish football as Celtic manager. He filled the boots of legend Martin O’Neill, and within 18 months eclipsed him by reaching what we used to refer to as ‘the next level in the Champions League’.
Despite going on to reach the knock-out stage of the Champions League again, and becoming our third manager to win three-in-a-row, Gordon stopped progressing. His time at Celtic petered out, while the entire Middlesbrough episode was a nightmare.
Gordon, like Martin before him, looked as though the game had passed him by. His resurgence at Scotland is evidence of his outstanding attribute – he’s a student of the game who continually learns.
Roy Hodgson has by far the better players, but never bet against Gordon.
Shaun’s goal on Friday
31 years ago in Sarawak, Malaysia, a midwife, Beatrice Lo, assisted in the delivery of a boy born to a Scottish family who lived in her community. Beatrice got in touch with a common friend after wee Shaun’s goal on Friday, very proud of the kid she brought into the world.
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LymmBhoy..
Thank you Very Very Much for My ‘Parcel’..;-)
Do you Get/Take the House..If so Me and 001 and a Half will be down the Great Ocean road in a Few weeks..
Ps..The Top came in Handy for Friday nights BBQ as it lasted till Sunday..Ha
Summa
Thanks Again
Jimmyquinns…..bet your proud of him mate….well done….
St Stivs
Snoddy the Gallowgate Bhoy is praying Ronny signs him.
Connaire 12
23:14 on 18 November, 2014
Re standing at game tonight, I was there tonight and last Friday. Wear a kilt, boots, strange hat with a multitude of badges and you apparently become invisible to Focus. Also entitles you to drink and pee in public.
Well I thought Coldplay for Celtic too (and Dr Snoddy) but he was mince tonight!
…although he was in good company!
Justafan
Are you Gwynnie?
Redundancies start at Ibrox.
http://m.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/30109897
So rather than clear out some overpaid player, who will likely find employment elsewhere, they start with administrative staff.
Disgrace of a club.
lymmbhoy
23:45 on
18 November, 2014
Tomorrows Herald front page
@Herald_Editor: Tomorrow’s Herald front page #scotpapers http://t.co/CsrnpbIZmD
More From the Green and Whyte show
——————-
ello ello ello, bends the knees , swings the trunchon
excuse me sir.
i have reason to believe that you, Mr Rangers International has been going around impersonating one Mr Rangers fc (deceased), falsely claiming the mans benefits and wearing his old home guard medals, and poppy insignia.
I also have reason to suspect, you have fraudulently by way of complex alias, as a Mr Sevco, squatted in old Mr Rangers (deceased) house, and caused alarm to his friends and neighbours by dressing up in his old uniform, playing his records, and adopting his mannerisms in all sorts of hand raising gestures and did convince those friends and neighbours you were the same person, and did extort monies from them.
Further, we have a serious claim, that while also know as Mr Sevco Scotland, you did
take advantage of the most vulnerable groups in society, those poor souls known collectively as the media, and did bid them to report on your behalf that you are indeed the same Mr Rangers, even claiming his date of birth, ignoring his date of death and did pass off an unbroken 143 year history of the poor deceased entity.
We also wish to interview your accomplices, Mr McCoist, A Mr Traynor, and a mr BFD Johnstone , who conspired to tell lies on your behalf.
your day has come.
Player (s)
summa of sammi
You’re very welcome……glad the top came in handy.
House and school sorted, if all goes to plan we’ll move down between Christmas and New Year.
Btw the kids loved the ole Celtic camper van.
HH
The Red Telephone
00:03 on
19 November, 2014
Connaire 12
23:14 on 18 November, 2014
Re standing at game tonight, I was there tonight and last Friday. Wear a kilt, boots, strange hat with a multitude of badges and you apparently become invisible to Focus. Also entitles you to drink and pee in public.
—————
or even in the stadium.
i wish i could find my scotland v ireland rant theother morning, cant even remeber when i posted it.
the tartan army are immune.
d d …
Er..I don’t know, I wasn’t the last time I checked!
How can staff cuts be blamed on Mike,..i mean he has less than 10% of sevco shares…he cant have that kind of influence as he already owns Newcastle…aint that contrary to SFA rules?….
Saint st….
Love it!
Justafan
I think you would know if you were Ms Paltrow!
dd…
Ah!
Lightbulb glowing above head. D’oh!
Justafan
You were dissing your ex. :)))
Not for the first time. LOL
Justafan
Hahaha. Me too. That’s why I am happily single again. :))
Does anyone dream about James Connolly? Edinburgh’s greatest son. I did last night. Very psychedelic dream of Forever peace.
***Christmas “Desert Island Tims” Show***
Highest Bidder Will Be Guest On Billy No’Well’s Desert Island Tims.
Money Goes To KANO Foundation
Contact: @billynowell ·https://www.facebook.com/billy.nowell.1?fref=ts or me
Please spread the word.
The bids have just opened an a bid was made for £50. Will you beat it?
For a great cause and you’ll have great fun.
@davidal64252752 has just bid £100
***Christmas “Desert Island Tims” Show***
Highest Bidder Will Be Guest On Billy No’Well’s Desert Island Tims.
Money Goes To KANO Foundation
Contact: @billynowell ·https://www.facebook.com/billy.nowell.1?fref=ts or me
Please spread the word.
J P Burton @johnpaulburton
I’ll go £120 if I’m outbid I’m out. If I win and it goes to ibrokes lol ill take myself out Chara. #HH
***Christmas “Desert Island Tims” Show*** KANO
“running around with a few home guard medals”
Magic, by the way!
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-30087358#
The lassie fae Denmark wins it,hauns doon ;)))
HH
theoriginalsadiesbhoy
22:55 on 18 November, 2014
kevtic
23:16 on 18 November, 2014
100% the game was 1st January 1983, 1-2.
Keep the Faith!
Hail Hail!
Delighted that’s the Internstional break over .
Disappointing as we look to have lost Lustig to injury.
Think I may ask Santa for a frame……….to put our Herald statement in!!!
COYBIG
Auldheid:
In response to your post of 19.10
1. Kev_Jungle is a fellow supporter also. So he calls others ‘sheep’… remind me…. what do many others call him….
2. I too think many follow the ‘bored’ blindly. I believe there are many on here who would agree with me.
3. See No. 1 what you state in 3 must apply to all.
I don’t subscribe to this don’t judge lest you be judged, I think it is blatantly a crook. It is when the judgement drips of hypocrisy where I have the problem. I find it comical when those judges are judged themselves and I don’t put myself above that statement, but I only wear the one skin and it is worn and fallible and I know it, but it is sincerely mine and mine alone.
Police Scotland claim they received no complaints regarding offensive singing from the England supporters during last night’s game.
This was immediately preceded by an apology from Hodgson for the chanting from the away support.
It must just be me.
Just in case anyone is in any doubt about MIH’s ability to bail out Rangers or to continue as owner of a significantly loss making club , here’s some figures to ponder and some direct quotes from Sir David himself. Everything from the MIH accounts lodged at companies house.
The high water mark for MIH was at 31st January 2008. Retained reserves of £111 million was the maximum that the Group had ever been worth. This was made up of retained P & L as well as various forms of share equity.
Since that date the financial performance has been as follows .
2009 Loss of £185 million
2010 Loss of £72 million
2011 Loss of £88 million
2012 Loss of £98 million
2013 Loss of £143 million
That gives a 5 year record of £586 million in losses. or put another way £475 million more than they had at the highest point in the Groups history . From 2009 onwards this was a business that was beyond hope and had no control over it’s own destiny . To suggest Rangers could have been saved by MIH wasn’t just delusional , it was certifiably delusional.
However these thoughts and forecasts from Sir David will no doubt give you pause for thought
2009 . The accounts were lodged at Companies House on May 5th 2010 . The following day was the UK General election , which would be convenient if you wanted to minimise media scrutiny of your accounts.
This is what Murray said
“I consider that although the UK ‘s economic recovery remains fragile the worst is behind us
The recovery is delicately poised at present with a fine balance of both risks and opportunities as we move rorward. l am confident that the measures taken over the last 18 months leave the Divisions well placed to weather further storms and capitalise on improvements in market conditions as they arise.”
Not exactly accurate forecasting given that in the following 4 years MIH incurred £401 million in losses. You would be in very messy waters were you to trust Murray’s judgement
Murray also stated the following in 2009 with regard to Rangers
“The football sector has not been sheltered from the recession and economic downturn as evidenced by the demise of Setanta. In the absence of significant TV revenue, such as that secured by the English Premier League from Sky, a new financial reality is being imposed. In the absence of guaranteed incremental revenue, such as from regular participation in the UEFA Champions League, player expenditure in the form of wages and transfer fees will necessarily require to be more realistic in order to balance the books and ensure the long term future of the Club”
I think we all know how that worked out ! The year immediately following Murray’s warning of austerity the wage bill was reduced by a whopping 5%. However Directors managed to collect a 34% pay rise . Not that even this modest austerity lasted long as the unpublished accounts for 2011 show that the wage bill increased by nearly 6% . So much for wages needing to be more realistic.
2010 These accounts were lodged at Companies House on April 1st 2011
This is what Murray said
“I am confident that our pragmatic approach to the financial restructuring, together with the focused implementation of a revised strategy developed over the course of the last 18 months, has put us back on course. These measures have focused on organisational structures, efficiencies, cost rationalisation and cash generation with progress being achieved against targets in all Divisions.
I firmly believe that the financial restructuring and measures introduced over the last two years will enable us to survive until then and thrive upon subsequent improvements in market conditions. ”
Now this is really questionable forecasting . Remember at the time these comments were made MIH were already well through the current financial year. That year the loss turned out to be greater than the previous year and came in at £88 million. You really have to question the quality of the statements put out by Murray in light of subsequent results.
He also said this about Rangers
“As announced, the Group previously marketed its majority investment in Rangers for sale. Although interest has been received, the Group has not been able to secure an offer that it considered to be in the best interests of the Club, its fans and its shareholders. Given the greater operational and financial stability at the Club, largely reflecting participation in the Champions League in successive years, the Group considers that the interests of the Club were best served by providing the football management team and board of directors with an opportunity to implement its sustainable business plan, supported by Lloyds Banking Group.
Despite speculation and comment to the contrary, stakeholders and supporters should be assured that the Group and I, as respective principal shareholders, are committed to finding a long term investor capable of developing the Club further going forward. ”
Less than 2 months later from the date these accounts were lodged Craig Whyte completed the acquisition of Rangers . Which must have surprised anyone who read Murrays statement that the club was no longer for sale.Anyone who has ever signed off a set of accounts knows that Directors statements are almost the last thing to be added. We know from the Ticketus v Whyte court documents that Whyte’s advisors had been in discussion with Ticketus starting in October 2010.
So Rangers would not , could not and never would have received any further funding from MIH.
Should Whyte not have purchased Rangers the options open to MIH and Alistair Johnston’s board were bordering on nil. As soon as McCoist failed in Europe huge losses were guaranteed as was an enormous cash shortage. MIH could not cover that, player sales would not have yielded enough and the bank had more than their fill of funding ego driven recklessness. There were no investors , no even emergency loan providers.
It was game over with or without Whyte. The wee tax case would have to be paid , no option of shafting HMRC on VAT and PAYE . The Good ship “OPM ” had sailed. As the detailed report to creditors shows when the CVA was being floated as viable there was no significant money being offered, even with no tax cases to be paid.
Demand , fan expectation and entitlement collide to ensure this is not a viable business . At least 2 of those have to change or this movie is always going the have the same ending.
Good morning friends from a dry but otherwise uninspiring looking East Kilbride.
3 more sleeps… ;-)
Saw post mentioning martin and snodgrass signing cause there good and tims..
Who else is out there that if we played in a better league that would probably sign for us ?
Martin
Snodgrass
Mccarthy
Mcgeady
Marshall
Rhodes
Love to see a full 11 of quality celts playing for us.
Then we have celtic minded players like rooney
Barcabhoy – great piece. I’ve long maintained that one thing they might need to consider is reducing fixed costs by shutting a section of the stadium. However their mentality won’t allow it. While the big crowds looked great in div 3, I wonder if it cost them overall.
Disappointed to lose, not overly perturbed that rooney scored 2, having stood behind him at ibrox once he sang the celtic song as loudly as anybody that day
http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/old-firm-semi-final-tickets-appear-4652416
As far as I am aware tickets for the semi against Sevco has not been even printed yet, therefore how can these ticket agencies sell these briefs? How do they get hold of them anyway?
HT
Not only did police Scotland say they had not received any complaints but they also stated they did not hear any offensive singing last night
The English fa must have imagined it too as they apologised
Barca
Excellent analysis of where MIH was at in terms of its accounts and its declared financial standing in those years.
However, what you have highlighted is the MIH case at best.
In considering all of these accounts and self proclaimed financial calamaties contained within the accounts, it should be remembered that by 2005 there were those within the MIH group/Rangers PLC camp who were actively denying that there were side letters and other documents which demonstrated that MIH/Rangers PLC were actively engaged in a tax avoidance scheme which had the net effect of suppressing – or attempting to suppress – the true amount of tax due to be paid by those companies on their lawful activities.
The truth of the matter is that were those accounts to be redrawn today with a view to reflecting the actual fiscal liabilities of the MIH group as at the appropriate year ends, then the losses would have been even higher.
Further, any examination of the accounts of Rangers PLC in the years leading up to its demise should start with the absolutely astonishing statements contained within the annual Rangers PLC accounts for 2005.
There, both Martin Bain and Sir David Murray reflect on record numbers for season ticket sales, record numbers in terms of hospitality revenue, record numbers for merchandising revenue and basically record numbers across every section of activity leading to the club’s highest ever turnover.
However:
The club had just had a hsare issue underwritten by MIH where they had raised less than £4M from investors leaving Murray to cough up something like £60M to reduce Rangers BANK debt to something like £35M – it has been up in the £90M area.
In that same year, where there had been Champions’d league football in season 2003-2004 – They could not make a profit unless they sold Jean Alain Boumsong plus one other player AND had an extraordinary item added to the P&L which gave them a supposed additional income stream of just under £15M.
This extraordinary item was the buying back of certain media rights for £1 from a mystery seller. That same seller had previously bought those same rights for £15M.
Fair enough one might think – when the seller paid £15M you add that to your income.
However, in this case, what the Rangers PLC accountants did was to take the purchase at £1 and then argue that because the media rights had previously sold at £15M, they then argued that by buying these at £1 Rangers had in fact made £14,999,999 and so they added that to their P&L.
Such accounting dexterity has only to be admired.
As I recall, the FD for that year was a young chap who only served less than a year as FD before having the very good sense to move on to a position with a cement company and so was not around to explain or comment on any of the catastrophes that came around the following year.