CQNers are a new type of community. We mostly, though not always, share interests but we are anchored in commons values. The achievements of the community are incredible. We’ve made friends, some of whom are no longer with us and who shared their darkest hours on these pages, while others were lost in an instant.
Those lost friends now have a memorial stone outside Celtic Park, a credit to their memory. Thanks to all who contributed.
You and I have been talking Moneyball for six years. We’ve been convinced of the merits since then, most of the world is now, so it’s gratifying to know a manager would rather lose his job than succumb to the new orthodoxy. Very brave of Mark Warburton, he has the makings of an ideal Newco manager.
Last week I wrote that I expected Newco to appoint Stuart McCall as permanent manager. He was a reliable choice, had taken Motherwell to two consecutive second place SPL finishes, knew the task, had spent years scrapping around for free transfers and, let’s face it, is a ‘Real Rangers Man’. I would not have looked past him.
Warburton managed Brentford for two years, winning promotion in the first and taking them to the play-off semi-finals in April, but Brentford is the story of owner, Matthew Benham, who has invested close to £50m in the club. Warburton is fortunate to find two consecutive owners intent on spending £50m living the dream……. you do have the money for him, Dave, don’t you?
Fans Against Criminalisation issued this statement yesterday:
“Our view is that from the outset, despite the claims from the then First Minister, Alex Salmond, that he ‘wished to build consensus’ the only support that the government has managed to attract for the Act is that of the Police Service of Scotland and the only consensus that is being built is that of the opposition to this dreadful, unworkable and pernicious legislation.
Their claim of public support for the Act is based on figures which show that people want action on sectarianism and not specifically that they support this Act. They also conveniently ignore the fact that the overwhelming majority of sectarian offences (ie those with religious aggravation) do not take place in football grounds [http://www.gov.scot/resource/0042/00424865.pdf]. In addition, many of the incidents for which people have been charged under the Act are unrelated to sectarianism.
We deplore:
• The action of the Scottish Government in giving off-the-record press briefings alleging that the Act will stay in place. This undermines the integrity of the Review process and the role of Parliament and its members.
• The use of the statistics from a highly skewed YouGov poll commissioned by the government to mislead the public.
• The continued reference by the Government to the Stirling research as being the ‘Review’ which the legislation requires them to have is an attempt to prevent the full and transparent examination of the Act which the public in general, and football fans in particular, expect and are entitled to. These claims are made despite a statement issued by the University of Stirling on Friday (12/6/15) afternoon that the work produced by their team is not ‘the review’ and their work cannot be interpreted as ‘an endorsement of the Act’.
We note:
• The conviction rate for this Act over the whole period of its existence is standing at 22%. This compares with a conviction rate for rape (itself notoriously low) in 2013-14 of 41%
• The scale of the resource devoted to enforcing this Act (including a specialised unit of the police service) which necessarily diverts finances and manpower from the detection and prosecution of more serious offenders.
We pledge:
• To continue to oppose this legislation by all peaceful means until it is repealed.
We call on the Government to listen to football fans; to listen to those whose lives have been drastically affected by a piece of legislation which is a stain on the justice system of Scotland.”
We have the most right-wing left-wing government in history.
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BOBBY MURDOCH’S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS
14:14 on
15 June, 2015
GORDON J
When did we become so cynical about our representatives?
Did it maybe coincide wi a time that they became unrepresentative of their constituents?
It’s not a modern thing. About forty years ago Billy Connolly stated that we shouldnae vote for any of them as it just encourages them.
When politicians at whatever level and of whatever hue are judged similar to estate agents-Nae offence,Tinytim-you know you have a problem.
Still,at least it proves the old maxim that whatever blights The U.S. blights The U.K. soon after.
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A very good question. When did we stop trusting the political process and our representatives? Here’s a graph which shows a big downturn in terms of voter turnout for General Elections between 1992 (77.7% )and 2001 (59.4%)
http://www.ukpolitical.info/Turnout45.htm
These are the Tony Blair/Gordon Brown years. I would suggest that reluctance to take part in the political process shown here reflects our attitudes more generally to politicians and to politics as a mechanism for representing our wishes/aspirations.
Of course that doesn’t explain why, but we can probably make some educated guesses. Access to information (now so easy) about politicians and their behaviours play a big part. The Iraq War, the expenses scandal, the mishandling of the banking crisis are the kinds of reasons I would highlight. There will be other factors too – the rise of celebrity culture is reflected by the “cult of personality” style of politics we now get. Never mind the policies – can he eat a bacon sandwich? Etc. etc..
Just watched the press conference from the circusdome & I have to admit the new pied piper seems to talk some sense ,I would therefore like to wish him all the worst luck in his new job
SONMESQUEUNCLUB
Just had a look at the article you highlighted. Apart from the whataboutery and spin on the ‘success’ of the offensive act,I note one comment towards the end of it.
This part.
‘So here we are now and what do the critics say? A few have the decency to admit they were wrong. A few accept that things are indeed improving. Most concentrated on the idea that the Government should explicitly move away from custodial sentences, ignoring the fact that in the last year there has only been one!’
Methinks that he might ask a big question-why are people subject to dawn raids,for three years now,for non-custodial sentences?
Melbourne Mick…
If your lurking, I’ve been on the phone to brian, he asked if you could contact him as he’s lost your details and is most appreciative of your grand effort on long lost pals getting in contact again.
That goes for me too, hopefully I’ll meet up with Brian this year or next.HH
How come shameless&glib wasn’t lurking at the press conference :)
GORDON J
With respect,you probably realise that I am no admirer of Tony Blair.
But those stats are skewed. Severely.
1992 was a close call,so people were motivated to vote.
1997 and 2001 were a penalty kick.
Well done to all who contributed to the CQN paving stone memorial & to the Boy Jinky for coming up with the idea
Politicians! A group of people whose main object is career advancement to the detriment of the public & quite ruthless in doing so.
Finally Old Molly Weir at sevco well what can you say you just have to laugh at this sums it up for me
https://twitter.com/_LauraBrannan/status/610418003285528577
boabyevans
15:00 on 15 June, 2015
He didn’t start very well….tried to go into the wrong room …..hehe
The pic of Warburton and Weir sheepishly holding up the one shirt – is that the one they take turns wearing or is that the one they had to buy to get the jobs?
We’re all in this together now
Ole Davie will probably take McCulloch’s position…..
OG Rafferty 15:23
Wonder if big Mike will get a cut!
tbj says wee oscar knox is in heaven with the angels
14:35 on 15 June, 2015
Will be stealing that joke best one I’ve seen yet.
Ooooops
Above post should have been to NATKNOW.
BOBBY MURDOCH’S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS
15:08 on
15 June, 2015
GORDON J
With respect,you probably realise that I am no admirer of Tony Blair.
But those stats are skewed. Severely.
1992 was a close call,so people were motivated to vote.
1997 and 2001 were a penalty kick.
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Was me that posted the GE turnout stats mate! I think there’s no doubt that the fall in turnout isstatistically significant. Explaining it is more difficult. 1992 wasn’t too different from previous GE’s in terms of turnout. But the fall to below 60% between then and 2001? I think there have to be other factors that simply that Labour were defending a large majority?
Has anyone removed Keith Jackson head from Warby’s erchie yet?
MURDOCHAULDANDHAY
Mibbe auld Davie has swivel eyes like King…
VIDEO: Are Rangers’ owners causing bad fan behaviour? Alex Salmond reckons there’s a link
http://www.thecourier.co.uk/news/politics/alex-salmond/video-are-rangers-owners-causing-bad-fan-behaviour-alex-salmond-reckons-there-s-a-link-1.884167
http://purelyfootball.com/2013/10/stadiums-you-should-visit-before-you-die-5
Some quality stadia :-)
HH
NATKNOW
Many of us wanted a Labour Government in 97 and 2001. And every time before and since,btw. We can hold our nose in a tight shift,but buggered if I’m voting for someone who I believe is the road to ruin for Labour when it’s a walkover.
IMO,that is why the drop in voting happened.
I was living in London In 1997. Labour voters were disinclined to vote at all and Tories were voting Labour! Seriously.
Have a look at the numbers of votes cast for the Tories in 92,and compare it to the 97 result.
HAHAHAHAHAHAHA….
http://www.the42.ie/comedian-fool-john-oliver-response-fifa-jack-warner-2162960-Jun2015/?utm_source=twitter_self
BOBBY MURDOCH’S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS
15:39 on
15 June, 2015
NATKNOW
Many of us wanted a Labour Government in 97 and 2001. And every time before and since,btw. We can hold our nose in a tight shift,but buggered if I’m voting for someone who I believe is the road to ruin for Labour when it’s a walkover.
IMO,that is why the drop in voting happened.
I was living in London In 1997. Labour voters were disinclined to vote at all and Tories were voting Labour! Seriously.
Have a look at the numbers of votes cast for the Tories in 92,and compare it to the 97 result.
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I think that sounds like a credible explanation for what happened in 97 – but then what about since that point? Turnout has not recovered to anywhere near those 70-odd % levels in th 90’s and prior. Labour has had a variety of leaders since then – they can’t all be the reason why turnout is still low. Perhaps it’s an inertia thing – that once you’ve lost voters that it’s hard to get them back to the polls? But I’d suggest that just further backs up my point – that people are disinclined to vote because they see no valid representation.
Can see Sly Stallone running up the famous marble staircase and shouting”ADRIAN”
Doesn’t matter how good or bad Slice bread is he won’t be winning the SPL next year. :-))))
TBJ…
You know it was said tongue in cheek;)
Have you heard from Dan the man lately?
BTW…well done on the memorial stone a lovely gesture from yourself and all involved. HH
Sly to play in goal
The rest to sign from this team
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AS_Adema_149–0_SO_l’Emyrne Cached
HH
Paul67 et al
Speaking of spurious statistics, or the spurious use of statistics, FAC has not done itself, nor our case, any favours in comparing the conviction rates under the OBFA for those of rape. There cannot be any justification for this, and I am surprised wiser heads have not prevailed here. Even if the statistics were comparable which they are not, the respective offences are clearly at different ends of the spectrum. Poor comparison.
Oops
http://r.search.yahoo.com/_ylt=A9mSs29Y5X5VaYYA6ieA3YlQ;_ylu=X3oDMTEzNDlhYmRhBHNlYwNzcgRwb3MDMQRjb2xvA2lyMgR2dGlkA1RBVUswMV8x/RV=2/RE=1434408408/RO=10/RU=http%3a%2f%2fen.wikipedia.org%2fwiki%2fAS_Adema_149%25E2%2580%25930_SO_l%2527Emyrne/RK=0/RS=3SAfGnAWQscJ9iR0so7AJjUEdpA-
HH
So did the huns reveal the vote today ?
If not …stop sniggering. How long have they got before they have to reveal ?
HH
Sipsini,
hi mate.Dave Kings sister was called?
HH
NATKNOW
Indeed,no valid representation and a disinclination to vote as a result.
Tbh,I only voted Labour at the last election because I despise the Tories. Think of the millions without my motivation who couldnae be arsed.
Wed, 1st Jul Den Bosch
Friendly
19:45 H
Sat, 4th Jul Dukla Prague
Friendly
12:30 H
Fri, 10th Jul Real Sociedad
Friendly
19:45 H
Sat, 18th Jul SD Eibar
Friendly
18:00 A
Sat, 25th Jul Rennes
Friendly
TBC H
Fixtures are not final and dates and kick off times may be subject to change.
All kick off times are Celtic Park time.
Celtic Mac
15:57 on
15 June, 2015
Paul67 et al
Speaking of spurious statistics, or the spurious use of statistics, FAC has not done itself, nor our case, any favours in comparing the conviction rates under the OBFA for those of rape. There cannot be any justification for this, and I am surprised wiser heads have not prevailed here. Even if the statistics were comparable which they are not, the respective offences are clearly at different ends of the spectrum. Poor comparison.
——————————————————————————
I was surprised at that too. One of the big issues for crimes like rape is providing sufficient evidence to secure a conviction. In fact – isn’t this one of the main reasons why the Scottish Government was to abolish corroboration in order to improve conviction rates for this kind of crime? Either way, they are two very different kinds of crimes. For this reason, I agree – it’s not a valid or useful comparison. All that said, well done to the FAC campaigners for highlighting how ludicrous this law is.
BOBBY MURDOCH’S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS
16:03 on
15 June, 2015
NATKNOW
Indeed,no valid representation and a disinclination to vote as a result.
Tbh,I only voted Labour at the last election because I despise the Tories. Think of the millions without my motivation who couldnae be arsed.
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Well, as you know I’m based in Scotland mate. It didn’t really matter what I voted!
NATKNOW
Aye. And in Swindon,it was the same. Went from two marginals to two rock-solids.
Heyho…
White on SKY prostrating himself at the foot of the Marble Staircase. Overjoyed at their having a new manager and Weir as back up.
BOBBY MURDOCH’S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS
16:08 on
15 June, 2015
NATKNOW
Aye. And in Swindon,it was the same. Went from two marginals to two rock-solids.
Heyho…
——————————————————
What do you think the problem was for Swindon – were Labour not Left enough or were they not Right enough? This will be the main debating point about forthcoming leadership….
Politicians .
Watching a European Parliament thing re Greece..Greek politico concedes that Greece owes some 320 billion euros and is struggling to make the repayments.Politico’s desired solution ? – lend us some more !
celtic mac
15:57 on 15 June, 2015
The comparison is only drawn between the relevant conviction rates and not to draw any sort of comparison between the offences. this was done because it’s widely acknowledged that rape has a notoriously low conviction rate.
Your point is noted though Celtic Mac.
Afternoon Timland from a warm and wet hun free mountain valley.
Lifted this from McMurdo’s blog, not too enamoured with the Gash, sorry if it’s been posted.
Prior to our de-listing from LSE AIM, I was one of only three individuals who realised that King did not have the means to add value to Rangers. However, the media, fed by Traynor at the behest of King (the 3 Bears was a Traynor creation) and later Traynor’s Level 5 who have now invoiced Rangers, created a skewed narrative where King would underwrite the investment required to restore Rangers to their former dominant position. The media spin was compelling. The Real Rangers Men mantra was persuasive.
However, a clear forensic analysis of the facts in regard to King and Murray led to some much less flattering conclusions. Murray is a failed entrepreneur. Every company he invests in loses money and if he had not been bailed out by a £2.5M loan he would be bankrupt. The loan was issued by The Bank of Scotland. This overdraft is now underwritten by Lloyds.
King, having allegedly defrauded four of the six major banks in South Africa, set himself up as a derivatives specialist, predicated on bogus accountancy qualifications.
The banks lost millions as King and his partner, another bogus accountant Iain Morris, could barely spell derivatives. The fraud charges against them were dropped when forensic accountants were intimidated by an underworld figure that King allegedly paid off. King is a white collar gangster. A con man. No bank in RSA would loan him one rand. He is broke.
Note how the Level 5 PR has fed the SMSM wth stories of Ashley not attending the EGM. The real story is that King did not attend. The Chairman, whose chequered criminal past is easily deconstructed, would not subject himself to public scrutiny.
All press briefings to date have been carefully managed by Level 5. Access to King is provided on the understanding that no questions about his 328 criminal charges are raised.
Level 5 could not control the EGM. King made his excuses and avoided the interrogation of any activist shareholders.
The fact that I can see through this penniless criminal is not important. The fact that Ashley can is significant. Traynor was instrumental in Craig Whyte taking the reins at Ibrox. He does not care about investigative journalism or facts. His lies about Whyte sold copy. The facts were a foreign country.
Traynor has now provided us with a much more dangerous con man. One literally prepared to use his grandmother to evade tax. SDM took his tax evading money and was able to ignore him as he did not attend any board meetings.
King has reverted to type. Even if he had £5M, he would not pay it.
Ashley will receive his £5M and his costs. We will pay for it. As long as it does not impact King, this is irrelevant. As he stated, on a scale from 1-100 it registers at 1.
McCall will have a difficult job to do when all the ST money has been spent on paying debts and legal fees.