Playing Adam Matthews and Emilio Izaguirre as wing-backs with Kelvin Wilson, Charlie Mulgrew and Mikael Lustig as a back three looked a bit clumsy and didn’t last the 90 minutes but that was to be expected. New defensive formations are not supposed to operate as smoothly as familiar systems.
I’m far from certain three at the back is a good idea, or if we have the correct personnel for this formation, but Neil Lennon should persist with the experiment. We will not learn and grow if we don’t take chances, which was one of our abiding frustrations under both Martin O’Neill and Gordon Strachan.
No experiments on Tuesday, of course!
822 Comments- Pages:
- «
- 1
- ...
- 14
- 15
- 16
- 17
- 18
- 19
- 20
- 21
- 22
- »
Was having a wee read of Chuckie Green’s time with the Blue Order on saturday among the highest ever Scottish 4th tier crowd.
It reminded me of the late 1980’s early 1990’s Celtic view when the best they could do to cheer us up was tell us stuff like we had the largest covered area of any club ground in Britain or that Pele supported Celtic as a boy, or we were going to build a stand on top of the Jungle (anyone remember that one! I saw the plans on an open day visit to Celtic Park – I suspect one of the old board members sons had drawn it for his Tech Drawing class and they decided it would be a nice treat to throw the downtrodden support – remember tech drawing!?)
As they scrape about for positive stories and Green sees his potential return on his non investment go up and up everytime another season book gets sold I think back to the dark days for Celtic and see in the MSM just a mirror image of the Celtic View peddling nonsense as the foundations were collapsing around them (perhaps under the weight of the new cover at the Celtic End!!!!)
Continue to laugh at them. 48,000 against East Fife – whoopdie doo.
Use the money to pay the people you shafted……
Murdoch Bhoy – for Thinktanks see also ‘lobbyists’ most of whom are full time professional and funded by big business. George Monbiot does some great stuff on them.
I’ll find you some in a wee while.
Murdoch – here you go, it’s long but it’s readable:
Show Me The Money
October 17, 2011
We have a democratic right to know who is funding public advocacy.
By George Monbiot. Published in the Guardian 18th October 2011
Since the late 19th Century, the very rich have been paying people to demand less government. The work of Herbert Spencer, for example, was sponsored by Andrew Carnegie, John D Rockefeller and Thomas Edison(1). Spencer believed that society changed according to evolutionary laws. Humans were evolving towards perfection, but this process was inhibited by interference from the state. By protecting people from the consequences of their own actions (or their own bad luck), it stopped the winnowing process which would otherwise result in the survival of the fittest.
Social security, publicly-funded education, compulsory vaccination, laws enforcing safety at work all interrupted social evolution. But a self-regulated free market would swiftly ensure that those who were best-adapted would survive and triumph. It’s not hard to see why the millionaires loved him. They saw themselves as winners of the evolutionary race, taking their rightful place at the pinnacle of the social order. Any attempt to limit their freedoms would prevent society from achieving perfection.
Today, sponsorship by millionaires and corporations explains why free market thinktanks outnumber and outspend the thinktanks arguing for public services and the distribution of wealth. Or so I guess. But their absence of accountability means that guesswork is all we’ve got. As I showed last month, only one of the rightwing thinktanks I contacted was prepared to reveal who funded it(2). All the others refused on the grounds that they had to respect the privacy of their donors. These organisations exert great influence in public life. But we have no means of discovering on whose behalf they do it.
Revelations about this secret funding network have now brought down a cabinet minister. Liam Fox was enmeshed in a web of corporate influence about which we still know little. The organisation he founded, Atlantic Bridge, was registered with the Charity Commission as a thinktank(3). Like many others, it looked more like a lobbying outfit, demanding privatisation, deregulation and tax cuts. The key question remains unanswered: who funded it?
As a result of better transparency laws in the US, we know more about Atlantic Bridge’s partner organisation, the American Legislative Exchange Council. It claims, like most thinktanks, to stand for limited government and free markets. What this means in practice is lobbying against government action such as regulating tobacco and greenhouse gases(4). By an astonishing coincidence, it turns out to have been funded by the tobacco companies Altria and Reynolds American, by the oil giant Exxon and by the billionaire Koch brothers, who run a fossil fuel and chemicals empire they call “the biggest company you’ve never heard of.”*(5,6)
Freedom is what all these groups claim to stand for. But the freedom they promote is of a particular kind. They are not campaigning for freedom from hunger or poverty. They are not demanding free access to health and education. They are not lobbying for freedom from industrial injuries, exploitation, pollution or unscrupulous banking. When these libertarians say freedom, they mean freedom from the rules which prevent their sponsors behaving as they wish: mistreating their workers, threatening public health and using the planet as their dustbin.
Like everything else about these lobbyists, the true, unacceptable meaning of the freedom they espouse is hidden behind an acceptable front. Thinktanks and lobby groups are the bane of democratic politics. They are the means by which corporations and the ultra-rich influence public life without having to reveal their hand. Their refusal to reveal who funds them, and the British state’s failure to demand it, are deeply undemocratic.
Last week in the Guardian, Michael White wondered why Liam Fox did not make his friend Adam Werrity an officially-sanctioned special adviser(7). Had he done so, Werrity’s presence in his department would not have broken civil service rules, and Fox might still be in his post. But it would also have meant that Werrity’s activities would have been subject to Freedom of Information requests, and that could have been fatal to what he was doing.
What this case highlights is the asymmetry of information in public life. The public sector is now so transparent that we have a right to read the private emails of climate scientists working for a state-sponsored university. The private sector is so opaque that we have no idea on whose behalf the people who appear every day on the BBC, using arguments that look suspiciously like corporate propaganda, are speaking.
The Labour government weakened the rules on lobbying transparency. The ministerial code published in 2007 dropped the requirement that meetings between ministers and lobbyists should be recorded(8). It also rebuffed MPs’ demands for a register of lobbyists. You’ll be surprised to hear who the villain was: Tom Watson, then a Cabinet Office minister, now a heroic campaigner for corporate accountability. He brushed aside the call for a register with the claim that “we have a pretty good system in the UK.”(9) In fact we have no system at all: the Commons Public Administration Committee has pointed out that “lobbying activity in the United Kingdom is subject to no specific external regulation.”(10)
Thanks to the Fox scandal, the coalition government will now be forced, at last, to do something. But unless new legislation also applies to the thinktanks, their funders will keep using them to promote their interests without disclosure. The law should insist that all organisations which seek to influence public opinion should reveal sources of funding greater than £1000.
The government might also take a look at charity law. It seems remarkable to me that groups like Policy Exchange, the Institute of Economic Affairs and the Global Warming Policy Foundation have charitable status. The Charity Commission disqualified Atlantic Bridge on the grounds that “it is not permissible for a charity to promote a particular pre-determined point of view.”(11) Should this not disqualify all of them? Can you imagine the IEA deciding that private companies should get their noses out of the NHS? Can you picture Lord Lawson’s Global Warming Policy Foundation announcing that climate change is an urgent threat and fossil fuel companies need stricter regulation? Is it credible that these organisations do not have “a particular pre-determined point of view”?
And shouldn’t it be a basic requirement of charity law that we know who, as taxpayers, we are subsidising? How can an organisation qualify as a charity if we don’t even know whose interests it is promoting? I strongly suspect that we are granting tax breaks to multi-millionaires and corporations to help them change public opinion. I invite the thinktanks to prove me wrong.
Let’s also demand that the BBC reform its editorial guidelines, so that no one working for a group whose purpose is public advocacy can take part in a programme unless it has published a registry of interests. Otherwise the BBC is granting free airtime to corporations without disclosing who they are or what their interest in the question might be.
So come on you free-market libertarians, let’s hear your arguments against transparency and accountability. And let’s hear how you reconcile them with your professed love of freedom.
http://www.monbiot.com
References:
1. Susan Jacoby, 2008. The Age of American Unreason. Old Street Publishing, London.
2. http://www.monbiot.com/2011/09/12/think-of-a-tank/
3. http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2011/oct/16/lessons-atlantic-bridge-questioning
4. http://www.stephennewton.com/atlantic-bridge-collapse-is-a-major-blow-to-neo-conservatives/
5. http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=ALEC_Corporations
6. See also http://prwatch.org/news/2011/07/10914/alec-exposed-warming-climate-change
7. http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2011/oct/13/liam-fox-werritty-special-adviser
8. The Committee on Standards in Public Life, cited by the House of Commons Public Administration Select Committee, 5th January 2009. Lobbying: Access and influence in Whitehall. Volume I, para 187. http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200809/cmselect/cmpubadm/36/36i.pdf
9. Tom Watson, 19th June 2008. Public Administration Committee – Minutes of Evidence. http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200809/cmselect/cmpubadm/36/8061901.htm
10. House of Commons Public Administration Select Committee, 5th January 2009. Lobbying: Access and
influence in Whitehall. Volume I, para 44. http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200809/cmselect/cmpubadm/36/36i.pdf
11. http://www.charitycommission.gov.uk/RSS/News/pr_atlanticb.aspx
My comment is awaiting moderation? What the f………..
posting too much too quick perhaps?
My apologies!
I’m away now anyway.
Laters
Morning all from an overcast North Ayrshire.
Woke this morning wondering about what happened to MacLean and Nevin after their condemning the Celtic support for sectarian singing which only they heard. Did the BBC bury their investigation?
Sad to hear of the death of Scott MacKenzie. For me, he, Sandi Posey and Gary Puckett and the Union Gap made up the musical backdrop to our winning the European Cup.
Parkhead cum Salford
bbc found no caseto answer for either party
stonewall whitewash
hh
Parkhead cum Salford
Row Z
Another investigation that seems to have been buried is the SPL’s investigation into bigoted singing/chanting at Ibrox Park in February (!).
Good morning CQN
Is this another season of blind officials
Stonewall penalty on Saturday not given
Keep the Faith
Hail Hail
Not got long on here today and haven’t really read through the posts so sorry for repetition buty Ross County look like a great addition to the league. Sold out stadium, great pitch, decent team, looked like a smashing day out. Great advert for the SPL. Add that to the Aberdeen and Dundee Utd fans turnout so far and I think it might just be a decent season of football.
Big Johan on SSN confirms that KI is not travelling and is in talks with some clubs but won’t say who
For someone who asked game is on live on STV or ITV tomorrow depending if you live in England or Scotland! Think UTV is doing it too
HH
gerryguk7
Strongly disagree with you on County. The way Adams has them playing it is no wonder Scottish football is in the mire. They play the game just like ICT. Boot anything in a Celtic shirt knowing the ref will give them leeway. Rocco Quinn should be ashamed of himself after his challenge on Joe Ledley
At this point in time, RC are offering nothing new to the Scottish game
Shame about Ki, wold have taken him to Helsinborgs as new rule means he couldn’t be cup tied in the group stages for another club, and big Vics suspended with Broony a doubt, he could’ve been useful!
RobertTressell @ 07:55
In Scotland, I believe the game will be shown on coonsil telly … (STV from 7.30pm)
FF
T hanks for the comments,folks-glad to see I’m not alone in thinking this is disgraceful.
I’m off to the boozer for a few;no doubt some of the self-righteous will be on later to set us right-in more ways than one.
Have fun….
I can`t say I am a big fan of buying “star” players from other SPL sides. Dundee Utd, in particular, have some real talent at the moment and I would rather they stayed there and helped make the League a more exiting, competitive event.
Celtic have the wherewithal to reinforce from within. I am aware that these other teams ( and us as well now ) need to sell to balance the books (anathama to some on here, I know !!)but weakening themselves whilst strengthening us does nothing for the overall strength of the League.
I cannot help but think that this buying of other Scottish teams` stars should not be a part of Celtic philosophy. Jam today smacks, to me obviously, of the attitude of the spoiled child or even worse, of one of the “peepil”.
JJ
Patrick27
Broony will be fit for the game tomorrow
There is no point in taking Ki to Sweden if his head is in the wrong place, we would be a man down so to speak
We have enough cover in Broony, Kayal + Ledley
Good morning from a humid and roasting Barcelona. Glad to be in the office and enjoy the air conditioning!
Seems we have a bit of a striker crisis. Stokes, Murphy and Bangura are definitely out with Hooper still apparently doubtful.
Looks like it might be Sammy up top again by myself. Don´t think Lenny will throw Watt in but may feature at some point (hope not tbh, it will probably mean we are needing a goal). With our lack of strikers and goal scorers, I really hope Commons is on his game, I think he could be the most important player for us tomorrow evening.
Looking forward to it! Hail Hail!
KJam exposes his true identity, “myself.” Very good English for someone with Greek as a first language. :-D
Silver City 1888
Its all Greek to me
The way the zombies are purring you would think they beat one of the manchester clubs.
You almost have to admire the tenacity with which they cling to their alternate reality.
And a big thanks to whoever came up the the attendance figure from 4th tier in Brazil
Well in Santa Cruz FC!!
Might add them to the coupon this week
HH
And a big thanks to whoever came up the the attendance figure from 4th tier in Brazil
Well in Santa Cruz FC!!
What was tha attendance at Santa Cruz? Circumstances?
Ten Men Won The League
09:28 on
20 August, 2012
gerryguk7
Rocco Quinn should be ashamed of himself after his challenge on Joe Ledley
Replayed it several times to be sure it was as dangerous as it looked.
It was.
Jungle Jim @ 9.48
Well got told yesterday it was 51000 three times in the 4th tier.
Got told yesterday by a fellow CQNer that got posted on saturday night some time.
Patrick27
I think with a big deal looming it would be a risk to play him in case he picked up an injury (our current track record would say he’d be odds on).
Plus as TMWTL says his head might not be in the right place to be played.
I’d just use the resources at hand and hope the deal goes thru quickly so NL can start to buy.
HH
/Bishop B
Looks like Ki is offski then. Swansea’s £5M will be just an opening bid – I’m sure we will get a fair bit more than that for him.
We have decent options in midfield. Hopefully the money will buy us a decent centre half …
This place is pure buzzin 24 hours before our big game.How many tens of thousands are we taking to Sweden or is there another reason for CQN being so DEAD ?
HAil HAil
Disappointed to hear that Ki won’t be playing in Sweden. We really need a player like him to help us retain possession in European games. I’m not surprised that a great former player like Michael Laudrup rates him. Hope we at least get a good fee.
I heard that they were now trying to say it is a UK record for a 4th tier match.
The 2007 League 2 Play-off between Bristol and Shrewsbury had over 60,000 at the game.
I’ll be sad to see Ki go but hope we can utilise the funds in the right way.
Has to be said, buying him for what, 1.2mil? 2 years ago and selling him for 5+ mil is good business.
Hopefully getting through this European tie will let us re-invest the funds.
I understand why some people don’t want us to sign Rhodes, personally I think he may be out our price range, but I’d be happy to more than happy to see him here. He is still developing and clearly ambitious, with an eye for goal.
And many, myself included, want rid of a few of our other strikers, well surely we need options.
LordLuvRocket @10.00
That just made my day.
Experimental defense???? C’mon Paul give the fans a wee bit of credit
I see now where mon got it totally wrong
1. Drop Balde and big Johan
2. Bring in some duff center halfs
3. Put larson and big John in the stand along side bobo and Johan leaving us with no goalscorers
4. Put Thomson and petrov up front as we have zero in point 3
5. Push the full backs up to compensate for losing petrov and Thompson
I knew Mon got it totally wrong
Or maybe it’s cause Neil’s had no choice as he has no strikers and no center halfs
C’mon Paul some of us have been round the block
U will be telling us next that Murphy would have made a difference
We are where we are because Neil has been let down by the board
Your comments are indeed like the Celtic view of the late 70’s early 80’s
Maybe next “The chosen one”had a Celtic team in his subuteo box, or has that one been done before
ST
Non Tic info scroll by if you want…
Starry Plough/South of Tunis,
Came across this at the weekend,thought it might interest you!
http://www.modculture.co.uk/soundsystem-men-to-to-dancehall-60-years-of-original-reggae-album-cover-art/#more-5726
I like Tony Watt. He hits the ball early and very cleanly. Not altogether unreminiscent of the young Charlie Nicholas in that regard.
Good luck to you, Tony bhoy. Work hard. Look after yourself.
SoG
Thanks
LLR
…and thank you ,too.Brilliant!
ST
Perspective,dear bhoy, keep some.
JJ
Celtic First,
I agree…also thought Tony looked strong,confident and a wee bit greedy….the way all good strikers should be imo!
Heard us selling Ki is going to be a WORLD RECORD for a Scottish club selling a Korean midfielder after the 20th August with an Olympic bronze medal and a two letter surname……….
End of the road for Park’s and Gers
By ROBERT McAULAY and KENNY McALPINE Published: 18th August 2012
8
CAR tycoon Douglas Park’s association with Rangers has ended — just weeks after he tried to BUY the club.
Millionaire lifelong fan Park’s company supplied buses and transport to the Ibrox side for decades.
But the firm have lost their lucrative contract with the newco side.
Last night a source said: “Rangers are no longer using Park’s. The club have been using another much much cheaper company for their transport.”
Insiders claimed the move was revenge for his hostile £6million takeover bid with ex-Gers boss Walter Smith.
In June, Park and Smith staged a move to snatch Rangers from under the nose of current chief executive Charles Green — but were knocked back by administrators Duff and Phelps.
Park, worth £78million, was a regular fixture in the directors’ box. His firm also supply coaches to Celtic.Last night no-one was available from Park’s or Rangers.
SPL bosses have hired top judge Lord Nimmo Smith and QCs Charles Flint and Nicholas Stewart to decide if Rangers are guilty of illegal payments to players — which could see them stripped of titles if found guilty.