Celtic’s run of 27 games unbeaten in domestic football came to an end yesterday as Kilmarnock surprised even their own fans, who bought fewer tickets for the final than they did for the semi-final, perhaps anticipating a reversal.
The bedrock of that magnificent run has been incredibly strong defensive performances; even when Aberdeen scored to take a point earlier this month, their goal benefited from an enormous deflection and the interaction of two debutant defenders.
Kilmarnock’s goal yesterday benefited from no such fortune. Ki didn’t match the forward run of Lee Johnson and Kelvin Wilson didn’t attack the cross. It was, however, a good goal, exploiting the expansive Hampden pitch with some fine passing and excellent movement.
Cammy Bell deservedly won Man of the Match but none of his many saves were spectacular. It could be argued that the stop from Gary Hooper five minutes in turned the match but it was a gift to Bell’s highlights DVD.
Celtic looked like a team who have run out of steam. Profligacy in front of goal and a momentary lapse in defence was all Kilmarnock needed to secure the cup.
I didn’t get a good view of the Anthony Stokes penalty incident at the game, it was Hampden after all, but on the radio going home I heard the evidence clearly confirmed it was not a penalty, which Neil Lennon would realise after he calmed down a bit, despite his initial reaction on seeing a replay.
Television evidence could not be clearer. Michael Nelson went to ground to tackle Stokes and didn’t come within 2 feet of the ball but clipped the Celtic player’s ankle while he was in the process of controlling a fast moving ball.
There was no dispute that Stokes ankle was clipped. No claims were made that Nelson played the ball, or even got close to playing the ball. The incident was an indisputable foul.
When you are running at speed the contact required to force you to lose to lose control of the ball is slight, more than enough contact was made on Stokes to hugely reduce his chances of scoring. Nelson made a rash and ill-timed challenge which should have resulted in an injury-time penalty.
Our sincerest condolences to the Liam Kelly, his family, Kenny Shiels and the Kilmarnock players on the death of Liam’s father Jack in the minutes after full time.
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philvisreturns on 19 March, 2012 at 13:05 said:
“He wouldn’t be sad enough to be creeping around the blog under other pseudonyms, would he?”
Funny you should ask that as I was just thinking along the same lines – KevBungle?
Steinreignedsupreme on 19 March, 2012 at 13:03
LOL
I’ve had my say – I’m done!!!
Saint Stivs – Noticed that one.
Also, you know you’re in Scotland when they go to the trouble and expense of creating a hologram wumman to guide you through security, and she’s plainer than a slice of Mother’s Pride.
The Italians – God bless them – would have created a virtual Christina Hendricks.
Also I note that they have a 50ft high RBS sign saying “This is Home”, apparently with no trace of embarrassment. (thumbsup)
Sincere condolences to Liam Kelly, his family, colleagues and friends on their loss.
KevJungle
“Clutching at straws”?
If I wanted to clutch at straws I’d fit the interpretation of events to match what my heart / head wanted to happen. When Collum disallowed the penalty, what I wished for is that the replay would show me he was right. Because I desperately want to see evidence of fairness and competence in our game. It saddens me greatly that the replays show a clear penalty and that Collum booked Stokes despite awarding a corner. You cannot reconcile these events other than concluding at best he is totally incompetent, or at worst, bent. I personally think Collum panics and it not fit for his job, in this instance.
HH
TLK
http://i42.tinypic.com/2nh3w5z.jpg
for teh doubters/huns
bankiebhoy1 – They do have a lot of time on their hands, apart from demanding that the big hoose stay open. (thumbsup)
Celtic Mac
He could have taken the shot as soon as he received the ball but Bell would have been favourite to save it. He took an extra touch and waited on the keeper committing himself before being about to slot home. The contact the defender made took him off his stride and thus a penalty should have been given.
Mort
Kevjungle
“Away lot for a walk..”
Mind and take yer Flute with ye.
HH
The judge said he noted that no application was made for the expenses of the petition to have the administrators appointed retrospectively.
Can someone tell me what this means ?
I am sure it has something to do with who is picking up these legal bills.
I.e Duff & Phelps or the creditors ?
Has this action been done with who´s benefit in mind ?
Hail Hail
Lot=Oot.
Once the hun goes belly up we need to get used to even more of these dangleberries coming onto CQN as we do define them.
Hail Hail
The really important points first:
1. Condolences to the Kelly family on your loss – a tragic end to what should have been a great day of celebration.
2. Well done to all the Killie players and to their manager.
3. Our players had an off day. Too many so-called fans seem ready to jettison young guys who have achieved something special over the last few months. Something which, I suspect, none of us could have predicted as we watched them trudge off 3-0 down at Rugby Park in October.
These same players still have the opportunity to make history by clinching a league title earlier than any side in history, so let’s forget any thoughts about making final decisions about any of them, they have earned our support by their performances and their effort over the last 4 months.
4. Yesterday’s game was played, by and large, in an open, fair manner by both teams; the only whiff of dishonesty came from the referee and he has form in that regard. I am disappointed we lost, but am pleasantly surprised at the feeling of resignation rather than devastation I feel. Maybe this is how football will feel in a world without Rangers.
There are better days ahead.
Awe_Naw_No_Annoni_Oan_Anaw_Noo – It’s a form of Care in the Community.
Paul67 should send a bill to the NHS. (thumbsup)
philvisreturns on 19 March, 2012 at 13:11 said:
Saint Stivs – Noticed that one.
Also, you know you’re in Scotland when they go to the trouble and expense of creating a hologram wumman to guide you through security, and she’s plainer than a slice of Mother’s Pride.
The Italians – God bless them – would have created a virtual Christina Hendricks.
Also I note that they have a 50ft high RBS sign saying “This is Home”, apparently with no trace of embarrassment. (thumbsup)
—————————————————————
hahahha,
noticed all 3 things as well actually.
do you know the name of thw whisky, i thought it was ardbeg but cant find any images anywhere.
the hologram woman, i walked into security and i thought she was real and waving me down to the far end of the sucurity, muppet i am.
The RBS adverts all over Edinburgh do my head in actually.
Nearly as shameless and embarrasing as the huns.
enmac
Thanks for the link to that picture.
You’re right. The matter is really no longer in dispute
SUNDAY 18 MARCH 2012 TEXT SIZE McCoist named as victim of black market in illegal information
newspaper dirty tricks inquiry reveals Rangers manager was target exclusive report by bob smyth
Rangers manager Ally McCoist was one of the key targets in Scotland of newspapers illegally trading in personal data including phone numbers, health details, bank information, police records and private addresses.
Following investigations by the Sunday Herald, it is understood the news was broken to McCoist on Friday night.
Details about McCoist appeared numerous times in documents looked at by the Operation Motorman inquiry team. Motorman was a 2003 investigation set up by the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) to probe offences under the Data Protection Act by the press including “blagging” – the term for obtaining information by subterfuge – and also paying for information from corrupt officials. Blagging is not against the law if it is in the public interest.
It is not known if the embattled football manager, currently dealing with the fallout from Rangers’ administration, was targeted by a particular newspaper or several of the many titles listed by Motorman, which included around 20 national newspapers and several magazines. The Herald, Sunday Herald and Evening Times were not named in the investigation.
Famous Scots names already mentioned in media reports on Motorman include former rugby player Kenny Logan and his wife, Gabby. The families of Dunblane massacre victims Aimie Adam and Matthew Birnie have also been named as subjects in the Motorman files, following requests for ex-directory numbers by reporters.
McCoist was one of numerous Scots-based names in the Motorman dossier, according to the lead investigator for the ICO who probed the cases. Former special-branch police officer Alec Owens probed data breaches that had been carried out by private eye Steve Whittamore on behalf of journalists. They allegedly included accessing police records, DVLA details, bank and health records, and phone numbers.
Speaking for the first time about the Scottish aspects of Motorman, Owens said one of the main victims of repeated blagging attempts in the Motorman record of 4000 names was McCoist.
Owens said there were numerous Scottish phone numbers and postcodes among the lists of victims and journalists, adding that he travelled to Scotland to prepare a test case for possible prosecutions that, to his dismay, failed to transpire.
He also claimed an unnamed Scottish journalist on an unnamed Scottish paper was one of the “top 10” targets for prosecution among over 300 reporters listed.
Owens has been a vocal critic of the ICO’s decision not to prosecute journalists over the investigation’s findings, and contacted the Leveson inquiry about his concerns.
After whistleblowing, his home was later raided by police just days before he was due to give evidence to the inquiry.
During the raid officers demanded documents relating to Operation Motorman. Owens had provided details of Motorman to Strathclyde Police to aid its investigations.
Whittamore, the private detective at the heart of Operation Motorman, was brought to court and pleaded guilty to illegally obtaining confidential information and was given a two-year conditional discharge.
Owens said of the Motorman investigation: “Ally McCoist came up. He appears very strongly in the documentation.” Alluding to his claims that senior figures at the ICO were unwilling to take on the press by prosecuting journalists, Owens added: “We didn’t get round to informing [McCoist] because by that time we’d been told to back off.
“Amongst the files there were a lot of Scottish telephone numbers for reporters, a lot of Scottish numbers like 0141, 0131. A lot of numbers I recognised as Scottish. There were a lot of victims in Motorman that could be related as Scottish.”
Owens and his team also spoke to numerous “ordinary” men and women who were victims of blagging. He said: “We were trying to get a full picture of the types of people they were going after. We didn’t want people accusing us later, saying: ‘You went after Hugh Grant and Charlotte Church’, and we were just looking after celebrities.”
HE expressed his frustration at not being allowed to take on rogue reporters, saying: “There was a lot of information about … Scottish reporters. One in particular, who I can’t name, came out very strongly and, had we been allowed to do the job we wanted to do, he would have been in the top 10.”
Owens said he gave officers on Operation Rubicon, the ongoing Strathclyde Police probe into phone-hacking and breaches of data protection, details of his own investigation.
Officers from the Major Investigation Team have been ordered by the Crown Office to examine some of the evidence presented during the Tommy Sheridan perjury trial.
Strathclyde is liaising with the Metropolitan Police over any Scottish dimension to the Met’s current investigations.
Owens insisted that, as a former policeman, he would never wish to do anything to jeopardise an ongoing inquiry like Rubicon, saying: “I’m not prepared to hide any information I’ve got. If the Information Commissioner is not going to be open, I am.”
Strathclyde Police have declined to comment on Owens’s revelations. A spokesman for the Information Commissioner’s Office also said there would be no comment on specific names in the Motorman paperwork.
“Anyone wishing to see what, if anything, is recorded about them in the Motorman files has always been able to exercise their right to make a Subject Access Request under the Data Protection Act to our office,” the ICO spokesman added.
McCoist said he did not wish to comment on the revelations.
A call for the Motorman files to be made public was made last week by the Hacked Off campaign, which includes the actor Hugh Grant.
Quick question folks do we get automatic entry in CL this year or have to play qualifiers ?
Awe_Naw_No_Annoni_Oan_Anaw_Noo on 19 March, 2012 at 13:02 said:
I noticed that quite a few hundits have been removed from the media firing line recently. Normally these guys are desperate for exposure and publicity. Neil Mc Cann is the only one from that era who I have seen recently and I am sure he tore Chris Kamara a new one when he was asked if he had an EBT.
Hail Hail
I was watching Goals on Sunday when Kamara asked him that question.
I said to the wife its taken an English ex-pro to ask a hun the 2 contract question.
The reaction from mccann was as if he was’nt expecting it to be asked.
He spluttered and mumbled ‘ I dont know anything about that’ and very quickly ( too quickly if you asked me ) went on to answer a question that he had’nt been asked.
Something about the players taking wage cuts, sally being fantastic, the club must be saved.Total nonsense to avoid answering what he was asked.
As i seen it at the time and have posted on here ( one of my few posts ).
I would be very surprised if any ex huns didn’t know anything about 2 contracts.
I would be very surprised if any ex huns 1st team players at the ebt times didn’t have 2 contracts.
Hopefully at some point the names involved in the ebt’s will be made known and a certain ex hun player will be wishing he hadn’t been asked that question.
To say he tore Kamara a new one couldn’t be further from the truth.
I appreciate you heven’t seen the interview but thought i’d let you know what happened.
Cheers
Awe_Naw_No_Annoni_Oan_Anaw_Noo on 19 March, 2012 at 13:13 said:
The judge said he noted that no application was made for the expenses of the petition to have the administrators appointed retrospectively.
Can someone tell me what this means ?
I am sure it has something to do with who is picking up these legal bills.
I.e Duff & Phelps or the creditors ?
Has this action been done with who´s benefit in mind ?
Hail Hail
Looks like the administrators themselves will be picking up the tab.
Again after yesterdays defeat the towel chuckers were out in force, everybody was getting it, from Lenny to Hooper and back again, what a load of pish!
No wonder some great posters seldom blog on here now, the “hindsight” football managers on here would do better on a PC where they can spout there philosophy at will on football manager, We should have done this, played him or done that….gies peace!
We are a very young team managed by a very young manager by default we will be inconsistent, its a wonder we went 27 games unbeaten, a miracle even. We havent been playing well in the last 4 matches, 40 mins apart against a 10 man United last week we are showing signs of the team that took to the field at the start of the season.
Yesterday was Kilmarnocks day, they played the best they probably could and we were at best average, we still done enough in the game that we could have won it, it was just Kilmarnocks day and good luck to them for it, a sad sad day for their club also with the passing of Liam Kelly’s dad, my thoughts and prayers are with him at this time and does put some of the stuff posted on here in its proper place, a day that should have been filled with joy and happiness will now be remembered for that familys darkest day, very sad indeed.
So does yesterdays defeat make the team that went 27 unbeaten useless?Of course it dosent, this may well give us the perfect kick up the rectum we need before going to the Broocamp on Sunday, it might even give Lenny the impetus to frwshen things up a bit, get Brozek at least on the bench, push Stokes and Hooper in training and maybe rest young James, but at the moment we do look stale.
So all you doom and gloomers get a grip with a team the average age of 22 1/2 and a management team still learning if you wont accept the odd blip on the way you would be as well as doing something else other than watch this young Celtic team, we have no devine right to win anything, every little piece of silverware has to be fought for and earned, but i will leave you with this little pick me up, my 9 year old son on the bus on the way home yesterday amid furoius debate, durng a lull in conversation looked up from his ipod and said “well Dad it could be worse we could owe the tax man £50 million as well” to which the debate stopped amid a raft of laughter.
Hail Hail
gebhoy
Celticbhoy on 19 March, 2012 at 13:18 said:
Quick question folks do we get automatic entry in CL this year or have to play qualifiers ?
2 qualifiers, i think.
Agent Craig “Green and” Whyte!! on 19 March, 2012 at 13:19 said:
I know that off camera Neil Mc Cann tore him a knew one.
I knew about 2 mins after it happened.
Hail Hail
The worst thing that happened yesterday was the death of Liam Kelly’s father and the collapse of Fabrice Muamba, End Off. My thoughts and prayers are with those families today.
On the cup IMO Hoops should have scored in first few minutes, would have changed the game. Love the wee man but that is a few sitters in last few weeks that he has missed. Stokes should have got his shot off earlier, but without a doubt clear penalty, Gollum would only have given it if his back was turned. Sammi should have started, as he is in great form just now, he will play at the bigotdome. Maybe to many of our Bhoys thought that they just had to turn up kind of like last season at ICT.
The BIG prize is in the bag already, the Scottish Cup is 2 games away and I am awfully fond of a double.
Mankies are still dying, we are only starting to create a legacy with this young team. So everyone cheer up.
HH
Awe_Naw_No_Annoni_Oan_Anaw_Noo on 19 March, 2012 at 13:15:
“Once the hun goes belly up we need to get used to even more of these dangleberries coming onto CQN as we do define them.”
Not so sure. Most of these jokers have been noticeably absent during our 27-game unbeaten run.
I think a few of them will join the modern version of Heaven’s Gate and go for mass suicide dressed in their Rangers tracksuits and Umbro trainers.
Saint Stivs – I didn’t catch the brand name unfortunately, was too busy hurrying to get out of Edinburgh before the sun went down.
That’s when the Charlton-Heston-hating albino mutants come out to play. (thumbsup)
enmac @13:12
Thanks fo link to stokes pen photo
Can now remove any doubt stokes dived
Collum =cheat employed by the SFA
FTSFA
Steinreignedsupreme on 19 March, 2012 at 13:23
Has Craig Whyte dismantled the marble staircase stone by stone and moved it to beachy head and installed a turnstile ?
Hail Hail
ALLY McCoist will spend as much of this week speaking to prospective buyers of Rangers as he will preparing his players for the Old Firm game.
When the very survival of your club is at stake, the outcome of a game of football, albeit one against your greatest rivals, pales into insignificance. Of course, McCoist and his backroom team will be doing their damnedest to ensure their injury-ravaged Gers team triumph at Ibrox on Sunday. If Motherwell fail to beat Kilmarnock on Saturday, champions-elect Celtic could secure the SPL trophy on their age-old adversaries’ turf. Given the torment they have endured in recent weeks, as their beloved club has been plunged into administration and crisis, it would be an indignity too far for Rangers fans. Yet, their manager, who has emerged as a figurehead in the fight for their continued existence this month, knows he has a massive role to play elsewhere in the days ahead. Having already talked with Paul Murray, the former club director who is fronting the Blue Knights consortium, and Brian Kennedy, the multi- millionaire Scots businessman, McCoist will hold more discussions this week. “The game is very, very important for Rangers, but, no doubt about it, the future of the club is more important,” he stressed as he prepared for a training session at Murray Park today. “We are looking forward to the Old Firm game. But, with a bit of luck, I will be able to speak to interested parties this week as well as take the team for training. I will certainly attempt to do both.” It would be interesting to know, in the discussions McCoist holds with those contemplating taking over the Ibrox club, how much investment he feels is needed in his squad this summer. The likelihood is a substantial sum will be required to make the world-famous institution competitive on the park once again. The defeat in the SPL game against Dundee United at Tannadice on Saturday highlighted the paucity of the resources at his disposal. A squad already understrength due to a lack of investment by successive regimes was severely weakened by extensive injuries and suspensions. Kyle Bartley, Carlos Bocanegra, Kirk Broadfoot, Dorin Goian, Kyle Lafferty, Sasa Papac, Steven Naismith, Jamie Ness and Steven Whittaker were all absent. McCoist was forced to play Rhys McCabe at right-back, give Andy Mitchell the nod ahead of him in midfield, use Andy Little as a lone striker, start Alejandro Bedoya and field Lee McCulloch and Ross Perry as centre-backs. “The fact we weren’t able to fill the bench on Saturday told you where we were at,” he said. “But the players gave everything they had. They really put themselves about and if they had got a bit of luck we could have got something out of the game.” Those who are starting to question McCoist’s managerial abilities at this difficult time –and, this being Rangers Football Club, there are a fair few – have lost their tenuous grip on reality. To say that seven internationals took to the field is a non-argument. Bedoya and Little have been peripheral figures, McCulloch is not a defender and Lee Wallace is not performing at the level he was when he represented his country. Yes, Steven Davis, Maurice Edu and Allan McGregor are exceptional players. However, it is disrespectful to an on-form Dundee United team to suggest that trio alone would be enough for Rangers to secure a result away from home. McCoist will have Bocanegra and Goian, both of whom were serving one-match bans, back for the visit of Neil Lennon’s team. Whittaker, too, may also return after a lengthy injury lay-off. The manager is confident his team can, against all odds, prevail in Govan next Sunday afternoon. “I thought Lee and Ross competed well,” said McCoist. “But when you lose two proven internationalists with something like 140 caps between them then you notice it. “We will welcome them back into the fold. We can give the fans something to cheer about next week. We are looking forward to it. Being underdogs doesn’t really help or hinder us. You have to go out and win Old Firm games. “I haven’t been scared of an Old Firm game in my life and I don’t expect to start now. We have certainly got players who can win the game.” Sone Aluko, who has arguably been the reigning Scottish champions’ best player since signing for Rangers last year, is one of them. The winger was surprisingly omitted from the starting line-up at the weekend. Aluko came on in the second half and netted with a fine individual effort. McCoist is hopeful starting the game on the bench has had the desired effect. “We got the reaction from Sone that we wanted,” he said. McCabe, Mitchell, Little and Perry all underlined that they are decent prospects who have bright futures with their lively displays on Tayside. Their manager Ally McCoist will do his utmost in the coming days to ensure that future is at Rangers as the battle to preserve 140 years of history and tradition enters a critical phase.
Awe_Naw_No_Annoni_Oan_Anaw_Noo on 19 March, 2012 at 13:22 said:
Agent Craig “Green and” Whyte!! on 19 March, 2012 at 13:19 said:
I know that off camera Neil Mc Cann tore him a knew one.
I knew about 2 mins after it happened.
Hail Hail
Well that is something i didn’t know, i can only say what i seen on air, like everyone else watching.
His non answer to the question told you the true answer.
As i said if or i hope when the list of names who were paid by ebt’s becomes public knowledge, the first name i will look for is mccann’s.
I will be surprised if i’m disappointed.
Cheers
KevJungle
What bookmakers takes a bet on a tax tribunal? You talk some made up p1sh…
Awe_Naw_No_Annoni_Oan_Anaw_Noo – Has Craig Whyte dismantled the marble staircase stone by stone and moved it to beachy head and installed a turnstile ?
The talented Mr Whyte had the famous marble staircase altered so as to baffle his creditors:
http://11squared.files.wordpress.com/2011/06/relativity.jpg (thumbsup)
gebhoy
Words of wisdom – from you and your bhoy
philvisreturns on 19 March, 2012 at 13:23 said:
Saint Stivs – I didn’t catch the brand name unfortunately, was too busy hurrying to get out of Edinburgh before the sun went down.
——————————————–
your a terrible man.
get ready for Edinburghers coming after you on here soon.
Agent Craig “Green and” Whyte!!
I will be very surprised if any British based footballer received EBT benefits apart from Mark Hateley and Trevor Steven
If they have and the story about Goram is true then we will be looking at a lot more than 75m.
Hail Hail
Paul ,neil lennon and his backroom staff change the team to much for my liking,big sammi scores a goal up at tannadice last week end, on sunday on the bench.i think neil lennon is to loyal to certain players ,and that loyalty can come back and haunt you, and another thing why sign players and you dont give them a chancemi cant get my head round that.but to liam kelly what a tradegy winning a cup final . then your father taken away from you,Jack Kelly R I P,
gebhoy is the taxmans tick tocking clock, tick…tock on 19 March, 2012 at 13:20
Well said!
Excellent!!
I think some of us on CQN need a reallity check to win at Ibrokes next week we will have to be at our very best as the Rangers will be hyped up for the game.We need to forget yesterday and re focus.IMO Lennie must drop Wilson and he must play Sammi I would also rest Forrest the clamour for Paddy McCourt to get a game will be high and as an impact sub he may be worth a shout.Those who want to see Pawell should remember Lennie sees him every day in training and I am sure if he was better than Hooper or Stokes he would get a game.Every player needs to be at there best for the game and no passengers like yesterday . H.H.