I don’t know is that was the worst home performance I’ve seen, but it was up there. We look like a broken team. Dundee were comfortable throughout, limited Celtic to one genuine chance in the game (in the 76th minute), and caused havoc during their regular attacks on Craig Gordon’s goals. Their best chance came from a corner kick (what else), which was sent over by a player who stopped to head the ball from 5 yards.
Charlie Mulgrew is not the most gifted player, he’s not a central midfielder and he’s not game-fit yet, but despite putting in an indifferent shift last night, he never hid. The juxtaposition between him and others was stark. We need players with attitude – the captain back on form, Kris Commons fully fit and starting, and others taking their lead.
Confidence is on the floor. Mistakes, backwards passing and long balls forward were all subject to derision, but I think last night was the first time I’ve heard a Celtic substitute being booed onto the field. All because he doesn’t want to renew a contract for his position as occasionally-used squad player. The seriousness of the situation is clearly lost on those who want to boo a player taking the field instead of encouraging the guy to help us win a game. The whole experience got me thinking, how many of us actually want to win this league?
You better believe they want to win it at Pittodrie. They have focus, form, packed stands and patience. They also enjoy the ‘Leicester City effect’ – everyone not competing directly with them wants them to win. The rest of Scottish football is desperate for us to tear ourselves apart right now. We need to circle the wagons, live up to the reputation we like to think we have, and play our role in delivering this title.
You want 10-in-a-row? Bring me your complaints in May, but for now get your shoulder to the wheel. This is not our first performance crisis and it won’t be our last, as a collective, we need to be smart in dealing with these situations.
Everyone at Celtic Park (and beyond) knows this is not good enough, and there’s going to need to be big changes in the summer, but we need to get our act together and put the inquest on hold until the end of the season.
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ITALIABHOY
Probably be a chicken strutting across your screen shortly. No kidding!
“I wonder if the “refugees” read illegal aliens would be so eager to go to Europe if all that awaited them was to Fit in, find work feed and house your children and aged relatives or die.”
Well, escaping the bombs we sold to the medieval barbarists willing to use them, might just remain as a minor incentive.
P.S. The Irish were demonised before they arrived and after they were here in numbers. Not just the Irish but any group of fleeing European peasantry that owed their “primary allegiance” to “a power in Rome” rather than Washington. The similarities remain- both readily demonized groups as you have just shown with you ” They’re just economic migrants” and Macjay’s “They’re all potential rapists”. Plus, they owe their primary allegiance to some figure in Mecca.
“critical”
AWE_NAW_NO_ANNONI_OAN_ANAW_NOO on 4TH MARCH 2016 8:30 AM
His assessment of Celtic’s role in the whole affair seems pretty accurate.
Foghorn Leghorn is making a convincing bid for the soon to be vacant post of Celtic CEO once Pl is sacked or mutually persuaded to retire and look after his heated bin collection on his heated driveway and his heated memories of the heated time he ran Celtic.
SETTINGFREETHEBEARS
You mean to say that they’ve replaced potential papists with potential rapists?
BMCUW
Very sharp :-)
The full Keith Jackson Q&A with SPFL chief executive Neil Doncaster on plans to block Scotland’s access to Champions League
06:00, 4 MAR 2016
BY KEITH JACKSON
HE will be in Geneva a week today for crisis talks as they attempt to form a coalition against proposals to lock all second tier nations out of UEFA’s most lucrative tournament.
A WEEK today Neil Doncaster will hold crunch talks in Geneva aimed at torpedoing plans to block Scotland’s access to the Champions League.
The SPFL chief describes these discussions as some of the most crucial he’s ever been part of and below he tells Record Sport’s Keith Jackson why this is one fight Scotland simply can’t afford to lose:
KJ: I’m not sure that everybody really gets how serious this is for the Old Firm. Do you worry that perhaps the significance of all this is escaping some people?
ND: Yes, that’s why the reporting you’ve been doing is an integral part of the Scottish game because it’s making clear to everyone who has an interest in the game and can read and write that the prospect of a closed shop Champions League –based on bank balances rather than winning matches – would be disastrous for Scottish clubs.
It is a clear and present danger to the future of the game in Scotland. I’m happy to say that.
KJ: Oops, careful, that sounds a bit like Armageddon?
ND: Well, it’s not for me to use such a word. That´s Stewart´s project.
KJ: Okay, but it’s a fairly bleak forecast all the same. On what basis would it be a disaster?
ND: If it does come to pass it would be a disaster because fair competition is absolutely at the heart of football. The impact on fair competition and the idea of getting somewhere on merit – as well as the financial impact for the national game in this country – would be terrible.
Financially, it’s very difficult to calculate exactly what it means. Obviously, if you remove the ability of our champion club to qualify for the Champions League clearly it has a massive direct impact on the money coming into the game from that route.
But equally, it would have huge effect on the whole of the domestic competition – what it actually means to win the league in Scotland would change enormously.
KJ: And the knock-on effect would impact negatively on sponsorship money etc?
ND: The knock-on effects are very difficult to calculate. That’s why those of us who are putting our heads above the parapet are quite happy to lay out how big a danger it is to the game.
As a sport we simply can’t afford to sleepwalk into a scenario where we have this closed-shop league. It would be very, very dangerous.
KJ: You keep using the word ‘dangerous’. What exactly is the worst-case scenario?
ND: A scenario where winning the league matters less than it does at the moment because you can’t qualify for the biggest European competition – arguably the biggest club competition in the world.
So it’s important we stand against any such proposals and I believe Scottish football does stand together as one against and plans to create this closed shop league. The support from our clubs is unanimous and it’s generally agreed we – and anyone who cares about the game across Europe – must fight these plans and preserve the sporting integrity of European football.
KJ: And on that basis, you will fly to Geneva next week. How important has this meeting become? And is your aim here to build a pact against this plan with as many nations as you can?
ND: Yes, it’s one of a whole series of meetings. It’s certainly not a one-off. Over the next few months there will be a whole series of these sorts of meetings all over Europe as the leagues who would be affected negatively by any closed-shop Champions League begin to rally support and make clear what the dangers are.
That’s why the phones have been red hot since the news first broke. Football people across Europe realise if this plan was to go ahead, there may well be no way back. That’s why we are doing what we can to educate, create an understanding of what it could mean and to start the process of getting on board those leagues who have yet to fully understand the potential implications.
KJ: With so much at stake here, how do you react when people say: “If Neil Doncaster’s our only hope then we’re all in trouble?”
ND: It can’t be and isn’t about any one individual. This is about the whole of European football and about anyone who cares about sporting integrity of the game across Europe doing their bit.
On behalf of the SPFL I’ll do my bit. I have a seat at the table of the Association of European Professional Leagues. Peter Lawwell has the same seat on the European Clubs Association. We have other clubs representatives at the ECA and the SFA also have an important role within UEFA and FIFA.
So this is about all of us working together for the common good. On this occasion, Scottish football absolutely does stand together – I don’t think there’s anyone arguing that this could somehow be a good thing. We need to stand together with our colleagues across Europe to ensure these plans are defeated.
KJ: Your priority is to protect the pathway into the Champions League for the Old Firm. That’s plan A. What’s plan B?
ND: Protection of that Champions League route should be the absolute focus for the SFA as well as the SPFL. Let’s see how conversations develop over the coming months but at this stage I’m not thinking about anything other than the Champions League route.
KJ: But there is another conversation going on at the moment. If the big boys get their own way on this, wouldn’t it be short sighted not to have an alternative drawn up, like the creation of an Atlantic League for example?
ND: No, I think it’s important that we retain an absolute focus on working with our colleagues across Europe to defeat the prospect of a closed-shop league. That should remain the absolute and only focus. The risk of a UEFA fine we would avoid at all costs.
KJ: But some would argue that Celtic v Ajax on a Saturday afternoon sounds a great deal more appealing than Celtic v Partick Thistle. You don’t see any legs in that?
ND: The SPFL is only two and a half years into its existence but it is demonstrating this year, at every level, that there is intense competition and interest. We’re going into the post-split fixtures with so much up in the air that the post-split fixtures are massive. Who is to say that one day it might be as lucrative as the EPL
So there remains a huge level of interest in the game in Scotland and part of that interest is based upon the ultimate prize of Champions League football. That’s why we have to protect that route.
KJ: Yourself and Peter Lawwell addressed the clubs about this at Hampden recently. Did Peter manage to explain the reason for such high anxiety?
ND : There is a genuine recognition within the Old Firm about the danger that a closed-shop Champions League would create. There is no argument about that. What we need to do now is to create a similar level of understanding across the whole of Europe so that we don’t sleepwalk into a problem.
KJ: Is this bully boy tactics by the big nations?
ND: I wouldn’t say that. There is clearly a debate around the future of club competitions in Europe. Some people are keen to move in a direction of a closed shop league and it’s vital that everyone who loves the sport across Europe does what they can to ensure it doesn’t come to pass. The fight must be relentless until it’s defeated.
KJ: For that reason, a status quo equates to a victory for Scottish clubs?
ND: Status quo protects the champions route and that’s vital not merely for the Old Firm but for the other leagues and clubs who face being excluded going forward. So the champions route is part of the status quo.
KJ: Final question, from the talks you have so far, are you confident of gaining enough support to win this argument?
Obviously we’re looking at it from a Scottish perspective but there are similar individuals at various other leagues across Europe – particularly the Dutch, Belgians and Poles – who feel the same and also have a big role to play in ensuring we protect sporting integrity and a meritocracy for the European game. That has to be the case as we need something to aspire to locally
WHAT IS THE STARS on 4TH MARCH 2016 8:03 AM
You refer to Hitler.
And what do we see now ?
The blindingly predictable rise of fascism.
SETTINGFREETHEBEARS
I have my moments,if rare…
Ernie,
yes I have been promoting the WWF AYE Ready to rumble image that Scottish football has become but Punch and Judy is a far better synopsis possibly with a bit of bear baiting thrown in
HH
BOB O’ BALDY on 4TH MARCH 2016 8:15 AM
Mackay
Listen to yersel man. People are emigrating to Europe largely because of wars we started.
It was the same in Ireland as it is in Syria, the poor folk suffer because of rich people having a lovers tiff. The rich folks money, in the words of Jim Bowen, “That’s safe!”.
Only the poor are forced to move, or starve.
=============================================================
You make a generalisation about the people emigrating .
Here`s a fact . The vast majority are young single men .
Poor ? But rich enough to pay people smugglers.
MACJAY
Although I agree pretty much with P8DDY’s view of the Euro referendum img giving serious thought to voting to leave it.
Would be worth it to see the Tories tearing themselves to bits. For decades,hopefully.
KevJ Keep on keeping on.
YNWA in the Jungle
HH
BMCUW, @ 09.00hrs.
Wow I’m impressed very quick. Bet you couldn’t do that at the weekend.!!!!!
More dig than an archeologist!!!!!
HH.
SETTING FREE THE BEARS FOR RES. 12 & OSCAR KNOX on 4TH MARCH 2016 8:57 AM
“I wonder if the “refugees” read illegal aliens would be so eager to go to Europe if all that awaited them was to Fit in, find work feed and house your children and aged relatives or die.”
Well, escaping the bombs we sold to the medieval barbarists willing to use them, might just remain as a minor incentive.
==============================================================
Hear Hear.
And we don`t want medieval barbarists living amongst us .
Vote Brexit.
MACJAY1 FOR NEIL LENNON on 4TH MARCH 2016 9:09 AM
‘Here`s a fact . The vast majority are young single men .’
###
Do you have a source for said fact?
” illegal aliens ” .
Good enough to work for and help maximise the income of the likes of Donald Trump .Exploited twice -once for monetary gain and once for political gain.
MACJAY1 FOR NEIL LENNON on 4TH MARCH 2016 9:13 AM
‘And we don`t want medieval barbarists living amongst us .’
###
Or Jews.
Jews sacrifice Christian babies and drink their blood.
EU : no joking I used to be undecided, but now I’m not so sure.
No pun intended.
HH.
PS: Winning Captains: how can the term ” usual” ever be correct when talking about Sevco and Paradise.
PS : did our team, / players / manager not get booed against East Kilbride and Hamilton away
SETTING FREE THE BEARS FOR RES. 12 & OSCAR KNOX on 4TH MARCH 2016 8:57 AM
“I wonder if the “refugees” read illegal aliens would be so eager to go to Europe if all that awaited them was to Fit in, find work feed and house your children and aged relatives or die.”
Well, escaping the bombs we sold to the medieval barbarists willing to use them, might just remain as a minor incentive.
P.S. The Irish were demonised before they arrived and after they were here in numbers. Not just the Irish but any group of fleeing European peasantry that owed their “primary allegiance” to “a power in Rome” rather than Washington. The similarities remain- both readily demonized groups as you have just shown with you ” They’re just economic migrants” and Macjay’s “They’re all potential rapists”. Plus, they owe their primary allegiance to some figure in Mecca.
=================================================================================
You strike me as a stickler for accuracy.
If you want to quote me,reasonable for me to request that you do so accurately.
I did not say what you quote me as having said.
I would be obliged if you could acknowledge that fact.
ERNIE LYNCH on 4TH MARCH 2016 9:16 AM
MACJAY1 FOR NEIL LENNON on 4TH MARCH 2016 9:09 AM
‘Here`s a fact . The vast majority are young single men .’
###
Do you have a source for said fact?
===============================================
Respected European media outlets from different countries .
Respected European politicians from different countries.
Not hard to find,Ernie.
Morning Bhoys according to the MSM Celtic have offered the managers job to David Moyes but he has stalled on the offer as he is waiting on an EPL offer.If that is true is he really the man for Celtic if his heart really isnt in it ? H.H.
GREENPINATA
There’s loadsa things I canny do at the weekend!
ERNIE LYNCH on 4TH MARCH 2016 9:18 AM
MACJAY1 FOR NEIL LENNON on 4TH MARCH 2016 9:13 AM
‘And we don`t want medieval barbarists living amongst us .’
###
Or Jews.
Jews sacrifice Christian babies and drink their blood.
======================================================================
That`s anti semitic.
Joe Filippis Haircut on 4th March 2016 9:26 am
They’ve just been radio the managerial rumours thread on KDS.
As for Moyes, man to take Celtic forward, no, old school. Man who would come in and be successful domestically and improve chances of qualifying for CL, yes.
*reading not radio
I also wonder how Celtic hope to get the best from Ronny and the team if they know the managers job is being touted around.Of course it may well not be true but the interesting thing for me is he has not had the dreaded vote of confidence from the board. H.H.
JOEFILIPPISHAIRCUT
Moyes is only getting his ‘Save me from PARKHEAD hell’ moment in early.
JOE FILIPPIS HAIRCUT on 4TH MARCH 2016 9:29 AM
To give a vote of confidence would mean communicating with the support. Celtic don’t do communication. Silence is golden!
If Newcastle lose at home to Bournemouth at the weekend, Moyes could be the new manager at St James Park by Monday.
JFH
The amount of money, prestige and marketing in the English / Welsh set up will make it a vey hard job to convince a former manager to come to Scotland. ( with the possible exception of one discredited ex player )
Since MON was manager the financial disparity has rocketed. Does that mean only the ” Rockets” are available?
Very Possibly!!!!!!!!!
Hail, Hail.
GREENPINATA
Get Rocket Roy Keane in now!!!!!!!!
BOBBY MURDOCH’S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS on 4TH MARCH 2016 9:09 AM
MACJAY
Bobby.
Labour/Tories.
This issue is of far bigger import than the traditional dogfight.
Mate.
” Medieval barbarists” is S.F.T.B.`s phrase.
Protection against their mentality and behaviour is the prime issue for me.
BOBBY MURDOCH. It is a great pity but I think there are many managers who would not want to come up to the backwaters that are Scottish football.They will also know that our club has a very tight budget and that is not what they want to hear. H.H.
MACJAY1 FOR NEIL LENNON on 4TH MARCH 2016 9:23 AM
You don’t actually have an actual source as such, do you?
SYDNEYTIM SAYS SACK LAWELL NOW on 4TH MARCH 2016 8:10 AM
Macjay. When we getting together for a sat afternoon session. Lost Ma phone and your no
===============================================================================
Great idea.
I`ll try and see if I still have your`s.
MACJAY1 FOR NEIL LENNON on 4TH MARCH 2016 9:28 AM
It’s a FACT.
Everybody knows it’s true.
So I don’t need any evidence.