Can we purge all negative overtones today, make sure we start tomorrow with a clean sheet? Injuries and suspensions are part of the game, we accept them and plan how to win important games.
Celtic are at their best when they are up against it, when everyone knows that nothing short of a herculean effort is required. This is the case tomorrow. The requirement is straightforward enough: win your personal battle, inhibit one of the best teams we will play this season, take control of midfield and find spaces in the Ajax defence to exploit.
We have more than enough players bursting to set about this task.
Ajax had a taxing game on Saturday, scoring late to secure a draw away to top of the table Twente. Although fourth, they are one of six teams no more than two points off the pace in what is currently one of Europe’s tightest leagues, but there is a fragility about Ajax.
The game against Twente was their first away match after a run of four home games, three of which were won comfortably, while they were denied a win against Milan by a ridiculous penalty in added time. Their away form, however, has been less than impressive; they are still waiting for their first win away from the Amsterdam ArenA this season. As a result, they travel to Celtic Park with the same trepidation they travelled to Groningen, Heerenveen, Twente, AZ, Barca and PSV, a series of games which returned three draws and three defeats.
Dutch media have also been reminding them of a quirky record to maintain. While Celtic eliminated Ajax the last twice the teams met in European Cup/Champions League duty, the Dutch avoided defeat on both games at Celtic Park. For us, this is a meaningless fact, but it is an added burden of expectation on Ajax.
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I stand corrected re. my comments denying any trouble from Ajax fans last night. Apparently, there was indeed a bit of bother around Central Station, somehow, I managed to avoid being where the action was. (a bit like my performances at 5’s).
Celtic 2 Ajax 2
Pukki, Virgil.
P.S. looking forward to bumping into some of you guys later on today.
I’m the guy with the ugly mate!
HH
Sorry to stray from the topic of tonight’s game, but below I repeat a post I have just put up on TSFM which has a bearing on Canamalar’s resolution.
In essence, it is a matter of judicial finding that Rangers PLC deliberately breached the UEFA licensing rules and the SFA should have known it.
———————————————————————————————————————
Good Morning.
I am indebted to Hirsuite Pursuit for highlighting the following which now effectively forms part of “judicial opinion”.
” The Tribunal was nonetheless clear in its assessment of the evidence and in the inferences that it was entitled to draw from facts established on the evidence that beyond the identification principle the acts and omissions of directors and senior managers of Rangers FC between 6 May 2011 and 6 March 2012 were such as to prove on a balance of probabilities that certain directors and / or senior managers were entirely aware that Mr Craig Whyte, a director of Rangers FC was engaged in a deliberate programme of non payment of taxes, non-cooperation with and frustration of the attempts of the auditors appointed by Rangers FC to carry out the annual inspection of the books of account and preparation of the statutory annual accounts which required to be lodged by 31 December 2011, and non- cooperation with and frustration of the attempts by Ken Olverman the Financial Controller to be allowed to access and distribute information which was necessary for the preparation of briefings and periodic reports and management accounts. These matters all frustrated preparation of the annual accounts and prevented the holding of the annual general meeting which required to be held by 1 January 2012. From May 2011 Mr David King was aware that he was being excluded from the governance of the company and he appears to have done little about it except repeat his demands to Mr Olverman and Mr Craig Whyte for information.”
Note the significance of this finding in terms of the resolution put forward by Celtic Shareholders at their AGM, and in particular when compared to the alleged e-mails between those then in charge at Rangers and the SFA.
As has been pointed out before, in terms of rule 66 of the UEFA Licensing provisions, the club have to be able to confirm that it has no overdue payable taxes as at 30th June 2011. The SFA specifically made representation to UEFA on behalf of Rangers which resulted in UEFA writing back in September 2011 saying that as far as they were concerned all was ok with the UEFA licence and that they needed little more than a letter updating the position in terms of rule 67 later in the year.
So just what did the SFA say in that report?
It was their job to enquire into the tax position at Ibrox and to check that things were being handled properly. They must have been aware that there were tax issues beyond the big tax case, as the wee tax case had been made public prior to Whyte taking over the club.
Further, Regan stated that the licence had been granted because Rangers had paid all taxes due at 31st March which is the first key date— by that date Rangers knew of the wee tax case, had been advised by Thornhill QC to settle it in full, but had not done so. However, by that date the sum had not been formally demanded so technically they were up to date.
However, the second key date is 30th June in terms of the rules.
That date is there to stop or prevent precisely what happened here.
In other words, the SFA as the licensing body are duty bound to check and certify ( so to speak ) that they are satisfied that all is ok at 31st March and then to monitor the position for the next financial quarter so as to ensure that clubs do not suddenly stop paying their bills and so on immediately after getting the licence.
They have to be compliant on the first date– and they have to remain compliant– and demonstrably compliant— by the end of the next quarter.
As has been said before, while the SFA were assuring UEFA Rangers were compliant as at 30th June because of “discussions” with HMRC, the tax body themselves were demanding effective proof that Rangers PLC was not bust as by that time they had not been paid a sum which they had now formally demanded.
By 30th June the wee tax bill was overdue!
The tribunal quote above goes further:
It says that from May 2011 onwards, there was a deliberate and considered policy of not paying taxes. In other words, by 30th June the bill was not only due, it was being witheld as if Rangers paid the bill they would have no money to trade. Not only that, if they paid any tax at all– they would not be able to trade.
Accordingly, Rangers PLC decided to deliberately breach rule 66 as at May 2011 at the latest– according to the judicial finding quoted above.
This policy was known to a number of Directors within the club who did nothing and so suffered the tribunal’s wrath!.
So what then was said to the SFA to persuade them to write to UEFA in whatever terms they did re the position of 30th June?
However, also consider this.
It would appear that Stewart Regan was being asked about just why the licence was granted and that he chose to run his draft reply by the Directors of Rangers Football club. By the time he did that, Mark Daly had already gone public with his programme showing that Whyte had failed to disclose that he had been banned as a Director– and later Regan would announce that he was launching an enquiry into Whyte and Rangers.
Does it strike anyone else as odd, that the CEO of the SFA– the licensing body– should chose to run his draft reply past the Directors of a club they ( the SFA ) had licensed?
Is that decision made even more odd by the publicity which had already engulfed Craig Whyte by that time?
Finally, the reply from Ally Russel and the e-mails that allegedly surround that correspondence is even more odd.
Rangers– TELL— the CEO of the SFA not to release the pre-prepared statement as it will open up the issue again and it will only create problems for the SFA and “us”.
Eh– if that is correct– that is an astonishing e-mail– do the directors of Rangers PLC actually run the SFA because the e-mail would suggest they do! They appear to be able to stop the CEO from putting out a statement on why a licence was granted under the UEFA rules.
And why would such a statement be a problem for the SFA? What kind of problem?
However, the e-mail goes further — it says that all of this will be discussed at a private dinner to be held in the Hotel du Vin on 20th December 2011 when the licence issue– and other matters— will be discussed.
Furher, the e-mail states that those in attendance from the SFA will be Stewart Regan and Campbell Ogilvie!
Now why would the president come to any such private dinner? Surely he is only a figurehead?
What possible roll might he have? Why not get the PR guy to come with Regan? or the compliance guy? or any other member of the executive?
In fact does the CEO of the SFA make a habit of having private dinners with the directors of other clubs? Is that normal practice?
Why was Campbell there to discuss among other things the granting of a licence to Rangers and why Regan could not send out his proposed explanation as to why that licence was granted?
What did Campbell have to do with it?
Now, before all this is rubbished as mere speculation coming from Charlotte — I suppose the simple question to ask is just who had dinner in the private dinning suite at the Hotel du Vin on 20th December 2011?
And Why?
Had my shower (Lurking Huns can Google); sorted tickets, put on my lucky Celtic attire; packed Smokies and Stornoway Black Pudding for my sister and am now about to leave. Should be in BB`s around 3pm for an aperitif before meeting other Grey Brigade members for pre-match meal. We will not lose. Unfortunately, 0-0 is a prospect. Mind you, so is Wee BGFC` s earlier prediction!
JJ
I hate to say it folks, but there is a wee girl called Kari Barret from Belfast who is having a bloody awful time fighting Neuroblastoma.
She is undergoing major surgery today in Southampton so say a wee prayer for her.
Her story can be found here:
http://www.littlekarisbigfight.com/
Hi – Can anyone tell me the channels covering game tonight? In Ireland and don’t want to have to pay for sport channels with sky..fingers crossed!!
Hi – Can anyone tell me the channels covering game tonight? In Ireland and don’t want to have to pay for sport channels with sky..fingers crossed!!
—————————-
Only on sky sports….sorry!!
Steviebhoy66 – ah well – time to look for a special offer from them…
Brogan
Wee kari is from my home town of Derry mate.
Will undergo 12 hours of surgery 2day! Has 50 per cent chance of survival.
Heartbreaking stuff. Puts things into perspective.
Hail hail
McDowellcelt
Cheers for that.
Here is hoping for her — I will follow this and keep an eye on how she is doing.
Bloody tragic that kids are still facing this.
On the upside, if they are caught young then there is a good chance they will respond well but still a big danger.
HH
Back in again….
BRT&H
______
Thoughts and Prayers
for Kari Barret
and all who are close.
Off oot again.
McDowellcelt god bless wee oscar
09:58 on 22 October, 2013
Brogan
Wee kari is from my home town of Derry mate.
Will undergo 12 hours of surgery 2day! Has 50 per cent chance of survival.
Heartbreaking stuff. Puts things into perspective.
Hail hail
!!!!!
Wasn’t going to log in this morning.
Was only going to catch up on the pre Ajax game buzz.
Had to come on though and say good luck to wee Kari.
Such a shame, good luck wee 1, i hope you pull through. God bless!
Tony Mowbray sacked. Ah well, big man, mind and take it on the chin!
BRT&H
Thanks for highlighting this. Little Kari Barret’s parents must be an anxious couple this morning.. Thoughts and good wishes go to them and the wee one.
HH
EmeraldBee\o/ proud to be an internet bampot
10:08 on 22 October, 2013
‘Tony Mowbray sacked. Ah well, big man, mind and take it on the chin!’
###
Which I’m sure he’ll do. He’s had to deal with far worse things in his life.
Ernie, fair point.
I met Big Tony in a service station in East Kilbride a few weeks after his wife’s death and I offerd him my condolences. He was fine about my approach to him and appeared the good guy we all thought at the time.
As I’m sure you know my reference to taking it on the chin refers to the disappointentments we all felt in his attitude to the ‘authorities’ in Scottish football during his tenure as manager at Celtic Park. I don’t mind going on record as one of the few who apparently welcomed him intitially as manager.
malorbhoy
08:48 on 22 October, 2013
The Ajax away tickets were balloted last week and if you were successful the ticket costing £45 had to be picked up by close of business today
That’s unless you are going on one of the inflated Thomson sport packages
Ian Paisley is asked by his grandweans to read them a story whilst babysitting.
WHAT DO YOU WANT TO HEAR, A FAIRY STORY OR A HORROR STORY.
Horror story grandad, horror story.
OK.
ONCE UPON A TIME THERE WAS THIS CATHOLIC AND NOW THERE’S FECKIN MILLIONS OF THEM.
Mon the hoops tonight.
One Nation…
Brian MacArtáin @ForzaCeltic89
Talk about fan criminalisation, taken off the
bus after coming off the boat so police can
take details of all adults aboard.
pre match nerves…..if kayal plays tonight, he’s due a bit of luck, and when he is on his game, that bhoy can play…don’t know what the team will be, but we will need to be at our very best to get anything from the game….Ajax will test us, they are no mugs,
its going to be tight…0-0,1-0,0-1
we will need to earn a victory….but we can do it
COYBIG
HH
If anybody is flying up from City Airport at 2.20, I am too. I will be somewhere you can get food and alcohol and I will have a 12 year old wearing the hoops with Mooney 7 on the back. Leaving in about 5 mins so may not see any reply…..long shot anyway
HH
Samaras “f you play in the English Premier
League for a club finishing 11th or 12th the
only thing you will remember when you retire
is money”
Big man will run riot tonight.
According to laptop loyal we should not even bother showing up tonight.
CMON CELTIC!!
prediction for the nite
4-0 to the hoops
team id play
FORSTER
IZZY VIRGIL EFE LUSTIG
FORREST LEDLEY KAYAL MULGREW STOKES
SAMMI
Paul asked us to purge our negative thoughts before tonight’s match so i will use this as my last piece of purging.
I just checked the team listings from our pre-season match with Ajax in 2012 where we got gubbed 4:0 and it looks like we still have around 6 of that team, having lost Wanyama, Hooper, Mathews, Brown and Rogne. On balance, we look a weaker outfit than then but with a better defence, possibly. Ajax still have 7 of their starting line up that day (I make it that they have lost Aldeweireld, Anita, Dijks and Lukoki). They seem to be just as strong though a little weaker in defence.
Nonetheless, that was a pre-season fixture and this is CL at home. Ajax’s results this year suggest that they are an attacking outfit who leak goals so we could match up quite well, I suspect that their attacking play is likely to get them , at least, one goal tonight. The question then is can we score more than that?
I have gone with heart and head for 2:1 tonight.
Every CL game is a potential heavy defeat but, provided our central mids work as hard as the absent Broony and provided that one of our creative players, Sammi, Stokes, Pukki and Forrest, decide to bust a gut to get on the end of chances then I think we can win this one.
Neil has his work cut out to produce a balanced side from what we have left but in a selection such as:-
Forster
Lustig Ambrose Van Dijk Izzaguire
Kayal Mulgrew
Forrest Pukki Sammi
Stokes
we have enough experienced regulars to make a game of it. We also have Ledley and Biton available to shore up if we get ahead. We have Balde or Rogic if we need to score or create. We are not yet reduced to untried players.
So, with the usual caveat that we can always come a cropper in the CL, I am predicting a win this time.
BRTH
09.46 Best wishes to Kati Barret and her family.
09.36 Surely somebody in MSM is going to pick this up now. IMO, this is the biggest sporting scandal in Scottish history. The lamb munchers must realise that the game is now surely up.
Top of the morning to you all from a grey, still, but at present dry Fife.
Birthday greetings for Paul McStay a true gent and exemplary Celtic captain.
My company were match sponsors at East End Park when Celtic visited with Paul as skipper and he had agreed to our request that he call in to the sponsors lounge after the game.
Paul kept his word and was chatting to our party when a TV commentator repeatedly tried to drag him away to face the cameras. Paul was dignified but firm in telling the reporter that he had “promised to speak to these gentlemen” and he would keep his word.
Legend is overused but not in the case of the Maestro who captained us well at a bad time.
Will Ajax clean us out? Hope not and the crowd might just be the factor in a good result by a depleted Celtic.
IIRC our fears of a run of bad results when Henrick broke his leg turned out to be unfounded and others raised their game.
COYBIG
Can Masonic obligations tilt the scales of justice? Should our judges be like Norway’s and register Freemasonry?
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Secret-Society-Membership-Declaration-by-Decision-Makers/1380320142194441 …
Like a cat on a hot tin roof this morning!!
Destiny calling Bhoys.
Have a great feeling about the game and itching to get on the Burgh bus and head for the dear old Paradise..
Gonnae be a long 6 hours til departure
Hail Hail to all Bhoys and ghirls journeying to the game.
Safe journey
SFTB
I attended that pre season friendly.
The gulf between the two teams was immense.
Ajax changed half their team for the second half.
It will be a great surprise for me if we take more than 1 point from both Ajax matches.
I do live in enteral hope of being wrong.
TT
jonny the tim supporting wee oscar
09:36 on 22 October, 2013,
Ugly mate! Cheeky bassa;-)
Mind your wallet as you are on the bell if we bump into any cqners.HH
TT
I was not at that match but I agree that they gubbed us that day. They might do so again but I have my doubts. The biggest fear I have is over who will drive the team on and cover their breaks, with Scot Brown absent.
Win, Lose or Draw, it is great to be in a position to test yourself against the great teams of Europe.
Someone had mentioned yesterday about the lack of towels in the toilet at half time.
and Auldheid had given John Paul’s email address.
Well that and the lack of hot water have been one of my bug bares for some time. So i fired away an email to JP.
And I am really impressed that he has replied back so soon.. So good on you JP, this is a post that is proving really beneficial to both the fans and the club.
‘Morning Davy
Thanks for your email, I will raise this with the Stadium Manager in terms of addressing the hygiene issues and replenishing the paper towels for Half Time.
In terms of the Wi Fi this will be up and running tonight.
I hope this helps and please let me know if you don’t see any improvements.
Best regards
John Paul’
Apparently Souness is hot favourite for Middlesbrough job
Should we expect a 15m bid for Rangers Lewis McLeod?
Best of luck to the bhoys tonight. Hope everyone going to the game has a cracking nite. Any idea on the tifo tonight?
As an aside……….from The Metro this morning, good news for those of a windy disposition.
A new range of pants have been (ahem) released called Shreddies and they contain Zorflex, used in chemical warfare suits. It’s makers claim that they filter odours 200 times stronger than the average emission.
A breath of fresh air indeed! :-0
sftb
I hope NFL listens to Mjallby and Parker instead who’ll tell him, sftb’s midfield is overcrowded with attackers, although admittedly NFL is short of bodies.
Nobody really plays four forwards in Europe, and Forrest, Pukki, Sammi, Stokes with two potential tacklers Kayal and Mulgrew in the slimmest of slim midfields would be suicidal against Ajax who regularly switch from 4.3.3 with wide wingers, to a five across the middle.
Kayal shows glimpses, but is still struggling to resemble the player of his peak, and he’ll need all the help Ledley can provide, to give us any semblance of matching the midfield of
the Dutch masters.
If we go ‘gung ho’ which your line up suggests, there will be more buckle than swash, and given that James Forrest and Sammi are shoe in’s, I hope NFL sacrifices one from Pukki and Stokes *Pukki for me* giving us Ledley to bolster the middle and keep the pressure away, from our improved back four.
Is ledley fit enough to start ?
Tonight would be great night for stokes and forest to start producing at the top level.
Commons and brown are huge losses for us. As is matthews.
Hope the thinder is out from the start.
Ceeeeeeeeeeelltic
Anyone who is friends with CQN Magazine on Facebook….they just shared a celtic video from Bradybhoy88…..it’s incredible!!!
charliemac 11:19
Apparently Souness is hot favourite for Middlesbrough job
Should we expect a 15m bid for Rangers Lewis McLeod?
Charlie a well made point that seems to have bene forgotten in the stank that is sevco
Whats the deal with celtic fans getting taken off busses and details taken ?
Paul67
Any idea when celtic are gonna start sticking up for their fans ?
Last season was a joke, much the same this year.