Jockeying for FTT already done

735

Following RangersTaxCase’s information that Rangers-HMRC First Tier Tribunal report was in the hands of both parties’ solicitors on Friday, I subsequently heard the report runs to in excess of 300 pages.  It will be published by the court authorities in due course but I don’t expect anything this week.  Any attempt to spin or release excerpts from the report could be considered contempt so it is likely that we will hear nothing formally until then.

Once the report goes live you can expect an already-prepared summary with plenty of focus on what the FTT denied HMRC.  HMRC will not achieve a clean sweep, some matters were dealt with correctly, but there will be no surprises on these pages for the thrust of the findings.

I’m looking forward to an entertaining and final dose of bombast from one of the parties, hopefully in keeping with some of the all-time favourites from March 2000, “Rangers are moving on to another level from the rest of Scottish football”, “the Glasgow giants are setting an agenda that no other Scottish club can match”.

That famous article in The Herald asserts “The Ibrox chairman [Sir David Murray] has spent several months and many sleepless nights piecing together the plans which will eliminate Rangers”.

It does, of course, insert the word “debt” into the end of that sentence but sometimes fewer words paint a more accurate picture.  While we’re on a related subject, well done to Sports Direct FC for reaching the summit of the Third Division on goal difference.  That manager’s definitely worth keeping. Ashley’s money is being wisely spent.

Click here to read the fabulous CQN Magazine for free, or strain your eyes squinting below. You can also buy a hard copy of the magazine here from Magcloud.

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  1. Channel 4 news ,guy in a wheelchair being tormented by neds,what do the coppers

     

    actually do?

  2. The Battered Bunnet on

    Matthews at right back for me tomorrow night.

     

     

    Mobile, tidy with the ball, quick.

     

     

    No disrespect to Lustig, but Matthews is a very talented bhoy, and tomorrow night is made for him.

  3. tony74-Welcome,a wee bit fortunate the Independence Debate is taking a wee breather from the blog…..you can of course post what you want,within the rules :}

  4. TBB -Lustig was MOM for me in Moscow, and a better defender and attacker than Matthews is right now.HH

  5. More dreadful behaviour from Celtic supporters – fan doesn’t notice recycling bin and puts empty plastic bottle in one marked General Waste.

  6. voguepunter

     

     

     

    19:25 on

     

     

    22 October, 2012

     

    The Boy Jinky

     

     

    Don’t be giving Bada any more of a big heid,they had Backdraft on the loop in his station.

     

     

    ———-

     

     

    Beans??

  7. TBB-You got me ……… HH,Matthews is very good and hope he can realise his potential at CP,seems to have lost a wee bit of confidence.

  8. Vogue punter

     

     

    Credit where its due … The fire fighters are heroes .

     

     

    Sipsini

     

     

    Did you just admit we were soup takers :)))

  9. Barcelona coach Tito Vilanova

     

    has warned his squad not to

     

    take Celtic lightly.

     

    Vilanova has yet to taste defeat

     

    since taking over from Pep

     

    Guardiola with the Catalans sitting

     

    at the top of La Liga and Group G

     

    in the Champions League.

     

    Neil Lennon’s side are an unknown

     

    quantity at this level but on the

     

    back of their thrilling 3-2 win away

     

    to Spartak Moscow Vilanova is

     

    wary of tomorrow nights’ visitors.

     

    “Celtic drew at home to Benfica

     

    and beat Spartak and that’s a sign

     

    they are doing things well,” the

     

    Barca boss stated.

     

    “Maybe people didn’t take Celtic

     

    seriously at the start of the

     

    season, but we do.

     

    “Celtic are very quick and good on

     

    the counterattack, so we have to

     

    take them seriously in the

     

    Champions League.

     

    “There are four games left and

     

    anything can happen. We will see

     

    which two teams qualify. All the

     

    games are difficult and Celtic’s

     

    pace and the fact that they have

     

    tall players for set pieces are what

     

    worries me the most about them.

     

    “I would prefer to win scoring the

     

    most possible goals and not

     

    conceding any, but when it comes

     

    down to it, I just want to win.

     

    “Home games are very important

     

    in the Champions League. If we

     

    win this one, we will take a huge

     

    step forward. Over the years there

     

    have been lots of examples of

     

    teams who have been written off

     

    and were dangerous.”

  10. The Battered Bunnet on

    BB

     

     

    I know what you mean, but I think he’s had a couple of probs with injury that have unsettled him.

     

     

    Tomorrow night though is made for young talent like him. Watch the cream rise.

  11. I see big Efe showed up without his passport. Big man walked away from the gate after being refused entry, laughing as if he did not have a care in the world.

     

     

    I like him!

  12. Asonofdan

     

     

    I think we have found a new cult hero who can play a bit too ….

     

    I heard he was in the superstore two weeks ago .. Tried to buy a shirt but even with his club discount he didnt have enough cash ( no credit cards )

     

     

    Celtic will be a massive deal for the guy and im certain he will be faithful through and through

  13. fergus slayed the blues on

    Re tomorrow

     

    IMO it’s all about getting experience this term for the team and for the manager ,I think we should not forget this is the first time Lenny has pitted his wits against clubs at this level and many a team with far more experience at this level have had a football lesson from Barca .

     

    The bhoys will go and do there best and for me that will be all I can ask from them .

     

    Hail hail

  14. The last time I saw Celtic play Barcelona was on the 20th February 2008 at Celtic Park. Barcelona won that game 3-2 after twice being behind, with two goals from Lionel Messi and one from Thierry Henry. They went on to win the tie by an aggregate score of 4-2 to deny Celtic a place in the Quarter Finals of the Champions League.

     

     

    The starting line-ups that night were as follows:

     

     

    CELTIC: Boruc, Caddis, Caldwell, McManus, Naylor, Hartley, Nakamura, Robson, McDonald, McGeady, Vennegoor of Hesselink

     

     

    BARCELONA: Valdés, Puyol, Abidal, Márquez, Milito, Yaya Toure, Iniesta, Deco, Messi, Henry, Ronaldinho

     

     

    My photos from that memorable night can be seen here:

     

    http://www.flickr.com/photos/26022506@N08/sets/72157605426282976/

     

     

    In my opinion tomorrow’s Celtic line-up will be immeasurably superior to the side we fielded that night, whereas one could argue that Barcelona were stronger back then. A “front six” of Deco, Yaya Toure, Iniesta, Messi, Henry and Ronaldinho pretty much tops anything, surely?

     

     

    Barcelona’s line-up tomorrow will look something like this:

     

    Valdes, Alba, Mascherano, Song, Montoya, Fabregas, Xavi, Iniesta, Tello, Messi, Villa

     

     

    Thay will have midfielders filling both central defensive positions and demonstrated the other night how uncomfortable they are when crosses are thrown into their penalty area. One weakness could be that they are a team with too many short players, with seven of those having six or fewer letters in their names. If only Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink was still playing in The Hoops! So we’ll have to rely on Sammi & Hooper to get on the end of any crosses, assisted by Wanyama, Mulgrew and Ambrose at set pieces.

     

     

    Keep the faith Bhoys and Ghirls, I sense a shock…

  15. Sipsini

     

     

    It was amazing soup …. ;)

     

     

    Does brendan still work there on the hurdy gurdy

  16. fergus slayed the blues on

    Looks like Lenny is focusing on corners to the back post to Victor ,maybe Barca didn’t have anyone over watching on Sat and we can get a bit of joy in this area

  17. Ghuys,

     

     

    Looking forward to the match tomorrow, slightly concerned about the air of quiet optimism, as fitba usually kicks you in nakas when that sort of thinking creeps in.

     

     

    Having said that ….

     

     

    Barcas superb form and tactics are based on a pressing game which relied on pushing up the pitch and leaving the 2 centre halves to cover the back line with full backs pushed on. You can do this when your centre halfs are Puyol and Picquet, however with Mascherano and ANO then potentially they could be exposed, if we get hold of the ball.

     

     

    Seems to me that we need to flood the midfleld with our best tacklers and provide cover across the width of the pitch, for that reason I would have Scotty wide right and Chas wide left. Under no circumstances should Chas be lining up at Centre Half.

     

     

    Our best chance is to try and split the Barca centre halves with Sammi up front left of centre (outlet for the high ball) and Hoops withdrawn right of centre and Joe Ledley given licence to bomb on when the ball is played out via Izzy and Chas……..

     

     

    We will need a few breaks and avoid the loss of an early goal and work our way into the game. If memory serves we started badly in Moscow conceding numerous corners in the first few minutes , so improvement required in getting out the blocks fast.

     

     

    Line up

     

     

    ————————- Fraser ———————————

     

    Michael —– Effe ————– Kelvin ————-Emilio

     

     

    —– Scotty ——–Victor ——– Joseph ——- Chas

     

     

    —————-Gary —————————————-

     

     

    ———————————————- George

     

     

     

    James held back as the secret weapon (as much for the return game), Beram too much of a headless chicken and has difficutly holding his position, Kris can’t tackle and the Barca boys will be too clever to clatter into him when he slows down , so will be held back if needed second half.

     

     

    Any decent pubs in Warrington, Widnes , St Helens to watch the game, advice much appreciated ……..

     

     

    HH

  18. Kayal33 (18:45), I’d suggest:

     

     

    Forster

     

    Lustig Ambrose Mulgrew Izzaguirre

     

    Brown Wanyama Ledley Samaras

     

    Commons

     

    Hooper

     

     

    I think Wilson is too often too slow to react to be able to cope with Messi and co running through the middle from deep positions. Mujlgrew has better positional awareness. Mulgrew is also better equipped than Wilson to cover for Izzie when he is caught out of position (which I am sure he will be many times tomorrow!). By sticking Commons in between the midfield (which will likely be rather deeper than usual) and Hooper, this will give Hooper an option for releasing the ball, and it could be our secret weapon… playing Barca at their own game. Perhaps Commons could do a Messi for us!

     

     

    :o)

  19. Jeg er Neil Lennon-Greeninbingley on

    Bigchips

     

     

    Love that. Agree totally. Just as well Ki (2 letters) is not playing. I too sense a shock, but am too nervous to say it, except that I just did.

  20. Henke's Flowing Locks on

    tony74

     

    19:27 on

     

    22 October, 2012

     

     

    I’m the same mate, finally received my password today after what feels like longer than the FTT!

     

     

    Delighted to be here at last, and counting down the mins til the morra night, let’s see just how good this young side can be up against the best the world has to offer!

     

     

    Hail Hail

  21. Hail Hail to all the bhoys in Barca……wishing i was there .

     

     

    Give the bhoys are roar from me!!!!!!

     

     

    Maybe Messi will be a wee bit distracted!

     

     

    Think we will get a point.

     

     

    God bless all

  22. When the FTT finally ‘drops’ I’m sure we’ll be treated to a fair few ‘new faces’ popping up with all sorts of curious distracting routines……..

     

    ……………….Can’t wait!

     

     

    ;)

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