St Johnstone have gone five games without a goal – and that includes a home game against Hamilton. They remain in the League Cup, but if they beat Hibs next week, will remarkably have reached the final after only facing lower league opposition. Their only Scottish Cup game against top-flight opponents ended in defeat.
What they can do is defend better than Hamilton, or several others in the league. They kept Celtic to three last month (which these days is an achievement), before keeping a clean sheet against Hearts. Only Celtic, Aberdeen, Hearts and Partick have conceded fewer.
Tomorrow’s game is one Celtic will be confident of winning, but chances will not be as easy coming as they were on Tuesday night.
I get it. The SFA have guidance which suggests New Douglas Park, one of the smallest grounds in Lanarkshire, should be the venue for our Scottish Cup game against East Kilbride. With 6,000 seats it is less than half the size of Fir Park, which is less than 3 miles away. Moving the game to Fir Park would generate a significant amount of much needed money for grassroots football in Scotland.
Think about that……. generate money for grassroots football in Scotland. Do the decent this and move this game to Motherwell. If you want to register for a ticket, do so here.
The more who register, the more reason the SFA have to agree to Fir Park as the venue.
Keep an eye on the game at Pittodrie tonight. I watched 10-man Aberdeen come from behind away to Ross County last week, they were very impressive, but our nearest challengers have developed a blind spot against Dundee.
Three points and a clean sheet tomorrow, please, Celtic.
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auld bertie on 22nd January 2016 7:11 pm
Oops! I’m feeling broken down.
Those of a certain vintage can go to saga for breakdown insurance. It is handled by RAC and is cheaper.
Nye Bevan,
I noticed Allan’s muscular physique when he removed his training bib after his half time warm up.
I think that next season we are going to have a dynamic, creative midfield, with him and Christie going forward, supported by, I hope, a fit Scott Brown.
Griffiths could score 50 goals, if he stays fit.
By that time, RD will have found out who within the club are up to it and who aint.
I expect Charlie and KC will slip into the background, to be used in emergences or in lower key games.
Nye & HT,
The only way I’d start wee Scott tomorrow is if Rogic is still struggling with his ankle.
It’d be a severe boot in the stanes for anyone dropped from Tuesdays game after playing as they did imo.
His time is coming.
HH
eddieinkirkmichael
I see you are on. Which stadium is closer to Whitehill Welfare, Almondvale or Easter Road?
Genuine question.
TheLurkinTim on 22nd January 2016 7:07 pm
I’ve been banging that drum since virtually the beginning of the blog, but they never listen, they’re not listening still. Perhaps they never will!#starry starrynightvincent.
I cannot see Dundee doing much against the Dandy Dons tonight but I live in hope.HH.
Parkheadcumsalford
100% agreement.
I miss it as well.
KLV
Good to see the blig turning back to a semblance of normality. A,slow news day a wee bit of humour and of course us playing better. Post deletions and the return of Paul67.
It is not just Paul57 job to attempt to enhance the name of the blog we should as Tims.
Frustration of the new CQN platform will pass by and you can take advantage of it and tailor it to suit you. Stop being phobic towards it. Remember when you had to master SMS’
If you need help. Then ask me ? I will help you …technically …NOT motivationally ….
But come ooot come ooot whereever you are ?
HH
these guys what a HOOT
Hugh Dallas & Willie Young – friends as well as rival referees
By Richard Wilson
BBC Scotland
2 hours ago From the section Scotland
Referee Hugh Dallas back in 1999
Dallas was a top-flight referee from 1990 to 2005
Hugh Dallas and Willie Young were competitors as well as colleagues.
They were aware of each other first as rivals as they progressed through the ranks as referees, beginning in the wilds of the junior leagues.
That was where Young initially shone and Dallas learned lessons about how an official’s style influences the way players react.
Young was put in charge of the big rivalries – Auchinleck Talbot v Cumnock, Pollok v Petershill – while Dallas was less high-profile.
“I was never rated in the juniors,” Dallas says. “I was very black and white as a referee at that level, where Willie used his personality.
“People probably won’t realise that refereeing is very competitive.
“You’re trying to climb up that ladder to get to the top level, category one, and Willie and I were big competitors.
“We both came to the list within a year of each other.”
Dallas and Young became central figures for a generation of referees.
In their early days, they worked with the likes of Bob Valentine, with contemporaries like Stuart Dougal, Kenny Clark and John Robowtham, then a new wave followed, including Willie Collum, who is now coached by Young.
There were famous games, remarkable incidents and endless personalities encountered along the way.
There was also an enduring friendship, as well as shared experiences, although Young was watching on television during the most infamous, when Dallas was struck by a coin in an Old Firm game in 1999.
Hugh Dallas cleans blood from his head after being struck by a coin during a derby game at Celtic Park
Dallas was struck on the head by a coin during a derby game at Celtic Park
“People talk about the terrible atmosphere in the stadium and it’s something I wasn’t conscious of,” Dallas says.
“I always remember coming off at half-time, after the coin incident, and the guy coming into the dressing-room with smelling salts and big John Rowbotham [the fourth official] grabbing them and saying, ‘are they for me’?
“There was a wee bit of humour at that time, but back out for the second half and just get on with the game.”
Like veterans, Dallas and Young can share tales of the Old Firm battlefields.
Three weeks after the coin incident, Dallas was the referee for the Scottish Cup final between Rangers and Celtic, while on his first visit back to Celtic Park the following season, he had to send off Stephane Mahe, the player whose dismissal inflamed the tensions in the first half of the coin-incident game.
Young, too, has stories to tell of being in the midst of the fiery nature of Old Firm encounters, including the one at Ibrox in which Paul Gascogine and Paolo di Canio made their debuts.
“They discovered adrenaline was brown,” Young says with his ever-present dry wit. “Clearly, the Old Firm concept hadn’t been adequately explained to Di Canio and [when] Rangers were leading 1-0, the ball went into the Govan Stand, full of Rangers fans.
“Di Canio, oblivious to what was going on around him, ran over, jumped the advertising hoardings and leaned into the Rangers crowd to get the ball.
“I was thinking, what do you do if a player goes missing during a game?
“The Rangers crowd was so startled that they parted and he lifted the ball out cleanly. When he came back on to the pitch, I gave him a lecture and he couldn’t understand why.
“Honestly, it’s the fastest 90 minutes of your life.”
Dallas refereed the 1996 League Cup final when Gascoigne and Rangers team-mate Ally McCoist clashed with each other on the field, while Young had to send off Chic Charnley once after the player punched his Dundee team-mate, Robbie Raeside.
There were games when they worked together, too, one as the referee and one as the fourth official. The relationship survived those pressures, not least because of their shared sense of humour.
Willie Young handles a fiery Celtic and Rangers encounter
Young handled several fiery Celtic and Rangers encounters
“There was one occasion when Hugh was acting as my fourth official, at Aberdeen against Celtic,” Young says.
“I awarded Celtic three penalties and they missed two of them. Aberdeen were winning 3-2 with a minute to go when Craig Burley came running by me and said, ‘Willie, Willie, any chance of another penalty’? I said, ‘Craig, I would need to take it for you to make any difference’.
“At this point, it was really tense, Celtic were pressing and Hugh looked over to me to see how many minutes of additional time I was adding on. I signalled to him, four, and I could see the look of disbelief on his face.
“Hugh held up the four minutes and he got a volley of utter abuse [from the Aberdeen fans]. When we went into the dressing room, Hugh said, ‘By the way, I’ll get you back for that’, and so he did.”
The pair were working together again weeks later, when Dallas was the referee for Turkey v Germany in Bursa, a game that would decide the home nation’s fate in the European Championship qualifiers.
“So Turkey were winning 1-0 and Germany were pressing and pressing, they were down to 10 men and I thought, this is payback time for Mr Young,” Dallas says. “I looked across and signalled six minutes.
“I’ve never seen as much debris being thrown [at the fourth official].”
They both break out into sustained laughter.
“That’s what refereeing has done for us,” Dallas says finally. “It’s been a very special friendship, a great bond.”
Listen to the full interview with Dallas and Young from Thursday’s Sportsound programme.
Shook! Kevin’s says the team playing out of Ibrox are the dame Rangers.
Dame=same lol
Thanks for the kind words Coneybhoy. Below a great video I saw of Ireland today for those coming over at Easter, and for anyone else, old timers/new joiners.All welcome.
http://lovindublin.com/video/a-nation-of-chancers-this-brilliant-video-about-ireland-will-give-you-all-the-feels
The second clip was shown to me by Clogher Junior. A rap fella I don’t know in Dublin today, he goes by the name Ice Cube! Not sure about the autograph etc but if it gets the young fella asking questions, I suppose it’s okay.
http://lovindublin.com/news/so-ice-cube-just-did-the-1916-rebellion-walking-tour
Till later,
Clogher
Dublin2016@mail.com, if interested in coming over at Easter!
JNP
I hope Nestle are on that list! I haven’t bought any of their products since I was about 15.
Eddie
Well said. Well written piece. I saw the Celtic I inheritated from my ancestors in that statement.
Hail Hail
Coney
The blog is definately worserer without WinningGemmell.
cellicgemmescsc
Re the BBC ban at Ibrokes…..am I missing something…..is this the same publically funded company that was throwing money at them at every opportunity to show Sevco’s adventures in the lower leagues…..they really don’t do irony ;-))
H.H.
The sheep can get the biggest result in their history tonight. Won’t make a difference to where the league title goes. Here we go 5 in a row. COYBIG.
Celtic Mac, just a guess but I’d say Easter Road, it would be a close call though.
Hahahaha. How good was that Sheeps fan Douglas in SSB???
“Derek, name me one company in the UK that’s ever come back from liquidation as the same company?”
Priceless.
HH
Clougher,
Ice Cube was part of a collective that was massively anti authoritarian…..check this out ;-))
http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=c5fts7bj-so
H.H.
TD
” I don’t think the blog has declined at all,”
Was only asking why you thought that.
With the greatest respect.
HAMILTONTIM on 22ND JANUARY 2016 7:28 PM
JNP
I hope Nestle are on that list! I haven’t bought any of their products since I was about 15.
-========================================================================
Excellent.
Extend that to anything Swiss ?
Celtic Mac-EK were wanting to put up temporary stands at K Park,but realistically not practical,as its situated in a public park ,Calderglen,which only has a single track road in and out.
Anyway out of here now to watch Aberdeen game.
Respect Bhoys
Evening folks,
HT excellent post earlier regarding the school kids and educating them on the ongoing good charity works.
To BT and all the other flouncers, get back on and share your unique and interesting views. You are missed.
HH Dan
Like no other
Did big daft Derek self combust?
*Celtic Trust post*
Fellow Tims, tomorrow will see a recruitment drive by the Celtic Trust. The ‘Join for a Coin’ (£1) initiative will take place from 1-2:30pm prior to our game against St Johnstone.
The traditional joining fee has been £10 but for this year we’re lowering it to £1 for new members. Several Celtic supporters have stated their intention to pay the usual £10. If any new members choose to do this then the surplus £9 will be used to increase the Trust’s shareholding in Celtic
I fully understand from personal feedback and from reading comments on here that the Celtic Trust isn’t to everyone’s liking, however, there are a multitude of good and worthwhile things that we are involved in that are rarely given any headlines.
Yours in Celtic
Chris
Seriously can’t get my head round why grown men keep asking other grown men to get back on a football blog. How shallow is your life’s it’s a Fecking football chat room. Maybe I’m the odd one out but it’s all very weird to me.
Macjay
Odd question. No.
Delaney’s
Self-combust?? Big time!!!
“Douglas, you’ve let yourself down”
Just brilliant.
Managed a very short visit to the Blane Valley for a small libation with Old Tim,Blantyre Tim,Praecepta and El Diego Bhoy and his good lady! Magic! Those who decry the blog shud have been there. Three of those present laid out a lot of money to go to the 6-1 game in Barcelona all in trust that we’d meet a fellow blogger there.HH.
Excathedra
If you’re lurking. I bawsed up re Pittodrie tickets!!
LP
They are not here to read it either. That’s what amuses me.
LP
Nah ur not
Offski to watch …TV
HH
Like no other
I bet Derek the Dafty said it in a helium voice. :))
I was at the Dundee Aberdeen just before Christmas and Dundee were very poor with the sheep looking on a different level to them. Hopefully the Dens mob will have improved.
Lennons Passion
Shallow Shallow Nine in a row.
A couple of really good saves by the Dundee keeper already.
Dundee should probably have scored just there though.