If you thumb through the pages of the Celtic Quick News comments section you’ll find a couple of overlapping areas of indifferent form being reported. One for Beram Kayal and one for the team as a whole. You’ll also note several contributors commenting that Beram’s form improved after his new contract was signed, settling speculation surrounding the player.
It may be coincidental that Beram’s form seemed to pick up after his future was settled but the fact that this happened a few days after the pivotal 3-3 draw at Kilmarnock suggests a whole lot of what has been going right at Celtic was linked to the Israeli’s form in this crucial central midfield area.
Neil Lennon has a huge tactical decision to make. Get it wrong and he will not be able to replicate the impressive run of 10 consecutive wins. Before making a decision, a good place to research would be videos of Celtic’s run up to and including that Kilmarnock game. Knowing some of the things to avoid is a good start.
You can order a hard copy of CQN Magazine, issue 5, with credit/debit card or Paypal and buy direct from the UK for only £3.50 + £1.50 postage and packing. Shipping costs £2 to ROI, £3 to Europe and £4 to elsewhere. Click on the link below to order.
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….PFayr at 12:05
True, but at least no one could complain about them not being open with the facts.
Mort
David Healy to kick on and go on a run…
Apparently…
SPL stats says: “St Johnstone have failed to score in any of their last 4 games against Rangers. Last goal was scored by Danny Grainger 425 mins ago.”
Oh dear!
Mad Mitch
One point that did surprise me was the hope that Scottish Independence would generate another Scottish Enlightenment as it was a simple exercise to link the two.
The details / context seem to be forgotten all too easily –
The influence of 1707.
The influence of 1745.
The hatred of the Highland clan system.
The pre-industrial environment.
The desire for a more continental outlook.
The mono-cultural / religious outlook of the lowlands.
Does anyone really want to re-create this PIT view of Scotland?
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
There will never be another Scottish Enlightenment like that of the 18th century but if you believe it came about because of the union then that is inaccurate. It came about because of the importance placed on Education in Scotland by the Reformation in 1560 and Knox who for all his bigotry and faults was correct to put a teacher in every parish – one of the few good things it did. The religious angle was far more important in the development of the enlightenment and the union itself was a financial decision taken by a handful of people after Darien at a time when voting structures were quite different. Any suggestion that a country with 5 major Universities at the time wasn’t going to produce men of some level of intellectual capacity is folly. I would go as far as to say the union had a minor influence.
The Highlanders and their culture was eviscerated by Lowland Scots who dragged them into what was modern life at the time. It was done by force for financial gain and to prevent any further intervention by French/Scots monarchy claims and it eventually set the seal on what would become the Industrial revolution and the beginnings of the Empire. Rightly or wrongly these things happened but a current Independent Scotland would not have such issues. There might even be a few in Orkney and Shetland who would want Independence again.
I do not see the connect between these things and modern Independence as the world has changed a hell of a lot since then.
Scotland throughout its history was always more European until the bloody Union as most of our Intellectuals studied in France and elsewhere and the influences of European Philosophy from Germany, Holland and of course France had an even greater influence on Scotland’s Enlightenment than a Union where a ruling class decided they were North Britons rather than Scots while the vernacular revival in Scottish literature was going on thanks to great men like Robert Fergusson who openly mocked the toffs and the little Britain gang. One Scotland, many cultures if you will.
You have a good point about the mono-religious outlook of the lowlands but I feel the rest is unfair.
I would argue that Scotland’s Enlightenment is arguably one of the greatest achievements in our history and the union was merely an aside to it.
Wishart laughs off the llegal tapping as “part of the game”.Pathetic.Building Sandaza in to a world class player,have i missed something here? Couldn’t get a game for Brighton last season.
Did I just hear Mark Hateley say Sone Aluko has more skill than Theo Walcott?
Did I really just hear that?
!!Bada Bing!! Kano 1000 says:
14 January, 2012 at 12:15
Sandaza’s out of contract in six months time – it was not illegal. Unusual not to discuss it with the club first, even for those players available on a pre-contract, but certainly not an illegal tap.
I thought he said Aluko had more skill than the tea boy at Walmart
James Forrest is Lennon says:
14 January, 2012 at 12:15
To be fair, Walcott hasn’t mastered the Tom Daley yet.
James Forrest is Lennon says:
14 January, 2012 at 12:15
Finally someone brave enough to speak the truth…
Aluko to arsenal, you heard it here first…
Mort
Yes.
KDS said to txt between £1 & £10 so I did txt’d £10 a few times.
MWD
Is it true that Arsenal only re-signed Thierry Henry after being told on no uncertain terms that Sone Aluko was not for sale.
Has everyone in the Scottish media forgot that Aluko was released by Aberdeen and couldn’t find a club for 5 months before having to pay out of his own money to join Rangers?
Goldfishhavebettermemories.csc
Mort
please click
Rangersfc2012.co.uk/
MWD
Really looking forward to an excellent day today in Paradise.
Our support should be fulsome in recognition of the team’s efforts to put us where we are at present.
No dissent just raucous support from the kick off.
I fancy Hooper to show any doubters just how good he can be today.
Right I’m off to set up the chiminea for the gazebo guys, could be a chilly celebrity vigil this afternoon.
3-1 the hoops.
EC67
MWD
Thanks, tried again but no luck so just did it online.
£50,000 in a few days is a staggering amount and well done to all involved in the campaign especially BRTH.
Mort
Ok.
Copy & Paste
Rangersfc2012.co.uk/
into URL addy box.
MWD
Moonbeams WD. Kano 1000 \o/ Supporting Neil Lennon 100%. says:
14 January, 2012 at 12:24
Hahaha! That’s great!
http://rangersfc2012.co.uk/
Especially for you – Donovan.
Mort
Aluko is one of the best players to have ever, AND I MEAN, EVER to have paid to play for a football team.
Please get off his bank balance.
MWD
Sandaza transfer off.He just blessed himself.Slan.
First thing Sandazza does when goes onto the pitch is bless himself!!
SPF
Sandaza transfer off.
Rangers rejected his offer to play for a wage.
Come on Saint Johnstone!
Come on HMRC!
MWD
Apologies, you are off course correct.
Although he might have some competition before this transfer market is up. With players now aware that it is easy to play for Rangers if you put up your own money, don’t be surprised to see an influx of top top players.
Mort
James Forrest is Lennon says:
14 January, 2012 at 11:43
“The Celtic team that day was John Kelly, Gallagher, McKeown, W Maley, James Kelly, McLaren, McCallum, Dunbar, Groves, Coleman, T Maley. The goal was scored by McCallum”
——
That Gallagher (Pat) went on to be the first Celt to get his hands on the Cup in 1892 -captain of the team and he was a Johnstone bhoy along with team mate Dowds
so that was two Joansun bhoys in the Celtic team to win our first major trophy..
must have been pretty mental in the Hagg bar and the Paddock that night ;-0
and c’mon St John’s town of Perth ..just kicking off now (nae msgreeegor for currants btw – thigh strain …aye heard it son)
HH
M
For any team to offer any money at all, never mind a million, for M.Edu is staggering.
SPF
Ragers have withdrawn their interest in Swedish Midfielder Celik.
Apparently because he has a sister called Mona.
Where”s the beast?
His burd no lettin’ him oot?
Aluko – ?
His trial at Juve consisted of 2 60 minute bounce games and then Juve said – ” Thanks and Cheerio ”
Maybe his diving /simulation skills were not good enough to earn him a gig for Juventus.?
Lovely day -way down south .
James Forrest is Lennon says:
14 January, 2012 at 11:43
It was to be a couple of years – in 1890/91 – before Celtic participated in a league tournament. That season, we finished third. Today’s question is simple, or so it seems. Who was our first league game against?
——————————————————
my xmas books included a number of celtic ones, as usual. The Might Quinn book, i think mentioned Celtic getting beat by Renton, at Celtic Park.
Its mentioned with something about Renton having a special place in Celtics early history , but some dispute in the match. cant remember anything else.
Something to do with Maley and Kelly on the Renton connection, might be wrong though.
Monday 23 June 1997 The Herald
Rangers spread into the shopping market
Paul Sinclair
Rangers’ already well developed taste for spending is increasing and they are looking for new ways of paying for their habit.
Rangers Direct is a new initiative from chairman David Murray which will see the club expand their commercial operation into retailing.
Supporters will be encouraged to buy their Rangers merchandise, not from established outlets, but from three new shops owned and run by the club in Glasgow – one already at the stadium, two in the city – and from a mail order service which will operate world-wide. The profits, Murray says, will help pay for future spending sprees for Europe’s top players. This is not so much cutting out the middle man as putting the club into the profit-making centre.
”Obviously, a lot of people have made a great deal of money out of Rangers,” says Murray. ”We are expecting to sell around 400,000 new strips this season. At #40 a time that raises #16m. We want to see Rangers benefit more from that than they have in the past.”
”I am aiming to increase our profits from commercial activities by #10m. When you look at what we have spent, and then realise that we raise about #9m from season ticket sales, you can see how important this area of our business is. What I am saying to supporters is that if they want more signings like Laudrup, Thern and Rozental, then they can help pay for them by buying directly from us.”
He and his staff look to Europe and their ambition is stiffened, not just in terms of trophies won, but also profits made to enable the winning of them.
Manchester United are still a bigger operation commercially, but Rangers want to change that.
”I can accept the reasons why United may receive more television money, but in other terms we can match or better them. It is time for us to compete better commercially,” Murray says.
That has meant a doubling in the size of the commercial staff at Ibrox as well, with two key appointments to aid the efforts of director Bob Reilly.
He has two new lieutentants in former player Sandy Jardine and marketing executive Martin Bain. Jardine has not been hired out of sentiment, but rather because he is as financially astute as he was as a right back for the club. Bain managed Scottish and Newcastle’s sponsorship at Ibrox as an outsider, and was liked so much he was asked to join the company.
”The branding of Rangers can be expanded world-wide. We have already seen from the signings we have made that we are acknowledged as a major name as far afield as Italy and Chile.
”Now we want to take commercial advantage of the support we have at home and also in places like Canada and Australia – wherever we are known,” Murray says.
Those markets will initially be tapped by way of a new monthly magazine and video which will be available world-wide. Their initial move into retailing, however, may primarily be about raising revenue, but it is also about raising profile.
”I think we would open shops in Australia even if it was not the most viable operation,” Murray insists. ”It would provide a service for our supporters there and take our name to a new market.”
”We are looking at the Far East as a potential market, but we know you have to get things right at home before you start to try to export abroad.”
To prepare for that, Rangers have bought a substantial warehouse in Glasgow, which will feed the world with Rangers merchandise by mail order. The scale of the financial empire which this suggests may make some supporters wonder if theirclub has not changed beyond recognition. Murray insists not.
”Football is a different type of business which is not all about bottom line. Look at the situation with Brian Laudrup, for example. We could have made a lot of money by selling him to Ajax. In the end, we could miss out, but keeping him at Ibrox was about keeping the magic alive. We could not spoil the dream and had to keep faith with our supporters, whatever it meant in financial terms. In football the dividends are trophies,” Murray says.
Such is the competitive nature of the man, it is difficult to see that statement as not being a dig at his oldest rivals, Celtic, as well as a statement of his philosophy. But Murray’s mind is focused, and, as he attempts to make Rangers the financial champions of Europe, his club has an advantage over others, like Manchester United, who have floated on the Stock Exchange. They make profits to please institutional investors in terms of dividends. Murray holds over 60 per cent of the stock at Ibrox and can therefore plough his money back in. The pressure for monetary dividends is not as great.
Nonetheless there seems a tireless will to exploit the assets of the club. The #3m which they invested in their giant Jumbotron screens, for example, is starting to be re-couped by hiring them out to the Ashes Test match at Edgbaston as well as grands prix.
After nine consecutive titles, there may be little which Rangers can do to improve their product domestically. Success in Europe is, of course, the aim, but Murray will not be seduced into belittling the achievements at home.
”There are nine-year-old children who believe that Rangers always win the league. We have had tremendous success, but that in itself creates tremendous pressure.”
If Rangers are as determined in their retail ambitions as they appear to be on the field, then there is no clear limit. Perhaps in a few years time, similar nine-year-old children may think you always get your rice crispies and milk from Rangers as well as championship trophies.
St Johnstone ‘keeper -cracking strip btw
might qualify as the greenest strip ever seen in a live game
Just got back in from the Brisbane v Sydney game (2-1 to the home team)
Somehow “c’mon you boys in Orange” just does not sound right.
That’s a pretty subtle outfit the St Johnstone goalie is wearing today.
Jobo
saltires en sevilla says:
14 January, 2012 at 12:33
James Forrest is Lennon says:
14 January, 2012 at 11:43
“The Celtic team that day was John Kelly, Gallagher, McKeown, W Maley, James Kelly, McLaren, McCallum, Dunbar, Groves, Coleman, T Maley. The goal was scored by McCallum”
——
That Gallagher (Pat) went on to be the first Celt to get his hands on the Cup in 1892 -captain of the team and he was a Johnstone bhoy along with team mate Dowds
so that was two Joansun bhoys in the Celtic team to win our first major trophy..
must have been pretty mental in the Hagg bar and the Paddock that night ;-0
and c’mon St John’s town of Perth ..just kicking off now (nae msgreeegor for currants btw – thigh strain …aye heard it son)
HH
It was mental in the 2012 and the Thorn inn as well that day:) was a great day for us johnstonians
Kitalba
‘similar nine-year-old children may think you always get your rice crispies and milk from Rangers as well as championship trophies.’
EH!!! Moonbeams right enough.
offside goal for saints -already ;-(
OFF TO THE GAME
ENJOY YOUR DAY BHOYS