Netherlands thumping Spain 5-1 seems like a season ago. We’ve had 24 different World Cup-match days since then, during which time most of us have watched close to a season’s worth of football. The dethroning of Spain, in such dramatic fashion, was an early portent of what we were in store for. Brazil’s humiliation at the hands of Germany provided one of the most memorable football events of our times.
While everyone seems to have nominated the competition as the best ever, the football has been of variable quality. Lots of strong football countries failed to show, including Spain, Italy and England. Africa promised early on, then fell. Russia gave no indication they were on-schedule to give the performance of a lifetime when they host the tournament in four years.
Brazil reached the semi-finals but this will surely be known as one of the worst Brazilian teams ever. Argentina have reached their first final in 24 years ago, but I can’t figure out how they made it. Performances against Bosnia, Iran, Nigeria, Switzerland, Belgium and then Netherlands never convinced we were watching eventual winners. The best they have achieved, so far, is a single goal victory.
Belgium’s golden generation were a mere shadow of their less-fancied Dutch neighbours, who under-promised and over-delivered, again. Germany are the team who deserve to take the trophy, and although Lionel Messi finds himself in a World Cup Final this evening, on the basis of what we’ve seen over the last four weeks, he’s no Diego Maradona.
Enjoy the final, the real stuff starts in two days.
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My bad
Think it was 92 United v Dundee
Or reverse
Scottish cup replay
I think it’s the semi
But might be earlier
Luv some footage
Thanks in advance
Hail Hail
travellerbhoy
This one?
http://youtu.be/k_B3d2d8qWw
HH
Sorry
The match took place on13 march 1991 at tannadice
In a scottish cup qf
United won 3 1
It wasn’t a replay
Can’t find any footage of the game
lymmbhoy
That’s the very one
How did you find that?
I’ve been looking for the last hour
Many thanks
Brings back so many memories
Hail Hail
travellerbhoy
Typed in Darren Jackson Dundee utd scrolled down and found DU hump Dundee Scottish Cup….. Thought it must be that one :)
HH
There are some amazingly intelligent and switched on Tims that post regularly here, but naive to argue that the various wars resulted from political motivations. It was the consolidation of the world banks and their money spinning strategies-nothing more, nothing less.
On what basis do you decide the worlds greatest player? If it’s only what happened within the boundaries of the field, I agree with Maradonna. If setting an example to children off the field is included in the criteria, then obviously not.
11,000 armed police and soldiers stationed around the Estadio Do Maracana today, is perhaps the biggest statistic ignored by the media.
And also thank you Dundee today for providing more material to wind up them Eengleesh, so in love with their financial doping joke of a league.
Macjay,
Mate there comes a time in every man’s life when he has to somehow find the courage to rip off the ‘Rule Britannia’ plum pouches and see history for what it was as opposed to the watery whitewashed version we are asked to gullibly accept.
You really should broaden your reading genre and you’ll be forced to realise that Britain was complicit, in the least, in some of the most repulsive mass murders modern history records.
Good morning friends from a dry and fairly bright East Kilbride. One more sleep till the New Season kicks off. Woo hoo!
Kit 6.15
I`m not in the slightest naive or uninformed about perfidious Albion.
From Cromwell to Bloody Sunday and beyond.
I just don`t like double standards.
If you,understandably criticise the “Brits” for murders,the very least you can do is acknowledge I.R.A. murders.
The Bullring in Birmingham,for a start.
Books? There wasn`t a historical one written which didnt have a bias.
I base my opinions on acknowledged and undisputed fact.
We know where we both stand.
Thanks for your advice,but I`m perfectly content with my opinions on these matters.
Anyone got a link to the Spanish doping scandal from a while back involving the cyclists?
Will check back later, thanks in advance
eddieinkirkmichael
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-22353145
HH
Big Phil sacked as Brazil coach
@SkyNews: Scolari Out As Brazil Coach http://t.co/M33edqexf1
HH
lymmbhoy
That was quick cheers mate
BBC now reporting Scolari has resigned.
@BBCSport: Brazil coach Luiz Felipe Scolari has resigned, reports Brazilian broadcaster Globo TV http://t.co/7PYx8RWmmW http://t.co/CO9Rt8GzN2
HH
Morning guys
A wee reminder that i check the blog more often
Braw and weefra my condolences to both of you and your families on the loss of someone so special , prayers said
Oldtim you have the young gene obviously 75 never have thought it Happy belated Birthday hip hip or should that be hic hic ;))
Celtic are poised to join the race to lure Ghana World Cup winger Christian Atsu from Chelsea for a loan spell.
Parkhead boss Ronny Delia has confirmed that the Scottish champions are in the market for a wide man.
And 22-year-old Atsu is wanted by a raft of clubs in England, Spain and Germany for a year-long loan deal after spending last season at Vitesse Arnhem in Holland.
West Ham United and Aston Villa are known to be interested in the left winger, with Hamburg and Espanyol also linked.
But Celtic, who were linked with Atsu before he quit Porto for Stamford Bridge in a £5million deal last summer, hope the possibility of Champions League football could sway a player who started all three of Ghana’s World Cup games in Brazil.
Atsu enjoyed a successful loan spell in Holland, scoring five goals in 28 appearances – but has ruled out a return to the Erevidisie this time.
Hopefully not true. Why give other teams game time and not our own. Would rather see Heron or McMullan given a chance or sign someone on a permanent deal.
Morning all. Fair to middling weather-wise down here.
I’m sure the mood won’t be that whatever the weather is in Germany. Congratulations to them. They were the best team in the tournament. Some winning goal too.
We might get them in an off night, in September. Hope so, anyway.
Has our team left for Iceland? I hope Biton gets a game. He could be our main man in Europe.
I see Marc Warren successfully maintained his reputation as a choker yesterday, what a shame.
History stuff so scroll past please if it bores you… And accept my apols! Geek alert on CQN!
Sorry to say that the more I’ve studied imperial history the more I look at the 20th century in a new light that does GB/UK and often scots in a poor light.
The nazi atrocities of ww2 and those by Stalin before and during stand out in scale by numbers and are easier to touch in time and place.
But look back through centuries of the British empire in India (check out cannonading as a punishment) to the Americas, Africa and Ireland and I can only conclude that the British were the original and often the best in terms of imperial caste system brutality.
And I say that as someone who has a great deal of time for the English of today and who recognises and appreciates all that ww2 was about and the debt I owe. And someone who has no illusions as to the extent that it was my Scottish ancestors who carried out so much of the dirty work.
And with that, the train pulls into London 65 mind late.
As Jobo said, HH to the proper footie starting tomorrow. Can’t wait!!!
HH jamesgang
Maggie McGill
____________
Maradona cheated, this is true.
But, the thing is…when he ‘cheated’ the land
of the butchers apron, and the captain of England
who just happened to be the captain of
Rangers(thats what the ‘bored’ call them) he ‘rightly’ imho, stamped
his name and his country’s all over the Celtic fans
song book, going all the way back to the days of
the Jungle(who fell in love with Argentina during the Falklands p#sh)
which housed the best judges to be found.
All of the above is – IMHO.
Take Care M’s McGill – Hail Hail.
Bye.
The genius of Maradona was that he virtually single-handedly took journeyman teams – Napoli and Argentina 86 – to the peak of the their footballing achievements.
He was as close to a one-man team as I’ve ever seen.
Messi is amazing, but his achievements so far – incredible and praiseworthy though they undoubtedly are – fall short of the absolutely transcendental career of El Diego.
ITALIABHOY
I’m a great fan of Maradona too,an absolute pleasure to watch the fella in his prime.
It may be,though,that his achievements in the game were highest in teams where he was allowed to rule the roost. Such as Napoli and Argentina,where he was undoubted top dog.
Certainly those at Barcelona,where he was still the star but in a team of great players,were underwhelming.
Messi seems more able to shine in a team of stars,players who are on his level.
But sadly Boaby I fear we’ve seen the end of the best of wee Messi. He’s been trashed, I think through playing when still injured. Burnt oot at 27.
Need to get Oldtim to give him lessons in youthful longevity!
Anyway, aff oot. Arr at hq in London v
Laters Timdom
HH jamesgang
macjay1 for neil lennon
01:53 on 14 July, 2014
Personally I thought it was a blinding answer to the question “what are the brits?” Especially considering it was on bbc1 national. You could’ve heard a pin drop in the seconds after he said it.
Sorry you don’t feel the same. But as I’ve just woken up I’m unlikely to lose sleep over it;)
Toodles.
JAMESGANG
I think he has time to recover. Barcelona will hopefully allow him to rest up,have a less hectic schedule. It’s in their interests to protect and nurture him,allow him some longevity.
Certainly,were it not a World Cup year,I think we would have seen less of Messi last year than we did. He took one for the team,his nation,thinking that a 90% fit Messi was enough.
He underestimated his injuries though,IMO. And it showed.
Have fun in That London.
So the world cup is over. Now if we take last night’s game as closing the 2013/ 14 season, and our first competitive game as opening out 2014/15 season, then the close season is today!
Happy close season everyone. Not long until next season.
Somebody summarise the last two weeks for me. I’ve had blissful holiday more or less sans interwebs.
http://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/english/dundee-2-0-man-city-dark-blues-topple-city-1-3475253
Dundee with a fine pre season friendly win, team to watch or ignore pre season results
eddieinkirkmichael,
This was one I posted here a few weeks back, good reference links as well.
http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operación_Puerto_doping_case
AR
From the fishal site
FORMER Celtic managers, Gordon Strachan and Martin O’Neill will go head-to-head at Celtic Park as the home of the Hoops has been chosen for Scotland’s crucial Group D UEFA Euro 2016 qualification match on Friday, November 14.
Just four days later, Celtic keeper, Fraser Forster could re-enact Martin O’Neill’s visit to the away dressing room at Celtic Park when England visit to play Scotland in a Vauxhall International Challenge Match.
Celtic Chief Executive, Peter Lawwell said: “Celtic Park is renowned as one of the world’s finest and most atmospheric football stadiums.
“We have hosted many great Champions League events and recently the Scottish Cup and League Cup finals and of course it will be a privilege to host the Opening Ceremony of the Commonwealth Games next week.
“We are delighted that the Scotland v Republic of Ireland and England games will be held at Celtic Park and I’m sure they will be two very exciting and memorable matches.”
Scotland v Republic of Ireland
Celtic Park, Friday, November 14, kick-off 7:45pm
Scotland v England
Celtic Park, Tuesday, November 18, kick-off tbc
HH
lymmbhoy
10:17 on
14 July, 2014
“Well that’s practically a home game for the Republic” – thousands of bigots across Scotland
Katie Meula deserves great credit for paying her outstanding taxes in full
It is time for the Government not only in this country to regulate those financial advisers who indulge in tax avoidance with strict regulatory rules on how they operate, some of them should be treated and convicted as fraudsters
CHART star Katie Melua has told how she was “clueless and inexperienced” when she followed the advice of experts to sign up to what turned out to be an aggressive tax avoidance scheme.
The singer was among around 1,600 people who were involved with the controversial Liberty tax strategy, but she went on to settle her tax in full with HM Revenue and Customs when it was brought to her attention.
Opening up about the furore for the first time today, she admitted it “sucks” that she has been under the spotlight for her part in it, and called for such schemes to be stopped to prevent others from being advised by experts to take part.
Closest Thing To Crazy singer Melua was on a list of figures – including celebrities, doctors and judges – given to The Times after they put around £1.2 billion into the scheme from 2005 until 2009. The arrangement created a tax loss for investors which they could offset against other income.
Other celebrities have not responded to the claims that they were involved, but Melua was upfront and told how she pulled out as soon as she was made aware of the nature of the scheme and then paid her full tax liability.
Writing about the issue on her website today she explained: “At 19 I was lucky enough to start making money from my music career, and when I was in my early twenties I trusted financial experts and advisors to guide me with how I invested money.
“That I was fairly clueless and inexperienced when it came to finance goes without saying and, I’m embarrassed to admit, not as interested in it as I should have been. My focus was, and still is, totally on making music, getting on the road and performing live.
“From what I can remember in 2008 when the Liberty scheme was presented to me it was not presented as ‘an aggressive tax avoidance scheme.’ It was presented as an ‘investment scheme’ that had the potential to legally reduce yearly income tax. Totally legal and legit and my accountants and advisors would take care to complete the formalities which included dealing with HMRC. Seemed pretty straight-forward and simple, so I signed up.”
She went on: “HMRC did later query it, and I paid the full amount of tax years ago. My tax records are completely up to date and I don’t owe HMRC any money.
“Yeah it sucks getting this type of attention, but I commend the investigative journalism that is allowed in Britain. If there is ambiguity in the law then laws should be changed to disallow schemes like this, so that they would never be presented by legitimate tax experts to less experienced people like myself in the first place. Hopefully the debate will lead to positive change for all.”
Melua came in for criticism from Christian Aid when her name emerged earlier this week after it had listed her among nominees for its “tax super hero” award four years ago. By that point the Georgian-born singer – who has adopted British citizenship – is understood to have paid her tax in full.
The charity issued a statement to say it was “disappointed” to hear she had been involved and suggested she was a “fallen hero”.
But it has now led to a backlash with many pointing out on social media platforms that as a charity, Christian Aid enjoys its own tax arrangements including Gift Aid, which has led the charity to issue a further statement to clarify its position.
Melua is reported to have put £850,000 into the Liberty scheme
Involvement in “aggressive” tax avoidance schemes has already led to criticism of other stars, including Take That’s Gary Barlow.
He faces a hefty tax bill for his involvement in another scheme, Icebreaker, which was styled as a music industry investment scheme, but was successfully challenged in court in May.
Liberty faces a similar challenge, scheduled for next year.
When details of the Icebreaker challenge emerged, Prime Minister David Cameron said the scheme “wrong” and that “it is right that they are going to have to pay back the money”.
Weefrathetim
Sorry to hear about your Mum!
Thoughts and prayers to those that remain.
May she rest in peace.
LIONROARS 67
I don’t quite understand the ‘backlash’ against a charity for paying no tax,but I do feel they deserve criticism for using Katie Melua’s fame for political reasons.
Particularly as she had already rectified her wrong even though at that time no wrong had actually been done.
But one thing’s for sure with all these aggressive tax-avoidance schemes-they’ve become an industry in their own right,ffs-and that is that the law needs a minor tweak.
As it is,a loophole is legitimate until proven otherwise. The onus is on HMRC to be aware of every one of them and investigate accordingly.
That’s a Herculean task nowadays.
The answer is to switch it round completely,for all tax-avoidance schemes to have to prove their legality before implementation.
We’ll see how big the industry is after that,though I won’t hold my breath!
SAYS the Audit Bureau of Circulations, every daily and Sunday national newspaper widely available in Scotland experienced a drop in their sales in the country, between June last year and last month.
In summary, the daily newspapers figures concern sales in Scotland between June last year and last month and reveal the following:
Daily Mirror – 13.2 per cent drop = from 19,767 on average during June last year, to 17,161 last month;
Daily Record – 9.8 per cent drop = from 228,515 on average during June last year, to 206,088 last month;
Daily Star of Scotland – 14.5 per cent drop = 50,226 to 42,941;
The Scottish Sun – 8.6 per cent drop = 263,512 to 240,978;
Scottish Daily Express – 9.7 per cent drop = 54,492 to 49,230;
Scottish Daily Mail – 8.3 per cent drop = 99,555 to 91,315;
Daily Telegraph – 1.4 per cent drop = 18,650 to 18,383;
Financial Times – 10.5 per cent drop = 2,591 to 2,319;
The Guardian – 5.2 per cent drop = 10,623 to 10,073;
i – 3.5 per cent drop = 18,985 to 18,319;
Independent – 12.5 per cent drop = 3,058 to 2,677; and
The Times – 0.7 per cent drop = 18,668 to 18,532.
Meanwhile, the Sunday titles’ sales figures in Scotland were as follows:
Daily Star of Scotland – Sunday – 17.1 per cent down = 27,814 to 23,046;
The Scottish Sun – Sunday – 10.4 per cent down = 191,364 to 171,430;
Sunday Mail – 10.9 per cent down = 257,796 to 229,617;
Sunday Mirror – 22.8 per cent down = 20,331 to 15,699;
The People – 14.1 per cent down = 10,499 to 9,019;
Scottish Mail on Sunday – 5.4 per cent down = 85,008 to 80,451;
Scottish Sunday Express – 12.9 per cent down = 31,856 to 27,742;
The Sunday Post – 11.2 per cent drop = 165,130 to 146,628;
Independent on Sunday – 5.7 per cent down = 5,315 to 5,010;
The Observer – 4.8 per cent down = 13,875 to 13,206;
Sunday Telegraph – 2.6 per cent down = 16,399 to 15,978; and
Sunday Times – 1.5 per cent down = 45,450 to 44,768.
Source: Audit Bureau of Circulations, July 11 2014. Please note: The Scotsman, Scotland on Sunday, The Herald and the Sunday Herald now appear in the twice-yearly ABC regional newspapers report.
Scotland v England also playing a friendly at Celtic Park in November it just gets better and better