Levein lining up excuses

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I watched Olly Lee’s body language as he hobbled off Celtic Park on Sunday, it was clear he was distressed at something more than just missing part of a meaningless game.  For him, the Scottish Cup Final was in jeopardy, which Hearts have now confirmed he will miss.

Football managers like an excuse for failure as much as anyone and Hearts are lining them up ahead of the Scottish Cup Final.  Cup finals come round rarely for players like Lee, so I was empathetic to his distress as he left the field, but Craig Levein was straight in with the “hugely disappointing news for us……….. and especially for Olly.”

There are a raft of Hearts players with no chance of playing on Saturday, look out for Levein drip feeding the news between now and then, to ensure everyone knows how hard their job is.

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  1. T88 @ cultural stereotypes.com

     

     

    Egg chasing is a competitor regarding “erses” on seats.

     

    They have built up the GW team to a situation where Scotstoun is now too small.

     

     

    We are or will be losing some pipe and slippers fans to them.

     

    Not sure if we have enough “CuZ / Coked up Zoomers” to replace them.

     

     

    Best of both worlds — GCC build a new stadium for them in the East End.

     

    They build one stand and we build another to give a home to the Youth / Reserve team.

     

    The site in front of the Emirates would be about the right size.

  2. traditionalist88 on

    MADMITCH on 21ST MAY 2019 12:01 PM

     

     

    They’re real ‘sell the sizzle, not the steak’ events ie. the actual sport is low on skill but hey nothing a few beer tents and prawn sandwiches wont sort out. Then all the hooray Henrys can tell their pals about what a great time they had watching the ball get put on the ground for 5pts a pop!

     

     

    Yes, they’re a competitor in a sense, but not a very big one, relatively speaking. Still, not sure I’d be giving them any encouragement. Mind you we probably owed them after using Murrayfield a couple of times.

     

     

    Timing not very good either.

     

     

    HH

  3. The Battered Bunnet on

    From the end of the last thread, apols for the repost:

     

     

    In some respects, I’m surprised at the antipathy towards the prospect (if it’s even a prospect at all) of David Moyes getting the Celtic job.

     

     

    In other respects, I’m not surprised at all, such is the ebb and flow of opinion in the Celtic universe.

     

     

    I’ve no idea if Moyes is in the running for the job, other than picking up the flotsam and jetsam of the internet left by the last tide of made up pish.

     

     

    However, Moyes largely fits the profile Celtic have established during Dermot Desmond’s time: British, mid career, EPL experience, and on that basis alone he would be quoted. (I note this morning that the bookies have him 2nd favourite at 3/1, behind Villas Boas 11/8 and ahead of Lenny 4/1).

     

     

    I understand that Moyes was close to getting the job last time around, losing out to Brendan Rodgers in the end. Whether the reservations Celtic had at the time – if there were any – have been resolved, or whether Moyes himself is prepared to take the job after the last KB is unknown.

     

     

    What’s clear is that Moyes is a football manager held in high regard by his peers, and one with depth of experience no other mooted candidate can touch.

     

     

    His early career at Preston comprised 4 years, during which he took them from (then) Division 2 to the EPL playoff final. His record at Preston persuaded Everton to give him the job, replacing Walter Smith.

     

     

    His time at Everton is considered the highlight of his career, his 11 years there making him the third longest serving EPL manager behind Ferguson and Wenger. When he finally left, it was to Man Utd on the recommendation of Alex Ferguson.

     

     

    Much has been said and written about his underwhelming record at Utd, but it’s worth reflecting on the fact that his record is no worse than those who followed him – van Gaal and Mourinho. Ferguson himself spoke of Moyes in 2015: “I don’t think we made a mistake at all. I think we chose a good football man. Unfortunately it didn’t work for David.”

     

     

    That last sentence might be applied to his subsequent career at Sociedad, Sunderland and West Ham. “Unfortunately it didn’t work for David” seems to be his strapline, but his time at both Sociedad and West Ham, although brief, were by no means disastrous.

     

     

    He took on Sociedad in November 2014, the team 19th in the La Liga with 6 points from 10 games. They finished the season in 12th place, with 46 points, Moyes delivering 40 points from 28 matches, including a league win v Barca. He was fired in November 2015 with just 9 points from the first 11 league matches.

     

     

    His record over the year in Donostia is midtable, pretty much what Sociedad are.

     

     

    Sunderland was up next, and the sense is that he was poorly advised in taking the job. Setting aside having Martin Bain as CEO, Sunderland were the EPL’s financial basket case club, and Moyes’ short time in charge ended with both he and the club in the basket.

     

     

    West Ham were the next – and the last – club to appoint Moyes, the club in the relegation zone with 9 points from 11 matches, and having fired Slaven Bilic. Moyes was given a 6 month contract with the remit to keep them in the EPL. He did that with room to spare, West Ham finishing the season in 13th position with 42 points.

     

     

    Looking at Moyes’ career in the round, he’s been in the Game for 21 years, transforming Preston and making his name over 11 seasons at Everton. He was the managers’ Manager of the Year on 3 occasions, and was considered good enough to replace Alex Ferguson at United. That ultimately he wasn’t good enough to replace Ferguson is no disgrace.

     

     

    In all that time as a football manager, he’s had one disastrous season – Sunderland – and has otherwise batted at or above the level expected of the club he was managing.

     

     

    On balance, this is a ‘good football man’, highly thought of by his peers, with a depth of experience in England and abroad that few can match. The worst you can say about him is that he’s simply not showbiz; he lacks the glamour and the smile of Brendan Rodgers.

     

     

    If we’re appointing managers on the basis of public persona, Moyes won’t get the gig. Thankfully, we’re not, and if Moyes is talking to Celtic, that’s no more than I would expect of both.

  4. If we go with a confident, gallous mindset that plays to our undoubted strengths we will hammer them. Play with freedom.

     

     

    If we go with a mindset and team selection based on being wary of them and not wanting to lose, we’ll be in for a fraught afternoon.

     

     

    I hope Neil goes with the former, we’re 2-0 up at half time and the party can get full swing.

     

     

    Added mibbery has not been factored into this analysis either…expect obvious butchery of our players to be ignored a possible pen for Hearts.

  5. traditionalist88 on

    !!BADA BING!! on 21ST MAY 2019 12:18 PM

     

     

    Seville was 16 years ago today anaw…

     

    ======

     

     

    Scary.

     

     

    Seville is in the running to host Europa final in 2021, host announced in Sept I believe…

     

     

    HH

  6. The Battered Bunnet on

    Missed Seville too – watched it on the big screen in Maria Luisa park.

     

     

    When I saw I watched it, the screen was set up facing the setting sun. As the sun set, the shadow of the city worked its way up the screen, until finally at half time the shadow was complete and we could see the game.

     

    Must make mental note to self to avoid games on the 21st May…

  7. THE BATTERED BUNNET – good post. Said something along the same lines a few days ago. I don’t think he would be a bad appointment. He is not Box Office though in the way a Benitez would be – so depends on what DD and the Board are looking for. And the honest answer to that is none of us know despite the endless speculation and rumours.

  8. traditionalist88 on

    THE BATTERED BUNNET on 21ST MAY 2019 12:24 PM

     

    Missed Seville too – watched it on the big screen in Maria Luisa park.

     

    =========

     

     

    I watched it in a park too, probably that one, no idea!

     

     

    Just remember the organisers threatening to switch it off because 20 or 30 people were standing on ledges to try and get a better view.

     

     

    HH

  9. Moyes has a 25% win ratio with his last 3 clubs – 29 wins in 116 games.

     

     

    Buyer of Felliani, happy slapper of women commentators and winner of a Community Shield as a managerial career high.

     

     

    I’d be gutted if we got Davie. He feels like a dinosaur of a bygone era…

  10. Scotrail issue Scottish Cup Final travel disruption warning

     

    Fans are warned to leave extra time for journeys as Celtic take on Hearts at Hampden this weekend.

     

     

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    ByGary Armstrong

     

    12:20, 21 MAY 2019

     

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    Queuing systems will be put in place at affected train stations (Image: PA)

     

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    Scots travel bosses are warning of potential travel chaos ahead of a busy weekend of sport.

     

     

    Celtic are set to take on Hearts at Hampden in the Scottish Cup Final at 3pm on Saturday.

     

     

     

    Rugby fans will then head to Celtic Park at 6.30pm to see Glasgow Warriors in the Guiness Pr014 final.

     

     

    Extra carriages will be added to trains in a bid to accommodate as many fans as possible.

     

     

    READ MORE

     

    Mum thought she was having migraine during workout – but actually suffered devastating brain aneurysm

     

     

    But Scotrail has warned supporters to leave extra time for travel.

     

     

    A queuing system will be implemented at affected stations.

     

     

    Glasgow Centreal, Mount Florida, Kings Park, Bellgrove and Dalmarnock will all be affected.

     

     

    Extra staff will also be available on the day.

     

     

    Alcohol will also be banned on the day.

     

     

     

    READ MORE

     

    One in five Scots cash machines will charge to take out your money

     

     

    ScotRail Head of Customer Operations Phil Campbell told Glasgow Live: “It’s the last big weekend of sport for a while, and it’s going to be a busy few days.

     

     

     

    “To help the events run smoothly, we’ll be adding extra seats to as many trains as possible. And although we can’t make every train longer, we will be using every train we can.

     

     

    “I encourage anyone travelling this weekend to allow extra time for travel, and to minimise the need to queue, buy your tickets in advance on the ScotRail app or website.”

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    MORE ON

     

    ScotrailWilliam Hill Scottish CupCeltic FCGlasgow Warriors

     

     

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    Stunning Scottish castle up for sale – and it even comes

  11. Big Jimmy

     

     

    Can you tell me more about the stunning castle up for sale?

     

     

    :)

  12. !!Bada Bing!! on

    Embdae know how much the Club are getting for hosting the egg chasing on Saturday?

  13. T88 @ 12.15

     

     

    I fear you see egg chasing through a very specific lens.

     

     

    My viewpoint was playing for the most blue collar club in Central Scotland — our unofficial nickname included the words “Scum *** ned” — we took it with good humour.

     

     

    Some of it was a stereotypical — although the suspensions, players being sine died, the banning orders, the run ins with Strathclyde’s finest both on and off the park, the negative press, the substance abuse and the court cases didn’t really help.

     

     

    And that is without discussing the state of the game in South Wales where even we were shocked at some of the goings on — consequently there is more to egg chasing than the ya ya’s south of the border.

  14. Never mind the Road to Hampden, Celtic fans want to know the route out of the National Stadium should their team clinch the Scottish Cup.

     

     

     

     

     

    And now the bus route can be revealed, although as previously stated the final destination will not be Celtic Park .

     

     

    The champions’ stadium will host rugby’s Pro14 Final between Glasgow and Leinster on Saturday evening so Lennon’s squad would steer well clear of Parkhead.

     

     

    Celtic’s potential bus route from Hampden for treble Treble celebrations

     

     

    The bus is due to set off from Hampden at around 6.15pm before taking a tour of the southside.

     

     

    Should the treble Treble be won it will then travel down Cathcart Road and past Cumberland Street before making its way through the Saltmarket and the Gallowgate to finally finish up on Barrack Street.

  15. traditionalist88 on

    MADMITCH on 21ST MAY 2019 12:49 PM

     

     

    True, I probably do see it through a particular lens, but a lens which has been shaped by my (admittedly limited) experience of it as a sport/event. Its popular in small pockets of a select few countries in Europe, if there are small pockets within the small pockets that don’t live up to the stereotype I could believe that but overall, I think they get away with a lot and as a sport, the actual game, I really don’t see the appeal.

     

     

    HH

  16. traditionalist88 on

    Mkhitryan to miss Europa League final over safety fears due to the dispute between his country and host nation Azerbaijan.

     

     

    Bad choice of venue.

     

     

    HH

  17. P67

     

     

    You shouldn’t be discussing their excuses — you should be discussing our excuses.

     

    No matter the state of the opposition we still have the capacity and capability to muck it up.

     

     

    Consequently the focus should be on us and what we are capable off and the best way to deliver it rather than the state of mind of one of their players.

     

     

    We have been very sloppy and very lazy for too long.

     

    Too much of our play is static and lacking in intensity.

     

     

    We pass the ball around the team inviting someone to turn a trick rather than work the ball into the net through method, tactics and endeavour.

     

     

    We are easily the most talented squad in the league just a case that we are at times the most self indulgent. Look at Sunday for examples of people going through the motions regarding shooting and crossing because they were too lazy to try something more challenging.

  18. The Battered Bunnet on

    Bada, generally not, although it’s up for negotiation. Costs to host – staff, food, bev – are generally deducted from receipts before distributions.

     

     

    Alternatively, a venue hire deal can be struck, with a single fee to cover all bases. Whichever way you cut it, it’s likely Celtic will get around £400,000-500,000 for the event.

  19. BIG WAVY on 21ST MAY 2019 12:35 PM

     

    Big Jimmy

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Can you tell me more about the stunning castle up for sale?

     

    ………………

     

    That is in fact a “MISPRINT” ….As the stunning Castle is NOT up for Sale, but for RENT/HIRE to any Celtic Fan who wants a great view of the Celtic Open Top Bus…at EYE LEVEL from my Home…so the “Stunning Castle”…is in fact MY Flat in the Calton….For a FIVER a Head ( Crisps and Water provided)…come and see the Treble Treble Winners, in STUNNING VIEWS from the comfort of my home….NO need to be jostled etc in the street, manhandled by the Cops…. you can have an un interrupted view of this never to be forgotten CELTIC VIEW, in relative comfort….some seats are still available…and there will be Standing Encloses also at £3.50 a Head ?

     

     

    HH

  20. TRADITIONALIST88 on 21ST MAY 2019 1:08 PM

     

    ……………………

     

    See these modern day Rugby Guys ?….they are all Dale feckin Wintons…..as they play on GRASS !

     

    In my day, and being at school in Glasgows East End…WE were taught how to play….and played Rugby Union games on…..Red Ash Fitba Pitches…we didnt have namby pamby Grass…thats for feckin Wimps.

     

     

    The above is ALL very TRUE.

     

    HH

  21. Big Jimmy

     

     

    Sounds great. Can I do a group booking of 525 people ?

     

     

    And can you send us the Vegan menu. Few from London up for it….

  22. BIG WAVY on 21ST MAY 2019 1:40 PM

     

    ………………..

     

     

    Sorry…Vegans NOT Allowed….I never was a Fan of Star Trek !

     

     

    LOL

     

    HH

  23. !!Bada Bing!! on

    I think the team might be heading to hospitality suite,inside Tennents Brewery, if the parade ends at Barrack Street….

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