One story which caught my eye last week was that we have 33 players out on international duty over this break, from a pool of 51 employed professionals (and that includes Derk Boerrigter). 13 Celtic players will join Scotland youth teams, with a further 6 going to other countries.
We know we can’t compete as we once did in the transfer market, so getting and developing the best youth talent has become an important part of the strategy.
All of this groundwork is for the long-term, though. Getting three points each Saturday and preparing for the challenges ahead is another question.
There was a moment on Saturday when Aberdeen manager, Derek McInnes, could have turned to his assistant and said, “If Killie hold on for another two minutes, the league is in our own hands”. That’s how close things got. Tom Rogic’s immaculate strike punctured that notion, before McInnes’ team’s second half collapse at Fir Park.
Now Aberdeen need us to drop seven points more than them, or eight if you consider goal difference. It’s not going to happen. Aberdeen didn’t just slip up on Saturday due to a couple of defensive lapses, this result has been in the post for months. They clawed their way into contention by gaining a series of marginal advantages – they haven’t won a game by more than a single goal since before Christmas – 14 games ago!
This season they have been ‘everyone’s favourite second team’ who have only just got over the line for three months of the season. This is a statistical anomaly. A more regular distribution of chances created and converted would have seen them win several of those games comfortably, but winning far fewer games. Their dopplegangers in England, Leicester City, are benefiting from a similar phenomenon. Both teams’ form could drop off a cliff next season, but the chances of either improving win ratios, if not performances, are slight.
Leicester are favourites to win in England because the behemoths, whose spending-power dwarfs most others, have been unable to dig deep to find a dirty win often enough. Like Celtic’s on Saturday. That, as we will soon declare, is why we’re champions!
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Auldheid
Team selection, still revolves around generic Celtic players under Ronny Deila, and yes GMS was out through injury.
Most of his signings haven’t turned up yet, and that’s why he’ll revert to Commons, Brown, and even keep wee Jamesie in the picture.
His effect of Rogic Tierney and McGregor are his only outright successes, the rest swing in the wind.
Weeminger
Sorry. Predictive text etc but we émigré has a certain je ne said quois about it. :)
Bournesouprecipe
I’m disappointed for the players like Allan, Christie and especially Armstrong whom I think are all good footballing signings but haven’t showed they are ready yet for regular selection. But time is on their side.
MOUNTBLOW TIM
Take care and God bless.
Hi Bhoys
I have just seen that the BBC website has 4 minutes 58 seconds of highlights of Saturday’s game so I ask myself.
Just how far out was Big Tam WHEN HE HIT THAT SHOT?
KEEP THE FAITH
Page 3 of a thread which is inspired by Tom’s laser strike.
Page 3 and not one image of the goal.
Until now
https://streamable.com/z542
Tonyrome,
I’m sure they said on the beeb last night it was just under 31 yards out.
And a smidgen over 60mph
HH
ARD MACHA@1.58PM
You would be hard pushed to find a tackle won by Biton all season never mind the Killie game.
I have rarely seen a player with the ability to get wrong side of his opponent as Biton.
He is a huge reason for our stuttering play.
Can only pass sideways or backwards.
Can’t tackle .
Zero positional sense.
In a central role he stalls our momentum.
His inclusion is baffling to me.
Toms strike at the weekend was probably the first goal I’ve seen that was actually much further out than I first thought.
HH
Tonyrome
Tom was so far out when he hit it, he had to pay gate money to join in the celebrations.
RES 12 Action
As many will be aware, Stewart Regan recently dismissed any notion of the SFA taking action in the event of any adminstrative or licensing wrongdoing or oversight being pointed out to him. He also maintained that those who had supported Res 12 were effctively hiding behind social media names and so on and were in effect anonymous!
This is not so, as the organisation Regan heads up has been written to by a large commercial firm of solicitors who have clearly advised that they act on behalf of a distinct class of people, namely shareholders in Celtic pLC who signed up to and supported Res 12 at the 2013 AGM.
However, in order to leave the SFA with absolutely no room for manoevre or excuse for failing to answer any questions, and following on from various people posting on here that they would not object to their names being given to the solicitors who have been, and will be, writing to the authorities in furtherence of the resolution’s aims and objectives, it has been decided to ask for written mandates authosrising the solcitors to on behalf of individual shareholders:
Accordingly, a style of standard mandate is produced below.
The mandate keeps the solicitors right, and it authorises them to write on behalf of the signatories to the SFA, Celtic PLC and UEFA. It does not authroises the solicitors to take any other action other than correspond.
It also authorises the solicitors to liaise with those who have already been instructing them in relation to the terms and the detail of any correspondence – in other words we (myself, Canamalar, Auldheid and Morrisey) will oversee the terms of the letters on behalf of all who sign the mandate.
By signing the mandate you will not be responsible for incurring fees or charges – they will be taken care of separately.
Accordingly, if you are a shareholder and you wish to add yoiur name to those who are attempting to bring the SFA to heel via Res 12 and an approcah to UEFA please print and sign the mandate below and post the signed copy to:
Mean City Media
Suite 5
8 Sandyford Place
Glasgow
G3 7NB
At the same time, if you can scan the signed mandate you can e-mail it to jjoe88@hotmail.co.uk but it should also be posted.
If you cannot scan the signed mandate but have posted one, please drop a quick line to jjoe88@hotmail.co.uk to say that you have done so:
Can I stress that the sooner any mandates are signed and sent the better.
Thanks
BRTH
Mandate:
TO BLM Solicitors
13 Bath Street
Glasgow
G2 1HY
I —————————- residing at ——————————- being a registered shareholder in Celtic PLC hereby authosrise Messrs BLM solicitors, 13 Bath Street Glasgow G2 1HY to act on my behalf and in my name by corresponding with Celtic PLC, The Scottish Football Association, UEFA or any other body they see fit in relation to all matters concerning Resolution 12 which was formally placed on the agenda of the Annual General Meeting of Celtic PLC in November 2013 and which Resolution has been adjourned at each AGM thereafter. I further instruct and confirm, that you are hereby authorised to accept instructions on this matter from those shareholders who have already instructed BLM in this matter and with whom you have already been dealing with in relation to existing correspondence with Mr Andrew McKinlay of the SFA as they hold a mandate to instruct you on my behalf.
—————————————- Name
————————————— Address
________________________ Date
GG
Watching that again I think Muir (?) the ref, thought about blocking Rogics strike ……
Won’t tire of seeing the onion bag ripple, great strike
BMCUW. I was also born in 1939. Great year as you well know. Was it not the Coronation Cup that Celtic won that your dad spoke of in the past. The Empire Exhibition was before 1939. Did a now defunct club not win the Empire and then put it up for competition after a fire at the ground of the former club? Celtic won that competition.
Just noticed big Tom had to put the ball round the ref. who was in his line of vision almost.
Hey Jeff,
Where was big Tom when he unleashed his rapper??
https://www.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=https%3A%2F%2Fmedia.giphy.com%2Fmedia%2F5xtDarxcy5CVWl9I4CI%2Fgiphy-facebook_s.jpg&imgrefurl=http%3A%2F%2Fgiphy.com%2Fgifs%2F5xtDarxcy5CVWl9I4CI&docid=4uB29SMLmrYsqM&tbnid=1fPkBBfeOAYfLM%3A&w=480&h=270&client=ms-android-sonymobile&ei=DAvwVpnJCMK4UbXqvsgD
Terribly sad day today here in Italy.
Seven of the 13 victims of the horrendous crash near Tarragona in Spain are Italian.
All girls in their 20s.
University students taking part in the Erasmus programme, and studying abroad in Barcelona.
As the parent of a 21 year old girl myself, I can’t imagine what their poor parents are going through.
I really need to learn how to do the short linky thingy.
HH
Raymac on 21st March 2016 12:21 pm
James Forrest has an article re the Scottish cops in Focus(presumedly) running a sting on football fans.
I’ve said this before—Scotland now resembles the old Stormont N.I. state more than ever. The Special Powers Act in “Ulster” allowed a cop to make his own mind up. If he thought you were going to commit an offence,then that was enough. It seems to be enough in the present day Scotland as well. Call it what it is. Sectarianism and Racism on the part of the authorities and MSPs.If you want an independant Scotland then set up the equivalent of Sinn Fein. There certainly seems to be few supporters of free speech in Scottish society. The SNP? Posturing joke of a party. By their deeds shall ye know them.
– See more at: http://www.celticquicknews.co.uk/kilmarnock-v-celtic-live-updates-2/comment-page-40/#comments
Empire Exhibition Trophy
Page issues
The Empire Exhibition Trophy was a football competition held in 1938 in conjunction with the Empire Exhibition, Scotland 1938 in Glasgow. It was held to commemorate the Exhibition, then underway in Bellahouston Park,[1] and the prize was a solid silver model of the Tait Tower.
Four teams from Scotland and four from England contested the straight knock out competition. Brentford took the place of fellow London club Arsenal, who elected to withdraw.[2] Celtic defeated Everton 1–0 in the final, on 10 June 1938, with a goal from Johnny Crum in extra time.[3] The final was watched by a crowd of over 82,000 at Ibrox Park. This tournament, like the Coronation Cup, was held in very high regard at the time as it gave teams the opportunity to test themselves against teams from other leagues in the days before European football.
Winning they way we did on Saturday is what really helps bind the team and fans together, this is something we have missed.
I can’t remember the last time the fans left a game on such a high.
Ard Macha
seen this regards The Crossmaglen Rangers
http://www.independent.ie/sport/gaelic-games/joe-brolly-crossmaglen-rangers-a-gaa-community-that-stood-up-to-the-british-34555608.html
:-)
HH
Tallybhoy @14.58 hrs,
Very sad indeed.
Totally agree with your sentiments.
HH.
The Empire Exhibition.?
My 96 year old man is fond of recalling the victory in 1938..That invariably leads to tales of Malky MacDonald ..” Best ever ” “Better than Fernie / better than Jinky / better than Gallus George / better than Lubo and better than Henrik.”.
In my Dad’s house if it wasn’t the wonders of Art Tatum and Fats Navarro ,it was Malky MacDonald.Over and over !
Twists, good to see you posting again. With BTRH, Auldheid and yourself the blog won’t go far wrong. Backed Davy Russell at Cheltenham .He made me a fortune at the Point to Points, then went to Ferdy Murphy in England but never settled. A cracking horseman. Did you know Gordon Elliot was Martin Pipe seniors amateur jockey?
” anyone who thinks otherwise is just kidding themselves on ”
Wow!
JJ
An Tearmann et al
Oisin (McConveille); You were drinking
Johnny (Murtagh); No. No.
Oisin; You’re telling lies
Johnny; I’m not
Oisin; You going to stand there and look me in the eye and tell me you weren’t drinking
Johnny; I’wasn’t. Who told you?
Oisin; The man you were drinking with.
Brilliant!
SoT,
My auld Dad, at 93, used to wax lyrical about Malky MacDonald too. Now reckons Bobby Murdoch was the best ever; mind you, he qualifies this by adding that he had wee Bertie beside.
BRTH – there’s a spelling mistake in there – “authosrise” should be “authorise”.
Celtic Pigeon News 1938
Young Tim – great result for the bhoys
Neganon’sGranda – 1-0 after extra time against that mob – sack the Board
SFTB the elder – early draft of War and Peace
Daily Record – Gallant Gers miss out on Final but Ibrox holds centre stage
Stuart Regan – this could lead to a World War
connaire12 on 21st March 2016 2:48 pm
BMCUW. I was also born in 1939. Great year as you well know. Was it not the Coronation Cup that Celtic won that your dad spoke of in the past. The Empire Exhibition was before 1939. Did a now defunct club not win the Empire and then put it up for competition after a fire at the ground of the former club? Celtic won that competition.
*the competition played in 1938 was to commemorate the Empire Exhibition being held at Bellahouston Park. All the games were played at the asbestos dome as it was in close proximity to the Exhibition. I know it’s a load scheidt but that’s the way the organisers wanted it, probably to make it easier for the pride of the Empire.
We as champions Celtic along with the deid team, Aberdeen, Hearts, pre warbo Brentford, Everton, Chelsea and Sunderland all competed for it.
We won it beating the Toffees aet with my da’s hero at the time Johnny Crum scoring the winner. Incidentally my da was born in 1923 and this side would roll off his lips like a litany.
The other cup you mentioned was the British League Cup, which I believe was the Glasgow International Exhibition Trophy that they had won the year before and donated by them, to raise funds for another disaster at that stadium.
The teams involved were the champions and runners up of Scotland and England which were Us, them, Sunderland and Everton with the final being held at Cathkin. We beat the zombies 3-2 aet.
At the end of the season they asked for it back but we refused and lawyers letters were sent continuously even as much as a century later, but we dug our heels in and it still sits in the Parkheid Boardroom with the inscription “Won by zombies FC”.
PARKHEADCUMSALFORD @ 3.33.
My old man blows hot and cold about Bobby Murdoch – something he accuses Bobby Murdoch of doing..
He gets ever more cranky – he had a good rant this morning re the hype re a 1 in 50 strike being used to mask the 89 minutes of tripe which preceded it.
Malky MacDonald / Johnny Crum
Everyday a school day on Cqn……love hearing people’s stories about players I know heehaw about
By the way, pleased for Darnell Fisher
Got the third goal in a 3-0 victor over Hearts at Tynecastle. When he leaves in the summer he will be a shoo-in for my “deserved more of a chance 11”
David Marshall, Darnell Fisher, Marcus Fraser, Darren O’Dea, Andy Robertson, Beram Kayal, Zheng Zhi, Niall McGinn, Berget, Kapo, Rasmussen
Honourable mentions: Jarosik, Darryl Murphy, Richie Towwell , Graham Carey, Paul Caddis, Marc Crosas
@Connaire12..
Was it your goodself that posted a question regarding Gary H.?
If so… Then the answer is yes……Sellic all the way…..
I asked his Mammy:):).
H.H.
My late dad(born 1924) : his two favourite players were Malky MacDonald and Jimmy Delaney.
His best ever Celtic X1 included those two, as well as Bobby Evans, Willie Fernie, Bobby Collins…
…and some young whippersnappers like Jinky, Bobby Murdoch and George Connelly!
HH!!
“A model of the Tower was footballs prize. England sent 4 of their best but they didn’t meet with much success….”
Still feel Saturday was a pivotal moment in our 5 in a row quest. Loved the Ronny roar at the end. Some to date appeared stage managed that came from the soles of his size 9s and was all the better for it.
Some mentioning about Lustig needing a rest, what has happened to big Sadie Janko?
Melbourne Mick the Mornington Celts where represented at the match by a sartorially elegant middle aged gent resplendent in said clubs T shirt. No way the hoops were getting beat with that lucky omen there.
HH
To time Tim 3.48 ( and anyone else): BMCUPW ability to recall games etc never fails to astonish me,but his memory has indeed let him down re Empire Exhibition Trophy. It was in 1938 and I never arrived till 1939. I was able to recite the team before I was taken to my first game in 1943 . As you know we won nothing till 1951 and supporters nowadays think they are having it hard! To be fair part of going to Celtic was visiting relations still in Glasgow (we were in Ardrossan) and going to the dogs after the game and tea at his uncle’s house. Loved the Celtic still do!
BAWSMAN on 21ST MARCH 2016 12:48 PM
Anyone got the dates for when Ashley takes on the SFA in court over GLIB’s fit and proper test pass? please?
– See more at: http://www.celticquicknews.co.uk/marginal-advantages-eventually-come-a-cropper/#comments
was wondering that myself,i asked J.Doleman,his shout is early april,probably the 8th
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Celticmac
That did make me laugh too,:-)
HH
The Empire Exhibition trophy from Celtic wiki
http://www.thecelticwiki.com/page/Empire+Exhibition+Cup
HH