I know I’m not the only one worried about tonight’s game. A few bombscare moments is all it takes to crash out of Europe, think Big Dan in Sion (we don’t get to play a joker every year). We now have four games under our belts but there are still lots of cobwebs to blow away.
On the positive side, we’ve never lost a competitive goal to Swedish opposition and this Celtic squad have the wherewithal to raise their game and see this one through. A week ago we said Kris Commons and Georgios Samaras would be crucial, this will be even more so tonight. Georgios is the most effective ‘out ball’ in the squad, while Kris’ ability to prize open defences has, if anything, improved since the summer break.
Elfsborg are at home tonight after four games on the road. Piling away games together always taxes a team. They will be pleased to be back at the Boras Arena but fine tuning is everything in this business, and apart from the seven goal whipping of Daugava Daugavpils in the last Champions League qualifying round, they have not had a tactically-conventional home game in almost a month.
Take them, Celtic.
Ranger Charity Foundation have, unfortunately, reset the dial on what charities can get away with without consequence. One trustee even refused to answer questions from the Office of the Scottish Charity Register (OSCR), who, incidentally, decided to take no action. OSCR had the temerity to lay new guidelines for charities associated with other football clubs. Other football clubs charities are nothing to do with that lot and I hope this incident does nothing to dent enthusiasm for our 1254125 campaign.
Last week, Rangers International chief exec Craig Mather, demanded to know why group of clubs were fined by the SFA following financial collapse, while Hearts and Dunfermline were not. Yesterday the SFA spelled out the considerable difference in scenarios, while informing us that Rangers (sic) actually asked for a financial penalty, presumably instead of a sporting penalty.
Yes, you heard right….. Duff and Phelps, who were appointed to recover creditors money, who attempted to sign new players during their tenure, asked for a financial penalty. Consistent with creditors interests and their considerable fee?
Mather is a ‘keeper’. I don’t know about you but I feel I am getting my £500k per year’s worth of entertainment out of him.
Congratulations (again) to STV’s Peter Smith on another excellent interview with Charles Green yesterday. It was Green’s “You want the truth? You can’t handle the truth” moment, as he appeared to suggest deviousness was a positive attribute.
There were more highlights than we have time to cover here. I am sure Walter Smith was delighted his private view that the current Rangers (sic) team are the worst in history (yes, I am aware of the short history).
Green did his best impersonation of a statue when Peter Smith mentioned the Dallas Cowboys but the former Rangers International chief exec was clear that despite the critical financial challenge ahead, he was not going to cancel pre-contract agreements with players due to join the club in September. That’s the thing about contracts, pre or otherwise, you can’t just cancel them unilaterally.
The eight players Rangers International have signed will join the club and there is nothing Green can do about it. Unless, they fail their medical…. Do you think Charles has been studying the Ricky Fulton book on Rangers management? This is how they used to do it down Ibrox way…….
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Today’s Scrofularity Index at 12noon BST is- Panic-stricken
WG
The Kerrydale Bar
Might be better to smuggle those four cans of real ale for £1.99
Exclusive: Real Madrid and Barcelona face removal of privileges
http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/european/exclusive-real-madrid-and-barcelona-face-removal-of-privileges-8749147.html
As the man says, there are no easy games in Europe and to-night will be no exception. The Wilson episode is on our doorstep not at an ideal time with the team preparing for game which guarantees us European football ’til Christmas with a good result. Tradition is on our side against Swedish opposition and can be a big advantage going into to-night’s match.
Neil will have to decide if it is a risk playing Wilson, has been an excellent player but will avoiding injury with his iminent move on his mind. Would like to see Charlie Mulgrew and Joe Ledley in the team. Charlie for his terrific deadball skills and Joe for his allround ability and goal threat. Both are also tall guys also a plus against the Swedes who I believe are a big physical side.
Georgios and Kris – now showing great John Gileslike creativity in his play – are the main threats but Anto Stokes with three goals in recent times and his great display in the Cup final his confidence will be up.
C’mon the HOOPS.
but Anto Stokes could be the man to-night and with three goals to his credit in recent times his confidence will be up.
Derbyshirebhoy- this is not going to happen, as no politician will be brave enough to agree to it, but what is needed for the 21 st Century NHS is for someone to sit down with a blank piece of paper and start again.
THat’s esentially what happened in the 40s, after Beveridge produced his report in 1942 [when the outcome of the war was still very much in doubt!].
But we had courageous politicians then; we’re not so bless ed these days as every Government that’s elected tries desperately to paper over the cracks instead of facing the facts.
Hi Paul67,
So Rangers were to be punished for non-payment of Taxes.
Agreement for a sporting punishment was sought.
Rangers decided as they had plenty spare cash floating about a fine would be more appropriate.
500K of laughs is good.
But having Charles back….
Priceless.
Hail Hail
Elfs 0-1 Celtic
Burnley78, you’re a lucky man being involved in bringing Ardbeg out of mothball. Its definitely my favourite at the moment with the early cask strength releases being the pinnacle of dramming. I’ve also got quite a few Bruichladdichs and a cask I bought as new spirit in 2008. I’ve got two full sets of the “links” bottlings and the first release St Andrews is very difficult to get hold of these days. I’m definitely keeping one set of those unopened and will drink the other:-)
I had a look at the brewery site and found these:
http://edenbrewerystandrews.com/index.php?route=product/product&path=66&product_id=72
http://edenbrewerystandrews.com/index.php?route=product/product&path=66&product_id=59
Unfortunately both showing as out of stock but I’ll keep an eye out for them. on other sites.
Hail Hail mon the hoops
Tonights game will be one in which we may miss big Victor as often he bossed the mid field we were looking to Kayal to be the player to take his place but he is mere shadow compared to Victor.The midfield can keep a lot of pressure off the defence but for me it is an area of concern.I hope we defend high up the park and put pressure on the Swedes in there half and not fall back and defend deeply as that would invite trouble.We can get through the tie but I think it could be a long 90 minutes. H.H.
DBBIA
Plus there’s all that choosing of the right hair style and right kind of puppy for the campaign photographs. Politics is a gravy train. Like football administration.
I would chuck them all out and hand the running of government and of football to the dinner ladies at my weans’ school. They would do at least as good a job, but probably a better one.
paul67
fantastic post.
at the end of the rangers signing clip i suggest people
spend the next hour and a half and click on the link
to “triple scotch and wry”
a few more digs at the ugly bunch are in there.
the best lunchtime ive spent in ages.
C1ST – Vote for Him
I take it if they are ‘stuck’ with the trialists a few others will be getting offered to other clubs…Shiels, Black and Wallace may be going then.
You never know in Europe but I’m hoping the experience we’ve garnered over recent years will see us prevail. That and the fact we are better than them. I hoping for a victory tonight and then further activity in the transfer market. We’re always told the aim is to come out of the window stronger than we went in…still work to do then!
COYBIG.
If I organized and advertised a charity match and sold tickets for such an event and then ‘diverted’ nearly 200k to my own funds, I get done for fraud and rightly so…Scotland’s shame right enough!
A Ceiler Gonof Rust
11:44 on
7 August, 2013
TBB
from previous post
5 As dont be nervous think of him as your pension – well done to the Bhoy I like success stories
Hail Hail
67ECW
I’m unconfidently confident for tonight. Didn’t manage to see the game last week cos i was working but from the highlights and reports on here Elfsborg look nothing that should worry us.
I’m in Copenhagen just now and even managed to get an offer of a ticket for tonight, looked up travel up and it was all pretty straight forward, sadly I’ve now gotta cover a shift tomorrow so it’ll be the pub for me.
HH
Paul67
Great clip
Sammi is the bhoy tonite – not sure Stokesy will start but should feature a some point
What’s the story with Kelvin – for me he is first pick in current back 4!?
HH
The Ghod Like Genius of Georgios Samaras will see us through this Norse quest!
Commons to apply the killer passes and goal.
We negotiated Helsingborgs without Big Vic no reason we can not do the same with Elfsborg.
if Kelvmeister leaves think outside the box and move Amido Balde to centre half.
He could be the new Dion Dublin.
Sorry how could I forget Big Vic scored against Helsinborg.
Never mind! Georgios is the Ghod to see us through!
Kelvin Wilson !!!
Lets all play the Big Boss for real today
he is a 6 out of 10 maybe on a good day 7 out of 10 Centre Half
We got him for nothig
Had a couple of decent years out of him
He wants away (family reasons is acceptable)
We get £2.5m
Go on the decide
a) Say no to Foreset (I think he has a year left so he wil be gone next year – for nothing)
b) Sell – take the money and buy (who we buy becomes a bigger debate – but you have an option)
who woud want to be Lennie
67 ECW
Just so as I dont get critisised for sitting on the fence – Sell
gordybhoy64 12:50
Fair point, but thats a risk we could have taken.
I put Celtic first and the CL qualification is worth more than the sale Hooper and Wanyama combined.
I’m sure Norwich/Southampton would have waited if we had stayed firm, its not as if these 2 players were not sellable assets and there would have been other buyers.
.
I See a Yorkshire MEP has done a Chuckie Green..
Hmmmm..
Summa of BongoBongoLandCSC
4 2 3 1 Formation
Forster
Matthews
Lustig
Wilson /Mulgrew
Izzy
Brown Ledley
Stokes, Commons, Samaras
Balde
or
4 2 3 1 Formation
Forster
Matthews
Lustig
Wilson /Mulgrew
Izzy
Ambrose Ledley
Brown, Commons, Samaras
Stokes
In the first leg I was concerned about the first 15 minutes, in contrast to Paul67 who was wary of their superior match fitness in the latter stages.
Tonight I’m reversing my concern. Regardless of whether we score first or they score first, it’s the last 15 that will decide how this game goes.
So unless we are 2 goals up entering the final quarter of an hour, I’ll be knitting buttons.
C’mon ye bhoys in green.
Lustig to score from corner tonight
Meant to add, Mulgrew to score tonight.
67 ECW
Sell because he doesn’t want to be here.
HH
Sitting up here above Cloud 9 and looking at the world around me, I can only wonder at the Samaras-like genius of god.
67 European Cup Winners
Sell, sell, sell
Derbyshirebhoy
I agree with you. Basically the real cost for each treatment should be something that is clear to NHS management and auditors– and to the general public!
My gripe in this case goes beyond just the NHS. The cost of these treatments is huge— and I suspect they are kept high as market forces and downright desperation are at play.
I know that advances in the field are being made and that medicines are progressing all the time. However, Neuroblastoma is a world wide curse, not just the UK, and it strikes me that some people are getting very rich on the back of a child’s absolute dependence on these treatments.
Now, Doctors, researchers, guys at the top of their field, all need to be paid accordingly and I do get that, but the drug companies have practices of keeping certain drugs high in price for as long as possible and in this instance I cannot but help feel that the balance of cost to reward to absolute need is all wrong.
The parents of these children pay their taxes, are part of the fabric of British Society, have a vote, pay rates and council tax and so on — yet at the moment they can simply get no satisfaction from the NHS at all other than being pointed in the general direction of the Neuroblastoma Society and the begging bowl.
I appreciate that resources and funds have to be managed and that there will never be enough cash to treat everything.
However, money is spent on panaceas, on various things which will alleviate the symptoms of many non life threatening conditions, which although uncomfortable and so on, will not actually kill you!
These children are essentially allowed to die — being blunt the state looks the other way because it is economically convenient— and allows them to die– unless they get out with the begging bowl.
That is Pontius Pilate esque and should not be tolerated.
There is no point in me going on about the Bankers and the Googles and the various people who do various things to mitigate taxes and so on, but if the Government were serious about this or even smart about it, you could turn to your high end earners and give them a tax break to simply invest in medical science or fund treatment that is not otherwise available on the NHS. They would pile in I think.
It is not a perfect solution by any means, but at the current time absolutely nothing is done for roughly 100 kids per year in the UK who suffer the aggressive form of the disease.
What cannot be allowed to happen is that we continue to sit on our arses and accept that doing nothing other than begging from a keyboard is an acceptable solution to the problem.
So I agree with you. Publish the costs. Break it down into business components and let those of us who dally in the business world see if we can reduce those costs and reward others for providing the treatment and research that is so badly needed.
By the way Burnley 78’s Ardbeg beer would cure most known diseases and is very pleasurable in the taking. His rum based one could actually just be sniffed all day — if that is not an inappropriate thing to say— although eventually you are forced to taste its sweet aroma.
Celtic to win tonight — we will conquer the world tomorrow– with a smile, a beer, a song and maybe a little revolutuion?
Cheers
BRTH
.
It said there was a clear conflict of interest in the charity’s close relationship with the club – all three of its trustees were executive or non-executive directors of the club too – and that trustees’ duties were breached because decisions were regularly taken by one trustee instead of the whole board.
Someone said..roy croppie i think
That johan hinted homesickness wasnt kelvin wilsons reason for leaving ? Anyone know why then…
2.5m is great bit of business but we need to bring in another quality centre half as i think he has improved alot.
Hopefully a victory 2nyt will see a new centre half and quality striker sign. At least.
Quietly confident about tonight,can’t see us not scoring, a pound or two on super Joe first goal.
Has chuckles been awarded the freedom of Glasgow yet;)
HH
Paul67 et al
Elfsborg played very much like an SPL team last week, and unfortunately for us, were allowed to get away with persistent fouling more or less the whole game. Point is, we know how to beat this type of team, and will create chances in both halfs. Pity about Derk but the fact that our Welsh duo are available is an added bonus. A clean sheet would do the trick of course, and if we get that I predict that they don’t!
I wish I had a tenner for every time I have posted here saying that there has to be some kind of enquiry into Duff and Phelps conduct durung Rangers’ administration.
TBB – Congratulations to the Bhoy; sounds like a chip off the old block (and blockess).
why all the apprehension about tonite???
Stonewaller.. we’ve got one more opponent (mibbes Iceland or Austria).
HH
—————–Forster——————
Lustig Ambrose Mulgrew Izaguirre
————Brown Ledley—————
Forrest —-Commons——-Samaras
—————-Stokes——————–
Matthews Wilson Mouyokolo Kayal Watt Balde Zaluska on the bench