There are a bunch of Norwegian journalists walking around Glasgow today asking, “What, they cheated all those years? What are the FA going to do with them?” So many titles, so many trophies. Then they ask about tonight’s crucial Europa League game between Celtic and Molde.
I have concerns for tonight. Jozo Simunovic looks unlikely to feature, a fresh injury on the back of a lengthy injury absence. Dedryck Boyata and Mikael Lustig are definite starters, but you can perm any two from four for the other two places. Uncertainty in defensive selection is seldom regarded as a positive.
What I’m really hoping for is a tight game. One where we protect our penalty box and allow Molde to make the mistakes. They did this when Kris Commons pounced two weeks ago, so there’s every expectation they are far from impregnable, but Molde will have examined the mountain of evidence which suggests you can sucker Celtic in and hit them on the break.
If we keep it tight, we’ll win. If we try to sweep Molde off the park, as Fenerbahce did in Istanbul, any result is possible.
Late yesterday we ran an article on the boundary Lord Nimmo Smith’s SPL Commission put on their ruling. It’s worth a reprise today:
The Commission wrote:
“The Tax Tribunal has held (subject to appeal) that Oldco was acting within the law in setting up and operating the EBT scheme.
“The SPL presented no argument to challenge the decision of the majority of the Tax Tribunal and Mr McKenzie (solicitor acting on behalf of the SPL) stated expressly that for all purposes of this Commission’s Inquiry and Determination the SPL accepted that decision as it stood, without regard to any possible appeal by HMRC.
“Accordingly we proceed on the basis that the EBT arrangements were lawful. What we are concerned with is the fact that the side letters issued to the Specified Players, in the course of the operation of the EBT scheme, were not disclosed to the SPL and the SFA as required by their respective rules”
Lord Nimmo Smith was clear: the possibility that Rangers operated an illegal tax scheme did not enter his consideration as to whether the sum total of their activities amounted to a sporting advantage.
The SFA’s Sandy Bryson, in evidence to the Commission, saw no sporting advantage in an administrative lapse over an otherwise legal tax arrangement, albeit a lapse which the Commission found to be deliberate.
The question of a deliberate falsification of submissions to the SFA and SPL over an illegal scheme designed to prevent the payment of tens of millions of pounds of tax, has not been considered.
Ignore the PR coming out of Hampden today that this matter has been dealt with. Former directors of Rangers brought the game into serious disrepute, and their friends still walk the corridors of Hampden, but it’s the clubs who will have the final say on what and who is investigated, not a PR man, or football body chief executive.
It is critically important that fans of all clubs let their custodians know their feelings on this matter. Celtic pushed themselves to the brink of what was financially responsible during the EBT years. This cost our club the opportunity of building a sustainable strategy (like we’ve been building since Rangers liquidation).
More than this, the division and recrimination amount the support as we pulled back from spending ever-more, while Sir David Murray’s splashed inordinate amounts of cash, never completely resolved.
Had Rangers been submitting legal tax returns, the entire landscape of what was possible for others in Scottish football would have changed. Hearts, not Celtic, were the biggest financial losers of this fiasco (figures next week), but dozens of others lost out on cup runs, trophies and higher prize money.
Right now those in power at Hampden have no idea what the clubs will demand of them, they do not even have plans to discipline those who brought the game into such complete disrepute. If the clubs want to put honesty and integrity at the heart of our game, they can do so. I know one club who will put this case very forcefully.
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the glorious balance sheet on 5th November 2015 3:58 pm –
Oddly enough earlier today I was pointing out to my son that it was not just runners up in leagues and cup finals who were cheated.
Even those whom THEY knocked out in the early rounds of competitions were deprived of further earnings.
THEY and THEIR apologists have completely corrupted Scottish football.
See more at: http://www.celticquicknews.co.uk/molde-concerns-lns-commission-action-from-clubs-needed/comment-page-4/#comments
Tim Alone
Sorry, should have more explicit was referring to le bicyclette that they probably stole.
ButYouAlreadyKnewThat CSC
Paul,
What would you suggest the Club are looking for from the support to take this all the way ? do they have the appetite for slugging this out with all the resistance it will undoubtedly meet ? Will Celtic enlist the help of member Clubs rather than put one mans’ head head above the parapet ?
There appears to be a groundswell to pick this up and run with it ! not only on Celtic sites either.
Like the idea of Molde going to UEFA about the deid team’s cheating. Maybe they could mention their playing a team who fielded ineligible players to others who were cheated. The numbers on the Continent must be considerable.
Oh, have SKY even mentioned it yet?
Leftclicktic, Philbhoy, Saint Stivs, Geordie Munro.
Thanks.
COYBIG
NATKNOW.
Good to learn you enjoyed the gig. Yes , not many choon stores left in the big smoke ..Honest Jon’ s on Portobello Rd is still in business…
See that Pressure Sounds is releasing a 5 x 7 ” Lee Perry Box set later this month .Details on their website.
Also see that Greensleeves are re issuing the 3 Glen Brown Various Artists Lps in January 2016 ( LP / CD ). Highly recommended! .I
Glasgow has never looked better than with the windows completely steamed up on the number 18 bus.
ARainyNightInGeorgeSt csc
Hope Blackett is given the nod over Ambrose tonight.
Forgive me, Efe!
Bournesouprecipe
One could achieve the same effect by clicking on one of your links wearing a pair of Eric Morecambes.
South Of Tunis on 5th November 2015 4:27 pm
NATKNOW.
Good to learn you enjoyed the gig. Yes , not many choon stores left in the big smoke ..Honest Jon’ s on Portobello Rd is still in business…
See that Pressure Sounds is releasing a 5 x 7 ” Lee Perry Box set later this month .Details on their website.
Also see that Greensleeves are re issuing the 3 Glen Brown Various Artists Lps in January 2016 ( LP / CD ). Highly recommended! .I
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Cheers dude – will look those up.
Yeah – I never got to Portobello Rd. The other half was looking somewhat dis-chuffed after walking all over Brixton for 2 hours looking at locked shop fronts. :-)))
Managed to get some Dillinger, Joe Gibbs, Eek-A-Mouse and other vinyl goodies at Rough Trade. Could have spent a lot more money – but was warned about the weight restrictions on low-cost air travel…
up_over
Jozo fit
LiviBhoy on 5th November 2015 2:12 pm
PhilBhoy
That has been my fathers song of choice for sing songs since I was a nipper.
I love that song.
*my oul Irish granny used tae sing that tae my da when he was a wean sitting on her knee. He would have been 92 last month.
Bournesouprecipe
http://www.corrie.net/kabin/archive/2001/0307drearspecs3.jpg
An hour and a bit to go, nerves beginning to creep in but hopeful of a win tonight, any score in our favour will do.
Wont be long till the trolls turn up praying for a chance to talk down our club and manager, noticed a few were on earlier setting the stage so to speak. They are pretty obvious to spot though, just trying too hard to act like tims :)
C’mon Celtic, send them packing early tonight with a quick goal.
jimtim on 5th November 2015 2:26 pm As far as I’m concerned the only person who can give the go ahead to lodge an investigation from our club , is our absent landlord . So not much chance there I fear .
*might be wrong here but isn’t he only the largest individual shareholder. We the support hold more shares than him.
Celtic are Scottish Football.
It should be straightforward ; go for the jugular. HMRC did not mess about. Neither would Fergus.
The titles must and will be declared null and void.
Celtic team according to twitter.
Gordon
Lustig boyata simunovic Tierney
Johanson bitton commons rogic Armstrong
Griffiths
A wee ten minutes on all things great about Celtic …enjoy.
http://youtu.be/C2ZKQfp7D6U
Cricket , lovely cricket .
England well beaten by Pakistan . Series lost 2 – 0 . Really struggled against slow bowling and don’ t seem to have a slow bowler worthy of the description..
I do laugh when I read in the media that the SPL set up an INDEPENDENT commission..
Scuse me Mister Regan, is Lord Nimmo Smith getting paid for running this commission?
Why yes of course he is. He’s been a judge on the High Court and the Court of Session you know.
In that case who is paying him?
Well, actually we are…that is the SFA…or rather the clubs are… so to speak.
And Nobody else?
No, it’s our commission.
So how can it be regarded as independent when the party paying for the commission have a vested interest in a verdict that vindicates their supervision of the whole process that is under investigation?
Well, he’s a former judge you know and I think that’s a rather unfair implication.
Won’t his findings make it clear how ‘independent’ he has been?
Yes.
BOOM.
Is this a new thing? Papers/twitter seem to have the line-up.
Gordon, Lustig, Boyata, Simunovic, Tierney, Bitton, Johansen, Commons, Rogic, Armstrong, Griffiths
If that’s the team, I think we’ll sneak it.
The peepil have no money.
No point in pursuing anything down that path.
My wish list is:
1. The perpetrators jailed.
2. Ibrox ownership by the government to see as they do fit.
3. 21 titles rescinded.
4. The SFA dismantled.
5. verification that there is no New Firm.
Of course none of this will happen. Celtic’s custodians will remain silent hoping that none of this will happen. Meet the New Firm same as the Old Firm.
up_over_goal on 5th November 2015 4:52 pm
I think UEFA make them do it. The team’s sometimes announced before I leave work at 5.30 for the 8 KOs.
Ah, I see. That is the line-up, printed unusually early for @celticfc
A bit concerned about defence and centre-mid, but happy with the pairing of Lustig/Commons, and very happy with Terney/Armstrong.
Rogic/Griffiths not my choice, but they have been improving as a front AM/ST pair, and Tom’s last performance, even if it was v Aberdeen – too good to even contemplate leaving him out.
Bournesouprecipe
Keep them coming. I’m sitting on the train having a good old chuckle at your humour.
Have some of you acquired a magic hat. Pre- empting what Celtic will and will not do.
What I hope Celtic are concentrating on is a must win game tonight. Nothing else, the rest can wait.
HH. COYBIG.
NATKNOW .
Ah Dillinger .
Love the Perry produced – Cane River Rock 7 ” .
Adore this 7 ” – Flat Foot Hustling ( Observer ).
Dinner / game time .!.
Sleekit Molde haven’t tweeted their team.
All our feel good factor from yesterday’s announcement could dissipate with an adverse result tonight, even a draw.
Fortunately, I feel this group of players owe us a good result (and I don’t care how we perform to get it) and will get it. We can then take that on to our next hard Europa fixture.
Off to catch a train now
quonno on 5th November 2015 3:51 pm
South Of Tunis on 5th November 2015 3:25 pm
I less polite circles it involves unnatural acts with goats and the application of monkey’s paws or in the family friendly version, knuckle crunching.
As I sad before, it all hit the buffers when thon English bassas took over the BOS.
*Peter Cummings was an HBOS lifer. He had been with the bank since he was 18; his first job after leaving school in Dumbarton was making the tea and sweeping the floor in a local branch.
Did he no go tae St Pats.
Strong team. Here’s hoping it’s a winning one.
On the cheaters topic I feel that the supporters of our and other clubs will need to embarrass the SFA SPL into action and that it will take a boycott of a cup game to do this.
H.H.
Celtic must win this game to-night to restore European credibility. Hoping it’s a fine dry night in Glasgow not like the nightmare conditions in Norway on our last visit. To inflict a first defeat in this group on Molde should be a great incentive for Celtic and for goodness sake watch your defensive duties and don’t get ambushed by these guys again. Let Celtic set the ambush this time.
Celtic v Molde ko 18:00. Team: Gordon; Lustig, Boyata, Simunovic, Tierney; Bitton, Johansen; Commons, Rogic, Armstrong; Griffiths. Subs: Bailly, Ambrose, Forrest, Ciftci, Blackett, Mackay-Steven, Izaguirre. Mon the Hoops! Bet 5/1 Celtic to beat Molde
Think I will try and bother the Guardian into some coverage. They have not even remarked on the decision.
They have excellent journalists, such as Owen Gibson and David Conn, who would actually do this scandal justice.
Hopefully they can be convinced.
That line up looks rubbidge.
Nothing like what I’d pick. I know better than Ronny.
Bad result and I’ll post all night.
Good result and I’ll steer clear of the blog or post 3 word grudged congratulatory post.
Giespeace csc.
Joking aside,
Chuffed with that line up.
Would be uber confident if oor captain was fit too but these are the breaks.
C’mon the bhoys.
HH
My big concern for tonight is Elyounoussi.
He was their threat last time out and going by Lustigs defensive performance against them over there and against the sheep, id say the same again will be asking for trouble.
Not sure if he is carrying an injury right now but he can defend much better than he has been doing so perhaps it may be better if he sat back as he did against Quarabag and be allowed to concentrate on stopping their main man and allowing the rest of our side to go get the goals required.
Looks like Molde are going to go 4-3-3 again, as in last week and their Fenerbahce encounter.
Kamara, who scored their first v Celtic, makes way for Hoiland, who played for them in Fenerbahce. The midfield 3 (including the 40 yr old Hestad (or ‘his dad’ if you prefer) are the same who faced us last week. Back 4 same as it ever was.
Molde:
Horvath; Linnes, Tolvio, Forren, Rindarøy; Hussain, Hestad, Singh; Moström, Høiland, Elyounoussi