The great and the good (extensive poetic licence used) of the SPL and SFL will gather at Hampden tomorrow to shuffle the deckchairs of Scottish football. For reasons which no one has, or will, explain, it will be suggested that three leagues, with 12, 12 and 18 teams, will be able to resolve the problems of our game.
There will be no consultation with fans, Uefa or neighbouring associations, and no claim will be made that this reorganisation will be able to resolve a single significant issue.
For all its limited appeal, the Scottish Football League is in rude health. On the whole clubs live within their means and in places play important roles in their communities. This is as good as it gets for the likes of Alloa, Montrose or Brechin City. They could all benefit from a higher solidarity payment from above, but this would be the case no matter what level the trickle-down was set at. Their interests would be best served by ensuring that those sending payments down the pyramid are as fat as possible.
The clubs with most to gain from substantive change are those condemned to compete for second place in the SPL. Dundee United, Aberdeen, Hibs and Hearts have been neutered in recent decades. United and Aberdeen have gone from being the two most impressive clubs in Europe at developing young talent, to clubs who cannot hold onto players long enough to put a competitive team on the field.
Scottish clubs with ample support, stadium and coaching talent have been left behind by smaller clubs in England, from Wigan to Burnley, who benefit from operating in a more lucrative commercial environment.
Hearts are trying to sell shares to raise a few million to keep themselves afloat at the moment. The club would be worth ten times as much if it was located 100 miles down the road, or structural change made it possible for it to benefit from a more valuable environment. Shares in clubs like Aberdeen, Dundee United and Hibs would also be worth many multiples of their current value.
Stephen Thompson has spoken of the financial burden Dundee United place on his family, a regionalised league structure would turn this burden into a vastly more valuable legacy. It beggars belief that Hearts, United, Aberdeen and the rest have not grasped this reality and started to make inroads.
It’s time for some radical thinking.
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Tomtheleedstim..
Brilliant play
How many fouls would have been committed if a team tried that in Scotland…. ?
The last couple of years have proved conclusively that the game in Scotland is rigged to benefit t’rankers. This latest wheeze from their establishment chums in the sfa is just proof for them that their history and traditions do and will remain unbroken….i.e. their history and tradition of cheating, blootering, killing etc.,…..y’know?..all the things they are renowned for.
Clowns can be sinister, too.
fanadpatriot
Never smoked in my life and what are slippers? :)
Sir Paul
Among or..if ye prefer.. Amongst… ( Ah wid go.. wi’.. The Latter..ed)
O.K.
… Amongst.. The Initiated..
Thur ur, only Actually.. Two Laws of Nature , in the Whole of the Universe..
That ur Worth… Noting
” Waater …and… Celtic..
Wull
INEVITABLY, find.. Thur Ain Level.”
And..
As I am sure that ye know..
Ye canny Fight .. Mother Nature.
That is Awe.. She Wrote.
Kojo
Still, Laughin’
The Battered Bunnet @ 15 18
‘Raith Rovers are reprieved of their poor form over the first 22 games’
Hey, now we’re talking …
tommytwiststommyturns
15:39 on 7 January,
……..it’s the future!
No that’s Garlic Bead
TBB
I reckon that we could really spice up the middle tier league post-split based on some mathematical weigting factor as to how the bottom 4 from SPL 1 subsequently performed against the top half of SPL 2 – always bearing in mind that we would also need to have a secondary weighting factor as to how the bottom 4 and top 4 of each league performed against each other (relative to who finished above who in the first series of games).
Hell – let’s go the whole hog and allow teams a few joker cards that they could ‘lodge’ with the SFA in secret to allow them to double points or goals in some games.
Just imagine the excitement, the league would actually be finished but nobody would know who had won it until the mathematicians did their work at the end of the season. We could have something like Oscar Night where Alex Salmond could read out the winner from a sealed gold envelope.
And the winner is…..drum roll….Sevco !!!!!!
Tomtheleedstim, do you see much of Leeds? What about Tom Lees? Being linked with a move to Celtic.
SffS
starry plough @ 15 44 .
Yup !.
My father told me that the only thing missing from Hogmanay’s –Only An Excuse -was an on screen credit at the end stating —–This Tripe Was Produced and Directed by the SFA .
According to him the program was so dire —they had to be responsible .
You buy the Sun Araw meet the Congos LP ?——— real good [ I think ]
Mort
lol the ole ‘common sense v inherent hunnery debate’ ;)
Tomtheleedstim being asked for an opinion on Tomleesthetim? of Leeds
Surely a world first!
South Of Tunis
I haven’t heard of it to be honest but will be checking it out, I love the Congos some of my favourite tracks are by them, I picked up a whole album of Fisherman versions a few years back, not bad I must say…
BERWICK physio Jamie Dougal has left Shielfield to take up a new role with Celtic.
Dougal, who had spent several years with the third division outfit, left the Borderers to take up his new job with the Parkhead outfit this week.
Reports indicate that initially he will work with the Celtic youth sides, and one of his first jobs will be to fly out to Dubai to attend a winter training camp.
From videocelts
Celtic have laughed off demands from Sevco for an apology after an online article referred to the 3-0 win over the Ibrox side in April as the last ever derby.
Hoops fans celebrated like never before as the champions turned on the style to demolish their city rivals 3-0 with Charlie Mulgrew, Kris Commons and Gary Hooper on target that April afternoon.
At that time Rangers were already in administration with liquidation announced in June followed by desperate attempts by the SPL and SFA to create a place for newco in the top division.
After 125 seasons of rivalry the Celtic v Rangers fixture was dead with the matter chronicled in a review of the year that appeared on the Celtic website alongwith other events from a momentous year.
An eagle-eyed Ibrox insider spotted the apparent slight prompting an article in the programme against Elgin City on Saturday which was then published on the club website.
It claimed: “ When Rangers were at their lowest ebb, the likes of Celtic, Dundee United and Hibernian seemed to be most keen to keep them pinned down.
“There were others too, including some in the media, who seemed to delight in the fact that the Light Blues were getting weaker by the day.
“Lawwell once said Celtic didn’t need Rangers and perhaps he was right. They seem to be prospering both at home and abroad without us, so let’s leave them to it.
“By the same token, the last six months have proved Rangers don’t need Celtic either.”
That final comment can be judged once Charles Green’s holding company get around to publishing their first audited accounts.
Green has talked regularly of Celtic from his wish to hear the Champions League anthem to including the club in statements made about British and European leagues.
Celtic have steered clear of commenting on any of Green’s claims and weren’t prepared to play ball when they were approached by the Daily Record for a reaction to Saturday’s opinion piece.
A Celtic spokesman told the Record: “It’s quite bizarre, but not worthy of further comment.”
Former Daily Record reporter James Traynor is now the communications director at Ibrox.
Yorkbhoy – and on that pitch as well!
SFFS – not for a couple of years. Decided against giving Bates any money.
It’s difficult to say how good Lees might be playing in that defence. He appears to have been one of the better players this season and was good when he broke into the first team. He has played as a holding midfielder for England U21’s. I have faith in the Celtic scouting system though so they might have seen something in him they can improve on.
However, Sam Byram is the player I would want. He is an excellent young prospect and plays at left back or left mid.
Rami Gershon has signed for Celtic on loan until the end of the season, his agent Dudu Dahan has claimed.
Gershon requires a work permit to conclude his move and will travel to Brussels shortly to switch his visa, before linking up with Neil Lennon’s side at their training camp in Spain next week.
“I’m very happy to get a club of this size and I’ve primed and ready for the challenge,” Gershon said on his agent’s Facebook page.
Dahan added: “Everything was closed to the satisfaction of all parties. The only issue that remains now is getting a work permit.
“That should be settled next week. Rami will travel to either Brussels to sign paperwork and will then travel to Celtic’s training camp in Spain.”
Bring on the Rami…
Tim Malone Will Tell,
A joker? What a good idea.
And maybe we could create some sort of team co-efficient that is multiplied by the number of points they get in the first half of the season and carried forward. Any postponed games could be decided by the pools panel using the Duckworth – Lewis method to apportion the points. And there could be bonus points available based on the number of corners won and the quality of the pies.
Seems to me the Dutch league is good example of how the Spl should go. Ok they have sold out to murdoch for one billion euros but the deal means that they will have money to compete with the big5 .Not bad for a country of 16M
TBB – I was thinking of a slight name change if he signs!
Rami, wull dae the Joab.. Ah am sure ,o’ that.
Howevahhhh
Where’s the Noo Left Winger.. Ye Promised??
Get weavin’.. time’s awastin’
Kojo
Still.. L aughin’
and not to tomtheleedstit………. before any of you wise guys get stuck in.
Gordon_J
Stratospheric thinking – hell, we might find that Sevco have actually won the SPL even although they aren’t in the league.
Just think how much money could be generated for a pay-per-view league winners and losers gala evening when you wouldnt know if your team had actually won the league or been relegated until the big ‘reveal’.
I think I will just nip doon to the Big Ideas patent office….
Many years ago, I went to the Barrowlands with my cousin. We were there to see The Clash. Thing was though – even though Joe Strummer was singing and Paul Simenon was playing bass – it wasn’t the Clash. The Clash had died some time past and no amount of old songs could make it otherwise.
starry plough .
I resisted buying it —–I loved the Congos and didn’t want to soil the memory — but a mate sent me it for Christmas -and —–it is an out there dub masterpiece. Cedric Myton’s voice is still a thing of beauty .
Sun Araw and M Geddes Gangras meet The Congos———-Icon Give Thank[ Rvng intl].
I really liked those Fisherman versions .. The Heart of the Congos LP is a killer
Thomas Rogne heading to the exit in this window?
I’m sure I read a short time ago that he hadn’t signed a new deal and wanted more money. Anyone heard anything further or is he destined to leave us?
LB
Attention CQN Golfers
Thought I would take the opportunity during this quiet period to ask for some help. I am bringing a few American friends over to Scotland at the end of July to play golf for 10 days. I would really appreciate any recommendations on good courses as I have not played that much in Scotland myself. We are playing St Andrews (only date confirmed) on July 29th, but after that would like to head over to the West Coast.
In addition to courses, I want to find some good accommodation spots off the tourist track if possible where my friends will get to experience the real Scotland.
Many thanks for any help you can give, and a huge thank you to Paul67 for letting me use this amazing facility.
Juventus director general Beppe Marotta has confirmed the Serie A club have enquired about the availability of Shanghai Shenhua striker Didier Drogba.
The Bianconeri have already made an approach to sign Athletic Bilbao striker Fernando Llorente on a Bosman free transfer in the summer, but with Arsenal loanee Nicklas Bendtner sidelined through injury, the Italian champions are eager to bolster their immediate options.
Quoted on calciomercato.com, Marotta told television programme Domenica Sportiva: “Drogba? We are always making enquiries and we have made one for him.
“We have asked about his availability and after that we will look at the financial aspects and talk to the coach.”
South Of Tunis
Kidnap the SFA and make them listen to Cedric and the Congos for a week!!!
mncelt
don’t leave the east coast ’til you’ve played Kingsbarns…Fife
Superb course
mncelt
Carnoustie is an excellent course and the hotel is beautiful. There are cheaper places to stay though. If you are going to St Andrews you could stay in Dundee and do both courses.
LB
It is true that there is unfairness involved in starting the middle 8 all on zero points, but if you know the rules of a Competition from the start then so be it. One year it might disadvantage you the next year it might be to your advantage. Like the Rabo Direct in Rugby, top 4 teams in League play a knock-out semi final and final to decide League. You could be 40 points ahead of 4th place team over the season but if they beat you in the knock out phase they win the League. Similar situations happen in many different sports, the NFL in the USA and in Ireland in GAA where the losers of a Championship Match get a second chance through a losers group etc. It happens you just have to accept it and get on with it.
P.S. Re the Green Brigade & the Grey Brigade, anyone interested in joining me to set up THE BALDY BRIGADE, by Jaysus we will frighten the sh*** out of the polis altogether, they will find it hard to tell us apart as well. No shaven heads allowed, genuine Baldies only need apply.
Lenny has been quoted as saying ” Rami is the only Ger capable of getting in the celtic team at present!!!
Boom Boom
what will our Sevco friends think of that…..it’s not true but i think we should start the rumour
Livi, Rogne is out of contract at end of season but Celtic have the option of a 1 year extension. If they excercise this option he will be going nowhere for 18 months at least.
ASonOfDan
Juventus must be terrified of the Hoops. They are doing their best to bolster their attack in this window. The more they try to sign players the more I think we may just knock them out.
LB
The Battered Bunnet @ 15.18
Very good point re teams needing to start again on zero points, i hadnt thought about that.
South of Tunis
I have seen a couple of posts on twitter suggesting that for “big” games in Italy names are printed on tickets and relevant I.D. is need to gain access. Do you know if theres any truth in this?
HH
Reading about this auld heeds section; I suppose the provision of wee bottle of malt would be out of the question?
Livebhoy
Ah wid Speculate.. that
Thomas, is No Longer wanted , on this Voyage.
He wullnae be missed… except, by the Celtic Physio .. Dept.
In MA opinion..
The acquisition o’.. Rami.
Surely, must invite.. some Speculation, regarding Thomas’ continued Tenure ,at Celtic.
Kojo
Still.. Laughin’