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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LiviBhoy
I think the defeat to 10 man Sampdoria has planted as seed of doubt.
Also talking up a cup game against Milan, which they were expected to not bother about.
corkcelt
Thanks for that info. If the big guy could stay fit he would be a first teamer.
LB
My Sincere Apologies..
‘
LiviBhoy..
Slip o’ the digit.
Kojo
Still , Laughin’
ASonOfDan .
The Drogba to Juve story has been running for weeks. Italian media had the deal done and dusted and then they reported contractual problems . He /they agreed to 4 million euros a year [after tax ] and bonuses but Juve wanted a 2 year deal and he wants 3 .Milan also said to be in the mix.
Italian media claim that Juve will buy Osvaldo if they don’t get Drogba.
Bendtner — ? he gets jeered every time he appears . You can hear the groaning and moaning every time he touches the ball. Sometimes he gets the Armadio [ wardrobe ] chant . Reserved for players considered to be big lumps of wood
Bend
Kojo
If Neil Lennon wants him to stay he will.
LB
mncelt
Wester Hailes is a superb links course if you can get tees booked.
I played it a lot in my yoof!
Wonderful test of golf and if the sun is shining too. it’s heaven.
Make that Western Gailes!
Deary me phil!
LiviBhoy
Of Course,pal.. you are correct,in making that assumption.
Howevah…
Ah still hiv the feelin’.. that Neil.. disnae want Thomas oan the Payroll..or.. The Doctor’s Panel… anymair.
We wull see.
Kojo
Still, Laughin’
103.1 Central FM
PHONE-IN: Tonight,Peter and Roughy are joined by none other than Celtic,Barcelona and Man Utd legend HENRIK LARSSON
Wester Hailes has a golf course??
Ah, now I see the correction!
Kojo
Who is going to buy him then?
LB
Gordon_J…
….aye, it’s been a long day!
Mncelt – Dornoch a must and it’s my personal favorite. Hotel right beside the first tee:)
slainte
tony
Philbhoy,
I like the idea though … there are few less likely places to find a golf course
I suppose if you back me into acorner I could say Kingsnowe Golf Course is in, well, nearly in Wester Hailes.
LiviBhoy
AIK apparently interested in Rogne.
Internet rumours.
RobinBhoy
Mncelt
Off the beaten path? Real Scotland? Great golf?
It’s called Machrihanish!
Philbhoy – It’s just the beginning!
I always thought there was a golf cllub in Wester Hailes. There are always plenty people swinging golf clubs around on the weekends!
LB
As_I_Thought @ 16:39,
I cant speak for currentl situation, but for the Ac milan last 16 game, we were warned that names would be printed on tickets, we would need passports at the gate to prove who we were etc and lots of other stuff too.
Sure enough names were printed on tickets, but it mattered not a jot at the ground. In fact my tickets were for the middle tier in the corner of the ground. as we arrived the police/club opened the ground tier and just let usd all pout into it without nary so much as a glance at the ticket.
If you are thinking of the Juve game however, given their new ground is much smaller than the San Siro and they are on the up again, I can see a full house or close to it and you may find that policing etc might be much tighter re tickets etc.
HAIL! HAIL!
Token
My Dear Kojo….
Just Last Week,NL Was Quoted In The Media As Saying That Thomas Rogne Was Going Nowhere….
And He Was Still Very Much In His Plans..
( I Think There Had Been Rumours That He Might Go To AIK Stockholm….)
Anyhow…With Us Being A Bit Short In The CB Dept….
Why Don’t We Take Darren O’Dea On A Short-Term Loan….
Until The NFL Season Kicks Off..?
I Don’t Understand Why We Are Being Linked With A Central Defender From Leeds Utd..Called Lees…
Leeds Defensive Record Has Been Catastrophic This Season…..
Meanwhile,Jordan Rhodes Continues To Tuck Them Away,Playing For A Poor And Disorganised Team….
Fifteen Goals In Twenty-Three League Games….
And None Of Them Were Penalties….
And He Only Made His Blackburn Debut On 2nd. September….
Straight Swap For Hooper…..
In A HeartBeat….
And I Would Be Happier Than Larry….
Still Wearing Ma .. Hat o’ Speculation..
Ah wid Transfer..
Beram Kayal..if the Price wus right..
In a NOO YOIK MINUTE.
He disnae strike me.. as a Consistent Type.
He Flatters tae deceive..and .. Besides that
He.. Competes wi’.. Thomas..amd.. Ah’m sorry tae relate.. Wee Jamesie
As Being…
Wan o the Leading..
INJURY MAGNETS.. o’ the Team.
And..as ye know..
Ah demand.. Consistency ..
The Acceptable Kind..of Course!
Ah am willing tae Gie ..Jamsie.. a wee bit longer.. afore.. Ah wid
Send him Packin.. though.. Fur ..Wee Jamesie is a Talent.. Nae Question
but..
An .. Forevah… Unfit Talent..
Is Nae use Tae Us.
Right??
Kojo
Still, Laughin’
as i thought
Ah —————- the truth about Italian football bureaucracy is that there is no truth .
Theoretically if you want to go to the away end of an Italian stadium[and you reside in Italy] you need a Football ID Card —photo / name /address / national insurance number etc . You do not need such a card to go to the home end . Classic Italian guff which is sometimes enforced and sometimes not.
If you have a Celtic ticket for the game in Torino then you will have to have whatever Juve say Celtic supporters have to have. If you are intending to use a Juve ticket [and don’t have an Italian Identity Card and an Italian address]then you are simply running the risk of being refused entry by the polis .
I am likely to have a Juve ticket –it will have been obtained using someone else’s name . I have lived in Italy for 12 years , I speak Italian, I will have no problem getting in.
Thinks work in weird and wonderful ways in Italy
The Token Tim
Thanks for the info. A few of us are heading to Turin but gonna be relying on luck of the draw for tickets. Hopefully things will become clearer in the next couple weeks.
Kojo
As Stokes has been injured a while does he get punted too?
LB
mncelt
16:26 on
7 January, 2013
Attention CQN Golfers
Definetly look into playing Macrahanish [old]not the Dunes, there is a one day package out of Glasgow airport incl flight,transfers to course ,bacon rolls on arrival and dinner in clubhouse after your game then transfer back ..you are usually back in glasgow at around 5.30pm.
One of my favourite courses..stunning location and experience.
Turnberry,Old Prestwick[home of the first British Open] and Dundonald good to for visitors down Ayrshire way.
mncelt
16:26 on 7 January, 2013
http://www.eriska-hotel.co.uk/
South Of Tunis
Thanks for the advice, I’d be hoping for away tickets obviously but as theres a few of us applying all the names might not match up. Anyway, I’m looking forward to it already.
See fur this Auld Heids section, ur ye allowed tae bring yer teeth?
DefinatelyInterestedIfSo CSC
Evening all.
My dear,dear,dear,friend.. The Singing Detective
Ye may be correct.. and.. then.. Ye May No be.
Neil, wiz QUOTED ..as saying..whit ye ..well.. Quoted .he said, aboot
Thomas’s Future at Celtic..
Howevah..
Ah happened tae think, when Ah read that Quote.. that..
whit wid ye expect a Celtic Manager tae say.. regarding the Future of wan o’ his
Players.. when asked a Leading Question?
And..in Light o’ the Fact..that.. Thomas and Celtic, wur at ODDS ..
in the wee Matter.. regarding..
The Particular Amount of Stipend..a Fellow o’ The Calibre of
Thomas.. should be receiving fae the Club…in return fur his Efforts.
This Rami, acquisition.. causes Me to think that, Neil wiz Playing Coy , in gien that
answer..
Like ye say…
Rocky, wid be Ma Choice fur… Celtic’s Next Striker.
Hoops ,is Good.. but.. Rocky ,is Bettah..
Ah agree with your Stated opinion.. in That.
Ah wid Cash in oan Hoops.. ‘
Fur…Ten Million..and buy.. Rocky , fur .. Seven..
‘
Good Business..
Nice Chatting.
Kojo
Yer pal.. who likes ye aloater.
Still, Laughin’
henrik
What time is the phone in with Henrik on
hail hail
Just been asked if I want to go and see Bruce Springsteen at hampden on June the 18th.
“doesthepopesaymassonasundaycsc”
fergus slayed the blues
About 2 seconds before they ask Henrik how much the DEADclub is missed. :))
as i thought ..
The ticket situation will also depend on whatever security status the polis and the city authorities impose on the game .
Wait and see .
Livibhoy
The fact that ye hiv Posited such a question.. regarding .whit Ah believe
should be the future of Stokesy..
Tells me..
That ye Misunderstood My feelings.. aboot Whit is MA Criterion..
Regarding.. who Ah wid Get wish tae get rid of.
Ah wull noo.. Clarify ,my feelings in that Respect..
I would Dispense with the services of a Player…who..
Had Shown.. a Strong and CONSTANT Tendency..
Tae be..
INJURY PRONE..
Noo, Stokesy.. in Ma Opinion.. has Not Really Shown Me..
that He Falls into that Category.
Howevah..
Thomas and Beram.. baith Dae..and it looks like wee Jamsie..may be ,also..
Inclined tae hiv the same tendency .. as weel.
Hope Ah hiv made ma Feelings.. a wee bit clearer in this..
Kojo
Still.. Laughin’
fergus slayed the blues
6-8 according to their web page
Tomtheleedstim, Thanks for the info re Lees
A fella in work also rates Sam B very highly.
Sffs