Ralston, rarity and mystery

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One of the many mysteries of football is why Anthony Ralston (now 24) was so far out the picture in the latter stages of Neil Lennon’s tenure.  Kris Ajer, Moritz Bauer, Jeremie Frimpong and Jonjoe Kenny were all selected at right back ahead of him.  When he was brought back into the fold by Ange Postecoglou his talent was clear to see.

He had earlier emerged in the procession of full backs that also contained Kieran Tierney (26) and Calvin Miller (25).   I had high hopes for all three early on, although only Kieran went all the way to the top.  Calvin is at the peak of his career and playing for Falkirk, while full Scotland international Anthony signed a new four-year contract at Celtic yesterday.  When that contract concludes, if he is still with us, 11 years will have passed since his first Celtic league appearance, and he will still be only 29 years old.  Perhaps not quite triggering the testimonial bandwagon.

Alongside Callum McGregor and James Forrest, he is a rare breed, someone who the club developed as a youth who went on to compete at Champions League level.  He fits one of the four most difficult slots to fill in the Uefa squad list, so is well worth Celtic investing to retain and further develop him.  He is also a Bellshill-born Celtic defender, which is quite a tradition to follow.

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  1. Ha Ha, just put Livi TV on there and the two Livi Fans are saying “Surely that can’t be given, it’s clear push in the back?”

     

     

    Replay comes on – as clear a foul as you’ll see – but, no, it’s a goal – WTAF

     

     

    😁😁😁

  2. Unbelievable callous cheating at Ibrox. Sima clearly pushes Livi defender to the ground goes on and puts the ball in the net. Commentators Craigen and Hamilton both think it’s a foul. Collum and VAR award goal. Craigen says if it was the other way round everyone would expect a foul to be given.

     

     

    Clear cheating in progress.

  3. Prestonpans bhoys on

    This is what the BBC reported on hun goal

     

     

     

    “It seemed certain that goal was going to be chopped off. It looked a clear push on first view by Abdallah Sima before his excellent finish. The replays suggested that too”

  4. I agree with SFTB’s comment. I also think that’s the worst decision I’ve seen. The most blatant push in the back I’ve seen go unpunished. Collum should be ashamed but what can you say about the VAR team? Absolutely shameful.

  5. RIP Jim Forrest

     

    Preferred Big Cush against him to Caesar. Well remember the Berwivk game.Early kick off. We were at home to Arbroath, 4 0

     

    Huge cheer at 4pm

     

    Next day poem appeared

     

    Just over the border in Berwick one day

     

    The great Glasgow Rangers arrived in array

     

    To play Berwick Rangers in a Scottish cup tie

     

    With a new coach ..

  6. This is the boomerang effect of going out of the CL – somehun somewhere knows their finances are poor and justifies open, transparent cheating!

  7. CARPE DIEM 63 on 27TH SEPTEMBER 2023 7:42 PM

     

    What odds on a penalty to Rangers in the first 20 mins tonight to calm the restless natives.?🤔

     

     

     

     

    You called it CD

  8. It says so much that the Old Brigade respect A Rangers Legend.

     

     

    Thats the way it should be.

     

     

    I never witnessed JF.

     

     

    Celtic hud the much better Leo Sayers, frae what I can gather.

     

     

    Proof was in the Pudding!!!!

  9. Livi player booked for hitting Yolmaz on face with his arm. Replay shows he put his arm on Yilmaz’s shoulder and was nowhere near his face. Scottish officialdom are all on message to ensure Huns win this trophy.

  10. Martindale sends out a second string and tells them to treat it like a practice game , and the hun still struggle . Never mind eh wee Gollum will give them a helping hand .

     

     

    It’s no wonder Scottish refs don’t European gigs …

  11. WC looking after himself doesn’t want another letter to the sfa from thems over his performance that would hit him in his pocket following his previous demotion.

  12. BIGSHUGGY on 27TH SEPTEMBER 2023 8:26 PM

     

    RIP Jim Forrest

     

     

    Preferred Big Cush against him to Caesar. Well remember the Berwivk game.Early kick off. We were at home to Arbroath, 4 0

     

     

    Huge cheer at 4pm

     

     

    Next day poem appeared

     

     

    Just over the border in Berwick one day

     

     

    The great Glasgow Rangers arrived in array

     

     

    To play Berwick Rangers in a Scottish cup tie

     

     

    With a new coach ..

     

     

    ………………

     

    I remember it like it was yesterday. As a pupil at St. Pat’s, Coatbridge we were marched down to Mass during the following days. As we passed the local non-denom secondary their pupils were baying abuse at us in our green blazers. We couldn’t respond in kind due to the presence of our teachers but we snarled under our breaths, “Sammy Reid, Ya bassas.”

  13. garygillespieshamstring on

    I was in the stand that day. Unusually, an announcement was made about the result at Berwick over the PA system.

  14. bigrailroadblues on

    TOSB

     

    Was in primary school at that time, Friarton Road, Merrylee. We were lucky, gave the hun both barrels. Childish but enjoyable. 🤣

  15. Of course Jim Forrest played for Aberdeen in their 3-1 victory over Celtic in the 1970 Scottish Cup Final. They had previously lost to us in famous finals, 1937, 1954, and 1967, but this time they played with twelve men, albeit one mason in the black Bobby Davidson. Crowd in 1970 given as 108,000 but if you look at the pictures you will see it way more than that. Played the same day as Chelsea – Leeds at Wembley. Aberdeen played well on the day, but the penalty decision against Murdoch, and the absence of one when Buchan fouled Lennox tells you how the referee influenced the result. Not to mention disallowing a Lennox goal from a Bobby Clark drop ball. And dont forget this game took place in the middle of our EC ties against Leeds. Forrest didn’t score on the day but was a good signing from Preston.

     

    RIP Jim Forrest

  16. garygillespieshamstrinig

     

    I was also in the stand that day and remember it as if it was yesterday – I thought we won 6-0

  17. RIP Jim Forrest

     

     

    Preferred Big Cush against him to Caesar. Well remember the Berwivk game.Early kick off. We were at home to Arbroath, 4 0

     

     

    Huge cheer at 4pm

     

     

    Next day poem appeared

     

     

    Just over the border in Berwick one day

     

     

    The great Glasgow Rangers arrived in array

     

     

    To play Berwick Rangers in a Scottish cup tie

     

     

    With a new coach ..

     

    …………..

     

    I remember that poem

     

     

    Just over the border in England one day the great Glasgow Rangers arrived in array

     

    With a coach load of players and a new coach forby, to play little Berwick in a Scottish Cup tie.

     

     

    I used to have a written copy of it, six verses or so. I thought it was genius and as you say it appeared in the days after the defeat.

  18. Imagine Celtic were the weekly beneficiaries of Refs confirmation bias , especially as blatant as we have witnessed over recent seasons …would you not be embarrassed and lose interest!?..trying to visualise taking my grandson to the game and telling him we are guaranteed to win because the fix is in and always is !?…they really are a shallow sad and pathetic football team and bunch of supporters …pitiful

  19. From Kenny Miller on BBC

     

    ‘Clear’ foul but Rangers lead

     

    Rangers 1-0 Livingston

     

     

    Kenny Miller

     

    Former Rangers striker on BBC Sportsound

     

    That’s exactly what Rangers needed after the opening 10 minutes. But I think that is a clear foul as it comes for a push.

  20. BBC reporter…

     

     

    Puzzled looks across gantry

     

    Rangers 1-0 Livingston

     

     

    Martin Dowden

     

    BBC Sport Scotland at Ibrox

     

    It seemed certain that goal was going to be chopped off. It looked a clear push on first view by Abdallah Sima before his excellent finish. The replays suggested that too.

     

     

    One for David Martindale post-match I think…

  21. Prestonpans bhoys on

    CARPE DIEM 63 on 27TH SEPTEMBER 2023 9:05 PM

     

     

    And if they had a brain cell, they should also wonder, with all that help, they only have two trophies 🤣

  22. Just picturing Brian Clough being appointed their manager back in the day and telling their players to chuck all their medals in the bin ….because they won them by cheating

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