I’m not taking the SPFL- face recognition plan too seriously but that’s not to say the politics behind the suggestion should be ignored. Scottish football has no hooligan problems, compared England or the Continent our game is orderly and sedate. Until recent years there was no such thing as a flare problem, and offensive signing was a thing of the past.
All that changed when the SNP government got involved in 2011. Two managers shouted at each other after a game, three Rangers players were ordered off, and First Minister, Alex Salmond decided a summit was necessary to reign in the game’s wilder elements. What utter tosh.
Three weeks later, Justice Minister, Kenny MacAskill congratulated fans on creating a great atmosphere at the League Cup Final, which was notable for the re-emergence of the previously eradicated Billy Boys song. At an instant MacAskill rebased what was acceptable behaviour at Scottish football.
Since then the game has been trying to put the genie back in the bottle. The arguments were rehearsed in the CQN comments pages and elsewhere, “They are congratulated by the Government for singing The Billy Boys and we can’t sing about nationalist politics”, or words to that effect. Songs which had disappeared from the Celtic support lexicon were soon back and remain. Incalculable damage done by two incompetent clowns.
Since then the Scottish Government and a very small number (very small indeed) of senior officers at Police Scotland decided to subject football fans to the kind of surveillance that would make a military junta of a banana republic blush.
It’s a mess. Officers on the ground readily complain in private, all other political parties pledge to repeal the Offensive Behaviour’ Act, while sheriffs line up to mock cases arising from the Act. Football has been left to pick up the pieces left from a Scottish Government created problem. The Government refuse to accept any liability, will not repeal the Act and having celebrated a new, low, standard for spectator behaviour, seem quite happy with the situation.
Scottish football was doing very well before the Government decided to rebase what is acceptable behaviour. No football authority will succeed in any endeavour if the government is working against it. What the SPFL did was make a clear, if clumsy, attempt to return the problem to sender – the newly disinterested in football Scottish Government.
When one becomes six
I’ve scoured the internet today but cannot see any complaints about Celtic’s alleged “one up front” tactics. This season hasn’t gone to plan, but we’re making an incredible number of chances and scoring a remarkable number of goals.
One up front leaves space for, what is in effect, two wingers on each flank, and an attacking mid able to work inside the box.
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Weeminger
As far as my admittedly limited knowledge on this goes, the draft hasn’t quite managed to prevent one team dominating their league. The New England Patriots are one game away from winning their Championship (AFC) for the 8th time since 1997, which takes them to the Superbowl, of which they’ve won 4.
However, going by the final quarters of the play-offs this year, the NFL is doing something right, as it’s been high-drama all the way, with game-clinching ‘Hail Mary’ passes, missed last second field goals, vital fumbles when in a winning position, stupid penalties handing lifelines to teams who looked beaten, and impossible-looking catches from wide -receivers.
And, through all that, the top 2 seeds from each league meet each other this week to decide their respective champions.
Some great entertainment.
The story ,rumour,gossip :))))
I heard that joe hansen was nearly a Sunderland player at the end of the last window ,
LEFTCLICKTIC
Haha,that’s a cracker,innit?
A hootenanny,a mental bevvy session where not only is everyone invited and welcome,but where a fair few of the finest don’t even drink!
There’s a lot for many of us to be grateful to CQN for,and lasting friendships are right up there.
HH
beatbhoy on 21st January 2016 11:57 am
They were talking about exactly that the other night on the Beeb2 NFL show. Essentially they put it down to great coaching.
I’ll summarise but essentially they were saying he was MON like. Has a great spine and has the ability to make others play above themselves, so draft picks less of a factor.
LEFTCLICKTIC
SJ should be grateful he dodged a bullet,in that case.
I read some time ago that his time in his native land was chequered,to say the least,till RD got the best out of him.
As he did again last season.
At 25,he should be maturing as a player,and as a person. Time he did so,because an on-form SJ is a potent weapon in our armoury.
DUBAIBHOY-UR THEY STILL DEID?
It’ s a big stick I need not beer goggles :-)
HH
Weeminger
Thanks, I’ll try to get that on I-player.
The Super Bowl has been won by 8 different teams in 10 years.
Nobody has won 2 in a row since the Patriots did in 04/05.
No doubt that the Patriots are the most successful team in the last 20 years. However, its hardly dominance.
We are well on our way to 10 in a row.
new article posted.
BMCUWP
You’ve got mail!
Derk has 6 months left on his deal
We have the option to renew for another 12 months. Don’t expect to see him play again.
Bmcuw / leftie
I wouldn’t call the hootenanniers a clique. . Plenty of other words I could use though
My suggestion to TD to drop by the corner was made as I think that once you meet the grey brigade you realise we are all different individuals who love the celts in our own way . God knows we don’t all see eye to eye on most things including celtic
However I don’t remember one single issue that resulted in a heated argument never mind aggro .