I remember one of the Q&A evenings in Blantyre when it was suggested from the floor that Celtic pay whatever money necessary to retain John Park as chief scout. John out-performed his peers for several years, but, as you know, there are no gurus in football. A fallow period followed the recruitment of Mikael Lustig in January 2012; many players arrived in the years since then but few were able to enhance the team (with the odd outstanding exception).
Football scouting at this level isn’t really about being able to spot a player, it is as much about contacts. Your network keeps you. With many of these guys, their networks diminish over time. They fall out with each other regularly – trust is a precious commodity in football transfer negociations. Your value as a scout to an agent is largely dependent on your club. Since 2012 Celtic’s financial position relative to the English leagues has diminished. We will spend less than they will on any given player, and we will buy fewer players.
Perhaps for these reasons Brendan Rodgers decided a change was needed and has now secured his former colleague at Chelsea, Lee Congerton. Congerton has had recent spells at two highly dysfunctional clubs: Hamburg and Sunderland, but rejected a pretty spectacular offer to join Brendan’s revolution at Celtic. We have recruited a known quantity who will fit with the manager’s plans as closely as Chris Davies does. He will also bring a fresh batch of scouts and agents to the table. I hear they are working on plans for the summer already.
Amid the gloating at the hubris of English football amid another humbling in Europe last night, my Dad made the point that unlike Arsenal, or Manchester United, Manchester City didn’t try to cheat us by scamming a penalty in our Champions League encounters. They played with a straight bat.
We have also established a beneficial relationship with them. A year with Jason Denayer, the purchase of Dedryck Boyata and 18 months with Patrick Roberts. So far.
Roberts’ situation at his parent club should be easier to fathom after City’s exit. 10 points adrift in the Premier League and the only team to be eliminated from the Champions League last 16 by a lesser- moneyed side, what chance Pep Guardiola decides what his team needs for next season is a player City shipped out to Celtic in January 2016?
It is not going to happen. Patrick is caught in an impossible situation in Manchester. The Manchester City football model harvests innumerable players, but precious few young English players will make it onto the roster in any decade. None will do so in a season when there is a perceived need for them to up their game. Pep will spend big this summer, Roberts’ opportunity to breakthrough in Manchester next season have diminished.
My first reaction at full time last night? Our chances of getting to keep Patrick increased. Which would be a very good thing, for both club and player.
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BARNEY67 on 17TH MARCH 2017 10:17 AM
‘There were never any snakes in Ireland. Fact.’
###
Mmmm.
That all depends on whether you accept or reject Claud Cockburn’s claim that every time he went back to Ireland he took a snake with him and released it into the wild.
Purely so that whenever anyone said there were no snakes in Ireland he could contradict them.
Ernie Lynch
I’m expecting some gags from you today:)
Otherwise, I’m voting for wee Nicola
HH
Happy St Patricks Day to all.
HH
THETIMREAPER on 17TH MARCH 2017 10:39 AM
I think more is being made of this point than is necessary.
As I understood it the bit about PAYE was just a tidying up exercise by Ghosh. I think what he said was – There’s no point saying the EBT loans were wages if you don’t also make clear that PAYE was due. In other words he just wanted made explicit what everyone assumed was implied. So it wasn’t any great concession by Thornhill.
In any event, from what I can gather, the last budget but one contained a proviso that ebt loans were to be treated as disguised remuneration and taxed accordingly. That provision is retrospective. So whatever the outcome here, the players and others will be getting a tax bill.
My understanding of that may be completely wrong though.
I’d like to offer my sincerest thank you to Bobby Murdoch’s Curled Up Winkle Pickers. Firstly Bobby you have offered up a wonderful post to this great man that I am. I was considering removing myself from this 2nd rate club supporters site due to the lack of praise for my reaching out to you all. James the greatest Public Rangers man has though deemed this a worthwhile excercise. The hope is that you will all see the bright royal blue light like my great self as the the perfect man to walk this earth in history. It is our personal and group thinking that one day you will all become Champions of Europe Elect supporters or if not that your children and/or grandchildren will be the ones who see just how superior my great club is at every level of football.
As I said yesterday I invited Club1872 and the RST to my corner office overlooking earth yesterday. I arrived to find my friends had eagerly attended and presented themselves in white cloaks I’m guessing because they were aware I was going to serve them a lunch of alphabet Spaghetti followed by mashed banana. However I am still at a loss as to why they wore their beautiful white pointed hats with eye sockets cut out. I’ll tell you though these guys all had the most beautiful perfect blue eyes of any human being to have ever been born. Thankfully they were easily identified by their names written in blue crayon on their blue badges. After some an hour though and trust between all parties was solidified they did eventually remove their gowns and headwear to reveal that the common occupation of The Champions of Europe Elect is that of being highly qualified butchers. I lodged an application with them to become a butcher also but only time will tell if I am acceptable into this esteemed realm of occupation.
I am finally getting used to the hand shake of the Scots too. It tickled a lot the first few hundred times and brought an unappreciated laughter rising from my belly. But now I see it is the strongest firm most perfect level of handshaking any human could ever wish to experience in a perfect life.
The blue, white and red cones went down a treat in training and apparently in my experience Then Now Forever a team never has trained or will train to such a high standard that these cones bring out in The Champions of Europe Elect.
I was delighted also today when I recieved a congratulatory phone call from CEO of Hamilton FC, I’ve never heard of this club but their CEO confirmed that my great team (his words) play his team this weekend. He has offered The Champions of Europe Elect a guard of honour while entering the field after our outstanding victory last Sunday.
Anyway. I have to go now as King David will be communication via Rskype soon.
In the traditional goodbye of CQN I will say affoot and GIRFUY to non Champions of Europe Elect fans and 2nd rate football teams.
Or they could simply refuse the appeal and let the second teir judgement stand
GREENPINATA on 17TH MARCH 2017 10:41 AM
Yes of course, and I was being flippant,as usual.
The thinking is by snakes they meant Pagans. So that gets me thinking, where did all the Pagans go? Wales?
Hope hes enjoying his St Patrick’s day in is back garden
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Z-dbFhQBmQ
Happy St Patricks day to one and all, I’m housebound due to ops, it won’t stop me celebrating though.
It’s a grand time to be a Celtic mhan…enjoy it and thems hurt.☘☘☘☘☘☘☘☘☘☘
PEDRO CAIXINYERGIRO
I appreciate your appreciation!
Re your friends with the baby blue eyes,white hoods,and tickly handshakes…
In the spirit of fraternity,I will be making a visit to my hometown in late summer.
(This should not be confused with Autumn,btw…)
You would be more than welcome to join me for an evening with my friends. They all support your team,and are a right buncha hoods. Admittedly their eyes are usually red when they’ve been on the swally wi me for a few days,but they introduced tickly handshakes to the world via Mother 00.
Half an hour nearly from Central Station and half a millennium nearly from civilised society,not an offer you’ll hear every day.
They’ll even teach you the words to the songs you heard today!!!
BARNEY67…
Nothing wrong with the Welsh, my goodlady is Welsh and she classes herself as a Celt. HH
Pedro Cashinthehaun, Happy St Patricks Day my Celtic brother.
ERNIE LYNCH on 17th March 2017 10:34 am
If a Prime Minister directly or indirectly advises the Crown on ecclesiastical appointments they are committing a high misdemeanour under the Roman Catholic Relief Act 1829.
That is a point of law which is therefore part of the (codified or uncodified to use your terms) constitution. As there are no mechanism yet in place to deal with this (as it has never arisen) it would, prima facie, prevent a Catholic from becoming Prime Minister.
Discuss in not less than 2500 words and TGM will second mark your response in case you feel I would be unfair. :>)
KTF
SIPSINI on 17TH MARCH 2017 11:07 AM
BARNEY67…
Nothing wrong with the Welsh, my goodlady is Welsh and she classes herself as a Celt. HH
###
Is she Bonnie Tyler?
HAMILTONTIM 951
Thanks,mate. Last words from Bobby Sands,a braver man than I could ever be.
Just reading back…..
……hahahahahaha……… David O’Poulos…… I like that.
That has definitely lodged in my brain permanently when I see you name now DAVIDO
:)))
The implications of BDO failing to win the appeal are such that everything possible will be done at the Ludges to ensure the outcome is favourable. Even if you put stripping Murray of his knighthood and jailing him, and Title stripping to one side. All of the EBT recipients will be bang to rights and reaching for the ‘disclaimer’ Murray gave them. If they make a claim against Oldco that will be pointless as the creditors pot will be well and truly empty. Is there is a possibility they may take a civil action against Murray himself, or the SFA if they can prove they knew about the scheme (Campbell?), or even challenge the 5 way agreement with a view to making a case against the Newco. Interesting times.
SIPSINI on 17TH MARCH 2017 11:07 AM
I’m sure she’s a fine lady. Nowt wrong wi the Welsh. When you get them to shut up all that singing.
VFR800 IS NOW A MONSTER 821 on 17TH MARCH 2017 11:09 AM
There is a mechanism in place.
Email Rosie Cuuningham and she’ll give you chapter and verse.
Or continue to wallow in ignorance.
Why is it so important for you to believe this falsehood anyway?
There’s no shortage of things out there to be affronted by. Why do you have to invent one?
Beatbhoy
I think only a few care what happens, liquidation or coming out of liquidation would be facilitated, as has been seen it will be accepted and pushed by the media and governing bodies, the clubs will do nothing. Just my opinion having watched this unfold for years.
Ernie, did you know that Bonnie Tyler’s dad was actually, a tiler.
Barney67 on 17th March 2017 11:20 am
Ernie, did you know that Bonnie Tyler’s dad was actually, a tiler.
——————————————————————-
Was he Holding Grout For A Hero?
Have we all seen this short blog on the BTC by an tax advisory company:
http://www.gabelletax.com/blog/2017/03/16/full-time-rangers-in-the-supreme-court/
GREENPINATA on 17TH MARCH 2017 9:28 AM
My friends in Celtic,
Happy St Patricks Day. To those of you who are abstaining from alcohol for Lent, fill your boots. You are granted a 24 hour reprieve.
It’s in the rules.
############################
Post of the day mate! I’ve never heard of this ruling before but I’m more than willing to accept it at face value.
Now, where did I put those car keys? When does the Off License open?
VFR800 IS NOW A MONSTER 821 on 17TH MARCH 2017 11:09 AM
On the off chance that Rosie doesn’t respond, this might help to enlighten you.
#####
Prime Ministerial involvement in ecclesiastical appointments
Standard Note: SN/PC/04403
Last updated: 28 February 2008
Author: Lucinda Maer, Parliament and Constitution Centre
‘It is often asserted that the Prime Minister cannot be a Roman Catholic. This paper explains why this is not the case……..’
http://researchbriefings.files.parliament.uk/documents/SN04403/SN04403.pdf
DavidO I did actually laugh out loud there.
I got a smart meter installed last week. Well,two of them.
Only because my leccy meter hadn’t been working for nearly five years and no matter how hard I tried,I couldn’t get anyone in the fractured supply/distribution chain to admit responsibility.
As my bill included metering charges,I point-blank refused any liability myself. But my monthly DD was being raised to eye-watering levels as the bills were estimated.
So I came up with the bright idea of the smart meter and after six months it was installed.
The fella pointed out that it meant no need for sending future readings so I was surprised when my supplier asked me for them today.
That was when I found out it came with a lot of buttons but no instructions-I’ve pressed all the buttons and swore like a trooper,but my meter is too smart,or too dumb to listen.
Nae wunner ah drink…
Well after making both Hunderbirds Are Gone and Barney67 laugh, I should quit while I’m ahead.
Should…
BARNEY67 on 17TH MARCH 2017 11:20 AM
‘Ernie, did you know that Bonnie Tyler’s dad was actually, a tiler.’
###
I had absolutely no idea.
You think she might have mentioned it to me after all these years.
I’m definitely going to add that to my compendium of quirky, and quite possibly apocryphal, trivia gleaned from the interweb.
DavidO, you keep up the good work.
Happy St Puntericks Day.
Davidpolous,
Take a boo son.
Vfunny :)))
HH
Interesting ties thrown up in the ol mushrooms league.
Real v bayern.
Juve v barca
Monaco v Dortmund
Lester v atletico
HH
DAVIDOPOULOS
Cracker,pal.
It must be difficult for you keeping your wit honed in Suffolk. You are to be congratulated on succeeding. Most of the locals just suck seeds.
Ha, just when I was reminiscing about how good it was to have a sunroof again, I’m now informed that most newish cars have a poxy moonroof.
Moonroof; for f@@ks sake. As seemingly it’s an American concept , can I blame the Donald.?
The Americans do some things soooo well; like the awesome parade today in NY, but their obsession with the moon is ridiculous. Next they’ll be telling us that they walked on it in 1969.
Naw, nobody would fall for that whopper, would they.??????
HH & mind the Chaaaaaaaasm, especially after a few celebrations today.
GEORDIEMUNRO
That’s the top four drawn against each other.
This gives the other four genuine hope for glory. None of whom-I think-have won the Big One.
Great draw.
Juve v barca
That ref better have deep pockets.
Happy St.Patrick’s day to one and all (especially any lurking Sevconians). ;)
And if you’re lurking,happy 14th birthday Gabriel Patrick and many hoopy returns.See you soon son. :-)
HH
GREENPINATA
I believe the moonroof is something to do with the American fascination for drive-ins and isolated places in your car.
Nostalgia in other words.
Think of Animal House,”gone soft” and the snap of a latex glove being removed in disdain.