“The Scottish FA’s preference was for three o’clock on a Saturday”, so SFA chief exec, Ian Maxwell told the media yesterday about Celtic and Inverness’ Scottish Cup Final on 3 June. Having stood on this plank, he then prevaricated.
“It’s very much a flagship competition for us.” So convinced is he of this, that he moved it from the flagship kick off time.
“The English FA Cup final is on at three o’clock, the Women’s Champions League final is at three o’clock. So you have a decision to make: do you go up against them and diminish the competition and reduce the viewership that you could get across the UK or do you move it and try and give it its own breathing space?”
Flagships have their own orbit. If you want to move them to avoid bodies with greater orbits, you don’t really believe in your flagship.
He then co-opted Inverness into the decision, as the club thought a 12:30 kick off was even worse than 17:30.
There was also trite and inaccurate mumblings about the Cup Final being shown live on BBC One throughout the UK, which will not happen.
It be overwhelmingly Celtic fans who watch the Scottish Cup Final on TV, Inverness fans will all be at Hampden, how many neutrals are likely to tune into a game with so little promise of competitive drama?
If you know where to look for it, BBC Scotland is available in the rest of the UK. How many viewers do the SFA believe they will attract in rUK, in the hours after a Manchester derby FA Cup Final? It will be low thousands and scant reward for inconveniencing two sets of fans who are thrilled to be in the Scottish Cup Final, which, unlike the SFA execs, genuinely believe it is a flagship occasion.
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Shoot
Goal ⚽️⚽️⚽️
I would guess that if the huns were in the final the kickoff would be 3pm. The hun filled BBC Scotland sports department would make it so!
All football authorities in Scotland are not fit for purpose, simple.
KINGLuBO
FTSFA
Arfield, Helander, Kent, McGregor and Morelos all gone….
Say what you like but that’s a lot of first team punts they will need to replace.
On a shoestring.
Their striker & keeper punts will be pivotal.
HH
I watched Maxwell’s interview on tv yesterday . He sounded like a tory mp trying to explain away the inexplicable .
What happened to the Morelos money?
Donkeys
Good afternoon all.
Headlines you won’t read in the SMSM
“Sevco lose millions as wantaway contract rebels set to leave for nothing”
EPL giants in race for Gers stars
Big Wavy – They have a massive rebuild but everyone knew that particular group of players were finished. I would be astonished if another 5-6 are not also on the way out.
McCrorie looks a decent keeper. At 25 he is taking his chance well, wouldn’t be surprised if they stick with him. They always seem to have good goalkeepers in whichever iteration you look at
Arfield and Helander were bit part players, one through age the other through injury.
Kent and Morelos have been poor all season, though both were key to their Euro run last year. Neither will be a big miss like they would have been in the previous couple of seasons. Getting a striker with his goal rate will be difficult. He had decent stats against everyone accept us. I thought they would have signed Shankland as back up to Morelos, amazed they didn’t. Maybe the Motherwell fella will end up there now.
Cantwell, horrible though he is, looks like a significant improvement to their midfield. Will be interesting to see how he plays in the CL qualifiers and whether his aggression is quickly punished.
Failing to sell the pair of them for even a modest fee was a massive error. Only plus for them is that it frees up a lot of monthly wages.
P.S. Apologies if the above post offends those who have no interest in the Govan mob. As our only serious rival now and for the foreseeable future, it is logical to keep an eye on them. If they are better next year the league will not be a gimme.
Any transfer target of Rainjurz FC is, without fail, also ‘being pursued by a host of Europe’s top clubs.
“GLENDALYSTONSILS on 23RD MAY 2023 12:21 PM
I watched Maxwell’s interview on tv yesterday . He sounded like a tory mp trying to explain away the inexplicable .”
Oh no he didn`t!
Maxwell actually looked embarrassed about what he was being asked to defend. I can`t imagine any brass-necked Tory showing a similar shame.
Tails waggin’ dugs. Aye, and what Bankiebhoy says aboot fixin’ Scottish fitba’
As SFA president, it should be Rod Petrie who is the SFA interlocutor with the public. Maxwell can do it all behind the scenes as any CEO does but presidents are there to preside press conferences. Petrie is an example of “You can run AND you can hide”. It seems like the SFA ship captain is stowing away who knows where. Maxwell has the NERVE to compare our Scottish Cup unfavourably with English football and Women´s football. Sad more than anything else. However the ulterior motive from this anti-Celtic hegemony in Scotland is to play down the televised occasion of a possible Celtic treble, by all means possible…even if that means saying competitors have a better product than us. Adam Smith would have been bealing.
Spine of a football team is key and from Huns perspective, McGregor, Helander , Davies and Fatboy are gone , with Goldson now on his 3rd injury spell this season , I suspect through being over-played and the Huns usual approach to injecting players. They are in trouble replacing a spine
Our spine will be relatively steady CCV , Carlos , Callum , Kyogo ….. sands of time will catch up with Big Joe eventually but the lapses the last few games need to be compared with say Daizen and Jota strolling back on Saturday, don’t think they blocked a cross once ….
Ideally, we find a big strong keeper who can perform at European level who is a very clear upgrade on Joe , we need to be in the right place at the right time for that , as these guys don’t fall into your lap every day.
Ideal combination at the back over the years at CB has been tough CB and a bhoy who can play it out …… having 2 right footers at the back also makes us vulnerable down our left flank in Europe , so ball playing , good in the air , left footed CB would be ideal ….
To be honest , even with a good transfer window , my expectations for Europe are the same as last year , low. Those guys are moving away from us faster than we can catch up.
Stillliveinhopecfc
HOT SMOKED on 23RD MAY 2023 2:04 PM
Perhaps I was being a tad unfair on the poor fella with that comparison!-)))
I could at least have given him a mark for honesty if he had said “we are a weak kneed bunch of parochialists who just do what the telly guys tell us”
There are more fans of Scottish football living in England than there are fans of English football living in Manchester, and more than double the number of fans of English living in Scotland.
That the needs of the English football fans are fully provided for by the BBC irrespective of where they live, while the needs of fans of Scottish football receive little more than lip service is an infrequently mentioned disgrace.
The BBC’s approach to football over the past 30 years, the relentless high quality plugging of English football at all levels across the UK while marginalising the Scottish game is little more than cultural imperialism.
When considering the BBC, it is well to remember that its defining characteristic is ‘British’, not broadcasting.
In that light, I can’t blame the SFA for trying to find a little advantage for its main broadcast partner. Sucks for fans with a distance to travel, mind.
never mind thems needing to get a goalie , we definitely require a new keeper , Joe as said before is done.
CELTIC PPV is NOT covering the game v Hibs Tomorrow.
So, I guess that Paying HIBS PPV £12.99 is the only option left to watch the game ?
So be it.
Surely Celtic TV are missing out on a good few quid, as thousands of Celtic supporters will gladly pay £12.99 to watch the game on CELTIC PPV ?
HH
Joe Hart has had a season and performed well in the last couple of games that mattered.
I agree that this position needs looked at but at the moment would prioritise other positions and file it alongside the six foot five , two footed ball playing centre half that doesn’t exist in our pay scale
Don’t think we’re allowed to sell it Jimmy.
Rolf Harris is didgeri-deid.
RIP seems inappropriate
We can talk all we like about sevco on here ,but for me this is a Celtic Supporters site ,no more no less,I want our club to add between 4and 5 quality signings this summer, personally no more Japanese players next season, Celtic Scouts should look at what’s available in Germany,Spain ,Italy ,and possibly in England,
Huns have a well qualified back up keeper in Goldson.
Kick off time is great for us overseas Celtic TV viewers, especially on the west coast.
I still thinks it’s a cowardly and short sighted decision.
Sitting on fence CSC
Kyogo SPFL Player of the Year
Ticket Update🎟️🚨: We are pleased to confirm a second phase sale of match tickets for the Scottish Cup Final at Hampden Park (Saturday, June 3).
Match tickets are for the West Stand only and are now on sale to Season Ticket holders who attended our previous home fixtures in the 2022/23 Scottish Cup*.
Our previous 2022/23 Scottish Cup home fixtures were our Fourth and Fifth Round ties with Greenock Morton and St Mirren.
*The second phase of sale is available to Season Ticket holders who are not registered on the Home Cup Ticket scheme, and have purchased both 2022/23 Scottish Cup Home fixtures.
There is a limit of 1 ticket per eligible STH during the second phase of sale.
Eligible Season Ticket holders have been contacted via email confirming sales arrangements, with the deadline for eligible Season Ticket holders to purchase of 2pm on Thursday, May 25.
GORBALSTAM on 23RD MAY 2023 2:49 PM
Don’t think we’re allowed to sell it Jimmy.
…………..
Cheers mate, but I do wonder WHY that is ?
HH
Huns ARFIELD has just discovered that NO AMOUNT of ” SALUTING” will save yer skin !
LOL
HH
BIG JIMMY
Clubs are not allowed to broadcast their own PPV for away games. Celtic are in no position to charge PPV for a game at Easter Road or any other stadium.
BIG JIMMY
The reason is, no club is going to lose money by allowing the away club to sell PPV subscriptions. Similarly, where a Celtic home game is on Celtic PPV, away team fans can only watch by paying for Celtic PPV.
Alistair Johnston has been spotted training for Celtic as he ramps up his recovery ahead of the Scottish Cup final.
The Canadian has been integral to Postecoglou’s side in the second half of the campaign after arriving from CF Montreal but injured his right ankle during the Scottish Cup semi-final against rivals Rangers last month. That didn’t stop the 24-year-old from engaging in Celtic’s full-time celebrations at Hampden while on crutches, something he admitted he might regret after.
https://twitter.com/ClydeSSB/status/1661007213702557697?t=Gyh5a1a6yuqnRt_1tVD2Qw&s=08
Ange does get fed up with these clowns
BIGRAILROADBLUES
Gav, Alex and I are going into Glasgow after Saturday’s game for celebrations.
Will you be around?
Ange Manager of the Year