During the Gordon Strachan era I dreaded home games against Kilmarnock. Gordon was permanently under pressure and someone would always lob the “Do you know it’s been 53/54/55 years since Celtic have lost at home to Kilmarnock?’ question in his direction. The last thing the guy needed was a historical record for his many begrudgers to use against him.
Fortunately the record went in less pressing times but tonight’s game is still loaded with historical resonance. One more clean sheet and Celtic will equal their record of not conceding a goal in 10 consecutive league games, previously achieved in 1913-14 and again in 1921-22. It’s safe to assume none of us were there in 1922 to see the record met for the last time.
Celtic are now motoring towards the title but it took heroics from Fraser Forster to keep Motherwell and Hibernian out on our last two games. One moment’s slip in concentration and the record will disappear, like IPO cash at a Cowboy Football Club (not the Dallas Cowboys, or their Scottish partner club).
Kilmarnock have scored in eight of their last 10 games and have hit what passes for form in Ayrshire, tonight will not be straightforward. I want to be there when the record is matched, and beaten, so same again, please, Fraser.
There’s been a bit of frivolity in the comments section at the suggestion Newco Rangers rejected a £900k bid for a player, especially after their predecessor clubs’ claim to have rejected a £9m bid for a player, weeks before entering administration. Knowing the modus operandi of these people you should know better.
If £900k was enough to fix everything I am sure such a bid, if real, would be accepted. If it would merely buy a few more weeks, the only point in accepting it would be to look after creditors’ interests, and we know how that one played out at Ibrox last time.
I saw photographs of indignant Norwich fans reacting to Robert Snodgrass, who returned a verbal volley after being barracked during last night’s game against Newcastle. The sight of several grown men, on their feet, barracking and gesticulating, at being demeaned by a football player shouting back, is as great an indication that some football fans need to get a grip as anything you’ll see.
Well done to STV’s Peter Smith, who is one of three nominated by the Royal Television Society for the Young Talent of the Year award. Smith, aged 12, brought the nation to a standstill when twice interviewing Newco Rangers’ greatest ever owner, Charles Green, laying bare the absurdity of the man while others worked hard to support him. If you ever meet Green, watch him repeat the statuesque performance given to Smith if you ask him to produce those emails from the Dallas Cowboys. Hope Peter wins.
Best wishes too to Krishnan Guru-Murthy who is up for the National Presenter of the Year award. He once played a small but key part in media coverage of Scottish football.
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setting free the bears supports Res. 12 & Oscar Knox
12:55 on 29 January, 2014
==============================
Yes, exactly. ‘Penalty-box’ strikers seem to be increasingly viewed as a luxury unless you’re shopping at the very top-level, in which case you’ve the quality through the rest of the team to justify it.
The view, to me, appears to consider such a player as very much being like playing with ten men when the ball’s not in your opponents’ box.
With the better fitness and organisation of teams permeating down to the lowest levels, spending a ton of cash on a ‘poacher’ rather than a mobile ‘striker’ becomes a bigger gamble.
Better to have one reliable lucky charm who, when fit, can’t stop the ball bouncing in of him (when you’re creating chances) or a player who will provide only half the goals but fit with a team pattern and help spread the scoring load around (and add to the effort aginst higher-level sides, i.e CL)?
It’s the multi-million dollar question Lenny faces these days.
timaloy29
13:39 on 29 January, 2014
“You heard rumours ” says it all about that post.
If LG is another bad influence who’s the other one ?
kitalba
“Mate not being rude”
If you were, I will have missed it cos I can’t see any.
” but there are a lot of players we let go that we should not have. Some of them went on to become very famous indeed, some of them you might not like, for whatever reason, famous goalkeepers, famous captains of Scotland even, one I’m sure even played in the Mersey Derby just recently, and not Aiden McGeady,”
Yes, the relative merits of keeping guys we got transfer fees for, a generous one in Aiden’s case, can be debated, and I was one of Aiden’s biggest fans on this site, but the original topic was letting youth go because their progress was blocked by bought players. That does not apply to McGeady. You would have to enlighten me as to who were the famous goalkeeper and Scotland captain you had in mind.
“why have the expense of a youth academy if nobody ever graduates? Why kid the kids on? Why destroy their dreams when you always knew you were never going to give them that present?”
But some do graduate, if they are good enough(:- Aiden, Shaun, James Forrest), but we have a higher bar to jump over nowadays, into the first team, when our top 18 players are all full internationalists.The answer I gave to clashcitybhoy when he proposed scrapping the Youth Academy was “what if everyone did that?”. The academy has to generate one or two worthwhile players every now and again to justify its running costs (£1m to £1.5m, as I have been told) as we would have to pay more than that to sign a Maloney, McGeady or Forrest from another SPFL team’s first team. That is, if they were still producing youngsters. It won’t have escaped your notice that there has been a dearht of worthwhile Scottish youngsters for a 12-15 year period between around 1996 and 2008. Our national team performance shows that. There are some hopeful signs that our current crop of youngsters are better but even from amongst players I like (Henderson, George, O’Connell, Johnstone, Twardzik, Atajic, Mcgregor, Herron, Findlay and Calvin Millar) we will be fortunate to get 2 or 3 making the step up.
It is a cruel trade and the cruelty starts a long way before the Celtic Youth Academy. I helped run a Boy’s team and we regularly got guys poached to the semi-pro set ups of Celtic, Aberdeen, Hibs and Queens Park. Some of them, at ages 10 to 14 were given 6 to 8 week spells of training before being cut and sent back to their original teams. No matter how clearly they were told that, it was a temporary setback and not the end of any football career, it was telling how many of those boys did not have the resilience to take the rejection for what it was. And the cruelty will continue. Paul McGowan was nearly 23 when it was finally decided that he was not going to kick on sufficiently to be a Celtic player. He remains, like his Rangers counterpart, Kenny McLean, a very good St. Mirren player.
“Think about it mate, we go on about emulating Ajax, we can’t compete with Portuguese and Spanish visa (sic) laxities, we can’t compete with the big six TV income, we won’t grow our own, how do we balance subjective constraints against objective ambitions (what ambitions) when we are running in a one horse race with a budget ten times that of our nearest competitor.”
We find it difficult and I would argue, near impossible, to match the expectations to the reality. We do not have the generation of footballers we had in the 60s and early 70s. We don’t even have the generation that Aberdeen and united had in the early 80s. Nobody in Scotland has had a good bunch of youngsters in the 90s or early 2000s. Whether, our current lot are an improvement or a false dawn, only time will tell. I don’t think we have a quality street era but I believe 3 or 4 of the list I gave above have a right good chance.
” I’m not digging Celtic for the sake of it, look at what we have wasted over the years and look at what could have been achieved in Scotland if we, we, had only spent our money more wisely.”
I am sure that you have Celtic’s best interests at heart as much or more than I do but I fear money will continue to be wasted because mistakes are inevitable. Before Jock arrived we signed Alec Byrne and let Bertie Auld go and we made the opposite move in selling Paddy Crerand and promoting a youngster Bobby Murdoch in his place. In the 70s we sold many Lions and Macari, Hay and Dalglish while Jock was signing Frank Munro, Roy Kay, John Dowie and Joe Fillipi (did their jerseys shrink?). In the 80s we managed to retain Paul McStay but there was not much interest in the rest of our developed players even first team regulars and internationalists like Tommy Burns and Peter Grant. We can draw a veil over most of the 90s, but, apart from Henrik, we were not able to retain any half decent player like Van Hooydonk, Di Canio or Viduka once the EPL flexed their financial muscle.
“I have not seen us buy a single player since big Vic better than McGeoch, that includes Hooper and VVD. Just my opinion mind, but ask Real Madrid what they thought of Dylan.”
It is a singular opinion, kit, based on that one outstanding performance against Madrid, and it was outstanding, rather than his recent Morton appearance. I don’t share the view that he is better than VVD but we will soon see when he is loaned or sold, what his potential will be. John Flecj was not a myth; he was the outstanding Scot in his age group as a 14 to 16 year old, but he has had wilderness years before showing recent signs of kicking on again. Other kids, like Vic Davidson, Peter Marinello, Graeme Payne, Ralph Milne and Eoin Jess never ever recaptured that early promise. I hope for the best for Dylan but I don’t think his departure, if it happens, will be seen as a tragedy by the majority of the Celtic support.
“Apathy is the way.”
I don’t know who is apathetic. I share your concern that nothing has, as yet, been done to address the EBT/tainted titles/Nimmo Smith/Sandy Bryson/ Ogilvie corruption of the past 10 to 15 years. I hope that it will still be sorted out. I am, at least not yet, apathetic.
Paul67.
When are the tickets for CQ10N being issued, It would be nice to give people something in receipt of cash handed over.
I would like to thank setting free the bears and steinreignedsupreme for their excellent contrubutions on here
timaloy29
Agree with most of what you say, but I don’t think Tony is being forgotten about. The ball will be in his court at the end of the season and he can play it one of two ways. I think Pukki might be a decent player, but not a 20-goals-a-season man.
kitalba…13.01
Good points made and I suspect a lot of sympathy from most folk hereabouts.
Its interesting you mention McGeoch. I can rate the lad only from his brief appearances in the first team. He made a great impact with his fabulous goal and that sort of event makes you sit up and think we’ve got a good one here.
His subsequent outings were uneventful and uninspiring though and I personally didn’t see anything to suggest he’d make it with us.
Which raises the question…was he not quite good enough; not given enough chances; lost confidence and motivation as the club bought midfielder after midfielder?
I don’t know the answer. I know many people who support EPL sides most of whom also complain about their academies not bringing through players.
Celtic are clearly not in the same boat as all other SP sides. It is the other clubs who should step up to the plate, though I don’t mean Celtic should abandon developing youth.
The SP clubs are soon going to find out if talent can be found and nurtured in this country as they all strive to run profitably. When (if) clubs balance their books on the basis of gate monies/media/corporate income against running costs/salaries a proper football environment will be established. It seems like a thousand years since clubs concentrated on football rather than balance sheets. Downsizing financially (costs) does not mean downsizing football development perhaps in fact the opposite.
The young players will get their chance in a senior competitive situation, they will feature in high profile games, they will get international recognition and in consequence their market value will increase.
Young King has just gone from Hearts for £150k…Tynecastle needed the money of course but in a well run player development system in a league where clubs are efficiently run the opportunity that such a sale in future would result in 2 or 3 times that figure would be much more likely and make football clubs here stronger.
While still too many clubs remain seriously indebted (Killie eg) there are players coming through at Killie(!), DU, Aberdeen, Hibs, St J, PT. Our football woes are not at an end but they are perhaps beginning to end.
oh oh Phil Mac is posting a youtube clip to REM,s “shiny happy peepul”
braw ….house lights down…Lime drivers at the ready ….tabs aside ….hihihihihi
hoopy days …
Some interesting news on the horizon.
It appears Craigy Boy may be centre stage, very soon.
The game is back on.
Paul,
Glad to hear it. So many “computer errors” these days. The computer probably deleted the email and just wasn’t there when he needed it…..
Bhoys
When I think of Leigh Griffiths from a playing style he reminds me of a great Soviet striker:
Not Blokhin but Igor Belanov! Brilliant player with a thining thatch.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iCQ0vDAbF7s
awfy braw …..
Right fast forward to 11 mins & watch Traynor say that club oops company have gone bust lol.
From philmac
http://t.co/DH8rvLojOn
http://t.co/c7TJkrghTq
And here’s my sneak preview to the Craig Whyte interview the day before ;-)
#Scooped
Err, the person who told me about Balde is a close relative of a board member. I use the term rumour as a disclaimer because it could be rubbish.
The fact that Lennon is flooding our squad with strikers suggests he doesn’t have one in mind as his main man.
OG RAFFERTY
Whyte cannot allow the current huns-oooops-to go down without registering his claim on their assets.
If he did,he would find it near-impossible to lay a claim against Third Lanarkshire,or whatever they will decide to call themselves.
Although a thoroughly odious and reprehensible character,he knows how to work the system.
SFTB
I near enough choked on my cheese piece when you included Ralph Milne in that list. The guy was a terrific footballer. Then I found this extract from Jim McLean:
“”If I had an outstanding failure then it was Ralph Milne. He should have been playing in World Cups. He should have won a bundle of Scotland international honours. It was a tragedy that that boy was not playing for his country all the time. He had tremendous talent – and I failed with him. He did not have the right attitude to the game and I could not instil that into him.”
Seems, good as he was – and he had 10 remarkable years at Utd before his English sojourn – McLean reckoned him even better.
tonydonnelly67
13:54 on 29 January, 2014
robcfc11
11:51 on 29 January, 2014
TD…. Hibs ? Or are you meaning Sunday names ? (Hibernian)
Has to be Sunday name mate, no nicks.
“Errza Sevco Sherrs, 4 furra pou-end” ……(includes 4p tip for the vendor!)
Ha ha ha ha Hail Hail
Bomber Brown may be getting an answer to his question very soon.
Tinfoil hat at the aye, ready, Chris Graham
!!Bada Bing!!
13:33 on
29 January, 2014
Read it all now
@Bryce9A: So Craig Whyte is claiming the SFA membership was transferred to him, not Newco, and that legally HE is the football club. WTF??!! #anguish
Was retweeted by @RetroScot
=======================
Funnily enough Whyte might have a point.
What the SFA did under their agreement with CG was transfer the membership of the SFA that Rangers (and so CW held) to Newco.
They did so using the powers of Article 14.1 with the paradoxical heading that says Prohibition of Transfer of Membership[ but has a clause allowing the SFA discretion which they exercised.
However Newco could always have for SFA Membership as Associate Members at that time had they applied within 14 days of joining the SFL as Newco. (The Associate Membership of the SFA status has since been removed after the SFL and SPFL became SPFL and Newco are now full members).
It becomes a legal issue in terms of who actually owns the SFA Membership, the SFA or the club? I think it is the SFA and it is theirs to do as they please so CW is on to plums, but is it good enough that something of such commercial value as SFA Membership should be at the mercy of powers of discretion with absolutely no defined criteria to protect other football clubs from rogue (as opposed to brogue) traders?
The SFA lawyers must be earning good money. Wonder how they are getting on rewriting the rules that Bryson trashed with his absurd interpretation of what constitutes eligibility?
BOBBY MURDOCH’S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS, 14:01
Indeed and we will be hearing all about these matters very soon, I believe.
Jelly and ice cream in winter? Why not!
NEUSTADT-BRAW
REM at their best-and a wee warning to the huns about what is at their door!
http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=88PA4N9deBk
However Newco could always have obtained….
OG
About time Whyte stood up his claim to 5088. Saying that, the story only has any legs if Whyte and his cohort have found the dough to hit the courts. Without that, it’s cheap talk.
Begs the question: If he has the dough, why’s he talking to the media and not the judge?
O.G.Rafferty
We are all ears. See my observations on the Twitter rumour.
I was talking to a killie supporter earlier today and coincidentally enough given SFTB and others discussing the “death” of the old fashioned penalty-box striker, the killie guy was telling me that Bidey is looking fitter and more agile now than at any point he has seen him, in his career to date.
The killie fan doesn’t know if its due to a new-found maturity, his experience (short thought it was) in Turkey or simply the realisation on Boyd’s part, that being a penalty box striker is not good enough anymore.
If we want this clean-sheet run to continue, I hope that VVD and co at the back will be on their guard against a guy who does know where the net is (much as it pains me to say it as i despise him).
I would hate for it to be him to bring that run to a close!
HAIL! HAIL!
Token
Bhoys,
Does anyone know what became of Philvis? I haven’t seen him post on here for a good while now. Always enjoyed his contributions.
sixtwo
bobby murdoch’s curled-up winklepickers ………fc not plc
14:01 on 29 January, 2014
Craig whyte is a great guy, what’s not to like HH
Auldheid
brogue traders
Brilliant! Think you might have came up with a movie title there…..
The Battered Bunnet
I think we can expect to see some real developments on the legal front in the next few weeks. If is only bluster, we will find out soon enough
THE TOKEN TIM. 1412
Slimline?
Wages at Killie won’t cover the bill for his Monster Munch
(Used to be ten-pack in the pound shop,now a mere six-pack,and the only ones he can do!)
Auldheid, 14:11
The sound of distant thunder, I’d say
Distant thunder?
Shame!
Wish it was closer…
Cheers OG. I’ll keep an eye out ;¬)
Anyone ever read Etims Rumour Mill?
The last line in the June 2013 one is starting to sound promising. Happy to post it here if anyone is interested…..
hun skelper
14:14 on
29 January, 2014
bobby murdoch’s curled-up winklepickers ………fc not plc
14:01 on 29 January, 2014
Craig whyte is a great guy, what’s not to like HH
……………………………..
aye Bobby don,t be trashing oor hero ….he is a braw braw laddie ….hahahahahaha
the undead will have more to fear than Canis lupus at their door…is it even their door? hehehehehe …stupid stupid bhuns ……….braw
oldtim67
13:47 on
29 January, 2014
Paul67.
When are the tickets for CQ10N being issued, It would be nice to give people something in receipt of cash handed over.
*******************************************************
Oldtim – with customer service of this type I’m afraid you’ll never get a job with Rangers3, nor would you have a got a job with either of the previous entities!
HH jamesgang
“the only point in accepting it would be to look after creditors’ interests, and we know how that one played out at Ibrox last time.”
Had to laugh at that one. Then remembered that real people were robbed of real money.
It’s uncomfortable being on the same side as the spivs. Funny, but uncomfortable.