Consider this: with Celtic certainties to win the league, they have now been given three consecutive home Scottish Cup games, against Brechin, Partick and Morton, on the road to perhaps becoming the first club to retain the treble in Scottish football history. For so many years home cup draws were as elusive as the outcome to SFA review results into Rangers Uefa licence in 2011, but here we are.
The big picture from the weekend: Despite things still being far from flowing on the park, I’m delighted with the win over Partick Thistle. Of the two cup games this week, the Thistle game was the most important. An aggregate win over Zenit would flood more euros into the Celtic Park coffers, but progress of (perhaps only) one more round in the Europa League will be forgotten long before the outcome of this season’s Scottish Cup.
In his first five seasons in charge, Jock Stein won five league titles and five League Cups, losing three Scottish Cup games during that period. This is the standard we now dare aspire to.
374 Comments- Pages:
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JIMTIM
I agree on the poor protection our midfield gives the defense.
Ntcham is an average tackler and Brown is strong so the exclusion of Kouassi who seems to be good in the tackle has been baffling.
I also think the system bears more responsibility than individual players as our spacing is erratic.
Watched Liverpool who won yesterday but the reality is despite adding Virgil they relied on their keeper to make some outstanding saves when opponents had clear sigh of goal.If Southampton had finishers they would have won.
Like us i think their problem stems from central midfield area leaving them to exposed.
JAMESGANG on 12TH FEBRUARY 2018 4:58 PM.
@@@@@
Agree on that mate . We need to see more of the same . Is it not truly worrying how a treble winning , invincible team , are performing at the moment . Here,s hoping we find our true form soon . H H
Whatever team we pick the front 4 should be the same as the Hearts game, Forrest, Ntcham, Edouard and Dembele. Dembele needs bodies around him to link with, if he is left isolated he will be ineffective. Sinclair is unlikely to cut it at this level I’m afraid.
DDV
Lustig Jozo Ajer KT
Brown Kouassi
Ntcham
Forrest Edouard
Dembele
Dorus can kick it oot but canny keep it_oot?
Shay Given Was Too Wee CSC
Fraser Forster Was Too Shy CSC
Rab Douglas Was Too Stupid CSC
Artur Boruc Was Too Fat CSC
Magnus Hedman Was Too Tired CSC
Francisco Javier Sánchez Broto Was Too Greedy CSC
Yada Yada Yada CSC
Vanderlei Luxemburgo
AULDHEID @ 11:36 AM,
“Have you read JJ’s latest”
As the saying goes… He doesn’t miss and hit the wall with his unprecedented postulations;)
Hail Hail
MIT
Fergus
Cesar
TB
or my old favourite REBEL
KEEP THE FAITH
MiT
PS car just passed in central London.
Regi plate TAL. Tis a sign per chance?
;-)
Liam Miller’s Brother in law,
“Like any man I’d like to live a long life, but that’s tempered by the fact I could live a dozen lives and I wouldn’t be half the man Liam Miller was,”
Gifts at altar included a Celtic, Man United & Irish Jersey.
Willie McStay, Danny McGrain & John Kennedy attended plus former players Shaun Molony, Aiden McGeady & Stephen McManus, Mon, Lenny & Roy Keane also attended.
glendalystonsils on 12th February 2018 4:49 pm
JAMESGANG on 12TH FEBRUARY 2018 4:35 PM
I thought James Forrest was quite brilliant on Saturday not only controlling the ball, but already moving away from the defender and into the available space. He was already on the move as the ball came to him and was able to assimilate all of that in an instant.
===================================
BR said JF was one of the best at receiving and moving the ball. He was on Saturday. Ye cannae whack first touch. His third goal was master class, surrounded by4 defenders as he was.
MiT
How exciting – a new golden retriever puppy. Babe magnet for the next few years. Next time I am in Toronto, I am going out for a walk with the dog (you can prepare the dinner!)
Zlatan means Golden in South Slav countries. Certainly applies to a Swedish footballer of Bosnian origin based on his salary packages.
Auldheid
Touch buys time, every time
Chairbhoy on 12th February 2018 5:07 pm
A bit of a Star Trekker. Boldly goes were no man has gone before. :) sometimes right on course.
jamesgang on 12th February 2018 5:17 pm
Auldheid
Touch buys time, every time
=============
And why the Killie performance was poor.
GLASVEGAS frontman James Allan watched as the Hoops progressed to the last eight of the Scottish Cup at Celtic Park on Saturday thanks to hat-trick hero James Forrest, which gave the Celts a 3-2 win over Partick Thistle.
While there to cheer on the Bhoys, the singer also took to the pitch to make the Paradise Windfall draw at half-time, sponsored by Laurie Ross, and picked out winning ticket Y1274. However, no-one came forward to claim the £10,000 jackpot on the day!
This means that one lucky supporter is £10,000 richer but they just don’t know it yet!
We are encouraging everyone to check their tickets now for Y1274!
@officialCeltic
Traditionalist 88.
There are factors which make life difficult for sure. I think the “they won’t come to play in Scotland” may be a factor but I think it’s a small one. Particularly if you build a reputation for participating in the player moving on to the epl to earn lots of dosh. We can also offer CL participation (if we don’t destroy our own chances). We pay PL and a team of people to do this work so I don’t see why I need to be an expert (which I am not).
But it strikes me that you can either be terrified of investing some of our money and definitely cause us not to be in the CL or you can increase your probability by showing more ambition.
Also a goal could be to move up the market in terms of spending and get higher transfer fees as a result. With the EPL the way it is we could make much more money in transfer fees by upping our level of targets. The epl may be obscene but it also presents opportunities, thus far all we hear from CQN are the risks.
It strikes me that the transfer window just closed was the opportunity to build for the cl qualification next season with a settled and well prepared team. But we simply didn’t do that.
Celtics so called prudent approach isn’t prudent it’s incredibly risky. But when you get too scared thinking and planning stops.
Fan a tic at 4.54.
Taking into account Dorus playing very little first team football over the last 18 months, which might be an issue, I hope he’s on top form this Thursday as Zenit will probably fancy themselves to score the away goal after the our defensive display last Saturday and in other games.
I also agree our midfield does not protect the defence as much as they should.
Ntcham had his best game against Hearts , in a more advanced position plus Kouassi may have played against Zenit before which will may be of assistance to us.
MIT.
What about Charly,
though if you lose him at the park one day dont run around asking everyone if they have seen your Charly. :-)
H.H
Some good names lads …. keep them coming
Jamesgang … after my comments about Scott Brown over the years, I would have to eat a lot of crow if I called the new guy Broonie! (although the idea of a little pup humping something on the beach and then standing on his hind legs doing the broonie does make me laugh)
Hrvatski Jim … I am happy to cook dinner when you are in town my friend… but I’m not sure I should be letting an old charmer like you out with a babe-magnet puppy … I am thinking of the hearts you two would be breaking throughout the city!
:)
Juventus Cardiff Man City all to win money back if In cash if it loses sky bet
50 Shades @ 5:40 …
I can see why you are called 50 shades!
:)
MIKE IN TORONTO, how you doin pal, maybe some good news at last, pick any names you wont but you cant have frankie or benny.lol. only kiddin mike hope everything turns out okay.hh.
BMCW and MWD
On the discussion about spend and risk I had a look a couple of years ago of spend to play in the CL before title winners got an automatic place and before the CL rewards increased, as have players wages, so as a gauge I think it is still relevant ).
The spreadsheet is at
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1E5dL2cL0uF_plCE3qoBMebHtcfei9y2UZOHh8KnH-4w/edit?usp=sharing&authkey=CLaNj8YC
Using Robbie Keene as the required standard and on £65k a week you get a £6.652M benefit/profit over 3 years including a £10M transfer fee in year 1.
Hire two players at that level and you lose £9.28m over three years. Arguably 2 players are a necessity.
Hire 3 and that loss rises to £21.52m .
Stick with 1 player but lose out on qualifying one year and there is a £11.3K loss over 3 years (manageable)
Not qualifying in two of the three years causes a £6..360M loss.
Hire 2 players and the £9.28m loss over 3 years becomes £15.944M if Celtic fail to qualify in one of the three years rising to £22.293M if failing to qualify in 2 of 3 seasons..
It gives you an idea of the factors I think Celtic have to consider when deciding how best to spend CL income. Looking for safer bets of guaranteed income with our club’s future existence seems a sensible business decision to me, given we use our own and not other people’s money.
Connaire12 – you around ?
Unfortunately I will not be able to see the match against Zenith on Thursday night as I’m off to a Jazz concert in the National Concert Hall on the same evening but will record and watch later. After watching Celtic’s 12 games in Europe so far – my God that is a lot of European football and still at least two to go and hopefully more – you could say I have got my European fix for the season.
It’s not too difficult to see that European football is rigged particularly after seeing the handy draw Leicester City got last season. That team had never played in the Champions League-Cup and had only been in the lesser European competitions on three previous occasions.
It’s a disappointing that Celtic are beset with so many injuries and the gloss and expectation of progress to the next round does not look good. Celtic having a bit of a wobble at the moment and great to see young James Forrest in the form of his life. Hopefully with Paddy Roberts and Stu and Tom R getting back soon and the improvement in playing conditions the ship will be steadied.
The Perfect Fix via @sitonfence
Yesterday’s Scottish Cup draw was the perfect fix for the SFA. As I predicted Rangers Lite were drawn at home against a lower league club viz Falkirk. Those of a Celtic disposition would also be pleased as they also have a home tie against lower league opposition, in this case my team Greenock Morton FC. On my last outing to Celtic Park prior to my enforced exile – due to credible death threats by paramilitaries who formerly engaged in Ireland’s Dirty War and now live in Ayrshire under the protection of Special Branch – I joined 3,000 from Inverclyde in a surreally empty Celtic Park. Only 11,000 of their number chose to turn up for a Sunday lunchtime kickoff and a game played on a lush park in perfect Spring sunshine. Celtic prevailed 3-0.
All is now set fair for Lite’s home draw against Celtic in the Semi-Finals. Rangers Lite are just one game away from a money spinning final. Honest mistakes will abound as the last thing Moribund McRae wants is an unprecedented back to back treble. Presenting Scott Brown with a trophy makes McRae’s skin crawl.
To make it easier for Lite to win this year’s cup, notwithstanding the money-spinner of a semi-final against Celtic, Aberdeen host Kilmarnock with Hearts travelling to Motherwell. Only one of these teams, Motherwell, would prevail against Lite in the final should the new club navigate a passage past the champions.
A money-spinning semi-final and final is perfect for the SFA. By throwing in a home tie against lower league opposition for Celtic the cries of fix will be muted. But not from your humble correspondent who has witnessed more Scottish Cup fixes than he has received in donations this month. Had it not been for JC I would have yielded only £21 for two strong pieces this weekend. If readers are not prepared to support my efforts at the weekend should I revert to a Monday to Friday service and not publish exclusives on weekend days? Are my weekend pieces best ignored?
Sporting integrity has been sacrificed on the altar of the SFA’s commercial imperatives. If Falkirk and Morton were pitted against each other it would be the jewel in the QF crown. However they have been served up as fodder to the Glasgow clubs. Lite have had the easiest ride imaginable to the Semi-Finals. Fraserburgh, Ayr United and Falkirk. Why not just hand them the cup and be done with it? Just like they did when conferring 33 Scottish Cup titles to Charles Green’s basket case of assets.
Ralph Topping who knew how to play the game – keep your head down and avoid controversy – had a foot in both camps of Scottish football governance. He did not spare the horses on the clusterfuck of an omnishambles that’s going down on Hampden’s sixth floor. In an interview in The Times Topping highlighted the loss of patch-up merchants Darryl Broadfoot and Scott Lindsay. Ripping off their plasters has left gaping wounds. Topping warned that if the SFA lost Andrew McKinlay they would be up shit creek with the corpulent blazers searching for a paddle. Within twenty-four hours of The Times hitting the doormats McKinlay was on a canoe to Scottish Golf. He had spent one week as de facto CEO. He was asked to polish a turd. He could do nothing with McRae’s and Petrie’s diarrhoea, which was oozing out from all their orifices.
Gordon Waddell, who gained his foothold in the Laptop Loyal via nepotism, thinks Fraser Wishart should be the next holder of the SFA’s cludgie stick. Wishart informed the players of Rangers that as their employer had gone bust they were free to go, much to the chagrin of Charles Green. Concatenate business and trading assets with my Aunt Fanny for a more accurate take on his basket case of assets.
In sixteen months or so Pathetic Petrie will be measured up for the President’s blazer and the impetus to ‘move-on‘ will carry all before him. If a wet behind the ears Wishart was in place it would be easy for Petrie to bury his leading role in the 5 Way Fix under the sixth floor shag pile. Wishart would have no stomach for disturbing sporting integrity’s shallow grave.
Pathetic Petrie must be taken out prior to McRae passing the baton. The buck stops with the former apropos the fix that gave Rangers a UEFA licence in 2011. Five months have elapsed since the compliance officer was tasked with investigating the matter. However if Rangers made a fraudulent application as seems highly likely will the new club face any sanctions? If nothing else it would behove UEFA to penalise the reconstituted board.
We could have a scenario where the entire Lite board are up on UEFA charges while King is frozen out south of the Limpopo.
It’s just a matter of time before the roof falls in on The Wonga Wastrels.
I digress. A new broom at the SFA won’t make any difference. The blazers who know where the bodies are buried would soon bend the new incumbent to their will. The only solution is to dismantle this self-serving anachronism and hive off its trading assets to the SPFL. What better blueprint for change than Rangers Lite?
Almost six years have elapsed since Peter Lawwell remitted the following missive to Regan:
“Dear Stewart,
You will already be well aware of the BBC Scotland programme broadcast on Wednesday 23rd May relating to various events at Rangers, and other media coverage in a similar vein.
The situation at Rangers has clearly attracted a huge level of exposure and comment over a number of months, none of it favourable.
The SFA has already conducted one inquiry, with a subsequent Judicial Panel Hearing and Appeal. The SPL is attempting to investigate issues associated with the Rangers EBT, although I gather is still trying to obtain all the relevant information.
Wednesday evening’s programme and other media articles have now placed the affairs of Rangers in relation to payments to players under even greater scrutiny. The BBC and others now appear to have access to detailed documentary evidence to support the statements made.
If the allegations of “double-contracts” for players are true, and a breach of SFA and/or SPL rules is established, the eligibility of those players to have competed in domestic league and cup competitions will be called into question, in turn, the integrity of the football results achieved by using those players would by necessity also fall into question.
Any wrongdoing then established would have to be subject to fair and proportionate sanctions, including retrospectively, if appropriate.
However, at a higher level, in our opinion this whole affair is causing lasting damage to the reputation and integrity of Scottish football. We have, to date, supported both the SFA and the SPL in their efforts to deal with the situation. We appreciate fully that this has not been an easy task for either body. But the interests of fairness and Scottish football now demand that the SFA act decisively.
The initial inquiry should now be reconvened, or a new independent panel led by a judge or senior lawyer should be formed, to investigate and report upon the Rangers EBT issues and consider whether there has been any further breach of the Association’s rules, including those on disrepute.
The roles of individuals (past and present) subject to the jurisdiction of the Association should also be examined. This should take place as quickly as possible, irrespective of the SPL’s own investigations.
I look forward to hearing from you with confirmation of the SFA’s intentions.
A copy of this letter is being sent to the Chairman of the SPL [Ralph Topping], the Chief Executive of the SFL [David Longmuir] and to Uefa [Gianni Infantino] as these issues may be relevant in the context of Uefa Financial Fair Play, the eligibility of players participating in competitions organised by these bodies, and the wider responsibilities of these organisations to protect the integrity of the game.
Yours sincerely,
Peter Lawwell.”
The LNS supervisory panel goalposts were moved to avoid the ill-starrred DOS/VSS enterprise which proved Rangers’ guilt. The conclusions reached by Nimmo Smith would make the ruling junta in a Banana Republic blush. Lawwell called it right. All games featuring these illegally registered players should have resulted in 0-3 reverses. Seventeen titles should have been stripped.
When Hugh Adam maintained that Rangers wrongdoing went back to the mid-nineties, Stewart Regan promised to investigate. It was apparent that the SFA President was “heavily conflicted” in the matter of a Rangers investigation and would take no part. Did Ogilvie do the right thing and fall on his sword at this juncture. Of course not. He maintained that there was no wrongdoing. Sir Bribe & Lie had his back and concomitantly had Petrie by the short & curlies.
“UEFA licence Sir David? Consider it done.”
As soon as Sir Bribe & Lie throws his big swinging dick around the SFA drop their pants and bend over like hookers during Fleet Week. Hugh Adam is dismissed as a sentient old duffer and in the space of two weeks Regan has had his legs cut off at the knees. Sir Bribe & Lie had hobbled him.
This spectacular failure to act should result in a cri de couer to dismantle this odious organ.
In the final analysis Waddell poses a loaded question:
“What does anyone think Petrie actually stands for when it comes to the greater good of the game? The answer is no one would have the first clue because he refuses to engage. He’s a PR hermit who hates the media and barely acknowledges the existence of supporters.”
A cynic might contend that his are the prefect traits for an organisation steeped in obfuscation and where transparency is taboo. Unless he’s stopped he will ascend the throne in June 2019. At which point Scottish football, not to put too fine a point on it, will be fucked.
MiT
If I remember right, you accepted some time ago that ref Broonie you had been a pure rocket and 100% wrong, no?
;-)
a special place; religieuse or not, go there !
http://spiritdaily.org/blog/miracles/nuns-recovery-named-lourdes-70th-miracle
It’s easy this football management. Spend more everything will improve.
Was listening to the CQN podcast, the one with Frank McGarvey and John Fallon, who shared some real insights that few if any supporter would be aware of.
Frank told you warts and all about the way the players were treated and rewarded. Also mentioned Neilly Mochan’s influence on him, beneficial and positive. Others weren’t so fortunate.
The money, rewards to Celts back then was, as is the case now dwarfed by our southern neighbours. It has all sorts of influences.
McGarvey’s point was that when he arrived back up the road after Anfield “it allowed some of the other senior players to gain raises too”.
Yes it did, but only after we threw the league away. McGarvey’s introduction upset the dressing room to the extent real friction developed at the club, jealousy too and it culminated in a 5-1 defeat at Dens and Aberdeen winning the league.
Auldheid
I don’t believe Celtic as Scotland’s premier club will see automatic qualification again.
What I am looking for is a couple of defenders (Compper May well be one) who can come into the team and mitigate the howlers and poor defending we have become accustomed to this season, domestically. At the same time improve our chances of negotiating the qualifiers for the CL and help stop embarrassing defeats in the region of 7 and 8 goal defeats even against PSG’s and Barca’s. they should be one off scorelines when those teams click and not the norm as they are becoming.
Also last summer was the time to invest in a couple of decent defenders. Not last and next window as the deficiencies were there for all to see back then.
If the club are hoarding cash for possible future failures, as I read it expections not, to qualify and infrastructure changes then I doubt Brendan is going to stick around long to manage us under those circumstances.
How much do we need to hoard before it is enough to manage those two possible scenarios I.e on the park failure to qualify and infrastructure.
How will hoarding help reduce the risk of failure to qualify?
MWD
MiT
I had 2 dogs many moons ago……one I called “Woof” the other called “Bark”
Raised many an eyebrow I can tell you as I called for them while walking through the park………ah happy days…….
…..oh……there were times I thought they were actually calling on each other……..
Jazz…….great…
Fastshowcsc
mike in toronto on 12th February 2018 5:43 pm
MIT…name him Jock!!
HH
TC45
Auldheid/Anyone
Doncaster is the only adminstrator of football here who has said Sevco and Rangers is the same club, that decision of his would need binned if he is going to be the next leader of Scottish Football in my opinion, not least because it flies in the face of UEFA’s opinion given by Mr Traverso who said UEFA would not investigate the licence issue of 2011/12 as they are a New club/ Company in the eyes of UEFA, also the granting of titles not won by Sevco to Sevco is another red line for me.
Daryl Broadfoot pontificating on Shortbread. Part of the problem gets a voice. The topic being were Peter Lawwell’s comments at the weekend helpful ! The more I listen to this twat the more sympathy I have for PL .
Big Cup Winners, thanks for your post earlier about Frank McGarvey’s explanation about our terrible run in to the end of the 79/80 season.
I could never understand why we fell away like we did that season particularly as we had two home games against Aberdeen in the run . We lost them both.
I had thought Aberdeen’s better defensive organisation along with some of their players, on Ferguson’s orders, being in the ref’s face in every game , were the main factors in our losing the league that season.
One thing that really pees me off is players not doing their best due to issues they have with the manager or club when they should be playing as best as they can for the supporters.
Chelsea are in the above situation now for the scond time in three years, the players stopped playing for Mourinho now they are doing it with Costa .
Mrs GDT os out so I’m making myself a gourmet meal. Fried tatties left from yesterday, 3 slices of square and a fried egg. yum.