Tomorrow Celtic have a Scottish Cup tie away to Peterhead, currently second bottom of the Third Division. Peterhead have recorded their only two home wins of the season in the last two weeks, so Celtic’s scouts will have seen them at their best, but the break from league action will allow Neil Lennon to rest players who have been carrying niggling injuries, including James Forrest, whose terrific form could be jeopardised by the stresses of carrying such a prominent responsibility for Celtic.
The game in Peterhead will also give fringe players an opportunity to shine. I suspect Paddy McCourt is still carrying the can for hitting the post against St Johnstone in August, the day it all started to go wrong. We’ve missed him. Emilio Izaguirre and Kelvin Wilson would also benefit from 90 minutes football as the squad reassembles itself, although the game might come too soon for Kris Commons.
News that Beram Kayal’s injury is likely to keep him out of action for four months was sickening. This is the third serious injury Beram has suffered since joining Celtic 18 months ago. I read a bit about grade 3 eversion ankle sprains yesterday. He’ll need the best treatment and recuperation in the days and months to come.
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808 Comments- Pages:
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bournesouprecipe says:
7 January, 2012 at 15:01
Hmmm….. had forgotten about Paddy hitting the post in that game, you hadn’t or Neil Lennon’s acidic criticism, about a Paddy having a ‘whole goal mouth to hit’. Didn’t put that single miss down to why, he features in the side so seldomly.
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As much as i admire NL he has an annoying habit of saying stupid things about certain players while being interviewed after a game.
Kittoch
Indeed
With Cowdenbeath leading Hibs, the SC is outstripping its over hyped English counterpart
The Battered Bunnet says:
7 January, 2012 at 13:01
The honorable an ethical thing to do would be to allow an application from Newco to be processed that if agreed would let them work their way up the divisions starting with a clean bill of health.
However if a Newco were to start off in the SPL playing at Ibrox in light blue they might be Newco to HMRC and the legal world, but in the eyes of the football supporter they will still be Oldco, still dodging their taxes by name change with no sign that their dodgy nature had changed. Indeed quite the reverse with all the evidence pointing to their incorrigiblity.
This perception is the reality lense through which they would be viewed by supporters and the only way that it could change would be for Newco to offer some indication of contrition, like accepting that Oldco had won titles by doubtful financial means, that they had misused the rules when it gave them advantage and that they fully supported the change agenda on referees, licensing and fit ownership to prevent it happening again.
They could also change the perception of being incorrigible by agreeing that the titles won from 2000 were the result of their financial chicanery and recommend to the SPL/SFA that they be removed from Oldco’s records. These “sanctions” need not be imposed but volunteered by an SPL NewCo. Given that as a Newco they could not play in Europe for three seasons this might take away the need for a points penalty (as long as no SPL team finishing below them were not denied access to Europe as a result) as well as encouraging them to operate sustainably.
There is a pound of flesh to be extracted in return for any admission to the SPL and every ounce needs to be given up.
The underlying problem with this suggestion is an admittance by Rangers and all who support them of wrong doing, something they appear mentally incapable of doing.
Given the choice of contrition or starting again fron D3 , I think they would choose the latter and rally around a false sense of victimhood rather than be contrite, but hard choices must be presented to them so that they do not miss a metanoia opportunity.
The use of the term metanoia stirred my memory of an article on The Famine Song. Funny enough it was called The Integrity Famine. Anyhoo here is the relevant extract that prompts the thought what kind of club would a Rangers Newco want/need to be to survive?
From The Integrity Famine.
Just exactly who are Rangers today in 2009 and what do they stand for?
As Celtic supporters we have our own often biased and cynical views but it is not beyond us to seriously wonder if Rangers could ever come up with a statement about themselves, about who they are and what they stand for that would not suffer greatly when compared to Celtic’s?
Celtic support would agree by and large (because we like the odd tiff amongst ourselves) with Dr Reid that we are no where near the same as Rangers at this point in time in terms of attitude and behaviour to our Rangers counterparts. However perhaps in our very best of charitable moments, because charity is after all the very essence of Celtic is it not, we might hope to see the tradition that produced TFS replaced with a tradition like our own that is for an ideal that is good rather than Rangers tradition whose only raison d’etre appears to be against something – Celtic and their support.
Perhaps if Rangers could define or redefine themselves in the same positive charitable (in every sense of the word) terms, as Celtic can, in terms that have helped form the Celtic attitude, that for all our human failings still earns us plaudits and respect around the world, then Rangers might create a more solid foundation to move onwards and upwards from?
This is an extremely big ask, self examination and taking responsibility for what we have made of ourselves is no easy task, especially if that sense of self has an element of co dependence, but there are many decent Rangers supporters who do not define themselves in comparison to us and could surely give Rangers a set of more positive aims that reflect the best in them, rather than let the worst amongst them continue to hold sway.
Perhaps what Rangers really need from all of Scottish society is encouragement to undergo a heart change – a metanoia, rather than condemnation and punishment? Both these might achieve the short term goal of ending the singing of TFS and most Celtic fans would take that for a while. But it would only be for a while. It would do nothing to drain the swamp in which TFS was conceived and where other similar creepy crawlies are hidden just waiting to be hatched.
Folly folly – I leave the Awe Nawing to Awe Naw, in the main.
JF – the rule explicitly states that the proceeds from the sale of player registrations will be applied in the first instance to football creditors, and thereafter, the balance remitted to the Insolvency Practitioner responsible for liquidating the club.
In essence, football creditors, Eg Rapid Vienna if there is a debt o/s for Jelavic, get their money preferentially. It puts HMRC at a disadvantage, and ultimately would likely motivate them to use all available recovery means.
I agree with you on the issue of pre-packing the assets though. It cannot be achieved with the player registrations, without a change in the rules quoted above. Oldco ceases to be a member, the registrations of its players belong to the SFA, and any sale proceeds will only be returned to the Oldco Liquidator once football debts have been settled. Newco would require to ‘buy’ the registrations from the SFA. The Liquidator would have a legal obligation to all other creditors to ensure fair market value was achieved. In short, the SFA couldn’t simply assign the Registrations to Newco for a peppercorn.
Interesting.
Gordon_J backing Neil Lennon:
I’d love to be able to answer that question, but I am having some difficulty finding the SFA Regulation relating to it.
They have ammended all the information on their website. On the surface it looks like a formatting change, but I can’t be sure. FYI the date of the changes was 28 December last year; about 10 days ago.
I am labouring not to be suspicious.
Could be a lot of fun if the SFA ends up with every Rangers player’s registration to sell on.
“Now what am I bid for Kirk Broadfoot? Can I start the bidding at £1?”
James Forrest,
I wasn’t suspicioulsy challenging you – just interested to read what the regulations say!
Auldheid:
Something else we need to be wary of is any points deduction which is painted as punishment.
With the news that the contracts of their players will be null and void, and thereby NewCo Rangers would not have a first team squad worthy of the name, a points deduction is no punishment at all, particularly as they will not be eligible for Europe for three years.
Let me repeat … with the European regulation, a points deduction is moot. It is not enough. Not by a distance.
Gordon_J backing Neil Lennon says:
Lol mate I meant that I am the one trying not to be suspicious. You used to be able to find this stuff easily, and I cannot vouch for changes which might have been made which led to the alterations in presentation.
Ostensibily, it is to make it easier for people to find the information they need. Yet, the piece I am looking for is harder to find.
Strike what I said. I AM suspicious.
Palacio67 at 14:33
Anyone like me still waiting on the glossy CQN mag.
Yep, still waiting. Ordered the first 2 from the site in America and they got here quicker.
Paul, do you have any idea on timescales for the printed magazine?
Mort
James Forrest
you have mail
HH
M
Lionroars67 14.46
Petition signed bud thank you for link.
HAIL HAIL
James Forrest at 15:21
Wouldn’t it be funny if the SFA/SPL did all they could to ensure Rangers NewCo remained in the top flight with a points deduction as a punishment only to see their reduced squad get relegated due to the points deduction?
Mort
Oglach – you’ve broke the blog for me with yer big “separating lines” (what you typed not what yer getting ready in the house, Charlie)
Please refrain mate, makes the blog almost impossible to read on iPad
Hh
Bjmac
Ah, we’re good again!
Palacio67 take a chill pill it’s coming, just as sure as the the league flag and the tax mhan.
Ps I was waiting for Pat to drop it through innaw :>)
Vinny
blog fixed -cheers
ßjmac ♥ Kano 1000 °¿° says:
7 January, 2012 at 15:27
Noted and apologies
If Juve and Milan can get stripped of titles and dropped down division, so must clubs like the huns. They are no better than Hoeneker’s Dynamo Berlin or Ceaucescu’s Steaua in terms of level playing field.
Imagine how good it would feel for all those clubs cheated out of trophies to finally get what they deserved at the expense of the cheats? Magic. Lots of five star tattoos would require the laser treatment!
Palacio / mort
I to am awaiting aforementioned mag, at the time of ordering it was made clear, the printed version would have an a extra few pages reviewing the game against our Glasgow rivals, known as the Huns and delivery would be mid Jan.
Paul67- were you born in Motherwell? Are you a self proclaimed billionaire? Just asking, like!
hh
bjmac
2-1 Hibs
Oglach
No apology need mate, you won’t even know its happened if your using a big screen.
hh
bjmac
macanbheatha says:
7 January, 2012 at 13:02
Ard Mhaca ,An bhfuil tú ann ?
I see Sky news have taken to calling the Irish premiership The “Northern Irish” Premiership.
Now we know for sure there’s someone from the lodge (not Turf )working there
Cad a síleann tú ?
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
Forget The Rangers Tax issues – this is the real endgame approaching!
Very soon SSN will be calling it “The North of Ireland Premiership.”.
At that point Sinn Fein’s job will be complete. :)
Beidh ar la an.
Adh mor.
53
saltires en sevilla:
Which email address mate?
James F
I got the yahoo one with ‘p’ from bjmac (could nit find Paul67 addy)
HH
M
James Forrest is Lennon says:
7 January, 2012 at 14:43
Another cracking post matey.
I have a horrible feeling they will get away with this unless we as a support act now.
Our club have been running a tight ship for years and for them to cheat their way to titles and to champions league money is fraud.
The SFA have always favoured them and the other thing that keeps nagging away at me is the european licence that philmac keeps going on about, something stinks in this country when it comes to them and it ain’t right.
All we as fans want in this country is to be treated fairly and it ain’t happening.
The media will plead very shortly we need a strong rangers and celtic but why should we help them, they have never helped us.
If they scumbags in the media think they can plead to us to help them they can f…off because what has the media ever done for us in this country..
I will reiterate once again, we as fans must act now before it’s to late because we as fans can change scottish football for years to come if we select the correct path.
saltires:
Can you re-send it mate?
jfknut1@yahoo.co.uk … Hell, the bloody thing is in the magazine lol.
I see it was mentioned on SSN that this could be Doncaster City last game.Could Celtic not take them over and use it for our fringe players as well as our under19s.Slan
Auldheid
I support your call to encourage a change of heart and mind. I entirely oppose the suggestion that this can be achieved by bartering former successes for future status.
A Football Club is the creation of a group of like minded people, working together to put a team on a pitch in a competitive environment. I have a peripheral involvement with the project at East Kilbride FC, where quite breathtaking plans are being actioned to create a senior football team in the town from a youth development programme over a 10 year period.
Provided those who are implementing the plan can generate the support for it locally, there will be a real club with a valid request for a place in senior football.
If there are a group of like minded folk with the wherewhital and the commitment to create a new club reflecting the tradition that was Rangers, they are entirely free to do so. To commit, to invest, to venture into the world of professional football. I fully encourage them. Go for it.
What they have no right to do is to parachute into the top division of professional football in this country simply on account of the tradition and support of the club they propose to replicate.
That place must be earned. Any deal, even as humiliating as the one you suggest, at a stroke jeopardises the future of the game in this country by replacing the virtue of sporting meritocracy with the expedience of marketing.
Rangers are about to visit a +£100 Million Bankruptcy on Scottish football and Scottish commerce. This is the natural consequence of misappropriating money in the pursuit of football success over many years.
Are we to accept in any circumstances that the painful consequences of these disreputable practices can ever be ameliorated by more disreputable practice?
The Legal Personality that is The Rangers Football Club plc, formerly Limited, established on 27/05/1899, will cease to exist shortly. It will be dissolved. It will never again function or trade. Its Death Certificate will be recorded on the Register of Companies.
The tradition of the club, the history and the supporters will remain, as most likely will the stadium. If the supporters want to re-create what was, they should of course be encouraged.
I look forward to them playing EK FC at Langlands Stadium in a couple of years.
Fanad
is it not Darlington?
HT
the auld yin is going up tomorrow, keep an eye on him for me..
oglach
Yeh, it’s still early in Neil’s learning loop, a huge curve which includes every word he utters, being dissected by the vast Celtic masses.
Considering what he has gone through personally, the press are lucky to get civility let alone his incisive thoughts.
Early rounds of the Scottish cup are almost as bad as international weeks.
Romance of the cup, my aunt Zelda, who, if she even existed, would use said cup as a spittoon, before launching into a disturbing tirade about how those wee clubs can shove their pie and bovrils up their Auch & Leck.
As an aside, if Richard Gordon and the seven dwarves find the cup so exciting, how come they spend the rest of the year bemoaning the state of Scottish football? The Scottish Cup – the football equivalent of a dewy eyed child singing a song about doves to an audience of grandparents.
Doveskelper XI:
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Forster :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Matthews ::::::::: Rogne ::::::::::: Mulgrew ::::::::: Ledley
Cha ::::::::::::::: Brown ::::::::::: Wanyama :::::::::::: Ki
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: McCourt ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Samaras :::::::::::::::::::::::::::
lionroars67 says:
7 January, 2012 at 14:46
Signed..
re post
Ok another daft suggestion. If our board are indeed complicit in the automatic reinstatement of the reincarnation of the H*Ns to the SPL and if the rest of the SPL go along with it what about threating that the entire Celtic support will refuse to attend domestic away fixtures – the infamous boycott in other words – quite an apt term given its historical context. If it is all about money let’s see how the TV companies react to televising games with no atmosphere. More importantly I believe a continued boycott would have a serious financial impact on other SPL clubs. Didn’t we fill Dunfermline’s ground last week? Attendances in the SPL are at an all-time low a mere 1600 people attended a game between St Johnston and Aberdeen a few weeks back – that is terrible even if one factors in an early kick off. I would also suggest that along with the boycott that all Celtic supporters cancel subscriptions to Sky / ESPN etc.
Together we are strong.
Blantyretim 15.46
Of course you are correct.Spot the deliberate mistake,ha ha.Slan
The Battered Bunnet says:
7 January, 2012 at 15:11
Vewy intwesting.
What about an online petition open to fans of all clubs to be sent to the SFA/SPL/SFL & the board of every club in Scotland.
Telling them that we will not accept, help pay,or be party to any deal that paves the way for a club that has cheated and fraudulently conducted their business at the expense of every other club in the land to be allowed back into any league without the severest of punishment that befits the crimes commited.
It is not only us that are beig cheated but every fan of every club in Scotland by the Wrong uns actions.
one Like the askthesfa petition about the granting of a uefa licence to them but without a comments section that would be hi-jacked by them. Sorry if this sounds pointless just thinking out loud near a key board
HAIL HAIL