You will note the most right-winged, left-wing government in history was yesterday resisting attempts to repeal the Offensive Behaviour Act. The Act was sheer populist electioneering by Alex Salmond, who decided after watching several Rangers players dismissed at the end of a game at Celtic Park that something should be done about the 60,000 spectators who attended the game, and its aftermath, left the stadium in an orderly manner.
Football was well covered by policing and the existing legal framework, but Christine Graham MSP hoped to “equalise” non-criminal behaviour at football, specifically by Celtic fans, with criminal behaviour. It was the most uber-right-winged, thought-police, actual-police-backed policy on these shores in decades. Political capital was poured into policing this law, as was significant financial capital.
All other political parties in the Scottish Parliament oppose the Act, due to its fundamental flaws, so on the face of it, yesterday’s initiative by James Kelly MSP, to repeal the Act has a chance, but no more than that.
The Scottish Greens, who have historically opposed the Act, are prevaricating. They are in a position to vote through SNP policy, so hold leverage over the government.
Meanwhile, police numbers in Scotland have dropped to their lowest levels since 2010 and Police Scotland can no longer afford to man traffic signals when tens of thousands of fans leave football grounds. In 2016, we can’t afford a police officer to oversee traffic signals to allow vast volumes of traffic to proceed in the same direction. In Scotland!
We must be the only country in the developed world who can’t afford traffic-signal policing for major events (if you hear someone yelling this on London Road post-game it’ll probably be me, I’ve been known to go on about it).
You are being taken for granted. Don’t be. You can participate in the Proposed Football Act (Repeal) (Scotland) Bill by letting your views be known here.
Scott Brown did well to acknowledge that Aberdeen and Hearts are our most likely challengers this season. The notion that a newly promoted team will come close to Celtic next season is a fantasy.
The Telegraph today run an article on pressure from Spain and Italy to revamp the Champions League. There is a real danger that the already wealthy large leagues will look to further secure their positions by tipping Europe’s top competition in their numerical favour. We should be OK while the current TV deal is in place but all bets are off next time.
The root cause of the demand for change is the pre-eminence of the English and Welsh Premier League cartel, which is slowly colonising not just Scotland, but Spain, Italy and elsewhere too.
The football model is broken pretty much everywhere. Change will happen; let’s hope it’s benign when it comes, as it threatens to finish the game outside of the “top five leagues”. Your clubs will be impoverished and irrelevant, your infrastructure will be denied investment, even the trickle-down of resources to kids football will mean your children are disadvantaged.
Bear that in mind when you cheer Barca and Real Madrid.
I think we’re going to have fun with this Shitov character tomorrow, who thinks there’s nothing new to see about Celtic Park, but needs to dry his eyes because Leigh DIDN’T punch him!
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This isn’t a bad shout :)))
http://celtsarehere.com/leighwandowski/
The Battered Bunnet on 3rd August 2016 10:33 am
What about Le Griffiths?
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I’m afraid that’s Gallic, not Latino; it makes worth only £10M. :>)
Leionel Griffessi ?
Have just completed the consultation document, and would urge others to do so.
El Griffiths?
Ross McCormack to Villa circa £14m…they will be needing some cash in to help cover that :)
So we start life off in the SPL away to the team that finished 3rd last year (Hearts), 4th away (St Johnstone) and 2nd home (Aberdeen) with Thistle game postponed. Whereas, the Galacticos of Sevco start off life at home to 10th (Hamilton), away to 8th (Dundee), home to 5th (Motherwell) and away to 11th (Kilmarnock). Think blazers at Hampden don’t like us too much and want to give the debutants to the SPL an easy start? No need to panic if we have a slow start in the SPL, Tynescastle at the weekend is a tough start for BR.
Looking forward to the game tonight and hoping for a good performance as we will need it. Positives – big crowd, if we don’t concede we are through, Griffiths has got a few goals recently and Paddy Roberts will have their LB on toast. Why am I nervous?…I always bloody am
A good Wee read wi yir breaky.
http://etims.net/?p=9481
beffitting his prowess and movement The Greek
Lee Griffin
whits malaka in Kazak
GEORDIEMUNRO
That would be brilliant,mate. Gimme a minute til I check with her and I’ll mail you.
HH guid Tim and guid man!
The Battered Bunnet on 3rd August 2016 10:43 am
El Griffiths?
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Now yer talking! Maybe even El Griffalo?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HG0EUSkAHq0
KTF
KJam on 3rd August 2016 10:46 am
I get what you are saying but we’ll need to play these tough games at some point.
It will be more fun to watch the zombies get their hopes up before the invertible fall!
Schadenfreude CSC
McCormack must be minted just from signing-on fees and his mandatory 5% of the fee as he has never asked for a transfer.
Fair play to him,he’s a journeyman striker,found his level,and is much in demand there.
GEORDIEMUNRO
Just mailed you from my hotmail addy,subject CQN
BOBBY MURDOCH’S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS on 3rd August 2016 10:55 am
McCormack must be minted just from signing-on fees and his mandatory 5% of the fee as he has never asked for a transfer.
Fair play to him,he’s a journeyman striker,found his level,and is much in demand there.
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He has (astonishingly) racked up close on £25M in transfer fees! Bang average in my opinion and it shows the over-the-top spending in England. Wisnae good enough for RFC (IL) and has played for such prestigious clubs as Motherwell, Doncaster, Cardiff, Leeds and Fulham. Slightly better than 1 goal in 3 games ration, but NEVER a £14M player. El Griffalo must now be worth about £25M FFS!
PETROLHEAD
To be fair,he’s scored about every two and a half games in England’s second tier. Not quite twenty a season but consistent for eight years.
Still light years away fae El Gee. I know who I’d rather have in the team,and we’ve got him.
HELP NEEDED !!! Am in Cincinatti, on a road trip headed for Indianapolis / Lafayyette Indiana today – anyone know anywhere within a few hours where I could go to catch the game ?? Tried searching for CSC’s but only option appeared to be Chicago and we won’t be going that far. Appreciate any help / advice !!
That was a joy towpath last night. Passion, energy and skill from our under 20’s.
I’d be delighted to watch them in our first team en-masse this season and really build for the future.
We have the current evidence at Left back, just how good our kids are.
Ligor Griffov ?
Towpath = to watch
Was RoSs Mcormack either a Season tkt holder at Celtic park
or played for bhoys club
I know someone will say Ginger winger who went to Cardiff
(name escapes me just now )but thought Ross was a good ghuy
also.
Just about to start making plans for the game!
South side and taxi
Town and walk
Kerrydale for 5
Being off work the day of a game is great.
I see big Toure is a talker. That’s a good idea for a defender!
BIG-CUP-WINNERS on 3rd August 2016 11:20 am
Towpath = to watch
The joy towpath sounds more exotic ;-)
Astana are a big physical side and it was noticeable in the in the away game how on many occasions Celtic players were being shunted off the ball when in posession. Celtic have to play this game for ninety minutes plus and not turn off after going into a comfortable lead as happened in Europe last season in a few matches.
We have all noticed that Brendan has the team playing a quicker more incisive brand of passing football – heck we almost scored in the first minute against Barca. Celtic can get the early scores on the big Parkhead grassy bowling green but keep it going and no relaxing lads, please.
Bobby,
Replied.
Could you reply to my mails with a new email each time please neebs?
I’m not getting to read replies on that stoopid account. I can see them but can’t open them.
Grrrr csc
JJ giving PL a day aff.
https://johnjamessite.com/2016/08/03/kings-golden-parachute/
@ timaloy29 on 3rd August 2016 10:53 am
I hear you.
It probably goes with out saying we would be given a tough start and them an easy one.
I am looking forward to Hearts at the weekend. Hopefully going there on the back of a good result tonight. Work is a nightmare, nervous energy and distracted….
GEORDIEMUNRO
Replied,bud. More than my sister has!
Well done Dundalk.
Was at the game last night great crowd and a fantastic display in the second half.
leaving Dublin soon to go home for the game, if we show the same attitude as the players on show last night
It should be an easy night for the Celts same score for me will do 3-0.
HH
Last season in the Championship, Ross McCormack scored a goal for every 192 minutes of playing time, 21 goals in all. Fulham have accepted an offer from Villa of £12M for him according to today’s accounts. He signed for Fulham for £11M 2 years ago.
Top scorer per minutes of game time in that league was Andre Gray of promoted Burnley with one goal per 144 minutes, and 25 in the season. Burnley have quoted Sunderland £30M for him, having signed him for £10M (inc £3.5M add ons) from Brentford last year.
Moussa Dembele scored every 224 minutes, with 15 for the season. Celtic signed him on a free, plus training compo. Wouldn’t like to be a Fulham fan this morning, given Villa’s bid for McCormack, it looks as though they’ve just lost their two top strikers.
Gary Hooper got one every 177 minutes, with 13 goals for the season. Assume he was injured for much of the season?
Jordan Rhodes, £11M (inc add ons) from Blackburn to Middlesbrough in January, managed a goal every 209 minutes, 16 in total, while Daryl Murphy managed one every 266 mins, and Johnny Russell one every 325 minutes, both with 10 goals each.
Dunno quite what the conclusion to all that is, other than the absurd price of 2nd tier strikers in England, while Celtic seem to have won a watch gettng Dembele for hee haw.
Bobby,
Lol. I’ve text a second mate now too. First one is pretending to be busy!!
Whit are they like?? :)
HH
Team for tonight…
Barring injuries and players outstanding or stinking in training…
Same as last week.
HH
I’m sure Dembele has played longer than 224 mins for us by now!
Seriously hope he gets one tonight to get him off the mark, might put wee wager on it too.
GEORDIEMUNRO
Mailed you again,bud.
HH
Tommie 20- re Jinkys,Michael has Celtic TV
Tony Donnelly 67,
Yep, Club 1872, a scheme Bernie Madoff would have been proud of :).
BMCUWPS,
There won’t be much happening in Dundalk today, the pubs will be packed. A great night for Irish soccer, a play off tie for us in Dublin would be fantastic but Dundalk are a very good side. Hopefully we can move the ball quickly tonight and play at pace and none of this painfully slow stuff.
Lets hope for 3-0 tonight:)
new article posted.
I guess we’ll see now who are the people :))
http://videocelts.com/2016/08/blogs/latest-news/ashley-taunts-king-as-sports-direct-prepare-to-sell-the-jerseys/