We had an interesting couple of announcements from the Scottish Premier League yesterday. Safe Standing areas, where instead of a seat, spectators have a crush barrier in front of them, is no longer against league rules. Before the introduction of standing areas council Health and Safety officials would need to give approval, as do the police. Council approval should be straightforward, crush barriers separating each row of spectators make the environment safe, but I’m less sure the police will be keen.
Policing huge stadiums with seated spectators is straightforward compared to policing standing fans. Disturbances tend to cause those involved to stand up, drawing immediate attention to the incident, while knowing exactly who is sitting on which seat would allow transgressors of the Scottish Governments new interpretation on making the sign of the cross to be pursued after the event.
League rules (note: not the law of the land) have also been updated to clarify the definition of “Unacceptable Conduct” as ‘using words, conduct or displaying any writing or other thing which indicates support for, or affiliation to, or celebration of, or opposition to an organisation proscribed in terms of the Terrorism Act 2000’.
New rules on how clubs are expected to tackle Unacceptable Conduct, with fresh procedures, if necessary, have also been introduced. Clubs are now required to bring occurrences of Unacceptable Conduct to the Match Commander. Failure to do so will bring the club into breach, should an incident subsequently be reported, by TV spectators, for example.
Clubs are also charged to “Take reasonably practical steps, including consultation with police, to identify those who engage in Unacceptable Conduct”, which creates obvious dissonance with the new Safe Standing Area policy.
We’ll see how these rules work out in practice but look out for an interesting consequence. Some Celtic fans are often cited as singing about the IRA (who are on the Proscribed list in their various historical formats) but they are not the supporters who sing most about that organisation(s). That ‘honour’ falls to Rangers fans, who are bound not to sing in “opposition to an organisation proscribed”.
The notion that Rangers (and let’s not forget Hearts) are compelled to identify and sanction any of their supporters caught “effin’ the IRA” in fear any TV viewer reports them is what keeps this country unique.
Box clever.
CQN Magazine, issue 5, will be out soon. After 4 issues online and shipping single copies from Magcloud in the US, we’ve ordered a print run locally. You can order now with credit/debit card or Paypal and buy direct from the UK for only £5 by clicking on the link below.
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Interesting as Irish Troops fought on both sides. The IRISH Brigade, in the service of France, fought on the Jacobite side in fact the famous ‘wild geese’ a monument to the Irish Piquets t stands in the battle field to this day. Facts They were the only Jacobite troops who held thier position and many Jacobite / highlanders owes their survival to Irish bravery. The Irish faced the English cavalry. “They stood were the Scots fled” – historical account. The few Irish captured were the only infantry to be considered POW by the English.
DeCanio….,
:o)
“The proposals also include enhanced parachute payments for clubs relegated from the SPL and a new method of distributing money aimed, in particular, at bridging the gap between the bottom of the top flight and the top of the Scottish Football League.”
lets spread less further, a common theme at the top at the moment eh
banks, corporations, whats next ?? :o)
monkey magic ???
Vic Ajax says:
20 December, 2011 at 23:20
30 is really 29.999999999999999999 recuring i hve been using that eqaution for .999999999999999999999 years.
Good evening all. Been busy reading back.
Good to see the 4 managers in the two EPL games tonight having good Celtic links.
Somehow I do not think we will see the hun style of play down there from the ex ranker managers, who are well suited in the SPL, aka the apron and mccoll.
Feel sorry for Steve Kean, I cannot see him lasting now.
Seen the highlights of the wolves/norwich game, could’nt help notice the Green away srtip of norwich, I would like to see a Celtic crest on a top like that. Simple design, reminicence of the umbro away strip we had in 79/80 season, only sported when we played morton. Remember wearing that kit 24/7.
HH
antrimkev says:
21 December, 2011 at 00:15
“rangers eye boyd”
“Clarke issues hands off warning to Celtic about Rhodes”
the Scottish media, they are a unique bunch
rangers are facing the end game. game over pretty soon….but they have been linked in the last week with Albrighton (jesus wept), the young lad Allen from the arabs (even though in the first paragraph of the headline west brom had put in a 400k bid ffs) and now Munster munch!!!!
while Celtic are basically told to f*ck off, even though they havent a great big tax bill hanging over them, your former players and directors have ring fenced money against you etc etc
can the media get any more embarassing in scotland?
Before i go to bed
there was a mention to hearts in this peace
the game where nothing happened to Lenny, nothing at all
SFA/SPL decided no case to answer etc etc (even though it was on SKY SPORTS)
but the media showed time and time the Celtic fans going daft after Lenny was attacked – and RIGHTLY SO
serious question from a guy that lives in N.Ireland and has been through this pash before
why do you let them away with it?
why not do something about it?
THE EXILED TIM says:
21 December, 2011 at 00:01
Like ah said m8y, ah can’t give up. Ah’ve no got a choice, it’s in the blood!
Ceaser67 says:
21 December, 2011 at 00:02
Still awake, still pissed and still got washing tae do (the missus thinks it builds character but she Mexican so whit does she know? “Eh? No honey, ah wisnae saying anything about ye………..ouch”)
hen1rik says:
21 December, 2011 at 00:09
The man always displays total strength even when he is wrong in his decisions – a true leader of us all!
oglach UFB says:
21 December, 2011 at 01:06
Love the math, Einstein couldnae do better, love ya m8y!!!
antrimkev says:
21 December, 2011 at 01:26
YES they can, this is only part 2 of a 18 part mythology
Ahm the only feck at me own bday party, ah well…..
oglach UFB says:
21 December, 2011 at 00:30
As usual ah love your adherence to historical fact! Keep it up sir!!!
Birthday Song
.
.
The Georgious Samaras Story Part XXXXVVII..Hail Hail Caesar..
BILLY MCNEILL CAN’T BELIEVE GEORGIOS SAMARAS COULD BE OLD FIRM HERO
Billy McNeill thinks Georgios Samaras could help Celtic dump rivals Rangers
CELTIC legend Billy McNeill last night tipped former Parkhead fall-guy Georgios Samaras to end a difficult year as a Hoops hero by helping them dump rivals Rangers.
The former captain and manager has had his own reservations about the striker but he declared: “He has been playing well recently and maybe he’ll be the one who can win next week’s Old Firm game.
“You can never be sure who will emerge from this fixture – some players have even been a bit frightened of it – but this might be the match for Samaras.”
McNeill has watched closely as the player has turned around what was a Greek tragedy into relative triumph recently and he knows a winning goal against Rangers would sign, sign and deliver once and for all his new status as fans’ favourite.
“There’s no doubt he has the ability to deliver although there have been times when I’ve not been sure he has utilised that to its full advantage,” went on McNeill.
You can never be sure who will emerge from this fixture – some players have even been a bit frightened of it – but this might be the match for Samaras
“But that ability has shone through more recently and he has had some fine performances.
“Maybe sometimes it’s a mental thing but, whatever, he has been playing well and that’s good going into an Old Firm fixture.”
McNeill will certainly watch closely when Samaras goes gunning for Gers a week today but he admitted there was a time when he didn’t hold out a lot of hope that the Greek would end up a Celtic star.
He laughed as he recounted a visit to Manchester City – another team he managed for three years in the mid 1980’s – just before Samaras pitched up at Parkhead.
“I went down south to a City game just as Celtic signed Georgios and I made a point of asking a few old friends down there about him.I asked them what they were sending up to us and all I got was a deathly silence in response!
“But I persevered and kept at them and eventually I got an answer. They told me he was hopeless!”
There have been times since when McNeill and every other Celtic fan has thought that a fairly apt summation of Samaras’ ability but a terrific recent run of form is gradually turning round supporters’ opinions.
Summa
oglach UFB says:
20 December, 2011 at 20:58
On the Boyd as good as Henke non debate
Lest we forget – AS IF
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=tp48V-HoRp8
======================================================
That makes me feel jealous of Bert Konterman.
He had the best seat in the house to view Henrik’s goal. ;-)
‘GG
tbdJapan is for the next 3 weeks tbdGlasgow
headed up to paradise yesterday for a spot of shopping & to see me wee laddies brick.
bumped into big Zaluska, his stunner missus & their wee boy buying styuff in the superstore.
what a genuine big guy. I asked him about traing @ barrowfield again. he said they only train there the day before a game. also that Boruc is coming over for the huns game.
i told him i was over from Japan and he wasn’t the slightest surprised. he says the players are in awe of the supporters – how faithful & far travelled.
haunds like shovels!
dont know about the weather coz it’s still pitch black ootside!
hail hail
tbdG
Good morning friends from a dry and getting milder East Kilbride.
Welcome to the shortest day for all those of us in the Northern Hemisphere.
Jobo
Jobo
Do you know why the longest day is in the summer?
Because heat makes things expand.
MWD teller of crap jokes.
thebhoydaveJAPAN says:
21 December, 2011 at 06:07
The missus dragged me to view a flat for sale a few months back while I was in Glasgow.
Second thing I saw as we entered was a gigantic (about 4 ft wide & 5 high) portrait of Pope JP2.
Next thing I saw was an almost as big poster of one Artur Boruc.
I then regained focus on the first thing I saw – i.e. the stunning & statuesque blonde missus of one Lukasz Zaluska, & moments later the man himself appeared in the hallway.
Turns out the flat is still Artur’s, the Zaluskas are living there until it gets sold.
I very much agree with you – Lukasz came across as a really good & genuine sort, warm personality, very friendly, very appreciative of the crowd support & he mentioned several times that the fans & atmosphere are the thing Artur misses most since he went to Italy.
He seemed philosophical (maybe being diplomatic) about not getting a first team run, but Mrs. Z was a wee bit less impressed and said so, with a wee sharp reference to Mr Lennon & his coaches’ “fairness”
The Big Guy himself however said that his focus was on working hard to gain favour & also to get another contract in summer – he seemed to definitely want to stay either way; I just hope that he isn’t “too nice” in the cut & thrust of today’s football when it comes to getting himself in first team contention. A very pleasant individual & made a genuine impression on me & the missus both. Loves talking ‘Tic; there is no doubting his affection for the club.
The flat? – I hardly noticed it once I got chatting with Big Z – I vaguely remember it was pretty damn nice – but in the end the missus ruled it out versus another.
meanwhile, HH from S. Korea & I hope you’re enjoying your trip home.
Morning all from gay Paree, meteo du jour: dull n drizzly à la Glesga (10Cmax)
Looking forward to Paul’s bumper Christmas edition of the CQN magazine (out today by all accounts).
JCGE
Morning,
Just reading Ki has picked up Korea’s player of the year. Considering how many good players they have in Europe just now, that is no mean feat.
HH
Morning all –
Wet, cold and miserable in Aberdeen, must be a weekday or the weekend.
Anyone heading to BBs on Sat lunchtime?
Ucryl
The Loyal Cardigan.
I take it he is waiting on the right job coming along, seeing as he is still unemployed.
We went to Italy and more than matched the Serie A leaders, but according to him we have it all to prove.
Pathetic Aunt Sally needing him to work the mind games for him…
HH
Morning Celts from a warm bed, dry and damp out there, did y’all know that today’s the winter solstice, shortest day and longest night.
V
ASonOfDan says:
21 December, 2011 at 08:04
—–
A fine achievement, considering ol’ Kim Jong-il has played a blinder… :-)
HH
Giggs
Jobo you got there first I see! Tomorrow ye can say the nights are fair drawing in :>)
V
Morning All from a chilly Deutschland, I see Ledley is back in training and Izzy’s return is great news. But is it too soon to risk him against the Forces of Evil?
Testament to how well big Dan has played of late, I not as confident about the 28th without him. I will admit have stated in the past that he should be nowhere near a Celtic team. I wish him a speedy recovery.
Bit of a selection headache. Personally I would like Wanyama in the midfield for the 28th. Then correct me if I’m wrong, maybe someone more in know can confirm, Loovens (who may or may not be fit), K Wilson, Rogue, along with Mulgrew are all left footers? I know it is not as bigger a deal for CB´s but I think back to Ibrox earlier this year Wilson´s clearance that fell Naismith….Is Wanyama left footed as well?
oglach UFB says:
20 December, 2011 at 23:34
A song the GB must sing – Irish Republicanism – The green The white and The orange
30,000 irish men died during the 1798 rebellion. The IRB, IRA, PIRA all are a product of Protestant rebellion.
General Wolfe Tone – Presbyterian
“To break the connection with England, the never-failing source of all our political evils and to assert the independence of my country- these were my objectives. To unite the whole people of Ireland, to abolish the memory of all past dissensions, and to substitute the common name of Irishman in place of the denominations of Protestant, Catholic and Dissenter – these were my means
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=o2M4usgh8Ss
share
……………
How about The Celtic Song instead?
You know a Football song to support a Football Club!
thebhoydaveJAPAN says:
21 December, 2011 at 06:07
tbdJapan is for the next 3 weeks tbdGlasgow
also that Boruc is coming over for the huns game.
hail hail
tbdG
share
……………..
Interesting! He is free to sign a Bosman 3 days later!
Offttt! Apologies for all the typos in my post. Late one last night!
The irony is I´m listening to bbc 6 music and sheaun keavey´s pendants corner!
Ghuys,
you may have heard about the frenzy on Fashist-Fashist yesterday, “Big Craigy is taking this into his own hands and doing a deal at £5m with the top Brothers at HMRC London by-passing these Timmy Bs in Glasgow”?!!
Bull! – RTC has it spot on –
“One problem: Mr. Whyte is expressly prohibited from negotiating the Big Tax Case directly with HMRC. This privilege is reserved for Rangers’ former owner, Murray Holdings Limited- who have their own less serious problems with EBTs and who see a tactical benefit for themselves in keeping the cases together”.
AND
“The big men in London were none too receptive when they were approached by Rangers’ representative in January of this year with an offer to settle for £11 million. We are supposed to believe that they will now settle for £5 million once Whyte subjects them to the negotiating prowess that saw Whyte land David Goodwillie over the summer for a pittance?
In a week where the head of HMRC has been excoriated by the parliamentary public accounts committee for doing sweetheart deals with tax delinquents, what seems more likely: that a deal is at hand or that a PR charm offensive with the goal of raising the flagging morale of Rangers fans is underway”?
They’ll be 12 points behind when the verdict is announced in March – Whyte will then pull the trigger, blame Murray and that’ll be the end of Rankers until the Newco is established.
Anyhoo – big, big game on Saturday. Win well and we’re going into the 28th on 8 wins on the trot with confidence up.
I hope that all of CQN has a fantastic Christmas
Hail! Hail!
DavieL
Looks like Derry City manager,Stephen Kenny is taking the Shamrock Rovers job,and a few players with him..
Walter Smith: Jelavic departure would be too great a hurdle for Rangers to overcome
Michael Grant
Chief football writer
RANGERS would have little hope of winning a fourth consecutive Clydesdale Bank Premier League title if they sell Nikica Jelavic next month, according to former manager Walter Smith.
Only if the entire transfer sale regardless of any sell on fee that Rapid Vienna may be due was made immediately available to current manager Ally McCoist for an instant replacement could selling Jelavic be tolerable in a football sense, said Smith, but there would be little prospect of that in the club’s current financial condition. Whether Smith was voicing his own opinion or trying desperately to influence fiscal matters on behalf of Ally Mc Coist or his former Boss and owner of Rangers Sir David Murray can only be speculated upon at this stage.
Losing Jelavic next month is the big fear for many Rangers supporters who seem to be desperately unaware of the clubs perilous financial situation. The Croat has scored 14 times so far during this campaign having also weighed in with 19 last season, which was his first in Scotland since joining from Rapid Vienna for £4m. Queens Park Rangers, Liverpool, Everton, West Bromwich Albion, Newcastle, Paris St. Germain, Sunderland etc. have all been credited with an interest in taking him from Ibrox while Leicester City tabled a £7.5m bid in the summer transfer window and £9.5m by an undisclosed club by the Scottish media who understandably are desperate to help the stricken ailing Scottish giants in any way they possibly can.
The remote possibility of losing their tax dispute with Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs, which could result in a crippling bill of up to £49m, leaves the Rangers owner Craig Whyte in a weak bargaining position if any English or foreign club makes a major bid for Jelavic next month. However, Smith, who won back-to-back league titles for Rangers despite losing Kris Boyd and Kenny Miller in consecutive transfer windows, said Jelavic’s departure would be too great a hurdle to overcome for a team trying to win the league and he is of course normally right.
“Previously, we lost players like Kenny Miller in January but I don’t think Rangers are in a position where they can afford to lose Jelavic this January. We didn’t want to lose Kenny [to Bursaspor in January 2011] and it was a big disappointment to us when we lost him, but we felt at least we had Jelavic and others like Steven Naismith and Kyle Lafferty who could come in.
“We felt we had cover for that. I don’t think Rangers are in a position now, regardless of the amount of money, to transfer Jelavic and hope to go on and win the championship. That would be an extremely difficult situation for them.”
“What influence holding on to Jelavic would exert on the tax case I am not in a position to say. I am not very good with money as Ethel and some Rangers fans might tell you” the wily old fox joked at a packed press conference.
Only in the highly unlikely event of Whyte being able to pass all of the transfer fee on to McCoist could Rangers cope with losing Jelavic, he said. “If Rangers did lose him, as long as the entire fee went back towards getting someone of a very similar standard, then you would say they could come back from that. Is he capable of making an impact in the English Premier League for one of the many clubs that are undoubtedly chasing his signature? He’s a good player and he would do well wherever he goes. But from a Rangers point of view, I wouldn’t want him to go.”
Meanwhile, Smith said Rangers would inevitably think about making a move for Boyd who has terminated his contract with Turkish club Eskisehirspor after only five months, in which he played only 76 minutes of football and claimed he did not receive any of his monthly salaries.
“I’m sure if he is available for a snip he’ll come into their thoughts,” said Smith when asked if he thought Rangers would consider taking him back. “He scored an awful lot of goals and was a good player for Rangers over the years. He left because he was offered a better deal in England at the time and then again in Turkey. He’d be an obvious one to look at.”
New from RTC.
MWD
MWD the coefficient of linear expansion disnae affect the winter solstice, next Yule (in a Christmas kinda way) be blethering on about Mintys super duper 800million casino/ hotel complex at ibORCS.
V
MWD
Can’t access it, what does it say?
kjambhoy – you need to watch the players a bit more carefully. Mulgrew is left footed, the others are all very right footed including big Dan.
Artur Boruc at the game on 28th?
I also saw in the interview that Aiden McGeady will be at the game too.
Re. Jelavic transfer.
I’m pretty sure that Rangers still owe last 500 000 Euros to Rapid Vienna. Due date is August 2012.
The question is if they are alowed to sell the player before full payment is completed?
Maybe before they sell him in January must pay 500 000 Euros.
Greenjedi
New from RTC.
Rangers’ Negotiations With HMRC: The Truth Is In There
For several months, it must have been difficult for Craig Whyte’s spin doctor to catch his breath. It seemed that Whyte, through Rangers or one of his other highly profitable businesses, was in court for failing to pay debts to some supplier or an ex-employee, and was having large sums of cash arrested by the courts. The hits kept coming: the BBC broadcast a documentary alleging that Craig Whyte acted as a director while disqualified. The BBC show also made claims that Mr. Whyte was involved in lots of financial fast foot-work. One scheme seemed to involve pocketing cash that was supposed to be destined for the tax man. Such were the frequency and magnitude of the accusations against Mr. Whyte that a strange thing happened- it got boring! ”Craig Whyte in court over debt” had, by last week, become the least interesting headline you could imagine. Even the most upright Rangers fan developed a tolerance for news that would have shocked had Sir David Murray been in the same position.
When bad news is coming thick and fast, the best PR men would advise to just take cover until the shelling stops. This week has seen Whyte’s men emerge from their bunker to start the counter-offensive. A rumour of a negotiated solution to the Big Tax Case emerged on the Follow Follow fanzine website (from a low post count little-known participant). Darrell King then “confirmed” the story on Radio Clyde last night. Rangers messageboards have since gone into a frenzy of exaltation. Salvation is at hand!
As this blog has said a few times, to a drowning man even the smallest straw is worth grasping. It is with this understanding of the need to have hope that the mendacious arts of the PR firm have been deployed in Rangers’ support once again. Journalists of low IQ and/or a willingness to prostrate themselves for the cause are very helpful in these exercises.
The basic subtext being spread is that Mr. Whyte has grown weary of trying to negotiate with the sectarian pygmies in the Scottish offices of HMRC and he is heading to face the main men in London. A deal that would solve Rangers’ massive tax problems for the paltry sum of £5 million (or some other manageable amount) is on the cards. ”Ha! That will silence that Rangerstaxcase nutter!”
One problem: Mr. Whyte is expressly prohibited from negotiating the Big Tax Case directly with HMRC. This privilege is reserved for Rangers’ former owner, Murray Holdings Limited- who have their own less serious problems with EBTs and who presumably see a tactical benefit for themselves in keeping the cases together.
Who says Whyte cannot negotiate with HMRC? Well, Craig Whyte and Michael Scott McGill (representing Murray Holdings Limited) agreed this when they signed the Share Purchase Agreement that delivered Rangers into the hands of Whyte. Don’t believe me? Look at this extract from the document below:
Maybe Mr. Whyte arranged for Sir David Murray to join him in London to participate in discussions? Maybe Mike McGill has some helpful advice that could help include Rangers’ mounting unpaid PAYE, NIC, and VAT remittances in the settlement? Or maybe Mr. Whyte does not mind having relative strangers sit in on some rather personal discussions?
The big men in London were none too receptive when they were approached by Rangers’ representative in January of this year with an offer to settle for £11 million. We are supposed to believe that they will now settle for £5 million once Whyte subjects them to the negotiating prowess that saw Rangers land David Goodwillie over the summer for a pittance?
In a week where the head of HMRC has been excoriated by the parliamentary public accounts committee for doing sweetheart deals with tax delinquents, what seems more likely: that a deal is at hand or that a PR charm offensive with the goal of raising the flagging morale of Rangers fans is underway?
cheers wmd