People hear what they want to hear. When Neil Lennon was asked at a media conference if he was able to spend £6m on one player, as he was last year, he gave the honest answer; “Yes”. He was able to make this type of signing, but that’s not to say he would regard this as the best use of his very finite resources.
Some felt “cheated” when Celtic ultimately didn’t make a £6m signing, they perhaps only read headlines with promises to that effect, without drilling down to the actual quotes. Nothing can be done about this. Dave King is another story.
King desperately wants to do something positive for Newco Rangers, perhaps mindful of his role as a director when Original Rangers were consigned to liquidation. He wants to believe that he can bring influence to bear on the collection of hedge funds and Respectable Local Businessmen who control Newco, but he appears to be indulging in a bit of ‘hearing what he wants to hear’.
Newco accused King of making “untrue” and “disgraceful” comments, which is perhaps polite for “glib and shameless liar”. Based on their public comments, Newco are in the right. After almost two years of over-promising and under-delivering, they have played clever. Specifically, they did not publicly promise to reveal their forward budget plans for the club before season ticket renewal deadline. Why would they?
King met the board and then told the world he won this assurance from them. I’d be amazed if Graham Wallace was sufficiently malleable to be manipulated into making such a commitment to a man who led Oldco into liquidation. Wallace’s 120 day review period was surely chosen not because it takes anything like this long to discover the blatantly obvious, but because it allowed him to kick all this trouble into the long grass of the close season. Wallace’s entire strategy for this season is not to be drawn on discussing the long metaphoric winter that lies ahead.
A few weeks ago I described King as the Pied Piper of Govan. In truth, I don’t expect many fans will sign up to his hair-brained “give me, not them, your money” plan. It’s far more likely that thousands of would-be fans will simply tune out. There are a million more things people can do than watch lower league football; maybe some could back the team their grandchildren will support, I hear they have Champions League qualifiers coming up.
The worst thing for King right now is for Salary McCoist to fluke a cup win today, allowing Newco to flood their support with season ticket renewal notices on Monday on a wave of positivity. Acting on the eve of such a major game will surely have been a well-considered move. Better all-round if United win, momentum is halted and those hedge funds and Respectable Local Businessmen are forced into a humiliating liquidation.
Don’t bet on it, though. The current key holders will have contingency plans of their own.
Seville – The Celtic Movement
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Was yesterday’s game officially a neutral venue? If so, who decides the pitch dimensions? Anyone know?
The main satisfaction from yesterdays result is that ra peeple will not be desecrating Celtic Park any time soon and it was brilliant to hear the Dundee Hibernians belting out “You’re not Rangers anymore”. Don’t really want to read much more about them. They are shite pure and simple nothing at all to fear from them, and that dope Moshni is as bad as I’ve seen, he makes Sebo look like Messi. Anyways off to Mass, check in later. God Bless All.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/celticfcfanspage/permalink/10152103515428983/
hamiltontim is praying for oscar
01:24 on 13 April, 2014
Doc
“For those who understand no explanation is necessary. For those who don’t, no explanation is possible”.
———————————————–
HT, before which game did I say that?
One thing that most seem to be overlooking about the quality of football yesterdays semi was the wind. Difficult playing conditions, then add Madden , the hammerthrowers and the shrinking pitch to the mix and we can see why the game was all over the place.
Alls well that ends well though.
bamboo
09:51 on 13 April, 2014
What did the sportscene panel make of the non award of a clearcut penalty to Dundee Utd ?
And did they explain the mysterious shrinking ibrox pitch?
Bamboo, no and no to your questions. At least Rob McLean did mention the penalty incident in the re-run, but apparently the ref didn’t think it worth it!? By a quick reckoning the pitch looked to be narrowed by about 5 metres on either side. Given approx 110 metres length that gives you a reduction of 550 sq meteres of pitch, on each side, total reduction = 1100 sq metres. A lot less grass for Utd to play their football, eh? And a lot less ground for the athletic and energised sevco players to chase around.
Read about Fat Salary bemoaning the players available to him and how he needs to add to the squad for next year and how much more investment is going to go into the youth set up (I know, delusional stuff). But, what says it all for me and what he has done for Sevco is summed up in the following; average age of starting eleven for Sevco yesterday was 29.2. Average age for Dundee Utd. was 23.9. Conclusion? For all the money he has spent on diddies, McCoist has got an ageing team of underperformers, which he now says he needs to replace. Quality.
Pat Nevin admits he’s a Zombie….
Exactly 31:21 secs on iPlayer he says “we” when talking about the zombies.
Here it is verbatim from a few sec before and after;
“….moments after Rangers had changes to score, those 2 chances we score the there, Dundee Utd break up the other side and score immediately, that’s how little there was between that game…”
Now I fully understand it make sense whatsoever, however what can be certain from the context is the wee fud says “we” when referring to chances the zombies missed just before Utd score, the rest is is usual non-sensical incoherent drivel – because you have a degree doesn’t mean you can string a sentence together on camera, Pat Hatelyesque Nevin.
hh
bjmac
* “No sense” obv ;)
With nothing else on yesterday lunchtime, I watched the Scottish Cup semi final on the TV. While I have seen Dundee Utd many times in recent seasons, barring the last 10 minutes of last week’s Ramsden Final this was the very first time I had watched a match involving the team carrying the second highest payroll in Scottish Football.
I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect, but with guys like Dean Shiels and Nicky Law in their team, I was expecting a passing game.
Wrong!
The Sevco game plan from the off was entirely physical, the early ball hit long to point man Daly time and again, the others scampering about in the hope of picking up a loose ball or knock down.
When not in possession, the approach was simply to run about as fast as possible and bump into the opposition, an approach permitted by a referee who seemed to be a throwback to earlier times. Foster on Armstrong, coming straight through the back of the ankles, two footed, was just one example of foul play outlawed during a previous generation. The referee though seemed to have missed the intervening decades.
Except… except when a Sevco player was disposed, in which case, irrespective of the extent of physical contact, a foul was awarded by default. Compare for example, the ‘foul’ awarded to Black that precipitated Smith’s goal from the free kick, with Moshni’s taking out of Cifci as the Dundee Utd player rounded the keeper.
In essence, Sevco’s game plan was facilitated by the permissiveness of the referee, and the entire enterprise was built on the assumption that Utd’s young players could be bullied out their natural game.
It didn’t work. At least from the perspective of the all-important result. Sure, Utd were unable to play their own style of game for much of the match, and were very uncomfortable in defence dealing with the old style, unfamiliar long ball game, but Utd more than matched up in terms of physical effort, and their football won through.
It’s all so very odd. Sevco’s wage budget for 1st team players at £7.5M, is 50% more than Dundee Utd’s entire annual revenue.
Whereas Sevco have recruited seasoned top league professionals: McCulloch, Black, Wallace, Bell, Shiels, Law, Daly and so on; Dundee Utd build their team around the product of their youth academy: Robertson, Souttar, Gauld, Armstrong, Mackay-Steven.
The odd thing is this: Why, when you have the 2nd largest budget of any club in the country, and are facing a young, inexperienced opposition team, at home, would you attempt to remove football talent as an influences on the outcome? That’s essentially what McCoist attempted to do yesterday with his game plan.
Seems to me to be an admission that, notwithstanding the high wages paid for the players recruited, they aren’t particularly good at football.
Bears repeating: They aren’t particularly good at football.
I am looking forward to the match today , delighted for DU. Suppose I’d like to see Aberdeen win. It reminds me of times before some big clubs tried to match oldco by spending money which wasn’t there. DU’s youth team, a team based on quality football, making the final is the first tangible sign of recovery in Scottish football.
Emeraldbee
Strangely, I would say that it was only narrowed by 2-3 metres on the far touchline from the tv camera. However, the near one was 5m as you say.
There may be nothing sinister in the shrinking pitch, it could simply be to save on fertiliser and mowing costs.
corkcelt
delighted also the muck will not be at parkhead, just a wee thought is it necessary to use s*ite in the post.
Noticing more folks letting wee foul words creep into thier posts.
Rich from me who has served numerous bans for very very vile language
….PFayr supports WeeOscar
I am looking for a lunch companion will be in touch
TD67
09.54
Petty your ruled out today Tony. I’d have stuck you up a pint for that post.
HH
There has just got to be a caption competition in here somewhere…
http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/furious-rangers-boss-ally-mccoist-3407087
Got to love the look on Jackie’s face. Apologies in advance for linking to the Record.
……did someone say……..”mowing?”
……………………….
Interesting point made on tsfm this morning that it may be more profitable for he shareholders in the Rangers group to do something else with the assets.
Aside from selling it and allowing the buyer (assuming Laxey easdale axis own it) to lease back, what would you do? Bulldoze and sell to a supermarket? What other use could it have? Is it stopping a possible route to Glasgow airport, Braehead via Rail?
Could you build a big car park? A bus depot? Tesco?
If any above did happen and the floating pitch and super casino never got off the ground if you pardon the pun what would The King of Dave and the fans do? Rent Hampden?
bjmac
10:47 on 13 April, 2014
I distinctly heard nevin say “we” also….what I don’t understand is why ANYONE would think he ISN’T a zombie…..
“And, so, I face the FINAL curtain” …… Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaahahahahahahahahahahaha
Marakesh
Jist leave it behind the bar, al get it in a couple of weeks ;))
malc
11:01 on 13 April, 2014
Helps if I include your moniker ……
“And, so I face, the FINAL curtain” …..hahahaha
The battered bunnet, those have been Rangers tactics for decades. Punt it long to a big centre forward who will take man and ball. See Stephen McManus via Daniel Cousin.
When opposition player passes ball follow through on legs as though you have mistimed tackle. Ask Andy Hinkel.
When opposition player has ball run as fast as you can at him and do not make any attempt to slow down even if player passes on. Thus aiding said follow through.
67Heaven … I am Neil Lennon, supporting WEE OSCAR..!!.. Ibrox belongs to the creditors
11:03 on 13 April, 2014
He did say we. But he meant to say we (ie the programme) showed. Let’s not get petty. Just because Nevin is a conceited little hypocrite we don’t need to be silly about it.
Malc
Wtf di yi mean the pies urnae warm enough yet?
malc
Jackie says – ‘phewwph he’s let himself go’
malc
super sally says ‘ffs we’ve narrowed the *uc*ing pitch for ya and you still can’t pass it’
ernie lynch
11:12 on 13 April, 2014
Hehe…..maybe he meant “wee wee”
Gordon_J backing Neil Lennon
10:12 on
13 April, 2014
Madden kept the game flowing? Well, mainly in one direction. And he certainly didn’t stop it when Dundee United should have had a penalty. But how many dodgy free kicks did he award the plucky lower league club in the Dundee United half?
Love the idea of The Rangers being sponsored by a betting site. It would only be funnier if it had been Greggs. Or a payday loan company.
He could have stopped play when a linesman had his flag raised in the lead up to United’s third and killer goal.
I wouldn’t have thought Rangers could sack Super as anyone else, unless its Walter Walter or Souness, is just as likely to sell season tickets.
It would need to be an Uber who got it. You would need an extra bung to the man to sell more snake oil. I can’t see anyone from their 9 in a row years taking it on ad Gough has come out for King.
mullet and co 2
11:11 on
13 April, 2014
The battered bunnet, those have been Rangers tactics for decades. Punt it long to a big centre forward who will take man and ball. See Stephen McManus via Daniel Cousin.
Even more to the point. See Coisty, for it was he, urging thug Cousin to repeat the treatment on another Celtic player.
Rangers were out to maim our players before they died. Assaults on Izzy, Hinkel and I’d agree with Kayal.
Chums……….
In no way can Pet Navan be characterised a Zombie. Deep, deep down – imo he’s the same as us, he despises them.
However……….
The problem is he’s now attempting to perform outwith his arena of expertise – he was a good footballer.
His foray into the meeja is borne of necessity and vanity.
He never made the big bucks, he needs to work for a living and his maverick intellectual schtick has drawn him inexorably towards the limelight and the camera………
…at the same time…..opportunity met circumstance……. the meeja dahn sarf needed a Scottish voice while the scoddish msm needed a heid with a Tim-friendly name….enter the boul’ bhoy who would still dish the dirt…………
Unfortunately for Pet he cannot make the deft passes or execute the intricate footwork he could as fitba’ player now his arena is the LIVE studio……..
In short, he’s a novice with limited natural ability – just the way his “currant” employers like it.
So Pet performs the way he thinks he needs to to keep gettin’ the gig….he is horribly conflicted and will remain so, forever in fitba’s no-man’s land.
How horribly hurtin’ is that?
HHH.
PeteTheBeat
10:53 on 13 April, 2014
Emeraldbee
Strangely, I would say that it was only narrowed by 2-3 metres on the far touchline from the tv camera. However, the near one was 5m as you say.
Pete, I take the point about what it looked like on the other side, but I assume it was just the camera angle. Surely to jings they would have ‘balanced’ the touchlines, the goals have to be equidisatant from each touchline/corner flag.
My friends in Celtic,
IMO : Pat Nevin trained with us as a boy ( not bhoy ) and we rejected him, subsequently he then went on to have a relatively sucessful football career
That fact alone qualifies him as a candidate for a CQN interview. To my knowledge he has never used racist or sectarian language. He did however condemn IRA singing at Parkhead as have many people. Maybe after his rejection he has an agenda against us, who knows ?
However :
Are we that stupid as Celtic supporters or more specifically on the CQN blog that we are incapable of forming our own opinion of what he says.
HH.
Will doing a Simonson now replace doing a Sebo?
Just a bad thought.
Worrying developments everyone! Some questioning of the Wise One appearing in MSM. From Spiers in Herald. Don’t sack McCoist!
Apologies if already posted.
Spiers on Sport: debate about McCoist’s future goes on as Rangers are sunk
Spiers on Sport
Graham Spiers
Saturday 12 April 2014
In beating Rangers 3-1 at Ibrox this afternoon, Jackie McNamara and Dundee United didn’t just book yet another Scottish Cup final appearance for themselves in calculating style.
As United celebrated their victory in front of 11,000 boisterous ‘Arabs’ they also subjected Ally McCoist and Rangers to yet one more painful setback.
With McCoist these days, his job security is the elephant in the room.
The Rangers manager can take some comfort from his team’s gritty play today, though that might be his only consolation. McCoist is a manager surrounded by doubters, at a football club which, on and off the field, appears in perpetual disarray.
Rangers have played far worse than this under McCoist, though his record in cup competitions since becoming Rangers manager is atrocious. His increasing critics are noting it. Some had even believed this cup semi-final would be a defining moment for him.
In truth, there can be nothing definitive about today’s events for McCoist, with his club’s off-field pageant in part shielding him. It seems likely he will soldier on as Rangers manager until such times as boardroom solidity and clarity prevail.
Perversely, Rangers played far better against United than they have done all season, with skill and urgency underpinning much of their football. McCoist’s defence, however, looked feeble at this level, with Bilel Mohsni a walking liability.
When they needed to, Dundee United sliced Rangers open, or were sometimes just invited to walk through them. United can play far better, but there was still much calm intelligence about a lot of their work.
An oddity of this game and its outcome was that, while Rangers were trailing 2-1 at half-time, they might easily have been leading 3-2. In this context McCoist could glean some comfort in showing that he could coax a gritty and menacing performance from his players – a frequent omission this season.
Dean Shiels and Jon Daly both fluffed chances with only Radoslaw Cierzniak to beat, though Dundee United, when it was required, revealed their own trickery and menace.
McCoist’s post-match musings were of how much he believed Rangers had been the better team, though one comment he made seemed to cut to the quick and begged a huge question of his managerial ability.
Believing his team had matched and indeed bettered United, McCoist said: “This has just confirmed what I’ve thought all along – I reckon we are a team of top-flight ability.”
In which case, why have Rangers under their manager subjected their supporters to such frequent, abject football?
Off the pitch, the political wrangling over the Ibrox club continues, with Dave King again leading the charge to oust the current Ibrox board via a ramped-up publicity campaign and a proposed new share-issue.
It has become a very bitter dispute. There is claim and counter-claim aplenty, and accusations of “liar” being flung by all and sundry over what either King or the board have reputedly previously stated.
For the broad Rangers support, already wrung dry by events of the last two years, it is a painful choice once more of whom to believe.
King is requesting a withholding of season-ticket money by supporters, an act that will undoubtedly hurt the club, and will cause many Rangers fans to bridle. Other supporters, however, especially those found among Rangers’ social media activists, are vehement in their support of King.
For most of them, King’s recent court conviction in South Africa for illegal tax affairs is an irrelevance, a non-story. King is reputedly rolling in it and his moral background in business doesn’t enter the equation. These supporters want his money, pure and simple.
The next bout of dispute will arrive when Rangers CEO Graham Wallace announces his financial review of the club, which is due over the next seven days. If the heat is on McCoist, it is also on Wallace.
His case – and that of his embattled board – will look weak unless he can promise improvement in Rangers’ financial position and show a capacity to find fresh investment in the club. If that doesn’t come, King and his supporters will erupt once more.
Another bad day for Rangers. And in his 2013-14 season, surely not the last.
Bankiebhoy1 and Greenpinata
Well put.
TD from earlier. Absolute stonker of a post! Best I’ve ever read from you! Only your ‘GIRUY’ to lurking FOD types could have improved it!
Looking forward to Liverpool v City today. Could be some great football played.
Said to mrs jamesgang yesterday that if it’s a united v Aberdeen final it would be worth going as a neutral. Tho in truth I’d be rooting for Jackie Mc, an understated wee jungle legend.
‘And ye, nae Orcs shall sully Paradise in this year of The Lord. HH’
SundaySchoolCSC;-)
HH jamesgang
Doc
You’ve lost me mate.