Scott Brown has been on the telly, and he spoke calmly, maturely and with an air that contrasts sharply with one or two others who have had things to say during these strange days…
“Obviously our preference is to play the games because we want finish the season. Everybody wants to play, it’s our job and what we love to do,”
“We want the season to finish so we can play out all the games and we can get the trophy. We think that if we continue playing the way we were playing, we could extend our lead at the top.”
We are trying to stay as fit as possible and doing the programmes that the club has been sending us and trying to stay as safe as possible like everyone else.
“It’s a terrible situation we’re in, but we’re all trying to stay as positive as we can.”
With all the brouhaha around alleged misgovernance at the SPFL, and UEFA trying to find a solution that suits everyone, it’s perhaps been forgotten that this squad will miss out on legendary status which would have come with a fourth consecutive treble.
Heady days indeed, but thats not going to happen on the pitch, and the Scottish Cup may never be played to a conclusion.
In fact, one would wager that it will be declared null and void and perhaps there will be more than a glint in the eye and a smile on the face of whoever from the SFA who gets to announce that.
Brown deserves credit for not ranting hysterically or even bemoaning the loss of a chance for a couple of memorable days , merely sticking to the facts.
Over in the Netherlands, the league has been declared finished, with Ajax and AZ 67 equal on points, no one has been declared champions, and both clubs will feature in whatever form of the champions League takes place next season. This has prompted some commentators to announce the season as null and void, but as European qualification has been won, thats not the case. There is still some debate as AZ 67 will have to play a qualifier, but the main point is that their season is over.
Whether or not there is a pay off at a later date to decide who wins the title is unclear, but in this case the final standings would suggest that is only fair.
In Scotland, the gap at the top, thirteen points, means that the situation does not in any way compare to the one in the Netherlands, and it appears that after the vote taken by the SPFL among their 42 member clubs, only “permission ” from UEFA with no effect on European competition status or eligibility stands in the way of Celtic becoming champions.
Thats despite efforts from “rangers ” to stop it from happeneing, for reasons they won’t elaborate on, but its clear to all that nine is hurting them, and the prospect of ten is going to kill them.
The SPFL launched an independent investigation into the allegations of wrongdoing during their completely legal vote, and auditing firm Deloitte reported that they had carried out a forensic investigation, and found nothing.
As usual, “rangers ” and their support found something to moan about there as well… they focused on Christopher McKay, who used to work at Deloitte….
Some of you may remember Deloitte….
After Deloitte reported, the countdown was on for another statement from the pen of PR man David Graham, and he didn’t disappoint…
Oh, hang on, that was the first draft…it was later edited to this…
RANGERS, alongside other Scottish football clubs, have submitted a Members’ Requisition to the SPFL.
The requisition requests that a General Meeting of all 42 member clubs be held to consider calling an independent investigation into:
- The preparation and content of the briefing note and papers sent to member clubs with the resolution;
- The decision to announce the result of an incomplete vote before all votes had been received;
- The decision to disregard the vote submitted by Dundee FC and allow them to vote a second time;
- The appropriateness of communications between the Executive of the SPFL and other football governing bodies in relation to completing season 2019/20;
- The interaction of SPFL executives with clubs during the voting process including the disclosure to clubs of how other member clubs had voted;
- Compliance by the SPFL’s directors with the statutory and common law duties owed by them in relation to the resolution; and
- Any other matters which the independent expert considers relevant.
We have received the SPFL’s open letter referring to the narrow scope of their investigation which alarmingly failed to examine wider fundamental issues.
Rangers have made it very clear that we have a dossier of evidence which we will make readily available to an independent investigation.
As yet, there is no evidence that any other club has submitted a similar request, but adding that to the introduction deflects from the simple fact that “rangers “, for reasons we are all fully aware of, are in this on their own.
As for a meeting involving 42 club chairmen, that can’t happen unless its a video conference, which means that they are expecting it to be turned down.
Curiously, no one has pointed out that they are accusing the SPFL board of cheating, and they have their own man, Stewart Robertson, on the board , who surely should have resigned in protest if they feel that strongly, and then he could have detailed all the things he has been hearing while he’s sat in on their meetings.
That would constitute evidence.
That would show they are sincere.
But it’s not about that, as we know.
It’s about the fact that they have failed to stop nine in a row, and have little hope of stopping ten.
In short, they have failed miserably and need to find a way of blaming someone else for their shortcomings.
All of this while facing an insolvency event that will surely see their support asking questions of them that they simply have no answers to.
The media aren;t talking about this, and just as in a previous event at Ibrox, they will do their best to hide the truth , because second time around the need for the Ibrox support and their money is perhaps even greater than the first time.
There will be no football this calendar year, it’sjust that no one wants to be the first to say it. Even behind closed doors games will not be permitted, and another catch 22 situation will rear its head when desperate hacks report on Celtic fans congragating to celebrate nine in a row, which will prompt police to petition the government for stronger lockdown initiatives, which in turn will lead to that statement about it being too risky to hold behind closed door fixtures, as people will gather to watch on tv….
In that context, it’s better to just call it off, and wait until it’s safe to start properly.
Celtic , as we heard yesterday from the ranch, are preparing for that.
“rangers “, however, in a marked contrast in style and context to Scott Brown, had Steven Gerrard offering his tuppence worth…
“I want to be back to work, I want to carry on with this season and I think with the majority of the players and the coaches, there’s a real will to finish the season off.
“Unfortunately, that’s not the same case with the governing body who seem to me to be desperate to finish everything off and move on into the next season.”
I think the pandemic also has got something to do with that…
“Around the world and around Europe, especially down in England and in Germany, there’s a big will to continue and get back playing football and try and finish it off.
“These governing bodies are connecting with the teams and there seems to be a lot of chat and a lot of meetings in terms of ‘how can we at least try and get football back?’ and have a plan A in place, a plan B, a plan C.
“If we can’t and we’re told we can’t, there’s got to be a point where you hold your hand up and it can’t possibly happen.
“The disappointment from our point of view is that there doesn’t seem to be that energy and that will and that determination up in Scotland.
“It seems to be the complete opposite: ‘let’s move on as quick as we can’.
“From a Rangers point of view, we want to get back to playing football when it’s physically safe to do so.”
Presumably he means when they’ve relaid the pitch they tore up…
Still, you know what they say about liars, and how they have to remember what they’ve said previously…
In Scotland there is a realisation that football is not dependent largely on television money, and the desire to get games played however impractical and unsafe that may be, is not under serious consideration.
At Ibrox, they’re up to their knees in brown sticky stuff, about to surrender and die.
Gerrard sounds and talks like a man who is fed up. He was denied further advancement at Liverpool, who though in a similar position to Celtic regarding winning the title he never ever talks about, which meant he grabbed the opportunity at “rangers “.
Having spent millions and with no chance of funds for next term, he clearly dreads the prospect of being in charge for a third disastrous term, and will get out any way he can.
I’ll bet that hurts…
Clubs are now starting to take stock of their own situations. Celtic seem prepared for a long lay off, others will no doubt follow their lead and we will all just have to look forward to the first game back, whenever that may be.
Oh, then again, there will be a ninth title to celebrate, perhaps we could all stand on our doorsteps and clap, sing and raise a glass or two….
Thats if we cant go to the pub, there is growing concern the closure if affecting the national health…
Yesterday, we had this…
Today…
Caption: The photographer from Pizza Express, in Woking, infiltrates the Cillit bang official opening.
….i know, i have no idea either.
Morning, fud ^
Caption; “And today, children, we’re looking through the……….Arched Window. Tell me what you see?”
(*Nationwide); “A BALD, FAT, ORANGE BASTARD!”
Caption.
So. You see. United States of………. know what…….drink lots and lots of Disinfectant. I mean, like, lots and you know, you might be cured of Sevcoafraidof-9 virus. Kills it dead. Like a zombie. Someone said.
Nurse !
Caption…….
Sniper ready to do the world a huge favour.
You’re a fan of Mike Pence? Hm.
Didn’t say I was, or is that a bit of Trump(et) sarcasm?
You just have to listen to the anger in Liverpool about their C.L. quarter final game with Atletico (spit) Madrid, played on the 14th March when 3000 Madrid fans mingled in the city centre with the Liverpudlians and days later Spain went into lockdown. No wonder the Liverpool mayor wants a full investigation into why the game was played, you realise that the public’s health is more important than football. UEFA. must have known of the dangers, but still it went ahead. “The pure ragin, bullying F.C.” do what they always do, scream and shout like a big bullying wean. The only way to handle a bully is to stand up to them, as like the other day, two geese was in the little river at the bottom of the farm, in flew a pure ragin swan, it flew at the male goose, who backed away until it regained its composure and stood up to the swan and made the swan back down. Sometimes life can look to nature to learn the ways of the world. The male goose puffed out his chest and waddled off, happy in the knowledge that it had protected his mate.
Its happened already in America. A pastor has injected bleach into himself. Now Trump has been charged with Bleach of the priest.
He’ll be getting imbleached then.
That’s a peach.
🙂
The Liverpool game and Cheltenham festival are on the UK Gov, as they okayed them to go ahead.
Huns Leverkusen game is on Scot Gov.
UEFA were happy with closed doors elsewhere in Europe that week, so you can’t blame UEFA to bowing to national medical and scientific advice.
It’ll be interesting to see what comes out of the Liverpool investigation and, until we see the results, we can’t comment definitively.
Having said that, I’ve not seen Liverpool mentioned as a particular hotspot.
London, Wales, Midlands and now North East England are the most affected areas.
In Scotland, Tayside not Glasgow is the most affected.
https://www.arcgis.com/apps/opsdashboard/index.html#/658feae0ab1d432f9fdb53aa082e4130
I know that Klopp was raging, and I have read that there was a spike in Covid-19, in Liverpool that the mayor is having investigated. Also the figures that I have read all show that Greater Glasgow @ Clyde H.B. and Lothian H.B. that they have many more deaths of the coronavirus than Tayside and so are the most affected.
In absolute numbers, of course, the largest areas, Glasgow and Lothian will have the most numbers, but by population Tayside is most affected.
Caption,
Voice in the marksman’s ear piece, “just shot the fucker and do the world a favour”
From this angle you can see the strings…..
Caption
Light at he end of the tunnel is spotted, not!
Totally agree Mike the greed of football clubs is incredible. They claim they are part of the community and operate for the fans, the truth is shekels.
Now the Norwegian FA want forty five million pounds from the government., won’t be long till the Rankers are begging the SNP to save them, but I think they have pished in that bed. UEFA should have to justify their actions, but then again these organisations operate for the shekels.
CS? Celtic players,manager,coaching staff,club executives including Peter,obviously,have all taken substantial pay cuts whilst continuing to help desperate people in need.We can be proud of the way Our Club are dealing with this situation…..other clubs can’t say the same…..
Caption: A waste of a grassy knoll.
Caption : “No, no no. When I said get a picture of the fat, orange bastard, I meant Jim Traynor”.
Caption: The lights are on but nobody’s home…
Caption: Mr President we understand your frankly insane, rambling and incoherent theories on COVID-19, bats, Wuhan, the Chinese, the Russians, biological warfare, the impending collapse of global capitalism, but on behalf of all Americans who is Leigh Griffiths?
From this angle you can see his strings……Jim Hensons finest work…..
site not working …?
Technically furloughed
Trump….. Jim Hensons finest work yet…..
CAPTION
Former president continues his daily delusional rant to his room mate at this secure Psychiatric hospital.
Caption:
“Officer Cilit, now’s your chance to go bang, bang and destroy this known germ.”
H H
Caption…….
Greatest American President ever.
What a fantastic hair style.
Great sun tan.
Quite brilliant orator.
Wonderful businessman.
Genius.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
If Carlsberg did sarcasm.
Caption:
“The state penitentiary tries to pacify its most dangerous inmate by making him feel at home. Meantime, the governor thinks he is still worth the watching”
H H
The moment that made Dave’s arduous journey from South Africa to meet his hero worthwhile. Ya dancer!
Caption too: Wait til the folks back in South Africa find out I had dinner with The Donald!
Caption: Imbleach Trump!
Great article however, the sevco directors having to explain an insolvency event to their moronic supporters, would be a piece of piss.
Timmy mafia, GCC, Vatican, SFA (no seriously), SPFL and of course the knights, have all colluded to bring the club to its knees.
This is a group that thought that rather than hard cash, waving red cards, would stave off liquidation.
“Take the bloody shot!”
Caption:
Deranged orange man claims Sevco can still win league.
Caption …
Monica Lewinsky taking photos for her new book,
working title ,” sicks I wouldn’t duck “
I have this afternoon emailed a complaint to the BBC, after granting space on their Sportsound programme on Scottish football, to a homophobic,anti equality, racist bigot,N Irish politician who is a member of a racist /bigoted organisation.
Well said and fair play to Tom English who called it out straight away. What a complete disgrace of a club to have a bigot PR with a bigot politician in his pocket. Wasting parliament’s time at this point in the crisis is ridiculous.
Didn’t hear Campbell on Sports Sound and I know some of us don’t like the programme but that’s not the point. We should not let the BBC get away with bring Loyalist ruff raff on to a sports programme although it shows they cannot get a Scottish politician to commemorate the dead club. Obviously this gig was set up by the new Loyalist PR guy at Sevco. Maybe a former Provisional should be given the right of reply.
Always rise above them , not sink to their level.
” former “?
We haven’t gone away you know!
Tom English was banging his drum again about the vote. Kept mentioning Unamed clud directors who are not happy. Fiction.
Michael Stewart tried to steer him back to reality by asking what are the real motives behind the recent Sevco push.
English is playing his part in the latest deflection.
His lies and agenda are called out online.
The latest being “we don’t know the timeline” and someone produces it based on the Deloitte report that he should be referencing.
Of course, he ignores it and doubles down on dumb.
“With all the brouhaha around alleged misgovernance at the SPFL, and UEFA trying to find a solution that suits everyone, it’s perhaps been forgotten that this squad will miss out on legendary status which would have come with a fourth consecutive treble.”
There’s no point on focussing on what won’t be and instead concentrate on what will.
We’ll probably “only” win a League and League Cup double this season but that constitutes another clean sweep of all the trophies available to win for the 4th consecutive season.
Leave the Huns to look back fondly on David Gray’s winner in the 2016 Cup Final, as the last time Celtic didn’t win an available trophy.
Disappointed in Chris McKay’s profile under Education it didn’t say Vatican.
Gregory Campbell of the DUfucking P on sportsound this afternoon?
Oh dear.
Weered,
I’ll be phoning the BBC on Monday to ask if they will be inviting Mary Lou, on to the show, to discuss Res 12.
Just for balance….
Or if they are asking prince Andrew, when he is handing himself into the FBI?
and she knows the words to the Celtic Symphony, so she can give us a wee chorus as well.
Warning Adult Themes.
The word on everybody’s lips, is where is Kim Wrong Monti? Has he passed, is he lying in State, or is he just Lying in a State? The rumours are flying around that he got on a train at Waverly Station and is heading down south on his specially armoured and reinforced floor private train, obviously he is trying to flee from the polis, if anyone can verify this or knows where he is, then call the E-Timms hotline.
Concerned about my wee girls mental state, she is fond of Foxes and as we were taking the dog for a walk this afternoon, i told her of ‘the hunt’ where horses & hounds would chase the fox until it tired, then the hounds would tear it to pieces.
Possibly a wee bit too much information for a seven year old, but hey ho, she said to me ” Dad, that’s not very nice to do that to the fox……could they not just use TNT and blow it up”?
Erm, what the fuck? 🙂
Caption: but it was the Morelos to Leicester rumour that got him impeached.
Fock the huns.
“that will surely see their support asking questions of them that they simply have no answers to.”
Aye, cos they have a history of holding their own to account when it all goes tits up.
Did Sportsound issue an apology on air??
Its quiet, I like the “pickers” American and Irish ones, I can understand better the American accents than the Irish ones. The “Irish Pickers” were touring through Waterford when they “picked” this Salvage Yard. They came across an old portrait of Michael Collins “The Big Fella”. This piqued my interest, especially when they mentioned the “Lavery’s”. Sir John Lavery was a famous portrait painter who painted the crème of British society and whom Collins was one of his clients. Lavery was off Irish stock but was married to the most beautiful woman of her generation. Born in Chicago in 1880, Hazel Martyn was the daughter of a wealthy American Industrialist of Irish descent. Michael Collins that great Irish patriot, who was involved in the Irish Uprising and who led the “Twelve Apostles” a counter Intelligence Unit who tracked and dispatched British Intelligence agents, in and around Dublin.
I was interested in the relationship between Collins and Hazel Lavery, was it a friendship or was it an intimate relationship? It has to be said that Collins was engaged to be married to Kitty Kiernan and both were in love. But when he was killed a portrait of Hazel with a poem attached was found under his shirt. There can be no doubt but that Hazel was in love with Collins, she had after all worked tirelessly beside him when he was in London working on the Treaty that would as he knew lead to his death. Do you keep someone’s portrait under your shirt if they are just your friend? Possibly, but why? was there more to there relationship than just two friends, a beautiful woman and a handsome fella? (Huns are ugly).
There must have been tremendous sexual tension between them, but Collins was a man of substance and character. You do not become a patriot if you are weak and shallow, people have a second sense about these matters. 90 years after his death the IRA. revealed that they had followed them both during the “talks” they categorically denied that there was any kind of an affair. “If there had been then they both would have been shot, but they would say that wouldn’t they! to possibly protect the Michael Collins’s reputation.
No animals was harmed during these posts.
Oh! Hazel, Hazel Lavery,
What is your charm Oh! say,
Like subtle Scottish Mary,
you take my heart away,
Not by your wit and beauty,
Nor your delicate grace,
Nor the golden eyes of wonder,
in the flower that is your face.
The poem on the reverse of her portrait.
UP THE ‘RA!
And here’s the poem found behind Hazels portrait under his shirt.
Oh! Hazel, Hazel Lavery,
What is your charm Oh! say,
Like subtle Scottish Mary,
You take my heart away,
Not by your wit and beauty,
Nor your delicate sad grace,
Nor the golden eyes of wonder,
in the flower that is your face.
I haven’t laughed so much for yonks. Brilliant from the Clumps.
https://t.co/VDTA8my3JQ?amp=1
MIND 7-15PM. BBC SCOTLAND, STOPPING THE TEN. CELTIC V ST. JOHNSTONE. # UP THE RA.
This week I have read Phil’s book “The Squad” thoroughly enjoyed it, a damn good read, and just finished Jock Stein’s autobiography by Archie Macpherson another excellent read. Never realised that there was so much being the scenes bickering at Celtic in those day’s (although it was well known there was a bit), but Archie seems to have always been on Jock’s side in any dealings with the press. A great read
Have a read of Matt McGlone’s Emotionally Celtic.The old board’s treatment of big Jock was terrible,it will make your blood boil.
Loved that game, was there with my two sons, raw emotion, Henke’s stunning early goal, the Tic support in full voice cheering the team on, the stands still being built and then Harrold the pilot’s goal. WOW. Great pass from Tom Boyd down the wing to Jackie, his cut back to Harold and GOAL. The first of the many titles in years at a huge resurgent vocal support. You could feel the tension but you knew that there was a huge power shift and that the Huns were going down. Bouncing concrete stands and then the real cheating began.
To the memory of Ronan O’Rahilly founder of Radio Caroline. Before my time but my favourite era of music. I hear from Johnny Walker on the radio tonight that his grandfather died in the 1916 uprising and rebelling against the laws of the UK gave him great pleasure. RIP.