Celtic got out of jail/got the result they deserved/acted like true champions when two late goals from substitutes Patrik Klimala and Leigh Griffiths disposed of a robust and enthusiastic St Johnstone side.
It wasn’t a great game, one which I was spared the trauma of listening to as by half time my EBT Radio Scotland link was still broadcasting the pre match interviews, so i went over to the Sounds app and just got updates from the OffThe Ball show.
Probably just as well, given the frustration felt by those watching as nothing seems to be improving where entertainment value is concerned, but then again, with no crowd to play for maybe thats why.
It’s also why I’m maybe not as concerned about performances, having not seen them, as some. Results are what matter, and since January Celtic have only dropped four points out of a possible fifty seven in the league, which isn;t something you’ll see in the papers or hear on the radio.
And as for BBC Sportscene….Chris Iwelumo and Andy Halliday have joined their line up of experts, so its not even worth thinking about their opinions.
The biggest surprise for me when I heard the result was that Leigh Griffiths had scored.
After consulting our moles at the ranch, we learned that he is allowed to play, but only if he wears one of those suits used in the film making industry where another actor controls his movements.
https://twitter.com/i/status/1312856689390039042
This led to consternation in the dressing room afterwards when the manager was forced to wait until Griff had finished his post match interview before he could go for a wee.
What wasn’t a surprise was the strength and determination of the Polish Paddy, who earned himself the nickname at the ranch of “The Tank “, when he shrugged off a tackle that would have had fat Colombian strikers still rolling about this morning to score the second.
This guy will be our main man sooner rather than later….John Hartson with pace.
Alls well ended well, however, and I’m firmly in the camp that to play badly and win is the true mark of champions, although, of course, I reserve the right to change my mind.
We now have a couple of weeks until the next game, as Scotland are in action again for whatever reason, and that gives the media time to hype up the next game, the seasons first Glasgow derby.
The referees have been practising for it, and the feeling at the SFA is they are ready to go. Their only disappointment was when Neil Lennon opted to keep Scott Brown on the bench yesterday for long enough to make them forget they were supposed to book him for something so he’d miss the game.
The media are building up a narrative around allowing some fans into the match, even though it won’t happen as it’s far too risky.
The Conservative and Unionist leaning BBC see it as a way to criticise the SNP government by labelling it a political move, when in reality, the movement of thousands of people across the country, and the risk of others without tickets travelling anyway, simply isn’t worth it.
The political agenda came to light when it was revealed that Douglas Ross, a politician and a football official, so no conflict of interest there, asked the Chairman of Stenhousemuir to do some digging for him….
McMenemy has connections to the Orange Lodge and Ross is an SFA official, so its probably not too difficult to work out where they know each other from.
The arrogance of the corporation means that they forgot the basic question, which is would fans go anyway of they were allowed, given the risks involved.
So, I thought I’d ask… after all, wouldn’t it be embarrassing if after all the kerfuffle, no one went anyway ?
If fans were to be admitted to football matches, would you actually go?
Surprisingly, quite a few said they wouldn’t, and they gave their reasons, and that was mainly concerning the risks. Those who said they would tended to say that if shops and pubs were open they could see no reason why stadia couldn’t be opened, and both camps have a point.
But then, if we expand the argument to whether or not pubs should be open , given that infections are on the rise again, that gets kind of negated as a deflection rather than a serious argument.
The real issue is that the government, having outsourced the English response to private companies with no expertise in public health has caused the second wave, and with little or no real advice based on real evidence available about a new virus surely caution has to be the watchword.
It’s clear that opening up too soon has put the country back to where it was at the beginning, and given that there is a narrative that plays down the virus that rise was inevitable.
The lack of common sense surrounding the issue is bewildering at times, but there is a way of perhaps opening up stadia to fans that combines common sense with caution…and in that case the fan himself can make his own mind up….
John Ward is the CEO at Livingston, who probably haven’t git as much to worry about as other clubs-or companies-after they sold Lyndon Dykes, and he makes a good point with his reply to the question…
Track and trace app a must and temp checking. No turnstiles and heavily stewarded. I think it’s possible.
Temperature checking is mandatory in a lot of work places, and the track and trace is a necessary part of combating any pandemic, although I would venture that the one in Scotland is probably better than the shambolic efforts down here, and thats the one to use.
There is, of cpurse, something else to consider, given you’d be sitting there freezing cold, wearing a mask and probably by yourself, even of you did go to one game, would you bother with a second ?
Don’t expect a serious debate in the media, all they will do is formulate an argument to back re-opening, without thinking it through, and if 2020 is to be remembered for anything, it certainly wonlt be for anyone thinking anything through.
It’s transfer deadline day, and the latest is that Celtic will bring in Uruguayan defender Diego Laxalt, which should quieten the demands from those who don’t rate Greg Taylor. Laxalt can’t get a game for Milan, who face Celtic in a couple of weeks in the Europa League, so he’s clearly the way forward.
Robert Snodgrass has also been mentioned, by the same people who mentioned Steven Fletcher, which isn;t a surprise, though it would be if the Scotland interntional ended up in Glasgow.
Though we did hear the scuttle of rat’s feet in the city, and we can only hope he’s been sent scurrying south before he got a chance to get his teeth into anything….
On Saturday, we had this…
Whitearra
The board’s transparency policy to the Celtic support
Today…
preperations under way for the demise of the latest ipox entity
Leigh Griffiths:
Quite simply i love you again!
Caption: Yes I know it broke up the march but I can only progress when the lights are on orange.
Caption : ‘Right, back to the hall. Billy’s got it wrong. It says Fruiterer no Fluterer!’
“Whit’s it to be lads?”
“The Flowers o’ the Florist, it’s a no brainer.”
Och Morag whit did I tell ye?
I know Effie I’ve to blow not suck. But Donald says ye’ve got it wrang.
Onyways Donald’s waving his chanter at me again…..
very important 3 points in the end but……………yet again a poor performance, too many players look as if they would rather be elsewhere. We need to waken up before the huns visit or I fear we will be punished
The housewives of Scotland tool up for the second wave of toilet roll shortages.
Operation stop the ten continued apace at the weekend. Radio Snyde panel all confirming to Thomas who phoned that the sevco penalty was clear cut. Which is fair enough but they were less focused on the Ross County penalty claim. The defender was told he should have done better with his free header but not much said about Goldson’s helpful two handed shove in his back. The MIB couldn’t have had a better view.
And the MIB’s in Perth didn’t spot the blatant pull on Duffy’s jersey.
See a pattern? Any sevco claim and it’s a nailed on pen. Any for the opposition of Celtic, sorry nothing to see here.
And I might have missed it but surely the St. J player who chopped Klimala was red carded? I probably missed due to the celebrations. He was red carded right?
Caption
Lol 1690 put on another show for the sfa for their continual support of the pendemic at ipox
Holy mother of god^
I thought that I was watching that popular BBC. programme “Total Wipeout” on Sunday, when Liam Gordon scythed down Polish Paddy, Paddy shrugged off the challenge and unleashed a thunderous shot “back of the net”, well done sir. But once again ‘Mibbery’ was on display as at the very least that tackle deserved a yellow card and probably red. One of many, many fouls on Frimpong and others. ‘Mibbery’ that funny fingered Scottish tradition, with white gloves, apron wearing and goat riding, Lanarkshire biding school of Scottish refereeing. As I sat watching the game there was a bee buzzing sound constantly in my ears, Ntcham is sh!te it kept on saying repeatedly.
Meanwhile over at the castle of doom, ‘mibbery’ was at home once again and Tavnier Penalty kept up his 8 goal from the mibbery white spot, a game. Mibbery, taking the Bonnie out of Scotland.
You had to listen to Off The Ball ? That is totally unacceptable.
Ceefax would have been better.
Ps. the 3 minutes added time was announced AFTER Griff scored.
Phew. My nerves are shredded listening to first half krap then last minute scoring.
Pass me the tramadol.
Come home Leigh Griffiths, all is forgiven.
I first checked yesterdays score on celtic sites then had a quick look at ebt Scotland site for scorers/line up etc. Couldn’t believe my eyes when I scrolled to the bottom and the league table between the two games said “as it stood” above it with the St J game not yet registered.
Ffs they couldn’t even bring themselves to put the 9 in a row champions at the top for the time it took for their favourite team to get their weekly penalty.
Caption – Och, Aye. We’ll just wait 20 minutes with oor legs togeather to stop the draft, I do na want anybody ta catch a cold. ‘We’ll pick up the tempo ‘On the way to Paradise!’ and be there afore 3!’
“The real issue is that the government, having outsourced the English response to private companies with no expertise in public health has caused the second wave”
Believe that if you want, but look around. There are second waves in every country, because the virus is highly contagious, some experience no symptoms and spread it, and there is a low or no meaningful level of immunity. Add to that no clear agreement yet on how it’s most spread – with research widely quoted yesterday showing almost no real chance of spreading via surface contact on doors, surfaces, and so on – and you end up where we, and most western hemisphere countries are: up the creek, hopefully wearing a mask, wondering what paddle you need to order to make it stop. We can all hide away for a year at a time, with no immunity but global travel links, the virus will outwait us.
“Look,that’s the thurd shoap wuv tried, and nain o them huv oranges. Can we no just huv a banana walk instead?”
Scout pipe band maryhill rd circa 1965.thats me front middle with white socks.around 13 at time.what a blast from the past.long time lurker and admirer of e Tim’s site.first time posting.thanks for the pic.
Who is the player behind ‘The Mystery Door’? will the real Odsonne Edouard please reveal himself.
BBC 1, is proud to reveal its new version of ‘Total Wipeout’ from its studio in Perth, starring Liam Gordon and Polish Paddy. Paddy Wins with a ‘Total Wipeout’ score of 100%. Well done sir.
The new ‘Barnet Formula’, The new hair transplant that Leigh Griffiths is trialing, it puts a spring in your heid an extra bounce that aids heiders, its called, ‘Heiders Fur Heiders’.
Fruiterer is a word ?!!
Caption: Diary editorial team arrive for work claims ‘SFA unfit for purpose’ in latest non-football rant.
He’ll be angry!!!
How can you tell the difference from his “normal”? 😉
And as usual Ralphs diary talks about politics.
Just some on here cant see past wee crankie and the SNP.
Its like a cult , here no evil speak no evil see no SNP.
Ralph , the Site must be really really broken.
I have +3 lol every cloud…..
Glad i took a screenshot……………….
Caption
Has Morellos no gone yet?
The match yesterday turgid, but we won. Despite a clown of a referee and a team that played anti-football, as Riga as Sarajevo as Ferencvaros.
Sevco will come at us we will beat them, their defence is dire. Yes Celtic have not kicked off yet, but things can only get better
I wouldn’t include Ferencvaros in the anti-football brigade.
We really need to start with a higher tempo in a couple of weeks and not leave it to our superior fitness, technique etc to bail us out late on.
Caption
Maryhill rd 1965.that’s me centre front with white socks.maryhill scout pipe band.13 year old at the time.long time reader of this great site but never posted.can’t believe this photo came up.cheers for that.
Wow, amazing.
Can’t they at least let fans in from only say a 5 mile radius of Paradise to offset the travel concerns?
Nobody is getting in binka, there’s a deadly disease on the go.
Leigh, Leigh super Leigh (best striker at Parkhead). Hopefully he starts against the Huns,that’s if Wee Nippy doesn’t have us under total house arrest by then.C’mon,what the feck is going on? She hasn’t a clue,don’t know what science she is following or advice but all she asks for is more cash. Could you imagine an independent (from England) Scotland? Mud huts and saying yes sir, no sir to the EEC and the lodges in Scotland. Wonder who would take the knee for the oppressed RC minority? Anyway, all those who turned on young Taylor will be delighted with the year long loan player, meanwhile, we’ve got Edouard trying to look as cheerful as Morelos. Earn your salary Eddy,many people are totally in the crap at the moment, your performances are a disgrace. SMH.
I see FC Ponzi has issued another 42 million new shares today, so obviously nobody’s coming in with any super duper deals for some of their dreck. When are the authorities ( no sniggering at the back) going to investigate this cheating low life scum.
20p each , roll up roll up.
FFP has been put on hold for 12 months so no UEFA help or pressure .
The 10 will burst them.
Unless pistoless Pete has done a wee deal…….
Caption: Margaret Ferriers homecoming band assemble outside Glasgow Central.
Watched the huns on sportscene.
Big Duffy will score with every corner just put it onto the big man’s head.
agreed
Cracking bit of business
Having watched that sleazebag Trump this morning, I mean WTF! Cmon America, in a country that has more guns than people, surely one of them can take that bastard out.