Celtic can win the title on Saturday against Hibernian if the Easter Road side are defeated, and Motherwell lose to St. Mirren.
As long as Bobby Madden, the referee who really should have gone to specsavers, is nowhere near either game.
He was the man in the middle as Celts controversially drew 1-1 with St. Mirren on Sunday, and uniquely in refereeing history seemed to get every single decision wrong. He missed a clear cut Buddies penalty, and awarded them one for a dive outside the box. He sent Victor Wamyama off for getting in Paul McGowans way, and missed countless fouls and other little misdemeanours. Including chalking off what seemed a perfectly legitimate goal.
Manager Neil Lennon was surprisingly restrained in his criticism, calling it “the most appalling refereeing performance I have seen for a long , long time.”
He continued;
“I mean, you can’t get so many big decisions wrong, it is incredible…..so I am delighted that we got a point out of it but there is no doubt that the referees decisions ruined what could have been potentially a good game. The sending off is ridiculous and it changed the game. I am concerned now about the standard of refereeing. I have kept my counsel on it for a couple of months but there have ben some really bizarre decisions, niot just against my team, which have baffled me. Today is the most blatant performance I have seen. It was really poor.”
The game itself wasn’t bad-until Madden took a hand. Kris Commons took longer than usual to open the scoring-six minutes-and there were chances at both ends before Madden decided that the game needed less players. The sending off was , er , strange and as for the penalty he awarded St. Mirren, well, the basic criteria are a foul has been committed, and it took place in the penalty area. Neither applied, but that didn’t stop brave Bobby. Ironically, when a foul did take place in the box-Samaras handball-he ignored it, but chalked off a buddies goal because a couple of players bumped into each other.
Referees in Scotland are above criticism, and never have to explain themselves , either to the press, the clubs, or the paying public. If the powers that be are serious about bringing change to the game, this would be a good place to start.
Elsewhere, you have to hand it to new club The Rangers, who won the part time Third division with a full time team after Elgin beat Queens Park on Saturday. Rangers had played -in the loosest possible meaning of the word-Montrose earlier in the day, and had been booed off by their own fans. Strange way to win a division.
Apparently, the team group were listening to the game on the ir way back to Glasgow, and they all let out a huge roar when Elgin got a penalty, and another cheer when they scored it. That club have gone one better than their now defunct predecessors , in that they benefit from penalties even when they are not playing.
This dignified team picture, taken on someones phone shortly after they clinched the title, just oozes class. Can anyone name everyone in it?
As expected, the new club are now saying that they have won 55 titles-or 62 if you count the wartime ones-and manager Ally McCoist had their support cringing when he said;
“Its definitely title 55. I don’t think there is any doubt about that. In terms of major championships, its not one of those. But you can only win whats in front of you, and I hope its title 56 next year.”
Which clears everything up.
We can help. Its one. Your first. And its for Division Three.
Division Three initially came into being way back in 1923, and lasted until 1926, when it was scrapped. It was an actual third level-higher than the one McCoists side won, and its first winners were Arthurlie.
Division C came into being for the ten years after the war, and it disappearred again until 1994 , when the current fourth level was introduced. Although it is the fourth level of senior football, it is the third level of the Scottish Football League, which is of course, separate from the Scottish Premier League, where all the big teams play.
Two current SPL sides, Ross County and Inverness are previous winners, and their current positions near the top of Scottish football can only give hope and ambition to the new boys of senior football.
We all have to start somewhere, and we wish them well.
David Longshanks, sorry Longmuir has been doing his level best to get a job with his beloved Rangers. Well, he claims not to be a fan, its just everyone else in his house who is. Clearly nonsense, because if he lived in a house full of Zombies, they would have eaten him by now, so he must be one too.
There seems to be a concerted effort to delay reconstruction, and its not looking as clear cut as it was. No doubt SPL2 will rear its head soon, with automatic invites for Govan based clubs who have a lot of fans. Staves off Armageddon you see, as a “strong Rangers ” will reverse the terminal decline currently happening throughout the land.
Or is it? A report from BBC business says that four out of 32 SFL clubs are in difficulty-as opposed to six this time last year. Attendances across the leagues are up, and the report-by accountancy firm Begbies Traynor- suggests that clubs have adapted to the “new ” climate.
Ken Patullo, a spokesman for the firm said;
“the game has coped with the disruption the Rangers administration caused last year.”
He must mean the admin people at the deceased club. Because they went into liquidation.
Another story that caught the eye was the removal of former Celtic manager Martin O’Neill from his post at Premier league Sunderland. The mercy shot was finally given to O’Neill, after his team got beat again, as the Irishman continued to fail at any team not containing Henrik Larsson.
His successor, the controversial Paolo di Canio has said he “would bet every penny he had on Sunderland avoiding the drop”, which should have bookmakers rubbing their hands with glee.
Of the four Celtic managers listed in Fridays odd one out, Jimmy McGrory was the only one who was not club captain before becoming manager. As usual there were several answers which were right, but that was the one we were looking for.
Today, try these four.
Celtic , Rangers, Morton , Livingston.
I see what you did there, a trick question! We know that Rangers are no more, so the odd one out between Celtic, Morton and Livingston. Morton, cause Davie Hay managed the other two.
Rangers as they are dead
Maybe Neil should be worried about the standard of his management rather than the standard of referees. We were pish again even at 11 v 11, how Samaras stays on the park is incredible yet Neil puts him in as captain. Time for Neil to walk and take Liewell with him. They’re murdering Celtic, one on the park the other off it. Just look at the crowds, not all of that can be put down to a recession. Many have paid for season books and still don’t turn up to watch it as they know it’s gonnae be that rubbish served up. Watching Samaras, Brown and Mulgrew fanny about and watching Lennon fill the team with as many defensive players as possible. Time for a change, our points total and our form in the league this season have been deplorable, we’re terrible to watch and I think it’s mainly down to a terrible manager. Every game we play now at home or away against scottish teams its about 50/50 whether we’ll win or not, rubbish! I’m sick of Lennon and i’m sick of his excuses.
bogbhoy
I think you are being a tad harsh but I do believe you have good cause for some of your frustration and comments. The odd player being off in the odd game is understandable but the consistency of this team has been as good as my cake mix and you should see how flat my cakes are. I believe the manager needs a good hard look at himself. Taking drastic action never follows his threats which are becoming consistent in his post match interviews. I am very suspicious of a “palsy walsy” act on the go. Jock Stein said his teams went out to beat at least thirteen on the park. When it is Celtic, it is simple and Neil should know that and prepare accordingly. Is he capable – another question but I am not sure we have come to that just yet. As for Sunday, it was the other Lennon that should have been ranting but then, he was not angry at his pals.
As for the fans, I could not agree more that there are serious issues requiring immediate attention both those on the park but more importantly the many off it. We all know what they are but certain people seem to be perfectly happy with their heads buried in the sand. I hope they remember that their feet are still exposed for being shot in. You are right on the button when you claim “not all of that can be put down to a recession.”
H H
Ralph
Good diary, good diary! You make all the salient points about the current football, refereeing and administration issues viz. all rubbish. I see by the photo that Charlie has finally got them a towel – I originally had “bought them” but then remembered. It looks a mite small for Ally but I suppose he can easily dry clean the team with all the hot air that comes out in one big fart – does he do any other kind? No sour grapes though. Congratulations are in order just as commiserations are due to the runners up i.e. everybody, creditors, HMRC, Scottish Football, cities around the world and all those non league teams that DID have 3 years audited accounts and had better claims to be in SFL3, to name but a few.
I guess M.O.N. has discovered another empty piggy bank. Maybe his level is not the EPL. Whatever, we will always remember he dragged us out of the mire and for that we must be eternally grateful. I suppose Paulo is so confident because when he gets “stuck” he can always contact the Bundesliga for some “stukas” – now, Ralph, that is what is called not just clever but really clever!
Not so clever is my very simple answer to the quiz. Celtic, as they are the only club never to have been relegated from the top tier. They are also the only club never to be in administration – or EVEN WORSE! On the other hand, Rangers are the only one with a posthumous tribute act. Ach, who cares? If they are in it, it has to be a dubious answer.
H H
Rangers? Aye they used to play foodbaw in Scoddland until they were liquidated and DIED!
Livi were Feranti Thistle, Morton were Morton and are now Greenock Morton, Rangers don’t exist and Celtic have always been Celtic.
Celtic, the rest end in ON, LivinstON, MortON, Rangers in AdministratiON
Desi
That is so, so clever! Roll ON!
H H
Celtic are the odd one out as they haven’t changed their name
Celtic are the only ones never to have won promotion to a higher division.
Hamish
Or demotion to a lower division – Oh, Oh! There are two teams there that that hasn’t happened too. Sorry, simply forgot, guys!
H H
I didn’t think I’d get away with that one. HH
Rangers are the odd ones out. All the other clubs ha changed their name. Rangers is technically a new member and have taken the name of a former one. What do I win? Someone’s history?