Leaderboard

I have not run out of patience. Tomorrow, do not waste time showing the necessary respect. Get after them all around the pitch from the first whistle. Be relentless and ruthless. get a quick goal, get another, and another, ..... etc. Ignore Brown, do not even acknowledge his presence, leave him exasperated. Abergreen are 10th in the league for a reason, they are a less than moderately talented, unmotivated(unless they're playing us) precious bunch. By half-time, I want to hear the PQ Dandies, Big Dick, Liam McLeod, Jonathan Sutherland, Wullie Miller, .... etc squealing in anguish.

King is just shit stirring. He's upset that he's not been able to sell his shares. What's his number one complaint? The treatment of C1872! That shows where his priorities lie. He's also got a cheek to complain about personal agendas. He had numerous over the years that damaged the club.

I'm not sure a management team not being given the funds they ask for is in any way peculiar, particularly with the Covid situation impacting income. King will take any opportunity to have a pop at the board, who have given him an open goal with the Sydney thing.

This development of begging for players' shirts is distasteful but that doesn't seem to deter anyone ... so the club does need to take this action.

In light of this week's decision by Lord Arthurson to allow the survivors of sexual abuse to continue their Class Action against Celtic FC, I wondered if any Gersnetters ever played against Celtic Boys' Club? I have respect for the work undertaken by the Spotlight team and acknowledge the real courage shown by Gordon Woods and the Gray family. The continuing actions are the epitome of a deliberately cast aside grouping fighting to take the initiative against the Establishment. The Club, both print and broadcast media and, the Scottish Government chose to ignore decades of pain, anguish and, serious mental health concerns that in some cases have culminated in suicide. We know there have been multiple appearances in court, dozens of convictions four criminal trials pending and, six Club perpetrators as a result of conviction have served/are serving custodial sentences. Further, a Class Action is now pending. We know Celtic disbanded Celtic Boys Club a decade past and set up a new official Youth Club, St Patricks. Celtic claimed the near half century old Celtic Boys' Club was a separate entity. We know that key designations in several organisations have deliberately run interference in both investigation and reporting. The Establishment is powerful. The reason for this posting is connected to the Barcelona Bound thread on Rangers Chat. Frequently, I mention my own experiences of Schools - Youth - Amateur football in the late 60s/early 70s. Like a lot of my age group, I played organised football at my Primary School, the Cubs/Scouts, local Boys' Club, Secondary School and, in my teenage years graduated to Amateur football officially connected to a senior Club's Youth development. I was at Uddingston Amateurs for two years organised by former Hamilton acas Keeper for a decade, Billy Lamont(went on to manage Partick Thistle, Falkirk, Alloa, .... etc). I moved to Fir Park Boys' Club for just over three years; under the tutelage of Joe Wark and Billy Campbell. In nearly six years, I took the field against Celtic Boys' Club on a least a dozen and a half occasions. I think we secured a couple of draws, mostly we were deservedly defeated by at least two or three goals. There were two league games each season and ultimately progression in the cups was dependent upon when you drew Celtic Boys' Club. We made a couple of finals. Whatever the circumstance, the experience was always similar. We turned up with 13-14 players, eleven started and there were two Substitutes. When CBC trapped, it was unique. Seriously, there could be nearly three dozen lads; all replete in badged dark green blazers, white shirts and club necktie. Grey flannels and polished shoes accompanied combed hair. To complete the full automaton look, all carried the green with white piping flight bag holding their kit. 'CBC' was stencilled across every bag. It was intimidating, like us they could only strip(no attempts at humour please) 13 players. There were 20 lads standing on the side of the pitch, the majority of whom could have easily walked into our team. Celtic Boys' club were attracting such numbers at all age group levels in 1972, only six years after foundation. The popularity of the club was such that it was replicated in several of the countries regions ie CBC East was in Edinburgh, CBC North in Aberdeen, .... etc. In the early days, if you wanted to read a match report of your game against the club; you could pick up a copy of the Celtic View(official newspaper of Celtic FC) Edited by Jack McGinn and there was a match report on each game played by each age grouping. The London Road Celtic Supporters Association is a three storey building, each floor has wrap around glass. Until a decade ago, you could not see inside the windows because each window ledge was adorned with all the silverware secured by CBC. Celtic Boys' Club was accepted and celebrated by all Celtic supporters. I can talk about one player, a truly fantastic midfielder I faced regularly in both schools and Boys Amateur football. I was fortunate to play several games in the same team, both representing Lanarkshire School Boys. He was over a year younger but regularly played in the grouping above, he was easily the best player I ever shared a pitch with. John McCluskey was the younger brother of George, he signed for Celtic in 1972, aged 13 years. He testified in court against Jim Torbett in his 1996 trial. John, or as we knew him, 'Friar' because of his pudding bowl haircut; was the outstanding player at Wembley in the 1975 English Schoolboys versus Scottish Schoolboys fixture. We won 3-5(not to be confused with the Paul McStay, John Robertson, Paul Rideout, .... etc game of a few years later when we won 4-5) and John scored two. Friar was a genial lad, always chatted away during games and, did not hesitate to congratulate team mate or opposition. He blamed his Mother for his hairstyle, he claimed she insisted on cutting his locks. Rewards were big at CBC, semi-finals were hosted by a Junior club, finals were taken to a senior ground. We got skelped at Thorniewood United's park in Tannochside and coming off the pitch chatting with Friar, I was jealous when he informed me he was off in a couple of weeks on a CBC Scandinavian tour for several days. The next time I faced John was several weeks later, in a schools match and we defeated Holy Cross, Hamilton 3-0. Friar had changed, he was barking at his own team mates. Swearing and blaming lesser players. Holy Cross Coach, former Celt, John Cushley subbed him at half-time. The last time I played against him was a final at Cliftonhill, home of Albion Rovers. The paragraph where I described the host of automatons trapping and hoping was again apparent and easily matched by a larger horde of CBC officials, all similarly attired. Friar was sullen and uncommunicative, we put it down to BillyBigBaws, he was on his way. Frank Cairney was top man, he lived locally and was well known. After the match, he entered the CBC dressing room with a chromed tape recorder. There were several dozen lads and officials in the dressing room and out in the corridor bouncing to the Celtic Song and Irish rebel tunes. Frank had made a tape. I went to Uni' and Friar made his debut for Celtic aged 16 years in the European Cup tie against Luxembourg side, Jeunesse Esch. It was to be his only game, suffering a horrific knee injury in a reserve fixture the next season. The injury finished his career. Five years later I met John on Cadzow Street, Hamilton. I was home on leave and he had just finished a shift, he was a Labourer for Hamilton District Council. We chatted for a few minutes, promising to get together for a few pints. I have not seen John since. Thinking about it, the last time I talked to John, he was 14 and I was 15. I read the Daily Record's reporting of Torbett's first trial. Both John McCluskey and Allan Brazil were most courageous. I realised from John's testimony, the Scandinavian tour that provoked my green monster was the beginning of his misery with Torbett. These guys, the Cairneys, the Torbetts, .... etc all gravitate into areas where they get access. Then, they strictly adhere to the principles of defence - all round defence, mutual support, depth, camouflage, concealment, administration, ..... etc. Even to this day, Celtic, the majority of the media and, the Scottish Government continue to adhere. It's a continuing, co-ordinated, multi-layered defence. If any Gersnetters have played against CBC, please share your memories but be careful. Keep it general, do not mention specific players by name. My referrals to John McCluskey are in the public domaine because he testified. The work of Spotlight must be respected.

Seems to me we can debate it until the cows come home. Some of us will be right, some will be wrong but what is undeniable is that our coaching staff are struggling to get anything like the best out of our squad. Whatever anyone thinks of the recent transfer window, the players we have now are the only ones available and it is absolutely the manager's job to deliver the best possible results they are capable of achieving. We can't improve things by changing the squad, our only options with respect to players is to change the team selection. So the only questions worth asking are these ..... are these players achieving to their potential and is the manager doing all that could be done to maximise results on the park in terms of preparation, motivation, tactics and selection? And if not, why not and what can be done about it?

Whoever wins the league won't need this at all. It's odd that so many have been taken in by a yahoo scribe who says they're getting more than us. I was brought up to never trust a yahoo.

He may be a good commercial professional, but he sure is not a diplomat.

Bisgrove's job is to grab money making opportunities for the club, which is exactly what he's done here. Park or Graham should be the ones telling him 'Thanks but no!'.

'Completely inevitable' would probably be a better description. Scotland is just a stepping stone to the EPL.

https://www.ayradvertiser.com/news/19962878.plaque-unveiled-prestwick-honour-penalty-king-johnny/?fbclid=IwAR0MmpXYRCI6GuJfmIk0ZlLpH9haIdaNOqM78fKmLdWanQasMNokmhm0P9o 12 hrs ago Plaque unveiled in Prestwick in honour of ‘Penalty King’ Johnny By Calam PengillyReporter Johnny Hubbard Court 0 comment A NEW housing development in Prestwick has been completed – and named in honour of a football legend who played for Ayr United. The amenity housing on Main Street, right in the centre of the town, was delivered by Ashleigh Housing and has been officially named Johnny Hubbard Court. The building contains 11 new homes designed for the elderly or infirm. It was named in honour of South African, Johnny Hubbard, who was known in his playing days as “The Penalty King”. Johnny’s playing career encompassed 10 years at Rangers where he took 68 penalties for Rangers, and scored 65, earning him his nickname. He also spent three years at Bury, and two years with Ayr United, a move which saw him settle in the South Ayrshire area after his playing career came to an end. Johnny died in 2018 at the age of 87. He was involved in local community sport, working for the council. He captained Prestwick Cricket Club and managed and coached at Prestwick Tennis Court, as well as coaching football at schools across the Ayrshire. A plaque featuring a likeness of Johnny is displayed at the front of the building. A group of around 30 people gathered outside the development on Friday, February 25 to hear from those involved in the project. Councillor Phillip Saxton, speaking at the opening of the Johnny Hubbard Court, said: “Construction has been built to a very high standard and fits in with the town centre, with the exterior matching the surrounding buildings. I would like to say a personal thank you to the fundraising group for the plaque.” Speaking on behalf of the fundraising group that raised £4,500 for the plaque to be made, Bill Baillie said: “The plaque was the endpoint of what we started just after Johnny passed. “Tam Cairns, is actually the one who initiated it and we got a small team together. We were actually going to go for a statue at one point, but because of Covid, it all fell down and we had to downsize it a bit. I’d like to thank Tam (Cairns), Allan (Hago), and Gordon (McKenzie) for all their help and sticking with me to get this done, I’d like to thank Linda, Linda Burridge, for coming along and being part of the group for the plaque as well. “And Ruth Davis, Ruth is the Sculptor, who did the plaque. “I want to say one small thing about this, it’s composite material, it’s not worth stealing. The plaque cost £4,000 and with money left over from donations, the group is to install a memorial bench at Prestwick Cricket Club. Bill added: “Thanks to everyone from the whole community for investing in it.” Bill also relayed a message from Sir Alex Ferguson, who praised Johnny’s sporting impact. “As a young fan growing up in Govan supporting my team Rangers, the emergence of Johnny Hubbard was starting to catch supporters attention, was his intelligence he’d arrived from South Africa in 1951 and was not your normal well-built players Rangers were accustomed to, he was a small diminutive left-winger but bit by bit he became an important player in the mid-50s. “This culminated on New Year’s Day in 1955 for the Old Firm match where he scored a goal that would equal the Ryan Giggs’ goal of the 1999 FA Cup semifinal against Arsenal. “I was also at Broomfield Park in Airdrie when Hubby missed his first penalty, cutting his shot to the right-hand side of the Airdrie goal keeper, however his record of converting 65 penalties out of 68 22 of them consecutively, takes some beating. It was my pleasure to meet Johnny in later years, he was an absolute gentleman.” Johnny Hubbard’s daughter, Linda Burridge, said: “It’s a great honour for the family that he’ll always be remembered in Prestwick, his adopted home, it’s a massive honour.” “He loved sport that was his passion he loved nurturing young people regardless of their ability. to take part and enjoy it as well he could be quite a disciplinarian sometimes, but that was his upbringing with sport and everything. “He’s sorely missed, it’s three and a half years now since we lost him and then we lost my mum in April, so she’s not here to witness this, so it’s a bit bittersweet, but yes, it’s a huge honour for the family.”

Well i think from an economic perspective, it can be argued that taking part in this for a little cash boost is fairly short term in that 1) our direct rivals are also involved and will get the same (or greater?) cash boost 2) our direct rivals are embarking on partnerships with Australian broadcasters (https://www.glasgowtimes.co.uk/sport/19967743.celtic-seal-partnership-major-australian-entertainment-company/) and as such look to be one step ahead of us.. again 3) this is already being marketed down under as 'anges homecoming' and not Rangers V Celtic

4 - 🐑 0 FGS: Kent.

Exactly this. Bisgrove is as much a Rangers man as any other random person. He is a commercial/marketing professional and probably a good one. This proposal would have needed sign off at senior board levels, that's where the issue lies for me.

I quite like King and his bravado, but I'm also pretty sure if he wanted to still be chairman at Ibrox and in control he would be. That says more to me than any soundbites. Hes not here so he is about as relevant as the other yesterday men.

Rangers 6 Aberdeen 0 FGS: Kent

I think I read somewhere that Greegs has conceded a goal to 75% of the shots he faced (on target). I wonder how many goals we'd have scored this season (and how many extra points we'd have) if we scored from 75% of shots we had on target (Hope that's worded correctly).... Looking back at the game last night we were dreadful for 85mins of the game. We were slow and sluggish, we looked uncomfortable with the system and tactics deployed, Balogun and Bassey looked like they played on with injuries, Aribo and Arfield were running on empty after half an hour and our front 2 were so far apart we had no link up play. The most baffling part was the lack of subs used. I think GVB only used 1 sub in the Motherwell draw and 'zero last night. Does the manager not trust the players on the bench? We can't play the same system / style / pace on Saturday as Aberdeen will as usual play the game like it's their World Cup Final.

Agreed.

Dunno whether you do the line-up on a smart phone, but if you use a PC, you find small icons above the text field, the three next to A align the text where you want it. I reckon Aberdeen will want to spoil the party and make a fist of it, not least with the Legoeater in there and Ferguson, Bates and McCrorie willing to break their necks. Anyways, my line-up wouldn`t be too many miles off the above, since we need some grit midfield and pace up front. I doubt we will see Ramsey from the off, but likewise hope we won`t have Kamara in some make-shift attacking slot. Both Jack and Lundstram can find players, so just go for it ... McLaughlin Tavernier - Goldson - Balogun - Bassey Sakala - Jack - Lundstram - Kent Morelos - Roofe I would actually put Helander and Balogun into the CH positions, but I doubt Goldson will be dropped unless he`s injured ...

I'd make 2 changes. We definitely need a goalie who's more willing to dominate his six yard box in the air and I feel Joe Aribo has been needing a rest since he returned from whatever they were doing in Africa. The defence picks itself and I agree the midfield pairing of Jack and Lundstram is essential, with Kamara dropping out. ------------McLaughlin---------- Tav--Goldson--Balogun--Bassey ---------Jack--Lundstram------ Sakala-------Ramsey--------Kent -------------Morelos------------

To be fair the due diligence required to learn that was extremely onerous. Well, more work than tweeting anyway.

Massive 3 points here for us in Aberdeens final game of the season. We need to want it more than them. Do that and we will win. I'd go ------------McGregor----------- Tav--Goldson--Balogun--Bassey ---------Jack--Lundstram------ Aribo-------Ramsey--------Kent -------------Morelos------------

I'm beginning to think we have a manager who talks about what we must do better and then picks the same players and adopts the same tactics as before ... and players who talk about what they need to do better but then go out and do the same again. You can hear it in their voices - they perform to the press better than they're performing with the ball.

Pointed out above too. If you play a attacking 4-3-3, the top 3 shall be able to create and score goals. For months if not years we have played people there who create, but don`t score (enough to validate a automatic starting slot). One the bench were Roofe and Sakala, who can play right, left or centrally in a top-3. Play them all and see whether they succeed where the others have failed. Or, play Kent and Sakala on either wing and put Roofe and Morelos through the middle. You know it makes sense AND whatever has been said about this not being a viable option (is not modern etc.pp.) has since been disproven by three years of attacking toil against the brickwall-gang. Chances created have never won us a single game. Only goals do that ... and if anything, we need find solutions.

Question for those who played against them: How on Earth do you refrain from doing things like this...?

- Protests in stands against the friendly. - King v Board arguement. - wearing a one off all white kit. - Aberdeen playing their cup final. - Team out of form. What could go wrong 🤷‍♂️😁

Some yahoo 'journalist' who's grandparents were probably convicts, as well as everyone who believes his daft article.

Who?

... yet we persist playing with but one striker and half-a-ahndful of attack-minded players who can create chances but don`t put them away. Whilst having 2 strikers on the bench who are deadly (compared to Kent, Aribo and Co.) in front of goals and can play on either side of a central striker. The system of 1 striker and 3 "attackers" behind him never really worked against the low-block teams, as we simply have too few able people in the box to score, and generally too few attackers anyways.

the chances the opposition get tend to be better though. there aren't 14 defenders in the box when motherwell get a chance etc.

Wow. Is that a genuine quote? Da fuck does he think he is?

Some positivity at last!

Whilst not wanting to derail the thread, some of what King says should have alarm bells ringing, especially this part about SG. Said for months there is something not right at our club, Kings interview appears to confirm this.

I think its meant to say 0 instead of 6

I wonder if at any time during the negotiations our board asked their board that whilst on their way to Australia, they could stop off in Japan and complete their 2008 make-believe tour which ultimately cost us UEFA Cup and the league? Forgive and forget? NEVER

I'm not a fan of this idea, but going by the reactions of others, I'm in one of the low percentiles of pissed-offness. I hate being in the same stadium as their fans. I'm glad we stopped giving them a whole stand at Ibrox, and any excuse to shut them out completely suits me. But I've no intention of going to Sydney, so in that regard this exhibition match makes no difference to me. If others are happy to pay their money for it that's their business. Also, to play devil's advocate, it was a certainty we'd have organised warm weather training during the world cup break, and probably have arranged attendance at an invitational mini-tournament too. That's an expensive business. By agreeing to play them not only is the cost covered, but we'll also get enough money for a signing or two. None of that changes my opinion of Septic or the groin brigade.

Lowest xG since Parkhead Pass % lowest since Pittodrie So it was as bad as it felt.

Truly, I am surprised at Sellik telling us that this proposed friendly match is a goer. Given the situation in Ukraine and those brave Bhoys of the Green Brigade currently engaged in stopping Russian Motor Rifle Divisions, will the lhads and lhassies be granted leave to travel to attend the match? This situation requires foresight and penetrative thought, you cannot just disengage Green Brigade Flying Columns at the drop of a Leprechaun's hat.

Anybody else remember when we used to complain about Scottish football hating itself to death?

Even if we get the same amount of money from it as Celtic, it doesn't help us gain an advantage as they get the same as us.. its pointless.

Unlike many of today's rich football players, Johnny was always approachable and only too happy to speak wit fans any time you bumped into him at Ibrox or, usually, in the Wee Rangers Club before his health took a turn for the worse in more recent times. A true Rangers hero who traversed eras. He'll be sadly missed. :(