Bluedell 5,348 Posted April 22, 2015 Author Share Posted April 22, 2015 And a great article from Kenny MacDonald of the Sun: Pity poor Celtic. What a week they’ve had. On the wrong end of a reffing howler in the Cup semi-final. Their treble hopes up in smoke. And now some loony from the Green Brigade has somehow got into their offices, fired up their computers, and sent a complaint about Sunday’s game to the SFA. If not someone from the Green Brigade, then presumably it’s been someone from the wild-eyed lunatic fringe element of their support. How else can you explain the sort of completely off-their-meds wibble-wibble hatstand stuff they came out with on Monday afternoon? With one single 113-word statement, Celtic managed to completely undermine the reputation their football has helped them towards this season. It would be a curious onlooker who suggested the champions-in-waiting haven’t been the best footballing team in the country this season. They currently have the three best players in Scotland in their ranks, in Craig Gordon, Stefan Johansen and Virgil van Dijk. No one else comes close to that trio. Their new manager is a sane, articulate and cheery bloke who has somehow gone from being a total unknown to fans’ darling in the space of six months. And now, this hogwash. There’s something uniquely deluded about the supporters of a club whose trophy haul is one of the biggest in the world history of the game suffering from a persecution complex. But here they come, whining about being “robbed” because a referee made a simple mistake in a match. And such is Celtic’s bloated, self-important sense of entitlement that they can come out with all this guff about being “inundated” and “the level of reaction from our supporters” with a straight face. It’s insulting to the intelligence of any sane onlooker and all Peter Lawwell and Co. have done is pander to the paranoid element of Celtic’s support who see every decision which goes against them rooted in bias, bigotry and good old-fashioned sectarianism. Among the element of their support who take a more measured view of things, Celtic’s puffed-up, arrogant response to being bounced out of the Scottish Cup is a source of embarrassment – as well it should be. They’ll know that, for the foreseeable future, anything that goes against Celtic will lead to mocking suggestions they’ll be seeking more ‘clarification’ for the latest perceived wrong done to them. But if Celtic’s conduct over the matter has been risible, cowardly and morally indefensible, what of our chums on the sixth floor at Hampden? Ernie Walker and his ilk must be spinning in their graves at the SFA’s craven response to Celtic’s letter. In Ernie’s day, Celtic’s ludicrous complaint wouldn’t even have got a written reply. He’d have been on the phone, barking, “It says here you want to understand the circumstances of what went on. OK, here goes. The ref and his assistant made a mistake, end of story. Grow up.” For Compliance Officer Tony McGlennan – who’s looking a more petty and absurd figure with every passing week – to yesterday issue Inverness’ Josh Meekings with a Notice of Complaint simply looks needlessly vindictive, and again you have to wonder if he’d have been as pro-active on it if Celtic hadn’t been banging their spoon on their high-chair in their customary manner of attracting attention. While we’re at it, if Meekings is being done because of something the ref didn’t see on Sunday, why hasn’t Lukasz Zaluska been done for thumping Edward Ofere like a train hitting the buffers? The referee obviously didn’t see that, or he’d have awarded Inverness a penalty, no? The whole affair has left Celtic’s manager Ronny Deila in something of a spot. He didn’t show up for yesterday’s pre-match press conference – John Collins toed the 'we just want an answer to a question' party line, highly unconvincingly – but Deila will have to speak to the media after tonight’s game at Dens. He’s a sharp guy and I suspect deep down he’ll be bemused at his new club’s stance on the semi-final matter. Without any of the diseased worldview which infects some of Celtic’s more rabid support, he’ll know his side didn’t get a penalty on Sunday because the referee made an error – an error, incidentally, which has conveniently removed the spotlight on how poorly his front quartet of Griffiths, Johansen, Commons and Forrest played in the game. Whether or not he’ll say that, though, is another matter. I’d anticipate more babble of the type Collins came out with yesterday about the club having “moved on” when it’s clear that’s the last thing they want to do. Personally, I’d like to see two things now happen. I hope tonight’s Dens ref, Calum Murray, has a good game. Otherwise there’s going to be more sanctimonious drivel from Celtic about how beastly their treatment from referees is. And second, for the good of the sport, it’s to be hoped Meekings’ appeal against his Cup Final ban succeeds. The precedent for supporting him is there, in Law 5 of the game – “The decisions of the referee regarding facts connected with play, including whether or not a goal is scored and the result of the match, are final.” Amen to that. Hopefully... 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bluedell 5,348 Posted April 22, 2015 Author Share Posted April 22, 2015 If this is to be believed then we are both wrong http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2487622/Sven-Goran-Eriksson-advised-Roman-Abramovich-buy-Chelsea-Spurs.html I don't think that suggests I am wrong. 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
BEARGER 1,829 Posted April 22, 2015 Share Posted April 22, 2015 https://www.change.org/p/scottish-football-association-withdraw-the-notice-of-complaint-issued-against-josh-meekings?recruiter=64827593&utm_source=share_petition&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=share_twitter_responsive 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ser Barristan Selmy 222 Posted April 22, 2015 Share Posted April 22, 2015 Yeah that works well in Spain. I don't get your point? 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pete 2,499 Posted April 22, 2015 Share Posted April 22, 2015 I don't get your point? Join him in a dugout. 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
der Berliner 3,267 Posted April 22, 2015 Share Posted April 22, 2015 Now, why oh why does some stuff concerning the Hooped Horrors manages to make it even to FIFA? Josh Meekings: Inverness player should not be banned, says Boyce Fifa's head of referees has said that the Scottish FA is wrong to suspend Inverness Caledonian Thistle's Josh Meekings for the Scottish Cup final. The Highlanders have not accepted the retrospective one-game ban following a controversial hand-ball incident during their 3-2 semi-final win over Celtic. If Thursday's appeal fails, defender Meekings will miss the 30 May final against Championship side Falkirk. "I think it would be a very, very dangerous precedent," said Jim Boyce. "Who's to say it was even intentional? "Every week we have hand-ball situations where referees make a decision. In this particular game, there was a referee, an assistant referee, one of these people behind the goal line and there was a fourth official and none of them made any decision. "So I can't believe that they're going to suspend a player for a hand ball." Celtic have written to the SFA asking why referee Steven McLean and his officials did not award a penalty and send Meekings off after he blocked a goal-bound Leigh Griffiths header. Boyce told BBC Scotland that he understands Celtic's grievance but disciplinary action against the officials in question is a matter for the SFA. Britain's Fifa vice-president and the head of refereeing committee added that he is in favour of the fourth official being able to consult a monitor should he spot incidents missed by the referee that would affect the result of the game. The SFA did not wish to make a statement on Boyce's comments. Since the SFA overhauled their disciplinary procedures in 2011 and employed Vincent Lunny as the first compliance officer to enforce the new protocols, players have been retrospectively punished for violent conduct and serious foul play. Lunny, who was replaced last year by Tony McGlennan, said the rules also allow for action to be taken over any potential sending off offence, including preventing a goal by handling the ball. BBC Well, the answer is obvious. McLaughlin harassed this poor chap like he pestered Doncaster about the "new club" stuff his fellow Yahoos can't let go. He probably didn't like the answer in both cases. 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
the gunslinger 3,366 Posted April 22, 2015 Share Posted April 22, 2015 I don't get your point? Giving all the money to the rich clubs makes for a joke league. Think how bad ours would be with part time teams in the spl. 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ser Barristan Selmy 222 Posted April 22, 2015 Share Posted April 22, 2015 (edited) Giving all the money to the rich clubs makes for a joke league. Think how bad ours would be with part time teams in the spl. La Liga is the best league! Atletico won it last year. It's full of top teams. Edited April 22, 2015 by Ser Barristan Selmy 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
the gunslinger 3,366 Posted April 22, 2015 Share Posted April 22, 2015 Sure it is. 9 1 results prove it. 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ser Barristan Selmy 222 Posted April 22, 2015 Share Posted April 22, 2015 (edited) Any league featuring Real Madrid and Barcelona is going to have high scores from time to time. You only have to see the performance of Spanish teams in both European tournaments to see La Liga is easily the strongest league. Edited April 22, 2015 by Ser Barristan Selmy 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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