I am really beginning to warm to the idea of winter sun and Celtic.
That is 21 goals scored without reply in 2019.
Today the Hoops broke a cup tie record that had previously been established by Walter Smith’s financially doped up ensemble in the 1990s.
No club in Scotland has ever won 24 domestic cup victories on the bounce until today.
That is the remarkable degree of consistency and it shows the laser-like focus that Brendan Rodgers and his backroom team have brought to the party.
Now the successor club at Ibrox had another cup success this week.
I’m told that several of the Sevco High Command were quietly jubilant at the draw at Rugby Park.
A replay at Ibrox will bring in much-needed revenues.
No doubt Mr Gerrard will consider the fixture to be a pain in Alfredo’s preferred target area.
The replay against Killie next week is another game out of the legs and an opportunity of injuries to pile up.
Of course, it isn’t a foregone conclusion that Steve Clarke’s men will be so easy to dispatch at Ibrox.
Therefore, the man who has a bad history of slip-ups would have preferred a victory in Ayrshire.
However, the chaps who have to pay the bills at Ibrox knows that every little helps.
Especially as Big Mike will want to take it to penalties in the High Court next April.
It is a well-known fact that little clubs love cup replays and the big boys would rather see them far enough.
In the Blue Room, they’re running a small club, but they have to pretend otherwise to their klanbase.
Celtic, on and off the field, have no equals in Scotland.
The resources that Rodgers could call on from the bench today is unparalleled in the domestic sphere.
Of course, Celtic are the richest club in the country by some distance.
It is almost as if having more money than the rest confers some sort of sporting advantage.
I realise that is a controversial view for some…
We did it paying pure,accountable open Taxes.
If the likes of Madden, Beaton, Dallas and Collum are not removed from the Grade 1 list then a players is going to be seriously injured.
The forearm smash by the St Mirren player on Saturday nearly decapitated the Dundee United player.
Mick McManus would have been proud of it.
Collum was 5 yards away with an unrestricted view yet flashed a yellow card.
It would be laughable if it wasn’t so serious.
Meanwhile over at Celtic Park Burke is body checked right in front of the ref, no foul.
The linesman on the far side only ever raised his flag for a throw in after the referee had made the decision for him!
In the first half the ball had clearly gone out of play a couple of yards from the linesman, yet no flag, though myself and others around me 100 yards away could see it.
Such was the severity of the attack on the United player I’m surprised he wasn’t arrested by the police for assault.
Have to agree Joe…it was horrendous….and how Collum could only give yellow sums up the standard of refereeing in this country…it is dreadful.
Sevco fans don’t seem too pleased about the price of cup replay tickets Phil
Off topic I know but with the Ireland v Scotland rugby result at the weekend it reminded me that there was an Italy v Scotland game last year which included three kilt wearing amigos on camera at the stadium in Rome serenading the camera with a bagpipe rendition of ‘the billy boys’ interspersed with FTP and the usual high jinks.
One of the three was sporting a Bearsden logo on his rugby top, were they ever identified or named/shamed?
I don’t know the answer to that Joseph but In “The Scotsman” yesterday 10/2/19. Irvine Welsh was been quite critical of the behaviour of the rugby fans in Edinburgh. Their is quite a lengthy comment section at the end of the article, perhaps some of our learned rugby fans may be able to shine some light on this for you if you were to inquire, I would be quite interested and perhaps Irvine would also, in finding out if any action was ever taken,
Spot on Phil, the replay revenue will be very welcome, though 50/50 split with Killie minus match expenses will make a hole in the take.
With the League Cup in the bag and a 6 point lead in the SPFL leaving us huge favourites we are truly looking down the barrel of a treble treble.
The Scottish Cup by it’s nature being of the knock out kind will bring the biggest challenge.
One honest mistake could bring the new 24 game cup record crashing down.
Our options up front will ensure a steady flow of goals and even with the number of injuries the back line is creating their own history with shut outs since the turn of the year.
The Killie away match next weekend, scheduled between the Valencia games, will be challenging, and 3 points are a must.
Our last visit to Killie was embarassing and we have to improve significantly on that.
With Boyata, Ntcham and Edouard back in the fold Brendan will have plenty of options.
Yes, a futher Europa run would be great, but would anyone swop beating Valencia for the treble treble?
Come on!
You seriously think Killie will see any share of the gate?
Not a genuine one anyway.
How about open book accounting?
I’ve been told that Killie have been assured a share of the gate…..It will be the padlock or one of the hinges.
Nah yiv nailed there Joe,Treble Treble For me please
For even IF we beat Valencia and get through I cannot see another Seville run all the way to the final happening again,well,not just yet……
And it will not happen until the Club retains its best talents year on year,instead of punting them and being a feeder club for the epl,anyone denying that is delusional,Virgil,Victor,Armstrong etc etc…
HH🍀
Cheers Phil.
Let’s hope those options don’t have Brendan reaching for the Brown-Ntcham setup in Midfield again that seen us pumped by both Hibs and Pretendy Gers.
If he does that he’s learned nothing this Season.