Fire fighting is an important skill for any PR professional.
As the name suggests it is a reactive activity to a situation that you wish was not happening in the first place.
However, leaving it be is not an option.
There has been a lot of effort put into rehabilitating the reputation of Alfredo Morelos since he smashed Scott Brown in the face last March.
A reasonable person might have concluded that the Colombian had something of a discipline problem
Consequently, this would have a negative impact on his future value in the transfer market.
It should be apparent to any Sevco watcher that selling Morelos is an important part of the financial strategy going forward.
He is undoubtedly the main asset in the playing squad.
Therefore, anything that diminished his market value has to be addressed.
Unfortunately, he was again sent off in the Glasgow Derby, this time for a second yellow card for an act of simulation.
The images of his apparent throat-cutting gesture to the home fans has been widely shared.
In that one moment, the need for a PR fire fighting effort to protect the Morelos brand became urgent.
Now, in a totally unrelated development, I understand that the Match Delegate’s report will include an allegation that the striker was subjected to “a racial slur” as he left the field of play last Sunday.
This abuse allegedly came from a fan seated close to the tunnel in the main stand.
I asked my source about the provenance of this information-i.e. how did this come to be in the Match Delegate’s report.
My understanding is that the Match Delegate was told by a member of the Sevco security team about the alleged incident in the immediate aftermath of the game.
It is perfectly in order for a Match Delegate to speak to the security professionals in order to compile their report.
For the avoidance of doubt, I am not aware if there is any other source of information that corroborates this very serious allegation.
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Let us, for the moment, assume that Daft Alfie’s gesture was “well-intentioned” by him. Now, compare and contrast Charlie Green’s reference to his “Paki friend” as being equally “well-intentioned” – that is to say, what Green meant was that his friend is from Pakistan. However, the mere fact that it is widely known that the “P” word is a deliberate racial slur, people were rightly offended by it. Similarly, if any of us made a throat-cutting” gesture in ouresponse local pub, or wherever, you’d be lucky if all you caused was offence! It was great restraint by the Celtic fans that he made that gesture to, and if OBAFA was still in law, Morelos should expect to have his sorry arse kicked by a magistrate!
Let us not forget the furore when Lenny (as a player) allegedly spat on a hun scarf. They can dress this up any way they want, but he still caused offence.
As for Kent – maybe shooting people in the head is standard practice on the streets of Liverpool, but it should be pointed out to this idiot that he now lives in the city of Glasgow where, wearing the wrong colours, in the wrong place, at the wrong time is likely to get you a severe kicking, at the very least!
In this case, any hearing by the compliance officer with these two idiots should be conducted at a public library, then she would have lots of books to throw at them.
I’m sure in the 1980s and 1990s in Scotland quite a few Ned’s got jailed for the cut throat gesture. That’s why it disappeared, you got jailed for it.
I think a Sheriff called it a serious threatening gesture of intent. Can’t remember if it was categorised as a criminal breach of the peace or something more serious.
Once again, police officers on scene should have arrested Morelos.
The orchestrated campaign in the media to paint Morelos as the victim is similar to the headlines following the defeat to Hibs in the Scottish Cup Final as Rangers fans invaded the pitch to protect their players from attacks by the Hibees fans.
That was a complete fabrication and so is the claim of racist abuse aimed at the Columbian man child.
Morelos has talent, no doubt, but he’s an absolute prick.
7 sending offs in 18 months, smashing all previous disciplinary records, tells it’s own story.
He, or anyone else, will be unable to remove his urge to throw himself theatrically to the ground, or have a sly kick at an opponent.
Any prospective buyer watching the game will be asking themselves how many sending offs will occur in, say, the EPL, where the refs don’t have blue tinted glasses.
Once again potential buyers will be factoring his suspect character into any offer and Dave King will not be getting the £50m he desires, an essential factor in keeping the club solvent.
It’s more than likely that the first 6 months trading results will be well in the red. A hefty bill from Sports Direct in January will add to the woes.
If Close Bros, start to get a bit nervous about recovering their loan as well then the pressure will ramp up.
Perhaps Kamara to Juventus will put a dent in the outlay required?
The next few weeks will be fun as an easily led media will be doing their best to talk up the value of the European sending off record holder in a season, with 5 to his name in the previous season.
No Morelos, no league title. No 8 figure transfer fee for the Colombian then what?
J McC
If only it was going to be as simple as you suggest. The only drawback is that we have been listening to all this conjecture/wishful thinking for too long now and it is wearisome.
There will be no victories by Ashley, we saw it with the TOP, they will survive, someone is giving them the help they need and they are now, in my book anyway, favourites to win the league. They were supposed to be long gone by now with a third and fourth resurrection but, incredibly, they are within striking distance of investors taking a chance on them.
Better to concentrate the energy on getting Desmond and Lawwell, as well as Lennon, to get the fingers out before it all caves in on them.
I was seated 2 seats away from the tunnel as Morelos left the field . There was a lot of booing etc but I never heard any Racist comments . I have spoken to about 8 other Celtic fans who were at the match , 2 of them near the tunnel , and none of them heard anything racist . I simply do not believe the allegation but it is an easy allegation to make and impossible ti disprove . Neo Rangers are not just bad losers but also bad winners . The ridiculous explanation of the cut throat gesture is another matter .
An alleged racist slur at Tynecastle was splashed all over the media. Nothing was proved and no one charged ,however the club has been tarred with a broad brush, and not one single media outlet has printed an apology or retraction.
Unless there is positive proof the media should keep quiet and only castigate the club or fan when charges are brought. I am amazed the match delegate is willing to add it to his match report without collaboration.
They are also trying to claim the throat slashing means the game is finished in Columbia, must be a new year tradition Morelas has started.
Having lived in Bogota for 2 years I can categorically confirm that throat-slashing means the exact same in Colombia as it does here!!
Luis Suarez was sold to Barcelona by Liverpool for £65m.
This after several incidents involving him sinking his rather impressive set of gnashers into players anatomies during games.
Diego Costa was sold to Atletico for £57m despite him being commonly acknowledged as a thug and all round horrible hunt.
Both Barca and Atletico were fully aware of the issues that both these players had and yet were quite prepared to fork out considerable amounts of money in order to secure their services.
These guys like Morelos have one major thing in common.
They score goals and plenty of them.
Regardless of what you or I might thing of the tube it is actually irrelevant.
He will be sold and he will make them decent coin when he is.
Those that think otherwise clearly under estimate the way Football works.
The goal returns far out way the infield antics when it comes to Clubs who see these guys as an answer to the problem THEY may face.
A Club desperate for goals in the Premierhype could well take a calculated punt on Morelos.
£10-20m is achievable if a Club Chairman is desperate to stay in the Moneyball League at all costs.
A Club like Everton on the other hand who is trying to make its way back up the table and is overly reliant on one Striker at present may well see him as a useful alternative to simply knocking it long or high in a hope that it sticks.
They only have to get lucky once at the Theatre of Screams in order to press reset Financially for another Season and Morelos like it or not is capable of providing that luck.
Defoe is not a sub standard replacement btw and is probably secretly hoping it happens this month.
Like it or not the Table doesn’t lie.
Neither does the level of performances in Europe that the Ayebrokes mob have produced all Season.
This incarnation is now producing on the same levels as the last and for the first time in along time we have a genuine Title Challenge.
We have produced our best start to a League campaign in 3 years and they have matched it all the way.
This is no blip btw.
The arrogance that has grown within our Support over the past 8 years was as predictable as it is palpable.
Singing about 10 in a row BEFORE 7 was secured was and is ridiculous.
Think how foolish you will feel if they can respond in kind should we fail to get 9?
Liverpool fans have had to wait 30 years to lift a Title.
This was a Club who ruled the roost for years and Dominated.
Same might happen to Man Utd.
NOTHING lasts forever in life or Football.
It’s a constantly evolving situation.
Enjoy the challenges that lay ahead and stop worrying about what the Brotherhood of Bam are up to.
You can’t change it and you will never stop it.
Morelos will be sold and a new fave will replace him.
Who knows he might even be able to beat Kris Boyd’s goal record v Celtic?
Celtic walking it at Ibrox earlier in season set them up for thinking they were miles ahead. It did Celtic no favours. They’ve been on domestic cruise setting ever since with wake up calls here and there as teams have a go.
Concomitant Rangers have beaten Celtic at Parkhead. Let the alarm bells ring.
I don’t agree.
That game was always a one-off, un-Celtic, needs-must, winning ugly game due to lack of personnel etc.
The crucial game was the League Cup Final, where lessons needed to be learned about the poor performance, as the result would never be repeated.
The fact that the manager learned nothing from a game that was only 3 weeks previous is very worrying.
The lesson mis-learned was that we didn’t actually NEED to turn up to still win.
Agreed (if I interpret your double negatives correctly!).
Some good points made Cyan. However, I disagree with your comparison of Morelos discipline with that of Suarez and Costa. Those two players between them have not managed to collect the number of RC’s as Morelos has in 2 seasons. No football manager wants a player who will cause problems in the dressing room, on the pitch and with the media. It’s just not worth the hassle.
The only bid for Morelos was £1.5m.
You and the MSM’s campaign to elevate him to the status of a Suarez won’t work, as you’re dealing with hard-nosed business people not gullible The People.
I don’t think Cyan is trying to big him up. He’d be as delighted as any of us to see the wee gobshite go for a tenner. But in many ways he’s correct. FLAWED PLAYERS do sell. I just think that this guy is fatally flawed. I think they’ll get £5-10M for him. And IF, they’ve had NO bids until the last ten days of the window, they’ll bite the hand off the first guy that offers it. Of course it will be reported as an undisclosed fee which sources close to the ibrokes board believe to be well in excess of the £20M Celtic received for Dembele.
But flawed company’s DO need to sell, as in a fire sale…no need to pay £20m when £2m will keep the lights on…
To coin a phrase used by a fellow lifelong Celtic fan , THE BAW IS BURST ! Celtic fans must now face the reality that through our boards disgraceful non actions regarding resolution 12 the old firm myth and make no mistake it is a myth , is now in the eyes of the public , and more importantly sky , Celtic fc and the club from Ibrox , well and truly alive again , the secret five way agreement has come to fruition, the money men are smiling again , THE MUG PUNTERS have been conned once more , well I’m sorry to say that after 50 years of following Celtic through good times and bad times , this fan is doing the ultimate , I’m walking away, this will hurt me emotionally, but a club founded on our principles have turned Judas on our fans , I cannot bring myself to attend anything connected with nothing more than a five way con trick , each and every fan must make their own mind up about events and I respect that , but I would also say think of this , in the dark days before Fergus it was fan power that brought about change , we’ve done it before and we can do it again , if not don’t complain when the Wayne biggins , Raphael xxxx , days return , because through our so called boards actions those days may be a lot closer than you think
Lawwell should offer £10M to Aberdeen for Cosgrove and McKenna.
Let’s out muscle the wretches next time.
No more playing lightweights .
Don’t sell tickets to them for parkhead.
End of.
Since Sundays game it has been a full frontal attack on Celtic fans. The Sevco PR team have been busy calling in favours from media people with known blue leanings and substantial followings.
Sky sports news have dutifully fell into line with the story as they usually do. I often wonder if there is another club within these Isles that is held to the same scutinty by this channel and its glee when reporting misdemeours by our support.
Contrast this to how they reported the partial stadium closure at Ibrox which went from racism to sectarianism in a matter of minutes and then subsequently buried within the hour.
If we take a look at those ‘journalists’ that have jumped on the Morelos distraction bandwagon they all have a commonality they work or have worked at Sky Sports news, that’s interesting in itself.
From the moment Morelos was sent off and lost the plot operation deflection was set in play. Deflect, spread misinformation and let the lie take hold and there were many patsys only too happy to comply.
Celtic have been found wanting in recent years when it comes to defending fans from the daily diet of anti Celtic stories. That PR approach has not worked, Celtic have to come out firing on this one, a line has been crossed and the integrity of the fan base is at stake.
I watched the British General election coverage in dismay as a known Racist made allegations of racism against an anti racism campaigner with no challenge by mainstream media infact at times it was aided even by the same media. Rangers have just copied and applied those tactics.
…the job is attack Celtic, ignore Sevco, feign right to go left, operation deflection
You will note that most of your comment did not make the cut.
This is not the place to make defamatory comments while being courageously concealed.
Highly unimpressive.
Please do not return.
I’ve seen the video that is said to prove one person shouted racist abuse. From what I can tell, having listened to it a few times, is that the guy shouted fat bastard, and not what they think they heard.
A complete anti climax to the footballing calendar for Celtic. Some over riding feelings.
Racism in any abhorrent form should be investigated to the full and the El Duffalos cut through gesture should be treated as a separate incident as should the video doing the rounds, as well as the informant of the complaint evidence.
Firstly it’s funny as we close out this decade, that had Neil Francis Lennon and Paul McBride QC amongst others threatened with bombs and racism, sectarianism and just about every form of abuse and threatening behaviour, we are somehow meant to swallow the messaging that the Loco One has experienced this since day 1…… it’s a hard sell to the discerning followers of Scottish Football
His cut throat gesture – apparently all the rage in South America, is a nauseating excuse, for a guy sent off 7 times. A gesture, until now since his 2017 arrival have NEVER appeared in his repertoire. The Alex KKKRae, Sally Mc£oist, Chris Graham (peace be upon him) James Traynor, Jackson, Ralston, Jack and so on and so on…… defence of this El Had Diouf wannabe, is testimony to their character, and the underlying issues of media collision and corruption and social apartheid.
If indeed he is sold, (unlikely this January), – but if he does go in Jan, so does their entire season. This is why Celtic, must get to 9 in whichever way is needed, because when they do have to really sell him in the summer, and they’re trying to replace him with £5million cap, it will show half way through next season…..when they’re running on emptied as this will be the first season they’ll be 60+ games since the 2012 formation.
Gerrard’s “high 5” of Lennon and Kennedy serves further evidence the guy is an emotional egomaniac, I thought the cup final hurt, but my did that hurt them….. yes they won, and deservedly so the other day, but given the fact whoever has scored first in the last 80 odd Glasgow derbies the winner has gone onto win the match, RC could have painted a very different Jan for them.
That said, 3-5-2. seemed to give more of an option and a “centre half” being able to break their lines and fortunately we have Ajer and Julien who aren’t half bad at that Frimpong converted to wingback so…… The embers of that game may have just shown the break in their system during defeat. A couple of signings of note again in January, and 3 points away at Kilmarnock that will make ALL the difference, to the mood around the place.
They can use they can adopt a smearing campaign of racism and other point scoring, I just wonder, if they will be as objective come March, when 49,000 of them are in full cry at Neil Francis Lennon….. Afterall, why start the new decade any other way than you did the last even if you are new Klub……
Happy New Year Phil, and to the rest of your readers.
Same Auld same Auld. Wat a horrible club they are no wonder no one likes them and all those old players they wheel out to try and defend Morelos and Kent Unbelievable. Our BOARD MUST stand up and demand they get severely punished no excuses. Show us supporters you are with us. Hail Hail
Angela Haggerty has spoken on the matter and says there was racial abuse of Morelos.
Now to ban the clown who done ut
They’re going to win the league unless they sell him so I don’t care if they get a load of money for him I would rather he leaves and we secure 9.
Come to think of it…
Celtic could use some of its large cash pile: offer Sevco £10M upfront for Morelos now.
Could the cash strapped Ibrox club turn it down?
Then, just remove Morelos from Scottish football.
Stick the immature, loose cannon in the Celtic Reserves until he leaves Parkhead!
Would probably guarantee 10IAR – and it would be bl00dy hilarious as well!
🙂
It’s time our PR department got the gloves off and started fighting dirty just as they do .If Scott Brown did the throat cut gesture their statement writer (peace be upon him ) would be boasting about their fans showing incredible restraint in the face of such provocation.Its time we called out every FTP every famine song every billy boys in fact every breath jimmy bell takes should be reported as a hate crime
There MAY have been a racist shout but there Definitely was cutthroat action,no maybe’s
The Old Firm piggy bank is back!
Never mind any of the other bollocks, thats what they wanted right from the start.
Don’t Los yourselves this was planned way back. This is what the 5 way agreement and everything else was about. Scottish football = Celtic and Rangers competing.
Stop bleating about fairness, it’s over.
I don’t usually succumb to knee jerk reactions after a poor performance and result so I will stick to type.
This is not a knee jerk reaction!
Sevco has now outplayed us in 4 of the last 6 games and won 3 of them.
They couldn’t do that in any of the previous 12 games.
That is not a one-off aberration, that is a worrying trend which needs to be addressed before it is too late.
Step forward Lawwell and Desmond. You have already been told that 10 in-a-row is not a project. It is a priority!
Let’s see some serious ambition in the January window and put that mob back in their box where they belong.
Agree 100% there is a need to reinvigorate the team in January. As for Morelos he made the gut your gesture towards supporters including family section who are well self policed so Celtic should challenge this nonsensical allegation. Also while I’m writing this what about Kent’s mimicking shooting Celtic supporters. Again Celtic should challenge why that gesture was allowed to go unreported. Well done to Rangers trading as Sevco in getting 3 points they deserved the win but must accept responsibility for their employees bringing the sevco brand into disrepute. Happy New Year 🍾
Lennon, is not the man for the celtic far too stubborn and tactically naive.
That’ll be the tactically Naive Neil Lennon who not only out thought Brendan Rodgers and Several Managers at Hibs but also masterminded the defeat of Barcelona and the winning of a Europa a League Group with games to spare.
What utter nonsense.
Don’t confuse an underperforming team with Tactical naivety as the fact remains we had the bulk of possession in that game and made equal amount of opportunity DESPITE UNDERPERFORMANCE from many of our key players on the day.
Lenny is right it would appear some of our players are believing their own hype.
These games need to be won with more than natural ability.
Success breeds it’s own problems,
Well said. We didn’t turn up on Sunday but were only beaten because we missed a penalty and had two attemps cleared off the line. We didn’t turn up for the LC Final but still won. At Ibrox we played them off the park without going out of second gear. Lennon’s record as a manager stands comparison with ANYONE in Scotland since Alex Ferguson managed Aberdeen. You can make a case for O’Neill, but he inherited guys like Larsson, Moravcik and Petrov. He was also given substantial funds to buy Sutton, Hartson and Lenny himself.
Lennon was NEVER given that kind of financial backing.
Rodgers? In comparison to Lenny his record in Europe was woeful.
I discount ALL Rangers/Sevco managers as every one of them was playing with a loaded dice.
Oh dear.
Rodgers is a top rated manager and Lennon, err, isn’t.
That’s a distraction and what’s the main point is that he learnt nothing from the League Cup Final performance, a mere 3 weeks before and was utterly clueless as to how to change it.
That’s where Celtic are and that’s a big worry.
Spot on.
Lenny was right there is something wrong with some of them when it comes to these games.
Perhaps the sting of losing one at home will buck their ideas up.
Go watch the game again and look at Brown throughout.
He clearly knew that some were simply not ready for it mentally.
He was raging at them.
Several others stood up but in these games that is simply not enough.
Too many players never turned up.
No Manager can alter a game when this is the case.
NO MANAGER.
Gerrard suffered the same fate at Ibrox.
He will again as Neil Lennon will make sure that he does.
Who will be earmarking our new recruits this January window?
Please lets have no more work in progress projects.We need first team picks who will hit the ground running.
Who will be earmarking our new recruits this January window?
Please no more work in progress projects. What’s happened to previous ones?
We need first team picks who will hit the ground running.
And the Worst Winners in the World Award goes to……………………………….
HH
Timcat…I have always said…
They are worse at winning than they are at losing.
Don’t be so negative!!… they are great at celebrating getting a 1-1 draw against Partick Thistle!! 😂😂😂
I believe the technical term for it is “playing the race card”. Perhaps, if it cannot be corroborated then the Celtic board,fat chance, should sue the Sevco lackey, I mean security member, named in the report for slander. It is the verbal equivalent of diving in the penalty box. Red card all day.
If in doubt;play the racism card.
Nought but bluff,misdirection and a smoke screen to take the heat off both,Morelos and the behaviour of the back room staff directed at John Kennedy near the end of the game,nb.and that’s was after they’d won the game!!
Two dismissals that should be hammered by the so-called ‘authorities’ but you can bet on it,they will be very lenient punishments,IF anything at all.SHAMEFUL by Scotland’s shame=sevco.
All the best for Everyone in 2020,Thanks for all you do too Phil,we simply wouldn’t get it elsewhere 🇮🇪🇮🇪🇮🇪🇮🇪🇮🇪🇮🇪🇮🇪🇮🇪🇮🇪🇮🇪🇮🇪🇮🇪🇮🇪🇮🇪🇮🇪🇮🇪🇮🇪🇮🇪🇮🇪🇮🇪🇮🇪🇮🇪🇮🇪🇮🇪🇮🇪🇮🇪🇮🇪🇮🇪🇮🇪🇮🇪🇮🇪🇮🇪
Big John Hartson had it spot on,take another look at sg’s ‘shaking’ the management’s team hands.
Tom Boyd too for that matter,they are a despicable lot…NO RESPECT.NONE.
Expect none and in future give none , and watch them bitch about it.
Oh dear! It is with great sadness that I have to depart some very sad news to you all this early into the new year, but I’m sure you will be equally sad to learn that GLEN KAMARA is being watched by Arsenal, and that very soon, he will be sold by Sevco for at least DOUBLE what the Gunners paid for KT.
I read it on the Daily Record website, so it must be true!!
If only there was an April 1st transfer window, eh?!! 😂😂😂
There’s Happy New Year, then there’s Happy New Year, but it appears that the consultant urologists at Anderston Quay and Edmiston Drive are having to work hard today, to earn their corn!!
“If in doubt play the Race Card” the Celtic Board need to challenge this deflection nonsense.
It’s obviously not happened, but if it gets proven then ban the person and jail him.
Whilst it would be far too easy to claim that the ‘racist slur’ response was typical deflection p!sh…
It needs to be objectively investigated.
Likewise, the Morelos gesture must be objectively investigated as well.
Each charge to be investigated separately.
On reflection, it is reassuring that the Celtic supporters in the direction of Morelos’ gesture did NOT react with violence.