Posts Tagged ‘SNP’

Salmonds Suggested RFC Leniency

Posted: February 16, 2012 by kenhalfpenny in Football
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Hi, it’s me. Ken again. Ken… again. That rhymes! Oooh, look at the kitte- no; time to concentrate. So! Alex “Independence or Bust” Salmond has come out and suggested that Rangers exist for the good of Celtic and the good of Scottish football. Ok, that’s a bit sketchy. More sketchy though is the way he’s trying to influence the HMRC to be lenient with Rangers:

“We’ve certainly been arguing to HMRC on one hand, and indeed to Rangers, to for goodness sake get a settlement, get a settlement and a structure over time whereby Rangers can continue because Rangers must continue for the future of Scottish football and for the fabric of the country.”

Oh dear, Eck! Alex Salmond isn’t really in a position to comment on businesses in financial trouble (hello 2000) anyway, but there’s been a lot of talk about how this would be a bad move for Alex Salmond and the SNP to make politically. The term ‘political suicide’ has been thrown around, though I really don’t think this is the case.

I want to say at this point that I am not an admirer of Alex Salmond’s SNP or their politics. I think independence would be economically suicidal for Scotland and no amount of yellow smoke and mirrors will prove otherwise. I’m a great believer in ‘the facts’ and the SNP haven’t been able to provide any financial or political analysis or representation of facts that would suggest Scotland would be better off as an independent nation. Have people got such short memories that they have forgotten what happened to Ireland when they left the Union? Eurozone bailouts, anyone?

Salmond wants independence for Scotland, and sees Rangers (an extremely pro-Union establishment) as a demographic he can win favour with by urging the HMRC to be lenient with over potentially devastating tax concerns. Come time to vote, Rangers’ extreme large fanbase will have greater inclination to support the man who tried to help them out of a tough situation. But elections are a while away and while this has potential to cost them electorate support they’ve got a long while to ‘make amends’ for that. It’s a case of balancing short-term outrage against long-term loyalty.

Meanwhile, Scottish Labour are so unbelievably weak and fragile that they don’t dare contradict anything the SNP has said for fear of looking in any way like they’re not “for Scotland”. Yes, that makes them idiots. The Scottish Conservatives are falling apart. Their numbers halved from 16k party members to 8k party members in the last 6 years. The Scottish Lib Dems are entirely insignificant and as such there’s nobody in a position to challenge the SNP for the Scottish Parliament unless one or more of the above seriously up their game.

So Salmond thinks he’s bullet-proof. And all this does is gain him favour for a cause he believes in with a group who’d otherwise not think to offer it. Rangers are in big trouble, it’s a national issue – and like all national issues the First Minister had to weigh in at some point. And like everything else he does, there’s only one thing on his mind as he’s doing it.

Celtic’s Euro Star still Shining Bright

Posted: December 16, 2011 by thebhoymcclay in Celtic Football Club, Football, Uncategorized
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Celtic take the lead in Italy

On the week that the fans were silenced, the team fired a shot across the bow to Europe and their many opponents. From the first till the mid fortieth minute or thereabouts, Celtic seemed impenetrable – the pressing, marking and organisation was second to none and who knows what the second half would have held had Celtic kept that deserved lead through Gary Hooper’s opener.

The Italian’s, joint top of Serie A, started with a great rendition of the Parkhead sides usual “rabbit caught in the headlights” impression with the visitors making all the early headway. Georgios Samaras again seemed unplayable in an excellent first half display and before the lethal run and cross for Celtic’s 29th minute goal, the Greek forward had slid an inch perfect ball through for the lone Englishman to poke wide & been wrongly adjudged of a foul on Udinese’s last man after another purposeful run. In this vein of form you suspect Sammy to keep his place up until the Glasgow Derby on the 28th but these games do throw up surprise inclusions and omissions. In the second forty-five with Udinese finding their feet, they also found a way of dealing with Celtic’s number nine – mark tight and stop the runs before he gets in gear, for the most part, their tactic worked and Celtic’s main outlet was distinguished.

The saviour of the second half was undoubtedly the much ridiculed young goalkeeper, Fraser Forster. Some of his game is still very raw and requires some work, but his shot-stopping capabilities are at points world-class and other times breathtaking. With the Hoops defending becoming more ragged and tired, the giant Geordie pulled off a string of superb stops – culminating in a Di Natale double stop with the Italian’s second effort – a bullet header reached by the fingertips of an outstretched colossus returning from the far post, to the applause of his team mates and fans alike. Confidence in a goalkeeper can be vital, especially playing for a big side, and Forster has grown in stature these past weeks when he probably imagined the height of his seasons shot stopping forays was the last-minute penalty stop against Hearts last Saturday – his overwhelming and thunderous reaction to that save remains my screen saver and iconic image of the season so far.

Forster saves the day against Hearts

On the day that the big top finally came down on FC Sions’ court circus appeal to be reinstated, Celtic can come away from this test with more than just learning experience. From the disastrous away night in Switzerland, the Bhoys away form has improved to the point where we are now debating how unlucky we were not to win in Italy – a great reflection on how mentally tough this team and manager can be with a little heart, belief and determination.

I was overjoyed when I heard the decision to initially let the Bhoys into the Europa League proper – standing outside Glasgow Central reading Twitter feeds and news stories after work I took it as my duty to let some of my other friends still in work, hear the news – nonchalant and negative came back the responses, to a man the fear of injury, defeat and embarrassment was a burden to great to bear, this season especially. Two defeats to a top Spanish side with some extremely dangerous household names on their books, is no real embarrassment – Celtic never again played the role of the inexperienced and vulnerable pupil. With gusto and confidence they can go into these festive fixtures at worst still four adrift of their title rivals with the thunderous roars of discontent and disbelief engulfing Ibrox.

Oh and before I forget – F**k the SFA, F**k the SNP and UEFA too!

Nick tic, Paddy’s tricks – give the *uns a bone

Posted: November 15, 2011 by thebhoymcclay in Celtic Football Club, Football, Travel
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Kill the Bill

Killing the Bill

It came as no surprise to see Celtic in a back page derogatory slant over the past couple of days following the media mauling that the Blue Side have received recently. That might be the old paranoia kicking in again, but every time Celtic get up a head of steam on the field, the circling scribers in the West of Scotland have their poisoned pens at the ready.

Given the timing of this “probe”, you can’t help but think this was lined up to give maximum focus on the clubs supposed shame – and the half-baked, half-arsed police report Strathclyde’s “quality polis (thanks to Robert Florence for that one)” have sent to UEFA will be holier than Paddy McCourts’ Sunday sweater. Yes the Bhoys in green have caused major offence to not only their poor Rennes counterparts, but all & sundry who were watching on television and of course more than likely, wee Pat Nevin whose “pseudo-sectarian-ometer” hit CODE HAMPDEN. Following a great deal of public opposition to Alex Salmond’s “Offensive Behaviour Bill”, this seems a great opportunity for the SNP to manifest their power from within the police force and to show Celtic they will be taken seriously. One of the best points raised throughout the day was of course, if their was offensive & illicit chanting, and the police inside the ground were able to identify it….why no arrests on the night in question??

The European body have opened themselves up as wide as the gap between Craig Whyte’s birds tits in their opposition to “political songs or chants” at any football ground in Europe. A host of clubs have a diverse and cultured stance within their own countries & regions with their political opinions confirming their club identity – a plethora of National anthems including the Soldier Song & Flower of Scotland, also showcase their leanings and sympathies to a great extent against Saxon rule.

A month has now passed since Peter Lawell sat at the AGM, warning and condemning us against the use of certain Republican groups names in song – this coupled with police state 111 and the disgraceful treatment which our supporters have to deal with on every visit to their home, a rebellion has been, and is on the cards. The IRA chants are audible, are they needed? Probably not -Ssome elements of the support are feeling hurt and disenchanted with the clubs hierarchy, and I can’t help but feel if the board showed more solidarity with the fans and also more leniency with their finances – this episode could have been avoided.

But bring on the Hearts, The Hibs and UEFA…..who they trying to kid?