A Shite State of Affairs: All Things Scottish Soccer 2015-16

[inter tatters]

Not to bring too much politics into it, as that is the worst part of Glasgow Football, but you may remember me as the Rangers fan on the board?
 
Anyway, I live in England, but would've voted "Yes" last year and moved back in the event of victory, given a choice. I, along with a couple of others, stupidly, announced such on a Rangers fan board, we were all immediately banned, my email address was distributed and I was pasted with abusive mails for 3 weeks, till I closed the account. I know that was just a small minority of "Fans" (read keyboard warriors) on a message board, but that's the kind of stuff these people believe.
 
In much the same way, I am now a member of a far more moderate board, but once a week we still get the odd Celtic fan coming on spouting rubbish about "Newco" and hitting us with the "Proddy C***" line. It's part of the culture of being a Scottish Football fan I believe.
 
Back to the Football - it's amazing to see the effect Mark Warburton has had on Rangers. Yes, we're going to lose a few of the loan signings back to their parent clubs at the end of the year, but a solid spine of the team is there now and they, finally, look like they actually want to play for the club, instead of chasing the £££s in the lower leagues

 

[The Talented Allen Ripley]

Celtic and Rangers draw for Scottish Cup semi-final on Sat 4/16.

 

[CodPiece XL]

Yeah. I'm sort of ambivalent about Celtic this year. It's the worst team in decades, the manager appears clueless at times, complete lack of ambition as far as signings. I don't even know why I pay $14.99 a month for Fox Soccer just to watch Celtic games. It's become a real chore to switch on the TV and take in a Celtic game.

If Celtic can keep 11 men on the park, which has become a real challenge for them in cup ties, if the pitch isn't looking like it's had the wildlife of Africa grazing on it ( cup game at Hampden 24 hours prior) they should win. But honestly, they have been so poor this season, I would not be surprised if they lost...it's been painful. I feel sorry for the supporters showing up to watch some of the crap on display. The board have really made a dog's cock of things the last 3 years or so.

Ah well, at least the last time they played Sevco it brought back memories of Super Bowl Sunday morning last year..the memories..good times indeed.

 

[DLew On Roids]

I said it four years ago: Celtic are fucked without Rangers, and vise versa. What I was wrong about is that I thought an Old Firm collapse would be bad for Scottish football. Ten years without the sectarian bullshit and Scotland could have a real football culture instead of the toxic Papist-Prod clusterfuck.

 

[CodPiece XL]

I don’t see the link when Celtic have signed the following strikers who have been abject failures.

Miku-loan
Nouioui-free
Atajic-free
Rasmussen-1.2 Million
Bangura-2.2 Million
Balde-1.8 Million
Pukki-3 Million
Fridjonsson-100K
Scepovic-2.3 million
Berget-Loan
Brozek-Loan
Ciftci-1.5 Million
Cole: who knows yet

They could have found at least 2 strikers, paid a bit more individually than all the money they have pissed away on these. At least found one who could have partnered Griffiths ( who I personally don’t like) .

When Rangers were liquidated it practically guaranteed Celtic would qualify for the CL and the potential millions that came with it. That should have been their priority, getting to the CL every season would more than cover the lack of Rangers and the 10 Million Lawwell claims Celtic lost. Instead they signed a bunch of strikers who failed, a manager who is clueless. The Celtic I knew believed it’s better to die on your feet than live on your knees. You can blame that on Ranger’s demise if you wish..I don’t see it. They’ve lost to teams they SHOULD be beating in the CL qualifiers. The board have shown no ambition. Trust me..the money is there…there is a balance between fielding a competitive team that plays attractive football and accountants watching the bottom line and answering to investors rather than fans. The fans have had a pretty raw deal.

I have my own opinions about Ranger’s but I’ll keep them to myself unless someone wants to defend what they did and how the Scottish football authorities were complicit in a sham. Occasionally I will pop into the local Celtic supporters club- the vast majority of them don’t want anything to do with this incarnation of Rangers. However, there are a few who want them back because they miss Old Firm games or want them back if it means Celtic try and be more competitive again. I just don’t see the how the shambles that Celtic have become is entirely related to Rangers going bust. It could have been avoided if the Celtic board had shown some ambition.

Suffice to say, some Celtic fans will get their wish....Sevco are going up.

Edit: oh yeah..I forgot..add Kazim Richards to the list. ( in the who knows bracket) and the kid Michael Duffy who is out on loan to Alloa ( I think)

 

[DLew On Roids]

That laundry list of strikers cost just about, total, what West Ham paid for Payet.

Without Rangers, Celtic have no one to compete against, no reason to stay sharp every week. They play like it, too, and you're right that the board doesn't spend, either.

But it goes beyond that. With Rangers around, Celtic play in a global fixture at least four times a year. People know them the way they know River Plate and Boca. That's a chance to grow the global fan base, which means new revenue to build the club. I bet the shirt sales in places like America and Australia at way down over the past four years.

Celtic supporters may not want anything to do with Rangers, but without Rangers they're irrelevant outside of Scotland. Which I think would be better for Scottish football as a whole, because locking up a whole country's football over a religious war is petty and stupid.

 

[The Talented Allen Ripley]

With Rangers around, Celtic play in a global fixture at least four times a year. People know them the way they know River Plate and Boca. That's a chance to grow the global fan base, which means new revenue to build the club. I bet the shirt sales in places like America and Australia at way down over the past four years.

Old Firm matches used to be on the basic tier of FSC in the States, my sons were able to watch those plus the occasional Celtic match vs. a non-Rangers SPL opponent that FSC would air. Now FSC is gone, replaced with FS1 & 2, and neither channel gives a shit about Scottish soccer and rightfully so. Whatever connection my boys have to the club is now due solely to my brainwashing efforts, which pale in comparison to them being able to watch Liverpool every weekend. I wouldn't really call them Celtic fans.

That's very much a selfish rant on my part, one far removed from the streets of Glasgow, but it shows how extended the ripple effect is.

 

[CodPiece XL]

Well Scottish football is still on Fox Soccer Plus, up until last year it was free if you subscribed to Fox Sports. Now it’s a standalone subscription at $14.99 and they never give you any discount. The point being, you can still see about 4 Celtic games a month plus lots of other Scottish games, not just the league games but the cup games as well.

For clarity, I’m not disputing that when Rangers were liquidated it made the TV contracts less attractive, if fact, they were renegotiated at a lower rate. Also, I don’t dispute the fact that Celtic lost out on 2 guaranteed home games with 67, 000, also the League sponsorship deals took a hit. Lawwell is on record as stating it costs Celtic 10M in lost revenue. I’m also not disputing the fact that if I run into someone and they ask where I am from, ,many of them ask am I a Rangers or Celtic. Rangers and Celtic have always been synonymous with each other.

What I’m seeing with my own eyes is purely football related. Celtic should beat the Malmos and Maribors of the world to get to the CL group stages and a guaranteed 20 Million, they even struggle against part time sides. They have signed a bunch of failed strikers, their squad is so bloated right now it’s laughable and wages are being wasted, I’ve lost count of how many midfielders are on their books. They have , for the last two seasons, waited until the last moments to address serious deficiencies in their squad only to fail time and again to get their primary targets and signed subpar players instead. The manager looks lost, he plays players out of position, there is little or no shape and to be quite honest, the players themselves have looked disinterested. I don’t think they even want to play for Deila. I just don’t see how you can pin that on a lack of Rangers, this is gross mismanagement. The days of signing players like Berkovic, Sutton and Hartson were long gone before Rangers disappeared.

Sometimes people aren’t moved by facts, they’re moved by narratives. Scottish football was going to die without Rangers, just you watch! Teams are going to go under without Rangers! The media and SPL did their best to peddle this. None of that happened. They bent over backwards to try and get a reincarnated Rangers into the first division. The Scottish media tiptoes around using the word liquidation. We had never heard of a club being separate to the company running it, that was until this fiaso. Apparently it exists in the ethereal plane and oh yeah…you can buy history. Regan and Ogilvie go through all sorts of contortions, as does the media, to placate Rangers fans. These two make Roger Goodell look like a paragon of truth and virtue.

I dunno..I’ve always been a Celtic fan and never really cared about Rangers/Celtic matches other than it was another 3 points or two points back in the day, to beat your nearest rival ( until recently). I was much more interested in European games, specifically CL at Parkhead, Old Firm games at least for me always played second fiddle. Playing the best teams in Europe..Barcelona, Juventus, Man Utd etc always gave me butterflies…but not Rangers. I know I’m probably in the minority when I say that…well I know I am..I’m a Proddy who supports Celtic!

I’ll tell you a little story..it happened this weekend. I was up early, I normally am because I’m so used to working on east coast time even though I’m in AZ. Anyway, Celtic are playing Partick Thistle. I watched about 25 minutes, it was a mess. Celtic were so poor. I knew I had run out of hair gel and needed to get some over the weekend….at that point I decided screw this game…I’m going to the store to buy some gel. Buying hair gel was more entertaining to me than watching Celtic at 6 am in the morning. Nobody can tell me that’s all due to Rangers going under….

Hey Rip:

Got a question….your boys…why do they support Liverpool? Just curious. Fenway Sports connection, the fact that Liverpool historically have had a strong connection with Irish/Scottish player or none of the above.

 

[The Talented Allen Ripley]

Liverpool is my EPL team due to the Sox connection, their history with Scots doesn't hurt, so they're who I watch when I'm at home.

 

[CodPiece XL]

Yeah, they are much easier for me to "root" for now that Suarez is gone. Also the Klopp factor is intriguing. All I want now is for Man Utd to get the Special One and sign Ibrahimovic and all will be right with Liverpool - man Utd games

 

[fletcherpost]

I live in Govan. I chap doors for the SNP. I've been called a monster. Union jack doormats are a bad sign. RFC embossed name plates on the door, a bad sign. The scarf seller outside Ibrox near the tube station, you'd think it wasnae legal to sell the shite he has on scarfs. if it's the same outside parkhead, i take the same attitude. Queen or Pope's scone on a fuckin scarf...nonsense.

Awrite for youse cunts. I have to live here...and I like Govan...I don't mean it like that.

 

[CodPiece XL]

I live in Govan. I chap doors for the SNP. I've been called a monster. Union jack doormats are a bad sign. RFC embossed name plates on the door, a bad sign. The scarf seller outside Ibrox near the tube station, you'd think it wasnae legal to sell the shite he has on scarfs. if it's the same outside parkhead, i take the same attitude. Queen or Pope's scone on a fuckin scarf...nonsense.

Awrite for youse cunts. I have to live here...and I like Govan...I don't mean it like that.

Some things I don't miss Fletch..that's one of them. Speaking of which, I'm heading over to Scotland for two weeks in October. It's been many , many years. It's time for me to make my peace and it's more of a pilgrimage rather than a vacation for me but that's another story. I'm nae getting any younger put it that way. Anyway, my young wife has never been to Scotland and wants to experience a game....I'm really torn. I'll have to check on fixtures but I'm not sure it's a wise thing to do. She's into Scottish history and all that, so if you have any suggestions in and around the Glasgow area I'm all ears.

 

[fletcherpost]

I think Rangers will get promoted. So i imagine Celtic will spend. They are not playing good football at the moment but next season i expect it will be better. They might get in a new manager as well. And to be honest, and you probably know this, Celtic fans are by and large a chirpier lot. The saddest sight in Scotland is a group of traditional Rangers fans aged between 30-50. Dead behind the eyes, the world has passed them by, Scotland is passing them by...clinging to their old ideas of the Union. The good thing about Scotland is that the artistic community; musicians, artists, writers etc are forward thinking, pro independence. Young folks are mostly pro independence as well. So there is a lot of positive energy in Scotland.

But Rangers, the club, the fans, they are an insitution. And the Scottish media is very much in the unionist camp, which creates a huge disconnect with much of the nation but feeds the aforementioned institution. But most of the new media is pro independence. To be honest, it's a good time to be visiting Scotland. There is change in the air. And it has to be said a lot of the younger Gers fans are just there for the football. I just live in and around the eye of the storm, so I see what most people just hear about.

There's still loads to do in Scotland. The cities are great and the coast and countryside are still great. Get in touch nearer the time.

 

[Titans Bastard]

Rangers are officially back in the top flight after today's win over Dumbarton.

 

[The Talented Allen Ripley]

I think that's a good thing overall. Even though they're huns.

 

[CodPiece XL]

Don't ya have to have been there in the first place to be "back" ? This mob started in 2012 as a new entity. Sorry, could not resist.

 

[The Talented Allen Ripley]

I consider it the Cinderella story of an expansion club.

 

[CodPiece XL]

I'm sure normal service will resume... They play at Ibrox, blue strips, same logos, if it looks like a duck, sounds like a duck and walks like a duck etc. However, I will always point out to sevco fans that their team failed to get a CVA and were liquidated. They could not save their team. If nothing else... just for the helluva it.

 

[fletcherpost]

Can we give Raith Rovers of Kirkcaldy a wee nod for delaying the party on Saturday. The Starks Park boys got a late goal to make it 3-3...and it's nice to think that Rangers promotion wasnae done on the soil of my birthtown. If you're ever in that area, they do a fine fudge donut on Ramsay Road, just round the corner...and 77 Ramsay Road is of historical significance being the house i spent my formative years. But then, why would anyone go to Kirkcaldy? Nice parks, Dysart Harbour...hmmm...what else...Pillans Pies. Tempting ay.

 

[Titans Bastard]

Can we give Raith Rovers of Kirkcaldy a wee nod for delaying the party on Saturday. The Starks Park boys got a late goal to make it 3-3...and it's nice to think that Rangers promotion wasnae done on the soil of my birthtown. If you're ever in that area, they do a fine fudge donut on Ramsay Road, just round the corner...and 77 Ramsay Road is of historical significance being the house i spent my formative years. But then, why would anyone go to Kirkcaldy? Nice parks, Dysart Harbour...hmmm...what else...Pillans Pies. Tempting ay.

 

[CodPiece XL]

Can we give Raith Rovers of Kirkcaldy a wee nod for delaying the party on Saturday. The Starks Park boys got a late goal to make it 3-3...and it's nice to think that Rangers promotion wasnae done on the soil of my birthtown. If you're ever in that area, they do a fine fudge donut on Ramsay Road, just round the corner...and 77 Ramsay Road is of historical significance being the house i spent my formative years. But then, why would anyone go to Kirkcaldy? Nice parks, Dysart Harbour...hmmm...what else...Pillans Pies. Tempting ay.

I had both radio Clyde and BBC running in the background. The media are such Sevco whores. Ian Turner on the BBC was almost crying with joy when Raith missed the late penalty. And a few minutes later you could hear him sobbing in his Bovril when they equalized. In fact, I'd say almost every goal scored against Sevco are always greeted in a subdued manner by the media pundits. Hearing the pain in their voices is delicious. The disrespect and temerity shown by Raith to postpone the party...terrible.

 

[DLew On Roids]

Celtic and Rangers: Two bald men in a knife fight over a comb.

 

[fletcherpost]

Mighty Raith on the other hand...

 

[fletcherpost]

Jockistan football on the other hand...

More pith DLew, more pith.

 

[CodPiece XL]

I knew Celtic were bad but not this bad. Deila has 45 mins to save his job.

 

[mic99]

I knew Celtic were bad but not this bad. Deila has 45 mins to save his job.

Absolutely rotten

clean house

 

[Conigliaro's Potential]

I only caught extra time and the penalties, but I was well entertained by what I saw. Maybe the Old Firm should only meet once a season?

 

[CodPiece XL]

Well Celtic fans were far from entertained. It was a litany of poor football on several levels from the coach right down to the imposters on the pitch. I could go on...suffice to say I cancelled Fox Soccer Plus today and won't watch another Celtic game until that joker is no longer the coach. The writing has been on the wall for over a year...

 

[fletcherpost]

http://www.oddschecker.com/football/football-specials/celtic/next-permanent-manager

David Moyes is a short priced favourite to be next Celtic manager. But, will he go to Villa if they make an offer? Or if NEwcastle go down he might be on their radar too. I thought Lennon would be short priced too and he's second favourite.

Deila isn't the greatest manager, obviously, but he's been on a hiding to nothing. Celtic are cheap skates and have slummed it the last few years. They'll have to spend in the summer. They won't spend much but if Rangers can get fired up with a supposedly inferior squad and beat them today, they'll fancy their chances next season as will other teams. But let's not lie, the quality of football is fuckin dire.

 

[CodPiece XL]

http://www.oddschecker.com/football/football-specials/celtic/next-permanent-manager

David Moyes is a short priced favourite to be next Celtic manager. But, will he go to Villa if they make an offer? Or if NEwcastle go down he might be on their radar too. I thought Lennon would be short priced too and he's second favourite.

Deila isn't the greatest manager, obviously, but he's been on a hiding to nothing. Celtic are cheap skates and have slummed it the last few years. They'll have to spend in the summer. They won't spend much but if Rangers can get fired up with a supposedly inferior squad and beat them today, they'll fancy their chances next season as will other teams. But let's not lie, the quality of football is fuckin dire.

He's a shit manager...end of. I understand that he has little say in the players they sign, I don't doubt the budget has been slashed. I give you all that. But for the life of me when did Armstrong and Griffiths become wingers? Why is he playing Brown ( who has obviously lost it) instead of Rogic, who has played extremely well when he has been included in the starting 11. Why does he continue to play with one forward. Why did the Celtic players look gassed and the Rangers players look like they could go on all day. The list is endless...should I even mention Boyata?

Don't forget this was the manager who said that he would elevate the teams fitness...play a pressing game full of energy...none of which has been on show this season. The squad Celtic have is the best in Scottish football...they don't play like it. Right now, Russ Abbott could step in and do a better job. I'm thankful I have other sporting distractions and more important issues than back in my day in Scotland. I'm sure there are plenty of Celtic fans who eat , drink and breathe around Celtic games, as I once did. Thank fuck I'm not like that anymore but I feel sorry or the Celtic fans are. This Celtic is not the team I supported and I saw some pretty shitty Celtic teams in my life.

 

[CodPiece XL]

http://www.oddschecker.com/football/football-specials/celtic/next-permanent-manager

David Moyes is a short priced favourite to be next Celtic manager. But, will he go to Villa if they make an offer? Or if NEwcastle go down he might be on their radar too. I thought Lennon would be short priced too and he's second favourite.

Deila isn't the greatest manager, obviously, but he's been on a hiding to nothing. Celtic are cheap skates and have slummed it the last few years. They'll have to spend in the summer. They won't spend much but if Rangers can get fired up with a supposedly inferior squad and beat them today, they'll fancy their chances next season as will other teams. But let's not lie, the quality of football is fuckin dire.

So after my little rant I looked at that list. How do they work out the odds? Moyes will want full control as far as transfers..as will several others, that's not happening with this Celtic board..unless they change ( I have a better chance of shagging Charlize Theron in the frozen food aisle tomorrow) . They should be eliminated immediately.

Are they just asking "x" amount of Celtic punters who they want and then set the odds? How does this work? Seriously, how is Moyes the favorite? why would he want to manage Celtic? Brendan Rogers..I wish..that's crazy.

 

[fletcherpost]

The odds have changed since i posted. Moyes is drifting, Villa want him...the money is going on Owen Coyle who at time of posting is 6-1. Any such list or book is just a combination of pragmatic choices (so Stubbs manages Hibs, used to play for Celtic and is based in Scotland, Celtic is a step up) and reflection of where the money is going...and of course news and gossip. So the Villa news resulted in a drift in Moyes' price.

 

[CodPiece XL]

The odds have changed since i posted. Moyes is drifting, Villa want him...the money is going on Owen Coyle who at time of posting is 6-1. Any such list or book is just a combination of pragmatic choices (so Stubbs manages Hibs, used to play for Celtic and is based in Scotland, Celtic is a step up) and reflection of where the money is going...and of course news and gossip. So the Villa news resulted in a drift in Moyes' price.

Interesting...didn't Coyle turn down the Celtic job when he was at Burnley? I know he was the young manager to watch at that point. I really would not want Lennon..but he would be an improvement. Keane would end in tears....I think. As far as other ex players...I'd take McKay or Lambert. I've always been a big fan of Lambert. Michael O'Neill is intriguing but I'm not sure Celtic could wait around until NI get knocked out of the Euros. Rogers and Moyes are pipe dreams IMHO.

For some reason I can see McCarthy being offered the job...but I don't know would he be the "yes' man the board would want. I just don't see how any manager with any sense of self worth would take on the job if he has zero say in transfers.

The board are very lucky Sevco are promoted, that will save some of their season tickets sales. Personally, I would not renew a season ticket with this gutless bunch running the club. As you say, this is not all on Deila, this shit is cascading from the very top down.

 

[The Talented Allen Ripley]

A silver lining to Sunday was that it was the first time I took my oldest son to the pub for an Old Firm match, and he absolutely loved it, results notwithstanding. Nothing comes close to that intensity for a Celtic fan over here, except maybe for a Champions League match where Celtic has something to play for (as opposed to simply being grateful to be there). I've spoken here before about how I'm concerned my kids aren't going to give a shit about lame old Celtic, but Sunday gave him a glimpse into what following the team can be like; he was into it more than any Pats or Sox game from recent memory, including the postseason. The product sucks but the passion was there, and with Rangers back in the top tier, there will be more opportunities for my sons to establish that spiritual bond with Celtic that goes beyond just the football itself (and no, I'm not talking about sectarianism, luckily the pub I frequent is apolitical and there's nary a whisper of that kind of stuff). Plus we get to eat an Irish breakfast together.

My kids' allegiance may not be the lost cause I once thought it would be.

 

[fletcherpost]

That's fuckin beautiful Kev. Won't be long before yous're both weeping into each other's pints.

But...what the fuck is in an Irish Breakfast that isn't in a Scottish?

Bacon; Sausage; Mushrooms; Beans; Black Pudding; Fried Egg, Tomato; Haggis; Tattie scone; two slices of toast and a cup of rosey lee.

 

[Dummy Hoy]

Irish breakfast for me is either Guiness or Murphy's

 

[CodPiece XL]

A silver lining to Sunday was that it was the first time I took my oldest son to the pub for an Old Firm match, and he absolutely loved it, results notwithstanding. Nothing comes close to that intensity for a Celtic fan over here, except maybe for a Champions League match where Celtic has something to play for (as opposed to simply being grateful to be there). I've spoken here before about how I'm concerned my kids aren't going to give a shit about lame old Celtic, but Sunday gave him a glimpse into what following the team can be like; he was into it more than any Pats or Sox game from recent memory, including the postseason. The product sucks but the passion was there, and with Rangers back in the top tier, there will be more opportunities for my sons to establish that spiritual bond with Celtic that goes beyond just the football itself (and no, I'm not talking about sectarianism, luckily the pub I frequent is apolitical and there's nary a whisper of that kind of stuff). Plus we get to eat an Irish breakfast together.

My kids' allegiance may not be the lost cause I once thought it would be.

Have you taken him to the bleachers for a Yankee -Red Sox game? That's the closest thing I have experienced to the atmosphere of a British football game. But, it doesn't even come close.

 

[CodPiece XL]

That's fuckin beautiful Kev. Won't be long before yous're both weeping into each other's pints.

But...what the fuck is in an Irish Breakfast that isn't in a Scottish?

Bacon; Sausage; Mushrooms; Beans; Black Pudding; Fried Egg, Tomato; Haggis; Tattie scone; two slices of toast and a cup of rosey lee.

This is exactly what I am planning to eat every morning for 13 days when I'm home. Less the tomato. Of course, nothing beats the worlds best Marag Dudh from Stornoway. I'm trying to figure out the logistics of taking a few back with me. Also Battenburg cake...I love that shit.

 

[SoxFanInCali]

Irish breakfast for me is either Guiness or Murphy's

Yeah, I always figured the main difference between Full English and Full Irish was which beer I was drinking with it.

 

[The Talented Allen Ripley]

Nae tattie scones in an Irish breakfast.

 

[fletcherpost]

Nae tattie scones in an Irish breakfast.

And yet those paddy cunts invented the potato. D'you get black pudding and haggis in Boston? I had the most amazing haggis, neeps and tatties at Nicol Sturgeon's Burns night fund raiser, earlier this year. I hear there's sometimes issues with haggis getting into the USA, but American offal works fine for haggis.

This is exactly what I am planning to eat every morning for 13 days when I'm home. Less the tomato. Of course, nothing beats the worlds best Marag Dudh from Stornoway. I'm trying to figure out the logistics of taking a few back with me. Also Battenburg cake...I love that shit.

What is it about Stornoway black pudding that makes it the best? I love black pudding, i love it more the older i get, but, there's huge variance in quality. My sister's fiance gets really good black pudding from the chippie his old boy owns and my dad used to get really good stuff from the butchers in Pittenweem, but the butcher closed down last year. (fuckin unionist cunts fuckin up our local economy) That butcher had been there since the days of - oh I dunno, the Magna fuckin Carter...but there's nae fish in Pittenweem, and the place has had an influx of middle class folks and they didnae support thon butcher, and he put his prices up and priced out the locals.

This is all related to football ye ken.

 

[inter tatters]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/36091138

The most unsurprising news of the year. Interesting that Deila fell on his own sword, though I suspect there was a fair degree of "pushing".

 

[Titans Bastard]

And yet those paddy cunts invented the potato. D'you get black pudding and haggis in Boston? I had the most amazing haggis, neeps and tatties at Nicol Sturgeon's Burns night fund raiser, earlier this year. I hear there's sometimes issues with haggis getting into the USA, but American offal works fine for haggis.

Yeah, it's not possible to produce traditional haggis in the US because sheep lungs are banned.

As far as Boston goes, there's this place.

 

[fletcherpost]

Yeah, it's not possible to produce traditional haggis in the US because sheep lungs are banned.

As far as Boston goes, there's this place.

I think I've been there. To be fair, haggis without the sheep lungs isn't a deal breaker, but even so...it has to be said, when you get a proper whole haggis, and cut it open and pour a few splooshes of single malt over it, the smell is fuckin unreal...it makes you want to trudge over the glens and kill some Englishmen.

 

[fletcherpost]

Well it was nice to talk about food an all but, it's been confirmed. Ronny won't be back next season.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/36091138

"Ronny Deila is to quit as Celtic manager at the end of the season, with the Scottish Premiership leaders saying it was the Norwegian's decision."

Neil Lennon, who Deila succeeded in 2014, has already said he would welcome a return to the Scottish champions.

 

[CodPiece XL]

Well it was nice to talk about food an all but, it's been confirmed. Ronny won't be back next season.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/36091138

"Ronny Deila is to quit as Celtic manager at the end of the season, with the Scottish Premiership leaders saying it was the Norwegian's decision."

Neil Lennon, who Deila succeeded in 2014, has already said he would welcome a return to the Scottish champions.

Aye, posted a couple of posts up. Now all we have to do is hope Sunderland stay up....Lawwell is on the short list.

When I have time and if I remember, I'll post about how my mother landed up being a courier for the world famous Stornoway marag dudh ( black pudding) and how it opened up a friendship between Bill Shankly and Jock stein.

 

[The Talented Allen Ripley]

And yet those paddy cunts invented the potato. D'you get black pudding and haggis in Boston? I had the most amazing haggis, neeps and tatties at Nicol Sturgeon's Burns night fund raiser, earlier this year. I hear there's sometimes issues with haggis getting into the USA, but American offal works fine for haggis.

There are a couple of import shops around here where you can get black pudding, back bacon, Irn-Bru and haggis, and there's also Savenor's, which is a proper butcher's shop, they sell everything but the Irn-Bru (but at a big markup).

My Polish/Russian-American wife, God bless her, makes terrific homemade tattie scones.

 

[CodPiece XL]

Before I was born my mom was a nurse in Glasgow and my dad played for Partick Thistle. He later signed for Everton and headed down to Liverpool. The Scottish players always hung out together even the ones who played for Liverpool. Sometimes my mom would go back home to Lewis and would head down to Liverpool to see my dad. She always took some Stornoway black pudding with her. Anyway, my dad shared it with all the Scottish boys and gradually she was taking almost an entire suitcase of Stornoway black pudding because of demand. Bill Shankly had tried it and loved it so eventually she would drop one off for him. Just after I was born my dad and mom took me to Anfield and there was a picture of me all wrapped up in a shawl with Shankly smiling at me doing the silly "googly" wagging his finger at me as my mother was holding me.

Years later, my dad was killed in car wreck in Singapore and my mom remarried later. My step uncle worked for the Daily Record in Glasgow and was friends with Jock Stein. He loved Stornoway back pudding too. We were now living back on Lewis and any time we visited Glasgow we had to have a supply of black pudding, you never came down from Stonoway and visited Glasgow without taking plenty of black pudding. Several times my mother would give Jock Stein his own black pudding.

To answer your question Fletch I have no idea why it's meant to be the best. Maybe it's because of all the peat bogs and moss the animals graze on...I have no clue.

 

[CodPiece XL]

There are a couple of import shops around here where you can get black pudding, back bacon, Irn-Bru and haggis, and there's also Savenor's, which is a proper butcher's shop, they sell everything but the Irn-Bru (but at a big markup).

My Polish/Russian-American wife, God bless her, makes terrific homemade tattie scones.

My wife would order Irn-Bru for me for my birthday or to fill a Christmas stocking. They were plastic bottles, it never tasted the same..always seemed a bit flat. But I seem to remember it came from some place in New England, I want to say CT or RI. She ordered it three times I think...eventually I told her not to waste the money because it tasted different ( I was nice about it, did not want to hurt her feelings). Anyway, we can do a taste test with the real stuff when we head over in October.

 

[The Talented Allen Ripley]

Have you taken him to the bleachers for a Yankee -Red Sox game? That's the closest thing I have experienced to the atmosphere of a British football game. But, it doesn't even come close.

He hasn't been to a Sox-Yankees game yet, but the crowd intensity of those games has subsided significantly since 2004, at least to my eye. Not that I'd trade 2004 to get it back.

At this point in time, I think the closest atmosphere a Boston sports venue can come to an Old Firm match would be a B's-Habs Game 7 playoff. The Pats have some bitter rivals, but the crowds at Gillette are just too sedate (comparitively). A Sox-Yanks ALCS matchup would probably get there, but the stakes don't seem as high anymore; nothing can top 2003-04.

This is me and the kid at the boozer on Sunday morning. Hopefully I've set him on a course toward an inferiority complex and the inevitable struggle with alcoholism.