buster.

Quick detour Flanagan and Katic have made us more solid at the back. No coincidence that they were both in a successful defence at the start of the season. Am I joking ?

Over the years, Jackson has repeatedly shown himself to come down favourably on the side of those who offer him something in return. It's not an uncommon trait amongst journalists but if I were forced to name the Fitbaw hack who I thought most practised this, it would be KJ.

Is it just Keef/sports dept. ? ----------------- Latest on Celtic from the DR Celtic FC cleared Boys' Club bosses over 'scurrilous' abuse claims in 1986 Victims, families and lawyers call for action after Daily Record reveals statement printed in The Celtic View after a club investigation. https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/celtic-fc-cleared-boys-club-16158020

Latest from the DR on Celtic Celtic FC cleared Boys' Club bosses over 'scurrilous' abuse claims in 1986 Victims, families and lawyers call for action after Daily Record reveals statement printed in The Celtic View after a club investigation. Full article https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/celtic-fc-cleared-boys-club-16158020

Another angle to look at is the willingness by various media outlets and journalists to help Celtic PLC as they look to avoid what I would call appropriate scrutiny.

If he really wanted to stay, I'd be more inclined to share your optimism.

The usual unofficial and unsatisfactory procedure would seem to be that it usually gets out to journalists and is then reported on. It's another reason to ridicule the process but I doubt the leaks will be pure bullshit. I think you could use Scott Brown as exhibit X and go through a couple of seasons of videos and put forward a slam dunk case against Mr.Untouchable, Sportscene, C.O., the process and how a lack of transparency allows blatant injustice to thrive.

I don't know about another country but it's within the rules that currently exist in Scotland and hence nothing will change regards Flanagan and the 2 game suspension. What is generally recognised by many clubs in Scotland is that the current rules/process isn't fit for purpose and needs to be changed. There seems to be a general beliefthat things will change this summer. It remains to be seen to what and if it works any better. What I think is more significant with this statement is the decision to go after specifics, including pointing to a particular incident/player to highlight an inconsistency that I think we all agree is very much part of the current process and individuals involved. I very much agree with the inconsistency, trial by Sportscene, lack of transparency etc. What I'm saying is that I think we've picked the wrong example to go public on. For me, you go for something(s) blatant that was ignored by Sportscene and not even chosen by Claire Whyte to be looked at by the panel of ex-refs and you contrast it with relevant examples of our players being highlighted by Sportscene, cited and suspended. With Simunovic, it seems as though it was a case that was looked at and presented to the panel. So you are basically pointing at the 3 ex-refs rather than the process as a whole. The other issue for me is if it would have been better to get something out there using another conduit, which is a debate in itself. Siege mentality is one thing but when the club does act like this, it has to get it right and it has to be part of an ongoing strategy. We'll get a better idea of results when we hear of any changes to the process for next season.

It's fair to say that the club have been verbally aggressive towards officialdom and the authorities at times this season. To a level of which I don't think I've seen before. You have to look at context, the background, where it will take us and if it will have a positive impact on the system/process going forward. My first thought when I saw the statement was to wonder if it would have been better to raise the issue via another conduit. Given that the Simunovic elbow was apparently looked at by the panel of referees, I tend to think another conduit would have been the way to go this time. We all know the state of play regards Trial by Sportscene etc but I think you need to have a convincing case built up over time that is backed up by video evidence, eg. Scott Brown and his untouchable status compared to others in different coloured shirts and it's probably a good idea to include various other teams as having suffered....Even then, I'd publish that via other conduits. There is enough material out there or in other words, I think there was better quality ammunition available to go after this particular target.

On our bench and not in a 40 man Colombian squad won't have Alfredo in the best of moods. After an almost uninterrupted upwards trajectory, his career has come up against a significant hurdle and he needs to show the right attitude to get over it. Broadfoot and chums might be taking Spanish lessons so they can learn how to remind Alfredo he isn't in the 40 man squad. I wouldn't start him against Kilmarnock, because I don't trust him and another red card at this stage would have a significant impact on his perceived value. I just hope we get a decent offer, we sell and everyone moves on from it. I have a feeling that if he stays, the whole thing will turn sour.

It's been clear that from a couple of months into the season that the only way Kent stays with us would be another loan. It's hardly worth trying to figure out the numbers that fly about the big clubs in England, the simple truth is that we aren't in that game, period. Young Scottish players would do well to take on board some lessons on how Ryan Kent applies himself as a professional and his willingness to learn and carry out various aspects of what is expected of a modern winger. That determined application will make a player with ability into something much better. The likes of Middleton, Hastie, Jones & others should take note.

Carlos Queiroz has named his provisional 40 man squad for the Copa America and Alfredo didn't make the cut. I thought he was struggling to make the final 22 but would have made the provisional list. Pretty clear indication of what Carlos Queiroz thinks about him in relation to other Colombian forwards and the player will be gutted. The positive for us is that it means he'll get time to rest and recuperate but the negative concerns perceived value/actual fee, if he does move on.

It's a bit like Laudrup playing in Scotland. I can't get over the fact an ex-pongo is such a wizz with words

Not my place to do anything but IMO 26th's weekly column certainly deserves a wider audience. eg. Twitter account, FF, etc.

We can only concentrate on improving ourselves to the best we can be with the resources available. However the destination of the bits of silver depend on how we get on against other teams. I think it was Dave King who said something along the lines of ...'Celtic could fall apart like a house of cards in a relatively short time period'...... I think we've reached the point where the Green&Grey PLC have to open the biscuit tin and place a substantial amount of their chips on the table. I said a month or two back that the G&GPLC would spend relatively big and Lennon wouldn't get the job. If they don't and we win the 19/20 title, they risk an immediate and substantial decrease in ST numbers for the following season, as well as no route into the CL. Whichever way they go they are going to increase the wage bill and stretch the finances. If they qualify for the CL group stages this summer, that will pay for it for the time being. Given transition, not easy. If not, they'll lose at least one of their better players. If we can look after ourselves, get recruitment right (that doesn't necessarily mean spending huge sums of money) and put a team together that can start strongly, then we'll have a decent chance. Lot of hurdles to get over before that but we've reached a place where we've established a solid base camp to work from. When we start the league in August, it'll be like heading off to scale K2 on a single attempt. We have to get things right from the off, keep getting them right and hope for some fair weather along the way.

Apparently McCrorie did very well with Morton. He's on a similar route to the one McGregor trod #Dunfermline

A 12 months apprenticeship and 3 transfer windows were always likely to be required before the SG&Co era began to take proper shape. From the moment we adapted to the 11th minute sending off of Morelos to dominate Aberdeen in the first league game of the season, I knew the management/coaching team knew what they were doing. I'd say the managers biggest mistake was the starting XI for the Kilmarnock game we lost in January. I think that is where the outside possibility of a title was lost. Looking forward to next season with justified optimism. ps. We need to get the recruitment right #Quality x3, Spine

Who is the full back in the Scottish game who is always getting talked up with much attention drawn to the amount of football he has played ?...Answer: Kieran Tierney I don't argue that he isn't a good player but put his numbers beside that of Tav and ask WHY doesn't Tav get the recognition ? I wouldn't say it's just a media thing because our support don't give him the credit he is due either,..or at least IMO Tav's League numbers minutes / goals......(Tierney in brackets) 15/16: 3234 / 10 goals......(1933 / 1) 16/17: 3145 / 1 goals...... (2160 / 1) 17/18: 3358 / 8 goals......(2632 / 3) 18/19: 3234 / 14 goals......(1745 / 0)

As far as young keepers are concerned, I hope we keep the faith and keep a pathway open for Robbie McCrorie.

So that'll probably be Flanagan to add to Allan McGregor suspended for our first league game next season. Not the way you want to start and I'll guess it'll be a trip to Easter Road.

Everyone knows his exceptional goal and assist count but there is another thing that for me stands out over his time with Rangers and that is the very few minutes he hasn't been on the park during those four seasons. The first of those was spent in the Championship and he started all 36 matches, coming off in two, missing a total of 28 minutes of the League season....In the Cups (inc. Challenge Cup), he started in all games (11) and came off once in the 81st minute. In the next 3 seasons in the top tier and it's 38 matches (38x90mins= 3420 minutes) he's played... 16/17: 3145 17/18: 3358 18/19: 3234 (possible 3330mins / 1 game to play) In our European run this season, he's played 1260 minutes out of a possible 1260. The only two games he missed this season were Ayr Utd and Cowdenbeath in the Cups. So this season he's played 57 competitive games but has only been booked once. In the 4 years with us he's played 12950 League minutes from a possible 13410 Nor has he missed a minute of a European game and that is a total of 1440. We won't know what we have until he is gone...or to put it another way, to help title aspirations for next season, we need to do everything possible to keep a hold of him. Quiz ? Can you think of an outfield player who has spent at least four years with Rangers, who has a better appearance record than that ? ps. No-one tell Matt Polster or his Mrs might start to badger him for a move

Prior to his first start IIRC

Good to hear that Souttar (at a fee way beyond his worth) is down the pecking order, if indeed he's on it.

We knew he could play this way. What was important about yesterday was that he kept the head in his first OF start and actually played above his usual level.

IMO, it's between that and the Morelos goal at Aberdeen for Most Beautiful Halfway Line to Net..... Goal of the season. Splitting the component parts. Best finish was Morelos but best build-up was yesterday.