Wacko Jacko
Morning,all.
MAHE refers to Wednesday as Hump Day,as that is the day that most of the week has been and gone. Mondays though are Get The Hump Day,as I’m with The Boomtown Rats on this one-I don’t like Mondays much either. On the plus side,once I’ve got it out of the way,the rest of the week is a pleasure by comparison.
Another plus to Mondays is the regular column by Keith Jackson in The Daily Record. This is a real tonic on a toxic morning. How he maintains such levels of consistency as he brings us his regular insights into the game in Scotland is beyond me. He really is one of the funniest writers around,and if you don’t read his stuff regularly,you are missing a treat.
His latest offering yesterday was the theory that’s Ange and his team will be in for a difficult second season,because everyone will have worked out our strengths and how to nullify them. Yes,that will be the same sides who regularly raise their game against Celtic anyway,not that it did them a lot of good last season. To read oul’ Wacko,you could be forgiven that Ange was actually the leader of a band who had just made a hugely successful debut album and were under pressure from their record company and their fans to come out with an even better album as the follow up.
The problem with that is that bands tend to have built up a fair old repertoire of songs prior to the release of their debut,and then have to come up with a pile of completely new ones. This is really not the case at a football club,especially one where the personnel are largely the same in that second season as they were in the first. Indeed,it could just as easily be argued that the longer the manager and the players are feeding off each other,the more successful they are likely to become.
The players will know what is expected of each of them when they pull on those Hooooops and the manager will be aware of the strengths and limitations for each too. The players will be more familiar with each other after such an enormous rebuild last season,which saw only CalMac and Greg Taylor as regulars from the previous season. That level of disruption has a serious effect on continuity and familiarity,two important factors in building a team. And although there have been a couple of new signings already this summer with the prospect of one or two more,I think that the first choice eleven next season will have a very familiar look to it. And one which was learning on the job last season while sweeping all before them for a famous championship campaign.
Of course,the same could be said about our rivals across the city. They too have been busy signing up their regulars to contract extensions. That a couple of these extensions will probably see the beneficiaries through to pension age is neither here nor there. They too have some continuity about their side,but for their fans,I think they will have been expecting more activity in the transfer market. It is certainly very unusual for neither side to be making major signings in the summer window,and I think we would have to go back to the early 80s or so for that. If the situation remains as it is,with the squads we and they have,I would be confident of another big-hitting season,domestically at least.
Still,that’s not to suggest even a smidgin of complacency. Things can and do go wrong,the best laid plans of mice and men,etc. The wheels can come off with a bad run of injuries or suspensions,or even a simple loss of form,for example.
No,there is most certainly no place for complacency. Even a stopped clock is right twice a day,and I’d rather not have His Wackoness smiling smugly at the end of the season. We have it in us to wipe the smirk from his dial,and we should grasp that opportunity with both hands.
Above article by BMCUWP
You’ve gotta admire his tenacity if not his veracity Bobby..! As long he continues taking the Deludamol, I shall remain quietly confident. Have a great day one and all (got over the y’all from yesterday).
HH
The likes of Jackson are barely football hacks- “writers” who churn out anything for money.
They are not known as the Laptop Loyal for nothing.
They write “opinion pieces” with no insights, just their usual prejudices. To be ignored if you are easily riled.
I am very much looking forward to this season.
I feel we are very well placed to move up a level from last season.
Leadership off and on the pitch is key.
We have that in Calmac and Joe but another “personality” player wouldn’t go amiss.
We are a young squad and our Japanese contingent particularly are too “nice.”
I’m not look for snarling thugs ( Lundstrum comes to mind) just a bit more cold steel!
They don’t like it up ‘em sorts. Our new recruit Alexandro might have that attitude.
A couple of additions, as you say, and we should be complete.
There is some room for Loan with option to buy types, which proved successful last year.
Or perhaps a breakout figure from the development squad.
Ps
We have lost two in midfield with very different skill sets but one similarity- both are tall lads.
Whilst not the most combative in the air their physical size could at least match up with opponents.
CFC
Yes,it certainly is a young squad by and large. We aren’t that known for keeping our better players for too long,but yet we have still had some long serving ones. Broonie,Nir and Tam,CalMac,spring to mind.
With the collapse in the continental market,there is only really the EPL for any of our players to aim for. That has always been our problem though,and for as long as even my Dad can remember. We are a long way from being a “destination” club,rather than a stepping stone to the big time. But access to the big time is being increasingly restricted. English clubs might buy from us,as they always have,but maybe only the likes of Southampton or at a push the likes of Newcastle.
Of course,KT went to Arsenal,but he was and is an exceptional talent. VVD had to prove himself at Southampton before he was judged as good enough for Liverpool. Gone are the days of a Dalglish,Hay,Macari,even Nicholas and McClair joining the big clubs.
That’s a long-term career plan to offer a player if you are selling yourself as a stepping stone. Two or three years with us,the same at the lower level EPL club,you might get the big offer? That can amount to half of a player’s career.
I get it that some of those EPL clubs prefer to see if players can hack it with us,rather than take the risk themselves. I’m not so sure that many players do.
Btw,Elyounoussi is on a free. Despite having a year left on his contract,and impressing with us even in THAT season. Just saying…
Morning all. HH
Wacko Jacko’s pieces are priceless only to be out done by Kevins for stupidity.
What an insult to all Scottish football managers, they wait for a full season before assessing Ange’s tactics and react according.
They have attempted to attack by a high press preventing passing from the back. Huns are good at this because Madhun et al allow them to foul with impunity, so do the rest TBH. We quickly pass out bypassing the above attempt, this has been happening all season.
Guys a dickhead😱😵
PRESTONPANSBHOY
Aw,I was much more polite about him. Yours is better!
FRIESDORFER
When I was home a month ago,not one person spoke to me about football in Kilwinning. Fair enough,that’s been the case for over a decade. Admittedly,I wasn’t looking for conversation a year ago either,but lockdown regulations made it easy to avoid those conversations.
I remember about 2013,one of my mates told me that “Charlie has got yeez on the run.” His words,and in The Vic too,the main Rangers pub in the town. Oh,I trashed him. And in fairness,none of the others in the pub rushed to his defence,they all knew he was a wrong ‘un.
I’m unsure about their thoughts on Van Bronkhurst,but I think that run to the final saved his bacon.
CFC 9.54
Great post buddy!
Also Agree we are now at an overall height disadvantage – fair to say even more so than last season when it was evident. The game is changing and maybe two wee FB fit the new model – but we still need to defend set pieces.
Bobby – good stuff- perhaps our two FB/WB from Croatia & Argentina will add some steel – but we need more dig farther up the pitch.
Totally agree about second season with a regular crew and a proper pre-season as a group.
It’s early day – but Does buying one FB/WB make us stronger? Provide the necessary cover?
Still much Work to do, but feel the signs are very positive!
BMCUW
I think there are now more contenders in our Squad who will interest the EPL than ever before.
Particularly after a successful foray in Europe!
JJ, Matt, Reo, Liel, Kyogo, Daizen, Jota and potentially our new LB?
Some will inevitably move on. C’est La vie.
Mo as squad replacement for MJ?
Morning all.
What’s gonna be keeping ya busy today wee Fra?
Keith Jackson. Any minuscule amount of credibility the man had went down the pan at the same time as Rangers FC.
He and his boss at the time Jim Traynor were chief champions of Craig Whyte, informing us all of the mans riches and how he was Scotlands youngest ever self made millionaire.
Just as the sinking RFC disappeared below the waves a polemic Jackson appeared to inform the same audience that he was the first to expose Whyte.
No sense of embarrassment, no self appraisal.
On a different, though related matter, newspapers in general, I remember thinking I’d never buy one again given they can be read online. So other than the Racing Post, I stopped buying newspapers. Only recently I’ve realised I miss having the newspaper in my hand to read. My mum still has her paper delivered daily, and I noticed the hypocrisy of me always saying to her “ I just wouldn’t but a paper these days” but inevitably when going to see her I slump into the big chair with her newspaper in my hand, and of course, always start reading from the back pages first. It’s generally a short read though, due to the awful standard of the Scottish sports writers.
I guess it’s akin to saying you’d never buy another book now that you can read most of them online, but actually, again, having the book in your hand is more satisfying, but if it fails to grip your attention, it goes on to the shelf unread.
So I’ve come to the decision I would buy a paper daily again, IF, the quality of the writing was better.
Will we ever see a quality newspaper produced in Scotland? Not necessarily pro Celtic, but balanced opinion with thought provoking articles?
Probably not.
SeS
Compliments always received graciously😀
The “personality” I’m alluding to is that mix of gallusness and hard pragmatism when needed.
We’ve had a few of those in our history.
I wouldn’t say we are soft touches, but a bit more of a reflection of our manager wouldn’t go amiss- take no Shit flintiness required.
BMCUWP
Interesting that none of yer Kilwinning types are up for discussion on the footy. And telling.
HH
Twisty…the Daily Record pronounced the death of Gordon Brown’s baby daughter, born terminally ill, as “JENNIFER DEAD” on its front page. I vowed never to read the rag again and haven’t. I’d probably read the Sun before I’d read the Record. This was at the time I owned a couple of newsagents shops in the late 90s, the Independent, Herald, Guardian and particularly Scotland on Sunday were my choice of papers but even now I find the standard of journalism and the fact that a lot of the news articles are behind paywalls now my goto publication is the Guardian. Even its standard has fallen though!
TWISTY
I’ve got a rather large collection of books-get me!-but there are still a few of them that I’ve not got round to reading yet,plus some others that are so bad that I never will finish them.
Joseph Heller’s Something Happened was a struggle to read-I get the joke,that NOTHING happened,but ffs…
The worst was one by Dom de Lillo. It was about 800 pages thick,and it was about a fricking baseball. I managed a quarter of it,back on the shelf. Of course,that is a candidate for the charity shop-but why inflict that on some other poor unsuspecting sod?
Btw,it’s widely regarded as his masterpiece,which shows what I know.
Gooooooood morning weefra.
Hugs fae ML5
MCCAFF
There are some excellent columnists on The Guardian. John Harris,William Keegan,the restaurant critics,as well as possibly the wittiest two political commentators,John Crace and Marina Hyde. And that isn’t an exclusive list by any means.
They also have some excellent sports writers. Though they could do with growing a pair,as AULDHEID will confirm.
Seems Madhun has been a naughty boy,papped oot allegedly
Bada
Reveal all, can’t see anything on my usual haunts!
PB- seems to have fathered a wean out of wedlock….allegedly
Bada
Ah, so he’s done a Griff😂😱
McCaff
Geez the similarities are spooky. You having your newsagents. Reading those publications.
I used to be a paper boy and would read a few on my delivery route. The Sparky, Beano, Dandy and the Topper. The occasional Playboy and Readers wives.
Admittedly my standards dropped a bit in later life and I moved on to the Sunday Sport, but eventually my family name was shamed completely when I was caught reading the Sun.
Bobby
On a serious note, I once worked with a girl who was the most avid reader. She reckoned she read, on average, one book a week. She once lent me a copy of one book from her vast collection. I was reading it at lunchtime and she came into the canteen. When I was ready to leave I folded the corner of a page to mark my progress and I kid you not, she went fekkin loopy. A mistake I never repeated.
Leftclicktic
Howdy my friend, big hugs fae Strathaven in return. HH
Hahaha… Twisty I hope you’re not the wee shaky guy who used to come into my Ru’glen shop after dropping his missus off at the bowling club of an afternoon. You could set your watch by him, a folded up copy of the Sport and the right change dropped on the counter then off he went with his one huge Popeye arm to wile away his couple of hours freedom!! 🤫😂😂😂
McCaff
No that wasn’t me.
I was the guy who used to come in and buy all the top shelf magazines and a Sun. You must remember me? I used to ask you if you could put my Sun in a brown paper bag?
MON playing with Rory,at the JP McManus golf
Interesting
Net spend Celtic managers since the blessed MO’N
Mr O’Neill: Players IN = £29,700,000*. Players OUT = £10,750,000. NET SPEND = – £18,950,000.
WGS: Players IN =£37,530,000 :Players OUT =£18,150,000. NET SPEND = – £19,380,000.
Tony: (Take in on the chin) Mowbray: Players IN =£37,530,000. Players OUT =£18,150,000. NET SPEND = – £19,380,000.
Lenny: 2010-14:Players IN = £31,100,000. Players OUT = £48,050,000. NET SPEND = + £16,950,000
Lenny: 2019-21:Players IN = – £31,900,000. Players OUT=£37,800,000*. NET SPEND = + £5,900,000.
Ronny Delia: Players IN = £12,575,000. PLAYERS OUT = £25,800,000. NET SPEND = + £13,225,000
Brendan Rogers: Players IN =£29,600,000. Players OUT =£30,700,000*. NET SPEND = + £1,100,000.😲😲
Ange (to date):Players IN = £39,345,000. Players OUT = £33,150,000*. NET SPEND = – £6,195,000
Little wonder Brendan left in the huff. And not surprisingly the club has thus far spent basically heehaw during Ange’s ongoing team rebuild – £6mill, so lots of cash to splash should Ange need it😏.
BMCUW
A fine leader, my good man. Oh for the good old days, when we had journalists of the calibre of Ian Archer, John Fairgrieve, Hugh Mcilvanney, John McKenzie etc. Most ‘journalists’ in Scotland-fitba journalists, I mean-would struggle to find gainful employment, in almost any other field of journalism, so poor is their command of written English. The fact that they are all a shower of bitter Huns, is no small matter either.
Some brilliantly funny posts today. I’m fairly enjoying the craic. 😀
Hail Hail.
Twisty
How’s you today my friend? Well I hope.
Wee Fra
I’m good tyvm bud. I’m heading to Southport tomorrow morning en route to Manchester to collect my two youngest grandchildren from their flight on Thursday.
They moved to Qatar with my son 6 months ago, so I’m really looking forward to seeing them. Seems longer than just 6 months
AFTERNOON ALL and JIM, remember me telling you I bought 4 bells scotch pies at speke retail park well. i had the last 2 at lunchtime today, even went out and bought some little plastic cups the ones you used to get at parkhead for the bovril used to burn yer hauns, then had a religious experience, looked at the tv screen, and saw jimmy johnstone with the ball.he evaded a sliding tackle from ronnie mckinnon, then crossed the ball to bobby lennox, bobby dummied it and bobby murdoch nearly burst the net ,peter mcloy never even seen it, must have been late sixties and wintertime, there were bales of straw behind the goals.another true story,👍
WEEFRA if your lurking ,glad to see you posting.👍
Team training in Austria
https://youtu.be/ZWxKZ9sX9fU
TWISTY, how long are you in southport for, it was thee place for wee joans mum and dad, took them there hundreds of times, fish and chips and a mr whippy ice cream cone and they were in seventh heaven🤩 if its a good day and no cloud ,you can see the big ride on blackpool pleasure beach from pleasureland in southport,,another true story.👍
think jim is watching the tennis, jim, john mcenroe beats jimmy connors 6-4 7-5 7-1 dont know why i mentioned 7-1 something just came to me,,another true story🤩
BP
I’m only staying there on Wednesday evening then off to Manchester airport on Thursday.
We’d planned to stop in Blackpool for the night but having never been to Southport, thought it’d be nice to go have a look, albeit briefly!
Fish and chips very much on my itinerary and since you mention Mr Whippy I’ll perhaps add that as my dessert. 😁
Javid and Sunak resign,game over
Evening Packy, Fish suppers & 99s? LOL those were the days. Wish I could eat like that now, LOL 🙂
Twisty, I delivered papers too. I sometimes took the Beano etc. home with me to read & delivered them late! (I didn’t turn the corners down!)
BADABING
Not yet a game-changer,but clearly a matter of abandoning a sinking ship. I look forward to the first resignation which includes the words-“I cannot work for a lying bastert”
Surely those resignations are the end for Blo-Jo.
Never heard this before, brilliant;
https://twitter.com/tirnaog_09/status/1544218245829480450?t=qaJrLiC9mYlStN-IkXj-hg&s=08
HH
For anyone interested:
Electric Love runs in the last race at Yarmouth tomorrow. She’s had no luck at all in her last two runs, being hampered ( twice in the last race!), and given her propensity to fall out the stalls on occasion ( though she has been a bit better the last couple times ) she’s not one to put maximum faith in.
That’s the negatives
On the positive:
She’s a course winner twice, she’s nicely handicapped despite being higher than when she won here last year and the ground will be spot on for her. Cieren Fallon rides. The draw is fine too.
Trainer Tom Clover comments that the favourite is well handicapped but assuming Electric Love does not meet with interference, he’d fancy ours to see off the favourite if it developed into a two horse race to the line. She’s a tough little filly and they hope she can get her head in front tomorrow.
She’s 5/2 on 365 .
There you have it folks. You now know as much as I do about her chances tomorrow.
Gl if you back her. As always – assume you will lose so only bet what you can afford to lose.
Well Javid delivered a swift boot in the knackers to BawJaws, Sunak less so but for your Chancellor to resign must spell the end!
Jim 😁
Delivered late? At least you delivered them!! I had an evening paper run in Whitburn as well as my morning run in the village.
On a Saturday, the “ pink paper” was very popular in the pubs, so rather than deliver them all to the houses, I’d flog some in the Clachan, Double 5, pubs and picket the money.
Thst meant I didn’t have enough to deliver, so I’d just miss out a number of houses.
The guy I was delivering for said to me one day he was getting complaints that people weren’t getting their paper?
I told him “ well I definitely delivered them”
He said “ are you pushing them all the way through the letterbox?”
I said “ no, I post them halfway”
“ then someone is following you and taking them out, make sure you post them all the way through”
There was one occasion I was at the top end of Whitburn, near my old primary school, and there was a row of garages there which has just been creosoted. I sat down to smell the fresh creosote. Lovely.
Sat so long in fact I couldn’t be bothered delivering the papers any longer so I tossed the whole lot in the Almond river on the way home. 😁
I made up my mind about BJ in 2008 when he was Mayor of London. At the finale of the Olympic Games that year there was a handing over of the Olympic flag to the next hosts – London in 2012. It started of as a dignified thing, as one might expect, until they passed the flag to Blo-Jo who then started dancing around over excited like a 5 year old. A total buffoon. Still the same.
Big Packy
I was thinking of doing this to Mrs Kitts 😂😂😎
https://twitter.com/funny_stuff32/status/1544082449797464065?s=12
Twisty, I too had an evening round. The Citizen & The Evening Times. There was an OAP guy who done the pubs, we weren’t allowed. I think He got all his drink money from selling them in the boozers. But between my morning & evening rounds I bought a brand new Raleigh bicycle. I was proud as punch!
BMCUW@18.21
I wonder if Peter Lawwell’s P.A. had that very thought?
Hail Hail.
Jim
Only bike I ever had was a hand me down from my elder brother! Think I was about 7.
A few of my pals had choppers when I was into my teens but I only had a scooter. Was no easy task trying to keep up with them!
Twisty, I got a scooter too. It’s a long story. My aunt & uncle lived a few doors away from us. My aunty ordered a scooter and a space suit for my cousin’s Christmas. From a Catalogue firm. Littlewoods? However they delivered it TWICE in error! So my auntie gave the 2nd delivery to my mother for me! It was only charged the once so a freebie!
Me & m ycousin were scootering around in our identical spacesuits all Christmas Day.