Premiership

  • Bananas & Porridge

    The Kilmarnock fans have endured a rough start to the campaign, and plumbed new depths yesterday with a 0-4 reverse at home to Ross County with the highlanders scoring all 4 of their goals inside the opening 35 minutes.

    This caused one particularly irate home fan to take to the 'net to vent his anger, and boy did he vent.

    The YouTube video below has gone a wee bit viral since being published and it is most definitely NOT SAFE FOR WORK.

    A fair bit of industrious language in this one, and a tremendous plea for the players to increase their intake of bananas & porridge for breakfast.

    Absolute minter big man.
  • Bitton; The Israeli Busquets

    A mainstay in Ronny Deila’s Celtic side, and often dubbed the “Israeli Busquets”, but things haven’t always been so golden for Nir Bitton.

    After 123 outings for Israeli side FC Ashdod, the towering midfielder joined Celtic for the modest sum of £700,000. His early career at the Scottish champions was marred by poor performances, most notably a red card after 11 minutes, in a European fixture against Ajax.

    However, after a sit down with the Celtic manager things have never been better for Bitton.

    Featuring in 31 of Celtic’s 38 league matches last season, he also played an important part in Celtic’s Scottish Cup journey, which took them to the semi-finals. He further endeared himself to Bhoys fans with two stunning long range strikes, once against Dundee and the other in a draw at Kilmarnock.

    His ascension from bit part player to first team mainstay is not exclusive to his club career; he has become a fixture in the Israeli national side as well.

    His growth as a player has not gone unnoticed; there is already a growing interest in England. Betting tipster sites are beginning to speculate on the next destination for Bitton.

    Sunderland and Arsenal have both been linked with Bitton, who actually enjoyed a successful trial with Manchester City before moving to Scotland. It was only a work permit that blocked his move to the English giants.

    At first the Busquets comparisons seem unlikely, as the 6 foot 5 former military man doesn’t look like a La Masia graduate, but on the pitch, once the game starts, it’s obvious.

    His calmness in possession has proven invaluable in the centre of Celtic’s midfield, helping to dictate play and maintain the Bhoy’s trademark high tempo style. An adept passer of the ball at both long and short range means Nir is capable of kick-starting a counter, or recycle possession effectively.

    Any deep lying player must have tactical discipline and be able to defend, both traits Bitton has in abundance.

    For the time being Celtic are blessed with a highly talented player, whose contribution to the side is ever increasing, and will make the Scottish champions an even greater force.
  • Bookies tipping goals for Cole

    Carlton Cole is a red hot bet to make an impact on the Scottish Premiership according to sponsors Ladbrokes.

    The bookmaker wasted no time in pricing up the hitman to make an immediate impact on the league north of the border, making him a 2/1 shot to score 16+ goals in all competitions this season, and it's 16/1 his tally leaves him as the club's top scorer.

    At 50/1 it's an outside chance he shines through enough to receive phone call from Roy Hodgson for a return to the England set up.

    David Macdonald of Ladbrokes said: "Carlton Cole has a big presence in the box and that's something Celtic have been missing of late, he'll easily find the back of the net and we fancy him to make it well into double figures."

    Ladbrokes latest betting

    Carlton Cole specials:

    To score 16+ goals for Celtic in all comps this season 2/1
    To score a hat trick for Celtic this season 3/1
    To be Celtic's top scorer (league goals only) this season 16/1
    To Get an England Recall 50/1

    For more SPFL news check out http://news.ladbrokes.com/spfl
  • Lack of Experience Killing Utd says Mark Wilson

    Former Celtic and Dundee Utd full back Mark Wilson reckons a lack of experience in the Dundee Utd side is killing their Premiership season, something he feels new boss Mixu Paatelainen must address as his first priority in the January transfer window. Here's his thoughts in full on what has been a horrific campaign to date for the Terrors.



    I’ve been watching from the sidelines this season and unfortunately that has meant a lot of disappointment as far as one of my old teams are concerned.
    Dundee United are really struggling of late and it’s been going on long enough now that it can’t be written off as a slow start to the campaign or a blip.

    Unfortunately this led to Jackie McNamara losing his job and I have to say I was a little surprised to see Mixu Paatelainen come in as his replacement.

    A lot of names were linked with the vacancy, with the likes of John Hughes, Tommy Wright and Stuart McCall and I thought one of those three would get the nod.

    That’s not to say Mixu won’t be the right man for the job. He had his detractors at Hibs, with a few fans not liking his style of play, but he had a decent spell with Kilmarnock that led to him being headhunted for the Finland job.

    He’s now in the dugout at Tannadice and for me it doesn’t take a genius to see what the problem is at the moment.

    Everyone realises that there is a lack of experience at the club at the moment and that is a major issue.

    If you look back at United under McNamara, while they had real success with young players like Andy Robertson, Ryan Gould and Gary Mackay-Steven it was sometimes overlooked that there were a number of experienced players in there too.

    When times got hard it was these players that chipped in and helped the youngsters out. This season it’s different though. I left in January along with Keith Watson, and while I’m not saying that they are missing me personally that was still two experienced players out the door.

    So Mixu needs to add some experience and he needs to do it as soon as possible. They are already four points behind Partick Thistle and if that gap widens, especially with a crop of young players, it will be very hard to close them down.

    However, while his experience will lighten the load up front I’ve watched United three or four times this season and on each occasion the centre backs have struggled. They have brought in two centre backs in Mark Durnan and Coll Donaldson and while both are good players they are quite young and Durnan is not used to the league and has had a tough ride and with others out injured it is a problem position at present.

    I noticed at the weekend that Mixu played John Souttar at centre half but for me he’s best used in the middle of the park. So on that basis centre half is a position that needs improving, with someone who is big and imposing and can make their mark.

    Another of my old clubs, Celtic, are sitting at the top of the Ladbrokes Premiership once again and they might just stay there now.
    The Bhoys went through a tough period earlier in the season when they were criticised for not seeing results out. At that time Ronny Deila said they were better off that last year but I’m not so sure.

    I wouldn’t say they’ve gone backwards but perhaps they have stood still. With Aberdeen playing so well at the start of the season it highlighted this. When Celtic lost to Aberdeen at Pittodrie it showed that they were in a slump of sorts. They were conceding from set pieces which would have been alarming for the coaches.

    However the 6-0 win over Dundee looks to have been a turning point.

    They have built on that and got some decent results away to Hamilton and Motherwell which are difficult places to go as they are both tricky sides to break down and tough surfaces to play on.

    If you look back at the last few weeks Aberdeen had the chance to go seven points clear but couldn’t do it. That gave Celtic a lift and they look to have kicked on now. It’s a similar situation to last season where they struggled to find their feet but when they got to the top they didn’t look back - I think it could be the same this year - they will be very hard to shift now.

    Gary Mackay-Steven recently played down talk of a treble but that is what they should be aiming for. It’s easier said than done though - I didn’t manage it in my six years at Parkhead - but any player or manager at Celtic should be aiming for that, especially in the current climate.

    After going out of the Champions League winning a treble would go a long way to regaining some of the faith lost in Ronny Deila by the fans. There aren’t too many coaches in the Scottish game that have achieved a treble so it would be a real feather in his cap and a big plus for the fans.

    Away from the domestic scene Celtic also need to ensure they go on a decent run in the Europa League.

    They have failed to win their last eight games on the road in the competition though and arresting that form will be vital if they are to progress.

    Winning away from home in Europe is difficult though, we were dreadful when I was at Celtic. It seemed to pick up the year after I left funnily enough, but it will be a struggle for the current side.
    The performance against Ajax was encouraging and they showed that they can perform away from home but it’s about getting results now.

    Molde won’t be the easy game everyone was expecting. They may have struggled domestically this season but they are not the whipping boys that everyone expected in Europe.
    Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has gone back there too and that will give them a huge lift ahead of the game on Thursday. On paper Celtic should take the three points but we all know football doesn’t work like that.

    With Deila’s knowledge of the Norwegian game though you’d have to say this is their biggest opportunity to pick up some away wins. It may not be as easy as people first thought but these two games should result in six points.

    For more SPFL news check out http://news.ladbrokes.com/spfl
  • No Porridge for Josh

    Kilmarnock striker Josh Magennis insists the fan behind the incredible online rant which has became an internet sensation is "poison".

    Magennis hit back at raging Rugby Park season-ticket holder Gordon Sawers after the 37-year-old posted a scathing six-minute-long attack on Twitter and Facebook blasting his team.

    The expletive-filled video was uploaded following last weekend's 4-0 thrashing by Ross County and has been viewed more than 100,000 times.

    During his astonishing tirade at boss Gary Locke and his players, the former Killie youth-team player barked: "It isnae f****** good enough".

    He also claimed the squad needed to train harder before berating them for "eating fry-ups and f****** pies instead of bananas and porridge".

    But frontman Magennis dismissed the attack from Sawers - who also went on a local radio station to continue his criticism.

    Hitting back, the Northern Irishman said: "For me, those kind of people are not fans. If they want to do that, then to me they are poison.

    "They pay their money so all due respect. But then they get airtime on the radio and it just gets promoted. For me, people like that are irrelevant to my life.

    "If you listen to that kind of stuff and you take it on board, you are not a footballer. For me, that just goes in one ear and out the other."

    But Magennis did admit the side had failed to perform this season.

    The 4-0 drubbing by the Staggies came just three weeks after Dundee also put four goals past Jamie MacDonald on the opening day of the Ladbrokes Premiership season.

    And Magennis, whose side will hope to pick up their first league win when they face Motherwell at Fir Park on Saturday, said: "The Dundee game at the start of the season was an embarrassment to football. It was a disaster. No-one showed up, not even the subs.

    "But even though we got beat by the same score at the weekend by Ross County, it was more of a mixed bag. We just got beat by a better team.

    "I don't think any of us failed to show up. We just got beat by a better team. We created a few chances but still looked vulnerable in defence.

    "It was better but still the same result. A loss is still a loss whether you concede one goal or four."

    Killie have managed a credible 2-2 draw with champions Celtic and responded to last week's disaster at home to Jim McIntyre's Dingwall men by beating Berwick 4-1 in the League Cup.

    And former Aberdeen and St Mirren forward Magennis has promised the club's frustrated faithful that performances will turn round.

    He said: "Has the flak been hard to take? Maybe for some but as a footballer you've just got to take it.

    "You are paid to be a footballer and you are in the limelight whether you like it or not, whether you try to go under the radar or not.

    "You are always going to get some press. I try not to pay too much attention to the good press or the bad. I try not to get carried away.

    "The criticism we have been getting is well deserved because compared to the start we had last season, this one isn't good enough.

    "But with the quality we have in the team, of course we believe we can turn it around. I will back us against anyone. Unfortunately so far we haven't hit out stride.

    "I'd just ask the fans to stick with us. They have every right to be a bit weary. They pay their hard-earned money to come watch us. We're not entertaining them right now but hopefully we will be playing exciting and expansive football soon. They just need to be patient."

    Original Story Source; http://asia.eurosport.com/football/kilmarnock-striker-josh-magennis-labels-ranting-kilmarnock-fan-poison_sto4881803/story.shtml
  • SFSA Urges Supporters to "Have Their Say"

    Scotland’s largest, independent football supporters’ organisation, The Scottish Football Supporters Association (SFSA), is urging Scottish fans to contribute to the Scottish Government’s consultation or risk losing the chance for a generation.

    The recently launched ‘Consultation on Supporter Involvement in Scottish Football Clubs’ by the Scottish Government is seeking views on a range of options in relation to supporter involvement in its various guises – Right to Influence; Right to Govern; Right to Bid; and Right to Buy.

    The SFSA has also launched its own visual campaign to encourage fans to participate in the consultation which will be posted across fans’ forums and social over the next month. It has been created by Gerry Farrell Ink. the award winning creative team behind some of Scotland's most iconic advertising.

    Simon Barrow  from the SFSA said: “The Minister for Sport’s call for wider consultation on supporter involvement is welcomed.  Finding out more about supporters’ views is critical to shape the future of the game; fans’ opinions are at the heart of that."

    “Fans are asking searching questions more often these days, ranging from anything from ticket pricing, fixture scheduling, right through to the prices of pies.  These concerns are not limited to the game north of the border as the recent ‘Twenty’s Plenty’ ticket campaign down south and the Bayern Munich’s fans’ protest at the cost of their recent game against Arsenal clearly show."

    “Many fans don’t feel that it is their game anymore and they are being further pushed out of the game that relies on them at every stage.  This consultation from the Scottish Government is really important for fans and it is vital that everyone contributes to it.  Not contributing could see that chance to express your opinion lost for a generation.”

    The consultation is available online for people to complete, and the Scottish Government is working with fans’ representatives, football bodies and MSPs to ensure all views are heard.

    The consultation timeline is longer than usual and will run until 15 January 2016 to specifically allow for the widest and most representative range of responses.

    The SFSA, which has almost 50,000 members from across Scotland, is a not-for-profit, members’ body open to everyone, whether they are individuals, supporters groups or affiliates.  Its first ambassador is former Scotland captain Gary McAllister.  It is a full member of Fans Europe, sitting alongside fan groups from 45 countries across the continent.

    The SFSA was set up with a national advisory group with experts on football and governance matters including Henry McLeish (author of the McLeish Report), Maureen McGonigle (founder of Scottish Women in Sport and former executive of Scottish Women’s Football) and senior politicians from Scotland’s main political parties. 

    >> To take part in the online survey click here <<

     

    Here are some of the campaign posters that will be appearing in social media and across various platforms in the coming days and weeks encouraging involvement;

     

     
  • SPFL TV Games This Weekend 11th to 13th Sept 2015

    The SPFL Premiership returns after the international break with a couple of live TV crackers on offer.

    The action starts this evening (Friday) in Inverness as ICT entertain Hearts. That one is live on BT Sport 1 from 1900 (1945 kick off).

    Saturday sees a high noon showdown at Pittodrie as Aberdeen take on Celtic. It should be a feisty affair and it's live on Sky Sports 2 from noon (kick off is 1230).

    The BBC Alba Saturday night highlights are from Dundee Utd v Kilmarnock at Tannadice. Enjoy an hour of action from 2230 Sat evening.

    The Alba Sunday night highlights are from McDiarmid Park as St.Johnstone take on Hamilton Accies. Sportscene is at the usual time of 2230 on BBC 1 Scotland with studio guests Willie Miller and Packie Bonnar. Enjoy !

     

     
  • SPFL TV Games This Weekend 18th to 20th September 2015

    A quick round up to all your SPFL TV options for the weekend.

    The action starts this evening (Friday) in Paisley as St.Mirren take on Raith Rovers in the Championship. It's live on BBC Alba from 1935 (1945 kick off).

    The BBC Alba Saturday night highlights are from Hamilton v Motherwell at New Douglas Park. Enjoy an hour of action from the Lanarkshire Derby from 2200 Sat evening.

    Table toppers Aberdeen travel to Edinburgh on Sunday to take on Hearts. Should be an absolute cracker. It's live on Sky Sports 5 from 1400 with a 1415 kick off.

    The Alba Sunday night highlights are from Rugby Park as Kilmarnock take on St.Johnstone at 2200.

    Sportscene has been sacked off to BBC 2 for reasons best known to Auntie Beeb. It's on from 2200 as well.

    Enjoy your game wherever you are headed this weekend!
  • SPFL TV Games This Weekend 25th to 27th September 2015

    A quick round up to all your SPFL TV options for the weekend.

    The action starts this evening (Friday) in Falkirk as the Bairns look to bounce back from a horrific midweek pumping in Dingwall as they host Queen of the South. It's live on BBC Alba from 1935 (1945 kick off).

    The BBC Alba Saturday night highlights are from Dundee v Ross County at Dens Park. Enjoy an hour of action from that one from 2200 Sat evening.

    Sunday sees more Championship action as Rangers travel the short distance down the M8 to take on a Morton side buoyed by a terrific midweek cup win over Motherwell. That one is live on BT Sport 1 from noon (1230 kick off)

    The Alba Sunday night highlights are from McDiarmid Park as St.Johnstone host Dundee Utd at 2200.

    Sportscene his back on BBC 1 Scotland this weekend, it's on from 2230 on Sunday evening.

    Enjoy your game wherever you are headed this weekend!

    ps; Couldn't find a decent image of Morton playing Rangers, so I just used a random Rangers image that I liked :-)
  • SPFL TV Games This Weekend 3rd & 5th October 2015

    Fairly slim pickings this weekend if you are looking for some SPFL action on the box.

    There are no live TV matches at all on Friday or Saturday, but BBC Alba are showing an hour of highlights from the highland derby on Sat night from 2150 as Ross County take on neighbours Inverness Caley Thistle in Dingwall.

    Sunday lunchtime sees champions Celtic travel to New Douglas Park to take on Hamilton at lunchtime. That one is live on BT Sport 1 from noon and it's a 1230 kick off at New Douglas Park.

    The Sunday night Alba highlights are from Firhill as managerless Dundee Utd visit Partick Thistle in what is already a bit of a six pointer at the foot of the table. You can see an hour of action on Alba from 2200 Sunday night.

    Sportscene is on BBC 1 from 2230 on Sunday night and that is your lot.

    Enjoy your game wherever you are headed this weekend.
  • Telly Action Weekend 24/25 Oct 2015

    There are no live SPFL TV games on Friday or Saturday this week so the tellybox action begins on Saturday night on BBC Alba with an hour of highlights from Pittodrie as Aberdeen host Motherwell. Steelmen boss Mark McGhee is sure of a warm reception at Pittodrie from the Red Army despite his pretty abysmal stint as manager up there.

    Sunday lunchtime sees the only live TV game of the weekend and it's from the Championship as struggling St.Mirren host runaway leaders Rangers. The Gers will be looking to make it 11 league wins on the spin whilst the Buddies have yet to win a home league game this season. It's live on BT Sport 1 from noon and it's a 1230 kick off in Paisley.

    The BBC Alba Sunday night action comes from Tynecastle as Hearts entertain Ross County, you can see an hour from that one from 2200 on Sunday.

    Sportscene is also on at 2200 this weekend, but note that it's been moved over to BBC 2 Scotland this week for some reason.

    Enjoy your game wherever you are headed.