SOMETHING different today, let’s have a look around the Scottish media as it relates to Scottish football…
There may be no football going on at the moment but there is certainly plenty to talk about in the Scottish game.
Alex Rae started off his stint as Radio Clyde breakfast host today I hear. How else do you excuse Clyde 1 from being one of the few channels radio not to play ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’ as organised by Dutch DJ and NPO 3FM presenter Sander Hoogendoorn?
He had urged radio stations to blast the tune as a symbol of unity in these tough times. It started as just a nationwide plan across the Netherlands but grew right across Europe. The idea being the song was played to show support behind the brave healthcare and social service staff battling the odds against Covid-19 and to let them know they wouldn’t be walking alone while on the frontline of such dangerous work.
#YoullNeverWalkAlone 🍀💚 pic.twitter.com/WrkpUGH3Nv
— Celtic Football Club (@CelticFC) March 20, 2020
Celtic played it at Celtic Park and across their media platforms and many radio stations joined in, in a show of solidarity for our brave health professionals and those at home facing lengthy periods of self-isolation.
Not on Radio Clyde however. There is absolutely no truth in the claim the West of Scotland radio channel showed its colours by letting Alex Rae play Tina Turner’s ‘Simply the Best’ instead. They didn’t of course, well they might have. I was too busy listening to Gerry and the Pacemakers.
In other news, former Celtic defender Jason Denayer may be angling for a career in scouting once he’s finished playing. He’s been showcasing his talents by pointing out to the press he has an eye for a player. Denayer advised Scottish Sun that he could tell Virgil Van Dijk would make a half decent centre half.
“I played beside Virgil in defence at Celtic, and he was someone with enormous potential. It was already visible even before he went even further in the game”.
There’s no truth in the rumours he’s advised Marca in Spain that he knew from watching La Liga on SkySports that Barca also had a gem in that wee lad Messi.
Meanwhile over at The Debt Dome, anyone who thought Alfredo Morelos was taking a proactive approach to the nationwide shortage of toilet rolls will be disappointed to hear that wasn’t a nappy he was wearing under his shorts in the last few weeks, his backside really is that size.
Worrying news for ‘the’ Rangers conditioning coach then, to hear Alfie has once again been given leave to return to Colombia this week. By the time the ‘Rangers’ striker returns from Mummy’s homemade cooking this time around, he’ll need to borrow his missus maternity pants for training. He’s starting to make John Hartson’s pre-season body shape look like Vidar Riseth after a dose of the runs.
Meanwhile it seems Ianis Hagi has already seen enough of Govan and would much prefer to take his chances with the Italian health system than hang around Ibrox much longer-and they say footballers aren’t bright.
Not a tough choice to make for the player granted, but a decision that’s made a lot easier when Lazio are believed to hold an interest in the 21-year-old Romanian, and La Lazio Siamo Noi, claim he has been “proposed” to the Serie A giants.
The terminology used sounds like there may be a dowry involved in this transaction. That would explain why ‘the’ Rangers have backtracked on this one. It makes sense for all parties really. In three weeks’ time when the rest of his teammates are asked to take 90% wage cuts it won’t be a good look to be linked with £4million deals for sand dancers. Most, Administrators frown on that kind of thing, although Daniel Michel Cousin might disagree.
It’s also said Hagi would ‘prefer a more high profile platform’ than the Scottish Premiership from next season onwards. As ‘Rangers’ friends in the media spin Hagi’s exit as everything to do with playing against cannon fodder “Diddy teams” like Hamilton, Hearts, Kilmarnock and St Johnstone – oh wait – rather than for a manager, who has a penchant for throwing players under buses to deflect form his own inadequacies. Or the fact they’re brassic.
Steven Gerrard was trying to spin the situation as best he could, to convince us all he has any say in the matter. Speaking to Daily Record the ‘I’m a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here’ (which is well worth a read btw) nearly departed manager said:
“It’s a fantastic position to be in, knowing we have first option on him. But I don’t have to make a decision now” – thankfully, as we don’t have a pot to piss in at the moment, he didn’t add on at the end.
Meanwhile Jim Traynor reminds me of the guy at my work a few years back who infected our IT system with a virus, as he showed his displeasure at being punted for being crap at his job.
It’s surely a coincidence that stories discrediting his PR successor David Graham appeared in the press roughly five minutes after the Worshipful Master’s new role was released to the media. A bit of number crunching concluded a cash strapped club weren’t going to pay for two PR gurus who didn’t know what they were doing. As such Traynor seems to have reverted to the woman scorned approach ahead of his leaving drinks.
Add to that new investor Stuart Gibson was set to become the latest Ibrox billionaire saviour – do they ever learn – as part of a multi-million pound deal. Then got cold feet as it was leaked to the media. I wonder what happened there?
If we hear anything about the collapse of a kit deal with say for example Umbro in the next few days, I’m fairly sure Traynor will be satisfied with the retribution carried out on his former employer. I know my old colleague would also approve.
And one final thing. Rangers coach Michael Beale has decided stepping back in time, to the halfway standings could be a fair way of determining the title, despite that actually meaning Celtic would still be top of the league.
However we’ll leave you with a final word Celtic fan Mick McCallie who called Daily Record hotline with an even better idea:
“Following Michael Beale’s suggestion of pretending the last 11 league games should be disregarded to decide the title winners, I would like to make a suggestion of my own. Go by the head to head record between the two contenders. I make that aggregate score Celtic 3-2 Rangers.”
Whatever way they turn it’s the same old story. Celtic are at the moment the Provisional Champions and 9 in a row is in the post. Maybe just like a cheeky wee pre-pack?
Niall J
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