Plenty of Nothing

Niel Gow

Niel Gow by Raeburn. Listen to "Niel Gow's Lament for his Second Wife". Source.

Dürer Samsung Ad

Source.

Neither Mostar Nor Hildesheim

Hildesheim, not Glasgow. Source.

Morton travel to Firhill to meet Partick Thistle.

After half a season Morton have 5 wins, 7 draws, and 6 losses, 20 goals for and 27 against, for 21 points and 6th place. At this rate they'll finish the season with a negative goal difference, and with 42 points which would have put them in 8.5th place in last year's Championship.

Partick are in 9th place with 14 points.

Player movements: Gary Harkins has been released by Queen of the South. He had his best year since 2009-10 with Morton last season. [Signed with Partick!]

Ross MacLean is set to transfer from Morton to Falkirk in January.

Also.

Current winless streaks (league + cup):

0        Ross County

0        Dundee United

0        Alloa

2        Ayr United

2        Inverness CT

2        Partick Thistle

3        Queen of the South

3        Dunfermline

3        Falkirk

4        Morton

How have Morton fared in Match 19 this decade?

2018/1/6        Brechin 1 - 1 Morton

2017/1/7        Morton 2 - 1 Dumbarton

2016/1/2        Morton 0 - 1 St Mirren

2015/1/3        Morton 0 - 1 Airdrieonians

2014/1/4        Dumbarton 2 - 0 Morton

2013/1/5        Cowdenbeath 1 - 1 Morton

2012/1/14      Morton 1 - 1 Raith Rovers

2011/2/12      Falkirk 1 - 0 Morton

2010/1/4        Partick Thistle 1 - 0 Morton

1 win, 3 draws, 5 losses.

How many points did Morton have at the midpoints of the last ten seasons?

2017-18        27

2016-17        28

2015-16        24

2014-15        31

2013-14          9

2012-13        35

2011-12        25

2010-11        21

2009-10        15

2008-09        22

Other Championship matches:

Alloa (8th) [2 - 1] Dundee United (3rd) [Alloa's first league win against Dundee United since 1960.]

Falkirk (10th) [2 - 4] Dunfermline (7th)

QoS (5th) [1 - 1] Ayr United (2nd)

Ross County (1st) [2 - 1] Inverness CT (4th)

[Morton win 1 - 2. Goals by Tiffoney and Telfer.]

How many games have Partick Thistle played against the other 2018-19 Championship clubs?

220        Morton

216        Falkirk

135        Ayr United

119        Dundee United

118        Queen of the South

104        Dunfermline

  55        Ross County

  36        Alloa

  35        Inverness CT

1951-52. Morton were at home to Partick Thistle and lost 1 - 2. Morton ended 1951 in 12th place with 14 points and a 0.8611 goal average.

Arthurlie versus Morton. Both clubs were founded in 1874. They met in the Scottish Cup twice in the 19th Century. In Round Two of the 1879-80 Cup Arthurlie won 8 - 3 in a game played in Barrhead. In Round Two of the 1896-97 Cup Morton prevailed 5 - 1 in a game also played in Barrhead.

Arthurlie entered the Scottish League in 1901 but never made it up to Division One. Meanwhile Morton were enjoying a run of success and did not drop down to Division Two until well into the Twenties, the result being that they only had two seasons against Arthurlie, 1927-28 and 1928-29. In their four games Morton won three and Arthurlie one, and the Greenockians outscored the Barrhead men 9 to 6.

It's in the Renfrewshire Cup that you get the largest body of results. The county cup began in 1878, and still goes on, more or less. Arthurlie won the cup in 1880-81 and 1881-82. Morton first won it in 1892-93, and have won it again over fifty times since.

1879/10/18        Morton 2 - 3 Arthurlie

1885/2/7            Morton 2 - 2 Arthurlie

1885/2/14          Morton 2 - 2 Arthurlie

1885/2/21          Arthurlie 1 - 1 Morton

1885/3/7            Arthurlie 3 - 2 Morton (yet it was Morton who advanced)

1889/10/26        Arthurlie 4 - 3 Morton

1892/10/29        Morton 5 - 2 Arthurlie

1895/11/16        Morton 4 - 1 Arthurlie

1905/4/15          Morton 2 - 0 Arthurlie

1905/4/22          Arthurlie 1 - 2 Morton

1906/4/21          Morton 2 - 2 Arthurlie

1906/5/5            Arthurlie 0 - 0 Morton

1906/5/12          Morton 4 - 3 Arthurlie

1912/3/30          Morton 2 - 0 Arthurlie

1912/4/23          Arthurlie 1 - 1 Morton

1914/4/?            Morton W - L Arthurlie

1922/4/10          Morton 4 - 3 Arthurlie

1923/10/1          Arthurlie 0 - 1 Morton

1925/8/25          Morton 2 - 3 Arthurlie

 Source.

But wait, there's also the Renfrewshire Victoria Cup:

1928/9/17          Morton 2 - 0 Arthurlie

1928/10/1          Arthurlie 2 - 4 Morton

Source.

And the Greenock Charity Cup:

1891/4/18          Morton 3 - 1 Arthurlie

Source.

Angus: Forfar [2 - 0] Brechin

Montrose [1 - 1] Arbroath

40th Empress's Cup, semi-finals:

Match No. 45: Nippon TV Beleza [1 - 0] Urawa Red Diamonds Ladies

Match No. 46: JEF United Chiba Ladies [0 - 1] INAC Kobe Leonessa

West Germany and Yugoslavia: two postwar countries of similar size and shape. Which was the greater soccer power?

West German clubs versus Yugoslav clubs:

1962-63         OFK Belgrade 4 - 1 Bayern Munich              IFC GS

1962-63         Bayern Munich 4 - 4 OFK Belgrade              IFC GS

1962-63         Rijeka 2 - 1 Rot-Weiss Oberhausen              IFC GS

1962-63         Rot-Weiss Oberhausen 4 - 3 Rijeka              IFC GS

1962-63         Velež Mostar 9 - 1 VfV Hildesheim                IFC GS

1962-63         VfV Hildesheim 0 - 2 Velež Mostar                IFC GS

1963/3/?        Bayern Munich 1 - 4 Dinamo Zagreb            ICFC QF

1963/4/?        Dinamo Zagreb 0 - 0 Bayern Munich            ICFC QF

1965/11/9      Partizan Belgrade 3 - 0 Werder Bremen        EC R1

1965/11/17    Werder Bremen 1 - 0 Partizan Belgrade        EC R1

1966-67        Karlsruher 2 - 1 Olimpija Ljubljana                  IFC GS

1966-67        Olimpija Ljubljana 2 - 1 Karlsruher                  IFC GS

1967/?/?        Eintracht Frankfurt 3 - 0 Dinamo Zagreb       ICFC SF

1967/?/?        Dinamo Zagreb 4 - 0 Eintracht Frankfurt       ICFC SF

1970/10/20    Dinamo Zagreb 4 - 0 Hamburger SV             ICFC R2

1970/11/4      Hamburger SV 1 - 0 Dinamo Zagreb             ICFC R2

1974/11/27    Partizan Belgrade 1 - 0 Köln                          UC R1

1974/12/11    Köln 5 - 1 Partizan Belgrade                          UC R1

1975              Eintracht Braunschweig 2 - 1 Vojvodina Novi Sad    ITC

1975              Vojvodina Novi Sad 3 - 1 Eintracht Braunschweig    ITC

1975/10/22    Red Star Belgrade 1 - 1 Hamburg                 UC R2

1975/11/5      Hamburg 4 - 0 Red Star Belgrade                 UC R2

1977/10/19    Red Star Belgrade 0 - 3 Borussia Mönchengladbach EC R2

1977/11/2      Borussia Mönchengladbach 5 - 1 Red Star Belgrade EC R2

1979/11/28    Bayern Munich 2 - 0 Red Star Belgrade        UC R3

1979/12/12    Red Star Belgrade 3 - 2 Bayern Munich        UC R3

1980/3/5        Hamburg 1 - 0 Hajduk Split                            EC QF

1980/3/19      Hajduk Split 3 - 2 Hamburg                            EC QF

1980              VfL Bochum 2 - 1 Napredak Kruševac           ITC

1980              Napredak Kruševac 2 - 0 VfL Bochum           ITC

1980/9/17      Hamburg 4 - 2 Sarajevo                                 UC R1

1980/10/1      Sarajevo 3 - 3 Hamburg                                 UC R1

1981/9/16      Hajduk Split 3 - 1 VfB Stuttgart                      UC R1

1981/9/30      VfB Stuttgart 2 - 2 Hajduk Split                      UC R1

1982/4/7        Radnički Niš 2 - 1 Hamburg                           UC SF

1982/4/21      Hamburg 5 - 1 Radnički Niš                           UC SF

1986/9/16      Borussia Mönchengladbach 1 - 0 Partizan Belgrade UC R1

1986/10/1      Partizan Belgrade 1 - 3 Borussia Mönchengladbach UC R1

1987/10/21    Borussia Dortmund 2 - 0 Velež Mostar          UC R2

1987/11/4      Velež Mostar 2 - 1 Borussia Dortmund          UC R2

1988              Karlsruher 2 - 3 Vojvodina Novi Sad              ITC

1988              Vojvodina Novi Sad 0 - 2 Karlsruher              ITC

1988/10/26    Dinamo Zagreb 1 - 3 VfB Stuttgart                UC R2

1988/11/9      VfB Stuttgart 1 - 1 Dinamo Zagreb                UC R2

1989/11/22    Red Star Belgrade 2 - 0 Köln                         UC R3

1989/12/6      Köln 3 - 0 Red Star Belgrade                         UC R3

1990              Bayer 05 Uerdingen 2 - 1 Olimpija Ljubljana    ITC

1990              Olimpija Ljubljana 1 - 1 Bayer 05 Uerdingen    ITC

1991/4/10      Bayern Munich 1 - 2 Red Star Belgrade        EC SF

1991/4/24      Red Star Belgrade 2 - 2 Bayern Munich        EC SF

West Germany 23, Yugoslavia 20, plus 8 draws.

(IFC = International Football Cup; ICFC = Inter-Cities Fairs Cup; EC = European Cup; UC = UEFA Cup; ITC = Intertoto Cup.)

Velež Mostar are currently top of the First League of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, which is one of two leagues that make up tier II in Bosnia Herzegovina. In 2003 VfV Hildesheim merged with Borussia 06 Hildesheim to become VfV 06 Hildesheim. They are currently 6th in the fifth-tier Oberliga Neidersachsen.

Mostar, not Greenock. Source.

Walrus Stamps

Sources: 1), 2), 3).

Spengler Cup 2018

Davos versus Magnitogorsk back in February. Source.

It's the 92nd Spengler Cup. This year the teams are:

HC Davos. Hosts and 15-time champions. They are currently 11th in the Swiss National League. There are no Canadians on their squad this year.

Team Canada. Also 15-time champions. See here for the Canadian roster. Thirteen of them play in the Swiss league, four in the AHL, two for Hockey Canada, two in US college hockey, and one each in Sweden, Finland, the KHL, and the ECHL.

KalPa of the Finnish Liiga. KalPa are currently 11th in the Liiga. They wear yellow and black. No Finnish club has won the Spengler Cup. Canadian: Ryan Wilson.

Metallurg Magnitogorsk of the KHL. Spengler Cup champions 2005. Currently 3rd in the Kharlamov Division. Canadian: Matt Ellison.

Nürnberg Ice Tigers of the DEL. Ice Tigers are 11th in their league. Canadians: Will Acton, Brandon Buck, Philippe Dupuis, Shawn Lalonde, Dane Fox, Brandon Segal.

HC Oceláři Třinec of the Czech Extraliga. They hold first place in their league coming into the Spengler Cup. Canadian: Ethan Werek.

Nürnberg Ice Tigers and Oceláři Třinec were both in the 2018-19 Champions Hockey League, but they didn't play each other and neither of them made it past the group stage.

Davos hosted a tournament called Davos Hockey Summit during the 2018 Winter Olympics in February. The participants were HC Davos, Metallurg Magnitogorsk, Oceláři Třinec, and Dinamo Riga. Riga were there as replacements for Kunlun Red Stars who had entered but then withdrew. In a round robin Magnitogorsk, Třinec and Riga each won two games, and Davos none. Source.

[The final: Team Canada vs KalPa.][KalPa win 2 - 1!]

University of Oxford at the Spengler Cup:

1923        Berliner SC 3 - 7 University of Oxford

                Wiener EV 0 - 3 University of Oxford

                University of Oxford 8 - 1 HC Davos

1924        University of Oxford 0 - 3 HC Davos

                University of Oxford 5 - 0 Weiner EV

1925        SC Reissersee 0 - 3 University of Oxford

                HC Davos 0 - 2 University of Oxford

1926        University of Oxford 1 - 2 HC Davos

                SC Reissersee 1 - 0 University of Oxford

1927        University of Oxford 2 - 4 Berliner SC

                SC Reissersee 1 - 3 University of Oxford

1928        Berliner SC 2 - 0 University of Oxford

                HC Milano 3 - 1 University of Oxford

1929        Berliner SC 3 - 1 University of Oxford

                Akademischer EHC Zürich 1 - 7 University of Oxford

                HC Davos 6 - 3 University of Oxford

1930        Akademischer EHC Zürich 1 - 7 University of Oxford

                LTC Praha 2 - 0 University of Oxford

1931        University of Oxford 7 - 0 Akademischer EHC Zürich

                University of Oxford 0 - 3 Racing Club de France

                HC Davos 1 - 4 University of Oxford

                University of Oxford 4 - 1 Berliner SC

1932        University of Oxford 1 - 0 Grasshopper Club Zurich

                University of Oxford 1 - 0 Weiner EV

                University of Oxford 0 - 0 LTC Praha

1933        HC Davos 1 - 2 University of Oxford

                Grasshopper Club Zurich 1 - 0 University of Oxford

                LTC Praha 0 - 3 University of Oxford

1934        University of Oxford 3 - 1 Grasshopper Club Zurich

                University of Oxford 4 - 0 Münchener EV

                University of Oxford 0 - 2 HC Diavoli Rossoneri Milano

1935        University of Oxford 3 - 0 Rapides de Paris

                University of Oxford 0 - 6 HC Davos

                University of Oxford 6 - 1 EC Klagenfurt AC

                University of Oxford 0 - 3 Zürcher SC

1936        University of Oxford 1 - 11 Zürcher SC

                University of Oxford 0 - 14 LTC Praha

1937        CSH Bruxelles 4 - 2 University of Oxford

                HC Davos 7 - 1 University of Oxford

1938        LTC Praha 30 - 0 University of Oxford

                University of Oxford 0 - 20 HC Davos

                University of Oxford 0 - 21 Zürcher SC

                IK Göta 17 - 0 University of Oxford

1946        HC Davos 16 - 1 University of Oxford

                LTC Praha 20 - 2 University of Oxford

                Zürcher SC 17 - 5 University of Oxford

1948        University of Oxford 1 - 9 HC Davos

Source.

Suzanne Jongmans

Suzanne Jongmans reimagines the Old Masters using 21st-century materials. See more.

Earthrise

Homeless Walter Scott

Moutiers-en-Puisaye

A trove of medieval paintings was discovered under the whitewash in the Church of Saint Peter in Moutiers-en-Puisaye in 1982. Source.

Cappielow Before Cappielow

This is a detail from a map of Greenock published by Andrew MacFarlane in 1842, the year following the construction of the Glasgow, Paisley and Greenock Railway (shown at the bottom in red). The future site of Cappielow Park is roughly defined by the railway, the word Cartsburn, the road marked simply Road (the future Sinclair Street), and MacKnight Street if it extended further east.

Morton (6th) host Inverness Caledonian Thistle (5th) in a battle of the mid-table. This match could very likely end in a draw. Morton presently have more draws (7) than wins (5) or losses (5) in league play, and Inverness have more draws (11) than wins plus losses (4 + 1 = 5). Their first meeting ended in a 1 - 1 draw.

Last weekend every Championship match ended in a draw. The week before three out of four matches ended in draws. Statistical Third Lanark* now have 29 points, putting them in 3.5th place, just behind Dundee United who have a slightly better goal difference.

The last time all five Championship fixtures ended in a draw, prior to last Saturday, was April 2nd, 2016.

Morton have lost twice at home this season; Inverness have lost only once on the road. Morton can finish the day anywhere from fourth to seventh. ICT can finish fourth, fifth or sixth.

Manageria: A SPFL disciplinary panel has found in Morton's favour in the Ray McKinnon case. Specific penalties will be announced in the new year. The Tele.

How have Morton fared in Match 18 this decade?

2018/1/2        Morton 1 - 1 St Mirren

2016/12/31    St Mirren 1 - 1 Morton

2015/12/18    Morton 1 - 2 Raith Rovers

2014/12/27    Stirling Albion 3 - 4 Morton

2013/12/28    Hamilton 1 - 0 Morton

2013/1/2        Morton 0 - 3 Dumbarton

2012/1/2        Morton 3 - 1 Ayr United

2011/1/29      Morton 2 - 1 Ross County

3 wins, 2 draws, 3 losses.

Current winless streaks (league + cup):

1        Ayr United

1        Inverness CT

1        Partick Thistle

2        Ross County

2        Queen of the South

2        Dunfermline

2        Falkirk

3        Dundee United

3        Morton

3        Alloa

How many league wins did Morton have on each of the past ten December 22nds?

December 22nd, 2017        6

December 22nd, 2016        6

December 22nd, 2015        6

December 22nd, 2014        9

December 22nd, 2013        2

December 22nd, 2012        8

December 22nd, 2011        5

December 22nd, 2010        3

December 22nd, 2009        5

December 22nd, 2008        6

(Compiled using Fitbastats' 'league tables on date' resource.)

Other Championship matches today:

Alloa Athletic (9th) [2 - 0] Queen of the South (4th)

Dundee United (3rd) [2 - 1] Falkirk (10th)

Dundee United was purchased by American businessman Mark Ogren this week.

Dunfermline Athletic (7th) [0 - 0] Ayr United (1st)

Ross County (2nd) [2 - 0] Partick Thistle (8th)

[Morton 1 - 2 Inverness CT. Morton goal by Scott Tiffoney. Red card to Waddell at 34'.]

1928-29. Morton were home to Armadale and won 4 - 2.

1951-52. Morton visited Queen of the South and lost 4 - 1.

Matches at Cappielow December 2018:

Dec 3        Morton reserves 1 - 5 Ross County reserves

Dec 8        Morton 1 - 1 Dundee United

Dec 17      Celtic reserves 2 - 2 Hibs reserves

Dec 22      Morton [1 - 2] Inverness CT

Arthurlie vs East Fife. These two clubs met in Round One of the 1919-20 Scottish Cup, during the interval when Arthurlie weren't in the Scottish League. East Fife won 4 - 0 in Methil.

They were drawn together again in Round Four of the 1926-27 Scottish Cup. East Fife won 0 - 3 in Barrhead.

They were also in Division Two together for five seasons in the Twenties. In nine games East Fife won four, and Arthurlie four, with one draw. Scoring was 27 for East Fife, 19 for Arthurlie. Their second scheduled match of 1928-29 never happened. Arthurlie dropped out of the league after 32 games.

Sort the Championship teams by most recent consecutive wins:

2018/12/1        Ross County

2018/12/1        Queen of the South

2018/11/30      Ayr United

2018/11/20      Dundee United

2018/11/3        Morton

2018/10/20      Alloa

2018/10/6        Dunfermline

2018/9/15        Inverness CT

2018/8/14        Partick Thistle

2018/4/28        Falkirk

Inverness CT versus the world:

2015/7/16      Inverness CT 0 - 1 Astra Giurgiu

2015/7/23      Astra Giurgiu 0 - 0 Inverness CT

2018/2/18      Inverness CT 3 - 2 Crusaders

West of Scotland Premiership: Kirkintilloch Rob Roy [2 - 2] Largs Thistle

Canadiana. Ottawa Fury, who were forbidden to play in the 2019 USL by CONCACAF last week, have appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Lausanne. [But never mind, because CONCACAF have relented and will sanction the club to play in the USL after all.]

FIFA Club World Cup:

Semifinals (Dec 18 and 19):

River Plate 2 - 2 Al-Ain (Al-Ain win on PK.)

Kashima Antlers 1 - 3 Real Madrid

These two met in the 2016 final, which Real Madrid won 4 - 2.

Bronze: Kashima Antlers [0 - 4] River Plate

Final: Real Madrid [4 - 1] Al-Ain

The 67th All Japan University Soccer Championship ends today.

Quarter-finals (Dec 17): Tsukuba 1 - 2 Komazawa

That ended the season for Tsukuba.

Semi-finals (Dec 19):

Juntendo 1 - 2 Hosei

Komazawa 2 - 1 Osaka University of Health and Sport Sciences

Final (Dec 22):

Hosei [1 - 0] Komazawa

The winner advances into the 99th Emperor's Cup, Round One.

Source.

Empress's Cup quarter-finals:

Match No. 41: Nippon TV Beleza (1st, N1) [6 - 0] Mynavi Vegalta Sendai Ladies (8th, N1)

Match No. 42: AC Nagano Parceiro Ladies (4th, N1) [0 - 1] Urawa Red Diamonds Ladies (3rd, N1)

Match No. 43: Nojima Stella Kanagawa Sagamihara (6th, N1) [0 - 1] JEF United Chiba Ladies (5th, N1)

Match No. 44: Albirex Niigata Ladies (7th, N1) [1 - 2] INAC Kobe Leonessa (2nd, N1)

The eight quarter-finalists are also the top eight clubs in the 2018 Nadeshiko League, Div. 1.

The same area in 1912. Mrs Sinclair's property is now dockland, and Morton are in the First Divison. Sources.

*Statistical Third Lanark is a tool for showing how many matches end in a draw. When a match results in a win, the winning side earns 3 points. When there is a draw, each side earns 1 point, and the third point instead of evaporating goes to Statistical Third Lanark. The higher Third Lanark rise in the standings, the more draws there are going on. By definition Statistical Third Lanark's goal difference is always 0.