 Wednesday, February 13, 2008
Short-term populism is the curse of football
When Newcastle appointed Kevin Keegan a few weeks ago we discussed how complicated and risky the football business can be, with genuine managerial talent thin on the ground. The people of Newcastle were seduced by the return of King Kevin, but at the weekend, Middlesbrough moved above them in the league and Sunderland crept to within two points. There is a high probability that Newcastle will finish the season below both North East rivals. They will probably avoid relegation, but having collected only two from their last 24 points, their current six point cushion sounds far from comfortable. 'Short-term populism is the curse of football' should be painted above every stadium entrance in the country, maybe then the penny will drop.
76 Comments:
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podium?
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merde
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My first, first.
Surely some mistake
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So close.....
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And here was me thinking it was amortisation, rather than short-term thinking.
Of course the best example of the benefits of the unquick fix is SAF, who could esily have been back managing in Scotland if the Man U chairman hadn't stuck with him.
PS sUBT[FTLT] Pornostalgia- great stuff!
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ITS TRUE !!!!!
Cannae believe it.
I'd like to thank ..........
:-)
OhHappydaysCsc
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I doth my cap sir ;)
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The short term mistake Newcastle made was in getting rid of Sam Allardyce without a ready made, pesumably better, replacement.
Were they not after 'arry Rednapp? KK was at least second choice. Having said this, I didn't think bringing in KK was that daft a move. Who would have done better? There is major, long term surgery needed at Newcastle.
I've no love for Newcastle but always had a bit of time for KK. It'll be a shame to see the "toon army" turn on him.
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No doubt one of you will check this but from memory Newcastle's next three games are Man United, Liverpool and Chelsea I think.
I fear for them, they may be lucky that there are really only 2 relegation places to play for as Derby are already doomed.
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Paul67, sorry to harp on about the previous subject, last post on this subject, honest.
I am not too gened up on types of dividend, however could you tell me then, about the MON dividend. I think it was where he was reported to have made a lot of money on this prior to him leaving. At the time the rumour was he was asked if he would accept the dividend or allow it to be reinvested in the team. If true how does this differ from your stated type of dividend.
As for the priceing of tickets I am not naieve enough to think it could be free for all, however I do think if they increase the price they should make a cursory increase in team investment in line , even a 1% increase investment in the team just to pay lip service and show the team is the priority and not the debt, as its the team who will get us out of debt, I would be very surprised if the PLC did not have a debt strategy, in which we would always carry some just for tax purposes as most major PLC's do.
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Fergus McCann´s five year plan put short term populism in its place. And that was in spite of business and long term planning not usually going together in Blighty, which made The Man's achievements all the more remarkable. You can wheel out all the management guru charmers who entertain the aspiring types if you like, but British businesses have always had little vision. Or more likely a differewnt agenda.
Celtic's long term vision now must be to maximise the possibilties that the Commonwealth Games bring and to try to create more jobs for Glaswegians. The fans have kept this club going, those efforts and sacrifice should be paid back.
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Weeron said in the previous thread:
Anyone who … watches these … broadcasts are stealing from Celtic. Anyone who thinks that this is somehow ok, need to give themselves a bit of a reboot.
I say: the club was a better club, and actually had a better idea of where its interests lay, when wee boys got a lift over the turnstiles, when you could get in for nothing if you were on the burroo.
My only criticism of this excellent blog/board’s excellent host is that he subscribes insufficiently critically to the view that Celtic is primarily a business (journalists insert the phrase “like any other” here). Celtic, like other football clubs, is not primarily a business. As I often say, we trade to play, not the other way round.
I could expand ad infinitum, but, as my children often remark, this is a failing of mine. I merely insist that it is not our primary role to maximise Celtic’s income.
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Away the Lads
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Delia
When could you get in for nothing if you were on the buroo?
You used to be able to pay boys' gate prices if you showed your UB40, but you still had to pay.
Church students, though. That was a different matter. And the only credentials you had to flash was the knowledge of the name of the rector of the college you went to - or said you went to.
And it was the Stand (Upper) no less. What times.
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Celtic_first,
and those concessions were only available to UB40 card holders if they were ion the stadium 1 hour before kick off.
The sycophants are in real danger of leading Celtic as a football club up the creek without a paddle.
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Who is the English Premier League's (or Premiership's) all-time leading Scottish goalscorer?
And don't say Andy Gray, Graeme Sharp, Kenny Dalglish etc.
Since 1992 onwards.
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Aw Naw
I say bring back the concessions to seminarians as a first step.
You never know what it might do for vocations too.
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McGinley fae Bolton
Brain Mcclair the Mancs
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Celtic_first,
What about a free seat for life for those that have attended nearly every home and away game in the last 30 years.
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I think members of the British armed forces, in uniform, could also get into nostalgia fc for nothing.
Tough if you were ever seated behind a grenadier guard wearing a busby ;-)
Chris
liftedOverTurnstyles1967CSC
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canamalar, Celtic are legally obliged to pay dividends on the preference shares issued in 1994 as long as they are solvent. This was also true for some other types of shares, although I believe all the others were time limited and this obligation has now ended.
Celtic have not chosen to give a dividend over their legal obligation since before Fergus (and possibly a long time before).
Celtic do not carry debt for tax purposes. They have accumulated such high losses in recent years that they will be able to earn considerable profits for years to come without paying tax (tax liability now back on the balance sheet).
If Celtic make a commitment to pay 1% more on player registrations it would be paying lip service; this is not a good thing.
The club, of course, have a total football budget, which is more important than simple transfer budget. It would be short-term populist indeed if they committed to increasing transfer budget, but took this money from wage budget.
It is also difficult/impossible to draw proper conclusions from a single transfer window.
Look at the long term strategy:
Since DD took over, considerably more money has been spent than received in income (debt has gone up and share issues have taken place to bridge the gap).
Transfer spend over this period has been considerably higher than transfer income.
Celtic made a loss in seven consecutive years, only last year returning to profit. I am sure one day in the future we will have reason to shout “profiteering”, but then we will look back on these times with a much better appreciation of matters.
Celtic paid no dividends they were not legally obliged to do so as a result of last season’s profit.
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Aw Naw
Is that how Billy Connolly and Rod Stewart got theirs?
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SPL stats for first 23 games of 2007/08
fouls committed: Celtic 268 Rangers 254
yellow cards : Celtic 34 Rangers 32
pretty even looking and this is what is shown
on many discipline tables.
But if you trawl through the stats for each match
for both clubs a new picture emerges.
fouls awarded for: Celtic 281 Rangers 337
opponent yellows: Celtic 38 Rangers 53
these are the less obvious stats.
Therefore Celtic have been awarded 13 more freekicks
and had 4 more opponents booked in the league this season
in the course of the 23 games played.
Rangers have been awarded 83 more freekicks and had
21 more opponents booked in the league this season
in the course of the 23 games played.
Do these stats look even to you?
ps. when you see the stats for fouls committed/awarded
and yellows for/against for all our games this season the
Ibrox game stats stick out like a sore thumb. Unbelievably so.
monthehoops
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Aw_Naw,
Kevin Gallacher (Newcastle & Blackburn)?
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No correct answers to the quiz so far.
Celtic_first,
I´ve been watching Celtic games in the wee barra in Paisely with both Billy and Rod these last few weeks ;-)
Are you sure that Rod the Mod and the big yin get it for free ? If so I am sure they wouldn´t mind paying.
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Awe Naw...
Top Scottish goalscorer?
Duncan Ferguson.
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HB is saying the Argyle Street Celtic shop has a sign up advertising Celtic tops in Greek
Can anyone confirm this?
Paul67 - you've got mail Sir.
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Aw Naw
and all libel lawyers
I have no idea if they pay or not. It's none of my business. Fine chaps they are too.
I'm sure some of the seminarians, from posh dioceses like Galloway, would have been willing to pay too.
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Aw_Naw,
Gary McAllister?
He played for about 413 years in the PremierLeague before his Rangers Love-In on Sky Sports began.
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Aw Naw, its got to be Kenny Miller!
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Awe Naw
Does that boozer have Polsat?
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Gordon
Take a bow
WHooo ooo oooo way to go
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Fighting irish,
Can't confirm the Greek sign in the Celtic shop window story, but I work in the town centre, and at lunchtime there were more than a few Pana fans wandering around carrying Celtic shop bags and wearing Celtic hats and scarves :-)
I work next to a smashing wee Greek guy, he's a huge Pana fan and is going tonight. In his words, he can't wait to 'hump the huns'.
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Paul Telfer is the answer to Awenaw's question.
It's not going to happen, but supposing you renewed your season ticket for 10,20+ years- how about some discount in reward for your loyalty? Say a 5% reduction. At current prices[ this is my Joe Miller impression- that's £25-35.
A reduction which looks small, but which generates goodwill. Or an extra package of games.
Subt- 'Nostalgia FC'? You've hurt my feelings.
The only time I've seen a priest get into a ground for nothing was at Firhill. Probably he was an actor playing a priest, who didn't have time to get changed before the game kicked off.
DBBIA/RodneyVilliersCSC
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Arthur,
yup ... rooond the back just for us celebrity Celtic fans
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DBBIA
Priests got in for nothing without even having to answer the 'Name the rector' question.
You obviously hung around the wrong parts of Celtic Park in those days, that Jungle and what have you.
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Celtic are 17th in the new Deloitte Football Money List. Ranking based on season 2006/07 revenues.
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I was at a game once in 1979 or 1980 when someone took quite seriously ill.
The tannoy announcer called first for a doctor and then, God help us all, a priest.
A guy near me in the Jungle was actually quite upset that the announcement said: "If there is a doctor in the stand, could he please go to ...".
As if there couldn't be a doctor in the Jungle, the guy argued. He never said anything about the priest.
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Martin42, you have mail.
DiL
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Awe Naw...
Yes, big Duncan, the bird man of Barlinnie.
He was an awful man fur the burds.
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Henriks Sombrero
I too, work in the city centre (Buchanan Street) and I saw a few Pana fans with their scarves on. They actually gave money to some homeless bloke wearing a Rangers top just outside Waxy's.
In the words of your wee Greek friend, I sincerely hope they "Hump the Huns".
Can we say Huns now???
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The Fighting Irish,
surely Panathanaikos fans bribing Daniel Cousin in broad daylight should be investigated ;-)
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Ministers, as well as priests got in free. Pastor Jack when he was in town always availed of this.
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Beware of Greeks Bearing Celtic Shop Gifts.
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catach,
did this apply to government ministers ? John Reid getting in for free as well now !!
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Fighting Irish,
It was Buchanan Street I seen them - I work in Gordon St. Good location for capturing a bit of atmosphere when visiting fans are in town for a euro tie.
I wasn't aware 'Huns' was a bad word here.......
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Cathach is right. Good point.
Not sure I ever heard of a divinity students for the ministry receiving the same rights as we seminarians though. If it was available to them Graham Spiers will be kicking himself.
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McCurry been handed the Rangers Kilmarnock game?
Have the SFA got any shame?
Referees are supposed to have an equal spread amoungst teams yet this is his 7th huns game.
Most notibly he let Barry bounce the ball onto his left foot, booked 9 Celtic players at Ibrox, has not booked a Rangers player for Celebrating with the fans, let McGregor fly kick Elliot in one of the most malicious tackles of the season.
In my time as a Celtic supporter I have not seen a bigger agenda to give Rangers an advantage than this one.
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Sure doesn't happen now :-(
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O
ne of the things that confuses me the most about celtic supporters is the fact that they still get surprised when the establishment continues its agenda.
aghastcfc
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Henriks Sombrero
I actually work in an office overlooking Dundas Lane (Waxy OConnells back entrance) and I hear the away fans all the time. My fellow accountants have fun in singing out of the windows with them (all Tims in this place) The reason why I asked if the word Hun was banned on this site is because the RST aka gobby mouth David NEDgars is trying to have the word "hun" banned as he feels that it is sectarian.
Awe Naw - Daniel Cousin - good one Sir
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Does anyone else feel that this weekends game against
Hearts will be a real test for us. Our rejuvenated team has
wiped the floor with both Kilmarnock and Aberdeen but
I think both these teams underestimated the momentum
generated by the transfer window and return of certain
players from injury.
Hearts are forewarned and will play a tight defensive formation
and try and hit us on the break.(like the CIS cup game)
Aberdeen and Kilmarnock both played an open game against
us and we ran riot. Can our new squad deal better with the
same old problem of packed defenses? Also can our defenders
cope on their own should we be pushing for a goal and committing
midfielders forward?
I feel this game will be a real challenge for us but if we come
through it well then I for one will feel far more confident about
winning this league.
monthehoops
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TrueTim,
this is just the start of it for the run in, McCurry will have a lot more to do with it, just a stab in the dark but heres how it looks to me,
McCurry-
scottish cup final
the hun home derby
at least another two hun away games
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Mention has been made of ministers and clergy (and seminarians) getting in for free. I'd like to share with you all a wee story I was told by both men involved. Jimmy Henegan was for years the man who allowed the season ticket holders into the old stand. The dog collar brigade got in through his gate. One match day, he got a message that he was not to let any other clergy in,as the stand was full. So, the first person to show his face was refused entrance. No complaints. The chap just turned about on his heel and made off. It turns out that said person was no less than the Cardinal Archbishop of Glasgow, Thomas Joseph Winning hisself. Much chagrin among the board members when this was discovered. Abject apologies made and invitation that henceforth His Eminence was to report to the Main Door and would be seated in the Directors' Box. Jimmy enjoyed telling the story; the Cardinal, I know for a fact, was much discomfitted by its resolution. He told me so himself.
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Taken from soccerbase
Michael McCurry
From Scotland
Games refereed by Michael McCurry in 2007/2008 Yellows Reds
Scottish Premier Rangers 2 - 0 St Mirren 11-08-2007 3 0
Scottish League Challenge Cup Hamilton 1 - 2 Ayr 14-08-2007 1 0
Scottish Premier Dundee Utd 0 - 0 Hibernian 18-08-2007 0 0
Scottish Division 1 Stirling 3 - 3 Livingston 01-09-2007 1 0
Scottish Premier Hearts 4 - 2 Rangers 15-09-2007 7 0
Scottish Premier Rangers 3 - 0 Celtic 20-10-2007 11 0
Scottish Premier Gretna 0 - 4 Inverness CT 27-10-2007 2 0
Scottish League Cup Dundee Utd 3 - 1 Hamilton 31-10-2007 0 0
Scottish Premier Motherwell 1 - 1 St Mirren 03-11-2007 4 0
Scottish Premier Celtic 3 - 0 Aberdeen 24-11-2007 1 0
Scottish Premier Falkirk 3 - 0 Dundee Utd 08-12-2007 0 0
Scottish Division 1 Partick 1 - 1 Dunfermline 15-12-2007 2 0
Scottish Premier Celtic 1 - 1 Hibernian 22-12-2007 2 0
Scottish Premier Kilmarnock 2 - 1 Hibernian 26-12-2007 3 0
Scottish Premier St Mirren 0 - 1 Aberdeen 29-12-2007 1 0
Scottish Premier Rangers 2 - 0 Dundee Utd 05-01-2008 2 0
Scottish FA Cup Falkirk 2 - 2 Aberdeen 12-01-2008 3 0
Scottish Premier Celtic 1 - 0 Kilmarnock 19-01-2008 4 0
Scottish League Cup Rangers 2 - 0 Hearts 30-01-2008 4 0
Scottish FA Cup St Mirren 0 - 0 Dundee Utd 02-02-2008 3 0
Scottish Premier Motherwell 1 - 0 Kilmarnock 09-02-2008 2 1
Games: 21 Yellow Cards: 56 Red Cards: 1
That 5 gers games
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That's correct.
5 games so far but once he officiates the weekend match at Rugby Park that'll be number 6 which is double his nearest counterparts.
Them being Clark, McDonald, Brines and Richmond all on 3.
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Armageddon looms
Paul et al,
Short term populism may be a curse, but in this case I wonder!
Mike Ashley may be a lot of things (one of which is probably NOT a Newcastle Fan of any long-term standing), but he is no fool when it comes to 'giving the customer what he wants', provided he as a businessman meets his own more medium term goals.
He, like most commercial entrepreneurs, see money and profit, not as ends in themselves, but as a barometer and definition of his own success.
Newcastle were failing, the team was getting pelters, Big Sam (not an Ashley appointment) was for the similarly big high-jump, and even in a one horse town like Newcastle, the liquorice all-sort garbed crowds were starting to feel like they were led more by Bertie Bassett than Mike Bassett. That was putting Mike Ashley’s £133million pound investment not only in jeopardy, but was doing so in a particularly painful and public fashion which for a man of very private habits and an almost unstained record of success, was probably some anathema.
Sam had to go. But even that would only be any good if he brought in someone who could guide the club out of the desert of mediocrity and return it to its rightful status last seen in the early 1950s.
Kevin Keegan was NOT that man. But special 'K' was the man to give Mike Ashley time to do as he thought fit to achieve his and the fans ambitions.
After all if KK failed, who was going to blame Mike for doing what everyone wanted, as evidenced by the crowd at the Stoke game on the night of the Appointment. In less than 6 hours following KKs appointment, the demand for tickets doubled and the queues at the Ticket office stretched into vigil length pigrimages.
In the meantime of course MA was not sitting still.
He had created the breathing space and now had to recruit and begin the realisation of what he really wanted for the future. Owners and directors of clubs who tried to bring the disciplines and culture of the hard-nosed business world to the exclusion of the traditional football ethos are manifold and are also in the majority failures. However, football as we all know is changing and perhaps, especially in England, the time is ripe to finally strangle and suffocate the life from the game leaving only another bland, financial instrument of opportunity, profit, loss, and asset management.
Even if that is the case, the appointments that Mike Ashley makes still have to be the right ones and success is paramount. Otherwise the time that he has purchased will merely allow a mass intake of the City’s breath before it is expelled in concerted disapproval and vitriol. My view of the appointments are unimportant since I don’t think that Ashley gives a toss about the intrinsic success of Newcastle’s football business. He simply wants the business to be a success.
Of course if by some twist of fate, Mr Keegan proved successful, then Mike would be confirmed as a visionary, and at some point in the future, unless his appointments who will undoubtedly replace KK then fail., he will leave on his white charger and disappear into the gathering black clouds that wait Newcastle’s future.
Mike Ashley with the right timing simply can’t lose.
Kevin Keegan is a patsy and unless he resurrects his renowned rebellious walk-outs, Ashley could destroy the club.
He has never been a football man and he wouldn't cry too much, especially as there are no doubt a whole host of foreign investors will plight their troth in desperate attempts to court and cuckold the dowry of fools gold that lies in the la la land of St James’ Park and the EPL; after all they all probably supported the Geordies ever since their mom and pop read them stories of how gullible the English were in selling off their heritage and principles for a few dollars more.
So don't write off short-termism just because it fails the fans!!
It serves other people far more effectively than passion, faith, emotions and dreams ever will.
And that is the plain simple truth.
But there is even worse to come.
Take the last couple of days.
TV rights? Illegal Screenings? Artificial turf? Euro cup only on pay - tv? EPL games abroad?
Every single one designed to create a bidding war that will see the skies open and a plague of ‘greenback’ locusts scavenge what little living foliage and substance is left of the sport, the game, the leagues, the rivalries, and the honesty of the greatest game on earth.
Always look at the motivation not the headlines.
And the motivation is to dominate, monopolise, sanitise, and line the pockets of those who are everyday stealing the game from its real owners - us!
Every chance they get they skim, purloin, secrete, vandalise, and manipulate our game. And all without putting one groat in the collection that feeds the shoogly edifice. NOT ONE GROAT!
Not one penny, euro, dollar, yen, shekel, cent, or threepenny bit would go into this 'professional game' unless WE bought the tickets, the satellites, the shirts, the programmes, the travel packages, the hospitality, the advertising, the stadium tours, the scarves, clocks, radios, books, DVDs, blankets, wallpaper, guitars, mouse mats, and a thousand other things.
But this product isn't like another, where we have a choice. This isn’t a product that someone mortgages their home on to create and launch and risk to the vagaries of the market place and the whims of transient and nomadic customers. This product is 'us'. It is our dream, our hopes, our tears, our triumphs and disasters.....this product came from the past when out of nothing it created a community, it granted an identity, and it created heroes and villains, this product became a focus, a part of, and a reason in our life. It manifested something other-worldly about us as individuals and something special and valuable about us as a community. Football, our club, Celtic, was and still is for many a masterpiece of art and in the millions of faces, the thousands of colours and the innumerable brush strokes on that canvas, there is a place for each and every one of us.
But now the artistry is fading, the tints are dimming and each unique painting from Dingwall to Torquay is being masked by a template of mediocrity and a repetitive monotony of mass production by artisans who try to apply the prosaic illusion of TV advertising to the heart-stopping, scream-inducing magical reality of spontaneous pyrotechnics which is football at its unpredictable best!
And even worse these self-appointed (who asked the fans?) guardians and thieves in the night, have not only stolen it from our hearts, but have the brazen gall to sell it back to us, all the time pontificating in that hand-wringing Uriah Heapish way that we just know is a load of spherical male organs.
And we are buying it; we are buying what we paid for, what we created, what we nurtured. And in buying it back we are not only undermining the future of the game and our club, but encouraging the costermongers of FIFA, UEFA, EFA, EPL, SPL, SFA, SFL etc etc etc to recycle rotten fruit while dining on golden plates of exclusivity at the expense of you and me.
Imagine (God forbid) that your house got panned.
Along you go to the Barras, and there in front of your very eyes are the pictures of your family, the diaries from your past, your school reports, your plans for the future, and a thousand tear-stained hankies and laughter filled home movies.
I bet you wouldn't buy them back and say 'thanks very much'!!
Yet that is what we are doing with our game and most of all with our team and our soul. And sadly, I as much as anyone else am blindly bidding at Satan's auction.
Perhaps we should just accept that this is 'progress' and let it happen leaving only a kernel, an empty shell of what was once a fairground prize, for our children to feast on. Perhaps we should just make the best of a bad job and accept that since every one is doing it, the bandwagon must me a good place to be. Perhaps a future where the game is franchised and Celtic and others look around for the best offer from whatever city wants them, is all for the best. Perhaps The Scottish Club with precious Irish roots becomes the club matured in Hertfordshire, raised in Warwickshire, introduced to solids in Lancashire, weaned in Northumberland, born in Scotland, planted in Ireland, but screwed in Geneva!
Maybe the final embers of the vision and ethos are no longer relevant or even useful.
Maybe we should just let it go!
Or maybe somewhere a magic breath will rekindle that ember throughout the game; and all clubs, all fans will actually say ‘enough’! Keep your Saville row suits, enjoy your fat cigars, drown in your tawny port and 7 star cognac, jet-set around the world in your reinforced leather upholstered private jets... but for one brief second remember this....when we stop going to your ‘professional game’…..when we stop shearing the sheep, harvesting the tobacco, crushing the grapes, distilling the liquor, and skinning the cows……those private jets are going to come crashing to earth with a resounding explosion of fractured egos and bankrupt souls.
If the supporters don’t do it then no one else will.
Roll on Hearts, Barca, St Mirren, Hibs……..bring them all on………..and just for the next few weeks let’s see if we can remember that the greatest thing about Celtic is the Community it created, and the Greatest thing about the community is the reason it created Celtic....and let’s also remember that we exist and flourish only in a wider community where competition is a must....and win, lose or draw....well there’s always next season.
If football carries on the way it’s been going for the last 25 years, and the bleeding wound caused by the unfettered power of the non-mandated oligarchy is not cauterised, then the last statement may prove to be a false hope, and what a loss that would be.
Hail Hail
Estadio
p.s. Billy C and Rod Stewart get seats for life because they have performed at events and presided over Celtic functions for free. The cost of seat-for-life is dwarfed by the fees saved... I still think they should pay mind you.
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danny....
Where's your source? Do you have a link?
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The Fighting Irish, will be in touch later.
Daveinlondon, you mean they have done away with the praying section?
Estadio, I disagree that Sam had to go, that would have been a decision for the end of the season. By moving sooner the club brought increased uncertainty on itself.
No need to sound off about cognac; ‘tis a lovely drink.
As for the future of the game, I have long predicted the inevitability of most of what you say, and no one has presented me with a concise strategy to avoid it.
My aims are limited to forestalling rather than prohibiting the inevitable.
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Aw naw
You should have a look at Celtic's fouls to possession ratio for the Celtic v Aberdeen game that McCurry refereed. The scoreline hides the fact that he penalised Celtic 5 times as much as Aberdeen with fouls.
Celtic gave away a foul every 2 minutes Aberdeen were in the ball. In contrast Aberdeen only gave away a foul every 10 minutes Celtic were on the ball.
http://www.scotprem.premiumtv.co.uk/page/MatchStatsDetail/0,,10002~36837,00.html
Such statistics, where Celtic have the lions share of possession and fouls (when you might expect the contrary to be the case) is not restricted to Celtic games handled by McCurry though.
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Nostalgia FC were formed in Yesteryear and played during the Golden Age at Memory Lane. In traditional black and white, the Olde English Spangles were thrown out of the league when they refused to swap jumpers for goal posts. Like their great rivals, Halcyon United, they belonged to a byegone era. Record score, 107 - 93, played over 5 days in old school yard.
Chris
ridngIntoTheSunsetCSC
;-)
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P67, that may account for the dip in form; now happily ended, so has it been restored?
Looking forward to Saturday at CP. Like a glorious spring day again down here; how's it at home?
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Chris, would that have been 54 half time 107 the winner?
Modern life is okay in moderation
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Paul
Sam HAD to go, not for any rational football reason but because Mike Ashley could see that the support was dissolving and they were demanding his removal.
The only certainty that Mike Ashley avoided was the certainty of empty stands.
The uncertainty he created was immaterial. No one seemed to know anyway where the club was going, other than down, In fact the uncertainty was positive and especially with the recruitment of KK only increased the value of his investment and gave him the certainty of time to restructure.
From a business perspective Mike Ashley got it right.
From a football perspective I personally think he should have given SA much more time, but the power of the support is, as we well know from a couple of events in our own recent history, must never be ignored.
And that is the point of the rest of what I said!
hail hail
Estadio
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On a more serious note. If the global commercialisation of football continues along the lines frequently discussed here then Celtic's aim must be for inclusion at the top table. We are one of the biggest and most distinctive brands in world football. We will struggle to maintain our status while trapped in the SPL. Short term, we must compete in the Champions League on a regular basis. Longterm, competing in the top tier of a European League should be a realistic and achievable goal.
Chris
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"Tickets, tickets. Anyone got any tickets ...............? I'll buy any spare.........." :o)
pablophanque
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Caddizy
I think that would have been 109 - the winner.
God even the education has gone downhill.
Mental Arithmetic rules ok.
Hail hail
Estadio
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Cadizzy,
It was that week :-)
Chris
I think Not Playing for Celtic: Another Paradise Lost by David Bennie has a good description of this type of game.
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new article posted.
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Daveinlondon, it’s a beautiful Spring day in Scotland.
Estadio, I’ll consider that further, thanks.
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Estadio, I agree with your appraisal of the rationale behind Ashley's actions. He is seen to be responsive to the fans' demands for a new manager but then goes one bettter and plays his joker (no direct reference to KK intended)by making the most populist and popular appointment you could imagine. In one fell swoop, he is a man who is not afraid to make tough decisions but also a man with a finger very much on the pulse. It is short termism designed to further his own longer term financial goals though I am sure he thought it would be a bit longer before the grumblings and rumblings started again.
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Re the match at the weekend,
There were only 3 bookings, 2 for Aberdeen and 1 for celtic.
The 2 Aberdeen bookings were for the tackle on Scott McDonald for the penalty and the last man tackle on Samaras. Both challenges worthy of at least a yellow card.
The other booking was to Aiden McGeady.
There were 34 fouls committed in the match and assuming that the referee thought that the three worst tackles in the match meritted bookings, McGeady's foul must have been considered worse than 31 other fouls commited.
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Cadizzy,
if we played to 54 half time, then the rule was that we could in theory get to 54 all before the deciding goal.
Must admit 25 half time/51 winner used be the most we ever played on the streets before it got too dark to see the ball (usually discarded tennis ball- no white luxury plastic fur us).
hail hail
Estadio
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