This midweek has gone just about perfectly. Yesterday I asked that we pick a team to win the game, but play Griffiths, Armstrong, Roberts, McGregor, Izaguirre and Gamboa. All played, as did Christie and Henderson. And we recorded a remarkable 0-4 away win.
Meanwhile, in the land of the also-rans, our four nearest ‘challengers’ all dropped points. It’s still early days, but this league’s turning into a procession. Embarrassingly so, for some.
After opening the scoring within three minutes it wasn’t the most fluid of performances from Celtic, but an incredible eight outfield changes will result in a lack of familiarity. What the outfield players lacked, Craig Gordon more than made up for. He made three excellent saves, extending his run of fine performances since returning to the team against Kilmarnock last month.
Will the biggest impact Dorus de Vries has at Celtic be on the form of Craig Gordon? Don’t bet against it.
The Scottish Premiership table is in one of those bizarre states, where the (game-in-hand adjusted) gap between first and second is larger than that between second and second bottom. The transformation which has taken place in a team already five-in-a-row champions is remarkable, eclipsed in recent history only by the turnaround which took place in 2000.
Last night I read a lot of pennies dropping; specifically there was an acceptance that there was a significant financial gap between Celtic and the newly promoted Championship winners. There are a couple of worthwhile observations to make on this issue:
The financial gap which funded this season’s business is a fraction of what it will be next year, when Celtic will have banked circa £50m more than any other Scottish club. That will be around twice the gap they went into the last transfer window with.
Whatever you think about Mark Warburton’s claims that he’s closing the on-field gap, the structural deficit gap is becoming oceanic.
I again read people digging Dave King up about a perceived lack of his promised overinvestment. What’s going on at Ibrox right now IS overinvestment. The signings of Barton, Senderos, Kranjcar, Rossiter, Gilks, Hill, Hodson and Garner were designed to give them the advantage they needed over a team they eliminated from the Scottish Cup last season.
The accounts when published in 2018 will prove this. Or I should say if published. Not every team survives long enough to publish accounts, lest we forget.
For them, winning the league is evidently not going to happen, but if this week’s results teach us anything, it’s that the European qualification places (second and third) are wide open. For a team spending more than their direct rivals combined, that should be an achievable target.
The real problems come when the overinvestment has to stop and budget is cut.
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VFR
Dunno,I’ll check.
BOBBY MURDOCH’S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS on 27th October 2016 11:51 am
What iOS version are you running?
10.0.2
PAUL67
Looks like King invested in some right dodgy purchases. Sure,looks like a lot of players,some might even be better than those there before.
But few if any have stepped up for them.
Crying shame,so it is…
Paul67, not only will the financial gap be in excess of £50M more this year, it looks like a good bet that we can use some of these funds to increase our ability to make the ECL Group Stages again next season and doing the same; year on year the gap could increase to insurmountable levels, leaving all other teams in our wake.
The Comedy Club could be reduced to also-rans struggling to make Europe for some considerable time; and that’s without even considering licensing issues!
KTF
Yes, someone mentioned Izzy there on the last page and rightfully so, he slotted in as if he’d never been away, players like that we take for granted some times, will go down as a really good Celtic player IMO.
Whit a braw day Bobby…
Braw
BOBBY MURDOCH’S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS go onto the App store and get Adblock Plus and Never Ads.
Once installed, go to settings; scroll down to Safari and then go onto content blockers. Slide the wee button to show green, then restart Safari and you will never get the chance to win an iPhone ever again. You can also switch Java Script back on!
Simples!
KTF
Do they no need 3 years audited accounts to get a license to play in Europe, oh wait, according to both the SFA and UEFA they don’t need anything to get a license, rubber stamp my application and ask no questions
Izzy is a great Celtic player, never let us down.
I’d also imagine he’s helped Kieran a lot along the way, losing his left back slot in the process.
Kieran is now first choice but Izzy is a smashing player to back him up as last night showed.
Hang on a bloomin’ minute!
Forget the “gap”.
I’ve just realised that CQN will this year be robbed of the poppy debate. The weekend of 11th, 12th and 13th November is an international weekend.
Shocking!
A sensible plan for thems coming up would have been to let they’r fans know that the first year aim would be to make the top six the first season, anything better than that would be a bonus, and the the next year hopefully inprove on that.
But no not them, they’r to used not sensible and putting the cart before the horse as they have been doing since they became a new club and won’t change.
It is as someone pointed out a comedy club, ship wreck, tribute act, Normans Maw, Triggers Brush, a basket case of a business going nowhere fast, and the sooner the better for all of Scottish football, IMO.
The best commentary of the 5-1
Game
https://twitter.com/VLR/status/791580716802908161?s=08
Davidopoulos on 27th October 2016 12:21 pm
Hang on a bloomin’ minute!
Forget the “gap”.
I’ve just realised that CQN will this year be robbed of the poppy debate. The weekend of 11th, 12th and 13th November is an international weekend.
Shocking
___________________________________________________________
Ye see how far big Pedro’s scheming reach is, eh?
He manipulated the international calendar to stop it!
Machiavellian CSC
KTF
I like Stuart Armstrong and think he can go on to be a very good player for us.
I also think he lacks self belief which is strange as he is a very intelligent lad.
If he believes he has the ability to succeed at the very top then I think he will.
Brendan is just the right man to convince him he has the talent.
I wonder if St. Johnstone manager, Tommy Wright, was allowed to leave the Penniless Arcade last night without a wee chat in the Blue Room?
don’t forget 70k per week saving from out of contract fringe players leaving
I wish people would stop picking on playersthat they personally dont fancy.Its nonsense.How many were slating Broony not so long ago.Never mind the fact the boy was turning out week in week out not fully fit to try and help.Its Biton at the moment.I said last night,leave him out,give Armstrong a chance to play in the middle with Broony.For people to say get shot of him is a nonsense.A lot of games he is whats needed.Others not so.Horses for courses.Glad we have a manager that sees this.BR wants to bring in a midfielder that adds balance as he says.Would let him play two strikers in games,but not every game.Horses for courses.Rogic is another.Not every set up suits him,but a fine player.Last night Gordon had a very good game,today people wanting another keeper.We have to walk before we can run.Dont get too carried away with Europe.At the moment it IS NOT a benchmark as some say.When BR is happy with his team,then it will become so.In the meantime try and enjoy what you are watching.I know I am,and a lot of others.
vfr800a8
What next? We may as well just start using terms such as “roasted cheese” or “roll and slice” seeing as sacred anymore…
thomthethim for Oscar OK
If Tommy Wright has the next manager he’d want to play O’Halloran, which is apparently a big no, no down Ibrox way these days…
Davido,
My roasted cheese was perfect yesterday morning………
At the moment we are in that wonderful place where we are good and we are lucky at the same time. Things are mostly going our way in a way which we could not have imagined 6 months ago. I am loving it.
Not sure how to interpret the refereeing decisions when it comes to Craig Gordon. He could/should have been red carded twice this season. Can’t believe the refs haven’t taken the easy decision to send him off. If it had happened last night then we’d have been lucky to hold onto the 1-0 lead. If it was against us we’d be screaming for a red and I for one would have used it as more evidence of a masonic ref conspiracy.
Are we getting some decent breaks this year that we wouldn’t normally get? (other than from our friend on Sunday).
TONYDONNELLY67 on 27TH OCTOBER 2016 12:12 PM
Yes, someone mentioned Izzy there on the last page and rightfully so, he slotted in as if he’d never been away, players like that we take for granted some times, will go down as a really good Celtic player IM
*****
That would have been me.
Izzy played without any hint of “I’ll show them”.
Even his Tweet saying that he loved playing for Celtic. shows the character of the man.
I would even suggest that his deep faith gives him the confidence to be what he is and is happy with who he is.
Hope he sees out his career with us, A good influence on and off the park.
Roll n squer was better this morning tho!
Under Brendan we could be looking at assembling the most dominant side in Scottish football history, since the Lisbon Lions at least. 10 in a row might be a good wee tune but we ain’t stopping there.
Works for me.
jimbob71
You have redeemed yourself…a bit…
:)
Deniabhoy
You’re right regarding Craig Gordon. In the past a ref would have had his red card in his hand before the keeper was out of the box never mind made a challenge.
If he had been sent off last night then an outfield player would have had to go in goals as we had used our 3 subs, only 1-0 up at the time too.
Davido,
Why thank you! :-)
Turkeybhoy on 27th October 2016 12:29 pm
I hear what you are saying, but it’s about opinions and debate. It would be kinda boring if everyone agreed all the time.
This is pretty much a discussion about a long look ahead to next season; more of a wishlist in my view.
KTF
If i am watching a Hun game on my box its usually the Hun TV one they show.The commentator is priceless.Like a cross between Lex Mc Lean and Andy Cameron.An absolute beeler.
Good afternoon fholks
As you may know, I was asked by Winning Captains and Paul67 to independently review the monies raised for the Res 12 newspaper adverts.
Having reviewed the information and explanations provided, I can confirm that the income raised and monies expended in respect of newspaper adverts were correctly accounted for.
I can also confirm that the net surplus of monies were donated in full in Marys Meals.
HH
CRC
I have a sudden craving for grilled Cheddar on toast.
I wonder why?
Steven McLean is the referee for Satuday’s match. That’s his first Celtic game this season.
He refereed our last visit to Pittodrie which we lost 2-1.
Good article Paul,
Last night there was a lot of slippage by both teams which caused a few problems. Do the club advise players on footwear or is it a personal choice i.e. sponsor?
Saw this site which has info on playing on 3G/4G and the type of boots to wear.
https://www.footy-boots.com/what-are-the-best-football-boots-for-3g-and-artificial-turf-41070/
The only reason that The Rangers are even mentioned in the championship debate is that they have the same name as a former title winner. The new club, in its first top flight season, has done precisely nothing to establish itself as a contender.
Four wins in ten games is mid table form. And those four wins have come against Dundee, Partick, Motherwell and Inverness. Their record against the top of the table sides is poor: defeats at Celtic and Aberdeen and a home draw against St Johnstone, with a trip to Hearts still to come.
Meanwhile we are already seven points clear of our closest rival with a game in hand. A win on Saturday and the SPFL should just give us the trophy as an early Xmas present.
VFR800A8 on 27TH OCTOBER 2016 12:38 PM
Turkeybhoy on 27th October 2016 12:29 pm
I hear what you are saying, but it’s about opinions and debate. It would be kinda boring if everyone agreed all the time.
This is pretty much a discussion about a long look ahead to next season; more of a wishlist in my view.
KTF
Debate is fine,but to just come on and say,get rid of,because you dont like the player is a nonsense.
You know,I remember the Broony haters on here.Now when the guy is outstanding every game,they will come on with their views and say,”Brown did OK”.Its in their heads.The Biton ,Forrest,etc haters will never give credit.You cant debate with someone with a closed mind on the subject.
TTT,
Dunno mate.
CELTICROLLERCOASTER SUPPORTING @WALKWITHSHAY on 27TH OCTOBER 2016 12:40 PM.
Good.
Never a doubt in my mind.
Cheers