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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The Huns have taken 18 points out of a possible 42 in their last 14 games.
THE MAGIC HAT.
Paul,
the single biggest lesson for ANYONE to learn is this: Our Board need to understand that investment must be made in order to improve our chances of getting INTO the Champions League….rather than spending money IF we get in.
The Board also needs to understand that the JANUARY window is where we must make our main moves. I know that there are arguments saying that this window’s prices are inflated. Maybe so, but we have seen enough failure in recent years to understand that rebuilding a team in order to play our most important games in mid-July….that is one risky strategy.
The one thing that I fear in this current climate of ‘gap-measuring’ is…over confidence in the part of the Board.
Turkeybhoy on 27th October 2016 12:48 pm
I think most reasonable posters on here give a suitable explanation of why they don’t think a player is good enough. I go against the grain a bit because I think Bitton is a smashing player but often criticised on here.
On the other hand, I think Gordon is the best of our 2 keepers but I think that there are flaws in his game which mean he’s not good enough for Europe in particular; I thought Lustig was finished on his early season form, but I am delighted he has proved me wrong.
Wee Jamesy is another who can, at times, divide opinion. As was Broony last season and McGregor this season.
The good thing is that we are at a stage when we are in the ECL Group Stages; first Cup Final of the season; romping clear in the league; and winning 4-0 away from home with our second-string side.
Maybe that makes me (and others) seem a wee bit ungrateful or overly critical, but it’s a good place to be!
KTF
TURKEYBHOY on 27TH OCTOBER 2016 12:51 PM
Over The Hats 46 league matches he has a much worse record than Ronny Deila did after 76 matches, pro rata. And that’s with 36 matches played in the Championship. Ronny also had 19 league matches after midweek European ties.
Sevco could close the gap this weekend by not putting their clocks back…
There was a ManU scout in Dingwall last night, but why is the media, to a person, saying he was there to watch Dembele?
He could have been up to watch other players who didn’t play ; or even an RC player.
Do scouts notify in advance whoever it is they are monitoring?
Perhaps they run it by Level 5 first.
I have assessed the biggest threat to Celtic’s winning 10 in a row is a Donald Trump Presidency.
I am pleased to report that this risk is receding:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UfuN9HRDVZY
TURKEYBHOY on 27TH OCTOBER 2016 12:51 PM
The Huns have taken 18 points out of a possible 42 in their last 14 games.
THE MAGIC HAT.
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Apparently they’ve new players and are “still to gel”….
:-)
Congratulations to Scott Brown and his wife on the birth of son number 3.
VFR800A8
In fairness to Scott Brown last season, it has been generally accepted, albeit in hindsight, that he played much of last season through injury.
Even at that, we were a poorer team when he was absent, hence why he played when unfit.
This year it is clear what a fit Brown brings to the team.
Davidopoulos on 27th October 2016 12:43 pm
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.
===================================
Steven McLean, whos ebrother played for Rangers, who missed the ICT handball…
Ah, timing – got to give them a pat on the head for trying. After all, back in July the fixture supercomputer had Us v Dons as a win-win ‘points dropped’ for the Hun to forge ahead at the top of the table.
SFA twinks, How’s that workin’ out for ya?
DAVIDOPOULOS on 27TH OCTOBER 2016 1:01 PM
Sevco could close the gap this weekend by not putting their clocks back…
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Further back?!
They’ve been stuck in the 17th century for some time now..! :-)
NatKnow
Let’s be honest, they’ve probably flogged the clocks anyway.
To be fair, I think the Magic Hat is a decent coach.
Will be happy to see him go. Especially if it’s an absolute rocket like Bomber Brown or David Weir replacing him
DAVIDOPOULOS on 27TH OCTOBER 2016 1:23 PM
NatKnow
Let’s be honest, they’ve probably flogged the clocks anyway.
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Look at how they treated the St. Etienne bike. I felt very sorry for her…
NatKnow
Did they share her with Arsenal or did I just mix up two different stories?
:)
timaloy29
Whoever replaces Warbs will be proponent of 4-5-1 “hoof the baw” tactics. It is what please the peepul the most.
DAVIDOPOULOS on 27TH OCTOBER 2016 1:29 PM
NatKnow
Did they share her with Arsenal or did I just mix up two different stories?
:)
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I’m gonnae cash out now in case I say something that requires moderation……
:-)
Add 4 x players – DCM, GM, LB and Goalkeeper. Getting the first 3 quality players should be easily within reach in the coming two transfer windows given wages to be saved from out of contract fringe players leaving and ECL income. p.s. notice in accounts money still owed significant amounts for transfers out i.e. VVD etc… also something like £20 million in deferred payments, most likely income from new sponsorship deals clever, and for lurking zombies, legal accounting outstripping any debt owed without consideration of ECL income, ticket, merchandising etc…
Disappointed to see celtic apply for temporary ticket office to continue for another 3 years and for permission to place a t.v/ advertising board where the proposed multipurpose building i.e. ticket office/ superstore, museum was to go, for 5 years, poor show.
On the field, I am delighted with the progress made and change in direction where quality over quantity seems now to be applied
HH
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.
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It worked, Paul – they are well ahead of Dundee :-)
It’s amazing what you can’t achieve without £250m of other people’s money!
Good article btw.
I like to distinguish myself from other CQNers by not putting a nose in my smiley face thing.
:)
And by the rubbish I post…
Davidopoulos
;@-))
MWD
WMD
Impressive.
Looks like the clown those zombies sent their money to.
I watched the game last night in Philomenas Irish Sports Bar in Covent Garden.
A small group of Celtic fans engrossed in the game whilst those watching Manchester derby seemed to lose interest due to the paucity of the football and entertained themselves.
Pittodrie is a real crunch game. A good result and performance will give us the zest to go do something special against BMG. They raised their game against us —like we did against City— we owe them one–big time.
Regarding Newco the knives are out for Warbutton. He will be thrown under the bus at some point this season—-but timing does not suit King yet. I expect him to last to Hogmanay and Weir to take over in January 2017. The decline of Newco is underway and Traynor and co know it. There will be plenty of curved balls in the weeks ahead as this ship heads for the rocks. Admiral Warbutton has done a grand job and I hope he leaves the Magic Hat for Weir—-he is going to need it !
CELTICROLLERCOASTER SUPPORTING @WALKWITHSHAYon 27TH OCTOBER 2016 12:40 PM
Good to see an audit signatory wi the name Celtic in it :-)))).Tam Doc and Jim Catttenach would be proud ha.
P.s still got bit p dosh fpr weeshay next time I see you
Hail hail for a sound job done
S/be
Bit of dosh
HH
Sons of unTruth statement .
They are clinging to their traditional view of the world.
Sevco do not owe Scottish Water because water is provided by Business Stream
Scottish Water is only the holding company !
So the media were allowed to ask Warburton about Wigan without Traynor throwing a wobbler?
Interesting…..
Was impressed with Izaguirre last night, thought he was excellent particularly for someone who has played as little football as him. Armstrong is also making a decent case for a regular run out in centre midfield to show just what he can do. He was always lost stuck out on the left wing. Roberts also made a case for replacing Forrest as his form has dipped a bit in the last couple of games. Great for the wider squad to get a run out coming into a demanding run of fixtures between now and the end of the year.
Warbuton is likely to be managing a team out of Ibrox until he can be got rid of at no extra cost.
Maybe another team might be tempted by his ability to deliver great results with a tight budget against a backdrop of better funded teams, then again….
Hail Hail
Mes Que Un Club
https://www.theguardian.com/football/the-agony-and-the-ecstasy/2016/oct/27/yorkshire-st-pauli-germany-football-club-refugees-leeds
Financial gap Paul?
Chasm, surely?
Greetings from a damp n dull South Ayrshire, incidentally.
Landed at Prestwick last night at 1941 hours precisely and made it home in time for the second half.
Mind the gap – financial and otherwise -ya deluded zombies!
HH!!
SOUKOUS
Thank you for that link
Hail Hail
Monsewer Joey has arrived at Sevco HQ.
Craig Gordon defending his 18 yard line! . https://t.co/1mwU2qYE7D
SOUKOUS on 27TH OCTOBER 2016 3:17 PM
Monsewer Joey has arrived at Sevco HQ.
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Or as he calls it “le grand urinoir”…. :-)
DD enjoy your lunch at the Victoria with your nearest and dearest? Anybody hear from Estadio\Matt Stewart after his adventures last night? Hilarious H H Hebcelt
Auldheid
When I try to e-mail JPT it is coming up as an invalid e-mail, can you advise the -mail address and which case?
Thanks