I winced slightly reading that Deliotte’s suggested Celtic were a ‘top 40’ club in terms of turnover. The days we featured in their annual Top 20 report are long gone, lost in the raft of TV deals which flooded into England, France and elsewhere.
This is a problem for Celtic but at least we have a decent shot at Champions League income each year. Others in Scottish football have been left to wither on the vine (phrase of the week), as the likes of AFC Bournemouth cherry-pick their talent.
Celtic need a solution to help them compete with their peer-group of European heavy-weights but the solution has to accommodate the other top Premiership clubs. Dundee United have the ability to produce remarkable talent, if only they had the TV deal to allow them to retain it long enough to build a team. The same could be said for Hibs, Hearts, Aberdeen, Motherwell, Inverness and Ross County.
Scottish football would benefit enormously by federating with a neighbour.
You would think after administration and liquidation those who look to Ibrox for their football fix would, to adopt a popular phrase around those parts, have suffered enough from financial ‘ambition’. Not a bit of it, it seems. Not when the spectre of “being battered” by Celtic looms like an enormous green and white tidal wave.
For the last 12 years of its existence, Dave King was one of the non-executive directors of Rangers, paid to ensure that financial controls and risk management [role of non-execs defined by government 2003 Higgs Report]were in place. I am not being glib or shameless when I say he did a remarkable job.
With Newco appearing to be in some financial distress, King told the Daily Mail he opposes planned cutbacks: ‘If we cut the club back to a level that’s just enough to win the League One or the Championship then that’s fine. But the gap between ourselves and Celtic when we get to the Premiership will be obvious.
“But I don’t feel the club should respond by cutting the costs to the point of saying ‘we only have to do what is necessary to beat East Fife or whoever.
“Because if you do that Celtic will build up to 10-in-a-row and we could be so far behind them that even when we are back in the Premiership we are not in a position to catch up.
“We cannot risk going to Celtic Park and being battered 6-0.”
Those trying to keep Newco Rangers afloat will not welcome suggestions that current shareholders don’t have the “appetite or willingness to invest”, a few months before they will ask fans to buy season tickets.
Learn your lesson, there is no shame in losing 6-0 to Celtic, this is sport, bad results can happen, but there is enormous shame in failing to live within your means.
I’m off to contemplate 10-in-a-row for a while. To hyphenate or not?
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the green man
16:18 on 24 January, 2014
GourockEmeraldBhoy& Dharma bam
Oh I see, its the old hun witch hunt…..can I join in?
If you are sleekitly referring to me….just say so, I love that kind of banter
Im ready when you are:)
Hail Hail
No you so don’t get cross ;-)
HH
or even ricrocheted
(guess who’s just discovered some html formatting)
But could they drink ………… me…. you…. him….. me….him too….. the Strokas’.
jonnybhoy:
I went to jail with him.
There is a lot of interest here in attendances and, while it is important in relation to atmosphere, there is more to atmospere than attendance.e.g. crowd spirit.While no one would like to play in an empty stadium, we should remember that Fergus changed the whole game with his amazing sale of 60,000 season tickets. That seems to have become our goal. I would like to hear what the average attendances were in the 50’s and the 60’s? That was an era of higher attendances in general, but for Celtic it was an era of limited success until 1965.
Greenman 16.02,
Hi. The board are not pursuing the Old Firm agenda. It is actually some Celtic supporters who are pursuing it. We cannot avoid the fact that many Celtic supporters miss Oldco/Newco Rangers. Indeed many posters here often give us score updates from Rangers games. They seem to never miss a game. We had a chance to ignore them but too many of us didn’t. The support failed. Our greatest statement would have been to fill Celtic Park as often as possible. Instead we have had some dismal attendances.
Kitalba
CQN will inevitably resemble ‘Offi cial Celtic’ as it becomes the dominant Celtic blog. It’s what happens in all growing organisations..increasing conformity and growing intolerance of alternative views. Groupthink…
..so go start your own radical, reactionary blog. Just be clear what you are reacting against..
Guyfawkes
Depends what your expectations are.
If you expect two or more new players per year to break through to the first team, then you will be disappointed.
Not many teams manage that at the achieving end of leagues.
I refer to TBB’s post about churn rate in football and add to that the modern reality that the top 18 players at Celtic are all established internationals. That is the ceiling you have to break through, not one where we have a first team of Galloways & Muggletons. It takes an exceptional talent like McGeady or Forrest to break into that set up. It is an inevitable consequence of our on-field success.
I agree that reserve league football, with an occasional fringe appearance, is not good for the development of the 18 to 21 year old player.
Therefore, I approve of loaning them out to sink or swim. I prefer to do it in England because, if successful there but still not good enough for Celtic, they may fetch a fee.
I still hope that Tony Watt proves us wrong because he is exactly what we need just now, minus the attitude issues.
setting free the bears,
well given that Neymar scored a hat trick they can hardly argue that they didn’t gain a competitive advantage …
Enjoy your evening Celts,quality being a Celtic fan,so it is.
HH
well done Liam Henderson Hail hail
I don’t think a full or increased attendance could be taken solely as a sign that Celtic didn’t miss Deadclub. Neither does a drop in attendance mean the opposite.
I don’t think blame could be laid at the door of Celtic supporters.
We don’t have a chance to ignore the team that plays out of Ibrox, the laptop loyal see to that.
PS it’s Newclub, not Newco
Kit
“I went to jail with him”.
Jeez, I thought you were old but….. you went to Oz on a prison ship??
Genuine question.
Have Celtic ever had a goal keeper come through the youth system and be the main Celtic goalie?
I know recently we have had Stewart Kerr and David Marshall but neither really held the position down for any length of time.
Shay Given will be forever the one who got away and Pat Bonner was signed as a youth I believe rather than coming through the youth set up.
Not sure we have a great record prodcuing keepers.
Does anyone have anymore detailed information? Thanks in advance.
LB
CultsBhoy:
No. How do you spell ‘censorship’.
If Paul has any problem whatsoever with anything I post, I’m sure you’ll be the first censor to get the news… in the interim… get a life.
Kitalba
The twins, still see Ricky about Knightswood.
Dharma, of course attendances are determined by different factors. A previous poster suggested that the board are pushing an Old Firm agenda but clearly some Celtic supporters still yearn for the old times. This is natural as sport requires competition but I am enjoying the fact that Rangers are not in our division.
JohnnyClash:
Ask him how many cells we shared together over the years?
Ask him how me and his cousins, invariably after a fighting huns game would get arreseted, and we could never go for a slash for if you went for a slash the polis would kick the shit out of you, so we would all slash together and come what may.
Sounds strange today, but back then, we looked after each other.
livibhoy
on the blarneys, definitely the best rebs band ever for me, started in the glen bar in rutherglen, then with a little help from moi, we managed to get them down to mcnees, big Charlie and family returned home to the emerald isle, big sean plays in the brazen with gary og, (a very talented artist is sean) next time any of you go into the brazen, look left at the painting of big jock walking through a big puddle at a floodlit celtic park, absolutely brilliant.wee james the drummer is still kickinglast played with athenrye and mick just disappeared.the blarney pilgrims live in mcnees on st patricks night is some cd….
Delaneys Dunky:
Ask your cousins (and their mates – my mates) how many cells we shared. It should not be so but it is… you’re a candle.
I LOVED THAT TIME and people bleed because the Green Brigade raise a banner.
Ask your cousin Tam about Rose Street?????
An Tearmann
15:47 on 24 January, 2014
Dharma Bam \o/ stands up for Neil Lennon
13:25 on
24 January, 2014
Why are we referring to the club that plays out of Ibrox as Newco and not Newclub?
Totally agree.New club ends all fantasy occurring after their 9 min meeting on the 14th june
2012
———————————————–
100% In Agreement, using the old/Newco pash is just going along with the MSM propaganda. Since the Club and Company are one of the same through Incorporation
it is just as easy to refer to them as Oldclub/ Newclub.
No to Newco!
Are your listening Paul :)
HH
John O’Neil
I’m glad Newclub are not in our league, physically or metaphorically.
Rangers are dead.
No to newco.
SimplesCSC
Delaneys Dunky:
And Joe the Pilot…. for BM
I’m glad you think that way too, Palacio67
Masty
Sean Lyons is an old friend of mine. The most musical and artistic talented guy I have ever known.
And I don’t want new club anywhere near us too.
CommonsenseCSC
Delaneys Dunky
known big sean for over 20 years now, totally agree…big gentleman..
The Rangers are a Newclub
Delaneys Dunky
I was over for the irish cup final in may, me and my wee pal were sitting in one of the wee booths downstairs in the rock, when who walks in? big sean gary and paul (coach).we didnay know they were playing despite talking to them the week-end prior..
You are of course correct Dharma. I am too lazy to use proper terms. Incidentally, I spoke to a Benfica supporter a couple of months ago. You should have heard what he had to say about Porto’s alleged cheating through the years…
We’ve got sum’dy twice as good, we’ve got Harry Hood!
From a righteously indignant Vanguard Hun:
“what… caught my attention was the launch of a free monthly newspaper [‘The Irish Voice’] in Scotland aimed at ‘the Irish diaspora.’
After reading [the advertisement] I wondered why there was no mention of the Protestant Irish people or Protestant people of Irish descent who make up a sizeable proportion of our population, and I thought that perhaps I should do a bit more research, particularly if I was going to comment on it. I found the website and started reading. I wish I could say I was stunned, but to be honest, I wasn’t. It contains no reference to Irish Protestants living in Scotland or Protestant people of Irish descent living in Scotland.
It does mention the Rangers Supporters Assembly though. In an article about proposals for a memorial to be erected in Glasgow to those who died in the potato famine, they state this:
“After initially welcoming the proposals, which were made by Councillor Feargal Dalton, himself an Irishman, many in the Irish community subsequently expressed their surprise and unease that among those involved in the planning of such a monument would be the Rangers Supporters Assembly, who consistently defended the notorious ‘Famine song,’ a mocking and racist chant that calls on Scotland’s Irish to ‘go home.’ ”
Since when did the Irish become a race?
I actually read more and the more I read, the more it became apparent that ‘The Irish Voice’ simply isn’t the voice of Irish people and people of Irish descent living in Scotland. It is the voice of Irish Catholics living in Scotland and Irish Catholics only. It seems that protestant is a dirty word in ‘The Irish Voice’ because in their world Irish Protestants don’t exist. After reading through their website I was insulted and offended that Irish Protestants seem to have been erased from society and history.
[I sent an e-mail to The Irish Voice]:
‘A serious question. Is this the Irish Voice for Catholics only? I clicked on the link hoping [aye, right] to find a site which was inclusive of all denominations and instead find nothing but Catholic this and Catholic that. Don’t you acknowledge that many people of Irish descent, myself included are Protestants… Do you not acknowledge the Protestant Irish people and people of Irish descent living in Scotland? I am disappointed that your claims to be the Irish Voice seem to apply only to Irish Catholics, and that is not only divisive, but it reeks of religious apartheid.’
Rather unsurprisingly, they failed to reply.
This type of religious apartheid is commonplace in Scotland. In Africa apartheid was racial, in Scotland it is religious. Apartheid is apartheid and there is no place for it in modern society. Quite why it is accepted without challenge here in Scotland is beyond me.
I have read and been disgusted by the sectarian rants of Phil McGillivan and his fascist ideals, which are more suited to Nazi Germany than modern day Scotland, and this new media outlet seems to follow similar lines.”
As one FFer said to another today,”I’m beginning to think you’re a couple of nougats short of a happy meal.”
Kitalba
I looked up to, and felt safe from huns with you guys from Scotstoun back in the 70s.
jonnybhoy:
All being said, I remember the days, the football, the chipie, Dumbarton Rd.
A long time ago… but great days that Hollywood won’t ever make a movie about.
Oh and mate, this is true too, I used to live in Hollywood, okay just next door, but would I ever have swapped it for what we grew up in? No Way.
Do you remember Rose Ross and Geno and the Chippie?
Bahrudin Atajic: Loan spell at New Meadow
Shrewsbury have boosted their attacking options by signing Celtic striker Bahrudin Atajic on loan.
Atajic has made three appearances for the Scottish giants this campaign, scoring one goal.
The Sweden-born forward could make his debut against Swindon this weekend for the managerless Shrews who have already added Wigan midfielder Fraser Fyvie to their squad this week.
Celtic rebuff Rangers’ quality claims: League 1 better than the Premiership? We wouldn’t know, we’ve never played in that division
24 Jan 2014 16:36
CELTIC captain Scott Brown and manager Neil Lennon are giving short shrift to Rangers’ star Lee McCulloch’s claims that there is not much difference between the Scottish top flight and League 1.
Celtic captain Scott Brown and manager Neil Lennon have dismissed Lee McCulloch’s claims
Sammy Turner/SNS Group
NEIL LENNON and his captain Scott Brown have dismissed Rangers captain Lee McCulloch’s claim that the gap between the Scottish Premiership and League One is marginal.
The Ibrox club are runaway leaders of the third tier of Scottish football with 61 points out of a possible 63 so far.
However, Ally McCoist’s men have come in for occasional criticism for some of their performances which led to the former Scotland player saying: “Having played in the SPL myself before, I don’t think there’s that much of a gap between the top flight and League One.”
Ahead of Celtic’s trip to Hibernian in the Scottish Premiership on Sunday, where the visitors will try to extend their unbeaten league run to 22 games as they themselves stride away towards the title, the Hoops boss responded by saying:
“I can’t really draw a comparison between the two because I have never worked or played consistently at that level.
“But I would imagine the majority of the football people in the country would disagree with that point of view.
“Last season Queen of the South won that league (third tier) by a canter but haven’t made great inroads into the Championship this season so that would tell you that there is a gulf between League One and the Championship.
“It is the same with Partick Thistle, who won the league (second tier) last year quite well.
“I wouldn’t say they have struggled – but they have found it pretty difficult at times with the quality of the teams in the Scottish Premiership.”
Asked if he would like to put McCulloch’s theory to the test with a Scottish Cup meeting with Rangers this season, the former Celtic captain said: “I am not interested at all. If we get a First Division club then so be it.
“My agenda is to win as many games as I can in the league and try to go unbeaten and defend our cup. But whoever we draw is not really high in my priority list at the minute.”
Then asked why he believed McCulloch felt compelled to make the controversial comparison, the Northern Irishman said: “I don’t know the context of the comment and what the meaning was behind it.
“He has played in both those divisions so maybe there is some validity in what is saying but I would doubt it very much.”
Celtic skipper Scott Brown was unimpressed by McCulloch’s comment, saying: “That’s up to him. I don’t know, I haven’t played in that league.
“If you come along and watch the game or watch them on telly, you will see there is a big difference.”
The Hoops midfielder admitted he would like to be drawn against their traditional rivals in the Scottish Cup.
“Yes, it would be nice to play Rangers,” he said. “It has been a good few seasons but we will have to see what happens.”
Lennon admitted he was no further forward in trying to persuade Georgios Samaras and Joe Ledley – both out of contract at the end of the season – to sign new deals.
He also batted back a number of names including Wolves forward Leigh Griffiths, Peterborough’s Lee Tomlin, Israeli striker Omer Damari and Middlesbrough defender Rhys Williams whom the Parkhead have been linked with as “speculation”.
The Hoops boss explained: “We have hit the buffers on a couple but are still working away trying to get players tied up before next week.”
Lennon revealed that striker Bahrudin Atajic and defender Stuart Findlay have joined Shrewsbury and Morton, respectively, on loan for the rest of the season.
masty is neil lennon and both of us are supporting wee oscar
Blarney’s were top notch. Saw them in McNee’s a few times.
LB