There has always been a business case for someone to transform Aberdeen into a bigger club. The town is a prosperous city, with a substantial corporate entertainment budget. Aberdeen is a long way from the supporter magnet of Glasgow. Dundee is 25% smaller and splits support between two clubs.
The takeover of the club, announced yesterday, will see Stuart Milne depart the scene after a 22-year reign which saw one trophy and one bottom of the league finish (they avoided relegation due to reconstruction). Milne leaves the club in better shape than he found it, but his tenure shows a trophy count no better than eight other clubs during that period, and worse than four.
New chairman, Dave Cormack, will invest around £5m straight away, £2m of which comes from AMB Sports & Entertainment, a US company which owns MLS club Atlanta United. Atlanta’s president, Darren Eales, will become a director of Aberdeen. Details of a “strategic partnership” between Atlanta and Aberdeen will be announced today.
If you go into partnership, pick your partner well, and Aberdeen had picked spectacularly well. AMB owner, Arthur M Blank, co-founded The Home Depot and as well as Atlanta United, AMB own NFL side, Atlanta Falcons. They also operate the most spectacular stadium in the world, the Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
My expectation is that Aberdeen will learn simply by being in the same room as the people who recently took the sports spectator experience to a new level. AMB are not in Aberdeen for the weather, their objective will be to win in Scotland and compete in European group stages.
We might just get that rarest of treats, a sustainable and genuine domestic challenge. This could be the most significant strategic development in Scottish football for years. And if anyone suggests we move an Aberdeen-Celtic league game to the Mercedes-Benz Stadium, bite their hand off. I’ve wanted to go since I first saw the design plans.
I see lots of people having a go at Sam Allardyce for saying “We can all go to Celtic and win trophies.” The last man to break this rule, John Barnes, left Scotland 19 years and 9 months ago, so let’s not quibble with Sam.
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Hello again all you young rebels.
Thats me back and relatively sober from another great coupla days
in Mornington.
Big shout out to Ciaran and his lovely wife Marie who came from
Golspie St in Govan who gave us a visit in the Dubliner.
Loved your Treble Treble shirt Ciaran, thats on my Christmas wish
list now.
I know you lurk on here so details of our festive BBQ will be posted
soon.
H.H . Mick
John Kennedy.
What a run outside at Firhill (och no). If only we had that Genius Bottled. Big Kristoffer Wow playing left side. Wow Glasgow Celtic.
Moonshine Celtic.
John cheers Big ears.
Always Remember that Noone knows anything. Especially now.
MM,
Ryan, again wiz Magical.
I’m hoping big Tam retires frae the Oz team.
I dinnae like thinking negatives..
If he disnaw he might as well go to a mid table bpl team.
PETEC
I understand why you’d want him to stop the long hike and risk
of injury but on the other hand it’s the only time Celtic get mentioned
on Oz t.v, as the epl have it all sown up now.
And i just luv it when him or young Arzani are are quoted as playing
for the Scottish giants CELTIC. 8-))
Hong Kong stock exchange opens up 51/2 points up. Unsure if it’s the Alibaba 1st day listing or the 40 thieves involved at Ibrox
Big Kris.
Wow.
Perfection is 7.
I’ll happily take 7 years of Speciak K.
It will be hard to keep this Mega player.. Roy the Bear.
Petec, this Saturday is the Feast of St. Andrew. Sunday is the first Sunday of Advent.
FESS19
Luv it lol.
H.H . Mick
MM,
God Bleas ye!
God Bless!!
PETEC
A bleas or a bless from god, i’ll take it.
H.H . Mick
Really like the fact big Kris and Julien are working hard at training on their
partnership, makes it very difficult for the likes of big Jozo to get back in the
squad, don’t even know if he’s fit yet, embdy know?
H.H . Mick
Ryan Kent is the Dangerman.
Neil is a lot mair than a tactician.
Tbf the Newco urnae prepared for Full Glare Celtic
PETEC
They’d be better with Clarke Kent as superman 8-))
H.H . Mick
Bitton is the only Cover MM.
That says a lot against Livi.
Have you heard about a Big strong man….
The Oz Celts Magical.
Big strong man?
I give you Neil Frances Lennon.
H.H . Mick
Nice talking PETE need to go down to our soccer club now
and get balls, cones, goals, bibs etc. sorted for all our young
wannabees, but my payment will be seeing our hoopy’s
standing out from the crowd, as only an iconic Celtic strip can.
COYBIG.
H.H . Mick
Jiimthetim53
Petec, this Saturday is the Feast of St. Andrew. Sunday is the first Sunday of Advent
Roll on advent him and the season of the king.
I hope you have plenty of hymns to post over the festive
Look forward to it.
HH
:-)
Roll on advent jim:-)
HH
Good morning CQN from a dry at the moment Garngad
GB should not be using pyro’s/smoke bombs, end of.
As for the illicit banner and chants feck them. UEFA corrupt, SFA corrupt and now it looks like our board are corrupt after allowing years of cheating to go by without calling it out and fighting for our rights.
Hail Hail
D. :)
Good orning, friends, from a still dark, still damp but mild and cycle-able East Kilbride. One of my pesky work days….
Good Morning All.
Big JImmy, I hope your health improves and that you get sorted with some domestic help.
So, this partial stadium closure thing.
Hmmm interesting.
For most of us, following Celtic (or any other team) is a pastime, a hobby, a form of relaxation.
I have always enjoyed going to games with friends and for me it is a means to socialise and follow my team.
Others are much more political about it and see it as a way of expressing their social angst, their political views and possibly even their philosophical or traditional background.
It is the same the world over with football for good or bad and UEFA know that wherever there are football clubs there will be a section of the support who will loft banners, sing songs about current and historical issues, and even publicly display acts of defiance for political purposes.
Think of the Basque clubs in Spain, at least one of which, would only play Basque players. They knew they were unlikely to win the league against Barcelona and Madrid but to be frank that was never their purpose in the modern game at least. Their purpose was to be as successful a Basque team as they could be — end of!
I both agree and disagree with Canamalar in that the decision to partially close the ground and offer refunds to the section affected is a likely squirrel and being done for a purpose.
I think Celtic perhaps need to be seen to make a point and take some action re a section which is responsible for pyros, banners and chants or whatever which lead to repeated fines, but to be frank, as someone else has pointed out, the list of clubs repeatedly or regularly fined by UEFA for similar offences is a long one.
UEFA themselves have to have a rule which says that there should be no political stuff etc etc in an attempt to try and stop football really going to the extremes, but in the main they are not too fussed when the standard rule is broken in the standard way.
Besides, the fines are a nice little earner and helps to boost the Nyon bank account.
So Celtic are doing no more than going through the motions here as one would expect.
The green brigade will cry foul as one would expect.
They will no doubt protest about the issue – as one would expect, and point out that coming just a few days after a food bank collection the Celtic board are rotten to the core, full of hypocrisy, and a shower of old Tories in suits etc etc —- as one would expect.
But everyone will turn up at Hampden with the intention of organising a monumental TIFO — as one would expect.
Football is like that and there comes a time when being radical or different or taking extreme measures, be it board or green brigade, actually means doing exactly what is to be expected.
Canamalar is correct in that Celtic has created some controversy immediately before the AGM and they have done so quite deliberately. It will have been done with the intention of creating angst, directing the flow of that angst and indeed attracting some publicity which distracts away from other more difficult issues.
But I doubt that is Res 12.
Good Morning All.
Big JImmy, I hope your health improves and that you get sorted with some domestic help.
So, this partial stadium closure thing.
Hmmm interesting.
For most of us, following Celtic (or any other team) is a pastime, a hobby, a form of relaxation.
I have always enjoyed going to games with friends and for me it is a means to socialise and follow my team.
Others are much more political about it and see it as a way of expressing their social angst, their political views and possibly even their philosophical or traditional background.
It is the same the world over with football for good or bad, and UEFA know that wherever there are football clubs there will be a section of the support who will loft banners, sing songs about current and historical issues, and even publicly display acts of defiance for political purposes.
Think of the Basque clubs in Spain, at least one of which, would only play Basque players. They knew they were unlikely to win the league against Barcelona and Madrid but to be frank that was never their purpose in the modern game at least. Their purpose was to be as successful a Basque team as they could be — end of!
I both agree and disagree with Canamalar in that the decision to partially close the ground and offer refunds to the section affected is a likely squirrel and being done for a purpose.
I think Celtic perhaps need to be seen to make a point and take some action re a section which is responsible for pyros, banners and chants or whatever which lead to repeated fines, but to be frank, as someone else has pointed out, the list of clubs repeatedly or regularly fined by UEFA for similar offences is a long one.
UEFA themselves have to have a rule which says that there should be no political stuff etc etc in an attempt to try and stop football really going to the extremes, but in the main they are not too fussed when the standard rule is broken in the standard way.
Besides, the fines are a nice little earner and helps to boost the Nyon bank account.
So Celtic are doing no more than going through the motions here as one would expect.
The green brigade will cry foul as one would expect.
They will no doubt protest about the issue – as one would expect, and point out that coming just a few days after a food bank collection the Celtic board are rotten to the core, full of hypocrisy, and a shower of old Tories in suits etc etc —- as one would expect.
But everyone will turn up at Hampden with the intention of organising a monumental TIFO — as one would expect.
Football is like that and there comes a time when being radical or different or taking extreme measures, be it board or green brigade, actually means doing exactly what is to be expected.
Canamalar is correct in that Celtic has created some controversy immediately before the AGM and they have done so quite deliberately. It will have been done with the intention of creating angst, directing the flow of that angst and indeed attracting some publicity which distracts away from other more difficult issues.
But I doubt that is Res 12.
The Agenda for the AGM has nothing controversial in it and even Resolution 12 is not that controversial and both Celtic and we know that whether the resolution is passed or rejected (it will be rejected) does not mean the end of the matter as it is merely the stepping stone to the next phase which the SFA more than Celtic can meet head on and deal with or they can keep digging themselves into a bigger whole than the trench they have already created.
Even if the SFA meet it head on then it doesn’t end there.
No matter where the SFA go with the Res 12 issue they are in a maze where every and any door they chose is now the wrong one.
The correct door was six years back and has long since slammed shut ……. and locked!
Even the Celtic board know that.
No, the stadium closure has nothing to do with that in my opinion.
So, no controversial agenda, sitting top of the league having won every domestic trophy for 3 years, with strong business accounts, some terrific young players, an apparent recruitment plan for the winter window, European football after Christmas — what is there to be concerned about?
Why create a rod for your own back with a partial stadium closure now right before the AGM when all the press will be present to hang on every word.
My guess?
When it comes to the open mic part of the AGM someone will get to the mic and kick up merry hell about the UEFA fines, the nature of that rule, the stadium closure, the green brigade, the arbitrary nature of the seat closure and so on.
Celtic will facilitate that and expect it. They will even welcome it.
That way another issue is crowded out at least partially if not altogether.
But that issue is not Res 12.
There will be other issues which some will want to raise at the AGM. My prediction is that they will be organised, vociferous and most of all determined – and the Celtic board know that and anticipate it.
They will not want a public discussion about the issue concerned and so they have created an alternative issue and an alternative discussion.
That is the way corporate PR works.
Res 12 ain’t the issue – at least not this week.
I won’t comment on what is because if I am right it will become obvious.
If I am wrong I will expect to see page after page saying no more than BRTH you are an arse!
Either way that last part is true of course.
BRTH
OK now I don’t know how I did that!
Planning on attending tomorrows AGM so thanks, BRTH, for raising my curiosity levels!
Another day off work today for me it is then.kids ill [again].
Have to laugh when i see these feminist justice warriers on tv talking about how bad ‘woman’ still have it.
In my case we have 50/50 shared parenting with our three girls.now 10,10 and 16.
Been this way since family court procedings finished in 2015.
However that is where the 50 /50 split ends.
My ex wife recieves all the child benefits,tax credits ,housing benefit and council tax benefit.
On top of that I have to pay her CSA support payments .
I have my wage from being a self employed taxi driver only NOTHING else.
When my kids are ill i cant work in the half of the week i have them.
I have to supply all school uniform and school dinner money for the three days i put them in school.
And all i hear is how bad woman and single mothers have it!!
Sometimes and on days like this it makes me want to scream!!!
EQUALITY?….i DONT THINK SO
LAZYDYNAMITE
I have no words to cheer you up but I do hope the wee one gets better soon!
Take care!
Thanks philbhoy.
Sorry for the rant but i don’t do social media and this was my only platform..hehe
Life is often very good for me and i know many fathers have a rougher deal than me out there.
It is so bloody difficult sometimes.
Everything seems to be put in place for mothers yet nothing for fathers.
I had a choice to make 5 years ago when our marriage ended.Keep my full time decent pay job and only see my kids on a sunday or take a job that suited the family court judge enough on my flexibilty to give me shared parenting.
I chose the latter…I have no regrets.
My girls are everything to me.
I had no idea however just how biased and cruel the system is to fathers in my position.
My ex wife lives the life of luxury.
She already rinsed me for everything when she ran off with her boss.
But hey i will shut up now and get back to football and celtic…who always make me feel better!
LAZYDYNAMITE
You come across as a great Dad and a fine man!
Take care and God bless!
GREEN BRIGADE cost CELTIC a good few thousand pounds .result .CLOSE PART OF SECTION WHERE THEY STAND.
HUNS and SFA cheat CELTIC out of millions .result. ZILCH.
ps ps.i think CELTIC are quite right to try and get the fireworks stopped.
Lazydynamite -Stay strong fella.
Hail Hail
D. :)
Good Morning CQN from a brighter than of late Central Highlands. There is still some cloud cover, but a fair amount of blue sky too. The mercury tells me it’s 7c.
BRTH – Oh do tell. I’m a cat, curiosity kills me.
LAZYDYNAMITE – I have two daughters, and I had to give up work altogether for a few years to look after them when their mum took off. That was nearly twenty years ago now, and I have never, ever regretted it, and I never will. Good luck to you.
🍀⚽️
Fix Fitba: Empty Hampden………………
in ither news……….
Big Sam – if it looks like a hun, talks like a hun………..
HHH.
Didn’t Chick Young always say there was big news coming out of ibrox.. but he would never say what it was! if there was anything he would then say that was the news he had…..
Surely celtic should punish the actual culprits in the section and not everyone…..or will they be happy if ref sends of 2 or 3 players for another player’s foul?
and should the whole board get sacked for all the cover-ups and conniving with the Ibrox teams? Not just PL and DD. There are more criminal acts that have been let go by our board. So I hope there is not much comment on GB tomorrow. Will they run out of time to discuss res12?
I hope someone asks for PL to not take a bonus since his lack of planning cost us a CL berth yet again. Or will he demand a slice of KTs money?