Like you, I was delighted at Ajax performance and 1-4 win in the Bernabeu last night. It was a victory for clubs in small nations everywhere, who have been disenfranchised by leagues with more valuable television contracts. This was not a backs against the wall performance, like our win over Barcelona in 2012, Ajax attacked relentlessly, they could have scored more.
When Dutch fans left the Johan Cruyff Arena last month, having watched Real Madrid secure a 1-2 victory, they must have assumed their European adventure was over for this season, but they would have consoled themselves with the knowledge that at least they did better than last season. Then, they were beaten home and away in the Europa League qualifiers by Rosenborg, just two weeks after Celtic dumped Rosenborg out of the Champions League qualifiers.
A glass ceiling exists for clubs from the smaller leagues, and when Brendan Rodgers left the building last week, the point was made to me that perhaps group stage fodder in the Champions League is the new limit for a club with Celtic’s resources.
What Ajax have established is that it is very difficult for clubs like them and Celtic to perform consistently well in Europe. Good players will leave quickly, replacing with players of a similar standard is haphazard, but while an occasional defeat to the likes of Rosenborg (or AEK) will happen, the ceiling is significantly higher than one win and five defeats in the Champions League group stage. We should not be cannon fodder.
All efforts at Celtic right now are focussed on winning the league and Scottish Cup, but by the summer, the club will have set their ambitions for the medium-term. By any reasonable measure, Brendan was a roaring success, but for the money (football budget, not just his wage), we could do much better in the Champions League. Ajax will force us to ask some harder questions. Winning 10-in-a-row will be an historic high, but it is not the only yardstick in town.
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Noooooooo! Please say this isn’t true ?
New Leicester boss Brendan Rodgers is keen on raiding his former club Celtic and bringing a key figure south of the border, a report claims.
The 46-year-old joined Leicester on a three-and-a-half year deal last week after walking out of Parkhead to embark on something special.
A banner was unveiled during Celtic’s 2-1 win at Hearts in midweek calling Rodgers a fraud while a video shared online showed supporters chanting abuse at their former manager in a pub.
At his Leicester press conference on Friday the Daily Record report that “a look of horrified incredulity washes across the face of Brendan Rodgers when he’s told that his decision to bail out on Celtic has been received by the club’s supporters as the biggest single act of betrayal since Maurice Johnston crossed the great divide to sign for Rangers more than 30 years ago.”
Now, Rodgers is looking to inflict more pain on the Hoops as he targets the club’s head of recruitment Lee Congerton for a summer reunion.
Congerton would replace Eduardo Macia, who looks set to move to Bordeaux with his contract with the Foxes running out this summer.
News that Shinnie might be signing for The Rangers is not really surprising. It’s probably as good an offer as he’ll get ( financially ), at this stage of his career. Personally, it won’t cause me to lose any sleep. An average player, who wouldn’t get near our first team, and would struggle to make the seconds, given our strength in midifeld.
It will cause a lot of angst in the Sheep though. Ryan Jack was nowhere near as popular with the fans as Shinnie is, and he was subjected to a tirade of abuse from some of them in a local bar on a return visit to the city recentlry. Shinnie can expect the same. Dons fans don’t like being ‘betrayed’ any more than we do.
If Shinnie thinks that going to play for them is a good move, he’s going to have a tough few months until the end of the season, if it’s confirmed.
Still, he’s perfectly suited to the Huns, and he’s already used to being second best….
Good morning CQN from a cold ⛄️ and wet Garngad
Who gives a flying feck if Shinnie signs for Sevco?
A bang average player who we have played against numerous times, and you would not even know he was on the park.
It was good to see and hear big Ajer say Lenny has been getting to know the players as a group and individuals.
Bring on the sheep.?
Hail Hail
D. :)
Good morning, friends from a drizzly, grey East Kilbride.
Back to work for me this morning after my almost 2 week break, but always grateful that I do have a job to go to. And, of course, I need to earn the pennies for my nest wee break in the sun – Benalmadena in 9 weeks time!
I’ll be missing the 4th game after the split but confident that the league will have been won by then.
confidentplanningCSC
Re Shinnie to sevco
Funnily enough I thought he wasn.t really trying too hard against them on Sunday .Will be interesting to see his work rate and performance in the replay .
HH
Derry girls full blackboard
morning bhoys from a drizzly Cheshire, bring on the sheep.hh.
Bognorbhoy
Love that blackboard
Protestants hate Abba
Prods put their toaster in the cupboard
Protestants love brooches (that one was for Arlene, I think)
Protestants think nuns having boys names is just wierd
Good Morning… Same as it ever was, in the Chilterns this morning.
Good debate and some interesting dialogue on the Ajax win and their football model.
For me financial stability in any organisation is fundamental to allowing that organisation to function. A football club is no different, actually with the vagaries they have to deal with possibly more important than most.
However a football club, if it wants to achieve sporting excellence, cannot be run as a business.
This is especially true under the fiscal model that Celtic PLC run.
Firstly the risk averse model… hardly conducive to the “who dares wins” ethic so important in sport.
Secondly the micro-management of the football budget. Obviously when transfers can be anything between 1% and 10% of your turnover these sums must be signed off at Board level but only in terms of cash flow and due diligence.
We seem to be in a position at Celtic where the football departments approach and judgement is questioned at each turn. Alternatives are seeked out in terms of cheaper options and more cost effective deals. Then the asset management of players are controlled by the Board.
Players are bought in outwith the football department due to fiscal reasons (rather than team necessity) and players sold when the Board deem it right for fiscal reasons (ignoring team impact).
There is not a single successful Club in Europe (by success I mean punching above their weight) who run a business where the football Club is secondary.
For Celtic the last 39 months have proven beyond any shadow of a doubt that football success adds more to turnover, profit and overall value than any business driven model.
Good business does not correlate to good football.
Yet we know good football correlates to good business.
Hail Hail
PSG 1-3 Manure, added-time VAR penalty?
So Mephistophelian pacts can be transferred from one manager to another!
Wow.
A potential midfield axis of Shinnie, Jack and Kamara?
Any room left under the covers for me?
Am quaking in my boots (along with the rest of world football)
Chairbhoy
“We seem to be in a position at Celtic where the football departments approach and judgement is questioned at each turn. Alternatives are seeked out in terms of cheaper options and more cost effective deals. Then the asset management of players are controlled by the Board.
Players are bought in outwith the football department due to fiscal reasons (rather than team necessity) and players sold when the Board deem it right for fiscal reasons (ignoring team impact).”
Don’t Ajax, Salzburg and Basel do all of the above too?
Aff oot- will catch replies later.
This:
” ERNIE LYNCH on 6TH MARCH 2019 10:05 PM
Solskjær isnt very tall for a Norwegian.”
plus the Blackboard have added sunshine to a rather dreich Arbroath.
ABBA and Toaster were paricularly smile raising for me.
JJ
S.F.T.B.
Another classic from the show, “I said I hate athletes”
Mind you the wife keeps our toaster in the cupboard
She is English and thinks there is a place in Scotland called. Burntis land?
An Tearmann
TJN concludes: “We recommend the establishment of a fully independent inquiry, as a crucial step to begin the slow process of re-establishing the legitimacy of Scottish football’s regulatory body”.
*****
Comforting to know that at least some are determined that we don’t just all “move on” from the biggest scandal in the history of British sport.
SATURDAY 7TH MARCH 1981
I received a most welcome note tonight from Bernie, my sister. old Bernie. I love her and think she’s the greatest.
I am now convinced that the authorities intend to implement strict isolation soon, as I am having trouble in seeing my solicitor. I hope I’m wrong about the isolation, but we’ll see.
It’s only that I’d like to remain with the boys for as long as possible for many reasons. If I’m isolated, I will simply conquer it.
A priest was in today, somewhat pleasant, and told me about Brendan O Cathaoir’s article in The Irish Times during the week, which I saw. We had a bit of discussion on certain points, which, of course, were to him contentious. He was cordial in his own practised way, purely tactical, of course, and at the same time he was most likely boiling over inside, thinking of the reference to this week’s AP/RN (February 28th issue) calling him a collaborating middle-class nationalist, or appropriate words to that effect.
He is too, says I, and I sympathise with those unfortunate sons of God who find themselves battling against the poverty, disease, corruption, death and inhumanities of the missions…
I am 61 kgs today, going down. I’m not troubled by hunger pangs, nor paranoiac about anything pertaining to food, but, by God, the food has improved here. I thought I noticed that during the last hunger-strike. Well, there is a lot at stake here.
I got the Irish News today, but there’s nothing in it, that’s why I got it.
I’m looking forward to seeing the comrades at Mass tomorrow, all the younger looking faces, minus the beards, moustaches, long rambling untamed hair matted in thick clumps.
One thing is sure, that awful stage, of the piercing or glazed eyes, the tell-tale sign of the rigours of torture, won’t be gone – if it is ever removed. I wonder is it even conceivable that it could be erased from the mind?
We got a new comrade during the week. Isn’t it inspiring the comrades who keep joining us? I read what Jennifer said in court. (On being sentenced, Jennifer McCann said: ‘I am a Republican prisoner of war and at the moment my comrade Bobby Sands is on hunger-strike to defend my rights as a political prisoner.’) I was touched and proud, she is my comrade.
I’ve been thinking of Mary Doyle and Ellen McGuigan and all the rest of the girls in Armagh. How can I forget them?
The Screws are staring at me perplexed. Many of them hope (if their eyes tell the truth) that I will die. If need be, I’ll oblige them, but my God they are fools. Oscar Wilde did not do justice to them for I believe they are lower than even he thought. And I may add there is only one thing lower than a Screw and that is a Governor. And in my experience the higher one goes up that disgusting ladder they call rank, or position, the lower one gets…
It’s raining. I’m not cold, my spirits are well, and I’m still getting some smokes — decadence, well sort of, but who’s perfect. Bad for your health. Mar dheas anois, Oíche Mhaith.
That derry Girls thing is class……..:)
Help an oul’ fart here…………when one clicks on the twitter link, is there a way of enlarging the image? I can’t make the words out properly – reading glasses as well!
;)
Bankiebhoy1
Some bits clearer, but not all visible.
Do they still eat frogs, two for tuppence ha’penny?b
https://www.buzz.ie/movies-tv/derry-girls-blackboard-scene-319501
Holidays.
Catholics go to bundornan. Protestant go to Newcastle.
Beatbhoy – mucho gracias……
St Stivs…………:)))))))))))
” Protestants like Soup”
:)))))
SFtBs @ 8:51 AM,
Well I’m not sure of the ins & outs of those Clubs suffice to say we’ve discussed the Ajax model and you have detailed in the past RB Saltzburg’s recruitment model.
Yet they all have successful and repeatable recruitment and squad management models that work.
Now let’s take John McGinn, not to stir the pot but because most are au fait with this and many can sympathise with the Boards position.
Now the football department wanted John McGinn in and as soon as possible, it seems that the Board had a number of issues… of course we don’t know all the ins & outs but they would be…
The price Hibs wanted
The fact we had several players already in that position, some recently bought and and never utilised
The fact that we may have procured his services cheaper at the end of the summer’s transfer window, got a bargain the next January or got him on a Pre-contract the following summer.
Ok, so fair enough and these concerns should rightly be raised with the Head of Football, manager but at the end of the day, if the HofF is insistent that that player is needed asap… he should be responsible for his budget and his decision… if it goes wrong it should be his head on the block.
It shouldn’t be up to suits to feel they know football recruitment better than their manager and decide not to back him. You either back him or sack him…
Now I know there are some Clubs who buy players give them to the head coach and say… there you go, that’s you centre forward, make him great!!
Yet those Clubs have committees or Directors of sport or both that make those decisions… it is not as hoc…
BEATBHOY @ 8:57 AM – AN TEARMANN…
TJN concludes: “We recommend the establishment of a fully independent inquiry, as a crucial step to begin the slow process of re-establishing the legitimacy of Scottish football’s regulatory body”.
Isn’t this an old report? When did it come out?
Hail Hail
In ither news……………
The Kat In The Hat is being primed to do his bit for the kause by selecting every Celtic player he can and making it a BIG DEAL that all players are available, supported of course by the Strong Rainjurz Appreciation Society…….and even tho’ the huns are famous for their patented Withdrawal Method, pre internationals.
Aye.
South of Tunis
Hope you got home safe and sound fae Valencia. Gie’s some Jamaican classic tune please. Missing my lunchtime tunes fae SOT ??
Bankie
My proddy mate’s maw kept her toaster in a cupboard. My mammy said,”If I could afford a feckin toaster, I would have it out on display in my kitchen.” ?
DELANEYS DUNKY
I remember my Mammy used to light the toaster in the morning , then at toast time we would hold the bread over the toaster on a big fork .
Then later on we got a cooker with a grill….;-))
DELANEYS DUNKY
Yes -back home safely but far from sound .Old git snowflake me was mightily miffed by some of the behaviour on display .. It really bugged me ! Add the presence of heavily armed police and I found myself thinking I truly can’t be arsed with this. Could be my last .
Choons –
Soul Brothers –
https://youtu.be/BlsqbsWGD4o
Hopeton Lewis –
https://youtu.be/26aUmDvDROE
Niney –
https://youtu.be/TlMMWX2lDIU
Sylford Walker –
https://youtu.be/jwybxj0Dnzc
GlenDaly
Remember holding Mothers Pride bread on forks in front of our coal fire in Partick.
Thanks
Forgot about that till you said that. ??
Chairbhoy @ 10:11
Didn’t notice a date on AT’s original post, I’ll check it out. I knew the conclusion I quoted wasn’t new, but thought the issue was perhaps being revisited, highlighting the lack of any action. From anyone.
The Dutch nation is the tallest in the world.
The average player coming through there academy is considerably bigger that what any Scottish club produces.
Bigger ,stronger,faster .
Just look at VVD ,JVH,PVH.
WE ARE NOT COMPARING APPLES WITH APPLES.
We may have similar sized populations,but that’s where it ends physically.
TT
Salutations. Not been on here for many (many’s) a moon. Anyway, living in Paris these days (PSG = Paris Sans Gagner) and just thought I’d chip in on the whole state of youth fitba discussion.
My wee fellah (10 yrs) has been with a local PSG feeder club these past four years. The level and intensity of he coaching is like nothing I’ve seen. All about ball control, passing and movement (he’s a keeper, 80% of his training is with ball at feet). They are actively discouraged to play “hoofball” and it’s not uncommon to watch them play the ball RB – keeper – LB back and fore until a break appears (geez me the Heeby Jeeby’s). But if you watch Scott Bain, you’ll see that (apart from daft high hoofs to the touchline) regularly try and do.
They play (8-a-side) matches every week, but only “compete” in cups and tournaments (off to Barcelona this Jul). He’s played a few times back in Scotland and thoroughly dislikes it. Thinks it’s (his words) “not very skilful”.
ARRGH – that should have read ……. they are actively discouraged NOT to play “hoofball” …..
Neep !!!
Xavi, Iniesta, David Silva, Agüero, Hazard. . .smaller, faster of thought, more skillful.
Messi, an Alien.
Mmmm-
PSG -Manchester United .
” Strange team PSG – how on earth did they manage to lose that ?. Interesting penalty decision too.All that money and repeatedly victims of interesting decisions in European competition . It’s tempting to think that UEFA really doesn’t like them . . Hopefully Buffon will retire now , hopefully Verratti will move to a team that doesn’t have the habit of collapsing under the weight of expectation ”
Fitba pundit -Sicilian Radio 7 3 19.
Rioskorrie
Naw, you were right the first time, “discouraged from playing” best option.
Doublenegativecsc
SoT
Said it earlier, PSG had no chance once Swalex transferred his pact with the devil to OGS.
I mean, what other explanation is there for the 2 CL finals he won?
SoT
Thanks for that lunchtime sounds.
My son was in Valencia.
Said there were many coked up zoomers in Celtic colours annoying folk. Cops were a disgrace he said though.
YNWA
DELANEYS DUNKY .
For what it’s worth -woman I rented an apartment from told me that the Cops were Cuerpo Nacional de Policia ( “a law unto themselves – I’d stay well clear of them “) acting on behalf of the city of Valencia . She added that somebody somewhere made decisions about the policing of European football games and in recent times that had meant that Celtic and Manchester Utd got the CNP while Juventus merited bog standard polis .Woman added that she thought it related to perceived patterns of alcohol consumption
Chairbhoy 10.11
Yout correct.6th may 2016,i missed it 1st time round and picked it up off internet..keep up the blogging :-)
HH