We’ve often talked about the only real danger to a football club: internecine strife:
Internecine, def: pertaining to conflict within a group, mutually destructive.
In football, your enemies can’t inflict permanent harm, that can only come from within. This morning’s media cover threats from Sevconians to boycott (clearly in homage to Irish tradition) club/company products. More power to their elbows, they should boycott every piece of tat Newco’s disparate IP rights holders churn out, apart from the occasional novelty duck.
Here’s the thing, before you turn the tanks inwards, you’d better be sure you’ve got the ‘What happens next?’ question sorted. If you don’t, you’re playing a real life version of Lemmings.
Threatening Mike Ashley? Aye sure, that’ll work, knock yourself out. I’m sure Ashley’s known as a big pussy, he hasn’t got the money to face down the malcontents, either. I bet he’s already writing his capitulation letter, “Dear Sevconians, by noticing that I can’t handle conflict you’ve outsmarted me. The game’s up.”
What was it Charles Green told John Brown he would do to Ibrox? Hmmm.
Blame the SFA, SPL, BBC, Celtic, Her Majesty’s lawyers, the Daily Record and Raith Rovers but you need to be on the inside to wreak havoc like this.
Interesting front opened by the English Premier League today on the copycat use of pyrotechnics at football games. “Someone could get killed”, said policing minister Damian Green. You’re 20 years out of date, Mr Green.
Here’s the problem: it’s possible to discharge one of these devices in a crowded area without accepting the safety/reputational/fine consequences. Enormously invasive searches of unconnected people would be required to prevent pyros being taken into a stadium which is just not possible, eradication requires everyone to decide not to participate.
The only practical method I can see of stopping the use of pyrotechnics in Scottish football is to give Sports Direct exclusive distribution rights. Who’d buy them then?
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Parkheadcumsalford who is supporting the Amsterdam 5
08:28 on
4 December, 2013
Morning all. Lightening gradually down here, Cold, wet and wild.
Are the liquidated ones still in denial? I think I shall refer to them as such from now on. Much more pointed than the ole deid team.
LIQIDATION ROVERS or LIQ.UNITED or L accademicals ???
DBBIA @ 08:49,
“Today I look forward to finally laying to rest the whereabouts of the ole Seville money, and when we’re goin’ to sign a decent left back.”
Well as far as the ole Seville money goes….
We bought Stephen Pearson.
Stephen was a nice guy and we could have got him on a free, yet to ensure skint Motherwell got some money for him, he signed an extended contract.
He kinda did the civil thing (alla Stan), but you do get the feeling that it would have saved alot of bother if we could have kept that money in the bank earning interest.
Hail Hail
ACGofRust- could be arranged, we might even drag Malor Bhoy along.
If you are in Dumfries and wanting to watch a game then the Spread Eagle is home to the Dumfries CSC.
Parkheadcumsalford -since we signed Emilio the ole ‘left back conundrum’ has regenerated itself as the ‘centre forward conundrum’.
We are living through a Generation of Conumdrumation.
Morning all.
Enjoyed all the Naka clips last night.
He may well be 35, but he still has it and looks as fit as a flea.
The J-League finishes this week-end I believe – could we get him on loan until the end of the season?!
HH!!
Awe_Naw_No_Annoni_Oan_Anaw_Noo
Previous CEO’s
Terry Cassidy: 1990-1992
Fergus McCann: 1994 – 1999
Allan McDonald: 1999 – 2000
Ian McLeod: 2001 – 2003
Peter Lawwell: 2003 – Present
With the exception of Fergus McCann I would say that Peter Lawwell has ben a huge success in the role.
Sometimes we have to take the blinkers off because it’s easy to look at the role and say ‘Gie the manager some money’
That is just a small part of the CEO of a PLC. Celtic are a business these days. If you would prefer to go back to the days of our custodians then that is fine Terry Cassidy or a similar chap well out of his depth would be the man for the role.
Cassidy was a complete disaster. The situation at the time though didn;t help and I don;t think anyone could have done any better.
Fergus has been covered in depth many times and for me although making a number of mistakes was an unrivalled success.
Allan McDonald was Fergus’s last mistake. He was a disaster from the start. He punted Venglos and employed his golf buddy Kenny Dalglish into a highly paid role playing manager to our new coach John Barnes. John may have turned out to be a very decent manager but for the bad luck of Henrik breaking his leg but he signed two players that he saw only a couple of times on TV. One being the disaster that is Raphael Scheidt and the other being Stillian Petrov. Obviously Stan turned out to be a cracker but not under Barnes or Dalglish and was not it appeared man managed properly by the club and spent time with a man running a burger van due to being lonley in a new city and country. Thankfully these incidents have been put right and the club have learned from it. We scout our players in the proper manner and they are looked after by the club.Allan sanctioned the spend of crazy money and high wages to players and we had limited success on the field until the arrival of Martin O’Neill where he sanctioned the spend again to ensure we didn’t slip even further behind. On the pitch he didn;t appear to be a total disaster but off it we have learned again from the mistakes and will not allow the club to spend so unwisely again.
Ian McLeod had a short time in the hot seat and maybe set things in place tightening the belt but it would appear that it either just didn;t happen for him in the role or the board wannted Lawwell to take over. Such things happen in business.
Peter Lawwell, Peter was aluded for a few years as the sharp suited man for his ability to conclude deals in a solid and proffessional manner. This led to specualtion that Arsenal had identified him to take over the reigns at the Emirates. Unlike some of our players Peter decided not to depart Paradise. Whether that decision was made for him by Arsenal not wannting him or him refusing the role it showed that he was a man in demand for another top role in British football.
Peter has made mistakes of that there is no doubt. We all do from time to time. It’s the nature of life. He is a Celtic man and wants what is best for the football club. he has cut the debbt in a time when Scottish football is struggling. Over the last 10 years Celtic have cut their debts from around the £30m mark to almost nothing which is astonishing whilst producing results on the pitch. He has had to work with different managers and I don;t recall any of them not liking him or leaving the role and slating Mr Lawwell. That would say to me that he is both likeable and supportive of the managers at the club. Peter has also done some great work off the pitch. The Stadium and the surrounding area is virtually unrecogniseable. That takes cash and his time. That is the foundation for success. The supporters have better parking for both buses and cars. The walk to the ground is as pleasant as it has ever been. There is a bar for supporters within the ground. There is also a family area within the ground for kids with gaming machines. This is all pretty groundbreaking for a Scottish if not British football team. Season ticket holder got £100 off their ticket this season too. Unheard of in British football.
The football team is the part of the business we all want to see succeed but this can be done much better with the funds coming in from other areas. He has looked at other markets and it was probably he alone who brokered the deal in China with the other eejits in tow to hoover some glory by joining him on the trip. He has also been able to provide some top sponsorship for the club.
The club has a strategy of completing business. It may not be to everyones taste but it is the model that works with the paltry TV money we receive. We try to buy low and sell high. We have always been a selling club but now we sell players in the most case for their top value. Look at the sums recouped for the recent players who have left the club. This is good business. We are not allowing many contracts to expire and losing players on freebies and all players have a deal on the table to sign before leaving. The players chose to leave they are not forced to sign for someone else.
Of course there are always exceptions to the rule and football is a strange business where there are agents and all sorts of other chancers involved to deal with. I believe when Fergus held signing talks with David Ginola he turned up with 12 advisors and Fergus immediatley terminated the meeting. We haven’t always signed our targets and the top players we would like to see at the club BUT did they want to come? What they say in the press and what they say in a meeting with the manager and the money men is completely different.
Peter Lawell whether you like him or not is reaching the targets set to him by the board and is either achieving those goals or exceeeding them and is acruing a bonus for his efforts. That is how modern business works. You sit down with your manager or you boss at the start of the year and they tell you or negiotate with you what is achievable. That is what he has to aspire to each financial year. If you have issue on what peter Lawells targets are then you should be directing it at the board as a whole not the CEO carrying out what they have asked him to do.
I think from listening to Peter you can hear his passion for the club. He is a supporter and works tirelessly to get the best deal possible for the club at all times. He may have to make unpopular decisions at times and he has done this recently with the Green Brigade but he has outlined to them many times what is acceptable at Paradise. The club are being punished by UEFA and if we get a ban or a match behind closed doors for a CL match or qualifier he takes the flack anyway. He is in a no win on that one. He must protect the shareholders and the board.
Peter Lawwell is on the SPFL and the SFA board. We have a foot in both camps. Peter knows what he is doing. Celtic are not going into administration or going to be liquidated. Celtic are there for the long haul and on and off the pitch we are miles ahead of our competitiors and rivals in Scotland. Peter Lawwell has been a huge part of that. You need to appreciate what you have sometimes and look at the positive things he does. It’s easy to blame a defeat on the CEO or a bad run but he doesn’t pick the team or play in it.
There are times when he has frustrated me and I have rantd about him not spending money. It’s natural. We are football supporters. We run on emotions. The moment can sometimes run away from us and we have a rant. It happens on here a lot. That’s what the blog is for. It gives people a platform to air their views and I am airing mine. People are only in the last couple of years realising what Fergus done for the club with the liquidation of our rivals. Fergus saved the club and set the foundations in place. Sometimes you need to look at the long game and look at the positives and forget the spin and nonsense spouted by the MSM. They can turn people against their own. It happened with Fergus and it is working again. If I had a £1 for everytime in the last 20 years I have heard how great a football administrator Campbell Ogilvie is I would have had enough cash to save Rangers (not that I would have). Peter Lawwell get praise on any sports programmes? talk shows? phone ins? newspapers? I haven’t heard much praise if any. That tells me a lot about the job he is doing. If you don’t praise your own though nobody else will.
I know a few people will think I am a mate of his or something but I am not. I have never met the man but if I did I would show him the respect of a Celtic employee and shake his hand.
Apologies for the long post.
LB
make that 1 c in academica
ls but 2 c’s in accies
FU.
Catman, don’t choke on yer tea. Choke the zombie.
I can see two c’s in academica
and at least three a’s
DBBIA, here’s my card
acgr@hotmail.co.uk
This blog is a life saver at times. Shopping or beer? Shopping or beer, shopping or beer?…………………………..beer, beer beer, every time:_))
Hail Hail
ACADEMICALS.
Actually an update on the Seviile money,
Apparently the money was only invested in Stephen.
We realised £750,000 quid for him, which was put back in the Bank in 2007.
Despite the ~CRASH~ by July 2011 it was worth a whooping £950.000.
This was reinvested in a Victor Wanayama ….
It was realised a couple years later for a cooooool 12.5 Mill.
The money is back in the Seville accout earning interest…
PanicoverCSC
ACGR- duly noted; you may wish to delete that post in case it draws the attention of the ole hillbillies.
Looking like the January window madness beginning in the msm, in last couple of days we’ve been linked with
James Vaughan
Lee Tomlin
Aaron Taylor Sinclair
Gavin Gunning
nothing very inspiring yet!
livibhoy,
The post of this or any other week.
Disgruntlement comes as part of being a Celtic supporter to many.
Perhaps it is from a sense of, no matter who is doing a job, they can do it better.
I wish there were more gruntled fans like you!
DBBIA, nah no worries, that’s only my CQN addy. Any zombies, hillbillies, huns, died heids or the like who take the time to address me at this addy will receive my fullest attention:-)
I’ll post my rescue extraction date / time once I’ve fully infiltrated the Dumfries coven and understand their dastardly plan.
HH
Just back in and have to go right back out. But, am enjoying the renewal of the wit and real banter that is prevalent on here today. If things keep going like this, we will get back the old CQN that is so much loved and addictive and missed.
The Generation of Conumbration, indeed.
How about the liquified blues?
Paddy mccourt scored another paddy mccourt goal last night
Go on the special 1
Delighted for him
Livibhoy well said
Acgr,
Mailed you and I’m not a hun;))
It’s been a good couple of Days on ole CQN ignited, I’m sure, by our 7 goal performance on Sunday afternoon. Livibhoy’s post at 9.31 Ticked a good few Boxes for me.
Friday Evening (and Next Tuesday) can’t come quick enough. 15 Goals in 3 away Games would be pleasant! ;-)
sipsini :_))
Livibhoy,
Hats off sir…..great post!!
kayal33
09:50 on 4 December, 2013
Looking like the January window madness beginning in the msm, in last couple of days we’ve been linked with
James Vaughan
Lee Tomlin
Aaron Taylor Sinclair
Gavin Gunning
nothing very inspiring yet!
Can’t see what NL sees in Tomlin…..Callum McGregor has scored more goals than him in League One this season!!
Lennon said last week that he would try and re-ignite the deals that fell through in the summer (Rudnevs being the main one).
Rudnevs and Gauld would do me!!
Am I the only one who checks how the Sevco shares are going from time to time and each time have the following image cross my mind…
I see a man, treading water in the middle of the ocean, no land in sight, with the top of the water at £40.00 . Occasionally the mans head floats a little higher above the water surface, sometimes he takes a brief dip below the surface but you can’t help feel that very, very soon the man’s legs will give way completely, sending him to oblivion in the vast depths below.
Joe Ledley sign the contract son:-)
niallo83
10:27 on 4 December, 2013
—
Whos rudnev ?
Mea Culpa
10:27 on 4 December, 2013
Well I think the share price going below 40p will be another sensational record in their long and illustrious history.
It’s tantalisingly close at the moment.
Colin Murray on Talksport about to get pelters as he just referred to Sevco as “Newco”.
Off the Christmas Card List in Govan.
niallo83
I can understand why we would be looking at the lower leagues in England, we have had almost complete success with signings from there since Lenny took over. Hooper, Ledley, Matthews, Commons and Wilson were all good signings. And I can understand why the manager wants to sign a British based striker given the disasters of recent years signings from abroad. Vaughan just seems overpriced and doesn’t score enough goals to warrant the price.
If we were to take a chance on a striker from lower leagues down south I would have a looks at Nahki Wells of Bradford. Improving year on year, only 23, 1 in 2 goals last season, better ration this. And he is out of contract in the summer so available from next month on a pre-contract.
Anyone ever heard anything about an Austrian player called Robert Zulj?
Looks like a great prospect and according to transfermarkt is available on a Bosman. He scored a goal against Holland u-21s from the half way line….unbelievable goal!!
Paul67 tell John Park to look him up…..and Johann Berg Gudmundsson from AZ (also available on a Bosman)!!
Transfer window is going to my head:-P
I see that the murray twins made a trip across the water too the hun enclaves to raise support.
Along with a document stating ipox will never be sold under their tenure.
Mea culpa,
Yip, sinking ship springs to mind as the panic sets in.
kayal33
10:36 on 4 December, 2013
niallo83
I can understand why we would be looking at the lower leagues in England, we have had almost complete success with signings from there since Lenny took over. Hooper, Ledley, Matthews, Commons and Wilson were all good signings. And I can understand why the manager wants to sign a British based striker given the disasters of recent years signings from abroad. Vaughan just seems overpriced and doesn’t score enough goals to warrant the price.
If we were to take a chance on a striker from lower leagues down south I would have a looks at Nahki Wells of Bradford. Improving year on year, only 23, 1 in 2 goals last season, better ration this. And he is out of contract in the summer so available from next month on a pre-contract.
All good points Kayal and Vaughan and Wells would probably be good signings. It’s Tomlin that I’m worried about!! The only thing I’d say about Vaughan is that if we liked him we should have signed him 4 months ago for 750k.
LiviBhoy – God bless wee Oscar @ 09.31.
No apologies necessary for the long post.
Excellent piece which should be reposted at various times to ensure maximum exposure for all on CQN.
Reality check csc.
Thanks and HH, Always in Celtic.
sipsini
10:40 on 4 December, 2013
Charles Green did the same.
For a world wide club with 500 million supporters scattered around it, they only ever seem to need to touch base with fans in the west of Scotland and the Northern counties of Ireland.
A bit parochial for a club we’re assured are a player on the world stage.
Bought the missus a hamster skin coat last week. Took her to the fair last night, and it took me 3 hours to get her off the Ferris wheel.
Teuchter ár lá
Just in to say….
Running short of time today – things to do – so, I’ll be as brief as I can.
________________________________________________________
LiviBhoy – God bless wee Oscar
09:31 on 4 December, 2013
_______________________
With the greatest respect – what a pile of p#sh that is mate.
Terry Cassidy – out of his depth ? Naaaahhhh – TC was brought in to be a shield for the ‘bored’ against the fans and the ‘rebels’ – anyone who couldny grasp that is either,
deluded, still wet behind the ears or a ‘bored’ plant. imo
This reference to the MO’N – crazy money ?- what is that all about ?
Don’t you know that when MO’N came into Celtic, he was attempting to take on a huns squad assembled at the cost of what ? £100 mill ?
Don’t try to do the ‘boreds’ bidding by trying to kid fholk on that, it was a good-will gesture by the ‘bored’ to take £100 off the price of the SB’s ? They did that – cause 25-30k of empty seats appeared last season and, even with the reduction in price – the SB’ sales are still stagnent. imo
Why would PL go to Arsenal when – he can get the same money oot the Cellic by beating the likes of, Aberdeen, Ross County, St Mirren, ICT etc…to the league title ?
Ah canny be bothered adressing the rest so – I’ll finish by saying that – apathy will rule the day at CP, so long as well intentioned ‘sheep’ like yer guidself fill the pockets of awe the faceless wonders who should – but don’t fight the corner of the Cellis fans on the street. imo
Off oot – Take Care Tims – Hail Hail
the comfortable collective
10:46 on 4 December, 2013
sipsini
10:40 on 4 December, 2013
Charles Green did the same.
—————
;)) when will the hunchbacks learn….round and round the mulberry bush they go… It’s grand being a tim.