This is about Scottish football but I take a while to get there. And I don’t think you’re going to like it, but something has been bothering me with all this news about Greece, there’s been a little dissonance.
Greece has come through seven years of devastating poverty and economic turmoil, the like of which has not been seen anywhere else in Europe, and within weeks it could get a lot worse.
Many Greeks with economically portable skills emigrated. Those left, the old, the infirm, the unskilled, and those who don’t want to abandon their family or country, have been left to deal with the consequences of a debt which dwarves their earning capacity.
Greece joined the euro and overnight were able to borrow money at cheaper rates than ever before. They borrowed and invested, but poor governments and lax taxation systems left them vulnerable. When the crash came, Greece was hopelessly unable to pay its debts, largely owned to German and French banks.
Back in 2008 the world’s banking system was on the verge of collapse. It is not an exaggeration to say that our economies, jobs, welfare systems, public services and more, were in jeopardy. Governments took steps to keep the banks afloat, but Greece owned money beyond their borders.
If they still had the capacity to issue their own currency, they would have defaulted, offered their creditors 10 lepta to the drachma, and quickly moved on. Prices would have skyrocketed overnight, many people would have been priced out of the basics, but tourists would have flooded in, as would new employers, to take advantage of the newly cheap Greek labour.
But since 2002 Greece has been using the euro. They could not print euros after the crash so had to come to a deal with their creditors, and that meant paying all their debts, in particular to the German banks who loaned them money, at an appropriate interest rate, years earlier.
It was appalling. Greece was not blameless, no European governments – or ultimately their electorates – were, but they were boxed into a corner and forced into a deal. Foreign banks, who were well-placed to weigh-up the commercial risk of their Greek loans, were beneficiaries of the squeeze put on some of Europe’s poorest people.
In January this year Greece elected a radical government. Syriza were voted in on a ticket to renegotiate the terms of what the world calls the ‘bailout’.
The bailout is an affront to the European Union, the IMF and the European Central Bank. The world’s governments needed to protect their banks to prevent complete collapse, but the deal imposed on Greek citizens is pernicious and disproportionate.
A game of brinksmanship is going on between Greece and their lenders, the Troika. Syriza are mandated for one thing and one thing only, renegotiate the current deal. I admire their resolve and hope the Troika accommodate their request for change, but the consequence of a failure to find an agreement is enormous, the like of which we have never seen in a modern economy. Those sitting at the Syriza side of the table know they may be marching their citizens off the edge of a cliff.
What’s this got to do with Scottish football?
For the Troika, read Mike Ashley, he was the lender of last resort, he was also the beneficiary of the loans. In fact, he loaned Newco money he’d already made from them. Those loans came with pernicious conditions. The profits he’ll earn from seven years merchandise rights are spectacular – and they will come from what I could argue is the most impoverished football club in Europe. Mike is the ugly face of capitalism (and there are pretty faces).
The analogy is not perfect. Rangers spectacularly defaulted. Newco’s early years have been more painful than they necessarily could have been, largely as a consequence of an organised group of Real Rangers Men who were determined to grab control of Newco’s assets for as cheap a price as possible. But if you are an unskilled Greek living on handouts, or an easily-led Rangers fan, who just wanted to watch his team, you were not the architect of your own misery.
Alexis Tsipras is no Dave King, he is an engaging leader and is not a criminal, but if he leads Greece into an abyss, he will be guilty of one of the classic failures of leadership – telling people what they want to hear in order to gain power, without any way of delivering on the promises made.
King may be doing the same. He strikes me as a man intent on recreating Jonestown in Govan. Unlike Tsipras, who appears to be making progress with his creditors, King has inspired division and boycott. I can’t picture him now without scenes from Jonestown flashing through my mind.
While I know I’m stretching the analogy between Greece and Rangers, there are many who have lost their livelihood, or football club, through the fault of more powerful men, who were paid to look out for their interests.
Mike Ashley is a figure of fun for us but be sure, he is not our ally. Our enemy’s enemy is not our friend. He’s just another in a long line of naked opportunists we were wise enough to avoid.
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Ole Eurolocks67, dyeing to get in with the in crowd
TBB …. thanks for that.
I know PL has said he would rather scrap the deal than settle for the 2 million per year Celtic gets from it.
We all know DD wants and saw Celtic in another league …. he said as much publicly only a few years ago …..
So, are PL/DD brilliant?…. is their role in the whole 5 way agreement/Sevco fiasco part of DD’s master plan to torpedo the SPFL, such that Celtic will be granted its wish and allowed to join a better league.
It might seem crazy, but in the absence of any more credible explanation, it is as good as any ….
Otherwise, PL is like a home bulider who builds a mansion on quicksand. If he can move it quickly enough, it can still be sold for a good dollar and relocated to a new proper location. However, the longer it is left to sink into the mire, the less desirable it will be to any potential leagues and buyers.
I dont know the answer. Only PL/DD seems to have those, and they aren’t talking. But, there are questions that need be asked and answered….
Keep boycotting those shirts lads
http://www.philmacgiollabhain.ie/normal-channels/#more-6513
Greetings Paul67,
My machine detected heightened anxiety in your blog and alerted me to your panic stricken comments.
As I warned several plasmaball traverses ago, the coming complete financial collapse is nearly upon you. The time is now to sell all your worldly possessions and invest in potatoes. You would be a tuber not to.
rotit j
Phil’s up again …
http://www.philmacgiollabhain.ie/normal-channels/
J TITOR
Maybe that is why we were looking at buying Anya…
The kind of contracts billionaire retailers dream about.
http://www.philmacgiollabhain.ie/normal-channels/
Of topic but last night I finally finished watching the Danish historical series on BBC 4 – 1864.
Pretty gruesome in parts but the last 2 episodes especially were spellbindng.
Anybody else see it ?
“Warbs” on Kiernan:
“The way he hit the ball with both feet was magnificent”
Ole EuroChamps67 (life’s a Beach)
BOBBY MURDOCH’S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS
My machine has alerted me to your query
“Maybe that is why we were looking at buying Anya…”
As you may not be aware due to your rather low cranial ranking of 4378, Anya remains a Watford player until June 2019 when struggling MLS, whatever that is, side, Chicago Rapid Fire Crew, a hybrid club formed from the remnants of Colorado Rapids, Chicago Fire and Columbas Crew after the global financial extinction event sign Anya on a 3 plasmaball traverse contract for 7 25 kilo sacks of Maris Pipers.
Unfortunately for Chicago Rapid Fire Crew, due to an administration error on the paperwork they purchase Irish mezzo-soprano superstar Enya instead which ultimately leads to the teams demise in 2022 due to dwindling fan numbers fed up with Enya’s poor play and insistence of singing Orinoco Flow every time she touches the ball.
To Infinity & Backwards!
TBB,
Never mind the In Crowd, have you calibrated out tees, timings and transport for Aberdour yet? Taggsy and Kev never respond to calls from Greece.
EC67
BOBBY MURDOCH’S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS
14:27 on
23 June, 2015
THOMTHETHIM
****
I take that point.
I took “repeat” to be literally to do the same thing and that the suggestion was to recruit at the standard of the player we sold, not his value when we signed him.
I would imagine that there would be a natural inflation over a two or three year period, but if our income reduces over that period, then we have to absorb that in our outgoings.
Bottom line, for me, is that the club is being well run and the Board are doing a good job.
I bet my contemporaries can remember when we were not as well and openly run.
Anyone else having issues with the Blog, refresh freezing up etc ?
cowiebhoy
Yes, me. Been freezing up since yesterday. Was talking about it to our Swindon CFC earlier today. :-(
Weefra HH praying to Wee Oscar.
Its amazing being able to view the earth live from the International Space station as it orbits the earth. This website also shows you a map telling you exactly where the space station is.
http://www.ustream.tv/channel/iss-hdev-payload
Braw walked into a sports bar around 9:58 PM. He sat down next to a Hun at the bar and stared up at the TV.
The 10 PM news was coming on. The news crew was covering the story of a man on the ledge of a tall building preparing to jump.
The Hun looked at Braw and said, “Do you think he’ll jump?”
Braw said, “You know, I bet he’ll jump.”
The Hun replied, “Well, I bet £20 he won’t.”
Braw placed a £20 bill on the bar and said, “You’re on!”
Just as the Hun placed his money on the bar, the guy on the ledge did a swan dive off the building.
The Hun was very upset, but willingly handed his £20 to Braw. “Fair’s fair. Here’s your money.”
Braw replied, “I can’t take your money.
I saw this earlier on the 5 PM news, So I knew he would jump.”
The Hun replied, “I did, too, But I didn’t think he’d do it again.”
Braw took the money.
braw
Calls from Greece???… usually the same statement.. gies the money!!
Well if you wanna go, K.A.N.O ., Hail Hail , Rain , Sleet or Snow
07:40 on
23 June, 2015
Morning bloggers.
Does anyone know a Peter Mccutcheon. Thought he was of this parish but not sure.
*bit late with this but Peter was known as Derbyhirebhoyon here. He was originaly from Dumbarton and I conversed with him a couple of times when he mentioned playing in the same school team as Stevie Murray, my late brother played in the team also as did former Labour MP John McFall now Lord McFall of Alclutha.
Peter also played in the same Tradamus Lampada team as or goalie coach’s da and European Cup winner John (Solly) O’Hare..
As has been mentioned he is no longer with us.
Cowiebhoy, the freezing’s temporary, caused by the cryo-coolers on J Titor’s flux capacitor.
Looks like Islam Feruz is getting his big move ……. to MK Dons
$$$$$$$ signs & the bright lights of London killed the dream
Bmcuw… only arrive back late 9th so 10th a no go… when’s your train back south??
might be an extra day to play with as you’re known to miss them!!
Play Sammi as the lone striker that will save Greece :)
MurdochauldandHay & Wee Oscar
16:07 on
23 June, 2015
Looks like Islam Feruz is getting his big move ……. to MK Dons
$$$$$$$ signs & the bright lights of London killed the dream
*karma
Traditionalist88
Paul67 made reference to previous season, not this year championship.
Dunno the details of the Feruz story, but assuming he’s being transferred, not loaned, and accepting that our decisions influence our experiences and vice versa… it rather evidences that the decision he made to take the Chelsea money at 16 years old was absolutely the right one.
The development path is not a straight line. It’s bumpy. Unpredictable.
For every Scott Brown there are 200 top 16 year olds who don’t make the grade.
The Pantaloon Duck…..
Next to that pair, I’d look like a big, strong chap….:)
Cowiebhoy @ 15:57 on 23 June, 2015
Anyone else having issues with the Blog, refresh freezing up etc ?
It’s awe they Bellshill Roasters fault !! :))
HH
TC45
ontine Tim
16:11 on 23 June, 2015
MurdochauldandHay & Wee Oscar
16:07 on
23 June, 2015
Looks like Islam Feruz is getting his big move ……. to MK Dons
$$$$$$$ signs & the bright lights of London killed the dream
*karma
*****
Is a shame. I know there are no guarantees, and lots (most) good youngsters do NOT make the grade … but, in this case, lots of good people saw something there, and did a lot to help this kid make the grade …
too bad he turned his back on those people…. he (and Celtic) probably would have been a lot better off had he stayed and developed here …. too bad all around.
Zbyszek
16:11 on
23 June, 2015
Traditionalist88
Paul67 made reference to previous season, not this year championship.
=======
Not sure he was but openn to debate! It’d have backed up his argument even more if he’d said ‘Lech, who went on to win the Polish title’…
HH
BMCUW, aye, some encouraged the problem, but some just wanted to watch their team without bringing the negative baggage.
Garngad to Croy, better cancel them!
j77, over my head w that one.
‘GG, cheers.
James Forrest, thanks.
larsson80, thanks, and yes, indeed.
NatKnow, aye.
67Heaven, yes, but they were poorly led, and they were not the only fans who wanted their club to spend ever-more money………..
Eurochamps67, I love Greece too, or the islands, at least.
RobertTressell, aye.
TBB, do Erefivisie have a break option in that? Horrible if not.
angelgabriel, cheers.
J Titor, good to hear from you! Message received, smash-ing.
Cowiebhoy, yes, me too. These pesky, soon to be gone, pop ups.
Zbyszek, thanks for that!
Saw Feruz playing for us not too long before he left.
Tricky but struggled to kick the ball from the wing to the penalty box and didn’t venture into his own half.
Attitude all wrong and game intelligence non existent.
Even if he’d stayed with us he wouldn’t have made it anyway.
Think Mike McGlinchey with a bad attitude.
HH
Islam Feruz is still 5’4″
traditionalist88
16:23 on 23 June, 2015
Saw Feruz playing for us not too long before he left.
Tricky but struggled to kick the ball from the wing to the penalty box and didn’t venture into his own half.
Attitude all wrong and game intelligence non existent.
Even if he’d stayed with us he wouldn’t have made it anyway.
Think Mike McGlinchey with a bad attitude.
HH
****
Than all the more credit to Celtic and particularly Tommy Burns who seemed to go out of his way to help this kid and his family. It is one thing to do it for a ‘Messi’ and another for one who may not ever make it.
No sympathy for Feruz.
VVD beware!
Cowiebhoy
15:57 on
23 June, 2015
Anyone else having issues with the Blog, refresh freezing up etc ?
Me too also.
My old man was good friends with a former youth coach at Celtic. He told my old man that the recently departed Andrew Robertson had more of a chance at making it as a pro than the more talented boys who stayed. It was all due to attitude. Robertson was one of the few boys that was always doing extra training on his weaker foot etc.
I don’t think anybody saw him as a Scotland internationalist at the time. I suppose that’s a sign of really hard work and the value of playing competitive fitba over development teams.
As for Feruz? His attitude stinks and it’s probably the main reason he has stalled. Let’s not forget that he was a refugee that didn’t grow up with a perfect family life or education.
You would think that fans of a club like Celtic would be more forgiving to a very young lad from such a background who made a stupid decision. I’d welcome him back with open arms and hope he turns it round.