The wisdom of Hearts owner Ann Budge’s comments to the BBC that “Borrowing money for a particular capital programme you can understand, but running up debts that are prevalent in football is beyond my understanding really” is now, in 2014, surely beyond dispute.
Clubs are at liberty to borrow for infrastructure, or in exceptional circumstances, but in the normal course of business, borrowing for football costs should limited to covering the short-term fluctuations in cash-flow.
This thinking was orthodoxy until Sir David Murray led Scottish football by the nose into a spiral of debt accumulation. The Murray Gospel found many converts among us, those who spoke against it were hounded as heretics. Debt accumulation was the new crusade, the promised land could be reached with just one more brave act, apparently.
Suggesting this was self-harming nonsense to adherents who had supported a debt-fuelled battle for years attacked a fundamental pillar of their belief system. Reactions were seldom considered.
It’s in this light we should consider the real lunatics. Those who encouraged a business model which ended in liquidation, only to come back to the table demanding a fledgling incorporation ‘act like a big club’. There’s a fair amount of research suggesting humans are hard-wired for religiosity. We search for something to believe in, then stick with it as best we can. If you have grown to believe that one more outrageous act will deliver European glory, a good harvest or a rain cloud, part of you will buy into it.
Stewart Regan’s “concern for the Scottish game” at newco Rangers financial position will be genuine, although the “Armageddon” merchant from the SFL has long left the scene. He notes, “Rangers have got a strong economic impact, not just for Glasgow, but for Scotland generally”. Well, oldco sure had an economic impact, on the public purse and several hundred creditors. Mr Regan’s words should be a warning.
This morning Rangers International served notice that their AGM would take place on 22 December, just days within the permitted time period. Accounts are normally issued with this notice, but for some reason, they were not on this occasion. They are required 21 days before the meeting (i.e. within days); I’ve no idea what to expect, but it’s sure to be a quintessential Rangers document.
Some great offers on Celtic books and DVDs at CQNBookstore, a name already telling only part of the story!
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Philbhoy,
I dont mind loanees.Not a raft of them though.Denayer has been great for us.Hopefully another season from Man City.We could never afford to buy him,but 2 seasons from him,without the transfer outlay is great business.The duds,we would have been left with if buying.We need to uncover another one diamond at least,and get JG signed.I would be happy with that.
geordie munro
14:49 on 26 November, 2014
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Sorry i just dont think any those bhoys will be a great loss, most of them do nothing more than pick up a wage and seems ronnie doesnt rate them at all.
I dont look forward to transfer windows that much these days.. But getting bit bored of picking up guys just too make up numbers.
Would love to see us replace 6/7 squad players with 2 quality signings. Our young bhoys can make up the squad numbers for rest of season at least.
Turkeybhoy
I agree. Simply buying a player at the £2m bracket in most cases gets you someone very average 90% of the time as we have proven in recent years. I think trying to identify someone out of favour or surplus at another club and taking them on loan to buy is a decent strategy. The majority of the players we have on loan this seaosn just don’t seem to be up for it. I suspect that because Ronny was not in long enough to assess the players properly and see them in a range of different matches he felt loan to buy and loan were viable options. I expect him to make some solid transfer dealings in January and hopefully a few of the loanees go back. I would have been gutted if we had signed some of those guys for £1m+. I would also like to see some of our young players on loan and some on the fringes of the team. Sign up Guidetti and hopefully add another permanent signing in the midfield. Identify 2 CB’s for the summer and potentially sign one in January as we will lose two next summer.
I would not be against signing an experienced CB who has been there done it all at a decent level a Mick McCarthy type player in January to provide cover and bed in before next season. 30+ players are fine in the middle areas. Their experience can be vital. I’m sure John and Ronny are working hard on their targets. I would not be shocked to see us look at the French market. I would imagine JC has some useful contacts there.
LB
“Would love to see us replace 6/7 squad players with 2 quality signings. Our young bhoys can make up the squad numbers for rest of season at least.”
Proudbhoy,
Hell yeah. I think most of would go for that.
Every squad in the world has ‘fillers’ though.
From your list, I’d give wakaso more time.
THE EXILED TIM, 13:11
Glasgow Giants return to Belfast
25/01/2013
Rangers Football Club are to open a new retail store in Belfast City Centre after approximately 7 years since the closure of their last shop in Ann Street, Belfast
Latest score. Belfast Club Shop 2, Glasgow Clumpany 1 (expect a last minute equaliser there)
Posted this late last night, funniest newspaper apology ever!
http://twitter.com/DanielOwens1979/status/536668818060615682/photo/1
HH
geordie munro
15:15 on 26 November, 2014
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Iv only seen wakaso once or twice to be honest but cant remember him getting any rave reviews .. Think he was valued at 4m when we got him on loan.
I’ll take a wee flyer at Ryan Gauld on loan in January,RD said he wants more Scots in the team,not sure if he will live up to the hype,but well worth a look IMO
o.g.rafferty
15:17 on 26 November, 2014THE EXILED TIM, 13:11Glasgow Giants return to Belfast25/01/2013Rangers Football Club are to open a new retail store in Belfast City Centre after approximately 7 years since the closure of their last shop in Ann Street, Belfast
Glasgow Airport shop getting dubbed up anaw,let me guess what store is going to replace them……..?
Bada…,
Think he meant more Scott Brown’s
proudbhoy
Was it no 4m roubles, about £55,000?
Aye, that’s mair like it.
I want the best we can get and I don’t care what nationality or age or religion they are as long as they fit the jersey.
I’m no longer accepting comparisons competing with the big five leagues, we don’t operate at their levels and should not be referring to competing with them as if we should be, there are plenty of comparable markets we should be competing with to find the best we can and we’ve seen plenty of very good players at less affluent clubs than ours, these should be our targets and target markets.
canamalar-he did say if we had 11 Scott Browns,we wouldn’t lose many games.A guy at AGM said to him too many players from SPL going south,which would improve our team,McCarthy,Russell,Fletcher etc.Ronny said he has noticed this, and we will be looking closer to home for Scottish players.HH
“quintessential Rangers document”
no doubt :-)
P67 brought his A game today
Bada..,
Don’t see how we can look any closer :)
!!Bada Bing!!
That is bad news. I loved that it had to exist in the shadow of the much bigger Celtic store beside it. Such a fine metaphor I thought
just waitng for the SFA/SPFL to jump all over this…..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=raOiPRBidUM
This weekend I’d mostly like to see us flip the midfield and have two advanced midfield players and one holding player.
set that with a flat back four with two fullBACKS either side of the central pair and let the wingers of the front three be wingers not cutters in for sclaffed shot-ers and blocking the space of the WINGbacks (who canny cross for toffee)
There
maybe not tomorrow though, think pauls game plan yesterday suits tomorrows game
So who from the SPL would you take right now to be part of the first team squad?
Armstrong from Dundee Utd?
Pawlett from Aberdeen?
Who would take McGinn back?
The boy from Dundee everyone was raving about on Saturday?
Any of the Hearts boys?
Bada
If Sporting paid £3m euros for Gauld, it might take more than a wee flyer, by our transfer standards.
How well is Gauld doing to justify this? He plays for a team that lies 13th in the Portuguese 2nd division (Amido Balde played for the team lying 4th). His team’s record is won 5, drew 5 and lost 5 with Gauld providing one goal.
Davidopoulos
RB Paterson from Hearts. Not sure the rest are ready but he is. I would punt off Matthews. The boy is strong and can play numerous positions.
GMS Dundee United. Out of contract in the summer. Would cost buttons. Good squad player and would be a better option when Forrest is out injured than any other player in our current squad.
Armstrong Dundee United. Loan him back to United for the remainder of the season.
Scott Allan Hibernian. Certainly one to keep an eye on for the future. Stubbs has said he is the best player in that league. Seen him twice against Hearts and Sevco and looks the part.
Lee Wallace Sevco. Just to really annoy them first of all and a solid full back who needs proper coaching in a good team and he could be a cracking player.
LB
“So who from the SPL would you take right now to be part of the first team squad?”
Hoy paxo, that’s another hard one.
I’d rather we took all the good Scottish players that are playing well down south and non of the ones playing not so well. :)
Hindsight csc
Geordie Munro
15:48 on 26 November, 2014
“So who from the SPL would you take right now to be part of the first team squad?”
Hoy paxo, that’s another hard one.
I’d rather we took all the good Scottish players that are playing well down south and non of the ones playing not so well. :)
Hindsight csc
——————————————————-
Come on, I’m going to have to push you for an answer… ;)
LiviBhoy
15:47 on 26 November, 2014
Davidopoulos
RB Paterson from Hearts. Not sure the rest are ready but he is. I would punt off Matthews. The boy is strong and can play numerous positions.
GMS Dundee United. Out of contract in the summer. Would cost buttons. Good squad player and would be a better option when Forrest is out injured than any other player in our current squad.
Armstrong Dundee United. Loan him back to United for the remainder of the season.
Scott Allan Hibernian. Certainly one to keep an eye on for the future. Stubbs has said he is the best player in that league. Seen him twice against Hearts and Sevco and looks the part.
Lee Wallace Sevco. Just to really annoy them first of all and a solid full back who needs proper coaching in a good team and he could be a cracking player.
LB
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I’d only take Paterson if he shaves, and I’d only take GMS when he looks old enough to shave…
https://twitter.com/bbcjamescook/status/537620132265488385
Davidopolous,
Naebdy.
Mibby Wallace. As lb says there is/ was a player in there.
As for spfl, there’s nobody imo has caused us proper bother on more than one occasion, yeah there’s a few who could do a job but there’s no real pests like broony or possibly skippy.
Davidopoulos
Do we have a club barber?
LB
I was really keen on Armstrong, but he didn’t show up in United’s big games at the end of the season. Pity.
I think GMS has plateaued, development-wise. I can’t distinguish much in the way of increased impact from him in games over the past 2 years. He’ll be 25 next summer, and should be burning the place up by now.
Scott Allan should have stayed with United, but went for the money and it didn’t work out. He’s now a season behind the curve and playing in a lower division.
Paterson of Hearts is getting a fair bit of coverage atm, but I haven’t seen him play, so can’t comment.
All in my opinion, of course.
Davidopoulos @15.40
Our squad would get bloated by the number of United players touted far less those from other Scottish clubs.
The hottest striker in Scotland is a 29 year old who was released by Conference side Bristol Rovers. ICT are filled with rejects from the English lower leagues (Tansey, Warren Tremarco, Raven, McKay) and can still be joint top of the SPL with us.
The functional and athletic Stuart Armstrong looked like he was kicking on to be the best of the United bunch last year but has hit a bit of a plateau until very recently. At best he is a Joe Ledley, Paul Hartley level just now. Is he clearly better than Biton or Kayal who would be definite starters in Jackie Mac’s United side?
Currently, Liam Henderson, Darnell Fisher, and Eoghan O’Connell show us what a big gap there is to cross to reach the first team from the reserves. Previously Ross Wallace, Simon Ferry, Paul McGowan and Dylan McGeoch showed us the same problem.
It takes exceptional talents like McGeady and Forrest to break through and sustain a place at an early age. The only exception to this has been Callum McGregor, who has been given more games than his current level of performance merits because firstly, he was a reliable and regular scorer, and secondly, because the manager needed to impress a lesson on some of the Senior squad.
There are some promising talents in the Scottish game. Armstrong seems to me the safest punt to buy. After that I would look at Lee Wallace when the huns start their fire sale, as a squad member.
If young McGinn at St. Mirren, young Christie at ICT, Pawlett or Wright at Aberdeen, Gordon or Crawford at Hamilton, or young Stewart or Wighton at Dundee, manage to kick on this year then they may become worth a punt. At this stage in their development they are well off the Celtic first team standard.
Livibhoy,
I think we can get Denayer for another season.The FFP rules are hamstringing Man City.Unless they think he is now of a standard to play in the EPL.Another season with us,CL experience,hopefully,will do him the world of good.Good for both teams.
Paterson from Hearts a good shout.The same calibre of player down south going for £5-7 million.Look at Mc Arthur.Many going on about Armstrong,ok player,could improve.
I will be watching the big Hearts CH on Sunday.He has impressed me in games.
If as likely VVD goes,I think in the summer,I would have no qualms dropping Charlie back there alongside,hopefully,Denayer,get in a good midfielder.
A wee bit of ambition and try for Xavi.Why not?.Would not half swell the SBs.He loves us.He is already a multi millionaire.If you dont try,you dont get.
LiviBhoy
16:01 on 26 November, 2014
Davidopoulos
Do we have a club barber?
LB
————————————-
Aye, Jo Inge Berget. It’s a hipster barbers…pretty expensive…
setting free the bears,
You talk a lot of good sense there. I would have thought we had the best of the bunch at Lennoxtown. So few seem able to make the grade from any team in Scotland or England. What are Southampton doing? They seem to have a conveyor belt down there, besides buying astutely. They seem to have a better team this season after earning a fortune through transfers last close season.
67Heaven … I am Neil Lennon ….The angels are with Wee Oscar in Heaven.. Ibrox belongs to the creditors
15:54 on
26 November, 2014
https://twitter.com/bbcjamescook/status/537620132265488385
Could start with the fat Billionaire Nicola.
Ignorant,ex barrow boy,scumbag of a man.
SFTB
Young Stewart at Dundee is 24 already, 25 in a few months.
This is his first season in full time football.
I was really impressed with him on Saturday, very complimentary, and delighted to see a guy who’d been kicked around the various levels of the game come good, but it’s unlikely that this late blossom will yield any fruit.
setting free the bears for Res. 12 & Oscar Knox
I’d agree with most of that. I think that if our own young talent isn’t making the grade then buying other clubs’ young talent is just a punt. I’d even go as far as to say that when McCarthy went down south he was a punt, and maybe he was better off going down south, as Martinez did a fantastic job in developing him. Would he have been the same player at Celtic? Maybe, maybe not.
Paterson? Really? Mathews is 4 times the player and I hope Celtic are trying to get him to sign a new contract.
Stuart Armstrong? Please! This boy is a player and a Celtic great and captain of the future. Please Celtic don’t delay
HH
I would like to see Ryan Gauld come on loan, I think he would jump at the chance of returning home. Always thought young McGinn at St. Mirren looked a decent prospect too. Not sure about Patterson or Armstrong, I haven’t seen enough of either of these guys. The problem is there just isn’t the same calibre of younger players coming through the Scottish game any more, I really think we should try and play our own ‘home grown’ talent like Liam Henderson.