You and I know there is still work to so, but ask Newco fans or client journalists and they will tell you, they are out of the league chase this season, the title is going to Celtic. The question is why? At the very least, they have to give some credit to Celtic.
Ange Postecoglou transformed Celtic from the moment he arrived, bringing players from a market few in Europe had proper access to. Despite losing the title in 2021, the infrastructure at Celtic and profile of the squad was sufficient to raise money in order to scout, buy or loan with an option, Kyogo, Hatate, Maeda, Jota, Carter-Vickers, Starfelt, Juranovic, Hart and more.
The rebuild process continued at Celtic Park in the summer, consequentially, Celtic have won all but one of their domestic games this season. They are imperious rivals, far stronger than the side which lost their way in season 2020-21. If you want to compete against them, you need a comparable budget and scouting system; Newco have neither.
Despite taking over midway through a campaign, Giovanni van Bronckhorst won one of the two domestic trophies available to him. His immediate predecessor won one from nine. As we left Hampden in April, out of the Scottish Cup, we knew we had a resourceful rival.
In what seemed an impossibility, he eliminated Sparta Prague, Brondby, Borussia Dortmund, Red Star Belgrade, Braga and Leipzig on his way to the Europa League Final in Seville, losing in the narrowest of margins possible. History will record that this record was one of incredible overachievement.
Then came the summer. He sold his two best players, bringing in over £30m in transfer fees this calendar year, money that would have been enough to challenge Celtic, but he was allowed to spend less than half this figure. After qualifying for the Champions League group stage – something I never thought I would see – Giovanni was given no additional funds. Zilch!
Two weeks ago I explained some of what happened inside Celtic when Neil Lennon’s side came off the rails, why Celtic did not sack him early in the season, how it is easy to sack a manager but immeasurably more difficult to get the next decision right. In particular, that “Proportionality of response is required if you are to be taken seriously by serious candidates.”
Celtic could have recruited those desperate for a job, but right then, they were not attracting a candidate that convinced them to hand them the keys to the kingdom. If you think ANYONE inside Ibrox right now believes they have a plan to flip fortunes with Celtic, you are wildly mistaken.
In that earlier piece I wrote, “[Newco] can sack a manager who achieved spectacularly for them, or face down some entitled fans. It will be a measure of their board if they are prepared to take abusive flack personally when a scapegoat is available.”
Abusive. Flack. Personally. This is impossibly difficult. I watched it at Celtic, when Peter Lawwell took on the grief because, as he told me at the time, he believed that firing Neil just months after his successes, would make it more difficult for him to attract a great candidate. He wanted to be able to say to a new manager, “I have your back when the going gets tough”. This counts in football.
The experience was painful and in all honestly, I don’t know if I would have gone through the same. It is no surprise those in charge at Newco reached for a scapegoat instead of facing down their more entitled fans at next month’s AGM.
There is another pertinent question, why didn’t Newco sign anyone after disposing of PSV Eindhoven to reach the Champions League group stage? Why were they unable to invest more of the cash they took in, or some of the guaranteed European revenue? Why did they send Gio into battle naked?
For this, I refer you to two news articles published in September.
Firstly, Uefa’s statement on 2 September. Newco were one of 19 clubs mentioned that Uefa said “will be monitored closely in the upcoming period” with regards to the new Financial Fair Play regulations.
Then in his annual report, Celtic chief executive, Michael Nicholson wrote, “Celtic played a significant role at a strategic and technical level in the development of the new regulations.” Having crossed swords with Uefa on FFP for many years, last season, Peter Lawwell spent half a day a week working with Association on their new FFP regulations.
He was hugely influential in drafting their objectives, which were material in inhibiting Newco from splurging cash again – material in what happened today. When I read the new FFP regulations in the summer, I mentioned to ‘sources close to Celtic’, “This is going to get wee Gio the sack.” I wasn’t wrong. From now on, if you want to catch Celtic, live within your means, run a good business, recruit good people and take your chances with the rest of them.
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CelticMac
They need to play 3 goalies at once – en Sterling has just scored
Oops. This could become embarrassing
Good goal there….
Nice finish.
While we moan ( justified ) the introduction of VAR in Scotland, we have not dropped points whereas it has just banjoed broken horse.
A relevant comment on Peter Lawwell is greeted with derision by the clowns on here. Although I would have thought that Desmond calls the shots. If he wanted Lennon sacked then there would be no argument. Pauls article is about Sevco sacking Gio and he has given us the benefit of his knowledge of a similar situation at Celtic.
Sevco Board are a different breed than ours thank goodness. They have given into pressure from their fans and sacked a manager with not a bad record. The only thing is he lives in the large shadow of Ange. I don’t think they can get anyone better.
Coneybhoy 👍
GLASSTWOTHIRDSFULL on 21ST NOVEMBER 2022 12:49 PM
Spot on. No manager worth his salt would see another manager sacked and think — Well I wouldn’t want to work for that club as they might sack me if I feck up.
GREENPINATA on 21ST NOVEMBER 2022 1:02 PM
Women who are not protesting or challenging the regime are not being targeted.
So the ‘offence’ isn’t being a woman, it’s challenging the regime.
Moreover I’d suggest that any man who participated in support of the protests would be similarly targeted.
WHAT IS THE STARZ on 21ST NOVEMBER 2022 12:43 PM
God bless Peter Lawwell, keeping the green flag flying despite the malcontents begrudgers and naysayers
………………
WITS
You’re a terrible man.
If your in the Coatbridge area
https://twitter.com/derekmc29243796/status/1594476959521816577?t=0OvBsikMX5GQmavbbp_s7Q&s=19
HH
Referee adds on 14 minutes so Iran can get 3 goals before half-time.
Sevco certainly know a good day to bury bad news.
AT
Mrs Gene runs one on a Thursday from our church – there are a further 4 in Biddulph so the town is covered Mon to Fri
gene
Could be the goalie that went off was the only proper keeper…
And the other three were members of the Republican Guard
Celtic Mac
Couldn’t really blame the keeper for any of the goals
gene
Bit hesitant at handling crosses
IRAN should have player their Team from the 1978 World Cup in Todays game.
Thet must STILL be better than this current lot.
TOM McL
I hope that you ” Cashed Out” before half time, as this could get even worse for Iran ?
LOL
HH
As per usual….BBC Pundits going overboard at England beating Iran 3-0.
Dont they see that IRAN are PISH ?
How I dislike those Chumps Mikel Richards and Jermaine Jenas…Two Chumps who are almost wetting their Pants because Engerlund are winning against a Pub Team.
BIG JIMMY
I bet 2-0 Ecuador and it was 2-0 HT.
I see a pattern.
Seriously though, I’ve got…
England 3-0 Iran
Netherlands 2-1 Senegal
Wales 1-1 USA
3 x doubles and a treble.
BIGRAILROADBLUES on 21ST NOVEMBER 2022 10:47 AM
Shipbank Shipwrecks meeting has been relocated to the Laurieston Bar, Saturday 26th at 1pm.
———————————————-
A shambles.
D :)
Hi Paul67,
“He wanted to be able to say to a new manager, “I have your back when the going gets tough”. This counts in football.,
Did you believe him when he said that!?
I wonder how the conversation between Eddie Howe and Brendan Rodgers went in that regard.
After that conversation, instead of thinking “big Pedro’s going to have my back”.
Did he ask for solid written guarantees, rather than mumbles such are promises!?
Hail Hail
BIG JIMMY
To be fair, England were superb first half. Yes Iran are poor but they can only play what’s in front of them.
Iran on damage limitation second half.
VFR on 21ST NOVEMBER 2022 2:29 PM
You’re missing the point, but that’s OK.
AN TEARMANN @ 1:57 PM,
Went to school there back in the day…
Hail Hail
bigbhoy on 21st November 2022 1:51 pm
A relevant comment on Peter Lawwell is greeted with derision by the clowns on here.
You’re the clown
ERNIE LYNCH on 21ST NOVEMBER 2022 2:32 PM
VFR on 21ST NOVEMBER 2022 2:29 PM
You’re missing the point, but that’s OK.
*************************************
No I’m not.
“Arriving at the club 367 days ago , Gio led the club to our first European final and won the Scottish Cup for the first time also, ”
The first time.
At last.
VFR on 21ST NOVEMBER 2022 2:40 PM
You are, but don’t worry about it.
The men being targeted for supporting the protests. Are they being targeted because they’re men? Or because they’re challenging the regime?
Iran 20th in world rankings.
ADI_DASSLER
I’m pretty sure that post was a spoof Robert.
MOD
I note you removed my English Bs comment. I understand and no complaint from me. Just to explain, it was tongue-in-cheek based on my conversation with Big Jimmy.
Celtic let the fans down in oz right enough.
https://twitter.com/i/status/1593937749416955905
What happened? Fell asleep and woke up to 6-1. Iran should have scored a second there.
Vfr
.
Where is your 2.29 post?
HH
6-2. An unlikely comeback from Iran. 🫣
My mate’s going apeshit because he had England –4
David66 2.28
A shambles? Coming from a Garngad ruffian who nearly burnt his house down boiling an egg, it’s praise indeed. Ya big tart.😂😂