The Scotsman did an interesting article today on the fact that recent attendances at Celtic Park have fallen well short of the circa 46,000 paid for tickets, the majority of which are season tickets. It touches on several issues.
Suggestions that a league in which Celtic inevitably process to the title is less attractive to the spectating public than a league with a competitive challenge is not a surprise. It would be bizarre otherwise.
Still, many Celtic fans continue to support the club for a whole variety of reasons: we want to see it prosper, we enjoy going to games with our family and friends, and, unsurprisingly, we enjoy watching football.
Anyone who doubted that attendances would soften after Rangers were liquidated should have widened their survey sample. For most of us, this was a welcome change. The joys of beating Rangers were undeniable, but most of us have a deeper relationship with Celtic.
The Scotsman predict that in the event there was never a “team called Rangers in the top flight” Celtic would endure some serious downsizing. If we remained within the confines of Scottish league football this is undeniably true. So what? There would be little competition, less income, fewer signings and more promotion from the youth team.
In this scenario there would inevitably be fewer Champions League nights too, but in the big scheme of things, would we want it any other way? Of course not. Celtic will be there, in sunshine or in shadow, playing football and paying their bills. I’d sign up for this right now.
There is, of course, the question of how welcome our continued presence in Scottish football would be with the prospect of not just winning 10-in-a-row, which I hear our favourite Sevconian, Ally McCoist, is now discussing as a possibility, but the realisation that 10 would soon become 20, or 30-in-a-row.
All Celtic can do is continue to win football matches, pay their bills and see off all challengers. The game here is irrevocably broken; the consequences of this will continue to emerge in the months and years to come. All we know for sure is that Celtic will prevail, no matter which scenario plays out.
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NegAnon2:
Yeah… you should phone Ramie.
Rubicon…
Only teasing mate….
Hail Hail
Just crawled out from under my lurking stone to say;
happy to see Tony Watt back. I hope he settles down and we can see him on the park soon.
I don’t think we’ll see him immediately though. I know our regular strikers have been duff lately but how would the likes of Balde, Pukki or Frijonnson feel if the supposed ‘bad boy’ jumped the queue.
IMO he’s better than the rest but he’ll have to prove himself to Lenny first.
Last years Gazebonian?
No bother , enjoy the game , no doubt we’ll get the seat counters and the usual negative press , anyhoo happy new year to all on CQN ;)) mon the hoops…..
Neganon….
Depends on whether you think the political parasites sending you the demand will use it properly.
Avoidance v Evasion……
Could be a very good debate there.
MadMitch
With an absence of anything that can be construed as anti Irish racism please, don’t we have enough of that to deal with!
It’s not big and it’s not clever however witty and smart you might find the title!
Last New Article of the year?
Kita … @ 13.52
You have to play it canny.
The TFOD2 and their booster club want Scottish football to fail.
Just to show how important they are / were.
Consequently they are hating WGS and his NT progress.
They are hating the Sheep playing good football and the emergence of RG.
Turning your back on Scottish football is playing into their hands.
We / you need to get ready for next season’s bitchfest in the Championship.
How many players do we put on loan and to who?
If Hamilton get promoted this season then it will terrific down below.
Eurochamps 67
Cracking post mate..
Happy New Year to all mentioned and indeed to all of our CQN and Celtic Family Worldwide..
Starry in The Valley
eurochamps67
13:33 on 31 December, 2013
Fantastic post mate, well said.
Kitalba
The 5 way was a compromise ageement .I have yet to hear any reasoned argument as to what we could have done to stop it. I stress the word reasoned.
Loved Eurochamps post. Almost made me wish I lived in Glasgow. Love going there but every savage loves his native patch. I think we are all going through a little dreary period at the moment, disappointing Euro campaign, Green Brigade problems, shite weather etc. the clouds will lift, a couple of decent signings, winning the Cup in Paradise and then European Football, the Domestic Treble and Four in a Row, how bad is that.
Kitalba
happy new year to you and yours
neganon…my details are widely available…any time mate
ramie
RUBICON
Me anaw.
Nearly had a hearty reading those first few lines from EUROCHAMPS67
He dug himself rather nicely outa the hole he was in though!
EC67
A fine post, well said!
Gerry
Ramie
Pass on my regards to kano.
And to yourself sir..
MadMitch, I could say plenty about Desmond, most of it uncomplimentary but to say he is in Celtic for the money is simply not true. The guy is mega rich, he is turning deals every week, he would have a thousand easier opportunities to make money rather than invest in a Football Club. He has said himself its his only emotional investment and when asked about selling said his children would disown him. The story here is that his children and particularly his daughter are big Celtic fans.
BocchiniBhoy, compromise? is that what you do with cheats i challenge this idea as cowardly.
Btw,the questions about seagulls.
Bearing in mind hardly any of them live near the sea anymore-just the poor relations that canny get a go at the municipal tips-why have they still got webbed feet?
We knew the SFA/SPL wanted them back in the top league immediately. It was played out in the Media everyday with Sky presenters like Provan throwing in their tuppence worth. The 5 way agreement is irrelevant to me ; we know from Ogilvie to Salmond they were working on keeping the bigots alive.
The Celtic strategy that Lawwell declared was independent of the dead club started off well. Last 16 champions league plus 2 big transfer fees from England. It was maybe too successful and encouraged the club that buying “cheap” options in the transfer window would bring about CL qualification again. It nearly failed and the team was found wanting when it came to the crunch last 3 games. Many of the fans I talk to feel cheated that their investment was not reciprocated by the board. He strategy became “do enough to win the league and qualify for the CL “. This coupled with the heavy handed policing and stewarding has created resentment and this is one of the major ( altho not only factors in the decline of attendances).
At the same time the football has become sterile and souless with only Commons providing the spark. Of course we want to win every game, however we also need a perspective of the future and the current “playing style” is more akin to the former Govan club grinding out results.
Lawwell has to show he has the imagination and desire to recapture the development of the Strategic Plan he had ( or we presumed he had). The club will survive as P67 stated ; however it’s a crossroads. It can continue on the downward spiral or be imaginative and develop the club. Also as stated before give youth a chance….and lenny needs to stop the loyalty to guys who don’t give 100%.
Also to help Lenny we can’t sell everyone once they each the 5 mil fee mark ; we need to keep some players for a period of time to develop a team and help ensure we qualify for the CL.
Lawwell will earn his salary and bonus if he takes us in the right direction and develops the club. If he does not and we fail in CL qualification and return to 25k crowds awaiting the hordes then he needs to exit as that would be failure.
Desmond and Lawwell have the future of Celtic in their hands. I don’t feel confident that they will take the correct decisions based on recent experience…or could they learn from their mistakes.
No Marx Bros movies this Christmas……
Nobutvegotaphotoofahorsecsc
Speaking of Burton Albion should we be scouting Billy Kee?
BMCUW. They use their webbed feet to stamp in unison on Golfing Greens to imitate the patter of rain. This encourages worms to come to the surface and provides them with breakfast.
“I never forget a face, but in your case I’ll be glad to make an exception.”
― Groucho Marx
Sorry if this has been posted before.
http://www.hailhailmedia.com/old-firm-dead-long-live-old-firm/
The old firm are dead, long live the old firm
Posted On 30 Dec, 2013 – By lostbhoys – With 17 Comments
oldfirm_595_snsAnyone with a younger brother will remember what it’s like to win all the time. Whether playing football in the hall, tennis in the garden or fighting in the bedroom, victory was always assured against a much smaller, weaker opponent.
For some that predictability was too boring and didn’t provide enough of a challenge leading to a slacking-off to give the brother a chance. But victory was still assured. Winning was everything. Being alpha was all that mattered.
For many Celtic fans today being alpha is all that matters. They rejoice in the fact the championship race is over even though we’re still only in December. We even have players talking about going through the whole season unbeaten. These facts might be more palatable if the team was playing fast-flowing, exciting football, or if talented youngsters were coming through the ranks and bursting a gut to play for the sacred jersey. Unfortunately, none of this is happening.
For others the lack of real competition not only demeans winning the league championship but also the week to week league games. Without a genuine challenger breathing down our necks there is no pressure to win every week.
When Celtic won nine league titles in a row other Scottish teams were strong and competed well in Europe, with Rangers winning their one and only European trophy during that period.
When Rangers won nine league titles in a row other Scottish teams, especially Celtic, were on their knees.
As Celtic coast towards three league titles in a row other Scottish teams, especially Rangers, are on their knees and can’t get past the European Preliminary rounds.
Of course, it’s not Celtic’s fault there are no challengers.
Since 1985 no team other than Celtic or Rangers have won the Scottish League title.
Hearts got off to a great start once under George Burley but the league was still won at a canter that year. In 1991 Aberdeen challenged Rangers and took them to the last day only to be undone at Ibrox.
Debates are now raging about where the next challenge to Celtic will come from.
Many, myself included, would love to see a return to the golden era of the eighties. A time when Aberdeen, Dundee United and Hearts challenged the supremacy of the Old Firm. Playing against any of those teams was bigger and, in terms of trophies, more important than any games against Rangers. The games against Rangers, however, remained important culturally for historic reasons.
In the early part of the eighties Rangers were a weak side still stuck in the dark ages with their sectarian signing policy. But Celtic, although not as strong as previous sides like those in the Stein era, still had a side capable of beating the best in Europe on their day.
Aberdeen were the strongest challengers to Celtic in the early eighties. Winning three leagues, three Scottish Cups and two League Cups. Add in a European Cup Winners Cup victory over Real Madrid and a Super Cup victory over Hamburg and you soon get the picture that they were more than just a flash in the pan Scottish side. Today they are ranked 290th in the UEFA rankings.
During the eighties Dundee United won one Scottish League and two League Cups. But that doesn’t tell the whole story. They were Scottish Cup runner-up four times, League Cup runner-up twice and finished third in the Scottish League four times in a row after winning it in 1983. During that period they finished runner-up in the UEFA Cup and were only prevented from reaching a European Cup Final in 1984 when a dodgy ref took a bribe from Roma. Today they are ranked 232nd in UEFA rankings.
But, as much as it pains me to say it, those days are gone; long gone and never to return. Small, provincial clubs can’t compete on the European stage anymore. Small, provincial clubs can’t even compete on the domestic stage anymore either. The big have got bigger and the rest have been left behind.
So where, for those of us who prefer competiveness to strolls in the park, is that much sought-after competition going to come from in the future?
Aberdeen and Dundee United?
Hibs and Hearts?
Rangers?
Perhaps Celtic will be playing in England or in some still-to-be conceived European league.
I’m afraid from where I and many others are sitting there’s only one realistic answer to the above question. Unless major changes are made to the way the game is run in this country and beyond the next team other than Celtic to win the Scottish League title will be Rangers.
You can bet your bottom dollar they will definitely win the league some time in the future. It’s a question of when rather than if.
No doubt many of you will choke on your tea or whatever you’re drinking at that thought.
‘Rangers are dead!’ will be the cry from the usual suspects.
Well, like it or not, Rangers are not only playing in the third tier of Scottish football, they are also going through the season unbeaten and, unless they go to the wall again, they’ll be playing in the top tier in less than two years.
Many say they’ll never return to watch Celtic play Rangers as it somehow legitimises the fraud carried out by the Scottish football authorities to keep the Rangers brand alive. But, like it or not, you won’t be missed. Every Celtic v Rangers game, especially in that first season, will be sold out weeks in advance. TV companies around the world will pay for the game. League sponsorship will also return once both teams are in the top league.
The Old Firm may be dead in many people’s eyes but unless both teams go to the wall and are banned from playing football in Scotland and beyond then the Old Firm tag will never die no matter how loud sections of fans from both clubs shout about it. Many fans also didn’t like it when the tag was invented in the early part of the last century but it didn’t stop the Old Firm being one of the most famous football brands around the world.
That’s not to say this new Rangers should be parachuted straight to the top tier just for the sake of competition. No, they have to earn their place like everyone else. But even it’s later rather than sooner the size of their following assures they will eventually be Celtic’s only challengers for the league title.
Of course, arguments will still rage over whether or not they’re the same club as before. This conundrum is guaranteed to run long after I’m dead and buried. To be honest, I’m well past caring. I’m even almost past joking about it, but not quite there yet due to the fact that, well, let’s face it, it is funny.
I hope Celtic play Rangers in the Scottish Cup this season. I miss the build-up of nervous tension throughout the week leading to an Old Firm encounter. I miss the sweaty palms and butterflies on the morning of the game. I miss the excitement leading up to the kick-off. I miss the fear factor of thinking about losing. I even miss the noise created by their supporters. And you what? I’m not the only one. Does craving an adrenalin rush make me and others not real Celtic fans?
If you don’t miss the competition of Old Firm games tell me why not. Tell me what sort of league you’d like to see. Tell me where the future competition is going to come from. Tell me if you’d be happy to see Celtic win the next fifty leagues in a row by Christmas each year in front of ever dwindling crowds.
In the meantime I’m off to phone my wee brother and apologise for all those beatings I gave him when he was just a lad. It was never really a fair fight or competition. Mind you, I also had a big brother who dished out those same beatings to me first.
you can follow OldPesky on twitter (@oldpesky)
best wishes for the new year cqn
those who’ve lost loved ones, we pray for.
BOBBY MURDOCH’S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS ………FC not PL
Of course they have. After all, huns still have webbed feet from the time they crawled out of the primeval swamp, even though none of them have been near water (or soap) since.
If Samaras has been offered a pay cut,we could see this team split up quicker than you think
The latest anecdotal estimates reckon Willie Haughey is worth well over £100,000,000 not bad for a Gorbals bhoy, and major shareholder in Celtic.
SugarDaddies CSC
BMCUWP…..
Urban seagulls now only have wings for one reason…..
To beat the Huns to the tip.
jackie mac
Well said.
HH
Bournesoup ….
Amazing what council contracts pay these days,ey?
ryecatcher, Seagulls are extremely clever birds on their way home from the tip they make a point of flying over Ibrox.
“I think Joe will stay,”
Adam Matthews
bournesouprecipe
I hope he does, with Biton on defensive duties we could see a whole other side of Joseph!
catcher
And Asda price.
Over 1 million to charity, quite a character is wee Willie who stood in the offices of Dixon Minto solicitors, and tried to buy the Celtic, ahead of Fergus.
Good men to have in your side are millionaires – money talks when you are fighting the establishment.
BocchiniBhoy:
“The 5 way was a compromise agreement”
Yes indeed it was; but who will ultimately profit the most?
Do you want my reasoned argument for standing against it…
well we should have stood against it because in not doing so all we’ve done is transferred the bigoted shit of the past onto our children to deal with.
That is my reasoned agreement for standing against it, it is that simple, I am neither so much a coward or so dividend driven….
And so it goes on for another ten decades, or more.