News that Hull City had a £6m bid for Robert Snodgrass accepted took the wind out of my sails this morning. Snodgrass was one of the outstanding performers for clubs in the bottom half of the English Premier League last season, so it’s easy to understand his ticket price, despite only having a year left on his Norwich City contract.
He is a Celtic fan and has not hidden his desire to play for the club, but Hull City (good grief) are now bidding £6m for players from relegated clubs, after spending £8m on a Spurs squad filler.
This all begs the question, can we afford to compete with Hull City? Probably, yes, but we can no more afford to splurge £14m on a couple of players than Hull, who a year ago were reporting debts close to £80m.
We’re operating in an environment where indirect competitors for players are spending unsustainable amounts of money, pretty much like Rangers did for 20 years under Sir David Murray. For a few years after Fergus left, we played the same game as Rangers, running up millions of pounds of losses year after year, before pulling away from the edge, while they kept the pedal to the metal and careered into liquidation.
The decision not to match the Bank of Scotland money flowing into Rangers cost us trophies, and caused a great deal of dispute in the Celtic family, but story ended sweetly. So, so, sweetly.
The crash may never hit England, but the job for Celtic is to find a way of remaining competitive in the Champions League while matching income to expenditure.
Visit the CQN Bookstore to get Tommy Gemmell to sign your personal copy of his book, All the Best.
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All this crap about signing snodgrass when he was at livingston I tend to rate players I see Against CELTIC ,and every time I saw him he was rubbish ,so given that why should we have signed him
Gordon_J backing Neil Lennon
15:13 on
27 June, 2014
I wonder whether we can adopt a similar strategy to Chelsea,
==============
Stockpiling of players is just one of the many reasons that they are are unpopular club outwith their own.
Not sure its workable anyway as many youngsters would choose to go somewhere they are guaranteed first team action, or at least have more chance of it.
I believe Denny Johnstone was looking for a move to Dundee United which only faltered due to the uncertainty over the fee which would be set by the tribunal.
I’d love to have seen more of these lads given a run in the first team in April/May as the league was wrapped up but other teams still had lots to play for. That is one trick we did miss.
HH
Compete with Hull …nope
Neither have we any intention
Spending money causes liquidation ….particularly on such frippery as players fit for purpose
Financially doomed I tell ye
Hamiltontim
15:19 on
27 June, 2014
Macjay
You never answered my question mate regarding the definition of your personal support.
When you post ‘I support Celtic’ what exactly do you mean?
========================
Pointless exercise, tried it before. Its easy to put down others without offering alternative solutions to problems not affecting you when you’re lying on a beach and there isn’t much coming out your own pocket, isn’t it macjay?
sipsini
14:42 on
27 June, 2014
livibhoy
13:48 on 27 June, 2014.
Cheers for the nod about the charity match, I was unaware of that.
I work beside two hertz fans, they attend all their home and away games except Celtic park…the reason they give is the restricted view…my erchie…mini huns. HH
________________________________________
Tell the bassas to stop watching through the cracks with their wee hands in front of their faces!!!!
HH jamesgang
Hamiltontim
15:19 on
27 June, 2014
When you post ‘I support Celtic’ what exactly do you mean?
————————————————————————————————————————-
It means that ,for one example,I don`t call Celtic “stupid.”
`Cos that`s what huns do.
Are you with me?
Media House still feeding the Record,I see.
That article has Irvine’s grubby paws all over it.
macjay1,
You will never convince those who have an underlying agenda.
Why do some people, in the absence of the facts, put a negative spin on the club and others a positive?
macjay1 for Neil Lennon
You may feel differently if you lived in Edinburgh.
The facts are not being put out there. That annoys me.
I’m tired of telling people the facts. There were not a rake of clubs queuing up to play a benefit match for Hearts. There was one and that was Celtic.
I am interested as to why the author of the article hasn’t insisted that the Scottish cup of that season also be shared. Hibernian had players who enlisted with McCrae’s battalion and lost the cup final to Celtic 4-0 at Ibrox after a 0-0 draw. Should Hibernian not also share the cup win?
I don;t get the point of the article apart from scoring points with Hearts fans and having a dig at Celtic. It will also raise hysteria on social networks and message boards. The one thing it will guarantee is that it will not help the bad feeling between the two sets of fans. I am going to take my Bhoy in Hoops and a scarf to games this season through Edinburgh to Glasgow and the morons who will read this mince will look at us like some kind of vermin. I don’t want this for my Bhoy.
Celtic must demand an apology.
LB
I used to support Celtic. Shoulders were aching though.
Now I just prop – them – up.
MWD says AYE ya stupid BritNat muppets.
traditionalist88
15:23 on
27 June, 2014
Hamiltontim
15:19 on
27 June, 2014
Macjay
You never answered my question mate regarding the definition of your personal support.
When you post ‘I support Celtic’ what exactly do you mean?
========================
Pointless exercise, tried it before. Its easy to put down others without offering alternative solutions to problems not affecting you when you’re lying on a beach and there isn’t much coming out your own pocket, isn’t it macjay?
————————————————————————————————————————-
So why indulge in pointless exercises?
KevJ
“With respect…it was you who mistook my point!”
Don’t think so but I would be happy to have you explain to me what you think I understood and misunderstood.
For the avoidance of doubt, here is what I thought was my point (before I was told that you understood me better), broken down into chunks that are clearer and less easy to twist.
1) You see Peter Grant’s playing career as a disgrace. I see him as a journeyman performer.
2) You claim to have been a regular attender during this period of inadequate players and piss-poor European achievement. I was an irregular attendee as I was playing Sport most Saturdays.
3) You have stopped attending for a number of ever-changing reasons but the most consistently expressed is as a protest over some form of downsizing during the post-MON period. I have been a regular attendee during this period of improved league and European performance, until finances reduced my level of attendance last year.
4) I listed a number of midfielders who have played regularly during that recent period as evidence that your “protest against downsizing” clashes with your view that Celtic had a diddy midfield because of Peter Grant when you were attending. I am suggesting that these people are not a downgrade on the Peter Grant era when you were happy to attend. We may have no-one as good as Paul McStay was but the overall standard nowadays is wall-to-wall internationalists with a bench full of subs who are full internationalists. Peter Grant had 2 caps, Tommy Burns had 8 and Murdo had 20, most earned after he left Celtic.
Macjay
So your definition of a supporter is someone who doesn’t question things they believe the club do wrong?
Is that correct?
So by definition you consider yourself a better supporter?
YNWA was at it’s best in the ‘natural’ versions of the ole Celtic end’s at
Hamdump and ibrokes and of course – the Jungle.
Easter road used to have a big sloped terrace as well and, Tannadice
was good for it as well.
So, for me YNWA was sung best ‘without’ the need of some DJ guy playing
Gerry and the Pacemakers over the ole tannoy. imho
Oh, I forgot to mention the City Ground Nottingham was brill as well.
Hail Hail – Off oot.
KevJungle – Murdo Macleod is my favorit CELTIC player ever.
15.20
No worries, just passing an idle afternoon with idle thoughts. I was thinking back to ten years and more before Fergus.
Here’s to a Celtic treble 2014/15*.
* = (unshared)
thomthethim for oscar ok
15:27 on 27 June, 2014
Can you be specific please. Who are these people who have an ‘underlying agenda’?
livibhoy
15:05 on 27 June, 2014
Excellent post.I won’t be holding my breath for any apology from that rag,the Club won’t challenge it either,they are happy for blogs like this to do their work.HH
mullet and co 2 @ 15:09
While I agree on principle it’s not just England that is expensive. I did a bit of research to see if there could be any surprise packages for any of the clubs and came across a guy called Fabian for Mexico who has only come on as a sub. He’s an attacking midfielder with a lethal shot. Even though he’s not a starter for Mexico his club are looking for around £4-5m and his wages at Cruz Azul are around £20k a week.
While I’m sure there are cheaper markets out there it’s not easy.
RE: Daily Record – Well done Gary, you got your nibbles. Enjoy whilst you can son, because a graduate working for next to nothing will be replacing you soon.
Thanks to quality writing like your own, the circulation of the Record is now at 33% of what it was in 1984. Half a million copies less are sold every day. Readership is falling almost 10% per year. It is as unsustainable as a music shop. We won’t pay a penny for your online content.
Tatty bye.
.
GuyFawkesaforeverhero
15:34 on 27 June, 2014
___________________
Good stuff, all the best to you and yours pal.
Hail Hail – Off oot this time laters….
thomthethim for Oscar OK
15:27 on
27 June, 2014
Thom
I spent my Uni years surrounded by huns and defending Celtic.
Back to the wall stuff.
Never imagined that I would have to defend Celtic to Celtic supporters.
Inconceivable.
Example.
Rangers don`t sign Catholic players.
Ah,but Celtic fly the Eire flag.
As if there`s some kind of equivalence.
Nae bother,pal.
I look forward to the forthcoming season unencumbered by the need to insult Celtic and those who represent us.
Hail Hail
Macjay
It means that ,for one example,I don`t call Celtic “stupid.”
`Cos that`s what huns do.
Are you with me?
—————————————————————-
Coulnt help but notice your post, which got me to the point of replying!
I must say of the discussion on th eblog today the one person who had the most “hunnish” ouburts has been you, which is a massive contradiction to your SUPPORTER claim!
Let me explain, who has waded in with personal insults on a debate on the blog? who has level critisism at others for not adhering to their standards? Who seems completely introlerant of others views? And who seems to think they cant be wrong no matter the evidence provided? All demonstrate “hunnish” behaviour
Maybe im happy being a Celtic supporter who can question things we do, if it means i dont revert to the type above!
See the old div 1 trophy that we won during 9 in a row….the one that div 1 played for before the recent reconstruction….
….who plays for that trophy now?
LiviBhoy
15:28 on
27 June, 2014
macjay1 for Neil Lennon
You may feel differently if you lived in Edinburgh.
———————————————————————————————————————
I`m 100% with you.
I just don`t feel the need to blame the Celtic Board,because,in doing so,I`m hurting Celtic……….and that`s what the bast—s want.
That`s their agenda.
SFTB
The number of Scotland caps a player has is absolutely no reflection of his ability, especially if he is/was a Celtic or deid team player. eg Jinky got 23 caps, John Greig got 43. QED.
Bit my tongue today….the initial pain only lasted momentarily, so I just kept on doing what I was doing….. AN HOUR later, went to wash my hands, looked in the mirror……honest, I looked like Dracula…….hahahahahahaha
macjay1 for Neil Lennon
15:29 on
27 June, 2014
traditionalist88
15:23 on
27 June, 2014
Hamiltontim
15:19 on
27 June, 2014
Macjay
You never answered my question mate regarding the definition of your personal support.
When you post ‘I support Celtic’ what exactly do you mean?
========================
Pointless exercise, tried it before. Its easy to put down others without offering alternative solutions to problems not affecting you when you’re lying on a beach and there isn’t much coming out your own pocket, isn’t it macjay?
————————————————————————————————————————-
So why indulge in pointless exercises?
========================
I didn’t ask you that again, I made another observation, which you chose to ignore. I wonder why.
Wee trivia question to try and lighten the mood. Ive only been to two games that opposition players have scored hat-tricks against us and ended on the losing side, I’m sure most will get those quite easily but would be interested to hear of any post WW2.
I’m off today and trying to stay out of the boozers
HH
macjay1 for neil lennon
15:44 on 27 June, 2014
Correct……!!!!
macjay1 for Neil Lennon
I am not attacking the board. I am asking them to respond to a ridiculous piece in a daily newspaper. Regardless of the numbers of readers they have their impact in Scotland is huge.
The club must defend themselves. I would go as far to say this is the worst piece I have ever read from the Record. We are not talking about people like Fergus and the players who were bad mouthed in Newcastle. We are talking about people who are no longer here to defend themselves. We are also talking about a suggestion from a newspaper journalist that Celtic can decide who they want to share a title with won 100 years ago.
It’s a ridiculous peice of writing and the editor should be taken to task by someone about letting this go to print.
Think about the mind set of this clown. The world cup is on. Hibernian have a new manager. Teams are signing players. Samaras has just had a unique piece of television talking to a young friend who inspires him. Let’s not forget Senor Suarez and this idiot is sitting thinking about something which happened 100 years ago? How does that even happen? It’s not even relevant to this weeks sporting or football news.
If there was ever any doubt of what Celtic and their fans are up against this is it in a nutshell.
LB
FourGreenFields
14:02 on
27 June, 2014
bundoran bhoy
Podium chaser :-))))))
i noted a wee hat trick earlier in the week lol :-)
hope your well mate
HH
JaseBhoy
15:43 on
27 June, 2014
When will the penny drop?
I object to you calling Celtic ,and I quote, “stupid.”
You`re understandably attempting ,and failing,to change the agenda,basically because you don`t have a leg to stand on.
Livibhoy
The 100th anniversary of The Great War
Ralston article is in the paper because Archduke Ferdinand died in Sarajevo 28/06/14 – 100 years ago tomorrow
……. but don’t worry it’ll all be over by Christmas.
The Onlooker
macjay1-have Celtic ever done something you have ever disagreed with ? Which could be classed as stupid,ill-conceived etc.Serious question.
Just scrolled back……
__________________
setting free the bears supports Res. 12 & Oscar Knox
15:34 on 27 June, 2014
___________________
You sir, misunderstood / failed to accept the opinion that I hold which defines Peter Grant as a p#sh Celtic player.
You then engaged in – whataboutery – with 11 other Celtic midfield players, offered as some sort of improved fare over PG. Right?
The 11 other players are not included in my point. Right?
You then go off at tangents as an attempt at finding out, or rather, twisting to suit ‘your’ version of why I don’t go to CP anymore. Right?
All of that, cos I said Peter Grant was p#sh. Right?
It seems…your the guy with the beef. Right?
Joe Harper
Bada Bing
thats one of them
twentyfirstofmaynineteenseventynine,
Joe Harper comes to mind in the 6-3 League Cup final in the 70s, with Dixie Deans scoring three for us.
Harry Hood?