It took 14 seasons for Celtic to win 11 titles in the 60s and 70s, 13 under Jock Stein and one under Billy McNeill. Although Celtic were utterly dominant through the early parts of that period, they never had a structural advantage, success came through having better management and players. That alignment of the stars was always going to end.
Rangers won 11 titles in 12 seasons, as David Murray could apparently do no wrong. To the untrained eye, they looked uncatchable. They had a stadium which was compliant with the new post-Taylor Report rules and a player squad that generated income. By contrast, Celtic had 40% less income, were seldom able to generate cash from player sales and needed to build a new stadium.
Had Murray more sense, Rangers would have dominated the 21st century, but he always wanted what he couldn’t have – Celtic’s European Cup triumph – and he drove the club into the dirt. To any Celtic fan who followed their team through the 1990s, having utter ownership of this century would seem ridiculous. We were a marginalised minority on our own streets, people stopped caring, the endless pain was too much.
Martin O’Neill came in 2000 and from that moment onwards, you fancied Celtic to win every tournament. Still, despite the success at home and in Europe, we lost millions each year Martin was in charge, locked in a game of chicken with Murray’s Rangers. Chairman Brian Quinn took the brave steps of calling time on the losses. He predicted that failure to live within our means would be calamitous, more so than merely losing the odd title. Across the city, Murray doubled down. Disguised renumeration was a strategy that initially brought success, then led to liquidation, and much hilarity.
As early as January 2005, seven years before Rangers went into administration, the signs were obvious, we would lose the odd title, but this would be our Generation of Domination (some of us bought the domain name back then to put down a marker). I don’t think we can be complacent, in fact, I can see a scenario when the good times stop, but it is more likely our dominant period will extend well into its second generation.
Appreciate these days. Appreciate what we do for Scottish football, giving an edge to the cup competitions they never had, and taking truly great champions to every corner of the country.
Congratulations to Ange, Callum and the rest of the players, heroes to a man. And to the board that put the strategy in place, the outstanding recruitment, commercial, medical and research teams – success has many fathers.
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Delighted for Everton, mostly because it drops Leeds into the relegation zone.
i wish these celtic callers would stop calling clyde and spouting pish.
leave the lines clear for hurting huns.
PS i was thinking at the weekend while cutting the back field; i only got asked my religion twice by families of girlfriends. 1 was a ‘what school?’ by a drunk brother; the other was a deaf/loud granny in Port Glasgow:
————-
well are you ?
Superbru Round 35 update
Another astonishing week in the Superbru prize chase.
Our long term leader, having fallen out of top spot last week has come storming back to win the round and go back into the number one spot with a dominant total.
Our top performers this week were
1. A thing of beauty- 14.5 pts
2nd = Billy Bhoy, Leggy, 18 Yard Man, Hot Smoked and celticrollercoaster- all on 10 pts
3rd= Big Jimmy and SFTB- 9.5 points
Down at the bottom, we had Bada Bing and Mick The Tim on 2.5 points but the computer was too scared to award the wooden spoon to the big fella so Mick The Tim gets the award this time.
In the overall competition, most of the contenders had a good week. We now have:-
1st- A thing of beauty – 209.5 pts
2nd- Leggy- 207 pts
3rd- Celticrollercoaster- 194 pts
4th- Hopeful Hoops – 188.5 pts
5th- SFTB- 186 pts (first appearance in the top 5)
I fear the form of the frontrunners has been too good to see the chasing pack getting anything other than 3rd place. But the best weekly total prize, currently held by James Cant on 17.5 points is still up for grabs if you get a good week.
In the equally competitive race for a genuine wooden spoon at the bottom we also have a change of Leadership? Followship? – let’s call it spectacularly consistent mediocrity :-
BelmontBrian63 has replaced TheLurkinTim as frontrunner? backrunner? Best Diddy
last- BelmontBrian63- 133.5 pts
2nd last- TheLurkinTim- 134.5 pts
3rd last – Raplochbus- 139.5 pts
There is a rumour that Raplochbus is seeking disqualification of his rivals on the grounds of artificial doping as they have been regularly replacing brain cells with alcohol on drinking bouts with BRRB.
In another contest that won’t trouble the prize places, we have the brotherly duel between Hutchybhoy (172 pts in 27th place) and sammybhoy67 (167.5 pts in 31st place). It may just be bragging rights but it seems to matter.
Next set of predictions are due in by 12.30 pm on 13th May when the Champions visit the Sevco Subjugated. A difficult match to predict- I am torn between 0:5 and 1:7.
Many thanks for your support. Look out for the prize money announcement coming soon.
https://cdn.celtsarehere.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/2023-04-16T111247Z_14614263_UP1EJ4G0V590R_RTRMADP_3_SOCCER-SCOTLAND-KIL-CEL-REPORT-1920×2044.jpg
Arrests made during Celtic title party celebration at Parkhead as fans gathered
Police made arrests during celebrations that saw thousands of Hoops fans gather at Celtic Park to welcome the team after their victorious win at Tynecastle.
Two people were arrested following celebrations at Celtic Park after a back-to-back Premiership win for the Hoops.
Police have confirmed a man and woman were arrested for alleged breach of the peace in the Parkhead area on May 7, after the team defeated 10-man Hearts 2-0.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
OMG
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FvjhRcPWIAA_1NZ?format=jpg&name=4096×4096
Brighton has the force and the largest percentage of Jedi warriors in these islands. .
They even have their own academies.
What school did you go to.?
The Jedi Academy on Obroa- skai.
Deal with that.
Always Luke on the brightside🌈
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Fvi3NnfWwAM6NhW?format=jpg&name=4096×4096
https://cdn.celtsarehere.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/spfl_hearts_celtic_0054-1920×1243.jpg
The force is obviously not with them as Everton mow lead 4 goals to nil.
OH no they dont. 1-4
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FviSqznWYAMEprS?format=jpg&name=medium
Evening all.
SETTING FREE THE BEARS FOR RES. 12 & OSCAR KNOX on 8TH MAY 2023 6:45 PM.
I will accept the ‘Wooden Spoon’ with pride.
I have never over the past 2 seasons have predicted a positive outcome for that ‘mob.
Shame on you who have.
:) :)
It’s 5. A cracker.
Scullybhoy
Thank you for the wonderful pics you have posted in the last 24hrs and all the days before sir.
You are a great asset to the blog.
That one of captain callum is a belter.
Peter Lawwell is yesterday’s man ,move on to a new era….hopefully…
BELMONTBRIAN on 8TH MAY 2023 7:27 PM
Evening all.
SETTING FREE THE BEARS FOR RES. 12 & OSCAR KNOX on 8TH MAY 2023 6:45 PM.
I will accept the ‘Wooden Spoon’ with pride.
I have never over the past 2 seasons have predicted a positive outcome for that ‘mob.
Shame on you who have.
:) :)
……………………………………………….
I thought I was the only person who did that kind of thing – I have done exactly the same with the weekly forecast I have done with my daughter and son for the last few years!
But, dad, you are only saying you think they will win – not that you want them to win!
But I just will not do It!
JOES11 on 8TH MAY 2023 7:35 PM
You are now my official favourite blogger. :)
HH
ST STIVS
When I was 19 my girlfriend took me home to meet her family for the first time.
I sat on the couch with her and 2 sisters while mum and dad sat on two armchairs.
Dad was supping a straight Antiquary with the bottle on a table beside him.
DAD: What’s your name again?
ME: Thomas
DAD: You’re second name
ME: McLaughlin
DAD: Aw no another fenian bastard
He poured me a dram so he wasn’t all bad.
On saturday early evening I was flicking through the channels.
I happened on GBNEWS TALK TV,
someone pair of nuggets in Union Jack ties are having an “after party” for the coronation.
MIKE GRAHAM and KEVIN O’SULLIVAN (change your name your a disgrace to the family)
so they are interviewing ALEX SALMOND.
why i stopped on it was a mention of Billy McNeill.
I am assuming the topic was celtic fans telling the world where to stick the coronation.
these right wing under educated drunken morons are trying to harange Salmond, but he cute but objectionable to me anyways.
so the baracking goes like this.
MIKE –
There was a time when you nationalists were going to keep the pound but how can you do that with the new king on it ?
SALMOND –
well you would think from your time in scotland you would know we got there first, we have King Robert the Bruce and Mary Somerville, we dont have English kings and queens on them …….
MIKE –
so you could have Billy McNeill ?
SALMOND –
or John Greig, so billy mcneill and john greig on royal bank of scotland notes, well maybe not the royal notes.
i have the rest of the programme recorded, my daughter caught me watching it and seriously asked if it was a late night comedy parody for USA.
There is another sction slagging liverpool supporters, as serial complainers, ffs, these people.
bizarre what passes for debate now adays.
it will be found on the interent somewhere
BIGRAILROADBLUES
Trying to remember what my Maths teachers looked like.
😎
my maths teacher was mister mccool, everyone who ever got taught by him will know who i mean, he was,
sadly missed. great fella.
and i was shit at maths.
My maths teacher was miss collum
A legend on the overhead projector
Everytime she made a mistake she would lick her finger and wipe the offending mistake off
Only problem was, after a few hours of licking and wiping, the she had ink all over her mouth
Look like she muff dived a smurf…….
Bet Mad Mitch was excellent at Maths.🤣🤣🤣
My math teacher was Mr. Kelly, good man and great tim. He once asked my friend in class for the answer and Tommy shouted out 528 sir! Mr. Kelly asked Tommy how did you get that answer and to show him on the board. Tommy did this elaborate explanation only for Mr. Kelly to ask me, Mr. McBride kindly read out the page number!!! Page 528 sir, and we all just lost it in the class. Mr. Murray, not a math teacher, but another teacher who used to wear the celtic and Irish badges under his suit lapel:))))))
Marspapa earlier
Thank you for link to Radio Clyde’s “Look how bad we were at predictions” tweet.
Absolutely bizarre.
Celebration of ineptitude.
Three Stooges and their understudies stuff.
St Stivs
Mr McCool was indeed a decent guy and sadly missed by those who were taught by, or worked with him.
4 games to score 10 goals.
1915–16 SFL 38 116 Jimmy McColl 36
1935–36 SFL 38 115 Jimmy McGrory 50
1937–38 SFL 38 114 Johnny Crum 27
1966–67 SFL 34 111 Joe McBride 38
1965–66 SFL 34 106 Joe McBride 43
1967–68 SFL 34 106 Bobby Lennox 44
2016–17 SP 38 106 Moussa Dembélé 32
2003–04 SPL 38 105 Henrik Larsson 41
11 goals, i am shit at riff ma tick as well,
and ing lish
BACK TO BASICS – GLASS HALF FULL on 8TH MAY 2023 8:11 PM
Thank you, glad someone read it 😊
Hope they predict a Rangers win next year too.
Can Big Ange be lucky again next season ……..
Same old Celtic …always winning …and that’s the team for me …onto victory 🍀💚
*SENTINEL CELTS PLAYER OF THE YEAR 2022-23*
*RESULTS FROM GAME #48 – HEARTS 0 CELTIC 2 (FURUHASHI, OH)
Good evening, friends. Coming to you live from Estepona in Spain.
I take it we are all feeling Champion? Clinching our latest honour has led me to have a wee look at some stats so bear with me here, please.
I decided to check myself to see how, in terms of trophies won, we compare against the self proclaimed “Worlds Most Successful Klub”.
Before they were liquidated, Rangers had won 53½ league titles (their first in 1890-91 was shared with Dumbarton F.C. after both clubs ended the season on 29 points. A play-off game at Cathkin Park on 21 May 1891 finished 2–2, so the clubs were declared joint champions). They had also won 33 Scottish Cups, 27 League Cups and 1 European Cup Winners Cup. A total of 114½ major trophies. And then they died. The new Ibrox Klub formed in 2012 has won 2 (TWO) further major trophies, a league and a Scottish Cup. Even THEY don’t make a claim to The Ramsdens Cup! So the 2 clubs to have played out of Ibrox have amassed 116½ major trophies.
After yesterday’s success Celtic have now won 53 league titles, 40 Scottish Cups, 21 League Cups and 1 European Cup, a total of 115 major trophies. We have now just overtaken the deid club’s total OF 114½. And should we go on to beat Inverness on June 3rd to lift the Scottish Cup we will then only be 1 more trophy short of being able to officially and statistically rebuff ANY claim of theirs regarding the relative successes of our 2 clubs.
As for yesterday’s game, I’m not going to be too critical as I remember many, many ‘title clinching games’ that were a bit of a non event. Suffice to say that at full time I did have to think very carefully in relation to my 3 votes. Fortunately things picked up in the second half as we got the party started. And hopefully our 5 remaining games include some stellar performances.
Domestically this season we have now played 42, winning 39, drawing 2 and losing just the 1, scoring 131 and conceding 28.
Thanks to the 56 who emailed me with their 3 nominations. The total votes cast for each player are as follows, with my own nominations asterisked.
Hart*: 5
Ralston: 12
Starfelt: 26
Kobayashi: 9
Taylor*: 17
McGregor*: 45
Hatate: 21
O’Riley: 0
Jota: 2
Furuhashi: 20
Maeda: 3
Mooy: 5
Oh: 3
Haksabanovic: 0
Abada: 0
Iwata: 0
And so the players receiving POINTS for the game against Hearts are –
McGregor – 5 pts
Starfelt – 4 pts
Hatate – 3 points
Furuhashi – 2 pts
Taylor – 1 pt
After 48 games the overall standings are as shown below –
89 points – Hatate
84 points – Carter-Vickers
63 points – Jota
56 points – McGregor
52 points – Furuhashi
51 points – Mooy
45 points – Taylor
34 points – Johnston and O’Riley
31 points – Abada
30 points – Maeda and Starfelt
22 points – Jenz
17 points – Haksabanovic
13 points – Giakoumakis and Juranovic
10 points – Iwata and Ralston
9 points – Bernabei and Welsh
8 points – Forrest and Hart
7 points – Kobayashi
5 points – Turnbull
4 points – Oh
0 points – Abildgaard, Lawal, McCarthy, Siegrist, Summers and Vata
Our next game sees us travel to Ibrox on Saturday. A 12.30 kick off. I’ll try to drag myself away from the sun for a couple of hours to tune in somehow!
Hail Hail!
Goldson asking the ref why the eff are you not giving me a free out
https://twitter.com/i/status/1655504918503931904
My maths teacher was Derek Grierson, ex Queens Park, Rangers & Falkirk back in late 40s, early 50s…never talked about his footballing days to his pupils but seemed to have been decent. Went to the Olympics when a QP player…
Good morning all from a rain soaked but dry at the moment Garngad.
Only another few days to the big meeting everyone is talking about…..yes Friday at the Shippy then hump the Zombies on Saturday.
D :)
LETS ALL DO THE HUDDLE on 8TH MAY 2023 4:30 PM
evening times story headline today…
“Police reveal arrest numbers after Celtic Park title party in Glasgow”
how many arrests to elicit such a headline?
50?
100?
500?
answer: 2
…………………..
I read that also.
Deliberate SHAMBOLIC ” Reporting”.
Apparently is was a Man and a Woman who were arrested for ” Breach of the Peace” ?
Maybe it was TWO Drunken HUNS trying to cause disruption to the Celtic Party ?
LOL
HH.
Jimmy – More like 2 drunken hun Polis trying to get brownie points doon the Ludge.
D :)